ABSTRACT
Total and regional allometric growth rates and termination sites of the spinal cord related to the respective vertebra were studied in 36 goat fetuses, from the Ahvaz slaughterhouse. These specimens were assigned to 3 groups, group 1 [CRL 10-20 cm], group 2 [CRL 21-30 cm], and group 3 [CRL 31-40 cm], each consisting of 6 male and 6 female fetuses. Observations in all 3 groups revealed that although the growth of the vertebral column was greater than that of the spinal cord, the difference in growth was not constant throughout the spine. While in cervical and thoracic regions the growth rate of the spinal cord in relation to the vertebral column was almost isometric, in the caudal part of the spine there was marked decline in growth of the spinal cord compared to the respective regions of the vertebral column. Craniocaudally, the allometric growth rate became drastically negative. There was no significant difference [P>0.05] between males and females. Except in thoracic region, all other regions showed significant differences [P<0.01] between similar regions in all 3 groups. In the lumbar region of group 2 no significant difference was found [P>0.05]. As a consequence of the negative allometric growth of the spinal cord in relation to the vertebral column in the caudal part of the spine, the conus medullaris was displaced from S4-S5 in group 1 to S2 in group 3. No significant difference [P>0.05] between male and female fetuses concerning the termination of the spinal cord was found
ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of testis-epididymis cool storage on viability and progressive motility of buffalo epididymal sperm [EP] and to compare the influences of two basic semen extenders on post thaw EP viability and progressive motility. Abattoir collected buffalo testicles were allotted to three storage times [0 h: n = 10; 24 h: n = 10 and 48 h: n = 12]. Following storage, isolated sperm were subjected to cryopreservation with two different cryoprotective media: whole cow milk-7%glycerol [MG] or egg yolk-tris-citrate-7% glycerol [EYG]. Pre freeze and post thaw sperm progressive motility and viability were evaluated. Results indicated that viability and progressive motility of sperm decreased after 24 h cool storage of the epididymis [P<0.05]. There was no difference between 24 and 48 h of storage on sperm viability [P>0.05], but progressive motility decreased across storage times [24 h versus 48 h: P<0.05]. Cryopreservation severely influenced viability and progressive motility of EP [P<0.05]. Milk-7% glycerol protected viability and progressive motility of EP against cold shock more efficiently than EYG [P<0.05]. The results of this study demonstrate that it is possible to preserve buffalo EP within the epididymis at 4°C short term, but that it has poor freezability upon recovery by basic semen freezing protocols