[ effects of hawthorn [crataegus pseudomelanocarpa] extract on trichostrongylids in infected sheep]

The use of tanniferous plants in ruminants has been documented as an alternative to anthelmintics, for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes. The objective of this study was to assess the possible impact of Crataegus pseudomelanocarpa extract on the Trichostrongylids helminthes found in sheep. Two groups of sheep were experimentally infected with 2.000 L3 of Trichostrongylids. After 4 weeks, Hawthorn Extract was diluted in 200 ml of water at 25 0C and was orally administered two times a day. The 8 remaining animals comprised as infected control group which received an equal volume of water daily during the same period of time. On the 9th day, all of the sheep were necropsied and calculations were made for individual egg excretion adult worm counts in the abomasum and small intestines sex rate [male/female]; and the fecundity rate. The results were compared using statistical test. Moreover, histological samples from the fundus and pyloric regions were taken to enumerate the number of mucosal mast cells, globule leukocytes and eosinophils. The results showed that the administration of this tanniferous plant was associated with a significant decrease in egg excretion [82.57%] and female fecundity [84.85%]. Pathological findings showed a greater presence of mucosal eosinophils and mast cells in the abomasums and small intestines of the control group in compare with treated sheep. However, statistical analyses did not show a significant difference between these groups. These results indicate that the administration of Crataegus pseudomelanocarpa, which has tannin extract, could be effective in the control of Trichostrongylids infected sheep

Effects of acrosomal activity and morphology on fertilization rates following ICSI

Fertilization failures after ICSI may be due to different factors related to oocyte, sperm or both of them. Considering the importance of sperm morphology, acrosomal activity in oocyte activation and fertilization rates, this study was done to evaluate the relationship between a series of events occurring during spermiogenesis such as sperm morphology and acrosomal activity as an index for acrosomal integrity and the relationship between sperm ability to induce oocyte activation with fertilization rates following ICSI. Semen samples from 68 infertile couples undergoing ICSI at Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center were assessed. Some of each semen sample was analyzed for semen parameters according to WHO criteria, most of it was used for ICSI and the rest for Papanicolaou staining and gelatinolysis test to evaluate sperm morphology based on the strict criteria and acrosin activity respectively. The results were analyzed by SPSS software [Version 11.5] and correlation coefficient was determined. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results from gelatinolysis showed that the mean halo diameter had a significant positive correlation with sperm concentration [r=0.343, p=0.004], motility [r=0.282, p=0.020], sperm morphology according to the WHO criteria [r=-0.314, p=0.009], fertilization rate [r=0.270, p=0.026] and the percentage of halo formation [r=0.853, p=0.001]. The results of the study revealed that during ICSI, spermatozoa with small acrosome, which are likely to have reduced gelatinolysis test parameters [Smaller percentages of halos and smaller mean halo diameters], have lower fertilizing potential. As gelatinolysis test is considered as an index for acrosomal and perinuclear theca integrity, lower fertilizing ability in these spermatozoa could be likely due to their reduced levels of sperm associated oocyte activating factors [SAOAFs]. Therefore, studies for the identification and measurement of SAOAF levels in these kinds of spermatozoa are proposed