ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Early embryonic mortality is one of the main sources of reproductive wastages and major constraints for full exploitation of the production potential of livestock. The survivality of embryo during early embryonic life is mostly dependent on the efficiency with which the maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) is established. Maternal recognition of pregnancy involves molecular dialogue between the trophoblast of conceptus and uterine endometrium. Embryonic development to the blastocyst stage and uterine differentiation to the receptive environment are crucial for successful establishment of the embryo-uterine cross-talk that leads to the initiation and progression of successful implantation. Unravelling the complex intricate molecular and cellular dialogues between the conceptus and uterine environment will facilitate development of strategies to augment early embryo survivality.
ABSTRACT
The present study evaluated the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) to the in vitro maturation and embryo culture media on ovine oocyte maturation, cleavage and embryo development. Oocytes having more than five layers of unexpanded cumulus cells and granular homogenous ooplasm were cultured into 50 μL droplets of eight different culture systems: (i) TCM-199 (Tissue Culture Medium-199); (ii) TCM-199+10 ng/mL FGF2; (iii) TCM-199+20 ng/mL FGF2; (iv) TCM-199+30 ng/mL FGF2; (v) TCM-199+10 ng/mL ITS; (vi) TCM-199+20 ng/mL ITS; (vii) TCM-199+30 ng/mL ITS and (viii) TCM-199+20 ng/mL ITS+20 ng/mL FGF2 in a CO2 incubator at 38.50C for 24 h. All the oocyte culture media were supplemented with 10% FBS, FSH (10 μg/mL) and gentamicin (50 µg/mL). The maturation rate was assessed based on the degree of expansion of cumulus cells and identifying first polar body extrusion into perivitelline space. The matured oocytes were inseminated with 1 to 2 million spermatozoa/mL in Brackett and Oliphant medium and the cleavage rate was checked after 42-48 h post insemination and further cultured for 6-7 days. Maturation and cleavage rates were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the oocytes cultured in TCM-199 +10% FBS+FSH (10 μg/mL) supplemented with both 20 ng/mL ITS and 20 ng/mL FGF2 as compared to the control. It was concluded that the supplementation of ITS and FGF2 in maturation medium was beneficial for improving maturation and cleavage rates of sheep oocytes. The addition of ITS and FGF2 in embryo culture medium did not improve the development of sheep embryos.
ABSTRACT
Context: Nipple areola (NA) sparing mastectomy has an acceptable complication rate, is oncologically safe and facilitates an improved cosmetic result, aiding greatly in reducing psychological trauma associated with breast loss. Questions regarding preoperative case selection for NA sparing mastectomy are pertinent. Aims: The principle objective was to develop a simple model based on correlation of malignant involvement of NA with morphological factors in breast cancer cases to accurately predict the cancerous involvement of nipple areola preoperatively. Settings and Design: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 136 patients of breast cancer. The period of study spanned 3 years from 2004 to 2007. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 17 different morphological parameters which had proven prognostic significance in breast cancer cases for their relationship with NA involvement. Data regarding cytological parameters were available in 120 cases out of the total number of 136 cases. Simple and conventional methods appropriate for any under-resourced set-up were employed to enhance the economic viability and acceptability of the project. Statistical Analysis used: Statistical analysis in this study was mostly done using SPSS version: 14 software. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant when assessing correlation between two parameters. Results: The frequency of NA involvement detected in this study was 19.1%. In univariate analysis, 13 of the 17 morphological parameters were found to have strong statistical association (P<0.05) with NA involvement. In multivariate analysis, only four parameters-macroscopic NA changes, tumor-NA distance (<1.5cm), histological lymph node grade and extra capsular extension in lymph node were found to have independent role for NA involvement prediction. This multivariate Cox and Snell Regression model with Cox and Snell Regression Square of 0.551 can predict accurately 98.5% cases of nipple involvement using the 4 parameters as variables. Conclusions: By application of this simple multivariate model, accurate prediction of NA involvement would be possible preoperatively. NA sparing mastectomy may be performed on those cases predicted to have no NA involvement thus substantially reducing the burden of psychological morbidity.