Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches

In the canine species, the precise mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of parturition are not completely understood. The expression of genes encoding the receptors for estrogen (ERα mRNA) and oxytocin (OTR mRNA) was studied in the endometrium and myometrium during pregnancy and parturition in dogs. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the levels of ERα mRNA and OTR mRNA in the uterus of bitches during early (up to 20 days of gestation), mid (20 to 40 days) and late pregnancy (41 to 60 days), and parturition (first stage of labor). All tissues expressed ERα and OTR mRNA, and are thus possibly able to respond to eventual estrogen and oxytocin hormonal stimuli. No statistically significant differences in the expression of ERα mRNA were verified in the endometrium and myometrium throughout pregnancy and parturition, but expression of OTR mRNA increased at both parturition and late pregnancy. We concluded that the increase of endometrial and myometrial OTR mRNA expression in dogs is not an event dependent on estrogenic stimulation. Moreover, the contractility response of the canine uterus to oxytocin begins during pregnancy and maintains myometrial activity. The expression of OTR mRNA in canine uterine tissues varied over time, which supports an interpretation that the sensitivity and response to hormone therapy varies during the course of pregnancy and labor. Further studies are needed to elucidate the factors underlying the synthesis of uterine oxytocin receptors and the possible role of ERβ rather than ERα in the uterine tissues during pregnancy and parturition in dogs.

Correlações genéticas entre algumas características de tipo e intervalo de partos em vacas da raça Holandesa / Genetic correlations for some type traits and calving interval in Holstein cows

Estimaram-se correlações genéticas entre algumas características de tipo e intervalo de partos (IP) em vacas da raça Holandesa no Estado do Paraná. Foram analisados registros de conformação de 23.014 vacas, classificadas no período de 2000 a 2010, oriundas de 248 rebanhos, filhas de 797 touros. Os componentes de variância necessários para obtenção das estimativas das herdabilidades e das correlações genéticas foram obtidos pelo método da Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita (REML), utilizando-se o procedimento MIXED do pacote estatístico SAS. As estimativas de herdabilidade para as características de tipo variaram de 0,09 a 0,24 e para IP foi 0,05. As estimativas de correlação genética entre as características de tipo foram, em geral, de pequena magnitude, sendo o maior valor observado entre largura de peito e profundidade corporal (0,52). As estimativas de correlação genética entre as características de tipo e IP foram, em sua maioria, de pequena magnitude. A baixa correlação genética entre ângulo de garupa e IP (0,02) sugere que a seleção para ângulo de garupa pode não ser efetiva em determinar ganho genético para fertilidade.

Genetic correlations between type traits and calving interval (CI) in Holstein cows in Parana State - Brazil were estimated. The data comprised linear classification of 23,014 cows, from 248 herds, classified from 2000 to 2010, daughters of 797 sires. Variance components for heritability and genetic correlation were estimated with Restricted Maximum Likelihood method (REML), using the MIXED procedure of statistics package SAS. Heritability estimates for type traits ranged from 0.09 to 0.24 and for CI it was 0.05. Genetic correlation estimations among type traits were, in general, of low magnitude, with the higher value between chest width and body depth (0.52). Estimates of genetic correlations between type traits and CI were mostly small. The low genetic correlation between rump angle and CI (0.02) suggests that the selection for rump angle may not be effective in determining genetic gain for fertility.

Distribución de partos por estación en ovejas de razas de pelo y cruces en un ambiente tropical húmedo / Lambing distribution by season in hair sheep and crosses under a humid tropical environment

Datos de 4203 registros de parición desde 1997 a 2005 provenientes de tres grupos raciales de ovejas de pelo, se utilizaron para determinar la distribución de partos en condiciones de un sistema de apareamiento continuo a través del año. Los grupos raciales fueron Blackbelly (BB), F1 Pelibuey x Blackbelly (F1 P x BB) y un grupo de hembras híbridas denominado “Cruce” (Cruce), resultado del apareamiento de los grupos indicados anteriormente con carneros Dorper y Katahdin. El manejo reproductivo incluyó la presencia continua del macho. Las ovejas fueron expuestas a un apareamiento continuó con carneros adultos. Las épocas climáticas de partos fueron: seca (febrero a abril), lluvias uno (mayo a julio), lluvias dos (agosto a octubre) y nortes (noviembre a enero). El número de partos dentro de cada grupo racial fue primíparas y multíparas. Los datos se analizaron con la prueba de Ji-cuadrado. La distribución de partos fue diferente (P<0,01) entre épocas climáticas de parto. La frecuencia de partos fue mayor durante la época de nortes con relación a las otras épocas climáticas. La época climática influyó (P<0,01) sobre la frecuencia de partos en los grupos raciales estudiados. Los tres grupos raciales estudiados mostraron mayor frecuencia de partos en nortes que en las otras épocas. Las ovejas primíparas F1 P x BB y Cruce tuvieron menor frecuencia de partos (P<0,01) en lluvias que en las otras épocas. Las ovejas multíparas de los grupos BB, F1 P x BB y Cruce tuvieron mayor frecuencia de partos en nortes que en las otras épocas. La eficiencia de parición de ovejas de pelo en condiciones de apareamiento continuo muestra variación estacional, las ovejas primíparas y multíparas mostraron un pico de parición en la época de nortes. La época climática afecta la frecuencia de parición en los grupos raciales estudiados.

Data of 4203 lambing records from 1997 to 2005 of three breed groups of hair sheep were used to determine the lambing distribution under a continuous breeding system throughout the year. The breed groups were Blackbelly (BB), F1 Pelibuey x Blackbelly (F1 P x BB) and a group of females hybrids denominated “Cruce” (Cruce) as a result of groups crossings above indicated with Dorper and Katahdin rams. Reproductive management included the continuous presence of the male. Ewes were exposed to continuous breeding with adult rams. The climatic lambing season were: dry (February to April), rainfall one (May to July), rainfall two (August to October) and rainfall and winds (November to January). The parity orders within each breed group were primiparous and multiparous. Data were analysed with the Chi- square test. The lambing distribution was different (P<0.01) among climatic lambing seasons. The lambing frequency was greater during the rainfall and wind season than the others climatic seasons. Climatic season influenced (P<0.01) the lambing frequency in the breed groups studied.The three breed groups studied showed higher lambing frequency in rainfall and wind season than the other seasons. The F1 P x BB and Cruce primiparous ewes had lower lambing frequency (P<0.01) in rainfall than the other seasons. The BB, F1 P x BB and Cruce multiparous ewes had higher lambing frequency (P<0.01) in rainfall and wind season than the other seasons. The lambing performance of hair sheep under a continuous breeding system had seasonal variation, the primiparous and multiparous ewes showed a peak lambing in rainfall and wind seasons. The climatic seasons affected the lambing frequency in the breed groups studied.

Estimación de la heredabilidad del intervalo de partos en bovinos cruzados / Estimation of heritability of calving interval in crossbred cattle

Objetivo. Estimar la heredabilidad del intervalo de partos en bovinos cruzados. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizó información de la base de datos de la hacienda La Leyenda, ubicada en el municipio de Caucasia (Antioquia). Se realizó un análisis uni-característico empleando el modelo animal. En el modelo se consideraron los efectos fijos del grupo genético, año de nacimiento, época de nacimiento y el número de partos y como efectos aleatorios, el efecto aditivo directo, de ambiente permanente y residual. Resultados. Se obtuvo una heredabilidad de 0.15 ± 0.07 y una media fenotípica de 544 ± 97 días. Conclusión. La heredabilidad para el intervalo de partos fue baja, por lo que se puede lograr poco progreso genético seleccionando para esta característica.

Efeito da base genética materna e da estação de parição sobre variáveis produtivas de fêmeas primíparas Holandês x Zebu / Effect of the maternal genetic basis and of the calving season on productive variables of primiparous Holstein x Zebu cows

Avaliaram-se variáveis produtivas de 78 fêmeas primíparas mestiças de base genética materna Gir ou Guzerá, paridas na estação seca ou chuvosa, utilizando-se o procedimento GLM do SAS. A estação de parição interferiu (P<0,05) no peso ao parto (PP), no escore da condição corporal ao parto (ECCP), no ganho de peso durante a gestação, no período de serviço (PS) e no intervalo de partos (IDP). O PP e ECCP foram maiores (P<0,05) nas primíparas que pariram na estação seca em relação às que pariram na estação chuvosa. Os valores foram de 475,19±39,81kg, 4,07±0,44 e 420,67±37,80kg e 3,62±0,37, respectivamente, para a estação seca e chuvosa. O PS e o IDP foram menores (P<0,05) entre as vacas que pariram na estação seca, 132,02±91,94 dias e 13,90±3,06 meses, em relação às paridas na estação chuvosa, 190,07±77,27 dias e 15,84±2,58 meses. As fêmeas de base genética Gir apresentaram melhor desempenho (P<0,05) que as de base genética Guzerá para as características produção de leite, duração da lactação e produção de leite por dia de intervalo de partos, cujos valores, nessa ordem, foram de 2276,15±656,47kg, 306,08±46,55 dias, 5,06±1,38kg/dia para as fêmeas de base Gir e de 1733,74±678,41kg, 265,62±67,11 dias, 4,37±1,68kg/dia para as de base Guzerá.

Productive variables of 78 crossbred Holstein x Zebu primiparous cows of Gir or Guzera maternal genetic basis, calved in the dry or rainy season were evaluated using the GLM procedure of the SAS. The calving season affected the weight at calving (WC), body condition score at calving (BCS), service period (SP) and calving interval (CI). The WC and BCS were higher (P<0.05) por cows calved in the dry season, 475.19±39.81kg and 4.07±0.44, than in the rainy season, 420.67±37.80kg and 3.62±0.37, respectively. The SP and CI were shorter (P<0.05) for cows calved in the dry season, 132.02±91.94 days and 13.90±3.06 months, than cows calved in the rainy season, 190.07±77.27 days e 15.84±2.58 months, respectively. The Gir based cows had higher milk yield, longer lactation period and higher milk yield per day of calving interval than the Guzera based cows, respectively, 2276.15±656.47kg, 306.08±46.55 days, 5.06±1.38kg/day for the Gir and 1733.74±678.41kg, 265.62±67.11 days, 4.37±1.68kg/day for the Guzera based cows.