Effects of FSH extracted from in vitro cultured anterior pituitary cells of male buffalo calves on body and testes weight, serum FSH and total cholesterol and hematological variables in male rabbits.

In this study, anterior pituitary glands were collected from 12 young male buffalo calves after slaughter, cultured with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and estrogen stimulus and the extract obtained. Adult male rabbits (n = 15) were divided into three equal groups. Rabbits of Group A served as control; those of Groups B and C were given extract containing 4 and 8 mIU of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), respectively twice daily for 3 weeks. Body weight of rabbits was recorded before and after treatment; blood samples were collected after treatment and analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), platelet counts, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), while serum samples were analyzed for FSH and total cholesterol. Then, all rabbits were slaughtered, and weight of paired testes was recorded. Results showed that the values for weight gain, RBC count, WBC count, PCV and MCH did not differ among rabbits of three groups. Blood Hb was greater (P < 0.05) in rabbits of Group B than Group C. Testis weight, serum FSH, total cholesterol and blood platelets count were greater in rabbits of Groups B and C, while MCV was less in rabbits of Group C, compared to the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in vitro cultured cells of adenohypophysis from male buffalo calves showed FSH activity. This FSH increased testes size, serum FSH, total cholesterol and blood platelets counts and decreased MCV in rabbits. However, it had no effect on weight gain, RBC counts, WBC counts, PCV and MCH.

Metabolite contents of blood serum and fluid from small and large sized follicles in dromedary camels during the peak and the low breeding seasons.

This study was undertaken to investigate serum and follicular fluid (FF) concentrations of some biochemical metabolites during the low (May to October) and the peak breeding season (November to April) in female camels with small and large follicles. For this purpose, ovaries from 92 female camels aged 3-7 years (young) or 8-15 years (adult) with clinically normal reproductive tract and slaughtered over a 24-month period were collected. Jugular blood samples and FF aspirated from small (5-9 mm) and large (10-20mm) follicles were analyzed for various metabolite concentrations, using the commercial kits. The effect of season, age and follicular size on serum glucose levels was not significant. However, FF glucose concentration in small follicles (136.79+/-4.05 mg/dl) was higher (P<0.05) than that of large follicles (77.09+/-4.31 mg/dl). Serum cholesterol contents were neither affected by the season, nor by age of the animal or the size of the ovarian follicles. The FF cholesterol concentration during the low breeding season (21.08+/-1.11 mg/dl) was higher (P<0.05) than 6.25+/-1.14 mg/dl recorded during the peak breeding season. The serum and FF total protein and albumin concentrations were neither affected by the season, nor by the age of the animal or the size of the ovarian follicles. The FF globulin concentration during the peak breeding season (2.46+/-0.06 g/dl) was higher (P<0.05) than 1.56+/-0.06 g/dl recorded during the low breeding season. Serum and FF activities of AST and ALT did not differ between the two seasons, age groups or follicle classes. Serum triglycerides (56.12+/-1.28 mg/dl) and HDL (45.12+/-0.12 mg/dl) levels during the peak breeding season were higher (P<0.01) than 31.91+/-1.25 and 42.60+/-0.11 mg/dl, respectively, observed during the low breeding season. Serum and FF triglycerides were neither affected by age nor by follicle size. Serum HDL concentration was higher (P<0.05) in adult than young camels. The concentration of HDL in FF was higher (P<0.05) during the peak (41.92+/-0.06 mg/dl) than the low (40.80+/-0.06 mg/dl) breeding season. It was concluded that serum contents of triglycerides and HDL were influenced by the breeding season. Similarly, FF contents of cholesterol, globulin and HDL were influenced by season, while FF glucose contents were influenced by the size of the follicle. However, no correlation could be established between serum and follicular fluid contents of various biochemical metabolites included in the study.