Determination of the impacts of supplemental dietary curcumin on post-partum uterine involution using pulsed-wave doppler ultrasonography in Zaraibi goat.

This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of supplemental dietary curcumin on post-partum uterine involution using pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography in postpartum goats. Ten pluriparous Zaraibi goats were used and divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 5; control) received only a base diet. Group 2 (n = 5; treated) received a base diet supplemented with curcumin (200 mg/kg diet) daily for 28 days, starting from day 1 postpartum (PP) till day 28 PP. Uterine morphometrical changes (uterine horn diameter; UHD and caruncle diameter; CD), uterine hemodynamics (resistance and pulsatility indices (RI and PI), systolic/ diastolic ratio (S/D), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), blood flow volume (BFV), and blood flow rate (BFR)), and progesterone level were evaluated. Results revealed that the diameter of the uterine horn decreased rapidly from day 1 to day 10 PP (> 50%) but more steadily from day 14 to day 28 PP in both groups. After day 21 PP, there was nearly no reduction in UHD and CD in both groups. The treated group had lower values of the RI and PI (P < 0.05) than the control group. Regarding the BFR and BFV in the treated group, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) on day 17 PP, then started to decrease till day 28 PP. While in the control group, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in BFR and BFV from day 1 PP till day 28 PP. In conclusion, the incorporation of curcumin in the diet of PP Zaraibi goats improved reproductive performance via improvements in uterine morphometric changes as well as blood perfusion.

Hemodynamic changes in late advanced pregnant Zaraibi goats during the peripartum period.

The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the blood flow velocities, blood flow rate (BFR; bpm) with the accurate ratio of both systolic and diastolic velocities points (S/D) in addition to Doppler indices (resistive and pulsatility index [RI and PI]) in both fetal [fetal heart (FH), fetal abdominal aorta (Ab. A), and umbilical artery (UM.A)] and maternal [Middle uterine artery (MU.A)] sides during the last month of gestation. Ten Zaraibi (Egyptian Nubian) goats weighing 40-50kg and aged from 5-7 years were examined twice per month till reached the last month of pregnancy. Then all females were examined every 5 days starting from day -35 till day -1 before kidding.The pregnant goats were examined by ultrasonic and Doppler indices were recorded with Doppler scanning (7.5 -12 MHz, with colored and spectral graph to form the perfect wave to assess Doppler measurements). The obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Results indicated that on the fetal side; the maximum point of velocity (MSV; cm/sec) in the FH and BFRwere elevated from day -35 till day -10 with a slight decline at days -5 and -1 at the peripartum period (P < 0.05), while FH.PI and S/D ratio declined till day -1(P < 0.05). In addition, the fetal Ab. A, and UM.A PI, RI, and S/D ratio declined from day -35 till day -1 at the peripartum period with a significant increase in the peak systolic velocity (PSV) and BFR(P < 0.05). However, non-significant changes in the end diastolic velocity (EDV) were detected. On the maternal side, the MU.A PI and S/D declined from day -35 till day -1 with an elevation of both PSV and BFRat the same time points (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the Doppler evaluation of fetal and maternal blood flow vessels is important to give complete information that directly affects the health status of the mother and fetus.

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation enhances testicular volume and hemodynamics, reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and seminal antioxidant capacity in goat bucks under summer hot humid conditions.

Oxidative stress (OS) is brought on by heat stress (HS), which weakens antioxidant defense and initiates OS. Since mitochondria are the primary source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), HS-mediated OS may be lessened by targeting mitochondria with particular antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the reproductive performance of goat bucks under HS conditions. Ten mature bucks were randomly separated into two groups and housed in an environment with a high-temperature humidity index (THI: 88.3 to 94.8; summer season). The first group (n = 5) got the baseline diet while the second group (n = 5) received supplemental oral CoQ10 (3 mg/kg BW; CoQ10 group) daily for six weeks. Testicular blood flow parameters (TBF), testicular volume (TV) and echogenicity (TE), nitric oxide (NO), seminal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and catalase (CAT) activities, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and semen quality traits were all measured. The examinations started a week before (W-1), on the first supplementation day (W0), and weekly for eight consecutive weeks (W1-W8). There were marked (P < 0.05) increases in TBF (W3-W6) and TV, and a decrease in TE (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group compared to the CON group. Similarly, testosterone (T) and NO levels (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. The CoQ10 group demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) increases in seminal CAT (W4-W8) and TAC (W2-W6) activities and decreases in ALT (W4-W7) activity and MDA (W5-W8) concentration as compared to the control group. The CoQ10 group showed improvements (P < 0.05) at W3-W6 for sperm progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology and at W6-W8 for sperm concentration. In conclusion, oral CoQ10 supplementation improved testicular hemodynamics, testosterone production, semen quality, and antioxidant capacity in goat bucks during summer heat stress conditions.

Ovarian, uterine and luteal hemodynamic variations between pregnant and non-pregnant pluriparous Egyptian buffalos with special reference to their anatomical and histological features.

This study determined the ovarian, uterine, and luteal hemodynamic variations using Doppler between pregnant and non-pregnant pluriparous buffalos in relation to their anatomical and histological basics during the first 31 days after natural mating. Adult healthy cyclic Egyptian buffalo (n = 10) were selected and categorized into two groups; group 1 (n = 5) was mated naturally by a fertile bull during the late estrus phase, and group 2 (n = 5) was not mated. Animals were subjected to Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate luteal, ovarian, and uterine blood flows from day 7 until day 31 post-mating. Besides, three pregnant (one month) and other non-pregnant uterus (n = 6) were obtained from a local abattoir to study the anatomical and histological features. Our results revealed that the luteal, ovarian, and uterine arteries cross-sectional diameters/mm increased (P < 0.05) from day 7 till day 31. Resistance (RI) and pulsatility indices (PI) decreased linearly (P < 0.05) in pregnant buffalos till day 31, but the peak systolic, end diastolic velocities and flow volume of those arteries were increased. Additionally, luteal colored areas away and toward CL were increased (P < 0.05) in the pregnant group compared to non-pregnant ones. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the lumen diameter of luteal, ovarian, and uterine artery sections in pregnant buffalos compared to those of non-pregnant ones. While the mean value of tunica media's thickness of both luteal and uterine artery was significantly higher in non-pregnant buffalos than pregnant ones, except for that of the ovarian artery. Additionally, the ovarian and uterine artery tunica muscularis relative area % was (P < 0.05) higher in pregnant buffalos than in non-pregnant ones, except for that of the luteal artery. It was concluded that in pregnant buffalos, ovarian, uterine, and luteal blood flows were improved from the first week until 31 days post-mating via a decline in both Doppler indices with an increase in Doppler velocities and blood flow volume in relation to their histological changes based on their anatomical architecture in comparison to non-pregnant one.

Effect of melatonin supplementation during IVM of dromedary camel oocytes (Camelus dromedarius) on their maturation, fertilization, and developmental rates in vitro.

The positive impact of melatonin on in vitro embryo production (IVEP) has been reported in many domestic species; however, no studies have been carried out in camelids. We aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin supplementation in maturation media on in vitro maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation embryo development of dromedary camel oocytes (experiment 1). We also evaluated the concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the IVM spent medium in relation to melatonin supplementation. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in in vitro maturation media (IVM) supplemented with either 0.0, 25.0, 50.0 or 75.0 µM of melatonin for 30 h. Matured oocytes were then fertilized in vitro with epididymal camel spermatozoa. Following IVF, the resulting embryos were cultured in vitro for seven days. The percentage of maturation, fertilization, cleavage, and embryo developmental rates (morula and blastocyst) was recorded (experiment 1). TAC and MDA levels in the IVM spent maturation media were also evaluated at 30 h post-IVM (experiment 2). The results showed that supplementation of IVM media with 25 µM melatonin significantly improved oocyte nuclear maturation, fertilization (18 h post-insemination; pi), cleavage (day 3 pi), morula (day 5 pi) and blastocyst (day 7 pi) rates as compared with the controls and other melatonin-supplemented groups. Furthermore, the TAC in the IVM spent media was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 25 µM melatonin supplemented groups than those supplemented with 0.0, 50.0, 75.0 µM melatonin. However, the concentration of MDA was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in IVM media supplemented with 25.0 µM of melatonin when compared with the control and other treatment groups. In conclusion, supplementation of IVM medium with 25 µM of melatonin could enhance the in vitro developmental capacity of dromedary camel oocytes.

Effect of oviduct and follicular fluids on ram sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro.

The present study was designed to study the influence of different concentrations of oviduct fluid (OF) and follicular fluid (FF) on ram sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro. Forty semen samples were collected from three Barki rams throughout the period of study (10 weeks). Fresh semen was evaluated, layered under S-TALP (sperm Tyrode's albumin lactate pyruvate) medium and subjected to swim up techniques. Split fractions of semen were incubated in media enriched with different levels of OF (10, 20, 40, 50 and 75 µL/mL) or FF (10, 20, 40, 50, 100, 150 and 200 µL/mL). Best concentrations were compared and used to evaluate the ram sperm functions including progressive motility, hyperactivity and acrosome reaction. The present findings showed a significant increase in individual motility percentage (IM %) when ram spermatozoa were treated with 10 and 50 µL of oviduct fluids as compared to the other treatments after 1 h of incubation. Addition of 50 µL/mL of OF or FF had beneficial effect on sperm hyperactivity after 2 and 1 h incubation respectively. Furthermore, addition of 50 µL/mL oviduct fluid to ram sperm maintained significantly (P < .05) higher total acrosome reaction (AR %) after 3 h of incubations than those observed in other groups. In conclusion, treatment of ram spermatozoa with 50 µL/mL of OF or 40 µL/mL of FF for 3-4 h incubation respectively was considered the best level of oviduct or follicular fluid to be used for IVF.

L-carnitine enhances oocyte maturation and improves in vitro development of embryos in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries).

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of L-carnitine (LC) addition during either IVM or IVC on the developmental potential of camel oocytes. In Experiment 1; camel oocytes were matured in the absence (control) or presence of different concentrations of LC (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.75 mg and 1 mg/ml) for 30 h followed by in vitro fertilization and culture up to blastocyst stage. Our results demonstrated that oocytes treated with 0.5 mg/ml LC showed higher (P < 0.05) rates of maturation (74.7%) and fertilization (62.2%) compared with control group, 0.25 and 1 mg/ml of LC (60.2, 63.9, 59.7; 46.2, 48.7, 47.6%, respectively). Addition of 0.5 mg/ml of LC to IVM medium improved the rates of cleavage and embryo development (morula and blastocyst) than those obtained in the control group, 0.25 and 1 mg/ml of LC. No significant differences were noticed between 0.5 and 0.75 mg/ml of LC supplemented groups in term of maturation, fertilization and culture. In Experiment 2; zygotes resulting from in vitro matured (without LC) and fertilized were cultured in embryo culture medium supplemented with different concentrations of LC (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.75 mg and 1 mg/ml) or without LC (control). Also, the results showed a higher developmental rates to morula and blastocyst stages while adding L-carnitine at a level of 0.5 or 0.75 mg/ml concentration in the culture medium during IVC when compared with other groups. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the usefulness of L-carnitine supplementation at the level of 0.5 mg/ml during IVM or IVC after on the developmental potential of camel oocytes.

Follicular fluid composition in relation to follicular size in pregnant and non pregnant dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries)

aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the reproduct ive status of female dromedary camels ( pregnant vs. non - pregnant ) on the chemical composition, hormonal profile and antioxidant capacity of follicular fluid collected from different sized ovarian follicles during the breeding season . One hundred ovaries we re collected at slaughter house from fifty female dromedary camel s . The ovaries were collected in pairs from each animal and allocated into two groups according to the reproductive status of the females ; 25 pairs were obtained from pregnant females and 25 p airs were obtained from non - pregnant animals . The follicles on each ovary were categorized according to their diameter into three categories; small ( 1 - 3 mm), medium (4 - 9 mm) and large ( 10 - 20 mm). Follicular fluid (FF) aspirated from each follicle category from each pair of ovaries w as analyzed . The results showed that the average number of follicles per ovary was greater ( P < 0.05) in the ovaries obtained from non - pregnant females compared to those collected from pregnant ones ( 6.4 ± 1.2 vs . 3.6 ± 0.9, resp ectively). Progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in the follicular fluid collected from all follicle categories in pregnant animals than those obta ined from non - pregnant animals . Glucose concentration s were higher (P < 0.05) in the follicul ar fluid collected from large follicles in the non - pregnant group (64.9 ± 6.1 mg/d l ) than those obtained from the same follicle category in the pregnant ovaries (45.4 ± 4.0 mg/d l ). C oncentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were higher (P < 0.05) in the FF co llected from small, medium and large follicles in pregnant ovaries than non - pregnant ones . In conclusion , these data indicate that FF composition differ s according to the reproductive status of the female . In pregnant camels, the p resence of the corpus lut eum on the ovar ies could play an important role not only in the process of follicle growth and development , but also in the concentrations of biochemical metabolites and hormonal profiles in the FF of dromedary camels.

Antioxidant capacity of follicular fluid in relation to follicular size and stage of estrous cycle in buffaloes.

The present study was designed to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of different antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), in the follicular fluid collected from different follicular size categories in relation to stage of estrous cycle in buffaloes. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator for lipid peroxidation was also estimated. Fifty pairs of buffalo ovaries were collected from a local slaughterhouse. Based on ovarian structures, the cycle was divided into follicular and luteal phase. The follicles on each pair were classified into three groups; small (≤ 3 mm), medium (4-9 mm) and large (≥ 10 mm). The concentrations of SOD, CAT, GSH, and GR in the follicular fluid of each group as well as MDA were estimated. Results indicated that there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the average numbers of small follicles obtained at the follicular phase than those obtained at the luteal phase of the cycle. However, the mean numbers of the large sized follicles was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase. Large follicles obtained at the luteal phase had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) concentration of GSH than that obtained from small ones. A significant (P < 0.05) effect of follicular size on GR concentrations was observed. The concentration of SOD tended to be higher in large follicles obtained at the follicular phase than that collected at the luteal phase (56.7 ± 3.7 vs. 28.1 ± 6.7 U/mL, respectively). On the contrary, a significantly higher concentration (P < 0.05) of SOD was recorded in small follicles as compared with medium and large follicles collected at the luteal phase. CAT concentrations did not significantly differ among different follicular sizes between follicular and luteal phases as well as within each phase. Malondialdehyde concentration was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the follicular fluid obtained from small follicles collected at the follicular phase compared with those obtained at the luteal phase. In conclusion, the present study showed that the concentrations of enzymatic antioxidants except for CAT vary according to the follicle size and the stage of the estrous cycle suggesting their possible role in the process of follicular development during estrous cycle in buffaloes.

The effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids and/or L-carnitine on ovarian activity of Rahmani ewes.

This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids with or without of l-carnitine on ovarian activity using 24 Rahmani ewes randomly allocated to four treatments. Control animals (n=6) were fed a basal diet of hay (64.2%) and barley grain (35.0%) plus minerals and vitamins (0.8%). Ewes on the three treatments received the same basal diet supplemented with calcium salts of long chain fatty acids (CSFA) at 3% of the basal diet dry matter intake (1.4 kg/ewe/d); 250 ppm l-carnitine (LC); or both these supplements (CSFA+LC). All use exhibited natural estrus on one or two occasions and were weighed at the start and the end of the study as well as body condition score was assessed at the end of study. All ewes were then synchronised for estrus using intravaginal sponges for 12 d prior to the start of the nutritional treatments and three weeks after the nutritional treatments began. The nutritional treatments were imposed for a total of 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected prior to the start of treatments and every two weeks thereafter except after sponge removal of first and second synchronisation where the blood samples were collected daily for progesterone assay. The results revealed that Rahmani ewes received basal diet (control) and l-carnitine had significantly decrease final body weight and body condition score (36.3+/-0.4; 36.8+/-0.3; 2.2+/-0.04; 2.1+/-0.05; p<0.05, respectively) than those on CSFA and CSFA+LC (38.6+/-0.9; 39.5+/-0.6; 3.3+/-0.07; 3.4+/-0.06; respectively). At the second ultrasound examination, the control animals had significantly fewer total follicles (7.3+/-0.8; p<0.05) than those on the CSFA (8.4+/-0.8), l-carnitine (8.7+/-1.5) and CSFA+LC (8.0+/-0.6) treatments. The increased numbers occurred in the medium and large categories of follicles. In addition, the ovulation rates were significantly lower (p<0.05) for control (1.3+/-0.2) and l-carnitine (1.5+/-0.00) than for CSFA (2.5+/-0.3) and CSFA+LC (2.3+/-0.2). Furthermore, serum progesterone concentrations had risen and were significantly higher (p<0.05) for CSFA (2.5+/-0.3 ng/ml) and CSFA+LC (2.7+/-0.1 ng/ml) than for control (1.1+/-0.7 ng/ml) and l-carnitine (1.5+/-0.4 ng/ml). It was concluded that supplementation of the basal diet with l-carnitine alone did not improve performance of ewes or the ovarian response. However, the addition of calcium salts of long chain fatty acids to the basal diet alone or in combination with l-carnitine significantly improved the number and size of ovarian preovulatory follicles, and the ovulation rate of Rahmani ewes. Further evidence was required to study their influence on follicular atresia.