[Preservation of genetic variation in domestic animals using biotechnical methods]. / Erhaltung genetischer Vielfalt bei Nutztieren durch biotechnologische Verfahren.

The conservation of endangered breeds as live animals is at present the main national strategy of the government and breeding organizations to maintain genetic diversity. Fourty-three breeds and some old strains of cattle, pig, sheep, goat and horses are currently involved. Cryopreservation and banks for sperm, embryos or DNA are another type of genetic material which could subsequently be used for breeding and production in agriculture. Present semen banks involve 9 endangered cattle breeds and also a small amount of deep-frozen sperm of some endangered sheep and horse breeds. Only 2 embryo banks are established in government projects for cattle breeds Murnau-Werdenfelser and the old type German black-white cattle.

[Cryopreservation of bovine embryos]. / Beitrag zur Kryokonservierung von Rinderembryonen.

The method of cryopreservation of embryos aged seven days, proposed for embryo transfer with cattle by Niemann (1985), was tested under production conditions on three cattle breeding farms and three experimental animal units. The number of donors was 128, and 467 intact embryos were obtained from them and were cryopreserved in semen straw. Following thawing, 455 were recovered, and 439 (96.5 percent) of these were suitable for transfer. A pregnancy rate of 49.0 percent was recorded from 412 transfers. This rate was differentiated by oestric cycle conditions of heifer recipients, which gave percentages of 46.0 among recipients of seven-day old embryos, 45.7 for eight-day recipients, and 65.8 for six-day recipients. Related to pregnancy results recorded on the same units from transfer of freshly collected seven-day embryos, the efficiency coefficient was 0.69 (550 fresh transfers = 65.4 percent and 222 cryopreserved transfers = 48.2 percent). The method is recommended for general field practice.

[Studies on biotechnical ovulation synchronization in young sows. 2. Report: effect of laparotomy on ovarian findings after Zn-metallibur, 750 IU PMS, with and without 500 IU HCG]. / Versuche zur biotechnischen Ovulationssynchronisation bei Jungsauen. 2. Mitteilung: Einfluss von Laparotomien auf die Oxarbefunde nach Zn-Metallibur, 750 IE PMS, mit und ohne 500 IE HCG

A group of 72 gilts, aged between eight and nine months, were treated 20 days each by administration of 5 g Suisynchronprämix (Zinc Metallibur/Sui), followed by 24-hour treatment with 750 IU PMS (Prolosanserum). Fifty per cent of the group received 500 IU per animal of HCG (Gonabion) at 11 a.m., on the fourth day after Sui. All animals were artificially inseminated at 3.30 p.m. on the fifth day after Sui. and at 7.30 a.m. on the sixth day after Sui. Laparotomy was performed on 50 per cent of the HCG-treated and untreated animals in the afternoon of the sixth day after Sui. Animals with no recordable ovulation had to undergo another laparotomy in the morning of the seventh day. The above approach resulted in regrouping by four therapeutic categories: 1. HCG with laparotomy, 2. No HCG, 3. HCG with no laparotomy, 4. No HCG and no laparotomy. In the afternoon of the sixth day after Sui (51-56 hours after HCG) ovulation had begun in all 17 measurable animals of the first group, but only in one of 18 animals of the second. The animals were slaughtered between the seventh and twelfth days after Sui, and the following ovulation percentages were established: 100 per cent in the first group, 83.3 per cent in the second, 55.6 per cent in the third, and 72.2 per cent in the fourth. The animals that had been given HCG treatment (Groups 1 and 3) were found to be superior in terms of percentual ovulation to the untreated animals (Groups 2 and 4). However, Group 2 was the only group that had been exposed to the extraordinary stress of two laparotomies, and this should be borne in mind for evaluation. Ovarian cysts (more than 10 mm) began to develop on the eighth day on the laparotomised groups (1 and 2) and on the tenth day on the non-laparotomized groups (3 and 4). Cysts developed in 41.1 per cent of all animals in Group 1, 38.9 per cent in Group 2, 27.8 per cent in Group 3, and 22.2 per cent in Group 4. Therefore, cyst formation is thought to have been stimulated by laparotomy. Ovocyte tests suggested fertilisation of all animals in the first group. The embryonation rates of the second, third, and fourth groups are discussed with reference to the dates of insemination.

[Studies on biotechnical ovulation synchronization in young sows. 3. Report: ovulation onset, ovarian findings and results of fertilization after metallibur, 750 IU PMS, with and without 500 IU HCG with varied treatment time]. / Versuche zur biotechnischen Ovulationssynchronisation bei Jungsauen. 3. Mitteilung: Ovulationseintritt, Ovarbefunde und Befruchtungsergebnisse nach Metallibur, 750 IE HCG bei unterschiedlichen Behandlungsterminen

Fourty-eight gilts were treated with Turisynchron-Prämix (Turi.) and PMS (750 IU; 24-hours a. Turi.). One-half of the animals receaved additionally 500 IU HCG (fourth day a. Turi.). Performing treatments (Turi., PMS, HCG) either between 8 and 9 a.m. or 3 and 4 p.m. resulted in 2 experimental (HCG) and 2 control (without HCG) groups, each consisting of 12 animals. Double insemination took place according to treatment times at the fifth or the fifth and sixth day a. Turi. The experimental animals underwent laparotomy at the sixth day between 9 and 12 a.m., the conerols between 1 and 4 p.m. at the sixth or 9 and 12 a.m., at the seventh day a. Turi. Oviducts were flushed either at laparatomy or on slaughter to establish fertilization. From 24 experimental animals 20 ones had ovulated between 42-53 h p. HCG, and at slaughter 22 did so. The period of ovulation is mainly assumed near and immediately after 42 h p. HCG. In controls ovulation could be established in 3 of 15 animals laparotomized up to 152 h a. Turi. and in 8 of 9 animals laparotomized up to 168 h a. Turi. At slaughter there were in all 22 animals of the 2 control groups which had ovulated. In the rate of ovarian cysts (25-33%) and fertilized ova no remarkable differences were found between the groups.

[Genetic studies in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (author's transl)]. / Beitrag zur Genetik des Syndroms des hypoplastischen Linksherzens

The families of the 18 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLH), who died in the Universitätskinderklinik Erlangen between 1967 and January 1974, have been investigated. There was no consanguinity of the parents. Only one sib has died of a cardiac failure which possibly could have been HLH. Therefore it could be excluded that HLH is an autosomal-recessive disorder. The overall incidence of cardiac failure in the sibs of patients was 3. Most of the patients with HLH have been born in June-August and December-January. Environmental factors seem to be of importance in the genesis of HLH. Our results suggest multifactorial inheritance of the hypoplastic left heart syndrome.