Retraction : Resveratrol treatment during in vitro maturation enhances cumulus expansion and developmental competence of Sanjabi sheep oocytes.

This article released online on January 18, 2019 as advance publication was withdrawn from consideration for publication in The Journal of Reproduction and Development at author's request.

Retraction: Resveratrol treatment during in vitro maturation enhances cumulus expansion and developmental competence of Sanjabi sheep oocytes.

This article released online on January 18, 2019 as advance publication was withdrawn from consideration for publication in The Journal of Reproduction and Development at author's request.

The influence of the corpus luteum on metabolites composition of follicular fluid from different sized follicles and their relationship to serum concentrations in dairy cows.

The presence of corpus luteum may have a local effect on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF) and could indirectly influence follicular development and oocyte quality. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the corpus luteum on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF), harvested from different-sized follicles and the relationship between metabolite composition of FF to blood serum in dairy cows. Ovaries and blood samples were collected from 30 female adult Holstein Friesian cows, 4-7 years old, with clinically normal reproductive tracts. The animals were in the diestrus stage and selected post mortem. The ovaries collected were classified based on the presence and absence of corpus luteum (CL(+/-)). Visible follicles on the surface of the ovaries were classified into (i) small (3-5mm), (ii) medium (6-9 mm) and (iii) large (10-20mm) based on their diameter. Follicular fluid was aspirated from follicles with different sizes in CL(+) and CL(-) ovaries. Blood and FF samples were analyzed for various biochemical constituents including glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin and globulin. The results showed that serum concentration of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride was significantly different (p≤0.05) in FF from follicles of different size categories. Differences between various follicle size categories in CL(-) ovaries were only significant for concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride. FF concentration of glucose and cholesterol in the same follicle size categories in CL(+) ovaries was significantly lower than that of CL(-) ovaries. These results indicate that levels of the biochemical metabolites in serum and FF differ significantly. In addition, FF concentrations of biochemical metabolites were related to follicular size and to the presence or absence of corpus luteum.

Effects of repeated administration of hCG on follicular and luteal characteristics and serum progesterone concentrations in eCG-superovulated Sanjabi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if treatment of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG)-superovulated Sanjabi ewes with repeated administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) would increase the number of normal corpus luteum (CL) and serum progesterone concentrations and decrease the number of persistent follicles. The superovulated ewes were divided into four groups on day 0 (day of sponge removal); the ewes were treated by an intramuscular administration of 500 IU hCG on day 0 (Group I: n = 10), on days 0 and 1 (Group II: n = 10), or on days 0, 1, and 2 (Group III: n = 10) and no treatment for control group (n = 10). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, 2, 5, and 8 (day of slaughter), and serum progesterone concentrations were determined. According to progesterone concentrations, 50 (4/8) and 0 % of the ewes underwent premature luteal regression in the control group and the hCG groups, respectively. There were more CLs in Group III than in Group II and the control group. Ewes treated with hCG had a greater number of normal-looking CL. CL diameter was significantly greater in Group II and Group III than other groups. Total CL weight was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Group III than in Group I and the control group. Number of persistent follicle and persistent follicle diameter were lower in control group compared to the other groups. Eight days after sponge removal, serum progesterone concentration was significantly higher in Group III than in Group I and the control group. The present results indicate that repeated administration of hCG supported CL formation, increased serum progesterone concentration, and prevented premature luteal regression in eCG-superovulated Sanjabi ewes.

Effect of prepartum supplementation of selenium and vitamin E on serum Se, IgG concentrations and colostrum of heifers and on hematology, passive immunity and Se status of their offspring.

Forty heifers at the late stage of gestation were randomly assigned into five groups. Heifers were balanced for age, weight, and time of calving in each group. Four and 2 weeks before expected time of calving, the heifers were injected with 0 ml (C), 10 ml (T1), 20 ml (T2), 30 ml (T3), and 40 ml (T4) Se and VE supplements, respectively. Each milliliter of the supplement contained of 0.5 mg Se as sodium selenite and 50 IU of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Blood samples were collected from the heifers 4 weeks before expected calving and at calving day and from the calves at birth and 7 days of age. The serum Se and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, white blood cell and differential leukocyte counts were measured. The Se concentrations in the sera of the heifers before the injections of Se and VE supplements were the same among the groups (P > 0.05), but after calving were significantly increased in the treated heifers (P < 0.05). Similarly, the serum Se levels of calves of the treated heifers were higher (P < 0.05). The Se concentrations in the colostrums of the heifers were affected by treatments (P < 0.05). Colostrum and daily milk productions at 8-week lactation were increased in treated heifers compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Likewise, the milk somatic cell counts decreased in the treated heifers compared with the controls. The changes of the mean serum IgG levels did not differ among calves (P > 0.05). The white blood cell counts were higher in calves of heifers in groups T3 and T4 compared with the control group at 7 days of age (P < 0.05).

Developmental potential of sheep oocytes cultured in different maturation media: effects of epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I, and cysteamine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and cysteamine (Cys) in defined maturation medium (DMM: basic culture medium + polyvinyl alcohol), semidefined maturation medium (SDMM: basic culture medium + bovine serum albumin), and undefined maturation medium (UDMM: basic culture medium + fetal bovine serum) on the cleavage rates and developmental capacity of sheep oocytes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. SETTING: Department of Animal Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. ANIMAL(S): Ovine oocytes. INTERVENTION(S): Oocytes were treated in culture with growth factors and antioxidant-supplemented media to examine effects on embryo development. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cleavage and embryo development. RESULT(S): The addition of Cys to DMM supplemented with EGF and IGF-I improved the mean blastocyst formation compared medium without Cys. The combination of EGF + IGF-I + and Cys in UDMM resulted in a higher proportion of cleavage and greater morula and blastocyst yields than DMM + EGF + IGF-I + Cys or SDMM + EGF + IGF-I + Cys. CONCLUSION(S): Undefined maturation medium supplemented with EGF, IGF-I, and Cys resulted in a higher proportion of cleavage and greater morula and blastocyst yields than DMM and SDMM supplemented with growth factors and antioxidants.