Measurement of serum acute phase proteins to monitor postoperative recovery in anoestrous bitches after ovariohysterectomy.

Six healthy bitches underwent ovariohysterectomy, performed by medial laparotomy according to routine methods. Blood samples were taken by venepuncture just before and 24, 48 and 72 hours and seven days after surgery. The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.001), haptoglobin (P<0.001) and caeruloplasmin (P<0.05) levels were all significantly higher in the postoperative period than in the samples taken before surgery. The CRP levels increased rapidly and dramatically, while the levels of haptoglobin and caeruloplasmin rose more gradually.

Effects of different extenders and centrifugation/washing on postthaw microscopic-oxidative stress parameters and fertilizing ability of Angora buck sperm.

The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of extender type and centrifugation/washing prior to cryopreservation on the postthaw sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase activity of Angora buck (Capra hircus ancryrensis) sperm. Ejaculates collected from three Angora bucks were used in this study. Two consecutive ejaculates from each buck were pooled and split into equal parts in four Falcon tubes. Two tubes were diluted at 37 degrees C and then centrifuged to remove semen plasma. After centrifugation, two sediment parts were diluted with a Tris-based extender and commercial Bioxcell extender, respectively. The remaining two parts, which were not centrifuged/washed, were diluted with the above-mentioned extenders, respectively. Diluted samples were cooled to 5 degrees C and frozen in 0.25-mL French straws to be stored in liquid nitrogen. Frozen straws were thawed individually at 37 degrees C for 20 sec in a water bath for evaluation. The semen part with centrifugation/washing in the Bioxcell extender (BC) demonstrated a higher rate of subjective motility (58.1+/-3.0%) compared with that of groups with (TC) or without (T) centrifugation/washing in the Tris-based extender (P<0.01). Angora buck sperm frozen with (BC) or without (B) centrifugation/washing in the Bioxcell extender demonstrated higher percentages of motility (60.6+/-2.7% and 54.3+/-4.8%, respectively) compared with that of groups T and TC. The postthaw progressive motility rate (22.3+/-2.7%) was significantly greater for semen parts diluted in B compared with that of other groups. BC gave rise to a lower value of average path velocity (90.0+/-5.2 microm/sec) compared with that of other groups (P<0.01). For straight linear velocity and linearity index, the highest values (103.2+/-4.7 microm/sec, 47.5+/-1.6% and 94.8+/-3.0 microm/sec, 44.8+/-1.1%, respectively) were obtained from B and TC (P<0.001). For sperm acrosome and total abnormalities, TC gave the highest values (11.2+/-0.6% and 26.6+/-1.5%, respectively, P<0.01). In the group frozen in BC, the percentage of membrane integrity assessed by hypo-osmotic swelling test was higher (61.2+/-2.2%) than that of the other groups (P<0.001). With respect to fertility results based on 35-d pregnancy rates, BC gave a higher rate (76.5%) than that of TC (27.8%, P<0.05). Malondialdehyde formation was found to be lower (1.64+/-0.26 nmol/L) in BC than in the other groups after the freeze-thawing process (P<0.001). In the semen part frozen in BC, superoxide dismutase activity was higher (0.18+/-0.02 U/mg protein) compared with that of the other groups (P<0.05). Further studies are required to obtain more precise results for the characterization of oxidative stress parameters and fertilizing ability in cryopreserved buck spermatozoa.

Effect of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica infection on acute-phase proteins and some mineral levels in colostrum-breast milk-fed or colostrum-breast milk-deprived sheep.

The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of acute-phase proteins and minerals as indicators for the reactivity in 1-year-old sheep. A total of 26 Chios breed sheep were fed colostrum-breast milk (control, n = 15)or were deprived afterseparation from their mother immediately after birth(experimental, n = 11). Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica serotype A1 was inoculated intratracheally and blood samples were taken in vacuumed sera on days 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22. Antibiotic treatment was initiated after blood sampling on day 22, and blood samples were taken on days 1, 4 and 7 after the treatment. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen, zinc, iron and calcium, which are the indicators of immune function and infectious diseases were analysed. No significant difference between the control and trial groups before and after the infection was determined. However, serum CRP, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and fibrinogen levels were increased in the course of the infection. These levels were restored to normal following treatment.