Synchronization and resynchronization strategies to improve fertility in dairy buffaloes.

Dairy buffalo has an integral role in the sustenance of economics due to its substantial contribution in milk and meat industry, however, the reproduction in this species is challenging. During the last decade, our laboratory conducted a series of experiments to encapsulate the solutions of the problems through optimizing pre- and post-insemination interventions in dairy buffaloes. In an unique study, we proposed that timing of ovulation with reference to the onset of standing heat during spontaneous estrus is delayed, and subsequently re-framed the traditional AM-PM rule (AI after 12 h of standing heat) to AM-AM or PM-PM (AI after 24 h of standing heat) to achieve the optimum fertility using frozen thawed semen in dairy buffaloes. Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) varied substantially either via injecting single shot of prostaglandin (PG) F2α to perform AI at detected estrus or applying standard ovsynch protocol for timed AI (TAI) in buffaloes. However, estrus response, and P/AI remained similar either with used or new controlled internal drug release device in dairy buffaloes. Additionally, the incorporation of estradiol benzoate in progesterone (P4) based protocol resulted in controlled emergence of follicular wave and increased the estrus intensity in buffaloes. Thereafter, we fine-tuned P4-based protocols to optimize the ovulation window for TAI either using GnRH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or equine chorionic gonadotropin that ultimately improved the fertility in dairy buffaloes. Although, these hormonal interventions resulted in decent fertility, yet it was consistently being compromised due to early or late embryonic losses in dairy buffaloes. Administration of hCG or GnRH on d 7 or 23 or 25 post AI has been proved beneficial to enhance the embryonic survival in buffaloes. Recently, resynchronization program as an aggressive reproductive management approach has been tested that served as a dual-purpose tool to increase overall herd fertility and reduce embryonic losses at commercial buffalo farm operations. Taken together, we concluded that the solutions to the problems of reproductive function are now clearly available with acceptable fertility, however, their application to the small holder buffalo farming remains challenging.

Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in recurrent embryonic miscarriage patients are frequently abnormal, and may affect pregnancy outcomes.

This prospective cohort study measured anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in recurrent miscarriage (RM) patients, compared them to a normal population, and assessed the pregnancy outcomes. The RM patients demonstrated AMH levels that were significantly lower than the normal population, both in women aged ≤35 years, and those aged >35 years. AMH percentiles were found to be significantly lower in the study group of RM patients ≤35 years (p< .004) in the 5th and 50th percentiles, and in all percentiles in women >35 years (p< .03), were compared to women from a normal population. Serum AMH levels may reflect quality, and quantity of the remaining oocytes in these patients, and RM patients may have a low ovarian reserve, and a potentially poor oocyte quality, as shown by low circulating AMH. The evaluation of AMH levels in a RM work up may allow realistic counselling and possible ART referral in RM patients. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? There is some evidence to show that low AMH levels are associated with recurrent miscarriages and this is thought to be due to a decreased oocyte quality. The AMH levels are lower in the patients with endometriosis, and are often significantly higher in the patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Both conditions are independently associated with miscarriages. What the results of this study add? Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were found to be significantly lower in recurrent miscarriage patients, compared to a normal population. This may be another factor contributing to miscarriages. The spontaneous pregnancy rates in the miscarriage group significantly improved with increasing AMH levels. This may confirm that patients with low AMH levels have poorer quality oocytes, and thus may be considered 'sub-fertile'. It was also found that the utilisation of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to achieve a pregnancy was significantly reduced in the groups with a higher serum AMH. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Serum AMH levels should be offered to all patients as part of a recurrent miscarriage work up. Detecting the low AMH levels and counselling the patients on these findings may allow them the option of accessing ART. ART may have the ability to expedite conception rates, and with pre-implantation genetic analyses, could possibly select the embryos with the greatest chance of survival. Further research is needed to establish how the decreased AMH levels contribute to recurrent miscarriages.

Equine chorionic gonadotropin administration after insemination affects luteal function and pregnancy establishment in postpartum anestrous beef cows.

Two experiments were conducted with the aim of determining the effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration on day 14 after insemination on ovarian response and pregnancy establishment in postpartum anestrous beef cows. In both experiments, cows were subjected to a progesterone- and estradiol-based treatment for fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) and were randomly allocated into 4 groups to receive or not receive eCG (400 IU) at the time of device removal and/or at 14 d after FTAI. In experiment 1, from day 14 to 22, daily ultrasonographic determinations were performed to monitor ovarian dynamics, and blood was collected to determine hormone concentrations in 60 cows. In experiment 2, confirmation of pregnancy was performed at 30 and 60 d after FTAI in 1,060 anestrous cows assigned to the same experimental design. Cows that received eCG on day 14 after FTAI showed increases in corpus luteum area (P < 0.01), follicle diameter (P < 0.05), serum progesterone concentrations (P < 0.01), and estradiol-17ß concentrations (P < 0.01), compared with cows that did not receive eCG on day 14. Pregnancy rate on day 30 was greater in those cows that received both eCG treatments (ie, at device removal and 14 d after insemination) than in those that did not receive eCG treatment (P < 0.05). In conclusion, eCG administered on day 14 after FTAI increases serum progesterone concentrations during the critical period of pregnancy in anestrous cows, and this second eCG treatment seems to have a positive effect on achieving pregnancy.

Embryonic death and abortion in goats caused by ingestion of Amorimia septentrionalis / Mortalidade embrionária e abortos em cabras causados pela ingestão de Amorimia septentrionalis

Amorimia spp. are sodium monofluoroacetate (MFA) containing plants causing sudden death in ruminants. In a previous study, Amorimia rigida caused abortion in one of the five pregnant sheep that received the plant suggesting that it may cause reproductive losses. This work aimed to study the embryotoxic and fetotoxic effects of Amorimia septentrionalis in goats in the Brazilian northeastern semi-arid region. The effects of A. septentrionalis on pregnancy were studied in 16 goats, divided into four groups according to their gestational period. In Groups 1, 2 and 3 the administration of A. septentrionalis at the daily dose of 5g of leaves per kg body weight was started on the 18th, 36th and 93th days of gestation, respectively. Goats from Group 4 did not ingest the plant. When the goats presented severe signs of poisoning the administration of the plant was suspended. Groups 1, 2 and 3 ingested the plant for 7.25±2.87, 9.25±2.21 and 12.50±0.57 days, respectively. All the goats recovered 7-12 days after the end of the administration of the plant. In Group 1, all the goats had embryonic death 6.25±3.59 days after the end of the ingestion of the plant. In Group 2, three goats aborted at 53, 54 and 78 days of gestation. Two goats from Group 3 gave birth normally and the other two aborted at 114 and 111 days of gestation. It is concluded that Amorimia septentrionalis is a sodium monofluoracetate-containing plant that causes embryonic deaths and abortions in goats that ingest non-lethal doses of the plant.(AU)

Amorimia spp. são plantas que contém monofluoroacetato de sódio (MFA), responsáveis por causar morte súbita em ruminantes. Em estudo prévio, Amorimia rigida causou aborto em uma de cinco ovelhas prenhas que receberam a planta, sugerindo que pode causar perdas reprodutivas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos embriotóxicos e fetotóxicos de Amorimia septentrionalis em caprinos na região semi-árida nordestina brasileira. Os efeitos de A. septentrionalis na prenhez foram estudados em 16 cabras, divididos em quatro grupos de acordo com seu período gestacional. Nos grupos 1, 2 e 3 a administração de A. septentrionalis foi diária, na dose de 5g de folhas por kg de peso corporal, iniciada nos dias 18, 36 e 93 da gestação, respectivamente. As cabras do grupo 4 não ingeriram a planta. Quando as cabras apresentavam sinais severos de intoxicação suspendia-se a administração da planta. Os grupos 1, 2 e 3 ingeriram a planta por 7,25±2,87, 9,25±2,21 e 12,50±0,57 dias, respectivamente. Todas as cabras se recuperaram 7-12 dias após o final da administração da planta. No grupo 1, todas as cabras apresentaram quadros de mortalidade embrionária 6,25±3,59 dias após o término da ingestão da planta. No grupo 2, três cabras abortaram aos 53, 54 e 78 dias de gestação. Duas cabras do Grupo 3 deram à luz normalmente e as outras duas abortaram aos 114 e 111 dias de gestação. Conclui-se que Amorimia septentrionalis é uma planta que contém monofluoroacetato de sódio e pode ocasionar mortes embrionárias e abortos em cabras que ingerem doses não letais da planta.(AU)