Laparoscopic ovum pick-up followed by in vitro embryo production for the reproductive rescue of aged goats of high genetic value.

The efficiency of laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) followed by in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in the propagation of aged goats with poor reproductive performance was evaluated in the present study. Follicular development was stimulated in donor goats with 80 mg follicle-stimulating hormone and 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin administered 36 h before LOPU. In addition, goats were heat synchronised with intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 10 days and a luteolytic injection of 125 microg cloprostenol 36 h before sponge removal and LOPU. Following in vitro maturation (IVM), oocytes were fertilised in vitro with frozen-thawed semen produced using the egg yolk-free Bioxcell extender (IVM, L'Aigle, France). The average number of follicles aspirated (17.9 +/- 8.0 per goat), oocytes recovered (15.7 +/- 8.4 per goat) and cleavage after IVM/in vitro fertilisation followed by a short 24-h in vitro culture in modified synthetic oviduct fluid medium (72 +/- 7%) were similar to results reported previously by our group and others in younger goats. A total of 296 embryos was transferred into 50 heat-synchronised recipients, of which 40 became pregnant (80%) and 38 progressed all the way to term, delivering 86 live kids. The present study indicates that LOPU-IVEP can be used successfully to extend the reproductive life of valuable goats that have acquired difficulties becoming pregnant by artificial insemination after multiple kiddings.

Endothelin ET(A) receptor blockade prevents the progression of renal failure and hypertension in uraemic rats.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma and urine endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels have been reported in renal failure and may be involved in renal disease progression. We investigated whether these changes are related to increased vascular and renal ET-1 production in the pole resection remnant kidney model of chronic renal failure in the rat. METHODS: Uraemic Wistar rats were prepared by surgical renal mass 5/6 ablation and compared with sham-operated controls (protocol 1). Immunoreactive-ET-1 (ir-ET-1) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay after sample extraction and purification. To investigate the functional role of ET-1 during the progression of chronic renal failure, uraemic rats (protocol 2) were treated with either the vehicle or the ET-1 type A (ET(A)) receptor antagonist LU135252 (LU). RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and serum creatinine, as well as urinary volume and proteinuria, were significantly higher, whereas creatinine clearance was reduced in uraemic rats compared with sham-operated controls. As expected, plasma and urine ir-ET-1 concentrations were increased in uraemic rats (P<0.01) and were related to the increased ir-ET-1 levels in blood vessels and glomeruli (P<0.001). Positive correlation was found between plasma, thoracic aorta and mesenteric arterial bed ir-ET-1 levels and systolic blood pressure, as well as blood vessel hypertrophy. In addition, increased urinary ir-ET-1 excretion correlated with the rise in serum creatinine and proteinuria. In protocol 2, a 3-week treatment period with LU was initiated once uraemia and hypertension were established. In untreated uraemic rats, systolic blood pressure increased further (P<0.05), but this was not the case in LU-treated uraemic rats. At the end of treatment, serum creatinine and proteinuria were significantly lower (P<0.05) and creatinine clearance was higher (P<0.01) in LU-treated rats compared with uraemic-untreated animals. While plasma ir-ET-1 concentration was similar in the two groups, ir-ET-1 concentration in thoracic aorta, mesenteric arterial bed, renal cortex and urine was significantly lower in LU-treated animals (P<0.01). In addition, heart, thoracic aorta and mesenteric arterial wet weight to body weight ratios were also significantly reduced in LU-treated uraemic rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma ET-1 concentration and urinary ET-1 excretion in rats with renal mass ablation are related to enhanced ET-1 production in vascular and renal tissues, thus suggesting an important role for ET-1 in the aggravation of hypertension and vascular hypertrophy as well as in the progression of renal insufficiency. These pathophysiological effects are prevented by treatment with selective ET(A) receptor blockade.

Differential effects of endothelin-1 antagonists on erythropoietin-induced hypertension in renal failure.

Recently, it was reported that blood vessel immunoreactive endothelin-1 (irET-1) content is increased in hypertensive uremic rats treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). The present study was designed to evaluate whether ET-1 receptor blockade can prevent the progression of hypertension in renal failure rats receiving rhEPO and, if so, whether selective ET(A) and nonselective ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonists are equally effective. Renal failure was induced by a two-stage 5/6 nephrectomy; the animals developed uremia, anemia, and hypertension. After a 4-wk stabilization period, the animals received either rhEPO (100 U/kg, subcutaneously, three times per week) or the vehicle for 4 wk. In protocol A, half of the rats in each group were simultaneously treated with the ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist bosentan (100 mg/kg per d). In protocol B, half of the rats in each group received the selective ET(A) receptor antagonist LU 135252 (50 mg/kg per d). Systolic BP was recorded before and at 2 and 4 wk after the onset of treatment. Serum creatinine levels and hematocrit were measured before treatment and at the end of the study. Creatinine clearance rates and plasma irET-1 concentrations were determined at the end of the study. rhEPO corrected the anemia, but aggravated the hypertension. There was a slight and similar increase in serum creatinine throughout the treatment period in all groups of rats. Both ET-1 receptor antagonists bosentan and LU135252 were effective in attenuating the progression of hypertension in uremic rats receiving the vehicle (P < 0.05). Treatment with LU135252 corrected the increase in BP in rhEPO-treated rats (160+/-7 mmHg versus 187+/-9 mmHg, P < 0.05). In contrast, bosentan did not attenuate the progression of hypertension in rhEPO-treated rats (172+/-10 mmHg versus 168+/-9 mmHg, NS). In summary, selective ET(A) but not ET(A)/ET(B) receptor blockade can prevent the aggravation of hypertension in renal failure rats treated with rhEPO. These results suggest that the endothelin system may be involved in the pathogenesis of rhEPO-induced hypertension in uremic rats with a differential role for ET(A) and ET(B) receptors.