Comparison of different cryopreservation methods for horse and donkey embryos.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been published about cryopreservation and embryo assessment in horses and donkeys. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the viability of embryos collected from mares and jennies that were cryopreserved by slow freezing or by vitrification. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised controlled experiment. METHODS: Horse (n=19) and donkey (n=16) embryos (≤300 µm) were recovered on days 6.5-7.5 post-ovulation and assigned to control or cryopreservation protocols of slow freezing or vitrification. For slow freezing, 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) was used. For vitrification, horse embryos were exposed to 1.4 mol/L glycerol, 1.4 mol/L glycerol + 3.6 mol/L EG and 3.4 mol/L glycerol + 4.6 mol/L EG, using Fibreplug or a 0.25 mL straw; donkey embryos were vitrified using Fibreplug with similar EG-glycerol solutions to above or 7.0 mol/L EG. Dead cells, apoptotic and fragmented nuclei, and cytoskeleton quality were assessed on thawed/warmed embryos. RESULTS: A significant decrease in embryo quality was observed after cryopreservation (P<0.05). Although the percentage of dead cells was lower (P<0.05) in control than in cryopreserved embryos, no differences were observed between freezing protocols used for horse or donkey embryos. While no differences were detected in the number of apoptotic cells in warmed horse embryos, in donkey embryos a higher incidence of apoptosis was measured after vitrification with EG-glycerol in Fibreplug (P<0.05). Vitrified horse embryos had a significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage of nonviable cells than donkey embryo. Actin cytoskeleton quality did not differ between treatments. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Difficulties in obtaining a large number of embryos meant that the number of embryos per group was low. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrified horse and donkey embryos did not show higher susceptibility to cell damage than those preserved by slow freezing, whether using straws or Fibreplug. However, Fibreplug with EG 7 mol/L resulted in fewer nonviable and apoptotic cells in donkey embryos. Donkey embryos showed lower susceptibility to vitrification than horse embryos. THE SUMMARY IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH - SEE SUPPORTING INFORMATION.

Effects of breed, age, season, and multiple ovulations on cyclic, PGF2α-induced, and postpartum estrus characteristics in Spanish jennies.

This retrospective, population-based, cross-sectional study analyzed data for a total of 104 jennies reared in southern Spain over the period 1995 to 2014. Intervals to ovulation and incidence of multiple ovulation and pregnancy were charted for spontaneous, PGF2α-induced, and postpartum estrous cycles. In spontaneous estrous cycles, the interovulatory interval varied as a function of breed (P < 0.03) and month of ovulation (P < 0.01), and duration of estrus signs was longer in older jennies (0.04). Spontaneous cycles were also associated with higher ovulation rates from September to January (P < 0.006). When PGF2α was used to induce the estrus, not only did estrus signs last longer in old (P < 0.004) and in polyovular (0.02) jennies but old jennies also displayed significantly higher ovulation rates (P < 0.03). In postpartum jennies, no variations were observed as a function of any of the independent variables analyzed. Comparison of ovulation rates between different types of cycle revealed that postpartum jennies exhibited significantly lower ovulation rates (1.32 ± 0.07) and a lower incidence of multiple ovulation (30.4%) than spontaneous (1.62 ± 0.04, 55.0%) and PGF2α-induced (1.74 ± 0.08, 65.5%) groups. No differences were observed in the incidence of ovulation or pregnancy depending on the location of ovulation in polyovular cycles, and ovulation occurred at similar rates in the right and left ovaries. These findings shed further light on reproductive physiology in jennies and may be of value in improving animal management.

Comparison of total water vapor column from GOME-2 on MetOp-A against ground-based GPS measurements at the Iberian Peninsula.

Water vapor column (WVC) obtained by GOME-2 instrument (GDP-4.6 version) onboard MetOp-A satellite platform is compared against reference WVC values derived from GPS (Global Positioning System) instruments from 2007 to 2012 at 21 places located at Iberian Peninsula. The accuracy and precision of GOME-2 to estimate the WVC is studied for different Iberian Peninsula zones using the mean (MBE) and the standard deviation (SD) of the GOME-2 and GPS differences. A direct comparison of all available data shows an overestimation of GOME-2 compared to GPS with a MBE of 0.7 mm (10%) and a precision quantified by a SD equals to 4.4mm (31%). South-Western zone presents the highest overestimation with a MBE of 1.9 mm (17%), while Continental zone shows the lowest SD absolute value (3.3mm) due mainly to the low WVC values reached at this zone. The influence of solar zenith angle (SZA), cloud fraction (CF), and the type of surface and its albedo on the differences between GOME-2 and GPS is analyzed in detail. MBE and SD increase when SZA increases, but MBE decreases (taking negative values) when CF increases and SD shows no significant dependence on CF. Under cloud-free conditions, the differences between WVC from GOME-2 and GPS are within the WVC error given by GOME-2. The changes of MBE and SD on Surface Albedo are not so evident, but MBE slightly decreases when the Surface Albedo increases. WVC from GOME-2 is, in general, more precise for land than for sea pixels.

Comparison of different treatments for oestrous induction in seasonally anovulatory mares.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different treatments for induction and synchronization of oestrus and ovulation in seasonally anovulatory mares. Fifteen mares formed the control group (C), while 26 mares were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Group T1 (n = 11) were treated with oral altrenogest (0.044 mg/kg; Regumate(®) ) during 11 days. Group T2 (n = 7) was intravaginally treated with 1.38 g of progesterone (CIDR(®) ) for 11 days. In group T3 (n = 8), mares were also treated with CIDR(®) , but only for 8 days. All mares received PGF2α 1 day after finishing the treatment. Sonographic evaluation of follicles, pre-ovulatory follicle size and ovulation time was recorded. Progesterone and leptin levels were analysed. Results show that pre-ovulatory follicles were developed after the treatment in 88.5% of mares. However, the pre-ovulatory follicle growth was dispersal, and sometimes it was detected when treatment was not finished. While in mares treated with intravaginal device, the follicle was soon detected (1.5 ± 1.2 days and 2.3 ± 2.0 days in T2 and T3 groups, respectively), in T1 group, the pre-ovulatory follicle was detected slightly later (3.9 ± 1.6 days). The interval from the end of treatment to ovulation did not show significant differences between groups (T1 = 13.1 ± 2.5 days; T2 = 11.0 ± 3.6 days; T3 = 13.8 ± 4.3 days). The pregnancy rate was 47.4%, similar to the rate observed in group C (46.7%; p > 0.05). Initial leptin concentrations were significantly higher in mares, which restart their ovarian activity after treatments, suggesting a role in the reproduction mechanisms in mares. It could be concluded that the used treatments may be effective for oestrous induction in mares during the late phase of the seasonally anovulatory period. Furthermore, they cannot synchronize oestrus, and then, it is necessary to know the reproductive status of mares when these treatments are used for oestrous synchronization.

Comparación del tiempo operatorio y complicaciones entre la pieloplastia laparoscópica convencional y robótica / Comparison of the Operation Time and Complications between Conventional and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty

Objetivo: Comparar los diferentes tiempos en que podemos dividir la pieloplastia laparoscópica convencional y robótica. Comparar la tasa de complicaciones entre ambos procedimientos. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de los pacientes diagnosticados de estenosis de la unión pieloureteral tratados mediante pieloplastia laparoscópica convencional y robótica con más de un año de seguimiento. Se han grabado y revisualizado todas las intervenciones. Se han medido los diferentes tiempos en que podemos dividir la pieloplastia. Se han recogido todas las complicaciones peri y postoperatorias presentadas por los pacientes. Se aplicaron las pruebas no paramétricas de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y la U de Mann-Whitney para muestras independientes utilizando un nivel de significación de 0.05. Resultados: Han sido válidos 50 pacientes, 33 tratados con laparoscopia convencional y 17 mediante laparoscopia robótica. El tiempo de sutura, tiempo total de la intervención y la estancia hospitalaria han sido menores con una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la pieloplastia robótica. La pieloplastia robótica ha presentado menor porcentaje de complicaciones (76,5% vs. 48,5%). Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron las infecciones urinarias, en relación al doble J. Se han producido 2 reestenosis en la laparoscopia convencional y 1 en la robótica. Tasa de éxitos del 93,9% para la laparoscopia convencional y de 94,1% para la robótica. Conclusiones: Aunque la tasa de éxitos es similar en ambos procedimientos, la pieloplastia robótica es un procedimiento más rápido y tiene menos tasas de complicaciones que la laparoscopia convencional (AU)

Objective: To compare the different times into which the convention and robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty can be divided. To compare the rate of complications between both procedures. Material and methods: A retrospective study was performed of the patients diagnosed of pyeloureteral junction stenosis and treated with convention and robotic laparoscopic pyeloplasty with more than one year of follow-up. All of the interventions were recorded and visualized. The different times in which the pyeloplasty can be divided were measured. All of the peri- and post-operative complications that occurred by the patients were collected. The non-parametric tests of Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U-Test for independent samples were applied using a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 50 patients were validated. Thirty three were treated with convention laparoscopy and 17 with robotic laparoscopy. The suture time, total intervention time and time of hospital stay were lower with a statistically significant difference in the robotic-assisted pyeloplasty. The robotic pyeloplasty had a lower percentage of complications (76.5% vs 48.5%). The most frequent complications were urinary infections, in relationship to the double J. Two restenoses occurred in the conventional laparoscopy and one in the robotic-assisted. Success rate was 93.9% for the conventional laparoscopy and 94.1% for the robotic-assisted one. Conclusions: Although the success rate is similar in both procedures, the robotic pyeloplasty is a very fast procedure and has lower rates of complications than the conventional laparoscopy (AU)

[Comparison of the operation time and complications between conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty]. / Comparación del tiempo operatorio y complicaciones entre la pieloplastia laparoscópica convencional y robótica.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the different times into which the convention and robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty can be divided. To compare the rate of complications between both procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of the patients diagnosed of pyeloureteral junction stenosis and treated with convention and robotic laparoscopic pyeloplasty with more than one year of follow-up. All of the interventions were recorded and visualized. The different times in which the pyeloplasty can be divided were measured. All of the peri- and post-operative complications that occurred by the patients were collected. The non-parametric tests of Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U-Test for independent samples were applied using a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were validated. Thirty three were treated with convention laparoscopy and 17 with robotic laparoscopy. The suture time, total intervention time and time of hospital stay were lower with a statistically significant difference in the robotic-assisted pyeloplasty. The robotic pyeloplasty had a lower percentage of complications (76.5% vs 48.5%). The most frequent complications were urinary infections, in relationship to the double J. Two restenoses occurred in the conventional laparoscopy and one in the robotic-assisted. Success rate was 93.9% for the conventional laparoscopy and 94.1% for the robotic-assisted one. CONCLUSIONS: Although the success rate is similar in both procedures, the robotic pyeloplasty is a very fast procedure and has lower rates of complications than the conventional laparoscopy.

Factors affecting gestation length and estrus cycle characteristics in Spanish donkey breeds reared in southern Spain.

This paper investigated gestation length and estrus cycle characteristics in three different Spanish donkey breeds (Andalusian, Zamorano-Leones, and Catalonian) kept on farm conditions in southern Spain, using data for ten consecutive breeding seasons. Gestation length was measured in 58 pregnancies. Ovarian ultrasonography was used to detect the ovulation, in order to ascertain true gestation length (ovulation-parturition). Pregnancy was diagnosed approximately 14-18 d after ovulation and confirmed on approximately day 60. Average gestation length was 362 +/-15.3 (SD) d, and no significant differences were observed between the three different breeds. Breeding season had a significant effect (P < 0.01), with longer gestation lengths when jennies were covered during the early period. Breed, age of jenny, year of birth, foal gender, month of breeding, and type of gestation had no significant effect on gestation length. After parturition, foal-heat was detected in 53.8% of the postpartum cycles studied (n = 78), and ovulation occurred on day 13.2 +/- 2.7. The duration of foal-heat was 4.7 +/-1.7 d, with a pregnancy rate of 40.5%. When subsequent estrus cycles were analyzed, the interovulatory interval (n = 68) and estrus duration (n = 258) were extended to a mean 23.8 +/- 3.5 and 5.7 +/- 2.2 d, respectively. Both variables were influenced by the year of study (P < 0.03 and P < 0.001), whereas month and season of ovulation (P < 0.005 and P < 0.009, respectively) affected only interovulatory intervals. Estrus duration was significantly longer than that observed at the foal-heat (P < 0.006), and the pregnancy rate was 65.8%. This study provides reference values for true gestation length and estrus cycle characteristics in Spanish jennies. Breeding season affected gestation length in farm conditions. Also, seasonal influence was observed on the length of the estrus cycle (i.e., interovulatory interval), although foal-heat was not affected by environmental factors.