Blood Biochemical Profile in Fertile and Repeat Breeder Ongole Cross Breed Cows.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Repeat breeding is a major problem in beef cows. The objective of the present study was to determine the blood biochemical levels in repeat breeder and fertile Ongole cross breed cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study compared the blood biochemical profiles from 30 repeat breeders and 30 fertile Ongole cross breed cows. Plasma glucose, total cholesterol, total protein and urea nitrogen concentrations were examined in repeat breeder cows and compared with those of fertile cows. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vein into anticoagulant-coated tubes. Cells were removed from plasma by centrifugation and blood glucose, total cholesterol and urea nitrogen concentrations were measured using commercially available kits; a non-commercial kit was used to determine total protein content. RESULTS: Significantly different blood profiles between repeat breeder and fertile cows were reported. Specifically, repeat breeder cows had lower levels of glucose, total cholesterol and total protein, but higher levels of urea nitrogen than fertile cows. CONCLUSION: Finally, a low level of total protein, total cholesterol and glucose, accompanied by a high level of urea nitrogen, may cause reproductive problems in repeat breeders. Additionally, present findings indicated that biochemical blood profiling could be used as a diagnostic tool for repeat breeding.

Morphological study of the transition of haematopoietic sites in the developing mouse during the peri-natal period.

The transition of fetal haematopoietic sites in mice was examined histologically from 12.5-day embryos (E12.5) until 10 days of age (D10), and the expression of the adhesive molecules VCAM-1 and fibronectin was examined immunohistologically. Erythropoiesis occurred in the liver (E12.5-18.5), spleen (E18.5-D4) and bone marrow (D6-10), in that sequence. Even at D10, some erythropoiesis occurred in the liver, and more so in the spleen, although the active haematopoietic site was the bone marrow. Similarly, granulopoiesis of neutrophils occurred in the liver, spleen and bone marrow in turn. Granulopoiesis still occurred in the spleen at D10, but no neutrophils were found in the liver after D4. VCAM-1 appeared in the liver, spleen and bone marrow in parallel with active erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. The co-expression of VCAM-1 and fibronectin was recognized in the endothelial cells of the sinus at the onset of haematopoiesis. This study showed that haematopoiesis in the liver, spleen and bone marrow overlapped peri-natally, although it shifted sequentially. VCAM-1 appears to be closely associated with erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis, and the co-expression of VCAM-1 and fibronectin plays a role in inducing haematopoietic stem cells to move to the tissues.