Day Of Insemination Research Articles

Hormonal concentrations and reproductive performance of Holstein heifers fed Trifolium alexandrinum as a phytoestrogenic roughage

Effects of phytoestrogen isoflavones in Berseem clover on hormonal balance during early pregnancy and fertility of heifers were studied. Holstein heifers (n=26) were divided into two equal homogenous groups. Heifers in the first group (Clover-fed group) were fed Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) as oestrogenic roughage; whereas the heifers in the second group (Silage-fed group) were fed maize silage. Concentrations of four isoflavone aglycones (genistein. Daidzein, biochanin A and formononetein) were determined in the two roughages. Treatment lasted for 20 consecutive weeks (5 months) during which blood samples were collected biweekly for determining the metabolic profile of heifers. Heifers were subjected to oestrous synchronisation using a double prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) based protocol, 14days apart (week 10 and 12), and were artificially inseminated 12h following detection of overt signs of oestrus. Concentrations of serum oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on the day of insemination (Day 0) and on Days 7, 14 and 21 post-insemination (early pregnancy) were determined and P4 to E2 ratio was calculated. Clover had greater total isoflavone content than maize silage. The dominant isoflavone detected in Berseem clover was biochanin A, whereas the least was formononetein. Metabolic profile was not affected (P>0.05) by the type of roughage and was in the same trend in both experimental groups. The overall mean concentration of serum E2 was greater (P<0.05) in the clover-fed group than in the silage-fed group. The overall mean concentration of serum P4 was less (P<0.05) in the clover-fed group than in the silage-fed group. During the period of early pregnancy (from Day 7–21 post-insemination) the concentration of serum P4 increased in the silage-fed group, however, no change was observed in the clover-fed group. The overall mean of P4 to E2 ratio was greater (P<0.001) in the silage-fed group compared with that in the clover-fed group. Heifers fed clover had a lesser (P=0.054) conception rate and a greater (P=0.062) percentage of heifers returning to oestrus than silage-fed heifers. In conclusion, isoflavones in Berseem clover apparently disturbed hormonal balance during early pregnancy leading to a reduction in the fertility of heifers.

Temperature and rainfall are related to fertility rate after spring artificial insemination in small ruminants

A total number of 1092 artificial inseminations (AIs) performed from March to May were documented over four consecutive years on 10 Payoya goat farms (36° N) and 19,392 AIs on 102 Rasa Aragonesa sheep farms (41° N) over 10years. Mean, maximum, and minimum ambient temperatures, mean relative humidity, mean solar radiation, and total rainfall on each insemination day were recorded. Overall, fertility rates were 58% in goats and 45% in sheep. The fertility rates of the highest and lowest deciles of each of the meteorological variables indicated that temperature and rainfall had a significant effect on fertility in goats. Specifically, inseminations that were performed when mean (68%), maximum (68%), and minimum (66%) temperatures were in the highest decile, and rainfall was in the lowest decile (59%), had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher proportion of does that became pregnant than did the ewes in the lowest decile (56, 54, 58, and 49%, respectively). In sheep, the fertility rates of the highest decile of mean (62%), maximum (62%), and minimum (52%) temperature, RH (52%), THI (53%), and rainfall (45%) were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than were the fertility rates among ewes in the lowest decile (46, 45, 45, 45, 46, and 43%, respectively). In conclusion, weather was related to fertility in small ruminants after AI in spring. It remains to be determined whether scheduling the dates of insemination based on forecasted temperatures can improve the success of AI in goats and sheep.

Comparison of a lateral flow milk progesterone test with enzyme immunoassay as an aid for reproductive status determination in cows

The lateral flow test (LFT) is an immunochromatographic method that utilises an immunostrip for non-laboratory diagnostic purposes. The present study evaluated a milk progesterone LFT against the enzyme immunoassay (EIA)...

Interferon stimulated genes as peripheral diagnostic markers of early pregnancy in sheep: a critical assessment

We investigated the diagnostic reliability of pregnancy detection using changes in interferon stimulated gene (ISG) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in circulating immune cells in ewes. Two different groups of ewes (an experimental group, experiment 1 and a farm group, experiment 2) were oestrus-synchronized and blood sampled on day 14 (D0=day of insemination in control animals, experiment 1) and day 15 (experiment 2). Real-time PCR were performed to evaluate the abundance of different ISG mRNAs. In the experimental group, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 29 ewes born and bred in experimental facilities were isolated using a Percoll gradient method. Gene expression for Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10), Myxovirus (influenza virus) resistance 1 (MX1) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) mRNA were, respectively, 8.3-fold, 6.1-fold and 2.7-fold higher (P<0.001) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant ewes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves generated from the real-time PCR data demonstrated that a reliable cut-off could be established for CXCL10, MX1 and STAT1. In the farm group of animals, peripheral blood leucocytes of 37 cross-bred multiparous ewes bought from several herds were isolated using the PAXgene® procedure. This blood sampling procedure is achievable in farms, whereas the Percoll method is not. No significant differences (P>0.10) in CXCL10, STAT1, MX1, Myxovirus (influenza virus) resistance 2 (MX2) and ISG15 ubiquitin-like modifier (ISG15) mRNA expression were found between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. The ROC curves and the hierarchical classification generated from the real-time PCR data failed to discriminate between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. In this group of animals, our results show a strong variability in ISG expression patterns: 17% of animals identified as non-pregnant by the five tests were in fact pregnant, only 52% of pregnant animals had at least two positive results (two genes above threshold), whereas up to five positive results (five genes above threshold) were needed to avoid misclassification. In conclusion, this study illustrates the high variability in ISG expression levels in immune circulating cells during early pregnancy and, therefore, highlights the limits of using ISG expression levels in blood samples, collected on PAXgene® tubes on farms, for early pregnancy detection in sheep.

Animal Welfare Practices followed by Dairy Farmers of Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir State

As we all are aware that safe and quality milk is being produced from healthy animals using management practices that are sustainable from an animal welfare, social, economic and environmental perspective. This study was carried out to find out the common animal welfare practices being practiced by randomly selected 120 dairy farmers in the four blocks of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir state of India. For the study, a door to door survey was conducted using semi-structured interview schedule to collect primary data on various dairy animal welfare practices like calf rearing, feeding, housing, breeding, health care and milking welfare keeping in mind the “Five Freedoms” concept for animal welfare. Data from the study revealed that 100 percent of the farmers took care of the calves at the time of birth, provided colostrums (44%) after the removal of placenta and fed milk to their calves for more than four months after birth, but as far as total calf welfare was concerned they were not practicing cutting, ligation and disinfection of naval cord as required. They were also providing necessary amount of greens and concentrates to their animals and in some parts of district, they had maintained the standards of feeding welfare by exposing their animals to green pastures. Majority of the respondents had constructed a separate (54%) and well directed (61%) houses for their animals. Height of the shelters was sufficient (67%) and had kacha floor (51%) in their animal sheds. Regarding the breeding welfare practices, majority of the respondents were practicing artificial insemination method and also got their animals examined after 90 days of insemination, which was a good breeding welfare practice. Majority of them had provided proper prophylactic measures to their animals from contagious diseases for their health welfare. They were milking their animals twice a day in the same place where they usually tied them. Majority of them were following good milking welfare practices by cleaning their hands, utensils and udder of the animal before milking.

Evidence for obtaining a second successive semen sample for intrauterine insemination in selected patients: results from 32 consecutive cases

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to compare the semen parameters of two successive samples obtained within an interval of less than 60 minutes from patients planning to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI) whose first samples exhibited low semen quality.MethodsThirty-two consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. On the day of IUI, the semen analysis of the samples initially presented by all patients met at least two of the following criteria: sperm concentration <5×106/mL, total sperm count <10×106, progressive sperm motility (a+b) in the native sample <30%, and total motile sperm count (TMSC) <4×106. A successive semen sample was obtained no more than 60 minutes after the first sample.ResultsCompared to the first sample, the second exhibited significantly (p<0.05) improved sperm concentration, TMSC, progressive motility, and vitality. Regarding TMSC, the most critical parameter on the day of IUI, 23 patients (71.8%) improved it, while nine (28.2%) displayed poorer outcomes.ConclusionIn defined cases, requesting a second successive ejaculate on the day of insemination may result in a high percentage of cases in an improvement of the quality of the sample.

Progesterone concentration in milk and blood serum and reproductiveefficiency of cows after Ovsynch treatment

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of hormonal synchronization of ovulation on progesterone concentrations in milk and blood serum and on reproductive performance. Sixty Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 8000 L over 305 days of lactation were divided into 2 groups of 30 animals. One-factor ANOVA and a t-test of progesterone concentrations in venous serum and milk revealed that the lowest concentrations of progesterone in milk (Ovsynch 5.8 ± 1.0 ng/mL; control 4.5 ± 0.6 ng/mL) and blood serum (Ovsynch 1.3 ± 0.9 ng/mL; control 1.4 ± 0.5 ng/mL) in both groups were found on the day of estrus or artificial insemination (AI) (both P < 0.05). Increases in the concentrations of progesterone in milk (Ovsynch 17.6 ± 4.3 ng/mL; control 10.5 ± 1.9 ng/mL) and blood serum (Ovsynch 3.6 ± 1.1 ng/mL; control 4.0 ± 1.0 ng/mL) were observed on day 7 after AI (both P < 0.05). Concentrations of progesterone in milk and blood serum in nonpregnant cows were reduced on day 21 after AI. Assessment of reproductive performance revealed that the application of treatment shortened the duration of the service period (Ovsynch 76 days; control 83 days) and the calving interval (Ovsynch 376 days; control 382 days).

Effect of a long chain n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on production and reproduction variables in Holstein dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a rumen-protected fish oil supplement on the production and reproduction variables in postpartum dairy cows. Holstein cows (n=46) were given a basal total mixed diet plus one PUFA supplement: n-3 (n-3; protected fish oil; 1% dry matter intake (DMI); n=23) or control (n-6; toasted soybeans; 1.8% DMI; n=23), in a switchback design over two consecutive lactations. Supplements were added to the diet between calving and 2 months after calving to assess the effect on growth and maturation of ovarian follicles from which ovulation occurred around the day of insemination. Body weight (BW), milk yield (MY) and composition, dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance (EB), subcutaneous fat thickness, plasma fatty acid composition, plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose and urea concentrations, follicular activity, embryo mortalities and fertility (conception rate after first AI, AI1) were assessed. BW, MY, DMI, plasma NEFA, glucose and urea were unaffected by the diet. There was a trend of an increased number of large follicles (diameter≥10mm) with the n-3 dietary supplementation (P=0.06) and a decrease in infertility or early embryo mortality rate 21 days after AI, 13.5% in the n-3 compared with 38.8% in the n-6 group (P=0.09), with no effect on the conception rate at 35d or 90d after AI1. These data suggest that the effect seen on ovarian variables is not associated with an effect on production and metabolic variables and is specific to n-3 PUFA supplementation. Further studies are necessary to determine whether DHA or EPA enhances fertility in lactating dairy cattle.

Factors affecting the size of ovulatory follicles and conception rate in high-yielding dairy cows

Two studies were designed to determine (1) the effects of Heatsynch and Ovsynch protocols versus spontaneous ovulation and (2) the effects of calving problems, clinical uterine infections, and clinical mastitis on the size of the ovulatory follicle, conception rate, and embryonic/fetal (E/F) death in high-yielding dairy cows. In study 1, cows without the history of calving problems, clinical uterine infections, and clinical mastitis were randomly allocated to either an Ovsynch (n = 45) or Heatsynch (n = 39) ovulation synchronization protocol or spontaneous ovulation (n = 43) groups. Blood samples were collected on the day of artificial insemination (AI) to measure progesterone (P4), estradiol-17β, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and 7 days later to measure P4. Study 2 consisted of cows (n = 351) with or without the history of calving problems, clinical uterine infections, and clinical mastitis which were artificially inseminated after a 55-day voluntary waiting period. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed at the time of AI to measure the ovulatory follicle size and on Days 30 and 68 after AI to diagnose pregnancy in both studies. In study 1, the mean (±standard error of the mean) diameter of the ovulatory follicle was greater (P = 0.0005) and E/F mortality was lower (P = 0.007) for the spontaneous ovulation group compared with Ovsynch and Heatsynch groups. Serum concentration of P4 on Day 7 after AI was correlated with the size of the ovulatory follicle (P = 0.007). Conception rate at Days 30 and 68 was not significantly different between the three experimental groups in study 1. Cows with serum IGF-1 concentrations greater than 55 ng/mL at AI had significantly higher Day 68 conception rate (50% vs. 24%) and lower E/F death (16.6% vs. 40%) compared to cows with serum IGF-1 concentrations lower than 56 ng/mL at AI. The conception rate on Days 30 and 68 for follicles of 10 to 14 mm in diameter (34% and 21.8%) was significantly lower than follicles of 14.1 to 19 mm in diameter (60% and 50%), respectively (P < 0.05). In study 2, the ovulatory follicle in cows with clinical uterine infections was smaller than that in cows without clinical uterine infections (16.4 vs. 17.1 mm; P = 0.04). In conclusion, the size of the ovulatory follicle is affected by ovulation synchronizing protocols and postpartum clinical uterine infections. In addition, cows with higher serum IGF-1 concentrations on the day of AI had higher Day 68 conception rate and lower E/F death.

Factors affecting expression of estrus measured by activity monitors and conception risk of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine risk-factors affecting increase in physical activity during estrus and pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. Cows were monitored continuously by 2 automated activity monitors [a collar-mounted accelerometer (HT; Heatime, SCR Engineers, Netanya, Israel) and a leg-mounted pedometer (BO; Boumatic Heat-seeker-TX, Boumatic Dairy Equipment, Madison, WI)]. When an increase in activity was detected, body condition score (BCS) and blood samples were collected, ovaries were scanned by ultrasonography, and, if the cow was eligible for breeding, artificial insemination was performed. Milk production and health-related data were recorded throughout the experimental period. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed at 42±7 d of gestation. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and logistic regression. A total of 1,099 true events of estrus from 318 lactating Holstein cows were recorded, averaging 3.46±1.1 events per cow. Positive predictive value for estrus episodes detected by the HT and BO systems were 89.6 and 85.5%, respectively. Mean peak activity at estrus (PA) recorded by the HT system was 71.6±20.7 index-value, and 334.3±155.7% relative increase by the BO system. Compared with primiparous, multiparous cows expressed estrus with lower PA (69.3±0.8 vs. 75.9±1.1 index for HT; 323.9±6.0 vs. 354.8±8.48% for BO) and shorter duration (DU; 10.7±0.2 vs. 12.0±0.3 h); DU was measured by HT only. Lower BCS was associated with decreased PA measured by both systems, estrus DU, and P/AI. Peak activity was weakly correlated with milk production on the day of artificial insemination (r=−0.20); however, when categorized into quartiles, the highest-yield cows had lower PA and DU. Follicle diameter was not correlated with PA or DU, but cows with greater concentrations of estradiol had higher PA. Cows with greater PA in both systems had greater P/AI than those with lower PA (36.5 vs. 24.6% for HT, 33.5 vs. 21.4% for BO). In conclusion, measurements of estrus events captured by automated activity monitors are correlated with BCS, parity, and secondary behavior signs related to estrus. Surprisingly, estrus intensity and duration were only weakly correlated with milk production, preovulatory follicle diameter, and concentrations of estradiol at estrus. Cows that had measurements of high-intensity estrus were significantly more fertile than low-intensity estrus.

Changes occurring in the receptors of blood neutrophils during implantation in Sahiwal cows

Neutrophils are considered to be the first line of defence against any external invasion. To study the number of neutrophils and expression of adhesion receptors during implantation of an embryo in the mothers endometrium. Blood samples were collected from 15 Sahiwal cows on the day of Artificial Insemination (A.I.) (day 0), and on day 18 post A.I. (day of implantation). Total leucocyte counts (TLC), number and type of neutrophils were observed under light microscopy, whereas, neutrophils receptors were observed by flow cytometry. Cows were divided into pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP) groups once they were confirmed pregnant after estimation of plasma progesterone (on day 18) and also by rectal palpation (on day 60). Higher (P<0.05), TLC and neutrophil percentage was observed during early pregnancy in P cows on day 18 th of A.I.. The surface receptor expression of CD62L and CD11B by flow cytometry showed significantly lower (P<0.05) expression of these receptors on day 18 th in P cows. From this study it was concluded that more neutrophils are released during circulation in both P and NP cows, but more surface receptor on the surfaces of NP cows increase the overall activity of their neutrophils and thus prevents implantation of the embryo in them.

The influence of the Chinese zodiac on the male-to-female ratio at birth in Hong Kong

BackgroundSecular trends have been found in the male–female ratio at birth (M/F: male births divided by total births) in various countries, and this ratio is anticipated to approximate 0.515. Births in Dragon years are considered auspicious. Fertility is known to have increased in Dragon years in Hong Kong. This study analyzed M/F with reference to Dragon years. MethodsAnnual national data for male and female live births in Hong Kong were obtained from the World Health Organization and analyzed with contingency Tables. ResultsThere were 3,827,347 live births (1960–2009). Births declined steadily, then increased from 2004 in association with M/F. M/F was stable prior to this time, with spikes in 1975–1976, 1988, and 2000, associated with increases in births for these same years. ConclusionM/F follows a U-shaped regression on cycle day of insemination. Families attempting to conceive children during Dragon years may have increased coital rates, inadvertently skewing M/F in favor of a male excess.

Short communication: Transmission of border disease virus to seronegative cows inseminated with infected semen

The goal of this study was to investigate the transmissibility of border disease (BD) virus to seronegative cows via artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen from a bull persistently infected with BD virus. Five pestivirus naive cows were inseminated with BD virus-infected semen. Blood was collected for detection of pestivirus antibody by means of an ELISA on day 0 (day of insemination) and then every 7 days until day 56, at which time a serum neutralisation test (SNT) for differentiation of BD and BVD virus was carried out. Seroconversion was first noticed in two cows on day 14, in two cows on day 21 and in one cow on day 28. In the SNT, all cows had distinctly positive titres against BD virus. Therefore, BD virus is readily transmitted by infected semen, but none of the cows conceived, most likely because of poor semen quality.

Investigations on automatically measured feed intake amount in dairy cows during the oestrus period

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine whether feed intake amount and feed intake behaviour could be related to oestrus in dairy cows. Furthermore, we investigated whether oestrus had an effect on daily milk yield. A total of 138 oestrus cycles, leading to conception of 100 cows, were analysed. The parameters "daily fresh matter intake amount (kg)", "daily number of visits to the feeding trough" and "time spent feeding per day (min)" were electronically measured and recorded. For a sub-quantity of all animals, daily milk yield (kg) was recorded continuously and stored in the herd management software. Special attention was given to the day of oestrus, which was defined as the day of successful insemination. All remaining days of the oestrus cycle were considered as the reference period. Among all animals and cycles, fresh matter intake amount per day, number of visits per day, and time spent feeding per day were reduced by 10.3, 9.1 and 20.8 %, respectively, on the day of oestrus. Fresh matter intake was significantly lower in primiparous cows than in multiparous cows. However, number of visits to the trough and time spent feeding per day were significantly higher in primiparous cows compared to multiparous cows. Day of oestrus did not have a significant effect on daily milk yield, as this parameter was characterized by high variation among all days of the oestrus cycle. In conclusion, if an RIC system is used, monitoring of feeding behaviour appears to be a potential auxiliary aid in oestrus detection.

Sire effect on early and late embryonic death in French Holstein cattle

We investigated the effect of maternal sire on early pregnancy failure (between D0, day of insemination and D90) in their progeny during the first and second lactations (n=3508) in the Holstein breed. The estimated breeding value (EBV) for cow fertility of 12 bulls (reliability⩾0.95) was used to create the following three groups: low, medium and high EBV (EBV from −0.7 to 1 expressed as genetic standard deviation relative to the mean of the breed). In their daughters (93 to 516 per bull), progesterone measurement was carried out on the day of artificial insemination (AI; D0) to check whether the cows were in the follicular phase and on D18 to 25 to assess non-fertilisation-early embryonic mortality (NF-EEM). Late embryonic mortality (LEM) and early foetal death (FD) were determined by ultrasonography on D45 and D90 and by the return to oestrus after the first AI. Frequencies of NF-EEM, LEM, FD and pregnancy were 33.3%, 11.7%, 1.4% and 48.5% and incidences were 35.1, 19.0, 2.7 and 51.1, respectively. Sire EBV was significantly related to the incidences of pregnancy failure between D0 and D90, fertilisation failure-early embryonic mortality (FF-EEM) and LEM but not to the incidence of FD between D45 and D90 of pregnancy. The relative risk (RR) of FF-EEM was significantly higher (RR=1.2; P<0.05) for the progeny group of low EBV bulls when compared with high EBV bulls. The same effect was observed when comparing LEM of the progeny groups from the low EBV bulls to those from moderate and high EBV bulls (RR, respectively, of 1.3 and 1.4; P<005). The incidence of FF-EEM was significantly higher when cows were inseminated before 80 days postpartum compared with later, and for the extreme values of the difference between milk fat and protein content measured during the first 3 months of lactation. FF-EEM was also significantly related to the year of observation. The incidence of LEM was higher for the highest producing cows and was influenced by interaction between milk yield×lactation rank and milk yield×milk protein content. In conclusion, this study showed large differences in early pregnancy failure between progeny groups and highlights the interest of accurate characterisation of embryonic death in order to identify potential candidate genes for female fertility.

Pregnancy diagnosis techniques in goats – a review

Several techniques for pregnancy diagnosis in goats are developed. Some of them are efficient and applicable in the field, but not enough accurate. Others are outlined with a high precision, but require equipment and specialised skills. Laparoscopy, laparotomy and vaginal biopsy are accurate but invasive and thus, inappropriate for the routine practice. Abdominal inspection, transabdominal palpation and increased live weight could be indicative for pregnancy in goats but they are reliable only after the second half of gestation. Udder examination and palpation are of low accuracy and their independent application for pregnancy diagnosis is not suitable. Blood, milk and faecal progesterone assays could indicate pregnancy in goats after the 21 post insemination day until the end of gestation. The detection of pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in blood plasma or milk samples is an early pregnancy marker but requires laboratory equipment. Non-return to oestrus is a cheap, practical and widely used method for detection of pregnancy between post insemination days 17 and 21 and does without signs of oestrus are assumed to be pregnant. A-mode, B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography are alternative methods for pregnancy diagnosis. Their accuracy and practical application potential are different. The two-dimensional ultrasound is one of the most appropriate methods for pregnancy diagnosis in goats. The accuracy of the method is about 100% on post insemination day 25–30 using the transrectal approach, whereas via the transabdominal approach, this accuracy is attained between the 40 and the 45 day.

Characteristics of the hemostatic system in cows during pregnancy

The investigation was conducted on healthy Black Pied cows whose hemostatic indices were determined on the day of insemination and on days 45, 90, 135, 180, 230, and 280 of pregnancy. A gradual reduction in the activity of platelet aggregation in the blood was noted in the animals in response to a number of inducers (ADP + collagen + epinephrine to 23.6 s; DP + thrombin + epinephrine to 23.2 s; ADP + collagen + thrombin + epinephrine to 17.3 s). In this case, control of the vascular wall over platelet aggregation in the bloodstream increased (vascular wall antiaggregation activity index with ADP + collagen + epinephrine to 1.53, with ADP + thrombin + epinephrine to 1.52, with ADP + collagen + thrombin + epinephrine to 1.47). The production of antithrombin III and tissue plasminogen activators increased with increasing length of pregnancy. A gradual decrease in the level of fibrinogen and coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, XI, and XII was established from the time of insemination until the end of observation.

Evaluation of Certain Oxidative Stress Parameters in Heifers That were Administered Short Term PRID

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short term administration of PRID on the levels of serum progesterone, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant capacity (TOC) in heifers. This purpose, 200 heifers were synchronized with the Cosynch-72 protocol in which progesterone was administered for 5 days. Blood was taken from the heifers 10 days prior to starting synchronization (day -10), the day the PRID was attached (day 0), the day the PRID was removed (day 5) and on the day of insemination (day 8). Blood taken on day -10 and day 0 were accepted as control values for the study. Serum progesterone, NO, MDA, TAC and TOC were measured on days 5 and 8. The difference in serum NO and MDA levels was found to be statistically significant on day 5 of the study (P<0.001). It was determined that the procedure caused a drop in the TAC level, while the TOC level was not affected. In conclusion, it was determined that short-term administration of PRID in heifers caused an increase in serum NO and MDA levels, a decrease in TAC level and had no effect on the TOC level.

Post-wash Semen Quality and Outcome of Intrauterine Insemination

Post-wash Semen Quality and Outcome of Intrauterine Insemination Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is used for treatment of infertile couples with unexplained infertility and mild or moderate male factor. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple, non-invasive procedure and usually combined with ovulation induction (OI) to improve pregnancy rate. Results of previous studies about semen parameters evaluation are conflicting, some studies suggest that total motile sperm count (TMC) in prewash sample on day of insemination may serve as a good predictor of sperm quality and pregnancy rate, while, analysis of semen parameters after preparation (post-wash) can provide useful prognostic information for women undergoing IUI. Post-wash total motile progressive count (post-wash TMC) was proposed as a reliable method to determine when to conduct intra-cytoplasmic injection (ICSI) in in-vitro fertilization cycles (IVF) cycles. This prospective study was designed to detect best semen parameters to achieve pregnancy in infertile women undergoing OI and IUI treatment. .

Grupo de Interés de Embriología de ASEBIR: estudio multicéntrico para la validación del criterio ASEBIR de valoración morfológica de embriones tempranos en día +3 y su asociación con la tasa de nacido vivo

IntroductionIn 2007, Spanish Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology developed a standardized embryo grading system. After 6 years of application, it has been considered necessary to evaluate its validity, not only in terms of implantation rate, as in most studies, but also in terms of live-birth rate. Material and methodsA multicenter retrospective study was conducted on 1,451 embryo cycles performed from January to December 2011, in which 2,678 embryos were transferred on day 3. The inclusion criteria were fresh cycles with autologous oocytes (women age≤35 years old) or donor oocytes, cycles with a 100 or a 0% implantation rate or from homogenous embryo transfers (embryos transferred were of the same grade). Apart from the collection of embryo morphology parameters, additional variables such as maternal age, female sterility etiology, type of treatment (oocyte donation or autologous cycles), insemination technique (standard IVF or ICSI) or the sperm quality on the insemination day were added to the data collection. Statistical analysis: Chi square, Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression analysis. P<.05 was considered to be statistically significant. ResultsAnalysis of data revealed a positive correlation between embryo quality (grade) and both implantation and live-birth rate, which are maximum in grade A embryos (25.3 and 21.7%, respectively) and minimal in grade D embryos (9.7 and 7.1%, respectively). DiscussionThe current study demonstrates that the Spanish Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology embryo grading system has predictive value on the implantation and live-birth rate for early embryos on day 3. However, this grading system is open to future modifications, based on knowledge and scientific evidence, which could increase the accuracy of successful prediction in our patients.