امیر نیاسری نسلجی

It is desirable in estrus synchronization in sheep to avoid intravaginal devices and to shorten the program from 14 to 6 days. Moreover, replacement of eCG with safe, cheap, and efficient gonadotropin is in worldwide demand.

This study investigates the possibility of replacing eCG with human recombinant FSH (hrFSH) and CIDR with progesterone injections for estrous synchronization in ewes.

Assaf and Lacaune ewes (n=170) were divided into two groups and synchronized with either progesterone injections for 6 days or CIDR for 14 days. Ewes assigned in the injection group, received progesterone (37.5 mg; SC) and GnRH analogue (7.5 µg Alarelin acetate; IM) on day 0 of the experiment. On days 3 and 6, ewes received 25 and 12.5 mg progesterone (SC), respectively. On day 6, ewes in both groups received prostaglandin F2α (250 µg Cloprostenol; IM), and were divided into two subgroups to receive either hrFSH (75 IU Follitropin alfa; SC) or eCG (400 IU; IM). On day 7, fertile rams were introduced to ewes for 21 days. Data were analyzed using GLM and Glimmix.

There was no difference in the respective lambing rates, prolificacy, and fecundity between CIDR (71.1, 1.63, and 1.16%) and injections (66.7, 1.55, and 1.03%); between eCG (71.4, 1.60, and 1.14%), and hrFSH (66.3, 1.58, and 1.05%, P>0.05).

In conclusion, 6-day progesterone injection-based protocol produced similar results to 14-day CIDR program and hrFSH could be an effective alternative for eCG during estrus synchronization in ewes.

Artificial insemination in camels remains undeveloped due to the difficulties in semen collection, semen viscosity, and semen cryopreservation. The semen collection procedure has been facilitated to some extent using camel phantom and/or possibly an intravaginal condom. Main reasons for semen viscosity in camelids have been unraveled and different mechanical and enzymatic approaches were used to alleviate this problem; however, there is still no conclusive protocol to safely remove semen viscosity completely. It seems that along with the problem of semen viscosity, semen cryopreservation in camels remains unresolved. As a result, there is no convincing report on successful and repeatable pregnancies following insemination with frozen semen in camel. This review gathered most of the information that appeared in the peer reviewed journals to highlight major problems in camel semen technology, including semen collection, semen viscosity, and semen cryopreservation.

Plasma egg yolk (PEY), due to simple preparation and easier access, could be a suitable alternative to raw egg yolk for preserving canine semen.

The present study investigated suitable concentrations of PEY and glycerol for preservation of canine semen.

Semen was collected by digital manipulation (seven replicates from four dogs). Following initial raw semen evaluation, the semen was diluted in a tris-based extender supplemented with varying concentrations of chicken PEY (0, 20, and 40% v/v) and glycerol (3%; v/v). After cooling the specimen to 4°C within 1 h, the specimens were diluted with an equal volume of freezing extender consisting of similar concentrations of chicken PEY and 0 and 7% glycerol to reach the final glycerol concentration of 1.5 and 5% for short-term storage of canine semen. Samples with different concentrations of PEY and 5% glycerol were frozen. The sperm viability parameters including total motility, progressive forward motility, plasma membrane integrity, and live percentage of sperm were assessed following short and long-term storage.

Sperm viability parameters of semen extended in an extender supplemented with 20 or 40% chicken PEY with either 1.5 or 5% glycerol remained superior until 72 h after semen collection compared to the specimen that did not receive any PEY (P<0.05). Post-thaw sperm viability was also greater in samples extended in extender supplemented with either 20 or 40% PEY compared to 0% PEY.

Tris-based extender supplemented with either 20% chicken PEY could be suitable for short and long-term preservation of canine semen.

According to the reverse pharmacological method, traditional medicine has a good source of information for discovering new drug candidates. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of endocrine disorder and infertility among women of reproductive age. This syndrome is commonly treated by oral contraceptive pills; however, it could be associated with side effects.

The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize medicinal plants proposed by Persian medicine (PM) for the treatment of PCOS.

The first step was to find out the most relevant keywords to the symptoms of PCOS among five authentic PM manuscripts because there was no medical term called PCOS in PM texts. According to those keywords, all materia medicas that was described in the selected books were recorded. Each materia medica received scores based on specific criteria.  The scores were used to prioritize medicaments.

Ferula assa-foetida L., Tanacetum parthenium L., Lycium barbarum, Cymbopogon schoenanthus L., Lepidium sativum L. and Marrubium vulgare were six top materia medica identified in this study.

Identification of closely related terminology for PCOS in traditional medical texts and prioritization of herbal remedies could be a sound approach to discover new drugs. Accordingly, Ferula assa-foetida L. with the highest score was considered the best candidate for the treatment of PCOS in PM.

Present study investigated a suitable source of plasma egg yolk (PEY) to supplement tris-based extender for cryopreservation of canine semen. Collected semen by artificial vagina was diluted to reach 50-100×106 per ML by Tris-based extender, supplemented with 20% PEY of three avian species (domestic chicken, domestic duck and pigeon) and 3% glycerol. After cooling specimen to 4°C for 1 hr, the specimens were diluted with equal volume of freezing extender consisting of 20% PEY, similar to initial PEY, and 7% glycerol to achieve the final glycerol concentration of 5%. The sperm viability parameters including total motility, progressive forward motility, plasma membrane integrity and live percentage of sperm were assessed following semen collection, after adding the first and the second part of semen extender and post thawing. Chicken PEY had better plasma membrane integrity (80.9±2.0 %) compared to pigeon PEY (76.6±3.08 %; P<0.01). There was not any other significant difference in semen viability parameters between chicken PEY (total motility: 85.4±2.72; progressive forward motility: 71.9±3.24; live percentage: 89.7±1.66) and other plasma egg yolks. In conclusion, due to the ease of availability and superiority in some sperm viability parameters, chicken PEY at the concentration of 20% could provide beneficial effect for cryopreservation of canine semen.

Timed breeding programs are essential to implementing extensive artificial insemination (AI) programs in sheep.

This study aimed to evaluate whether application of pre-synchronization and controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) before and during fixed time AI protocol, respectively, could enhance estrus synchronization and fertility of ewes.

A total of 120 ewes were randomly assigned into four experimental groups (n=30 in each group) considering age, weight, and body condition score (BCS). All ewes received GnRH (25 μg of alarelin acetate), and five days afterwards, PGF2α (75 μg d-cloprostenol) plus eCG (400 IU). In the control group, ewes received no additional treatment. In Pre-synch group, ewes received two injections of PGF2α at 9-day interval three days before GnRH administration of main estrus syn-chronization protocol. In CIDR group, ewes received 5-day CIDR between GnRH and PGF2α of main estrus synchronization protocol. In Pre-synch-CIDR group, ewes received both two injections of PGF2α at 9-day interval and 5-day CIDR. Blood serum progesterone concentrations were measured in all ewes prior to injection of PGF  2α (day 5). All ewes were subjected to fixed time laparoscopic AI 48 hours after administration of the last PGF  2α.

No interaction was found between CIDR and pre-synchronization protocols (p >0.05). Progesterone concen-tration was higher in the CIDR groups than in groups without CIDR (p <0.0001). Estrous cycle was not affected by pre-synchronization and CIDR (p >0.05). The estrus was earlier in ewes with pre-synchronization compared to ewes without pre-synchronization following the last injection of prostaglandin (p =0.022). Pregnancy rate, lambing rate, prolificacy rate, fecundity rate, lamb weight at birth, and lamb gender were not significantly different between the treatment groups (p >0.05).

In our study, estrus rate and reproductive parameters showed no significant differences between dif-ferent groups, although pre-synchronization advanced onset of estrus expression.

Estrus synchronization is a valuable tool in ewe reproductive management.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and determine the best time of eCG injection in short-term synchronization program based on GnRH-PGF 2α in Shal ewes during the breeding season.

One hundred and sixty non-pregnant Shal ewes, aged 2-6 years old were selected and randomly stratified to four equal groups. 25µg Alarelin acetate (GnRH analogue) and 75µg D-cloprostenol (PGF 2α analogue) were injected to all ewes, on days 0 and 5, respectively. The first group (control) did not receive any other treatment. Groups 2 to 4 received 400 IU of eCG, 48 hours before, 24 hours before and concurrent with PGF2α, respectively. Ewes were exposed to fertile rams during 96 hours post PGF2α injection. Blood serum progesterone concentrations were measured just before PGF2α injection and 10 days later.

No difference was observed in the first serum progesterone evaluation among experimental groups (P>0.05). However, progesterone had significantly higher concentrations 10 days after PGF 2α injection in groups 2 and 3 in comparison with groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). Simultaneous use of eCG with PGF2α led to a higher estrus response in comparison with other groups (P<0.05). During the first day after PGF2α, a higher percentage of ewes in group 2 and 3 exhibited estrus compared with groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). Conversely, estrus expression was higher 24-48 hours after prostaglandin injection in groups 1 and 4 than the other two (P<0.05). Thus, the interval to estrus was earlier in group 2 and 3 than groups 1 and 4 (P<0.05). No significant differences were detected in terms of conception rate, lambing rate, prolificacy and fecundity among study groups (P>0.05).

Use of eCG in different times (48 and 24 hours before and concurrent with PGF2α) in short-term synchronization program based on GnRH-PGF2α during the breeding season can be effective on estrus indices. Regarding the diversity of sheep's masses in Iran, it seems that acceptable results may be achieved when eCG is used concurrently with PGF2α in short-term protocol.

In recent decays, consumers have more information about foods. Vegetables, crops and other natural food with high nutritional value replace hazardous substances. In this study, the effects of locust bean gum and xanthan gum with β-glucan were investigated in camel synbiotic yogurt functional. Locust bean gum (LBG) has about 88% of galactose and mannose, 4% other polysaccharides, 6% protein, 1% cellulose and 1% the ashes (Nasirpour, 2013; Hansen, 1993). Xanthan gum is an extracellular polysaccharide produced by Compestris Xanthomonas in aerobic fermentation process. Xanthan reactions synergies with guar and LBG, so the low concentrations in the presence of LBG viscosity increase (Ramirez-Figueroa et al., 2002).In this study, the oats β-glucan inoculated with probiotic bacteria to camel milk for production of functional synbiotic yogurt was employed. The camel milk has high nutritional value such as insulin-like substance, less lactose, immuno-globulins and lactoferrin, antioxidants and antimicrobial agents and other nutrients (ladjevardi et al., 2015; Niasari Naslaji et al., 2011). Synbiotic dairy product made from combinations of probiotic bacteria with prebiotics agent (β-glucan). About 108- 107 cfu/mL of live bacteria should be in the final products (Faraj et al., 2012). β-glucan is an indigestible carbohydrate complicated (Theuwissen & Mensink, 2008) with very high nutritional properties, including improved intestinal activity (fibers), lowering uric acid blood, stimulating the immune system (Xue et al., 2013; Chao et al., 2013).
 

At first, camel milk (from Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Iran) was standardized by centrifugation (Universal 320, Hettich, Tuttlingen, Germany) to 1.9% fat content. Then xanthan gum and locust bean gum (1:1) were added in three level 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%. β-glucan (extracted from oats as described by Moura et al. (2011() in 1.5, 2 and 2.5% levels was added to milk. Camel milk was homogenized with ultra-turrax blender (T25, IKA, Staufen, Germany) in speed 9000 r.p.m. Then, the milk sample was pasteurized for 15 min at 75±1 °C. Samples were prepared by adding yogurt starter culture (1.5%) containing probiotic microorganisms (ABY1, Cristian Hansen, Hørsholm, Denmark) at 42 °C. The mixtures were redistributed into 50 mL sterile plastic cups, incubated at 42 °C until their pH decreased to 4.6, they cooled and stored at 4±1 °C ( Mazloomi et al. 2011).
 
Determination of water-holding Capacity (WHC)5 g of yogurt was centrifuged (Mikro 220R, Hettich, Tuttlingen, Germany) at 4500 r.p.m. for 30 min at 10°C. After centrifugation, the supernatant was removed and the pellet was collected and weighed.
 
Microbial Analyses:
1 g of yogurt with 9 mL of normal saline (a solution of 0.9 % (w/v) NaCl ( Merck, Darmstadt, Germany)) was mixed and diluted to a concentration of 106 and 107, and then 1 mL of each dilution was repeated in 2 plate containing the MRS-Agar (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) with 0.15% Bovin-Bile (Sigma-Aldrich, Louis, MO, USA). Bacteria were counted by the pour plate technique. The plates in duplicates were incubated anaerobically at 37 °C for 72 h, after this period, colonies were counted (Mishra and Mishra 2012).
 
Statistical Analysis:
The response surface methodology (RSM) and ANOVA (p<0.05) were used for data analysis using Design Expert 8 (Version 8.0.7.1, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A) software. The experiment was designed according to central composite design (CCD). All experiments and measurements were conducted in triplicate, mean value ±sd are reported.
 

Water-Holding Capacity (WHC)Changes of xanthan gum, LBG, β-glucan and time storage have a significant effect on the WHC. Increasing the percentage of LBG, xanthan gum and the percentage of β-glucan significantly increased the WHC. Time storage reduced the WHC similar results of Ladjevardi et al. (2015) and Sahan et al. (2008).According ANOVA table, the products had maximum water holding capacity at the highest percentage of LBG and xanthan gum. The percentage of xanthan gum and β-glucan increased water holding capacity. These factors (LBG and xanthan gum, xanthagum and β-glucan) have a synergistic effect on each other mutually.Xanthan gum and LBG showed interaction effect with time storage on changes in WHC including maximum water retention in the sample tissue, the high percentage of gums and the early days of production.
 
Viability of probiotic bacteria:
Viability of probiotic bacteria significantly increased when used from high percentage of β-glucan (as a prebiotic agent) in synbiotic yogurt. This change was related to increasing food for probiotic bacteria (Kearney et al., 2011). According to the results mentioned a good environment for the growth and activity of the microorganisms (ladjevardi et al., 2015). The unfavorable conditions in production of synbiotic yogurt, was time duration. During storage, the number of probiotic bacteria that are present in the product is reduced Xanthan gum and LBG have no significant effect on viability of probiotic bacteriaXanthan gum and time storage have interaction effect on the viability of probiotics bacteria. As expected, the best conditions for probiotic bacteria to maintain a high percentage of xanthan gum was at the early days of the sample production ((Norton and Lacroix, 1990; Sanderson, 1990).According to the results, it was found that gums such as xanthan gum and LBG showed similar results to those of El-Salamt et al. (1996) and Hematyar et al. (2012) and had adverse influence on the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria.

Regarding the unique properties of camel milk, it can be used as a nutraceutical product. In this study, the effect of different variables on the quality characteristics of synbiotic yoghurt made from camel milk was studied. Independent variables (all in three levels) in this study were: β-glucan (prebiotic agent) 0 - 1 - 2%, fat content 0 - 2.5 - 5%, the amount of probiotic bacteria 0.5 - 1 – 1.5% and storage time 0 - 7 -14 days. The least amount of syneresis (0%) was obtained when the highest percentage of β-glucan (3%) and fat content (5%) were used. Least pH (pH=4.06) was observed in non-fat yoghurt (0% fat) when it was inoculated with an increased amount of probiotic bacteria (1.5%), β-glucan (2%) and time (fourteen day). The optimum viability of probiotic bacteria in yoghurt (107 cfu/mL) was obtained by increasing β-glucan and reducing fat contents at early days of storage. The highest viscosity was obtained at 7th days of storage when the highest content of β-glucan (3%) and fat (2.5%) were used. According to test panel analyses its overall acceptance and taste became better when the concentration of β-glucan and storage time increased.

The present study investigated the possibility of replacing salamon with modified shotor diluent (MSD) and egg yolk (EY) with low density lipoprotein (LDL) for chilled storage of ram semen. Good quality semen (>80% progressive forward motility (PFM) of sperm) from 3 fertile rams was collected using an artificial vagina and pooled for each experiment. Low density lipoprotein was extracted from fresh EY. In experiment 1, semen was divided into 2 fractions and extended in MSD or salamon. In experiment 2, semen was assigned into 5 fractions and extended in MSD supplemented with 12 and 15% EY or 3, 5 and 8% LDL. In experiment 3, semen was divided into 2 fractions and extended in MSD supplemented with 12% EY or 5% LDL. Viability of sperm was assessed at times 0 (immediately after semen dilution), 2 or 4 (at 4°C) and up to 72 h after semen dilution. Data was analyzed using General Linear Model (GLM) procedure, including repeated measures. In experiment 1, the viability of sperm was similar in two diluents (P>0.05). In experiment 2, PFM of sperm was similar among groups at the time of dilution (P>0.05); but remained elevated in 5 and 8% LDL compared to other groups afterward (P<0.05). In experiment 3, PFM of sperm was superior at 48 and 72 h after dilution in 5% LDL compared to 12% EY (P<0.05). In conclusion, MSD supplemented with 5% LDL is a suitable diluent for ram fresh semen preserved at 4°C for 72 h.

The present study evaluated the effects of diets enriched in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6) on reproductive indices، metabolic hormones and metabolites prior to ram introduction in oestrus synchronized ewes. Zel ewes (n=188) were assigned to 4 groups. Ewes in the control group (CON) did not receive fat. Ewes in the 3 other groups received 3% oil/DM/day of palmolein oil (PLM)، safflower seed (SAF)، or flaxseed (FLX). Fat supplementation was carried out for 31 days (day 0 = initiation of fat supplementation). Oestrus was synchronized using CIDR for 14 days starting from day 16 of fat supplementation. Rams were introduced 24 h after CIDR removal. Blood samples were collected on days 0،30، and 39. There was no difference in oestrus expression and mating parameters among groups. There was no difference in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs)، insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) between day 0 and day 30 among groups. However، changes in cholesterol and LDL concentrations during the same occasions were greater in PLM، SAF، and FLX groups than in CON (P<0. 05). There was no difference in reproductive indices، including: fertility rates، prolificacy and sex ratio of lambs among groups. In conclusion، diets enriched in n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid prior to mating did not affect reproductive performance، insulin، IGF-1 and progesterone in Zel sheep.

Organic food, the food without any drug residues and poisonous materials with therapeutic properties, has been of considerable interest by consumers worldwide. In this context, camel milk is not only considered as a food with high nutritive values but also as a food with therapeutic elements that could be used to assist the patients with some of diseases. These include, the presence of peculiar antibodies that can penetrate into the cancer tissues and the presence of insulin like molecules that could be used to treat diabetes, bioactive peptides that are produced from camel milk protein having antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti hypertension activity as well as similarity of camel milk to human milk. Bovine’s milk allergy is by far the most prevalent food allergy especially in children because of the presence of β-lactoglobulin. Camel milk lacks this protein and is enriched with α lactalbumin such as human milk. These are only a partial list of properties embodied in camel milk which is to truly a divine food.