فهرست مطالب navid dadashpour davachi

Storing spermatozoa in a cold environment decreases spermatozoa metabolism while maintaining sperm fertility. Because of their unique physiological characteristics, sperm cells’ reproductive ability in small ruminants is reduced by cooling. This study aimed to assess the impact of supplementing chilling medium with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the quality parameters of buck’s semen after chilling at 4°C. Semen was collected, diluted, and divided into five groups with different CoQ10 supplementation concentrations (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10 µM CoQ10). Collected semen were stored at 4°C for 50 h. The motility, mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity, viability, and lipid peroxidation were measured after 0, 25, and 50 h of chilling. According to the findings, different concentrations of CoQ10 had no impact (P>0.05) on semen at time 0 of storage. After 25 and 50 h of storage, supplementing the chilling medium with 5 µM CoQ10 increased (P≤0.05) progressive motility (PM), total motility (TM), viability, mitochondrial activity, and membrane integrity compared to other groups. Furthermore, 5 µM CoQ10 produced less lipid peroxidation (P≤0.05) after 25 and 50 h than the other groups. Adding 5 µM CoQ10 to the buck’s semen cooling medium is an effective procedure for protecting the quality of buck spermatozoa during cooling storage.

Sperm preservation at a cool temperature reduces sperm metabolism while preserving its viability and reproductive ability. Researchers have sought to extend semen preservation effectiveness for more than 24 hours. Due to the particular physiological characteristics of small ruminant spermatozoa, the cooling procedure decreases its reproductive ability. 

This study aimed to determine the effect of adding L-carnitine (LC) to the cooling extender on the quality of the ram’s sperm following cooling preservation at 4°C.

The collected sperm samples were diluted and divided into 4 groups with varying doses of LC supplementation (0, 1, 5, and 10 mM). The samples were kept at 4°C for up to 48 hours. At 0, 24, and 48 hours of cooling, the sperms’ total motility, progressive motility, viability, lipid peroxidation, membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity were assessed. 

The results showed that different treatments did not affect the quality of semen samples at time 0 of cooling storage (P>0.05). Cooling medium supplemented with 5 mM LC demonstrated improved total motility, progressive motility, viability, membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity compared to the other groups after 24 and 48 hours of cooling (P≤0.05). Furthermore, after 24 and 48 hours of storage, 5 mM LC produced less lipid peroxidation (P≤0.05) than the other treatments.

In conclusion, reinforcing ram’s cooling storage medium with 5 mM LC protects ram semen samples against cold-induced structural and functional impairment throughout 24- and 48-h storage.

Although sperm cryopreservation seems to be an efficient technique for distributing competent sperm for artificial insemination, the process affects the quality of post-thawed sperm.

This study was designed to see how the novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant “Mito-TEMPO” affected buck sperm quality during cryopreservation. 

After proper semen samples collection, they were diluted and divided into 5 equal groups and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen with 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 µM Mito-TEMPO. Sperm motility, lipid peroxidation, abnormal morphology, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, and viability were all evaluated after thawing. 

When the freezing extender was supplemented with 10 µM Mito-TEMPO, total motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and viability increased (P≤0.05), while lipid peroxidation decreased (P≤0.05). 

Finally, the novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant “Mito-TEMPO” could be introduced as an effective cryo-additive to improve buck semen quality parameters during cryopreservation.

Usually, the daily self-grooming by rabbits leads to fur accumulation in the animal’s stomach. Since rabbit hair is looser than other animals and constantly licks their body, the fur can be pulled out easily. On the other hand, rabbits are susceptible to urinary stone formation. 

This study was designed to investigate the presence of hairballs and urinary stones in Razi Institute Laboratory rabbits. 

During the 1 year, the albino Dutch laboratory rabbit colony, in research, breeding, and production of the Laboratory Animals Department of Razi Institute, including 106 males, 287 females, and 166 kittens, were monitored. After the necropsy of the selected animals, the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines) were examined for the presence of hair and hairballs. Then the urinary system (kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra) was examined for any urinary stones.

No symptoms of anorexia, lethargy, abdominal pain, weight loss, decrease and abnormal stools were observed in them, and also no mortality occurred in the whole colony. All samples’ stomach was full, indicating enough eating. No gas or congested spots, or hemorrhage were observed in the intestines. The amount and consistency of stool in the intestines were normal. In none of the samples, hairballs were observed, but in most rabbits’ stomachs (both sexes), a small amount of hair was observed in the stomach contents. Also, no symptoms of urinary stones were observed in the colony of the studied rabbits.

Balanced diet, supply of nutritional requirements, and the absence of any stressors in breeding environments have played a key role and prevented many diseases, such as hairballs and urinary stones. No observation of urinary stones in this study could lead to the hypothesis that infection with the bacteria that cause urinary stones in the studied rabbits was eliminated or non-pathogenic, indicating specific pathogen-free animals. However, bacterial and other infectious agent monitoring should be specialized.

The grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), a non-human primate (NHP), has contributed sig-nificantly as an animal model in a variety of biological systems due to its similarities with human.

This study was designed to establish a detailed procedure for in vitro maturation (IVM) of germi-nal-vesicle stage oocytes, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro embryo culture (IVC) of grivet monkey.

The reproductive organs were obtained from10 adult male and 4 adult female grivet monkeys after the proper anesthesia. The ovarian follicles were aspirated by aspiration technique or by the means of oocyte recov-ery with centrifugation (ORC). For the sperm recovery, the epididymides were dissected from the testicles and the tails of the epididymides were minced in the sperm washing medium and incubated for 15 min. At the time of insemination, a portion of the pre-incubated spermatozoa (10 μL) was introduced into 90 μL of fertilization medium containing about 20 matured oocytes.

The data on the oocyte recovery rate and IVM showed significant increase (P<0.05) in the COCs recovered via ORC technique (9.8±0.41 and 90.90%) comparedto the recovered COCs using aspiration (4.45±0.32, 80.00%). The results showed similarity in the rate of cleavage in both groups (ORC and aspiration) (71%). The rate of embryo development to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher in the ORC group (43%) compared to the aspiration group (33.33%).

It is concluded that the oocyte recovery technique is of great importance in terms of non-human primates' COCs competence in the in vitro embryo production (IVEP). On the other hand, it is well documented in the current research that the commercial ART medium used in the human infertility clinics is well applicable for the grivet monkey IVEP.

Rabbits are induced ovulators with the ovulatory process being triggered by neuro-hormonal impulses gen-erated during natural mating. When applying artificial insemination (AI), an array of biostimulation techniques and/or exogenous hormones, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or its analogues must be used to induce ovulation. However, the effect of biostimulation techniques and exogenous hormones is not always satisfactory and the use of GnRH analogues is asso-ciated with high production costs. Therefore, the development of an alternative inexpensive, efficient, and safe treatment for ovulation induction in artificially inseminated does is urgently needed.

In the present study, we examined and compared the effects of mated doe serum (MDS) and GnRH analogue (Gonadorelin) administered immediately after AI on the circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and fertility in New Zealand does.

Forty artificially inseminated does were allocated to four equinumerous groups. The Control G, Treatment G, Control M, and Treatment M groups received 0.2 mL of saline intramuscular (IM), 0.8 μg of Gonadorelin dissolved in 0.2 mL of saline IM, 2.5 mL of mixed-sex normal rabbit serum intravenous (IV),and 2.5 mL of MDS/doe IV, respectively.

A peak in systemic LH concentrations occurred earlier in Treatment M, compared to Treatment G does (71 vs. 107 min post-AI, respectively; P≤0.05). Mean LH concentrations did not vary (P≤0.05) from the pre-AI values in neither of the control groups. Serum LH concentrations remained higher (P≤0.05) in the Treatment M group, in comparison with Treatment G does during30-90 min post-AI. However, LH was higher (P≤0.05) in the Treatment G group than the Treatment M group 120 and 160 min post-AI. Gonadorelin and MDS injections both resulted in the same kindling rate of 80% at each of the four con-secutive AIs (initiated 30 days postpartum) and were significantly greater than that recorded in the control animals (20%).

It can be concluded that MDS administration is an effective treatment for inducing ovulation in rabbits with repeatability similar to that achieved with a GnRH analogue

Using the cold surgical technique (CST) is the most common practice to accomplish embryo transfer (ET). However, it can lead to uncontrolled bleeding and mortality in laboratory animals. Electrosurgery technique (EST) has provided the opportunity to prevent such complications. This study was aimed to evaluate CST versus EST in terms of repeated use of surrogate mothers, litter size, implantation rate and post-surgical behavior. Virgin female NMRI mice were allocated into two different surgical groups (n = 40): 1) CST-ET (control) and 2) EST-ET. Results showed that the first ET in EST-ET and CST-ET groups did not affect litter size, pregnancy rate and survival of surrogate mothers. Following the second and the third ETs, litter size was significantly affected through CST compared to EST, pregnancy rate and survival of surrogate mothers. Litter size, pregnancy rate and surrogate mothers survival rate did not show any significant reduction following the first and the second ETs in EST group. On the other hand, the third ET showed dramatic reduction for all aforementioned parameters regardless of the chosen surgical method for ET. Mice in EST-ET group did not show any significant change in their behavior indicating reduced well-being during the first 24 hr following the first, the second and the third ETs compared to CST-ET group. In conclusion, using EST for ET in mouse made it feasible to reuse surrogate mothers with minimum animal mortality; this could be pivotal with regard to reproductive and animal welfare aspects and research costs. Also, the results indicated that bleeding has severe diverse effects on ET efficiency.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of using different levels of flaxseed in diets on the reproductive performance of estrous-synchronized Baluchi ewes (para 3). Diets contained either basal diet (control) or different levels of extruded flaxseed (2%, 5%, 7%, 10%, and 12%) and were fed from lambing to 60 days after lambing. The ewe estrus cycles were synchronized using controlled internal drug release (CIDR) for 14 days starting from day 16 of fat supplementation. The rams were introduced 24 h after CIDR removal. The ewes fed control diets had the highest mean dry matter intake (1,800±35 g) which was declined with the increase of flaxseed levels. The experimental diets exerted no effects of urea concentration in blood plasma. However, plasma glucose concentration was lower (p <0.05) in the ewes fed the control diet and 2% flaxseed, compared to those in other groups. Nonetheless, there was no difference among the ewes fed 5%, 7%, 10%, and 12% flaxseed in terms of plasma glucose concentrations (p <0.05). The ewes fed 2% flaxseed had the highest level of plasma triglyceride concentration among other groups. In addition, the control group had the lowest level of plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins concentration in comparison to other groups (p <0.05). However, plasma nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were similar among the groups (P>0.05). The mean interval between CIDR removal and the exhibition of estrus ranged from 30 to 40 h with the shortest interval being recorded in the ewes fed 12% flaxseed (p <0.05). The control group had the lowest number of follicles on estrus day among other groups (p <0.05). Furthermore, the ewes fed 10% and 12% flaxseed had the highest ovulation, pregnancy, and lambing rates, compared to other groups (p <0.05). In conclusion, the findings revealed that feeding the ewes with 10% and 12% flaxseed resulted in the improvement of reproductive performance.

The technology of transgenic animals' production is one of the areas of research in the biotechnology branch, which has a very fast growth rate in the last decade. To current knowledge, several methods have been developed for the production of transgenic animals such as microinjection of the desired genetic structure into the male pre-core in Zygote, gene transfer using embryonic stem cells transmission to the embryos during the blastocyst stage, gene transfer by sperm and using the new and workable CRISPER/Cas9 method. The key to success in the production of transgenic animals is the optimization of gene transfer method and the exact expression of the transmitted gene. A number of new technologies have been presented in the field of gene transfer in recent decades, which have reduced both research and production costs and improved the speed and delicacy of transmission processes. In the present review the most common methods in the production of transgenes would be discussed.

The birds produce IgY immunoglobulin in their egg yolks, which is equivalent to the mammalian IgG. In this study, we investigated the quality and quantity of antibody in egg yolks of some domestic and ornamental birds.

Eggs of six different species of domestic and ornamental birds after disinfection and weighing of the yolk content were examined and the content of yolk fat was separated. The serum level was recorded and two consecutive levels of antibody precipitation with ammonium sulfate were followed and after dialysis, the antibody was extracted. At the final stage, the OD value were calculated and analyzed for each samples, separately.

Estimated weight average of geese, ducks, native chicks, pigeons, quail and chicken eggs were 145.5, 62.7, 57.4, 19.5, 12.4 and g 1.6, and the weight percentage of yolk/ egg were 0.32, 0.31, 0.23, 0.16, 0.21 and 0.21, respectively. The serum levels were observed as 52 ml, 12.5 ml, 15 ml, 3.75 ml, 3 ml, 5.1 ml, respectively. The results of the concentration of antibody to each egg were 60450 μg / ml, 10631.25 μg / ml, 12026 μg / ml, 5203 μg / ml and 2535 μg / ml in OD280, respectively.

The results showed that the highest antibody production is related to geese and in next turn is for native chicken. Also, the use of quail egg as chicken egg alternative could be advisable.

Le zinc est un minéral essentiel étant considéré comme un oligo-élément dans la nutrition animale, étant donné son rôle dans les voies biologiques enzymatiques. L’objectif de cette étude était d’étudier l’effet de l’administration orale des naoparticules d’oxyde de zinc (ZnONPs) sur les paramètres antioxydants du liquide séminal, ainsi que sur les propriétés quantitative et qualitative du sperme du mouton arabe en-dehors de la saison de reproduction. Un total de 12 moutons arabes adultes a été sélectionné de façon aléatoire pour recevoir l’une des 3 concentrations de ZnONPs (control; 0, groupe 1; 40 ppm and groupe 2; 80 ppm). Nos résultats ont démontré l’effet stimulant de l’administration des différents taux de zinc sur l’activité de l’enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) ainsi que sur la capacité antioxydante totale (TAC) du liquide séminal, ces paramétres montrant une augmentation significative comparé au groupe control (P

To current knowledge, different oocyte''s recovery method and various seasons have profound impact on in vitro embryo production (IVEP). The aim of this study was to define an efficient recovery method for oocytes harvesting from slaughterhouse material in different seasons, and their effects on IVEP yield. Ovaries from slaughtered ewes in breeding season (BS) and non-breeding season (NBS) were collected from a local abattoir. The oocytes were recovered through aspiration, centrifugation (ORC), puncture and slicing, and categorized into three classes (I, oocytes with more than three layers of cumulus cells; II, less than three layers with damaged cumulus cells; III, denuded oocytes). After cultivation in TCM 199 for 24 hours, matured oocytes were subjected to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC). The oocyte recovery using ORC in BS and NBS was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with other recovery methods. No significant dissimilarities in the proportion of oocytes reaching M-II stage were recorded when using different oocyte recovery methods in different seasons. Aspiration resulted in lower (P < 0.05) proportion of class I (BS, 60.0 ± 2.1; NBS, 51.1 ± 2.1) compared to ORC (BS, 82.0 ± 1.2; NBS, 70.0 ± 1.2), slicing (BS, 80.0 ± 2.1; NBS, 71.0 ± 1.4) and puncture (BS, 80.0 ± 1.5; NBS, 72.0 ± 2.0). Monospermy and blastocyst development rates were significantly higher using ORC than other recovery techniques in both BS and NBS. More oocytes with high quality, greater blastocyst development and oocyte recovery rates were achieved in BS. The results revealed that oocytes harvesting technique and season are effective in the rate of cleavage and blastocysts’ development, and suggest that despite same meiotic resumption rate in all treatments, it would be better to use ORC.

Chronic active adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) immunization of ewes (with a previous history of immunization) resulted in elevated titres of antibody against ACTH, which induced a reduction in circulating levels of cortisol. The aim of the present study was to investigate: a) the influence of active immunization against ACTH on milk production of the ewe as assessed by milk intake of the lamb measured with two different methods, b) whether the stimulation of levels of β-end and α-MSH in the circulation can result in a similar increase in the expression of these peptides in the milk of the lactating ewe, thereby producing a milk with high analgesic properties. Ten primiparous Merino ewes (4-5 years old) during their first 5 weeks of lactation were used in the experiment. Milk intake of each lamb can be used to give the ewe’s milk yield per unit time, and this can be used for secretion of peptides over time. This was determined by two different techniques: the deuterium oxide method and the weigh-suck-weigh method. β-end, α-MSH and cortisol were measured in blood samples and β-end, α-MSH in milk samples using RIAs (Radio Immune Assay). Plasma β-end and α-MSH in ACTH-immune animals increased to 3 and 38-fold respectively, although the level of α-MSH is most likely exaggerated by the presence of α-MSH antibodies in the ACTH immune plasma, as α-MSH comprises the N-terminal 13 amino acids of ACTH. Antibodies also were detected in the plasma of lambs of immune ewes after birth, at levels, which were comparable to those measured in the ewes during the period of colostrum production and thereafter decreased to much lower levels by the end of the experiment. Plasma β-end and α-MSH in the lambs of immune ewes were significantly higher than those measured in the lambs of control ewes. The immunization procedure had no effect on feed intake, live weight gain and milk production of ewes nor was the growth rate or milk intake of the lambs altered. The expression of β-end and α-MSH in milk was also unaffected by the high concentrations of these hormones in the circulation of immune ewes.

Spermatozoa preservation is an approach to improve the fertility rate to pass on the valuable genetic material from sire to their offspring. During the last 20 years, reproductive biotechnologists have focused on the approaches that improve spermatozoa cryosurvival. One of the possible mechanisms is supplementation in semen extender.. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of healthy ram semen with n-3 fatty acids and α-tocopherol (Vitamin E) on freezing ability and fatty acid (FA) content of sperm cell.. Semen collection was performed on six mature Zandi rams by an artificial vagina. In the present study, two experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, the specimen quality was assessed. Then the samples were pooled. The pooled specimens were allocated into 12 groups, in a 3 × 4 factorial design, including four levels of n-3 FA (0, 0.1, 1, 10 ng.mL -1) and three levels of α-tocopherol (0. 0.1, 0.2 mM). Then sperm critical characteristics such as proportion of motile sperm, progressive motile sperm, viable and abnormal sperms were measured. Furthermore, after freezing-thawing procedure, the recovery rate was considered as a vital indicator of semen quality. After thawing, the highest progressive motility was obtained when treated with 0.1 mM α-tocopherol and 1 ng.mL -1 n-3 FA. So, the second experiment was designed to measure the content of FA in specimens that fortified with 0.1 mM α-tocopherol, 1 ng.mL -1 n-3 FA and also in groups without α-tocopherol and FA.. The data showed that before freezing, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) level of sperm was increased when the FA introduced into extender (P ≤ 0.01). On the other hand, in the FA group, the n-3 FA and polyunsaturated fatty acid content were significantly higher compared with n-6 FA and saturated fatty acid level. However, in other groups, there were no significant alteration in the overall proportion of n-3 FA and n-6 FA were recorded (P ≤ 0.01).. It was concluded that the cryosurvival of ram semen could be improved by adding DHA along with alfa-tocopherol as an antioxidant..