A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE EFFECT ON MALE SHEEP TESTES

ΣΕ ΑΡΣΕΝΙΚΑ ΠΡΟΒΑΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΦΥΛΗΣ ΧΙΟΥ ΔΙΕΡΕΥΝΗΘΗΚΕ Η ΕΠΙΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΔΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΟ ΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΒΑΡΟΣ ΣΤΗ ΠΕΡΙΜΕΤΡΟ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΒΑΡΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΧΕΩΝ, ΣΤΑ "ΠΟΣΟΤΙΚΑ" ΚΑΙ ΣΤΑ "ΠΟΙΟΤΙΚΑ" ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΠΕΡΜΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗ ΣΥΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΣΤΟ ΠΛΑΣΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΜΑΤΟΣΤΗΣ ΤΕΣΤΟΣΤΕΡΟΝΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΑΜΕΣΟΚΥΤΤΑΡΟΤΡΟΠΟΥ ΟΡΜΟΝΗΣ. ΧΡΗΣΙΜΟΠΟΙΗΘΗΚΑΝ 14ΖΩΑ ΗΛΙΚΙΑΣ 3 ΜΗΝΩΝ (ΟΜΑΔΑ Α) ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΑ 14 ΗΛΙΚΙΑΣ 7 ΜΗΝΩΝ (ΟΜΑΔΑ Β). Η ΚΑΘΕ ΟΜΑΔΑ ΧΩΡΙΣΗΚΕ ΣΕ ΔΥΟ ΥΠΟΟΜΑΔΕΣ: ΣΤΑ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ. ΣΤΑ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΑ ΧΟΡΗΓΟΥΝΤΑΝ ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΚΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΣΤΟΜΑ ΓΙ Α 7 ΜΗΝΕΣ ΥΔΑΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΑΛΥΜΑ ΧΛΩΡΙΟΥΧΟΥ ΚΑΔΜΙΟΥ (3 MG/KG) ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ ΙΣΟΣ ΟΓΚΟΣ ΔΙΣΑΠΕΣΤΑΓΜΕΝΟΥ ΝΕΡΟΥ. Η ΑΞΙΟΛΟΓΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΩΝ ΟΔΗΓΗΣΗ ΣΤΙΣ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΤΩ ΔΙΑΠΙΣΤΩΣΕΙΣ: Η ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗΤΟΥ ΚΑΔΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΟ ΑΙΜΑ ΤΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΔΥΟ ΟΜΑΔΩΝ ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΕ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ ΣΕ ΣΥΓΚΡΙΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΟΙΧΟΥΣ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ. Η ΑΥΞΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΟΥ ΒΑΡΟΥΣ ΤΩΝΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΔΥΟ ΟΜΑΔΩΝ ΗΤΑΝ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ ΜΙΚΡΟΤΕΡΗ ΑΠΟ ΕΚΕΙΝΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΟΙΧΩΝ ΜΑΤΡΥΡΩΝ. Η ΑΥΞΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΜΕΤΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΒΑΡΟΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΧΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΩΝ ΗΤΑΝ ΣΗΜΑΝ ΤΙΚΑ ΜΙΚΡΟΤΕΡΗ ΑΠΟ ΕΚΕΙΝΗ ΤΩΝ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΩΝ ΜΟΝΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΟΜΑΔΑ Α. Ο ΟΓΚΟΣ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΠΥΚΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΠΕΡΜΑΤΟΣ ΜΕΙΩΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ ΣΤΑ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΑ ΜΟΝΟ ΤΗΣ ΟΜΑΔΑΣ Α. Ο ΑΥΞΗΜΕΝΟΣ ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ ΤΩΝ "ΕΠΙΣΟΔΙΑΚΩΝ" ΕΚΚΡΙΣΕΩΝ ΚΑΙ Η ΜΕΣΗ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΤΕΣΤΟΣΤΕΡΟΝΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΠΛΑΣΜ Α ΤΟΥ ΑΙΜΑΤΟΣ, ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΠΙΣΤΩΝΟΝΤΑΙ ΦΥΣΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΑ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΑΡΚΕΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΗΒΗΣ, ΔΕΝ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΤΑ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΑ ΤΗΣ ΟΜΑΔΑΣ Α. ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΙΣΤΟΛΟΓΙΚΕΣ ΑΛΛΟΙΩΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΟΡΧΕΙΣ, ΣΤΟ ΗΠΑΡ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΦΡΟΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΤΟΖΩΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΔΥΟ ΟΜΑΔΩΝ. ΟΙ ΑΛΛΟΙΩΣΕΙΣ ΑΥΤΕΣ ΗΤΑ Ν ΕΝΤΟΝΟΤΕΡΕΣ ΣΤΑ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΟΖΩΑ ΤΗΣ ΟΜΑΔΑΣ Α.THE EFFECTS OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ON THE BODY AND TESTES WEIGHT, THE SCROTUM CIRCUMFERENCE, THE "QUANTITATIVE" AND "QUALITATIVE" CHARACTERISTICS OF SEMEN, ANDTHE PLASMA CONCENTRATION OF TESTOSTERONE AND ICSH WERE STUDIED IN CHIOS SHEEP. TWO SEPARTE GROUPS O F 14 MALE SHEEP, (GROUP A AND GROUP B), CONSISTED OF 3- AND 7-MONTH OLD ANIMALS RESPECTIVELY, WERE EMPLOYED TRHOUGHOUT. EACH GROUP COMPRISED A CADMIUM-TREATED SUBGROUP AND A CONTROL SUBGROUP. IN THE CADMIUM-TREATED SUBGROUPS EACH ANIMAL WAS ADMINISTERED A DAILY ORAL DOSE OF 3 MG/KG B.W.OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE (IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION) FOR A TOTAL PERIOD OF 7 MONTHS. CONTROL SUBGROUPS RECEIVED AN EQUAL QUANTITY OF DOUBLY DISTILLED WATER FOR THE SAME PERIOD. THE OBTAINED DATA YIELDED THE FOLLOWING RESULTS: CADMIUM C ONCENTRATIONS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN BOTH CADMIUM-TREATED SUBGROUPS. IN BOTH A AND B CADMIYM-TREATED ANIMALS EXHIBITED A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS INCREASE IN BODY WEIGHT COMPARED TO CONTROLS. ONLY ANIMALS IN GROUP A WHICH WERE GIVEN CADMIUM CHLORIDE WERE FOU ND TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER INCREASE IN THE SCROTUM CIRCUMFERENCE AND TESTES WEIGHT COMPARED TO CONTROLS. SEMEN VOLUME AND DENSITY IN CADMIUM-TREATED GROUP A WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED COMPARED TO CONTROLS. THE NUMBER OF PEAKS AND THE MEAN TESTOSTERONE CONCENTRATION WERE BOTH SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ONLY IN GROUP A ANIMALS. IN BOTH TREATED GROUPS HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF LESIONS IN THE TESTIS, LIVER, AND KIDNEYS, ALTHOUGH LESSIONS IN GROUP B WERELESS EXTENSIVE. WITH RESPECT TO TESTIS, THE OBSERVED (AB

AGRONOMIC EDUCATION AT A CROSSROAD: PROVIDING SKILL SETS OR DEVELOPING MINDSETS?

Globally, agrifoodsystems are in constant evolution. In such a context, agronomists have the critical task to act as change agents, enabling agricultural innovation and facilitating the transition towards sustainability. Hence, agronomists should develop a new professional mindset that goes beyond the prescribed roles and fixed duties of a bounded professional. However, it is questionable whether the curricula offered by agronomic education institutes are really targeted at the development of such mindsets. In this study, employing a two-phase mixed research design and drawing on data from 180 agronomy students, we aim at identifying whether the curricula offered to future agronomists by a Greek higher education institute pave the way for the development of new professional mindsets. Our quantitative analysis revealed that agronomy curricula continue to supply students with conventional skill portfolios, and that, to nurture a professional mindset they should focus on the cultivation of soft competencies and the offering of action-based learning opportunities. Qualitative results further support these findings, uncovering that the limited focus paid by curricula to the development of students’ soft skills and systemic thinking reduces their feelings of self-efficacy. In parallel, the lack of links connecting academia and agrifood systems generates a sense of isolation from the real agrifood world, which eliminates students’ opportunities to test and validate their theoretical knowledge. These findings indicate that agronomy curricula should go beyond the supply of ready-to-use skill sets, by providing students with opportunities to combine theoretical and practical knowledge, and by helping them develop a new professional identity which emphasizes adaptability and cross-boundarythinking

Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Spirulina platensis on the Reproductive Performance of Female Mink

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of providing Spirulina platensis (Spirulina) on reproductive performance of female mink. A total of 100 adult brown female mink (Mustela vison) were randomly and equally allocated to control group (C group), in which mink were fed basal diet and Spirulina group (Sp group), where mink received basal diet supplemented with 100 mg of Spirulina/kg of body weight. The experiment lasted 5 months, starting from 1 month prior to mating till kit weaning. Weight gain during pre-mating period was higher in Sp group compared to C group (p < 0.001). Sp group remained heavier until the onset of lactation. Subsequently, mink of Sp group lost more weight than C group (p < 0.001) but without an adverse effect on kit survival. A tendency for a higher whelping rate was detected in Sp group (93.61%) compared to C group (81.25%) (p = 0.07). Litter size, as well as weight of kits at weaning, did not differ between groups (p > 0.10). Finally, Sp group weaned numerically more kits compared to C group. Results obtained here showed that Spirulina treated animals tended to an increased whelping rate

Effect of Boar Sperm Proteins and Quality Changes on Field Fertility

This study aimed to evaluate boar sperm characteristics and proteins, in relation to their importance regarding in vivo fertility. Sixty-five ejaculates were used and 468 sows (parity ≥ 2) were inseminated. Sperm CASA kinetics, morphology, viability, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm membrane biochemical activity (HOST) and sperm proteins (Heat Shock Protein 90-HSP90, glutathione peroxidase-5-GPX5, Osteopontin 70-OPN70) were assessed and related to field fertility (number of live-born piglets—NLBP, litter size ≥ 12 piglets—LS, farrowing rate—FR). Statistical analysis was conducted with simple and multiple regression models. Simple regression analysis showed that immotile sperm (IM) significantly affected the NLBP and LS, explaining 6.7% and 6.5% of their variation, respectively. The HOST positive spermatozoa significantly affected the NLBP and LS, explaining 24.5% and 7.8% of their variation, respectively. Similarly, sperm with activated mitochondria significantly affected the NLBP, explaining 13.5% of its variation. Moreover, the OPN70 affected LS and FR, explaining 7.5% and 10.8% of their variation, respectively. Sperm GPX5 protein affected FR, explaining 6.7% of its variation. Multiple regression analysis showed that the combination of IM and/OPN70 explains 13.0% of the variation regarding LS, and the combination of GPX5 and OPN70 explains 13.6% of the variation regarding FR. In conclusion, the estimation of parameters IM, membrane biochemical activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, OPN and GPX5 can provide useful information regarding semen doses for field fertility