Comparative assessment of brain and circulating oxidative stress biomarkers in weaned New Zealand White rabbits supplemented with microalga Chlorella vulgaris biomass

The brain is central to human and animal well-being but it requires a high amount of oxygen for its normal functioning and this makes it an organ highly vulnerable to oxidative stress damage. Therefore, for the promotion of normal physiological and cellular functions of the brain, antioxidant intake is very critical. This study investigated the antioxidant enzymatic activities in the brain by measuring activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in connection with the circulating oxidative stress biomarkers of the serum and liver of New Zealand White rabbits supplemented with microalga Chlorella vulgaris biomass in addition to regular basal diets. The study involved a random distribution of 40 rabbits of eight weeks old into five experimental group using completely randomized design. The rabbits were observed for a period of 120 when they are being supplemented after which their blood, brain, and liver were collected for analyses. The results show that the total antioxidant capacity was higher in the brain of the supplemented rabbits (P<0.05). Although, there was no significant difference in the brain malondialdehyde concentrations, there were higher activities of antioxidant enzymes in the brain of the supplemented rabbits (P< 0.05). There was a lower concentration of the circulating malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and liver of the supplemented rabbits. The study concluded that Chlorella vulgaris intake led to reduced circulating malondialdehyde and increased activities of the brain antioxidant enzymes in the rabbits. The study indicated that the microalga Chlorella vulgaris contains antioxidant compounds that can cross the blood-brain barrier, which could be a very important therapeutic agent against oxidative stress-induced brain complications in animals and humans

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Not AvailableThe possibility of including amino acids for cryopreservation of ram semen to improve the quality of frozen semen was explored in this study in sheep model. 24 samples were collected in triplicate from 8 rams of 2-3 year old Bannur cross bred rams maintained at the Institute Experimental Livestock Unit. Semen was diluted in tris-egg yolk glycerol diluent and made into 7 aliquots as follows: aliquot 1 served as control, "l-alanine" was added at 100 and 135mM in the aliquots 2 and 3, "l-glutamine" was added at 20 and 25mM in the aliquots 4 and 5 and "l-proline" was added at 25 and 50mM in the aliquots 6 and 7, respectively. Diluted semen was filled in 0.25ml French straws and frozen in LN2. Inclusion of "l-proline" and "l-glutamine" in the diluent increased the percent live sperm (P<0.001), total motility (P<0.05) and maintained higher functional membrane and acrosomal integrity (P<0.001) by decreasing lipid peroxidation (P<0.001) compared to the control group. In contrast, "l-alanine" decreased the percentage of total motility, fast progressive spermatozoa and increased (P<0.01) the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. It can be concluded that 20mM "l-glutamine" and 25mM "l-proline" can be used as semen additive to freeze ram semen as they prevented cryoinjuries to sperm and improved the pre-freeze and post-thaw semen characteristics.Not Availabl

Synchronization of Marwari Mares

Not AvailableSynchronization of estrus was carried out in 43 Marwari mares at NRCE, EPC, Bikaner with prostaglandin F2 alpha (Lutalyse) injection @ 10 mg / mare intramuscularly without knowing their cyclical stages. Two injection schedules of 14 days apart were carried out at the interval of14 days in 25 and 18 mares, respectively. The majority of mares exhibited heat signs within 3-7 days with response level of 72% & 88.88% and overall effect of 79.01%, respectively in rst,second dose and overall effect after lutalyse injection. Among the mares administered with lutalyse, some mares showed profuse sweating, uneasiness and colic like symptoms immediately after administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha as side effects. In conclusion, 10 mg prostaglandin F2 alpha (Lutalyse) is effective for inductionof estrus in Marwari mares.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThis study is focused to look into the possibility of including amino acids during cryopreservation to improve the quality of frozen semen in sheep. Cauda epididymal semen was collected from 2-3 year-old Bannur crossbred rams slaughtered at the local abattoir. The semen samples were diluted in tris egg yolk glycerol diluent along with different additives and made into 7 aliquots. Aliquot 1 served as control, L-alanine was added @ 100 and 135mM in the aliquot 2 and 3, L-glutamine was added @ 20 and 25mM in the aliquot 4 and 5 and L-proline was added @ 25 and 50mM in the aliquot 6 and 7, respectively. Diluted semen was filled in 0.25 ml French straws, sealed manually and equilibrated at 4°C for 2 h, cooled in LN2 vapour before being plunged into LN2 till further evaluation. Inclusion of L-proline and L-glutamine in the diluent significantly increased the percent live sperm, total motility, lipid peroxidation and maintained higher functional membrane and acrosomal integrity than the control group. In contrast, L-alanine decreased the percentage of total motility, fast progressive spermatozoa and increased the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. It can be concluded that 20mM L-glutamine and 25mM L-proline can be used as semen additive to freeze ram epididymal semen as they prevented cryo injuries to sperm and improved the pre-freeze and post-thaw semen characteristics.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThirty-five lactating New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five experimental groups (n = 7) each with equal number of kits (n = 5). Control group was not supplemented while treatment groups were supplemented with 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg Chlorella vulgaris biomass per kg body weight daily. Daily feed intakes, weekly body weight changes and body condition scores were recorded. Body conditions scores was 2.30±0.14 (p < 0.009), milk yield 1333±77.47 g (p < 0.001), litter weight at 21 days was 574.65±45.86 (p < 0.001) while feed intake was 97.45±1.91 (p < 0.48). We concluded from the results that supplementation of the microalgae improved performances of the lactating rabbits and their kits; hence, it was recommended for supplementation at 400 mg per kg body weight in lactating rabbits for promotion of improved performances in both the rabbit does as well as their kits.The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Italy; Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of Indi

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Not AvailableMammalian sperm are exposed to a natural hypoosmotic environment during male-to-female reproductive tract transition; although this activates sperm motility in vivo, excessive swelling can harm sperm structure and function. Aquaporins (AQPs) is a family of membrane-channel proteins implicated in sperm osmoregulation. The objective was to determine associations among relative sperm volume shift, hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), sperm aquaporin (AQP) 7 mRNA abundances, and sire conception rate (SCR; fertility estimate) in Holstein bulls at a commercial artificial insemination center. Three or four sires for each full point SCR score from -4 to +4 were included. Each SCR estimate for study bulls (N = 30) was based on > 500 services (mean ± SEM) of 725 ± 13 services/sire. Sperm from a single collection day (two ejaculates) from these commercial Holstein bulls were used. Relative mRNA expression of AQP7 in sperm was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Mean relative sperm volume shift and percentage of sperm reacted in a HOST (% HOST) were determined (400 sperm per bull) after incubating in isoosmotic (300 mOsm/kg) and hypoosmotic (100 mOsm/kg) solutions for 30 min. There was no correlation between %HOST and SCR (r = 0.28 P > 0.1). However, there was a positive correlation between relative sperm volume shift and SCR (r = 0.65, P 2) fertility sire groups. In conclusion, bulls with higher SCR had significantly greater AQP7 mRNA abundance in frozen-thawed sperm. This plausibly contributed to greater regulation of sperm volume shift, which apparently conferred protection from detrimental swelling and impaired functions.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSperm are highly specialized compartmentalized cells, with unique compositional, morphological and functional properties, including a plasma membrane that undergoes dynamic protein remodeling and surface modifications. Seminal plasma is a highly complex biological fluid containing proteins, amino acids, enzymes, fructose and other carbohydrates, lipids, major minerals and trace elements. Seminal plasma proteins are involved in regulation of osmotic pressure and pH of seminal plasma, transport of ions, lipid and hormones. The objective was to compare sperm and seminal plasma proteomes of bulls with differing fertility and to relate differences to biological processes. Semen was collected from bulls with high or low fertility (4 bulls in each category). Sperm and seminal plasma proteins were isolated, purified, subjected to 2-D gel electrophoresis, protein identification and ontology. In sperm and seminal plasma, binder of sperm proteins (BSP)-1, −3 and −5, and spermadhesin-1, ALB, TIMP, AKI and PEBP1 were higher for high-versus low-fertility bulls (P < 0.05), whereas proteins CLU, CCT5 and 8, ELSPbP1, and PSMA6 were more abundant in sperm and seminal plasma of low- versus high-fertility bulls (P < 0.05). Further, HSP90, ZFP34, IFNRF4, BCL62, NADHD, TUBB3 and Histone H1 were in greater abundance in sperm of high- compared with low-fertility bulls. The two key biological processes of proteins differentially expressed in high- and low-fertility bulls were metabolic processes and biological regulation. The most prominent molecular functions for proteins that differed are binding, catalytic and receptor activities. The main cellular components for proteins that differed are cellular, extracellular, and plasma membrane. Since protein content differed in high- versus low-fertility bulls, we inferred that the efficiency of associated sperm functions that are necessary for fertility may also differ between high- and low-fertility semen. In conclusion, differences between high- and low-fertility bulls regarding abundance of sperm and seminal plasma proteins likely contributed to differences in fertility.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCorrelations between Supravital staining, Motility and HOS test in evaluation of fresh and frozen semen quality in three different equine breeds.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThis paper reports on a case of unilateral cryptorchidism in a young stallion maintained at the NRC on Equines, Equine Production Campus, Bikaner, India. Highlights of the report focused on the diagnosis and treatment of the animal.Not Availabl