Control del déficit energético y actividad ovárica de conejas primíparas sometidas a destete temprano

El objetivo de este estudio fue estudiar el efecto de un destete temprano, realizado a los 25 días post-parto (dpp), con el fin de reducir el déficit energético de las conejas primíparas y mejorar su eficacia reproductiva. Para ello, se estudió el efecto sobre las reservas corporales y la actividad ovárica de 34 conejas primíparas lactantes. Se sacrificó un grupo (n=10) a los 25 dpp (L25), otro (n=13) se destetó a los 25 dpp y se sacrificó a los 32 dpp (NL32) y un tercero (n=11), no se destetó y se sacrificó a los 32 dpp (L32). El peso vivo de los animales, las concentraciones de ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE) y de proteínas plasmáticas totales en el suero fueron similares en todos los grupos. Aunque el grupo NL32, después del destete, consumió menos alimento que el grupo L32 (122±23,5 vs. 402±26,7g/d, respectivamente; P < 0,001), sus contenidos estimados de lípidos (16,9±1,09%; P < 0,008), proteína (19,7±0,07%; P < 0,0001) y energía corporales (1147±42,7 MJ/kg; P < 0,006) fueron mayores, y sus concentraciones plasmáticas de glucosa (158±24,5mg/dl; P < 0,04) fueron menores que las del grupo L25 (11,9±1,3%, 18,5±0,08%, 942±51,3 MJ/kg y 212±27,9 mg/dl ) y que las del grupo L32, (13,4±1,03%, 18,5±0,1%, 993±40,4 MJ/kg and 259±29,5 mg/dl), respectivamente. El recuento de la población folicular en los ovarios fue similar en los tres grupos. La maduración nuclear (% de oocitos en metafase II) y la citoplásmica (% de gránulos corticales total o parcialmente migrados) fue significativamente menor en el grupo sacrificado a los 25 dpp (L25), que en los grupos NL32 y L32 (67 vs. 79,7 y 78,3%; P < 0,05; 16 vs. 38,3 y 60,0%; P<0,05, respectivamente). En conclusión, las reservas energéticas de la coneja primípara aumentan si es destetada a 25 dpp. Sin embargo, esta estrategia no es suficiente desde el punto de vista reproductivo, ya que a los 32 dpp, la actividad ovárica de las conejas es similar independientemente de si han sido destetadas previamente o no

Métodos de sincronización de celo en conejas primíparas lactantes a 25 días post-parto

La sincronización del celo es una técnica necesaria en las explotaciones cunícolas. En este trabajo se han utilizado un total de 60 conejas primíparas lactantes en día 25 post-parto (pp) distribuidas en 5 grupos de 12 animales: el grupo PG recibió un 2.5% de propilen glicol en el agua de bebida desde el día 22 pp, el grupo eCG se trató con 25 UI de eCG (i.m.) el día 23 pp, el grupo BIO fue separado transitoriamente de sus camadas durante 24 horas, el grupo PGBIO se suplementó con 2,5% de PG y además se le separó transitoriamente de su camada, y por último, el grupo C que no fue sincronizado. Estudiamos el efecto de estos tratamientos sobre el peso vivo, la composición corporal, el consumo de alimento, la concentración de los ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE), la glucosa y las proteínas plasmáticas, el crecimiento de los gazapos y la fisiología ovárica. Aunque todos los grupos tuvieron el mismo consumo de pienso, las conejas del grupo PG presentaron menos cantidad de proteína (P<0,003) y de grasa corporal (P<0,06) el día 25 pp que al principio del tratamiento. En los grupos PG y PGBIO, las concentraciones de AGNE no se modificaron y las concentraciones de proteínas plasmáticas eran más altas el día 22 que el 25 pp. En todos los grupos las concentraciones de glucosa aumentaron (P<0,001) y las camadas crecieron significativamente (P<0,001). Las poblaciones foliculares ováricas en el día 25 pp, así como la maduración nuclear in vitro de los oocitos no se vieron afectadas por ningún tratamiento. El grupo PG presentó una baja proporción de oocitos no madurados citoplásmicamente (P<0,05). En conclusión, ninguno de los tratamientos aplicados, incluido el hormonal, ha presentado resultados definitivamente mejores que el grupo control, por lo que es necesario estudiar otras combinaciones o métodos para poder conseguir mejorar sustancialmente los parámetros reproductivos en conejas primíparas lactantes en el día 25 pp

Fertilidad, desarrollo embrionario y prolificidad de conejas nulíparas alimentadas con piensos enriquecidos en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados n-3

One hundred and five nulliparous rabbit does were fed ad libitum one month before and during pregnancy with two isofibrous, isoenergetic and isoproteic diets supplemented with two different fat sources: 0.75% lard for control diet (C group: n=53) or 1.5% of a supplement (Optomega-50; Optivite International Ltd., España) containing a 50% of ether extract and 38% of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for experimental diet (group P n-3; n=52). Fertility after artificial insemination and induction of ovulation with 20 μg of Gonadorelina (Inducel-GnRH, Ovejero) at 4.5 months of age was assessed. At parturition, pregnancy length and prolificacy (number and weight of born alive and number of stillborn) were observed. A total of 8 pregnant does from each experimental group were chosen at random to study embryo and placenta dimensions by means of ultrasonography at 8, 15 and 22 days of pregnancy. PUFA n-3 supplementation did not affect any productive results due the success on reproductive features of nulliparous does which are difficult to improve. Neither, any differences in ultrasonographic meausrements were obtained; nevertheless we have defined useful physiological parameters of rabbit embryo and placenta to future studies in this specie.Un total de 105 conejas nulíparas se alimentaron ad libitum un mes antes y durante su primera gestación con dos piensos isofibrosos, isoenergéticos e isoproteicos suplementados con dos fuentes de grasa diferentes: 0,75% de manteca para la dieta control (grupo C; n=53) ó 1,5% de un suplemento (Optomega-50; Optivite International Ltd., España) que contenía un 50% de extracto etéreo y 38% de ácidos grasos poli-insaturados (AG n-3) para la dieta experimental (grupo P; n=52). A los 4,5 meses de edad se determinó la fertilidad después de ser inseminadas artificialmente y tratadas con 20 μg de Gonadorelina (Inducel-GnRH, Ovejero) para inducirles la ovulación. Al parto se determinó la duración de la gestación, el número y peso de los gazapos nacidos vivos y muertos. Se escogieron 16 conejas al azar, 8 de cada grupo, y se realizaron ecografías a los 8, 15 y 22 días de gestación en las que se determinó las dimensiones del embrión y de los anejos fetales. La suplementación con AG n-3 no afectó a los resultados productivos determinados ya que se trata de parámetros que en nulíparas son difíciles de mejorar y suelen ser altos. Tampoco se observaron diferencias en las determinaciones ecográficas pero se han podido definir medidas fisiológicas de los fetos y anejos placentarios de gran utilidad para futuros estudios en esta especie

Correlation effects in single-particle overlap functions and one-nucleon removal reactions

Single-particle overlap functions and spectroscopic factors are calculated on the basis of the one-body density matrices (ODM) obtained for the nucleus $^{16}O$ employing different approaches to account for the effects of correlations. The calculations use the relationship between the overlap functions related to bound states of the (A-1)-particle system and the ODM for the ground state of the A-particle system. The resulting bound-state overlap functions are compared and tested in the description of the experimental data from (p,d) reactions for which the shape of the overlap function is important.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures include

A microbial expression system for high-level production of scFv HIV-neutralizing antibody fragments in Escherichia coli

Microbial Biotechnolog

Effects of feed restriction during pregnancy on maternal reproductive outcome, foetal hepatic IGF gene expression and offspring performance in the rabbit

Primiparous female rabbits have high nutritional requirements and, while it is recommended that they are subjected to an extensive reproductive rhythm, this could lead to overweight, affecting reproductive outcomes. We hypothesised that restricting food intake during the less energetic period of gestation could improve reproductive outcome without impairing offspring viability. This study compares two groups of primiparous rabbit does in an extensive reproductive programme, one in which feed was restricted from Day 0 to Day 21 of gestation (R021), and another in which does were fed ad libitum (control) throughout pregnancy. The mother and offspring variables compared were (1) mother reproductive outcomes at the time points pre-implantation (Day 3 postartificial insemination [AI]), preterm (Day 28 post-AI) and birth; and (2) the prenatal offspring characteristic IGF system gene expression in foetal liver, liver fibrosis and foetus sex ratio, and postnatal factor viability and growth at birth, and survival and growth until weaning. Feed restriction did not affect the conception rate, embryo survival, or the number of morulae and blastocysts recovered at Day 3 post-AI. Preterm placenta size and efficiency were similar in the two groups. However, both implantation rate (P < 0.001) and the number of foetuses (P = 0.05) were higher in the R021 mothers than controls, while there was no difference in foetal viability. Foetal size and weight, the weights of most organs, organ weight/BW ratios and sex ratio were unaffected by feed restriction; these variables were only affected by uterine position (P < 0.05). Conversely, in the R021 does, foetal liver IGBP1 and IGF2 gene expression were dysregulated despite no liver fibrosis and a normal liver structure. No effects of restricted feed intake were produced on maternal fertility, prolificacy, or offspring birth weight, but control females weaned more kits. Litter weight and mortality rate during the lactation period were also unaffected. In conclusion, pre-implantation events and foetal development were unaffected by feed restriction. While some genes of the foetal hepatic IGF system were dysregulated during pregnancy, liver morphology appeared normal, and the growth of foetuses and kits until weaning was unmodified. This strategy of feed restriction in extensive reproductive rhythms seems to have no significant adverse effects on dam reproductive outcome or offspring growth and viability until weaning

Effects of parity order and reproductive management on the efficiency of rabbit productive systems.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of parity order and reproductive management systems on rabbit production performance. A total of 73 rabbit does (I group) were submitted to a 35-day intensive rhythm [artificial insemination (AI) on day 4 post-partum (pp) and weaning at 25 days of lactation], and 108 rabbit does (SI group) were submitted to a 42-day semi-intensive rhythm (AI on day 11 pp and weaning at 35 days of lactation) during 9 months. Primiparous does had the lowest live body weight at parturition (P < 0.0001) and at 21 days of lactation (P < 0.0001). They also had lower milk production (P < 0.0001) than does with later parities. I group animals needed a higher number of AI than SI group to become pregnant (1.70 ± 0.03 vs. 1.39 ± 0.03; P < 0.0001: especially after the third). Prolificacy was not affected by the management system. Parturition interval (PI) was longer than expected in both groups [56.0 ± 1.4 and 50.9 ± 1.38 days in I and SI groups, respectively (P < 0.05)]. Mean productivity, estimated as number of weaned rabbits per female and year, was 12 kits higher in rabbit does of the SI group (P < 0.05). From the third parturition onward, an increase in live body weight of kits at different ages was observed. At 21 (P < 0.05) and 25 days of age (P < 0.01), kits from the I group rabbit does weighed more than those from the SI group; however, the latter showed a higher weight at 35 (P < 0.05) and 60 days of age (P < 0.05). Rabbit does with two or three parturitions had higher litter size at 21 and 25 days of age (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Kit mortality between 21 and 25 days of age and between 35 and 60 days of age was not affected by treatments but was higher in the I group between 25 and 35 days (18.2 vs. 5.03% in the I and SI groups, respectively; P < 0.0001) and as age of does increased (P < 0.05). In light of these results, we could conclude that long term doe reproductive performance is negatively affected and litter viability decreased when using intensive compared to a semi-intensive reproductive management

Impact of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis immunization during pregnancy on subsequent infant immunization seroresponses : follow-up from a large randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background: Pertussis immunization during pregnancy results in high pertussis antibody concentrations in young infants but may interfere with infant immune responses to post-natal immunization. Methods: This phase IV, multi-country, open-label study assessed the immunogenicity and safety of infant primary vaccination with DTaP-HepB-IPV/Hib and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). Enrolled infants (6\u201314 weeks old) were born to mothers who were randomized to receive reduced-antigen-content diphtheria-tetanus-three-component acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap group) or placebo (control group) during pregnancy (270/7\u2013366/7 weeks\u2019 gestation) with crossover immunization postpartum. All infants received 2 or 3 DTaP-HepB-IPV/Hib and PCV13 doses according to national schedules. Immunogenicity was assessed in infants pre- and 1 month post-primary vaccination. The primary objective was to assess seroprotection/vaccine response rates for DTaP-HepB-IPV/Hib antigens 1 month post-primary vaccination. Results: 601 infants (Tdap group: 296; control group: 305) were vaccinated. One month post-priming, seroprotection rates were 100% (diphtheria; tetanus), 6598.5% (hepatitis B), 6595.9% (polio) and 6594.5% (Hib) in both groups. Vaccine response rates for pertussis antigens were significantly lower in infants whose mothers received pregnancy Tdap (37.5\u201377.1%) versus placebo (90.0\u201399.2%). Solicited and unsolicited adverse event rates were similar between groups. Serious adverse events occurred in 2.4% (Tdap group) and 5.6% (control group) of infants, none were vaccination-related. Conclusions: Pertussis antibodies transferred during pregnancy may decrease the risk of pertussis infection in the first months of life but interfere with the infant's ability to produce pertussis antibodies, the clinical significance of which remains unknown. Safety and reactogenicity results were consistent with previous experience

Assessment of plasma chitotriosidase activity, CCL18/PARC concentration and NP-C suspicion index in the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type C: A prospective observational study

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in either the NPC1 or NPC2 genes. The diagnosis of NP-C remains challenging due to the non-specific, heterogeneous nature of signs/symptoms. This study assessed the utility of plasma chitotriosidase (ChT) and Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18)/pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC) in conjunction with the NP-C suspicion index (NP-C SI) for guiding confirmatory laboratory testing in patients with suspected NP-C. Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study, incorporating a retrospective determination of NP-C SI scores, two different diagnostic approaches were applied in two separate groups of unrelated patients from 51 Spanish medical centers (n = 118 in both groups). From Jan 2010 to Apr 2012 (Period 1), patients with =2 clinical signs/symptoms of NP-C were considered ''suspected NP-C'' cases, and NPC1/NPC2 sequencing, plasma chitotriosidase (ChT), CCL18/PARC and sphingomyelinase levels were assessed. Based on findings in Period 1, plasma ChT and CCL18/PARC, and NP-C SI prediction scores were determined in a second group of patients between May 2012 and Apr 2014 (Period 2), and NPC1 and NPC2 were sequenced only in those with elevated ChT and/or elevated CCL18/PARC and/or NP-C SI =70. Filipin staining and 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) measurements were performed in all patients with NP-C gene mutations, where possible. Results: In total across Periods 1 and 2, 10/236 (4%) patients had a confirmed diagnosis o NP-C based on gene sequencing (5/118 4.2%] in each Period): all of these patients had two causal NPC1 mutations. Single mutant NPC1 alleles were detected in 8/236 (3%) patients, overall. Positive filipin staining results comprised three classical and five variant biochemical phenotypes. No NPC2 mutations were detected. All patients with NPC1 mutations had high ChT activity, high CCL18/PARC concentrations and/or NP-C SI scores =70. Plasma 7-KC was higher than control cut-off values in all patients with two NPC1 mutations, and in the majority of patients with single mutations. Family studies identified three further NP-C patients. Conclusion: This approach may be very useful for laboratories that do not have mass spectrometry facilities and therefore, they cannot use other NP-C biomarkers for diagnosis