ASSESSMENT OF MOUSE EMBRYO VIABILITY BY ESTERASIC ACTIVITY DETECTION

In order to evaluate the esterasic activity within the viable embryos we used the Fluorescein diacetate(FDA) staining test. For staining was used a 0.5 mg/ml FDA stock solution. The embryos were recoveredat 48 hours post coitus from superovulated Swiss mouse females. Before staining the embryos weremicroscopically evaluated by morphological criteria and classified in 4 quality codes. The two methodsused for quality and viability assessment were correlated applying Pearson coefficient. The calculatedvalue of the Pearson coefficient (r=1) showed a strong correlation between the two methods used andindicate FDA staining test and esterasic activity as a fast, easy and reliable method for embryo viabilityassessment

Histomorphometric Features of Deltoid Muscle (Musculus Deltoideus) in the Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and Domestic Sheep

The aim of this study was to determine histomorphometry of the skeletal muscle at rams from the Tigaie breed and males mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) knowing that, in addition to a variety of factors, both the fiber thickness and muscle fascicles influence of meat quality. The study was conducted on the deltoid muscle fragments taken from five individuals of the each species. The muscle samples were processed according to the method of embedded in paraffin, sectioned to a thickness of 5 µm and stained with Mallory's trichrome method. From the histomorphometric analysis resulted that in mouflon, the average area of muscle fascicles is larger, as compared with the ram (p <0.05), the ratio between the fascicles muscle area and the interfascicular connective tissue being 2.939:1 to mouflon and 1,624:1 to ram. Also, at mouflon the muscle fibers are thicker, the area and perimeter  registering an average value of 486.60 μm2, respectively 82.83 μm while in the ram, the area of the muscle fibers is 281.56 μm2 and the perimeter of 62.92 μm (p <0.001). The amount of interfibrillar connective tissue is higher in the ram (p <0.05) and the ratio between the muscular fibers area and interfibrillar connective tissue area was 1.649:1 in mouflon and 1.451:1 at ram (p<0.05)

Slaughter Performance and Carcass Characteristics of the Hybrids Obtained by Crossbreeding between European Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and Sheep Breed Tigaie

The aim of this work was to determine differences between slaughter performances and carcass characteristics of first generation hybrids (F1) obtained by crossbreeding between European Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and the Romanian sheep breed Tigaie. To assess the yield at slaughter and the participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcass structure, crossbreeding were made between females of sheep breed Tigaie and males of mouflon (FT x MM) respectively between mouflon females and males of sheep breed Tigaie (FMxMT). At the age of 60 days 14 lambs were sacrificed (7 hybrids FTxMM and 7 hybrids FMxMT). Slaughter yield calculated on hot and chilled carcasses had higher values at FMxMT (P<0.05). The participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcass structure had the highest values at FMxMT hybrids compared to FTxMM hybrids. Results from this study showed that genotype significantly influenced the studied characteristics and have revealed the superiority of FMxMT hybrids as against FTxMM hybrids lambs

Reaction of cows ovaries to GnRH administration in different estrus cycle stages

Administration of GnRH in the luteal phase of estrous in dairy cows induces an increase of LH levels, with the modification of the growth waves of the ovarian follicles. GnRH induces ovulation or atresia of the dominant follicle and the recruitment of a new wave of follicular growth. The GnRH administration in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle induces growth waves synchronization of ovarian follicles, so that, a new wave of follicles started to grow at 5-6 days after administration. In our experiments, we administered 2ml Ovarelin (100 mcg GnRH), to three groups of cows (116 cows): in early luteal phase of the estrous cycle (days 4-5), in the middle of luteal phase (days 9-12), and late luteal phase (days 15-16). The rates of cows standing heat were 91.66% when GnRH was administered in early luteal phase, 95.22% when was administrated in the middle of luteal phase, and 73.68% in late luteal phase GnRH administration. After artificial insemination, the conception rates were 48.48% in early luteal phase, 52.5% at middle luteal phase and 46.42% in the late luteal phase of the estrous cycle

Classical scholarship: the Byzantine contribution

Discusses the effect that Byzantine work has had on our perception of ancient Greek language and literature (especially Homer and drama)