Assessment of morphological and functional changes in neonate vitrified testis grafts after host treatment with melatonin

This study was conducted to assess the effect of melatonin on the structure of testis and spermatogenesis dynamics in neonate vitrified testis grafts. Neonate vitrified testes, candidates for transplantation heterotopically to experiment or control groups, were warmed in thawing media which had or did not have a supplement of 100 μM melatonin, respectively. Following transplantation, melatonin (20 mg/ /kg/day) or saline solution was intraperitoneally injected into the treated and the non-treated groups, respectively. The initiating spermatogenesis, spermatogonia survival, and structure of tissue in the testis graft were examined. Cell apoptosis (TUNEL assay) and proliferation (Brdu assay) in germ cells were determined. Histological studies revealed the dynamic of the spermatogenesis process in the vitrified testis graft. However, dilation of the lumen accompanied by a disorganised epithelium in the non-treated group was higher than in the treated group. Furthermore, the proportion of apoptotic germ cells together with a reduced proportion of proliferated germ cells was higher in the non-treated group than in the treated group. Overall, the number of seminiferous tubules in the testes grafts of both groups remained steady. However, the non-treated testes grafts contained more damaged seminiferous tubules than the treated ones. The thickness of the seminiferous tubules was greater in the melatonin treated group than in the non-treated group. In fact, the thickness of germinal epithelium was significantly higher in the treated group than in the non-treated group. The study may show a positive effect from melatonin resulting in more grafts restoring puberty. Furthermore, the associated increase in the healthy number of seminiferous tubules suggests that melatonin may have a preventative ischaemia/antioxidant role and in fact may be useful to initiate the spermatogenesis process. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 2: 95–102

Follicular dynamics in neonate vitrified ovarian grafts after host treatment with melatonin

This study evaluates the effect of melatonin on follicular dynamics in neonate vitrified ovarian grafts. Vitrified ovaries from neonate F1 hybrid mice, candidates for transplantation to treated or non-treated groups, were thawed under standard conditions with or without the addition of 100 μM melatonin, respectively. Following transplantation, melatonin (20 mg/kg/day) or saline solution was injected i.p. into the treated and the non-treated groups, respectively. Vaginal cytology to monitor estrogenic activity together with follicle survival and development in the ovary grafts was examined. The results showed that the sites of transplantation became obvious within the oestrous phase. Histological analysis showed that there was a dynamic of the ovogenesis process in the vitrified ovary grafts. However, in the ovary graft the empty cavity together with jumbled oocyte-granulosa complex in the non-treated group was higher than in the melatonin treated group. Overall, the number of primary follicles in the ovary grafts of both groups remained constant throughout the oestrous period. However, the treated ovary grafts contained more secondary follicles throughout the oestrous period in comparison to non-treated ovary grafts. The antral follicle rates were more marked in the melatonin treated group than in the non-treated group during the oestrous period, whereas at other days of the cycle no significant difference was observed. The fresh corpora lutea rates were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the non-treatment group. The study showed that there is a positive effect with melatonin resulting in more grafts restoring puberty. Furthermore, the associated increase in healthy follicles suggests that melatonin has a preventative ischaemia/antioxidant action and may be useful to follicles. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 1: 18-23

A prospective study to evaluate the gender prediction of blastocysts by using cell-free DNA within a culture medium

Background: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has been used as an option for couples with the possibility of having a baby with a genetic disorder. The common method for performing this test involves isolating 1 cell from day 3 or a few cells from day 5 embryos and performing genetic studies on the cell-extracted DNA. This method is invasive and can cause abortion after implantation in the uterus. Because of this, 2 noninvasive methods for performing a PGD have been studied: PGD using blastocyst fluid and PGD using embryo culture medium. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect the Y chromosome using cell-free DNA within a culture medium for gender prediction of blastocysts. Materials and Methods: In this study, the gender of 30 embryos on day 5 was determined using embryonic DNA extraction from the culture medium and the PCR technique to evaluate the sex-determining region Y and fragile X mental retardation genes. Then, the accuracy was assessed using ultrasound. Results: The results of the PCR technique showed that 7 embryos were male, but an ultrasound revealed that 13 were male. Conclusion: The given results indicated that, because of the low amount of DNA extracted from the culture medium, the diagnosis of the existence of the Y chromosome by this method is still not accurate enough for detecting the gender of the embryo. Key words: Preimplantation diagnosis, Embryo implantation, Culture media, Blastocyst, Polymerase chain reaction

Peningkatan Produksi Kambing Peranakan Ettawa Melalui Penyerentakan Birahi Menggunakan Progesteron Intra Vaginal Silikon Sponge Serta Inseminasi Buatan Semen Beku Di Desa Tempuran Kecamatan Sooko Kabupaten Mojokerto

Desa Tempuran. Kecamatan Sooko, Kabupaten Mojokerto mempunyai potensi sangat besar untuk sentra produksi ternak kambing Teknologi kawin suntik dengan menggunakan sperma dari kambing pejantan unggul dapat dikerjakan oleh kader desa setempat Dengan menggunakan metode kawin suntik dengan sperma berasal dari pejantan unggul kambing Peranakan Ettawa, akan dapat didapat keturunan anak kambing yang "performance" nya lebih baik Dengan keturunan anak-anak kambing yang lebih tersebut akan mejadi "trigger factor" untuk terjadinya multiplier effect" maupun deversifikasi usaha berbasis petenakan kambing

The effects of swimming exercise and supraphysiological doses of nandrolone decanoate on the testis in adult male rats: a transmission electron microscope study

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are used in high doses by athletes to improve athletic ability, physical appearance, and muscle mass. Unfortunately, the abuse of these agents has significantly increased. It has been established that exercise and high doses of AAS may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (H-P-G) axis, which can in turn affect the ultrastructure of the testes. However, the effect of the combination of exercise and high doses of AAS on the ultrastructure of the testes is not known. This study was undertaken in order to examine the combination effects of swimming exercise and supraphysiological doses of nandrolone decanoate on the ultrastructural changes in rat testes. Five groups of male Wistar strain albino rats were treated as follows for 8 weeks: solvent of nandrolone decanoate (peanut oil) as a vehicle (sham); nandrolone decanoate (ND) (10 mg/kg/week) - ND; exercise (1 h/day, 5 days a week) - exercise; ND (10 mg/kg/week) and exercise (1 h/day, 5 days a week) - ND-EX; and sedentary control without any injection or exercise - control. Ultrastructural changes in the rat testes were characterised by transmission electron microscopy. The number and size of Leydig cells were considerably decreased in the interstitial space in the experimental rats. The increased thickness and irregular wavy multilaminar appearance of basement membrane in the treated animals, especially in the ND-EX group, are associated with well developed myoid cells. Cytoplasm vacuolisation, vesicular-like crista of the mitochondria, numerous lipid droplets, and lysosome and phagolysosome in Sertoli cells were significantly observed in the experimental groups. Several apoptotic germ cells were considerably observed in the experimental rats (p ≤ 0.05). Exercise training seems to increase the extent of ultrastructural changes caused by supraphysiological doses of ND in rats, which in turn may affect fertility. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 3: 138-146

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on meiotic spindle structure and oocyte quality in mice

Objective(s): Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve pregnancy chances in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and to reduce miscarriage rates by 50–80%. This study, therefore, assesses effects of DHEA on number of retrieved oocytes and meiotic spindles.Materials and Methods: A randomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted on eight groups, four groups of young mice and four elderly. All young and old groups received different oral doses (35, 50, 75 mg/kg) of DHEA for 3 months. Meiotic spindle assessment was done by immunocytochemical techniques using a confocal laser microscope (Leica TCS-4D).Results: Statistical surveys showed that in control young groups 80% (P=0.0845) and in the old control group 73.3% (P=0.000) of the meiotic spindles have a normal shape and structure; the difference was meaningful. The young with 50 mg/kg of DHEA in 85.4% and the young with 75 mg/kg of DHEA in 84.2% were normal in shape and structure. Statistical analysis showed that the difference was meaningless (P=0.845). The old group with 30 mg/kg of DHEA in 81.1%, the old with 50 mg/kg of DHEA in 83.9%, and the old with 75 mg/kg of DHEA in 79.0% showed normal shape and structure. The meiotic spindle disruption ratio in old mice showed a significant difference (P=0.000) in comparison with others in young groups. Statistical analysis showed that difference between DHEA and control groups is meaningful. But this difference was meaningless between DHEA groups.Conclusion: Results showed that DHEA has a positive and improvement effect on the meiotic spindle in old mice

Pengaruh Penambahan Kolin Klorida Pada Pakan Terhadap Kadar Kolesterol Dan Lipoprotein Darah Sapi Perah Laktasi

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of choline chloride addition in feed on cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in blood of lactating dairy cow, as indicator of lipid anabolism in the body. Eight of lactating dairy cows (61 to 91 days in milk; 2nd lactation period and 456 ± 31 kg of BW average as equal to 99 ± 5 kg BW0.75) were fed total mixed diet containing Napier grass and concentrate (40:60) and additive 30 g/d choline chloride 60% corn-cob as 18 g/d choline chloride (as equal to 0.02 % BW0.75). The experiment was set as cross-over designs with two experiments and eight replications. The treatments were T0 = 0 g/d choline chloride and T1= 30 g/d choline chloride, within 2 periods in which each period was 4 weeks and the data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the addition of 30 g/d choline chloride in feed did not affect (P>0,05) the cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels in blood of lactating dairy cows. The conclusion of this study was the choline chloride addition in feed did not increase cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels in blood of lactating dairy cows as the indicator of lipid anabolism

Immersive virtual reality in improving communication skills in children with Autism

Individuals in the Autism Spectrum often encounter situations where they have to respond to questions and situations that they do not know how to respond to, such as, questions asked by strangers including ones related to daily-life activities. A variety of research has been done to improve social and communication impairments in children with autism using technology. Immersive virtual reality is a relatively recent technology with a potential to bring an effective solution and used as a therapeutic tool to develop different skills. This paper presents a virtual reality solution to reduce the gap experienced by autistic children due to their inability to establish a communication. An interactive scenario-based system that uses role-play and turn-taking technique was implemented to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of immersive environment on the social performance of an autistic child. Preliminary testing of the system demonstrated the feasibility of VR-based system as a tool for improving the communication skill in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children. The results of the comparative usability study show the effectiveness of immersive VR in motivating and satisfying the autistic.Scopu