Inseminació artificial equina

La inseminació artificial equina es troba menys desenvolupada que en altres espècies, tot i que en els últims anys ha adquirit una important difusió i ha experimentat grans avenços. Els resultats obtinguts amb semen fresc o refrigerat són propers als que ofereix la munta natural; no obstant això, els que s'obtenen amb el semen congelat són encara molt pobres. La millora dels mètodes de congelació té un important futur per crear bancs de semen de cavalls d'alt valor i utilitzar-lo independentment del temps, la distància i al indisposició de l'animal.Artificial insemination in equines is less developed than in other species, but the last few years has experimented importants advances and difusion. The results obtaineds with fresh or refrigerated semen are better than the results of frozen semen and are similars to the natural service. The study of the freezing methods has a important future to create a semen stocks of very good stallions, and use these semen independly of the time, distance and stallion problems.La inseminación artificial equina está menos desarrollada que en otras especies, aunque en los últimos arios ha adquirido una importante difusión y ha experimentado grandes avances. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando semen fresco o refrigerado se acercan a los obtenidos por monta natural, no obstante, los que se obtienen con semen congelado son aún muy pobres. La mejora de los métodos de congelación tiene un futuro importante para crear bancos de semen de caballos de alto valor y utilizarlo independientemente del tiempo, la distancia o la indisposición del animal

Face-to-face teaching: the opinion and the commitment of the students of Physiology and Pathophysiogy III in the Pharmacy Degree of the University of Barcelona

Although university teachers and students made a significant effort to adapt to a virtual scenario during the pandemic, face-to-face teaching is considered the priority system at the University of Barcelona. However, after the pandemic period, the presence of the students in the classroom has been clearly reduced. The teachers of the subject of Physiology and Pathophysiology III of the Pharmacy Degree of the University of Barcelona have designed a survey to capture the degree of satisfaction of the students about the development of face-to-face teaching tuition and to investigate their commitment to attend the classes in the classroom. The students answered this survey on the day of the final exam. The number of students in the course 2022-2023 is 313 and 95 % of them (296 students) answered the survey, which was voluntary and anonymous. In the analysis of the results obtained, we have differentiated between the students who coursed the subject for the first time (242 students) and those who failed in previous academic years and enrolled for the second or the third time (46 students). Results indicated that the students valued positively face-to-face teaching, as 94% of all the students who answered the poll rated "quiet" or "a lot" this tuition. If we consider only the students who matriculated the subject for the first time, the degree of satisfaction increased to 95% while it decreased to 90% when the students that already coursed the subject before were assessed. When they were asked about their commitment to assist the lessons at the classroom, with the question "How often have you attended the face-to-face classes?", 77% of the students answered "quite" or "a lot". Again, if we consider the students who coursed the subject for the first time, this value increased to 81% and decreased to 61% for those who were matriculated in the subject after failing it the previous year. The main reasons that they argued for not assisting to the classes were mainly 1) lack of time due to other continuous assessment exams and activities and 2) working hours. Only 1.7% of the students adduced their absence from the classroom to reasons related to the teaching quality. In conclusion, the students are in line with our university's face-to-face teaching methods, as they continue to positively value classroom teaching, despite having lived through the pandemics, when they took online classes. Their responses to the survey show us that students of the Pharmacy Degree may feel overwhelmed with the activities and exams scheduled during each term, the lack of time the reason for not attending regular face-to-face classes every day

Melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 are expressed in spermatozoa from several seasonal and nonseasonal breeder species

P. 1958-1968Melatonin is a ubiquitous and multipurpose molecule, and one of its roles is to regulate reproduction in some seasonal mammals. Our group has previously reported the variation in the melatonin levels in ram seminal plasma along the year and identified MT1 and MT2 receptors in ram spermatozoa. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether the presence of melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) in the sperm plasma membrane, and melatonin in the seminal plasma is related to seasonal breeding. For this purpose, the presence of melatonin receptors and the levels of melatonin in seminal plasma have been examined in several species: donkey and stallion as long-day breeders; red deer as a wild, short-day, highly seasonal breeder (epididymal spermatozoa); bull as a conventional nonseasonal breeder; boar as a seasonal breeder under management techniques; and dog as possible a seasonal breeder not regulated by melatonin. We have detected measurable levels of melatonin in the seminal plasma of all ejaculated semen samples (from donkey, stallion, boar, bull, and dog). Also, and for the first time, we have demonstrated the presence of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors in the spermatozoa of all these species, regardless their type of reproduction or sperm source (ejaculated or epididymal), using indirect immunofluorescence techniques and Western blotting. Our findings suggest that melatonin and melatonin receptors may be universally distributed in the reproductive system of mammals and that the sperm melatonin receptors cells may not be necessarily related with seasonal reproduction. Furthermore, the presence of MT1 at the cytoplasmic droplet in immature ejaculated stallion spermatozoa found in one sample and epididymal red deer spermatozoa suggests that melatonin may be involved in specific functions during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, like protecting spermatozoa from oxidative damage, this activity being mediated through these receptors.S

Improvement of cryopreservation protocol in both purebred horses including Spanish horses

There is a widely held belief that the semen of Purebred Spanish Horses (PRE) is of generally poorer quality than that of other breeds, and survives cryopreservation less well. To determine whether this is the case, sperm concentration, viability and morphological abnormalities were examined in a total 610 fresh ejaculates from 64 healthy PRE (N=47) and non-PRE stallions (N=17). Sperm concentration and viability were then re-examined after pre-freezing centrifugation, and once again after freezing-thawing. No differences were observed between the PRE and non-PRE stallions in terms of any sperm quality variable at any observation point. When considering all PRE and non-PRE samples together, differences in sperm viability were observed between fresh and fresh-centrifuged sperm viability (70.1±12.5% compared to 76.3±10.9%; p<0.01). After centrifugation the samples were also more homogeneous in terms of the total number of recovered sperm cells. Centrifugation also improved frozen-thawed sperm viability, reducing differences in sperm quality between individual stallions. For all centrifugations, a sperm:extender ratio of 1:5 was used. This would appear to provide better final results than those reported in the literature for the 1:1 ratio commonly used for PRE stallion sperm cryopreservation. In conclusion, obtained results show that the quality and frozen/thawed results of PRE stallion sperm are not lower than that of non-PRE breeds. In addition, using a 1:5 sperm:extender dilution ratio when selecting sperms by centrifugation prior to freezing, seems to provide better results than those usually reported when using a 1:1 ratio

Effect of short-term conservation temperature, with or without centrifugation, on the survival and motility of Catalonian donkey spermatozoa

Aim of study: To analyze the effect of three short-term storage temperatures with or without removing seminal plasma on the survival and motility of donkey sperm and the response to refrigeration and centrifugation of the different spermatozoa subpopulations.Area of study: North-eastern Spain (Catalonia).Material and methods: Semen from seven Catalonian jackasses was diluted with a skimmed milk-based (Kenney) extender and different treatments were obtained: FRESH semen, FRESH semen immediately centrifuged to remove the seminal plasma before resuspension in Kenney extender (FRESH+CENTRIFUGATION), FRESH semen stored at 5/15/20ºC for 2 h (STORAGE 5/15/20ºC), and STORAGE 5/15/20ºC semen then centrifuged (STORAGE 5/15/20ºC+CENTRIFUGATION). Survival was examined using eosin-nigrosin stained smears. Motion was assessed by means of a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA).Main results: The spermatozoa of the STORAGE 5ºC and 20ºC showed an overall motility similar to that seen in FRESH samples. However, the STORAGE 15ºC led to an important motility reduction. No differences were seen between the FRESH and STORAGE 5/15/20ºC with respect to progressive motility. However, STORAGE 5/15/20ºC+CENTRIFUGATION all reduced total motility, and STORAGE 15ºC+CENTRIFUGATION led to reduced survival. The sperm motile subpopulations structure of donkey semen was maintained after STORAGE 5/15/20ºC+CENTRIFUGATION, although STORAGE 15ºC+CENTRIFUGATION led to important changes. STORAGE 5/20ºC+CENTRIFUGATION, in contrast, only induced slight changes. STORAGE 20ºC+CENTRIFUGATION was associated with no change in the percentage of sperm cells belonging to each Subpopulation compared to FRESH sperm.Research highlights 2 h of storage at 20ºC followed by centrifugation is suitable for the short-term storage of donkey semen

Inseminació artificial equina

La inseminació artificial equina es troba menys desenvolupada que en altres espècies, tot i que en els últims anys ha adquirit una important difusió i ha experimentat grans avenços. Els resultats obtinguts amb semen fresc o refrigerat són propers als que ofereix la munta natural; no obstant això, els que s'obtenen amb el semen congelat són encara molt pobres. La millora dels mètodes de congelació té un important futur per crear bancs de semen de cavalls d'alt valor i utilitzar-lo independentment del temps, la distància i al indisposició de l'animal.Artificial insemination in equines is less developed than in other species, but the last few years has experimented importants advances and difusion. The results obtaineds with fresh or refrigerated semen are better than the results of frozen semen and are similars to the natural service. The study of the freezing methods has a important future to create a semen stocks of very good stallions, and use these semen independly of the time, distance and stallion problems.La inseminación artificial equina está menos desarrollada que en otras especies, aunque en los últimos arios ha adquirido una importante difusión y ha experimentado grandes avances. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando semen fresco o refrigerado se acercan a los obtenidos por monta natural, no obstante, los que se obtienen con semen congelado son aún muy pobres. La mejora de los métodos de congelación tiene un futuro importante para crear bancos de semen de caballos de alto valor y utilizarlo independientemente del tiempo, la distancia o la indisposición del animal

Heat induction and sincronization during seasonal anoestrus of the improved ripollesa sheep by using vaginal sponges (FGA) and PMSG injectable

En el presente trabajo se realiza una evaluación y estudio de los resultados obtenidos con un tratamiento hormonal de inducción y sincronización de celos mediante esponjas vaginales, impregnadas de acetato de fluorogestona (FGA) e inoculación posterior de PMSG, durante el anestro estacionario en la raza ovina Ripollesa Mejorada. Tras el tratamiento los animales no gestantes no volvieron a manifestar celos hasta ranscurrida la época de anestro, salvo en una oveja en la que se observó un nuevo celo los quince días, momento en que volvió a repetirse la cubrición Se estudia, igualmente, la estacionalidad de producción del rebaño durante cuatro años, y la utilidad de este control reproductivo como método de desestacionamiento de sa producción, así como la relación de la prolificidad repartida a lo largo del año y la obtenida mediante esponjas vaginales/PMSG. El 97% de las ovejas manifestaron celo a las cuarenta y ocho horas de finalizar el tratamiento, momento en que se inició la cubrición, mediante monta dirigida y posteriormente monta libre. La duración media de la gestación fue de 147,53 días, oscilando entre 144 y 152 días. La fertilidad obtenida es del 73%, mientras que la prolificidad era del 190%.  In the present work we carry out an evaluation and study of the results obtained after c induction and sinchronization of heat by using vaginal sponges impregnated with flurogestona acetate (FGA) and inoculation of serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) during seasonal anoestrus of the Improved Ripollesa Sheep. ¿ Heat induction porcentage: 97%, 48 hours post-treatment. ¿ Average time of pregnancy: 147,53 days. ¿ Fertility: 73

Genetic relationships between six eastern Pyrenean sheep breeds assessed using microsatellites

The knowledge of the genetic composition and relationships among livestock breeds is a necessary step for the implementation of management and conservation plans. This study aims to characterise the genetic diversity and relationships among six sheep breeds of meat aptitude that are spread through the eastern Pyrenees: Tarasconnaise, Castillonnaise and Rouge du Roussillon from France, and Aranesa, Xisqueta and Ripollesa from Spain. All but Tarasconnaise are catalogued as endangered. These breeds do not share the same ancestral origin but commercial trades and gene flow between herds are known to have occurred for centuries. Additionally, two outgroup breeds were included: the Guirra, from a different geographical location, and the Lacaune, a highly selected breed of dairy aptitude. A total of 410 individuals were typed using a panel of 12 microsatellite markers. Statistical, phylogenetic and Bayesian analyses showed that eastern Pyrenean breeds retained high levels of genetic diversity and low, but significant, levels of genetic differentiation (FST = 4.1%). While outgroups were clearly differentiated from other breeds, Pyrenean breeds tended to form two clusters. The first encompassed Tarasconnaise and Aranesa, which probably descend from a common meta-population. The second tended to group the other four breeds. However, none reached high mean Q-values of membership to a discrete cluster. This is consistent with the recent past gene flow between breeds, despite different ancestral genetic origins. The genetic characterisation carried out of the eastern Pyrenean sheep populations provides useful information to support decision making on their conservation and focusing efforts and resources to more singular breeds

Cesària d'una vaca

Títol a la caràtula: Tècniques de cesària en vaque