Coconut milk - citrate as extender for West African dwarf buck spermatozoa at room temperature

We studied the proportions of coconut milk and sodium citrate buffer suitable for extension of West African dwarf (WAD) buck spermatozoa at room temperature. Semen was collected from clinically healthy buck certified free of obvious andrological defects. Eight trials of semen extension were carried out using 0.1 ml of semen plus 0.5 ml buffer as individual extender. In the extenders D1 to D7, while thebuffer (sodium citrate) was decreasing, the coconut milk was increasing. Statistical analyses from 5 trials showed that D2 containing 20% coconut milk and 80% citrate buffer that supported mean sperm cellmotility of 52.6% was highly significant (p = 0.018) at 2 hours post-extension in preserving motility of extended buck semen un-refrigerated compared to both D3 (40% coconut milk and 60% citrate buffer) and D4 (50% coconut milk and 50% citrate buffer). D2 also maintained mean sperm cell motility of 45% and was highly superior (p = 0.012) to both D3 and D4 at 3 hours post-extension. However, in D2, there was no statistical difference (p = 0.693) between 2 hours and 3 hours storage time in mean motility of extended sperm cells. Similarly, there was no difference (p = 0.106) in mean sperm cell motility between D2 at 3 hours and D3 at 2 hours post extension. We concluded therefore, that D2 was superior to others with which it was compared; and that it preserved extended buck semen for more than 2 hours storage at room temperature

Assessment of the Safety of Aqueous Extract of Aloe vera on Haematology of Wistar Rats

Aloe vera is used both traditionally and packaged commercially in many regions of the world for several medicinal and or cosmetic purposes. It is claimed to have rejuvenating, moisturizing, healing or soothing properties on the skin and gastrointestinal tract. This study focused on assessment of the safety of A. vera on blood parameters: packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count (WBC), its differentials neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet counts. Thirty Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into 3 groups and A. vera extract solution was administered to 2 groups for 12 or 24 h respectively, for 7 days consecutively. The third group served as control for the experiment. Blood samples were collected on day 8 to determine changes in the haemogram as a basis for toxicity. Rats administered with A. vera extract, particularly for 24 h showed increased levels of PCV (47.42±4.32%), RBC (9.26±0.60 X106/μL), WBC (12.61±0.45 X103/μL) and its differentials. Platelet count was also significantly increased (150.25±4.77 X109/L). The results from this study showed that A. vera stimulated increased production of all blood cell types. In conclusion, protracted consumption of the extract of A. vera cause stimulation of haematopoiesis which may induce or encourage the progression of haemoproliferative disorders.Keywords: Aloe vera, Haematology, Wistar Ra

The Spermiogram of Mesterolone Treated West African Dwarf Bucks with Testicular Degeneration

Twelve West African Dwarf bucks were used in this study to measure the effect of scrotal insulation and post insulation Proviron® treatment on semen. The testes of the bucks were insulated using cellophane bags and cotton wool for 30 days. After the removal of the insulating materials, thebucks were divided into groups A and B. Animals in group A received 100mg per head per week of Proviron® (mesterolone) for 3 weeks while group B animals were left untreated. Semen collection was done using electroejaculation method throughout the study. Results showed that scrotal insulation caused testicular degeneration evidenced by an insignificant reduction (P>0.05) in sperm motility from 50.28±39.30% preinsulation to 41.81± 30.80% during insulation. However, motility increased significantly (

Heterosis and growth statistics of pure and crossbred sheep in humid tropics of Ibadan, Nigeria

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol 32(2): 2011: 137-14

Response of multiparous and primiparous West Aftrican Dwarf (WAD) goats to concentrate supplementation

No Abstract Available Journal of Science and Technology Vol.1(2) 1997: 42-49 Published 200

The Vertebral Formula of the African Sideneck Turtle (Pelusios castaneus)

An osteological analysis of the vertebral column of the African sideneck turtle (Pelusios castaneus), was carried out with the view of deriving its vertebral formula which could be useful in the comparative systematic anatomy of sea and freshwater turtles as well as in paleontological and archaeological investigations. A total of sixty five adult African sideneck turtles comprising twenty five females and forty males picked up at different times in various river banks in Ibadan, Nigeria, were used for the study. The average body weight of the turtles used for the study was 0.82 ±0.03kg. The curved carapace and plastron lengths of the turtles were 26-4 ±1.87cm and 19.3 ± 1.13cm, respectively. The turtle has eight cervical vertebrae of which the first seven (craniocaudally) were mobile and the last fused with the ventral surface of the carapace and articulated caudally with the first thoracic vertebra. The thoracic vertebrae were seven in number, the last thoracic vertebra articulated with the first sacral vertebra. Three sacral vertebrae were identified in the animals while 15 caudal vertebrae were constantly encountered in all the turtles. The vertebral column of the African side neck turtle consists of 33 vertebrae and its formula can be expressed as C8T7S3Cd15. This formula, the first of its kind in literature is therefore named as the African sideneck turtle vertebral formula (of Olukole) and therefore serves as baseline information on the vertebral column of the turtle.KEY WORD: Anatomy; Carapace; Freshwater Turtle; Skeletal System; Vertebral Column

Semen Characteristics and Haematological Parmeters of West African Dwarf Bucks Treated with Aqueous Extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

The effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius extract was carried out on eight West African Dwarf breeding Bucks weighing between 13kg-15kg and aged 18-24 months. The experiment spanned through 14 weeks. The animals were divided into two groups (T1 and T2) of four bucks each. 5mls of 20% and 30% Chaya leaf extract was administered to groups T1 and T2 each day, respectively, for two weeks. Semen and Blood samples were collected and analyzed.The result showed mild effects on the semen characteristics though there were no significant changes (P>0.05) in the semen volume, motility, percentage livability, the semen count (sperm concentration) and morphology.There was no significant effect (P>0.05) noticed on all the blood parameters except for the WBC count in which there was significant reduction (P<0.05) of T1 and T2. T1, Pre-treatment (22.80± 1.75), first week post treatment-WPT (18.65± 3.00), and second WPT (12.50± 1.39). T2, pre-treatment (14.85 ± 1.58), first WPT (22.67 ± 1.02), and second WPT  (11.85 ± 0.39).It can be concluded that administration of either 20% or 30% extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has no negative effects on the semen characteistics and haematological parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) breeding bucks.Keywords: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Haematological parameters, Semen characteristic

Morphological changes in epididymal spermatozoa of Red Sokoto (Maradi) bucks

Morphological changes in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides were studied in this experiment. The objective was to study morphological changes in goat spermatozoa using the Red Sokoto goat. Progressive motile spermatozoa were tint observed in the caput epididymis (5-7%) and was highest at the cauda epididymis (60%). Progressive motility for the corpus epididymis ranged between 20-30%. Cytoplasmic droplets were lost as the spermatozoa moved up the epididymis. Proximal cytoplasmic droplet was significantly (P<0.05) lowest at the cauda epididymis. Other morphological changes did not follow a particular trend.Keywords: Epididymal spermatozoa, maradi bucks

Preliminary observations on effects of haemoglobin genotype and estimate of genetic distance at the HB locus in West African dwarf and red Sokoto goats

No Abstract

Comparative evaluation of the sperm characteristics and morphology of adult Wistar rats fed either low or normal protein-energy diets and orally dosed with aqueous Cuscuta australis extracts

Summary: Cuscuta australis (C. australis) seed and stem are commonly used as dietary supplements in a maize-meal, “Ogi”, by the local population for the management of male and female reproductive dysfunctions. This study, as a part of on-going efforts, therefore, evaluated and compared the effects of Low Protein-energy (LP) and Normal Protein-energy (NP) diets on the sperm morphology and characteristics of adult Wistar rats orally dosed aqueous extracts of C. australis seed (LPSE and NPSE) and stem (LPST and NPST), 300mg of extract/kg body weight of rat/day, for seven days. The control groups (LPWA and NPWA) received vehicle, water. Live-dead ratio and percentage of sperms with curved tail were significantly decreased (p<0.01) in the NPST relative to the NPWA, LPWA, LPST, NPSE and LPSE. Total abnormal sperm counts, acephalic sperms and tailless head sperms were significantly decreased (p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively) in the LPST and NPST relative to LPSE, NPSE, LPWA and NPWA. The LPSE, LPST and NPST showed significantly decreased (p<0.05) percentages of sperms with either bent mid-piece or curved mid-piece relative to the LPWA. Significantly decreased (p<0.05) percentage of sperms with curved mid-piece was also observed in the NPSE relative to LPWA. Protein-energy diet significantly influenced (at least p<0.05) the effect of each extract on sperm motility and percentage of sperms with curved tail. Stem extract significantly decreased (p<0.01) the percentages of acephalic sperms and tailless head sperms. Diet-stem extract interaction significantly influenced (p<0.05) live-dead ratio. Our data suggest that orally administered aqueous extracts of C. australis generally enhanced the sperm morphology and characteristics of the male Wistar rat and that the stem extract maintained sperm morphology better than the seed extract. It also showed that the stem extract decreased live-dead ratio and that the efficacy of orally administered aqueous C. australis stem extract may be affected by variations in dietary protein-energy levels.Keywords: Cuscuta australis, protein-energy malnutrition, spermiogram, sperm morpholog