The Effects of Substituting Glassware for Plasticware and the Use of an Ethanol Vector on Oocyte Maturation In Vitro

The intent of this study was to evaluate specific technical aspects of in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), which included container material and solvent delivery vector. Oocytes were matured in oil-free, open-well systems contained in either plastic or glass dishes and compared to control oocytes matured in media droplets on plastic dishes overlaid with mineral oil. Open-well experiments were repeated with ethanol in a quantity sufficient for delivery of nonmiscible compounds. Cleavage rates were significantly decreased in the glassware system when compared to controls. The plasticware open-well system did not differ from either the controls or the glassware groups. Cleavage in glassware with ethanol was significantly lower than controls or plasticware with ethanol. Blastocyst rates were only decreased in the glassware-ethanol treatment when compared to plasticware-ethanol treatment. Cell counts and percentage of TUNEL-positive cells did not differ significantly. Unexpectedly, sex ratio was significantly decreased (34% male) from the expected value of 50% male in the glassware group with added ethanol. The current study demonstrates the sensitivity of IVM to subtle technical changes, resulting in significant developmental consequences

Self-Objectification Among Physically Active Women

This article discusses self-objectification among physically active women

Effects of supplemental oxytocin or prostaglandin F2α analogue in extended boar semen on piglet productivity of gilts and sows artificially inseminated in summer

We determined the effects of oxytocin (OT) and prostaglandin F2α analogue (PG) added to extended boar semen on the duration of artificial insemination (AI) and reproductive performance of pigs bred in July and August (temperate climate of Central Europe). Eighty gilts and second parity sows (G+SP) and sixty-four multiparous sows (M) were divided into three groups. Group OT (11 G+SP and 37 M) and group PG (20 G+SP and 28 M) were artificially inseminated twice (at the onset of estrus and 22–24 h later) using extended semen supplemented with 20 IU of OT or 5 mg of PG, respectively. Thirty-three G+SP and 15 M served as controls (C) inseminated with non-supplemented semen. The mean duration of the first AI was shorter (P<0.05) in M compared with G+SP females inseminated with PG-supplemented semen (80±22 s vs. 191±26 s, respectively), whereas the second AI was shorter (P<0.05) in M than in G+SP artificially inseminated with OT-supplemented semen (93±15 s vs. 192±28 s). The mean pregnancy rate was lower (P<0.05) in C G+SP (26/33; 85%) compared with OT G+SP females (11/11; 100%). The OT M females had more (P<0.05) stillborn piglets per litter compared with their G+SP counterparts (0.8±0.1 vs. 0.1±0.3). In summary, the addition of PG was associated with shorter first AI times in multiparous sows compared with G+SP, but with lower farrowing rates in younger animals. Oxytocin supplementation was associated with a shorter second AI and higher pregnancy rates in young females, but more stillborn piglets per litter in older sows