Identification and Field Evaluation of Grape Shoot Volatiles Attractive to Female Grape Berry Moth ( Paralobesia viteana )

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) were used to identify volatile compounds from shoots of riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) that attract the female grape berry moth (GBM, Paralobesia viteana). Consistent EAD activity was obtained for 11 chemicals: (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, (E)-linalool oxide, (Z)-linalool oxide, nonanal, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, methyl salicylate, decanal, β-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, and α-farnesene. In flight-tunnel tests that involved female GBM and rubber septa loaded with subsets of these 11 compounds, we found that both the 11-component blend and a seven-component blend, composed of (E)-linalool oxide, (Z)-linalool oxide, nonanal, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, decanal, β-caryophyllene and germacrene-D, elicited equivalent levels of upwind flight as freshly cut grape shoots. The removal of any of the seven compounds from the seven-component blend resulted in a significant decrease in female upwind flight responses. In a field trial with these two synthetic blends, traps equipped with either blend captured more female GBM compared to traps baited with hexane only (control), although the number of females caught was generally low. There were no differences in the number of males captured among treatments. Although in flight-tunnel trials, moths readily flew upwind to both grape shoots and rubber septa loaded with the best lures, they landed on shoots but not on rubber septa. Coupled with relatively low field catches, this suggests that additional host finding cues need to be identified to improve trap efficac

Effect of oxytocin infusion on luteal blood flow and progesterone secretion in dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oxytocin infusion on corpus luteum (CL) function during early to mid-diestrus by measuring luteal size (LS) and luteal blood flow (LBF) along with plasma levels of progesterone (P4) and prostaglandin metabolites (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α, PGFM). On day (D) 7 of the estrus cycle (D1 = ovulation), seven cows received 100 IU of oxytocin (OXY) or placebo (PL) following a Latin square design. LS and LBF increased in both groups over time and no differences were observed between the groups. PGFM did not differ either within the groups over time or between the groups at any time point. P4 of the OXY group was higher compared to that of the the PL group 360 min after the infusion (p = 0.01) and tended to be higher at the time points 450 min, 48 h, and 72 h (all p = 0.08). Results from this study support the hypothesis that OXY is not directly involved in the mechanism(s) governing blood flow of the CL and has no remarkable effects either on luteal size or P4 and PGFM plasma levels. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the role of OXY in CL blood flow during early and late luteal phases

Effect of Immunomodulatory Treatment with Levamisole on Uterine Inflammation and Involution, Serum Sialic Acid Levels and Ovarian Function in Cows

The effects of immunomodulatory treatment with levamisole oil uterine involution, ovarian function and total sialic acid (TSA) concentrations during postpartum period in lactating dairy cows were investigated. In Group I (n=20), levamisole hydrochloride (Actipar (R)) was weekly administered at immunomodulating doses (2.5 mg/kg; IM) starting from five or six weeks until two weeks prior to expected calving. In Group II (n=13), physiologic saline was administered during the same injection schedule. All cows (n=33) were examined oil days 16 +/- 3, 23 +/- 3, 30 +/- 3 and 37 +/- 3 postpartum including external inspection, vaginoscopy, and transrectal ultrasonography. Relative risk of cows in control group having a pathological vaginal discharge (7/11; 63.6%) was 1.9 (0.8-4.4; P>0.05) times higher than that in levamisole treated group (5/15; 33.3%). There is an interaction effect of treatment by vaginal discharge scores on the involution of cervix uteri (P<0.05), and levamisole treatment accelerated the involution of the cervix uteri in cows with normal vaginal discharges compared to those with pathological discharges. There was an earlier recruitment of the follicular wave in cows with normal vaginal discharge compared to those with pathological vaginal discharge. Serum TSA concentrations were higher in cows with pathological vaginal discharge than those with normal vaginal discharge (P<0.01). Consequently, facilitation of involution of the cervix uteri and earlier recruitment of the follicular wave in cows with normal vaginal discharge reveals beneficial effect of immunomodulatory treatment with levamisole, and warrants further research regarding the immunomodulatory treatment with levamisole during dry period prior to breeding protocols. In addition, relationships between vaginal discharge scores and TSA concentrations could be used for evalulation of postpartum reproductive health

Effects of carprofen and/or CIDR administration on pregnancies per artificial insemination around pregnancy recognition in lactating dairy cows

Effect of carprofen and/or CIDR on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) 14 days after artificial insemination (AI) in lactating cows were investigated. Following detection of corpus luteum (CL) by ultrasonography (USG) 14 days after AI, cows (n=853) were randomly allocated to CARP (carprofen, 1.4 mg/kg; Rimadyl (R) XL), CIDR (progesterone, 1.38g, for seven days), CARP+CIDR and CONT (control) groups. CL was re-determined with USG 21 days after AI to monitored the maintenance of CL. Rates of maintenance of CL did not differed among CARP (79.6% [168/211]), CIDR (86.0% [196/228]), CARP+CIDR (80.0% [172/215]) and CONT (74.9% [149/199]) groups; however, the interaction effect of treatment by body condition score (BCS) at AI (P2.5, chances of maintenance of CL were lower in CARP (74.1%, [43/58]) and CARP+CIDR (79.6%, [43/54]) groups compared to those in CONT (90.5%, [38/42]) and CIDR (95.6%, [43/45]) groups. For the P/AI at 28-32 days after AI, there was no difference among CARP (48.8% [103/211]), CIDR (50.9 [116/228]), CARP+CIDR (47.4% [102/215]) and CONT (44.7% [89/199]) groups. Pregnancy losses between 28-32 and 55-60 days did not differ among CARP (3.9%, [4/103]), CIDR (4.3%, [5/116]), CARP+CIDR (5.9%, [6/102]) and CONT (6.7%, [6/89]) groups. However, there was a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect of treatment by the number of services on pregnancy losses. In this regard, pregnancy losses were higher in cows inseminated thrice and four or more times in CONT (11.8% and 16.7%) group compared to those in CARP (0% and 4.8%), CIDR (0% and 6.9%), CARP+CIDR (0% and 11.1%); respectively. Consequently, no effects of carprofen or CIDR around pregnancy recognition on P/AI were observed despite a higher maintenance rate of CL in lactating cattle. Furthermore, fewer pregnancy losses in cows following three or more services could indicate the beneficial carry-over effects of carprofen and/or CIDR administration around maternal recognition of pregnancy

Use of Carazolol at Pre-Synchronized Timed Artificial Insemination in Cows

Efficacy of the β-adrenergic receptor blocker (carazolol) at Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) was investigated. Cows (n = 73) were pre-synchronized with two PGF2α injections given 14 d apart to initiate the Ovsynch protocol at early and middle luteal stages 14 d later, and received injections of GnRH and PGF2α seven d apart followed by GnRH 48 h later, and TAI 16 - 18 h later. Corpus luteum (CL) was detected via rectal palpation at the beginning of the Ovsynch protocol. Carazolol (Treatment I; n = 41) or physiologic saline (Treatment II; n = 32) were administered via jugular vein five min before TAI. Uterine tone was determined prior to infusion and at TAI via rectal palpation. Pregnancies were diagnosed with transrectal ultrasonography 40 ± 7 d after TAI. Uterine tone was 2.8 (1.4 - 5.3) times higher (P P < 0.05), and 66.7%, 75%, 52.6%, 100% and 16.7%, 33.3%, 25%, 28.6% in primiparous cows with CL and without CL, and in multiparous cows with CL and without CL in Treatments I and II, respectively. Pregnancy rates did not differ between treatments I (34.2%) and II (40.6%). In conclusion, no beneficial effect of carazolol administration prior to TAI was found except for the increased uterine tone

Use of aglepristone and aglepristone plus intrauterine antibiotic for the treatment of pyometra in bitches

In this study, the efficacy of aglepristone and/or intrauterine antibiotic administration for the treatment of bitches with cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra complex was investigated. Twenty-four bitches (5-12 years old) with the diagnosis of pyometra were treated at the University of Kafkas and at Istanbul University. The diagnosis of pyometra was established on the basis of the results of clinical, ultrasonographic and vaginal examinations, the haematological and biochemical findings and the history data. In Group I (n = 13), aglepristone (Antiprogestin, Alizine((R)), Virbac, France; 0.33 ml/kg, s.c.) was administered on days 1, 2, 7, and 14 (day 1: diagnosis). In Group 11 (n = 11), intrauterine antibiotic treatment was performed according to the antibiogram on days 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 in addition to aglepristone given as in Group 1. Clinical and ultrasonographic examinations, haematological results and occurrence of oestrous cycles revealed that the ratio of effectively treated bitches was 6/13 and 9/11 in Groups I and II, respectively

Changes in follicular blood flow and nitric oxide levels in follicular fluid during follicular deviation in cows

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that there are dynamic changes in follicular blood flow during follicular deviation and that nitric oxide (NO) in follicular fluid (FF) plays a role in regulation of follicular blood flow. In Experiment I, follicular blood flow of the two largest follicles was monitored by using Power Doppler ultrasonography during follicular deviation in sixteen follicular waves during eight estrous cycles in eight cows. Blood flow did not differ (P>0.05) between the dominant follicle (DF) and the largest subordinate follicle (SF) until the beginning of the deviation of the follicular size, but was higher (P0.05) between DF and the largest SF on the day of diameter deviation but, one or two days after observed diameter deviation NO concentrations were lower (P0.05) differ two days later. E2/P4 ratio in FF was the same (P>0.05) in DF and the largest SF on the day of diameter deviation, but was higher (P<0.01) in DF than in the largest SF one or two days later. In conclusion, area of follicular blood flow of DF and the largest SF increased in parallel with follicular size during follicular deviation. Furthermore, there were relationships between changes in follicular blood flow, NO concentrations and E2/P4 ratio in FF following the beginning of diameter deviation in cattle

Nitric oxide concentrations, estradiol-17β progesterone ratio in follicular fluid, and COC quality with respect to perifollicular blood flow in cows

The objectives were to investigate relationships among concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), estradiol 17 beta (E2), and progesterone (P4) in follicular fluids (FF), and quality of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) with respect to perifollicular blood flow (FBF). In Experiment I, follicles (138) were classified according to the presence or absence of FBF (assessed with transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography) and diameter of follicles (small, 2-4 mm; medium, 5-8 mm; and large, ≥9 mm). Concentrations of NO in FF did not differ significantly among these size categories. However, NO concentrations in FF with FBF (54.4 ± 7.4 μmol/l) were higher (P<0.05) than in those without FBF (36.6 ± 4.1 μmol/l). There was a positive correlation (r=0.30, P<0.05) between NO concentrations and the E2:P4 in FF. Rate of E2 active (E2:P4 ≥ 1) follicles were numerically 1.2 (0.8-1.8) times higher in follicles with FBF (38.1%) compared to those without FBF (25.0%). Moreover, rates of E2 active follicles were 6.1 (0.7-55.2) and 1.3 (0.1-17.3) times higher (P<0.06) in large (43.3%) and medium (14.3%) compared to small follicles (11.1%), respectively. In Experiment II, quality of COCs from 2 to 8 mm follicles, obtained by transvaginal ovum pick up (OPU), was investigated with respect to FBF. Odds ratio to obtain higher quality COCs from follicles with FBF (47.1%) was 3.3 (1.1-9.6) fold higher (P<0.05) compared to those from follicles without FBF (14.6%). In conclusion, E2:P4, and NO concentrations in FF, as well as FBF, could be used to determine the functionality of ovarian follicles in cows. Moreover, determination of FBF could be useful to predict quality of COCs in cattle