Follicular dynamics, corpus luteum growth and regression in multiparous buffalo cows and buffalo heifers

ABSTRACT Objective. Characterize the follicular dynamics and luteal growth and regression pattern of multiparous (MB) and heifer (BH) Murrah buffaloes in Colombian tropical conditions. Material and methods. Ten MB and ten BH were synchronized with a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device. No artificial insemination was performed during the estrous and daily ultrasound examinations were performed 15 days later to determine the number and diameter of the structures present in both ovaries in the subsequent natural estrous cycle. The Student’s T test was used to evaluate differences between MB and BH. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results. The length of the estrous cycle was 22.00±4.50 days for MB and 22.00±2.70 days for BH. Follicular growth occurs in one (n=1; 5.89%), two (n=14; 82.35%) or three waves (n=2; 11.76%). The first wave initiated the day after ovulation with the recruitment of 8.33±2.06 and 10.00±2.72 follicles in MB and BH, while the second wave started on day 11.00±2.00 and 10.50±2.82, presenting 8.37±2.26 and 8.00±1.51 follicles. The third wave began on day 16.21±3.10 showing 6.50±1.70 follicles, only BM had three waves. The maximum luteal diameter was 19.58±4.16 mm and 17.74±3.32 mm respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups for these variables. Conclusions. These results show that the follicular development in buffaloes occurs in waves, where two waves is the most common pattern, as previously reported by other authors

Oviductal transcriptional profiling of a bovine fertility model by next-generation sequencing

In cattle, the oviduct plays a fundamental role in the reproductive process. Oviductal functions are controlled by the ovarian sex steroids: estradiol and progesterone. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the exposure to contrasting sex steroid milieus differentially impacts the oviductal transcriptional profile. We manipulated growth of the pre-ovulatory follicle to obtain cows that ovulated a larger (LF group) or a smaller (SF group) follicle. The LF group presented greater proestrus/estrus concentrations of estradiol and metaestrus concentrations of progesterone (Gonella-Diaza et al. 2015 [1], Mesquita et al. 2014 [2]). Also, the LF group was associated with greater fertility in timed-artificial insemination programs (Pugliesi et al. 2016 [3]). Cows were slaughtered on day 4 of the estrous cycle and total RNA was extracted from ampulla and isthmus fragments and analyzed by RNAseq. The resulting reads were mapped to the bovine genome (Bos taurus UMD 3.1, NCBI). The differential expression analyses revealed that 325 and 367 genes in ampulla and 274 and 316 genes in the isthmus were up-regulated and down-regulated in LF samples, respectively. To validate the RNAseq results, transcript abundance of 23 genes was assessed by qPCR and expression patterns were consistent between the two techniques. A functional enrichment analysis was performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) software. Processes enriched in the LF group included tissue morphology changes (extracellular matrix remodeling), cellular changes (proliferation), and secretion changes (growth factors, ions and metal transporters). An overview of the gene expression data was deposited in the NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and is accessible through the accession number GSE65681. In conclusion, differences in the peri-ovulatory sex steroid milieu modify the oviductal gene expression profiles. Such differences may be associated with the greater fertility of the LF cows. This dataset is useful for further investigations of the oviductal biology and the impact of sex-steroid on the female reproductive tract

Size of the Ovulatory Follicle Dictates Spatial Differences in the Oviductal Transcriptome in Cattle

In cattle, molecular control of oviduct receptivity to the embryo is poorly understood. Here, we used a bovine model for receptivity based on size of the pre-ovulatory follicle to compare oviductal global and candidate gene transcript abundance on day 4 of the estrous cycle. Growth of the pre-ovulatory follicle (POF) of Nelore (Bos indicus) cows was manipulated to produce two groups: large POF large corpus luteum (CL) group (LF-LCL; greater receptivity) and small POF-small CL group (SF-SCL). Oviductal samples were collected four days after GnRH-induced ovulation. Ampulla and isthmus transcriptome was obtained by RNA-seq, regional gene expression was assessed by qPCR, and PGR and ERa protein distribution was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. There was a greater abundance of PGR and ERa in the oviduct of LF-LCL animals thus indicating a greater availability of receptors and possibly sex steroids stimulated signaling in both regions. Transcriptomic profiles indicated a series of genes associated with functional characteristics of the oviduct that are regulated by the periovulatory sex steroid milieu and that potentially affect oviductal receptivity and early embryo development. They include tissue morphology changes (extra cellular matrix remodeling), cellular changes (proliferation), and secretion changes (growth factors, ions and metal transporters), and were enriched for the genes with increased expression in the LF-LCL group. In conclusion, differences in the periovulatory sex steroid milieu lead to different oviductal gene expression profiles that could modify the oviductal environment to affect embryo survival and development

Measurement of the cross-section for b-jets produced in association with a Z boson at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector ATLAS Collaboration

A measurement is presented of the inclusive cross-section for b-jet production in association with a Z boson in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 7 TeV. The analysis uses the data sample collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 36 pb(-1). The event selection requires a Z boson decaying into high P-T electrons or muons, and at least one b-jet, identified by its displaced vertex, with transverse momentum p(T) > 25 GeV and rapidity vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.1. After subtraction of background processes, the yield is extracted from the vertex mass distribution of the candidate b-jets. The ratio of this cross-section to the inclusive Z cross-section (the average number of b-jets per Z event) is also measured. Both results are found to be in good agreement with perturbative QCD predictions at next-to-leading order

Follicular dynamics, corpus luteum growth and regression in multiparous buffalo cows and buffalo heifers

Objective. Characterize the follicular dynamics and luteal growth and regression pattern of multiparous (MB) and heifer (BH) Murrah buffaloes in Colombian tropical conditions. Material and methods. Ten MB and ten BH were synchronized with a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device. No artificial insemination was performed during the estrous and daily ultrasound examinations were performed 15 days later to determine the number and diameter of the structures present in both ovaries in the subsequent natural estrous cycle. The Student�s T test was used to evaluate differences between MB and BH. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results. The length of the estrous cycle was 22.00±4.50 days for MB and 22.00±2.70 days for BH. Follicular growth occurs in one (n=1; 5.89%), two (n=14; 82.35%) or three waves (n=2; 11.76%). The first wave initiated the day after ovulation with the recruitment of 8.33±2.06 and 10.00±2.72 follicles in MB and BH, while the second wave started on day 11.00±2.00 and 10.50±2.82, presenting 8.37±2.26 and 8.00±1.51 follicles. The third wave began on day 16.21±3.10 showing 6.50±1.70 follicles, only BM had three waves. The maximum luteal diameter was 19.58±4.16 mm and 17.74±3.32 mm respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups for these variables. Conclusions. These results show that the follicular development in buffaloes occurs in waves, where two waves is the most common pattern, as previously reported by other authors.Objetivo. Caracterizar la dinámica folicular y el patrón de crecimiento y regresión del cuerpo lúteo de búfalas multíparas (BM) y búfalas novillas (BN) de la raza Murrah en condiciones del trópico colombiano. Materiales y métodos. Diez BM y diez BN fueron sincronizadas con dispositivo intravaginal de liberación de progesterona. No se realizó la inseminación artificial al momento del celo y 15 días después se inició el seguimiento ultrasonográfico para determinar el número y diámetro de las estructuras presentes en ambos ovarios en el subsecuente ciclo estral natural. Las diferencias entre BM y BN se evaluaron con pruebas T. Los datos se presentan como media ± desviación estándar. Resultados. La duración del ciclo estral fue de 22.00±4.50 y 22.00±2.70 días en BM y BN. El crecimiento folicular ocurrió en una (n=1; 5.89%), dos (n=14; 82.35%) o tres (n=2; 11.76%) ondas. La primera onda inicio el día siguiente a la ovulación con el reclutamiento de 8.33±2.06 y 10.00±2.72 folículos en BM y BN, mientras que la segunda onda inicio el día 11.00±2.00 y 10.50±2.82 con 8.37±2.26 y 8.00±1.51 folículos. La tercera onda inicio el día 16.21±3.10 con 6.50±1.70 folículos, sólo BM presentaron tres ondas. El diámetro máximo luteal fue de 19.58±4.16 mm y 17.74±3.32 mm. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos para estas variables. Conclusiones. Los resultados muestran que el desarrollo folicular de las búfalas se dio en ondas, siendo dos ondas el patrón más común, similar a lo reportado por otros autores

Follicular dynamics, corpus luteum growth and regression in multiparous buffalo cows and buffalo heifers

Objective. Characterize the follicular dynamics and luteal growth and regression pattern of multiparous (MB) and heifer (BH) Murrah buffaloes in Colombian tropical conditions. Material and methods. Ten MB and ten BH were synchronized with a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device. No artificial insemination was performed during the estrous and daily ultrasound examinations were performed 15 days later to determine the number and diameter of the structures present in both ovaries in the subsequent natural estrous cycle. The Student's T test was used to evaluate differences between MB and BH. All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results. The length of the estrous cycle was 22.00±4.50 days for MB and 22.00±2.70 days for BH. Follicular growth occurs in one (n=1; 5.89%), two (n=14; 82.35%) or three waves (n=2; 11.76%). The first wave initiated the day after ovulation with the recruitment of 8.33±2.06 and 10.00±2.72 follicles in MB and BH, while the second wave started on day 11.00±2.00 and 10.50±2.82, presenting 8.37±2.26 and 8.00±1.51 follicles. The third wave began on day 16.21±3.10 showing 6.50±1.70 follicles, only BM had three waves. The maximum luteal diameter was 19.58±4.16 mm and 17.74±3.32 mm respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups for these variables. Conclusions. These results show that the follicular development in buffaloes occurs in waves, where two waves is the most common pattern, as previously reported by other authors

The acceptance of in silico models for REACH. Requirements, barriers, and perspectivesChemistry Central Journal 2011, 5:58.

In silico models have prompted considerable interest and debate because of their potential value in predicting the properties of chemical substances for regulatory purposes. The European REACH legislation promotes innovation and encourages the use of alternative methods, but in practice the use of in silico models is still very limited. There are many stakeholders influencing the regulatory trajectory of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) models, including regulators, industry, model developers and consultants. Here we outline some of the issues and challenges involved in the acceptance of these methods for regulatory purposes