Goat incubator: can bovine oocytes be matured in the uterine horn of a goat?

Abstract We used a goat as a live incubator, along with associated nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques, to perform ex situ (in vivo) maturation of bovine oocytes. Immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from 3-8 mm follicles from slaughterhouse ovaries were randomly split into two groups for in vitro (IVM; n = 38) and ex situ maturation (ESM; n = 40). IVM was performed for a period of 24 h at 38.5 ºC and with 5% CO2 in the air of maximum humidity. For ESM, a presynchronized nulliparous goat (12 months old) received 40 immature COCs in the uterine horn apiece, via the transcervical route. After 24 h the structures were retrieved through uterine flushing. Analyses of nuclear maturation and lipid quantification were performed on oocytes from both groups. Fluorescent intensity was compared using the Student?s t-test. Forty-seven percent of the structures were recovered after uterine flushing (19/40). The nuclear maturation rate was 94.5% (18/19) and 81.6% (31/38) for the ESM and IVM groups, respectively. In vitro-matured COCs contained more lipid droplets, expressed as a higher amount (p < 0.05) of emitted fluorescent light than ex situ-matured COCs (858 ± 73 vs. 550 ± 64 arbitrary fluorescence units, respectively). This is the first report to associate nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques and a goat as a live incubator for the maturation of bovine oocytes. We conclude that bovine oocytes can progress meiotically in the uterus horn of a goat and that transcervical transfer of bovine oocytes to a goat?s uterus could present an alternative to nuclear maturation

Goat incubator: the doe as a life incubator of bovine oocytes - first step.

Despite significant improvements in the in vitro production of cattle embryos, the suboptimal in vitro culture environment still limits the embryo quality and production. Techniques that associate the advantages of in vivo and in vitro systems, such as intrafollicular transfer of immature oocytes, have been proposed mainly to increase the embryo quality. In this context, we tried to use a goat as live incubator and associated nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques in small ruminants to perform ex situ (in vivo) maturation of bovine oocytes. For this, immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) of grade 1 and 2 were randomly distributed into two groups for in vitro (IVM; n = 38) and ex situ (ESM; n = 40) maturation. The IVM was performed for a period of 24 h in TCM-199 medium (Gibco Life Technologies, Inc., Grand Island, NY, USA) supplemented with 20 mg/mL of FSH (Pluset, Calier, Barcelona, Spain), 0.36 mM sodium pyruvate (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA), 10 mM sodium bicarbonate (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA) and 50 mg/mL streptomycin/penicillin (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 38.8 ºC in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air with maximum humidity. For ESM, a pre-synchronized nulliparous goat (12 months old) received 40 immature COCs in the uterine horn apice by transcervical route (Fonseca et al., 2014 Arq. Bras. Med.vet. Zootec) and 24 h after the procedure the structures were retrieved by the uterine flushing (Fonseca et al., 2013 Small Rumin Res). For analysis of the nuclear maturation rate and lipid quantification, the oocytes were denuded (0.1% hyaluronidase), fixed (4% paraformaldehyde) and stained with 10 ?g/mL Hoechst 33342 and 10 ?g/mL Nile Red (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA) dissolved in physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) with 1mg/mL polyvinylpyrrolidone. Oocytes displaying metaphase II plate were considered matured. The lipid amount was inferred by measuring the fluorescence intensity using the ImageJ program and fluorescence intensity were compared by Student's t-test. Forty-seven percent of the structures were recovered after uterine flushing (19/40). The nuclear maturation rate was 94.5% (18/19) and 81.6% (31/38) for ESM and IVM groups, respectively. In vitro-matured oocytes contained more lipid droplets, expressed as a higher (p < 0.05) amount of emitted fluorescence light (858 ± 73 arbitrary fluorescence units) than ex situ-matured oocytes (550 ± 64 arbitrary fluorescence units). This is the first report associating nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques with goat as live incubator for maturation of bovine oocytes. We conclude that transcervical transfer of bovine oocytes to uterine goat may be an alternative to in vitro maturation aiming the reduction of lipids without compromising nuclear maturation. Further studies are required to improve the oocyte recovery rate.Proceedings of the 31st Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society (SBTE); Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE, Brazil, August 17th to 19th, 2017. Abstracts

Use of hCG, eCG or p-FSH on estrus induction of goats and their effects on luteal dynamics and conception rate.

The present study tested the hypothesis that hCG and pFSH stimulate the follicular development and consequently corpora lutea, in a manner equivalent to those induced by eCG in goat. Eighty-five Toggenburg goats, during the seasonal transition period (December, 21ºS), underwent a short-duration estrus induction/synchronization protocol with a sponge impregnated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (60 mg MAP, 6 days). In conclusion, the use of hCG and pFSH in protocol of estrus induction/synchronization in goats induces equivalent luteal dynamics and conception rate, being substitutes for eCG

Algumas características das cultivares de soja Embrapa 48 e BR 16 em diferentes regimes hídricos.

O objetivo foi avaliar a influência do estresse hídrico sobre as cultivares de soja convencionais BR 16 e Embrapa 48, consideradas sensível e tolerante ao estresse hídrico, respectivamente, em resposta a quatro disponibilidades hídricas no camp

Exercise training prevents the deterioration in the arterial baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity in chronic heart failure patients

Arterial baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (ABRMSNA) is impaired in chronic systolic heart failure (CHF). the purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that exercise training would improve the gain and reduce the time delay of ABRMSNA in CHF patients. Twenty-six CHF patients, New York Heart Association Functional Class II-III, EF <= 40%, peak (V) over dot O-2 <= 20 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) were divided into two groups: untrained (UT, n = 13, 57 +/- 3 years) and exercise trained (ET, n = 13, 49 +/- 3 years). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was directly recorded by microneurography technique. Arterial pressure was measured on a beat-to-beat basis. Time series of MSNA and systolic arterial pressure were analyzed by autoregressive spectral analysis. the gain and time delay of ABRMSNA was obtained by bivariate autoregressive analysis. Exercise training was performed on a cycle ergometer at moderate intensity, three 60-min sessions per week for 16 wk. Baseline MSNA, gain and time delay of ABRMSNA, and low frequency of MSNA (LFMSNA) to high-frequency ratio (HFMSNA) (LFMSNA/HFMSNA) were similar between groups. ET significantly decreased MSNA. MSNA was unchanged in the UT patients. the gain and time delay of ABRMSNA were unchanged in the ET patients. in contrast, the gain of ABRMSNA was significantly reduced [3.5 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2, arbitrary units (au)/mmHg, P = 0.04] and the time delay of ABRMSNA was significantly increased (4.6 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.9 +/- 1.0 s, P = 0.05) in the UT patients. LFMSNA-to-HFMSNA ratio tended to be lower in the ET patients (P < 0.08). Exercise training prevents the deterioration of ABRMSNA in CHF patients.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao ZerbiniCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Heart Inst InCor, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Calif Los Angeles, David Geffen Sch Med, Dept Med Cardiol & Physiol, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2010/50048-1FAPESP: 140643/2009-5FAPESP: 2013/07651-7CNPq: 142366/2009-9CNPq: 301867/2010-0CNPq: 308068/2011-4FAPESP: 2013/15651-7National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: RO1-HL084525Web of Scienc

Gonadotrofinas alternativas para indução do estro sincronizado em cabras: resultados preliminares.

A busca de diferentes gonadotrofinas para a indução do estro em cabras têm sido vista como alternativa para substituição do eCG, gonadotrofina atualmente consolida na espécie, mas que oferece algumas desvantagens quando administrada repetidamente. A mais marcante, é o desenvolvimento de anticorpos anti-eCG, que leva ao atraso do estro e da ovulação. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficácia de diferentes gonadotrofinas para indução do estro em cabras da raça Toggenburg. Em conclusão, o FSH e a hCG podem ser utilizadas como gonadotrofinas alternativas para indução de estro sincronizado em cabras Toggenburg, em substituição ao tradicional uso da eCG. [Alternative gonadotrophins for oestrus induction in goats: preliminar results].Edição dos anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal (CBRA), Santos, SP, Brasil, maio 2017

The use of human chorionic gonadotropin seven days after synchronized estrus for the increase of luteal tissue in Morada Nova ewes.

The study was performed to evaluate whether the use of hCG 7 days after synchronized oestrus in Morada Nova ewes would increase the number and size of corpora lutea. In conclusion, 300 IU of hCG injected 7 days after synchronized oestrus is effective to increase the number of corpora lutea and in the size of luteal tissue. Despite indications of a favourable effect on luteal dynamics, the effects on progesterone production and conception rate need to be examined.Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Technology Society (IETS), New Orleans, Louisiana, 2018