Cystic Ovarian Follicles in Cattle

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different intramuscular dosages of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on ovarian follicular development of dairy cows diagnosed with refractory cystic ovarian follicles (COFs). Cows diagnosed with COFs (≥25mm in diameter) were allocated to four treatment groups: hCG-1 (n = 3), a single dose of 4,500 IU on day 1; hCG-2 (n = 3), 2,250 IU on days 1 and 3; hCG-3 (n = 3), 1,500 IU on days 1, 3, and 5; and hCG-C (n = 3) received saline on day 1. Blood sampling and ovarian ultrasonographic (US) examinations were performed on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. A progesterone (P4) value 1 ng/ml was 100% (3/3) and 100% (3/3) in group hCG-1; 100% (3/3) and 67% (2/3) in group hCG-2; 67%(2/3) and 100%(3/3) in group hCG-3; and 33%(1/3) and 33%(1/3) in group hCG-C, respectively. Strong tendencies of P4 increases in group hCG-1 (P = 0.054) and hCG-2 (P = 0.051) were measured after hCG administration. Additionally, P4 values tended to be higher (P = 0.07) for group hCG-1 compared to group hCG-C on day 5. The preliminary findings of this study suggest that multiple smaller doses of hCG might be equally effective as a single large dose of hCG in modulating ovarian follicular development in dairy cows with COFs

Measurement of urinary concentrations of the mycotoxins zearalenone and sterigmatocystin as biomarkers of exposure in mares

Mycotoxins may affect animal health, including reproduction. Little is known about the clinical relevance of exposure of horses to contaminated feed. This study aimed at (i) monitoring the levels of the mycotoxins zearalenone (ZEN), with its metabolites α- and β-zearalenol (α- and β-ZOL), and sterigmatocystin (STC) in urine samples from thoroughbred mares in Japan and (ii) relating these findings to the potential effects on reproductive efficacy of breeding mares. Sixty-three urine samples of breeding mares from 59 breeding farms were used. Urine samples and reproductive records were collected from each mare when it was presented to the stallion station. Urinary concentrations of ZEN, α- and β-ZOL, and STC were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). ZEN, α- and β-ZOL were measurable in the urine of all examined mares, indicating the prevalence of ZEN in equine feeds. In seven of the 63 samples, STC was also detected at levels ranging from 1.3 to 18.0 pg/mg creatinine. No significant correlation between the concentrations of mycotoxins and pregnancy status was observed. In conclusion, measurement of mycotoxins in urine samples is a useful non-invasive method for monitoring the systemic exposure of mares to multiple mycotoxins

Prostaglandin F\u3csub\u3e2α\u3c/sub\u3e increases endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the periphery of the bovine corpus luteum: the possible regulation of blood flow at an early stage of luteolysis

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) released from the uterus causes alterations in luteal blood flow, reduces progesterone secretion, and induces luteolysis in the bovine corpus luteum (CL).We have recently discovered that luteal blood flow in the periphery of the mature CL acutely increases coincidently with pulsatile increases in a metabolite of PGF2α (PGFM). In this study, we characterized changes in regional luteal blood flow together with regional alterations in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression during spontaneous luteolysis and in response to PGF2α. Smooth muscle actin-positive blood vessels larger than 20 μm were observed mainly in the periphery of mature CL. PGF2α receptorwas localized to luteal cells and large blood vessels in the periphery of mid-CL. PGF2a acutely stimulated eNOS expression in the periphery but not in the center of mature CL. Injection of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine into CL induced an acute increase in luteal blood flow and shortened the estrous cycle. In contrast, injection of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME into CL completely suppressed the acute increase in luteal blood flow induced by PGF2α and delayed the onset of luteolysis. In conclusion, PGF2α has a siterestricted action depending on not only luteal phase but also the region in the CL. PGF2α stimulates eNOS expression, vasodilation of blood vessels, and increased luteal blood flow in periphery of mature CL. Furthermore, the increased blood flow is mediated by NO, suggesting that the acute increase in peripheral blood flow to CL is one of the first physiological indicators of NO action in response to PGF2α

Prostaglandin F\u3csub\u3e2α\u3c/sub\u3e increases endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the periphery of the bovine corpus luteum: the possible regulation of blood flow at an early stage of luteolysis

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) released from the uterus causes alterations in luteal blood flow, reduces progesterone secretion, and induces luteolysis in the bovine corpus luteum (CL).We have recently discovered that luteal blood flow in the periphery of the mature CL acutely increases coincidently with pulsatile increases in a metabolite of PGF2α (PGFM). In this study, we characterized changes in regional luteal blood flow together with regional alterations in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression during spontaneous luteolysis and in response to PGF2α. Smooth muscle actin-positive blood vessels larger than 20 μm were observed mainly in the periphery of mature CL. PGF2α receptorwas localized to luteal cells and large blood vessels in the periphery of mid-CL. PGF2a acutely stimulated eNOS expression in the periphery but not in the center of mature CL. Injection of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine into CL induced an acute increase in luteal blood flow and shortened the estrous cycle. In contrast, injection of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME into CL completely suppressed the acute increase in luteal blood flow induced by PGF2α and delayed the onset of luteolysis. In conclusion, PGF2α has a siterestricted action depending on not only luteal phase but also the region in the CL. PGF2α stimulates eNOS expression, vasodilation of blood vessels, and increased luteal blood flow in periphery of mature CL. Furthermore, the increased blood flow is mediated by NO, suggesting that the acute increase in peripheral blood flow to CL is one of the first physiological indicators of NO action in response to PGF2α

Anti-Fibrotic and Anti-Angiogenic Activities of Osbeckia octandra Leaf Extracts in Thioacetamide-Induced Experimental Liver Cirrhosis

Chronic liver inflammation has become a major global health concern. In the absence of clinical surrogate markers to diagnose inflammatory liver disease, the intervention with effective drugs in modern medicine tends to be late. In Sri Lanka, traditional medical practitioners prescribe herbal preparations from Osbeckia octandra for the prevention and treatment of liver disorders. To test the efficacy of such treatments, we have administered thioacetamide (TAA) to male Wistar rats to induce chronic liver damage (disease control; DC) and examined how various leaf extracts: crude leaf suspension (CLS), boiled leaf extract (BLE), sonicated leaf extract (SLE), methanol leaf extract (MLE) and hexane leaf extract (HLE) of O. octandra ameliorate TAA-induced liver disease. The CLS, BLE and SLE treatments in cirrhotic rats significantly attenuated disease-related changes, such as liver weight and hepato-enzymes. The mRNA levels of Tnf-α were significantly decreased by 3.6, 10 and 3.9 times in CLS, BLE and SLE compared to DC. The same treatments resulted in significantly lower (19.5, 4.2 and 2.4 times) α-Sma levels compared to DC. In addition, Tgf-β1 and Vegf-R2 mRNA expressions were significantly lower with the treatments. Moreover, BLE expressed a strong anti-angiogenic effect. We conclude that CLS, BLE and SLE from O. octandra have potent hepatic anti-fibrotic effects in TAA-induced liver cirrhosis

Comparative Effects of Different Dosages of hCG on Follicular Development in Postpartum Dairy Cows With Cystic Ovarian Follicles

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different intramuscular dosages of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on ovarian follicular development of dairy cows diagnosed with refractory cystic ovarian follicles (COFs). Cows diagnosed with COFs (≥25 mm in diameter) were allocated to four treatment groups: hCG-1 (n = 3), a single dose of 4,500 IU on day 1; hCG-2 (n = 3), 2,250 IU on days 1 and 3; hCG-3 (n = 3), 1,500 IU on days 1, 3, and 5; and hCG-C (n = 3) received saline on day 1. Blood sampling and ovarian ultrasonographic (US) examinations were performed on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. A progesterone (P4) value 1 ng/ml was 100% (3/3) and 100% (3/3) in group hCG-1; 100% (3/3) and 67% (2/3) in group hCG-2; 67% (2/3) and 100% (3/3) in group hCG-3; and 33% (1/3) and 33% (1/3) in group hCG-C, respectively. Strong tendencies of P4 increases in group hCG-1 (P = 0.054) and hCG-2 (P = 0.051) were measured after hCG administration. Additionally, P4 values tended to be higher (P = 0.07) for group hCG-1 compared to group hCG-C on day 5. The preliminary findings of this study suggest that multiple smaller doses of hCG might be equally effective as a single large dose of hCG in modulating ovarian follicular development in dairy cows with COFs