This study aimed to investigate the effect of theophylline on in vitro fertilization of buffalo oocytes and embryo development in subsequent in vitro embryo culture. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) ...were collected from large antral follicles of slaughtered buffaloes and matured in vitro for 24 hours. In vitro matured oocytes were fertilized in Brackett and Oliphant’s (BO) media supplemented with four different concentrations of theophylline (0 mM, 2.5 mM, 5 mM, or 10 mM). After 18 hours of in vitro fertilization, some of the oocytes or presumptive zygotes were fixed and stained to assess fertilization, while the others were cultured for 7 days to assess their developmental capacity in vitro. The results showed that theophylline enhanced the penetration rate of spermatozoa into buffalo oocytes. Supplementation of BO medium with theophylline also increased the normal fertilization rate. In subsequent embryo culture, theophylline increased the formation of 8-cell embryo, morula, and blastocyst rate in buffalo. The cleavage rate did not differ significantly between groups. The morula and blastocyst formation percentages were higher in the groups treated with 2.5 mM theophylline than in the control groups. In conclusion, theophylline improves in vitro fertilization rate and embryo production in buffaloes.
Octahedral SrMoO
nanoparticles (NPs) with a high degree of crystallinity and controlled size (250-350 nm) were synthesized for the first time by employing a facile hydrothermal method. The prepared ...NPs were composited with a carboxyl group bearing conducting polymer (2,2:5,2-terthiophene-3-(
-benzoic acid, TBA)) to attain a stable sensor probe (pTBA/SrMoO
) which was analyzed using various surface analysis methods. The catalytic performance of the composite electrode was explored as an oxidation catalyst for biological molecules through anchoring on the conducting polymer layer, which functioned as a matrix to enhance the stability and selectivity of the sensor probe. The pTBA/SrMoO
coated on glassy carbon displayed excellent electrocatalytic performance for the oxidation of some biologically important molecules, including dopamine (DA) in neuronal cells. The sensor immobilized with the catalyst showed an excellent response for DA with a dynamic range between 0.2 and 500 μM and a detection limit of 5 nM. The proposed sensor demonstrates the detection of trace DA released from PC12 cells under K
stimulation, followed by inhibition of the release of exogenic DA by a Ca
channel blocker (nifedipine). The developed method provides an interesting way to monitor the effect of extracellular substances on living cells and the drug potency test.
Background: Vitrification, ultra-rapid cooling can be used to cryopreserve oocytes for embryo technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sucrose and glycerol on ...vitrification of buffalo oocytes. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from slaughtered buffalo ovaries. In experiment 1, the vitrification solution was supplemented with either 0, 0.25 or 0.5 M sucrose. In experiment 2, the vitrification solution was supplemented with either 0, 5 or 10 M glycerol together with 0.5 M sucrose. COCs were exposed into equilibration solution and vitrification solution for 5 min and 1 min, respectively. Then the oocytes were submerged into liquid nitrogen for 10 min using cryotops. The oocytes were thawed, diluted and washed in washing solution. Vitrified oocytes were cultured for maturation at 38.5degreesC for 24 hrs at 5% CO.sub.2. Then oocytes were fixed in acetic acid and ethanol and stained with aceto-orcein to examine the meiotic stages. Results: In experiment 1, a significantly higher number of morphologically normal oocytes and cumulus cell expansion were found in 0.5 M sucrose group than others. In addition, a proportion of oocytes resumed meiosis but none of those developed to the metaphase II (MII) stage. In experiment 2, a significantly higher number of oocytes showed cumulus cell expansion as well as higher morphologically normal oocytes in 5 M and 10 M glycerol than in 0 M (control) group. In addition, 18% oocytes matured to MII stage in 5 M glycerol group. Conclusions: Buffalo oocytes can be vitrified with a combination of sucrose and glycerol to maintain its developmental potential. Keywords: Buffalo, Glycerol, In vitro maturation, Oocytes, Sucrose, Vitrification
Sustainable irrigation method is now essential for adaptation and adoption in the areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to test the performance of ...alternate wetting and drying furrow irrigation（AWDFI） on crop growth, yield, water use efficiency（WUE）, fruit quality and profitability analysis of tomato. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with six treatments replicated thrice during the dry seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Irrigation water was applied through three ways of furrow： AWDFI, fixed wetting and drying furrow irrigation（FWDFI） and traditional（every） furrow irrigation（TFI）. Each irrigation method was divided into two levels： irrigation up to 100 and 80% field capacity（FC）. Results showed that plant biomass（dry matter） and marketable fruit yield of tomato did not differ significantly between the treatments of AWDFI and TFI, but significant difference was observed in AWDFI and in TFI compared to FWDFI at same irrigation level. AWDFI saved irrigation water by 35 to 38% for the irrigation levels up to 80 and 100% FC, compared to the TFI, respectively. AWDFI improved WUE by around 37 to 40% compared to TFI when irrigated with 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Fruit quality（total soluble solids and pulp） was found greater in AWDFI than in TFI. Net return from AWDFI technique was found nearly similar compared to TFI and more than FWDFI. The benefit cost ratio was viewed higher in AWDFI than in TFI and FWDFI by 2.8, 8.7 and 11, 10.4% when irrigation water was applied up to 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Unit production cost was obtained lower in AWDFI compared to TFI and FWDFI. However, AWDFI is a useful water-saving furrow irrigation technique which may resolve as an alternative choice compared with TFI in the areas where available water and supply methods are limited to irrigation.
Minor fruits are a potential source of antinutrients, but there is no complete primary data source in the Bangladeshi context. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to acquire documentation for ...a database of the composition of selected minor fruits. The total phenolic (TPH), vitamin C, total carotene, and ß-carotene contents and antioxidant activity of selected minor fruits were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and reducing power assays (RPA). Phenolic compounds were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and autosampler. Results revealed that minor fruits contain different phytochemicals, particularly TPH, ascorbic acid, total flavonoid (TF), ß-carotene, total carotenoid (TC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC); values ranged, respectively, 0.23-176.50 mg GAE/g, 16.67-664.92 mg/100 g, 2.26-150.02 mg QE/100 g, 1.41-6897.57 µg/100 g, 1.26-98.24 mg/100 g and 1.15-47.46 mg/100 g. In the parameters antioxidant activity, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, reducing power capacity (RPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating capacity (MCC), nitric oxide (NO), and free radical scavenging activity, IC50 ranged 0.01-278.24 µg of ascorbic acid/mg of extract, 39.70-250.00%, 3.21-634.00%, 0.02-1817.88 µM Fe2SO4/100g, 22.29-210.43%, 0.02-70.50%, and 4.98-856.70 µg/g, respectively. Among the identified and quantified phenolic acids, leading examples were gallic acid (279.06 mg/100 g), vanilic acid (43.77 mg/100 g), Þ-courmaric acid (178.96 mg/100 g), ferulic acid (20.44 mg/100 g), and lutein (91.13 µg/100 g) in aonla, day fruit, elephant apple, and bilimbi. Moreover, all selected minor fruits are rich sources of bioactive, biochemical, and antioxidant compounds with potential for use in therapeutic applications.
Summary
To overcome the limitations of conventional analysis of male fertility in animals and humans, proteomic studies have been performed to develop fertility‐related biomarkers for prognosis and ...diagnosis of male fertility. However, the studies were focused on specific species or breeds. Therefore, a study is required to validate whether fertility‐related markers would apply to other breeds in pigs. In this study, previously developed fertility‐related biomarkers from Landrace were validated to use for prognosis of male fertility in commercially available breeds. Expression level of eight biomarkers in non‐capacitated and capacitated (C) spermatozoa from Yorkshire and Duroc boars was analyzed. And then, to explore the validity of these markers for prognosis of male fertility, i.e. litter size, artificial insemination was performed. Among them, RAB2A (NC) and UQCRC1 (NC) turned out to be highest efficient markers for Yorkshire. RAB2A (C) was most efficient marker for Duroc. Average litter size has increased as much as 1.41 live born after prediction using eight fertility‐related biomarkers in Yorkshire. In addition, average 2.52 litter size was increased after prediction using eight fertility‐related biomarkers in Duroc. Average litter sizes were especially highly increased after prediction of fertility using RAB2A (NC) in Yorkshire (1.57 piglets) and TPI (NC) in Duroc (3.14 piglets), respectively. As a result, all biomarkers were significantly correlated with litter size. However, overall accuracy to predict litter size in three breeds was different in response with each marker. Average litter size after artificial insemination was also significantly affected by marker selection. Therefore, this study suggests that developed fertility‐related markers may be used for prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility irrespective of breed. However, selection of efficient markers for breeds should be considered to obtain more accurate and efficient outcomes.
To evaluate the return of ovarian cyclicity with four hormone based protocols during non-breeding season in infertile Corriedale sheep.
The return to ovarian cyclicity was considered in terms of ...percent estrus response rate (ERR). The time of exhibition of estrus after either sponge removal or last PGF2α injection, was considered as time to onset of estrus. Infertile Corriedale ewes were randomly selected and distributed into four groups corresponding to four hormonal protocols such as PsE (intravaginal progesterone sponges for 12 days and eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) at 24 h before sponge removal; n = 6), GP (GnRH on day 0 and PGF2α on day 5; n = 7), GPG (GnRH on day 0, PGF2α on day 5 and second injection of GnRH on day 7; n = 7) and PsPG (Intravaginal progesterone sponges for 12 days, PGF2α and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) respectively, at 24 h before and after sponge removal; n = 8).
PsPG protocol produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher ERR (87.5%) in ewes as compared to GPG (28.57%) but non-significantly (P > 0.05) higher than GP (85.71%) and PsE (66%). Estrus was compact and more synchronized in PsPG group because 75% of ewes exhibited estrus during the first 48 h. The collective incidence of estrus (78.94%) was also maximum during the first 48 h.
PsPG estrus induction strategy has a potential to replace eCG based protocols for returning of ovarian cyclicity in infertile Corriedale sheep.
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