Seasonal effects on ovarian responsiveness to exogenous gonadotrophins and successful artificial insemination in the snow leopard (Uncia uncia)

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terri L. Roth ◽  
Doug L. Armstrong ◽  
Michael T. Barrie ◽  
David E. Wildt
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Follicular Aspiration ◽  
Snow Leopards ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Ovaries of the seasonally-breeding snow leopard (Uncia uncia) were examined to determine whether they were responsive to exogenous gonadotrophins throughout the year. The potential of laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) also was assessed for producing offspring. During the non-breeding, pre-breeding, breeding and post-breeding seasons, females (n = 20) were treated with a standardized, dual-hormone regimen given intramuscularly (600 I.U. of equine chorionic gonadotrophin followed 80–84 h later with 300 I.U. of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)). Laparoscopy was performed 45–50 h after administration of hCG, and all ovarian structures were described. Females with fresh corpora lutea (CL) were inseminated, and anovulatory females were subjected to follicular aspiration to examine oocyte quality. Snow leopards responded to exogenous gonadotrophins throughout the year. Mean number of total ovarian structures (distinct follicles mature in appearance plus CL) did not differ (P ≥ 0 · 05) with season, but the proportion of CL : total ovarian structures was greater (P < 0 · 01) for the breeding season compared with all other seasons. The proportion of females ovulating was greater (P<0 · 05) during the breeding and post-breeding seasons than during the pre-breeding and non-breeding seasons respectively. No Grade-1 quality oocytes were recovered from follicles of anovulatory females. Serum concentrations of oestradiol-17b appeared elevated in all females, and neither oestradiol-17β concentrations nor progesterone concentrations differed (P ≥ 0 · 05) among seasons. Of 15 females artificially inseminated, the only one that was inseminated in the non-breeding season became pregnant and delivered a single cub. This is the first successful pregnancy resulting from AI in this endangered species.

Seasonal differences in lamb birthweight do not arise from inherent differences in the oocyte and/or early embryo

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Mitchell ◽  
M. Silveira ◽  
M. J. A. Mylne ◽  
K. Matthews ◽  
W. S. Dingwall
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Seasonal Differences ◽  
Conceptus Development

The aim of this study was to determine whether previously observed seasonal differences in conceptus development in ewes are attributable to inherent differences in the oocyte and/or early embryo. Day 6 embryos were recovered from 50 ewes subjected to a standard oestrus synchronization, superovulation and laparoscopic artificial insemination protocol during October (peak breeding season) and April (transition to anoestrus). During the following October, 40 grade 1 and 2 embryos from each month, which had been cryopreserved at the late morula or unexpanded blastocyst stage, were thawed and transferred in singleton to synchronous recipients. Resulting pregnancies were monitored to term. For ewes receiving October- and April-produced embryos, overall mean SEM liveweight at the time of embryo transfer was 72 number of corpora lutea on the ovaries was 2.7 pregnant and their gestation lengths were 147 production on peripheral ovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein concentrations during pregnancy or on fetal and placental characteristics at term, but, for each month, male lambs were heavier than females and were associated with larger placentae. Lamb birthweight was positively correlated with placental weight (r2 = 0.474, P<0.001) and the total weight of cotyledonary tissue (r2 = 0.429, P<0.001), but not to the number of cotyledons. Results demonstrate close relationships between fetal and placental weights at term, and that seasonal effects on conceptus development in ewes do not arise from inherent differences in the oocyte and/or early embryo.

Control of the time of ovulation in sheep

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
AWH Braden ◽  
DR Lamond ◽  
HM Radford
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Control ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Treatment Schedule ◽  
Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin

Synchronization of ovulation in ewes during the breeding season was achieved by a 14 day course of progesterone injections followed by injections of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMS) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Optimal control was attained when the PMS was given at the time of the last progesterone injection and the HCG 24 hr later. With this treatment most ovulations occurred between 20 and 28 hr after the HCG injection. However, none of the ewes exhibited oestrus at this time. Greater variability in the time of ovulation was found when the progesterone-PMS and PMS-HCG intervals were 0 hr and 48 hr, or 24 hr and 24 hr, and with these treatments about 80 per cent. of the ewes exhibited oestrus just before ovulation. On the 0-48 hr treatment schedule with artificial insemination 3-7½ hr after the HCG injection, 13 of 22 ewes had fertilized eggs or embryos when killed 3 or 35 days later.

scholarly journals Disruptions in follicle cell functions in the ovaries of rhesus monkeys during summer

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 102-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. VandeVoort ◽  
Namdori R. Mtango ◽  
Uros Midic ◽  
Keith E. Latham
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Follicle Cell ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Insight Into

Oocytes isolated from female rhesus monkeys following standard ovarian stimulation protocols during the summer months displayed a reduced capacity to mature compared with stimulation during the normal breeding season. Because the gene expression profiles of oocyte-associated cumulus cells and mural granulosa cells (CCs and GCs) are indicative of altered oocyte quality and can provide insight into intrafollicular processes that may be disrupted during oogenesis, we performed array-based transcriptome comparisons of CCs and GCs from summer and normal breeding season stimulation cycles. Summer CCs and GCs both display deficiencies in expression of mRNAs related to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and endocrine signaling, as well as reduced expression of glycogen phosphorylase. Additionally, CCs display deficiencies in expression of mRNAs related to stress response. These results provide the first insight into the specific molecular pathways and processes that are disrupted in the follicles of rhesus macaque females during the summer season. Some of the changes seen in summer GCs and CCs have been reported in humans and in other model mammalian species. This suggests that the seasonal effects seen in the rhesus monkey may help us to understand better the mechanisms that contribute to reduced oocyte quality and fertility in humans.

OVULATION AND CORPUS LUTEUM FUNCTION IN THE LLAMA (LAMA GLAMA)

1969 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. ENGLAND ◽  
W. C. FOOTE ◽  
D. H. MATTHEWS ◽  
ARMANDO G. CARDOZO ◽  
S. RIERA
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Lama Glama

SUMMARY Results in 53 llamas (33 mated animals and 20 controls) showed that ovulation is copulation-induced in this species. Ovulation without copulation occasionally occurred during the height of the recognized breeding season in Bolivia. The first mating during the luteal phase (12–24 days after the preceding ovulation) resulted in ovulation in four out of ten llamas. Determination of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) content showed the highest level on the day before mating (9·00 μg./mg.) and the lowest level on day 4 (6·25 μg./mg.). LH level on day 8 was significantly higher than on day 4 (7·62 μg./mg.). Corpora lutea (c.l.) were well formed on day 4 after mating (408 mg.), reached a maximum size by day 8 (1920 mg.) and rapidly decreased in size to day 16 (136 mg.). The corpus albicans remained as an entity but decreased in size to 21 mg. on day 120. Similar changes were found in c.l. histology and progesterone content. The combined results indicate that the functional life of the c.l. in a non-pregnant llama is 16 days or less. Treatment with 25 i.u. human chorionic gonadotrophin was sufficient to cause ovulation in 50% of the animals treated. A large (150 mg.) dose of norethandrolone did not cause morphological regression of the c.l. when measured 5 days after treatment. Treatment with 5 mg. daily for 14 days caused regression of c.l. as compared with untreated controls and animals treated with oestradiol valerate.

26 Season affects cryotolerance of in vitro-produced buffalo embryos

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Kosior ◽  
E. Parente ◽  
F. Salerno ◽  
K. Annes ◽  
R. Annunziata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Seasonal Effect ◽  
Morphological Criteria ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Buffaloes are tendentially short-day breeders, and seasonality is one of the main factors affecting the feasibility of ovum pickup and in vitro embryo production technology in this species. An improvement of oocyte developmental competence during decreasing daylight months was previously reported in Italian Mediterranean buffalo (Di Francesco et al. 2011 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 123, 48-53). The aim of this work was to evaluate whether season also affects embryo quality and cryotolerance. Abattoir-derived buffalo cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected during the breeding season, characterised by decreasing daylight length (n=349 over 6 replicates), and the non-breeding season, characterised by increasing daylight length (n=770 over 12 replicates). Buffalo cumulus-oocyte complexes were in vitro matured, fertilized, and cultured according to standard procedures (Di Francesco et al. 2011 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 123, 48-53). The embryos obtained by the end of culture (i.e. on Day 7 post-IVF) were scored for quality and developmental stage, and the percentages of total transferable embryos (tight morulae and blastocysts) were recorded. Embryos (n=107 and 110 in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively) were vitrified by cryotop in 16.5% ethylene glycol, 16.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, and 0.5M sucrose (Boccia et al. 2013 Ital. J. Anim. Sci. 12, 492-496). Warming was carried out by plunging the cryotop strip into a 0.25M sucrose solution and transferring the embryos into 0.15M sucrose for 5min. Embryos were then washed and cultured in SOF for 24h to evaluate post-culture viability. The resistance to cryopreservation was evaluated by assessing the survival rate, on the basis of morphological criteria, and development rate (i.e. the percentage of embryos that resumed their development and reached a more advanced developmental stage) after 24h post-warming culture. Data were analysed by Student’s t-test. Both cleavage (82.8±4.3v. 73.1±1.7 in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively; P&lt;0.05) and blastocyst (32.9±3.5v. 18.3±1.7 in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively; P&lt;0.01) rates increased during the breeding season, confirming previous observations. Due to the different efficiency, a higher number of replicates was required during the non-breeding season to obtain an equal number of embryos. In addition, a seasonal effect was recorded on embryo quality, indicated by poorer cryotolerance of in vitro-produced buffalo embryos during the non-breeding season. Indeed, both survival (94.6±2.7% and 74.0±5.5% in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively; P&lt;0.01) and development (67.3±7.6% and 40.0±7.2% in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively; P&lt;0.01) rates of vitrified blastocysts decreased after 24h post-warming culture in the non-breeding season. These findings suggest that the reduced developmental competence of buffalo oocytes during the non-breeding season may also lead to lower blastocyst quality. This is in contrast to the evidence in cattle that embryo quality is mainly determined by culture conditions, whereas blastocyst production depends on oocyte quality.

Hormonal synchronization of ovulation in beef heifers and fertility after artificial insemination

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 461
Author(s):  
DR Lamond
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Final Injection ◽  
Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin

After ovarian examination, and enucleation of corpora lutea where possible, groups of beef heifers on farms in the New England region were injected with progesterone in oil for 6 days. This was followed in some experiments by treatment with placental gonadotrophins. Artificial insemination was carried out 3–5 days after the final injection of progesterone. The effects of dose of progesterone, pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin, and human chorionic gonadotrophin on fertility were observed. Fertility was highest in heifers in which the corpus luteum was enucleated prior to injection of progesterone.

scholarly journals Evidence for use of both capital and income breeding strategies in the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jade Carver ◽  
Morgan Meidell ◽  
Zachary J. Cannizzo ◽  
Blaine D. Griffen
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Breeding Strategies ◽  
Mangrove Tree ◽  
Income Breeding ◽  
Aratus Pisonii ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Capital And Income Breeding

AbstractTwo common strategies organisms use to finance reproduction are capital breeding (using energy stored prior to reproduction) and income breeding (using energy gathered during the reproductive period). Understanding which of these two strategies a species uses can help in predicting its population dynamics and how it will respond to environmental change. Brachyuran crabs have historically been considered capital breeders as a group, but recent evidence has challenged this assumption. Here, we focus on the mangrove tree crab, Aratus pisonii, and examine its breeding strategy on the Atlantic Florida coast. We collected crabs during and after their breeding season (March–October) and dissected them to discern how energy was stored and utilized for reproduction. We found patterns of reproduction and energy storage that are consistent with both the use of stored energy (capital) and energy acquired (income) during the breeding season. We also found that energy acquisition and storage patterns that supported reproduction were influenced by unequal tidal patterns associated with the syzygy tide inequality cycle. Contrary to previous assumptions for crabs, we suggest that species of crab that produce multiple clutches of eggs during long breeding seasons (many tropical and subtropical species) may commonly use income breeding strategies.

A note on attainment of puberty of september-born early-maturing ewe lambs in relation to level of nutrition

1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Forcada ◽  
J. A. Abecia ◽  
L. Zarazaga
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Age At Puberty

The attainment of puberty in September-born early-maturing ewe lambs was studied at Zaragoza (latitude 41° 40' N). Thirty twin Salz females were allocated to two groups receiving two nutrition levels after 3 months of age: high (500 g/day lucerne hay and 500 g/day concentrate) (H) and low (500 g/ day lucerne hay) (L). Oestrus was detected daily by aproned rams. Corpora lutea were counted after oestrus and plasma progesterone levels monitored each week.In the first breeding season (January to February) the percentage of females showing sexual activity (silent emulation or oestrus and ovulation) was higher in the H compared with the L group (67 and 20%; P < 0/05). Nonpubertal oestrus before the main breeding season was detected in 67% of animals. In the main breeding season and for H and L groups respectively, percentage of females showing silent ovulation before puberty was 67 and 33% and mean age at puberty extended to 319 (s.e. 4-8) and 314 (s.e. 3·7) days. Ovulation rate at puberty was 1·73 (s.e. 0·13) and 1·33 (s.e. 0·15) respectively (P < 0·05).

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