scholarly journals Induction of oestrus in ewes of the rare Greek breeds Skopelos, Zakynthos, Kymi - Electrical resistance of cervical mucous

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
T. TSILIGIANNI (Θ. ΤΣΙΛΙΓΙΑΝΝΗ)

Objective of the study was the investigation of the response of Skopelos, Zakynthos and Kymi ewes to oestrus induction treatment. Furthermore, feasibility of measuring electrical resistance of cervical mucus for oestrus detection was examined. Oestrus was induced by intravaginal insertion of sponges impregnated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 12 days [groups: Skopelos (n=17), Zakynthos (n=18), Kymi (n=22)], followed by intramuscular injection of 400 iu equine chorionic gonadotropins) at the time of withdrawal. Blood samples were collected 10 days before sponge insertion, at insertion and withdrawal and at oestrus for measurement of oestradiol 17-β and progesterone concentration. Electrical resistance of cervical mucus was measured after οestrus detection, then ewes were mated. Proportion of Zakynthos ewes (100%) in oestrus was greater than that of Kymi (64%) or Skopelos (78%) ewes. Pregnancy rate ranged from 50% (Kymi ewes) to 67% (Skopelos ewes). Electrical resistance of cervical mucus of ewes that conceived was significantly smaller than of those that did not. Based on results of progesterone blood concentration measurement 10 days before and at sponge insertion, only Kymi ewes were at full anoestrus, whilst Zakynthos and Skopelos ewes were in the breeding season. Progesterone blood concentration at sponge withdrawal and oestradiol 17-β blood concentration at oestrus were significantly greater in Zakynthos ewes that conceived compared to those in ewes that did not conceive. Furthermore, progesterone concentration at sponge insertion was significantly greater in all ewes that conceived compared to that in ewes that did not. There were significant differences in oestradiol-17β and progesterone blood concentrations among breeds and at the various time-points of blood collection. It is concluded that response of the above sheep breeds to oestrus induction was satisfactory. Hormonal status of ewes during sponge insertion is of importance for conception. Measurement of electrical resistance of cervical mucus could be useful for selection of ewes for mating, even if rams used to detect oestrous.

Author(s):  
D. Josephine Selvarani Ruth

AbstractNickel Titanium Naval Ordinance Laboratory (NiTiNOL) is widely called as a shape memory alloy (SMA), a class of nonlinear smart material inherited with the functionally programmed property of varying electrical resistance during the transformation enabling to be positioned as a sensing element. The major challenge to instrument the SMA wires is to suppress the wires’ nonlinearity by proper selection of two important factors. The first factor is influenced by the mechanical biasing element and the other is to identify the sensing current for the sensing device (SMA wires + biasing). This paper focuses on developing SMA wires for sensing in different orientation types and configurations by removing the non-linearity in the system’s output by introducing inverse hysteresis to the wires through the passive mechanical element.


Author(s):  
F. G. T. Holliday ◽  
J. H. S. Blaxter

The salinity tolerance of herring 9-ca 24 cm in length was found to lie between 6‰0 and 40–45‰0.Determinations of changes in weight and blood concentration (by measurement of the freezing-point), when herring were transferred from one salinity to another, demonstrated that extensive changes occurred in the blood. Under these conditions the herring experienced and survived blood concentrations equivalent to salinites of 13–22·5‰. A recovery to near normal (δ0·95 ≡ 15·8‰) took place in all the salinities within the tolerance range.Badly descaled herring in sea water showed large increases in blood concentration before death.A study of the kidney of the herring indicated that the ability to withstand the low salinities for long periods probably rested in the high glomerular count of the kidney.The importance of damage to the skin for survival is discussed in relation to tagging experiments.The results are also discussed in relation to the evolution of the herring.


BMC Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde His ◽  
Vivian Viallon ◽  
Laure Dossus ◽  
Julie A. Schmidt ◽  
Ruth C. Travis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Metabolomics is a promising molecular tool for identifying novel etiological pathways leading to cancer. In an earlier prospective study among pre- and postmenopausal women not using exogenous hormones, we observed a higher risk of breast cancer associated with higher blood concentrations of one metabolite (acetylcarnitine) and a lower risk associated with higher blood concentrations of seven others (arginine, asparagine, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) aa C36:3, ae C34:2, ae C36:2, ae C36:3, and ae C38:2). Methods To identify determinants of these breast cancer-related metabolites, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis to identify their lifestyle and anthropometric correlates in 2358 women, who were previously included as controls in case-control studies nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort and not using exogenous hormones at blood collection. Associations of each metabolite concentration with 42 variables were assessed using linear regression models in a discovery set of 1572 participants. Significant associations were evaluated in a validation set (n = 786). Results For the metabolites previously associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, concentrations of PCs ae C34:2, C36:2, C36:3, and C38:2 were negatively associated with adiposity and positively associated with total and saturated fat intakes. PC ae C36:2 was also negatively associated with alcohol consumption and positively associated with two scores reflecting adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Asparagine concentration was negatively associated with adiposity. Arginine and PC aa C36:3 concentrations were not associated to any of the factors examined. For the metabolite previously associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, acetylcarnitine, a positive association with age was observed. Conclusions These associations may indicate possible mechanisms underlying associations between lifestyle and anthropometric factors, and risk of breast cancer. Further research is needed to identify potential non-lifestyle correlates of the metabolites investigated.


2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Otava ◽  
Calin Mircu ◽  
Horia Cernescu ◽  
Violeta Igna

The timely detection of oestrus presents an important professional procedure with which cattle farmers, in addition to veterinarians, are very often faced, because failure to detect oestrus poses a big economic problem. The objective of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of discovering oestrus in cows by determining the progesterone concentration (P4) in blood plasma. This experiment covered 22 animals, including 15 cows and 7 heifers, in which spontaneous oestrus was discovered. P4 concentration was determined using the ELISA test in samples of blood taken from the animals at the moment of insemination. Of the 15 cows, four cows (26.6%) were not inseminated at the optimal time, and the P4 level in these animals was higher than 1 ng/ml. All the heifers showed a progesterone concentration of over 1 ng/ml, and a percentage of conception which was 85%. The high P4 level in heifers at the moment of insemination could also be a consequence of stress caused by the regrouping and separating of the animals. Even though the heifers were under stress, which is indicated by the high progesteronemia values at the moment of insemination, the percentage of conception among them was beyond expectations. Therefore, the determination of P4 values at the moment of insemination is a suitable method for improving reproduction management on cattle farms. Inappropriate treatment of cows which are expected to show oestrus can cause stress and an increase in the values of the blood concentration of P4. On the grounds of the results obtained in this work, no negative influence of stress on the insemination results in heifers was observed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 128 (5) ◽  
pp. 1311-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Baird ◽  
R. J. Heitzman ◽  
K. G. Hibbitt

1. The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of the metabolic changes associated with carbohydrate and fat metabolism that occurred in the blood and liver of lactating dairy cows during starvation for 6 days. 2. During starvation, the blood concentrations of the free fatty acids and ketone bodies increased, whereas that of citrate decreased. After an initial increase, the blood concentration of glucose subsequently declined as starvation progressed. Starvation caused a significant decrease in the plasma concentration of serine and a significant increase in that of leucine. 3. After 6 days of starvation the hepatic concentrations of oxaloacetate, citrate, phosphoenolpyruvate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose, glycogen, ATP and NAD+ had all decreased, as had the hepatic activities of phosphopyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.32) and pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40). 4. The above metabolic changes are similar to those previously found to occur in cows suffering from spontaneous ketosis (Baird et al., 1968; Baird & Heitzman, 1971). 5. Milk yield decreased progressively during starvation. 6. There were marked differences in the ability of individual animals to resist the onset of severe starvation ketosis.


2020 ◽  
pp. 7-11

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of yeast based organic selenium (Se) on post-partum progesterone concentration, blood metabolites, service period and milk yield. Dairy Jersey cows (n=15) having almost similar body weight, age, parity and body condition score were divided into three groups of equal number. One group served as a control that was given no Se supplementation. Second and third groups were supplemented with Se at the rate of 0.3 and 0.4 mg/kg of dry matter intake, respectively. The results revealed that after parturition, there was significantly (P<0.05) higher concentration of progesterone in Se treated group of Jersey cows (P<0.05). Week wise, concentration of progesterone in blood increased significantly (P<0.05). There was a decrease in length of service period in Se treated groups. Blood concentrations of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride increased significantly (P<0.05) on weekly basis. However, these blood metabolites did not change significantly between the control and Se treated groups. Milk yield did not change significantly between the control and Se treated groups. The results of current study indicated that supplementation of yeast based organic Se at the rate of 0.4 mg/kg dry matter intake improved the progesterone concentration and decreased the service period but had no effect on blood metabolites and milk yield.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21127-e21127
Author(s):  
Galina A. Nerodo ◽  
Ekaterina Nerodo

e21127 Background: hormonodependency of vulva is wellknown. This broughtusto study hormonal status of vulva cancer patients depending on treatment efficacy Methods: we present comparative analysis of hormonal status of vulva cancer patients in two groups: group 1 (50 patients) without relapse of the disease in 5-year period, and group 2 (35 patients) with relapse developed within the first year. Blood concentrations of testosterone, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone were determined in all patients under study by means of radiometric methods. Estrone, estradiol, estriol with subsequent calculation of their sum were determined in daily urine by Brown method. Results: In the presence of effect (group 1) initial total amount of estrogens was twice as large than in its absence. In group 1 estradiol concentration exceeded the corresponding parameter of group 2 by three times(7.6±0.6 & 1,4±0.3,p<0.001). The amount of secreting estriol at positive result was almost twice higher than in cases of absence of the effect(10.02±1.7 & 4.6±0.49, p<0.001). The groups differed by secretion levels of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. Blood concentration of these hormones was lower in negative results that in positive. Distinct differences were also observed in progesterone and prolactin levels. In the group with positive result of treatment progesterone concentration was much higher than in the group without treatment effect. On the contrary, prolactin concentration in group 1 was significantly less than in group 2. The highest degree of reliability of quantitative indices related to treatment efficacy was observed for progesterone. Positive result of corresponding treatment may be predicted at normal initial progesterone level, and negative result at its low level (3-4 times lower than the norm). Another parameter - blood concentration of prolactin - can be used almost with the same degree of reliability. Conclusions: results of the study allow to suggest an existence of interrelation between treatment efficacy of vulva cancer patients and functional activity of hypophysis-gonadal system. Some of its parameters may be used to predict results of complex treatment of vulva cancer patients.


Author(s):  
V. Sakara ◽  
A. Melnik ◽  
P. Moskalenko

Depending on age and live weight in the bird, blood can be taken in different places: by performing a puncture of the shoulder (subclavian), jugular, medial tibial veins, of the occipital sinus, of the heart, and through decapitation in the day-old young. But not all of these methods are practical and suitable for all types and periods of time in the poultry. The article describes two practical methods of life-time selection of blood in chickens-broilers of the cross-breed COBB-500 of different ages. Blood in day-old chicks is taken for the purpose of early diagnosis of deficiency of micro-and macro elements. In chickens that were hatched after 12 hours at a mass of at least 30 grams of blood, they were taken from a right jugular vein with an insulin syringe of 1 ml and then received 0,5-0,6 ml of whey individually from each chicken. Thanks to this, the chick remains alive and after 7 days it allows you to take blood again for further research. A subcutaneous vein subunit for taking blood in broiler chickens after 7 days and up to 17 days is better to use a syringe of 2 ml, as this is less injurious to the vein, but it is better to carry out this procedure with the assistant. It is more practical to make blood collection in chickens from 18 to 42 days using an injection needle with a pink cannula (18 G) and a polypropylene tube with a tufted lid that will allow it to remove up to 5 ml of blood from one bird and get enough serum for it biochemical studies. An important stage in the diagnosis of internal bird diseases, in particular metabolic etiology, is blood research. This allows us to diagnose the subclinical stages of illness associated with an imbalance of metabolic processes in an organism of productive and exotic birds. Therefore, one of the important measures in the establishment and confirmation of the diagnosis, as well as the study of the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments – is the selection of blood. Anatomical features of the body structure of various types of agricultural and exotic birds require the modification and modernization of blood selection technologies and make adjustments to the selection of the appropriate sites for manipulation. Blood in the bird collapses fast enough – 20-30 seconds, which makes it impossible to remove enough of it in young birds. In order to obtain the required volume of quality blood and its serum, it is necessary to take into account the age, physiological and productive qualities of birds. The most recent features were the development of new and improved existing methods of blood sampling in poultry. In the bird, blood can be taken by performing a puncture of the shoulder (subclavian), jugular, medial tibial veins, of the occipital sinus, of the puncture of the heart, and of the decapitation in a day-old youngster. The bird has a relatively small percentage of blood volume by weight, approximately 6-7,5%. The amount of blood that can be taken will depend on the weight of the bird, the skill of the researcher and the rate of blood coagulation. It is not necessary to take more than 1% of the blood from the body weight or 10% of the total blood volume, and the next selection is desirable to do not earlier than 14 days. Also, after the selection, hematoma may develop, which may lead to vascular collapse, so it is advisable to introduce warm isotonic solutions. Blood was taken with a 1 ml insulin syringe with a removable needle (29 g) from the right jaw vein. The jugular vein is the largest peripheral vein in the bird, in smaller species and chickens, this may be the only large enough place to select a significant amount of blood for diagnostic testing. The puncture was carried out in day-old chicks, 12 hours after hatching. Before the blood was taken, a clinical examination was performed, and weighing chickens. In those whose body weight was less than 30 grams blood was not taken. Fixed the chick in the left hand a little while turning to the left side, holding his neck between the index and the without limbs, pressing the chicken body with his thumb to the palm, thus best visualizing the jugular vein. At the site of the puncture, a fluff was pulled out and rubbed with 70% ethyl alcohol. Then gently at an angle of 10-20 ° the needle was injected into the vein and the blood was drawn slowly. As a rule, when a needle is correctly placed in the vein, the blood begins to fill the syringe reservoir. When selecting a syringe, use the thumb and forefinger, and slowly pull the syringe piston gently without tilting the needle. If the blood does not enter the syringe, the beveled edge may be against the vein or the needle may get stuck. Gently release the pressure on the piston and slightly bend the tip. Injecting needles, needleless needles or syringes of 2-10 ml may be used for venous puncture. To prevent blood coagulation, the lumen of the needle can be pre-moistened with a 5% solution of heparin. Blood can be taken from glass, polypropylene or fluoroplastic test tubes. Key words: broilers chickens, blood selection, jugular vein, subcrine vein.


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