Early Pregnancy in Jennies in the Caribbean: Corpus Luteum Development and Progesterone Production, Uterine and Embryo Dynamics, Conceptus Growth and Maturation

We aimed to characterize early embryo development and changes in corpus luteum (CL) development and progesterone profile in pregnant vs. non-pregnant jennies. Eight jennies were enrolled in the study. In the first two cycles, the jennies were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography and had blood harvested for hormone profile assay. In the third cycle, jennies were bred by a jack of proven fertility. Jennies were then monitored and sampled for up to 30 days of pregnancy. Data were evaluated by random-effects multiple linear regression, and correlations were expressed as Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Progesterone concentration rose rapidly from ovulation (D0) until D7, plateaued until D12–14, then precipitously declined between D14 and 15, remaining low until the next ovulation in non-pregnant cycles. In the pregnant jennies, the progesterone concentration rose to maximal concentrations on D7–11, being higher at this stage than in non-pregnant cycles, then declined gradually up to D30. In all cycles, the volume of the CL increased steadily until D6, when it plateaued in pregnant jennies. For non-pregnant jennies, CL volume decreased slowly from D6 to D11 and then had a faster drop. Uterine tone increased following ovulation, becoming turgid around the day of embryo fixation (D15.0 ± 0.9). An embryonic vesicle (EV) was first detected on D9.3 ± 0.5 (2.4 ± 0.5 mm). The EV remained spherical until D18.6 ± 1.4. The embryo proper was first detected ventrally in the vesicle on D20.8 ± 1.1 and the embryonic heartbeat by D22.0 ± 0.9. The allantoic sac was identified at D24.0 ± 0.9, and at D30, the allantoic sac filled the ventral half of the EV. This study provides evidence that higher cumulative concentrations of progesterone are correlated to size of the EV, and there were changes in the luteal dynamics and progesterone profiles in pregnant vs. non-pregnant jennies.

Hydrogen Peroxide Imbibition Following Cold Stratification Promotes Seed Germination Rate and Uniformity in Peach cv. GF305

(1) Background: Peach cv. GF305 is commonly used in breeding programs due to its susceptibility to numerous viruses. In this study, we aimed to achieve a methodology for rapid and uniform seed germination of peach cv. GF305 in order to obtain vigorous seedlings; (2) Methods: A combination of cold stratification and H2O2 imbibition was tested on peach seeds with or without endocarp. In addition, the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione as well as the hormone profile in seedling roots and shoots were determined; (3) Results: We found that H2O2 imbibition of peach seeds without endocarp after 8 weeks of stratification increased germination rate and resulted in seedlings displaying good vegetative growth. The H2O2 imbibition also affected the levels of ascorbate, glutathione, and the phytohormones abscisic acid and jasmonic acid in peach seedlings; (4) Conclusions: Although stratification periods of 12 weeks have been previously established as being appropriate for this cultivar, we have been able to reduce this stratification time by up to 4 weeks, which may have practical implication in peach nurseries.

Menstrual Abnormalities and Associated Hormone Profile In Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 Patients

Background: Although menstrual abnormalities and associated hormonal dysregulations are very common in the reproductive age group of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients, this remains a neglected area. This field had been poorly explored in last ten years worldwide and a few research regarding this area in Bangladesh as well. Aim: To evaluate menstrual abnormalities occurring in CKD stage 5 (CKD5)patients undergoing twice-weekly and thriceweekly maintenance hemodialysis (HD) also in non-dialytic CKD5 patients and to provide more detail information on hormone profile (FSH, LH, Prolactin, Estradiol) of these patients. Materials and method: This obsevational study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, DMCH, the sample population was also collected from BSMMU and NIKDU from April 2017 to March 2018. A total of 51 CKD stage 5 patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, 34 patients were dialytic (17 of them were taking twice weekly HD and 17 of them were taking thrice weekly HD) and 17 non-dialytic patients at reproductive age were evaluated. Detailed menstrual histories, thorough clinical examinations as well as investigations were done in all the patients. Serum FSH, LH, Estradiol, and Prolactin were evaluated using chemiluminescence immunoassay in the Department of Microbiology of BSMMU. Statistical analysis of the study was done by SPSS-24. The confidence interval was considered at 95% level. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 100% of non-dialytic CKD5 women had menstrual disorders (72% of patients had secondary amenorrhea, 18% had oligomenorrhoea and 10% had menometrorrhagia). And 73.52% of patients in the HD group had menstrual disorders (29% patients had regular menstruation, 28.5% had secondary amenorrhea, 23.5% had oligomenorrhoea and 19% had menometrorrhagia). With continuation of HD amenorrhea disappeared in 43% of patients in the thrice-weekly HD group, also 22.22% patients in the twice-weekly HD group regained menstruation. Serum LH and prolactin levels were significantly higher in the non-HD group compared to the HD group (p<0.05). Estradiol levels were also higher in HD patients than the non-HD patients. LH and Prolactin levels were also higher in the twice-weekly HD group compared to the thrice-weekly HD group. In the secondary amenorrheic group, serum FSH, LH, Prolactin levels were significantly higher than the other groups having menstrual disorder (p<0.05). Conclusion: Menstrual abnormalities and associated hormonal dysregulations were significantly lower in thriceweekly HD patients compared to the twice-weekly HD patients and significantly lower in twice-weekly HD patients compared to the non-dialytic CKD5 patients. Besides, it is suggested that long-duration dialysis might improve menstrual disorders in such patients as prolactin, LH levels gradually decreased with longer duration of dialysis. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 45-51

The effectiveness of prostaglandin nanoparticles in corpus luteum regression

Research examined the formation of prostaglandin nanoparticles and their effect on corpus luteum (CL) regression carried out at IRIAP. The nanoparticles formation was carried out using the ionic gelation method. The nanoparticles have a particle size of 316.80±0.14 nm, polydispersion index of 0,453±0,001, zeta potential of +17,40±0,85 mV with 69,69±8.81% hormone entrapment. The effectiveness of nanoparticle in CL regression was observed (prostaglandin vs prostaglandin nanoparticles) using ultrasound observation, hormone profile and estrus response. Further, the size of the ovulating follicle, the time of ovulation, the size of the CL and the onset of estrus after the administration of the prostaglandins were observed. The observation showed that the intramuscular administration of prostaglandin and prostaglandin nanoparticles did not significantly differ on the onset of estrus, time of ovulation, the ovulating follicle size, size of CL and progesterone concentration. The onset of estrus occurred on 2.50 ± 0.58 and 2.33 ± 0.52 days, the ovulation time after hormone administration was on days 3.50 ± 0.55 and 2.83 ± 0.75 with the ovulation follicle size of 16, 62 ± 0.96 and 17.03 ± 1.13 mm, while the CL measures at H-3 were 13.56 ± 2.28 and 10.45 ± 0.88, the progesterone H-2 concentrations were 0.299 and 0.395, respectively for prostaglandin and prostaglandin nanoparticles. It can be concluded that the formation of nanoparticles did not impair the effectiveness of hormones in CL regression so that it can be used to increase the effectiveness of estrus synchronization

Ganglioglioma Arising from the Septum Pellucidum

A 24-year-old gentleman presented to us with complaints of occasional headache for 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed enhancing supra sellar mass with nonenhancing cystic components, extending superiorly up to the body of bilateral lateral ventricle, laterally displacing septum pellucidum, and compressing the third ventricle with obstructive hydrocephalus. Hormone profile depicted adrenocorticotropic hormone <5.00 pg/mL, growth hormone 1.32 ng/mL, insulin-like growth factor-1 <3.0 ng/mL. The patient underwent surgical resection. Histological finding was suggestive of ganglioglioma World Health Organization grade I. Customized immunohistochemistry panel was advised and revealed positive CD 56, NSE, and GFAP immunohistochemical stains. Gangliogliomas are less frequent neoplastic lesions confined to only a handful of case reports and studies. Accounting less than 2% of intracranial neoplasms, these lesions primarily affect those in the first 3 decades of their life. As ubiquitous it is in nature, we hereby present a case of ganglioglioma in a young adult male arising from septum pellucidum.

Influence of Feeding Rice DDGS and Mixture of Wheat Straw and Groundnut Straw on Growth, Feed Intake and Thyroid Hormone Profile of Growing Crossbred Heifers

Present experiment was carried out at Livestock Research Station, CVSc & AH, AAU, Anand, Gujarat (India) on twenty-four HF×Kankrej heifers with average body weight of 116.13 ± 4.74 kg and an average age of 281.92 ± 13.26 days to study the effect of feeding rice DDGS and mixture of wheat straw and groundnut straw on growth, feed intake and thyroid hormone profile of growing crossbred heifers. Three different concentrates containing 0, 20 and 40% rice DDGS (RDDGS) were offered to T1, T2 and T3 group heifers, respectively. RDDGS was given in place of soyaDOC in concentrate. Under each concentrate type, half of the heifers were offered wheat straw (R1 group) and another half a mixture of wheat straw and groundnut straw (R2 group) as dry roughage. The protein requirement of heifers was fulfilled as per ICAR (2013). Body weight was recorded at start and then at fortnightly, feed intake was calculated from the records of daily feed consumption and thyroid hormone profile was done in serum samples collected at start and then at 28 days interval throughout the experiment. Prior permission was taken from institutional animal ethics committee (IAEC, Project: 313/LPM/2019). The recorded data during the experiment was statistically analyzed by RBD factorial design. When roughage source was ignored, body weight of T3 group heifers was found significantly (p < 0.05) higher compared to T1 and T2 group heifers (182.32 ± 4.60 vs. 177.54 ± 4.63 & 178.99 ± 4.35).On avoiding concentrate source, body weight (kg) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in R2 group heifers as compared to R1 heifers (181.98 ± 3.79 vs. 177.25 ± 3.59 kg). ADG of T3 group heifers (779.9 ± 23.2 g/head/d) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than T2 and T1 group heifers (723.2 ± 22.4 vs. 703.9 ± 21.0), respectively. Ignoring concentrate source, ADG (g/head/d) of R2 group heifers was only numerically higher than that of (R1) heifers (751.1 ± 17.9 vs. 720.2 ± 18.6). Average DMI (kg/head/d) was found statistically similar between T1, T2 and T3 groups (4.70 ± 0.07, 4.65 ± 0.06 and 4.71 ± 0.06). The observed DMI (kg/100kg BW) in T1 group heifers that received 40% soyaDOC in concentrate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than T2 and T3 group heifers (2.66 ± 0.04 vs. 2.59 ± 0.03 & 2.58 ± 0.03). There was non-significant difference in DMI (kg/kg BW gain) of crossbred heifers fed different concentrate. Ignoring concentrate source, the observed average DMI (kg/head/d) and DMI (kg /100kg BW) in R1 and R2 was (4.57 ± 0.05 & 4.81 ± 0.05) and (2.57 ± 0.03 & 2.65 ± 0.03), respectively. DMI (kg/head/d) and DMI (kg /100kg BW) increased significantly (p < 0.05) when a mixture of wheat straw and groundnut straw was fed to crossbred heifers. There was non-significant difference in DMI (kg/kg BW gain) between R1 and R2 group heifers (7.33 ± 0.39 & 7.05 ± 0.22). The average serum triiodothyronine (2.69 + 0.15, 2.81 + 0.16 & 2.94 + 0.13 ng/mL) and thyroxine hormone level (52.20 ± 2.47, 57.86 ± 4.09 & 52.30 ± 2.70) of T1, T2 and T3 group heifers remained statistically similar. When the concentrate source was ignored, serum triiodothyronine was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in R2 group heifers (2.60 ± 0.10 vs. 3.02 ± 0.13 ng/mL). The serum thyroxine concentration remained statistically similar on feeding different roughage (54.30 ± 2.16 & 53.94 ± 2.97 ng/mL). The results of the study indicate that RDDGS can replace soyaDOC fully in concentrate as a protein source and feeding mixture of groundnut straw and wheat straw is beneficial in terms of growth and do not affect normal body metabolism.