Association Among Spinnbarkeit, Electrical Conductivity, and Crystallization of Cervical Mucus and Pregnancy Rate in Egyptian Baladi Cows

Alteration of the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of cervical mucus (CM) due to differences in steroid hormones through the estrus cycle leads to different pregnancy rates. This investigation aims to study the possible relationship between CM properties with biochemical profiles, macro-mineral levels, and steroid hormones concentrations, and their effects on pregnancy rates of Egyptian cows. Fourteen Baladi cows were used and synchronized. The model log-likelihood ratio was highly significant (P=0.0009), and reported that the spinnbarkeit (SPK), electrical conductivity (EC), and crystallization (CRS) had significant effect on high pregnancy rate. The 3rd level of SPK (>13.5 cm) and EC (>15 mS/cm) was the highest significant (P=0.0016 & 0.0517, respectively) and a clear positive of estimate marginal effect (20.2543 & 10.6192, respectively) attitude towards the pregnancy rate. However, in case of the CRS, the significant effect was in the first two levels (P=0.0321 & 0.0425, respectively) with a high pregnancy rate, reverse the last 2 levels. Total protein, cholesterol, glucose, potassium, chloride levels, and estradiol concentrations were observed higher with increasing levels of SPK and EC and appearance of typical fern patterns (first two levels of CRS), in contrast to sodium, and progesterone concentrations that decreased with elevating levels of SPK and EC and appearance of atypical fern patterns (last two levels of CRS). There was a close correlation between CM properties and steroid hormones (P4 & E2). So, alterations in CM properties, especially SPK, EC, and CRS, can be utilized to foresee estrus time and, as a result, insemination time.

USE OF CIDR AND ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE IN SYNCHRONIZATION PROTOCOLS ON ESTRUS PRESENTATION, PREGNANCY AND BIRTH RATE IN CREOLE SHEEP UNDER HIGH ALTITUDE CONDITIONS

The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of the intravaginal device (CIDR) and estradiol cypionate in synchronization protocols, on oestrus presentation, pregnancy and birth rate in Creole sheep under high altitude conditions. The study was carried out in a non-reproductive season, in the peruvian highlands, using 57 ewes. Four experimental groups were formed: group T1 (n=14) and T3 (n=14), CIDR progesterone device for 7 days and 12 days, respectively; group T2 (n=15) and T4 (n=14), CIDR progesterone device for 7 days and 12 days plus 1 mg of estradiol cypionate, 24 hours after removal of the device in both groups, respectively. Estrous presentation was observed from CIDR removal to 48 hours using vasectomized rams and IATF was performed with fresh semen 48 hours after device removal. The pregnancy rate was determined by ultrasonography at 46 and 90 days after FTAI and the birth rate was recorded. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. There was no difference (P>0.05) between groups, for estrous presentation, but there was difference (P<0.05) for pregnancy rate at 46 days between groups with: T1 (42.9%), T3 (38.5%), T4 (21.4%), with respect to T2 (0%) (The difference in results are shown in Table 2). There was a difference (P<0.05) for the pregnancy rate at 90 days: T1 (35.7%) and T3 (30.8%), with respect to T4 (7.1%) and T2 (0 %). The birth rate showed differences (P<0.05) for T1 (28.6%) and T3 (28.6%), with respect to T2 (0%) and T4 (0%). In conclusion, a high pregnancy rate was obtained with CIDR for 7 and 12 days, compared to the use of CIDR plus estradiol cypionate. However, no births were obtained with progesterone plus estradiol cypionate treatment.

Sever Oligospermia Treatment with Testicular Sperm Using ICSI

Assisted reproductive technology has been developed significantly throughout the past few years, particularly diagnosing and treating male infertility. Many studies have been performed showing that Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a successful method to attain clinical pregnancy and live birth through impaired spermatozoa characteristics or low sperm count, such as severe oligospermia. Severe oligospermia indicates low sperm count, which in some cases leads to azoospermia. Severe oligospermia can be caused by several factors such as genetics or medication. In search of efficient treatment for couples with Severe oligospermia, numerous retrospective and prospective researches have reported high pregnancy and live birth rates through testicular sperm for men with severe oligospermia and cryptozoospermia with or without high sperm DNA damage. The research showed that the use of testicular sperm in combination with ICSI yielded a high pregnancy rate and live births over another source of sperm, such as ejaculated sperms. Moreover, the use of ICSI in severe oligospermia has shown successful fertilization and pregnancy.

Efficacy of Follitropin-A (Gonal-F) Versus Follitropin-B (Puregon) for Controlled Ovarian Stimulation in Women Undergoing IVF

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two recombinant FSH on pregnancy rates in infertile patients. Material and Methods: between 2015-2017, 387 females intended to have in vitro fertilization (IVF) for infertility treatment (226 patients use Gonal-F and 161 using Puregon. Results: Serum E2 concentration at hCG time was higher with Follitropin-a treated patients, and a larger number of retrieved oocyte result in a large number of the transferred embryo, and high pregnancy rate than Follitropin-b treated patients. Conclusions: Gonal-F (Follitropin-a) is associated with a potential stimulatory effect on ovaries. Puregon (Follitropin-b) was associated with a lower clinical pregnancy rate (PR). E2 level 5-7 days after stimulation can be used as an indicator of the success of IVF.

52 VITRIFICATION OF DAY-8 EQUINE EXPANDED BLASTOCYST: AN IN VITRO COMPARISON OF DIRECT VERSUS INDIRECT MECHANICAL INTRODUCTION OF CRYOPROTECTANT

The cryopreservation of equine expanded blastocysts (>300 μm) has been largely unsuccessful primarily due to the low permeability of the embryo to cryoprotectants. This low permeability has been attributed to the acellular glycoprotein capsule that develops when an embryo approaches approximately 300 μm in diameter. Mechanical alternatives may provide a means to overcome the capsule barrier and the relative large embryo size to successfully cryopreserve equine embryos. The objective of this experiment was to compare re-expansion rates of vitrified equine expanded blastocysts following either direct or indirect mechanical introduction of cryoprotectants using a coaxial microinjection system (Dracula pipette). Twenty-six Day-8 expanded blastocysts were subjected to capsule puncture, cryoprotectant injection, and blastocoele fluid extraction (direct treatment) or capsule puncture and blastocoele fluid extraction (indirect treatment) before cryopreservation. The Dracula pipette incorporates the injection pipette within the holding pipette, facilitating aspiration of blastocoele fluid or injection of cryoprotectant in a single unit. A standard vitrification protocol using a final concentration of 3.4 M glycerol and 4.6 M ethylene glycol at cryopreservation was used. Vitrified embryo re-expansion was assessed following in vitro culture at 24, 48, and 72 h post-warming. Differences across treatments were analysed using the Student's t-test for re-expansion and the chi-squared test of independence for capsule loss. Pre-vitrification embryo mean diameter (mean ± standard error) for direct and indirect treatment groups were not different, 979 ± 85.6 μm and 912 ± 101.4 μm, respectively (P = 0.62). Post-vitrification embryo mean diameters were not different for the direct and indirect treatments (688 ± 63 and 662 ± 75 μm, respectively; P = 0.79). Following 72 h of in vitro culture, there was no difference in mean embryo diameter (1813.16 ± 209 μm v. 1383.88 ± 198 μm; P = 0.21), or re-expansion rates (69 v. 69%) for direct and indirect treatment groups, respectively. However, partial or total capsule loss was 69% (9/13) for direct treatment embryos compared with 30% (4/13) for indirect treatment embryos (P = 0.049). Results from this experiment demonstrate that capsule puncture and blastocoele fluid extraction before vitrification resulted in high re-expansion rates of Day-8 equine expanded blastocysts after warming. More importantly, the relatively large percentage of capsule failure when directly introducing cryoprotectant into the embryo may interfere with maternal recognition of pregnancy following embryo transfer. Nonetheless, based on the embryonic re-expansion rate of vitrified equine embryos following the indirect technique, we anticipate that a relatively high pregnancy rate can be obtained if this technique is used.