The Effect of A PRID®Delta-Based Estrus Synchronization Protocol On Pregnancy Rates In Cows With No Estrus Symptoms

The present study aimed to determine the effects of progesterone-based gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) injections on progesterone profiles and pregnancy rates in cows with no estrus symptoms within 60 days after parturition. A total of 80 cows were included in the study. All animals had the progesterone-releasing device PRID®Delta placed intravaginally for nine days with an injection of GnRH. On the eighth day, PGF2α was injected, and PRID®Delta was removed from the vagina on day nine. Artificial insemination was carried out 60 hours after PRID®Delta removal. In half of the animals (n = 40), 600 IU of eCG was injected when PRID®Delta was removed on the ninth day before artificial insemination 60 hours later. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein on days 0 and 8 to determine progesterone levels. The pregnancy rate in the group that received eCG was 37.5%, while it was 27.5% in those that did not (P = 0.4). While the dominant follicle diameter was 15.5 mm in cows injected with eCG during timed artificial insemination, the follicle diameter was 12.4 mm in cows with no eCG injection (P <0.001). There were no differences in serum progesterone values in blood samples taken until the time of artificial insemination. However, progesterone values in the blood taken during artificial insemination were 0.94 ng/ml in the eCG- group and 0.72 ng/ml in the eCG+ group (P <0.05). As a result, it was determined that eCG injections, in addition to progesterone-based GnRH and PGF2α applications, increased the pregnancy rates in cows without symptoms of estrus. The dominant follicle diameter was larger in cows treated with eCG during artificial insemination; however, follicle size did not increase the pregnancy rate.

Effect of Sex Sorted Semen in Synchronized Estrus on Pregnancy Rate and Female Ratio in Gir Cows

Background: At present there is huge demand for Gir cow females however, prolonged inter calving period, more inseminations per conception and post-partum anestrus are the predominant reproductive disorder along with use of unsexed semen limit the birth of more females in Gir cows. The present research study was conducted to study the effect of sex sorted semen in synchronized estrus with Ovsynch protocol on pregnancy rate and gender ratio in Gir cows. Methods: Total twenty Gir cows that have completed post-partum period of sixty days with normal reproductive genitalia, without clinical as well as subclinical infection were selected and divided into two equal groups. The cows from both the groups were synchronized with Ovsynch protocol. In Group- I (n=10), the cows were inseminated with sex sorted semen while in Group-II, the cows were inseminated with coneventional semen. The pregnancy rate and gender ratio was recorded. Result: Efficacy of estrus synchronization was 100.00 per cent for Gir cows treated by Ovsynch protocol in both groups. The pregnancy rate was numerically lower after AI with sex sorted semen (40%) than conventional semen (50%) and results are non significant (P less than 0.05) with 100% calving rate. The proportion of female calves born from sex sorted semen AI was 75% and from conventional semen was 60%. The proportion of live calves born from sex sorted and conventional semen AI was 100%. The sex sorted semen may be used in Ovsynch protocol in Gir cows.

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.

Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Tubal Inflammatory Drugs Used in Patients with Incomplete Tubal Obstruction After Four-Dimensional Hysterosalpingo-Contrast-Sonography Examination

Background To investigate the safety and effectiveness of tubal inflammatory drugs in patients with incomplete tubal obstruction of at least 1 side after four-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (4D-HyCoSy) examination. Methods 215 cases of tubal insufficiency were diagnosed by ultrasonography from February 2019 to November 2020.According to retrospective analysis,the patients in this study were divided into experimental and control groups; the experimental group was treated with a push of salpingitis drugs, and the control group received blank control. Basic information, degree of pain, postoperative complications, and pregnancy rate were then compared between the 2 groups. Result(s) : Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the basic information; preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative pain; or in postoperative complications (P > 0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate of the experimental group (28.0%) was statistically different from that of the control group (15.3%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion(s): We observed that for infertile patients with incomplete obstruction of at least one fallopian tube as diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, salpingitis-treatment drugs effectively improved the pregnancy rate postoperatively, with high effectiveness and safety. This regimen is thus worthy of further investigation and promotion in the future.

Impact of Living in Different Altitudes on Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Outcomes for Infertile Couples in Southwestern Region of Saudi Arabia, a Retrospective Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different altitudes in the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia on ICSI outcomes, fertilization rate, embryo quality, pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rates for infertile couples. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study on 551 infertile couples carried out in the Assisted Reproductive Technology unit at the Maternity and Childern Hospital in Abha, Saudi Arabia between 2018 and 2019 to compare ICSI outcomes in different altitudes. Low altitude (205 patients), mild altitude (86 patients) and high altitude (260 patients). Main result measurements: fertilization rates, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates at different altitudes. Results: The data showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.67) in fertilization rates and the number of good-quality embryos between different altitudes. Importantly, clinical pregnancy rates were similar between groups and there was no significant difference in the miscarriage rates between high, mild and low altitudes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there is now increased risk of miscarriage or low pregnancy rates with different altitudes in Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. This suggests that altitude changes has no obvious risk on pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcome.

Effects of Vitrified Cryopreservation Duration on the IVF and Neonatal Outcomes

Objective: To evaluate the impact of cryopreservation storage duration on embryo viability, implantation competence, pregnancy outcome and neonatal outcomes.Design: Retrospective study.Setting: Center for Reproductive Medicine，The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.Patient(s): In vitro fertilization patients who had vitrified cryopreserved embryos and following the first frozen embryo transfer cycles from January 2004 to August 2019. A total of 31143 patients met the inclusion criteria and were grouped according to the storage time (20926 patients in Group 1 with storage time <3 months, 6472 patients in Group 2 with storage time between 3 and 6 months, 2237 patients in Group 3 with storage time between 6 and 12 months and 746 in Group 4 with storage time between 12 and 24 months, 762 patients in Group 5 with storage time >24 months).Intervention(s): None.Main Outcome Measure(s): In the total FET cycles, the embryo survival rate was decreased significantly with the increase of cryopreservation time, and the highest rate was 98. 63 % in the 1-3 months group, and the lowest was 71.13% in the >=731 days group (P <0. 01). The HCG positive rate (57.85%) and clinical pregnancy rate (55. 26%) in the 1-3 months group were the highest (P<0. 01). The >=731 group had the lowest sex ratio of 0.96. There were no significant differences in neonatal birth weight, neonatal height and congenital anomalies among the groups (P>0. 05).Result(s): Length of storage time had a significant effect on post-thaw survival and outcomes for IVF cycles. Conclusion(s): With the prolongation of cryopreservation time, the embryonic survival rate and pregnancy rate were decreased significantly. Short-term cryopreservation (<=3 months) can obtain higher clinical pregnancy rate. Therefore, although long-term hryopreservation of the embryo has no effect on the health of the new baby, but hryopreserved embryos should be recovery as soon as possible if condition allows.

Early Serum Progesterone Measurement on 9th Day after Oocyte Retrieval can be used as a Predictor of Fresh Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycle Success

BACKGROUND: In intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) infertility treatment cycles, measuring serum Progesterone level at day 9 after oocyte retrieval could be used as a predictor of success. METHODS: Sixty-nine women were prospectively included in this study, treated with fresh embryo transfer ICSI cycles. Progesterone analyses were performed on the day of oocyte pick up (day 0) at serum and follicular fluid, then re-assessment at serum on day 9 after oocyte retrieval. The data were compared to evaluate the correlation among hormones measured on day 0 and day 9 with pregnancy rate. RESULTS: Pregnancy rate of Iraqi women was 22% (n = 15), mean serum progesterone on day 9 among pregnant ladies was (mean ± SD, 39.5 ± 13.0) which was significantly higher than that who failed to get pregnant (mean 23.2 ± 11, p = 0.001), then after adjustment of the baseline readings (day 0) estimated mean = 11.1. The differences were still significant, receiver operating characteristic curve area showed that serum Progesterone on day 9 after pick up can differentiate correctly between those who will conceive and those who will not, with a sensitivity = 0.933 and specificity = 0.519, at cut off point = 22.33 and above, (Area under the curve = 0.822, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum progesterone on day 9 could be one of the predictors of endometrial receptivity and pregnancy, which is actually of great value for both doctors and patients during that stressful period till the date of confirmation, which might negatively affect treatment outcome, as well as the psychosocial and pharmacological impact of medication and limited activity for a failed one.

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.