The present study was designed to prove new rabbit insemination extenders containing aminopeptidase inhibitors (AMIs) with or without chitosan (CS)-dextran sulfate (DS) nanoparticles entrapping the GnRH analogue. In addition, different hormone concentrations were tested in these extenders, evaluating their in vivo effect on rabbit reproductive performance after artificial insemination. A total of 911 females were inseminated with semen diluted with the four experimental extenders (C4 group: 4 μg buserelin/doe in control medium (Tris-citric acid-glucose supplemented with bestatin 10 μM and EDTA 20 mM), C5 group: 5 μg of buserelin/doe in control medium, Q4 group: 4 μg of buserelin/doe into CS-DS nanoparticles in control medium, Q5 group: 5 μg of busereline/doe into CS-DS nanoparticles in control medium). Results showed that fertility was significantly lower in C4 group compared to C5, Q5 and Q4 groups (0.7 versus 0.85, 0.85 and 0.82, respectively). On the contrary, prolificacy was similar in the four experimental groups studied (P > 0.05). We conclude that the CS-DS nanoparticles prepared by a coacervation process as carrier for buserelin acetate allows reducing the concentration of hormone used in extenders supplemented with bestatin and EDTA without affecting the fertility and prolificacy of rabbit females.

No abstract

Contents This study was designed to develop chitosan (CS)–dextran sulphate (DS) nanoparticles containing a GnRH analogue and to study their effect on rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) semen quality. Six experimental extenders were tested as follows: (control) Tris‐citric acid‐glucose (TCG), (1) 0.05% CS‐0.05% DS (4:1), (2) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (4:1), (3) 0.05% CS‐0.05% DS (3:1), (4) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (3:1), (5) 0.1% CS‐0.05% DS (2:1). CS and DS were dissolved in TCG medium, and nanoparticles were obtained through magnetic stirring. Rabbit seminal samples were incubated up to 5 hr at 37°C in the extenders, and seminal quality was evaluated. The entrapment efficiency was 40%–50%. After 5 hr at 37°C, a 20% of the hormone was released. Results showed that the presence of CS‐DS nanoparticles did not affect rabbit semen motility, viability and membrane functionality; however, acrosome integrity was significantly higher versus control (p < .001).

In recent decades, packaged fruit has gained market ground over loose fruit, and fruit containers have become a source of information for consumers. This study approaches three objectives related to consumer information needs for decision making when purchasing fruit: (1) Determine if consumers’ choice of packaged fruit rather than loose fruit is motivated by their interest in the information provided on packaging; (2) identify information gaps on fruit packaging labels; (3) identify those sensory attributes that consumers consider to be of major interest to be included in sensory labels of different fruit types. The study was based on an online questionnaire answered by 394 fruit consumers. Ninety percent of the participants stated having an interest in receiving information when purchasing fruit, but their choice between packaged or loose fruit was not conditioned by their information needs. Moreover, a gap between information interest and information use was detected as their final purchase decisions were not always based on the provided information. ‘Harvest date’, ‘production method’, ‘percentage of the price received by the farmer’, ‘applied treatments’, ‘sensory characteristics’, and ‘environmental information’ were identified as the major information gaps, as these labels were unavailable for a high percentage of consumers, who stated their interest in them. According to consumers, sensory labels should include information about ‘sweetness’ and ‘flavor intensity’ irrespectively of fruit type. ‘Sourness’ and ‘juiciness’ attributes were particularly interesting for citrus, as ‘sourness’ and ‘firmness’ were for kiwi. Information about texture properties was required for pome and stone fruit. Other attributes, such as easiness to peel, were important only for citrus fruit.

The present study was conducted to characterise rabbit seminal plasma proteins (SP proteins) focusing on the influence of the genetic origin and seasonality. In addition, β-NGF protein quantity in SP was determined. Semen samples were recovered from January to December 2014 using 6 males belonging to genotype A and six from genotype R. For each genotype, one pooled sample at the beginning, middle and end of each season was selected to develop the experiment. A total of 24 pools (3 for each season and genetic line) were analysed. SP proteins of the two experimental groups were recovered and subjected to in-solution digestion nano LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. The resulting library included 402 identified proteins validated with ≥95% Confidence (unused Score ≥ 1.3). These data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD006308. Only 6 proteins were specifically implicated in reproductive processes according to Gene Ontology annotation. Twenty-three proteins were differentially expressed between genotypes, 11 over-expressed in genotype A and 12 in genotype R. Regarding the effect of season on rabbit SP proteome, results showed that there is no clear pattern of protein variation throughout the year. Similar β-NGF relative quantity was observed between seasons and genotypes. In conclusion, this study generates the largest library of SP proteins reported to date in rabbits and provides evidence that genotype is related to a specific abundance of SP proteins.