Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of environmental temperature on the number and quality of oocytes and embryo production rates obtained by performing ovum pick up (OPU). Heat stress leads to long-term, short-term, visible, and invisible effects in dairy cows. Its effects on reproduction are evident in all stages, from oocyte development to birth. Disturbance in ovarian follicle development, follicular dominance deficiency, anoestrus, polyspermia, embryoniclosses, decreased fetal growth, and abortion are some examples of responses to these effects. The aim of the present study was aimed to determine the effects of ambient temperature on oocyte quality and number and embryo production rates.Materials, Methods & Results: The animal material used in this study comprised 10 Holstein heifers. At the beginning of the study, the heifers were 13-15 months old. OPU was performed at different times of the year, and weather conditions were recorded. Grouping according to ambient temperature was done as < 10°C (group 1), 10-25°C (group 2), and > 25°C (group 3). The veterinary ultrasonography device and a set of compatible intravaginal OPU probe, catheter, and aspiration device were used for OPU application. All antral follicles with diameters of 2-8 mm in the ovaries were aspirated. The aspirated follicle fluids were examined under a stereo microscope, and the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected and classified according to their structure. A, B, and C-quality oocytes were included in the in vitro embryo production process. After performing 69 OPUs on random days of the cycle, the number of oocytes per OPU was found to be 8.72, 6.32, and 6.85 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.05). The number of viable oocytes per OPU was 6.83, 4.64, and 4.65 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.05). The statistical difference between the first group and the other groups was significant for cleavage and blastocyst counts (P < 0.05).Discussion: All the negative effects of heat stress on animals resulted from the increased body temperature. Reproductive performance is adversely affected by high temperatures and humidity during periods of high ambient temperatures. Metabolic heat is released, and the heat load increases due to the metabolism of nutrients in cattle. Internal body temperature is regulated via the dissipation of metabolic heat to the environment. The amount of heat dissipated via conduction andconvection depends on the unit body weight, surface area, skin and coat color, difference in temperature gradient of the animal and ambient temperature, and humidity. In the present study, it was determined that the blastocyst development rates of the oocytes obtained in the warm season (>25°C [group 3]) were lower than those of the other groups. It was concluded that this may be because the oocytes developed under chronic heat stress in the animals, and several cycles were required to enhance oocyte quality and developmental potential. Additional studies are needed to investigate the response of oocytes obtained with OPU to heat stress during embryonic developmental stages and to determine the sensitivity and effects of embryonic tissue damage according to developmental stages. Based on the results of the present study, it was concludedthat performing OPU and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) when the ambient temperature is close to the thermoneutral limits may increase the blastocyst development rates. Keywords: blastocyst, heat stress, heifer, in vitro embryo production, oocyte quality, ovum pick-up.

This study was performed during the anestrous, involving 140 Akkaraman Kangal ewes whose lambs had died in the neonatal stage due to pneumonia and enteritis. Intravaginal sponge containing progesterone was placed to the animals (Group 1, n = 70) on day 0 and removed after 7 days, following which 263 µg PGF2α and 500 IU eCG were administered to the sheep. Ram introduction was performed for 7 days (days 8-14), starting from the day after the removal of the intravaginal sponge (day 8). The animals in Group 2 (n = 70) were not exposed to any treatment. Ram introduction was performed simultaneously in both the groups. To determine the reproductive response, reproductive parameters such as estrous, pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and embryonic mortality rates, number of births, number of offspring, and fertility, as well as their economic implications, were compared between groups. Each reproductive parameter exhibited a statistical difference between groups. An economically positive trend was observed in the study group compared with the control group. It was concluded that in case of lamb losses in commercial farms that derive profit from lambing, pregnancy of ewes can be achieved via sexual stimulation without waiting for the next breeding season.

Bu çalışmada Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) tekniği ile oosit verimi ile donörlerin Anti-Müllerian Hormon (AMH) konsantrasyonları arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada 12 ila 15 aylık 10 sağlıklı Holstein düve kullanıldı. AMH ölçümleri Bovine VIDAS® Anti-Mülleian Hormon kitleri (Biomeriux, Marcy l'Etoile, Fransa) ile Mini Vidas cihazı kullanılarak yapıldı. Siklusun rastgele bir gününde toplam 67 OPU uygulaması yapıldı. Toplanan oositler kalitelerine göre sınıflandırıldı ve oositlerin canlılık değerlendirmesi, kümülüs-oosit kompleksindeki (COC) kümülüs bütünlüğü ile hücre tabakası sayısına ve sitoplazmalarının homojenliğine göre yapıldı. OPU uygulamalarında hayvan başına ortalama oosit sayısının 4-8 arasında olduğu belirlendi. Toplanan oosit sayıları ile plazma AMH seviyeleri arasında önemsiz bir negatif korelasyon görüldü. Donör ve ovaryum rezervinin belirlemede kullanılabilen AMH'nin, OPU başına düşen embriyo sayısını da artırabileceği düşünüldü. AMH'nin biyoteknolojik uygulamalarda donör seçiminde kullanılırken bu parametre açısından da değerlendirilebileceği sonucuna varıldı.

Bu çalışmada adjuvan kullanılarak tek doz Subkutan (SC) FSH uygulamasının ve adjuvan kullanılmadan tek doz epidural FSH uygulamasının kan FSH düzeyleri ve süperovülasyon yanıtı üzerine etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Holştayn inekler (n:18) süperovülasyon prosedürü için üç gruba ayrıldı (n = 6). Gruptaki (İM) hayvanlara 4 gün süreyle 12 saat arayla İntramusculer (IM) azaltıcı FSH (Stimufol, 500 μg domuz FSH ve 100 μg domuz LH, Ulg FMV, Liège, Belçika) dozları verildi. (E) grubundaki hayvanlara epidural aralığa FSH (500 µg) verildi. (SC) grubundaki hayvanlara, 10 mL Montanide ISA 206 adjuvanı içinde FSH eklenerek hazırlanan bir karışım Subkutan (SC) ile uygulandı. Overdeki CL sayısı ultrasonografik yöntemle ölçüldü ve 4 CL varlığına göre süperovülasyon belirlendi. FSH ölçümü için tüm hayvanlardan V. jugularis'ten kan örnekleri alındı. Serum FSH (pFSH) seviyeleri ELISA ile belirlendi. Grup 1'deki tüm hayvanlar, süperovülasyon prosedüründen sonra süperovülasyon tepkisine (4>CL) sahipti. 2. grupta sadece bir hayvan yanıt verdi. Grup 3'te, altı hayvandan dördü yanıt verdi. Kan örneklerinin FSH analizinden sonra, IM ve SC uygulamaları arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak önemsiz iken, IM ve epidural uygulamalar arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlıydı. SC ve epidural uygulamalar arasındaki fark önemsizdi.

The present study, it was aimed to determine the effect of antioxidants added to culture media on blastocyst development rates in in vitro embryo production. The material of the study consisted of oocytes collected from the ovaries taken from the slaughterhouse. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) were collected and classified under a stereomicroscope. Oocytes included in the study were subjected to maturation and fertilization stages. Probable zygotes were transferred to the culture (IVC) containing antioxidants (L-ergothionine 100 μM (n: 163), Vitamin E 100 μM (n: 151) Cysteamine 50 μM (n: 154) and were cultured in a tri gas incubator (Hera Cell- 6% O2%, 6%CO2, 88%N). Blastocyst rates and embryo quality were determined on the 6th and 7th days in culture medium. Differences in IVMFC stages were evaluated by chi-square test. 966 oocytes were collected from 162 ovaries collected from the slaughterhouse. It was determined that the number of oocytes per ovary was 5,96, and the number of A and B quality oocytes was 4.26. It was determined that 655 (94.93%) of a total of 690 oocytes undergoing in vitro maturation were mature. The cleavage rates of the groups were 83.44%; 80.79%; 79.87%, and 83.96%, respectively. 140 (21.37%) blastocysts were obtained from 655 oocytes taken into the culture stage and the blastocyst rates in the groups were 33.13%; 8.61%; 7.79%, and 32.62%, respectively. As a result of the study, it was determined that the rates of blastocysts in the L-ergothioneine added the group was similar to the control group, but the blastocyst rates decreased significantly in the cysteamine and Vitamin E added groups. It was thought that this decrease might have been affected by the dose of antioxidants or the adequacy of oocyte development