Infertility caused by male factors is potentially associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and/or diabetes. This experimental study was conducted in a male rodent model to assess the effects of different diseases on semen quality and sperm proteomics. Ten Wistar rats were used for each treatment. Rats were fed commercial food provided controllably to the control group and the diabetic group, and a hypercaloric diet supplemented with 5% sucrose in water was provided ad libitum to the obese group for 38 weeks. Diabetes was induced with 35 mg/kg streptozotocin. After euthanasia, testicles, spermatozoa, fat, and blood (serum) samples were collected. Spermatozoa were evaluated for quality and subjected to proteomics analyses. Histology and cytology of the testis, and serum leptin, adiponectin, interleukin 8 (IL-8), blood glucose, and testosterone levels, were also assessed. Body weight, retroperitoneal and testicular fat, and the Lee index were also measured. Obesity and diabetes were induced. The diabetic group showed noticeable changes in spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited in Mendeley Data (doi: 10.17632/rfp7kfjcsd.5). Fifteen proteins varied in abundance between groups, especially proteins related to energy production and structural function of the spermatozoa, suggesting disturbances in energy production with a subsequent alteration in sperm motility in both groups, but with a compensatory response in the obese group.

Heat stress (HS) adversely influences productivity and welfare of dairy cattle. We hypothesized that the thermoregulatory mechanisms vary depending on the exposure time to HS, with a cumulative effect on the adaptive responses and thermal strain of the cow. To identify the effect of HS on adaptive thermoregulatory mechanisms and predictors of caloric balance, Holstein cows were housed in climate chambers and randomly distributed into thermoneutral (TN; n=12) or HS (n=12) treatments for 16 days. Vaginal temperature (VT), rectal temperature (Tre), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and dry matter intake (DMI) were measured. The temperature and humidity under TN were 25.9±0.2°C and 73.0±0.8%, respectively, and under HS were 36.3±0.3°C and 60.9±0.9%, respectively. The RR of the HS cows increased immediately after exposure to heat and was higher (76.02±1.70bpm, p<0.001) than in the TN (39.70±0.71bpm). An increase in Tre (39.87±0.07°C in the HS vs. 38.56±0.03°C in the TN, p<0.001) and in VT (39.82±0.10°C in the HS vs. 38.26±0.03°C in the TN, p<0.001) followed the increase in RR. A decrease (p<0.05) in HR occurred in the HS (62.13±0.99bpm) compared with the TN (66.23±0.79bpm); however, the magnitude of the differences was not the same over time. The DMI was lower in HS cows from the third day (8.27±0.33kgd in the HS vs. 14.03±0.29kgd in the TN, p<0.001), and the reduction of DMI was strongly affected (r=-0.65) by changes in the temperature humidity index. The effect of environmental variables from the previous day on physiological parameters and DMI was more important than the immediate effect, and ambient temperature represented the most determinant factor for heat exchange. The difference in the responses to acute and chronic exposure to HS suggests an adaptive response. Thus, intense thermal stress strongly influence thermoregulatory mechanisms and the acclimation process depend critically on heat exposure time.

No abstract

Este artículo discute los principales aspectos del uso de protocolos hormonales basados en la aplicación de estrógeno seguido de progestágeno en receptoras anovulatorias o acíclicas, sea en anestro o transición en los protocolos de transferencia de embriones. La mayoría de las yeguas presentan comportamiento poliéstrico estacional, con lo que manifiestan estro y ciclos ovulatorios en los periodos de mayor luminosidad diaria. El ciclo reproductivo anual de las yeguas es caracterizado por la presencia de cuatro fases definidas por la dinámica folicular: de anestro, de transición de primavera, ovulatoria y de transición de otoño. Durante las fases de transición y anestro, la incidencia de las ovulaciones disminuye o es nula, lo que dificulta la sincronización de las ovulaciones entre donadoras y receptoras durante la preparación para la transferencia de embriones. Algunos estudios han mostrado que las receptoras anovulatorias/acíclicas mantenidas con protocolos con base en esteroides presentan cambios uterinos similares a los que pasan en las yeguas gestantes. Sin embargo, no hay investigaciones suficientes que permitan aclarar el mejor protocolo de esteroides, con respecto a dosis, tiempos de tratamiento y vías de administración.

ResumenEl objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la cualidad espermática del semen refrigerado de carneros, en cajas térmicas con diferentes temperaturas. Fueron utilizados 6 eyaculados, de 2 carneros colectado con vagina artificial. En el semen se analizó volumen, movimiento en masa, motilidad, vigor, concentración espermática, test hipo-osmótico y coloración supra-vital. Las muestras fueron divididas en 2 alícuotas y diluidas en solución NaCl 0,9% o en un medio (Botubov ® , Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brasil); después, la dilución fue mantenida a temperatura ambiente, nevera (5ºC), caja Botubox ® (15ºC, Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brasil), caja Botutainer ® (5ºC, Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brasil) y caja MaxSemen ® (15ºC, EHG Agrofarma, Campinas, SP, Brasil). Todas las muestras fueron analizadas cada 24 horas, siguiendo los mismos parámetros. De acuerdo con los resultados, las muestras mantenidas en el diluyente presentaron viabilidad hasta 48 horas de refrigeración en las cajas térmicas y en la nevera, y la motilidad se mantuvo entorno de 30% hasta las 72 horas. Las muestras diluidas en solución NaCl 0,9% conservaron la motilidad en 30% hasta las 24 horas de refrigeración. Basado en los resultados se concluye que las tres cajas pueden ser utilizadas para transporte de semen ovino, diluido y refrigerado por un período de 24 a 48 horas.Palabras clave: carnero, crio-preservación, espermatozoide. AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the ovine sperm quality colled in thermal boxs. Six ejaculates from 2 rams were collected using artificial vagina. Samples were analyzed to volume, mass movement, motility, vigor, sperm cell concentration, hypo-osmotic swelling test and supravital stain. Ejaculates were divided into 2 aliquots and diluted in 0.9% NaCl or in the extender (Botubov ® , Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brazil), and was kept at room temperature, refrigerator (5°C), Botubox ® (15°C, Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brazil), Botutainer ® (5ºC, Botupharma, Botucatu, SP, Brazil) and MaxSemen ® (15°C, EHG Agrofarma, Campinas, SP, Brazil). All samples were analyzed each 24 hours to the same parameters. According to the results the samples diluted and cooled in extender preserved sperm viability until 48 hours in thermal boxes and in refrigerator; and the samples extended preserved in environment maintained motility 30% up to 72 hours. Samples diluted in 0.9% saline retained motility around 30% until 24 hours of cooling. Based on the results it is concluded that the three boxes may be used for transport of ram semen, diluted and refrigerated for a period of 24 to 48 hours.Keywords: cryopreservation, ram, spermatozoa. IntroducciónLa criación de ovinos en los últimos años ha crecido y el mercado internacional de carne ovina se mantiene en alta, debido al menor costo de producción. Este crecimiento ha impulsado y estimulado la aplicación de biotécnicas de reproducción en la especie (Oliveira y Oliveira, 2008) con el objetivo de aumentar la productividad y rentabilidad del rebaño.Dentro de las biotecnologías se debe resalta...