Search the repository

A+ | A- | | SLO | ENG

Abstract: Traditional superovulation protocols that include multiple gonadotropin treatments are time-consuming and labor intensive. These protocols require multiple handling and restraining of embryo donors. This will likely increase the risks of injuries in both animals and humans and induce stress that may lead to a reduced superovulatory response. These are more evident when working with cattle that are rarely handled or raised on extensive grazing. The objectives of this experiment were to compare the efficacy of a split-injection protocol of porcine pituitary-derived porcine FSH (pFSH) preparation (slow release [SR] group) to the traditional 4-day treatment with pFSH administered twice daily (C group) and to determine the concentrations of cortisol in the hair as a marker of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during the two superovulatory treatments. Thirty-two heifers were stimulated twice in a 2 × 2 crossover design and compared for ovarian response and numbers and characteristics of recovered ova-embryo among treatments. No differences between SR and C groups were found in terms of percentage of responsive animals (100% vs. 93.8%) and ovulation rate (83.7 ± 1.1 vs. 79.5 ± 1.0%). A positive correlation was found between the number of follicles responsive to pFSH (2-8 mm) at the beginning of treatments and the superovulatory response, and no differences were found in these follicular populations between the two treatment groups. The numbers of CLs, ova-embryos, fertilized ova, transferable and freezable embryos recovered per cow were found to be significantly higher in SR compared with C group (14.0 ± 1.6 vs. 10.6 ± 1.0, 12.1 ± 1.6 vs. 7.6 ± 1.0, 11.1 ± 1.1 vs. 7.3 ± 1.0, 9.6 ± 1.4 vs. 6.6 ± 1.0, and 9.4 ± 1.4 vs. 6.0 ± 1.0 for SR and C group, respectively). The SR group produced also a significantly greater number of excellent- and/or good-quality embryos compared with the C group. The concentrations of cortisol in the hair at Days 14 and 21 were significantly greater in the C compared with the SR group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that the dilution of gonadotropin in a 5% hyaluronan solution, reducing the administration frequency, improves the quantitative and qualitative superovulatory response of Marchigiana heifers. Further studies using other breeds of cattle are needed to verify the results herein obtained and to confirm the lower activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis caused in the donor by the split-injection protocol.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Summary of found: ...determine the concentrations of cortisol in the hair as a marker of activation of the...
Keywords: Beef heifer, Bovine, Hair cortisol, Hyaluronic acid, Slow release, Superovulation
Published: 01.03.2016; Views: 3836; Downloads: 306
Fulltext (403,15 KB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: Obesity and MetS (Metabolic Syndrome) are both linked to persistent long-term hormonal and metabolic changes. In most of the studies, cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations have been measured in obese and normal-weight subjects, obtaining heterogeneous results. Plasma, saliva and urine, matrices that represent timepoint or short-term steroids exposure, were used for these studies. The aim was to study C, DHEA and C/DHEA ratio of mice pups in the hair, matrix capable of providing cumulative hormonal exposure. Sixty C57Bl/6 mice pups (30 males and 30 females) were housed in a temperature-controlled environment (22±2°C) and on a 12h light/dark schedule, under ad-libitum access to food and water for 16 weeks (welfare: Italian Law Decree 116-92 and EC Directive 86-609-EEC). Control and experimental diets were offered immediately after weaning (3 weeks old pups), for 16 weeks. Four experimental checkpoints were established (T1: 4 weeks, T2: 8 weeks, T3: 12 weeks and T4: 16 weeks of diet). T3 and T4 showed the hormonal concentrations of pubertal animals. Twentyseven pups (13 females and 14 males) were randomly group-housed in cages (6 for T1, 5 for T2, 6 for T3, 10 for T4) and assigned to control diet (CTRL: D12328, Research Diets, New Brunswick, NJ). 33 pups (17 females and 16 males) were randomly group-housed in cages (5 for T1, 6 for T2 and T3, 16 for T4) and assigned to the HFHC diet (HFHC: D12331, Research Diets, New Brunswick, NJ - plus 42g/L fructose/sucrose in drinking water). At each experimental checkpoint, all the animals of one cage for each experimental group were suppressed. Hair strands were carefully cut with scissors as close as possible to the skin from the back of the mice, paying attention to not to wound the animals. Hair was stored in an envelope at RT in a dry room until use. C and DHEA hair concentrations was measured by a solid-phase microtiter RIA assay (Peric et al., 2016 adapted in the mouse). Only at 8 weeks the HFHC group showed significantly higher C concentrations than the CTRL group (1.56±0.06 vs 1.92±0.130 pg/mg; P<0.05). DHEA concentrations were significantly reduced in the HFHC group than the CTRL group at 4 (114.64±13.93 vs 69.08±5.33 pg/mg; P<0.05), 8 (71.67±7.08 vs 50.38±4.74 pg/mg; P<0.05), 12 (73.27±8.29 vs 41.59±1.60 pg/mg; P<0.01) and 16 weeks (65.26±3.35 vs 55.05±1.84 pg/mg; P<0.05). The C/DHEA ratio was significantly increased in the HFHC than the CTRL group, at 8 (0.023±0.002 vs 0.040±0.005; P<0.01), 12 (0.024±0.003 vs 0.036±0.004; P<0.05) and 16 weeks (0.019±0.001 vs 0.025±0.002; P<0.01). The gender effect was not significant. Taking into account the lag time required for the hair emersion from the skin (about 1 week), the significant stimulation of the C at 8 weeks in the HFHC group refers to its chronic elevation from 5 to 7 weeks of treatment when the animals were not pubertal. Conversely, DHEA shows a chronic reduction in obese mice leading to consider an independent adrenal regulation of C and DHEA, both stimulated by ACTH. Research was supported by the Project CBM (MIUR DM60643). Peric et al. 2016 J Appl Anim Welf Sci 18:1-8.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Keywords: DIET, HAIR, CORTISOL, DHEA, MOUSE
Published: 21.07.2016; Views: 4183; Downloads: 0
Fulltext (3,65 MB)

Abstract: The experiment was aimed to evaluate the usefulness of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in revealing the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis due to the passage of young bulls from genetic rearing stations to artificial insemination (AI) centre and the influence of this passage on hair testosterone concentrations (HTC). Hair samples on 33 yearling bulls were collected at the time of arrival (ST1) to the AI centre and 3 more hair samples (ST2, ST3, ST4) were collected at monthly intervals. After the end of quarantine each animal was submitted to the standard procedures for collection and production of semen. Overall HCC were significantly affected by period of collection (p<.01). In particular, HCC was higher in samples obtained after finishing the quarantine period (ST2) compared with those obtained on ST1. After ST2, the HCC decreased reaching at ST4 a value similar to that recorded at ST1. An effect of sampling time on HTC was not found (p>.05). The effect of breed was observed only for HTC that was higher in PRI than BS (p<.01). The HCC group have not influenced the semen variables (p>.05). On the contrary, the effect of breed was evident. The results of this study replicated the effects of a major environmental stressor on mean cortisol concentrations assessed in hair, and add to the growing body of evidence that HCC is an effective and simply collected marker for long-term activity of the HPA system in response to persistent environmental challenge.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Keywords: Hair, bulls, cortisol, testosterone, semen
Published: 20.03.2017; Views: 4840; Downloads: 0
Fulltext (1,71 MB)

Abstract: Hair cortisol analysis is a complementary method for monitoring HPA axis activity, capturing systemic cortisol exposure over longer periods of time. We have tested the hair cortisol concentration on 16 specimens of Golden jackal (Canis aureus moreoticus): 5 from frozen animals, 10 from stuffed animals and 1 taken from injured animal during recovery in an Animal Care Center; the samples came from Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto Region) and Croatia (Istria and Dalmatian region). We have studied the hair cortisol concentration by RIA method in respect to conservation method, sex and areas of origin, with non parametric tests and mixed model. The hair cortisol concentration (values expressed in pg/mg) from the frozen animals (mean=3.38 SD=3.13, n=5) was not different in respect to the stuffed samples (mean=2.81 SD=2.72, n=9), also the sex has not showed any statistical effect (males mean=1.96 SD=0.63 n=9; females mean=4.56 SD=3.99 n=6). The hair cortisol concentration in respect to the sites of origin of samples, dispersal and core areas was not different (dispersal areas: mean=1.56 SD=0.77 n=5, core areas: mean=3.72 SD=3.14 n=10). The use of mixed model to detect the effect of areas (core and dispersal areas) and interaction between sex and areas has showed the presence of significative higher hair concentrations of cortisol in core areas for the females (mean=6.27 SD=3.84 n=4)in respect to the males (mean=2.02 SD=0.52 n=6). The concentration of hair cortisol of sick and injured animal recovered in the Animal Care Center was higher (> of 12 pg/mg) in respect to the other samples. Hair sample can be used to develop a clearer understanding of the interrelationship of health and physiology, mobility and social behaviour.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Keywords: hair, Canis aureus, cortisol
Published: 19.07.2017; Views: 4164; Downloads: 0
Fulltext (1,91 MB)

Abstract: Biometric measurements of horn, body and physiological variables of 35 Alpine ibex, Capra ibex ibex, (14 females and 21 males, age range: 2-15 years) were analysed in relation to gender and area of origin. Moreover, for the first time hair cortisol concentration was evaluated in this species. The ibexes were live-captured in spring in the Maritime Alps Natural Park. All the horn and body morphometric measurements were significantly different between genders and a statistical difference was found between horn and body data considering the area of origin of ibexes, with the exception of horn circumference and height as well of body and hock length. Among the physiological variables, female ibex showed higher heart rate and glycemia, but tended to have lower respiratory rate than male. The mean hair cortisol concentration was 22.40±1.44 pg/mg (±SE). A different distribution was described for the male hair cortisol concentrations compared to that in females. Obtained data indicate that the geographical area where Alpine ibex lives could affect the endurance of an ibex population but further investigations are needed to understand if intra- and inter-specific competition and different environment could be the basis of the HPA axis activation. Hair cortisol evaluation together with biometric values could be an interesting way to obtain information on the adaptation that the animal attempts to reach in relation to environmental factors and pursuing organism homeostasis. This feature could be important in attempting to preserve wildlife biodiversity that also depends from the state of animal welfare.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Keywords: allostatic load, Alps, ibex, biometry, hair cortisol
Published: 06.03.2018; Views: 3608; Downloads: 0
Fulltext (1,11 MB)