• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the fertility and farrowing date in post-weaning sows using PG600 and inseminated with frozen semen. A total of 48 sows of Landrace, Large White and Duroc after 7-week lactation were used at the Chungnam Provincial Animal Breeding Station. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Motility had no significant differences between the breeds, but NAR acrosome was highest in Landrace, followed by Duroc and Large White(p<.01). 2. Interval from weaning to estrus and length of estrus were, respectively, 3.7 days and 52.6hours of sows treated with PG600, and 6.5 days and 53.8 hours for control sows. The average interval from weaning to onset of estrus was significantly(p<.01) shorter by 2.8 days in PG600 treated sows compared to control sows. 3. In Landrace, Duroc and Large White, farrowing rate and number of pigs born alive per litter were 55.0%, 10.0; 43.8%, 8.1; and 16.7%, 3.5, respectively. Average pig weight at birth and survival rate at 56 days had no significant differences between the breeds. 4. Farrowing rate, number of pigs born alive per litter, average pig weight at birth and survival rate at 56 days were, respectivey, 45.8%, 101, 1.56kg and 94.5% for sows treated with PG600, and 37.5%, 7.0, 1.66kg and 93.8% for control sows. Sows treated with PG 600 had an average of 3.1 more pigs at farrowing compared to control sows.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2011

Objectives: Although phthalates like dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) are commonly used as plasticizers and their metabolites are especially suspected of reproductive toxicity, little is known about occupational exposure to those phthalates. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of measuring the metabolite concentrations of DBP and DEHP in serum and urine samples as an indicator of occupational exposure to those phthalates. Methods: Phthalate metabolites were analyzed by using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: We detected phthalate metabolites in serum and urine matrices at approximately 10-fold lower than the limit of detection of those metabolites in the same matrix by LC-MS/MS without column switching, which was sufficient to evaluate concentrations of phthalate metabolites for industrial workers and the general population. Conclusion: The accuracy and precision of the analytical method indicate that urinary metabolite determination can be a more acceptable biomarker for studying phthalate exposure and adverse health outcomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1025-1030
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• 1999

Fifth one Nili-Ravi dairy buffaloes in their last two months of gestation, were selected in NWFP Pakistan. Rectal palpation was carried out fortnightly, until the occurrence of first estrus. Ovulation was confirmed per rectum and milk progesterone levels (MPL). Body condition score (BCS)was recorded weekly. Milk samples were collected weekly for MPL and blood samples fortnightly for metabolites analysis. Milk yield was recorded and samples were collected for milk fat. The buffaloes calving during the normal breeding season (NBS, August to January)had short (p<0.01) postpartum estrus interval of $55.95{\pm}4.90$ days versus $91.15{\pm}11.61 $ days in the buffaloes calving during the low breeding season (LBS, February to July). MPL in the LBS calvers remained lower than NBS calves (p<0.01). The incidence of silent ovulation was higher during LBS as compared to NBS (70.6% versus 29.4%). MPL showed a pattern opposite to atmospheric temperature. In NBS calvers serum glucose levels were higher (p<0.01) and magnesium levels were lower (p<0.01) than LBS calvers. Higher serum urea was found in summer and spring than that autumn and winter (p<0.05). The reproductive performance in buffaloes calving in the LBS coincided with a low BCS (p<0.01). Fat corrected milk production (FCM) was higher in NBS than LBS (p<0.01) calvers.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis the hypothesis that treatment with hCG (5,000 IU) at the time of embryo transfer would enhance pregnancy rates in recipients, and the concentration of plasma urea nitrogen(PUN) in recipients was related to the effect of hCG on the reproductive performance. Blood samples were taken according to experimental condition for the assessment of the endogenous plasma progesterone concentration and plasma urea nitrogen. Concentrations of progesterone in plasma were higher in cows treated with hCG on day 7(estrus=day 0) than in those untreated during 7∼43 days after insemination. The pregnancy rates were 65.5 and 54.6% for the hCG treated and untreated groups, respectively. In recipient group categorized with PUN concentration of <12 mg/이, the pregnancy rates were 68.8 and 46.7% for the hCG treated and untreated groups, respectively. The results suggest that hCG treatment at 7 days after insemination could be used to increase the pregnancy rate of embryo transfer, and transfer, and only the recipients with PUN concentration of <12 mg/dl were influenced by treatment with hCG.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1994

DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was at dose levels of 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg/day administered intravenously to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats during the organogenetic period. Two-third of dams per group were subjected to caesarean section on day 20 of pregnancy and the remaining 10 dams per group were allowed to deliver. Effects of test substance on dams, embryonal development of Fl fetuses, as well as growth, behaviour and mating performance of Fl offspring were examined. 1. At 1 mg/kg, one out of the 10 dams showed difficult delivery. A decrease in food consumption, a loss in body weight and a decrease of spleen weight were found in this dose level group. At 0.3 mg/kg, difficult deliverys were observed in two out of the 10 dams. 2. At 1 mg/kg, an increased resorption rate and a decreased fetal weight were found. In addition, various types of external, visceral and skeletal malformations occurred at an incidence of 11.9, 41.8 and 14.5%, respectively. 3. At 1 mg/kg, body weight reduction, small eyeball, hydrocephalus and atrophy of sexual organs were observed in Fl offspring. One male pup receiving 0.3 mg/kg died on day 2 of lactation. The results show that the no-effect dose levels (NOELs) for dams and Fl offspring are 0.1 mg/kg/day and NOEL for Fl fetuses is 0.3 mg/kg/day.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.622-637
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• 2017

Fatty acids such as n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are critical nutrients, used to improve male reproductive performance through modification of fatty acid profile and maintenance of sperm membrane integrity, especially under cold shock or cryopreservation condition. Also, PUFA provide the precursors for prostaglandin synthesis and can modulate the expression patterns of many key enzymes involved in both prostaglandin and steroid metabolism. Many studies carried out on diets supplemented with PUFA have demonstrated their capability to sustain sperm motility, viability and fertility during chilling and freezing as well as improving testis development and spermatogenesis in a variety of livestock species. In addition to the type and quantity of dietary fatty acids, ways of addition of PUFA to diet or semen extender is very crucial as it has different effects on semen quality in male ruminants. Limitation of PUFA added to ruminant ration is due to biohydrogenation by rumen microorganisms, which causes conversion of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids, leading to loss of PUFA quantity. Thus, many strategies for protecting PUFA from biohydrogenation in rumen have been developed over the years. This paper reviews four aspects of PUFA in light of previous research including rumen metabolism, biological roles, influence on reproduction, and strategies to use in male ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.609-613
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• 1997

The reproductive performance of forty two male broilers divided into three similar groups and fed on isocaloric and isonitrogneous diets containing 0, 10 or 20% water washed neem seed kernel meal (WWNSKM) was investigated from 20 to 32-wks of age. Results on semen characteristics revealed that feeding of WWNSKM led to significant (p < 0.05) reduction in semen volume, sperm concentration associated with increased incidences of morphological abnormalities in the spermatozoa when compared to that of the control birds. A drastic reduction in the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa was observed, the adverse effects being more at higher inclusion level of the cake. Hatchability of eggs also declined in the WWNSKM fed group. Histological examination of testes revealed a higher number of degenerating cells and poor spermatogenesis along with multinucleated giant cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes of birds receiving the high dose of WWNSKM in diet. It may be concluded that the feeding of WWNSKM by incorporating in isocaloric and isonitrogneous diets to cockerels is associated with adverse effect on their fertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 1991

Weaner heifers were set stocked at 4/ha on a grass-legume pasture in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and either unsupplemented (Control) or for 338 days given daily supplements of one of, rice bran (RB) supplied at 1 kg/animal/d, molasses/urea (MU) or 0.5 RB + 0.5 MU (MURB) the amounts of which were adjusted to give similar energy intakes. There were 20 animals in each treatment. A drought resulted in low pasture availability for about half the supplementation period. The LWG per animal in the MURB treatment was 85 kg above that of the control and this was significantly greater (p < 0.01) than those for MU (62.0 kg) or RB (56.2 kg) although the economics favoured the gains from RB which returned over three times the cost of the supplement. Costs could be reduced by supplementing only at times of maximum undernutrition, but such a strategy is of doubtful value in this situation as there was no compensatory LWG and a similar rate of economic return was maintained throughout the period. The results suggest that additional benefits from the supplementation may be improved reproductive performance and more efficient use of pasture.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1235-1238
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• 2000

Thirty-six Holstein dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of a rumen protected methionine supplement (RPMet). The cows were divided into two groups of 18 each (control/experimental). The experimental group was given 15 g/d of RPMet (Mepron $^{(R)}$M85, Degussa) from the 4th to the 26th week postpartum. All cows were fed a similar amount of forage including alfalfa silage, corn silage and timothy silage. Concentrate mixture was offered in proportion to the milk yield of each cow. Sufficiency of major metabolizable AAs was checked. Milk yield and milk composition was monitored for each individual cow. A metabolic profile test (MPT) was carried out at the 7th, 11th and 21st week postpartum. Without supplement, both methionine and leucine fell short of the daily requirement. Supplementation with 15 g/d RPMet was calculated to be within a sufficient margin of safety. Milk yield tended to remain higher in the supplemented group than in the controls during supplementation with RPMet. The differences in weekly milk production at the 17th, 18th, 19th and 22nd weeks postpartum were significantly high in the RPMet group (p<0.05). The average 305-d milk yield and the percentages of milk fat, milk protein and solids-not-fat were not affected by the treatment. No differences were observed in either the somatic cell count in the milk or the reproductive status. Judging from MPT, all the cows were in good health during lactation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 1994

This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of splenectomy on the hematology and maintenance of pregnant rats. Those animals that had shown regular 4 or 5 day estrous cycles for more than two cycles were used. The day after mating ws designated Day 0 of pregnancy. Spleen was removed from Day 0(early), 6(middle) and 13(late) of pregnant rat, respectively. Blood was collected on Day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of the pregnancy. 1. The total serum protein was increased significantly (P<0.05) to the progress of pregnancy in control rat. All rats that splenectomized groups were decreased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy than control rats. 2. Albumin was not significantly changed. 3. Globulin was decreased significantly(P<0.05) between contol and middle treatment at Day 7, 14 of pregnancy. 4. Glucose was increased for the due to the pregress of pregnancy. It was no significance differences among the each groups. 5. Rate of abortion was increased in groups of early and middle of splenectomy compared with control. 6. Period of pregnancy was delayed in middle and late splenectomized gruops companed with control. 7. Litter size was lowed significantly (P<0.05) in early and middle splenectomized groups compared with control.