Retraction : Resveratrol treatment during in vitro maturation enhances cumulus expansion and developmental competence of Sanjabi sheep oocytes.

This article released online on January 18, 2019 as advance publication was withdrawn from consideration for publication in The Journal of Reproduction and Development at author's request.

Retraction: Resveratrol treatment during in vitro maturation enhances cumulus expansion and developmental competence of Sanjabi sheep oocytes.

This article released online on January 18, 2019 as advance publication was withdrawn from consideration for publication in The Journal of Reproduction and Development at author’s request.

Effect of Exogenous Progesterone or Flunixin Meglumine After AI on Serum Progesterone Concentration and Pregnancy per AI in Lactating Dairy Cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of post AI administration of exogenous progesterone (P) or a prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) synthesis inhibitor agent on serum P concentrations and pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. Eighty lactating cows were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: 1) CON (control), received 5 mL of saline solution on d 6 and 14 post AI; 2) IP4 (injection of P ), received 125 mg of P im on d 6 and 14 post AI; 3) CIDR, received a controlled internal drug release insert containing 1.38g of P from d 6 to 20 post AI; and 4) FM (Flunixin Meglumine), received 0.

In vitro culture medium (IVC) supplementation with sericin improves developmental competence of ovine zygotes.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of supplementation of potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM-aa) with various sericin concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2.

The presence of corpus luteum may have a negative impact on in vitro developmental competency of bovine oocytes.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of the presence or absence of corpus luteum (CL) on in vitro developmental competence of bovine oocytes. In experiment 1, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and divided according to the presence (CL(+) oocytes) or absence (CL(-) oocytes) of a CL in the ovary. Control oocytes (C group) were obtained from ovaries which were not selected toward the presence or absence of CL.

In vitro developmental competence of bovine oocytes: Effect of corpus luteum and follicle size.

Background: Previous studies reported many discrepancies about the effects of corpus luteum (CL) and ovarian follicle size on the developmental competence of oocytes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CL and different size of follicle on the developmental potential of bovine oocytes.

Materials And Methods: After ovarian classification based on presence or absence of CL, sample follicles were placed in three groups according to their diameter; small (S; 3-6 mm), medium (M; 6-9 mm), and large (L; 10-20 mm).

Developmental competence of bovine oocytes selected based on follicle size and using the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test.

Background: Many studies reported that follicle size has an essential role in developmental potential of oocytes. Also, the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test is one of the most important criteria in selection of more competent oocytes.

Objective: Selection of developmentally competent bovine oocytes.

Comparing the effect of oral supplementation of vitamin E, injective vitamin E and selenium or both during late pregnancy on production and reproductive performance and immune function of dairy cows and calves.

The object of this study was to determine the effect of prepartum supplementation of vitamin E with or without injective vitamin E and selenium (Se) on productive and reproductive performances and immune function in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided randomly into three groups at the end of gestation. Cows in each group received one of three treatments: (1) a single intramuscular (im) injection of vit.

The influence of the corpus luteum on metabolites composition of follicular fluid from different sized follicles and their relationship to serum concentrations in dairy cows.

The presence of corpus luteum may have a local effect on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF) and could indirectly influence follicular development and oocyte quality. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the corpus luteum on metabolite composition of follicular fluid (FF), harvested from different-sized follicles and the relationship between metabolite composition of FF to blood serum in dairy cows. Ovaries and blood samples were collected from 30 female adult Holstein Friesian cows, 4-7 years old, with clinically normal reproductive tracts.

The effect of various concentrations of myo-inositol in culture medium on development of bovine embryos.

Background: Progress achieved in culture media formulations have resulted led to an improvement in maintaining the mammalian embryo in culture throughout the preimplantation and pre-attachment period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of myo-inositol during in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes on subsequent embryo development.

Materials And Methods: Bovine cumulus oocytes complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro at 39(o)C, in humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere for 22-24 h.

Effects of repeated administration of hCG on follicular and luteal characteristics and serum progesterone concentrations in eCG-superovulated Sanjabi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if treatment of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG)-superovulated Sanjabi ewes with repeated administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) would increase the number of normal corpus luteum (CL) and serum progesterone concentrations and decrease the number of persistent follicles. The superovulated ewes were divided into four groups on day 0 (day of sponge removal); the ewes were treated by an intramuscular administration of 500 IU hCG on day 0 (Group I: n = 10), on days 0 and 1 (Group II: n = 10), or on days 0, 1, and 2 (Group III: n = 10) and no treatment for control group (n = 10). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, 2, 5, and 8 (day of slaughter), and serum progesterone concentrations were determined.

Effect of various concentrations of Minimal Essential Medium vitamins (MEM vitamins) on development of sheep oocytes during in-vitro maturation.

Background: Improvements in culture media formulations have led to an increase in the ability of sheep embryo in culture throughout the preimplantation period.

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of various concentrations of MEM vitamins during in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and subsequent embryo development.

Materials And Methods: Sheep ovaries were collected from a slaughterhouse and transported to the laboratory.

Effect of prepartum supplementation of selenium and vitamin E on serum Se, IgG concentrations and colostrum of heifers and on hematology, passive immunity and Se status of their offspring.

Forty heifers at the late stage of gestation were randomly assigned into five groups. Heifers were balanced for age, weight, and time of calving in each group. Four and 2 weeks before expected time of calving, the heifers were injected with 0 ml (C), 10 ml (T1), 20 ml (T2), 30 ml (T3), and 40 ml (T4) Se and VE supplements, respectively.

Developmental potential of sheep oocytes cultured in different maturation media: effects of epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I, and cysteamine.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and cysteamine (Cys) in defined maturation medium (DMM: basic culture medium + polyvinyl alcohol), semidefined maturation medium (SDMM: basic culture medium + bovine serum albumin), and undefined maturation medium (UDMM: basic culture medium + fetal bovine serum) on the cleavage rates and developmental capacity of sheep oocytes.

Study Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: Department of Animal Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.