We evaluated the relationship between plasma levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and the number of antral follicles at the restart of the follicular wave in crossbred Holstein cows reared under extensive grazing systems over 2500 m above sea level. The study included 140 cows from 15 farms that were in average at the 75.3 ± 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree experiments were conducted to determine influence of the bovine corpus luteum (CL) on morphometric and functional characteristics of oocytes, and subsequent embryonic development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from two types of cows: 1) with a CL in one ovary (CL+) and without a CL in the contralateral ovary (CL-), 2) and from cows without CL in either ovary (C). Intracellular activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), oocyte diameter and thickness of the zona pellucida were determined (Experiment 1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to determine, with a bovine model, the appropriate interval for xenografted adult and newborn ovarian tissue to develop gonadotropin-responsive follicles.
Design: Controlled experiment.
Setting: Academic research laboratory.
Ovarian cortex cryopreservation and xenotransplantation into immunodeficient mice represents a potential means for female germplasm conservation and an immediate model for investigation of folliculogenesis. The objectives of this study were to: (1) assess follicle survival after cryopreservation and transplantation of cat ovarian tissue into non-obese diabetic severely combined immunodeficient (NOD SCID) mice; and (2) evaluate the effects of gonadotropin treatments on follicular development in the transplanted tissue. Slices from the cat ovarian cortex were frozen and after thawing, transplanted under each kidney capsule of castrated male NOD SCID mice (eight xenografts in four mice).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF