Cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin enhances osmotic tolerance and inhibits the acrosome reaction in rabbit spermatozoa.

The effects of cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) treatment on the osmotic tolerance and ability to undergo the acrosome reaction of rabbit spermatozoa, with an unusually high cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in plasma membranes, were examined in two successive experiments. In the first experiment, CLC-pretreated and untreated sperm cells were exposed for 15min to one of five fructose solutions, adjusted to 20, 80, 290, 500 or 1500mOsm/L. After the anisoosmotic challenge, the integrity of sperm membranes in the CLC-supplemented (at a dose level of 3mg/120x10(6)spermatozoa) and control groups was estimated by a modified hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) associated with a supravital eosin staining test (HE-test).

Ultrasonographic examination of the scrotal content in the rabbit.

This study was performed to describe a practical technique for ultrasound examination of the scrotal content of the rabbit. The scrotal content of normal rabbits and those with induced lesions (i.e.

Effect of seasonal conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period in Anatolian water buffaloes.

Oestrus and calving records of Anatolian buffaloes were analyzed to investigate influence of climatic conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period. Oestrus records showed a seasonal pattern concentrated between July and September which is the warmest period of the year. Likewise, more than half (52.