Three-dimensional cephalometric evaluation of maxillary growth following in utero repair of cleft lip and alveolar-like defects in the mid-gestational sheep model.

Objective: To evaluate maxillary growth following in utero repair of surgically created cleft lip and alveolar (CLA)-like defects by means of three-dimensional (3D) computer tomographic (CT) cephalometric analysis in the mid-gestational sheep model.

Methods: In 12 sheep fetuses a unilateral CLA-like defect was created in utero (untreated control group: 4 fetuses). Four different bone grafts were used for the alveolar defect closure.

Three-dimensional fetal cephalometry: an evaluation of the reliability of cephalometric measurements based on three-dimensional CT reconstructions and on dry skulls of sheep fetuses.

Aim: To develop a 3D CT cephalometric analysis for maxillary growth evaluation of sheep fetuses operated in utero, and to evaluate the reliability of this analysis by comparing it with a direct cephalometric analysis on dry skulls.

Material And Methods: Five skulls of operated sheep fetuses were used, which after preparation were CT scanned and a 3D reconstruction was performed. A cephalometric analysis was performed directly on the dry skulls as well as on the reconstructed 3D CT images.

[The incidence of agglutination and its influence on sperm quality and fertility of boar semen].

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of sperm agglutinations and their relationships with sperm quality and fertility. Semen samples of 40 boars of an AI-station were investigated. Nineteen of the 40 investigated boars showed a constantly low (< 10% agglutinated sperm), 3 an intermediate (10-20%) and 6 boars a high level (> 20%) of agglutination in raw semen.

Intrauterine autogenous foetal bone transplantation for the repair of cleft-like defects in the mid-gestational sheep model.

Aim: The success of intrauterine surgery in treating non-life-threatening malformations such as myelomeningocoele, has also renewed strong interest in using this technique for treating craniofacial malformations. Nevertheless, the only experimental cleft-like defect models known, are those concerning wound healing of soft tissues.

Material And Methods: Attempts were made to repair artificial cleft-like defects including transplantation of 11 autogenous foetal bone grafts from the iliac crest or ulna, and were randomly assigned to three study groups, using the mid-gestational sheep model.

Quantification of temporary and permanent subpopulations of bull sperm by an optimized SYBR-14/propidium iodide assay.

Background: The quality of bull sperm is a key factor in the field of controlled reproduction. Viability-testing is an important aspect of sperm quality definition, especially after cryopreservation where multiple factors such as handling, freeze-thaw cycle, and preservation media, have an impact on the metabolic and functional state of sperm cells.

Methods: We investigated the commonly used SYBR-14/propidium iodide (PI) assay to obtain functional information about sperm-dye and dye-dye interactions.

The effect of exogenous estradiol benzoate and altrenogest on uterine and ovarian blood flow during the estrous cycle in mares.

In recent years, a positive relationship between genital perfusion and fertility has been established; in species other than horses, uterine and ovarian perfusion was improved by exogenous estrogen but impaired by exogenous progestin. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of exogenous estrogen and progestin on uterine and ovarian blood flow in cycling mares. Five Trotter mares were examined daily during three estrous cycles.

Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine and umbilical blood flow during pregnancy in mares.

Transrectal color Doppler sonography was used to investigate uterine and umbilical blood flow during pregnancy (duration, 46-48 weeks) in four mares. The resistance index (RI) and blood flow volume (VOL) of the uterine arteries ipsilateral and contralateral to the conceptus, and the presence of an early diastolic notch in the Doppler wave, were evaluated every 4 week throughout pregnancy. Fetal blood flow was calculated semiquantitatively every 2 week (from 20 to 40 weeks), using the RI of the umbilical arteries.

Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine blood flow during early pregnancy in mares.

Transrectal color Doppler sonography was used for the noninvasive investigation of uterine blood flow in five mares. Both the left and right uterine arteries were scanned to obtain blood flow velocity waveforms during two consecutive estrous cycles and two early pregnancies in each mare. Blood flow was expressed as the time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) and the resistance index (RI).