Self-organized vortex phases and hydrodynamic interactions in Bos taurus sperm cells.

Flocking behavior is observed in biological systems from the cellular to superorganismal length scales, and the mechanisms and purposes of this behavior are objects of intense interest. In this paper, we study the collective dynamics of bovine sperm cells in a viscoelastic fluid. These cells appear not to spontaneously flock, but transition into a long-lived flocking phase after being exposed to a transient ordering pulse of fluid flow.

Ice formation and its elimination in cryopreservation of oocytes.

Damage from ice and potential toxicity of ice-inhibiting cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are key issues in assisted reproduction of humans, domestic and research animals, and endangered species using cryopreserved oocytes and embryos. The nature of ice formed in bovine oocytes (similar in size to oocytes of humans and most other mammals) after rapid cooling and during rapid warming was examined using synchrotron-based time-resolved x-ray diffraction. Using cooling rates, warming rates and CPA concentrations of current practice, oocytes show no ice after cooling but always develop large ice fractions-consistent with crystallization of most free water-during warming, so most ice-related damage must occur during warming.

Ice formation and its elimination in cryopreservation of oocytes.

Damage from ice and potential toxicity of ice-inhibiting cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are key issues in assisted reproduction of humans, domestic and research animals, and endangered species using cryopreserved oocytes and embryos. The nature of ice formed in bovine oocytes (similar in size to oocytes of humans and most other mammals) after rapid cooling and during rapid warming were examined using synchrotron-based time-resolved x-ray diffraction. Using cooling rates, warming rates and CPA concentrations of current practice, oocytes show no ice after cooling but always develop large ice fractions - consistent with crystallization of most free water - during warming, so most ice-related damage must occur during warming.

Inflammatory markers for differentiation of endometritis in the mare.

Background: Endometrial biopsy is required to diagnose mares with chronic endometritis and endometrial degenerative fibrosis. An increase in understanding of equine reproductive immunology could be utilised to create less-invasive, time-efficient diagnostic tools especially when evaluating mares for chronic endometritis.

Objectives: To evaluate inflammatory cytokine and chemokine concentrations in uterine fluid samples collected by low-volume lavage (LVL) as a potential screening diagnostic biomarker for endometritis.

The evolution of centriole degradation in mouse sperm.

Centrioles are subcellular organelles found at the cilia base with an evolutionarily conserved structure and a shock absorber-like function. In sperm, centrioles are found at the flagellum base and are essential for embryo development in basal animals. Yet, sperm centrioles have evolved diverse forms, sometimes acting like a transmission system, as in cattle, and sometimes becoming dispensable, as in house mice.

Ice formation and its elimination in cryopreservation of bovine oocytes.

Unlabelled: Damage from ice and potential toxicity of ice-inhibiting cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are key issues in assisted reproduction using cryopreserved oocytes and embryos. We use synchrotron-based time-resolved x-ray diffraction and tools from protein cryocrystallography to characterize ice formation within bovine oocytes after cooling at rates between ∼1000 °C/min and ∼600,000°C /min and during warming at rates between 20,000 and 150,000 °C /min. Maximum crystalline ice diffraction intensity, maximum ice volume, and maximum ice grain size are always observed during warming.

The uterine secretory cycle: recurring physiology of endometrial outputs that setup the uterine luminal microenvironment.

Conserved in female reproduction across all mammalian species is the estrous cycle and its regulation by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, a collective of intersected hormonal events that are crucial for ensuring uterine fertility. Nonetheless, knowledge of the direct mediators that synchronously shape the uterine microenvironment for successive yet distinct events, such as the transit of sperm and support for progressive stages of preimplantation embryo development, remain principally deficient. Toward understanding the timed endometrial outputs that permit luminal events as directed by the estrous cycle, we used Bovidae as a model system to uniquely surface sample and study temporal shifts to in vivo endometrial transcripts that encode for proteins destined to be secreted.

Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase inhibitor improves outcomes of direct-transfer slow-cooled bovine blastocysts.

Direct-transfer slow-cooling cryopreservation is a widely used method for bovine embryo cryopreservation. However, the transfer of cryopreserved embryos is associated with reduced pregnancy rates. Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase inhibitor (ROCKi) has shown promise in improving the viability of post-warmed vitrified bovine embryos.

Canine intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: Interlobar and intralobar classifications.

This two-part study design showed that a canine congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IPSS) may be classified by its location within a liver fissure (interlobar) or lobe (intralobar). A prospective anatomic study reviewed normal canine liver morphology and showed the CT angiography (CTA) appearance of the normal canine ductus venosus (DV), which was confirmed via dissection and literature review to be between the papillary process and left-lateral liver lobe (in the fissure for ligamentum venosum). A retrospective multi-institutional case series documented the frequency of imaging findings in 56 dogs with a single IPSS that underwent portal CTA at Cornell University or the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center between June 2008 and August 2022.

Extreme plasticity of reproductive state in a female rodent.

Successful sexual reproduction relies on the coordination of multiple biological systems, yet traditional concepts of biological sex often ignore the natural plasticity in morphology and physiology underlying sex. Most female mammals develop a patent (i.e.

Transient increases in glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity occur in neonatal foals.

Background: Liver analyte measurement is important in the evaluation of sick animals. Liver injury in horses is recognized by increased glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, whereas biliary pathology is identified by increased alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities or bilirubin concentrations. We have observed high GLDH, but not SDH, activities in neonatal foals admitted for conditions other than liver disease.

Predictive factors for favorable short-term response to interlaminar epidural block for cervical radiculopathy.

Purpose: We sought to identify clinical predictors of favorable short-term outcomes associated with cervical interlaminar epidural injection (CIEI). Previous studies investigating the predictive factors of CIEI efficacy have shown inconsistent results. Gaining information on the possible response determinants of CIEI is necessary for appropriate treatment selection and outcomes prediction in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy.

RhoA/ROCK signaling antagonizes bovine trophoblast stem cell self-renewal and regulates preimplantation embryo size and differentiation.

Exponential proliferation of trophoblast stem cells (TSC) is crucial in Ruminantia to maximize numerical access to caruncles, the restricted uterine sites that permit implantation. When translating systems biology of the undifferentiated bovine trophectoderm, we uncovered that inhibition of RhoA/Rock promoted self-renewing proliferation and substantially increased blastocyst size. Analysis of transcripts suppressed by Rock inhibition revealed transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) as a primary upstream effector.

Olaparib-induced Apoptosis Through EBNA1-ATR-p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer has been identified as a cancer subtype with definitive clinical and molecular characteristics. Although olaparib, a poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, is considered a potential effective agent for gastric cancer, the effect and underlying mechanism of olaparib on gastric cancer depending on EBV infection is not fully understood.

Materials And Methods: EBV-positive SNU719 and EBV-negative SNU638 gastric cancer cell lines were used to identify the effects of olaparib using the trypan blue exclusion method and annexin V staining assay.

Incidence and risk factors for canine mastitis and metritis in two guide dog populations.

Canine mastitis and metritis can cause severe illness but the incidence and risk factors have not been well-studied. Goals in the present study were: 1) report the incidence of mastitis and metritis in a large population, and 2) identify potential risk factors that predispose females to those diseases. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from two guide dog colonies that was collected for 17 and 10 years, respectively, for the two colonies.

Evaluating the use of piezo manipulator, laser or their combination for blastocoel cavity puncture to improve cryopreservation outcomes of large equine embryos.

The main difficulty of large equine embryo cryopreservation is the replacement of blastocoel fluid with cryoprotectant solution. The objective of this study was to improve the cryopreservation of large equine embryos with PMAP and/or LAP. Embryos were collected via the non-surgical transcervical procedure and divided into three groups based on their size (A ≤ 300 µm, 300 µm View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Malunion of an In Utero Metacarpal Fracture in a Standardbred Mare Presenting for Dystocia.

In utero fracture and malunion of long bones is a rare condition in horses. Most foals with in utero fractures are aborted, and the identification of a fetal in utero fracture in a mare with dystocia has not been reported. A 7-year-old multiparous Standardbred mare presented to a referral center for correction of dystocia.

Uterine perforation secondary to metritis and placenta percreta in a postpartum bitch.

A 3-year-old intact female Labradoodle bitch was referred due to fever and lethargy 4 days postpartum. The dog was reported to have had prolonged labor that required assistance and fetal membranes were retained. Physical examination and diagnostics led to a suspicion of metritis and uterine perforation.

Colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G levels and associations with perinatal abnormalities in heavy draft horses in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration values in heavy draft horses in Japan and to examine the effects of peripartum mare condition on colostral immunity. Colostrum was obtained 1 hr after foaling (pre-suckling; n=178). Blood was collected from the jugular vein of the foals (n=147) at 24 to 48 hr after birth.

Single-Layer Colloid Centrifugation as a Method to Process Urine-Contaminated Stallion Semen After Freezing-Thawing.

Urospermia is a major ejaculatory dysfunction affecting stallions. It has been thought that urine-contaminated semen should not be cryopreserved; however, on select cases, urine contamination of semen cannot be avoided. A recent study suggested that urospermic semen can be cryopreserved after cushion centrifugation and extension.

Impacts of oocyte/zygote timing for in vitro fertilization and gene editing in the dog.

Previously, we reported the first live births of dogs using in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo cryopreservation, and transfer. These techniques have potential applications in the conservation of endangered canids, and development of gene editing/repair technologies that could improve animal welfare by restoring normal gene function and removing predisposition to disease. Here, we used IVF as a springboard for initial attempts at genetic modification through gene editing/repair using the Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated endonuclease (Cas9) system.