The effect of age and FSH stimulation on the ovarian follicular response, nuclear maturation, and gene expression of cumulus-oocyte complexes in prepubertal gilts.

This study investigated the effects of age and FSH treatment on the ovarian response, follicular fluid (FF) biochemical composition, nuclear maturation, and molecular profile of cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) recovered from prepubertal gilts. Thirty-five prepubertal gilts were separated according to age [140 (n = 20) or 160 (n = 15) days], and within each age, the gilts were allotted to receive either 100 mg of FSH [treated; G140+FSH (n = 10) and G160+FSH (n = 7)] or saline solution [control; G140+control (n = 10) and G160+control (n = 8)]. Thus, four experimental groups were included in this study.

Bovine oviductal fluid (bOF) collected in the follicular or luteal phase of the estrous cycle exerts similar effects on ram sperm kinematics and acrosome reactivity in vitro.

This study examined the effects of bovine oviductal fluid (bOF) obtained during the follicular or luteal phase of the estrous cycle on ram sperm kinematics, capacitation status and plasma membrane (PM) integrity at various time points during the 24-h incubation period. Fresh ram spermatozoa were selected using the swim-up technique and then incubated separately with either follicular phase (FbOF) or luteal phase (LbOF) bovine oviductal fluid added to Fert-TALP medium (positive control - POSControl) or in Fert-TALP medium without capacitating agents (negative control - NEGControl) at 38 °C under 5% CO. Incubation with FbOF or LbOF for 2 h and 4 h promoted an increase (P <  0.

Effect of different concentrations of l-carnitine in extender for semen cryopreservation in sheep.

This study assessed the effect of l-carnitine (LC) in sheep semen extenders containing or not egg yolk for cryopreservation in sheep. Two extenders (TRIS-egg yolk or the commercial optiXcell™ IMV medium) were used, totaling six groups: IMV - (0, 5 and 10 mM LC) and TRIS - (0, 5 and 10 mM LC). After the freezing-thawing process and throughout incubation at 38 °C for up to 3 h, several parameters were evaluated: sperm kinetics, hypoosmotic, plasma membrane integrity, capacitation status and lipid peroxidation level.

Supplementation of 17β-estradiol and progesterone in the co-culture medium of bovine oviductal epithelial cells and ovine spermatozoa reduces the sperm kinematics and capacitation.

This study investigated the effect that bovine oviductal epithelial cell (BOEC) and ovine spermatozoa co-culture exposed to different hormonal environments had on ram sperm function over the course of a 24-h incubation period. Ram cooled-stored spermatozoa were selected by swim-up and then co-cultured separately for 24 h at 38.5 °C under 5% CO with either: (1) Fert-TALP medium (positive control [POSControl]), (2) Fert-TALP medium supplemented with 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) at concentrations similar to follicular phase (Follicular NEGControl), (3) Fert-TALP medium supplemented with E2 and P4 concentrations similar to luteal phase (Luteal NEGControl), (4) BOEC cultured in the same medium as that of the Follicular NEGControl group (Follicular BOEC group), or (5) BOEC cultured in the same medium as that of the Luteal NEGControl group (Luteal BOEC group).

Dose and administration protocol for FSH used for ovarian stimulation affect gene expression in sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes.

The present study evaluated the effect of four ovarian stimulation protocols on the follicular population and molecular status of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Twelve Santa Inês ewes (in a cross-over design) received 80 or 120mg FSH alone in a multiple-dose (MD80 and MD120) regimen or in combination with 300IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) in a one-shot (OS80 and OS120) protocol. The follicular population, COC recovery rate, mean COCs per ewe and the rate of brilliant Cresyl blue-positive (BCB+) COCs were similar among treatments (P>0.

l-carnitine supplementation during vitrification or warming of in vivo-produced ovine embryos does not affect embryonic survival rates, but alters CrAT and PRDX1 expression.

l-carnitine is an antioxidant and β-oxidation stimulator substance commonly used to improve metabolic performance of oocytes and embryos in in vitro systems. However, few studies have evaluated its beneficial effects in embryos produced in vivo. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of l-carnitine supplementation into vitrification or warming solutions on the post-warming character of day 6-7 in vivo-produced ovine embryos.