Laparoscopic ovum collection in sheep: Gross and microscopic evaluation of the ovary and influence on ooctye production

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovine genome are associated with the number of oocytes collected during ovum pick up

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

In vivo embryo production in cows superovulated 1 or 2 days after ovum pick-up

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Características qualitativas de oócitos obtidos por Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-up (LOPU) e da maturação nuclear em ovinos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Ovum pick-up technique in recently weaned ewe lambs subjected to ovarian stimulation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The interval between the emergence of pharmacologically synchronized ovarian follicular waves and ovum pickup does not significantly affect in vitro embryo production in Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and Bubalus bubalis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Paradoxical effects of bovine somatotropin treatment on the ovarian follicular population and in vitro embryo production of lactating buffalo donors submitted to ovum pick-up

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of bovine somatotropin (bST; 500 mg) administration on lactating buffalo donors submitted to two different ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro embryo production schemes with a 7 or 14 d intersession OPU interval. A total of 16 lactating buffalo cows were randomly assigned into one of four experimental groups according to the bST treatment (bST or No-bST) and the OPU intersession interval (7 or 14 d) in a 2 x 2 factorial design (16 weeks of OPU sessions). The females submitted to OPU every 14d had a larger (P < 0.001) number of ovarian follicles suitable for puncture (15.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 12.8 +/- 0.4) and an increased (P = 0.004) number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) recovered (10.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.5 +/- 0.3) compared to the 7 d interval group. However, a 7 or 14 d interval between OPU sessions had no effect (P = 0.34) on the number of blastocysts produced per OPU (1.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 13 +/- 0.2, respectively). In addition, bST treatment increased (P < 0.001) the number of ovarian follicles suitable for puncture (15.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 12.1 +/- 0.4) but reduced the percentage (18.9% vs. 10.9%; P = 0.009) and the number (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.1; P = 0.003) of blastocysts produced per OPU session compared with the non-bST-treated buffaloes. In conclusion, the 14d interval between OPU sessions and bST treatment efficiently increased the number of ovarian follicles suitable for puncture. However, the OPU session interval had no effect on embryo production, and bST treatment reduced the in vitro blastocyst outcomes in lactating buffalo donors.

Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) on follicular population and on in vitro buffalo embryo production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bovine somatotropin (bST) on ovarian follicular population in buffalo heifers and its influence on oocyte quality, recovery rates and in vitro embryo production. We tested the hypothesis that bST treatment in buffalo females submitted to an ovum pick-up (OPU) program Would improve the number of follicles recruited, oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production. A total of 10 heifers were assigned into two treatment groups: group bST (n = 5; receiving 500 mg of bST in regular intervals) and control group (n = 5; without additional treatment). Both groups were subjected to OPU sessions twice a week (every 3 or 4 days), for a total of 10 sessions per female, although due to procedural problems, only the first five OPU sessions produced embryos. The number of follicles and the diameters were recorded at all OPU sessions. The harvested oocytes were counted and classified according to their quality as either A, B, C, D or E, with A and B considered good quality. Cleavage and blastocyst production rates were evaluated 2 and 7 days after in vitro fertilization, respectively. The bST treatment increased the total number of antral follicles (> 3 mm in diameter; 12.2 compared with 8.7: p, < 0.05) and of small antral follicles (< 5 mm; 9.1 compared with 6.5; p < 0.05) per OPU session. The bST also tended to increase the number of oocytes recovered per session (5.2 compared with 4.1; p = 0.07), and enhanced the percentage of good quality oocytes (48.8% compared with 40.6%; p = 0.07), bST showed no effect on cleavage and blastocyst production rates (p > 0.05). The significant effects of performing repeated OPU sessions were decreasing the follicular population (p < 0.001) as well as the number of follicles aspirated (p < 0.001), and oocytes recovered (p < 0.02). In conclusion, bST treatment improves the follicular population, demonstrating its possible application in buffalo donors submitted to OPU programs. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aspiration of equine oocytes from immature follicles after treatment with equine pituitary extract (EPE) alone or in combination with hCG

This study examined the effect of treating mares with equine pituitary extract (EPE) alone or in combination with hCG on the recovery rate of immature follicles by transvaginal follicular aspiration (ovum pick-up; OPU). Ten normally cycling crossbred mares aged 3-15 years and weighing 350-400 kg were subjected to each of three treatments in a random sequence with each exposure to a new treatment separated by a rest cycle during which a spontaneous ovulation occurred. The treatments were (1) superovulated with 25 mg EPE and treated with 2500 IU hCG, (2) superovulation with 25 mg EPE, and (3) control (no exogenous treatment). Treatments 7 days after spontaneous ovulation; and all the follicles > 10 mm were aspirated 24 h after the largest follicle achieved a diameter of 27-30 mm for control group, and most follicles reached 22-27 mm for the EPE alone treatment. To the group EPE+hCG, when the follicles reached 22-27 mm, hCG was administered, 24 h before OPU. Superovulation increased the number of follicles available for aspiration. The total number of follicles available for aspiration was 61 in the EPE/hCG group. 63 in the EPE group and 42 in the control. The proportion of follicles aspirated varied from 63.5% to 73.8%. Oocyte recovery rate ranged from 15.0% to 16.7% and the proportion of mares that yielded at least one oocyte was 70% (7/10) in the EPE/hCG, 60% (6/10) in the EPE alone and 50% (5/10) in control group. The EPE/hCG treatment had a higher proportion of follicles with expanded granulose cells (64.4%) than the control (3.3%: p < 0.05) and the EPE treatment (25.0%). The intervals from spontaneous ovulation to aspiration were similar for all treatments (11-12 days). However, superovulatory treatment significantly increased the aspiration to ovulation interval from 15 +/- 4 days for control to 27 +/- 15 days for EPE (p < 0.05) and to 23 +/- 13 days for EPE/hCG treatment with commensurate increases in the time between spontaneous ovulations. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of Superovulatory Protocols on In Vitro Production of Nellore (Bos indicus) Embryos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation of a novel kit (TF-test) for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections

Intestinal parasitic infections are currently a source of concern for Public Health agencies in developing and developed countries. Since three ovum-and-parasite stool examinations have been demonstrated to provide sensitive results, we designed a practical and economical kit (TF-Test) that is now commercially available (Immunoassay Com. Ind. Ltda., S (a) over tildeo Paulo, Brazil). This kit allows the separate collection of three fecal specimens into a preservative solution. The specimens are then pooled, double-filtered, and concentrated by a single rapid centrifugation process. The TF-Test was evaluated in four different laboratories in a study using 1,102 outpatients and individuals living in an endemic area for enteroparasitosis. The overall sensitivity found using the TF-Test (86.2-97.8%) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the sensitivity of conventional techniques such as the Coprotest (NIL Comercio Exterior Ltda, São Paulo, Brazil) and the combination of Lutz/Hoffman, Faust, and Rugai techniques (De Carli, Diagnostico Laboratorial das Parasitoses Humanas. Metodos e Tecnicas, 1994), which ranged from 48.3% to 75.9%. When the above combined three specimen technique was repeated with three specimens collected on different days, its sensitivity became similar (P > 0.01) to that of the TF-Test. The kappa index values of agreement for the TF-Test were consistent (P < 0.01), being higher and ranking in a better position than conventional techniques. The high sensitivity, cost/benefit ratio, and practical aspects demonstrate that the TF-Test is suitable for individual diagnosis, epidemiological inquiries, or evaluation of chemotherapy in treated communities. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.