Behavioural and seminal characteristics of Santa Ines rams subjected to successive semen collections in the Amazonian region

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of Santa Ines rams subjected to successive semen collections in an Amazonian climate. Four rams were subjected to successive ejaculations during a maximum period of three hours. This procedure was repeated three times at 15-day intervals. Sexual and behavioural (libido) and andrological (testicular and seminal) assessments were performed. A total of 81 ejaculates were collected. Libido and semen vigour, volume, appearance and concentration decreased as the ejaculation frequency increased (P<0.05) and sperm motility showed a decreasing trend (P=0.06). The seminal pH increased over the sequence of collections (P<0.05). The only significant differences observed between individual rams were the variable scrotal circumference and the percentages of live sperm and sperm abnormalities (P<0.05). All the parameters of the first ejaculation were within the normal range for this species, which suggests that the local climatic conditions (high temperature and humidity) did not affect the behavioural, testicular or seminal parameters of experimental rams. Our findings indicate that the reproductive performance of Santa Ines rams could be affected by the intensification of ejaculation frequency; however, individual male variation needs to be taken into consideration.

Species-specific nested PCR as a diagnostic tool for Brucella ovis infection in rams

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

Adaptation and evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for Brucella ovis detection in semen, urine and organs of rams experimentally infected

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

Circadian and circannual rhythms of T3 and T4 secretions in Polwarth-Ideal rams

Plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroxine (T-4) in five adult Polwarth-ldeal rams located at latitude 22degrees51 'S and longitude 48degrees26'W were evaluated every 2 months for 1 year (June, August, October, December, February, April). Blood collections were made at 2 h intervals for 24 h in each month, and hormone determinations were by radioimmunoassay. Means of T-3 (97.52 +/- 21.45 ng/dL) and T-4 (4.30 +/- 0.94 mug/dL) varied in peaks throughout the 24 h period with the highest concentrations occurring in the afternoon (16:30 and 14:30 h, respectively), and throughout the year where the highest levels were during months of long daylengths (October, December, February). Results suggest circadian and circannual rhythms in thyroid hormone secretion may be present in rams kept relatively close to the equator. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Identification of the SP22 Sperm Protein in Santa Ines and Dorper Rams

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

Rapid serum agglutination and agar gel immunodiffusion tests associated to clinical signs in rams experimentally infected with Brucella ovis

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

Testicular biopsy with Tru-Cut needle in conjunction with fibrin adhesive or nylon suture: assessment of post-biopsy testicular function in rams

Testicular biopsy has been a complementary technique for clinical and research purposes to evaluate reproductive function in males. However, hemorrhage, inflammation, degeneration, and adhesion are factors that might limit the use of this procedure. In order to minimize these potential problems, fibrin glue derived from snake venom, a tissue adhesive with sealing, hemostatic, and healing properties, was used in conjunction with bilateral testicular biopsy with the Tru-Cut needle and was compared with a more conventional technique that uses nylon suture. Thirty mature rams were randomly assigned to three groups of 10 animals each, as follows: nonsurgical control group (no scrotal surgery, or biopsy); biopsy + glue group (fibrin glue on puncture sites and skin incisions) and biopsy + suture group (compression with swab on puncture sites and suturing of skin incision). The surgeries of the rams in the biopsy groups were performed on the same day, which was designated Day 0 for all three groups. Data of scrotal circumference, number of spermatozoa per ejaculum, percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, spermatozoa motility, and serum testosterone concentrations from Days -7, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 were evaluated. There were no significant differences between groups within days for any of the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, the testicular biopsy procedure using the Tru-Cut needle in conjunction with conventional nylon suture or the more novel fibrin glue in rams did not affect any of the parameters of testicular function evaluated in this study and was shown to be relatively simple, safe and efficient. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Use of fibrin glue derived from snake venom in testicular biopsy of rams

Sequelae due to testicular biopsy such as hemorrhage, adhesion and fibrosis may be limiting factors to the use of this surgical procedure. Fibrin glue (FG) derived from snake venom was used to minimize these sequelae, as well as to evaluate its healing property in tunica vaginalis and scrotal skin of rams. Applicability of fibrin glue derived from snake venom was tested in different tissues of other animals such as in sciatic nerve and colon of rats and skin of rabbits. In the present study, 30 healthy adult rams were used. They were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each as follows: G1: fibrin glue group (application of fibrin glue on puncture sites and skin incisions after bilateral testicular biopsy with a Tru-Cut needle); G2: swab/nylon group (hemostasis by compression with a swab on puncture sites and skin suturing with nylon after biopsy) and G3: control group (the animals were not subjected either to biopsy or to surgery). On the 20th day after biopsy, the presence of adhesion strands between the sites of skin incision and testicle was evaluated by palpation Adhesion strands were found in three testicles (15%) in G1 and in two testicles (10%) in G2. One hundred days after biopsy, orchiectomy was carried out and the material collected was assessed for subcutaneous (SC) and/or tunica vaginalis adhesions. G3 did not present any abnormality. Groups G1 and G2 presented four testicles each (20%) with adhesion between the tunics at biopsy site. On the other hand, subcutaneous adhesions were found once (5%) in G1 and three times (15%) in G2. Fibrin glue showed to be of easy application, required short postoperative monitoring, presented fast and good-quality healing property and tended to reduce formation of subcutaneous adhesion.

Rough virulent strain of Brucella ovis induces pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in reproductive tissues in experimentally infected rams

The ovine brucellosis caused by Brucella ovis has tropism for reproductive tissues but until now the mechanism of bacterial persistence is not understood. Cytokine expression profiles were studied for 8 months in rams after being experimentally infected with the rough virulent strain of B. ovis (R- B. ovis) to study the pathogenesis of B. ovis and immune mechanism possibly associated to bacteria tropism and persistence. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-γ (INF-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) cytokines were quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) in reproductive tissues (epididymus, testicles, ampolae, vesicular glands and bulbourethral glands), and non-reproductive (liver, spleen and kidneys) tissues at 30, 60, 120 and 240 days post infection (dpi). During the acute phase of infection at 30. dpi, the host immune response was most notable demonstrating an up-regulation of several cytokines in reproductive tissues, including the epididymus (IL-6, IL-1β and IL-1α), testicles (INF-γ and IL-12), bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-α) and ampolae (INF-γ, IL-10, IL-1β and IL-1α). During the development of infection, cytokine gene expression levels decreased, providing evidence of immunosuppression and evidence of immune evasion that favoured persistence of chronic R- B. ovis infection. During the chronic phase of R- B. ovis infection (120 and 240. dpi), cytokine production was down-regulated in the epididymus (IL-1β and IL-1α), testicles (INF-γ and IL-12), and ampolae (INF-γ, IL-10, IL-1β and IL-1α), with the exception of the bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-α) and epididymus (IL-6); in these tissues, R- B. ovis infection resulted in up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Herein, we report cytokine expression profiles in tissues of rams experimentally infected with the rough strain of B. ovis, which are associated with bacterial persistence and macrophage activation. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Brucella ovis REO 198 natural and experimental infection in Santa Inês rams from Brazil

B. ovis pathogenicity was evaluated in experimentally inoculated and naturally infected rams. Ten animals were submitted to simultaneous conjunctival and intrapreputial inoculation with 2x109 CFU/ mL of B. ovis REO 198. After that, animals underwent physical examination and blood samples were collected for serology every week. Positive serology results started to be observed in the 3rd week, with fluctuations in titers. Clinical changes began in the 5th week after inoculation and were associated with positive serology in the acute phase of the disease. Presence of B. ovis in semen and urine culture was intermittent. Three non-inoculated animals showed natural infection. B. ovis was shed twice in semen of one serology-negative animal. The study underscored the pathogenic characteristics of B. ovis REO 198 in Santa Inês rams, as well as the importance of animals as potential sources of infection.

Aspects of toxoplasma infection on the reproductive system of experimentally infected rams (ovis aries)

Eight reproductive rams with no prior reproductive disease were distributed into three groups of infection with T. gondii: GI, 3 rams, 2.0 x 10(5) P strain oocysts; GII, 3 rams, 1.0 x 10(6) RH strain tachyzoites; GIII, 2 control rams. Clinical parameters were measured and serological evaluations (IIF) were performed. Presence of the parasite in the semen was investigated by PCR and bioassay techniques. The rams presented clinical alterations (hyperthermia and apathy) related to toxoplasmosis in both groups infected with Toxoplasma gondii. All the inoculated rams responded to antigenic stimulus, producing antibodies against T. gondii from postinoculation day 5 onwards. In ovine groups I and II, the greatest titers observed were 1 : 4096 and 1 : 8192, respectively. In semen samples collected from these two groups, the presence of T. gondii was detected by bioassay and PCR. This coccidian was isolated (bioassay and PCR) in tissue pools (testicles, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostrate) from two rams infected presenting oocysts and in one presenting tachyzoites.

Plate with King Hunting Rams

Metalwork, Iran, Sasanian; 1 13/16 in. x 8 5/8 in.; silver, mercury gilding, niello inlay

Register of the Vermont Atwood Merino Sheep Club with individual pedigrees, sketches of the Merino before and after their importation, portraits of some of the early breeders and illustrations of stock rams.

Mode of access: Internet.

Correlations between testicular surface temperatures measured by infrared thermography and seminal parameters in rams of distinct genotypic groups.

The aim of this study was to correlate the testicular surface temperature with rectal temperature and semen quality in rams of different genotypic groups.