Gonadic Sperm Reserve in Buffaloes Created under Tropical Conditions

The objective of the present study was quantifying the spermatic production per gram and daily rate of the testicular parenchyma. Testis of 12 crossbred Murrah buffaloes aged 24 to 48 months created under extensive conditions in the State of São Paulo/Brazil were analyzed. Animals were divided into groups based on the testicular shape (long and long-moderate) and testicular sides (right and left) and the studied parameters were: length and testicular width, weight and volume of the albuginea and mediastinum and net weight of the testicular parenchyma, gonadic sperm reserves, spermatic production/g of testicular parenchyma, daily spermatic production/g, total daily spermatic production, resulting into the values: 8.16 +/- 0.87 and 4.29 +/- 0.50 cm; 9.09 +/- 1.91 g and 8.77 +/- 1.88 mL; 0.97 +/- 0.39 g and 0.90 +/- 0.38 mL; 112.91 +/- 18.85 g; 14.32 x 10(9) +/- 0.15; 13.42 x 10(6) +/- 0.17; 27.40 x 10(6) +/- 0.35 and 2.92 x 10(9) +/- 0.30, registering no difference between right and left testis in relation to the parameters (P>0.05). There was no relation between testicular biometry and spermatic production (P>0.05). According to the obtained values, all animals were considered sexually mature and presented an efficient spermatic production per gram of testicular parenchyma and total daily production.

Osteopontin in Seminal Plasma and Sperm Membrane of Dogs

The objective of this work was to describe the presence of osteopontin (OPN) in canine seminal plasma and sperm membranes. A pool of seminal plasma and sperm membrane extract from 30 dogs was used. Polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels were performed and the bands were transferred to nitrocellulose paper and Western blot was undertaken using an antibody anti-OPN. Two and 12 bands were marked in the seminal plasma (77.2 and 15.6 kDa) and sperm membrane extracts (70.6-26.6 kDa), respectively. However, from 12 marked bands in the sperm membrane extract, only three (46.4, 37.7 and 36.5 kDa) were strongly marked. We conclude that, seminal plasma and sperm membranes from dogs contain different isoforms of OPN; yet, further studies will be necessary to determine their function in this species.

Use of a Piezo Drill for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection into Cattle Oocytes Activated with Ionomycin Associated with Roscovitine

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