Reproductive cycles of the domestic bitch

Embryo technology in conservation efforts for endangered felids.

Strategies that confine antibacterial and/or antifouling property to the surface of the implant, by modifying the surface chemistry and morphology or by encapsulating the material in an antibiotic-loaded coating, are most promising as they do not alter bulk integrity of the material. Among them, plasma-assisted modification and catechol chemistry stand out for their ability to modify a wide range of substrates. By controlling processing parameters, plasma environment can be used for surface nano structuring, chemical activation, and deposition of biologically active and passive coatings. Catechol chemistry can be used for material-independent, highly-controlled surface immobilisation of active molecules and fabrication of biodegradable drug-loaded hydrogel coatings. In this article, we comprehensively review the role plasma-assisted processing and catechol chemistry can play in combating bacterial colonisation on medically relevant coatings, and how these strategies can be coupled with the use of natural antimicrobial agents to produce synthetic antibiotic-free antibacterial surfaces.

/pdf/anti-bacterial-surfaces-natural-agents-mechanisms-of-action-4n41mvi2lp.pdf

Anti-bacterial surfaces: natural agents, mechanisms of action, and plasma surface modification

Testicular volume, semen traits, and pituitary-gonadal hormones were measured in populations of Felis concolor from Florida, Texas, Colorado, Latin America, and North American zoos. More Florida panthers ( F. concolor coryi ) were unilaterally cryptorchid (one testicle not descended into the scrotum) than other populations (43.8 versus 3.9%, respectively). Florida panthers also had lower testicular and semen volumes, poorer sperm progressive motility, and more morphologically abnormal sperm, including a higher incidence of acrosomal defects and abnormal mitochondrial sheaths. Transmission electron microscopy revealed discontinuities in the acrosome, extraneous acrosomal material under the plasma membrane, and remnants of the golgi complex under the acrosome. No differences were detected in mean-circulating follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or testosterone between Florida panthers and other populations of mountain lions. Seminal traits and concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were similar between cryptorchid and noncryptorchid Florida panthers. Animals with F. concolor coryi ancestry were categorized on the basis of amount of genetic variation (low = type A; medium = type B; high = captive Piper stock). Compared to counterparts, type A Florida panthers had the lowest testicular volume and sperm-motility ratings and were the only animals exhibiting unilateral cryptorchidism. These results demonstrate the existence of major morphological and physiological differences among populations of F. concolor , a finding potentially related to differences in genetic diversity.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/1382247

Reproductive characteristics of male florida panthers: comparative studies from florida, texas, colorado, latin america, and north american zoos

http://directory.umm.ac.id/Data%20Elmu/jurnal/A/Animal%20Reproduction%20Science/Vol60-61.Issue1-4.Jul2000/1978.pdf

Current state in biotechnology in canine and feline reproduction

Occurrence of cryptorchidism in the mongrel dogs was examined at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Animal Pound and the dogs suspected to be cryptorchidism were transported to our laboratory. Then sexual behavior to estrous bitch was checked and ejaculatory function by digital manipulation and the collected semen quality were examined. In 2, 356 mongrel dogs examined, cryptorchidism was found in 29 cases (1.2%), and all of them were unilateral cryptorchidism. Among the 29 cases, 21 were inguinal cryptorchidism and the remaining 8 were abdominal. Occurrence of cryptorchidism was not different between right and left. Libido of the dog was generally feeble and in 8 of 19 cryptorchid dogs in which ejaculatory function was checked, ejaculation could not be seen. In the cryptorchid dogs semen volume and total number of spermatozoa were few (7.2 ml and 1.2×108 per ejaculate on the average respectively), sperm motility was low, and abnormal sperm and immature sperm rate were high (20.2% and 19.4% respectively), as compared with semen qualities in normal dog.

Cryptorchidism in the dog: occurrence of cryptorchidism and semen quality in the cryptorchid dog.

We measured the blood plasma testosterone (T) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in the seminal plasma of the ejaculates of 5 normal (2-5 years old) and 5 asthenozoospermic (AZ-) (3-5 years old) Beagles. Sperm ejaculated by AZ-dogs was incubated for 3 hr in Eagle's MEM only (controls) or Eagle's MEM containing 100 units/ml of SOD or catalase. Sperm motility was examined during incubation. The mean (± SE) plasma T level of the AZ-dogs (1.2 ± 0.2 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in the normal dogs (2.5 ± 0.2 ng/ml) (P<0.005). The mean (± SE) seminal plasma SOD and catalase activities (18.8 ± 1.9 and 0.5 ± 0.1 unit/g protein, respectively) were significantly lower in the AZ-dogs than in the normal dog (43.3 ± 2.5 and 2.2 ± 0.4 unit/g protein, respectively) (P<0.001 and 0.01, respectively). The motility of sperm incubated in Eagle's MEM containing SOD or catalase was significantly higher than that of control sperm incubated in only Eagle's MEM after 2 or 3 hr of incubation (P<0.05). The results of this study indicate that poor T secretion by the testes and low antioxidant enzyme activities are related to AZ in the dog.

Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the seminal plasma of normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic Beagles.

The intravaginal artificial insemination was carried out in bitches with fresh semen and the number of sperms and the quantity of semen required for conception was examined. Bitches were inseminated with 1 ml (group 1) or 3 ml (group 2) of semen. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (A-D) inseminated with semen containing 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 or 0.25×108 viable sperms, respectively. The conception rates in groups A, B, C and D were 7/8 (89%), 5/15 (33%), 6/13 (46%) and 0/8 (0%), respectively, and in naturally mated group, 18/19 (95%). Groups B, C and D were significantly different in the rate of conception from the control and group A. No significant difference was observed among groups in the number of puppies born. In case of intravaginal artificial insemination with fresh semen in bitches, semen should contain 2.0×108 sperms/ml to obtain a similar rate of conception and number of offspring as in naturally breeding bitches.

Artificial insemination with fresh semen in beagle bitches

Studies were made on the number of sperms required for fertilization of ova ovulated from the bilateral ovaries in bitches. The experiment was carried out with 44 female beagles, which were divided into four groups of seven to eleven bitches each. The four groups were inseminated with 40 X 10(6) sperms/0.2 ml, 20 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml, 10 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml, and 3-5 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml, respectively. All the bitches were laparotomized at an optimum time for mating and inseminated at the tip of the horn of an unilateral uterus. In the four groups conception took place at a rate of 7/7, 8/8, 10/11, and 2/7, respectively. The number of puppies exceeded the number of ova ovulated on the inseminated side at a rate of 5/7, 6/8, 0/10, and 0/2 in the four groups, respectively. Therefore, it was clarified that when more than 20 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml were inseminated in the ipsilateral uterine horn, ova ovulated on the contralateral side were fertilized also. Then a unilateral ovary was ovariectomized in 11 bitches, which were inseminated with 10 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml in the ipsilateral uterine horn. As a result, only one bitch became conceptive and gave birth to only one puppy. From these results, it was considered that 10 X 10(6) sperms/0.1 ml may be most adequate for the ova on the side of insemination alone to be fertilized.

Relationship between the number of sperms and the rate of implantation in bitches inseminated into unilateral uterine horn

The fertile period for natural mating in dogs extends from before ovulation until day 5 post ovulation (PO) and involves a delay in oocyte maturation until 2-3 days PO and viability of secondary oocytes for 48-60 h or more Spermatozoa do not enter the uterus after vaginal insemination in late oestrus Cervical closure appears to occur on average 5 days PO, but conception may occur following intrauterine artificial insemination (IUAI) up to 8 days PO Therefore, the present study was conducted to clarify the duration of fertility of canine ova Using IUAI at 6, 7, 8 and 9 days PO (n = 5 bitches each) conception rates were 100%, 714%, 375% and 0%, respectively, with an average litter resorption rate of 308%, and with mean litter sizes and times to delivery PO being 43 +/- 16 and 643 +/- 03 days, 40 +/- 14 and 663 +/- 04 days, and 25 and 68 days for IUAI at 6, 7 and 8 days, respectively The high pregnancy rates with IUAI at 6 and 7 days PO confirm that many canine oocytes are fertile at 4-5 days after maturation The high rate of resorption was presumably because of aging of ova or asynchrony between embryonic development and the intrauterine environment

Toshihiko Tsutsui

Papers

Cryptorchidism in the dog: occurrence of cryptorchidism and semen quality in the cryptorchid dog.

Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the seminal plasma of normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic Beagles.

Artificial insemination with fresh semen in beagle bitches

Relationship between the number of sperms and the rate of implantation in bitches inseminated into unilateral uterine horn

Prolonged Duration of Fertility of Dog Ova