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Apparently healthy mares with conception failure or embryonic loss may have subclinical endometritis (SE). Our objective was to document evidence of systemic immune responses against SE in mares. In apparently healthy (control) mares as well as those with chronic endometritis (ChE) or subacute suppurative endometritis (SSE), both considered classes of SE, serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α), chemokines (IL-8), acute phase protein (SAA), and plasma concentrations of prostaglandins (PGF2α and PGE2) were measured using validated enzyme linked immunoassays (EIA). Mixed-breed mares of known reproductive history, were used. Based on an endometrial cytological examination, mares were allocated into the following groups: healthy (control), ChE, and SSE (12, 26 and 11 mares, respectively). Serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 and plasma PGF2α concentrations were increased (P

The environmental temperature increased during summer and decreased during winter to the limits that might negatively affect animal and human reproduction. The responses of Egyptian rams to either hot or cold climatic conditions were studied in six mature rams subjected to weekly testicular Doppler ultrasonographic examination, blood sampling, seminal plasma collection and semen evaluation. The maximum environmental temperature and the relative humidity were used to classify the climatic condition according to the heat stress equation of sheep into hot months where temperature-humidity index (THI) was >26 (31.67 ± 0.54), and cold months where THI was

The current study aimed to measure the testicular ultrasonographic dimensions (length, width, thickness and volume) as well as spectral Doppler indices (resistive index and pulsatility index) of testicular artery, and to investigate the possible differences between the paired testes based on testicular dimensions and blood flow Doppler indices. Five Awassi rams of normal fertility, with a body weight 50-65 kg and aged 3-5 years were subjected to testicular ultrasound examination for testicular dimensions and pulsed-wave Doppler, twice monthly for five consecutive months. The testicular volume of the left testis (69.34±6.66 mm3) was higher than the right testis (66.85±5.46 mm3). Testicular thickness was significantly affected by the laterality of the testes (P0.05) in the right testicular artery rather than the left one. In conclusion, the testicular ultrasound measures and Doppler flow indices varied between the paired right and left testes in mature rams. In addition, the blood flow indices are highly correlated in the testicular artery of rams.

So far the intimate link between serum microRNA (miRNA) and uterine inflammation in mares is unknown. We aimed (I) to investigate expression profile of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 (II) and to measure concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandins (PGF2α and PGE2) in serum of mares with healthy and abnormal uterine status (endometritis). This study was conducted on 80 Arabian mares: young (4–7 years), and old (8–14 years). Mares were divided into 48 sub-fertile (endometritis) and 32 fertile (control) at stud farms. Serum was collected for measuring IL-6, PGF2α, and PGE2, as well as miRNA isolation and qRT-PCR. Concentrations of IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α were higher in mares with endometritis compared to control. Age of mares had a remarkable effect on IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α concentrations. Relative abundance of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 was higher in both young and old mares with endometritis. We noticed that eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 revealed higher expression level in old than young mares with endometritis. This is the first study that has revealed the changes in cell free miRNA and serum inflammatory mediators during endometritis, and these findings could be used for a better understanding the pathophysiology mechanisms of endometritis in equine.

Background: So far the intimate link between serum microRNA (miRNA) and uterine inflammation in mares is unknown. We aimed (I) to investigate the expression profile of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 (II) and to measure the concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandins (PGF2α& PGE2) in serum of Arabian mares with healthy and abnormal uterine status (endometritis).Methods and Results: This study was conducted on 80 Arabian mares; young (4-7 years), and old (8-14 years). These animals were divided into 48 sub-fertile including 16 young and 32 old mares suspected of endometritis and 32 fertile as control (24 young and 8 old) at stud farms. Serum samples were collected for measuring IL-6, PGF2α, and PGE2 concentrations, as well as serum miRNA isolation and qRT-PCR. Serum concentrations of IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α were higher (P≤0.001) in mares with endometritis (young and old) compared to the control ones. Age of mares had a remarkable effect(0.001≤P≤0.01) onIL-6, PGE2, and PGF2αconcentrations. The relative abundance of eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 was higher (P≤0.001) in both young and old mares with endometritis. We noticed that eca-miR-155, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-200a, and eca-miR-205 revealed higher (0.001≤P≤0.01) expression level in old than young mares with endometritis. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study revealed that serum miRNA and serum inflammatory mediators (IL-6, PGE2, and PGF2α) could be used as non-invasive gold standard biomarkers, and therefore might be served as an important additional diagnostic tool for endometritis in Arabian mares.

Objective: To establish reference values for pixel intensity of testicular ultrasonogram of rams in breeding and non-breeding seasons, and to investigate if the seasonal changes in testicular echogenicity and heterogeneity are associated with semen characteristics. Methods: Five Awassi rams aged 3-5 years old and weighing 45-60 kg were subjected to ultrasonographic scanning of the testes twice monthly for one year (from January 2018 to December 2018), together with semen collection and evaluation of ejaculate volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm morphology and viability. The ejaculate volume was determined in a graduated collection tube (scale of 0.1 mL). Mass and individual sperm motility was expressed in percentage of motile spermatozoa under optical microscope equipped with a warm stage. Sperm concentration was determined by using a Neubauer chamber. Semen smears stained with eosin-nigrosin were used to determine the percentage of live spermatozoa and sperm cell morphology by using a light microscope. Results: The mean testicular pixel intensity was the lowest in winter and increased gradually from breeding season to non- breeding season, reaching its maximum value in summer (P

The present detailed study aimed to establish for the first time reference values for ultrasound measures of testicular dimensions and Doppler measures of blood flow in the testicular artery of rams over a 12-month period, and to investigate a possible association between monthly changes in dynamics of testicular blood flow from one hand and testicular volume, plasma testosterone and estradiol −17β concentrations as well as semen characteristics from the other hand. Five fat-tailed rams weighing 45–60 kg and aging 2–4 years old were subjected to semen collection, jugular blood sampling, ultrasonographic scanning of the testes and Doppler examination of testicular artery twice monthly for a period of one year. The overall mean (±SD) values for testicular volume as well as RI (resistive index) and PI (pulsatility index), respectively were 71.84 ± 5.33 mm3, 0.378 ± 0.102 and 0.642 ± 0.208. Average testicular volume was the lowest in June (59.44 ± 5.83 mm3) and reached its maximum (84.43 ± 8.52 mm3) in November after 42.2% increase (p

Objective: To clarify the antioxidant effect of butylated hydroxytoulene (BHT) at different concentrations on cooled and post frozen semen diluted in tris-citrate-fructose egg yolk glycerol and lecithin -based extenders. Methods: Forty ejaculates were harvested from four buffalo bulls by means of the artificial vagina. Ejaculated semen samples were diluted with each of the tris citrate-fructose egg yolk glycerol and lecithin-based extender diluents. The semen samples diluted with each of the two extenders were added to pre-warmed dried test tubes containing BHT (prepared in ethanol) to get concentrations at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mM/mL BHT. These ingredients were put at 37 °C for 5 min to allow the proper BHT spermatozoal permeation. The diluted semen samples were cooled to 5 °C and then frozen to -196 °C in 0.25 mL ministraws before dipping in liquid nitrogen pending its evaluation. Sperm motility, viability, morphology, intact acrosome and membrane integrity were tested. Visual motility was tested using a high power ordinary microscope (at 400 ×) with closed circuit television, and sperm concentration was tested using Neubauer haemocytometer and abnormality % using eosin-nigrosin stain. Spermatozoal membrane integrity was tested using the hypo-osmotic swelling test. The sperm with swollen twisting tail was normally intact. Sperm acrosomal integrity % was tested as mentioned by Watson. Results: Addition of BHT improved (P

Objective: To estimate the result of egg yolk replacement with alternative cryopreservatives such as plant-derived lecithin from soybean on sperm quality parameters pre and post freezing in buffalo bulls. Methods: The control cryopreservation extender was tris-citric acid-fructose-egg yolk-glycerol (TCFYG) diluent. Semen samples were extended gradually 1:10 with TCFYG control extender and tris-citric acid-fructose-glycerol (TCFG) extender plus variable concentrations of soybean lecithin (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 3.0%) to ensure 60 million active spermatozoa/mL of the extended semen. The diluted semen samples were refrigerated slowly (roughly for 2 h) up to 5 °C and equilibrated for 2 h. Semen was filled into 0.25 mL polyvinyl French straws (IMV, France). After equilibration period, the straws were placed horizontally on a rack and frozen in a vapor 4 cm above liquid nitrogen for 10 min and were then dipped stored in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C. Results: The respective overall percentages of forward motile spermatozoa, live spermatozoa, morphologically normal spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling reactivity observed primarily in fresh semen, after equilibration (pre-freeze stage) and post freezing (post-thaw stage) in TCFYG (control) extended semen declined progressively and statically (P