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This study aimed to assess the effect of the insulin-like grow factor 1 (IGF-1) treatment during in vitro maturation on the gene expression and developmental ability of ovine oocytes. Ovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were matured in vitro without (control) or with the supplementation of IGF-1 (100 ng/ml) and then subjected to in vitro fertilization and culture. The rate of oocyte maturation and embryo development was recorded and expression of the selected genes (involved in the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis signaling) was assessed in the matured oocytes. The IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) improved the oocyte maturation rate (%) as compared to the control (81.5 ± 2.40 vs. 73.6 ± 0.94). Similarly, as compared to the control, the IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) improved the rate (%) of cleavage (54.7 ± 1.58 vs. 67.2 ± 3.65) and the formation of 4–8 cell embryos (30.7 ± 2.89 vs. 44.1 ± 4.01) and morula (20.7 ± 2.08 vs. 32.8 ± 2.78). The IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) upregulated the expression of IGF1R, PI3KR1, AKT1 and BCL2 and downregulated the expression of GSK3β, FOXO3 and CASP9 in the matured oocytes. In conclusion, the IGF-1 treatment significantly improved the developmental competence of ovine oocytes through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to assess the effect of different seasons (summer, monsoon and winter) on the quality, preservability and fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in Bannur rams. The level of heat stress was significantly greater during the summer than monsoon or winter seasons. Spermatozoa concentration (×106/ml) in semen was found significantly (P < 0.05) lesser during the summer (2446 ± 80) as compared to monsoon (2759 ± 56) or winter (2769 ± 56). The progressive motility (%) of spermatozoa at the 72 h post-preservation was significantly (P < 0.01) lesser during the summer (47.5 ± 2.5) than monsoon (62.5 ± 2.5) and winter (57.5 ± 2.5). Significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) lesser liveability and acrosomal integrity, but greater total morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were recorded at all the preservation time points during the summer as compared to monsoon or winter. The cleavage rate (%) was found significantly (P < 0.01) greater during the monsoon (56.6 ± 2.24) as compared to summer (41.7 ± 1.26) and winter (41.4 ± 0.99). The results indicate a definite seasonal pattern in the quality, preservability and fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in Bannur rams, which were found superior during the monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a method of purifying and characterizing the alkaline phosphatase (AP) from uterine secretions of buffalo to allow for the exploration of its role in buffalo uterine microenvironment. Topics discussed include methods for purifying AP, electrophoresis analysis to determine molecular weight and subunits of AP, and determination of protein isoforms by isoelectric focusing of purified proteins. Also discussed is substrate concentration effect on enzyme activity.

The article reports a study which investigated the changes in secretory proteins and phosphatases activities during early, mid luteal, late luteal and follicular stages of estrous cycle in buffaloes. The results revealed that corpus luteum (CL) growth and regression did not influence the total uterine protein secretion or phosphatases activities. The changes of phosphatases in buffalo uterine secretion might help in understanding of reproductive problems related to conception in buffaloes.