Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Chemotherapy agents impose harmful side effects beside their therapeutic properties. This study aimed to uncover the ameliorative effects of thiamine (VitB1) on sperm characteristics and in vitro fertilizing ability in methotrexate (MTX) exposed mice. For this purpose, 36 apparently healthy adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6), including control (0.10 mL normal saline per day; intraperitoneally [IP]), sham (10.00 mg kg^-1 per week MTX; IP), positive control group (100 mg kg^-1 per day VitB1; IP), and three experimental groups (25.00, 50.00, and 100 mg kg^-1 per day; IP VitB1 plus MTX, respectively; IP). Then, sperm parameters and the in vitro fertilizing potentials were assessed. The sperm count, motility, and viability in the sham group showed a significant decrease in comparison with the VitB1-treated and control groups. In the VitB1 100 mg kg^-1 + MTX group, there was a significant increase in sperm count in comparison with the sham group. The sperms with DNA damages and immature sperms in the sham group significantly increased in comparison with the positive control and control groups. In vitro fertilization and embryonic development in the sham group were decreased in comparison with both the control and VitB1 groups. In VitB1 50.00 mg kg^-1 and 100 mg kg^-1 + MTX groups, there was an increase in the fertilization rate, along with embryonic development promotion. According to the results of this study, thiamine ameliorates toxic effects of MTX on sperm traits and in vitro fertilizing potentials by constraining oxidative stress.

Abstract The precise pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not well-founded. In an attempt to fill this gap, the current study was executed to probe the effect of nanocurcumin (NCC) on ovarian tissue, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation embryo development in a mouse model of PCOS. Fifty adult female mice were randomly categorized into five equal groups including non-treated control and PCOS (receiving 0.20 mg estradiol valerate (EV) intra-peritoneally once a day for 21 days) as well as NCC_12.50 + PCOS, NCC₂₅ + PCOS and NCC₅₀ + PCOS (receiving respectively 12.50, 25.00 and 50.00 mg kg^-1 NCC daily along with EV injection through oral gavages for 21 days) groups. Subsequently, ovarian histo-architecture and total anti-oxidant capacity, and malonaldehyde and catalase levels as well as in vitro fertilizing potential, early embryonic development and serum testosterone concentration were analyzed. Results showed that NCC in a dose-dependent manner improved ovarian cyto-architectural organization and oxidant/anti-oxidant balance along with IVF rate and pre-implantation embryo development in PCOS mice. These findings revealed that NCC at the doses of 25.00 and 50.00 mg kg^-1 could alleviate PCOS-linked reproductive disruptions in female mice.

Abstract It is well documented that aging has negative effects on fertility. With increasing age, the activity of antioxidant enzymes are reduced and because of roosters sperm composition, a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the probability of sperm damage increases. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of nano-selenium and sodium selenite on fertility in aged male broiler breeder chickens. Thirty-five male broiler breeders (Cobb 500)^® at 50 weeks of age were randomly divided into five equal groups: The control group was fed on a commercial diet, group T1 was fed on a commercial diet supplemented with sodium selenite (0.30 mg kg^-1 feed), group T2, T3 and T4 were fed on a commercial diet supplemented with nano-selenium (0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mg kg^-1 feed, respectively). Sperm characteristics (sperm count, motility, viability, and maturity) as well as testicular histomorphometric features [tubule differentiation (TDI), spermiation (SPI), Sertoli cell (SCI) and miotic (MI) indices] were assessed. The results showed that sperm characteristics were gradually decreased with age in the control group, however, it increased in group T3. Also, TDI, SPI, SCI, and MI in group T3 were higher than those of other groups. Our findings revealed that dietary supplementations with nano-selenium boosted fertility in aged male broiler breeders and the best results were obtained when the roosters received 0.30 mg kg^-1 nano-selenium. Supplementation of nano-selenium in aged broiler breeder males might be effective to maintain flock fertility and/or increase the flock fertility.

Abstract Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a group of plant hormones identified in various plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of GA3 on sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Fifty six adult male rats were divided into seven groups as, control, treatment and sham. Following 15, 30 and 45 days of GA3 and methanol alcohol (MA) administration, rats were euthanized and epididymis tail was transferred to human tubular fluid (HTF) medium containing 4 mg mL^-1 bovine serum albumin (BSA) .Total number of sperms, the percentage of live sperms, immature sperms and sperms with damaged chromatin and IVF were examined. The oocytes were obtained from immature rats after the injection of pregnant mare's serum (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormones. Human tubular fluid was used as the fertilization medium and zygotes transferred to fresh 1-cell rat embryos culture medium (mR1ECM) to reach the blastocyst stage. This study showed that GA3 could decrease the number of total sperms on days 30 and 45 in treated group comparison with the control and sham groups. Additionally, GA3 increased the immature sperms and sperms with damaged chromatin. The percentage of fertilization, two-cell embryos and blastocyst resulting from the treatment group on days 30 and 45 also decreased and showed significant differences with the control and sham groups (p < 0.05). The results obtained from this study indicated that the oral use of GA3 could reduce the fertility in rats by influencing the sperm number and the quality of sperm’s chromatins.

Abstract Four crossbred cows with mummified fetus were utilized for the study. The cows were subjected to gynecological examination and based on the findings the cases were diagnosed as mummified fetus. The cows were treated with 2 mg estradiol valerate and 500 µg cloprostenol and were examined every 12 hr after 24 hr of the treatment for cervical dilatation and other signs related to fetal expulsion. The time duration between treatment and starting of cervical dilatation ranged from 48 to 58h (53.00 ± 2.08 hr). Complete dilatation of cervix was observed after 70.00 ± 2.94 hr post treatment (Range = 64-76 hr). The mean fetal crown-rump length (CRL) was 31.5 cm, which ranged from 27.5 to 38 cm. The number of cotyledons in pregnant horn also showed wide variation (Range 24-38 numbers) with mean ± SE of 30.3 ± 3.07 numbers. In the placenta of three animals irregular shaped large adventitious cotyledons were observed in the inter-cotyledonary areas. Out of the four animals treated, three animals were conceived within three estrous cycles and one animal had cystic ovary in the next cycle and was not conceived even after four cycles. It was concluded that the estradiol and prostaglandin F₂α (PGF₂α) combination therapy was effective for expulsion of mummified fetus in crossbred cows without affecting much on future fertility.