Contents Vol. 8, No. 1, April 2018

A nine year old full term pregnant fifth parity Murrah buffalo was presented to TVCC with the complication of dystocia due to a conjoined twin monster foetus with dicephalus derodymus Thoracopagus tetrabrachius tetrapus dicaudatus along with scoliosis. It was uncommon case of anterior duplication of foetus in buffalo and it’s per- vaginal delivery by fetotomy was performed successfully.

The aim of this study was to identify relationship between heparin binding proteins (HBP) concentration and in vitro acrosome reaction / conception rate / sperm function tests in murrah buffalo bulls. Frozen-thawed semen of 31 bulls was analyzed for HBP concentration, in vitro acrosome reaction, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation. Conception rate of 10 bulls (21-30) was also obtained. Relationship between HBP and in vitro acrosome reaction / conception rate was evaluated. Inter-relationship among sperm function tests was also observed. A considerable variation in motility (PTM), DNA integrity, acrosome damage (fully damaged: FDA, partially damaged: PDA), in vitro capacitation / acrosome reaction and LPO was observed among 31 tested buffalo bulls after thawing during the present study. A significant positive correlation was observed among various sperm parameters. Thirty one bulls were divided into G-1 (> 40 % AR) and G-II (≤ 40 % AR). There was no difference in HBP concentration, PTM and DNA damaged sperms among the two groups. Percentage of spermatozoa with partially, fully damaged and acrosome reacted spermatozoa was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in G- I as compared to G-II. MDA level (μmoles / 109 spermatozoa) was non-significantly (p ≥ 0.05) higher in G-II as compared to G-I. Ten bulls (22-31) were divided into two groups; G-I (> 35 % conception rate) and G-II (< 35 % conception rate). Concentration of HBPs was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in G-I as compared to G-II. Percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa was also significantly (P ≤0.05) higher in G-I than G-II. Therefore, HBP concentration in spermatozoa may be useful in predicting the fertility of buffalo bull semen.

A total of 24 ejaculates comprising 6 ejaculates from each of four trained healthy crossbred Hampshire boars of one to two years of age were selected for the present study. Semen was collected by Simple fist method to study the effect of Modena extender on quality of semen during preservation at 15ËšC up to 120 hours. The results revealed that the sperm motility, live intact acrosome, HOST-reacted spermatozoa, sperm membrane protein, sperm cholesterol level decreased significantly (PË‚0.01) with increase in hour of preservation. The highest conception rate (93.33%) was observed at immediately after extension and lowest conception (40%) was observed at 120 hours of preservation. In conclusion, the boar spermatozoa undergo several changes including diminished motility, viability and alterations in membrane permeability during long term storage at 15°C with Modena extender.

Glycosidase are associated with cumulus cells expansion, sperm capacitation, sperm oviductal epithelial cells interaction, sperm zona pellucida binding and polyspermy block. The aim of this review is to summarize the role of certain glycosidase (α-mannosidase - α-ΜΑΝ, β-N-acetyloglucosaminidase – β-NAGASE and β-galactosidase - β-GAL) on cow reproduction. The activity of certain glycosidase in: i) the cervical mucus after spontaneous or induced estrous and its relation to cow fertility, ii) the uterine luminal fluid after superovulation, iii) the follicular fluid and the maturation, fertilization or culture medium during IVM-IVF is presented in this review. Furthermore, it is mentioned if: a) the endometrium or oocytes or embryos release or use glycosidase during their development, b) the addition of certain glycosidase in culture medium affects embryo development, and c) glycosidase could be used as markers of embryo quality or superovulatory response (SR). Glycosidase activity was significantly lower in the cervical mucus of spontaneous estrous compared to induced estrous cows. A high superovulatory response is related to low β-NAGASE, probably because of the poor quality of embryos. The β-ΝAGASE affects negatively embryonic development when added to culture medium. COCs release β-NAGASE and use β-GAL during maturation. Embryos release β-NAGASE and α-MAN during their development, but they use only α-MAN. Degenerated embryos release less β-ΝAGASE and α-MAN compared to good embryos, whereas β-ΝAGASE seems to be related to retarded morulae. Glycosidase affects the developmental competence of oocytes collected from different sized follicles during IVF.

A study was carried out to assess the effect of age, month and season on blood and seminal plasma teststerone of individual ostrich aged four to nine years for a period of 12 months in tropical climate of India. The birds were grouped into two categories viz., four to six and seven to nine years-old. Highly significant (P<0.01) differences were observed in blood plasma testosterone level in individual birds with a mean value of 9.17 ± 0.28 ng/ml. Similarly, seminal plasma testosterone level also showed significant difference (P<0.05) among individual birds and the mean value was 7.26 ± 0.31 ng/ml. Between age groups (four to six and seven to nine year-old ostrich), there was no significance difference in the levels of blood plasma (9.28 ± 0.71 vs. 9.10 ± 0.29 ng/ml) and in seminal plasma testosterone (7.21±0.29 vs. 7.28 ± 0.54 ng/ml). The blood plasma and seminal plasma testosterone levels showed highly significant differences (P<0.01) among seasons.

Prolapsed of the uterus is a common complication of the third stage of labour in the cow and the ewe (Arthur, et al. 2009). A case of total uterine prolpse in a pluriparous Jaffarabadi buffalo was reported. It was successfully managed at early discussed.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of vitamin E on the quality of frozen-thawed Chhotanagpuri ram semen. A total of 36 ejaculates were collected from six healthy Chhotanagpuri rams with the help of a standard artificial vagina using a restrained ewe as a mount. Two false mounts were allowed before semen was collected. Each semen sample was diluted in Tris extender and divided into three fractions for supplementation of vitamin E at the concentration of 1mM, 2mM and no antioxidant. All the samples immediately after equilibration and 24 hours after freezing and thawing were evaluated for various microscopic parameters viz. sperm motility, live sperm percentage, plasma membrane integrity percentage, acrosomal integrity percentage, DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation assay was evaluated only in freeze thawed semen. Both the doses of vitamin E significantly (PË‚0.05) inhibited lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) production and improved significantly (PË‚0.05) the values of different seminal characters such as sperm motility, live sperm, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity and DNA integrity as compared to control Tris dilutor. However, 2 mM vitamin E was most effective as compared to 1mM vitamin E or control Tris dilutor. The percentage of sperm motility, live sperm, plasma membrane, acrosomal and DNA integrity in Tris dilutor containing vitamin E 2mM were found to be 77.83±0.23, 85.86±0.19,¬ 73.03±0.11, 73.81±0.16 and 85.78±0.19, and 56.81±0.41, 65.19±0.18, 54.36±0.17, 55.53±0.27 and 77.97±0.18 after equilibration and freezing, respectively. From the results of the present study, it could be concluded that the addition of vitamin E to Tris freezing medium could reverse the free radical- mediated oxidative damage and improve the quality of frozen thawed Chhotanagpuri ram semen.

A full term non-descript pluriparous doe aged three and half years was presented to Referral veterinary polyclinic (Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics section) of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar with the history of ventral abdominal enlargement for the past one month. Animal was healthy and no abnormal genital discharge was seen. Previous history of trauma or accident was unclear as per owner. Ultrasonographic examination revealed more than one live fetuses. Caesarean section was conducted which revealed two fully developed intra-uterine live fetuses and one ill developed abdominal (extra uterine) dead fetus adhered to omentum. Fetus, abdominal in location was sterile and no sign of peritonitis was seen in goat. Uterine rupture was found to be chronic as site of rupture was scarred or fibrosed. As per the owner, one of those two live fetuses died later after 1-2 days and abdominal swelling took one month to regain its original shape and size.