Journal of Reproduction and Development
Online ISSN : 1348-4400
Print ISSN : 0916-8818
ISSN-L : 0916-8818
Volume 41, Issue 5
June
Displaying 1-8 of 8 articles from this issue
Original Article
  • Miharu YONAI, Masaya GESHI, Minoru SAKAGUCHI, Osamu SUZUKI
    1995 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages j1-j8
    Published: 1995
    Released on J-STAGE: October 20, 2010
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The changes of plasma total cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations were monitored during 8 weeks before and 12 weeks after partrition in 22 Japanese Black Cattle, and their interval days from parturition to the first estrus were compared. The first estrus was observed from day 25 to 53 after parturition. Cows were divided into 3 groups by the interval from partrition to the first estrus (Group 1: within 30 days, Group 2: between 30 to 40 days, Group 3: longer than 41 days). When the changes of plasma CHO, TG, FFA concentrations and body weight during experimental period were compared among the groups, the plasma FFA and relative body weight were not significantly different among the groups, indicating that all cows did not seem to be overfeeded or underfeeded. However, the plasma CHO of group 1 was higher (p<0.05) than that of group 3, on day 5, 28, 42, 49 and 56 after parturition. The plasma TG of group 1 was lower (p<0.05) than that of group 3 on day 14, 42 and 63 after parturition, and also lower (p<0.05) than that of group 2 on day 21, 42, 49, 56 and 63 after parturition. It was found that the day of first estrus after parturition was significantly related to the regression coefficient of the change of plasma CHO in postpartum period (r = –0.766, p<0.01). These results suggest that the change of lipid metabolism during the postpartum period was related to the interval days from parturition to first estrus in Japanese Black Cattle.
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Research Note
  • Yoshiro TOYAMA, Yoneto ITOH
    1995 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages j9-j13
    Published: 1995
    Released on J-STAGE: October 20, 2010
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Boar spermatozoa were frozen in a plastic tube with or without Orvus ES Paste (OEP), and the ultrastructures were observed after thawing by a conventional ultrathin sectioning and by a deep-etch method. Spermatozoa frozen without OEP showed characteristic features: 1) The cell membrane covering the acrosome was not present, 2) the principal segment of the naked acrosome was dilated, and 3) the acrosomal contents seemed to be dispersed. The volume of the principal segment was increased at least several times. The inner acrosomal membrane seemed to be intact, but the outer acrosomal membrane was expanded without a break or hole. Other structures, including those in the tails, were normal. However, most spermatozoa frozen with OEP were normal in ultrastructure. During freezing and thawing, OEP seems to stabilize the outer acrosomal membrane as well as the cell membrane in the acrosome region.
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Technical Note
  • Koji ARAI, Gen WATANABE, Miwa FUJIMOTO, Shunichi NAGATA, Yuji TAKEMURA ...
    1995 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages j15-j20
    Published: 1995
    Released on J-STAGE: October 20, 2010
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    A ctlnvenient and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) of cortisol using l25I-labeled radioligand, useful for various mammalian species, is established. Data on dilution of plasma from cows, ewes, rabbits, monkeys, goats and elephants produce curves parallel to that for the cortisol standard. Adult female goats had a dose related elevations of plasma cortisol levels after the intravenous injection of ACTH. Using the present method, plasma or serum cortisol concentration of various mammals can be measured conveniently with a small amount of sample. The specific steps in the procedure of assay were as follows. 1) Ether extraction: Standard solutions or plasma (serum) samples (0.2 –10 μl) were transferred to glass tubes (13 × 100 mm) for ether extraction. They were filled up to 400 μl with water and 2 ml diethyl ether was added to each tube. The tubes were agitated to extract cortisol and stilled for 5 minutes. The tubes were subsequently dipped in dryice-ethanol bath to freeze the water layer and ether layer was transferred to a new glass tube (12 × 75 mm) by decantation. After drying the ether, 100 μl 0.05 M PBS containing 1% BSA was added to each tube to resolve the extracts. 2) RIA: 100 μl first antibody solution and 100 μl radio-labeled ligand solution were added to the tubes containing the ether extracts. After 24 h incubation at 4 C, 100 μl second antibody solution was added to each tube. After further 24 h incubation, the tubes were centrifuged at 1,700 g, 4 C, and the radioactivities of the precipitations were measured with γ-counter. Cortisol concentrations of the samples were calculated from the standard curve obtained from the standard solutions.
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Case Report
  • Yoshiro TOYAMA, Yoneto ITOH
    1995 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages j21-j27
    Published: 1995
    Released on J-STAGE: October 20, 2010
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    A rare case of a fertile boar with pale brown semen is reported. The semen was normal except for the color. The spermatozoa, pale brown in color, and the testis were examined by light and electron microscopes. With the light microscope a few dots, about 0.3 μm in diameter, were observed in the head. With the electron microscope 2 types of structures were found in the dots: 1) a myelin-like structure and 2) an electron dense material. Both of these structures were observed just under the cell membrane, the equatorial segment of the acrosome, or the postacrosomal sheath. Other structures of the spermatozoa were normal. No abnormalities were observed in the testis by the light microscope. Spermatids of the maturation phase showed the myelin-like structure. They also showed small vesicles, which seemed to be undeveloped myelin-like structures. The electron dense granules could not be found in the spermatids. Other structures in the testis were normal ultrastructurally. This investigation shows that the myelin-lik e structure observed in the spermatozoa first appeared in the spermatids of the maturation phase. The electron dense granules seemed to be derived from the myelin-like structure after spermiation. The cause for the color of the spermatozoa is not known.
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1994 SYMPOSIUM ON THE WHOLE EMBRYO CULTURE IN VITRO
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