The Journal of Reproduction and Development Supplement

In mammalian ovaries, follicular development and atresia, and luteal body degeneration are closely regulated by cell death and survival/proliferation factors, including hormones (gonadotropins) and intra-ovarian regulators (gonadal steroids, cytokines, and intracellular proteins). Several hundred thousand primordial follicles are present in the mammalian ovary, however, only a limited number develop to the preovulatory stage and ovulate. The others, more than 99.9% of follicles will be eliminated via a degenerative process known as atresia. After the ovulation, corpus lutea (CLs) are generated. The endocrinological regulatory mechanisms involved in follicular development and atresia, and corpus luteum (CL) formation and degeneration have been characterized to a large extent, but the precise temporal and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of these events have remained largely unknown. Recently, we found a novel anti-apoptotic protein (cellar FLICE-like protein: cFLIP; which has spricing variants: short form and long form, cFLIPs and cFLIP l, respectively), which regulates apoptosis in granulose cells of follicles and luteal cells of CLs. The CL is main functional organ for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. When females lost pregnancy, CL allows the development of a follicle and the reproductive cycles begins again. The aim of this study is to reveal the changes in the expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein and its mRNA during estrus cycle and pregnancy in CLs of mice.

View full abstract

Show abstractHide abstract

The semen collection process in the boar is far from being a sterile procedure. Consequently, freshly collected boar ejaculates commonly contain bacterial contamination. The negative effects of bacteria contamination appear to be concentration-dependent, affecting both in vitro quality and longevity of extended semen.
The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria in boar semen during the semen collection and the liquid preservation process and to find the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
Twelve boars (Duroc) originating from four AI center were used. Each boar was collected three times with gloved-hand technique. Semen was diluted with Androhep (without antibiotics) with 3*10⁷/ml and stored at 5 and 17°C. The ejaculates were also checked for the following bacterial contamination. All strains grew on sheep blood agar and the colonies were tested for Gram stain, catalase and oxidase activity. Bacteria were identified by automated instrument for rapid organism identification system and 8 antibiotics (amikasin, polymyxin B, neomycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, penicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline) sensitivities were performed using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion.
The Bacterial contaminants of Staphylococcus genus (37.8%), Proteu genus (7.0%), Bacillus genus (6.1%), Pasteulla genus (5.7%), Acinetobacte genus (5.2%), Serratia genus (4.3%) and other pathogens (33.9%) were frequently isolated. Antibiotic sensitivity was higher in amicasin than other antibiotics. (Key words: boar, semen, bacterial contamination)

View full abstract

Register with J-STAGE for free!