Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

Pages 258-262

Authors: A.A. Malik, V.K. Gandotra, P.S. Brar, M. Honparkhe, S.K. Uppal

Objective To assess the effects of supplementary feeding of fish meal on body condition score, milk production and associated blood biochemical alterations if any, in dairy buffaloes during early postpartum period. Methods Ten pluriparous buffaloes belonging to organized dairy farm were supplemented with 250 g fish meal (FM) daily from day of calving for 90 days postpartum and 5 buffaloes were kept as unsupplemented control. Heparinized venous blood samples were collected from each buffalo on day 0 and 15 days interval thereafter till 75 days postpartum. Body condition score and milk yield was recorded at fortnightly and weekly intervals respectively. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, cholesterol, BUN and triglycerides. Results The fish meal supplementation did not affect the body condition score (2.90 ± 0.08 vs. 2.92 ± 0.10 and 2.31 ± 0.04 vs. 2.25 ± 0.09, at start and end of fish meal supplementation in supplemented and control buffaloes respectively) or the average milk production (3.30 ± 0.16 kg vs. 3.5 ± 0.17 kg in supplemented and control buffaloes respectively) significantly. The blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations increased during postpartum period (till 75 days postpartum) in both the groups and in a similar manner. Plasma blood urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly reduced in both groups in postpartum period (P<0.05). Plasma triglycerides varied non-significantly during postpartum. Conclusions The fish meal supplementation does not affect the observed biochemical parameters. From the study, it can be concluded that fish meal supplementation (250 g daily) do not alter either biochemical profiles or milk production and body condition of the buffaloes.

Pages 272-276

Authors: Masoomeh Dokhanchi, Hojatollah Karimi Jashni, Nader Tanideh, Negar Azarpira

Objective To evaluate the toxicity effects of aqueous extract of heart of palm (Palmito) on plasma testosterone, estradiol, LH and FSH hormone levels and testicular tissue in male rats. Methods A total of 70 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups. The control group was given 1 mL of distilled water, and the experimental groups were given 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/kg/day of extract for 56 days. The effect of the treatment on the male reproductive system was evaluated by assessing plasma testosterone, estradiol, LH, and FSH levels, as well as spermatogenesis process. Results A significant decrease in testosterone and estradiol levels were observed in rats treated with different doses of palmito. The extract consumption provided no remarkable change in the serum levels of LH and FSH, and weights of bodies, and testes in the six treated-groups compared to those in the control group. Also, treatment with the palmito resulted in a decrease of the mean seminiferous tubular diameter and the number of spermatogonia, preleptoten and pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids, and Leydig cells. Conclusion The ethanol extract of palmito has anti-androgenic properties, which affected spermatogenetic activity in all experimental groups.

Pages 280-288

Authors: J.S. Rajoriya, J.K. Prasad, S.K. Ghosh, P. Perumal, Anuj Kumar, Shobhana Kaushal, Mahak Singh

Objective To assess the effect of different seasons on sperm motility, viability, total sperm abnormality, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity, antioxidant profiles such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), enzymatic profiles such as aspartate amino transaminase (AST), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) and biochemical profiles such as total cholesterol in Indian breed, Tharparkar bull. Methods Total numbers of 60 ejaculates from 3 bulls were collected through artificial vagina method twice a week during summer and winter season (30 ejaculates from each season). The semen samples were pooled and diluted with the standard TEYC extender and these seminal, biochemical parameters were studied at fresh, pre- freeze and post thaw stage of semen cryopreservation. Results Seminal parameters such as volume, plasma membrane integrity and biochemical parameters such as SOD at fresh semen, acrosomal integrity, LDH, AST and total cholesterol at pre–freeze level and acrosomal integrity, SOD at post thaw stage of cryopreservation were differed significantly (P< 0.05) between the seasons. But most of other seminal, biochemical parameters showed no significant difference between the seasons in this pride bull. Forward progressive motility was positively correlated significantly with livability (P< 0.01), acrosomal (P< 0.01) and plasma membrane (P< 0.01) integrity and negatively correlated significantly with total sperm abnormality (P< 0.05) at fresh, pre- freeze and post thaw stage of cryopreservation of semen in both winter and summer seasons. Similarly Forward progressive motility was positively correlated significantly with SOD (P< 0.05) at pre- freeze level in winter season and at fresh semen in summer season and negatively correlated significantly with AST (P< 0.05) at fresh semen in winter season. Conclusion It can be concluded that cryopreservation of Tharparkar bull semen in summer and winter season do not show any definite pattern in relation to seminal and biochemical profile changes and the semen can be cryopreserved in both seasons throughout the year in this prestigious Indian breed of cattle.

Pages 297-300

Authors: Shikha Sachan, Rohini R Nair, Anuradha Khanna, Kiran Singh

Objective To study the genetic association between Cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1A1) T6235C polymorphism and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null mutations and endometriosis. Methods A total of 121 unrelated women having complaints of pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, dyschezia, dysparenuia and infertility were enrolled. Out of these 71 consented for laparoscopy, 66 were diagnosed as endometriosis as per operative. Genomic DNA isolated from endometriosis patients and controls were subjected to polymerase chain reactions to determine the GSTM1 null genotypes whereas polymorphism of CYP1A1 T6235C was determined through PCR-RFLP. Results The GSTM1 null genotype was found to be associated with endometriosis however there was no significant difference in the frequencies of the CYP1A1 6235 CC genotype between endometriosis patients and controls. The homozygous mutant and allele frequency of CYP1A1 T6235C differed significantly between patients having endometriosis and healthy control. Conclusion The data of the present study clearly suggests that GSTM1 null allele and CYP1A1 C allele is a genetic risk factor for endometriosis in North Indian population.

Pages 304-308

Authors: R. Sozharajan, S. Natarajan

Objective To identify the effect of different concentrations of NaCl on some antioxidant enzyme activities of leaves of salt-stressed true mangrove. Methods Excoecaria agallocha (E. agallocha) subjected to varying levels of NaCl. Salt stress was imposed on 60 days old plants with ten different concentrations of NaCl (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1 000 mM). Results E. ahallocha seedlings survived up to 500 mM. Above 500 mM the seedlings did not survived. The leaves of 60 day old plants were used for the analysis of enzyme activities. NaCl stress enhanced the enzymatic antioxidants such as catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase. The highest CAT, PPO activities in the leaves enhanced gradually up to 300 mM NaCl concentrations, the highest SOD, POX activities in the leaves were observed at NaCl concentrations of 400 mM (SOD), and 500 mM (POX) respectively. Conclusion Increase in anti-oxidant enzyme activity could be a response to cellular damage induced by NaCl.

Pages 312-315

Authors: Sherif Younes Seadawy, Amr Hassaan Farag, Magd EI Din M. Mohammed

Objective To evaluate the relationship between maternal Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and success of labour induction in prolonged gestation. Methods Fifty (50) women with a prolonged pregnancy > 41 weeks were included in the prospective study. After full history, examination, Bishop's score was recorded by two observers, followed by ultrasound scan and cardiotocography (CTG) to assess foetal condition. Ten (10) mL of venous blood was taken for measuring plasma DHEA-S level before induction of labour. Induction of labour was carried out by Misoprostol 25 μg vaginal suppository every 4 hours for 6 doses maximally. Patients in the first, second and third stages of labour were managed according to Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital protocol. The outcome measures, success of labour induction, relation between both DHEA-S and Bishop's score and the success of labour induction. Results In this study, there was no significant difference between the group of failed induction and group of successful induction regarding the mean age, mean body mass index (BMI), mean parity, mean birth weight, and mean Apgar score at 5 minutes. The mean serum DHEA-S was significantly higher in successful induction group compared to failed induction group (108.2±10.3 versus 44.7±18.3 µg/dL) and the mean Bishop's score was also significantly higher in successful induction group compared to failed induction group (7.3±1.0 versus 4.5±0.5), (P<0.001). In this study, there was significant direct correlation between serum DHEA-S and Bishop's score, the higher DHEA-S is related to higher Bishop's score (r=0.785; P<0.001). Using ROC curve, the serum DHEA-S at cutoff level 90.6 μg/dL was a predictor of successful labour induction with 97.2% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity. Conclusions Pre-induction serum DHEA-S assay can be used beside clinical assessment and Bishop's score to anticipate successful induction of labour in prolonged gestation.

Pages 321-325

Authors: Melissa Stemp, Allison McClements, Patricia Sykes, Vince Chapple, Phillip Matson

Objective To compare the results of two automated analysers by measuring reproductive hormones using the same quality control. Methods Results obtained by the Roche Cobas e411 automated analyser in a specialised fertility clinic were compared to the Siemens Centaur CP for the reproductive hormones oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH and hCG. Results Commercially-available quality control (QC) samples showed significant differences between the two assays for all five hormones at one or more levels. In clinical samples, the range of concentrations encountered was similar to the QC samples for LH and FSH but much higher for oestradiol, progesterone, and hCG showing the limitations of such QC samples in a specialised fertility setting when they are intended for general pathology use. There was a high degree of correlation for all hormones (all r>0.985) and a gradient close to 1 for all, except for hCG when the Siemens analyser read ≥1 000 IU/L (r=1.209) and this is reflected in a large mean bias (-2 647.9 IU/L) and coefficient of repeatability (11 690.0 IU/L) when using a Bland-Altman plot. Conclusions Despite an overall agreement between the two assay platforms for progesterone, LH and FSH, small differences between the two analysers in the concentrations of oestradiol and hCG as encountered in natural ovarian cycles or at the time of pregnancy testing may require a redefinition of clinical cut-offs.

Pages 330-332

Authors: Pierre Marie Tebeu, Gisele Kengne Fosso, Valentin Vadandi, Julius Sama Dohbit, Joseph Nelson Fomulu, Charles Henry Rochat

Objective To analyze the outcome of repeat repair of vesico-vaginal fistula following a failure. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytic study in two different obstetric fistula surgery units at the Regional Hospital of Maroua-Cameroon and the University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé-Cameroon. The study period covered from January 2005 to December 2007 for the regional Hospital and from January 2008 to December 2011 for the University Teaching Hospital. During these periods, the first author was medical consultant in these institutions. Among the overall 81 operations analyzed, we had 31 repeat operations and 50 operations at first attempt. The chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of the various variables in the two study populations. Results Among the overall 81 operations analyzed, we had 31 repeat operations (37%) and 50 operations (63%) at first attempt. The success rates of closure of the fistula deteriorate with the number of attempts and vary from 88.2% at the first attempt, 76.9% at the second attempt, to 64.7% as from the third attempt. The result in terms of closing with continence also varies with the order of attempt with respective rates of 72.5%, 69.2% and 41.1% at the first, second and third attempts. Conclusion The result in terms of closing with continence of obstetric fistula surgery decreases with the number of surgical attempts.

Pages 335-336

Authors: Omer Tarik Yalcin, Elcin Telli, Tufan Oge, Sabit Sinan Ozalp

A 52 year old woman complaining of vaginal vault eversion applied to our outpatient clinic. In her medical history, she had underwent total abdominal hysterectomy for uterin leiomyoma 15 years ago. Physical examination revealed a firm, left sided pelvic mass and uterine vault prolapse. Laparotomy and frozen section were performed for the suspected mass. A solid mass arising from the left round ligament was observed. This mass was completely removed and diagnosed as leiomyoma on frozen section. Although adnexal masses are more common causes of pelvic masses in women, leiomyomas should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of pelvic masses even in patients with the history of hysterectomy