Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

151-157

Authors: Deotima Sarkar, Arijit Chakraborty, Dakshayani Mahapatra, Amar K Chandra

Objective: To evaluate the effect of daily consumption of bamboo shoots (BS) on the morphological features and functional status of the female reproductive system in adult with respect to thyroid. Methods: Adult female rats were divided into control and experimental groups of six each. Control group was given normal diet while experimental group was fed BS by 1/3rd replacement of 180 g of their food i.e. 60 g of BS containing 35 g of goitrogens of cyanogenic origin such that each rat likely consumed 6 mg/100 g of body weight per day for a period of 45 d. Morphological features like changes in body weight and organ weight were noted. Key steroidogenic enzyme levels viz Δ5 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17β HSD along with serum estradiol, estriol and progesterone levels were measured. Estrous cyclicity of the animals monitored regularly followed by histological analysis of thyroid, ovary and uterus at the end of experimentation. Results: Increase in body weight, thyroid gland weight and thyroid stimulating hormone, decrease in serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine, a decrease in ovarian as well as uterine weight and the activity of steroidogenic enzymes Δ5 3 β HSD and 17β HSD along with diminished serum estradiol, estriol and progesterone levels were noted; while histological plates showed prominent degenerative changes in both the ovary and uterus. Estrous cyclicity of the treated animals were irregular and almost stopped at diestrous stage of the cycle in the latter stage of the treatment as compared to control. Conclusions: Overall results indicates that BS rich in cyanogenic constituents induces biochemical hypothyroidism in the experimental animals that acts in corroboration to cause morphological and functional alteration of reproductive organs indicating its likely impact in fertility on continued use.

164-171

Authors: Maryam Owjfard, Manzarbanoo Shojaei Fard

Objective: To evaluate the effect of long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiations emitted from mobile jammers onrat's reproductive parameters. Methods: Eighty male rats were divided into neonatal group (n=20), immature group (n=30) and mature group (n=30). Neonatal rats were randomly divided into two subgroups. Immature and mature rats were randomly divided into three subgroups. Experimental rats were fixed in the restraining tube and were exposed to radiofrequency radiations emitted from mobile jammers at a distance of 100 cm, for 30 d (7 h/d). Sham group rats were also fixed in restraining tube but without radiations. The control group was allowed to move freely without being exposed to radiation. At the end of the experiment, weight of testes, sperm quality, histological testicular sections and serum testosterone levels were evaluated. Results: Long-term exposure to radiofrequency from mobile jammers could adversely affect neonatal rat fertility, but it did not have significant effects on male mature and immature rat's reproduction parameters. However, restraint stress induced by immobilizing them for a long-period could adversely affect male mature rat's reproductive parameters, but it had no significant effect on male immature rat's reproduction parameters. Conclusion: The effects of EMF exposure to be various based on the life stage.

176-180

Authors: Mohamed MM El-Sokary, Mohamed El-Raey, Karima GhM Mahmoud, Mahmoud EA Abou El-Roos, Gamal MS Sosa

Objective: To assess the effects of melatonin and/or cysteamineon in vitro maturation, culturing and post-warming of buffalo embryos. Methods: Buffalo oocytes were classified into control, cysteamine (50 μM), melatonin (10 ng/mL) and cysteamine (50 μM) + melatonin (10 ng/mL) treatment groups. In experiment 1, previous treatments were added during in vitro maturation and culturing of buffalo oocytes. Results: Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly (P<0.05) increased in melatonin treated group (70.5±0.9 and 12.8±1.0, respectively). However this effect was potentiated when combined with cysteamine (74.0±1.7 and 14.8±1.7, respectively). In experiment 2, the treatements were added in maturtaion, culturing as well as post-warming culture media. Embryos at 7 d were vitrified.Viability assessement directly after warming showed significant increase (P<0.05) in cysteamine, melatonin and their combination groups (76.8±2.8, 80.0±2.1 and 83.3±1.7, respectively) than control (65.8±2.4); but the viability after 24 h post-warming was the best in cysteamine + melatonin combination group (61.4±2.1). Conculsions: Enriching maturation, culturing and post-warming media of buffalo oocytes and embryos with melatonin and/or cysteamine have significantly beneficial effects on oocyte developmental competence as well as embryos vitrification procedure outcomes which in turn resulting in enhancement of commercial buffalo embryo production.

186-190

Authors: Kanoknan Somnuk, Pim Wannapakorn, Waraporn Raksapol, Bunlue Kornmatitsuk, Sudsaijai Kornmatitsuk

Objective: To establish fetal age equations based on ultrasound measurements in cross-bred Holstein cows in Thailand. Methods: The animals were bred for 30-120 d before pregnancy diagnosis using transrectal ultrasonography with real-time B-mode and specify 5 or 7.5 MHz linear array transducer. Parameters examined included crown rump length (CRL), trunk diameter (TrD) and eye diameter (ED). Results: One hundred and two cows had been examined, 80 of them were pregnant and contained at least one measurable characteristic as defined in the methods. Regression analysis and curve estimation were implied. The most frequently visualized parameters were TrD (42/80; 52.50%) and CRL (41/80; 51.25%) whereas ED (13/80; 16.25%) was least frequently detected. In our study, the equations to estimate fetal age (indicated as Y) from CRL and TrD were established with very high correlation coefficients as follows, Y = 22.679+12.005 (CRL)-1.042 (CRL)2, R2 = 0.950, P<0.001 and Y = 14.583+29.878 (TrD)-3.759 (TrD)2-0.225 (TrD)3, R2 = 0.950, P<0.001. The equation from ED was Y=107.582-98.928 (ED)+61.116 (ED)2-9.221 (ED)3 but with very low correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.673, P=0.021). Comparing between our equations (CRL and TrD) and the ones embedded in the commercially available ultrasounds, the higher fetal age was estimated based on the same value of parameters (P<0.05). In conclusion, the most reliable equations created in our study were from CRL and TrD. Conclusions: Comparing with others, Thai cross-bred fetus clearly showed slower growth rate and thus, to use our CRL’s and TrD’s equations for estimating fetal age seems more reliable than to use the ones embedded in the commercial ultrasounds.