<div>Background: Understanding of ovarian follicular dynamics and endocrine regulation is essential to design and use interventions to optimize reproductive efficiency. Bos indicus and Bos taurus cows have some differences in their follicular dynamics and ovarian steroidal hormones. The present study was planned to understand follicular dynamics vis-a-vis ovarian steroids profiles in Sahiwal cattle. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in normal cyclic, pluriparous, non-lactating Sahiwal cows (n=7). Trans-rectal ultrasonography was performed to record the location, size, number of follicles and size of corpus luteum (CL) from the beginning, till the end of experiment. The dataset was used to characterize the follicular wave emergence, growth, regression, time of selection and ovulation of the dominant follicle in each cow.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Three Sahiwal cows showed two wave and four cows showed three wave estrous cycles with mean interovulatory length of 20.33&plusmn;0.33 and 22.50&plusmn;0.28 days, respectively. No significant difference was recorded in the maximum diameter of corpus luteum, P4 and E2 plasma levels between 2-wave and 3-wave estrous cycles. The peak progesterone values of 6.00&plusmn;0.91 and 6.2&plusmn;1.2 ng/ml and peak estradiol values of 15.83&plusmn;0.60 and 14.31&plusmn;0.44 ng/ml were recorded in 2-wave and 3-wave estrous cycle, respectively. The results showed that Sahiwal cows had 2-wave and 3-wave estrous cycle and the 3-wave estrous cycle had comparatively longer inter-ovulatory period and smaller maximum diameter of second wave dominant follicle than 2-wave estrous cycle.</div>

Studies on Ovarian Follicular Dynamics and Steroid Profiles in Sahiwal Cattle

<div>Background: One of the major factors affecting the physiology of pregnancy and reproductive cycle is the trace elements intake and their levels in serum of brood ewes and does. The main objective of this investigation was to study the association between serum concentration of trace elements, ovarian findings, stage of pregnancy and steroid hormones in sheep and goats.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Total of 129 ewes (68 pregnant and 61 non-pregnant) and 54 does (32 pregnant and 22 non-pregnant) were examined clinically and ultrasonographically for pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring the ovarian findings. Pregnant animals were categorized according to the gestational stage into 1 to 2, &gt;2 to 3, &gt;3 to 4 and &gt; 4 months. According to the ovarian findings, non-pregnant animals were categorized as having mature corpus luteum (CL), large follicle (&gt; 5 mm) and corpus luteum (CL+F), growing follicles (GF, &lt;5.mm) and mature follicle (MF, &gt;5 mm). Animals were bled and serum was harvested and assayed for estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) levels.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Mn (P=0.01), Fe (P=0.05) and Zn (P=0.001) were lower in pregnant compared with non-pregnant ewes. Fe was significantly higher (P=0.03) in non-pregnant compared with pregnant does at any gestational stage. Ewes with MF had higher Se (P=0.02) and Fe (P=0.001) compared with other ewes.&nbsp;Fe (P=0.001) and Zn (P=0.000) were higher in does having MF compared with other does. A positive association between E2 and serum Fe in non-pregnant ewes (P=0.03) and does (P=0.05) was found. It can be concluded that pregnancy associated with a decrease in serum trace elements in sheep and goats.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Trace Elements in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Sheep and Goats and Their Relation to Steroid Hormones

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Japanese quail, similar to domestic chicken, is equally sensitive and susceptible to stress but limited literatures are available so far. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of feed withdrawal stress on the changes in reproductive tissues, steroid hormones and gene expression in Japanese quail.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Forty two quail hens (10weeks) were individually caged and subjected to feed withdrawal for a period of 10 days without water restriction. Six birds each were sacrificed on 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 day. The reduction in oviduct weight and serum concentration of steroid hormones was evaluated. The quantitative expression of IGF-1, Caspase-2, Survivin and HSP-70 genes were performed in ovarian follicles using real-time PCR.&nbsp; 
 
Result: No hierarchial follicles were detected after day 6. The ovary and oviduct weight was significantly reduced on day 2 and 4 respectively. The serum estrogen and progesterone were declined significantly when corticosterone was increased from day 1. The IGF-1 gene expression was significantly (P&lt;0.05) down regulated in yellow and atretic follicles. The gene expression of Survivin and caspase-2 was up-regulated in F3 follicle. It concludes feed withdrawal brings noticeable change in reproductive tissues, steroid hormones and associated gene expression in Japanese quail.</div>

Effect of Feed Withdrawal Stress on Reproductive Tissue, Sex Steroids and mRNA Expression of IGF-1, Survivin, Caspase 2 and HSP 70 Gene in the Ovarian Follicles of Japanese Quail

<div>Background: Anestrus is one of the most commonly encountered infertility problems in cattle and buffalo in India. Jaffarabadi is one of the heaviest buffalo breeds of the world and is a native of Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The breed is known for poor reproductive efficiency. To improve its reproductive efficiency, this study was undertaken on acyclic Jaffarabadi animals employing double Ovsynch protocol and its assessment through ovarian dynamics and blood biochemical and endocrine profile on a farm.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study included acyclic post-pubertal Jaffarabadi heifers (age 42&plusmn;2 and 48&plusmn;2 months; Gr-I and Gr-II, n=6 each) and the postpartum lactating acyclic buffaloes (Gr-III, n=6) using a double Ovsynch protocol, which consisted of i/m injections of 20 &micro;g Buserelin acetate on days 0, 10, 17 and 26 and 500 &micro;g Cloprostenol sodium on days 7 and 24, with a timed insemination on day 27. Ovarian dynamics was monitored by performing ultrasonography using real-time B-mode ultrasound scanner together with blood sampling for hormonal and biochemical profile on each day of hormone therapy and then on days 0, 12, 21 and 35 post-AI. The animals inseminated at induced estrus/FTAI were followed for return to estrus, if any. Pregnancy was confirmed in non-return cases on day 35 by ultrasonography and on day 70 by per rectal examination. The findings on ovarian dynamics, plasma endocrine and biochemical profile were compared statistically between groups and periods and fertility rates between groups. 
 
Result: In animals of treatment group I and II, a significant (p&lt;0.05) increase in numbers of small follicles was observed on day 26. Number of large sized follicles was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher on day 26 in comparison to day 0 and day 7 in group III animals. Large and subordinate follicular diameters increased gradually, but the differences between periods were significant (p&lt;0.001) only in group III with the highest diameter of large follicle on day 17. Plasma FSH and LH concentrations differed significantly (p&lt;0.001) among groups at all-time intervals. Plasma LH in group I and III differed significantly (p&lt;0.001). Plasma estrogen level was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in group II than group III. Plasma progesterone concentrations in group I and II animals were significantly higher on day 35 post-AI. Plasma insulin levels were significantly (p&lt;0.01) lower on all days for group III animals than group I and II. Blood glucose level was significantly (p&lt;0.001) higher in group I on day 17 as compared to group II and III. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in group III as compared to group I and II. The conception rates at first service/FTAI in double Ovsynch treated animals of group I, II and III were 66.66, 83.33 and 16.66 %, respectively. Thus it was concluded that ovarian structures and the plasma endocrine profile reflected the ovarian response to different hormonal injections and that double Ovsynch protocol could be a better choice for improving conception rate in post-pubertal acyclic Jaffarabadi buffalo heifers as compared to multiparous acyclic buffaloes.</div>

Evaluation of Double Ovsynch Protocol in Acyclic Jaffarabadi Heifers and Buffaloes with Respect to Ovarian Dynamics, Hormonal Profile and Fertility

<div>Background: Supplementation of fat, especially those having unsaturated fatty acids has been proposed to carry positive effects on the reproductive organ, beside providing dietary energy to the animals. This experiment was designed to examine the effects of dietary &omega;-3 or &omega;-6 fatty acid (FA) rich oil supplementation on blood FA, metabolite and hormone concentrations; ovarian follicular growth and corpus luteum (CL) size in Sahiwal breed heifers. 
 
Methods: Eighteen heifers of 18.33&plusmn;1.14 months of age and 194&plusmn;4.16 kg of mean body weight were randomly assigned to 3 diets and individually fed as per ICAR (2013) diets. The diets include chopped wheat straw, green fodder and concentrate mixture containing either (i) no added PUFA rich oil but palm oil @ 3.5% (PO; n=6); (ii) 3.5% added soybean oil as &omega;-6 FA source (SO; n=6); or (iii) 3.5% added linseed oil as &omega;-3 FA source (LO; n=6). 
 
Result: SO increased (P&lt;0.05) the plasma concentration of &omega;-6 FA while LO increased (P&lt;0.05) the plasma &omega;-3 FA. Plasma glucose, triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations was not affected due to different diets. Plasma total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) in SO and LO in comparison to PO. However, LDL-cholesterol was at par among all the treatments. Growth Hormone (GH) was not influenced due to different types of oil in heifers&rsquo; concentrate mixture. Insulin concentration increased (P&lt;0.05) in LO compared to others. IGF-1 was statistically higher (P&lt;0.05) in SO and LO as compared to CON, which among themselves also varied significantly. Plasma progesterone concentration at day 12 post estrous was higher (P&lt;0.05) in LO. PUFA rich oil supplementation in the concentrate mixture of heifers (SO and LO) increased (P&lt;0.05) the size of the ovulatory follicles as well as size of CL. It was inferred that feeding PUFA rich oil to pre-pubertal Sahiwal heifer&rsquo;s results in advantageous changes in the blood metabolites, plasma hormones and ovarian functions.</div>

<div>Effect of Dietary Enrichment with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids on Blood Metabolites, Hormone Concentration and Ovarian Function in Sahiwal Heifers</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Advanced pregnant healthy HF crossbred cows (n=20) of 2-4 parity were equally divided in to control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment/nutrients supplementation (RFF + bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/d and ASMM @ 50 g/h/d) groups and were studied from 2 wks prepartum to 8 wks postpartum for plasma profile of steroid hormones and metabolites on days -14, -3, 0, +3, +14, +28 and +42 as well as for puerperal events and postpartum fertility. The mean plasma progesterone values were maximum (&gt;6 ng/ml) on day 14 prepartum, which declined significantly (p&lt;0.01) on day 3 prepartum reached to the basal levels (&lt;1 ng/ml) on the day of calving, remained basal till day 14, and thereafter showed a rising trend on days 28 and 42 postpartum. The oestradiol-17b values were at its peak on the day of calving (p&lt;0.01), showed a rapid fall by day 3 postpartum and remained low till recrudesce of follicular activity around day 35 postpartum. However, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in either of the hormones, except on day 42 postpartum. The levels of cortisol and PGF2 a Metabolites (PGFM) were 3-8 times higher on the day of parturition as compared to values at day 14 pre- and postpartum, and declined further till day 42 postpartum reaching to prepartum levels. The plasma cholesterol gradually decreased as parturition approached and increased in postpartum days to reach the highest value (p&lt;0.01) at day 42. The nutrients supplemented cows had significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol values than the control cows around parturition. However, no such variation was noted in plasma protein profile. The period of uterine involution in control and supplemented groups was identical (31.97&plusmn;1.82 and 30.27&plusmn;1.41 days), yet the cows in treatment group resumed estrous cycle earlier (38.00&plusmn;1.95 vs 42.32&plusmn;4.14 days, p&lt;0.05) and had shorter service period (85.22&plusmn;7.17 vs 100.67&plusmn;5.60 days) with improved pregnancy rate (80 vs 60 %) as compared to those in control group. Thus, the peripartum nutrient supplementation in crossbred cows was beneficial and had positive effect on the postpartum fertility and plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol profile.</div>

Effect of peripartum nutritional supplementation on postpartum fertility and blood biochemical and steroid hormone profile in crossbred cows&nbsp;

<div style="text-align: justify;">Advanced pregnant Jaffarabadi buffaloes (n=40) of 2-4 parity selected on an organized farm were divided equally into control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment/nutrients supplementation (RFF + bypass fat @ 150-200 g/h/d and ASMM @ 50 g/h/d) groups and were studied from 6 wks prepartum to 8 wks postpartum for plasma profile of steroid hormones and PGF2a metabolites on days -45, -30, -7, 0, +7, +15, +30, +45 and +60 peripartum as well as for puerperal events and postpartum fertility. Half of the buffaloes in both the groups also received parenteral microminerals (Inj. Stimvet 5 ml i/m) twice, 45 days before and on the day of calving. Again half of them were treated with ecbolic (Exapar) 2 boli bid for first 4 days postpartum. The mean plasma progesterone values were maximum (&gt;4 ng/ml) on day 45 prepartum, which declined significantly (p&lt;0.01) on day 7 prepartum reached to the basal levels (&lt;1 ng/ml) on the day of calving, remained basal till day 15, and thereafter showed a rising trend on days 30, 45 and 60 postpartum. The oestradiol-17b values were at its peak on the day of calving (p&lt;0.01), showed a rapid fall by day 7 postpartum and remained low till recrudesce of follicular activity around day 45 and 60 postpartum. The levels of cortisol were significantly higher on the day of parturition as compared to values on day 7 pre- and post-partum. The plasma concentration of PGFM was low on day 45 prepartum, which increased gradually and significantly by almost 10-folds to reach peak values on the day of calving in both control and treatment groups and then declined gradually and significantly till day 45 postpartum. The rise was little more in nutrients supplemented group with higher mean values at most intervals peripartum than in control group. The periods for uterine involution, first postpartum estrus, and days open were significantly shorter with higher conception rate in nutrient supplemented group. It is concluded that the peripartum nutrient supplementation in Jaffarabadi buffaloes is beneficial and has positive effect on the postpartum fertility and plasma progesterone and PGFM profile.</div>

Impact of bypass fat and mineral supplementation peripartum on plasma profile of steroid hormones PGFM and postpartum fertility in Jaffarabadi buffaloes

Blood samples from 12 normal cycling and 12 repeat breeding crossbred cows were collected aseptically on different phages of oestrous cycle to elucidate the possible relationship between the trace elements and hormone profile of ovary in normal cycling and repeat breeding cross bred cows. Different trace elements namely Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were estimated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophometer (AAS) and serum oestradiol 17-b and progesterone were estimated using coat-A-count &reg; RIA kit. &nbsp;Fe, Cu and Mn concentration was observed apparently high and Zn concentration was significantly (P&lt;0.05) high in each phase of collection in normal cycling cows from repeat breeder except mid luteal phase. Oestradiol 17-b concentration was significantly (P&lt;0.01) high in normal cycling cows in oestrous and early luteal phase, while no significant variation was observed for progesterone concentration between the same phase of the two groups. A positive significant (P&lt;0.01) correlation was observed between Fe-Zn and Cu-Zn (P&lt;0.05) and oestradiol 17-b (P&lt;0.05) in normal cycling cows . In repeat breeding cows Fe and oestradiol 17-b and Mn and progresterone was positively significant (P&lt;0.01).

Evaluation of micromineral status and ovarian hormonal profile and their interrelation in normal cyclings and repeat breeding cows&nbsp;

Background: Artificial Insemination is being extensively used for genetic improvement and upgrading the genetic makeup of cattle in the Indian subcontinent and was mainly based on production parameters like milk production and feed conversion efficiency. Attempts to increase milk production over certain limits resulted in the reduction of reproductive efficiency and occurrence of some reproductive disorders.&nbsp;The increased production has also been reported to result in ovulatory abnormalities, predominantly ovarian follicular cysts, which results in reduced fertility. The present research work was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the hormonal therapy for follicular cyst and trans-gluteal aspiration technique for correcting non-responsive ovarian follicular cyst in crossbred cows. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The crossbred cows presented with the history of more than six insemination and with nymphomaniac behavior for the past 5 months were included in the present study. Among the nymphomanic cows, 25 animals which were observed having follicular cyst, based on rectal and ultrasonographic examination were selected. Incidence of follicular cysts were categorized on the basis of side of ovaries, size of cyst, follicular wall thickness, number of cystic follicles, breeds, lactation and response to the hormonal treatments. The blood samples were collected to estimate the level of estradiol and progesterone in the affected cows. Further, the serum and cystic fluid collected were analyzed for biochemical parameters. The conception rate was also recorded in the treated and trans-gluteal aspiration technique adopted cows. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Cows (n=25) were treated with buserelin acetate (Day 0), prostaglandin F2&nbsp;alpha (Day 7) and again buserelin acetate (Day 9). It was found that 14 cows (56.0%) responded and 11 cows (44.0%) were found to be non-responsive to hormonal therapy. Trans-gluteal aspiration of follicle was performed in these eleven cows along with modified Ovsynch protocol. Trans-gluteal approach was found to be effective with 72.73 per cent recovery without any consequences and only 27.27 per cent recurrence was documented. Hence, this technique can easily be adopted in field for correcting non-responsive follicular cyst in cows. 
&nbsp;

Hormonal and Biochemical Profile of Follicular Cyst and its Responsiveness to Hormonal Therapy and Trans-Gluteal Aspiration Technique in Crossbred Cattle

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) plays a central role in growth and production through its influence on important metabolic activities in mammals which prompted its wide commercial use including use as a candidate marker. In present experiment, polymorphism at exon 2 and 3 of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone gene (GHRH) was studied using PCR&ndash;RFLP in crossbred and exotic pigs, commonly found in north east India. Restriction enzyme digestion of 467 bp &nbsp;PCR amplicon with AluI revealed 1 genotype. Comparison of obtained sequences revealed large scale nucleotide and residue substitutions. Observed polymorphism may be associated with wide variability in growth (rate) of different breeds of pig.