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Biomedical subjects

J O Nöthling

Publications and source records attributed to J O Nöthling.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Microscopic and flow cytometric semen assessment of Dutch AI-bucks: effect of semen processing procedures and their correlation to fertility.

This study was done to determine the effects of processing techniques on the quality of semen from Dutch AI-bucks with the view on improving pregnancy rates after artificial insemination (AI) with liquid or frozen-thawed semen. Motility of spermatozoa was estimated under a microscope whereas the percentage live spermatozoa and the percentage live spermatozoa with intact acrosomes were determined by means of flow cytometry. Aspects of semen processing that were investigated are storage temperature of liquid semen (i), the effect of glycerol on liquid-stored semen (ii), removal of seminal plasma (iii) and type of extender (iv). The correlation between semen quality and fertility rates in inseminated does was also investigated. The percentage motile spermatozoa in semen stored in liquid form for 72 h progressively declined over time, irrespective of whether storage occurred at 4 or 18 degrees C. The percentage motile spermatozoa in semen stored at 18 degrees C was similar to that in semen stored at 4 degrees C if stored for 24 h but lower if stored for 48 h. Goats differ in the sensitivity of their spermatozoa to the deleterious effects of glycerol. Neither the removal of seminal plasma nor the type of extender had any effect on semen quality before freezing but semen frozen in a Tris-citric acid-glucose (TCG) buffer with egg yolk without removal of the seminal plasma had better quality after thawing than semen frozen in another diluent or after removal of seminal plasma. Remarkably no significant correlation between fertility and membrane integrity of spermatozoa could be found. Thus, although integrity assays for spermatozoa are useful to asses resistance to semen handling, the validity of these assays for predicting fertility is questioned.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The effect of homologous prostatic fluid on motility and morphology of dog epididymal spermatozoa extended and frozen in Biladyl with Equex STM paste or Andromed.

Although dog prostatic fluid decreases the longevity of ejaculated dog spermatozoa, it also increases their rate of motility and their fertility after vaginal insemination, as well as the fertility of epididymal spermatozoa after uterine insemination. These findings indicate a need to further characterize the effects of prostatic fluid on dog spermatozoa. This study was done to determine the effects (P<0.05) of homologous prostatic fluid added prior to cooling, after thawing, or at both times to epididymal spermatozoa from 21 dogs. The effects of two extenders were also determined. The one extender was Biladyl(*) with Equex STM paste(**) (BilEq) and the other Andromed(*) (Minitüb, Tiefenbach, Germany (*); Nova Chemical Sales, Scituate, MA, USA (**)). The response variables were percentage progressively motile spermatozoa (Prog) and morphology after thawing. Prog was measured at various times until 8h after extension (unfrozen spermatozoa) or until 2h after thawing. Prog after thawing was higher with BilEq than Andromed, when no prostatic fluid was added prior to cooling, and when prostatic fluid was added after thawing. BilEq resulted in a higher mean percentage of spermatozoa with bent principle pieces than Andromed and the addition of prostatic fluid prior to cooling resulted in lower mean percentages of cytoplasmic droplets and bent principle pieces than when none was added. The optimal combination was BilEq with prostatic fluid added prior to cooling (in order to inhibit the development of bent principle pieces) and after thawing (to achieve higher motility until 1h after thawing). This study shows that BilEq is more suitable for the freezing of epididymal spermatozoa than Andromed and that prostatic fluid improves the freezability and post-thaw longevity of epididymal spermatozoa frozen in BilEq.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Luteal and follicular count in bitches: assessment by means of magnetic resonance imaging.

This study was done to determine whether preovulatory follicles or corpora lutea (physiological structures, PS) can be counted in the ovaries of bitches by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In Experiment 1, the ovaries from 15 German shepherd bitches (five in the follicular phase, one in the periovulatory period, five during the first 38 days of diestrus and four between Day 48 of diestrus and full-term gestation) were embedded in gelatin to form three phantoms with 10 ovaries each. Each phantom was exposed to MRI, using a 1mm slice thickness, a 1mm slice interval, a voxel size of 1mm cubic and a variety of pulse sequences, whereafter the ovaries were dissected and the numbers of follicles, corpora lutea and cysts counted. T2-weighted images were superior to T1-weighted images. Each of three operators counted the numbers of PS and cysts on T2-weighted images obtained in the coronal, transverse and sagital planes of each ovary, which, for the 30 ovaries, provided 270 operator by ovary by plane estimations and 90 operator by ovary estimations for each type of structure. Images of cysts were hyperintense, those of early corpora lutea and follicles similar and moderate and those of late corpora lutea hypo-intense and not clearly discernable from ovarian stroma. Estimations of PS were too low in 68%, correct in 12% and too high in 20% of estimations (n=270). Estimations of PS were correct in three operator by ovary combinations, out by 1 in 22 and out by more than 1 in 65. No operator estimated PS correctly in any bitch. In Experiment 2 MRI was done on three deeply sedated bitches in the periovulatory phase in an attempt to obtain images of the ovaries in order to count the follicles. The acquisition time of 5-7 min rendered images of poor quality from live bitches and none of their ovaries could be seen. MRI is not suitable for counting follicles or corpora lutea in the ovaries of bitches.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Repeated use of the GnRH analogue deslorelin to down-regulate reproduction in male cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

The GnRH analogue deslorelin, as a subcutaneous implant, was initially developed in Australia as an ovulation-inducing agent in mares. Its uses, for the suppression of reproduction in the domestic dog and cat and in other species, including humans, have been developed subsequently. Such implants have been used as a contraceptive modality in a variety of wild carnivores, both males and females. This paper describes the use of deslorelin implants as a contraceptive agent for cheetah males maintained in a semi-captive environment and housed in various camps together with females. Annually, male cheetahs were treated for 1 (n = 2), 2 (n = 7), 3 (n = 9), 4 (n = 3) or 5 (n = 1) consecutive years with an implant containing 4.7, 5.0 or 6.0 mg of deslorelin. On the first day of treatment and then on an annual basis, blood testosterone concentrations were analysed, testicular measurements were taken, appearance of penile spikes was determined, and semen was collected and evaluated. Pregnancy rates of mated or inseminated females were determined. A dose of 6 mg of deslorelin suppressed reproduction for at least 1 year, whereas with 4.7 and 5 mg of deslorelin, 3 of 17 males had a few non-motile spermatozoa in their ejaculates. All testosterone concentrations were basal at 1 year post-implant and no side effects were observed. We concluded that deslorelin implantation, at a dose of 6 mg, was a safe and reliable method of annual contraception in male cheetahs.

Acinonyx↗
PubMed2005

Homologous prostatic fluid added to frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa prior to intravaginal insemination of bitches resulted in better fertility than albumin-free TALP.

The aim of this study was to determine whether canine prostatic fluid has intrinsic effects resulting in higher fertility than albumin-free Tyrode's albumin lactate pyruvate (afTALP) when added to thawed semen prior to intravaginal insemination. Twenty-four German shepherd bitches were inseminated intravaginally with frozen-thawed spermatozoa to which either homologous prostatic fluid (Group P; 12 bitches) or afTALP (Group T; 12 bitches) was added to give a final insemination volume of 7mL. Each bitch was inseminated daily starting when the vaginal folds first became angular and continuing until the day before a diestrus vaginal smear was first seen. Bitches were spayed about 3 weeks after the onset of diestrus and the number of corpora lutea and the number of conceptuses counted. Group P and Group T bitches were, respectively, inseminated 5.3+/-1.0 and 5.8+/-2.1 times with 48.9+/-8.6 and 50.4+/-8.3 million progressively motile spermatozoa per insemination. Eight Group P bitches and 10 Group T bitches conceived with totals of 76 and 45 conceptuses and 126 and 117 corpora lutea, respectively. Odds of conception were taken as the number of conceptuses divided by (the number of corpora lutea minus the number of conceptuses). After adjustment for the number of progressively motile spermatozoa per day and the random effect of bitch, the addition of prostatic fluid resulted in an increased odds of conception compared to afTALP. This effect decreased as the number of progressively motile spermatozoa per day increased.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of three different media for freezing of epididymal sperm from the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and influence of equilibration time on the post-thaw sperm quality.

Assisted reproductive techniques might prove themselves useful tools in producing buffaloes free of specific diseases (BFSD), which are in demand in South Africa. Freezing protocols for African buffalo semen must not only result in good post-thaw qualities, but must also be practical. Epididymal sperm from six mature African buffalo bulls was collected, diluted with three different semen extenders and frozen. Pre-freezing equilibration times between 2 and 9 h were tested. Total and progressive motility, longevity and acrosomal integrity were measured and compared. The use of Triladyl proved to result in better post-thaw parameters than the other two diluents. Equilibration times of between 4 and 9 h did not influence post-thaw sperm qualities significantly. For some of the treatments, exposure to semen extenders before freezing for less than 4 h resulted in inferior post-thaw semen parameters.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Ultrasound-guided injection of contrast medium into the crus penis for diagnosis of erection failure in bulls.

The objectives of this study were to demonstrate the ability to cannulate the crurae of the bull's penis under ultrasound guidance, to demonstrate contrast medium injected by this route in the distal penis, and to confirm the technique to be safe and repeatable. Five adult bulls with normal serving ability were used, one being subjected to the procedure twice. The procedure was performed with the bulls under general anesthesia and in lateral recumbency. A spinal needle was passed through the skin and into the crus penis under ultrasound guidance and two syringes containing an iodine-based contrast medium were connected to it. Stimulation using an electro-ejaculator with a rectal probe was initiated, and when the penis started developing an erection, 50-100 ml of contrast medium was injected. Lateral and ventro-dorsal radiographs were taken of the extended penis during, and at intervals after, injection. After a rest period of 5 min, clearance of the contrast medium was confinned and the procedure was repeated on the other crus penis. Each case therefore, contained two attempts. Successful cannulation of the crus penis was confirmed by observing indentation of its fibrous wall by the needle, free flow of blood, lack of resistance to the injection of air, which could be seen in the crus, and fluctuation of resistance to injection in synchrony with the pulsation of the electroejaculator. Contrast medium was demonstrated in the mid or distal portion of the penis in all six cases, or on 9 of the 12 attempts. Attainment of penile erection, a larger volume of contrast medium, and the order of cannulation all enhanced flow of contrast medium to the distal portion of the penis, with the first crus giving better results. On one occasion the needle worked out of the crus penis during stimulation, resulting in injection of contrast medium into the corpus spongiosum penis. All bulls recovered uneventfully and returned to normal serving ability. It is concluded that ultrasound-guided cannulation of the crus penis is a safe and successful method for the injection of contrast medium for contrast studies of the penis, and is less invasive than the surgical method.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Uterine prolapse with an interesting vascular anomaly in a cheetah: a case report.

A 5-year-old cheetah suffered a complete prolapse of the left uterine horn after the birth of her second litter. Two attempts to reduce the prolapse transvaginally failed. The animal was hospitalized 13 days after the prolapse first occurred, and an ovariohysterectomy was performed to resolve the prolapse. The prolapsed uterine horn had been mutilated: its tip, together with the ipsilateral ovary was absent. Laparotomy revealed no sign of recent or past hemorrhage or adhesions, or any signs of the left ovarian artery or left ovarian vein in the remnants of the left mesovarium. A large vein crossed the uterine body from the left uterine horn to join the right uterine vein, presumably serving as the only route of venous drainage for the prolapsed uterine horn. A possible cause for the prolapse is excessive mobility of the uterus due to prior rupture of its mesial support. The animal died 24 days after surgery due to chronic renal failure, as a result of severe renal amyloidosis.

Acinonyx↗
PubMed2001

Hysteroscopy in bitches.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the canine endometrium could be examined by hysteroscopy. Eight German shepherd bitches were used. Two bitches were in dioestrus, five were in anoestrus and one was about 8 weeks post partum. The uterus was exposed through a ventral celiotomy. A 3 mm straight laparoscope or a 4 mm laparoscope with a 30 degrees angle, and a catheter for inflation of the uterus were used. After hysteroscopy the bitches were spayed and the uterus of each bitch was examined macroscopically and histologically. Endometrium and uterotubal junctions were visible in all bitches. The cervix and caudal uterine body could not be visualized in three bitches as two bitches had uterine discharge and air escaped through the cervix in the other bitch. In the post-partum bitch, dark-brown sites of implantation were observed. Four bitches (aged 9, 22, 25 and 31 months) had endometrial cysts (0.5-2.0 mm in diameter). Hysteroscopy caused petechiae and ecchymosis in the endometrium of four bitches. Traumatization of the endometrium affected only the epithelium and the most superficial part of the lamina propria. In conclusion, hysteroscopy appears to be a very sensitive tool for evaluation of the canine endometrium. Further research is necessary to determine the effects of hysteroscopy on subsequent fertility.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Characterisation of a potentially abortigenic strain of feline calicivirus isolated from a domestic cat.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) was isolated from one of four dead fetuses delivered by ovariohysterectomy from a queen with an acute FCV infection. The most prominent lesions in the fetuses were petechial haemorrhages in the skin. The virus isolated was characterised as FCV by antigenic analysis and cDNA sequence analysis. This is the second report of abortion associated with acute FCV infection.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1997

Failure of luteolysis leads to prolonged gestation in a bitch: a case report.

A healthy, 5-yr-old rough collie bitch exhibited prolonged gestation, characterized by intrauterine fetal death and plasma progesterone concentrations (PPC) above 6 nmol/L/d until Day 65 or 66 of cytologic diestrus, which then only dropped following treatment with dinoprost tromethamine. The bitch showed no signs of parturition prior to laparotomy and hysterotomy on Day 63, which revealed 5 corpora lutea (CL) on the left ovary and 1 on the right ovary; 5 full-term, dead conceptuses without obvious autolysis but with 4 of the 5 placentas detached; and a tightly closed cervix. All conceptuses were in the left uterine horn. Treatment with dinoprost tromethamine was initiated 1 d after hysterotomy and was continued for IO d (120 microg/kg twice daily for a total dose of 240 microg kg/d). The discharge of lochia through the cervix and lactation started 3 d after the onset of treatment. Plasma progesterone concentration was 14.4, 16.2 and 1.6 nmol/L/d on the day of hysterotomy and at 1 and 3 d after the onset of prostaglandin therapy, respectively. The reason for the failure of luteolysis to occur is not known.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Semen quality after thawing: correlation with fertility and fresh semen quality in dogs.

Fifty-four semen samples from five dogs were evaluated both, fresh and after thawing. Some of these semen samples were mixed with autologous prostatic fluid after thawing and used to inseminate each of nine bitches 4-7 times intravaginally. All bitches conceived and the mean number (+/- SD) of conceptuses, number of corpora lutea and ratio between conceptuses and corpora lutea (implantation rate) were 5.7 +/- 2.8, 9.4 +/- 1.1 and 0.63 +/- 0.34, respectively. The mean incidence of normal sperm morphology and progressively motile spermatozoa for all semen samples were 71.5 +/- 13.5% and 74.4 +/- 7.1%, respectively, in fresh semen and 52.0 +/- 18.5% and 53.4 +/- 12.6% in frozen-thawed semen. Extension rate was 1:3 for all semen samples and the mean sperm concentration after thawing was 12.08 +/- 6.66 x 10(7) ml-1. The only semen quality variables after thawing that were correlated with implantation rate were the number of spermatozoa inseminated on day-2 and number of progressively motile spermatozoa inseminated on day-2 (where day 0 is the day of onset of dioestrus as determined by cytology) (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient > 0.7, n = 9, P < 0.05). This study suggests that it is essential that frozen-thawed semen is inseminated on day-2 and that an insemination dose of 10-11 x 10(7) progressively motile frozen-thawed spermatozoa is adequate to achieve a mean implantation rate of 75% or higher. The incidence of either proximal or distal cytoplasmic droplets in fresh semen was negatively correlated with motility after thawing in three of five dogs (Spearman's rank correlation < -0.5, n = 6-17, P < 0.05). Neither the percentage spermatozoa with normal morphology in fresh semen nor the percentage progressively motile spermatozoa in fresh semen nor the concentration of spermatozoa after thawing were correlated with motility after thawing. Fresh semen quality, with the exception of the incidence of retained cytoplasmic droplets, has little value in predicting the progressive motility after thawing in frozen dog semen.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The effects of metergoline combined with PGF2alpha treatment on luteal function and gestation in pregnant bitches.

This study was designed to determine the nature of the antiluteotrophic effect of metergoline on pregnant bitches, the occurrence of clinically evident side-effects, and the efficacy of PGF(2alpha) in initiating abortion after a course of metergoline therapy. Starting on Days 18 to 20 after the onset of diestrus, 8 adult pregnant beagle bitches were treated twice daily with 0.4 to 0.5 mg/kg po metergoline for 5 d. After receiving no treatment for the next 5 d, metergoline administration was repeated for a further 3 d, followed by twice-daily intramuscular injections of dinoprost tromethamine at 250 mug/kg. There was an overall trend for the plasma progesterone concentration to decrease during the first and second course of metergoline therapy and to rise during the intervening period of no treatment. None of the bitches aborted during or after the first 5 d of metergoline administration. No side-effects were evident during the metergoline therapy. After pretreatment with metergoline a mean of 4.8 injections of PGF(2alpha) was necessary to ensure complete abortion. All abortions were rapid and uneventful, except for the usual side-effects associated with PGF(2alpha). The plasma progesterone concentration at the onset of PGF(2alpha) treatment was positively correlated to the number of PGF(2alpha) injections needed to complete the abortion process. The plasma progesterone concentration was < 8 nmol/l for several days as a result of metergoline therapy in 6 of the 8 bitches. Only 1 bitch, however, aborted before PGF(2alpha) therapy was initiated. In the other 7 bitches PGF(2alpha) appeared to be necessary for abortion. The results suggest that the effect of metergoline has to be considered incompletely luteolytic at the doses used in this study. Even prolonged suppression of luteal function in early to mid-gestation, however, did not cause abortion without the previously documented luteolytic and/or ecbolic effects of PGF(2alpha). The average interestrus interval of cycles treated with metergoline and PGF(2alpha) was shorter (mean 182.2 d, SD 7.9 d, n = 6) than expected for this group of bitches (mean 211.4 d, SD 31.5 d, n = 7).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Success with intravaginal insemination of frozen-thawed dog semen--a retrospective study.

This retrospective study reports on the fertility of bitches (n = 40) that were inseminated into the fornix vaginae with frozen-thawed sperm from 9 sperm donors. In most bitches, the inseminations were repeated daily although, in 5 bitches, 1-2 d were skipped between some inseminations. All semen had been frozen by the same method and all prostatic fluid had been frozen at -18 degrees C prior to use. Sixteen Beagle bitches (Group 1) were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen to which 3-5 ml prostatic fluid had been added post-thaw. Ten German Shepherds and 4 other bitches of similar size (Group 2) were inseminated after adding 6-10 ml prostatic fluid to the frozen-thawed semen. Ten different German Shepherd bitches (Group 3) were inseminated without using prostatic fluid. The volumes of individual insemination doses were 3.5-6 ml, 7-12 ml and 1-3 ml for Groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The number of progressively motile sperm per insemination varied from 9 x 10(6) to 300 x 10(6). Sixteen of 16, 13 of 14 and 6 of 10 bitches conceived in Groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Mean litter sizes were 4; 5.6 and 4 in Groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The pregnancy rate of Groups 1 and 2 combined was higher than that of Group 3 (P < 0.01). The mean number of foetuses per bitch bred was 5.2 (SD 3.2) for Group 2, which was higher than the 2.4 (SD 2.8) of Group 3 (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Fertility of two bulls with poor sperm morphology.

The aim of this study was to determine the degree of subfertility of 2 Friesland bulls (Bulls 1 and 2) with poor sperm morphology. An Ayrshire (Bull 3) with good sperm morphology served as control. Bull 1 had a mean of 48% morphologically normal sperm, 36% sperm-head defects and 18% flagellar defects. Bull 2 had a mean of 28% normal sperm, 28% flagellar defects and 33% proximal cytoplasmic droplets. Bull 3 had a mean of 83% normal sperm. Each bull was exposed to 19 cyclic heifers. Heifers of Breeding Groups 1, 2 and 3 did not differ with respect to body mass, age and breed. Pregnancy was diagnosed by means of B-mode ultrasonography 25-50 d after service. Bulls 1, 2 and 3 served 13, 17 and 16 heifers, respectively, during one oestrous period each. Of these heifers 6 (46%), 2 (12%) and 12 (75%) respectively, conceived.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effect of addition of autologous prostatic fluid on the fertility of frozen-thawed dog semen after intravaginal insemination.

Vaginal insemination of frozen-thawed dog semen usually gives a highly unpredictable fertility rate with poor pregnancy rates in most bitches. This study was designed to establish whether litter size, pregnancy rate and conception rate could be improved by the addition of autologous prostatic fluid to the frozen-thawed semen before insemination. Twenty German shepherd bitches that were free of any clinical reproductive abnormality or suspect breeding history were used. The bitches were stratified according to their ages and randomly assigned within strata to treatment (group T, n = 10) or control groups (group C, n = 10). All bitches were inseminated daily with frozen-thawed semen for the duration of that stage of vaginoscopic oestrus during which the vaginal folds were shrunken and angular. Bitches in group T were inseminated with semen to which 7-10 ml of frozen-thawed sperm-free autologous prostatic fluid has been added immediately before insemination. No prostatic fluid was added to the semen used to inseminate the bitches in group C. Each inseminate contained 100 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa after thawing. Semen was deposited in the vaginal fornix using a disposable plastic bovine artificial insemination pipette. For groups T and C the mean number of conceptuses per cycle (litter size), the mean ratio of conceptuses to corpora lutea (conception rate), and the pregnancy rate were 5.2 +/- 3.01 and 2.4 +/- 2.84, 0.577 +/- 0.35 and 0.23 +/- 0.27, and 100% and 60%, respectively. The addition of autologous prostatic fluid to frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa significantly improved the litter size (P = 0.023), the conception rate (P = 0.0127) and pregnancy rate in bitches (P = 0.043).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

A retrospective study of 40 cases of canine pyometra-metritis treated with prostaglandin F-2 alpha and broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.

Bitches with pyometra were treated with dinoprost, a prostaglandin F-2 alpha-THAM salt or luprostiol, a synthetic PG analogue and oral broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. PGF-2 alpha treatment lasted 2-26 days and dosage varied from 26.8 to 258 micrograms/kg. Clinical cure from symptoms was achieved in 33/40 bitches. Of 14 bitches from which the owners opted to breed, 9 eventually produced litters. Long-term complications were anoestrus, recurrence of metritis, failure to conceive and abortion. One or more of these complications were recorded in 9 of 20 bitches for which long term information was available.

Amoxicillin↗