Antisperm antibodies in cows after subcutaneous and intra-uterine immunisation.
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Administration, Cutaneous↗
Biomedical subjects
M Drost
Publications and source records attributed to M Drost.
Effect of timing of prostaglandin PGF 2 alpha injection subsequent to embryo collection on the resumption of normal follicular development following superovulatory treatment in cattle.
Nonlactating Holstein and Jersey cows (n = 24) were superovulated and ovarian follicular development was monitored by transrectal ultrasound during the period after embryo recovery. Luteolysis was induced by two injections of prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF; 25 mg Lutalyse; 12-h interval) at specific times after superovulatory induced estrus (Treatment 1, Day 9; Treatment 2, Day 12; Treatment 3, Day 17; Treatment 4, Day 25; superovulatory estrus = Day 0 of Cycle 1). Follicular development was monitored during Cycle 1 before and after PGF injection and continued through the ensuing estrous cycle (Cycle 2). Superovulation led to more than one embryo collected in 14 cows (mean = 8.71 embryos: positive superovulatory response [PSR] cows), while 10 cows were not successfully superovulated (mean = 0.1 embryo; negative superovulatory response [NSR] cows). These cows differed in terms of number of unovulated follicles detected at embryo collection (4.21 vs 17.2, PSR vs NSR) and plasma progesterone during the superovulatory estrous cycle (32.3 ng/ml PSR vs 8.6 ng/ml NSR). Follicular development during Cycle 1 started sooner in NSR than in PSR cows (day by class by response P<0.03) and was initiated on Days 11 to 12 in NSR cows and on Days 19 to 20 in PSR cows. Interval to estrus after PGF averaged 6.3 d. Cows having short intervals to estrus had follicles at the time of PGF injection. Treatment influenced the length of Cycle 1, but it did not affect the interval to estrus after PGF, the length of Cycle 2, or follicular development during Cycle 2. The results indicate that 1) the timing of PGF injection after embryo collection does not influence subsequent follicular populations, 2) elongated estrous cycles and intervals to estrus after PGF in superovulated cattle are a function of decreased follicular activity, and 3) the presence of numerous corpora lutea and not the superovulatory treatment, per se, seem to attenuate follicular growth.
Journal Article↗
Expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens on the bovine placenta.
Immunohistochemistry was utilized to determine expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on Day 8-9 hatched blastocysts and fetal membranes of mid- to late gestation cows and to examine the pattern of leucocytic infiltration into the gravid uterus. Hatched blastocysts were weakly positive for MHC class I antigens. In the mature placenta, chorioallantoic membranes in the interplacentomal area showed positive immunostaining for class I antigens on the chorionic epithelium but had no staining for class II antigens. There was an accumulation of lymphoid cells expressing class II antigens directly beneath the luminal epithelium of the endometrium. In addition, cells staining for leucocyte common antigen were present both within and beneath the luminal epithelium. Some cells positive for class II and leucocyte common antigen (CD45) were also associated with uterine glands. In the placentomes, class I antigens were expressed only on maternal caruncular septa. Fetal cotyledonary villi had no detectable immunostaining for class I and II antigens. No distinct pattern of leucocyte infiltration in the maternal caruncular tissue was observed; the caruncular septa contained some cells that were labelled for CD45 and a few class II-positive cells around blood vessels. The results indicate that the fetal placenta of the cow expresses MHC class I antigens in a regionally defined manner and there is a differential accumulation of lymphoid cells in the uterus.
Animals↗
Influence of summer heat stress on pregnancy rates of lactating dairy cattle following embryo transfer or artificial insemination.
Lactating Holstein cows were used to determine if pregnancy rate from embryo transfer (n = 113) differed from contemporary control cows (n = 524) that were artificially inseminated (AI). Holstein heifers (n = 55) were superovulated with FSH-P (32 mg total) and inseminated artificially during estrus and subsequently managed under shade structures. On Day 7 post estrus, embryos were recovered, and primarily excellent to good quality embryos (90.3%) were transferred to estrus-synchronized lactating cows. Cows were managed under conditions of exposure to summer heat stress. Pregnancy status was determined by milk progesterone concentrations at Day 21 and palpation per rectum at 45 to 60 d post estrus. Pregnancy rates of cows presented for AI (Day 21, 18.0%; Days 45 to 60, 13.5%) were typical for lactating cows inseminated during periods of summer heat stress in Florida. Pregnancy rates of embryo recipient cows were higher (P<0.001) than those of control cows (Day 21, 47.6%; Days 45 to 60, 29.2%). Summer heat stress had no adverse effect on heifer superovulatory response, but it increased (P<0.05) the incidence of retarded embryos (</= 16 cells) and embryos graded as fair to poor quality. Increased pregnancy rate of recipient lactating cows indicates that the bovine embryo is sensitive to maternal heat stress during the first 7 d after estrus. Embryo transfer may bypass this period of embryonic sensitivity and provide an alternative to AI to partially circumvent heat stress-induced infertility in cattle.
Journal Article↗
In-vivo effect of prostaglandin F-2 alpha treatment on secretory granules in the corpus luteum of the late pregnant cow.
Electron microscopy evaluation indicated that the large luteal cells from control (saline-injected) cows were morphologically similar: 42-72% of the large luteal cells, in which the nucleus was present in the tissue section, contained secretory granules (100-300 nm diameter). From cell to cell, clustering of granules was observed in various regions of the cell cytoplasm, ranging from locations next to the nucleus to those next to the cell membrane where exocytosis was noted. The large mitochondria containing dense inclusions (500-1800 nm diameter) were uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of 98% of the large luteal cells. The morphology of large luteal cells at 2.5 and 5 min after PGF-2 alpha treatment (25 mg) was similar to that of saline controls. However, at 15 and 30 min after PGF-2 alpha the secretory granules were observed primarily at the cell periphery and at 15 min only 22% of the large luteal cells contained secretory granules. Exocytosis involving fusion of the granule and cell membrane was more evident at this time. At 60 min after PGF-2 alpha few large luteal cells (0.5%) were observed with small granules. We suggest that the secretory granules represent those organelles responsible for packaging secretory proteins for transport out of the cell, and PGF-2 alpha is an effector that will initiate cell depletion of these granules and their contents.
Animals↗
Embryonic development in superovulated dairy cattle exposed to elevated ambient temperatures between Days 1 to 7 post insemination.
Holstein heifers (n = 29) were used to determine whether thermal stress during the first 7 d of embryonic development may increase the incidence of embryonic abnormalities in dairy cattle. Heifers were acclimated to environmental chambers at 20 degrees C for 9 d and superovulated with follicle stimulating hormone-pituitary (FSH-P; 40 mg total), beginning on Days 9 to 11 of the estrous cycle. Prostaglandin F(2)alpha (Lutalyse; 50 mg total) was administered on Day 3 of FSH-P. Heifers were inseminated artificially at estrus and then maintained at either thermal neutrality (20 degrees C) or under hyperthermic conditions (daily exposure up to 16 h at 30 degrees C and 8 h at 42 degrees C) for 7 d beginning at 30 h after the onset of estrus. On Day 7 post estrus, embryos were recovered nonsurgically and evaluated morphologically for stage of development and quality. The distribution of embryos classified as normal, abnormal, retarded or as unfertilized ova, differed (P<0.001) between heat stress and thermoneutral treatments. Only 20.7% of 82 embryos recovered from stressed heifers were normal compared with 51.5% of 68 embryos from thermoneutral animals. Stressed heifers had a higher incidence of abnormal and retarded embryos with degenerate nonviable blastomeres. Responses indicated that thermal stress from 30 h after the onset of estrus to Day 7 post estrus increases the incidence of abnormal and retarded embryos in superovulated heifers.
Journal Article↗
Successful nonsurgical embryo transfer in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis ) in Bulgaria.
Forty-one Day 5.0 to Day 5.5 embryos and one unfertilized ovum were recovered nonsurgically from 24 superovulated, parous buffalo (Bubalus bubalis ) and transferred nonsurgically to 28 synchronized recipients by a team of Bulgarian and American scientists. Five pregnancies were established and four live buffalo calves were born at the end of normal gestation periods.
Journal Article↗
Influence of environmental temperature on reproductive performance of bovine embryo donors and recipients in the southwest region of the United States.
Superovulation and embryo transfer records on performance of embryo donor (n = 3,908; beef 99%, dairy 1%) and recipient (n = 19,936; beef 92%, dairy 8%) cattle from a commercial transfer unit were analyzed for environmental effects. Embryos (n = 42,428) were recovered on Days 5 to 8 postestrus from superovulated donors. Numbers of ova, fertilized ova and embryos of transferable quality were recorded. Transferable embryos were classified according to stage of development and morphological quality. Embryos (n = 19,936) were transferred nonsurgically. Responses were modeled with maximum-likelihood procedures using log-linear functions of independent variables and ANOVA. Fluctuations in daily maximum temperature (1 to 43 degrees C), for Days 0 to 7 of embryo development, had no effect on distribution of embryos classified as good (48%), fair (40%) and poor (12%). Temperature did not affect the percentage of donors flushed with recoverable ova (89%), mean number of ova (12.2 +/- 0.3), fertilization rate (76%) or percentage of transferable embryos (57%). Recipient pregnancy rate (56%) was not affected by mean maximum temperature for Days 0 to 10 posttransfer. Interactions between temperature and breed type (dairy vs beef), parity (cow vs heifer), or lactational status (lactating vs dry) on pregnancy rate were recorded. Elevated environmental temperature does not appear to adversely affect reproductive responses of donor and recipient cattle intensely managed in a commercial transfer unit.
Journal Article↗
Heat stress-induced alterations in the synthesis and secretion of proteins and prostaglandins by cultured bovine conceptuses and uterine endometrium.
Effect of in vitro heat stress on protein and prostaglandin synthesis and secretion by bovine conceptuses and endometrium was examined. Conceptuses (n = 11) and endometrium (n = 10) obtained on Day 17 of pregnancy were cultured at thermoneutral (39 degrees C, 24 h) or heat stress (39 degrees C, 6 h; 43 degrees C, 18 h) temperatures in medium supplemented with L-[4,5-3H]leucine (100 microCi) and arachidonic acid (10 micrograms/ml). Radiolabeled protein secreted into culture medium increased with time in both groups. Heat stress reduced (p less than 0.001) incorporation of [3H]leucine into intracellular and secreted proteins by conceptuses but did not alter incorporation of [3H]leucine by endometrium. In particular, heat stress reduced by 72% the secretion of bovine trophoblast protein-1, the conceptus polypeptide believed to cause extension of luteal lifespan. Two-dimensional, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that heat stress altered the array of proteins in endometrial and conceptus tissues, as evidenced by the induction of "heat-shock proteins." Endometrial secretion of prostaglandin F (p less than 0.001) and conceptus secretion of prostaglandin E2 (p less than 0.05) increased in response to heat stress. Sensitivity of bovine conceptuses and endometrium to heat stress in vitro suggests that infertility associated with maternal heat stress may be caused, partially by alterations in signals required for maintenance of the corpus luteum during early pregnancy.
Animals↗
[Animal husbandry and biotechnology].
Biotechnology offers the possibility of improved and ingenious diagnostic aids, vaccines, production stimulants, therapeutic agents and even the provision of 'super' animals. In the diagnostics area, monoclonal antibodies are bringing about revolutionary changes both by the identification of infectious diseases and the determination of the sex of the embryo. Vaccines produced by recombinant DNA techniques are of the 'subunit' type which offer increased safety, specificity and reduced cost. Synthetic bovine growth presents the dairy industry with the possibility of maintaining current milk production with 30% fewer cattle and a concurrent significant reduction in feeding costs. 'Transgenetic' animals have already been created in the laboratory. Within the foreseeable future it will be possible to add foreign genes to the genetic composition of animals in order to transfer disease resistance, rapid growth, fertility and efficient use of foodstuffs to their progeny.
Animal Husbandry↗
The effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha on mitochondrial election dense inclusions and secretory granules of the bovine large luteal cell during late pregnancy.
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Animals↗
Fetal survival in the cow after pregnancy diagnosis by palpation per rectum.
It is desirable to determine whether a cow has failed to become pregnant as early as possible, preferably prior to 50 d after insemination. Although palpation per rectum has been the generally accepted method of pregnancy diagnosis in cattle, the procedure may be a significant iatrogenic cause of fetal attrition. In a study conducted at a North Florida dairy from January through June 1982, pregnancy was determined in 192 Holstein-Friesian cows by measuring low milk progesterone (P4) content on day of insemination (Day 0) and elevated P4 on Days 21 and 24. Pregnant cows were randomly assigned to a treatment and a control group. Cows in the treatment group (n=85) were palpated per rectum twice between Days 42 and 46 after insemination. Cows in the control group (n=107) were not palpated until both groups were palpated at Day 90. Palpation, done by two experienced clinicians, consisted of palpation of fetal fluid fluctuation, identification of the amniotic vesicle, and slipping of the chorioallantoic membranes. In both groups of cows fetal viability was monitored by milk P4 content. Last milk (5 to 15 ml) was collected from one front quarter on Days 0, 21, and 24 and twice weekly thereafter through Day 63. Milk was defatted by centrifugation and the fat-free milk progesterone content measured by a radioimmunoassay without extraction. The milk P4 test was 80.0% accurate in determining pregnancy in the palpated and nonpalpated cows. In the cows palpated on Days 42 to 46, pregnancy rates declined by 7.5% as determined by palpation at Day 90, or by 11.4% as determined by milk P4 content through Day 63 (both values P<0.05). Cows that were not palpated on Days 42 to 46 showed a 1.9% increase or a 4.3% decline in pregnancy rates as determined by the same criteria. Before palpation, at Days 42 to 46, pregnancy rates were better in cows that were inseminated in winter (January to March) than in spring (April to June) (82.3% vs 61.6%; P<0.05); P4 content was higher (winter>spring=2.13 ng/ml vs 1.38 ng/ml; P<0.05). First-lactation cows had higher P4 values on Days 21 and 24 than older cows (P<0.01).
Journal Article↗
Heat stress in dairy cows. Its effect on reproduction.
The effects of heat stress are most pronounced in the lactating dairy cow. The effects manifest themselves in several physiologic mechanisms and include negative effects on the duration of estrus, embryonic development, uterine blood flow, hormonal relationships, fetal growth, and subsequent milk yield.
Animals↗
Functional differences between small and large luteal cells of the late-pregnant vs. nonpregnant cow.
This paper describes an in vitro model for the study of two types of steroidogenic luteal cells from cows in different physiological states. Two different populations of enzymatically dispersed bovine luteal cells were separated on the basis of size in a Cel-Sep Sedimentation Chamber. The separated small (12.5-23 micron in diameter) and large (greater than 23 micron in diameter) luteal cells of late-pregnant cows (Days 190-280) contained the distinct morphological characteristics previously defined for these two populations of cells. Cells were evaluated for progesterone (P4) production during a 3-h incubation with and without bovine luteinizing hormone (bLH, 10 ng/ml). Both small and large luteal cells from the late-pregnant cow were found to contain equal levels of P4 at Time 0 and increased but equal levels of P4 after a 3-h incubation. Neither cell type showed an increase in P4 production in response to the addition of bLH (p greater than 0.05). Since these results differed from earlier reports for luteal cells of the nonpregnant cow, small and large luteal cells of the mid-cycle (Day 14) were incubated, and the levels of P4 production were compared with P4 levels from the late pregnant cow. In agreement with previous reports for nonpregnant cows, progesterone content at Time 0 was 7-fold higher in large cells than in small cells (p less than 0.05), and after 3 h of incubation, 13-fold higher (p less than 0.05). Although the small cells responded to the presence of bLH in the incubation medium with a 4-fold increase in P4 production, this increase was not significant (p greater than 0.05). The large cell did not respond to bLH. However, the large cell type continued to contain and produce more P4 than did the small cells treated with bLH. This study indicates that both the small and large luteal cells of late-pregnancy are able to produce P4. However, the large luteal cell of the estrous cycle produces greater quantities of P4 than does the small luteal cell or the large luteal cell of late pregnancy.
Animals↗
Enzyme immunoassay of H-Y antigen: experimental and clinical applications.
A newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for studying H-Y antigen in buffaloes, cattle, horses and humans. A monoclonal H-Y antibody was absorbed with cells from males or females and was then tested against fluid samples known to contain soluble H-Y antigen. In this system, positive absorption manifested itself by a fall in optical density relative to the optical density scored using unabsorbed antibody; this finding signified the presence of H-Y in the absorbing cells. In each of the four species, the fall in optical density was pronounced after absorption with male cells, but some decrease was also evident after absorption with female cells, indicating a degree of nonspecific attachment of the antibody.
Animals↗
Proteins secreted by day-16 to -18 bovine conceptuses extend corpus luteum function in cows.
Corpus luteum function, interoestrous interval and spontaneous uterine PGF-2 alpha (PGF) production were evaluated in 9 cyclic Holstein cows (3/group) after intrauterine injections of pooled conceptus secretory proteins, 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, or homologous serum proteins on Days 15.5 through 21 after oestrus. A significant extension of corpus luteum lifespan and interoestrous interval were detected in cows treated with conceptus secretory proteins compared to the other 2 groups. CL lifespan and interoestrous interval were not different (P greater than 0.25) between 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one and control groups. Evaluation of spontaneous PGF responses suggested that proteins synthesized and secreted by the bovine conceptus accommodate luteal maintenance during early gestation via an attenuation of endometrial PGF production.
Animals↗
Ovarian follicular development during early pregnancy in cattle.
On the day of oestrus (Day 0), 23 cows were assigned randomly to 4 groups in a 2 X 2 factorial experiment. Main effects were cow status [pregnant (P) versus non-pregnant (NP; not mated)] and day (Day 17 versus Day 34) when cows were slaughtered and ovaries collected; i.e. Groups NP-17 (N = 6), NP-34 (N = 5), P-17 (N = 6) and P-34 (N = 6). To mimic CL maintenance associated with presence of a conceptus in Group P-34, cows assigned to Group NP-34 were hysterectomized between Days 4 and 6 after oestrus. Pregnancy in Groups P-17 and P-34 (recovery of conceptus) and CL maintenance between day of surgery and Day 34 in Group NP-34 were confirmed. In Group NP-17, all cows except one were slaughtered before luteolysis. CL-bearing ovaries were serially sectioned (10 microns) and follicles (greater than 0.15 mm) were counted and measured using routine histological techniques. For each size class of follicles, the percentages of follicles were similar (P greater than 0.1) on Days 17 and 34. The percentage of non-atretic follicles (less than 4 pycnotic bodies) was lower (P less than 0.002) in pregnant than non-pregnant groups in the smallest class of antral follicles (0.16-0.28 mm) but was higher (P less than 0.03) in larger classes (0.68-3.67 mm) for pregnant groups. Percentages of atretic follicles were 3.7 and 4.9 (P greater than 0.1) for follicles of 0.16-0.67 mm, 91.1 and 78.9 for follicles of 0.68-3.67 mm (P less than 0.04) and 5.1 and 16.1 (P less than 0.05) for follicles of 3.67-78.56 mm in pregnant and non-pregnant groups respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Characteristics of prostaglandin F measurements in the ovarian circulation during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in the cow.
Holstein or crossbred beef cows were anaesthetized on Days 15 to 17 after oestrus; the ovarian artery (OA), ovarian (utero-ovarian) vein (OV) and a peripheral artery (PA), were catheterized for chronic blood sampling. Beginning on the day after surgery, 6 sequential blood samples were collected every 30-40 min twice daily from 8 cyclic and 6 pregnant cows during Days 16-20: 818 blood samples (including 216 OA and PA concurrent arterial pairs) were collected. Overall least squares means for PGF concentrations (pg/ml) in the OV, OA and PA of cyclic cows were 562, 228 and 106, respectively. A significant (P less than 0.01) OA-PA difference (122 pg/ml) suggests that a local transfer system, between uterine venous effluent and ovarian arterial affluent, is functional in the cow. A transfer efficiency of about 1% was estimated. In cyclic cows differences in OA-PA concentrations of PGF were minimal on Days 16-18 and increased to about 160 pg/ml during luteal regression (Days 19-20). In pregnant cows a biphasic OA-PA pattern of difference in PGF between days was detected, with a peak on Day 18 (136 pg/ml) which was not apparent on Days 19-20. Amplitude of PGF spikes in the OA was significantly higher in cyclic (725 pg/ml) than in pregnant cows (397 pg/ml). We suggest that pregnancy suppresses PGF delivery to the ovarian circulation, resulting in maintenance of the corpus luteum in pregnant cows.
Animals↗