This study was carried out at Sakha Experimental Station, belonging to Animal Production Research Institute to evaluate the effects of oxytocin ( OT) and prostaglandin (PG) administration within 6-12 h of calving on uterine involution and reproductive efficiency of lactating Friesian cows. Total of 15 multiparous Friesian cows with normal parturition averaging 400-650 kg live body weight, 2-7 parities and 2.5-3.5 body condition score were used in this study. Animals were divided into three groups, 5 animals in each. Animals in the 1 st group were i.m. injected with saline solution (control). Animals in the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were administrated with an i.m. injection of 50 IU OT and 3 ml PG (Estromate). Animals in all groups were administrated during the same injection schedule (6-12 h of calving). Routine examination of the genitalia per rectum was conducted once weekly to judge the uterine involution by ultrasonography to determine diameter of uterine horns (gravid and non-gravid), uterine body, length and diameter of cervix and vaginal length. Pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation on day 45 post-insemination, days open (DO) and number of services per conception (NSC) were recorded. Results showed that diameter of non-gravid horns showed insignificantly slight reduction during postpartum period in each group. Diameter of gravid horns decreased (P<0.05) up to day 35 in control group, versus days 21 and 28 of post-partum in OT and PG groups, respectively. Diameter of the uterine body reduced (P<0.05) in OT and PG up to day 21 of post-partum as compared to day 28 in the control group, thereafter uterine horn diameter showed insignificant reduction in each group. Cervical length and diameter reduced (P<0.05) up to day 28 in the control group versus day 21 in OT and PG groups. The changes in vaginal length were not significant during post-partum in each group. Period elapsed from parturition to detectable symmetrical uterine horns was shorter in OT and PG groups (29.9 and 28.4 d) than in the control group (33.7 d), respectively. However, nearly complete cervical closure occurred earlier in treatment groups (26.8 d for OT and 25.5 d for PG groups) than in the control one (28.6 d), but the differences were not significant. It is of interest to note that resumption of vaginal length had the same duration, being on day 14 of post-partum period in all groups. Conception rate (CR) within 120 days of post-partum period was 66.7, 80 and 40% in OT, PG and control groups, respectively. Increasing CR of cows in PG group was associated with greater NSC (1.5 services) and longer DO (79.8 d) than those in the control group (1.0 service and 47.5 d, respectively). However, cows in OT group showed greater NSC and longer days open (2.5 services and 80.5 d., respectively).In conclusion, prostaglandin treatment within 6-12 h of calving (i.m. injection of 3 ml Estromate) as a purpose of stimulating involution had pronounced effect on the duration of uterine involution and improving reproductive performance of Friesian cows in ter...

Objectives Endothelial function is an important factor in the assessment of atherosclerosis, lipid deposition in the inner walls of the arteries, high blood pressure, and heart failure. Vascular endothelial cells play an important role in regulating vascular activities by producing substances such as nitric oxide to stimulate vessels.Methods & Materials The current study was attempted to find out the effect of resistance training on old women's plasma nitric oxide levels and blood pressure. Twenty-four postmenopausal women (age: 67.37±6.02, BMI=26.87±4.16, and WHR=0.92±0.4 mean±SD) were selected objectively and divided into control (n=12) and experimental (n=12) groups randomly. Experimental group performed resistance training for eight weeks, three sessions per week with 40-65% intensity. Study variables were measured and recorded before and after training program. Paired and independent sample t tests were used for data analysis. The significance level was lower than 0.05. Results The results revealed that resistance training had a significant effect on nitric oxide levels (P=0.01) and blood pressure (P=0.006, P=0.002) in old women. Conclusion A period of resistance training with present study characteristics can reduce both systolic and diastolic hypotension and increase plasma nitric oxide levels, and therefore is recommended for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and hypertension in old women. A B S T R A C T 17pecially resistance exercises may reduce or delay the impairment of the endothelial function in the elderly people and causes the endothelial function to return in people with atherosclerosis [8,9]. Therefore, due to limited research on the effect of physical activity on elderly people and the all the above-mentioned materials, current study was undertaken with the aim to investigate the effect of a resistance training course on the concentration of nitric oxide in elderly women. Methods and MaterialsThis research was quasi-experimental and was performed as a 2-group research project with pre-test and post-test. 24 elderly women were selected purposefully as the research sample. They did not have any history of participation in resistance training and were not afflicted with heart disease or specific illnesses. After filling out the consent form by the subjects, they were randomly divided into two groups: resistance training group and control group (n=12). First, the questionnaire of general health, physical activity level, and the medical history was completed by the subjects. To assess their initial situation, we measured their height, weight, BMI, daily systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate. Experimental group participated in course comprising eight weeks of resistance training, three sessions a week with 40-65% intensity and at most one repetition [10][11][12].Blood pressure was measured 48 hours before and after resistance training and 5 cc blood sample was taken from each subject to measure the concentration of nitric oxide. Blood sampling was done...

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The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of GnRH treatment, during different intervals from calving (14, 21 or 28 day-postpartum) on reproductive efficiency, milk production and some hematological parameters of lactating Friesian cows. A total of 35 lactating Friesian cows at 7 day-postpartum (PP), ranging from 4-7 years of age, 2 nd -4 th parity and 450-550 kg LBW was divided into four groups. Cows in the 1 st group (n=8) were injected with saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) on day 14-PP. However, cows in the 2 nd (n=9), 3 rd (n=10) and 4 th (n=8) groups were injected with GnRH on days 14, 21 and 28, respectively. Cows in all groups were observed for heat signs and were artificially inseminated by frozen semen when they were in heat. Pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation on d 60 post first artificial insemination. Blood samples were collected and count of red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV %) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) were performed in whole blood collected for 7 week-PP. The following traits were calculated: postpartum first oestrus interval (PPFOI), treatment to first oestrus interval (TFSI), days open (DO), service period length (SPL), number of services per conception (NSC), calving interval (CI) and conception rate (%). Also, average daily milk yield was recorded during the first 12 wk of lactation period. Results revealed that cows in G2 showed the highest CR (44.5%) within ≤120 day-PP as compared to 37.5% in G1. Within >120 day-PP, cows in G3 showed the highest CR (70%). The effect of GnRH treatment on all reproductive measurements of Friesian cows having ≤120 day-PP was not significant. For Friesian cows having >120 days open, the effect of GnRH treatment on reproductive measurements was significant (P<0.05) only on CI, being longer in G2 (509.4 d) and G4 (514.4 d) than in G1 (461.8 d) and G2 (471.4 d). Within the whole postpartum period, cows in different experimental groups showed inconsistent trend and insignificant differences in all reproductive measurements. Average daily milk yield for 12 wk lactation of cows having ≤120 DO was not significantly affected by GnRH treatment. However, average daily milk yield of cows having >120 DO was lower (P<0.05) in G2 than in G1. Count of RBC and PCV percent were reduced (P<0.05) in G2 as compared to G1, while RBC count decreased (P<0.05) and PCV increased (P<0.05). The differences in all haematological parameters studied in G3 or in Hb concentration of all treated groups were not significant as compared to G1.The current study could conclude that injection with GnRH during different postpartum periods especially on 14 day-PP may help in acceleration of lactating cows to resume their ovarian activity and increasing conception rate during 120 day-PP.