This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein immunization on reproductive traits in ram lambs including the changes in histology and ultrasonographic appearance of testis. Thirty native ram lambs at 19 weeks of age were divided into control (C, n = 10), immunization (I, n = 10) and castration (E, n = 10) groups. Animals in immunization group were immunized against LHRH using ovalbumin-LHRH-7 (OL) protein generated by recombinant DNA technology as a primary and a booster injection at 19 and 23 weeks of age respectively. Animals were bled via jugular venepuncture at 2-week intervals to determine LHRH antibody and testosterone concentrations. Bi-weekly ultrasonographic examination of the testes was performed to determine the changes in ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased. Biopsied testicular tissues taken at 19, 29 and 41 weeks age were also evaluated. At 41 weeks of age, animals were slaughtered. Semen and epididymis were evaluated for the presence of sperm cells. Testicular development and sperm production were suppressed in the immunized animals. Semineferous tubule diameters decreased, basal membrane of the tubule was thickened and hyalinized in immunized ram lambs. While testes of control animals gained their normal ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased, immunized animals had uniform hypoechogenic testicular structure as observed at 19 weeks of age until slaughter. Simultaneous histological and ultrasonographic evaluations indicated that the changes in testicular histology could partly be monitored via ultrasonographic imaging. Nevertheless, it is difficult to claim that ultrasonographic image reflects the exact changes in such instances. In conclusion, these results indicate that recombinant OL fusion protein is effective in immunocastration in ram lambs and has a potential to be used as an alternative to physical castration. Further research studies should be conducted to help assess reproductive status of testes from ultrasound images.
This study investigated the effect of different levels of humic acid on some rumen and blood parameters and rumen protozoa in Norduz sheep. The study was designed and conducted in four-factor repeated measures analysis of variance. Totally 24, approximately 16-week old, female Norduz sheep were used in the study. Four feeding groups were designed. The first group was not given humic acid (C, control GI); the second group was given humic acid of 0.015% of the live weights of the sheep (GII); the third group was given humic acid of 0.030% of the live weights of the sheep (GIII); the fourth group was given humic acid of 0.060% of the live weights of the sheep (GIV). A total of eight sheep having similar ages and live weights were randomly distributed to each group (live weights of 40.230±1.25). The feed consumed by the sheep was limited to 2.5% of their live weights. Blood and rumen fluid samples were collected 2 times (before the test and on 25 th day of the test). Comparison of some blood parameters were collected from the animals before and after the test revealed no significant difference in serum triglyceride and rumen pH levels. It was observed that while live weight, blood serum total protein, blood serum potassium, chloride, and sodium levels decreased (P< 0.05), blood urea and number of rumen protozoa increased (P< 0.05). Considering the values obtained before and after the test, the use of humic acid increased the number of rumen protozoa without negatively affecting blood parameters.Keywords: Blood metabolites, humic acid, lamps, protozoa ÖZET: Bu araştırmada, humik asidin farklı düzeylerinin Norduz kuzularının bazı rumen ve kan parametreleri ile rumen protozoonları üzerindeki etkileri incelendi. Deneme üç faktörlü olarak ölçümlü varyans analizi yapılacak şekilde planlandı ve yürütüldü. Denemede sütten kesilmiş, yaklaşık 16 haftalık yaşta 4 adet Norduz dişi kuzu kullanıldı. Kontrol gribini oluşturan birinci gruptaki kuzulara humik asit verilmedi (GI kontrol), ikinci grupta CA'ın % 0.015 düzeyinde humik asit (GII), üçüncü grupta CA'ın % 0.030 düzeyinde humik asit, (GIII), dördüncü gruba ise % 0.060'i düzeyinde humik asit (GIV) verilecek şeklinde dört grubu yemleme oluşturuldu. Her grupta yaklaşık aynı yaşta ve canlı ağırlıkta (40.230±1.25) sekiz hayvan olacak şekilde kuzular gruplara rasgele dağıtılmıştır. Kuzuların tükettikleri yem miktarı canlı ağırlıklarının % 2.5i olarak sınırlanmıştır. Kan ve rumen sıvısı örnekleri, biri deneme başlangıcında biri de denemenin 25. gününde olmak üzere 2 defa alınmıştır. Hayvanlardan deneme öncesinde elde edilen kan parametrelerinin sonuçları deneme sonradaki değerlerle karşılaştırıldığında kan serum trigliserit ve rumen pH düzeylerinde gözlenmemiştir. Hayvanlarda canlı ağırlık, kan serumu total protein, kan serum potasyum, klor ve sodyum düzeyinde azalma gözlenirken (P< 0.05), kan üre ve rumen protozoa sayısında artma gözlenmiştir (P< 0.05). Araştırmanın sonucunda dönemler dikkate alındığında humik asit kullanımının kan parametreleri üzerinde olumsuz bir etki...
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