No abstract

Two parallel schemes of crosses were practised involving the Spanish maternal line called V-line (V) and Saudi Gabali (S) rabbits. The first scheme began by crossing Saudi Gabali bucks with V-line does to get the F 1 cross ( 1 2 S 1 2 V), then does of this F 1 were backcrossed with bucks of V-line to get 3 4 V 1 4 S, then the progenies of the backcross were inter se mated to get ( 3 4 V 1 4 S) 2 , followed by two more generations of inter se mating of ( 3 4 V 1 4 S) 2 to get a new synthetic maternal line named Saudi 2. The second scheme began by crossing V-line bucks with Saudi does to get the F 1 cross ( 1 2 V 1 2 S), then does of this F 1 cross were backcrossed with Saudi bucks to get 1 2 S 1 2 V, then progeny of this backcross were inter se mated to get ( 3 4 S 1 4 V) 2 , followed by two generations of inter se mating of ( 3 4 S 1 4 V) 2 to form a new synthetic paternal line named Saudi 3. A generalised least-square procedure was used to estimate differences between lines in direct and maternal additive effects, direct and maternal heterosis, and direct recombination losses. A total number of 2497 ejaculates of 642 bucks were evaluated for ejaculate volume (VE), pH of semen, sperm concentration (SC), percentage of motile spermatozoa (MS), percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal form (AS), percentage of dead spermatozoa (DS) and libido score (LS). The estimates of direct additive effect for DS (14.2%), SC (12.4%) and AS (12.0%) were moderate and favourable to Saudi rabbits. Maternal additive effects for VE (11.7%) were in favour of genes of V-line carried by the dams of bucks, while these estimates were in favour of Saudi genes for DS (18.6%), AS (13.2%), MS (10.8%) and SC (10.0%). Positive estimates of direct heterosis recorded for SC (13.5%), VE (10.6%) and MS (10.5%) and the negative estimates recorded for AS (221.5%) and DS (220.3%) were moderate and well disposed to semen parameters of crossbred bucks. Positive estimates of maternal heterosis for VE (24.0%), MS (21.8%), SC (10.3%) and LS (10.2%) of bucks, and the negative estimates for percentage of DS (214.7%) and AS (29.6%) were also significantly favourable. Estimates of direct recombination losses for the majority of semen traits were always not significant.

Metabolic profile changes of the follicular fluid of the growing follicles can be used as an indirect indicator of the oocyte and granulosa cells quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical compositions of follicular fluid collected from follicles at different stages of growth and their relationship with that of blood serum in Dromedary camel. Ovaries were colleceted from local slaughterhouse (Oniza, KSA). Soon after slaughtering, blood samples were collected from Dromedary camel (n = 20) and follicular fluid was aspirated from three different groups of non-atretic follicles (4–6)mm, 6–8mm and 10–20mm diameter). Follicular samples were pooled by maintaining the follicular sizes. Concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, total protein, lactate dehydrosenase (LDH), cortisol, triiodothyronine (T3), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were assayed in each serum and follicular fluid sample. The concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, LDH, T3, IGF-1 and NEFA decreased in the follicular fluid irrespective of follicular sizes and increasing in trend for urea in comparison with blood serum. There was a significant concentration gradient for IGF-1 in small follicular group compared to large or medium groups. Our data from the present study suggest that the oocyte and the granulosa cells of Dromedary she camel develop in a biochemical environment that does not have remarkable changes from small to large follicles except for IGF-1. In conclusion, the above-mentioned metabolic changes in the growing follicle is related to blood metabolic changes and, therefore, may be used in determining follicular dominance, oocyte and granulosa cells quality in Dromedary camel.

In a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, 3 levels of L-arginine (0, 75 and 150 mg/kg BW per day) were tested at two stages of pregnancy (Early 60 days vs. Late 60 days) on the maternal blood metabolites and postnatal milk composition relative to the newborn traits of Najdi ewes.. Thirty adult pregnant Najdi ewes were randomly assigned into 6 treatments (n = 5). Control early (CE) ewes were orally administered 50 mL normal saline (0.9% NaCl) daily during the first 60 days of pregnancy; control late (CL) ewes were similar to CE except saline was given at the last 60 days of pregnancy; low dose of L-arginine at early pregnancy (LE); low dose of L-arginine at late pregnancy (LL); high dose of L-arginine at early (HE) and high dose of L-arginine at late pregnancy (HL). Blood and milk samples were collected on a weekly basis. Data of lambing and newborn traits were considered. There were non-significant differences in litter size due to L-arginine; however lamb birth and weaning weights increased by 35% in LE-ewes. Arginine did not change blood protein and albumin. Low arginine decreased lipid fractions, creatinine, urea, and milk fat; however, it increased AST, ALT, milk lactose and milk ash. Administration of L-arginine at 75 mg/Kg BW per day for 60 days at an early gestation in ewes improved the maternal body health and milk composition for the welfare of the neonates.

Postpartum resumption of ovarian activity under environmental stressors is highly important for determining subsequent fertility in camel. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship of relevant biochemical and hormonal parameters in the blood serum with regard to ovarian resumption of dromedary camel at early post-partum. Blood samples were collected from female dromedary camel weekly during the postpartum period for 9 successive weeks. Serum and plasma samples were assayed for the following biochemical and hormonal constituents, glucose, cholesterol (CH), triglycerides (TG), total protein (TP), urea, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cortisol and triiodothyronine (T3). Glucose concentrations ranged between 92.6 and 96.2 mg/dL for the first 6 weeks postpartum, and increased to 106.8 mg/dL at week 7 postpartum (P < 0.01). The concentrations of CH followed almost the same manner during the first 7 weeks (ranged between 27.5 and 30.4 mg/dL) and increased to 38.2 mg/dL at week 8 postpartum (P < 0.01). Likewise, total protein concentrations decreased from 6.86 g/dL week2 to 6.45 g/dL at week 3 (P < 0.01) with no significant changes thereafter. Similarly, triglycerides decreased from 24.5 mg/dL at week 2 to 13.00 mg/dL at week 3 (P < 0.01) with no significant changes up to week 9. The concentrations of NEFA decreased significantly at week 3 postpartum (P < 0.01) and then maintained at low level throughout the study period. Similarly, cortisol and IGF-1 concentrations were the lowest at week 3 postpartum (5.7 µg/dL and 93.7 µg/mL for cortisol and IGF-1, respectively, P < 0.01) and then increased gradually with some little variations of IGF-1. However, the levels of urea followed a characteristic increasing and subsequently decreasing patterns while reached a plateau at weeks 8 and 9 postpartum. Similarly, the concentrations of T3 followed the same pattern and tended to increase at week 9 postpartum. Concentrations of LDH showed a significant decrease at weeks 4 to 6 postpartum and increased thereafter (P < 0.01). Throughout the study period, changes of glucose, cortisol, CH, TP, IGF-1, NEFA and LDH had a clear trend, i.e. decreasing at early postpartum period followed by increasing patterns thereafter. The results of the present study suggest that the typical metabolic patterns that are found in blood serum of dromedary camel at postpartum may be reflected in the follicular fluid and, therefore, may use as an indication of reproductive resumption.