Advanced pregnant healthy HF crossbred cows (n=20) of 2-4 parity were equally divided in to control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment/nutrients supplementation (RFF + bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/d and ASMM @ 50 g/h/d) groups and were studied from 2 wks prepartum to 8 wks postpartum for plasma profile of steroid hormones and metabolites on days -14, -3, 0, +3, +14, +28 and +42 as well as for puerperal events and postpartum fertility. The mean plasma progesterone values were maximum (>6 ng/ml) on day 14 prepartum, which declined significantly (p<0.01) on day 3 prepartum reached to the basal levels (<1 ng/ml) on the day of calving, remained basal till day 14, and thereafter showed a rising trend on days 28 and 42 postpartum. The oestradiol-17 values were at its peak on the day of calving (p<0.01), showed a rapid fall by day 3 postpartum and remained low till recrudesce of follicular activity around day 35 postpartum. However, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in either of the hormones, except on day 42 postpartum. The levels of cortisol and PGF 2  Metabolites (PGFM) were 3-8 times higher on the day of parturition as compared to values at day 14 pre-and postpartum, and declined further till day 42 postpartum reaching to prepartum levels. The plasma cholesterol gradually decreased as parturition approached and increased in postpartum days to reach the highest value (p<0.01) at day 42. The nutrients supplemented cows had significantly (p<0.01) higher plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol values than the control cows around parturition. However, no such variation was noted in plasma protein profile. The period of uterine involution in control and supplemented groups was identical (31.97±1.82 and 30.27±1.41 days), yet the cows in treatment group resumed estrous cycle earlier (38.00±1.95 vs 42.32±4.14 days, p<0.05) and had shorter service period (85.22±7.17 vs 100.67±5.60 days) with improved pregnancy rate (80 vs 60 %) as compared to those in control group. Thus, the peripartum nutrient supplementation in crossbred cows was beneficial and had positive effect on the postpartum fertility and plasma cortisol, PGFM and cholesterol profile.

No abstract

Twenty healthy advanced pregnant crossbred (HF x K) cows of 2-4 parity were included in the study from 2 weeks prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum. They were equally divided in to control (routine farm feeding-RFF) and treatment (RFF plus area specific multi-minerals @ 50 g/h/d and bypass fat @ 100-200 g/h/d) groups to evaluate the effect of bypass fat and minerals supplementation on plasma metabolites and hormonal profile and postpartum fertility. The plasma levels of T3 increased (P less tha 0.01) on the day of calving and then abruptly dropped till day 14 postpartum as compared to levels at other periods, while T4 decreased (P less than 0.05) consistently throughout the study period particularly in control group. However, the influence of nutritional supplementation was found to be non-significant on both these hormones. The blood glucose levels were at peak concurrent to highest plasma cortisol on the day of calving. The cows under supplemented group had significantly (p less than 0.01) higher mean blood glucose (64.51±3.10 vs 59.13±3.06 mg/dl) and cortisol (16.19±2.51vs 11.23±1.34 ng/ml)than the control cows. The mean plasma levels of NEFA increased from day 14 prepartum to the highest (p less than 0.01) on the day of calving and thereafter reduced in postpartum days in both the groups with significantly higher mean value in supplemented than control group (0.58±0.09 vs 0.47±0.07 mmol/l). The prepartum plasma BHBA also increased as parturition approached, continued to increase further in the early postpartum period to reach a peak (1.21±0.09 and 0.87±0.04 mmol/l for control and treatment group) (p less than 0.01) on day 14, and thereafter decreased. In general, the plasma NEFA, BHBA, cortisol and glucose levels were found to be higher in the cows of nutrient supplemented group which had lesser time intervals for expressing first postpartum estrus and service period with better pregnancy rate. Thus the nutrient supplementation during transition period was beneficial in maintaining energy status of the cows and improved reproductive performance postpartum.

No abstract

The experiment was undertaken to study the therapeutic efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Bryophyllum calycinum and Achyranthes aspera on adenine induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in male Wistar rats. The rats (n = 48) were divided randomly into eight equal groups (n = 6 each). Group I and II served as normal and adenine control, respectively. In group II to VIII, CKD was induced by administration of adenine (200 mg/kg) along with drinking water for 28 days. After 28th day, the rats of CKD induced Groups III to VIII were given aqueous and alcoholic plant extracts of B. calycinum and A. aspera @ 300 mg/kg b.wt. orally as either single or combination of both herbal extracts (3:1) in 0.5 % sodium bicarbonate using syringe and rat gavage needle. CKD was confirmed by evaluating serum biochemical parameters before and after herbal treatment. Increased levels of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine and phosphorus, while decreased levels of serum total protein were observed in all CKD groups by 28th day as compared to 0 day or normal control group, which was significantly reverted to near normal levels by day 70th following administration of single aqueous/alcoholic extract or a combination as biherbal extracts (3:1) from day 28 to 70 of experiment. The serum albumin and calcium, however, did not show significant alteration in any of the groups. Results of serum biochemistry revealed that aqueous and alcoholic extracts of B. calycinum and A. aspera possess good therapeutic/nephroprotective efficacy against CKD. The effect of biherbal alcoholic extract of the plants was much better in restoring the biochemical values of CKD induced rats by 42 days of administration.

The estrus induction and fertility response along with biochemical and minerals profile of >90 days postpartum anoestrus crossbred cows following use of different estrus synchronization protocols was investigated during summer and winter seasons. The true anoestrus cows selected (n=43 in summer, n=40 in winter) were randomly treated with Ovsynch, Heatsynch and PRID protocols keeping 10 animals as control in both the seasons. During summer season, the estrus induction response with Ovsynch, Heatsynch and PRID protocol was 80, 90 and 80 %; while in winter season, the response was 100% with all three protocols. In summer season, the conception rates with Ovsynch, Heatsynch and PRID protocols at induced estrus were 30, 20 and 20 %and those of 3 cycles 60, 40 and 50 %, respectively, while in winter season, the conception rates at induced estrus were 45.45, 27.27 and 36.36 % and overall of 3 cycles 72.72, 45.45 and 63.64%, respectively. The overall mean plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (mg/dl) in anoestrus cows under Ovsynch, Heatsynch and PRID protocols were 171.57±4.75, 190.97±4.90 and 184.93±3.10 during winter and 163.73±4.96, 162.87±11.24 and 177.63±7.98 during summer, respectively. The corresponding values for plasma total protein (g/dl) during winter season were 7.77±0.11, 7.90±0.12and7.51±0.14, and in summer season 7.90±0.14, 8.02±0.67 and 8.32±0.10, respectively. The cholesterol levels were insignificantly lower and protein levels were significantly higher in summer than winter season, particularly in non-conceived cows. Among the minerals profiles, i.e. calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, only the calcium levels were significantly higher during winter and in conceived cows as compared to counter parts. In conclusion, the results showed that estrus synchronization with fixed time insemination protocols can augment fertility in anoestrus crossbred cows under favorable as well as heat stress condition, and the response is better with Ovsynch and PRID protocols without influencing much the blood metabolic profil

A study was carried out on infertile (acyclic and endometriotic) crossbred cows under field and normal cyclic (all 4 phases of cycle) as well as pregnant (3, 6, 9 month) crossbred cows of University farm to evaluate the plasma progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) hormones by RIA, and plasma total protein, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus concentrations by using assay kits on chemistry analyzer. The mean progesterone levels in cows during the diestrus phase and in pregnancy were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than those during proestrus, estrus, metestrus, anestrus, and endometritis status. At six month of gestation, the mean P4 level was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than at early or late gestation. The mean E2 values at estrus and 9th month of gestation were highest (p less than 0.01) as compared to another status. The mean plasma total protein and cholesterol levels were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower during six and nine months of pregnancy than during cyclic and acyclic stages. The cholesterol profile of all three stages of pregnancy and endometriotic cows were statistically similar, though distinctly low at 9 month of pregnancy. Plasma levels of P4 and E2 thus correlated with the physiological and clinical status of cows, while cholesterol levels reflected steroidogenic status. The mean plasma calcium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations of cyclic, acyclic, pregnant and endometriotic cows, however, did not differ significantly.

The study was conducted on Surti buffaloes for follicular dynamics and endocrine profile during normal estrous cycle (n=6) and early pregnancy (n=6). In cyclic and early pregnant buffaloes, one-wave (33.33% vs. 50.00%) and two-waves (66.66% vs. 50.00%) follicular development was recorded, without three-wave pattern. In cyclic buffalo, the length of estrous cycle and duration of inter-ovulatory interval were little shorter in one wave cycles than in two wave cycles (22.50±0.50 and 23.25±0.25 days). The number of follicles differed non-significantly within and between cyclic and early pregnant buffaloes. The mean maximum diameter of dominant follicle of second wave was significantly larger in cyclic than early pregnant animals for two wave pattern (1.09±0.02 vs 0.73±0.02 cm). In cyclic buffaloes, the mean maximum CL size recorded was 1.21±0.02 and 1.52±0.05 cm (P<0.05) in one- and two-wave cycles, respectively, whereas in early pregnant buffaloes, the corresponding CL size was 1.50±0.04 and 1.55±0.07 cm without significant difference. Thus the mean maximum CL size of early pregnant buffaloes was significantly larger than the cyclic buffaloes with one-wave cycle (1.50±0.04 vs. 1.21±0.02 cm). In the normal cyclic animals, the CL size increased gradually up to day 8 (1.30±0.04 cm) and then remained stable up to day 18 (1.26±0.15 cm), followed by regression and display of next estrus between day 19 and 21, whereas in early pregnant animals the CL size gradually increased up to day 10 (1.48±0.07 cm) and then it was maintained till day 22 (1.46±0.04 cm) of monitoring. The mean diameter of largest follicle recorded was on the day of estrus (0.98±0.07 cm) with variable development of follicles during metestrus to diestrus phase with a new follicles developed during proestrus to estrus phase reaching maximum diameter of ovulatory size (0.99±0.09 cm) between days 19 and 21, whereas in early pregnant animals, the diameter of larger follicle (0.76±0.05 cm) was not recorded up to ovulatory size. The mean concentrations of serum progesterone were lowest during peri-estrus phase, increased through early-luteal phase to a maximum concentration during mid-luteal phase (4.50±0.88 to 4.67±0.95 ng/ml) and then gradually declined through late-luteal phase of diestrus in normal cyclic animals with inverse trend in estradiol profile. However, in early pregnant animals the progesterone levels gradually increased initially and then were maintained higher (6.17±0.32 to 8.13±0.55 ng/ml) with basal estradiol throughout the luteal phase. The serum progesterone/estradiol levels were in harmony with the ovarian dynamics in both cyclic and early pregnant buffaloes. The mean concentrations of serum FSH, LH and kisspeptin in normal cyclic and early pregnant animals did not vary statistically between periods within the status or between reproductive status of animals at any of the periods. The concentration of serum kisspeptin dropped significantly in advanced pregnancy as compared to first and second trimester.