In this study, we cryopreserved pig spermatozoa using carboxylated poly-L-lysine (CPLL) as the cryoprotectant to determine its efficacy. Pig spermatozoa were placed in a freezing extender
containing 3% (v/v) glycerol and different CPLL concentrations. The motility indices of the spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% (v/v) CPLL at 6 (59.3), 9 (53.7), and 12 (26.2) h after
thawing were significantly higher (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) than those of the spermatozoa cryopreserved without CPLL (53.7, 40.1, and 17.5 at 6, 9, and 12 h after thawing, respectively).
The concentration of CPLL in the freezing extender did not affect the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes
in vitro
. However, the blastocyst formation
rate of embryos derived from spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% CPLL (24.6%) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of embryos derived from spermatozoa cryopreserved without CPLL
(11.2%). The conception rate of the sows inseminated with spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% CPLL (72.2%) was not significantly different from that of the sows inseminated with spermatozoa
stored at 17°C (81.3%). However, the mean number of total piglets born to the former (10.0) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of total piglets born to the latter (13.4). The
results showed that CPLL in the freezing extender maintained the motility of frozen-thawed pig spermatozoa and improved the
in vitro
development of embryos produced by
in vitro
fertilization. In addition, we have demonstrated that piglets could be obtained with artificial insemination using spermatozoa cryopreserved with CPLL.
IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to determine the effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood oxidative stress biomarkers and antibody response to vaccination in calves.Material and methodsThirty-four clinically healthy 2 week old Japanese Black calves were randomly assigned to two groups. Seventeen calves formed the VC group which received 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily from 2 to 8 weeks of age, and the other 17 calves of the control group did not receive supplementation. All calves received an inactivated Histophilus somni vaccine at 4 and 8 weeks of age. Blood samples were taken at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age.ResultsThe concentration of the serum reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), and the oxidative stress index (OSI), which is calculated from the d-ROMs and biological antioxidant potential, were significantly lower at 8 weeks of age in the VC group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The antibody titres to H. somni in the VC group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 12 weeks of age after the second vaccination (P < 0.05).ConclusionVitamin C supplementation to calves may reduce oxidative stress and enhance the antibody production after vaccination with H. somni.
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in 376 Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates from fecal samples of Hooded and White-naped cranes was investigated on
the Izumi plain in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, during winter 2016 and 2017. Resistance to oxytetracycline, ampicillin, and nalidixic acid were observed in 10.9%, 3.1–4.4%, and 2.1–7.7% of
isolates, respectively. Since the previous surveillance in 2007, isolation rates of antibiotic-resistant E. coli recovered from wild cranes have remained at significantly
low levels compared with those in Japanese livestock. Our results indicate that surveillance of antibiotic-resistant E. coli from wild cranes wintering in the Izumi plain
could be a useful strategy to indicate natural environmental pollution by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment.
Introduction
Potential biomarkers for chronic seasonal heat stress in Kagoshima Berkshire pigs reared in the subtropical region were investigated by comparing the biomarker changes in the summer (a period of chronic heat stress) and winter (a thermoneutral period) seasons.
Material and Methods
Pigs were allocated to summer- and winter-finishing cohorts, 12 each. The evaluations included assessment of carcass traits and internal organs’ normality carried out at the time of slaughter, and measurement of biomarkers in whole blood: derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential as markers of oxidative stress, and serum amyloid A and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio as markers of acute and chronic inflammation, respectively.
Results
The summer-finished pigs reared under subtropical field conditions showed lower carcass quality than the winter-finished pigs, indicating a potential adverse effect of summer temperatures on the swine industry. Marginal changes were observed in d-ROMs and the A/G ratio between the summer- and winter-finishing cohorts.
Conclusions
The results demonstrate that d-ROMs and the A/G ratio could be used as sensitive markers for heat stress under field conditions.
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