Kuru M., Sogukpinar O., Makav M., Cetin N.Effect of barium selenate injections on fertility of Pirlak ewes subjected to estrus synchronization during non-breeding season Summary This study was aimed at determining the effect of barium selenate injections on the fertility of Pirlak ewes which had been subjected to progesterone-assisted estrus synchronization during the non-breeding season. A total of 150 Pirlak ewes between the ages of 2 and 5 years were used in the study. Sponges containing progesterone were inserted into the vaginas of the ewes for 11 (groups I and III) or 14 days (groups II and IV) for the purpose of estrus synchronization, and 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was administered on the day of sponge removal. In addition, barium selenate was injected s.c. immediately before estrus synchronization protocol in groups I and III. After the sponges had been removed, estrus was observed for four days. The ewes were mated with fertile rams. The pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasonography 30 days after mating. It was observed that the estrus rate, pregnancy rate, conception rate, lambing rate, twinning rate, and litter size were not statistically different (P > 0.05) between the groups, but estrus onset was different (P < 0.001). In conclusion, barium selenate injections did not affect the fertility parameters before progesterone-assisted synchronization was applied to the Pirlak ewes during the non-breeding season.

This study aimed to determine the effects of different lengths of progesterone and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) treatment on reproductive performance during the non-breeding season in ewes. Progesterone-impregnated sponges were inserted intravaginally for 7 d in Group 1 (G1, n = 24), 9 d in Group 2 (G2, n = 25), and 11 d in Group 3 (G3, n = 24). On the day of sponge removal, eCG (350 IU) was injected and 24 h later the ewes were exposed to rams. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography 30 ± 3 d after mating. Oestrus symptoms of G2 and G3 started earlier than G1, but there was only a significant difference between G1 and G3 (P = 0.013). In G1, G2, and G3, the oestrus responses were 100%, 100%, and 95.8%, pregnancy rates were 79.2%, 72%, and 75%, lambing rates were 79.8%, 72%, and 75%, litter sizes were 2.5, 2.2, and 2.4, and multiple birth rates were 86.7%, 80%, and 85.7%, respectively (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the short-term progesterone-impregnated sponge and eCG treatment provided excellent oestrus induction. The effects of different days (7, 9, or 11) of progesterone treatment on reproductive indicators were similar; therefore, the stress caused by the inserted sponge can be reduced by short-term use.

Öz: Köpeklerde uterus hastalıkları infertilitenin en önemli problemleri arasında yer almaktadır. Uterusun seksüel siklus dönemlerine göre hormonların etkisiyle patojen etkenlere maruziyette verdikleri cevapların farklı olabileceği bildirilmiş olsa da konuyla ilgili ülkemizde yapılan bir çalışmaya rastlanılmamıştır. Bu çalışmada seksüel siklus evrelerine göre oluşabilecek endometritis tiplerinin histopatolojik olarak incelenmesi ve prevalanslarının ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla farklı ırk, yaş ve seksüel siklus evrelerindeki köpeklerden elde edilen 100 adet endometriyal smear ve uterus doku örneklerin sitolojik ve histopatolojik muayeneleri yapıldı. Sitolojik inceleme için Giemsa ve histopatolojik muayene için Hematoksilen-Eozin (HE) boyamaları yapılan örneklerin mikroskobik incelemeler ile seksüel siklus evreleri ve bu evrelerde gözlenebilecek endometritise ilişkin histopatolojik değişiklikler belirlendi. Bu incelemeler ışığında toplanan uterus örneklerinin %35'inde endometritis saptandı. Endometritisli örnekler yangı karakterine göre kataral, purulent ve kronik non-purulent endometritis şeklinde sınıflandırıldı. Sonuç olarak köpeklerdeki endometritis prevalansının yüksek olduğu, en fazla endometritisin diöstrus evresinde görüldüğü ve en yaygın endometritis tipinin ise kataral endometritis olduğu tespit edildi. Ayrıca endometriyal sitolojik muayenenin uterustaki değişikliklerin saptanmasında ucuz ve pratik bir yöntem olduğu tespit edildi.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of one or two doses of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) on the pregnancy rate (PR) in Simmental cows subjected to the Ovsynch or Ovsynch + Controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocols. On d 0, 100 µg gonadorelin diacetate tetrahydrate (GnRH) was injected into cows in group 1 (n = 50) and group 2 (n = 40) and CIDR was intravaginally inserted. On d 7, 25 mg dinoprost tromethamine (PGF2α, PGF) was administered, and GnRH was injected 56 h later. Fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) was performed 16 h after GnRH injection. In group 3 (n = 62) and group 4 (n = 63), PGF was administered 7 d following GnRH treatment, and GnRH was injected 56 h later. TAI was performed 16 h after GnRH injection. In groups 2 and 4, a second dose of PGF was injected 24 h after the first dose. Pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasonography on d 30 and 60 post-TAI. The pregnancy rate (PR) on d 30 post-TAI was significantly different among the groups: 46%, 55%, 29%, and 36.5%, in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (P = 0.048). In addition, the PR was 36.3% and 43.7% in the single PGF and double PGF injection groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the PR on d 60 post-TAI (P > 0.05). Pregnancy loss was between 4.34% and 11.11% (P > 0.05). The highest PR in the primiparous cows was observed in group 3 (57.7%). The PR was not significantly different among multiparous cows (P > 0.05). In conclusion, two injections of PGF administered 24 h apart in Simmental cows may increase the PR in the Ovsynch or Ovsynch + CIDR protocols.

DNA:DNA:RNA triplexes that are formed through Hoogsteen base-pairing have been observed in vitro, but the extent to which these interactions occur in cells and how they impact cellular functions remains elusive. Using a combination of bioinformatic techniques, RNA/DNA pulldown and biophysical studies, we set out to identify functionally important DNA:DNA:RNA triplex-forming long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in human endothelial cells. The lncRNA HIF1α-AS1 was retrieved as a top hit. Endogenous HIF1α-AS1 reduced the expression of numerous genes, including EPH Receptor A2 and Adrenomedullin through DNA:DNA:RNA triplex formation by acting as an adapter for the repressive human silencing hub complex (HUSH). Moreover, the oxygen-sensitive HIF1α-AS1 was down-regulated in pulmonary hypertension and loss-of-function approaches not only resulted in gene de-repression but also enhanced angiogenic capacity. As exemplified here with HIF1α-AS1, DNA:DNA:RNA triplex formation is a functionally important mechanism of trans-acting gene expression control.