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Our goal was to determine whether transforming growth factor b (TGFb) isoforms were involved in the process of sperm survivability in the sperm-storage tubules (SST) in the utero-vaginal junction (UVJ) of hen oviduct. The birds were artificially inseminated. The mRNA expressions of three types of TGFb isoforms (TGFb2, TGFb3, and TGFb4) and three types of receptors (TbR1, TbR2, and TbR3) were examined in the presence or in the absence of resident sperm in SST by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. The mRNA expression of TGFbs and TbRs in sperm was also examined. Immunocytochemistry and western blot were performed for TbR2 to confirm its localization in UVJ. The sperm were observed at least 10 days after insemination by histology. The mRNA expressions of TGFbs and TbRs were significantly increased in UVJ in the presence of resident sperm in SST. The mRNA expressions of TGFbs and TbRs were also observed in sperm. Immunohistochemistry revealed that TbR2 were located in lymphocytes in UVJ and SST cells. The presence of TbR2 in UVJ was also confirmed by western blot. These results suggest that enhanced expressions of TGFbs and TbRs in UVJ may protect sperm in SST, probably by suppressing anti-sperm immunoreactions.

A unique property of the avian oviduct is to store sperm for a prolonged period. The sperm storage tubules (SST) are located in the utero‐vaginal junction of the oviduct, where sperm can be stored and survived for a few weeks after insemination or natural mating. The immune system in the oviduct is essential to prevent tissue infection by various microorganisms, and it may also affect the fate and survivability of sperm in the oviduct. Anti‐sperm immunoresponses including infiltration of leukocytes may be induced in the vagina of the oviduct. Sperm that will participate in fertilization may be selected by these immunoresponses. However, sperm stored in the SST may be protected from the immunoresponse by SST structures and transforming growth factor β, whose expression is increased during sperm storage in the SST. In this review, the mechanism of sperm survivability with reference to the regulation of anti‐sperm immunoresponses in hen oviduct is emphasized.

The aim of this study was to determine the physiological significance of interleukin-1b (IL1B) and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF factor (LITAF) in the fate of sperm in the oviduct of laying hens after artificial insemination (AI ). Laying hens were inseminated with fresh semen, PBS or seminal plasma and tissues from different oviductal segments were collected to observe the general histology, changes in the mRNA expression of IL1B and LITAF and the localization of positive cells expressing immunoreactive IL1B (irIL1B). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to observe the changes in mRNA expression of these molecules in the infundibulum, uterus, utero-vaginal junction (UVJ), and vagina after insemination. Intact sperm in the lumen and between the primary or secondary folds of the vagina were found until 6 h after insemination but were degraded at 12 h. The mRNA expression of IL1B and LITAF was significantly increased in the vagina until 6 h after AI but remained unchanged in the other oviductal segments. In the tissue of the vagina and UVJ, irIL1B was localized in the mucosal stroma. The number of irIL1B-positive cells was increased in the vagina but almost unchanged in UVJ after insemination with semen. Significant changes were not observed in the mRNA expression and irIL1B-positive cells in the vagina after PBS or seminal plasma insemination. The increase of IL1B and LITAF in the vagina may lead to sperm degradation and elimination by cilia of surface epithelium, whereas their lower levels in UVJ may permit sperm to survive in sperm storage tubules.

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The aim of the present study was to examine whether chicken sperm express mRNA of Toll-like receptors (TLR) and avian β-defensins (avBD), and whether the expression of avBD in the sperm are regulated by the interaction of TLR-2 and TLR-4 with their corresponding ligands. Total RNA was extracted from fresh sperm and mRNA expression for TLR and avBD were examined by reverse-transcription PCR. Changes in the expression of avBD-5, avBD-9, avBD-10, and avBD-12 in the sperm after incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; TLR-4 ligand) or lipopeptide (Pam3CSK4; TLR-2 ligand) were examined by real-time PCR. Among 8 types of TLR, PCR products of 7 types, namely, TLR-2 to TLR-5, TLR-7, TLR-15, and TLR-21, were identified in the sperm. The sperm also expressed cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), which is required for the binding of LPS to TLR-4. Out of 14 avBD types reported in the chicken, a total of 9 types, namely, avBD-1, avBD-3, avBD-5, and avBD-7 to avBD-12 were expressed by the sperm, whereas avBD-5, avBD-9, avBD-10, and avBD-12 showed dense signals on the gel. Expression levels of avBD-5, avBD-9, avBD-10, and avBD-12 were significantly increased in the sperm stimulated with LPS, and that of avBD-5 was also enhanced by Pam3CSK4. These results suggest that avian sperm have the ability of the innate host defense to protect themselves from infection in the male and female genital tracts.

Present study was carried out to evaluate the hatching and growth performances of guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) kept under intensive rearing system at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mymensingh. To develop a base population of guinea fowls at BAU Poultry Farm, a good number of hatching eggs were collected from different regions of the country. In first phase, the physical features of hatching eggs, their incubation period, care and handling of eggs during incubation, their fertility and hatchability were investigated. Eggs were hatched in a home incubator incubator at BAU Poultry Farm. In second phase, brooding management of the keets, growth performances, prevention and control of diseases and mortality of the birds were observed. All the activities were performed at the Laboratory of Poultry Science and the Poultry Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Brooding of keets was performed under full intensive system in a littered floor. Broiler starter feed was supplied during the brooding period. Results showed that the shape of egg was top like and both white and spotted cream color shell was found. The average egg weight was 38g per egg and shell thickness was 0.52 mm. The incubation period was 28 days. Fertility and hatchability on set eggs were 80 and 68%, respectively. Dead in shell and dead in germ were 15 and 4%, respectively. The average day-old keet weight was 25.8 g. Average feed intake per bird per day during 0-4, 5-8 and 9-11 weeks of age were 10.22, 30.91 and 52.6 g with the feed conversion ratios were 3.25, 3.05 and 2.88, respectively. The keet’s mortality up to 11 weeks was 10%. Economic feasibility should be taken into consideration with the observation of egg production and other associated parameters keeping guinea under complete free-range rearing system.Progressive Agriculture 27 (1): 70-77, 2016

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