Studies were conducted to evaluate uterine motility and fertility of ova in ewes either given or not given supplemental selenium/vitamin E (SSE or NSE, respectively). The ewes were maintained on either an adequate plane of nutrition (APN) or an inadequate plane of nutrition (IPN). In a fertility study, 60 ewes were allotted to four treatment groups, (15 ewes per group): SSE-APN, NSE-APN, SSE-IP...

During pregnancy, arterial pressure, baroreceptor sensitivity, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to hypotension are decreased. Basal ACTH and cortisol are increased in pregnancy, suggesting a reduction in cortisol feedback inhibition of ACTH. Acute treatment with progesterone decreases arterial pressure, baroreflex-mediated responses, and corticosteroid feedback effects on ACTH. ...

Cystatin C (CST3) is a secreted inhibitor of lysosomal cysteine proteases cathepsins B (CTSB) and CTSL, which are abundant in the ovine endometrium and conceptus. In mice, cathepsins and cystatins play important roles in implantation and placentation. This study determined effects of the estrous cycle, pregnancy, progesterone (P4), and interferon-tau (IFNT) on CST3 in the ovine uterus. In cycli...

Anestrous ewes respond to the introduction of rams with either an ovulation within 2-3 days that may be followed by luteal phases of normal or short length, with delayed ovulations (5-6 days later), or with the luteinization of follicles. The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the growth status of the largest follicle present when rams are introduced and the type of ovarian ...

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing Lori ewes with rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) in late pregnancy on their performance and that of their lambs. Milk yield and blood metabolite profile were measured. Forty pregnant ewes were used in a completely randomized design trial with four treatments: 1) a basal diet (control); 2) with a supplement of 5% fishmeal; 3)...

The effects of exogenous melatonin on reproductive performance of 737 Polypay and Polypay-cross ewes were evaluated during a late March and April breeding period. Different concentrations (2 or 10 mg) routes of administration (fed vs implanted) and durations of administration (20 or 40 d before breeding) were studied. Estrus was synchronized in all ewes using 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (...

background: considering the difference between the rate of multiple ovulation and ovarian activities of different breeds of ewes in different regions, especially out of seasonal breeding condition, finding efficient and effective protocols to induce multiple ovulation out of seasonal breeding would be much appreciated. objectives: this study was conducted to determine fertility and multiple ovu...

The incidence of oestrus (6/46) and ovulation (14/46) in ewes given antisera to androstenedione, oestrone, oestradiol and testosterone either separately or as a mixture of these sera at the time of treatment with progestagen sponges alone or progestagen sponges followed by LH-RH was similar to that of control ewes (2/13 and 6/13 respectively). The number of corpora lutea (CL) recorded for those...

Receptors for the bacterial chemotactic peptide fMLP are implicated in inflammation and host defense against microbial infection. We investigated the expression and function of fMLPR in microglial cells, which share characteristics of mononuclear phagocytes and play an important role in proinflammatory responses in the CNS. The expression of the genes encoding formyl peptide receptor (FPR)1 and...

Sheep exposed to testosterone during a critical period from gestational day (GD) 30 to GD 90 develop masculine genitals and an enlarged male-typical ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (oSDN). The present study tested the hypothesis that separate critical periods exist for masculinization of these two anatomical end points. Pregnant ewes were treated with testosterone propiona...