Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta-PPARδ agonist (L-165041) enhances bovine embryo survival and post vitrification viability

The effect of L-165041 (PPARδ-agonist) on decreasing apoptosis and intracellular lipid content was assessed in fresh and vitrified-warmed in vitro -produced bovine embryos. It was hypothesised that the addition of L-165041 to the culture medium enhances development and cryopreservation. Oocytes were allocated to one of two treatments: control-standard culture medium, or L-165041 added to the medium on day1 with no media change. Ultrastructure, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were evaluated in fresh, and in post-vitrification cultured embryos by optical and electronic microscopy. A subset of fresh embryos were fixed for TUNEL assay and for Sudan-Black-B histochemical staining. Vitrified-warmed embryos were assessed using MALDI-MS technique. Cleavage and blastocyst rates (control 49.4±5.2, L-165041 51.8±4.3) were not influenced by L-165041. The proportion of inner cell mass cells (ICM) was higher in fresh embryos, and the rate of total and ICM apoptosis was lower in L-165041. In warmed-embryos, total and ICM apoptosis was lower in L-165041. The overall hatching rate was higher in L-165041 (66.62±2.83% vs 53.19±2.90%). There was less lipid accumulation in fresh L-165041-embryos. In conclusion, the use of L-165041 is recommended to improve the viability of in vitro -derived bovine embryos.

Effects of vulvar width and antral follicle count on oocyte quality, in vitro embryo production and pregnancy rate in Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus cows

It was hypothesized that Brahman cows have greater in vitro embryo production than Simmental cows, and that regardless of breed, antral follicle count (AFC) and vulvar width (VW) are positively associated with oocyte quality, embryo number and pregnancy rate. Brahman (Bos taurus indicus, n = 184) and Simmental (Bos taurus taurus, n = 99) cows were classified as having a large AFC (Brahman: ≥50, Simmental: ≥25); intermediate AFC (Brahman: >30 and ≤49; Simmental: >16 and <24) and small AFC (Brahman: <30, Simmental: ≤15). The VW was considered to be large (Brahman: >123 mm, Simmental: >80 mm); intermediate (Brahman: >102 mm and ≤123 mm; Simmental: >65 mm and ≤80 mm) and small (Brahman: ≤102 mm and Simmental: ≤65 mm). For each group of cows, ovum pick up, oocyte in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture were performed. Embryo transfers were subsequently performed and pregnancy rate was evaluated. Brahman cows had a larger number of viable oocytes, greater efficiency of embryo production and greater pregnancy rate (P < 0.05) than Simmental cows. Pregnancy percentages in Simmental cows with a small AFC were greater than those cows with an intermediate and large AFC. With the Brahman cows, there was no difference in pregnancy rate among the cows with different AFC classifications. In contrast to Simmental cows, Brahman cows with an intermediate VW had a greater pregnancy percentage than those with a small and large AFC. In conclusion, Brahman cows have a larger AFC, number of viable oocytes, and pregnancy rate than Simmental cows.

n-3 Ingestion may modulate the severity of periodontal disease? Systematic review

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of n-3 ingestion on periodontal disease. Besides, we also investigated the relationship between plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and/or aracdonic acid (AA), and periodontal disease. An electronic search was performed in several databases with the following keywords: "n-3," DHA, EPA and polynsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in combination with the term "periodontal disease" (PD). Only studies conducted with humans, involving clinical parameters of PD assessment and use of n-3 were selected, without restriction to the date of publication. The search has returned 1368 articles, 11 of which were selected. The results were separated according to the type of n-3 ingestion: supplementation or n-3 content in normal diet. In the studies where n-3 has been supplemented, there was no significant difference in the clinical severity of PD compared to the control subjects. However, in patients where levels of n-3 were evaluated in a usual diet, a lower disease severity was reported. We have detected a preventive effect related to plasma levels of EPA and DHA against PD progression. Thus, n-3 ingestion may beneficially interfere in PD progression, depending on the duration and dosage of consumption.