Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major health problem worldwide that currently lacks an effective therapeutic solution. This study was conducted with an ovine IUGR model to test the hypothesis that parenteral administration of l-arginine (Arg) is effective in enhancing fetal growth. Beginning on d 28 of gestation, ewes were fed a diet providing 100% (control-fed) or 50% (underfed) of...

There is strong evidence that the gonads modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. To investigate these sex differences at the adrenal glands of sheep we compared the cortisol response to ACTH (experiment 1) and measured the relative expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERS1), androgen receptor (AR), melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) and steroid acute regulatory protein (STAR) mRNA in a...

This study investigated whether the transmission of naturally occurring scrapie in sheep can be prevented using embryo transfer. Embryos were collected from 38 donor ewes in a Suffolk sheep flock with a high incidence of naturally occurring scrapie, treated with a sanitary procedure (embryo washing) recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society and then transferred to 58 scrapie-free...

Abrupt weaning, a usual management in sheep productive systems, may provoke behavioural and physiological responses indicative of stress in ewes and lambs. Progesterone (P4) has anxiolytic and sedative effects through the union of its metabolites that contain 3α-hydroxyl group to the γ-aminobutyricacidA receptor. Our first aim was to determine whether P4 administration reduces the behavioural a...

The development of an efficient and practicable method for transcervical collection of embryos in Awassi ewes to the improvement of embryo recovery was investigated. Twentyfour non-pregnant Awassi ewes of 3-4 years of age were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 12). Each ewe was treated with a progesterone impregnated intra-vaginal sponge for 12 days. The following superovulation treatment...

Levels of prostaglandins F (PGF) in uterine tissues and in uterine and peripheral plasma from ewes with and without IUD's were examined. Mature ewes were laparotomized on day 2 of the estrous cycle. Fifteen ewes with a corpus luteum on only one ovary were assigned at random to either a treated group (10 ewes) which received an intrauterine device (IUD) in each uterine horn or to a control group...

An experiment was conducted to determine whether gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) or HCG would reduce the proportion of unruptured follicles in the Galway ewe following a high superovulating dose of PMSG given in conjunction with a progestagen to synchronize oestrus. Forty-four Galway ewes aged 1\m=1/2\to 5 years (average wt 64\m=.\7kg) were treated with intravaginal pessaries impregnate...

Two experiments were performed to determine the endocrine and ovarian changes in medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)-primed ewes after ram introduction. Experiment 1 was performed during the mid-breeding season with 71 ewes primed with an intravaginal MAP sponge for 12 days. While the control (C) ewes (n = 35) were in permanent contact with rams, the ram effect (RE) ewes (n = 36) were isolated fo...

To study the impact of body condition score (BCS) ewes on weight (BW) and gain (BWG) lambs effect weaning age BW BWG lambs, thirty Awassi (2–3 years old) with their borne male were used in study. Ewes condition-scored assigned to three groups, 1st, 2nd 3rd groups BCS 2.5, 3 3.5 respectively. Lambs weaned neither 60 or 90 days (5 for each), lasted days. The analyzed data showed significant (P≤0....