The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of trenbolone acetate (TBA) on performance, plasma lipid metabolites, and carcass characteristics of growing ram and ewe lambs in two separate experiments. Treatments consisted of 1) a control, no implants, and 2) a TBA implant (60 mg of Finaplix; Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet). Twelve Rambouillet cross ram lambs (average 19.9 kg BW; Exp. 1) and 1...

Quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3GA), the main phase II metabolite of quercetin (Q) in human plasma, is considered to be a more stable form Q for transport with bloodstream tissues, where it can potentially deconjugated by β-glucuronidase (β-Gluc) aglycone, which easily enters brain. This study evaluates effect lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation on β-Gluc gene expression choroid plex...

Lipoic acid is a naturally occurring compound that has been shown to modulate insulin sensitivity when supplemented to the diet. Elevated blood insulin concentrations have been shown to decrease progesterone catabolism in several species by modulating hepatic steroid metabolic enzyme activity and expression. We hypothesized that lipoic acid supplementation would decrease progesterone (P4) catab...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of 20% bull seminal plasma to semen extenders on post-thaw sperm motility, morphology, and fertility. Two Merino rams at 3-5 years of age, 43 ewes, and one Holstein bull were used. Fourteen ejaculates were collected by the use of an artificial vagina, twice a day, at 60 min interval. Six semen ejaculates were extended with Tris-egg...

Our objectives were to evaluate maternal body changes in response to dietary restriction or the increased nutrient requirement of fetal growth. In Exp. 1, 28 mature crossbred ewes (61.6 +/- 1.8 kg initial BW) were fed a pelleted forage-based diet to evaluate effects of pregnancy and nutrient restriction on visceral organ mass. Treatments were arranged in 2 x 3 factorially, with dietary restrict...

To study the effects of elevated maternal levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the fetus, nine chronically catheterized pregnant ewes (132 ± 0.9 days of gestation) were infused intravenously for 3 days with Synacthen (5 μg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ day-1). Four ewes were given 0.15 M saline intravenously over the same period. ACTH induced hypertension in the ewe. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increase...

The secretion of ovine lymphocyte suppressor factor from jugular vein (JV), uterine vein (UV), and curetted hemopoietic uterine luminal (UL) mononuclear cells was evaluated on d 14 of the cycle, following ovariectomy (OVX) and after 14 d of progesterone injections (OVX + P4, 1 mg/kg BW). Mononuclear cells (predominantly lymphocytes) were harvested by Ficoll-Paque and placed into culture (2.5 x ...

Effects of infusions of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) into the 3rd ventricle of the brain of ewes during the proestrus on the immunoreactive (ir) gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal system, pituitary luteinizing hormone(LH) producing cells and LH concentrations in the blood plasma were studied. None of the CRF-treated sheep displayed the estrous activity nor ovulated o...

Melatonin implants are commonly used to control sheep reproduction during the winter solstice, but their effect on wool growth is unclear. In this study, wool growth was measured in 17 Assaf (carpet wool), 21 Rasa Aragonesa (medium wool) and 20 Merino (fine wool) ewes after inserting melatonin implants in January, February and April, and 13 ewes were used as control. All ewes were previously ov...

The study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin treatment on ewe’s and ram’s reproductive activity, out-of-season breeding, usually matching with spring. eighty four adult ewes 16 genitor rams Ouled Djellal breed, taken randomly out a 176 ovine flock were treated respectively 1 or 3 subcutaneous ear implants (Melovine). 76 non-treated remaining served as control group. rams, ke...