1.
Response Of Cryopreserved Nili Ravi Buffalo Bull Semen To Gallic Acid Inclusion In Semen Extender
by Muhammad Tariq | Dr. Imtiaz Rabbani | Dr. Hafsa Zaneb | Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz Yousaf | Faculty of Biosciences.
Material type: ; Format:
print
Publisher: 2012Dissertation note: The major population of buffalo in the world (more than 75%) is located in Asia and 14% in Pakistan, where buffaloes play an important role in rural livestock production providing milk, meat and work draft force. Genetically the ratio of proven buffalo bulls is lesser than cattle bulls, and additionally the volume of semen and spermatozoa concentration is also lower than cattle semen. The success of inseminating buffalos with cryopreserved semen is also low, which account for major cause of fertility problems.
During cryopreservation, the spermatozoa faces osmochemical, mechanical and thermal stresses, which are predominant at dilution, cooling, equilibration, freezing and thawing stages which lead to damage spermatozoa functional and morphological characteristics. Beside these exogenous stresses, oxidative stress damages the spermatozoa endogenously. Keeping in mind all these problems, the reduction of these stresses through inclusion of antioxidants in semen may improve its quality and ultimately the fertility of buffalo bulls. This may be obtained from antioxidant addition to extender at the time of cryopreservation. Gallic acid possess good antioxidative properties, the use of this polyphenolic compound may reduce oxidation in buffalo bull semen.
In the current study, semen from four (n=4) healthy Nili Ravi buffalo bulls was collected by artificial vagina and GA was added to the semen @ 1 µM, 15 µM, 30 µM, 45 µM, 60 µM, and 100 µM and a total of six groups were prepared. One group was kept control and no GA was added to that group. The routine quality evaluation of semen for motility and concentration was made, extender was added, then semen cooled to 4°C filled in 0.5mL straws for 4 hours and frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C.
The semen was then transported to the Physiology Laboratory of UVAS for further evaluations. The parameters evaluated were percentage motility, plasma membrane integrity (HOST assay), acrosomal integrity (NAR), viability (Live/Dead), DNA integrity (Acridine orange assay) and oxidative stress (TBARS assay). Five straws from each GA group were thawed individually in water bath at 37°C for 30 seconds and evaluated for quality parameters. The data collected was presented as cells ± SE and treatment groups were compared using one way analysis of variance. The group differences were compared by using the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results revealed that GA improved (P<0.05) the spermatozoa viability and plasma membrane integrity.
In conclusion, the addition of 15 µM GA to semen extender improved marginally the buffalo bull spermatozoa motility, viability and membrane integrity but still not sufficient to reach the statistical significance, while it has no protective effects on other parameters like Acrosomal integrity, DNA status and oxidative stress. However further studies are needed to assess the role of GA in different concentrations and other animals.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1456,T] (1).
2.
Seasonal Variations In The Testicular And Seminal Characteristics Of Cholistani Bulls
by Umer Farooq | Prof. Dr. Ijaz Ahmad | Dr. Hafsa Zaneb | Prof. Dr. Habib Rehman | Faculty of Biosciences.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
not fiction
Publisher: 2013Dissertation note: All the indigenous cattle of Pakistan belong to Zebu (one-humped) cattle (Bos indicus). There are 15 recognized indigenous breeds of cattle which constitute 43% of the total cattle population in the country. Hefty work has been documented on many aspects of Sahiwal and Red Sindhi breeds of cattle in their respective local climates which have rightly gained them an international fame as being the vital tropical milk breeds of Pakistan. However, scanty work has so far been reported on reproductive indices of other indigenous cattle breeds of Pakistan such as Dajal, Cholistani etc under their local climatic conditions, and their potential still remains unearthed. Hence, it is the dire need of time to comprehend the urgency of protection and propagation of the indigenous cattle breeds of Pakistan at every front.
Following the global lead, an effort has been made through the present study to highlight a formerly neglected indigenous cattle breed of Pakistan- Cholistani- being reared by the nomadic herders of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The study was executed with a specific objective to assess baseline data, seasonal variations and correlations between various non invasive, readily measurable reproductive [age, body weight (BW) and orchidometric parameters viz. scrotal circumference (SC), scrotal skin fold thickness (SSFT), average testicular length (Avg L), average testicular width (Avg W) and paired testicular volume (PTV)], seminal (fresh semen and seminal plasma) and haematobiochemical attributes of Cholistani AI bulls (n=06). Keeping in view the prevailing climatic conditions of the study area, 4 seasons of 2 months duration each were defined as i) stress free autumn (October-November), ii) stressful winter (December-January), stressful dry summer (May-June) and iv) stressful wet summer (July-August).
The overall mean values (± SEM) for age, BW, SC, SSFT and PTV in the present study were 92.83±2.63months, 527.55±4.5kg, 35.39±0.28cm, 1.03±0.02cm and 851.84±16.34cm3, respectively. The BW was recorded to be significantly lower (P<0.05) during the stress free autumn (507.08±8.26kg), however no significant difference was found in the remaining stressful seasons of winter, dry and wet summer. The SSFT was significantly higher (P<0.05) in stress free autumn (1.07±0.04cm) and winter (1.13±0.05cm) being followed by that in wet summer (0.97±0.02cm) and dry summer (0.94±0.03cm). SC and PTV were found to be constant during all the study seasons with no significant variation. Significantly positive correlations (P<0.01) were noticed between various traits.
The overall mean values (± SEM) for ejaculatory volume, number of ejaculates per bull, mass motility, individual sperm motility, number of dozes frozen per bull, sperm concentration, live sperm, morphologically normal sperm and those with acrosome integrity in the present study were 4.92±0.14mL, 1.89±0.02, 2.26±0.06, 63.51±1.03%, 208.26±8.42, 989.73±27.4million/mL, 86.74±0.55%, 86.34±0.51% and 86.64±0.48%, respectively. In general, all the seminal attributes revealed significantly (P<0.05) better results in stressful seasons as compared to stress free season, with the exception of number of ejaculates per bull which was not affected significantly by seasons.
In terms of semen production, a total of 39778 doses of 0.5 mL straws were frozen during the study period. Significantly higher number of doses per bull (P<0.05) was frozen during dry (245.37±17.84) and wet summer (250.37±17.75) as compared to autumn (191.4±14.22) and winter (143.92±11.25); the difference between the latter two seasons was also significant, while it was non significant between the former two seasons
Regarding the subjective analysis of spermatozoa, higher (P<0.05) mean values were recorded for all three parameters (live, morphologiclly normal and acrosome intact sperm) during stressful winter and dry summer as compared to wet summer and autumn, the difference between the former two seasons was, however, non significant. Moreover, mean values for these attributes were significantly higher during wet summer as compared to autumn. Amongst the physical attributes of semen, only mass motility revealed a significantly positive (P<0.01) correlation with individual sperm motility (r 0.619). However, regarding the subjective analyses, live sperm had a positive correlation with normal (r 0.848) and with acrosome integral sperm (r 0.790).
In seminal plasma chemistry, the overall mean values (± SEM) for Na+, K+, cholesterol and glucose recorded in the present study were 236.41±4.2, 142.95±3.81, 152.02±3.17 and 127.22±3.65 mg%, respectively. Amongst these, Na+ was significantly higher (P<0.05) during dry summer (270.35±8.89mg%) whereas K+ was higher in dry summer (169.1±5.54mg%) and winter (154.80±6.29mg%). Cholesterol and glucose were found to be significantly elevated (P<0.05) during dry summer season being 173.7±4.24 and 147.95±7.74mg%, respectively. Na+ had a significantly positive (P<0.05) correlation with glucose (r 0.232). Similarly, positive (P<0.01) correlations were seen for K+ with Na+ (r 0.341) and cholesterol (r 0.390).
The overall mean values (± SEM) for Hb, TEC, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC recorded for the Cholistani AI bulls in the present study were 12.24±0.15mg/dL, 6.28±0.82×106/µL, 37.3±0.4%, 59.77±0.61fL, 19.58±0.2pg and 32.89±0.33g/dL, respectively. Regarding the white blood cell values, the overall means (± SEM) for TLC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils were 7.58±0.17×103/µL, 40.45±1.05%, 53.2±0.85%, 4.05±0.47% and 2.3±0.26%, respectively. DLC, in the present study, revealed that the lymphocytes were the predominant leukocytes followed by neutrophils. No significant effect (P<0.05) of season was noticed on any of the red blood cell values studied. However, TLC amongst the white blood cell values was found to be significantly higher in dry summer (8.16±0.28×103/µL).
The overall mean values (± SEM) for blood serum NA+, K+, cholesterol and glucose recorded for the present study were 130.73±0.91, 7.37±0.11, 82.8±1.52 and 75.22±2.04mg%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between mass and individual sperm motility, morphologically normal and live sperm and sperm acrosome integrity and live sperm (P<0.01). Among biochemical attributes of seminal plasma, Na+ and K+, cholesterol and K+ and glucose and Na+ were correlated (P<0.01). Only seminal plasma cholesterol was positively correlated with ejaculatory volume (P<0.01).
An overall mean value of 5.81±0.32ng/mL was recorded in the present study for testosterone being non significantly effected by seasons. All its correlations with all attributes studied were found to be non significant.
In conclusion, various physical and biochemical attributes of Cholistani bull semen were better in stressful seasons as compared to stress free season. The acceptable quality of semen of Cholistani bulls recorded during wet/dry summer in the present study is an indicative of the fact that this breed has an innate ability of being well adapted to the harsh, hot desert climate. Furthermore, the present study revealed that the Cholistani breeding bulls have an amazing tendency to maintain most of their haematobiochemical parameters at a near constant level without showing much variation during stress free or stressful times.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1739,T] (1).
3.
Effect On Hematological Indices And Serum Mineral Profiles Of Beetal Goats In District Swat At Different Altitudes
by Faisal Anwar | Dr. Imtiaz Rabbani | Dr. Hafsa Zaneb | Mr. Muhammad Imran Khan | Faculty of Biosciences.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
not fiction
Publisher: 2014Dissertation note: Livestock is the major source of income of rural population. Approximately 70% of the people in rural areas depend directly or indirectly on livestock for their house hold income and nutrition. Livestock efficiency mainly depends on their health and well-being. Blood is one of the reliable medium from which we can evaluate the health condition of an animal. Livestock in Pakistan is reared in various altitudes. Information on various physiological indices in goats related to altitude is scarce for Pakistan. The present has been conducted at three different altitudes, two altitude groups from district Swat and one group at Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A total of 60 blood samples were collected from three different altitudinal groups and then the hematological parameters was determined through hematological analyzer and serum concentration of Calcium and Potassium by flame photometer, Phosphorus by UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Chlorine by silver Nitrate titration method and Iron by Drabkin method.
The White blood cell count (WBC) found 10.47±0.34 × 103/µL at altitude 1177 feet, 8.33±0.13 × 103/µL at altitude 2863 feet and 11.52±0.52 × 103/µL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The lymphocytes count (LYMP) found 28.90±0.46 percent at altitude 1177 feet, 28.55±0.60 percent at altitude 2863 feet and 31.15±0.99 percent at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The granulocytes (GRAN) count found 65.10±0.85 percent at altitude 1177 feet, 65.89±1.41 percent at altitude 2863 feet and 67.23±1.87 percent at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The red blood cell count (RBC) found 10.98±0.22 million/µL at altitude 1177 feet, 11.65±0.15 million/µL at altitude 2863 feet and 14.62±0.26 million/µL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The hemoglobin count (Hb) found 5.17±0.19 g/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 7.23±0.10 g/dL at altitude 2863 feet and 10.96±0.59 g/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The Hematocrit count (HCT) found 29.14±0.39 percent at altitude 1177 feet, 28.94±0.42 percent at altitude 2863 feet and 30.69±0.48 percent at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) found 28.83±0.43femtoliter at altitude 1177 feet, 31.06±0.37 femtoliter at altitude 2863 feet and 35.94±0.39 femtoliter at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) found 5.27±0.12 picogram at altitude 1177 feet, 5.73±0.10 picogram at altitude 2863 feet and 6.78±0.09 picogram at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) found 29.82±0.49 g/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 32.10±0.57 g/dL at altitude 2863 feet and 34.32±0.39 g/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The platelets (PLT) count found 270.9±3.81 103/µL at altitude 1177 feet, 294.95±3.61 103/µL at altitude 2863 feet and 283.50±5.28 103/µL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level.
The Calcium (Ca) level found in serum was 8.79±0.23 mg/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 9.44±0.16 mg/dL at altitude 2863 feet and 9.80±0.16 mg/dL at altitude 4200 from sea level. The Chloride (Cl) level found in serum was 102.91±0.39 m?q/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 104.08±0.42 m?q/dL at altitude 2863 and 105.50±0.57 m?q/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The Phosphorus (P) level found in serum was 3.98±0.02 mg/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 5.52±0.08 mg/dL at altitude 2863 feet and 6.34±0.08 mg/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The Potassium (K) level found in serum was 3.98±0.04 m?q/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 4.61±0.06 m?q/dL at altitude 2863 feet and 4.93±0.04 m?q/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level. The Iron (Fe) level was found 87.12±0.97 µg/dL at altitude 1177 feet, 97.44±0.67 µg /dL at altitude 2863 feet and 106.35±0.87 µg/dL at altitude 4200 feet from sea level.
A significant difference was found between different altitudes in WBC count, LYMP percent, RBC count, Hg level, HCT percent, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, Ca level, Cl level, P level, K level, Fe level and no significant difference was observed in GRAN percent. This study generated a better understanding that hematology and serum mineral profile has been affected as an increase occurs in the altitudes and it reflects that increase in RBCs, Hematocrit and hemoglobin level at different altitudes also the serum mineral level goes high as there is an increase in the altitudes shows the adaptation of animal to the environmental condition and this study will be helpful in disease investigation and management of animals at different altitudes and different stress conditions. Further studies are been required to evaluate the effect of altitude, feed intake, nutrition, environmental stress and climatic condition on the hematology and serum mineral profile of different breeds of small ruminants and large ruminants.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1777,T] (1).
