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López-Magaña N, Tejada LM, López-Magaña D, Hernández H, Flores MJ, Vielma J, Abecia JA, Keller M, Chemineau P, Delgadillo JA. Physical separation and reduction of contact duration with sexually hyperactive bucks decrease testosterone concentrations and sexual behaviour in bucks in sexual rest. Animal 2024; 18:101179. [PMID: 38821002 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexually hyperactive bucks are more efficient than sexually hypoactive bucks in stimulating testosterone secretion and sexual behaviour in other bucks in seasonal sexual rest by the phenomenon that we called the "buck-to-buck effect". Here, we determined whether physical separation and reduction of the duration of contact with the sexually hyperactive bucks would modify those parameters in sexually hypoactive bucks exposed to the "buck-to-buck effect". Bucks were subjected to natural day length throughout the study; this was the sexually hypoactive group. Other bucks were subjected to artificial long days (16 h of light per day) from 15 November to 15 January followed by exposure to natural day length to stimulate their sexual activity during the rest season; this was the sexually hyperactive group. In Experiment 1, we determined testosterone concentrations and sexual behaviour of six sexually hypoactive bucks separated 1.5 m from six sexually hyperactive bucks for 60 days by a metal open work fence, while a control group of six sexually hypoactive bucks was in permanent contact with six sexually hyperactive bucks. In Experiment 2, the duration of contact with sexually hyperactive males was reduced from 31 days (contact group, six bucks) to 10 days (withdraw group, seven bucks). In experiments 1 and 2, there was an effect of time (P < 0.01) and an interaction between time and groups (P < 0.05). In Experiment 1, testosterone plasma concentrations were greater in bucks in contact with sexually hyperactive bucks than in those separated from bucks at 20 and 30 days after the introduction of sexually hyperactive bucks (P < 0.01). The bucks from the contact group also displayed more nudging than bucks from the separated group from 0 to 30 days (P < 0.001). In Experiment 2, testosterone concentrations were greater in the contact group than in those from the withdraw group from 19 to 31 days after the introduction of sexually hyperactive bucks (P < 0.05). Bucks from the withdraw group displayed more nudging than the contact group 7 days after the introduction of the sexually hyperactive bucks (P < 0.05). Afterwards, bucks from the contact group displayed more nudging than the withdraw group 14, 21 and 28 days after the introduction of the sexually hyperactive bucks. We concluded that physical separation and reduction of the duration of contact with the sexually hyperactive bucks decrease testosterone concentrations and sexual behaviour of bucks in sexual rest exposed to the "buck-to-buck effect".
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Affiliation(s)
- N López-Magaña
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico; Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, 27000 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - L M Tejada
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - D López-Magaña
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - H Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - M J Flores
- Campo Experimental La Laguna, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, 1200 Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - J Vielma
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - J A Abecia
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - M Keller
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - P Chemineau
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - J A Delgadillo
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27274 Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico.
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Cann P, Le Danvic C, Porte C, Chesneau D, Keller M, Nagnan-Le Meillour P. Variation of ewe olfactory secretome during a ram effect. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1033412. [PMID: 36699322 PMCID: PMC9868937 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1033412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Under temperate latitudes, reproduction in Ovis aries displays a marked seasonality, governed by the photoperiod. In natural conditions, the transition between sexual rest and sexual activity in both sexes is induced by the decrease of day light. Meanwhile, specific odors emitted by a sexually active male are able to reactivate the gonadotropic axis of anovulatory ewes. This physiological effect is called "male effect", precisely ram effect in the ovine species. We have previously shown that the secreted proteins, namely Olfactory Binding Proteins (OBP), contained in the nasal mucus constitute the olfactory secretome (OS), the composition of which is determined by the status of oestrus cycle of females and differs between sexual rest and sexual activity periods. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that exposure to sexually active male can also modify the composition of ewes olfactory secretome during a male effect, as well as hormones produced by the reactivation of the oestrus cycle in sexual activity period under natural conditions. Methods We have set up a new non-invasive protocol of nasal mucus sampling and collected it from 12 ewes at different times during a ram effect. We analyzed the composition of their olfactory secretome by proteomics, mainly SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. As post-translational modifications of OBPs were a hallmark of ewes' sexual activity period, we were looking for glycosylation by western-blot and mass spectrometry. Results The efficiency of male effect was low in stimulated ewes as only 3 females displayed elevated progesterone levels in their blood. Besides, half of control ewes (non-stimulated ones) were cycled. We noticed a common OS profile in ewes in anoestrus, versus OS of cycled ones. A very clear and important result was the apparition of O-GlcNAcylation, previously detected only in sexual activity, after only 30 min of male introduction into the flock. Discussion This exploratory study paves the way for further experiments with larger flock to confirm and reinforce these results, and for eventually exploiting the nasal mucus as an indicator of females' receptivity to male odors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cann
- Université de Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, INRAE USC 1409, Lille, France
| | - Chrystelle Le Danvic
- Université de Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, INRAE USC 1409, Lille, France.,ELIANCE, Paris, France
| | - Chantal Porte
- INRAE/CNRS/Université de Tours/IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, UMR 7247, INRAE 0085, Nouzilly, France
| | - Didier Chesneau
- INRAE/CNRS/Université de Tours/IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, UMR 7247, INRAE 0085, Nouzilly, France
| | - Matthieu Keller
- INRAE/CNRS/Université de Tours/IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, UMR 7247, INRAE 0085, Nouzilly, France
| | - Patricia Nagnan-Le Meillour
- Université de Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576, INRAE USC 1409, Lille, France
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Martin GB. Frontiers in sheep reproduction - making use of natural responses to environmental challenges to manage productivity. Anim Reprod 2022; 19:e20220088. [PMID: 36504919 PMCID: PMC9731180 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2022-0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review addresses advances, directions and opportunities for research on sheep reproduction in the context of the global challenges of food security and climate change, and demand for 'clean, green and ethical' (CGE) animal management. The foundation of CGE management is an understanding of the physiological processes through which the reproductive system responds to changes in the animal's environment. These days, to the main environmental factors (photoperiod, nutrition, pheromones), we need to add stress from extreme weather events. With respect to nutrition in rams, we now have a deeper understanding of the responses of the brain centres that control gonadotrophin secretion (the kisspeptin system). At testis level, we have found that nutrition affects non-coding RNAs in Sertoli cells and germ cells, thus affecting the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. This proliferation-apoptosis balance is also affected during prenatal development, when undernutrition or stress in pregnant ewes seems to elicit epigenetic changes in developing gonads that could affect offspring fertility in adult life. With respect to nutrition in ewes, metabolic signals act directly on ovarian follicles, and thus change ovulation rate, but the variety of signals now includes the adipokines. An early concern was that nutritional supplements that increase ovulation rate would also increase embryo mortality but we now know that embryo survival is improved under field conditions. Finally, we had always thought that the efficiency gains from early puberty in lambs could only be achieved by accelerating fat accumulation, but we now know that faster muscle growth will achieve the same goal, offering two advantages in meat production systems. With respect to pheromones ('ram effect'), we have a deeper understanding of the brain responses (kisspeptin system) but, most importantly, a realization that the response of ewes to the ram signal involves cell division in memory centres. Many opportunities remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Bruce Martin
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia,UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia,Corresponding author:
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Sifuentes-Lamónt PI, Meza-Herrera CA, Véliz-Deras FG, Alvarado-Espino AS, Alvarado-Espino AV, Calderón-Leyva G, Angel-Garcia O, Carrillo-Moreno DI, Contreras-Villarreal V, Delgado González RA, Bustamante-Andrade JA. Multifaceted Interplay among Social Dominance, Body Condition, Appetitive and Consummatory Sexual Behaviors, and Semen Quality in Dorper Rams during Out-Of-Season and Transition Periods. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233339. [PMID: 36496859 PMCID: PMC9737712 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Dorper rams (n = 24) were evaluated during the sexual resting season to determine their social rank (SR), either high (HSR) or low (LSR), under intensive management conditions in northern Mexico (25° N). Aggressive behaviors were quantified during male-to-male interactions, and appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors during male-to-female interactions. Morphometric, live weight (LW), and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. During the early reproductive season, male-to-female behaviors were newly itemized simultaneously by seminal quality and quantity sampling. Finally, the dependent variables of the hemogram components were also quantified. Neither LW (61.25 ± 2.4 kg) nor morphometric variables differed between SR groups. However, BCS (2.25 vs. 2.66 u), sexual behaviors (i.e., approaches: 59.6 vs. 21.73 n, mating with ejaculation: 77.7 vs. 42.86 %, latency to ejaculation: 16.6 vs. 143.07 s), ejaculate volume (0.57 vs. 0.23 mL), and hemogram components favored the HSR rams (p < 0.05). Moreover, in their first male-to-female interaction, >50% of the LSR rams failed to display any sexual activity. HSR rams displayed a greater number of threatening behaviors, managing to displace LSR rams when exposed to estrus ewes during the male sexual resting season; more sexual behaviors; and an increased seminal volume in a non-live weight-dependent fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo I. Sifuentes-Lamónt
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Cesar A. Meza-Herrera
- Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Bermejillo, 35230, Durango, Mexico
- Correspondence: or (C.A.M.-H.); (F.G.V.-D.)
| | - Francisco G. Véliz-Deras
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
- Correspondence: or (C.A.M.-H.); (F.G.V.-D.)
| | - Alan S. Alvarado-Espino
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Ariadna V. Alvarado-Espino
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Calderón-Leyva
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Oscar Angel-Garcia
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Dalia I. Carrillo-Moreno
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Viridiana Contreras-Villarreal
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Ramón A. Delgado González
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Jorge A. Bustamante-Andrade
- Facultad de Agricultura y Zootecnia, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio 35111, Durango, Mexico
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