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Woszczyło M, Pasikowski P, Devaraj S, Kokocińska A, Szumny A, Skwark MJ, Niżański W, Dzięcioł M. Urinary Proteins of Female Domestic Dog ( Canis familiaris) during Ovarian Cycle. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10040292. [PMID: 37104448 PMCID: PMC10140845 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence and identity of non-volatile chemical signals remain elusive in canines. In this study, we aim to evaluate the urinary proteins of female domestic dogs in the estrus and anestrus phases to evidence the presence of non-volatile chemical signals and to elucidate their identities. We collected urine samples from eight female dogs in the estrus and anestrus phases. A total of 240 proteins were identified in the urine samples using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS analysis). The comparison of the proteins revealed a significant difference between the estrus and anestrus urine. We identified proteins belonging to the lipocalin family of canines (beta-lactoglobulin-1 and beta-lactoglobulin-2, P33685 and P33686, respectively), one of whose function was the transport of pheromones and which was present only in the estrus urine samples. Moreover, proteins such as Clusterin (CLU), Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), and Proenkephalin (PENK) were more abundant in the estrus urine when compared to the anestrus urine. LEAP2 was recently described as a ghrelin receptor antagonist and implicated in regulating food intake and body weight in humans and mice. Proenkephalin, a polypeptide hormone cleaved into opioid peptides, was also recognized as a candidate to determine kidney function. As of yet, none of these have played a role in chemical communication. Clusterin, an extracellular chaperone protecting from protein aggregation implicated in stress-induced cell apoptosis, is a plausible candidate in chemical communication, which is a claim that needs to be ascertained further. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD040418.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Woszczyło
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Sankarganesh Devaraj
- Department of Biotechnology, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
| | - Agata Kokocińska
- Institute of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Antoni Szumny
- Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Wojciech Niżański
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Dzięcioł
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
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Female reproduction and the microbiota in mammals: Where are we? Theriogenology 2022; 194:144-153. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Woszczyło M, Szumny A, Łyczko J, Jezierski T, Krzemińska P, Szczerbal I, Świtoński M, Niżański W, Dzięcioł M. The Case of Atypical Sexual Attractiveness in a Male Domestic Dog-A Case Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3156. [PMID: 34827888 PMCID: PMC8614462 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During the ovarian cycle in domestic dogs, females do not accept males during the first days of estrus but become attractive to males from the beginning of proestrus, with this attractiveness persisting until the end of the estrus phase. It is believed that increased estradiol is responsible for the female attractiveness to the males. In this paper we describe the case of strong, but atypical attractiveness of a castrated male to various, adult, intact males, influenced by the emitted semiochemical signals. Any significant changes in the level of hormones typically involved in the process connected with estrus and responsible for sexual arousal in the males were assessed. The case animal was a 4 year old castrated male Border Collie that was extremely attractive to various males, which presented high levels of sexual arousal, with intensive sniffing and licking of the preputial area, specific vocalization, increased salivation and, finally, mating attempts. Clinical examination of the castrated male revealed a lack of testes in the scrotum and abdominal cavity confirmed by USG. Laboratory tests indicated basal levels of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone (15.23 pg/mL, <0.05 ng/mL, 0.25 ng/mL), and sex was confirmed via cytogenetic and molecular analysis. Chemical analysis (HS-SPME) of the urine indicated a huge similarity to the profile obtained from a bitch in estrus, with an elevated level of acetophenone, which has been previously postulated in the literature as being a characteristic of the estrus phase in female domestic dogs. This case presented very atypical sexual attractiveness, particularly when taking into account the basal levels of hormones which, according to current knowledge, are responsible for the creation of attractiveness. As a hypothesis requiring verification, we propose the idea of involvement of other hormones in the creation of incidental attractiveness or increased production of compounds responsible for attractiveness (sex pheromones) resulting from metabolic events unrelated to reproductive processes. To our knowledge it is the first described case presenting this phenomenon, which, with more detailed study, could shed new light on the process of creation of sexual attraction in the domestic dog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Woszczyło
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland; (M.W.); (W.N.)
| | - Antoni Szumny
- Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland; (A.S.); (J.Ł.)
| | - Jacek Łyczko
- Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland; (A.S.); (J.Ł.)
| | - Tadeusz Jezierski
- Department of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland;
| | - Paulina Krzemińska
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (P.K.); (I.S.); (M.Ś.)
| | - Izabela Szczerbal
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (P.K.); (I.S.); (M.Ś.)
| | - Marek Świtoński
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637 Poznan, Poland; (P.K.); (I.S.); (M.Ś.)
| | - Wojciech Niżański
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland; (M.W.); (W.N.)
| | - Michał Dzięcioł
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland; (M.W.); (W.N.)
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Staphylococcus pasteuri (BCVME2) Resident in Buffalo Cervical Vaginal Mucus: A Potential Source of Estrus-Specific Sex Pheromone(s). J Chem Ecol 2021; 48:7-15. [PMID: 34542784 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01311-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Mammals have microbes resident in their reproductive tract, some of which can be pathogenic while others may play a role in protecting the tract from infection. Volatile compounds play a role as sex pheromones that attract males for coitus during female estrus or heat. It is likely that these compounds themselves are secondary metabolites of bacterial flora resident in the vagina. In order to substantiate this hypothesis, bacteria were isolated from cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) of buffalo during various phases of the estrous cycle and identified, using morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics, as Bacillus during preestrus and diestrus, and as Staphylococcus during all three phases of the estrous cycle. Populations of Staphylococcus differed between different phases of the estrous cycle, the predominant forms being S. warneri (BCVMPE1_1) during preestrus, S. pastueri (BCVME2) during estrus and S. epidermis (BCVMDE3) during diestrus. Mice were used as chemosensors to differentiate the estrus-specific S. pasteuri (BCVME2) from the others. Chemical analysis showed that S. pasteuri (BCVME2) produced acetic, propanoic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric and valeric acids. In addition, it was shown that S. pasteuri (BCVME2) volatiles influenced the sexual behaviors, flehmen and mounting, of the bull. Thus, S. pasteuri (BCVME2) is a potential source of vaginal pheromone(s) during estrus in buffalo.
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Díaz A, Orihuela A, Aguirre V, Clemente N, Pedernera M, Flores-Pérez I, Vázquez R, Ungerfeld R. Ewes prefer subordinate rather than dominant rams as sexual partners. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Srinivasan M, Adnane M, Archunan G. Significance of cervico-vaginal microbes in bovine reproduction and pheromone production - A hypothetical review. Res Vet Sci 2021; 135:66-71. [PMID: 33450498 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota has been studied in animal reproduction and fertility, in particular little information of vaginal microbes in reference to bovine reproduction and pheromone production is known. The vaginal mucosa in healthy cow is colonized by an equilibrated and dynamic composition of aerobic, facultative anaerobic and obligate anaerobic microbes. Cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) composition, viscosity and volume vary with the cyclicity and health status of the reproductive tract. In addition, CVM contains pheromones, volatile compounds, and proteins that attract males for coitus. Commensal microbiota plays a key role in protection of the genital tract from pathogenic microbes by competition effect. In the bovine species, the microbial composition, its abundance and diversity in the female gut, vagina, urine, saliva, and feces, and the associated chemical communication remains poorly documented. The impact of microbes in the reproductive tract of cow, buffalo and certain mammals are discussed in this review. Since the microbial population diversity of CVM is modified during estrus phase it presumes that it may have a role for pheromone production in conspecific. Herein, we would like to critically discuss the current state of knowledge on microbially produced signals in animals and the role of genital and CVM microbiota in estrous cycle and pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Srinivasan
- Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - M Adnane
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Algeria.
| | - G Archunan
- Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India.
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Dobson H, Tilston V, Ressel L. Immunolocalization of c-Fos, ELOVL5 and oestradiol in the ewe vulva in relation to oestrus behaviour after treatment with lipopolysaccharide. Reprod Domest Anim 2019; 55:137-145. [PMID: 31765035 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sudden activation of the stress axis by a lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) significantly reduces ewes' sexual attractivity to rams by delaying all signs of oestrous behaviour. To understand mechanisms involved in attracting male interest, we examined c-Fos (nuclear activation), ELOVL5 (enzyme involved in pheromone synthesis) and oestradiol receptors (ER) using immunohistochemistry on ewe vulval tissue at 0, 31 and 40 hr in the ovarian follicular phase with or without exposure to LPS at 28 hr (5 groups of 4 ewes per group). While there was intense staining for immunoreactive (IR)-c-Fos and IR-ELOVL5 in the vulval epithelium and sebaceous glands, there were no differences in intensity between groups of ewes. The absence of IR-ER staining in vulval epithelium and sebaceous/sweat glands was unexpected. Differences in ram behaviour towards ewes in the ovarian follicular phase and after LPS treatment do not appear to involve quantitative changes in vulval c-Fos, ELOVL5 or ER, but subtle qualitative differences in individual-specific compounds (attraction pheromones) remain an option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Dobson
- Leahurst Campus, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Valerie Tilston
- Leahurst Campus, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Lorenzo Ressel
- Leahurst Campus, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
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Orihuela A, Fierros-García A, Hallal-Calleros C, Robles-Castro SR, Ungerfeld R. Vaginal biota number is smaller in tailed than docked hair ewes (Ovis aries), but is not affected by copulation. Trop Anim Health Prod 2018; 51:993-995. [PMID: 30565182 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-018-1753-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A greater accumulation of feces could facilitate the entrance of bacteria or inert particles into the vagina, particularly while mating tailed ewes. Two experiments were performed to determine if the tail has an active role in the growth of bacterial flora and the entrance of inert material in the vagina after mating, during induced or natural estrus. Twenty ewes were used, 10 tailed and 10 docked. All ewes displayed estrus after CIDR treatment, and half of them; 5 tailed and 5 docked were exposed to rams during the first experiment. For the second experiment, the rest of the animals were mated 15-17 d later at spontaneous estrus. In the induced estrus, no differences in the number of CFU/mL in docked or tailed ewes were observed before mating, but after mating, CFU values tended to be greater in docked than tailed ewes, and the number of inert particles was greater in docked than tailed ewes (5.8 ± 1.3 vs 1.6 ± 0.6, P = 0.024). During natural estrus, docked ewes had less CFU/mL than tailed ewes (19.6 × 103 ± 0.4 vs 80.0 × 103 ± 0.0, P = 0.006) before mating, and a similar tendency was maintained after mating, when the number of inert particles was similar in docked and tailed ewes. Staphylococcus and Escherichia were observed in the induced estrus, while in the natural estrus, even though these were the more frequent, five other genera of bacteria were observed. It was concluded that the presence of the tail protects the vaginal environment against increases of the biota load.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, MOR, 62210, México.
| | - A Fierros-García
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, MOR, 62210, México
| | - C Hallal-Calleros
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, MOR, 62210, México
| | - S R Robles-Castro
- Unidad de Medicina Familiar No 37, del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Los Mochis, SIN, México
| | - R Ungerfeld
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Orihuela A, Ungerfeld R, Fierros-García A, Pedernera M, Aguirre V. Rams prefer tailed than docked ewes as sexual partners. Reprod Domest Anim 2018; 53:1473-1477. [PMID: 30051524 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In several ungulate species, the tail is used to communicate sexual states of the female. However, the role of the tail or its movements in the sexual attractiveness of the ewe and sexual activity of the ram is still unknown. Two experiments were performed to determine the influence of the tail of the ewe in these aspects. In Experiment 1, 25 rams were individually tested in random order on two experimental dates using two-choice tests to determine whether intact or docked ewes differ in sexual attractiveness, while in Experiment 2, the sexual performance of the ram towards intact or docked ewes was compared. Both experiments were performed with restrained oestrous ewes during 5-min tests. In Experiment 1, rams approach first to intact or docked ewes randomly, but thereafter mounted and courted more tailed than docked ewes (p < 0.05). In Experiment 2, 22 rams were individually tested with intact and with docked ewes. The first day, 10 rams were tested with an intact ewe and 12 with a docked ewe. The following day, the tests were crossover, so each ram was tested with the other types of ewe. Rams displayed similar courtship and mounting behaviours similarly towards tailed and docked ewes. It was concluded that rams prefer to court and mate with tailed ewes over docked ewes. However, they display similar behaviours when they cannot choose between ewes of both conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Rodolfo Ungerfeld
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Angel Fierros-García
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Mariana Pedernera
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Virginio Aguirre
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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Ezenwa VO, Williams AE. Microbes and animal olfactory communication: Where do we go from here? Bioessays 2014; 36:847-54. [PMID: 24986361 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201400016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We know that microbes contribute to the production of odors that some animals use to communicate, but how common is this phenomenon? Recent studies capitalizing on new molecular technologies are uncovering fascinating associations between microbes and odors of wild animals, but causality is difficult to ascertain. Fundamental questions about the nature of these unique host-microbe interactions also remain unanswered. For instance, do microbes benefit from signaling associations with hosts? How does microbial community structure influence signal production? How do hosts regulate microbes in order to generate appropriate signals? Here, we review the current state of knowledge on microbially produced signals in animals and discuss key research foci that can advance our understanding of microbial-based signaling in the animal world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa O Ezenwa
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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The influence of antibiotic treatment of bitches in oestrus on their attractiveness to males during mating. Pol J Vet Sci 2013; 16:509-16. [DOI: 10.2478/pjvs-2013-0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the antibiotic treatment, including the mode of drugs administration, on bitches’ attractiveness to the stud dogs during mating. Moreover, we tried to estimate the possibility of aversive effect of the drug vehicle on the male behavior. In experiment I, four bitches in oestrus without antibiotic treatment (group A), four bitches treated with intravaginal antibiotic (group B) and four bitches treated with intramuscular antibiotic (group C) were presented to four stud dogs. In experiment II, bitches in oestrus (n=5) were presented to the males (n=2) before and after the application to the females’ vulva the antibiotic carrier - Miglyol 840 (Sasol, Germany). In both experiments the presence of the typical sexual behavior of the males (sniffing, licking the vulva and anal region, mating attempts) was evaluated. In experiment III the reaction of the males to the samples containing oestrual discharge from the bitches untreated and treated with antibiotics was evaluated. In the last part of study the aversion reaction to the samples containing antibiotic and the antibiotic carrier was evaluated. The results of experiments showed that females treated with the antibiotics were less attractive to males than untreated females, regardless of the method of administration. We did not observe adverse effect of the antibiotic carrier but samples from the bitches treated with antibiotics were significantly less attractive to the males. We concluded that the reason for reduced attractiveness of the bitches in oestrus after antibiotic treatment was the changes in semiochemical signal emitted by treated females as a consequence of elimination of the vaginal bacterial flora, which seems to be involved in creation of the typical, recognizable by the stud dogs, oestrual signal but also by the possible covering effect of used drugs.
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Intravaginal sponges to synchronize estrus decrease sexual attractiveness in ewes. Theriogenology 2012; 78:1796-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Revised: 07/01/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Gatti M, Zunino P, Ungerfeld R. Changes in the aerobic vaginal bacterial mucous load after treatment with intravaginal sponges in anoestrous ewes: effect of medroxiprogesterone acetate and antibiotic treatment use. Reprod Domest Anim 2011; 46:205-8. [PMID: 20456668 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01626.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intravaginal sponges (IS) impregnated with progestagens are widely used for oestrous synchronization in ewes. As progestogens depress the immuno response, the first aim was to determine whether medroxiprogesterone acetate (MAP) content affects the vaginal bacteria number (VBN) in IS-treated anoestrous ewes. The second aim was to compare the effectiveness of different antibiotic treatments to control the VBN increase caused by IS. In both experiments, IS were inserted during 14 days in anoestrous ewes. In the first, 11 ewes received commercial sponges (50 mg MAP), and 10 ewes received placebo sponges. For the second experiment, IS were inserted in three groups (n = 12/group), containing oxytetracycline im (20 mg/kg); injected into the sponge (0.02 mg), or control (no antibiotic). At sponge withdrawal, all ewes received 300 UI eCG. Mucous samples were collected from the vagina before sponge insertion, at sponge withdrawal, 24, 48 and 72 h later, and the VBN (colony-forming units per ml; CFU/ml) was counted after 48-h incubation. Medroxiprogesterone content did not affect VBN (log CFU/ml: 4.3 ± 0.2 vs 4.4 ± 0.2 with and without MAP, respectively). Bacterial number increased from 3.5 ± 0.2 at sponge insertion to 6.9 ± 0.1 at sponge withdrawal (p < 0.0001) and decreased the following day to 4.3 ± 0.2 (p < 0.0001). In the second experiment, VBN increased at sponge withdrawal (p < 0.0001) in all groups and decreased the following day (p < 0.0001). The CFU/ml at sponge withdrawal was lower in ewes treated with antibiotics (p < 0.0001), being even lower when local rather than systemic antibiotic was administered (log CFU/ml: 3.3 ± 1.8 vs 7.2 ± 1.8). The day of oestrous VBN was similar for all treatments and similar to that observed before sponge insertion. We concluded that MAP does not influence the increase in VBN, as the main effect is provoked by the sponge device itself, and local antibiotic treatment resulted in a lower bacterial growth than systemic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gatti
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Roberts EK, Padmanabhan V, Lee TM. Differential effects of prenatal testosterone timing and duration on phenotypic and behavioral masculinization and defeminization of female sheep. Biol Reprod 2008; 79:43-50. [PMID: 18385446 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.067074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of sexual differentiation leaves genetically female individuals at risk of being masculinized by exogenous androgens. Previous research with sheep indicates that exposure to excess testosterone from Gestational Day (GD) 30 to GD 90 of the 147-day gestation masculinizes and defeminizes behavior as well as genitalia. Lower doses and shorter durations produce animals with varying degrees of genital virilization and alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, but to our knowledge, the effects on complex behavior and its prediction by the amount of external virilization have not been explored. Previous research in rodents has suggested that sexual differentiation of the central nervous system and the external genitalia can be dissociated. Therefore, we hypothesized that the extent of virilization of external genitalia would not be predictive of the lack of female-typical, or the presence of male-typical, mating behavior. To test this hypothesis, we compared control females, females exposed to exogenous testosterone from GD 30 to GD 90 (T60 females) that have virilized genitalia, and females exposed to testosterone from GD 60 to GD 90 (T30 females) that have female-typical genitalia. Both natural behavioral estrus in the flock and hormonally controlled behavioral tests were used to explore reproductive behavior. The T60 and T30 females exhibited more masculinized reproductive behavior than the controls; however, the T30 females also exhibited feminine behavior. Neither testosterone-treated group was receptive or was mounted at rates comparable to those of controls. These data illustrate that variation in the timing or duration of exposure to prenatal testosterone during a critical period for masculinization can have variable effects on defeminization and that the effects of testosterone on genitalia are not entirely predictive of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eila K Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1043, USA
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Steckler TL, Roberts EK, Doop DD, Lee TM, Padmanabhan V. Developmental programming in sheep: administration of testosterone during 60-90 days of pregnancy reduces breeding success and pregnancy outcome. Theriogenology 2006; 67:459-67. [PMID: 17010414 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2006] [Accepted: 08/16/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that exposure to excess steroids during critical periods of fetal development leads to reproductive disorders. Exposure of female lambs to excess testosterone (T) from Days 60 to 90 of gestation (T60-90; term, 147 days) delayed onset of the LH surge and resulted in to male-typical reproductive behavior. The objectives of this study were to test the ability of T60-90 ewes to mate, conceive and lamb during the first three breeding seasons (Years 1, 2 and 3). Pregnant Suffolk ewes were injected with T propionate in cottonseed oil (100mg, im twice weekly) or vehicle (control; C) from Days 60 to 90 of gestation. In Year 1, ewes (C=12, T60-90=12) were kept with a vasectomized ram for 3 months and markings/visual observation of copulations were recorded. Rams had paint applied to their chest to facilitate detection of estrus and mating. All C but only three T60-90 ewes were marked (P<0.001). All ewes were then estrus-synchronized with two injections of prostaglandin F2alpha (20mg, im) given 11 days apart and allowed to mate with a painted, fertile ram. Nine of 12 C and 4 of 12 T60-90 ewes (P=0.1) were mated. Based on estrus and long-term monitoring of progesterone, more C than T60-90 became pregnant (82 and 18%, respectively; P<0.01). In Year 2, to maximize ram exposure, two C and two T60-90 estrus-synchronized ewes were placed with a painted, fertile ram at a time and mated ewes were removed to a nearby pen to force mating with others. Twenty-four hour video monitoring revealed the rams mated more C than T60-90 ewes (83 and 25%, respectively; P=0.01). In both Years 1 and 2, the rams preferred C over T60-90 ewes; therefore in Year 3 rams were given access only to T60-90 ewes. Only four T60-90 estrus-synchronized ewes were placed with a painted ram at a time. Not given an option, 91% of the T60-90 ewes were marked resulting in 4 of 11 (36%; first-service pregnancy rate in the breeding herd was 91%) ewes becoming pregnant to the synchronized estrus. Collectively these studies showed that fertility in T60-90 females was severely compromised, even after overcoming ram preference for controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Steckler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Ungerfeld R, Ramos MA, Möller R. Role of the vomeronasal organ on ram's courtship and mating behaviour, and on mate choice among oestrous ewes. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2005.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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