Bioscientifica Proceedings

This chapter describes the application of functional genomic approaches to the study of imprinted genes in swine. While there are varied definitions of "functional genomics", in general they focus on the application of DNA microarrays, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, and other high coverage genomic analyses, and their combination with downstream methods of gene modification such as silencing RNA (siRNA) and viral and non-viral transfection. Between the initi...

Abstract unavailable© 2009 Society for Reproduction and Fertility...

The reproductive efficiency of camels under their natural pastoral conditions is low. The reasons for this low reproductive efficiency include the short breeding season, the late age of reaching puberty and the long gestation period of 13 months. The introduction of controlled breeding programmes is important but several problems have to be considered. For example, oestrous behaviour is very vague and difficult to interpret, as it does not often relate to follicular developmen...

The development of new technologies that would increase the efficiency for generation of transgenic livestock and would overcome some of the problems associated with random insertion of the transgene will greatly benefit animal agriculture. A potential alternative technology to pronuclear injection for the generation of transgenic pigs involves the isolation, culture and genetic manipulation of cell lines that can be reintroduced into the embryo for participation in the f...

Abstract unavailableKeywords: sheep; ovulation rate; nutrition; gonadotrophins; metabolic hormones© 1991 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Abstract unavailable© 1995 Journals of Reproduction and Fertility Ltd...

Infertility associated with suboptimal nutrition is a major concern among livestock producers. Undernourished prepubertal animals will not enter puberty until they are well fed; similarly, adult, normally cyclic females will stop cycling when faced with extreme undernutrition. Work in our laboratory has focused on how body fat (or adiposity) of an animal can communicate to the brain and regulate reproductive competence. In 1994, the discovery in rodents of the obese (ob</e...

Our current understanding of pre-elongation embryo metabolism and its regulation by factors both intrinsic to the embryo and present in its immediate environment is limited mainly to studies in rodents and of ruminant embryos that have been cultured in vitro. Energy metabolism in such embryos is initially low and dependent on oxidative phosphorylation for the generation of ATP. The embryo exhibits substrate preference for carboxylic acids, such as pyruvate, during thi...

The reproductive efficiency of camels is low under natural pastural conditions and so the use of artifical insemination and embryo transfer are becoming increasingly important to improve their breeding potential. Methods to control their reproductive cycle are therefore essential. This review describes characteristics of the ovarian follicular wave pattern in camels and exogenous hormonal control of ovulation. It also summarizes the difficulties involved with artifical insemin...

The components of heterosexual behaviour in rams are reviewed as a basis for understanding partner preference behaviour. A small percentage of rams will not mate with oestrous females and if given a choice will display courtship behaviour towards another ram in preference to a female. Some of the endocrine profiles of these male-oriented rams differ from those of heterosexual controls. These differences include reduced serum concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and oestr...