Bioscientifica Proceedings

Abstract unavailable© 2013 Context Products Ltd...

Summary. The ovarian follicle is a key component for determining a female’s reproductive potential; however, the mechanisms regarding the factors that control formation of follicles are not well understood. Within a species, the number of follicles formed in the ovary can vary considerably among individuals. While we are beginning to better characterize the processes required for follicle formation, much still needs to be determined regarding the factors ...

Geneticists have made limited progress in improving reproductive traits in pigs through traditional selection and crossbreeding systems. Recent advances in molecular genetics and the human genome project have allowed progress in gene identification and gene mapping in pigs. The pig genetic linkage map now has over 1700 genetic markers, and about 200 of these are genes. Furthermore, comparative genomic maps are improving and are becoming useful tools. Molecular approaches ...

Abstract unavailableKeywords: oocyte; maturation; fertilization; ruminants© 1991 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

This review is a short summary of the "state-of-the-art" regarding the ontogeny of LH and part of its control system in the pig. The maturity of pituitary gonadotropin cells and the vascular drainage between the hypothalamus and pituitary are probably the most important steps in the developmental process of gonadotropin (LH) secretion. In the pig, these are achieved at around day 80 of foetal age, when LH cell density is comparable to that observed in adults. The hypotha...

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

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...

The purpose of the review is to describe the factors that affect fertility in domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and the techniques that enable an improvement in reproductive performance. On Italian and Latin American farms where natural mating is practiced and bulls are always present in the herd, the inter-calving interval is approximately 400 days and the culling rate is lower than 15%. The buffalo has a tendency for seasonal reproductive acti...

Abstract unavailableKeywords: inhibin; activin; follistatin. αN peptide; ovary; follicle; corpus luteum© 1991 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

Numerous corpora lutea form from the multiple follicles that ovulate during the oestrous cycle of pigs. Vascular elements invade the follicle from the theca compartment, first centripetally, and subsequently by lateral branching of centripetal veins and arteries. The vessels are the vehicle for dispersion of steroidogenic theca cells throughout the corpus luteum. Mitosis occurs in both the theca and granulosa layers before ovulation, and in luteal cells well into the lut...