Bioscientifica Proceedings

Keywords: oocyte; maturation; meiosis; differentiation; fertilization; pig© 1990 Journals of Reproduction & Fertility Ltd...

There are many potential applications of transgenic methodologies for developing new and improved strains of livestock. One practical application of transgenic technology in pig production is to improve milk production or composition. The first week after parturition is the period of greatest loss for pig producers, with highest morbidity and mortality attributed to malnutrition and scours. Despite the benefits to be gained by improving lactation performance, little prog...

In vitro production (IVP) including in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) is now an important technology for obtaining live piglets. However, there are still two significant obstacles to the efficient production of viable porcine embryos: (1) polyspermy and (2) fertilization of oocytes arrested at the immature stage. These phenomena relate to production of embryos with abnormal ploidy (polyploidy). To avoid these problems, careful selection of mature oocytes ...

The cellular biology and changes in the extracellular matrix of ovarian follicles during their development are reviewed. During growth of the bovine ovarian follicle the follicular basal lamina doubles 19 times in surface area. It changes in composition, having collagen IV α1–26 and laminin α1, ß2 and γl at the primordial stage, and collagen IV α1 and α2, reduced amounts of α3–α5, and a higher content of laminin α1, ß...

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

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

Commercial, North American pork breeds (Sus sada) experience significant loss of genetically-normal conceptuses during the peri-implantation (attachment) period and at mid-gestation (day 50 to 90 of the 114 day porcine gestation interval). Although exact causes for these losses are not defined, asynchronous in-utero development and deficits in vascularization of the endometrium and placenta appear to be involved. Understanding of normal maternal-fetal dialogue is critica...

Unlike in sheep, in which immunization against androstenedione causes mild and reasonably controlled increased ovulation rate, in similar studies cattle showed highly variable responses ranging from increased ovulation rate and fertility through to anovulation/anoestrus or superovulation. As a consequence, interest in manipulation of ovulation rate through this approach has declined and is now focused on immunological manipulation of endogenous inhibin following successful stu...

Declining fertility is a major problem for the dairy industry. Recent developments of Omics-technologies facilitate a comprehensive analysis of molecular patters in gametes, embryos and tissues of the reproductive tract which may help to identify the reasons for impaired fertility. Large Omics-datasets require appropriate bioinformatics analysis in the context of rapidly expanding and evolving scientific databases. This overview summarizes the current status of ruminant genome...

Summary. Kisspeptin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that is critical for fertility. In virtually all species, kisspeptin neurons stimulate gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and act as transmitters for sex-steroid feedback to GnRH neurons. In sheep, kisspeptin neurons are located in the preoptic area and the arcuate nucleus (ARC), with the latter involved in both oestradiol positive and negative feedback regulation of GnRH. In addition, sheep are ...