Theriogenology最新文献

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of three culture media for domestic cat in vitro embryo production and their effects on blastocyst development","authors":"Ana Munoz-Maceda ,&nbsp;Eva Pericuesta Camacho ,&nbsp;Andrea Priego-Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Carolina Núñez-Puente ,&nbsp;Nuria Martínez de los Reyes ,&nbsp;Joaquín Cerdeira ,&nbsp;Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez ,&nbsp;Priscila Ramos-Ibeas ,&nbsp;Dimitrios Rizos ,&nbsp;Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán ,&nbsp;Eduardo R.S. Roldan ,&nbsp;María Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>In vitro</em> embryo production (IVP) in felid species faces difficulties derived from their conservation status, challenging reproductive traits and low success rates during <em>in vitro</em> maturation (IVM), fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC). This study aimed to evaluate different IVC strategies for domestic cat IVP, as a model to improve assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) in wild felids. Three IVC media were compared: (i) synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (“FBS”); (ii): SOF supplemented first with bovine serum albumin (BSA), followed by FBS addition (“BSA-FBS”); and (iii): a commercial IVC human medium (IVC-CULT®) (“COM”). A total of 1064 <em>in vitro</em> matured cat oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa, and 813 presumptive zygotes were cultured in the three experimental groups. Expanded blastocysts (n = 108) were snap-frozen or fixed for differential cell count and quantitative analysis of pluripotency-related gene expression. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences in IVP rates and blastocyst developmental parameters. No significant differences in cleavage or blastocyst rates were found among groups, nor in total blastomere count (P &gt; 0.05). However, the FBS group showed higher SOX2 pluripotency marker expression compared to the other groups, while BSA-FBS exhibited a more balanced SOX2/OCT4 ratio, linked to blastocyst competence in other species. Furthermore, a tendency was found towards a lower proportion of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM) in the FBS group. Our results suggest that elevated SOX2 expression alone may not reflect improved developmental competence in the domestic cat blastocysts. Instead, early BSA supplementation followed by FBS might enhance ICM differentiation, benefiting first from BSA's fatty acids and later from FBS's antioxidants and growth factors. Lastly, the commercial medium yielded comparable embryonic developmental outcomes to BSA-FBS, offering a viable alternative. Thus, this research represents a contribution to the refinement of IVP protocols in the domestic cat, promoting standardization that could be adapted for wild feline conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117641"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"miR-34c regulates the proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone synthesis of bovine leydig cells by targeted ATG5 gene","authors":"Tongtong Tu ,&nbsp;Xin Wang ,&nbsp;Shuangshuang Cui ,&nbsp;Xiang Meng ,&nbsp;Ibrar Muhammad Khan ,&nbsp;Ning Song ,&nbsp;Yunhai Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The reproductive potential of bull represents a key economic trait in modern cattle husbandry. The primary determinant of bull reproductive capacity is the proper development of the testes, which is essential for the production of spermatozoa. The synthesis and secretion of testosterone by Leydig cells affect the physiological function of testes. microRNA (miR)-34c is highly expressed in mature testes, yet its specific role in testicular development remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the regulator mechanism of miR-34c on proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone synthesis in <em>bovine</em> Leydig cells. The primary <em>bovine</em> Leydig cells were isolated, purified and identified by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, followed by overexpression and knockdown of miR-34c and its target gene autophagy-related 5 (ATG5). The effects of miR-34c on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone synthesis were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8, Edu staining, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and dual luciferase reporter assay. Overexpression of miR-34c inhibits cell proliferation (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and testosterone synthesis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and promotes cell apoptosis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01); while knockdown of miR-34c promotes cell proliferation (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and testosterone synthesis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and inhibits cell apoptosis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Overexpression of miR-34c downregulated the activity of the 3′ untranslated region of ATG5 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Overexpression of ATG5 promotes cell proliferation (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and testosterone synthesis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and inhibits cell apoptosis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05); while knockdown of ATG5 inhibits cell proliferation (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and testosterone synthesis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), and promotes cell apoptosis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). This study demonstrated that miR-34c regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis and testosterone synthesis by targeting ATG5. These findings highlight the regulatory mechanisms of miR-34c on testicular development, which provides a theoretical foundation and potential applications for reproductive biology in cattle bulls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117645"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of prostaglandin and injectable progesterone in the early postpartum period on uterine health parameters, follicular dynamics, and fertility in beef cattle","authors":"Rafaela Schoma Cardoso ,&nbsp;Mariana Moreira dos Anjos ,&nbsp;Pamela Mara Celestino Soares ,&nbsp;Juliane Heloiza Aparecida Antunes ,&nbsp;Elikismei Denilson Araujo Kuiava ,&nbsp;Jefferson Tadeu de Campos ,&nbsp;André Macri ,&nbsp;Carlos Vergílio Miiller Alves ,&nbsp;Fábio Morotti ,&nbsp;Marcelo Marcondes Seneda","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The postpartum period presents significant reproductive challenges and remains relatively understudied in beef cattle. This study evaluated the effects of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and injectable progesterone (iP4) on uterine health, ovarian dynamics, and pregnancy per insemination in Nelore cows subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI) during early postpartum. In Study I, cows at 10 days postpartum (dpp) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Control (0.9 % NaCl, n = 10); PGF2α (0.5 mg cloprostenol, n = 10); iP4 (150 mg, n = 10); or PGF2α+iP4 (0.5 mg cloprostenol and 150 mg iP4, n = 10). Animals were evaluated for uterine inflammation—based on polymorphonuclear cell count (PMN) and uterine body diameter—at 10 and 30 dpp, and underwent an estradiol/progesterone-based TAI protocol to monitor follicular dynamics. In Study II, which was specifically designed to assess pregnancy outcomes, cows at 22 ± 2 dpp were randomized into the same four treatment groups: Control (n = 520), PGF2α (n = 513), iP4 (n = 521), and PGF2α+iP4 (n = 506). At 10 dpp, PMN counts were similar among treatment groups (<em>p</em> = 0.23) but showed a significant reduction by 30 dpp (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). No treatment effect was observed at 30 dpp on PMN counts (<em>p</em> = 0.89) or incidence of subclinical endometritis (<em>p</em> = 0.53). Uterine diameter decreased (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) in all groups from 10 to 30 dpp, except in the iP4 group. At 30 dpp, the PGF2α and iP4 groups showed a larger dominant follicle diameter compared to controls. PGF2α-treated cows ovulated earlier (<em>p</em> = 0.01), and those receiving PGF2α tended to respond better to the TAI protocol (<em>p</em> = 0.06).</div><div>In Study II, the PGF2α+iP4 group achieved the highest pregnancy per TAI rate (354/506; 70 %), outperforming the PGF2α (333/513; 64.9 %), iP4 (331/521; 63.5 %), and Control (325/520; 62.5 %) groups (<em>p</em> = 0.05). Treatment with PGF2α+iP4 in early postpartum Nelore cows improved pregnancy rates following TAI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117639"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcium homeostasis role in preserving sperm function and metabolic activity during liquid storage of pig semen","authors":"Ferran Garriga ,&nbsp;Jodd Codina-Benaiges ,&nbsp;Marc Yeste ,&nbsp;Marc Llavanera","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Calcium (Ca²⁺) is known as a key regulator of sperm physiology, playing a crucial role in capacitation, hyperactivation, the acrosome reaction, and fertilisation. Despite this, whether it shapes the sperm's ability to withstand liquid preservation has not been addressed. Herein, we investigated how altering Ca²⁺ availability to pig sperm during storage at 17 °C affects their quality and metabolic activity. Using ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and its membrane-permeable form (EGTA-AM), we selectively chelated either extracellular or intracellular Ca²⁺, respectively. Semen samples (n = 12 pools) were preserved in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) under four conditions: control, Ca²⁺ supplementation, extracellular Ca²⁺ chelation, and intracellular Ca²⁺ chelation. Sperm function and metabolism were evaluated by flow cytometry and the oxygen consumption rate (OCR), whereas motility was assessed using Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Ca²⁺ supplementation increased metabolic activity and induced capacitation-like changes, impairing sperm function. Intracellular Ca²⁺ chelation caused a sharp decline in motility and disrupted the metabolic balance, likely due to proton (H⁺) accumulation in the intermembrane space of mitochondria. In contrast, extracellular Ca²⁺ chelation preserved sperm viability, membrane integrity, and motility, while slightly reducing the OCR and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These findings highlight the critical role of Ca²⁺ homeostasis in maintaining sperm function and suggest that fine-tuning Ca²⁺ dynamics - rather than full depletion - may improve the longevity and fertilising potential of liquid-stored pig semen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Evaluation of serum CA15–3, CEA, Ki-67, PDL-1 and VEGF as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in canine mammary tumors” [Theriogenology 247 (2025) 117579 1–9]","authors":"H.E. Çolakoğlu ,&nbsp;Ç. Fidan ,&nbsp;M.E. Alçığır ,&nbsp;A. Esen Göbekçi ,&nbsp;E. Devrim ,&nbsp;T. Anteplioğlu ,&nbsp;M.O. Yazlık ,&nbsp;Ö. Özmen ,&nbsp;T. Reçber ,&nbsp;E. Nemutlu ,&nbsp;U. Kaya","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117609","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117609"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia for male cat neutering: Disrupting fertility without surgery","authors":"Ana Bárbara Rocha Silva ,&nbsp;Juliana Lis Mendes Brito ,&nbsp;Rafaela Lopes Palmeiro de Souza ,&nbsp;Fernanda Souza Natividade Gontijo ,&nbsp;Wesley de Souza Barbosa ,&nbsp;Letícia Araújo de Santana ,&nbsp;Julia Palma Maia de Almeida ,&nbsp;Sara Alves Almeida ,&nbsp;Edynara Cruz De Moraes ,&nbsp;Vanessa Nicolau Lima ,&nbsp;Giane Regina Paludo ,&nbsp;Paulo Eduardo Narciso Souza ,&nbsp;Andris Figueiroa Bakuzis ,&nbsp;Ricardo Bentes Azevedo ,&nbsp;Carolina Madeira Lucci","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate magnetic nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia (MNH) as a potential method to induce infertility in male cats. The short- and long-term effects of the treatment on reproductive health parameters were assessed in 20 cats. Treatment consisted of a 150 μL intratesticular injection of a magnetic fluid composed of citrate-coated manganese ferrite (Ci-MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles, followed by the application of an external magnetic field to raise and maintain testicular temperature at 45 °C for 15 min. Testicular MNH was found to be safe and well tolerated, with no signs of pain or clinical side-effects. Testicular volume increased significantly on Day 7 due to peritesticular inflammation, followed by a marked decrease on Day 180. Azoospermia was observed in 85 % of the treated animals, while 15 % were oligospermic. Histological analysis revealed substantial damage to seminiferous tubule architecture and epididymides. No hematological, biochemical or abdominal ultrasound abnormalities were observed in the treated animals. These findings demonstrated the strong potential of testicular magnetic hyperthermia mediated by Ci-MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as a non-surgical alternative method for male cat sterilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117635"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144858401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The supplementation of Lake medium with L-carnitine preserves quality and fertilizing potential of cryopreserved rooster sperm","authors":"Mahdi Mokhtari ,&nbsp;Mahdi Khodaei-Motlagh ,&nbsp;Reza Masoudi ,&nbsp;Mohsen Sharafi","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of different L-carnitine concentrations on post-thaw rooster semen parameters. Ten sexually mature Ross-308 roosters (35 weeks of age) with confirmed fertility were used in the six replicates of this experiment. Semen samples (n = 30, 6 samples per rooster) were collected using an artificial vagina twice a week. Following the collection and initial assessment of ejaculates, all semen samples were pooled to eliminate individual variations. The Lake freezing extender was supplemented with varying concentrations of L-carnitine (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mM), and semen was diluted to a final concentration of 100 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/0.25-mL straw before freezing in liquid nitrogen. Rooster semen cryopreserved in a freezing extender supplemented with 5 mM of L-carnitine exhibited the highest (P ≤ 0.05) percentages of sperm with total/progressive motility and average path velocity, as well as spermatozoa with intact mitochondria, plasma membranes, and acrosomes. This dose of the additive was also associated with the highest (P ≤ 0.05) fertility percentage in artificially inseminated hens and with the lowest (P ≤ 0.05) levels of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, ROS accumulation, and lipid peroxidation compared with other doses of L-carnitine tested. Therefore, supplementing the Lake freezing extender with 5 mM of L-carnitine is an effective method for preserving the quality and fertilizing potential of cryopreserved rooster semen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 117634"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144829017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peripheral blood T regulatory cell profiles in repeat-breeder Cattle: Differential responses to seminal components","authors":"Arif Pandit ,&nbsp;Sofi Imran Ul Umar ,&nbsp;Syed M. Shah ,&nbsp;Nazir Ganai ,&nbsp;Sajad Darzi ,&nbsp;Riaz Shah ,&nbsp;Faheem Bhat ,&nbsp;Abrar Malik ,&nbsp;Hilal Yaqoob ,&nbsp;Masood Saleem","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the T regulatory cell (Treg) profiles and responses to seminal components in repeat-breeding cattle to identify the immunological mechanisms underlying reproductive failure in these animals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy (n = 6) and repeat-breeder Jersey cattle (n = 6). The expression of Treg markers (FOXP3, CD25, CTLA4, CCR7, and WC1) and cytokines (IL-10, IL-4, TGF-β, and IL-2) was analyzed using quantitative PCR. PBMCs were cultured with seminal plasma (50 μg/mL) or sperm proteins (50–100 μg/mL) for 5 days. Cytokine secretion was measured using ELISA, and FOXP3 protein expression was measured using immunofluorescence (IF). Repeat breeders showed reduced FOXP3 (0.68-fold, p = 0.031), CCR7 (0.42-fold, p = 0.008), WC1 (0.61-fold, p = 0.045), and IL-10 (0.31-fold, p = 0.022) expression, with elevated CD25 (3.12-fold, p = 0.006), CTLA4 (1.38-fold, p &lt; 0.001), and IL-4 (1.21-fold, p &lt; 0.001) compared to healthy cattle. Baseline cytokine secretion revealed higher IL-4 and IL-10 production in repeat-breeder cows. Dexamethasone increased FOXP3 gene expression in repeat breeders but decreased their protein levels. Sperm proteins enhanced FOXP3 expression and cytokine production in both groups, with stronger responses in repeat breeders. Seminal plasma suppressed FOXP3 expression (&lt;5 % positive cells) while stimulating TGF-β production in PBMCs. Repeat-breeding cattle exhibit systemic Treg dysfunction, characterized by reduced FOXP3 and regulatory markers and compensatory activation patterns. Differential responses to seminal components suggest distinct immunomodulatory mechanisms that may contribute to reproductive failure and represent potential therapeutic targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 117625"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144827516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pregnancy rate after treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (tolfenamic acid) at the time of embryo transfer in recipient cows","authors":"S. Kmaid ,&nbsp;S. Albanell ,&nbsp;J.M. Saldaña ,&nbsp;R. Nuñez-Olivera ,&nbsp;P. Renaud ,&nbsp;A. Menchaca","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pregnancy rates following embryo transfer (ET) in cattle may be influenced by transient inflammatory responses triggered during the procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tolfenamic acid (TA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on pregnancy rates in embryo-recipient females. A total of 1431 recipients (367 heifers and 1064 cows) were enrolled in 34 ET programs conducted on 24 commercial farms in Uruguay, using either <em>in vivo</em>–derived or <em>in vitro</em>–produced embryos, fresh or frozen. At the time of ET, recipients were randomly assigned to either a treatment group receiving a single dose of TA (2 mg/kg intramuscularly) or a control group receiving no treatment. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed between days 35 and 60 post-ET via transrectal ultrasonography. No significant difference was attained in overall pregnancy rates between TA-treated (53.7 %, 389/725) and untreated (49.7 %, 351/706) recipients (P = 0.13). However, in specific subgroups TA treatment increased pregnancy rates, reaching statistical significance in heifers (P = 0.04) and a tendency in animals with a body condition score below 3.0 (1–5 scale; P = 0.07) and recipients with smaller corpus luteum size (P = 0.09). Additionally, NSAID treatment improved pregnancy rates in recipients receiving <em>in vitro</em>–produced embryos at the morula stage (P = 0.05) but not at the early to expanded blastocyst stages (P = NS). In conclusion, we suggest that TA may provide reproductive benefits under specific ET situations, particularly in heifers and recipients with physiological or embryonic conditions commonly associated with reduced fertility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 117623"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144827517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Studies on in vitro production of equine embryos by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) using non-sorted, or sex-sorted, frozen/thawed stallion sperm: Effects on post-thaw sperm quality, cleavage and blastocyst rates, and characterization of cellular events during the first 24 hours post-fertilization via confocal microscopy","authors":"Luisa Ramírez-Agámez ,&nbsp;Camilo Hernández-Avilés ,&nbsp;Juan C. Samper ,&nbsp;Charles C. Love","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using frozen/thawed (F/T) stallion sperm is a common procedure in the equine breeding industry. Historically, sex-sorted (SS) F/T stallion sperm has yielded lower cleavage (&lt;30 %) and blastocyst rates (&lt;5 %) after ICSI when compared to non-sorted (NS) F/T sperm. Recently, a new technology for sperm sex-sorting (Genesis III) has been validated by a commercial company. In Experiment 1, the post-thaw quality between NS-F/T and SS-F/T stallion sperm produced with this technology was compared. The post-thaw sperm motility was higher in NS-F/T (41 %) than in SS-F/T (12 %) sperm (P &lt; 0.05), while sperm viability was similar between groups (54 % vs. 57 %, respectively). Conversely, the percentage of sperm with DNA with an increased susceptibility to denaturation, as determined by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA), was higher in the SS-F/T group (80 %) than in the NS-F/T group (5 %; P &lt; 0.05). In Experiment 2, higher cleavage (NS-F/T: 113/160 [71 %] vs. SS-F/T: 79/164 [48 %]) and blastocyst rates per injected oocytes (NS-F/T: 42/160 [26 %] vs. SS-F/T: 25/164 [15 %]) were observed in NS-F/T than in SS-F/T sperm (P &lt; 0.05). When comparing the blastocyst rate per cleaved embryos (NS-F/T: 42/133 [37 %] vs. SS-F/T: 23/79 [32 %]) differences were not observed between groups. Furthermore, the percentage of blastocysts developing at days 7 (33 vs. 26 %), 8 (19 vs. 35 %), 9 (38 vs. 22 %), or 10 (10 vs. 17 %) after ICSI, and the number of blastocysts/ICSI cycle was similar between groups (NS-F/T: 1.4 vs. SS-F/T 0.7 blastocysts/cycle). In Experiment 3, the sperm DNA decondensation, sperm aster formation, and pronuclei configuration during the first 24 h post-ICSI of <em>in vitro</em>-matured equine oocytes fertilized with NS-F/T or SS-F/T sperm was studied using laser confocal microscopy. Overall, 50–80 % of the oocytes fertilized with either NS-F/T or SS-F/T sperm yielded similar pronuclear formation within the first 8 h post-ICSI; pronuclear apposition or metaphase plate formation within 12–18 h post-ICSI; and had undergone the first mitotic division by 24 h post-ICSI. This study provides comparisons regarding post-thaw sperm quality, efficiency of blastocyst production by ICSI, and the characterization of cellular events occurring during the first 24 h post-ICSI, using either NS-F/T or SS-F/T sperm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 117624"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144781055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}