Tripti Jain

Follicle-stimulating hormone–induced rescue of cumulus cell apoptosis and enhanced development ability of buffalo oocytes

The effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on apoptotic status of cumulus cells, expression of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes, and development rate of in vitro fertilization-produced buffalo embryos were investigated. FSH supplementation in in vitro maturation-medium resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of proapoptotic genes namely, BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), cytochrome c, and caspase-3 and increase in the expression of antiapoptotic genes such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in cumulus cells of mature oocyte. Cumulus expansion, oocyte maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst development rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in 5 and 10-μg/mL FSH-supplemented groups as compared with control. Significant increase in the expression of FSH receptor messenger RNA was also found with 5 and 10-μg/mL FSH (P < 0.05). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay confirmed that the population of apoptotic cumulus cells of matured oocytes was reduced in the FSH-treated groups as compared with control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that FSH may attenuate apoptosis in cumulus cells via mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway by increasing XIAP expression, resulting in a more favorable ratio of BCL2/BAX expression and decreasing the cytochrome c and caspase-3 expression, eventually contributing to developmental competence of oocytes. The information generated will help in improving the in vitro embryo production program in buffalo.

Kinetics of GDF9 expression in buffalo oocytes during in vitro maturation and their associated development ability

The capacity of fully grown oocytes to regulate their own microenvironment by secreted paracrine factors contribute to their developmental competence. In spite of growing evidence about the vital role of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF9) in determination of oocyte developmental competence, there is insufficient information about time dependent behavior of its expression during in vitro maturation (IVM) to have definite understanding about at what time point during IVM it plays most crucial role. The study reports the kinetics of GDF9 expression under four different IVM supplement conditions in buffalo oocytes and their concomitant development rate up to blastocyst. Oocytes matured under an ideal media condition with all supplements and those cultured with only FSH resulted in significantly higher cumulus expansion, nuclear maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rates. GDF9 expression at both mRNA and protein levels at different time points of IVM revealed that magnitude of mRNA abundance at 8h of IVM was most important towards imparting development competence to buffalo oocytes. Appearance of GDF9 protein in maturing oocytes was found asynchronous with mRNA appearance in the time course of IVM suggesting possible posttranscriptional regulation of this gene under dynamic oocyte cumulus cell communication process. Abundance of mature GDF9 protein at 16 h was most consistently related with all oocyte development parameters.

Expression profile of BMPR1B gene in goat reproductive tract.

In the present work, the presence and distribution of BMPR1B transcripts in goat reproductive tract to elucidate its possible role in goat reproduction has been studies. Different samples of goat reproductive tract were collected, RNA was isolated and reverse transcribed with oligo (dT)18 primer by RT-PCR. BMPR1B and GAPDH gene expression was studied in all the samples by using PCR. Moreover, semi-quantitative analysis of BMPR1B gene expression in different tissues of Goat reproductive tract was performed using ImageJ software. RT-PCR displayed positive amplification of BMPR1B transcripts in small follicles, large follicles, corpus luteum, endometrium (pregnant and non pregnant) and placenta of goat by the amplification of 305 bp amplicon. With densitometric analysis, it was concluded that BMPR1B gene transcript level increases as the small follicles progresses to large follicular stage and falls to an intermediate level in corpus luteum, suggesting an important role of BMPR1B in ovulation and in luteogenesis (corpus luteum), which seems to be greatly accompanied by changes in the expression pattern of BMPR1B gene. Endometrial expression of this gene in cyclic and pregnant goats suggests that receptor may play role for the changes that take place in endometrium, required for normal uterine function such as successful fertilization, implantation and endometrial gland formation. The study clearly indicated that the normal endometrial/uterine cycle was accompanied by the significant BMP signaling and cycle specific expression of BMPR1B gene in goat reproductive tract.

Socio-Economic Status and Perceptions of Kosali Cattle Keepers and Constraints to Cattle Production in Central Plain Region of Chhattisgarh state -

The present study was conducted to find out the socio-economic status and constraints to cattle production in Central Plain Region of Chhattisgarh state. Total 800 respondents from three districts of the region were selected. Sex, age, family size, education, land and livestock holding, annual income, occupation and herd size factors were considered to study the socio-economic status. It was observed that majority (95.42%) of the respondents had male headed ownership, more than 50 per cent in above 30 years of age category. The average family size observed was 6.21 persons. It was found that only 66.56 per cent of respondents were literate. The percent of landless, sub-marginal and marginal farmers is more than 50% and have less than 0.5 hectare land. Most of the respondents (47%) found in the category of annual income less than rupees 20000. The main profession of livestock owners was agriculture (68.44%) followed by agriculture and some other small work. Most of the respondents had small herd size. Shrinkage of grazing land, scarcity of green fodder and concentrate and poor management were the major constraints to cattle or livestock productivity.