2009 JAN 12 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "In the present study, the effect of bovine oocyte quality related to ultrastructural characteristics of zona pellucida (ZP), polyspermic penetration and embryo developmental competence was evaluated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were punctioned from 453 ovaries, classified as 1, 2, 3 and 4 according to their morphological aspect, matured for 24 h and then divided into two groups," researchers in Portugal report ...read more

  2009 JAN 12 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "The aim of the present study is to identify ostrich sex by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on micro amounts of DNA from blood, bloodstain and feathers. Sixteen male and 18 female ostriches were used as test individuals," scientists writing in the journal Reproduction in Domestic Animals report.

  "Genomic DNA as a template was extracted by the Chelex method. Ostrsex-P1 and P2 primers were designed to perform PCR amplification on the template. PCR products were checked using agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining and ostrich sex was determined directly by the bands shown on the gel. The results demonstrate that ostrich sex can be determined by the extraction of DNA from as little as 0.0125 mu l blood using Chelex, whereby the use of large amounts of organic solvents such as phenol and chloroform are unnecessary. In addition, it is possible to identify ostrich sex using micro amounts of DNA extracted from bloodstains and/or feathers," wrote C.W. Huang and colleagues, National Chung-Hsing University ...read more

  2009 JAN 12 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "The objectives of this study were to determine the non-specific aerobic and anaerobic bacterial causes of endometritis causing repeat breeding of cycling Iraqi buffalo cows at Nineveh province, validate diagnostic criteria for endometritis and to evaluate the treatment efficiency of using systemic or intra-uterine infusion of antibiotics for the treatment of endometritis. Data were collected from 60 buffalo cows with history of repeat breeding in different herds," scientists in Mosul, Iraq report ...read more