Two research projects comprise this thesis. The first project investigated modifying the hormone dosing strategy traditionally used in superovulating donor cows for an embryo collection to decrease drug costs without decreasing the number of high quality, transferable embryos recovered. The objective of this project was to evaluate the number and...
One assisted reproductive tool used to propagate highly desirable genetics from elite sire and dam matings is embryo transfer. Superovulation is the first part of the overall protocol and it is a required yet costly and biologically stressful procedure in cattle embryo transfer. The process of superovulation results in high...
The relationship between dose of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) used to superovulate cattle embryo donors and embryo viability as measured by in vitro development and plasminogen activator (PA) production was determined. Late morulae to blastocysts were collected non-surgically from 12 superovulated crossbred beef cows. Embryos were cultured for 8 d...
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AlfredR. Menino, Jr.
The relationship between dose of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) used
The relationship between plasminogen activator (PA) production and cell stage, cell number and changes in overall diameter and zona pellucida thickness for bovine embryos developing in vitro was determined. Late morulae to blastocysts (n=80) were collected nonsurgically from naturally mated, estrous-synchronized and superovulated crossbred beef cows. Embryos were cultured, one...
The type of plasminogen activator (PA) secreted by bovine embryos was identified. Day 12 to 14 blastocysts were collected at slaughter from estrous-synchronized, superovulated and naturally mated crossbred beef cows. Embryos were either left as intact embryos (E) or microdissected into component embryonic discs (ED) and trophoblastic vesicles (TV). Intact...
Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and
zymography were used in two separate experiments to determine the tissue
source and type of plasminogen activator (PA) produced by bovine
blastocysts. Twelve-14 d blastocysts were collected at slaughter from
estrous synchronized, superovulated and artificially inseminated Holstein
cows. In Experiment I, blastocysts were...
The effects of several hormones and inducers of intracellular
messengers on plasminogen activator (PA) production and changes in
embryonic size by cultured bovine embryos were evaluated. Day 8 embryos
were cultured in Ham's F-12 with 1.5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA)
containing different levels of progesterone (P), estradiol -17fl (E₂),...