Anti-VCL (C-terminal) Polyclonal Antibody

This study evaluates the integrity of the plasma membrane (PM), and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and their relationship with the motility and kinematic parameters of buffalo spermatozoa frozen in pellets and straws. Ejaculates (n=20) from eight Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes were frozen in pellets (Nagaze-Niva; medium GH22L (R)) and in straws (Cassou; medium Triladyl (R)) at final sperm concentration 80 x 10(6)/ml. The comparative CASA analysis of the motility and kinematic parameters of spermatozoa showed significant differences in the rapid motility and in the VCL values in favor of pellets vs straws (P<0.05). The molecular changes in PM phospholipid asymmetry (assessed by double staining Annexin V-Cy3 (TM) Apoptosis Detection Kit) were higher after freezing - thawing, when compared to the fresh semen (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the number of live and functional spermatozoa with intact PM (6CF+/Ann V Cy3-) and the number of apoptotic spermatozoa (6CF+/Ann V Cy3+) between the two freezing technologies. The percentage of spermatozoa with well preserved and functioning mitochondria visualized by Rhodamine123 (Rh123) in the fresh semen was higher, when compared to spermatozoa after cryopreservation (P<0.05). An increase in the percentage of cells with nonfunctional mitochondria (Rh123- or Rh123+) was observed after cryopreservation using both freezing technologies. In conclusion, the freezing of buffalo sperm in pellets, using GH22L (R) protective medium, preserves high sperm motility, kinematics, PM integrity, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential, which is a guarantee of good fertilization capacity of the spermatozoa. (C) 2018 PVJ. All rights reserved

We compared the eye anatomy of the scotopic fossorial Acontias orientalis, Acontias rieppeli and Typhlosaurus vermis with that of the photopic surface-living Trachylepis punctatissima, with particular reference to the retina. The findings were compared with published data on gecko species (Roll, 2001), to determine whether similar trends existed. The vestigial eye of T. vermis was not comparable with that of the other three skink species. The findings in A. orientalis, A. rieppeli and T. punctatissima were as follows: (a) A. rieppeli lacked a conus papillaris, (b) A. orientalis, A. rieppeli and T. punctatissima were pure-cone species but lacked a fovea, (c) estimated cone density in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli was lower than that in T. punctatissima, (d) the ellipsoid cone segment was smaller and the paraboloid segment larger in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli with the reverse in T. punctatissima, (e) VCL%, ONL%, OPL% and GCL% in A. orientalis and A. rieppeli were significantly greater than that of T. punctatissima, (f) INL% and IPL% in T. punctatissima was significantly greater, and (g) T. punctatissima had abundant Muller cells and fibres. Findings in the gecko species were congruent with those of the three skink species of the present study.