title: Relationship between embryo collection results after superovulation treatment of Japanese Black cows and their plasma β-carotene and vitamin concentrations.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentrations of vitamin A (VA), vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (BC) during embryo collection in Japanese Black cows that had undergone superovulation treatment and the embryo collection results. Following superovulation treatment in 116 Japanese Black cows, we collected 1317 embryos by nonsurgical means seven days after artificial insemination. The collected embryos were classified into transferable embryos, unfertilized oocytes and degenerated embryos. After embryo collection, we collected blood samples from the cows and measured the plasma concentrations of VA, VE and BC. The cows were then divided into 2 groups depending on the plasma concentration of VA (L and H: < 80 IU/dl and ≥ 80 IU/dl), VE (L and H: < 150 µg/dl and ≥ 150 µg/dl) and BC (L and H: < 150 µg/dl and ≥ 150 µg/dl). As a result, the number of collected embryos in the H group of VE was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that in L groups. Furthermore, the number of transferable embryos was higher (P<0.05) in all VA, VE and BC H groups than in the L groups. The H group for BC showed a high ratio of transferable embryos compared with the L group (P<0.05). Consequently, the present study suggests that the plasma VE and BC concentrations are positively correlated with the embryo collection results.
authors.affiliation: Sekizawa Animal Clinic, Tochigi 329-2712, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sekizawa
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D013480:Superovulation; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone