Veterinary Physiology Commons^™

Maternal Hyperleptinemia Alters Placental Transcriptome And Progesterone Regulation Without Affecting Early Equine Fetal Growth, Lucinda L. Thorburn

LSU Master's Theses

While consequences of equine obesity are well defined, the extent to which persistent hyperleptinemia and accompanying leptin (Lep) resistance affect the fetal-maternal environment warrants further exploration. This study compared endocrine, fetal, placental, and uterine parameters during early pregnancy (through day 70) in mares with elevated leptin versus normal leptin (NL) concentrations. Fourteen mares were classified as either NL (n = 6; Lep 0.9 ± 0.3 ng/mL), moderate leptin (ML; n = 4; Lep 3.0 ± 0.3 ng/mL), or high leptin (HL; n = 4; Lep 5.8 ± 0.7 ng/mL) based on annual plasma leptin. Mares were artificially inseminated and induced …

Evaluating Viability, Developmental Competence, And Chromatin Configurations Of Cryopreserved Equine Oocytes, Tricia Adams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Assisted reproduction technology and the use of specialized laboratories have increased in the horse breeding industry over the last decade. This expansion has highlighted the inability to routinely cryopreserve oocytes and preserve female genetics. Oocyte vitrification, a cryopreservation process, continues to be characterized as an experimental procedure in horses. The goal of this dissertation was to evaluate the viability, developmental competence, and nuclear structures of cryopreserved equine oocytes to illuminate potential areas of improvement in the vitrification process. Oocytes were collected from abattoir derived ovaries and exposed to either varying lengths of in vitro maturation (IVM) or pretreated with a …

Effect Of Furosemide Administration On Plasma Analytes And Urine Enzyme Excretion In Two Reptilian Species, Kathryn Metcalf

LSU Master's Theses

Renal disease is a common ailment of captive reptiles that is often closely linked to chronic, subclinical states of dehydration. Currently, the diagnosis of renal disease in reptiles is poorly characterized and often relies on invasive diagnostic techniques (e.g., renal biopsy) for definitive diagnosis. A potential outlet for the further characterization of renal dysfunction in reptiles is the induction of dehydration by furosemide therapy. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that is commonly used in mammalian patients for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The utility of furosemide in reptiles is poorly characterized, however, both experimental and clinical utility of this …

The Role Of Kisspeptins In Trophoblast Cell Dynamics: Comparative Studies Using The Horse And The Preeclamptic-Like Bph/5 Mouse As Animal Models, Viviane Cristine Leite Gomes

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Kisspeptins, a family of small peptides derived from the Kiss1 gene, have been described in trophoblast cell dynamics, placentation, and pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, many other physiological functions have been attributed to kisspeptins, including neuroendocrine regulation of puberty and cyclicity, and peripheral and central regulation of metabolism and adipogenesis. Herein, studies were performed in the Blood Pressure High Subline 5 (BPH/5) mouse and the horse to further investigate the role of kisspeptins in pregnancy. The BPH/5 mouse recapitulates the main features of human preeclampsia (PE), a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. BPH/5 phenotypic characteristics include …

Determining The Effects Of Exogenous Human Chorionic Gonadotropin And Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin On Plasma Testosterone, Testicular Volume, And Semen Production In Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis Macularius), Alexandra Mason

LSU Master's Theses

Planet earth has now entered into its sixth mass extinction as a result of expanding human populations, posing an unprecedented threat to biologic diversity. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, wildlife trade, pollution, and biological invasions are just a few consequences of human activities that have directly contributed to unprecedented species extinctions. While widespread amphibian declines have gained more recent attention, it has been proposed that reptiles may be in even greater danger of extinction worldwide. Unfortunately, many reptiles are destined to go extinct before many of their basic biologic traits, including reproductive methods, have even been determined.

In order to mitigate …

Can Assisted Reproductive Technologies Help Conserve 300 Million Years Of Evolution? A First Attempt At Developing These Technologies For Male Reptiles, Sean M. Perry

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Biodiversity loss is the most critical environmental problem threatening ecosystem, animal, and human health today. Increases in extinction rates have been observed over the past 50 years, with reptile losses occurring twelve times faster than traditional extinction rates. This demonstrated biodiversity loss is secondary to climate change, habitat destruction, infectious disease, invasive species, poaching, and unsustainable trade. Approximately 20% of all reptiles are threatened with extinction and population declines are approaching rates similar to the current amphibian extinction crisis. Preventing the extinction of reptiles will require humans to acknowledge these losses and develop plans to preserve these evolutionary sentinel species. …