| I. Advances in Embryonic and Placental | | | | some species CL of pregnancy is necessary |
| Development | | | | till delivery, in others it is needed only |
| | | | till placenta develops. Its complete genesis |
| 1.Abstract: | | | | and biostimulation and bioregulatory roles |
| | | | are obscure and needs further research. |
| Early embryonic development needs detailed | | | | |
| investigations if we have to reduce embryonic | | | | 10. Dominant follicle dynamics |
| mortality. Embryonic mortality details have | | | | |
| been reviewed (wani, 2005). The | | | | The dominant follicle dynamics may be in |
| reproductive abnormalities have been | | | | focus for ovulation control. Dominant |
| discussed and a sequential photographic | | | | follicle or would be bride at each ovulation |
| presentation of embryonic mortality have | | | | appears around day 7 of cycle in women. It |
| recently been published (Khatoon et al | | | | occurs much earlier on day- 1 to 0 in |
| 2007). The critical period when maximum | | | | ruminants (cow, sheep,goats). This time point |
| embryonic losses go unnoticed is the period | | | | may be the focus to try future selective |
| before attachment. Losses before actual union | | | | interferences in ovulation control. |
| of foeto-maternal tissues can be missed and | | | | Antagonist use during this phase has shown |
| calculations of embryonic mortality estimates | | | | decreasing levels of estrogens in serum |
| remain unaccounted for. Some recent studies | | | | thereby indirectly hinting at dominant |
| of (Wani 2006, Khatoon et al 2006) have | | | | follicle alteration, as it is one of chief |
| paved a new innovative model for | | | | source of this hormone during this phase |
| investigation on foeto-maternal development | | | | (Fraser, 1987). Dominant follicle in its |
| and its attachment. This paper describes the | | | | sojourn to freedom and release at ovulation |
| detailed embryonic development, blastocyst | | | | seems to attain some specific qualities. |
| elongation, formation of cotyledons within | | | | Why? It alone releases itself from bondages |
| elongated blastocyst, their ramifications and | | | | in ovary (ovulation) and rest of its |
| networking of vasculature and formation of | | | | competitors are hindered through the process |
| foetal placental unit. Conversely, a detailed | | | | as atretic follicles. What make this dominant |
| photographic evidence of uterine receptivity, | | | | follicle to attain these qualities among a |
| formation of a multicoated immunological | | | | vast pool of follicles needs further study. |
| barrier- the beginning of foeto- maternal- | | | | In coming 50 years one shall possibly |
| barrier mechanism along with caruncle | | | | understand and interlock a pre-determined |
| formation, uterine milk formation and finally | | | | messenger system triggering dominance in one |
| union of cotyledous with caruncles has been | | | | or few follicles destined to become the new |
| photographically documented. | | | | offspring of that species. This system when |
| | | | decoded shall offer new opportunities in |
| 2.Introduction: | | | | controlling ovulation both for contraception |
| | | | (women) or augmentation (animals). New |
| Second and 3rd generation animal | | | | genepool of dominant follicles from dead high |
| biotechnologies as reviewed (Wani, 2005) | | | | yielding animal ovaries would help to |
| are multiple ovulation, embryo-transfer, | | | | propagate and multiply the elite. |
| preservation, cloning, micromanipulation | | | | |
| splitting of embryos and nuclear transfer. | | | | Over stimulatory effect during superovulation |
| The 4th Generation reproductive technologies | | | | could be avoided by use of antagonists, as |
| have advance beyond our imagination and now | | | | dominant follicles seem to evade suppression, |
| we do have transgenic goats giving milk rich | | | | thus follicular selection will prevent |
| in insulin. (Wani 2007). The stem cell | | | | excessive stimulation and cystic follicles. |
| technology, embryonic cell culture, | | | | Follicular fluid constituents containing |
| pronuclear micro-injection along with | | | | occyte awaiting for biochemical signals to |
| sperm-mediated, transgenesis have been in use | | | | resume (meiosis ) growth and development to |
| and are precisely reviewed and discussed | | | | ensure timely and healthy ovulation need more |
| (Wani 2005, 2007). | | | | exploration (Lenton et al., 1988). The |
| | | | specific signals triggering occyte release |
| The application of this advancement for | | | | might help in in vitro occyte maturation |
| diagnostic, therapeutic and economic uses | | | | success rate. |
| especially its transfer to human medicine or | | | | |
| for field application in animal industry | | | | 11. Development of conceptus-in vitro foetus |
| needs further research and evaluation. | | | | |
| | | | The lean meat production needs more studies |
| The another fact which can be of importance | | | | on development of conceptus. The prenatal |
| is the number of cells per embryos. During | | | | development undergoes in three stages. The |
| first day these may be two cells but after 8 | | | | early pregnancy signals, skeletal & nervous |
| days the cell number increases to 120 or | | | | tissue growth, on priority. During |
| more. It takes 32 hours for the oocyst after | | | | mid-gestation the hind and fore-limbs |
| fertilization to reach the two cell embryo. | | | | develop. During late gestation muscular |
| Another 13 hours are needed to develop it | | | | development along with peripheral extremities |
| into a four cell embryo. In another 15 hours | | | | including hair develop. In order to increase |
| 8 cell stages is reached. It is from here | | | | lean meat production, research in needed to |
| onwards that it takes 30 hours for a embryo | | | | investigate relations between hard and soft |
| to be converted into a Morula. This has been | | | | tissues. Maternal and foetal interactions |
| one of the most critical periods of embryonic | | | | needs a probe. Some basic studies (Mufti, |
| development in ovine. A genematic diagram of | | | | 1996) indicated prospects of manipulating |
| various stages of follical maturation of | | | | lean meat production (Wani, 2001, 2002 a) by |
| oocytes development and further development | | | | bio-stimulators during late gestation, which |
| has been reported (Wani 2005a) figure | | | | may help, the production of muscular lambs |
| from web site is also show that the protein | | | | kids at birth, besides, increasing birth |
| content after fertilization of 16 day old | | | | weight. More details have been described |
| embryo increased by 7500 times. | | | | (Wani, 2001, 2002a) Fig.1-5). More studies in |
| Morphologically the embryo size varies from | | | | future are needed to reveal the exact |
| spherical ovid to elongate after day 13th | | | | mechanism involved in critical transition of |
| past coitus. New protein synthesis per unit | | | | power control from maternal to embryonic |
| of embryo is maximum during 8-13th day old | | | | genome. Application of recent techniques of |
| embryos. Similarly phosphorylation per unit | | | | reverse transcription, PCR and others may |
| of embryo is also ten times more in 8 day old | | | | reveal the details (Schultz et al., 1990). |
| embryos than the later stages. Glucose and | | | | |
| lactose production increased up to day 16th | | | | 12. Slaughter house follicle pool |
| and the maximum metabolic weight is up to | | | | |
| 14th day past coitus. For increased | | | | A good number of our endangered species die |
| productive synthesis, aminoacid requirements | | | | where climatic conditions are hard and harsh. |
| are made, through production of allanic and | | | | Under temperate climatic conditions dead |
| glutonic acids by the embryos. The matobolic | | | | bodies are entrapped in snow for long. It |
| products get rid of amines. The signal | | | | gives a hope to revive their follicular pool. |
| transduction from maternal to foetal controls | | | | Our studies on resumption of life using |
| have been discussed (Moris et al 2001). | | | | follicles from slaughtered sheep and |
| | | | fertilizing them with epididymal semen was an |
| 3. Dominant follicle dynamics | | | | pioneering attempt in this direction (Wani, |
| | | | 1996) (Fig 6-8). The protein content of |
| The new animal , products, medico-Veterinary | | | | unfertilized ovum is around 100 mg in rabbit, |
| packages, profitable genetic (trait) improved | | | | 27 mg in mouse (Brinister, 1967, 1971). The |
| DNA Chips, more resistance giving gene make | | | | small genetic material needs extensive |
| ups shall have a new role in future. For the | | | | analysis to unveil vast informations in its |
| next coming super advanced technology driven | | | | codans and anticodans. Further ovum |
| century, we must be prepared to use the 4th | | | | maturation or resumption of meiosis is |
| generation technologies for animal Welfare | | | | initiated during birth or shortly before |
| and Protective mechanisms. We thought and | | | | birth and thus the pool of follicles remains |
| used Laparoscopy and ultrasonography 30 year | | | | fixed at birth. Therefore, foetal ovary has |
| ago (Wani et al, 1979, Wani 1981,1982), | | | | to be the subject of further manipulations |
| which has now become a "buzz" word and | | | | especially in view of its immunological |
| further sophisticated and modernized by my | | | | insensitivity (Guraya, 1985). |
| students across the world (Aggarwal, 2006, | | | | |
| Wani, 2006). Our concept of DNA finger | | | | 13. Gamete biosafety |
| printing of cashmere goats in 1990's | | | | |
| (Khatlani et al, 1995) has now crossed the | | | | Bacterial counts in semen in unprecedented |
| barriers of technology advancement. Today, | | | | numbers effect semen fertility (Kher, and |
| in these pages, we shall be presenting our | | | | Dholokia, 1985), The contaminational hazards |
| own results on | | | | have increased due to environmental |
| | | | pollution, water and air contamination. Above |
| 1. Embryonic development, formation of | | | | all the development of resistance of known |
| cotyledons, blactocyst development | | | | bateria and other micro-organism to |
| ramification of vascular system, net working | | | | antibiotics (Gupta and Maurya, 1993). We have |
| of blood vessels to form initial placenta, | | | | examined the semen of about 40 bulls |
| their union and attachment processes. We | | | | maintained at the Frozen semen bank, |
| shall describe morphological physiological, | | | | Rambirbag, Kashmir for bacterial loads in |
| endocrinology, histochemical and receptor | | | | semen and tested antibiotic sensitivity |
| analysis to support our observations. This is | | | | (Koul, 2002). |
| 5th generation reproductive technology base | | | | |
| for development of in-vitro-foeto models. | | | | Presence of bacteria in large numbers in |
| | | | semen, effects its quality and fertility |
| For 6th - 10th generation reproductive | | | | (Kher and Dholokia, 1985). The source of |
| scientists we shall present theoretical | | | | contamination of semen vary from inflammatory |
| hypothesis a vision -2050 in the form of. | | | | foci and lesions on penile apparatus, |
| | | | contaminations on equipments, appliances, |
| 2. Use of stem-cell, germ-cell and Nano- | | | | diluters, extenders, air and laboratory |
| technologies for production of disease free, | | | | environment. These contamination hazards have |
| highly prolific reproductive gametes, their | | | | increased with environmental pollution. Many |
| preservation and conservation. The use of | | | | bacteria having developed resistance to |
| these and other molecular and new-generation | | | | routine antibiotics used (Gupta and Maurya |
| DNA-related bio-diagnostics shall also be | | | | 1993) in semen extenders has made |
| discussed. | | | | inseminations more critical and vulnerable. |
| | | | More studies in this direction are needed to |
| 4. Uterine morphological changes: | | | | develop a bio-safe and infection free |
| | | | germplasm pool of frozen and fresh semen in |
| The early pregnancy uterine morphological | | | | future. |
| land marks were described only externally per | | | | |
| rectum in bovine (Zamznis, 1976) some of | | | | 14. Foeto-maternal interaction |
| its significant features have been summarized | | | | |
| in a booklet (Wani, 1986). It describes | | | | The role of endometrial stromal cells during |
| easy palpable signs of early pregnancy in | | | | pre-implantation stage needs further |
| bovine and compares its observations with | | | | research. Some studies on ultrastructure of |
| equines, sheep and goats. Some of the | | | | endometrium (Brinsfield et al., 1974) are |
| earliest indications of pregnancy by physical | | | | still not sufficient to answer the questions. |
| examination were:i) Presence of corpus luteum | | | | What is the role of immune cells and |
| of pregnancy early 15 day post-coitusii) | | | | endometrial cells in building of the |
| Asymmetry of uterine horns 30-35 days post | | | | immunological barrier to protect the foetus. |
| coitusiii) Fluctuation around 40-49 days in | | | | Foetal biology is abarren field of research |
| cattle. Thereafter the advanced pregnancy | | | | in the world. After few initial steps by Dr. |
| signs like foetal membrance feel and slips. | | | | Moris Young in UK and D. Srivastava in |
| Palpation of placentomes and full foetal are | | | | India, only scattered information is |
| known foetal membrane . | | | | available on the subject (Wani and Buchoo, |
| | | | 1990; Mufti, 1996) . Much is still to be |
| Various developments of foetal signs have | | | | unveiled by 2050. The placental hormone |
| been described (Wani, 1986) . The month | | | | influence mammary development and milk |
| wise morphological assessment of foetus in | | | | production of the dam. Foetal membranes serve |
| sheep has been reported (Mufti, 1995, Mufti | | | | as Chief source of nutritive exchanges. The |
| et al, 1997) . Various reviews reports and | | | | arrangement of cotyledons, caruncles, |
| books now describe events in development of | | | | positioning of single and twin conceptus, |
| foetus (Wani, 2005, 2006, 2007). | | | | indicate complex mechanisms with common |
| | | | roots. (Mufti et al., 2000) These |
| 5. Development of conceptus-in vitro | | | | mechanisms of foeto-maternal interactions and |
| foetus | | | | relationships emphasize proper foetal number |
| | | | diagnosis and corresponding |
| Pregnancy is an intimate association between | | | | materno-nutritional management strategies. |
| mother and foetus. The protective covering on | | | | |
| maternal caruncles and over wrap of foetal | | | | 15. Nanotechnology: |
| cotyledons with Blastocyst membranes, | | | | |
| transformed into foetal membranes give the | | | | In the proceeding pages we have seen the role |
| "Homograph" status to foetus. The mechanism | | | | of biotechnology in animal reproduction. The |
| of ruminant uteri has been discussed (Gray et | | | | coming generations will harvest the gains in |
| 2002). Its more recent findings and | | | | the form of more micron-level-accurate |
| attachments are the topic of one of our | | | | technology being replaced with |
| students. | | | | nanogram-level-invisible technology- the |
| | | | nanotechnology. Now even converging |
| We have tried to univel many obscure | | | | technologies are shaped resulting from merger |
| mechanism on blastocyst formation, | | | | of Nano- science and Nanotechnology with |
| plancentation and development of cotyledons. | | | | biomedicine, bio-sciences, biotechnology, |
| The protective mucin coverings over uterine | | | | genetic engineering and information |
| caruncles and their union with cotyledons has | | | | technology. |
| been snaped. | | | | |
| | | | The cognitive sciences like Neuro- sciences, |
| The internal changes have been correlated | | | | computing, communication combined with |
| with biochemical, morphological and | | | | nanotechnology may be so mystic and |
| histochemical and histoanatomic feature of | | | | deterministic that science shows will appear |
| the gravid and non-gravid uteri. | | | | as "Majic shows" . This new technology |
| | | | wave" may define our spiritualistic |
| 6. Foeto-maternal interaction: | | | | wavelengths. Many unsolved or resolved facts |
| | | | on birth and genetic make up shall send such |
| The estrogen, progesterone in foetal and | | | | messages as was known of Sagic saints, peers |
| maternal blood have been estimated along with | | | | and Fakirs. |
| estrogen progesterone receptor concentrations | | | | |
| in the pregnancy and non pregnant states. | | | | The birth of a technology needs patience of |
| | | | public and policy makers. In the past |
| Endometrial receptivity has been discussed | | | | "Michael Farady" - the inventor of electric |
| (Huct-Hudson, et al 1989, Wani 1996, Wani, | | | | generator, was asked by the then Chancellor |
| 2003, 205, 2006). Proliferation of uterine | | | | of Exchequer, as to what use is the |
| cells is influenced by E2 and P4. These | | | | electricity you are generating. He argues but |
| hormones have their receptors in uteri called | | | | no argument convinced the accountant. |
| as E2 (ER) , P4 (PR) receptors (Lee and Demyo | | | | Finally, he promised him that the day will |
| 2004) we have also investigated the same and | | | | come when you can tax it. Today a remote |
| are being analysed. Our studies indicate | | | | destination on this earth demands 24 hr |
| certain changes which project a new mechanism | | | | electricity. They never argue its price, but |
| of foeto-maternal unions (Khatoon and Wani, | | | | its availability as savoir to life be it |
| 2007). | | | | medical, veterinary or any other field. Thus |
| | | | like Farady I profess and advocate |
| Various growth factors described (Wani 2006) | | | | experiments on use of nanotechnology in |
| may be helpful in future for invitro-foetal | | | | animal reproduction today. It may sound |
| growth. | | | | strange, but yes in my life I shall fore see |
| | | | a role of nanotechnology in Animal |
| 7. Reproductive management | | | | reproduction. |
| | | | |
| The reproductive management strategies to | | | | 16. What is Nanotechnology: |
| enhance meat production could safely be | | | | |
| divided into two kinds:i. Traditional | | | | Technology related to features of nanometer |
| management: Animal are still managed under | | | | scale. Thus we will unveil gametes in minute |
| zero- input/ migratory /tribal or extensive | | | | details; sperm head colliding zona-pellucida |
| management system. The application of above | | | | shall be filmed. The radial blast of cortical |
| described methods will be limited. They may | | | | reaction shall be known. All chemical |
| indirectly help in this system by better sire | | | | messengers shall be unveiled at nano-level. |
| availability.ii. Modern management: | | | | |
| Zero-grazing, stall-fed or semi-intensive, | | | | The shape of gamete, Zygote, embryo and |
| commercial goat farming system may use the | | | | foetal development at nanolevel shall bring |
| above methods more and more to produce high | | | | forth new additions to our knowledge. The use |
| quality germplasm. They may use variety of | | | | of such information through use of computer |
| improved reproductive technique or reported | | | | languages, both hard and soft shall make this |
| (Wani,1996; Wani et al., 200a; Wani et al., | | | | knowledge dispensable and useable at |
| 1998; Mufti et al., 1997; Wani and Sahani, | | | | remote-corners of the Universe. Combing |
| 1981; Wani et al., 1986, 1987, 1988; Wani and | | | | cognitive, mythical and mysterious happening |
| Buchoo, 1991; Buchoo and Wani, 1991; Wani, | | | | within womb could be registered and |
| 1989, Wani, 1995; Wani, 1984a and b; Wani and | | | | translated via nano-ultra-sonography. |
| Sahani, 1980a). | | | | |
| | | | Thus futuristic view of nanotechnology will |
| 8. Enhancement of fertility | | | | be nanographic follow of information and has |
| | | | been described ( Mordini, E, 2007). |
| Desired fertility objectives have been | | | | |
| discussed (Wani, 2001). Increased | | | | Nanotechnology may allow us to send tiny nano |
| prolificacy, early rebreeding, safe/clean | | | | microprocessors into the animal womb to send |
| parturition, set-time animal crop, elite gene | | | | us signals which we wish to know for |
| introduction are some of the desired | | | | prevention of diseases. The |
| fertility enhancement goals. The constraints | | | | stem-cell-germ-cell technology combine with |
| in achieving desired objectives in small | | | | Nanotechnology shall bring new hope and |
| ruminant livestock sector are the problems of | | | | future for the propapagation of |
| inbreeding, reproductive losses (Wani, et | | | | Gene-technology-ETT- A-I Combine. It may |
| al., 1980; 1981; 1994), pre-pubertal mating, | | | | sound like sending a wave of spirit to |
| indiscriminate or illicit mating, venereal | | | | fertilize an "egg" - thus proving the "God |
| diseases, nutritional and other stresses. | | | | Word in Quran of creating the Chirst |
| These above referred factors reduce fertility | | | | through mystic spirit. This and other |
| status of our ruminants especially under | | | | convergence of known reproductive |
| transhumane migratory systems. | | | | technologies are challenge to us in future |
| | | | |
| These constraints mentioned could overcome by | | | | Nanaoparticels developed can be agents which |
| adopting enhancement strategies (Wani, 2001), | | | | would use blood and carry durgs for curing |
| which include exchange of sires by tribal, | | | | disease at molecular levels. Thus a new |
| Gujjar, Bakarwals and Chopans to reduce | | | | mechanism of targeting infective agents of |
| inbreeding. This could be ensured through | | | | smaller dimension could be a possibility. |
| legislature or forced castrations and | | | | |
| introduction of sires from outside the flock. | | | | 17. Stem-cell-Technology: |
| The pregnancy detection methods described | | | | |
| (Wani, 1981) and later on used extensive in | | | | Stem- cells are undifferentiated cells. The |
| J&K under farm condition (Wani et al., 1998; | | | | embryo at morula stages have undifferentiated |
| Wani, 1989) needs adoption as a routine in | | | | blastomeres. These cells can transform |
| each flock for better care of offspring and | | | | themselves into 200 or more cell type, which |
| dam. | | | | could be used to repair or regenerate new |
| | | | desired cells. This advanced cell research |
| 9. Corpora luteal biosensitivity. | | | | may help diseased people like those suffering |
| | | | from cancer, Alzheimer's disease syndrome, |
| Corpus luteum growth and development is the | | | | Parkinsons disease and even paralysis. |
| first earliest pregnancy signal along with | | | | |
| maternal recognition factors discussed (Wani, | | | | The stem cells are derived from 4-5 day old |
| 1996). The corpus luteum development and | | | | embryos or fertilized cells. The |
| receptivity to PGF2 alpha is now known. The | | | | stem-cell-technology has a new role to play |
| ascending and descending corpora lutea are | | | | in Animal reproduction. |
| insensitive to PGF2 alpha. What makes them | | | | |
| insensitive and what resurges their | | | | Firstly, the stem-cell source could be pooled |
| sensitivity need exploration. May be in | | | | out of slaughter-house oocytes or from the |
| future, CL insensitivity might have direct | | | | vast pool of embryos hatching out in many |
| effects on survival of the conceptus. Does | | | | animal species. |
| conceptus make CL more sensitive to PGF2 | | | | |
| alpha? Or in other words, does the gravid CL | | | | Secondly, the cell source could be obtained |
| and non-gravid CL behave similarly or | | | | from foetal culture and if |
| differently to PGF2 alpha. Many such | | | | new-grown-immunoprotectant cell of foetus |
| questions vis-Ã -vis the ovarian morphology, | | | | could help or provide germ-cell specific to |
| uterine environment and behavioral patterns | | | | any particular organ, the repair of organs |
| need to be studied and co-related to develop | | | | could be a new revolution. |
| a manipulative and curative safe system. In | | | | |