The reduction of spermatozoa survival time is a major problem of canine chilled sperm for artificial insemination. The aim of the study was to improve the quality of canine chilled sperm during storage time. We therefore, evaluated the effects of eight treatments with different levels of soybean lecithin concentration (1, 3 and 5%) and egg yolk (20%) in Tris‐citric‐fructose or Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extender on chilled canine sperm quality during 10 days of storage. The sperm motility was analysed by computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA), whereas plasma membrane integrity, acrosome membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential parameters were determined using a fluorescent staining combination of propidium iodide (PI), Hoechst 33342 (H342), fluorescein isothiocyanate‐conjugated Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC‐PSA) and 5,5′,6,6′‐tetrachloro‐1,1′,3,3′‐tetraethylbenzimidazolyl‐carbocyanine iodide (JC‐1) by confocal laser scanning microscope. The results showed that egg yolk was found to be better than soybean lecithin in Tris‐citric‐fructose or Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extender for maintaining the quality of chilled canine sperm within 10 days of storage (P < 0.05). Although egg yolk in Tris‐citric‐fructose extender could maintain the motility better than other extenders, egg yolk in Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extender was the highest in intact plasma membrane, intact acrosome membrane and high mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.05). In contrast, the sperm quality of soybean lecithin in Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extender was lower than that of soybean lecithin in Tris‐citric‐fructose extender, and soybean lecithin 1% was greater than soybean lecithin 3% and 5% in plasma membrane integrity, acrosome membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.05). In conclusion, soybean lecithin cannot replace egg yolk in Tris‐citric‐fructose or Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extenders, and egg yolk in Tris‐citric‐fructose‐mineral salts extender is superior to other extenders in chilling canine sperm.

Maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy poses significant health risks to both mother and fetus. Although gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is mainly characterized by insulin resistance, severe hyperglycemia may also result from impaired pancreatic function. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) root and teak (Tectona grandis) leaf extracts in managing streptozotocin (STZ)-induced maternal hyperglycemia in pregnant rats, compared to metformin. Methods: Pregnant rats were administered STZ (60 mg/kg) on gestation day 5. Treatments with metformin (300 mg/kg), pandan extract (low, medium, high doses), and teak extract (low, medium, high doses) were given from gestation day 7 to 21. The key parameters included the maternal blood glucose, insulin levels, pancreatic morphology, fetal and placental outcomes, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) phytochemical profiling. GC/MS analysis identified 2,3-butanediol and propanoic acid derivatives as major compounds in pandan, while teak contained catavic acid and methyl copalate. The high-dose pandan extract significantly reduced the maternal blood glucose (p < 0.05), improved the insulin levels and pancreatic mass index, and increased the number of live fetuses, with effects comparable to metformin. The teak extract showed milder improvements. The pandan extract demonstrated dose-dependent antidiabetic potential in this STZ-induced model. Future studies should evaluate these effects in insulin-resistance-based GDM models.

The effect of incubator temperature on sex differentiation in Korat chickens was investigated. The experiments were divided into two sets: temperature applied throughout the entire incubation period and temperature applied during certain periods (days 3-6 of incubation) by either increasing above the standard or decreasing below the standard temperature. In each experiment, 300 Korat chicken eggs were separated into three groups of 5 repetitions, with 20 eggs in each group. This was done using a completely randomized design for each experiment: a group using a temperature below the standard for incubation (36.0 degrees C), a group using the standard incubation temperature (37.7 degrees C), and a group using a temperature above the standard for incubation (38.0 degrees C). W chromosomes were detected at hatch; histology examined reproductive structures after 35 days. Increasing the temperature to 38.0 degrees C throughout the entire incubation period resulted in no significant difference in hatching rates compared to the standard temperature (P > 0.05). Raising the temperature to 38.0 degrees C throughout the entire incubation and during certain periods resulted in changes in the reproductive structure of chickens, leading to a mismatch between chromosomal and gonadal sex, observed at 9.7% and 5.9% of individuals with W chromosomes possessed testes, indicating a mismatch between chromosomal and gonadal sex. However, decreasing the temperature to 36.0 degrees C throughout the incubation period resulted in lower hatching rates compared to the standard temperature (P < 0.05). Incubating eggs at 36.0 degrees C for specific periods resulted in 19.4% of genetic males developing ovaries instead of testes. The presence of ovaries in individuals without W chromosomes indicated this mismatch. The results of this study provide evidence that temperature plays a role in sex differentiation in Korat chickens, as demonstrated by the detection of W chromosomes and histological studies of testes and ovaries. Moreover, this study presents the first evidence in broilers that temperature can affect sex differentiation.