Research Abstract

 Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology in Domestic Animals

 

Objective:  The objective of this assignment is to provide an opportunity for the student to explore in-depth, an area of interest in the field of physiology of reproduction. This research abstract is also intended to introduce the student to objective, critical evaluation, and abstraction of scientific reports and reviews, and scholarly scientific writing. A research abstract will introduce the student to one of our most valuable resources, the library, accessible through the web.

Topic:  The subject of the research abstract may be any topic of interest to the student in the following areas.

Abstract A - Gonadotropin and Steroid Endocrinology

Abstract B - Physiology of the Male

Abstract C - Physiology of the Female

Abstract D - Biotechnology or Pregnancy

Guideline:

1]  The abstract will be a maximum of one page (double spaced, Times Roman font-size 12, 1 inch margins) that contains no typographical or spelling errors.

2]  Scholarly English is required. A single article from a scientific journal published in 2007 or 2008 at least 5 pages in length is to be reviewed and abstracted in a style similar to the attached example.

3]  Each abstract from a different journal introduces the student to four different journals. Journals that are recommended but not limited to are the Journal of Animal Science, Journal of Dairy Science, Journal of Poultry Science, Endocrinology, Biology of Reproduction, Theriogenology, Meats Science, and Journal of Food Science. Articles published in refereed journals are reviewed critically by independent scientists and only those that meet the standards for a particular journal are published.

4]  Scientific Journals at the Medical School and Marston Library are accessible via the web under Links..Libraries.  You must logon with your Gator link account in order to access these journals.

 

Instructions for locating Journal articles for abstracts:

 

1. Go to ufl.edu, under Academics (left side), hit the "libraries link".

2. Go to GeoIrge A. Smathers libraries.

3. Under the heading research gateway, go to "off campus access".

4. Log in on the left side using your gatorlink username and password. Note: (If it does not work, check in with a librarian to put you in the library system.)

 5. Go to the "UF Smathers Library" link.

6. Under the heading "find" use the "Databases" link.

7. It will say "By title", type in the database you wish to use.

(I use the database Pubmed, it has worked well in the past).

8. Click on "pubmed". (or other database link).

9. Now search for the topic. (You can also search by topic and date, which will put the newest articles first). (i.e. 2006-2008)

10. Now comes the tricky part, if the article is available in full text, there will be a link when you open the abstract in the top right hand corner of the article page. Usually saying "FULL TEXT" and "FREE". Some are not available in full text, due to UF not subscribing to that particular journal. It might take a few trys, but this should work. Print in PDF format to save ink and for an easy read..

 

5]   Staple a copy of the complete article reviewed to your abstract.

Grading: This assignment and unannounced quizzes represent 15% of the final grade. Reports not meeting deadline dates will be penalized a letter grade. Grading will be based on the above instructions including content, organization, clarity of presentation, and scholarly English.


Academic Honesty:  The University of Florida states that plagiarism is the attempt to represent the work of another as the product of one's own thought, whether the work is published or unpublished, or simply the work of a fellow student. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, quoting oral or written materials without citation on an exam, term paper, homework, or other written materials or oral presentations for an academic requirement; submitting a paper which was purchased from a term paper service as your own work; submitting anyone else's paper as your own work.  Most importantly, you are here to learn and gain skills that will serve you during your entire career and life; to plagiarize is to cheat.

 

Example of an abstract:

 

Checklist:

 

1]  Title of article

2]  Authors of the article

3]  Location of the first/senior author

4]  Objective of the research

5]  Study Design of the research

6]  Results of the research

7]  Conclusions from the research

8]  Title of the journal followed by volume number, inclusive pages, and year from which the article was printed

9]  Your name, abstract #, and course Repro

 

Cellular and Hormonal Disruption of Fetal Testis Development in Sheep Reared on Pasture Treated with Sewage Sludge

Catriona Paul, S. M. Rhind, C. E. Kyle, et al. MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, U.K.

 

Objectives: The study tested the effects of pregnant sheep exposed to a real-world mixture of environmental chemicals, through the addition of sewage sludge to the pasture that served as the sole source of nutrition for the ewes, on the development and function of fetal testis.

Study Design: Eighteen pregnant ewes (nine test animals, nine control animals) were used to evaluate the effects of the sewage applications.  The animals were raised on the pastures for five years, synchronized in estrus, bred, and then euthanized on gestation day 110 for evaluation. The test pasture received liquid sewage sludge or thermally dried sludge pellets twice annually at a rate of 2.25 metric tons per hectare (the rate consistent with normal practice management in the UK at time of study.) The control pasture received conventional fertilizer at the same rate.

Results: Overall body weight of male fetuses from test ewes was reduced by 15-36% and testis weight was reduced by 32-46%. Sertoli cell numbers in testis of test fetuses was 34-51% lower than those fetuses from control ewes, and the number of Leydig cells was also reduced, 37-46% lower. However, when expressed per gram of testis, the reduction in the number of Sertoli and Leydig cells was not significant. All other tests showed no correlation.

Conclusions: Testosterone has been known to regulate Sertoli (and Leydig) cell proliferation in fetal life. Reduced levels of testosterone in the test group of fetuses suggest the correlation of applied chemicals with the reduced cell numbers and overall testicular weight. Also, reduced testosterone levels proved to eliminate the normal sex difference in body weight, lowering the body weight of male fetuses compared to female fetuses. This growth reduction was marked and alludes to fetal growth restriction in humans, where reduced growth is linked to an increase in reproductive disorders, such as cryptorchidism, testicular cancer, and reduced sperm counts. For humans, the study findings suggest limiting the exposure to environmental chemicals as a means to reduce risk of disorders. For farm animal management, the study suggests reducing the maximum limit of allowable contamination of forage to below the point of increased fetal risk.

Environmental Health Perspectives 113.11:1580-1587 (2005)

Name: Brittany Bell                       Abstract #:   B                        Course: Repro          

 

Activities

 

Seminars: You are invited to attend seminars on some aspect of Reproductive Biology that occur across campus throughout the semester. These seminars offer undergraduate students an opportunity for exposure to the latest research presented by leading scientist in their area of expertise, meet the faculty, and graduate students and in general observe the scientific enterprise here at the University of Florida. Seminar announcements will be posted on the Repro Bulletin Board outside Room 125. The Interdisciplinary Reproductive Biology Group seminar announcements can be found at www.animal.ufl.edu/irb.

 

Farm Visits: You are invited to travel with a veterinarian to an outlying farm or research station to observe and assist with attendance of animals. These trips offer undergraduate students an opportunity to visit with attending veterinarian and observe first hand the placement in practice of many of the principle of reproductive biology discussed in class. The trip will be with faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Travel time is either a half day or a full day. Check with the receptionist (Deloris) regarding availability and signing up for one of the trips at the Deriso Building across from the VET SCHOOL. 

 

Class Credit: Approved Farm visits with a veterinarian as well as other activities can be used to substitute for an abstract of a research article. For credit, a brief statement of what you learned from the trip is to be turned in by the abstract dead line, i.e., date abstract A is due.

 

Honors Section: Students participating in the Honors Section have the additional responsibility of attending the Interdisciplinary Reproductive Biology Group Biology Seminars. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the graduate faculty and learn about their research. Information on the Honors Section can be found under Teaching at website www.animal.ufl.edu/fields

 

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