@misc{britt_aberle_esbenshade_males_2008, title={INVITED REVIEW: Animal science departments of the future}, volume={86}, ISSN={["0021-8812"]}, DOI={10.2527/jas.2008-1015}, abstractNote={Departments of animal science were established in agricultural colleges of public universities just over 100 yr ago, shortly before the founding of today's American Society of Animal Science. These departments and colleges have been remarkably resilient, changing little structurally. Yet, the future portends significant changes in these departments and colleges in response to shifts in how public higher education is financed and how society views the roles of animals in providing food and companionship. Funding for public higher education will continue to decline as a percentage of government appropriations. Public universities will garner more funding from gifts, endowments, grants, contracts, and tuition but will be held more accountable than today by public officials. Departments of animal science will retain strong constituencies and will be major units of most agricultural colleges; however, their students and faculty will be more diverse. Departments of animal science will focus on more species of animals and on a greater role of animals in society. Disciplines of faculty members in departments of animal science will become broader, and research projects will be more complex and have longer horizons, ultimately focused more on sustainability. Departments will share more resources across state and national boundaries, and there will be less duplication of effort regionally. Departments of animal science will continue to be important academic units of universities into the 22nd century.}, number={11}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Britt, J. H. and Aberle, E. D. and Esbenshade, K. L. and Males, J. R.}, year={2008}, month={Nov}, pages={3235–3244} }
 @article{jayes_britt_esbenshade_1997, title={Role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse frequency in differential regulation of gonadotropins in the gilt}, volume={56}, ISSN={["1529-7268"]}, DOI={10.1095/biolreprod56.4.1012}, abstractNote={We tested the hypothesis that different GnRH pulse frequencies will affect serum LH and FSH differently. Ovariectomized gilts (n = 6), immunized against GnRH, were given 200-ng pulses of GnRH agonist (GnRH-A) every 180 min for 3 days (pretreatment), followed by GnRH-A pulses every 30, 60, or 180 min for 3 days (treatment) in a Latin rectangle design. Mean gonadotropin concentrations did not change over time when GnRH pulses were administered every 180 min. Initiation of high GnRH-A pulse frequency (30 min) caused a robust increase in serum LH to 265% of the pretreatment level (p < or = 0.007) and a more moderate increase in serum FSH to 127% of pretreatment level (p < or = 0.02). After 66 h of frequent pulsing, desensitization had occurred and serum LH concentrations were similar to pretreatment concentrations, but serum FSH had decreased to 53% of pretreatment levels (p < or = 0.0008). After 72 h of treatment, 5 micrograms GnRH-A was infused to estimate residual releasable pools of LH and FSH, and the amounts of LH and FSH released were negatively correlated with GnRH-A pulse frequency. The results of this study imply that the LH surge is terminated because the pituitary gland becomes incapable of responding to an otherwise adequate stimulus, and not because of exhaustion of releasable LH pools. Our results confirm that in the pig the response to altered GnRH-A pulse frequency differs between LH and FSH. High GnRH pulse frequency is more effective in acutely releasing LH than FSH. Low pulse frequency of GnRH supports FSH synthesis and release, but is not as effective in increasing LH concentrations, while high GnRH pulse frequency inhibits FSH synthesis and release.}, number={4}, journal={BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION}, author={Jayes, FCL and Britt, JH and Esbenshade, KL}, year={1997}, month={Apr}, pages={1012–1019} }
 @article{esbenshade_1991, title={PASSIVE-IMMUNIZATION OF THE PIG AGAINST GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE DURING THE FOLLICULAR PHASE OF THE ESTROUS-CYCLE}, volume={35}, ISSN={["0093-691X"]}, DOI={10.1016/0093-691X(91)90299-S}, abstractNote={Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of passively immunizing pigs against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. In Experiment 1, sows were given GnRH antibodies at weaning and they lacked estrogen secretion during the five days immediately after weaning and had delayed returns to estrus. In Experiment 2, gilts passively immunized against GnRH on Day 16 or 17 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 = first day of estrus) had lower (P<0.03) concentrations of estradiol-17beta than control gilts, and they did not exhibited estrus at the expected time (Days 18 to 22). When observed three weeks after passive immunization, control gilts had corpora lutea present on their ovaries, whereas GnRH-immunized gilts had follicles and no corpora lutea. The amount of GnRH antiserum given did not alter (P<0.05) serum concentrations of LH or pulsatile release of LH in sows and gilts. In Experiment 3, prepuberal gilts were given 1,000 IU PMSG at 0 h and GnRH antiserum at 72 and 120 h. This treatment lowered the preovulatory surge of LH and FSH, but it did not alter serum estradiol-17beta concentrations, the proportion of pigs exhibiting estrus, or the ovulation rate. These results indicate that passive immunization of pigs against GnRH before initiation of or during the early part of the follicular phase of the estrous cycle retards follicular development, whereas administration of GnRH antibodies during the latter stages of follicular development does not have an affect. Since the concentration of antibodies was not high enough to alter basal or pulsatile LH secretion, the mechanism of action of the GnRH antiserum may involve a direct ovarian action.}, number={5}, journal={THERIOGENOLOGY}, author={ESBENSHADE, KL}, year={1991}, month={May}, pages={869–881} }
 @article{esbenshade_nebel_1990, title={ENCAPSULATION OF PORCINE SPERMATOZOA IN POLYLYSINE MICROSPHERES}, volume={33}, ISSN={["0093-691X"]}, DOI={10.1016/0093-691X(90)90507-P}, abstractNote={Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of incubating porcine spermatozoa in concentrated samples, to determine the viability of sperm encapsulated in microspheres and to evaluate the potential of microencapsulating porcine spermatozoa for use in artificial insemination. In Experiment 1, sperm incubated at 4, 15, 20 or 37 degrees C and at concentrations of 7.5, 15, 30, 60 or 120 x 10(6) sperm/ml lost motility over a 16-h incubation period. Sperm motility was significantly lower at 4 degrees C than at 15, 20 or 37 degrees C and was significantly higher in more concentrated samples. In Experiment 2, sperm were encapsulated in poly-lysine microspheres at concentrations of 30, 60 or 120 x 10(6) sperm/ml and incubated in vitro at 4, 15 or 20 degrees C. Unencapsulated samples were incubated at similar concentrations and temperatures and served as controls. Motility and percentage of sperm with intact acrosomes were estimated at 2, 4, 8 and 16 h of incubation. The procedure of encapsulation did not affect sperm motility or acrosomal morphology; however, there was an accelerated loss of motility in encapsulated samples. There were no differences in acrosomal morphology between the two groups across time. In Experiment 3, sperm were encapsulated at a concentration of 120 x 10(6) sperm/ml and 20 ml of capsules were inseminated into estrous sows. Uterine contents were flushed at 3, 6 and 24 h after insemination and examined for capsules. Capsules containing motile sperm were recovered from sows at 3 and 6 h, but not at 24 h. These results demonstrate that porcine spermatozoa can be encapsulated in microspheres and that these capsules can be inseminated into estrous females, but the sperm undergo an accelerated loss of motility in vitro and in vivo.}, number={2}, journal={THERIOGENOLOGY}, author={ESBENSHADE, KL and NEBEL, RL}, year={1990}, month={Feb}, pages={499–508} }
 @article{esbenshade_ziecik_britt_1990, title={Regulation and action of gonadotropins in pigs}, journal={Journal of Reproduction & Fertility}, author={Esbenshade, K. L. and Ziecik, A. J. and Britt, J. H.}, year={1990}, pages={19} }
 @article{esbenshade_armstrong_coffey_bowie_1989, title={Reproductive performance of sows actively immunized against growth hormone releasing factor (GRF)}, volume={72}, journal={Journal of Dairy Science}, author={Esbenshade, K. L. and Armstrong, J. D. and Coffey, M. T. and Bowie, C. A.}, year={1989}, pages={197} }
 @article{esbenshade_britt_armstrong_toelle_stanislaw_1986, title={BODY CONDITION OF SOWS ACROSS PARITIES AND RELATIONSHIP TO REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE}, volume={62}, ISSN={["0021-8812"]}, DOI={10.2527/jas1986.6251187x}, abstractNote={Weight, heartgirth, backfat and body condition of sows was monitored in a commercial, farrow-to-finish unit during 1 yr. Measurements were obtained during the third, ninth and fifteenth week of gestation and the day after weaning. Litter performance and rebreeding rate also were recorded. Body weight and heartgirth increased (P less than .01) over parities because gestational gains were larger than lactational losses. Backfat tended to be lower in later parities. Body weight, heartgirth and backfat, but not condition score, declined from weaning to the third week of the subsequent gestation in both first and second litter sows. Correlations among measures of body condition were low (less than .45), except the overall correlation between body weight and heartgirth. Number of pigs born alive increased and interval to estrus decreased in later parities. There were no significant relationships between changes in body condition and rebreeding performance of sows. These results suggest that changes in body condition typically observed in sows housed in commercial production units may be too subtle to have an effect on reproductive performance.}, number={5}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={ESBENSHADE, KL and BRITT, JH and ARMSTRONG, JD and TOELLE, VD and STANISLAW, CM}, year={1986}, month={May}, pages={1187–1193} }
 @article{esbenshade_vogel_traywick_1986, title={CLEARANCE RATE OF LUTEINIZING-HORMONE AND FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE FROM PERIPHERAL-CIRCULATION IN THE PIG}, volume={62}, ISSN={["0021-8812"]}, DOI={10.2527/jas1986.6261649x}, abstractNote={Passive immunization of chronically ovariectomized gilts against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) resulted in an abrupt cessation of pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) accompanied by clearance from serum with a mean half-life of 30.9 +/- 2.3 (mean +/- SE) and 918 +/- 200 min for the first and second compartment, respectively. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was unaffected immediately by passive immunization against GnRH and declined slowly with a half-life of 4.9 +/- .7 d. After LH and FSH had declined to basal levels in passively immunized gilts, injection of a bolus of LH and FSH resulted in peak values within 5 min and depletion curves with half-lives for the first compartment of 28.0 +/- 1.3 and 36.4 +/- 2.6 min and for the second compartment of 679 +/- 98 and 1,230 +/- 54 min, for LH and FSH respectively. These results show that the half-life of LH is similar following immunoneutralization of GnRH or administration of a bolus of LH in immunized gilts and a difference in clearance rates of LH and FSH after initial passive immunization. These results suggest that secretion of FSH in the ovariectomized gilt is controlled by factors in addition to hypothalamic GnRH.}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={ESBENSHADE, KL and VOGEL, MJ and TRAYWICK, GB}, year={1986}, month={Jun}, pages={1649–1653} }
 @article{esbenshade_britt_1985, title={ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION OF GIFTS AGAINST GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE - EFFECTS ON SECRETION OF GONADOTROPINS, REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION, AND RESPONSES TO AGONISTS OF GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE}, volume={33}, ISSN={["0006-3363"]}, DOI={10.1095/biolreprod33.3.569}, abstractNote={Sexually mature gilts were actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by conjugating GnRH to bovine serum albumin, emulsifying the conjugate in Freund's adjuvant, and giving the emulsion as a primary immunization at Week 0 and as booster immunizations at Weeks 10 and 14. Antibody titers were evident by 2 wk after primary immunization and increased markedly in response to booster immunizations. Active immunization against GnRH caused gonadotropins to decline to nondetectable levels, gonadal steroids to decline to basal levels, and the gilts to become acyclic. Prolactin concentrations in peripheral circulation were unaffected by immunization against GnRH. The endocrine status of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis was examined by giving GnRH and two agonists to GnRH and by ovariectomy. An i.v. injection of 100 micrograms GnRH caused release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in control animals, but not in gilts immunized against GnRH. In contrast, administration of 5 micrograms D-(Ala6, des-Gly-NH2(10] ethylamide or 5 micrograms D-(Ser-t-But6, des-Gly-NH2(10] ethylamide resulted in immediate release of LH and FSH in both control and GnRH-immunized gilts. Circulating concentrations of LH and FSH increased after ovariectomy in the controls, but remained at nondetectable levels in gilts immunized against GnRH. Prolactin concentrations did not change in response to ovariectomy. We conclude that cyclic gilts can be actively immunized against GnRH and that this causes cessation of estrous cycles and inhibits secretion of LH, FSH, and gonadal steroids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)}, number={3}, journal={BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION}, author={ESBENSHADE, KL and BRITT, JH}, year={1985}, pages={569–577} }