It has been shown (Gordon, 1975) that certain progestagens administered intravaginally can be highly effective in the control of oestrus, ovulation and fertility in ewes. Prostaglandin (PGF2α) when infused into the uterine vein ipsilateral to the ovary containing the corpus luteum has been shown to result in luetolysis and a return to oestrus in a high proportion of ewes (Hearnshaw, Restall & Gleeson, 1973). Synthetic analogues of PGF2α have also been shown to have a marked luteolytic effect in ewes (Baird & Scaramuzzi, 1975). Variable fertility has been reported following the use of prostaglandin or its analogue for oestrous synchronization (Jennings, 1975; Haresign, 1976; Fairnie, Cumming & Martin, 1976; Lightfoot, Croker & Marshall, 1976; Trounson, Willadsen & Moor, 1976). Low fertilization has been reported after the use of a prostaglandin analogue and artificial insemination at a predetermined time in ewes (Boland, Gordon & Kelleher, 1978). The purpose of the present experiment was to extend these observations, using a ram in natural service after employing a double prostaglandin injection regime or an intravaginal progestagen treatment for the control of oestrus in cyclic sheep.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a malabsorptive disorder of the small intestine resulting from ingestion of gluten. The HLA risk factors involved in CD are well known but do not explain the whole genetic susceptibility. Several regions of potential linkage on chromosomes 3q, 5q, 10q, 11q, 15q and 19q have already been reported in the literature. These six regions were analyzed with the Maximum Lod Score method on a dense set of markers. A new sample of 89 Italian sibpairs was available for study. There was no evidence for linkage for any of the regions tested, except for chromosome 5q. For this region, our data, as well as a sample of 93 sibpairs from our first genome screen (Greco et al. 1998), are compatible with the presence of a risk factor for CD with a moderate effect.