8 research outputs found
Concentration of Thyroid Hormones and Prolactin in Dairy Cattle Serum and Milk at Three Stages of Lactation
Sugars and alcoholic byproducts from henequen (Agave fourcroydes) as influenced by plant age and climate [Azúcares y subproductos alcohólicos de henequén (Agave fourcroydes) en función de la edad de la planta y el clima]
Henequen (Agave fourcroydes Lem.) is a well known fiber producing plant cultivated in the Yucatán peninsula in México. Recent studies revealed that the stem locally known as "piña" is a reservoir of non structural carbohydrates, which may be fermented to produce an alcoholic spirit similar to mezcal and tequila. In this work we determined the effect of plant age and climatic conditions through the year on sugars and alcohol production. "Piñas" from 5, 8, 15, 18 and 19 year-old plants were harvested in the spring and autumn dry seasons, as well as in the rainy season of one single year. "Piñas" fresh weight varied from 5.2 to 6.7 kg. Harvested "piñas" were cut into small pieces and cooked, followed by pressing to extract their juice; then the juice was fermented with Kluyveromyces marxianus native yeast isolated from henequen, and distilled to obtain two alcoholic products: "ordinary" (monodistilled) and "white" (bidistilled). Results showed that 19 year-old plants yielded the highest volume of ordinary alcohol production (159 mL per liter of juice). "Piñas" harvested in the dry spring season produced greater quantities of "ordinary" alcohol than those harvested during the dry autumn and in the rainy seasons
Concentrações plasmáticas de testosterona, triiodotironina (T3) e tiroxina (T4) em bodes submetidos ao estresse calórico Plasma concentrations of testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in bucks submitted to heat stress
Para verificar o efeito do estresse calórico (EC) nas concentrações plasmáticas de testosterona, triiodotironina (T3) e tiroxina (T4), oito bodes, das raças Saanen (n=4) e Alpina (n=4), foram mantidos em câmara bioclimática, sob condições de termoneutralidade (13,0ºC a 26,7ºC) durante 30 dias e, após um período (60 dias) de descanso, submetidos ao EC (23,7ºC a 34,0ºC) por 30 dias. Para minimizar as variações sazonais nos perfis hormonais devido ao fotoperíodo, durante toda fase experimental, incluindo a de adaptação em condições de termoneutralidade (30 dias), o fotoperíodo foi controlado utilizando-se alternância de dias longos (16h de luz e 8h de escuro) e de dias curtos (8h de luz e 16h de escuro) a cada 30 dias. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas duas vezes por semana durante cinco semanas. No conjunto das raças, o EC não influenciou (P>0,05) as concentrações de testosterona (1,8±0,2 vs 1,3±0,2ng/ml) e nem a de T4 (52,7±2,8 vs 50,0±2,8ng/ml). Houve declínio (P<0,01) das concentrações de T3 nos animais submetidos ao experimento (1,3±0,1 vs 1,0±0,1ng/ml), mas a redução foi observada somente nos bodes Saanen. Em ambas as raças, as concentrações de T3 e T4 variaram (P<0,01) conforme o dia da coleta das amostras de sangue. O EC foi suficiente para produzir uma resposta fisiológica com redução das concentrações plasmáticas de T3 em bodes das raças Saanen, mas não da raça Alpina, assim como não foi capaz de alterar os níveis plasmáticos de testosterona e nem de T4.<br>To verify the effect of heat stress (HS) on plasma testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) concentrations, eight Saanen (n=4) and Alpine Brown (n=4) bucks were kept in climate chamber under thermal neutral conditions (13.0ºC to 26.7ºC) for 30 days. After a resting period (60 days), the same bucks were submitted to heat stress (23.7ºC to 34.0ºC) for another 30 days. To neutralize the seasonal variations of hormonal profiles throughout the period, the photoperiod was controlled every 30 days altering long (16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness) and short days (8 hours of light and 16 hours of darkness). The blood samples were collected twice a week during five weeks. In both breeds, there was no effect of HS (P>0.05) on plasma concentrations of testosterone (1.8±0.2 vs 1.3±0.2ng/ml) and T4 (52.7±2.8 vs 50.0±2.8ng/ml). There was a decline (P<0.01) of plasma T3 concentrations (1.3±0.1 vs 1.0±0.1ng/ml) after HS treatment, but this reduction was only evident in Saanen bucks. In both breeds, the plasma concentrations of T3 and T4 varied (P<0.01) according to the day of blood sample collection. The HS was sufficient to provoke a physiological response with reduction of plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones mainly of T3 in Saanen bucks, but not in Alpine ones. The HS did not affect the plasma testosterone and T4 levels