Efeito de diferentes dosagens de nitrogênio em aspectos morfométricos do pulgão-gigante-do-pínus Cinara atlantica (Hemiptera:aphididae) criado em Pinus taeda.

EVINCI. Resumo 018

Estabelecimento de protocolos para seleção e indução da capacitação espermática em caprinos.

[Establishment of protocols for selection and induction of sperm capacitation in goat]

Selection of alfafa cultivars adapted for tropical environments with repeated measures using PROC MIXED of SAS system.

Although alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a leguminous herbage widely used in temperate regions as animal feed, there is not much research in tropical regions to develop cultivars adapted to these environmental conditions. The utilization of adapted cultivars with adequate management practices is important to improve productivity, quality and persistence of cultivated pastures. The objectives of this study were to verify the genetic variability among alfalfa cultivars and to rank them using mixed model methodology. A total of 35 alfalfa cultivars were evaluated in the rainy and dry seasons, from 1996 to 2000, in plots of 2.8 m2 in Sertãozinho, São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. Longitudinal data of dry matter yield were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS® System. Several covariance structures were tested and the spherical spatial structure was selected. The results show that the genetic variability was statistically significant only for the dry season. Moreover, the interaction among cultivars and harvests variance was highly significant for both seasons. The empirical best linear unbiased predictions of cultivar effects were obtained, allowing for the selection of the superior cultivars MH 15, 5715, SW 8210, Rio, High, 5888, Monarca, Victoria, Florida 77 and Falcon. Crioula, the most common cultivar in Brazil, showed low forage potential in Sertãozinho. Results indicate potential for use of more productive cultivars of alfalfa to produce animal feed in tropical environments

Tinea versicolor in groin and scrotum simulating ringworm

Se describen dos casos de Pitiriasis versicolor de localización crural y escrotal. No se encontraron evidencias de esa micosis en otras zonas del cuerpo. Malassezio furfur fue evidenciada mediante el uso de hidróxido de potasio adicionado de tinta Parker 51 azul oscura permanente. El hongo fue cultivado únicamente en agar Sabouraud adicionado de aceite de oliva

Luteal dynamics in goats: morphological and endocrine features.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the morphologic and endocrine characteristics of luteal dynamics in goats. It was used Toggenburg female goats that showed natural estrus in a 48-hour interval. After estrus, ultrasonographic evaluations of the ovaries were daily performed during 21 days using a portable device (5MHz probe). Blood sample was collected for plasma progresterone (P4) determination. Corpora lutea were detected for the first time on day 5 and progressively increased in size until D9 (1.26 ± 0.08 cm2), with no variation on subsequent days. In females with one ovulation, the first visualization of the corpora lutea was earlier than in those with multiple ovulation (4.54 ± 0.18 vs 5.74 ± 0.25 days). At the moment of the first visualization, luteal area was smaller in animals with single ovulation. Plasma P4 concentration progressively increased until day 9 and it did not show significant increase until luteolysis, characterized by a sharp decrease in P4 concentration, reaching values below 1 ng/mL in 24 hours. The luteal area slowly and gradually decreased in size. It was observed a significant positive correlation between P4 concentration and area during luteogenesis and luteolysis (r = 0.63 and r = 0.50, respectively). When corpus luteum reached its maximum size (D9), female with more than one corpora lutea, with a greater luteal tissue area, did not show P4 concentration higher than those with one ovulation (5.92 ± 0.59 vs 7.04 ± 0.79 ng/mL). These results show that luteal dynamics in Toggenbur goats follow a similar pattern to those observed in other goat breeds and luteal tissue growth was positively correlated with corpora lutea functionality. [Dinâmica luteal em caprinos: características morfológicas e endócrinas]. Resumo: Objetivou-se neste estudo estabelecer as características morfológicas e endócrinas da dinâmica luteal em cabras. Foram utilizadas fêmeas da raça Toggenburg que manifestaram estro natural em um intervalo de 48 horas. Após o estro, foram realizadas avaliações ultrassonográficas diárias dos ovários durante 21 dias, utilizando-se um aparelho portátil (5 MHz). Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para dosagem de progesterona (P4) no plasma. Os corpos lúteos foram detectados pela primeira vez no D5 e aumentaram progressivamente de tamanho até o D9 (1,26 ± 0,08 cm2), não havendo variação nos dias subsequentes. Nas fêmeas com uma ovulação, a primeira visualização do corpo lúteo foi mais precoce que naquelas com ovulação múltipla (4,54 ± 0,18 vs 5,74 ± 0,25 dias). No momento da primeira visualização, a área luteal foi menor nos animais com uma ovulação. A concentração plasmática de P4 aumentou progressivamente até o D9 e não apresentou aumento significativo até o momento da luteólise, caracterizada por uma acentuada queda da concentração de P4, atingindo valores inferiores a 1 ng/mL em um intervalo de 24 horas. A área luteal diminuiu de forma lenta e gradual. Foi observada uma correlação positiva significativa entre a área e a concentração de P4 durante a lutegêonese e a luteólise (r = 0,63 e r = 0,50; respectivamente). No dia em que o corpo lúteo atinge sua área máxima (D9), as fêmeas com mais de um corpo lúteo, com maior área de tecido luteal, não apresentaram concentração de P4 superior à daquelas com uma ovulação (5,92 ± 0,59 vs 7,04 ± 0,79 ng/mL). Esses resultados indicam que a dinâmica luteal em caprinos da raça Toggenburg segue padrões semelhantes aos observados em outras raças e em outras espécies e que o crescimento de tecido luteal refletiu positivamente na funcionalidade do corpo lúteo

Goat incubator: can bovine oocytes be matured in the uterine horn of a goat?

Abstract We used a goat as a live incubator, along with associated nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques, to perform ex situ (in vivo) maturation of bovine oocytes. Immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from 3-8 mm follicles from slaughterhouse ovaries were randomly split into two groups for in vitro (IVM; n = 38) and ex situ maturation (ESM; n = 40). IVM was performed for a period of 24 h at 38.5 ºC and with 5% CO2 in the air of maximum humidity. For ESM, a presynchronized nulliparous goat (12 months old) received 40 immature COCs in the uterine horn apiece, via the transcervical route. After 24 h the structures were retrieved through uterine flushing. Analyses of nuclear maturation and lipid quantification were performed on oocytes from both groups. Fluorescent intensity was compared using the Student?s t-test. Forty-seven percent of the structures were recovered after uterine flushing (19/40). The nuclear maturation rate was 94.5% (18/19) and 81.6% (31/38) for the ESM and IVM groups, respectively. In vitro-matured COCs contained more lipid droplets, expressed as a higher amount (p < 0.05) of emitted fluorescent light than ex situ-matured COCs (858 ± 73 vs. 550 ± 64 arbitrary fluorescence units, respectively). This is the first report to associate nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques and a goat as a live incubator for the maturation of bovine oocytes. We conclude that bovine oocytes can progress meiotically in the uterus horn of a goat and that transcervical transfer of bovine oocytes to a goat?s uterus could present an alternative to nuclear maturation

FSH dose and strategy of administration during ovarian stimulation alter the gene expression profile in ovine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

Ovarian stimulation is an important tool to increase the number of oocytes obtained by laparoscopy for the in vitro production of embryos (IVP). In sheep, different concentrations of FSH administered in single dose (SD) or multiple doses (MD) have been adopted. In parallel, the oocyte quality is fundamental for IVP success, so strategies to produce more competent oocytes have been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene expression profile of BCB+ COC from different hormonal protocols of ovarian stimulation in Santa Inês ewes. To achieve that, a cross-over design was used, where 12 pluriparous ewes had their follicular wave synchronized (Balaro et al., Domest Anim Endocrinol, 54: 10-14, 2016). At 80 h after progestogen implant removal, all ewes received a new vaginal sponge and it started the stimulation by administration of: 80 (Group 1 - 80-SD) or 120 (Group 2 - 120-SD) mg FSH (Folltropin-V®, Bioniche Animal Health, Ontario, Canada) and 300 IU of eCG both in single dose, or 80 (Group 3 - 80-MD) or 120 (Group 4 - 120-MD) in decreasing doses (50/30/20%) every 12 h. The COCs were recovered by laparoscopy and classified morphologically in grade I / II (homogeneous ooplasm and more than 3 cumulus cells layers), III (homogeneous ooplasm and less than 3 cumulus cells layers or partially denuded) and IV (heterogeneous ooplasm or degenerate). For inference of the development competence GI, II and III COCs were stained with bright cresyl blue (BCB) and classified into: BCB+ (competent) and BCB- (non-competent). These variables were compared by ANOVA followed by Tukey test. The abundance of mRNA that encodes proteins associated with steroidogenesis (STAR, FSHr, LHr and ER?), oocyte quality (MATER, BMP15, GDF9 and ZAR1) and apoptosis (BAX and Bcl-2) was assessed by real-time qPCR normalized with GAPDH in BCB+ COCs. The abundance of gene transcripts associated with steroidogenesis was down-regulated (P <0.05) with increasing FSH concentration, when administration was performed in a single dose (80-SD and 120-SD). On the other hand, when the administration was performed in MD, only the LHr was down-regulated (80-MD and 120-MD). In the 80-MD group, FSHr and Er? were down-regulated (P <0.05) in comparison with 80-SD. For genes related with oocyte quality, 80-MD showed up-regulation (P <0.05) to MATER (when compared to 80-SD), ZAR1 and MATER (compared to 120-SD). Nonetheless, apoptosis genes were not affected. These data demonstrate that the FSH dose and strategy of administration affect the gene expression profile in ovine COCs. Subsequent studies are necessary to assess the effect of this change on maturation rate and developmental competence.Proceedings of the 31st Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society (SBTE), Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE, Brazil, August 17 to 19, 2017

Goat incubator: the doe as a life incubator of bovine oocytes - first step.

Despite significant improvements in the in vitro production of cattle embryos, the suboptimal in vitro culture environment still limits the embryo quality and production. Techniques that associate the advantages of in vivo and in vitro systems, such as intrafollicular transfer of immature oocytes, have been proposed mainly to increase the embryo quality. In this context, we tried to use a goat as live incubator and associated nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques in small ruminants to perform ex situ (in vivo) maturation of bovine oocytes. For this, immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) of grade 1 and 2 were randomly distributed into two groups for in vitro (IVM; n = 38) and ex situ (ESM; n = 40) maturation. The IVM was performed for a period of 24 h in TCM-199 medium (Gibco Life Technologies, Inc., Grand Island, NY, USA) supplemented with 20 mg/mL of FSH (Pluset, Calier, Barcelona, Spain), 0.36 mM sodium pyruvate (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA), 10 mM sodium bicarbonate (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA) and 50 mg/mL streptomycin/penicillin (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 38.8 ºC in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air with maximum humidity. For ESM, a pre-synchronized nulliparous goat (12 months old) received 40 immature COCs in the uterine horn apice by transcervical route (Fonseca et al., 2014 Arq. Bras. Med.vet. Zootec) and 24 h after the procedure the structures were retrieved by the uterine flushing (Fonseca et al., 2013 Small Rumin Res). For analysis of the nuclear maturation rate and lipid quantification, the oocytes were denuded (0.1% hyaluronidase), fixed (4% paraformaldehyde) and stained with 10 ?g/mL Hoechst 33342 and 10 ?g/mL Nile Red (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA) dissolved in physiological saline (0.9% NaCl) with 1mg/mL polyvinylpyrrolidone. Oocytes displaying metaphase II plate were considered matured. The lipid amount was inferred by measuring the fluorescence intensity using the ImageJ program and fluorescence intensity were compared by Student's t-test. Forty-seven percent of the structures were recovered after uterine flushing (19/40). The nuclear maturation rate was 94.5% (18/19) and 81.6% (31/38) for ESM and IVM groups, respectively. In vitro-matured oocytes contained more lipid droplets, expressed as a higher (p < 0.05) amount of emitted fluorescence light (858 ± 73 arbitrary fluorescence units) than ex situ-matured oocytes (550 ± 64 arbitrary fluorescence units). This is the first report associating nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques with goat as live incubator for maturation of bovine oocytes. We conclude that transcervical transfer of bovine oocytes to uterine goat may be an alternative to in vitro maturation aiming the reduction of lipids without compromising nuclear maturation. Further studies are required to improve the oocyte recovery rate.Proceedings of the 31st Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society (SBTE); Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE, Brazil, August 17th to 19th, 2017. Abstracts