Effetto del temporaneo impiego dell'acqua reflua decantata sulle prestazioni produttive in vivo e la sopravvivenza dell'orata (Sparus aurata) in fase d'ingrasso

Con questo studio si è voluto testare la possibilità di utilizzare in un nuovo ciclo di produzione dell’orata (Sparus aurata), l’acqua reflua di vasche d’allevamento dopo una fase di decantazione in un apposito bacino di lagunaggio. Pesci di circa 240 g, al sesto mese di ingrasso, sono stati distribuiti in due vasche di 208 m3, alimentate una con acqua di mare e l’altra con acqua reflua decantata. Per valutare gli effetti sulle prestazioni produttive in vivo e la sopravvivenza delle orate sottoposte per 137 giorni a tale sistema di allevamento è stato rilevato, giornalmente, la quantità di mangime somministrato ed il numero dei pesci morti per vasca. Inoltre, a cadenza di 45 giorni una dall’altra, sono state effettuate 4 campionature deipesci e dell’acqua in entrata. Nell’intero periodo di sperimentazione, la mortalità nelle due vasche è stata simile (meno del 2%) e il peso medio delle orate campionate ad ogni rilevamento è risultato statisticamente uguale. L’indice di conversione alimentare è stato pari a 2,1 per la vasca decantata ed a 2,8 per la vasca di controllo. Nel complesso le perfomances produttive delle orate sono risultate soddisfacenti evidenziando una buona adattabilità della specie ad un temporaneo allevamento con acqua reflua decantata

Time course of the hemodynamic responses to aortic depressor nerve stimulation in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

The time to reach the maximum response of arterial pressure, heart rate and vascular resistance (hindquarter and mesenteric) was measured in conscious male spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive control rats (NCR; Wistar; 18-22 weeks) subjected to electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve (ADN) under thiopental anesthesia. The parameters of stimulation were 1 mA intensity and 2 ms pulse length applied for 5 s, using frequencies of 10, 30, and 90 Hz. The time to reach the hemodynamic responses at different frequencies of ADN stimulation was similar for SHR (N = 15) and NCR (N = 14); hypotension = NCR (4194 +/- 336 to 3695 +/- 463 ms) vs SHR ( 3475 +/- 354 to 4494 +/- 300 ms); bradycardia = NCR (1618 +/- 152 to 1358 +/- 185 ms) vs SHR (1911 +/- 323 to 1852 +/- 431 ms), and the fall in hindquarter vascular resistance = NCR (6054 +/- 486 to 6550 +/- 847 ms) vs SHR (4849 +/- 918 to 4926 +/- 646 ms); mesenteric = NCR (5574 +/- 790 to 5752 +/- 539 ms) vs SHR (5638 +/- 648 to 6777 +/- 624 ms). In addition, ADN stimulation produced baroreflex responses characterized by a faster cardiac effect followed by a vascular effect, which together contributed to the decrease in arterial pressure. Therefore, the results indicate that there is no alteration in the conduction of the electrical impulse after the site of baroreceptor mechanical transduction in the baroreflex pathway (central and/or efferent) in conscious SHR compared to NCR.FAPESPFAPESP [02/09406-5]CNPqCNPq [134480/2006-6]CAPESCAPES [1681/07

Experimental model of intervertebral disc degeneration by needle puncture in Wistar rats

Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration play an important role in clarifying the physiopathological mechanisms and testing novel therapeutic strategies. The objective of the present study is to describe a simple animal model of disc degeneration involving Wistar rats to be used for research studies. Disc degeneration was confirmed and classified by radiography, magnetic resonance and histological evaluation. Adult male Wistar rats were anesthetized and submitted to percutaneous disc puncture with a 20-gauge needle on levels 6-7 and 8-9 of the coccygeal vertebrae. The needle was inserted into the discs guided by fluoroscopy and its tip was positioned crossing the nucleus pulposus up to the contralateral annulus fibrosus, rotated 360° twice, and held for 30 s. To grade the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration, we measured the intervertebral disc height from radiographic images 7 and 30 days after the injury, and the signal intensity T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Histological analysis was performed with hematoxylin-eosin and collagen fiber orientation using picrosirius red staining and polarized light microscopy. Imaging and histological score analyses revealed significant disc degeneration both 7 and 30 days after the lesion, without deaths or systemic complications. Interobserver histological evaluation showed significant agreement. There was a significant positive correlation between histological score and intervertebral disc height 7 and 30 days after the lesion. We conclude that the tail disc puncture method using Wistar rats is a simple, cost-effective and reproducible model for inducing disc degeneration

A case of multiple unilateral corneal epithelial inclusion cysts in a dog

A three-year-old neutered female Labrador cross was presented for investigation of two corneal epithelial inclusion cysts affecting the left eye. The aetiopathogenesis of the cyst formation was suspected to be traumatic. The cysts were removed successfully by superficial keratectomy, followed by a third eyelid flap. Histologically, both lesions were represented by cystic formations lined with multilayered squamous epithelium, consistent with stromal inclusion of surface corneal epithelium. Complete recovery was achieved, and there was no recurrence at six month follow-up

A case of multiple corneal epithelial inclusion cysts in a dog

A case of two corneal epithelial inclusion cysts affecting the left eye, in a 3 years old female Labrador cross was investigated. The etiopathogenesis of the cysts formation was suspected to be traumatic. The two masses were removed successfully by superficial keratectomy followed by a third eyelid flap. Histologically, both lesions were represented by cystic formations lined by multilayered squamous epithelium, consistent with stromal inclusion of surface corneal epithelium. Recovery was complete and there was no recurrence at three months follow up

Determinazione quantitativa di molecole antiossidanti in Sparus aurata allevata in vasca con acqua decantata

The aim of this research was the detection of Carnosine (Carn) and l-Histidine (l-Hist) in blood and muscle (head and tale) as marker of oxidative stress in Sparus aurata cultured in waste water during a period of 4 months. The concentration of these molecules in plasma was always lower in respect to muscle in each group and their concentration decreased when fish were cultured in waste water. In regards to l-Hist concentration, a significant difference was observed between the two groups in sample of cephalic muscle during all the period (p<0.01) and only in first and last month in tale muscle (p<0.05). In regards to Carn concentration, a significant difference was observed only in head muscle (p<0.05) and during first period. These data were in agreement with the variations of chemical parameters of blood and water that could increase oxidative stress in fish