Forma heterozigota da anomalia de Pelger-Huët em cão

Background: The Pelger-Huët anomaly is a congenital alteration in segmented neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil morphology consisting of nuclear hypo-segmentation. It presents in two ways: the homozygote (very rare) presenting granulocytes with rounded nuclei and dense chromatin, where nuclei with more than two lobes are not found; and in the heterozygote form which presents leukocytes with bi-lobulated nuclei, yet leukocytes that seem immature can also be found. Diagnosis is important for preventing WBC interpretation errors. The objective of this study is to report a case of the heterozygote form of Perger-Huët anomaly in an Australian Shepherd bit.Case: A 6-year-old Australian Shepherd bitch, weighing 28 kg, was received to perform tartar cleaning at the Veterinary Hospital (HV) of the Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), in Umuarama in Paraná State. In the anamnesis, the owner reported that the animal was healthy, vaccinated, and had not made use of medications recently. Upon physical examination, the animal was overweight, with adequate hydration, alert consciousness level, no exo-parasites present, rectal temperature of 39.3°C (37.5 to 39.2), heart rate of 96 beats per min (60 to 120 beats per min), breathing (18 to 36 movements per min), a two second capillary perfusion time, strong and regular pulse, hyperemic oral mucosa, and otherwise, a normal-colored and popliteal reactive left lymph. Semiological evaluation presented no alteration. Due to the tartar cleaning procedure, a hemogram was requested. Blood smear analysis from the first blood workup showed a large increase in the number of hypo-segmented leukocytes, with a pattern of mature chromatin, in the form of bands and meta-myelocytes, characterizing a deviation to the left, all of which did not correspond to the patient’s clinical presentation. In addition, other cells in the granulocytic lineage, such as eosinophils, also presented hypo-segmentation. Since the dog was healthy, the Pelger-Huët anomaly was suspected. To confirm, the hemogram was repeated at 12 days and a bone marrow collection was performed; the same pattern of morphological alterations in leukocytes was observed both in the peripheral blood and the bone marrow, compatible with the Pelger-Huët anomaly.Discussion: In order to arrive at an APH diagnosis, hypo-segmentation of granulocytes in the blood smear must be found and compared with the clinical results that the animal presents; associating any use of medication, serious infections, myeloid leukemia, and metastatic tumors in the bone marrow that might result in acquired hypo-segmentation; also known as pseudo Pelger-Huët anomaly. It is also necessary to evaluate family members for confirmation. Diagnosis is based on persistent nuclear hypo-segmentation of granulocytes, a clinically healthy animal, absence of medication use, and analysis of the bone marrow. It was not possible to determine a hereditary origin; for not having access to the animal’s family, but earlier studies have shown that the incidence of this anomaly is high in the Australian Shepherd race. Generally, the Perger-Huët anomaly is a hematological finding that must be differentiated from other forms of hypo-segmentation. Because of its hereditary origin, it is appropriate that the owner limits the animal’s reproductive interactions to avoid the risk of offspring inheriting the homozygote, which leads to death. The clinical pathologist should be aware of the patient’s history to diagnose and differentiate true from pseudo Pelger-Huët anomaly. Direct blood smear microscopy is essential, because automated hematological analysis alone will not detect such changes

Does the male reproductive performance depend on the early lactation milk in rats?

This study investigated the role of the early lactation milk (ELM) on the male reproductive performance and the participation of GnRH on this effect in Wistar rats. Newborn males were divided into three experimental groups: 1) ELM-deprived pups, 2) ELM-deprived pups treated with exogenous GnRH 1, 7, 25, and 31 h after birth, and 3) non-ELM-deprived and without exogenous GnRH. In relation to the other two groups, the ELM-deprived male rats exhibited as adults: reduced fertility, decreased weight of both vas deferens and seminal vesicle, and reduced levels of fructose in the seminal vesicle and prostate gland. We suggest that the intake of ELM during the neonatal period is important to the later sexual development of rats, and that GnRH is somehow involved in such an effect

Could zinc prevent reproductive alterations caused by cigarette smoke in male rats?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc on fertility through semen parameters, testosterone level and oxidative DNA damage to spermatozoa of rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Male Wistar rats (60 days old) were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group): control, cigarette-smoking (20 cigarettes per day), zinc (zinc chloride 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) and zinc plus cigarette-smoking (zinc chloride 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1); 20 cigarettes per day). The treatment was applied for nine weeks and the following parameters were analysed: bodyweight, wet weights of the reproductive organs and the adrenal gland, plasma testosterone concentration, testicular function (seminal analysis and daily sperm production) and sperm DNA oxidative damage. The exposure to cigarette smoke decreased testosterone concentration, the percentage of normal morphology and the motility of spermatozoa. In addition, this exposure increased sperm DNA oxidative damage. Zinc treatment protected against the toxic damage that smoking caused to spermatozoa. This study showed a correlation between smoking and possible male infertility and subfertility, and also that the majority of smoking-induced changes in spermatozoa were prevented by zinc treatment. In conclusion, zinc, an antioxidant and stimulant of cell division, can be indicated as a promising treatment in men with infertility caused by the toxic components of cigarette smoke.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Effects of cigarette smoke exposure on pregnancy outcome and offspring of diabetic rats

A total of 52 female Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: non-diabetic (G1) and diabetic (G2) exposed to filtered air; non-diabetic (G3) and diabetic (G4) exposed to cigarette smoke. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (40 mg/kg bodyweight, i.v.). Rats were exposed, for 30 min, to filtered air (control) or to tobacco smoke generated from 10 cigarettes, twice a day, for 2 months. At the end of the 2-month exposure, at day 21 of pregnancy, each rat was anesthetized and humanely killed for laporatomy. Uterine horns were exposed for reproductive performance analysis, fetal and placental weights and placental index. Maternal and fetal data were analysed by ANOVA followed by the Student Newman-Keuls test. Fetal weight classification was assessed by Fisher's exact test. Diabetes and cigarette smoke caused placentomegaly (G4 = 0.65 +/- 0.19 g versus G1 = 0.49 +/- 0.03 g, P < 0.05), increased placental index (G4 = 0.13 +/- 0.03 versus G1 = 0.09 +/- 0.00, P < 0.05) and small fetus rates for pregnancy age (G4 = 88% versus G1 = 23.2%, P < 0.05). These observations show the importance of encouraging pregnant women to attempt cessation of smoking.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Efeitos do treinamento físico sobre a resistência mecânica do terço proximal do fêmur de ratos Effects of physical training on the mechanical resistance of rat femur proximal thirds

OBJETIVO: Analisar o comportamento mecânico do terço proximal do fêmur de ratos submetidos ao treinamento aeróbio e resistido crônicos. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos (80 dias, 300 a 350 g) foram divididos em 3 grupos (n=8 por grupo): Treinamento aeróbio/8 semanas (TA), Treinamento resistido/8 semanas (TR) e controle/8 semanas (CO). Ao término do período de treinamento os animais foram sacrificados e o fêmur direito coletado. Para análise do comportamento mecânico do fêmur foram realizados ensaios de flexo-compressão. RESULTADOS: O treinamento resistido ocasionou redução significante da força máxima (Fmáx) do fêmur. Por outro lado, promoveu um aumento (23,7%) relevante, porém não significante, da deformação da força máxima (DFmáx). O treinamento aeróbio não afetou a Fmáx, porém promoveu uma redução (26,6%) considerável, também não significante, da DFmáx. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados demonstram que o treinamento resistido e aeróbio, promoveram redução da Fmáx e da DFmáx óssea, respectivamente. Os dados evidenciam uma ação diferencial de ambos os modelos de treinamento físico sobre as propriedades mecânicas do fêmur de ratos.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mechanical behavior of rat femur proximal thirds submitted to chronic aerobic and resistance training. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (80 days of age, weighing 300 to 350 g) were divided into 3 groups (n=8 per group): control (CO), aerobic training (TA) and resistance training (TR). At the end of the training, the animals were euthanized and the right femur was collected. Flexion-compression tests were carried out to analyze the mechanical behavior of the femurs. RESULTS: The resistance training promoted a significant reduction in maximum force (Fmáx) of the femur. However, it also promoted a relevant increase (23.7%), though without statistical significance, in maximum force deformation (DFmáx). The aerobic training did not affect maximum force, however, it caused a considerable reduction in DFmáx (26.6%), though this was also not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that resistance and aerobic training promoted a reduction in the Fmáx and DFmáx, respectively. The data showed a different response of both physical training models on the mechanical properties of the rat femurs