Fertility Rates of Ewes Treated with Medroxyprogesterone and Injected with Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin plus Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Anoestrous Season

The aim of the present paper was to investigate the efficiency of the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) plus human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) associated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) to estrous ewes synchronization. Ninety Texel ewes were investigated during seasonal anoestrous. The ewes received intravaginal sponges containing MAP (60 mg) for nine days. At the time of sponges' withdrawal, the ewes were divided into three groups (G): (1) receiving 2 mL of saline i.m. (n = 30), (2) receiving eCG 400 IU i.m. (n = 30), and (3) receiving eCG 400 IU plus hCG 200 IU i.m. (n = 30). Twelve h after sponges' removal, teaser rams were used to estrus check and remained with the ewes for 96 h. The artificial insemination was made with fresh semen 10 h after estrus detection. The effect of the treatment was not significant for the estrous rates among the groups: 73%, 90%, and 86%, respectively. The main effect was observed in the pregnancy and lambing rates among the groups: 70%, 86%, 56%, and 80%, 120%, 56%, respectively. Based on these results from our study, the use of the MAP—eCG is the best choice to improve the fertility rate on ewes

SINCRONIZAÇÃO DO ESTRO EM VACAS DE CORTE

O objetivo desse trabalho foi o de comparar a eficiência do cloprostenol aplicado isoladamente e do acetato de medroxiprogesterona (MGA) mais cloprostenol para sincronizar o estro de vacas. Cento e sessenta vacas secas, meio sangue Nelore x Charoles, foram selecionadas em dois grupos: G1 - composto por 80 vacas recebeu 0,5 mg de cloprostenol (IM), com prévia identificação do corpo lúteo por palpação retal; G2 com 80 vacas foram submetidas à aplicação de Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal Device (PRID), em forma de pessário, impregnado com 200 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona por via intravaginal, permanecendo por 9 dias, sendo que no 8º dia foi aplicado 0,5 mg de cloprostenol (IM). As vacas de ambos os grupos apresentaram estro a partir de 48 horas da aplicação do cloprostenol, sendo 87,5% das vacas do G1 e 95% dos animais do G2 (

Criopreservação de sêmen canino: efeito da albumina sérica bovina sobre a integridade do acrossoma e taxa de prenhez após a inseminação artificial

The objective of the present study was to compare the in vitro and in vivo profile of frozen dog semen with Tris-bovine serum albumin (TB) and Tris-egg yolk (TE) extenders. Twenty dogs were used as donors. Each dog was stimulated by penile massage and only the sperm-rich fraction was collected weekly until 40 ejaculates were obtained. After macroscopic and microscopic analysis, equal parts of each ejaculate were diluted with TB and TE by the one-step method at 37 ºC. The semen was added to 0.5-mL French straws which presented normal characteristics before freezing and after thawing. Acrosomal integrity was evaluated by double Trypan blue-Giemsa staining, in which alive intact (LI), alive reacted (LR), dead intact (DI) and dead reacted (DR) spermatozoa, were identified by the time of thawing and up to 4 h of incubation at 39 °C, the TE being significantly superior to TB (P<0,01) in the LI and LR variables. The TB being significantly superior to TE (P<0,01) in the DR variable. Female dogs in natural heat were submitted to artificial insemination, 20 receiving TE-semen and 20 receiving TB-semen with the Osiris probe (IMV, L’Aigle, France) and the numbers indicate that TE was significantly better than TB (P<0,01) to pregnancy rate and number of puppies/delivery. We concluded from this study, that TE was better than TB, because this, induced an early acrossome reaction in dog’s sperm.Objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar a performance de sêmen de cachorro in vitro e in vivo com soro de albumina bovina – tris (TB) e diluente de gema de ovo com Tris (TR). Para isso, foram usados vinte cães como doadores. O sêmen dos cães foi colhido via massagem peniana. Semanalmente a fração rica espermática foi colhida até quarenta ejaculados. Após o exame macroscópico e microscópico, as amostras foram diluídas em partes iguais de cada ejaculado com (TB e TE), pelo método one-step a 32º C. O sêmen foi embalado em palhetas francesas de 0,5 mL, as quais apresentaram características normais antes e após o congelamento. Foi avaliado a integridade cromossômica pelo método de coloração azul tripan giemsa, observando-se espermatozóides vivos intactos (LI), vivos com reação (LR), mortos intactos (DI), mortos com reação (DR). Os espermatozóides foram identificados pelo tempo de descongelamento e após 4 horas de incubação a 39ºC, o (TE) foi significativamente superior ao TB (P < 0,01) nas variáveis LI e LR. O TB foi significativamente superior ao TE (P < 0,01) na variável DR. Cadelas no estro natural foram submetidas à inseminação artificial, vinte delas recebendo sêmen com TE e vinte recebendo sêmen com TB mediante o uso de uma pipeta de Osiris ( IMV, L‘Aigle, France). Os resultados indicaram que o grupo TE foi significativamente melhor que TB (P < 0,01) em relação à taxa de prenhez e ao número de filhotes. Concluiu-se neste estudo que o grupo TE foi melhor que TB, porque isto induziu a uma reação acrossômica mais precoce no sêmen canino

Optical and Acoustical Methods in Science and Technology Optical Scanner for 3D Radiotherapy Polymer Gel Dosimetry

Sophisticated techniques employed in radiotherapy for irradiation of tumours require comprehensive dosimetry allowing for precise, high resolution measurements of radiation dose distribution in three dimensions and verication of treatment planning systems. Polymer gel dosimetry has been shown to be a unique technique for such the purpose. If exposed to ionizing radiation, radical polymerisation and crosslinking of monomeric components take place in a 3D polymer gel dosimeter, leading to the formation of large polymeric structures that scatter visible light. This feature allows for optical observation of the eects of the absorbed dose and its distribution. Presently, magnetic resonance imaging is employed most often for the analysis of the 3D polymer gel dosimeters. However, much attention is also being given to the development of optical computed tomography since this technique is hoped to serve as a substitute for expensive and not easily available magnetic resonance imaging. The optical scanner presented in this work consists of a laser diode, a scanning system and a signal detector. A 3D polymer gel dosimeter is measured in an immersion liquid in order to reduce deection of the light from the dosimeter phantom. The very rst results were obtained with the newly constructed scanner and PABIG nx 3D polymer gel dosimeter, which was inhomogeneously irradiated with 192 Ir brachytherapy source. The results have been contrasted with those for the magnetic resonance imaging and are presented in this work together with the description of the developed instrument. Currently, the optimization of the optical scanner is performed

High speed chalcogenide glass electrochemical metallization cells with various active metals

We fabricated electrochemical metallization (ECM) cells using a GaLaSO solid electrolyte, a InSnO inactive electrode and active electrodes consisting of various metals (Cu, Ag, Fe, Cu, Mo, Al). Devices with Ag and Cu active metals showed consistent and repeatable resistive switching behaviour, and had a retention of 3 and >43 days, respectively; both had switching speeds of < 5 ns. Devices with Cr and Fe active metals displayed incomplete or intermittent resistive switching, and devices with Mo and Al active electrodes displayed no resistive switching ability. Deeper penetration of the active metal into the GaLaSO layer resulted in greater resistive switching ability of the cell. The off-state resistivity was greater for more reactive active metals which may be due to a thicker intermediate layer

Some viability parameters from equine spermatozoa harvested by artificial vagina and by epididymal tail washing

In the present experiment ,10 sires had been used with the objective to evaluate some parameters of spermatic viability from sperm collected either by artificial vagina or by epididymis tail washing. The collected semen was separated in three groups: a) the harvested with artificial vagina; b) the collected by the washing of the left epididymal tail; c) the sample collected by the washing of the right epididymal tail. The parameters considered for the evaluation of the spermatic viability were: resistance test at 5°C of the spermatozoa harvestedwith artificial vagina; total motility; gradual motility; vigor; acrossoma patologies (all groups). It has been found that the spermatozoa harvested with artificial vagina differ significantly (p<0.05) from theepididymal harvested spermatozoa. No differences have been found between the behaviour of spermatozoa from the right and the left spididymis.Neste experimento foram utilizados 10 garanhões com o objetivo de avaliar alguns parâmetros de viabilidade de espermatozóidescolhidos mediante vagina artificial antes da orquiectomia, bem como proceder a comparação com os espermatozóides colhidos mediante lavagem da cauda epididimária, após submeter os animais à orquiectomia bilateral. Relativamente às célulasespermáticas constituíram-se três grupos: 1. o colhido com vagina artificial (VA); 2. o colhido do epidídimo esquerdo; 3. e o colhido do epidídimo direito. Os parâmetros pesquisados para a avaliação da viabilidade espermática à temperatura ambiente (cerca de 22°C) foram: teste de resistência a 5°C do sêmen colhido com vagina artificial (grupo 1), motilidade total, motilidade progressiva, vigor e patologias de acrossoma (todos os grupos). Os seguintes resultados foram obtidos: a motilidade total, motilidade progressiva e vigor dos espermatozóides colhidos com VA diferiram (p<0,05) dos colhidos dos epidídimos; estes mesmosparâmetros não apresentaram diferença entre os epidídimos direito e esquerdo. Os defeitos de acrossoma dos espermatozóides não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos