Arterial supply of the penis in agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolpha, Wagler, 1831)

The arterial vascularization of agoutis’ penis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) were analysed using ten male adults from ‘Núcleo de Estudos e Preservação de Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal do Piauí’ (FUFPI/IBAMA n° 02/99). Among the total number of specimens, six animals had natural death and were members of the research collection of the Laboratory of Anatomy, and four were killed after anaesthesia. Stained bi‐centrifugated‐Cis‐I‐4 latex was injected in arterial vessels responsible for penis vascularization throughout the abdominal portion of aorta. The samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and arteries were dissected. The penile artery is originated as a branch of internal pudendal artery. At the level of ischiatic arch, the penile artery project two branches, the penile dorsal and the deep arteries; those arteries irrigates the penile dorsal surface and the corpus cavernosum penis. The penile dorsal arteries have an independent course up to the glans penis. Based on the conditions of this work a remarkable similarity regarding the distribution of vessels destined to the agouti penis when compared to other domestic, wild and lagomorph rodents as rabbits.     

Use of protocatechuic acid as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine isolated secondary follicles

This study evaluated the effect of the protocatechuic acid (PCA) as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine secondary follicles. Secondary follicles (200‐230 μm) were isolated and cultured in α‐minimal essential medium supplemented with BSA, insulin, glutamine and hypoxanthine (α‐MEM: antioxidant‐free medium) or α‐MEM also added by transferrin, selenium and ascorbic acid (α‐MEM+: with antioxidant) or α‐MEM added by PCA (56.25; 112.5; 225; 450; or 900 μg/ml). Moreover, after culture, oocytes were matured and the chromatin configuration and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. After 12 days, the treatment containing 56.25 μg/ml PCA showed higher percentage of normal follicles than control medium or the other treatments (p < .05), except for 900 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). The antrum formation was significantly higher in treatments containing 56.25, 112.5 or 900 μg/ml PCA, compared to the α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to the other treatments. The rates of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) were similar (p > .05) among all treatments containing PCA and α‐MEM+, and those were superior (p < .05) than α‐MEM, except for 450 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). GSH levels and mitochondrial activity were higher (p < .05) in α‐MEM+ than in α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to all PCA treatments. The rates of meiotic resumption and DNA fragmentation were similar (p > .05) among α‐MEM+ and 56.25 μg/ml PCA. In conclusion, PCA at 56.25 μg/ml as the sole antioxidant added to the medium for ovine isolated secondary follicle culture maintains follicular survival, GSH and active mitochondria levels, meiotic developmental competence and DNA integrity of cultured oocytes.     

Genetic associations between age at first calving and heifer body weight and scrotal circumference in Nelore cattle

Age at first calving (AFC) measures the entry of heifers into the beef cattle production system. This trait can be used as a selection criterion for earlier reproductive performance. Using data from Nelore cattle participating in the 'Program for Genetic Improvement of the Nelore Breed' (PMGRN-Nelore Brazil), bi-trait analyses were performed using the restricted maximum likelihood method, based on an AFC animal model and the following traits: female body weight adjusted to 365 (BW365) and 450 (BW450) days of age, and male scrotal circumference adjusted to 365 (SC365), 450 (SC450), 550 (SC550) and 730 (SC730) days of age. The heritability estimates for AFC ranged from 0.02 ± 0.02 to 0.04 ± 0.02. The estimates of additive direct heritabilities (with standard error) for BW365, BW450, SC365, SC450, SC550 and SC730 were 0.36 ± 0.07, 0.38 ± 0.07, 0.48 ± 0.07, 0.65 ± 0.07, 0.64 ± 0.07 and 0.42 ± 0.07, respectively, and the genetic correlations with AFC were −0.38, −0.33, 0.10, −0.13, −0.13 and 0.06, respectively. In the herds studied, selection for SC365, SC450, SC550 or SC730 should not cause genetic changes in AFC. Selection based on BW365 or BW450 would favor smaller AFC breeding values. However, the low magnitude of direct heritability estimates for AFC in these farms indicates that changes in phenotypical expression depend mostly on non-genetic factors.     

Administration of Thyroxine Affects the Morphometric Parameters and VEGF Expression in the Uterus and Placenta and the Uterine Vascularization but does Not Affect Reproductive Parameters in Gilts During Early Gestation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thyroxine administration on morphometric parameters, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascularization in the uterus and placenta and reproductive parameters in gilts at 70 days of gestation. At 150 days of age, i.e., before first heat, 20 gilts were randomly divided into two experimental groups: treated (n = 10) and control (n = 10). The treated group received a daily dose of 400 μg of l ‐thyroxine (T₄) in their diet until slaughter and the control group received only typical meals. Before artificial insemination, blood was collected to determine plasma total T₄. The gilts were inseminated in the second oestrus and slaughtered at 70 days of gestation. The foetal thyroid follicular epithelium height, number, size and weight of foetuses; foetal myogenesis, corpora lutea number, embryonic mortality rate, uterine weight, placental weight and placental fluid volume were measured. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis of uterus and placenta were determined. The averages of all variables were compared by the Student’s t‐test. The gilts treated with thyroxine showed significant increase of plasma total T₄. At 70 days of gestation, the heights of the trophoblastic epithelium, endometrial epithelium and endometrial gland epithelium were significantly higher in the group treated with T₄. The expression of cytoplasmatic and nuclear VEGF in trophoblastic cells and the number of blood vessels per field in endometrial stroma were significantly higher in the gilts treated with T₄. No other significant differences between groups were obtained with respect to other parameters (p > 0.05). We conclude that oral administration of T₄ up to 70 days of pregnancy in gilts affects the morphometric parameters, the expression of placental VEGF and the uterine vascularization but does not affect reproductive parameters in gilts during early gestation.     

Mineral requirements for weight gain in growing male Santa Inês and Morada Nova hair sheep

This study estimated the net macro and micromineral requirement from the 48 male uncastrated lambs (24 growing male Santa Inês and 24 growing male Morada Nova hair sheep), with initial weights of 21.7 ± 1.2 kg and 20.8 ± 0.8 kg using the comparative slaughter method. The experimental diet consisted of 30% forage (Buffel—Cenchrus ciliaris (L) hay) and 70% concentrate (corn grain 43.5%, soybean meal 22.0%, vegetable oil 3.0% and mineral supplement 1.5%). The experimental design was a completely randomized with two breeds, four weights, and six replicate. Mineral requirements sufficient to promote weight gain in Santa Inês sheep ranged from 1.75 to 1.03 g Ca, 1.01 to 0.61 g of P, 0.38 to 0.21 g of K, 0.38 to 0.16 of Na, 0.10 to 0.06 Mg, 28.5 to 16.0 mg of Fe, 6.14 to 3.22 mg of Cu, and Zn 23.0 to 14.0 mg/kg per unit of empty body weight (EBW) gain. In the Morada Nova breed, the requirements ranged from 1.96 to 0.84 g of Ca, 1.15 to 0.46 of P, 0.39 to 0.19 of K, 0.28 to 0.13 of Na, 0.10 to 0.05 Mg, 26.2 to 12.9 mg of Fe, 5.59 to 2.46 Cu, and Zn 23.6 to 10.3 mg/kg of EBW gain. Mineral requirements varied mainly in accordance with the proportion of bone mass and fat concentration in the carcass, which were influenced by the slaughter weight of the animals, and therefore should be used in the formulation of dietary mineral supplements.     

Feeding management strategies to optimize the use of suspended feed for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in bioflocs

Feeding strategies of tilapia (initial average weight: 32 g) cultivated with Biofloc technology (BFT) (carbon source: sugarcane, C:N ratio: 6:1) for 56 days were studied. A 4 × 3 factorial experimental design was used with four feeding frequencies (one, two, three and four times a day) and three feeding rates (50%, 75% and 100% consumption in relation to apparent satiety), with four replicates. Lower levels of dissolved oxygen, protein retention rate and body protein content were found in fish fed once a day. The reduction in feeding rate resulted in lower average final weight and reduced growth but promoted a decrease in the concentration of total ammonia nitrogen, solids, hepatosomatic index and body lipids. We found better efficiency of protein utilization at 75% feed. The nutritional value of the floc was not affected by the feeding frequency, and the feeding rate reduction from 100% to 75% did not alter the protein content of the floc. Thus, twice‐daily feeding frequency is sufficient for Nile tilapia fingerlings reared in BFT. Although the feeding rate of 100% satiety has led to better performance, it may not be the best option in BFT due to higher feed conversion and reduction of water quality.     

Salt stress alters the morphoanatomy and primary and secondary metabolites of the leaves and rhizomes of Curcuma longa L.

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - During cultivation, environmental factors can cause changes in the metabolism of Curcuma longa L. that limit its development. This study evaluated the...     

Pomegranate Juice and Peel Extracts are Able to Inhibit Proliferation,Migration and Colony Formation of Prostate Cancer Cell Lines and Modulate the Akt/mTOR/S6K Signaling Pathway

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is known to contain polyphenols with many potential health benefits, including anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial...     

Protactinium-231 and thorium-230 abundances and high scavenging rates in the western arctic ocean

The Canadian Basin of the Arctic Ocean, largely ice covered and isolated from deep contact with the more dynamic Eurasian Basin by the Lomonosov Ridge, has historically been considered an area of low productivity and particle flux and sluggish circulation. High-sensitivity mass-spectrometric measurements of the naturally occurring radionuclides protactinium-231 and thorium-230 in the deep Canada Basin and on the adjacent shelf indicate high particle fluxes and scavenging rates in this region. The thorium-232 data suggest that offshore advection of particulate material from the shelves contributes to scavenging of reactive materials in areas of permanent ice cover.