Evaluation of the Influence of Natural and Antrhopogenic Processes on Water Quality in Karstic Region

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the quality of surface and groundwater in an environmentally sensitive karstic watershed strongly pressed by urban growth. The objective of the study was to assess the integrated effects of human activities and natural characteristics of karstic environments on the quality of surface and groundwater using multivariate statistical techniques. Data from 18 physical, chemical, and microbiological water quality variables obtained throughout a hydrological year were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The PCA was carried out individually for surface water and groundwater. Our goal was to study the behavior of the water quality variables at each of these systems, as well as to infer the importance of these variables on the dynamics of the water resources in the region. Our results for surface water showed that the 18 original variables could be reduced to five principal components which together accounted for 69% of the total variation in the data, whereas for groundwater, 70% of the total variation in the data was explained by five principal components. In order to evaluate the impacts of anthropic activities on the water quality at the monitoring locations, the cluster analysis was applied to the ten sampling points. The analysis identified five clusters, two of which are formed by points with low contamination levels and three where the anthropic interference is noticeable. The results suggest the existence of specific contamination sources in many points, including in the groundwater, and highlight the natural vulnerability of the karstic environments.     

An unusual case of generalized ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a cynomolgus monkey

Histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopic studies of generalized ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a cynomolgus monkey are presented. Histologically, a wide variety of tissue cells contained numerous bright eosinophilic intracytoplasmic granules that varied in size from 0.5 micron to 4.0 microns in diameter. Histochemically, the granules gave a weakly positive reaction with periodic acid-Schiff and for lipids. They were weakly acid fast and capable of emitting autofluorescence. Ultrastructurally, the granules were single unit membrane-bound, and contained dense osmiophilic material with frequent concentric or fingerprint-type lamellar formation. The granules were different than hemofuscin, iron, and bilirubin. Tinctorially the granules were unique--they were bright red with hematoxylin and eosin and, thus, differed from typical age-related lipofuscin pigment.     

Effects of pH, sodium bicarbonate, cryoprotectants and foetal bovine serum on the cryopreservation of European eel sperm.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of pH and bicarbonate concentration in the activation or inhibition of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) spermatozoa and to evaluate the effect of different cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), acetamide, ethylene glycol, propanol, glycerol and methanol (MeOH). The effect of these factors was evaluated comparing the percentage of motile cells, the percentage of alive cells (by Hoechst staining) and the spermatozoa morphometry pre- and post-cryopreservation (by computer-assisted morphology analysis). Based on the above findings, three cryoprotectants (DMSO, MeOH and glycerol) were chosen and evaluated in two media (P1 and P1 modified) with different concentrations of NaHCO(3) and in the presence or absence of foetal bovine serum (FBS). The effect of these factors was evaluated comparing the percentage of alive and motile cells post-cryopreservation. DMSO was the cryoprotectant showing better results in relation to the percentage of spermatic alive cells post-freezing and caused a smaller modification of the head spermatozoa morphology. The combination of P1-modified medium with DMSO and containing FBS increased slightly but significantly the percentage of motile spermatozoa post-cryopreservation.     

Performance and carcass characteristics of young cattle fed with soybean meal treated with tannins

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with soybean meal treated with tannin (SBMT) on the intake, digestibility, performance and characteristics of the carcasses of young cattle fed a high‐concentrate diet. Forty‐two Nellore bulls with body weight of 244.5 ± 4.99 kg were used. Diets had the inclusion of 7.5% SBM, with a proportion of that SBM (0, 33, 66 or 100%) replaced for SBMT; and other treatment (SBMT + urea) just with 2.5% of SBM which was treated with tannins. Seven animals were randomly selected and slaughtered, and the remaining animals were distributed on treatments and remained for 112 days. After, all animals were slaughtered. There was a linear decline in dry matter intake (P = 0.026) when SBM was replaced with SBMT. No decrease in carcass weight (P > 0.05) was observed. The efficiency of carcass weight gain showed a quadratic function effect (P = 0.049). There were changes in carcass gain composition when SBMT was added (P < 0.05), with an increase in muscle and reduction in fat deposition. The use of SBMT in place of SBM causes changes in body gain composition in animals and reduces DM intake by the animals, achieving a better feed conversion efficiency.     

Use of trichostatin A alters the expression of HDAC3 and KAT2 and improves in vitro development of bovine embryos cloned using less methylated mesenchymal stem cells

The aim of this work was to investigate the methylation and hydroxymethylation status of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from amniotic fluid (MSC‐AF), adipose tissue (MSC‐AT) and fibroblasts (FIB‐control) and to verify the effect of trichostatin A (TSA) on gene expression and development of cloned bovine embryos produced using these cells. Characterization of MSC from two animals (BOV1 and BOV2) was performed by flow cytometry, immunophenotyping and analysis of cellular differentiation genes expression. The cells were used in the nuclear transfer in the absence or presence of 50 nM TSA for 20 hr in embryo culture. Expression of HDAC1, HDAC3 and KAT2A genes was measured in embryos by qRT‐PCR. Methylation results showed difference between animals, with MSC from BOV2 demonstrating lower methylation rate than BOV1. Meanwhile, MSC‐AF were less hydroxymethylated for both animals. MSC‐AF from BOV2 produced 44.92 ± 8.88% of blastocysts when embryos were exposed to TSA and similar to embryo rate of MSC‐AT also treated with TSA (37.96 ± 15.80%). However, when methylation was lower in FIB compared to MSC, as found in BOV1, the use of TSA was not sufficient to increase embryo production. MSC‐AF embryos expressed less HDAC3 when treated with TSA, and expression of KAT2A was higher in embryos produced with all MSC and treated with TSA than embryos produced with FIB. The use of MSC less methylated and more hydroxymethylated in combination with embryo incubation with TSA can induce lower expression of HDAC3 and higher expression of KAT2A in the embryos and consequently improve bovine embryo production.     

Glycerol in ovo feeding as an energy substrate improves performance of broilers from young breeders

Glycerol is one of the substrates used for glycogen production by the chicken embryo, which is the predominant energy source during the last days of incubation and during hatching. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the in ovo feeding (IOF) of glycerol in the light and heavy broiler eggs derived from breeders of two different ages. Two experiments, with 672 eggs each, were carried out. The only difference between the experiments was breeder age: 32 weeks old in Exp. I and 60 weeks old in Exp. II. A completely randomized experimental design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was applied. Treatments consisted of three glycerol IOF doses (0, 6, or 12 mg/ml) and two egg weights (light or heavy). Incubation parameters, glycogen reserves and live performance parameters (1–7 days of age) were evaluated. Hatch of fertile eggs, embryo mortality after IOF and the number of early‐hatching chicks were not affected by the treatments in both experiments. Hatchlings from heavy eggs (68.03 ± 0.64 g) laid by young breeders and receiving 6 mg glycerol/ml showed higher liver glycogen levels than those injected with 0 or 12 mg/ml. Glycerol IOF of embryos from young breeders increased feed intake and weight gain at 7 days of age, independently of egg weight. However, different glycerol dosages had no effect on the performance of the progeny of 60‐week‐old breeders. These results show that glycerol may be used as an IOF ingredient without affecting incubation parameters. The chickens from young breeders had greater glycogen deposition with inoculation of 6 mg/ml of glycerol and better performance with glycerol administration. However, glycerol IOF did not improve the performance of the progeny of 60‐week‐old breeders. Therefore, glycogen IOF may be recommended for eggs laid by young breeders.