Evaluation of Anti-Nociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Heterofucan from Dictyota menstrualis

Fucan is a term that defines a family of homo- and hetero-polysaccharides containing sulfated l-fucose in its structure. In this work, a heterofucan (F2.0v) from the seaweed, Dictyota menstrualis, was evaluated as an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agent. F2.0v (20.0 mg/kg) inhibits 100% of leukocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity after chemical stimulation. However, F2.0v does not alter the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). F2.0v (20.0 mg/kg) has peripheral antinociceptive activity with potency similar to dipyrone. On the other hand, it had no effect on pain response on the hot plate test. Confocal microscopy analysis and flow cytometry showed that F2.0v binds to the surface of leucocytes, which leads us to suggest that the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive F2.0v is related to its ability to inhibit the migration of leukocytes to the site of tissue injury. In summary, the data show that F2.0v compound has great potential as an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, and future studies will be performed to further characterize the mechanism of action of F2.0v.     

夏秋用家蚕品种湖·滨×明·光的选育

采用杂交、回交、系统分离育种方法,育成了适合长江流域夏秋蚕饲养的家蚕新品种湖.滨×明.光。经实验室多年夏秋季饲养鉴定,新品种的虫蛹率与对照品种9.芙×7.湘相仿,主要经济性状均超过对照种,万蚕收茧量16.73 kg,万蚕茧层量3.947 kg,分别比对照种提高15.5%和28.4%;一粒茧丝长1153.5 m,解舒丝长932.5 m,分别比对照种增长210.5 m和166.5 m。该品种具有强健好养、产量高、茧丝质优良、适应性广等特点。     

Successful Low Dose Insemination of Flow Cytometrically Sorted Ram Spermatozoa in Sheep

The fertility of ram spermatozoa that had undergone flow cytometric sorting (MoFlo SX) and cryopreservation was assessed after low-dose insemination of synchronized Merino ewes. Oestrus was synchronized with progestagen-impregnated pessaries, PMSG and GnRH treatment. Ewes (n = 360) were inseminated with 1 x 10(6), 5 x 10(6) or 15 x 10(6) motile sorted frozen-thawed (S(1), S(5), or S(15) respectively) or non-sorted frozen-thawed (C(1), C(5) or C(15) respectively) spermatozoa from three rams. An additional group of ewes were inseminated with 50 x 10(6) motile non-sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa (C(50)) to provide a commercial dose control. The percentage of ewes lambing after insemination was similar for C(50) (24/38, 63.2%), C(15) (37/54, 68.5%), S(15) (38/57, 66.7%), S(5) (37/56, 66.1%) and S(1) (32/52, 61.5%) groups (p > 0.05), but lower for C(5) (19/48, 39.6%) and C(1) (19/55, 34.5%) treatments (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates sorted ram spermatozoa are equally fertile to non-sorted spermatozoa even when inseminated at 2% of the dose. Furthermore, at very low artificial insemination doses (1 or 5 million motile) the fertility of sorted ram spermatozoa is superior to non-sorted spermatozoa inseminated in equal numbers. These results have significance for the future commercialization of sex-preselection technology in sheep as a reduction in the minimum effective sperm number will allow a corresponding decrease in the associated cost per dose.     

Annulotrematoides bryconi sp. n. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) parasitic on Brycon cephalus (Osteichthyes: Characidae) from Brazil

Annulotrematoides bryconi sp. n. is described and illustrated from specimens collected from gills of characiform fish, Brycon cephalus (Günther, 1869), in pisciculture ponds from Pirassununga, S?o Paulo, Brazil. Diagnostic characters of the new species are the tegument of trunk showing annulations, except on the cephalic regiona, and copulatory complex comprising sclerotized male copulatory organ coiled in 1 1/2 rings. This is the first record of monogeneans parasitic on the gills of B. cephalus.     

Biometrics,Testosterone, Cortisol and Antler Growth Cycle in Iberian Red Deer Stags (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)

In this article, we aimed to describe the changes related to mating season in red deer, especially those related to antler growth, body condition score, testosterone and cortisol. Antler growth was studied in 17 Iberian red deer males, including body weight, antler length, biometric measures and testosterone and cortisol determination during 15 months. Body weight, body condition score, thoracic perimeter (TP), neck perimeter (NL) and testicular diameter (TD) showed the highest values immediately before mating season (autumn), decreased during it and remained constant at winter. Antler growth lasted 158 days and produced antlers with a final length of 80.8 ± 2.0 cm. Testosterone and cortisol showed seasonal changes with maximum values at September and May, respectively. Final antler size was related positively to cranial longitude, TP, NL, TD and body weight at casting time. No relationship between weight loss during precedent mating season and current antler size was found, but spring recovery weight was positively related to final antler size. Final length was related to the descent in testosterone values during previous mating season and to body weight before it. Spring recovery weight was related to relative weight loss during previous mating season. These results suggest that there is no relationship between the reproductive effort performed during one season and the next year size of the antler. In contrast, antler size was positively related to spring recovery weight, in the sense that those deer that recover a higher percentage of body weight at the early stages of antler growth develop higher antlers.     

Prevalence of Bartonella species,Rickettsia felis,haemoplasmas and the Ehrlichia group in the blood of cats and fleas in eastern Australia

Objectives To define the prevalence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia felis, Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (Mhm) and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (Mtc) in cats and their fleas in eastern Australia. Design and procedure Conventional PCR assays that detect Bartonella spp., M. haemofelis, Mhm, Mtc, Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Neorickettsia spp. were performed on DNA extracted from blood and fleas collected from 111 cats. Cat sera were assayed by ELISA for IgG of Bartonella spp. Results DNA of M. haemofelis, Mtc and Mhm was amplified from 1 (0.9%), 1 (0.9%) and 17 cats (15.3%), respectively. Only DNA of Mhm was amplified from the 62 of 111 pooled flea samples (flea sets; 55.9%). Overall, the prevalence rates for Bartonella spp. DNA in the cats and the flea sets was 16.2% (18 cats) and 28.8% (32 flea sets), respectively. Bartonella spp. IgG was detected in 42 cats (37.8%), of which 11 (26.2%) were positive for Bartonella spp. DNA in their blood. R. felis DNA was amplified from 22 flea sets (19.8%), but not from cats. Overall, DNA of one or more of the organisms was amplified from 27% (30) of cats and 67.6% (75) of the flea sets. Conclusions This is the first Australian study to determine the prevalence of R. felis and B. clarridgeiae in both fleas and the cats from which they were collected. Flea-associated infectious agents are common in cats and fleas in eastern Australia and support the recommendation that stringent flea control be maintained on cats.     

Agroforestry systems reduce invasive species richness and diversity in the surroundings of protected areas

The Serra do Brigadeiro State Park (PESB) is one of the largest fragments of Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, and it is relevant for native species conservation. However, monocultures settled around the Park resulted in extensive open areas that facilitate the establishment of alien species on the PESB perimeter, which may threaten native species conservation therein, since biological invasion is the second main cause of global biodiversity loss. In this region, there are also farmers planting agroforestry systems (AFS), characterized by tree-based intercropping, which are structurally more similar to the Atlantic Rainforest reminiscent fragments present in the region and may limit local occurrence of potentially invasive exotic weeds for several reasons, such as the high levels of shade provided by trees, the groundcover that result from loss of tree leaves and the increased competition for belowground resources. This study aimed to test whether AFS limit exotic species establishment when compared to monoculture systems. Accordingly, three coffee monocultures and three agroforestry coffee plantations around the PESB were studied. In each of the six study areas, 30 plots of 1 m² were established between the lines of coffee plantation, where all species present were surveyed. In both treatments, rarefaction curves were constructed to evaluate native and exotic richness, and diversity of these two categories was estimated through Simpson index inverse (1/D). All 13 sampled exotic species were present in monocultures, but only three of them occurred in AFS. Besides, alien diversity in monocultures (\(1/D\) = 2.173 ± 0.011) was significantly higher than in AFS (\(1/D\) = 1.031 ± 0.001). Such changes in alien plant community between land-use show that AFSs limit invasive species establishment. Therefore, when planted around protected areas, AFS may contribute to the control of biological invasions and to biodiversity conservation.     

Light and scanning electron microscopy of Myxobolus porofilus sp. n. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infecting the visceral cavity of Prochilodus lineatus (Pisces: Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) cultivated in Brazil

Myxobolus porofilus sp. n. is described infecting the visceral cavity of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) cultivated in S?o Paulo State, Brazil. The plasmodial form of the parasite is 3-5 mm in length and appeared compressed between the wall of the visceral cavity and the pyloric caecum, reposing on this organ. The spores are small (length 5.7 +/- 0.3 microm, width 4.8 +/- 0.2 microm; mean +/- SD) and round to elliptical in frontal view. The valve surfaces are smooth and have sutural folds. The polar capsules are ovoid, small (length 1.6 +/- 0.1 microm, width 1.1 +/- 0.1 microm) and equal in size. The polar filaments have three turns aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. A conspicuous polar filament pore is arranged at the anterior end of the spore. The only reaction observed upon histological analysis was the presence of a capsule of connective tissue surrounding the plasmodia. This is the first report of a myxosporean parasite in the Prochilodontidae.     

Constant Light Exposure Causes Dissociation in Gonadotrophin Secretion and Inhibits Partially Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Leydig Cells in Adult Rats

The objective of this work was to study the changes that occur in the Leydig cells of rats exposed to continuous light. The laboratory rat is considered a non-photoperiodic species because exposure to short photoperiod has little or no effect on the reproductive status. However, exposure of adult female rats to constant light induces polycystic ovaries, indicating that extreme changes in the photoperiod affect the reproductive function seriously. Adult male rats were placed under continuous light conditions for a duration of 15 weeks. After this period, the animals were killed and testicles were dissected and processed by routine histologic protocols. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) serum levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The visualization of antigens was achieved by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. Antibodies against chromogranin A, S-100 protein, P substance, synaptofisin, neurofilament protein-200, gliofibrillary acidic protein and neurone-specific enolase were used. The mean LH serum concentration was significantly lower, while the mean FSH level was significantly higher in treated animals. The expression of S-100, NSE, CrA, SP and SYN was significantly lower in treated animals. In conclusion, the constant light exposure acting directly at the pituitary level decreases LH secretion. The increased FSH secretion may be due to a partial reduction of the negative androgen feedback in the pituitary gland. Moreover, the constant light exposure affects the expression of some immunomarkers in Leydig cells, possibly because of the changes found in the gonadotrophin level and feedback mechanism.