The Effect of Size and Diet on Gonad Production by the Chilean Sea Urchin Loxechinus albus

Conadal production was studied in Loxechinus albus (Molina, 1782) maintained in cages suspended from a long-line in the Estero Castro, Chiloé for 3 mo during the austral summer. The sea urchins were fed either an artificial diet or a natural diet consisting of the macroalgae Macrocystis pyrifera and Ulva sp. Both diets were tested for four size ranges: 40–45, 50–55, 60–65 and 70–75 mm diameter. For all four size ranges, highest gonad production was with the artificial diet. Gonad production was greatest in the 40–45 mm individuals with an increase of about 1,400% and 750% in the wet weight of gonads in individuals fed the artificial and natural diet, respectively. With the three other size ranges, the increase was nearly 100% with the artificial diet and nearly 0% with the natural diet The gonad index showed similar patterns, being highest in the smallest individuals. Small individuals fed the artificial diet would provide the most cost effective aquaculture as production is best. It is not necessary to grow L. albus to the minimal legal size for fisheries (70-mm diameter) for cost effective gonad production.     

Effects of huanglongbing on fruit quality of sweet orange cultivars in Brazil

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB), associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus and transmitted by the Asian psyllid Diaphorina citri, is the most serious disease of citrus worldwide because of crop devastation and difficulty to control. Since 2004, approximately 3 million trees were eliminated in attempts to limit its spread in Brazil. Where HLB becomes endemic, the disease progression in the orchard and the increasing symptom severity throughout the tree canopy can be relatively fast, greatly reducing the economic life of affected orchards because of tree decline and yield reduction. Although the majority of the fruit from symptomatic branches drop before harvest, a significant amount of affected fruit remain attached, are available for harvest, and can affect juice quality. To quantify and compare the effects of HLB on fruit quality of the most important sweet orange cultivars grown in São Paulo State, 4–6 year-old sweet orange trees from 26 blocks (two of ‘Valencia Americana’, eight of ‘Hamlin’, four of ‘Westin’, seven of ‘Pera’, and five of ‘Valencia’) were selected prior to harvest. In each block, 14–21 HLB-symptomatic trees were chosen. In each tree, the quality of 20 fruit normal in appearance from asymptomatic branches and 20 symptomatic fruit from symptomatic branches were assessed. In general, compared to normal fruit, the symptomatic fruit were small, light, more acidic, and had lower juice percentage, Brix, total soluble solids per box, total soluble solids per fruit, and Brix/acidity ratio. These effects of fruit quality were less pronounced on early and mid season sweet orange cultivars than on late season cv. Valencia.     

Effect of salicylic acid treatment on tomato plant physiology and tolerance to potato virus X infection

Salicylic acid (SA) is an inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and could be a potential candidate in the control of plant virus diseases. In this study we assayed under controlled conditions the potential effect of three doses of exogenous SA treatment on tomato plants infected with Potato virus X (PVX) and measured their effects on: different physiological parameters (gas exchange, stable isotopes, chlorophyll content), the activation of secondary metabolism, viral accumulation and induction of the expression of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) such as ß-1, 3-glucanase (PR2) and chitinase (PR3). SA treatment increased the expression of PR2, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and the concentration of antioxidant compounds at 7 days post-treatment. Earlier expression of PR3 compared to PR2 was observed. SA treatment delayed the detection of PVX by ELISA in uninoculated leaves of mechanically infected tomato plants. Although the effect of PVX infection on physiological parameters was weak, moderate SA treatments showed enhanced photosynthesis, particularly for infected plants. The results obtained confirm that SA promotes major changes in the induction of resistance in tomato plants and suggest that treatment with exogenous SA could be considered to reduce the infections caused by PVX.     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

Morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the endothelial surface morphology and to perform morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelial cells of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis with regard to polygonality, mean cell area, cell density and coefficient of variation of mean cell area was performed. Cell areas were measured using image analysis software. The normal corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman consisted of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape with interdigitations of the cell borders. Microvilli appeared as protrusions on the cellular surface. The average cell area was 270 +/- 24 microm(2) and the endothelial cell density was 3704 +/- 324 cells/mm(2). The coefficient of variation of cell area was 0.22. This study demonstrates that the Yacare caiman corneal endothelium is similar to those described in other vertebrates.     

Prior and concomitant dehydroepiandrosterone treatment affects immunologic response of cultured macrophages infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro?

DHEA, a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol by cells of the adrenal cortex, plays an essential role in enhancing the host's resistance to different experimental infections. Receptors for this hormone can be found in distinct immune cells (especially macrophages) that are known to be the first line defense against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. These cells operate through an indirect pathway releasing nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such TNF-α and IL-12 which in turn trigger an enhancement of natural killer cells and lymphocytes which finally secrete pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The effects of pre- and post-infection DHEA treatment on production of IL-12, TNFα and NO were evaluated. T. cruzi infected macrophages post treated with DHEA displayed enhanced concentrations of TNF-α, IL-12 and NO. Probably, the mechanisms that induced the production of cytokines by infected cells are more efficient when the immune system has been stimulated first by parasite invasion, suggesting that the protective role of DHEA is greater when administered post infection.     

Effect of intravenous administration of ketamine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in anesthetized dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of 6 plasma ketamine concentrations on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in dogs. ANIMALS: 6 dogs. PROCEDURE: In experiment 1, the MAC of isoflurane was measured in each dog and the pharmacokinetics of ketamine were determined in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs after IV administration of a bolus (3 mg/kg) of ketamine. In experiment 2, the same dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen. A target-controlled IV infusion device was used to administer ketamine and to achieve plasma ketamine concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 8, and 11 microg/mL by use of parameters obtained from experiment 1. The MAC of isoflurane was determined at each plasma ketamine concentration, and blood samples were collected for ketamine and norketamine concentration determination. RESULTS: Actual mean +/- SD plasma ketamine concentrations were 1.07 +/- 0.42 microg/mL, 1.62 +/- 0.98 microg/mL, 3.32 +/- 0.59 microg/mL, 4.92 +/- 2.64 microg/mL, 13.03 +/- 10.49 microg/mL, and 22.80 +/- 25.56 microg/mL for target plasma concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 8, and 11 microg/mL, respectively. At these plasma concentrations, isoflurane MAC was reduced by 10.89% to 39.48%, 26.77% to 43.74%, 25.24% to 84.89%, 44.34% to 78.16%, 69.62% to 92.31%, and 71.97% to 95.42%, respectively. The reduction in isoflurane MAC was significant, and the response had a linear and quadratic component. Salivation, regurgitation, mydriasis, increased body temperature, and spontaneous movements were some of the adverse effects associated with the high plasma ketamine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ketamine appears to have a potential role for balanced anesthesia in dogs.     

Cecotrophy behavior and use of urea as non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source for capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

Fifteen female adult capybaras, with initial average body weight (BW) of 32.7 (±?5.8) kg, were kept in individual pens to evaluate effect of supplementation of concentrate feed and its supply time on cecotrophy behavior frequency. The animals were allocated in a completely randomized design, with five animals per treatment, receiving three diets: grass only, grass and grain corn offered in a single meal, and grass and grain corn offered in two daily meals; all cecotrophy acts were recorded. Later, in a second experiment, five capybaras received five levels of urea in their diet: 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g urea/100 kg BW, replacing soybean meal as true protein source, in a 5?×?5 Latin square design. The animals were weighed and their blood was collected every 2 weeks. The frequency of cecotrophy (Ps?<?0.05) was higher when the capybaras were fed grass only (0.5?±?0.07 acts/h) than when they received grass and corn in a single meal (0.3?±?0.05 acts/h) and grass and corn supplied in separate meals (0.1?±?0.03 acts/h). With increased urea in their diet, the capybaras showed initial signs of chronic intoxication, together with increments in serum urea (r?=?0.87, P?<?0.05) and a decreasing trend in daily weight gain (r?=??0.38, P?=?0.06). Therefore, when including concentrate feeds in capybara diet, these must be mixed with roughage in a single meal to avoid high decrease in the frequency of cecotrophy behavior and increase in dry matter intake. The replacement of soybean meal with urea in capybara diet is not recommended.