Improved embryonic cryosurvival observed after in vitro supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid is related to changes in the membrane lipid profile

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência da frequência de suplementação no consumo, na digestibilidade e na fermentação ruminal em novilhos de corte mantidos em pastagem de capim-marandu

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Canopy characteristics and behavior of Nellore heifers in Brachiaria brizantha pastures under different grazing heights at a continuous stocking rate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu canopy structure maintained at different grazing heights under a continuous stocking rate and with a dietary supplementation strategy for the animals during the rainy season. This study also intended to observe the relationships of these variables with the grazing behaviors of the heifers. The effects of three canopy heights (15, 25 and 35 cm) were evaluated in association with three types of supplements: one mineral and two protein/energy supplements, the first with a high rumen degradable protein and energy and the others with a low ratio. Both the protein/energy supplements were provided at 0.3% of body weight/day. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replications and repeated measures, and took place during the period from January to April 2008. The supplementation strategies did not affect any variable related to the canopy structure. Total and green herbage masses and the ratio of green/dead material increased with canopy height. The leaf/stem ratio was higher in the lowest canopy height: 15 cm. Changes in the canopy structure caused variations in the grazing behavior of the animals. Animals maintained in the 15-cm-tall pasture grazed for a longer time, increasing the time for each meal, but the number of meals was lower than that of the animals grazing within the 35-cm-tall pasture. The grazing time of animals receiving the energy/protein supplement was lower only in the period of the day during which it was supplied. Canopy structure is affected by sward height, and changes animal behavior. Supplementation does not affect the canopy structure of the pastures with similar heights.

Características da carcaça e da carne de novilhos mantidos em pastagem de capim-marandu submetidos a diferentes estratégias de suplementação

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça e da carne de 24 novilhos submetidos a três estratégias de suplementação em pastagem: SD - suplementação diária; da - suplementação em dias alternados; e FS - suplementação oferecida de segunda à sexta-feira e suspensa aos sábados e domingos. Foram utilizados 24 bovinos mestiços (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) com peso inicial de 230 kg mantidos em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu no período das águas de 2003 e nos períodos de seca e das águas de 2004, quando atingiram o peso de abate. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e oito repetições. As características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça e da carne não foram influenciadas pelas diferentes estratégias de suplementação, mesmo quando o suplemento foi fornecido apenas em dias alternados ou quando não foi fornecido nos finais de semana. Na média, os animais apresentaram peso de abate de 468,21 kg de PV, rendimento de carcaça quente de 50,26%, área de olho-de-lombo de 59,67 cm² e espessura de gordura de 3,3 mm. A carne foi classificada como macia, com suculência e palatabilidade levemente acima da média.

EFFECTS of CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING RESISTANCE TRAINING on MYOSIN HEAVY CHAIN (MHC) EXPRESSION IN RAT SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dietary restriction and fibre supplementation: Oxidative stress and metabolic shifting for cardiac health

Dietary modification ought to be the first line of strategy in prevention of the development of cardiac disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary restriction, dietary-fibre-enriched diet, and their interactions might affect antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress in cardiac tissue. Male Wistar rats (180-200 g; n = 10) were divided into four groups: control ad libitum diet (C), 50% restricted diet (DR), fed with fibre-enriched diet (F), and 50% restricted fibre-enriched diet (DR-F). After 35 days of the treatments, F, DR, and DR-F rats showed low cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol, and high HDL-cholesterol in serum. The DR, DR-F, and F groups had decreased myocardial lipoperoxide and lipid hydroperoxide. The DR-F and F treatments increased superoxide dismutase and glutatione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The DR treatment increased GSH-Px and catalase activities. Dietary fibre beneficial effects were related to metabolic alterations. The F and DR-F groups showed high cardiac glycogen and low lactate dehydrogenase/citrate synthase ratios, indicating diminished anaerobic and elevated aerobic myocardial metabolism in these animals. There was no synergistic effect between dietary restriction and dietary fibre addition, since no differences were observed in markers of oxidative stress in the F and DR-F groups. Dietary fibre supplementation, rather than energy intake and dietary restriction, appears to be the main process retarding oxidative stress in cardiac tissue.

Lycopene supplementation modulates plasma concentrations and epididymal adipose tissue mRNA of leptin, resistin and IL-6 in diet-induced obese rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)