Pulmonary Maturation in Canine Foetuses From Early Pregnancy to Parturition

Development of the foetal respiratory system includes both pulmonary growth and maturation. In human medicine, a higher incidence of respiratory distress is reported in newborn males. This study aimed to identify different phases of canine foetal lung maturation throughout pregnancy, to determine the stage of pregnancy in which surfactant production begins and to compare pulmonary development of male and female foetuses. Pregnant bitches (34) were subjected to elective ovariohysterectomy and allocated into four groups, according to the stage of pregnancy: 30-40 days of pregnancy (n = 10), 41-50 days (n = 10), 51-60 days (n = 10) and bitches in the first stage of parturition (n = 4). Foetal lungs were histologically processed and evaluated by optical microscopy. The pseudoglandular phase was identified between the 35th day and 46th day of gestation; the onset of canalicular and saccular periods was observed, respectively, from the 48th day and 60th day of pregnancy. Lungs from foetuses at term were in the saccular phase; thus, the development into the alveolar period occurs in the neonatal period. The histological analyses revealed that respiratory tract development is centrifugal, from upper to lower airways. Therefore, it is possible to identify distinct development periods in different portions of the same organ. In conclusion, the saccular phase of lung development begins around 57 and 60 days of pregnancy, the period in which surfactant production is believed to occur. Male and female foetuses present similar pulmonary development from early pregnancy until parturition.

Temperamento e comportamento materno-filial de ovinos das raças Corriedale e Ideal e sua relação com a sobrevivência dos cordeiros

O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental da Embrapa, Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, entre março de 2005 e fevereiro de 2006. O objetivo foi avaliar o comportamento materno-filial e o temperamento de ovelhas e cordeiros e relacioná-los com a sobrevivência dos cordeiros. Foram utilizadas 47 ovelhas da raça Corriedale, com peso médio de 52,1kg, e 45 ovelhas da raça Ideal, com peso médio de 49,5kg, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O temperamento foi avaliado por meio dos testes: escore de comportamento materno (ECM), tempo de fuga, tipo de marcha e distância de fuga. As ovelhas da raça Corriedale apresentaram maiores valores no teste tipo de marcha que as ovelhas da raça Ideal. Os cordeiros da raça Corriedale eram os mais pesados e tinham maior índice de sobrevivência, quando comparados com os da raça Ideal. A raça não afetou o escore de comportamento materno. Ovelhas reativas (ECM=1), que fogem e não retornam aos seus cordeiros, se isolaram menos do rebanho antes do parto, protegeram menos suas crias, desmamaram-nas mais cedo e tiveram menor peso em relação às não-reativas. A reatividade das ovelhas prejudicou o cuidado materno com os cordeiros e essa característica deve ser considerada pelo setor produtivo.

Avaliação da imunidade passiva em bezerros nascidos de vacas imunizadas com vacina contra rotavírus

Com o objetivo de monitorar a imunidade passiva em bezerros alimentados com colostro de vacas imunizadas e não imunizadas com vacina contra rotavírus, foram determinados títulos de anticorpos em amostras de sangue e colostro de 26 vacas da raça Holandesa no dia do parto e de seus bezerros, à zero, às 24, 48 horas e aos sete, 14, 21, 28 dias de idade, pelo ensaio imunoenzimático. Tanto no soro sangüíneo como no colostro, os títulos dos isótipos IgG, IgG1 e IgG2 foram mais elevados no grupo dos animais vacinados, porém somente no colostro o aumento foi significativo. Os bezerros alimentados com o colostro das vacas vacinadas apresentaram títulos mais altos dos isótipos IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgA e IgM, após a ingestão do colostro, sendo constatado aumento significativo apenas para os títulos do isótipo IgG2. Amostras positivas para rotavírus foram detectadas nos dois grupos experimentais a partir dos sete dias de idade. A vacinação materna não protegeu efetivamente os bezerros das infecções naturais por rotavírus, pois, apesar de aumentar os títulos séricos de anticorpos anti-rotavírus nos animais vacinados, não foi capaz de impedir a ocorrência da rotavirose nos bezerros alimentados com o colostro das vacas imunizadas.

Sobre as dores e temores do parto: dimensões de uma escuta

OBJETIVOS: desenvolver algumas reflexões sobre os possíveis efeitos benéficos de uma escuta responsiva à verbalização da presença de dor, medos e seus correlatos na cena do parto tomando como base dados empíricos de pesquisa realizada em maternidade situada na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo, de metodologia qualitativa, referenciado no quadro teórico da Psicologia Social, Psicanálise e Lingüística, utilizando entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 20 parturientes e sete doulas e observação de rotinas da maternidade. RESULTADOS: a análise, apoiada em categorias estabelecidas (subjetividade auto-referida, intersubjetividade, acolhimento, apropriação da experiência) mostrou, entre outros pontos, a importância e a valorização da interlocução qualificada no processo da parturição. Processo esse referido pelas parturientes como experiência de elevado grau de estresse, com vivências de dor, medos e ansiedades, porém mitigados pelo apoio recebido. CONCLUSÕES: a análise permitiu compreender as relações interpessoais como campo de interlocução e acolhimento percebidos pelas mulheres do estudo capazes de produzir efeitos favoráveis sobre as vivências do estresse materno, configurando-se como recurso técnico, qualificado e valioso, oferecido à parturiente

Effects of protein deprivation and re-feeding on P2X(2) receptors in enteric neurons

AIM: To investigate the effects of malnutrition and refeeding on the P2X(2) receptor, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), calretinin, calbindin and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in neurons of the rat ileum. METHODS: We analyzed the co-localization, numbers and sizes of P2X(2)-expressing neurons in relation to NOS-IR (immunoreactive), calbindin-IR, ChAT-IR, and calretinin-IR neurons of the myenteric and submucosal plexus. The experimental groups consisted of: (1) rats maintained on normal feed throughout pregnancy until 42 d post-parturition (N); (2) rats deprived of protein throughout pregnancy and 42 d post-parturition (D); and (3) rats undernourished for 21 d post-parturition and then given a protein diet from days 22 to 42 (DR). The myenteric and submucosal plexuses were evaluated by double labeling by immunohistochemical methods for P2X(2) receptor, NOS, ChAT, calbindin and calretinin. RESULTS: We found similar P2X(2) receptor immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm and surface membranes of myenteric and submucosal neurons from the N, D and DR groups. Double labeling of the myenteric plexus demonstrated that approximately 100% of NOS-IR, calbindin-IR, calretinin-IR and ChAT-IR neurons in all groups also expressed the P2X(2) receptor. In the submucosal plexus, the calretinin-IR, ChAT-IR and calbindinIR neurons were nearly all immunoreactive for the P2X(2) receptor. In the myenteric plexus, there was a 19% increase in numbers per cm(2) for P2X(2) receptor-IR neurons, 64% for NOS-IR, 84% for calretinin-IR and 26% for ChAT-IR neurons in the D group. The spatial density of calbindin-IR neurons, however, did not differ among the three groups. The submucosal neuronal density increased for calbindin-IR, calretinin-IR and ChAT-IR neurons. The average size of neurons in the myenteric plexus neurons in the D group was less than that in the controls and, in the re-fed rats; there was a 34% reduction in size only for the calretinin-IR neurons. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that expression of the P2X(2) receptor is present in inhibitory, intrinsic primary afferent, cholinergic secretomotor and vasomotor neurons. Undernutrition affected P2X(2) receptor expression in the submucosal plexus, and neuronal and size. These changes were rescued in the re-fed rats. (C) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of local anaesthetics with and without vasoconstrictors for perineal repair during spontaneous delivery: Double-blind randomised controlled trial

Objective: to investigate the use of local anaesthetics, in the presence or absence of vasoconstrictors, for perineal repair during spontaneous delivery. Design: double-blind, randomised-controlled trial. Setting: a birth centre, in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants: from June to December 2004, a total of 96 women were allocated into three groups (first-degree perineal lacerations, second-degree perineal lacerations or episiotomy), and treated with local anaesthesia (1% lidocaine or 1% lidocaine with epinephrine) (n = 16 per treatment per group). Interventions: an initial local infiltration of the anaesthetic solution was given so that episiotomy could be carried out (5 ml) and to suture spontaneous lacerations (1 ml), followed by repeated doses (1 ml) until pain was completely inhibited. Measurements and findings: the main outcome measurement was the volume of anaesthetic used during episiotomy and perineal suture. Our data suggest that the concomitant use of the vasoconstrictor resulted in a significantly lower average volume used in the treatment of first-degree (1 ml, 95% confidence interval (0) 0.4-1.6) and second-degree (3.7 ml, 95% CI 1.6-5.8) lacerations (p = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). A 0.3 ml (95% CI 1.5-2.1) average decrease in anaesthetic volume was observed with episiotomy (p = 0.724). The maximum volume of anaesthetic used with and without vasoconstrictor was 1-2 ml in 95% and 3-4 ml in 50% of first-degree lacerations, respectively, and 1-6 ml in 88% and 7-15 ml in 81% of second-degree lacerations, respectively. For episiotomy, the maximum dose was 15 ml, regardless of anaesthetic solution used. Key conclusions: our data confirm the hypothesis that the use of anaesthetics in conjunction with vasoconstrictors is more effective than anaesthetics alone in the repair of perineal lacerations, but not for episiotomy. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seasonal variation of peptidase activities in the reproductive tract of Crotalus durissus terrificus

Seasonal quantitative patterns of acid (APA), basic (APB), puromycin-sensitive (APN-PS) and puromycin-insensitive neutral (APN-PI), cystyl (CAP), dipeptidyl IV (DPPIV), type-1 pyroglutamyl (PAP-I) and prolylimino (PIP) aminopeptidases and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) activities in soluble (SF) and solubilized membrane-bound (MF) fractions from ductus deferens, vagina and uterus were studied to evaluate their relationships with the reproductive cycle and the extensive long-term spermatozoa storage (LTSS) of the Neotropical rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. APB, PIP and POP were detected only in SF, while other peptidases were detected in SF and MF. APB, APN-PI and APN-PS were predominant in most tissues in all seasons. Peptidase activities had a common pattern of increment during the dry season (winter/autumn), which coincides with the mating period (autumn) and LTSS in the female (winter), as well as the reduction of spermatozoa motility and maintenance of fertilization capacity of spermatozoa. The high CAP activity in the soluble fraction of the vagina during winter, compared to summer (time of parturition) and spring, coincides with the relaxation of this tissue. In the soluble fraction, the low PAP-1 activity of the ductus deferens coincided with its high activity in the vagina during the winter; and the inverse occurred in summer, which is consistent with the physiological process of preserving spermatozoon viability. In conclusion, the studied peptidase activities had seasonal and tissue-specific characteristics, which suggest a relevant role in the reproductive physiology of C. d. terrificus. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Women`s opinions about mode of birth in Brazil: a qualitative study in a public teaching hospital

Objective: to describe women`s feelings about mode of birth. Design: exploratory descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a questionnaire that had been developed previously (categorical data and open-and closed-ended questions). Qualitative analysis of the results was performed through a context analysis technique. Setting: the largest public university hospital in Brazil. Participants: 48 women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Findings: most women expressed a preference for vaginal birth, as they perceived that they would have a faster recovery. Women who expressed a preference for caesarean section did so because of lack of pain during the birth and the need for tubal sterilisation. The majority of women considered it important to have experience with a mode of birth in order to choose a preference. Complications associated with maternal illness were very influential in the decision-making process. Key conclusions: these results provide a useful first step towards the identification of aspects of women`s feelings about modes of birth. Most women expressed a preference for vaginal birth. Further exploration of women`s feelings regarding parturition and the decision-making process is required. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intoxication by Senna occidentalis seeds in pregnant goats: Prenatal and postnatal evaluation

Senna occidentalis is a weed toxic to different animal species. Very little is known about the effects of prolonged exposure to low doses of S. occidentalis on developmental toxicology. Thus, the present study proposes an approach to evaluate the perinatal toxicity of S. occidentalis seeds in goats. Twenty-one pregnant goats were fed rations containing 0% (control), 1% (Sol group), 2% (So2 group) and 4% (So4 group) mature S. occidentalis seeds from pregnancy detection on day 27 after mating until parturition; weight gains and serum biochemistry were evaluated. Fetuses were evaluated using ultrasonographic measurements; neonates were evaluated by body morphometry, weight gains, and serum biochemistry. Fetal resorption occurred in 2 So4 dams and one dam died. Only a few minor alterations in serum biochemistry occurred in dams and kids; even so one So4 group dam had tissue lesions as vacuolations in hepatocytes and kidneys; necrosis in skeletal and cardiac muscles and for the first time lesions were observed in sciatic nerve cells. No relevant alterations in body morphometry were observed. This study suggests that 4% S. occidentalis seeds is toxic for pregnant goats, but levels of seeds less than 4% have little impact on fetal and post birth body development. (C) 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Validation of body condition score as a predictor of subcutaneous fat in Nelore (Bos indicus) cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship among body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and rump fat thickness (RFAT) measured by ultrasonography, and validate the relationship between BCS and RFAT over the time. Two hundred sixty and six Nelore cows had their BW, BCS and RFAT evaluated at five different moments during the production cycle: M1) weaning: M2) parturition, M3) 42 days post-partum; M4) 82 days postpartum and M5) 112 days post-partum. A BCS value was attributed for each cow following a I to 5 points scale. Ultrasonographic images for RFAT measurement were obtained using a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. Images were immediately analyzed as soon as they were formed and frozen. Body condition scores and ultrasound measurements were collected on the same day by a single trained technician. The relationship between BCS and RFAT values was investigated by regression models. The analysis of similarity among the five obtained models was performed using the proc MIXED from SAS and the correlations among variables were analyzed with proc CORR from SAS. The BCS was able to predict RFAT in Nelore cows in all different moments evaluated. Also, it was shown that BCS presented high correlation (r=0.82 to 0.93) and relationship (R(2) = 0.73 to 0.92) with RFAT. However, both BCS and RFAT showed low correlation (r=0.37 to 0.50) and relationship (R(2) = 0.13 to 0.25) with BW. The BCS classification by visual method using a 1 to 5 point scale, was able to predict the RFAT in Nelore cows over the time. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Correlation between serum and fecal concentrations of reproductive steroids throughout gestation in goats

Non-invasive techniques such as the measurement of fecal steroids are now widely used to monitor reproductive hormones in captive and free-ranging wild-life. These methods offer great advantages and deserve to be used in domestic animals. The aim of the present study was to determine the endocrine profile of dairy goats throughout pregnancy by the quantification of fecal progestins and estrogens and assess its con-elation with serum concentrations. Blood and fecal samples were collected weekly from I I adult, multiparous goats, from mating through pregnancy and 2 weeks post-partum. The extraction of estradiol and progesterone fecal metabolites was performed by dilution in ethanol. The radioimmunoassay (RIA) in solid phase was used to quantify serum 17 beta-estradiol (estradiol) and progesterone, as well as their fecal metabolites. The mean concentrations of both fecal and serum estradiol started to increase between weeks 7 and 11, reached peak values near parturition and then decreased sharply (range: 19.8 +/- 5.8 ng/g of feces to 608.6 +/- 472.4 ng/g of feces and 0.007 +/- 0.005 ng/ml to 0.066 +/- 0.024 ng/ml). An increase in both fecal and blood progestagens occurred in the second week, mean concentrations remained greater until week 20, and then decreased in the last week of gestation and 2 weeks post-partum (range: 108.8 +/- 43.6 ng/g of feces to 3119.5 +/- 2076.9 ng/g of feces and 0. 12 +/- 0.04 ng/ml to 13.10 +/- 4.29 ng/ml). The changes in blood and fecal hormone concentrations were analyzed and compared throughout gestation for each single goat, for each breed and for the whole group. Results indicated that matched values of serum and fecal hormone concentrations were correlated (r = 0.79; p < 0.001 for progesterone and r = 0.84;p < 0.001 for estradiol mean concentrations in the whole group). Regression analysis showed that logarithmic model allows significant prediction of serum from fecal concentrations with an R-2 = 0.729 (y = 0.013 1n x - 0.021) for estradiol and R-2 = 0.788 (y = 3.835 1n x - 18.543) for progesterone. Neither fecal nor serum concentrations were affected by the breed but a significant effect of the number of fetuses on progestin concentrations was found. Therefore, the profiles of progesterone and estradiol fecal metabolites reflect the serum concentrations of the same hormones in pregnant goats. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cell cycle and apoptosis in normal and cloned bovine near-term placentae

The bovine maternal epithelium is composed of cuboidal cells interspersed with low columnar cells having centrally located nuclei. Bovine trophoblast is composed of two cell types: mononuclear trophoblastic and giant trophoblastic cells that can have two or more nuclei. Number of apoptotic cells and proliferative cells are variable in both cell populations. This study compared tissue growth and apoptosis by flow cytometry in the cell population found at distinct placental regions (central region of placentomes, <= 1-cm microplacentomes and the interplacentomal region) between normal and cloned near-term bovine pregnancies. After a morphological comparison between regions and groups (controls vs. clones), a lesser proportion of diploid to tetraploid cells was observed in the central region of placentomes and in microplacentomes from cloned-derived pregnancies. In addition, cloned animals had a fewer apoptotic cells in the central region of the placentome and in interplacentomal region and a greater proliferative capacity in all regions (cells in G(2)/M) near term as opposed to control animals. These results may reveal the existence of a relationship between such changes in the proportions of uterine and trophoblastic epithelial cells at the end of pregnancy and normal placental function. This could be related to faulty placentation in early pregnancy, placental insufficiency during pregnancy or lack of placental and/or fetal maturation in late pregnancy, which may contribute to someof the abnormalities after in vitro embryo manipulations, such as poor preparation and initiation of parturition, prolonged gestation and lesser post-natal survival in some cloned animals. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Peripartum Haemodynamic Status of Bitches with Normal Birth or Dystocia

There has been limited investigation of parturition in the bitch and there is little information published on clinical and obstetrical examination other than opinion and anecdote. While there are substantial data on haemodynamic and vascular changes during normal parturition in humans, little is known about the physiological events in the dog. This study was aimed at maternal haemodynamic changes occurring during normal parturition and to investigate how these were modified in bitches with dystocia (DYST) treated either medically or via assisted delivery and caesarean operation. Three groups of 10 bitches were investigated; those with normal parturition, those with DYST corrected by manipulative assistance or caesarean operation and those with uterine inertia treated by oxytocin administration. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, electrocardiogram and blood glucose concentration were measured pre-partum, intra-partum, immediately after parturition and 1 h later. Heart rate was high at all times throughout the study and the majority of bitches had normal sinus rhythm. Blood pressure was generally within the normal range, and although systolic and diastolic blood pressure was highest during the intra-partum period and sometimes during the immediate post-partum period, there were no significant differences between groups. All bitches had blood glucose concentrations within the normal range throughout the study although pre-partum concentrations were statistically lower than many of the other time periods. The study provides useful physiological data that will facilitate monitoring and clinical management of bitches throughout normal parturition and DYST.

Acid-Base Changes in Canine Neonates Following Normal Birth or Dystocia

There are limited data concerning blood gas parameters in neonatal dogs. Knowledge of the normal physiology may facilitate effective therapeutic intervention and potentially reduce neonatal mortality. This study examined acid-base parameters in pups born at normal parturition (n = 27) compared with those born after obstetrical assistance or caesarean operation (n = 13) and those born following oxytocin (OXY) administration for treatment of uterine inertia (n = 11). Pups were subjected to an objective scoring method of neonatal health adapted from use in humans (the Apgar score) at birth and again at 5 and 60 min after birth. Venous blood samples were collected at 5 and 60 min after birth for evaluation of blood gas parameters. At birth, all pups had low Apgar scores and a mixed acidosis. The base excess was lowest for pups delivered after OXY administration. The Apgar score improved for all pups after 5 min of birth and there was an improvement in carbon dioxide tension, base excess and venous blood pH at 1 h, although in all pups a metabolic acidosis persisted. These data provide an important insight into neonatal physiology and the variability of blood gas parameters in pups born at normal and abnormal parturition and provide the basis for clinical decision making following dystocia.

Evaluation of colostral immunity in swine with commercial anti-leptospira polyvalent whole-bacteria vaccine

The intensity and duration of passive immunity against swine leptospirosis were investigated by the microscopic agglutination test and in vitro leptospira growth inhibition. Twenty-one females at first parturition were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 08): received two doses with 30 days interval of the commercial anti-leptospira bacterin A. Group B (n = 06) received two doses with 30 days interval of the commercial anti-leptospira bacterin B and Group C (n = 07) was the control. In all groups the colostrums were collected. Blood collection of piglets was performed in four different ages. Agglutinin antibodies were equally detected in sera and colostrums for serovars Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona (Group A) and Canicola, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona and Hardjo (Group 13). Mean neutralizing antibodies titers were low. Passive immunity was low duration. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.