Caracterização comportamental e avaliação da qualidade de leite em caprinos da raça saanen no semiárido nordestino

Goats are social animals which groups are organized from dominance hierarchies, established by agonistic behaviors. The quality and productivity of the goat s milk can be influenced by the dominance hierarchy. In this context, the objectives of our work were describe the social and food behavior of Saanen goats in a semi-extensive production system; characterize the social organization from the assessment of dominance hierarchies in two seasonal periods and correlate the physicochemical quality of the goats milk according hierarchical position. The experiment was conducted in the EMPARN s experimental station, located in the district of Cruzeta/RN. We utilized 17 multiparous goats of the Saanen race, with different age and weight. The observations were performed in precipitation and drought phases. The scan method recorded the trough permanence and agonistic interactions by method "all occurrences" in the pasture the alimentary behaviors of eat, ruminate on foot, ruminate lying, leisure on foot, leisure lying and walk, by the focal animal sampling method. The goats milk was submitted to analyzes of: density, protein, fat, lactose, CSS and total solids. The animals spend most of the time feeding themselves, and the activities that demand greater energy expenditure are done in the morning. The animals changed the hierarchical structure during the seasonal periods because of the withdrawal of some individuals of the group, having more aggressive behavior in the rainy season. The dominant animal the lowet production, the more CSS and the lesser fat, the goat in the middle of the hierarchy was the one that obtained the best production and quality. We conclude that the Saanen goats adapt to the environment and the conditions of the group to ensure better survival and its production is influenced by the internal dynamics of the group

Caracterização citoarquitetônica, neuroquímica e de aferência óptica do complexo parabraquial do sagui (Callithrix jacchus)

The parabrachial complex (PB) is an area of the brainstem responsible for the processing and transmission of essential physiologic information for the survival of the organisms. This region is subdivided in approximately nine subregions, considering morphology, cytoarchitectural and functional characteristic. Its neurons have an extensive network of connections with other regions of the nervous system. The objective in this work was to map the retinal projection to the PB and make a citoarchitectonic and neurochemical characterization of this region in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a primate of the New World. The retinal projections were mapped by anterograde transport of the choleric toxin subunit b (CTb). The citoarchitecture was described through the Nissl method, and the neurochemical characterization was made through immunohistochemical technique to the some neurotransmitters and neuroactives substances present in this neural center. In marmoset PB, in the coronal sections labeled by Nissl method, we found a similar pattern to that evidenced in other animal species. The immunoreactivity against CTb was verified in the PBMv in fibers/terminal, characterizing such as retinal innervations in this area. The immunohistochemical technique reveled that the PB contain cells, fibers and/or terminals immunoreactives to the neuronal nuclear protein, Choline acetyl transferase, nitric oxide synthase, serotonin, enkephalin, substance P, Calcium-binding proteins (calbindin, calretinin e parvalbumin), and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The histochemical technique reveled cells and fibers NADPH-diaphorase reactive. Each one of those substances presented a characteristic pattern of demarcation in PB, and some serve as specific markers of subregions

Análise citoarquitetônica dos componentes do sistema de temporização circadiana do sagui (Calithrix jacchus), comparada com a inervação das suas principais aferências

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus, together with the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of the thalamus are considered the central components of the circadian timing system (CTS) of mammals. This system is responsible for the generation and regulation of circadian rhythms by establishing a temporal organization of physiological processes and behaviors. The neuronal specific nuclear protein (NeuN) has been widely used as a neuronal marker in several studies. Since glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a component of intermediate filaments found in the cytoplasm of astrocytes and is commonly used as a specific marker for these cells. This study aims to identify, in the marmoset, the NeuN immunoreactive neurons and glial cells immunoreactive to GFAP, as well as map the major route of photic synchronization of the STC, retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), and identify the indirect pathway to the SCN and pregeniculate nucleus (PGN) - structure homologous to IGL rodents, using immunohistochemical and cytoarchitectonic techniques. Observed in SCN the presence of neurons immunoreactive to NeuN and terminals immunoreactive subunit b of cholera toxin (CTb), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and serotonin (5- HT). In the PGN noted the presence of the NeuN and NPY immunoreactive neurons and the immunoreactive terminals CTb and 5-HT. Astrocytes are present throughout the extent of the SCN and the PGN this New World primate

Alterações do ciclo sono-vigília moduladas por Dopamina e suas consequências Mnemônicas

Neuroscience is on a rise of discoveries. Its wide interdisciplinary approach facilitates a more complex understanding of the brain, covering various areas in depth. However, many phenomena that fascinate human kind are far from being fully elucidated, such as the formation of memories and sleep. In this study we investigated the role of the dopaminergic system in the process of memory consolidation and modulation of the phases of sleep-wake cycle. We used two groups of animals: wildtype mice and hiperdopaminergic mice, heterozygous for the gene encoding the dopamine transporter protein. We observed in wild-type mice that the partial blockade of the D2 dopamine receptor by the drug haloperidol caused deficits in memory consolidation for object recognition, as well as a significant reduction in the duration of rapid eye movement sleep (REM). We also found a mnemonic deficit without pharmacological intervention in hiperdopaminergic animals; this deficit was reversed with haloperidol. The results suggest that dopamine plays a key role in memory consolidation for object recognition. The data also support a functional relationship between the dopaminergic system and the modulation of REM sleep

Estudo dos efeitos comportamentais do neuropeptídeos em camundongos submetidos a modelos animais de Parkinson

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is the endogenous ligand of a G-protein coupled receptor. Preclinical studies have shown that NPSR receptor activation can promote arousal, anxiolytic-like behavioral, decrease in food intake, besides hyperlocomotion, which is a robust but not well understood phenomenon. Previous findings suggest that dopamine transmission plays a crucial role in NPS hyperactivity. Considering the close relationship between dopamine and Parkinson Disease (PD), and also that NPSR receptors are expressed on dopaminergic nuclei in the brain, the current study attempted to investigate the effects of NPS in motor deficits induced by intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of 6-OHDA and systemic administration of haloperidol. Motor deficits induced by 6-OHDA and haloperidol were evaluated on Swiss mice in the rota-rod and catalepsy test. Time on the rotating rod and time spent immobile in the elevated bar were measured respectively in each test. L-Dopa, a classic antiparkinsonian drug, and NPS were administrated in mice submitted to one of the animal models of PD related above. 6-OHDA injection evoked severe motor impairments in rota-rod test, while the cataleptic behavior of 6-OHDA injected mice was largely variable. The administration of L-Dopa (25 mg/kg) and NPS (0,1 and 1 nmol) reversed motor impairments induced by 6-OHDA in the rota-rod. Haloperidolinduced motor deficits on rota-rod and catalepsy tests which were reversed by L-Dopa (100 e 400 mg/kg), but not by NPS (0,1 and 1 nmol) administration. The association of L-Dopa 10 mg/kg and NPS 1 nmol was also unable to counteract haloperidol-induced motor deficits. To summarize, 6-OHDA-, but not haloperidol-, induced motor deficits were reversed by the central administration of NPS. These data suggest that NPS possibly facilitates dopamine release in basal ganglia, what would explain the overcome of motor performance promoted by NPS administration in animals pretreated with 6-OHDA, but not haloperidol. Finally, the presented findings point, for the first time, to the potential of NPSR agonist as an innovative treatment for PD.

Participação da neurotransmissão dopaminergica no efeito hiperlocomotor do neuropeptideo S

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is an endogenous 20-aminoacid peptide which binds a G protein-coupled receptor named NPSR. This peptidergic system is involved in the modulation of several biological functions, such as locomotion, anxiety, nociception, food intake and motivational behaviors. Studies have shown the participation of NPSR receptors in mediating the hyperlocomotor effects of NPS. A growing body of evidence suggests the participation of adenosinergic, dopaminergic and CRF systems on the hyperlocomotor effects of NPS. Considering that little is known about the role of dopaminergic system in mediating NPS-induced hyperlocomotion, the present study aims to investigate the locomotor actions of intracerebroventricular (icv) NPS in mice pretreated with α-metil-p-tirosine (AMPT, inhibitor of dopamine synthesis), reserpine (inhibitor of dopamine vesicle storage) or sulpiride (D2 receptor antagonist) in the open field test. A distinct group of animals received the same pretreatments described above (AMPT, reserpine or sulpiride) and the hyperlocomotor effects of methylphenidate (dopamine reuptake inhibitor) were investigated in the open field. NPS and methylphenidate increased the mouse locomotor activity. AMPT per se did not change the locomotion of the animals, but it partially reduced the hyperlocomotion of methylphenidate. The pretreatment with AMPT did not affect the psychostimulant effects of NPS. Both reserpine and sulpiride inhibited the stimulatory actions of NPS and methylphenidate. These findings show that the hyperlocomotor effects of methylphenidate, but not NPS, were affected by the pretreatment with AMPT. Furthermore, methylphenidate- and NPS-induced hyperlocomotion was impaired by reserpine and sulpiride pretreatments. Together, data suggests that NPS can increase locomotion even when the synthesis of catecholamines was impaired. Additionally, the hyperlocomotor effects of NPS and methylphenidate depend on monoamines vesicular storaged, mainly dopamine, and on the activation of D2 receptors. The psychostimulant effects of NPS via activation of dopaminergic system display clinical significance on the treatment of diseases which involves dopaminergic pathways, such as Parkinson s disease and drug addiction

Caracterização genética e evolução dos vírus dengue no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Dengue is considered as the most important arthropod-borne viral disease throughout the world due to the high number of people at risk to be infected, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the planet. The etiologic agent is Dengue Virus (DENV), it is a single positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Flavivirus, genus Flaviviridae. Four serotypes are known, DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. One of the most important characteristic of these viruses is the genetic variability, which demands phylogenetic and evolutionary studies to understand key aspects like: epidemiology, virulence, migration patterns and antigenic characteristics. The objective of this study is the genetic characterization of dengue viruses circulating in the state of Rio Grande does Norte from January 2010 to December 2012. The complete E gene (1485 pb) of DENV1, 2 e 4 from Brazilian (Rio Grande do Norte) patients was sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 5.2 software, Tamura-Nei model and Neighbor-Joining trees were inferred for the datasets. In Brazil, there is just one DENV-1 genotype (genotype V), one DENV-2 genotype (Asian/American) and two DENV-4 genotypes (genotypes I and II). Brazilian strains of DENV-1 are subdivided in two different lineages (BR-I and BR-II), the Brazilian strains of DENV-2 are subdivided in four lineages (BRI-IV) and genotype II of DENV-4 is subdivided in three Brazilian lineages (BRI-III). The viruses isolated in RN belong to lineage BR-II (DENV-1), BR-IV (DENV-2) and BR-III (DENV-4).The Caribbean and near Latin American countries are the main source of these viruses to Brazil. Amino acids substitutions were detected in three domains of E protein, this makes clear the necessity of studies that associate epidemiological and molecular data to better understand the effects of these mutations. This is the first study about genetic characterization and evolution of Dengue viruses in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Sustentabilidade ambiental do cultivo intensivo de Tilápias (Oreochromis niloticus) em tanques-rede e a capacidade de suporte de quatro reservatórios em uma região semi-árida tropical

Intensive production of tilápias, in cages or net tanks, has been proposed as an alternative to increase fish production, that would generate income and offer animal protein in different tropical and subtropical countries. However, this system of production enriches the aquatic environment with nutrients, principally nitrogen and phosphor derived from the dejections of the metabolism of food and eventual food surpluses consumed by the fishes; the alimentation of the fishes in this production modality is dependent on fish food. The emission of these nutritions in levels above the limit that the system is capable metabolize can provoke a phenomenon called eutrofization, putting in risk the quality of water for public and for fish production activities. In this context the work had as a goal to evaluate the trófico state of the four reservoirs for intensive production of tilapias in net-tanks, in other words, he maximum fish production that the reservoirs are able to hold, keeping the desired quantity of nutrient concentrations in water for public use. The results of the four ecosystems in the Boqueirão de Parelhas reservoir showed that it s possible to have an intensive production of tilapias in net tanks, in this environment the annual average concentration of phosphor, was below the considered critical limits to deflagrate the process of eutrofization in semi-arid regions. The carrying capacity of the Boqueirão de Parelhas reservoir depends on the conversion of the feeding facts and phosphor content in the food but it should vary between 100 and 300 tons per year over a variation in the conversion feeding factor of 1,7 to 2,0:1 and a variation in the P in the food of 0,7 to 0,9%

Análise da estrutura genética populacional da piraúna (cephalopholis fulva: serranidae) ao longo da costa e ilhas oceânicas brasileiras

Brazil has about 8,500 km of coastline and on this scale, fishing is a historically important source of animal protein for human consumption. The national fishing background shows a growth of marine fishery production until 1985 and within this period it was recorded a steady decline. From the year 2003 fishing statistics aim to some "recovery" of the total fisheries production, which probably is related to a change in industry practice. The target of commercial fishing became smaller species with low commercial value, but very abundants. The coney, Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae), is one of these species that have been suffering a greater fishing pressure in recent years. In order to provide data about the current situation of the genetic diversity of these populations, several molecular markers have been being used for this purpose. The prior knowledge of genetic variability is crucial for management and biodiversity conservation. To this end, the control region sequences (dloop) of mtDNA from Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae) from five geographical points of the coast of Brazil (Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia and Espírito Santo) and the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (FN) were sequenced and their genetic diversity analyzed. The FST values were very low (0.0246 to 0.000), indicating high gene flow between the sampled spots. The indices h and indicate a secondary contact between previously allopatric lineages differentiated or large and stable populations with long evolutionary history. Tests of Tajima and Fu showed expansion for all populations. In contrast, the mismatch distribution and SSD indicated expansion just for coastal populations. Unlike other species of the Atlantic which have been deeply affected by events on later Pleistocene, the population-genetic patterns of C. fulva may be related to recent events occurred approximately 130,000 years ago. Moreover, the data presented by geographical samples of the specie C. fulva showed high genetic diversity, also indicating the absence of deleterious effects of over-exploitation on this specie, as well as evidence of complete panmixia between all sampled populations