Efeitos da utilização de diferentes covariáveis na avaliação do ganho de peso médio diário em suínos

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

Reversão sexual de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) com hormônio masculinizante misturado à ração de girinos

Este trabalho consistiu em testar a eficiência de um hormônio masculinizante (17beta-hidróxi-17-metil-andróxi-4-en-3-ona) na reversão sexual de girinos de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana). Foram usados 352 girinos com dois a três meses de idade, nos estádios 30 a 36, para testar quatro níveis de hormônio na ração (0, 30, 60 e 90 mig/g) por 45 dias. Após a metamorfose, 167 imagos foram sacrificados e 185 imagos foram criados até a idade de quatro meses e, então, sacrificados. As análises macroscópicas das gônadas e das características sexuais secundárias confirmaram a masculinização nos tratamentos com hormônio. Muitos ovócitos foram observados nos testículos dos imagos revertidos (ovotestis); entretanto, quatro meses após a metamorfose, os ovotestis ocorreram esporadicamente. Concluiu-se que, após a metamorfose, iniciou-se um processo de reabsorção dos ovócitos nos imagos revertidos, culminando com a quase total reabsorção dos ovócitos no quarto mês de idade.

Replacing egg yolk with soybean lecithin in the cryopreservation of stallion semen

The objective of this study was to determine whether replacing the egg yolk with soybean lecithin in the Botu-Crio (R) cryodiluent would maintain the fertility of cryopreserved stallion sperm. Two experiments were performed to evaluate cell freezability. In experiment 1, sperm from 15 stallions were frozen in Botu-Crio (R) (BC) or Botu-Crio (R) which contained 45 g/L soybean lecithin (BCLS45) in place of the egg yolk. In experiment 2, we compared different concentrations of soybean lecithin: 0, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5 and 20.0 g/L (BC, BCLS10, BCLS12.5, BCLS17.5 and BCLS20, respectively). In experiment 1, sperm frozen in BC and BCLS45 exhibited similar (P > 0.05) percentages of total motile sperm (61% and 61%, respectively); progressively motile sperm (27% and 27%, respectively) and sperm with intact plasma membranes (IMP; 53% and 57%, respectively). Similarly, sperm frozen in BC or BC containing any concentration of soybean lecithin maintained similar (P > 0.05) percentages of total motile sperm (61-68%) and progressively motile sperm (27-31%). In the first fertility trial, we used cryopreserved semen from a single stallion was inseminated into mares. The semen from the sperm that were frozen in BC diluent resulted in a higher fertility rate (66%, 16/24) compared to the sperm that were frozen in BCLS45 diluent (17%, 5/29; P < 0.01). Similarly, in a second fertility trial, the mares that were inseminated with the sperm that were frozen in BC diluent exhibited a higher fertility rate (66%, 16/24) compared to the mares that were inseminated with the sperm that were frozen in BCLS20 (40%, 10/25; Pc 0.05). Finally, in a third trial, the sperm that were frozen in BC resulted in a higher fertility rate in mares (75%, 18/24) compared to the sperm that were frozen in BCLS10 (41%, 10/24; P < 0.05). Although replacing the egg yolk in the BC cryodiluent with soybean lecithin provided similar laboratory results for stallion sperm, after cryopreservation, the sperm that was frozen with soybean lecithin in the diluent correlated with lower fertility rates. Based on these results, we concluded that the use of BCLS can be used as an alternative diluent for cryopreserving stallion sperm. However, the resulting reduced fertility rate is a matter of concern. Further studies are necessary to clarify the reasons for this decrease in fertility and to determine the optimal lecithin concentration for diluents to freeze stallion sperm. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Lipid content and apoptosis of in vitro-produced bovine embryos as determinants of susceptibility to vitrification

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

Effect of refrigeration systems upon frozen bull sperm viability assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis and fluorescent probes

Sperm cryopreservation success depends upon the maintenance of spermatozoa fertility potential. Sperm cells must preserve both integrity and functionality of several cell structures. The stabilization phase must allow the exit of water from the sperm cells via osmosis. This study aimed to compare the effect of refrigeration in the commercial refrigerator (CR) and the transport/refrigeration box (TRB) upon the viability of frozen bull sperm diluted in three different extenders (A, B and C). Ten Nellore bulls, Bos taurus indicus maintained in Artificial Insemination Center were used and the spermatozoa samples was assessed for Plasma Membrane Integrity and CASA evaluation. The stabilization phase (5 degrees C/4 hours) was performed in the CR as well as in the TRB, and then samples were exposed to nitrogen vapor during 20 minutes and then plunged into nitrogen. The statistical analysis was done using the variance analysis and the significance level was set at 5%. In the CR the post-thawing parameters for PM and ALH were higher (p < 0.05) in the extender A (glicine egg-yolk) and extender B (glicine egg-free) when compared with extender C (TRIS egg-yolk). As for BCF, STR and LIN, the parameters were higher (p < 0.05) in extender B than in C. Samples that were stabilized in the TRB presented higher post-thawing parameters (p < 0.05) for PM and LIN in extender A and extender B when compared with C. BCF and STR parameters were higher (p < 0.05) in extemder B when compared with C. Extender B samples had higher (p < 0.05) PMI when stabilized in CR. The findings in this experiment enable us to say that both CR and TRB were effective in keeping the viability of post-thawing bull semen.

Mineralogia de uma topossequência de solos desenvolvidos de material holocênico da região de Jequitaí, Estado de Minas Gerais

A região da Serra da Onça é localizada no nordeste do Estado de Minas Gerais, no vale formado pelos trabalhos dos rios São Francisco e seus afluentes Jequitaí e Rio das Velhas. Esta região é caracterizada por diversos ciclos erosivos. Uma topossequência representativa da área foi escolhida para este estudo, sendo constituida por 5 perfis de solos desenvolvidos de sedimentos Quaternários. 0 Perfil 1, um Typic Hapleustox, está localizado na superfície mais antiga. Os outros solos estão localizados no sedimento Holocênico, área aluvial do São Francisco. Estes solos são menos intemperizados e classificados como Plíntic Haplustult (Perfil 2), Oxic Plintaquult (Perfil 3); Fluventic Plinthustult (Perfil 4) e Fluventic Argiustol (Perfil 5). Análises mineralógicas foram efetuadas em todas as fraçõs do solo. O Perfil 1 apresenta, em sua fração areia, somente minerais resistentes ao intemperismo, enquanto que nos demais solos, menos intemperizados, ocorrem micas e plagioclásios. Tais minerais aumentam de acordo com a profundidade do solo e também do Perfil 1 ao Perfil 5 menos intemperizado. A caulinita é o mineral de argila dominante na fração argila de todos os solos estudados, com maior concentração no Perfil 1, mais intemperizado. Este mineral tende a decrescer em profundidade e na direção do Perfil 1. Micas, vermiculita e montmorilonita também ocorrem do Perfil 2 ao Perfil 5.

Uso medicinal da pimenta malagueta (Capsicum frutescens L.) em uma comunidade de várzea à margem do rio Amazonas, Santarém, Pará, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relações da atividade agropecuária com parâmetros físicos químicos da água

Water Quality Index (WQI) was used during summer and winter of 1994 and 1995 in the final section of Onça and Feijão streams, downstream Broa Reservoir (São Carlos/SP) to evaluate agricultural and catlleman effects. In Onça stream water quality was acceptable in winter and inappropriate to conventional treatment in the summer. In Feijão stream the water had an excellent quality in winter and good in the summer. A MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) has used to discriminate seasons and streams. Correlation (p<0,05) among the variables was tested. Water temperature, turbidity, pH and fecal bacteria are highly correlated and can be one of the factors that cause WQI change by seasons.