Morphometric growth characteristics and body composition of bullfrog tadpoles in captivity

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

Bupropion treatment increases epididymal contractility and impairs sperm quality with no effects on the epididymal sperm transit time of male rats

Bupropion is a dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor used as smoking cessation and antidepressant drug with a lower incidence of male sexual dysfunction. We showed previously that sibutramine, a norepinephrine/serotonine reuptake inhibitor, reduced male rat fertility. As there are no studies evaluating the impact of bupropion treatment on spermatic parameters and male fertility, we evaluated the effects of bupropion treatment (15 and 30 mg kg(-1), 30 days) on sexual behavior, spermatic parameters and fertility of male Wistar rats and on the epididymal duct in vitro contractility. Bupropion 15 mg kg(-1) increased the serum luteinizing hormone level and the epididymal duct contractility, but the sperm quality was not affected. At 30 mg kg(-1) bupropion impaired sperm quality increasing the incidence of non-progressive sperm. The male sexual behavior and fertility were not modified at both bupropion doses. These results, in rats, suggest the importance of studies evaluating the effects of bupropion on the human male sperm quality.

Tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal de diferentes frutos e taxa de germinação de Morus nigra pós passagem pelo trato em Sabiás-barranco (Turdus leucomelas)

Seed dispersal is a key process in the life cycle of plant species and may determine the dynamics of their populations. The passage of the fruit from the gastrointestinal tract brings effects on energy and nutritional rewards for the bird. The retention time of the seeds is an essential factor for the dispersion, affecting the dispersal distance. Some factors determine it, as the size of the bird, degree of frugivory, chemical composition of the fruit, the number and size of seeds. The study sought to characterize the Morus nigra seed retention time in three species of thrushes and compare them with other species of birds and plants. The blackberry, exotic species with socio-economic importance in Brazil, produces aggregate fruit having up to 60 seeds. Have been kept in captivity individuals leucomelas Turdus rufiventris thrush, thrush and amaurochalinus, native and omnivorous species, important dispersers in degraded areas, inhabiting the urban and the natural environment. In 274 samples of feces was recorded about 500 mulberry seeds. The first record of seeds was in 15 minutes (n = 2) and the last to 115 minutes (n = 4) after eating the fruit. The average time of gastrointestinal transit of seed for the three species was 52 minutes and 80% were defecated to 65 minutes post ingestion. Taking into consideration the type of fruit and the species of bird, there is great variation in the retention time when compared to other species of birds, being in general slower. That way, can be increase the degree of dispersion of the seed to more distant areas of the mother plant, increasing the chances of survival of seedlings, according to the hypothesis Janzen and Connell. The Turdus It showed efficient dispersers Morus nigra seeds, and inhabits natural and urbanized environment, the possibility of exchange of these seeds between environments by the action of thrushes

Quantificação de células dos túbulos seminíferos e rendimento da espermatogênese em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o rendimento da espermatogênese de cutias criadas em cativeiro, por intermédio das razões encontradas entre tipos celulares do epitélio seminífero. Os resultados apontaram que o rendimento da espermatogênese da cutia dos nove aos quatorze meses de idade não chegou a um ponto de estabilização. O coeficiente de eficiência de mitoses espermatogoniais não aumentou com a idade. O rendimento meiótico, o rendimento geral da espermatogênese e o índice de células de Sertoli mostraram variações numéricas em função da idade, entretanto, não detectadas estatisticamente.

Neustonic distribution of decapod planktonic stages and competence of brachyuran megalopae in coastal waters

Settlement rate may not reflect larval supply to coastal waters in different marine invertebrates and demersal fishes. The importance of near-shore oceanography and behaviour of late larval stages may be underestimated. The present study conducted neustonic sampling over station grids and along full-length transects at two embayments in south-eastern Brazil to (1) compare diurnal and nocturnal occurrence of most frequent decapod stages to assess their vertical movements, (2) describe the formation of larval patches and (3) measure competence of crab megalopae according to their distance to recruitment grounds. Several shrimp species apparently undergo a diel vertical migration, swimming crab megalopae showed no vertical movements and megalopae of the intertidal crab Pachygrapsus transversus revealed a reversed vertical migration. During the day, crab megalopae aggregated in convergence zones just below surface slicks. These larvae consisted of advanced, pre-moult stages, at both mid-bay and near-shore patches. Competence, measured as the time to metamorphosis in captivity, was similar between larval patches within each taxon. Yet, subtidal portunids moulted faster to juveniles than intertidal grapsids, possibly because they were closer to settlement grounds. Megalopae of Pachygrapsus from benthic collectors moulted faster than those from bay areas. These results suggest that alternative vertical migration patterns of late megalopae favour onshore transport, and actual competence takes place very close to suitable substrates, where larvae may remain for days before settlement. Lack of correlation between larval supply and settlement for Pachygrapsus suggests that biological processes, besides onshore transport, may play an important role in determining settlement success of coastal crabs.

Growth, lipogenesis and body composition of piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus) fingerlings fed different dietary protein and lipid concentrations

Piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus) is a Brazilian migratory fast-growing omnivore, very appreciated as a sport fish, which is threatened to extinction in Southern Brazil due to stock over exploitation and dam building. Therefore, efforts have been made to raise this fish in captivity for reintroduction and aquaculture purposes. In the present study, the effects of different dietary protein and lipid concentrations on piracanjuba fingerlings growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, hepatosomatic index (HSI) and activity of the lipogenic enzymes fatty acid synthetase (FAS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and malic enzyme (ME) were investigated using a 2 x 3 factorial experiment. Six casein-gelatin based diets were prepared combining two protein (30% and 32%) and three lipid concentrations (5.5%, 8.8% and 12.1%). Eleven fish, average weight 11.30 +/- 0.1 g, were held in each of 18 100-1 aquaria, supplied with recirculating freshwater. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of fish and fed to apparent satiation, twice a day for 100 d. Piracanjuba fingerlings' daily weight gain (0.36-0.40 g), specific growth rate (1.43-1.51%), feed utilization and HSI were not influenced by dietary protein or lipid concentration. However, body composition was directly affected by dietary treatment. An increase in body fat and dry matter was observed as dietary lipid increased, for both dietary protein concentrations tested. The activity of FAS was depressed by increasing dietary fat levels but the G6PD activity did not differ among dietary treatments, although ME activity showed some regulation by dietary protein. These results indicate that an increase from 5.5% to 12.1% in the dietary lipid, at a dietary protein concentration of 30% or 32%, promotes body fat accumulation in piracanjuba fingerlings with no improvement in growth, suggesting that the lipid requirement for this species should be 5% or less, when raised for commercial purposes. However, the additional energy reserve from body fat accumulation could be desirable for piracanjuba fingerlings produced for stock enhancement. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS and Ifremer/IRD/Inra/Cemagref. All rights reserved.

The occurrence of Crepidobothrium sp. (Cestoda, Proteocephalidae) in Bothrops moojeni (Hoge) (Serpentes, Viperidae)

The occurrence of Crepidobothrium sp.(Cestoda, Proteocephalidae) in the intestine of Bothrops moojeni (Hoge,1965)(Serpentes, Viperidae) is reported. The host snake was rescued from the fauna in Porto Primavera dam, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The snake died in captivity on July 13,1999. At necropsy, 28 tapeworms were found in the snake intestine. The analysis of specimens morphology allowed the conclusion that they belong to the Crepidobothrium (Monticelli, 1900) genus. It was not possible to determine the Crepidobothrium species due to the lack of the gravid proglottids. This is the first report of B. moojeni as a host of cestodes.

Serological investigation and PCR in detection of pathogenic leptospires in snakes

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

Effect of crude protein levels and organic selenium supplementation in the diets fed during the breeding season on reproductive parameters of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens)

There is little information on the nutrition of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) reared in captivity, and their nutritional requirements still need to be determined. This study aimed at determining dietary crude protein requirements and testing four organic selenium supplementation levels in the diet of red-winged tinamous during the breeding season. Birds were housed in a conventional broiler house divided in 16 boxes with one male and three females each. Iso-energy (2800kcal ME/kg) pelleted feeds, based on corn and soybean meal, were supplied in tube feeders. In the first experiment, treatments consisted of four different diets containing different crude protein (CP) contents (15, 18, 21, or 24%) and in the second experiment, the four diets contained equal protein level (22.5%) and four different organic selenium levels (0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8ppm). Data were analyzed by the least square method. The best egg weight and eggshell thickness were obtained with 22.5% dietary CP. Organic selenium did not influence the studied reproductive traits of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) males or females.

Brycon gouldingi (Teleostei, Characidae): aspects of the embryonic development in a new fish species with aquaculture potential

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

MOLECULAR and SEROLOGICAL DETECTION of BABESIA SPP. IN NEOTROPICAL and EXOTIC CARNIVORES IN BRAZILIAN ZOOS

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

Molecular detection of tick-borne bacterial agents in Brazilian and exotic captive carnivores

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

VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A CAPTIVE CRAB-EATING FOX CERDOCYON THOUS

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

Survey for natural Neospora caninum infection in wild and captive birds

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

Rendimento de carcaça e composição química da carne da perdiz nativa (Rhynchotus rufescens)

A composição química da carne e o rendimento de carcaça de perdizes (Rhynchotus rufescens) adultas, com 12 meses, criadas em cativeiro com rações balanceadas, foram determinadas neste trabalho. Para rendimento de carcaça, após o abate e evisceração, foram feitos dois cortes: peito e coxa+sobrecoxa+dorso. Para análise química, foram retiradas três amostras de cada corte para determinação da composição centesimal da umidade, proteínas totais, lipídeos totais, cinzas e colesterol. Os valores observados mostraram um rendimento médio de carcaça de 74,4% com 36,6% de carne de peito. Os componentes químicos apresentaram para os cortes de coxa-sobrecoxa e peito, respectivamente, umidade 62,4 e 55,9%; proteínas 25,2 e 29,1%; lipídeos 1,6 e 5,6%; cinzas 1,4 e 1,2% e colesterol 234 e 70mg/100g. O excelente rendimento de carcaça, somado à composição química de sua carne, mostra o potencial desta espécie para a produção de carnes especiais.