Dietary L-tryptophan alters aggression in juvenile matrinxa Brycon amazonicus

This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with -tryptophan (L-TRP), a serotonin precursor, on the aggressiveness of juvenile matrinx . Fish were kept in individual aquaria for 7 days receiving the diets: D1 (control: 0.47% of TRP), D2 (0.94% of TRP), D3 (1.88% of TRP), and D4 (3.76% of TRP). After this, they were grouped with an intruder fish to establish a resident-intruder relationship during periods of 20 min. Blood cortisol, glucose, chloride, sodium and calcium; hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count and volume; liver glycogen and lipids were measured. Territoriality had significant effect on the aggressiveness of matrinx (the residents were more aggressive than intruders, < 0.001) and tryptophan significantly affected their behavior. Fish fed with the D2 diet presented a longer latency until the first attack ( = 0.0069) and bit the intruder fewer times ( = 0.0136) during the period of observation, compared to the control group. The frequency of bites and chases after the first attack was not affected by the dietary supplementation of TRP. Physiological variables were not significantly affected by the diet, except for a moderate increase in cortisol level in fish fed with D2 diet after the fight, indicating slight activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis. The results show that juvenile matrinx have aggressive and territorial behavior and that a diet containing 9.4 g TRP kg(-1) alter their aggressiveness, without affecting the stress-related physiological parameters.

Physiological responses of piau (Leporinus friderici, Bloch 1794) to transportation

This study evaluated stress indicators of juvenile piau (Leporinus friderici) during and after a 4-hour transportation in order to establish an appropriate transportation protocol for this type of fish. Fish were transported in plastic bags (133.1 g/L) and sampled before loading, during 1, 2, 3 and 4 h and after transportation (2, 6, 12 and 24 h). Blood samples were analyzed for cortisol and glucose levels, hematocrit, hemoglobin level, number and mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes. Water pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and ammonia were monitored before, during and after transportation. No mortality was observed through the experiment. Ammonia levels increased throughout transportation, but the low pH values kept NH3 in safe levels for fish. Cortisol levels increased within 4 h of transportation, and returned to control condition 2 h after arrival. Plasma glucose increased within one hour of transportation, reaching peak value within 4 h and returning to initial condition 2 h after arrival. Erythrocyte number and hemoglobin levels showed the lowest levels 2 h after arrival, and mean corpuscular volume increased during transportation, decreasing at 12 and 24 h after arrival. Transporting piau is stressful, but fish recover the initial condition in short time, showing tolerance to the changes in the water quality parameters.

Hematology of Piaractus mesopotamicus fed diets supplemented with vitamins C and E, challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila

Piaractus mesopotamicus were fed diets supplemented with three vitamin C and/or E levels (zero, 250, and 500 mg vitamin/kg dry ration) and challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The fish were fed during the first 60 days with diets without vitamins C and E, in an attempt to reduce vitamin sources. After this period, test diets were offered during 60 days. At the end of the experiment, all fish were intraperitoneally injected with 6 x 10(6) Colony forming units (cfu) of A. hydrophila per fish. It was concluded that for pacu, vitamin C and E are essential for protection of erythrocytes. Vitamin C induces an increase in the number of circulating thrombocytes in a dose-response relation. However, just like vitamin deficiency should be avoided, excess vitamins can also cause damage to fish as observed in the hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Based on the hematological responses obtained, the recommended vitamin C and vitamin E levels for P mesopotamicus juveniles are 500 and 250 mg/kg feed, respectively. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hematological parameters in two neotropical freshwater teleost, Leporinus macrocephalus (Anostomidae) and Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae)

Leporinus macrocephalus is a non-migratory omnivore fish which occurs in waters with a relatively high oxygen rate. Prochilodus lineatus is a migratory fish that inhabits deoxygenated hypolimnion and feeds on detritus material. Red blood cell, thrombocytes and white blood cell counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin, serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride), metabolic products (total serum protein and plasma glucose) and blood cells major axis length for L. macrocephalus and P. lineatus were compared. White blood cell counts for both species indicated a similar activity of the immune functions. The concentration of total protein, sodium, calcium, magnesium and chloride, MCV, as well as red blood cells, monocytes, and thrombocytes size in L. macrocephalus were higher than in P. lineatus. However, P. lineatus had higher red blood cell counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin, which reflects a considerable adaptation to survive in an environment with low levels of oxygen.

Inflammation induced by inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia fed diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The inflammatory response and hernatological parameters among Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated six and 24 h after inoculation with inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila into the swim bladder. Six groups were formed (n = 10 each): G1 was treated with non-supplemented feed+injection with 0.65% saline solution; G2 with non-supplemented feed+ inoculation with A. hydrophila: G3 with feed containing 2% yeast+ injection with saline; G4 with feed containing 2% yeast + inoculation with A. hydrophila: G5 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + injection with saline: and G6 with feed containing 0.3% cell wall + inoculation with A. hydrophila. In the groups inoculated with bacteria, the responses were more intense (P<0.05) than in those injected with saline. The groups receiving supplement that were inoculated with A. hydrophila accumulated a greater total number of cells at the lesion site (P<0.05) than did the non-supplemented groups, after six and 24 h. The groups receiving cell wall presented greater total accumulation of cells (P<0.005) that did those receiving yeast. The differential count showed that there were significantly greater number of thrombocytes (P< 0.05) and lower number of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes (P<0.05) in the groups that received supplement, after 6 and 24 h, in relation to the non-supplemented groups. The values in the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and blood measurement indices did not differ statistically. The variation in circulating thrombocyte and leukocyte counts suggests that the inflammatory stimulus caused recruitment from reserve compartments to the blood. The groups that received yeast or yeast cell wall supplements presented increased nonspecific acute inflammatory response, thus suggesting that this has a beneficial effect on the immunological defense system. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Cellular and molecular characterization of an embryonic cell line (BME26) from the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The cellular and molecular characteristics of a cell line (BME26) derived from embryos of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus were studied. The cells contained glycogen inclusions, numerous mitochondria, and vesicles with heterogeneous electron densities dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Vesicles contained lipids and sequestered palladium meso-porphyrin (Pd-mP) and rhodamine-hemoglobin, suggesting their involvement in the autophagic and endocytic pathways. The cells phagocytosed yeast and expressed genes encoding the antimicrobial peptides (microplusin and defensin). A cDNA library was made and 898 unique mRNA sequences were obtained. Among them, 556 sequences were not significantly similar to any sequence found in public databases. Annotation using Gene Ontology revealed transcripts related to several different functional classes. We identified transcripts involved in immune response such as ferritin, serine proteases, protease inhibitors,. antimicrobial peptides, heat shock protein, glutathione S-transferase, peroxidase, and NADPH oxidase. BME26 cells transfected with a plasmid carrying a red fluorescent protein reporter gene (DsRed2) transiently expressed DsRed2 for up to 5 weeks. We conclude that BME26 can be used to experimentally analyze diverse biological processes that occur in R. (B.) microplus such as the innate immune response to tick-borne pathogens. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efeito do probiótico Bacillus subtilis no crescimento, sobrevivência e fisiologia de rãs-touro (Rana catesbeiana)

The probiotics are live microorganisms, in latency state, that benefices the development of the animals. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the Bacillus subtilis in different doses about the growing, survival and immunological and hematological analyses in the Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) froglets. The test was developed in Experimental Frog farm of Agriculture Department, Pindamonhangaba, SP. Three doses of probiotics were tested (T1 - 2.5 g/Kg, T2 - 5 g/Kg and T3 - 10 g/Kg of food). The test was carried out with three simultaneous replicates, plus control group. The products were added to froglet's diet and mixed to the meal. The animals were previously feed with this diet for a period of 14 days and accompanied for about 42 days after metamorphose. Biometrics were performed every 7 days. It was evaluated the final weight, the survival, phagocytic capacity, phagocytic index and hematological analyses as hematocrit, hemoglobin level, erythrocyte number, absolute indices hematimetrycs (MCV and MCHC), differential counting of leucocytes and total counting of leucocytes and trombocytes. The results had shown that the doses of the probiotics had produced none effect on the final weight and survival. The immunological analyses had shown that the probiotics have presented immunostimulator effect, but haven't influenced the hematological parameters of the animals.

Association between MUC1 gene polymorphism and expected progeny differences in Nelore cattle (Bos primigenius indicus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Feed restriction on performance and blood parameters of broilers fed diets with different sodium levels

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed restriction and different sodium levels in the diet on the performance and hematological values (erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell) of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age. A completely randomized design was used in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial (levels of sodium: 0.16%, 0.19%, 0.22% and 0.25%; with or without feed restriction; male and female), and two replicates of thirty broilers each. Sodium levels did not affect performance (p>0.05). Feed restriction resulted in increased feed intake and affected weight gain and feed conversion negatively (p<0.05). Better weight gain and feed conversion (p<0.05) were seen in male broilers. Hematological values were not affected by sodium levels, feed restriction or sex (p>0.05).

The role of obesity as a modifying factor in patients undergoing non-surgical periodontal therapy

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Recent Insights on the Medicinal Chemistry of Sickle Cell Disease

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

How can micelle systems be rebuilt by a heating process?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Focalização isoelétrica na identificação das hemoglobinas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Amplificação gênica alelo-específica na caracterização das hemoglobinas S, C e D e as interações entre elas e talassemias beta

INTRODUÇÃO: As hemoglobinopatias resultam de alterações hereditárias, sendo prevalentes em muitas regiões do mundo, mas atingem a população brasileira de forma significativa. Elas são decorrentes de alterações em genes estruturais responsáveis pelo aparecimento das hemoglobinas variantes e/ou em genes reguladores, resultando nas talassemias. A identificação dessas patologias tem sido rotineiramente realizada por procedimentos eletroforéticos, contudo nossa experiência laboratorial evidencia que as mesmas nem sempre apresentam resoluções suficientes para a correta caracterização da mutação. CASUÍSTICAS E MÉTODOS: O propósito deste trabalho foi estabelecer uma metodologia válida para a caracterização das hemoglobinas S, C e D em homozigose ou heterozigose, e suas possíveis interações, baseada na amplificação gênica alelo-específica (PCR-AE) com a utilização de primers sense, antisense e primers que se acoplam na posição do alelo mutante e na respectiva posição do alelo normal. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: Os resultados evidenciaram a validade dessa metodologia na caracterização das mutações, sendo esse procedimento de fácil realização, reprodutível e possível de ser aplicado em um significativo número de amostras.

Anemia falciforme: desafios e avanços na busca de novos fármacos

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