Morphometric and Functional Characteristics of Buffaloes and Cows Corpus Luteum at Different Stages of the Estrous Cycle

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the morphometry of corpus luteum (CL) and progesterone (P-4) plasma concentration of 86 buffaloes (33 pregnant and 53 non-pregnant) and 95 cows (36 pregnant and 59 non-pregnant) at the moment of slaughter. Seventy CLs of buffaloes and 110 CL of cattle were analyzed. The CL classified as II and III were more common in both species (35.7 and 41.4% for buffaloes and 43.6 and 35.5% for cows). The 29 non-pregnant buffaloes had a total of 36 CL, being 19.4% CLI; 33.3% CL II; 27.8% CL III and 19.4% CL IV. The 51 nonpregnant cows had a total of 71 CL, being 26.8% CL I; 47.9% CL II; 21.1% CL III and 4.2% CL IV. The average diameters of bubaline and bovine CL were 5.2 +/- 0.9 and 6.4 +/- 1.8 mm (CL I); 17.6 +/- 2.6 and 19.8 +/- 3.2 mm (CL II); 17.2 +/- 2.1 and 20.0 +/- 3.2 mm (CL III); 7.8 +/- 1.8 and 8.7 +/- 2.7 mm (CL IV), respectively. The mean plasma concentrations of P4 were 5.6 (CL I); 5.4 (CL II); 4.7 (CL III) and 0.5 (CL IV) ng/mL for buffaloes and 0.02 (CL I); 6.3 (CL II) and 6.4 (CL III) ng/mL for cows. In both species, P4 concentration was similar between stages II and III. The results indicated that the characterization of the CL provides important information about the status of estrous cycle.

Influence of Parity and Season of the Year on Oocyte Quality and Number in Buffaloes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of season of the year (summer and winter) and parity (heifers and cows) on oocyte quality and number in buffaloes. For this purpose, 71 buffaloes had follicular wave emergence synchronized before OPU. OPU of all follicles >= 2mm was done 5 days after the beginning of the hormonal protocol, in 4 replicates (two for each season). Data were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC GLIMMIX, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. No interactions were observed in following variables: number of follicles, number of total and viable oocytes, recovery rate, percentage of viable oocytes, grade I oocytes, grade II oocytes, grade III oocytes, denuded oocytes, expanded cumulus oocytes, and atretic/degenerated oocytes. Number of follicles visualized at OPU and recovery rate were not affected by parity or season. Relative to parity, number of total and viable oocytes were greater in heifers than in cows, respectively. Concerning season of the year, number of viable oocytes and viable oocyte rate were increased in winter. In conclusion, better oocyte quality can be obtained from heifers and during winter in buffaloes. However, the number of total oocytes seems to be more influenced by parity than by season of the year in this species.

Actions of oestradiol and progesterone on the prostate in female gerbils: reversal of the histological effects of castration

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

Temporal and spatial distribution of the commercial shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in the south-eastern Brazilian coast

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

Modeling of piezoelectric energy harvesting considering the dependence of the rectifier circuit

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

On the morphology of the digestive system of two Moomorium ant species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structure, histochemistry, ultrastructure and seasonal variations of the male prostatic complex in the black Myotis bat, Myotis nigricans (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BRAZPD II COHORT AND DESCRIPTION OF TRENDS IN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS OUTCOME ACROSS TIME PERIODS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

SIMULATION OF USE AND MANAGEMENT EFFECTS ON THE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER POOLS OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST BIOME, BRAZIL

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Study of the ventral prostate of Wistar rats treated with Heteropterys tomentosa (A. Juss.)

Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant. Previous studies suggested possible androgenic and antioxidant effects after long term administration of H. tomentosa infusion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of this plant infusion on the rat ventral prostate: an androgen responsive organ. Wistar rats were treated, by gavage, with H. tomentosa roots infusion (treated group, n=6) or water (control group, n=6) for 56 days. Morphological, morphometrical and stereological analyses were employed to study the ventral prostate tissue, as well as androgen receptor and apoptotic cell staining. The ultrastructure of the prostatic epithelium was also analyzed. No alteration was observed in the stereological and morphometrical analyses. The pattern of androgen receptor expression and the apoptotic index were identical in the control and treated group. Ultrastructural analysis showed no alterations caused by H. tomentosa. These results suggested that treatment with H. tomentosa infusion, although considered a strong aphrodisiac, did not cause any major damage nor benefit to the prostate tissue.

Characterization of the transcriptome of fast and slow muscle myotomal fibres in the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

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

Assessment of the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic potential of Acrocomia aculeata in rats

Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. is a plant species commonly used as a foodstuff and also for treating diseases, since it contains high concentrations of antioxidant compounds and monounsaturated fatty acids. Considering its ethnopharmacological relevance, the aim of the present study was to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of an oil extracted from the pulp of A. aculeata (OPAC) in rats. In addition, a chromatographic characterization of the fatty acids present in OPAC was performed. Male and female Wistar rats were treated orally with 125, 250, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/body weight OPAC. The effects of OPAC ingestion were determined by performing the comet assay and micronucleus test. The comet assay data demonstrated that OPAC did not increase the frequency or rate of DNA damage in groups treated with any of the concentrations assessed compared to that in the negative control group. In the micronucleus test, the animals treated did not exhibit any cytotoxic or mutagenic changes in peripheral blood erythrocytes. The results demonstrated that OPAC did not exhibit cytotoxic, genotoxic, or mutagenic effects in Wistar rats, thereby increasing the evidence for the safety of oil extracted from this plant.

A study of the errors of the averaged models in the restricted three-body problem in a short time scale

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Molecular identification of mullet species of the Atlantic South Caribbean and South America and the phylogeographic analysis of mugil liza

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

Reproduction and management of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ucididae) at Iguape, Sao Paulo, Brazil

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