Activation and early parthenogenesis of bovine oocytes treated with ethanol and strontium

Efficient artificial activation is indispensable for the success of cloning programs. Strontium has been shown to effectively activate mouse oocytes for nuclear transfer procedures, however, there is limited information on its use for bovine oocytes. The present study had as objectives: (1) to assess the ability of strontium to induce activation and parthenogenetic development in bovine oocytes of different maturational ages in comparison with ethanol; and (2) to verify whether the combination of both treatments improves activation and parthenogenetic development rates. Bovine oocytes were in vitro matured for 24, 26, 28, and 30 h, and treated with ethanol (E, 7% for 5 min) or strontium chloride (S, 10 mM SrCl2 for 5 h) alone or in combination: ethanol + strontium (ES) and strontium + ethanol (SE). Activated oocytes were cultured in vitro in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium and assessed for pronuclear formation (15-16 h), cleavage (46-48 h) and development to the blastocyst stage (M). Treatment with ethanol and strontium promoted similar results regarding pronuclear formation (E, 20-66.7%; S, 26.7-53.3%; P > 0.05) and cleavage (E, 12.8-40.6%; S, 16.1-41.9%; P > 0.05), regardless of oocyte age. The actions of both strontium and ethanol were influenced by oocyte age: ethanol induced greater activation rates after 28 and 30 h of maturation (48.4 and 66.7% versus 20.0 and 23.3% for 24 and 26 It, respectively; P < 0.05) and strontium after 30 It (53.3%) was superior to 24 and 26h (26.7% for both). Blastocyst development rates were minimal in all treatments (0.0-6.3%; P > 0.05), however, when the mean (+/-S.D.) cell number in blastocysts at the same maturational period was compared, strontium treatment was superior to ethanol for activation rates (82 +/- 5.7 and 89.5 +/- 7.8 versus 54 and 61, at 28 and 30 h, respectively). Improved results were obtained by combined treatments. The combination of ethanol and strontium resulted in similar pronuclear formation (ES, 36.7-83.9%; SE, 53.1-90.3%) and cleavage rates (ES, 31.3-81.3%; SE, 65.6-80.7%). Regarding embryo development, there was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatments, and blastocysts were only obtained in treatment SE at 24 and 26 h (6.5% for both). It is concluded that, SrCl2 induces activation and parthenogenetic development in bovine oocytes. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Avaliação de parentais e híbridos experimentais de melão rendilhado

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

Efeito dos Níveis de Cantaxantina na Dieta Sobre o Desempenho e Qualidade dos Ovos de Poedeiras Comerciais

O experimento teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos de níveis de cantaxantina sobre o desempenho e a coloração das gemas dos ovos de galinhas poedeiras. Foram utilizadas 384 galinhas da linhagem Hisex Brown, em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso, contendo seis tratamentos (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 e 60 ppm de cantaxantina), com oito repetições de oito aves por parcela. O período experimental foi de 56 dias. A coleta de ovos foi realizada diariamente e a análise de coloração dos ovos foi efetuada com o abanico colorimétrico da Roche. Durante os 14 dias do período inicial do experimento, a melhor coloração das gemas foi obtida com a adição de 60 ppm de cantaxantina, atingindo-se a cor plateau de 14,3 do leque colorimétrico Roche aos 5,43 dias de inclusão do pigmentante. Considerando-se o período experimental total, os níveis de cantaxantina utilizados melhoraram de forma quadrática a coloração das gemas, sem influenciar os parâmetros produtivos e demais características de qualidade dos ovos de poedeiras comerciais.

Bond strength and morphology of resin materials applied to the occlusal surface of primary molars

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 435441 Background. Hydrophilic adhesives may be used as pit and fissure sealants (sealants), but there is concern about the ability of self-etching adhesives to bond sealants to enamel. Aim. To study the bond strength (BS) and morphology of adhesive systems used as sealants. Design. OptiBond FL, OptiBond All-in-One, combined OptiBond All-in-One + OptiBond FL adhesive, and Fluroshield were applied to the occlusal surfaces of 16 primary molars (n = 4). Teeth were stored in distilled water (24 h at 37 degrees C) and sectioned through the interface to obtain sticks (0.8 mm2) tested under a tensile load (0.5 mm/min). Failure modes were observed. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukeys tests (a = 5%). The morphology of 12 primary molars was examined in terms of the etching pattern and resin reproduction. Results. Differences in the BS were found (P = 0.001), with OptiBond FL showing the highest (36.84 +/- 5.7 MPa), Fluroshield (24.26 +/- 2.13 MPa) and OptiBond All-in-One (17.12 +/- 4.97 MPa) similar, and OptiBond All-in-One + OptiBond FL adhesive the lowest (9.8 +/- 2.94 MPA). OptiBond FL showed the best results in terms of morphology. Conclusion. Under the conditions of this study, OptiBond FL was the best material to be used for sealing.

Exigência Protéica e Relação Energia/Proteína para Alevinos de Piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a exigência protéica e correspondente relação energia/proteína em dietas para alevinos de piracanjuba, Brycon orbignyanus. Seis dietas semi-purificadas isocalóricas foram formuladas para conter 3.000 kcal de energia metabolizável (EM)/kg e concentrações de proteína bruta (PB) de 24, 26, 29, 32, 36 e 42%. Para essas concentrações, as relações E/P das dietas foram de 12,3; 11,6; 10,4; 9,2; 8,5 e 7,1 kcal EM/g PB, respectivamente. As fontes de proteína, lipídios e carboidratos digestíveis foram, respectivamente, caseína/gelatina, óleo de fígado de bacalhau/óleo de soja e dextrina. Após condicionamento de cinco dias, as dietas foram fornecidas, até a saciedade, em duas alimentações diárias, a 162 alevinos (27 peixes/dieta), que apresentaram 8,38 ± 0,09 g de peso médio inicial, distribuídos em 18 tanques de fibra-de-vidro de 100 L, conectados a um sistema de recirculação de água. A temperatura média da água foi de 26,3°C, com extremos de 23,7 e 30,2°C. Após 90 dias, a concentração de proteína na dieta que proporcionou ganho em peso máximo aos peixes foi 29% PB, com relação E/P igual a 10,4 kcal EM/g PB. As dietas com concentrações de PB iguais a 32, 36 e 42% não se mostraram superiores para conversão alimentar, taxa de eficiência protéica, valor produtivo da proteína e retenção de energia bruta. A deposição corporal de proteína e gordura não sofreu influência da concentração de PB da dieta

Release of intermediate reactive hydrogen peroxide by macrophage cells activated by natural products

By determining the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released in cultures of peritoneal macrophage cells from Swiss mice, we evaluated the action of 27 vegetable compounds (pristimerin, tingenone, jatrophone, palustric acid, lupeol, cladrastin, ocoteine, boldine, tomatine, yohimbine, reserpine, escopoletin, esculine, plumericin, diosgenin, deoxyschizandrin, p-arbutin, mangiferin, and others) using a 2 mg/ml solution of each compound (100 mug/well). Macrophages are cells responsible for the development of the immunological response reaction, liberating more than one hundred compounds into the extracellular environment. Among these are the various cytokines and the intermediate compounds of nitrogen (NO) and oxygen (H2O2). This coordinated sequence of biochemical reactions is known as the oxidative burst. When we compared the results with those obtained with zymosan (an important stimulator of H2O2) we observed that the compounds showing the highest activity were substances 2 (tingenone), 16 (reserpine) and 20. Other substances such as compounds 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, and 27 also showed a certain activity, but with less intensity than the aforementioned ones. Compounds 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 18, 21, 22 and 25 presented no activity. These results suggest that natural products (mainly tingenone and reserpine and others) with different chemical structures are strong immunological modulators. However, further tests are needed to determine the 'oxidative burst' in future studies.

Yolk sac remnant in a mini-pony foal

Few reports are available concerning yolk sac remnants in the equine species, with little information on histopathological findings. A stillborn mini-pony foal showed a fluid-filled mass, measuring about 10 cm in circumference, close to the umbilical cord. Microscopic examination better defined the structures seen in the cyst.

Systemic and local teething disturbances: Prevalence in a clinic for infants

The aim of this study was to present data as reported by parents on primary tooth eruption and the occurrence of local and systemic manifestations in children ages 0 to 3 years seen at the baby clinic of the Araçatuba Dental School, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil. Data from 1,813 records were analyzed, yielding 1,165 records suitable for review. Some type of local and/or systemic manifestation during primary tooth eruption was reported for 95% (1,129) children studied. The predominant manifestation was gingival irritation (85%), while the least frequent symptom (26%) was a runny nose.

Modulation of the pharmacological effects of enzymatically-active PLA 2 by BTL-2, an isolectin isolated from the Bryothamnion triquetrum red alga

Background. An interaction between lectins from marine algae and PLA 2 from rattlesnake was suggested some years ago. We, herein, studied the effects elicited by a small isolectin (BTL-2), isolated from Bryothamnion triquetrum, on the pharmacological and biological activities of a PLA 2 isolated from rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus cascavella), to better understand the enzymatic and pharmacological mechanisms of the PLA 2 and its complex. Results. This PLA2 consisted of 122 amino acids (approximate molecular mass of 14 kDa), its pI was estimated to be 8.3, and its amino acid sequence shared a high degree of similarity with that of other neurotoxic and enzymatically-active PLA2s. BTL-2 had a molecular mass estimated in approximately 9 kDa and was characterized as a basic protein. In addition, BTL-2 did not exhibit any enzymatic activity. The PLA2 and BTL-2 formed a stable heterodimer with a molecular mass of approximately 24-26 kDa, estimated by molecular exclusion HPLC. In the presence of BTL-2, we observed a significant increase in PLA2 activity, 23% higher than that of PLA2 alone. BTL-2 demonstrated an inhibition of 98% in the growth of the Gram-positive bacterial strain, Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis (Cmm), but only 9.8% inhibition of the Gram-negative bacterial strain, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv passiflorae (Xap). PLA2 decreased bacterial growth by 27.3% and 98.5% for Xap and Cmm, respectively, while incubating these two proteins with PLA2-BTL-2 inhibited their growths by 36.2% for Xap and 98.5% for Cmm. PLA2 significantly induced platelet aggregation in washed platelets, whereas BTL-2 did not induce significant platelet aggregation in any assay. However, BTL-2 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by PLA2. In addition, PLA 2 exhibited strong oedematogenic activity, which was decreased in the presence of BTL-2. BTL-2 alone did not induce oedema and did not decrease or abolish the oedema induced by the 48/80 compound. Conclusion. The unexpected results observed for the PLA2-BTL-2 complex strongly suggest that the pharmacological activity of this PLA2 is not solely dependent on the presence of enzymatic activity, and that other pharmacological regions may also be involved. In addition, we describe for the first time an interaction between two different molecules, which form a stable complex with significant changes in their original biological action. This opens new possibilities for understanding the function and action of crude venom, an extremely complex mixture of different molecules. © 2008 Oliveira et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Diversidade de cianobacterérias nas áreas da lagoa d Casamento e dos Butiazais de Tapes e seus ecossistemas associados (RS, Brasil)

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia - IBILCE

Influência do fluido folicular e da proteína recombinante humana GDF9 no meio de maturação sobre a qualidade de embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade da carne de matriz pesada em final de ciclo de produção e tecnicas de agregação de valor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito do laser ER:YAG e ponta diamantada na morfologia da camada híbrida obtida com um adesivo autocondicionante: resistência de união ao microcisalhamento análise por MEV e MLCF

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Relations between the yield of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chemical attributes of an Acrustox under no-tillage

In crop year 2006/07, in Selviria, MS, Brazil, were analyzed the productivity of beans because of the chemical attributes of an Acrustox cultivated under conditions of high technological level of management by no-tillage irrigated with pivot central. The objective was to select, among the attributes studied soil, the one with the best representation to explain the variability of agricultural productivity. Geostatistical grid was installed to collect data from soil and plant, with 117 sampling points in an area of 2,025 m(2) and homogeneous slope of 0.055 m m(-1). From the standpoint of linear and spatial bean yield was respectively explained in terms of P and soil pH. So much for the values of phosphorus (P) in the intermediate layer and subsurface between 24-26 mg dm(-3), as well as for Hydrogen (pH) in the surface layer between 5.0 to 5.4, resulted in sites with the most high yield (2,160-2,665 kg ha(-1)).

Plasma anti-mullerian hormone: an endocrine marker for in vitro embryo production from Bos taurus and Bos indicus donors

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