Salivary and serum cortisol levels, salivary alpha-amylase and unstimulated whole saliva flow rate in pregnant and non-pregnant

PURPOSE: To compare salivary and serum cortisol levels, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rate in pregnant and non-pregnant women. METHOD: A longitudinal study was conducted at a health promotion center of a university hospital. Nine pregnant and 12 non-pregnant women participated in the study. Serum and UWS were collected and analyzed every trimester and twice a month during the menstrual cycle. The salivary and serum cortisol levels were determined by chemiluminescence assay and the sAA was processed in an automated biochemistry analyzer. RESULTS: Significant differences between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups were found in median [interquartile range] levels of serum cortisol (23.8 µL/dL [19.4-29.4] versus 12.3 [9.6-16.8], p<0.001) and sAA (56.7 U/L [30.9-82.2] versus 31.8 [18.1-53.2], p<0.001). Differences in salivary and serum cortisol (µL/dL) and sAA levels in the follicular versus luteal phase were observed (p<0.001). Median UWS flow rates were similar in pregnant (0.26 [0.15-0.30] mL/min) and non-pregnant subjects (0.23 [0.20-0.32] mL/min). Significant correlations were found between salivary and serum cortisol (p=0.02) and between salivary cortisol and sAA (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum cortisol and sAA levels are increased during pregnancy. During the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle, salivary cortisol levels increase, whereas serum cortisol and sAA levels decline.

Association between Lipid Accumulation Product and Hirsutism in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine metabolic disorder in women between menarche and menopause. Clinical hyperandrogenism is the most important diagnostic criterion of the syndrome, which manifests as hirsutism in 70% of cases. Hirsute carriers of PCOS have high cardiovascular risk. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is an index for the evaluation of lipid accumulation in adults and the prediction of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between LAP and hirsutism in women with PCOS. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study of a secondary database, which included 263 patients who had visited the Hyperandrogenism Outpatient Clinic from November 2009 to July 2014. The exclusion criteria were patients without Ferriman-Gallwey index (FGI) and/or LAP data. We used the Rotterdam criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS. All patients underwent medical assessment followed by measurement and recording of anthropometric data and the laboratory tests for measurement of the following: thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (follicular phase), glycohemoglobin A1c, and basal insulin. In addition, the subjects underwent lipid profiling and oral glucose tolerance tests. Other laboratory measurements were determined according to clinical criteria. LAP and the homeostatic model assessment index (HOMA-IR) were calculated using the data obtained. We divided patients into two groups: the PCOS group with normal LAP (< 34.5) and the PCOS group with altered LAP (> 34.5) to compare the occurrence of hirsutism. For statistical analysis, we used SPSS Statistics for Windows(r) and Microsoft Excel programs, with descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and comparative analyses (Student's t-test and Chi-square test). We considered relations significant when the p-value was≤0.05. Results LAP was high in most patients (n = 177; 67.3%) and the FGI indicated that 58.5% of the patients (n = 154) had hirsutism. The analysis by LAP quartiles showed a positive correlation (p = 0.04) among patients with a high FGI and an upper quartile LAP (> 79.5) when compared with those with LAP < 29.0 (lower quartile). Conclusion This study demonstrated an association between high LAP and hirsutism. The FGI could represent a simple and low-cost tool to infer an increased cardiovascular risk in women with PCOS.

Effect of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) on in vitro survival of caprine preantral follicles

This study was conducted in order to verify the effect of different concentrations of BMP-7 in the in vitro survival and development of caprine preantral follicles. Fragments of caprine ovarian cortical tissue were cultured for 1 or 7 days in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM+) supplemented with different concentrations of BMP-7 (1, 10, 50 or 100ng/ml). Non-cultured fragments or those cultured for 1 or 7 days were processed for classical histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Parameters such as follicular survival, activation and growth were evaluated. The results showed that, after 1 or 7 days of culture, the percentage of morphologically normal follicles was significantly reduced in all treatments when compared with fresh control, except at 1ng/ml of BMP-7 for 1 day. In addition, the concentration of 10ng/ml of BMP-7 significantly increases follicular diameter from day 1 to 7 of culture. There was no influence of the other concentrations of BMP-7 regarding to the follicular and oocyte diameter. Ultrastructure studies confirmed follicular integrity after 7 days of culture in 1ng/ml BMP-7. In conclusion, small concentrations of BMP-7 can improve the survival and growth of caprine preantral follicles during in vitro culture.

Malformações congênitas em ruminantes no semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro

Malformações congênitas causadas pela ingestão de Mimosa tenuiflora têm sido observadas em ruminantes no semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro. Neste trabalho foram estudadas as malformações congênitas em ruminantes diagnosticadas entre 2000 e 2008, em municípios da Paraíba, Pernambuco e Rio Grande do Norte. Durante o período foram recebidos 1.347 materiais de ruminantes para diagnóstico, desses 47 (3,48%) foram dignosticados como malformações congênitas. Com base no tipo de malformação e na procedência do animal as malformações foram divididas em: 1) causadas pelo consumo de M. tenuiflora; e 2) malformações esporádicas, sem causa conhecida. De 418 materiais de ovinos, 21 corresponderam a malformações, sendo 18 (4,3% do total de materiais) de malformações causadas por M. tenuiflora e 3 (0,71%) de malformações esporádicas. De 434 materiais de bovinos, 14 foram diagnosticados como malformações, sendo 8 (1,84%) causadas por M. tenuiflora e 6 (1,38%) malformações esporádicas. De 495 materiais de caprinos, 12 apresentaram malformações, sendo 9 (1,81%) causadas pela ingestão de M. tenuiflora e 3 (0,6%) malformações esporádicas. As principais malformações causadas por M. tenuiflora foram artrogripose, micrognatia, palatosquise, microftalmia e hipoplasia ou aplasia unilateral ou bilateral dos ossos incisivos. As malformações esporádicas incluiram: acefalia e hermafroditismo, dicefalia e malformações de vasos intestinais em ovinos; atresia anal em três caprinos; e hidranencefalia, atresia anal, malformações de costelas com eventração, hipoplasia cerebelar e hidrocefalia, coristoma pulmonar e meningocele, e gêmeos siameses em bovinos. O caso de hipoplasia cerebelar com hidrocefalia foi negativo pela imuno-histoquímica para o vírus da diarreia viral bovina. Malformações congênitas causadas por M. tenuiflora ocorreram durante todo o ano. A maior frequência em ovinos está aparentemente associada ao consumo da planta, na primeira fase da gestação, após as primeiras chuvas, quando as ovelhas estão sendo suplementadas e a planta é o principal volumoso disponível. As malformações ocorrem principalmente nas áreas mais degradadas, onde existe maior disponibilidade da planta e menor variedade de plantas da caatinga.

Defeitos congênitos diagnosticados em ruminantes na Região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

Foi realizado um estudo dos defeitos congênitas diagnosticados em bovinos, ovinos e bubalinos mediante revisão dos protocolos de necropsia do Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Pelotas entre 1978 e 2009. A ocorrência de defeitos congênitos em bovinos, ovinos e bubalinos representou 0,88%, 0,36% e 7,54% respectivamente, de todos os materiais dessas espécies recebidos. Em bovinos os defeitos esporádicos representaram 45,83% dos diagnósticos, os hereditários 6,25%, os provavelmente hereditários 29,16% e os ambientais ou provavelmente ambientais 16,66%. Dos 48 casos de defeitos congênitos diagnosticados em bovinos 21 (43,75%) afetaram o sistema esquelético (condrodisplasia, escoliose, desvio lateral da mandíbula, fenda palatina e malformação não classificada), nove (18,75%) o sistema nervoso central (hipoplasia dos lobos frontais e olfatórios, degeneração cerebelar cortical, espinha bífida, hipomielinogênese congênita, hipermetria hereditária, hipoplasia cerebelar e paquigiria), nove (18,75%) o sistema muscular (artrogripose), três (6,25%) o sistema cardiovascular (persistência do ducto arterioso e malformação não classificada), um (2,08%) o sistema linfático (hipoplasia linfática), um (2,08%) o sistema gastrintestinal (atresia anal), e, um (2,08%) o olho (catarata congênita). Em cinco casos (10,41%) vários sistemas estavam afetados (diprosopo). Em bovinos foram diagnosticadas diversas doenças hereditárias (hipermetria hereditária, artrogripose, hipoplasia linfática) ou suspeitas de serem hereditárias (condrodisplasia). Ocorreram, também, com menor freqüência, defeitos congênitos de origem ambiental (hipomielinogenese, por carência de cobre) ou possivelmente ambiental (fenda palatina, hipoplasia cerebelar, degeneração cerebelar cortical). Todos os casos de defeitos congênitos observados em ovinos (gêmeos anômalos e aprosopia) afetaram vários sistemas e eram esporádicos. Em bubalinos todas as malformações diagnosticadas são hereditárias (artrogripose, miotonia e dermatose mecânico-bolhosa) ou suspeitas de serem hereditárias (albinismo, megaesôfago e hidranencefalia/hipoplasia cerebelar). Concluiu-se que os defeitos congênitos esporádicos têm pouca importância nas três espécies e que defeitos congênitos de causas ambientais, apesar de pouco freqüentes, podem trazer prejuízos econômicos importantes em determinadas regiões ou estabelecimentos. As doenças hereditárias são importantes não só pela mortalidade mas, também, pela possibilidade de disseminação de genes indesejáveis nas diferentes raças. Em bubalinos a alta frequência de doenças hereditárias na raça Murrah foi atribuída a alta consanguinidade do rebanho brasileiro. Medidas de controle devem ser tomadas para evitar-se a contínua disseminação, principalmente dos genes recessivos, em bubalinos e bovinos.

Analyses of the development and glycoproteins present in the ovarian follicles of Poecilia vivipara (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae)

The morphofunctional aspects of oogenesis of Poecilia vivipara were studied aiming to understand the reproductive biology and development of species with internal fertilization, particularly those belonging to the family Poeciliidae. The stages of gonadal maturation and follicular development were characterized using mesoscopic, histological, histochemical, and lectin cytochemical analyses. Through mesoscopic evaluation the ovarian development was classified in six phases of development: immature, in maturation I, in maturation II, mature I, mature II, and post-spawn. Based on microscopic examination of the ovaries, we identified the presence of oocytes types I and II during the previtellogenic phase and types III, IV, and V during the vitellogenic phase. As oogenesis proceeded the oocyte cytosol increased in volume and presented increased cytoplasmic granule accumulation, characterizing vitellogenesis. The zona radiata (ZR) increased in thickness and complexity, and the follicular epithelium, which was initially thin and consisting of pavimentous cells, in type III oocytes exhibited cubic simple cells. The histochemical and cytochemical analyses revealed alterations in the composition of the molecular structures that form the ovarian follicle throughout the gonadal development. Our study demonstrated differences in the female reproductive system among fish species with internal and external fertilization and we suggest P. vivipara can be used as experimental model to test environmental toxicity.

Defeitos congênitos em bovinos da Região Central do Rio Grande do Sul

Foram revisados casos de defeitos congênitos (DCs) diagnosticados em bovinos no Laboratório de Patologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria em 1964-2010. Durante o período estudado, foram examinados materiais provenientes da necropsia de 7.132 bovinos e foram encontrados 31 bezerros (0,4%) com DCs, os quais foram classificados em 34 tipos e alocados nos sistemas orgânicos primariamente afetados. Os DCs ocorriam isoladamente (19 [61,3%]) ou afetavam múltiplos sítios anatômicos (15 [28,7%]) com frequência semelhante em ambos os sexos. Como vários terneiros mostraram múltiplos DCs, um total de 53 DCs foi computado. Dos 53 DCs diagnosticados, 15 (28,3%) afetavam o sistema nervoso central (craniósquise [4], abiotrofia cerebelar [2], degeneração esponjosa [2], hidrocefalia [2], meningocele [2], espinha bífida [1], hipoplasia cerebelar [1] e hipomielinogênese [1]); nove (17,0%) afetavam o sistema urogenital (agenesia testicular [1], agenesia vaginal [1], hipoplasia peniana [1], formação de cloaca [1], freemartinismo [1], hamartoma vascular de ovário [1], hipoplasia renal [1], cistos renais [1] e úraco persistente [1]); oito DCs (15,1%) eram primários do sistema musculoesquelético (artrogripose [4], escoliose [1], plagiocefalia, [1] schistosomus reflexus [1] e diprosopia [1]); e outros oito (15,1%) foram alocados no sistema digestivo (palatosquise [3], atresia anal [1], atresia anorretal [1], atresia - anocolônica [1], fístula reto-vaginal [1] e fístula reto-uretral [1]); em cinco ocasiões (9,4%) o DC afetava o sistema cardiovascular (persistência do ducto arterioso [2], persistência do forame oval [2] e defeito do septo ventricular [1]); quatro (7,5%) afetavam o sistema linfático e consistiam de hipoplasia ou aplasia de vasos linfáticos e linfonodos associadas a linfedema. Dois casos (3,4%), de hipotricose foram observados afetando o integumento; um caso (1,9%) de estenose traqueal foi encontrado no sistema respiratório e um caso (1,9%) de bócio envolvia o sistema endócrino. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos DCs em bovinos na Região Central do Rio Grande do sul é esporádica. No entanto, seu estudo continuado é importante para o estabelecimento de sua etiologia e controle.

Pathological findings in fetuses of goats and cattle poisoned by Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae)

In Brazil, the consumption of Sida carpinifolia by livestock has been associated with neurological diseases linked to lysosomal storage disorders. This paper describes the pathological findings in two caprine fetuses from dams that were experimentally poisoned with S. carpinifolia. The goats were orally dosed with 10 and 13g/kg of a paste of green chopped S. carpinifolia for 30 days and were observed for an additional 15 days period after the last dosage with the plant; thereafter they were euthanized and necropsied. The dams showed only slight clinical signs. The study also includes the findings in one bovine fetus from a naturally S. carpinifolia poisoned cow which showed mild incoordination, generalized tremors, staggering, and frequent falls. The cow was euthanized and necropsied. While there were no significant histopathological changes in the goats, in the cow vacuolation of Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum, pancreatic acinar cells, and thyroid follicular cells were observed. The main microscopic changes observed in the caprine and bovine fetuses were vacuolation in the epithelium of renal tubules, thyroid follicular cells, and Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum. Transmission electron microscopy of sections from CNS of the cow and its fetus revealed vacuoles containing fine granular material surrounded by membrane. Lectin-histochemistry of CNS sections from goat fetuses marked lightly to sWGA lectins, WGA, and Con-A.

Interstitial nephritis of slaughtered pigs in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

This study evaluated histological lesions in kidney samples from pigs with nephritis in two slaughterhouses in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Four hundred samples were subjected to histology, anti-porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) immunohistochemistry (IHC), anti-Leptospira sp. immunofluorescence (IF), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for PCV2, porcine parvovirus (PPV), and Torque teno virus type 1 and 2 (TTV1, TTV2) detection. Histological lesions were found in 81% of the samples, and mononuclear interstitial nephritis was the most frequent lesion (77.50%). A follicular pattern was observed in 40.97% of the interstitial nephritis lesions. PCV2, PPV, TTV1, and TTV2 were identified in the kidneys by PCR in 27.25%, 28.50%, 94%, and 87.5% of the samples, respectively. Leptospira sp. was not detected through IF. Infection by PCV2 (PCR) and the presence of histological lesions (P=0.008) and giant cells (P=0.0016) were significantly associated. An association was observed between the TTV2-TTV1 co-infection (P<0.0001) and the risk for pathogenesis. These findings indicated that PCV2, PPV, TTV1, and TTV2 were widely distributed among pigs in the local farms and that the presence of these agents should be considered in the differential diagnosis of kidneys with interstitial nephritis in pigs.

Progesterone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone interact and promote goat preantral follicles survival and development in vitro

We investigated the effects of progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on survival and growth of caprine preantral follicles. Pieces of ovarian tissue were cultured for 1 or 7 days in minimum essential medium (MEM) alone or containing progesterone (1, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20ng/mL), FSH (50ng/mL) or the interaction between progesterone and FSH. Fresh (non-cultured control) and cultured ovarian tissues were processed for histological and ultrastructural studies. After 7 days the addition of FSH to all progesterone concentrations maintained the percentage of normal follicles similar to fresh control. At day 7 of culture, a higher percentage of developing follicles was observed only in 2.5ng/ml of progesterone associated with FSH or 10ng/ml of progesterone alone when compared with control. From day 1 to day 7 of culture, a significant increase in the percentage of developing follicles was observed in MEM and 2.5ng/ml of progesterone + FSH. In addition, after 7 days, in all treatments, there was a significant increase in follicular diameter when compared with control, except for MEM alone and in 5ng/ml of progesterone + FSH or 10ng/ml of progesterone alone. Ultrastructural studies confirmed follicular integrity after 7 days of culture in 2.5ng/ml of progesterone with FSH. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the interaction between progesterone and FSH maintains ultrastructural integrity, stimulates primordial follicles activation and further growth of cultured caprine preantral follicles.

Doenças de chinchilas (Chinchilla lanigera)

As doenças de chinchilas foram estudadas através da avaliação de laudos de necropsia entre janeiro de 1997 e dezembro de 2011. Em 202 chinchilas necropsiadas, 189 (93,5%) tiveram o diagnóstico determinado, e 13 (6,5%) tiveram diagnóstico inconclusivo, por ausência de lesões ou autólise acentuada. Dentre as 202 chinchilas computadas, 162 eram fêmeas (80%), 37 eram machos (18%), e em quatro chinchilas (2%) o sexo não foi anotado. As chinchilas tinham entre um dia a 12 anos de idade. As doenças foram agrupadas nas seguintes categorias: doenças inflamatórias, doenças causadas por intoxicações, doenças causadas por agentes físicos, doenças metabólicas, doenças parasitárias, doenças degenerativas, distúrbios circulatórios, neoplasmas, distúrbios do desenvolvimento e "outros distúrbios". As doenças inflamatórias foram as mais prevalentes (52 casos [25,7%]) e foram representadas por casos de gastrite (10 casos), listeriose (5 casos), septicemia (5 casos), broncopneumonia bacteriana (4 casos), enterite necrosante (4 casos), piometra (4 casos), diarreia com isolamento de Proteus sp. (3 casos), abscessos subcutâneos e em linfonodos (2 casos), endometrite (2 casos), otite (2 casos), pielonefrite (2 casos), abscesso do ligamento redondo do fígado (1 caso), pneumonia fibrinosa (1 caso), pneumonia intersticial (1 caso), hepatite e colecistite com isolamento de Salmonella sp. (1 caso), histiocitose pulmonar (1 caso), miosite linfo-histiocítica (1 caso) e um caso de dermatofitose (Trichopyton metagrophytes). O segundo grupo de doenças mais prevalentes foram as intoxicações (22,3%), representado por 45 casos de intoxicação por salinomicina. As doenças causadas por agentes físicos (21 casos [10,4%]) incluíam casos de traumas causados por outros animais (8 casos), automutilação após injeção intramuscular (8 casos), prolapso de reto (3 casos) e parto distócico (2 casos). A categoria de doenças metabólicas foi representada por 16 casos (7,9%) de lipidose hepática. As doenças parasitárias (8 casos [4%]) consistiram em infestação por pulga (4 casos), piolho (3 casos) e giardíase (1 caso). Doenças degenerativas (4 casos [2,5%]) incluíam insuficiência renal crônica (2 casos), necrose aleatória de hepatócitos (1 caso) e necrose muscular de origem desconhecida (1 caso). Os distúrbios circulatórios incluíram dois casos (0,99%) de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. Neoplasmas foram representados por dois casos (0,99%) de adenocarcinoma gástrico. Um caso de atresia ani, associado a ausência do trato reprodutor, intestino grosso e rins policíticos representou a categoria de distúrbios do desenvolvimento (0,5%). Algumas doenças não se enquadraram nas categorias acima e foram enquadradas em "outros distúrbios" (38 casos [18,8%]). Nesta categoria, doenças dentárias foi o distúrbio mais comum, diagnosticado em 9% (18 de 202) de todas as chinchilas examinadas. Seguido por casos de hipertermia (14 casos), dois casos de anemia, dois casos de metaplasia de células adiposas do córtex da adrenal, e dois casos de mucometra.

Doenças do sistema digestório de caprinos e ovinos no semiárido do Brasil

As doenças do sistema digestório de caprinos e ovinos na região semi-árida do nordeste do Brasil foram avaliadas através de um estudo retrospectivo de 2.144 atendimentos de pequenos ruminantes no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, Paraíba, no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2011. Os registros foram revisados para determinar a ocorrência e as principais características clínicas, epidemiológicas e patológicas dessas enfermidades. De um total de 512 casos (23,9%) de distúrbios digestivos, 367 (71,7%) ocorreram em caprinos e 145 (28,3%) em ovinos. As helmintoses gastrintestinais e a coccidiose foram as doenças mais frequentes, com um total de 330 casos. Os distúrbios da cavidade ruminoreticular (acidose, indigestão simples, timpanismo, e compactação ruminal) totalizaram 94 casos. O abomaso foi afetado primária e secundariamente por úlceras. Casos de obstrução e compressão do trato gastrointestinal também foram observados. Malformações como atresia anal e fenda palatina foram registradas em ambas as espécies, sendo esta última associada à ingestão de Mimosa tenuiflora. Entre as doenças infecciosas foram observados cinco casos de ectima contagioso, dois casos de paratuberculose e dois casos de pitiose gastrointestinal. Em sete animais suspeitou-se de enterotoxemia e 31 casos foram diagnosticados como enterite inespecífica. A não utilização de práticas de controle integrado de parasitas e a utilização de alimentos inadequados durante o período de escassez de forragem contribuiu para a ocorrência de um grande número de doenças. A prática de conservação de forragens poderia reduzir substancialmente a ocorrência de distúrbios digestivos na região semiárida.

Morphological and morphometric evaluation of prepubertal gilt ovaries, uterine tubes and uterus at different oestrus cycle stages

Studies are performed in developing techniques/procedures that provide greater reproductive performance in farm animals, including pigs. In this sense, the study of gilts reproductive organs at different oestrus cycle stages for assessing the presence of abnormalities and/or other parameters that may affect the future animal fertility is important. In order to evaluate the morphological, morphometric and histomorphometric features of ovaries, uterus and uterine tubes (UTs) characteristics of prepubertal gilts at different oestrus cycle stages, reproductive tracts from 48 animals immediately after slaughter were obtained. After, the structures were dissected and removed, and the ovaries were used for classification of oestrus cycle stage of each gilt in follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (FL). Then, morphometric evaluations of ovaries, UTs, uterine horns and uterine body were performed. Besides that, medial segments of UTs and uterus were fixed in Bouin solution, processed and included in paraffin, when histological sections of 5.0 micrometers (µm) were obtained and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histomorphometric analyzes using image capture system and specific software were performed. Afterwards, data were submitted to Student's t test for assessment the statistical differences (P<0.05) between the two different oestrus cycle stages (FP × LP) and between the placement of reproductive structures (right × left antimer). Among the gilts evaluated, 35 were in the FP and 13 in LP. There was no difference (P>0.05) between morphometric parameters of ovaries, UTs and uterus of gilts in FP and LP. Likewise, in respect to the placement of reproductive structures, both in the oestrus cycle stages, as in the general average, there was no difference (P>0.05). Regarding the histomorphometric variables, gilts classified in FP presented a higher (P<0.05) height of glandular and UT epithelium compared to animals in LP. On the other hand, the diameter of endometrial glands was higher (P<0.05) in gilts at LP compared to FP. Furthermore, gilts in LP presented a higher (P<0.05) proportion of endometrium occupied by glands, whereas animals in FP had a higher (P<0.05) proportion of connective tissue and blood vessels. In conclusion, in prepubertal gilts, the histomorphometric parameters as endometrial glands diameter, the height of glandular epithelium and of UT epithelium and the proportion of endometrium occupied by connective tissue, besides the glands and blood vessels varies through the oestrus cycle, possibly under the influence of ovarian steroids.

The seasonal and ovarian status effects on in vitro production of domestic cat embryos between Equator and Tropic of Capricorn

From the Tropic of Capricorn to Equator, the seasonality of domestic cat is known to be absent, i.e., these animals are considered non-seasonal breeders at these regions. We hypothesized that this particularity might have some influence on in vitro embryo production. The aim of this experiment was to determine the percentage of cleavage and morulae and blastocyst formation produced from oocytes recovered from queen ovaries of three distinct status - follicular, luteal or inactive - during two different reproductive seasons experienced by cats in southeast of Brazil (22°53'09" S and 48°26'42" W) - non breeding season (NBS), comprehending January to March; and breeding season (BS), August to October. Thirty queens were neutered. Ovaries were classified according to their status and were sliced in PBS for cumulus oocyte complex (COC) releasing. Grade I COC were washed three times in H-MEM supplemented with BSA, glutamine, sodium pyruvate, cysteine, streptomycin and penicillin. Oocytes were incubated in groups of 20-30 in 400µL of DMEM supplemented with FSH, LH, estradiol, IGF-I and basic fibroblast growth factor under mineral oil for 30 or 36 hours at 38°C in humidified environment of 5% de O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2. COC were fertilized in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with BSA, cysteine, pyruvate and streptomycin/penicillin (culture medium) with fresh semen selected through swim up technique. Eighteen hours later, the presumptive zygotes were denuded, the percentage of cleavage was determined and every 10 zygotes were transferred to 100mL drops of culture medium for culture during three days. After 72 hours of culture the percentage of morulae formation was evaluated and these structures were transferred to drops of the same culture medium. At the eighth day of culture blastocyst formation was analyzed. During NBS, from a total of 272 (inactive), 162 (luteal) and 134 (follicular) fertilized oocytes, the percentage of cleaved zygotes, morulae and blastocysts derived from inactive ovaries were 24.63, 16.54 and 8.09 respectively; for those derived from luteal ovaries, the percentage was 21.6, 12.96 and 8.64, and for those from follicular ovaries, they were 24.62, 16.41 and 8.21. Considering BS, from a total of 102 (inactive), 198 (luteal) and 86 (follicular) fertilized oocytes, the relative frequency (%) of cleaved zygotes, morulae and blastocysts derived from inactive ovaries were 64.7, 41.17 and 23.53 respectively; for those derived from luteal ovaries, the percentage was 64.14, 40.41 and 23.73, and for those from follicular ovaries, they were 63.95, 39.54 and 24.41. The results of this experiment demonstrate that no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was verified in the frequency of cleaved embryos and morulae and blastocyst formation when comparing the three ovarian conditions in the same season. However the breeding season presented better results considering cleavage and morulae and blastocyst formation.

Influence of Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) on the survival and the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the insulin-like growth factor -I (IGF-I) on survival, activation (transition from primordial to primary follicles) and growth of caprine preantral follicles cultured in vitro. Fragments of ovarian cortex were cultured for one and seven days in the absence or presence of IGF-I (0, 50 and 100ng/ml). The non-cultured and cultured tissues were processed and analyzed by histology and transmission electron microscopy. The culture for one day in a medium with 100ng/ml of IGF-I showed 86.7% of morphologically normal follicles. These results were similar (P>0.05) to the percentage of normal follicles found in the control (96.7%). It was also found that this medium increased the percentage of follicular activation (developing follicles) with one day of culture. The oocyte and follicular diameters remained similar to the control by culturing for one day in a medium containing 100ng/ml of IGF-I. The ultrastructural analysis did not confirm the integrity of the follicular fragments in a medium containing IGF-I (100ng/ml) after one and seven days of culture. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the addition of 100 ng/ml of IGF-I in the culture medium enables the development of preantral follicles of goats with one day of culture. However, it is not sufficient to maintain the follicular integrity and the follicular survival rate after seven days of culture.