Effect of sodium gluconate on performance, carcass characteristics, and intestinal morphometry of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age

O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da utilização de níveis crescentes do gluconato de sódio sobre o desempenho, o rendimento de carcaça e de partes e a morfometria da mucosa intestinal de frangos de corte de 22 a 42 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 1200 frangos de corte da linhagem Cobb, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, envolvendo cinco tratamentos (0,00; 0,10; 0,20; 0,30 e 0,40% de gluconato de sódio) com oito repetições de 30 aves cada parcela. As variáveis foram submetidas à análise de variância e em caso de significância estatística foram realizadas análises de regressão pelos modelos polinomial e quadrático. A inclusão do gluconato de sódio não afetou o desempenho e o rendimento de carcaça e de partes. Entretanto, exerceu efeito benéfico sobre a morfometria da mucosa intestinal do duodeno e do jejuno.

Caroticoclinoid foramen in human skulls: incidence, morphometry and its clinical implications

The caroticoclinoid foramen is an inconstant structure, formed by the union of the anterior and middle clinoid processes. The aim of this study was to perform an incidence and morphometry of the caroticoclinoid foramen in Brazilian human skulls and discuss its clinical implications. Eighty dry human skulls with sex distinction were used, and 3 groups of incidence were determined: General, sex, and sides. The morphometry was performed using a manual caliper and the major diameter of the foramina was measured; the values were also divided in general, according to sex and sides. The incidence of skulls with at least one foramen was 8.5%. According to the sides, 8.5% of the skulls showed foramen on the right side and 2.5% on the left. We found 2.5% of the skulls with bilateral foramen and 6.25% with unilateral foramen. In relation to sex, the foramens were found in 5% of male skulls and 12.5% of female skulls. The major diameter of this structure presented on mean, values of 5.23 mm on general, 5.18 mm on the right side and 5.35 mm on the left, 5.30 mm in male skulls and 5.18 mm in female skulls. The anatomical characteristics of this foramen should be considered in view of its clinical implications associated with neurosurgery as clinoid process removal, and symptoms as headache due to internal carotid artery alterations in this region. In conclusion knowledge of this structure supports the diagnosis and treatment of clinical complications related to this variation.

Morphometry of the midgut epithelium of Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius, 1794 (Lepidoptera) parasitized by Cotesia flavipes Cameron, 1891 (Hymenoptera)

The morphometric study of the midgut in Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera) larvae parasitized by the Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera) showed that there was significant increase in the columnar, goblet and regenerative cells and their nuclei; the midgut lumen diameter and the epithelial height were also increased in the parasitized larvae. The multivariate analysis showed that parasitism affected the columnar cell only in the posterior region, and the goblet cells along the midgut length (anterior and posterior regions). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphometry of the crab Hexapanopeus schmitti (Decapoda : Xanthoidea) on the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

A morphometric study of the xanthoid crab Hexapanopeus schmitti was carried out, using the allometric method. Samples were taken monthly for two years (1998-1999) in the Ubatuba region, northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. Sex and size were assessed for each specimen, and all crabs were measured to obtain their carapace width (CW) and length (CL), abdomen width (AW) of females, major cheliped propodus length and height (PL and PH), and gonopod length (GL) of males. A total of 301 crabs were analyzed, 209 males and 92 females. The CWs of the crabs ranged from 2.5 to 9.8 mm for males and from 2.8 to 9.4 mm for females. The relative growth equation (y=ax(b)) based on the relationship between GL and CW suggested that males reach their morphological sexual maturity near 6.1 mm CW. In females, the estimated size at 50 % maturity was 4.8 mm CW, based on the relationship of AW vs. CW. Males reach larger sizes than females, which probably favors their ability to guard the females during courtship. In approximately 83 % of the crabs (n= 371), disregarding sex, the right cheliped was larger.

New Brazilian species of Endecous Saussure, 1878: Phallic sclerites, calling song and tegmen morphometry (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Phalangopsinae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphology, ultramorpholgy and morphometry of the fat body of virgin females and queens of the ants Pachycondyla striata (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

The fat body cells of virgin females and queens of Pachycondyla striata ants belonging to the subfamily Ponerinae are illustrated from morphologic, ultramorphologic and morphometric viewpoints. Camera lucida drawing techniques were used, as well as scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Measurements of trophocytes and oenocytes areas in the tissue were recorded. The results showed that in P. striata queens and virgin females the trophocytes are arranged in cord-like formations in association with oenocytes. Trophocytes of both castes had round shapes, with rather vacuolized cytoplasm, whereas oenocytes, being smaller than trophocytes, had more homogeneous cytoplasm. It was also observed that both trophocytes and oenocytes of virgin females were larger than those found in the same queen cellular types.

Occurrence and morphometry of the hypopharyngeal glands in Scaptotrigona postica Lat. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae)

As compared to Apis mellifera where only workers have hypopharyngeal glands, in Scaptotrigona postica, these glands occur in workers, queens and males. They are composed of two long axial ducts with many unicellular secretory alveoli interconnected by secretory canaliculi. The axial ducts are longer in miles than in workers, but the alveolar areas of queens and males are generally smaller. In workers the alveoli have their greatest size in the nurses or middle-aged individuals while in queens and males they are larger in newly emerged individuals. The results indicate that the glands in workers may produce food for the brood as in A. mellifera, since they are well developed in the nurse workers. However, the function of the glands in queens and males remains to be clarified since these individuals have no part in brood care.

Genetic studies of Psammolestes tertius (Hemiptera : Reduviidae : Triatominae) using male genital morphology, morphometry, isoenzymes, and random amplified polymorphic DNA

Two Brazilian populations of Psammolestes tertius (Ceara and Minas Gerais) collected from thornbird nests (Furnariidae) were compared by male genital morphology, morphametry, isoenzymes, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Merle genitalia showed no difference between the populations. In contrast, morphometry, isoenzyme, and RAPD clearly distinguished the two populations. Possible mechanisms of dispersal and the origin of Psammolestes are discussed.

Morphometry and histochemistry of the semitendinosus muscle of tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella Linnaeus, 1758)

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

Calorimetry, Morphometry, Oxidative Stress, and Cardiac Metabolic Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Obese and Aged Rats

This study investigated the effects of growth hormone therapy on energy expenditure, lipid profile, oxidative stress and cardiac energy metabolism in aging and obesity conditions. Life expectancy is increasing in world population and with it, the incidence of public health problems such as obesity and cardiac alterations. Because growth hormone (GH) concentration is referred to be decreased in aging conditions, a question must be addressed: what is the effect of GH on aging related adverse changes? To investigate the effects of GH on cardiac energy metabolism and its association with calorimetric parameters, lipid profile and oxidative stress in aged and obese rats, initially 32 male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (n = 16), C: given standard-chow and water; H: given hypercaloric-chow and receiving 30 % sucrose in its drinking water. After 45 days, both C and H groups were divided into 2 subgroups (n = 8), C + PL: standard-chow, water, and receiving saline subcutaneously; C + GH: standard-chow, water, and receiving 2 mg/kg/day rhGH subcutaneously; H + PL: hypercaloric-chow, 30 % sucrose, receiving saline subcutaneously; H + GH: hypercaloric-chow, 30 % sucrose, receiving rhGH subcutaneously. After 30 days, C + GH and H + PL rats had higher body mass index, Lee-index, body fat content, percent-adiposity, serum triacylglycerol, cardiac lipid-hydroperoxide, and triacylglycerol than C + PL. Energy-expenditure (RMR)/body weight, oxygen consumption and fat-oxidation were higher in H + GH than in H + PL. LDL-cholesterol was highest in H + GH rats, whereas cardiac pyruvate-dehydrogenase and phosphofrutokinase were higher in H + GH and H + PL rats than in C + PL. In conclusion, the present study brought new insights on aging and obesity, demonstrating for the first time that GH therapy was harmful in aged and obesity conditions, impairing calorimetric parameters and lipid profile. GH was disadvantageous in control old rats, having undesirable effects on triacylglycerol accumulation and cardiac oxidative stress.

Histology and morphometry of the testes of adult domestic cats (Felis catus)

Testicles of 30 mongrel cats were analyzed histologically and morphometrically, divided into three groups: G1 (1-2 years old), G2 (over 2 and up to 4 years old) and G3 (over 4 and up to 6 years old). After orchiectomy and histopathology, the morphometric parameters studied were: thickness of the tunica albuginea (72 mu m) and seminiferous epithelium (77.19 mu m), perimeter (53.81; 90.57 mu m), (54.80; 101.07 mu m); area (174.23; 494.55 mu m(2)), (176.68; 629.70 mu m(2)); maximum diameter (14.94; 28.02 mu m), (14.76; 31.66 mu m); minimum diameter (13.25; 21.92 mu m), (13.30; 24.52 mu m); and shape factor (index for regularity of the format) (1.36; 1.36), (1.39; 1.35) of the nucleus and cytoplasm of spermatogonia and Leydig cells, respectively. The results can be used for comparative studies and contribute knowledge concerning the height of the seminiferous epithelium, thickness of the tunica albuginea and size of spermatogonia and Leydig cells.

Daily sperm production and testicular morphometry in goats according to external scrotal conformation

The present study aimed to compare testicular histology and the testicular cell population as well as spermatogenic efficiency in goats with different scrotal conformations. Eighteen goats were divided into 3 groups: Group I - goats without bipartition of the scrotum, Group II - animals with bipartition of the scrotum up to 50% of the testicular length, Group III - goats with scrotal bipartition more than 50% of the testicular length. In goats in Groups I, II and III, the values for the volume density of seminiferous epithelium were 68.9 +/- 0.6%, 71.5 +/- 2.8% and 73.4 +/- 4.7% (P < 0.05), the height of the seminiferous epithelium were 60.2 +/- 4.9 mu m, 61.0 +/- 5.0 mu m and 73.1 +/- 6.6 mu m (P < 0.05), total length of seminiferous tubules found for Groups I, II and III were 2091.9 +/- 27 m, 2172.5 +/- 24.1 m, and 2340.1 14 m (P < 0.05), number of Sertoli and Leydig cells were 1.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(9) and 1.4 +/- 0.1 x 10(9), 2.2 +/- 0.4 and 2.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(9), and 2.5 +/- 0.1 10(9) and 2.3 +/- 0.510(9)(P < 0.05)and daily sperm production observed were 2.1 0.3 x 109, 2.8 0.4 x 109, and 3.1 0.7 x 109 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, goats with greater scrotal bipartition have a greater capacity to produce reproductive cells that is reflected in a greater reproductive potential. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of specular microscopy to determine corneal endothelial cell morphology and morphometry in enucleated cat eyes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age on endothelial morphology and morphometry in cats. The corneal endothelium was studied using a contact specular microscope. A total of 18 cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) were evaluated in this study. The subjects were divided into three groups of six cats each in function of age: G1 (1 to 3 months old), G2 (5 to 12 months old), and G3 (24 to 40 months old). The examination presented data as endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell area, corneal thickness, polymegathism, and pleomorphism. Results revealed ECD decrease in corneas of normal cats with age, as well as a corresponding increase in endothelial cell area and pleomorphism. The present work suggests that the endothelial parameters evaluated change with advancing age.

Oocyte morphometry in female dogs (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758)

In the present study, the ovaries of 15 healthy bitches divided into three groups according to age were analysed by histology and morphometry: group 1 (1-3 years), group 2 (> 3-5 years) and group 3 (> 5-7 years). After ovariosalpingohysterectomy, the ovaries were fixed, routinely processed for embedding in paraffin and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The following morphometric parameters were analysed: maximum and minimum diameter (mu m), perimeter (mu m), area (mu m(2)) and roundness of the cytoplasm and nucleus of oocytes from different types of follicles. Significant differences in the cytoplasmic and nuclear parameters of follicular oocytes between the experimental groups were determined by ANOVA and the Tukey test (5%). For the biotechnology of reproduction, the present results showed that in vitro maturation yielded the best performance for oocytes from primordial follicles in group 3 females and for oocytes embedded in secondary and tertiary follicles in group 2 females. In addition, the present findings will help in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases affecting bitches, and will especially contribute to a better understanding of these cells by researchers in the field of histology and canine reproduction.