Decreasing pH of mammary gland secretions is associated with parturition and is correlated with electrolyte concentrations in prefoaling mares

The objectives of this study were to determine pH of the mammary gland secretions and the corresponding electrolyte concentrations in prefoaling mares. Pregnant mares (seven primiparous and seven multiparous) were monitored daily from 310.320 days of gestation until parturition. Prefoaling mammary gland secretions were collected, and pH was immediately determined with a pH meter and pH strip test. An aliquot of prefoaling mammary secretions was frozen and stored until further analyses. After parturition, samples from day .4 to 0 (day of foaling) were thawed and electrolyte concentrations (ie, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and Cl-) were determined with an automated analyser. Data were analysed via a mixed model with the mare as a random effect. Correlations were determined between pH and electrolyte concentrations by the Pearson product-moment for each pair. There was significant reduction in pH of mammary secretions on the day of foaling (P<0.0001), and most mares (11/14) with a pH .7 foaled within 24 hours. There was high correlation between the two pH methods (r=0.93). Additionally, there were significant (P<0.05) increases in Ca2+ and K+ concentrations, and significant decreases in Na+ and Cl- concentrations from one day before to the day of foaling. The pH of mammary secretions was highly and significantly (P<0.001) correlated with Na + (r=0.87), Cl- (r=0.85), Ca2+ (r=-0.88); and K+(r=.0.80) concentrations, and moderately correlated with Mg 2+ (r=-0.58). Daily evening pH measure of the mammary gland secretions can predict foaling in most mares.

Biochemical Profile of Amniotic and Allantoic Fluid During Different Gestational Phases in Mares

Fetal fluids have different vital functions that sustain both pregnancy and normal parturition. The biochemical composition of amniotic fluid during gestation is not well established; thus the purpose of the present study was to determine the biochemical profile of both amniotic and allantoic fluids from mares during initial, mid, and latter third phases of pregnancy. Samples were collected after slaughter, using allantocentesis and amniocentesis. Sixty samples of fetal fluids were analyzed. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), glucose, total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, Ca, chloride (Cl), Na, and K concentrations were measured using commercially available kits. The AP concentration in amniotic fluid was higher than that in allantoic fluid during the three gestational phases (P < .05). There were no differences between glucose mean values of allantoic and those of amniotic fluids (P < .05). However, glucose values were higher in the allantoic fluid in the last trimester of pregnancy. TP was higher in the amniotic fluid than in allantoic fluid (P < .05). Urea values varied among the phases; however, there were no differences between the amniotic and allantoic fluid values (P > .05). Creatinine values were higher in allantoic fluid (P < .05). Na and Cl concentrations were higher in amniotic fluid (P < .05). However, Ca and K concentrations were higher in the allantoic fluid. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

La protección y manejo de océanos, mares y zonas costeras en la Plataforma de Tlatelolco sobre medio ambiente y desarrollo: un análisis práctico de sus alcances

Incluye Bibliografía

La protección y el manejo de océanos, mares y zonas costeras en la Plataforma de Tlatelolco sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo: un análisis práctico de sus alcances = The protection and management of oceans, seas and coastal areas under the Tlatelolco Platform on Environment and Development: a practical analysis of its implications

Incluye Bibliografía

El Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica y los principios del Derecho del Mar: hacia un marco jurídico para la biodiversidad de los mares y océanos

Incluye Bibliografía

A comparison of microbiological and molecular detection of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. between mares and women

A possible explanation for endometritis in mares is ascendant contamination from the vagina. The presence of Lactobacillus spp. is considered to be important in women for a healthy vaginal environment; however, there are few studies in mares related to the presence of Lactobacillus in the vaginal flora of healthy mares. The present work aims to determine the occurrence of Lactobacillus spp. in the vaginal micro-environment of mares. A total of 35 crossbred multiparous mares, aged between 4 and 12 years, with no history of reproductive problems and with healthy reproductive tracts, were used. Two vaginal swabs were obtained from the mares during estrus for Lactobacillus isolation and PCR evaluation. Ten human female volunteers, aged between 24 and 35 years, sexually active, with no history of gynecological diseases and treatments in the past two years were used. Lactobacillus spp. were isolated from 5.7% of the mares' vaginal samples and from 90% of the women's vaginal samples. Lactobacillus DNA was detected by PCR in 22.9% of the mares' vaginal samples and in all of the vaginal samples from the healthy women. The primers used here were demonstrated to have in silico specificity for the detection of L. equi (AB425924.1), L. pantheris (DQ471798.1) and L. mucosae (DQ471799.1), but they did not anneal on Enterococcus faecalis (EU887827.1) or E. faecium (EU887814.1). In conclusion, this study showed a low occurrence of Lactobacillus spp. in mares, suggesting that this bacterium may not play a fundamental role in the equilibrium of the vaginal micro- environment of normal mares.

Supplementary corpora lutea monitoring allows progestin treatment interruption on day 70 of pregnancy in non-cyclic recipient mares

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

Developmental aspects of early pregnancy in mares

In mares, the embryo migrates to the uterus between days 5 and 6 postovulation beginning its mobility through all uterine segments, which is essential for the maternal recognition of pregnancy. During the mobility phase, the embryonic vesicle shows a linear growth rate until its fixation between days 15 and 17, when the orientation phenomenon occurs. From fixation to day 28 of pregnancy, the embryonic growth is less evident (plateau) by cross-section ultrasound examination. After this period the linear growth rate is reestablished until day 46. This plateau is attributed to the increased uterine tone that compresses the vesicle and to volume expansion, making it difficult to detect the conceptus growth only by the cross-section diameter. Around day 20, the embryo proper is visualized as an echogenic spot in the ventral aspect of the vesicle. Additionally, development of allantoic sac, embryonic heartbeat, yolk sac regression and posterior umbilical cord formation also can be visualized from days 20 to 40. An intimate interaction between uterus and conceptus is essential for the normal pregnancy development. Color-and spectral-Doppler ultrasonography can be useful for the evaluation of this interface. A gradual increase on uterine vascularity during the early pregnancy and transient changes in endometrial vascularity accompanying the vesicle location during the mobility phase have been described. Around day 38 of gestation, the formation of the endometrial cups begins and, consequently, the synthesis of the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) induces the formation and development of supplementary corpora lutea, which are important to secrete progesterone and to maintain pregnancy until around day 120.

Do vento ao vapor em mares já antes navegados: a companhia de navegação La Veloce e o transporte de emigrantes pelo Atlântico

In the final decades of the nineteenth century, the growth of Italian emigration was constituted in a secure source of income for the shipping companies that operated in the Atlantic and played a major role in financing the replacement of old sailboats by modern steamers. Based on reports and balance exercises financial, besides newspapers related to mercantile marine, this article aims to present some results of the research about the importance of Italians emigrants’ transporting to the shipping company La Veloce, showing its economic trajectory and particularities.

Ultrasonography of the conceptus development from days 15 to 60 of pregnancy in non-cyclic recipient mares

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

Induction of multiple ovulations in mares using low doses of GnRH agonist Deslorelin Acetate at 48 hours after luteolysis

This study was aimed to test low doses of a GnRH agonist, deslorelin acetate (DA), for induction of multiple ovulations in mares and to determine its impact upon their reproductive efficiency. Seven mares aging from 8-20 years were used in three consecutive reproductive cycles. Mares were initially monitored by ultrasound irrespectively of cycle stage, inseminated and submitted to embryo collection (EC) (T1). Immediately after, mares received 7.5 mg dinoprost tromothamine (DT) and were monitored by ultrasound twice a day until larger follicle reached 23-25mm and the second >18mm (T2). At this time point, mares received 100 mu g DA and ovulation was induced with 1000 mu g DA and 1000IU hCG when largest follicle reached 33-35mm in diameter, followed by EC. Mares were further allocated to T3 when received 7.5 mg DT after EC on 12 and 100 mu g DA 48 h later. DA treatment was performed until dominant follicle reached 34 +/- 1 mm or 6 days of application. All EC were performed 8 days after ovulation. Mares with multiple ovulations in T1, T2 and T3 were 14.28% (1/7), 100.00% (7/7) and 0.00% (0/7), respectively, and averaged 0.43 +/- 0.53 in T1, 0.86 +/- 0.38 in T2 and 0.00 in T3 embryos per donor, respectively. Embryo recovery rate was 43.00% in T1, 85.71% in T2 and 0.00% T3. In conclusion, use of DA in mares with follicles larger than 25mm enhanced dominant and co-dominant follicle growth, that ultimately increased the incidence of multiple ovulations and embryo recovery rate.

Fixed-time insemination with frozen semen in mares: is it suitable for poorly fertile stallions?

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