Biometria e parâmetros hematológicos em tartarugas da Amazônia de um criatório comercial de Rio Branco/AC / Biometric and haematological indices in turtles from the Amazon farm in Rio Branco/AC

Com o objetivo de definir os valores biométricos e quantificar parâmetros hematológicos como hematócrito, concentração de proteínas plasmáticas totais e leucócitos totais de tartarugas da espécie Podocnemis expansa, coletou-se um mililitro de sangue da veia femoral de 60 exemplares aparentemente saudáveis. Os animais obtidos do criatório particular, Estância Terra, localizado no estado do Acre, foram classificados em seis grupos de pesos diferentes. Durante a biometria, foram tomadas medidas de peso, comprimento e largura da carapaça e do plastrão, para as análises da correlação dos parâmetros de tamanho e massa corporal entre os indivíduos do mesmo grupo. Os valores observados indicaram que o grupo 06, que inclui os animais com massa acima de 26 kg, apresentou melhor correlação entre as massas individuais de cada animal (r = 0,97) Enquanto que, o grupo 02 (massa entre 21 e 25 kg) apresentou a pior correlação entre as massas (r = 0,34). O resultado da média total de hematócrito de todos os animais deste experimento foi de 10,56%. A concentração das proteínas plasmáticas totais foi de 3,69g dL-1, e a média de leucócitos totais foi de 51466,66µL. Estes parâmetros são considerados fora do padrão quando comparados com os valores encontrados em animais saudáveis da mesma espécie. Assim, este trabalho pode contribuir com informações sobre os dados biométricos e parâmetros hematológicos de P. expansa de cativeiro e demonstra a importância do monitoramento da sanidade dos animais em cativeiro, prevenindo manifestação de enfermidades que poderão pôr em risco a saúde de todo o plantel.(AU)

The aim of this study was defined the biometric values and quantify hematological parameters such as hematocrit, concentration of total plasma proteins and total leukocytes for Podocnemis expansa, we collect one milliliter of blood from the femoral vein of 60 specimens apparently healthy. The animals were collected from a private farm, Estancia Terra, located in Rio Branco in the state of Acre, and were classified into six groups of different weights. During the collection of biometric data, weight measurements were taken, and length and width of the carapace and plastron, for the analysis of correlation between the size parameters and body mass between individuals of the same group. The values observed indicate that the group 06, which includes animals with mass above 26kg, showed the best correlation between the individual masses of each animal (R = 0.97), while the group 02 (weight 21 to 25kg) showed the worst correlation between the mass (r = 0.34). The result of the overall average hematocrit of all animals of this experiment was 10.56%. The concentration of total plasma proteins was 3,69g DL-1 and the average total number of leukocytes was 51466,66µL. These parameters are considered abnormal when compared to the values found in healthy animals of the same species. This work contributes with information about biometric data and hematological parameters of P. expansa captivity and demonstrates the importance of monitoring health, preventing diseases that may endanger the health of all animals in the farm.(AU)

Pharmacology of human experimental anxiety

This review covers the effect of drugs affecting anxiety using four psychological procedures for inducing experimental anxiety applied to healthy volunteers and patients with anxiety disorders. The first is aversive conditioning of the skin conductance responses to tones. The second is simulated public speaking, which consists of speaking in front of a video camera, with anxiety being measured with psychometric scales. The third is the Stroop Color-Word test, in which words naming colors are painted in the same or in a different shade, the incongruence generating a cognitive conflict. The last test is a human version of a thoroughly studied animal model of anxiety, fear-potentiated startle, in which the eye-blink reflex to a loud noise is recorded. The evidence reviewed led to the conclusion that the aversive conditioning and potentiated startle tests are based on classical conditioning of anticipatory anxiety. Their sensitivity to benzodiazepine anxiolytics suggests that these models generate an emotional state related to generalized anxiety disorder. On the other hand, the increase in anxiety determined by simulated public speaking is resistant to benzodiazepines and sensitive to drugs affecting serotonergic neurotransmission. This pharmacological profile, together with epidemiological evidence indicating its widespread prevalence, suggests that the emotional state generated by public speaking represents a species-specific response that may be related to social phobia and panic disorder. Because of scant pharmacological data, the status of the Stroop Color-Word test remains uncertain. In spite of ethical and economic constraints, human experimental anxiety constitutes a valuable tool for the study of the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders