Serum biochemical profile of neonatal buffalo calves / Perfil bioquímico sérico de bezerros bubalinos no período neonatal

Serum blood samples from 50 Murrah buffalo calves were examined in this study. The animals were allocated into three groups according to the number of parturitions of their mothers: G1 (n= 15) calves from primiparous buffaloes, G2 (n= 19) calves from buffaloes with two to four parturitions, and G3 (n= 16) calves from buffaloes with five or more parturitions. Blood samples were taken at birth, before colostrum ingestion, at 24h, 48h, and 72h after birth, and at 7, 14, 21, and 30 days after birth for determination of levels of gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase, total protein, albumin, globulins (including immunoglobulin G), iron, total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. The age of the calves was found to influence all of the biochemical parameters, with the exception of ionized calcium and potassium in the calves in groups G1 and G3. The calving order was found to influence AST, GGT, total protein, albumin, and globulins, including IgG. The high serum ALP activity in the first two days after birth indicates that measurement of the levels of this enzyme may be used as an indirect method of assessing passive immunity transfer.(AU)

Amostras de sangue de 50 bezerros de búfalo Murrah foram examinados nesse estudo. Os animais foram distribuídos em três grupos de acordo com a paridade de suas genitoras: G1 (n=15) bezerros de búfalas primíparas, G2 (n=19) bezerros de búfalas com 2 a 4 gestações, e G3 (n=16) bezerros de búfalas com cinco ou mais gestações. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas ao nascimento, antes da ingestão de colostro e 24h, 48h, e 72h após o nascimento e 7, 14, 21 e 30 dias após nascimento para determinar níveis de gammaglutamil transferase (GGT), fosfatase alcalina (ALP), aspartato aminotrasferase (AST), creatina quinase, proteínas totais, albumina, globulina (inclusive imunoglobulina G), ferro, cálcio total, cálcio ionizado, fósforo, sódio e potássio. A idade dos bezerros influenciou todos os parâmetros bioquímicos, exceto cálcio ionizado e potássio nos bezerros dos grupos G1 e G3. A ordem de nascimento influenciou AST, GGT, proteínas totais, albumina e globulinas, inclusive IgG. Intensa atividade ALP no soro nos primeiros dois dias após nascimento indica que medidas dos níveis dessa enzima podem ser utilizados como método indireto de avaliar transferência passiva de imunidade.(AU)

Effect of leptin on in vitro nuclear maturation and apoptosis of buffalo [bubalus bubalis] oocyte

Leptin, as a 16 kDa adipokine, is a pleiotropic cytokine-like hormone that primarily secreted from adipose tissue. It also involves in the regulation of energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, immunity, lipid and glucose homeostasis, fatty acid oxidation, angiogenesis, puberty and reproduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of in vitro addition of leptin to in vitro maturation [IVM] medium on buffalo oocyte maturation and apoptosis. In this experimental study, Ovaries from apparently normal reproductive organs of slaughtered adult buffaloes [Bubalus bubalis] with unknown breeding history were collected from Urmia Abattoir, Urmia, Iran, and were transported immediately to the laboratory in a thermos flask containing sterile normal saline with added antibiotics. Oocytes were aspirated from 2-8 mm visible follicles of the ovaries using an 18-G needle attached to a 10 ml syringe. IVM medium included tissue culture medium-199 [TCM-199], 10% fetal bovine serum [FBS], 22 microg/ml sodium pyruvate, 0.5 IU/ml ovine follicle-stimulating hormone [oFSH], 0.5 IU/ml ovine luteinizing hormone [oLH], 1 microg/ml oestradiol, 50 microg/ml gentamycin, and leptin [0 [control], 10, 50, and 100 ng/ml]. The good quality buffalo oocytes [batches of 10 oocytes] were placed in a culture plate containing six 50 microl droplets of maturation medium, covered with sterilized mineral oil, and then incubated at 38.5?C with 5% CO2 in air for 24 hours. The maturation of oocytes was evaluated under a stereomicroscope by detecting the first polar body extrusion of oocytes. FITC-Annexin V - propidium iodide [PI] staining method was used to detect oocyte apoptosis. From a total of 115 collected ovaries, 1100 oocytes were recovered among which 283 oocyte were suitable for IVM. In the groups of leptin treated with 0 [control], 10, 50 and 100 ng/ml, the percentage of oocytes maturation was 74.65, 83.81, 77.85, and 75.40%, while the percentage of oocytes apoptosis was 9.83, 9.54, 9.93, and 10.42%, respectively. Our results showed that addition of 10 ng/ml leptin to buffalo IVM medium increased oocyte maturation, significantly, as compared with that in control group. However, addition of leptin to IVM medium had no significant influence on buffalo oocyte apoptosis. Our findings suggested that addition of 10 ng/ml leptin to IVM medium of buffalo oocyte can improve oocyte nuclear maturation. Furthermore, we showed that there is no relation between in vitro addition of leptin to buffalo oocyte IVM medium and oocyte apoptosis

Morphological aspects of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) umbilical cord / Aspectos Morfológicos do cordão umbilical de búfalos (Bubalus bubalis)

Buffalo is an important livestock resource, with a great participation in agricultural systems, providing milk, meat, and work power. Umbilical cord is responsible for maternal-fetal nutrients exchange during pregnancy, and its alterations can compromise the fetal development. We investigated ten pregnant uteruses collected from cross-bread buffaloes in different stages of gestation. Pregnancy and fetal age was determined by measuring the apex sacral length and development period was calculated by previously published formula. Umbilical cords were measured for length determination. Umbilical cord vascular net and anastomosis were observed by injection of Neoprene latex. Histological sections of the umbilical cord were studied after stain with HE, picrossirius, toluidine blue, orceine, and PAS reaction. Buffaloes' umbilical cord was formed by two central arteries, an allantois duct and two peripheral veins. The artery wall was composed by large quantity of collagen, elastic fibers, fibroblasts and large number of vasa vasorum. The allantois duct was located between the arteries and presented a great number of small nourishing vessels. Small nourishing vessels should be carefully considered to avoid to be mistaken to the arterials and veins vasa vasorum. Medium length of umbilical cord from buffalos was 11.8cm (minimum of 6.8cm and maximum of 17.4cm).

Búfalo é uma importante fonte de recurso nos rebanhos animais, apresentando uma grande participação na agropecuária, provendo leite, carne e força de trabalho. O Cordão umbilical é responsável pela troca de nutrientes materno-fetais durante a gestação, e suas alterações podem comprometer o desenvolvimento fetal. Nós investigamos dez úteros gravídicos de búfalos de raças cruzadas em fases diferentes de gestação. O período de gestação e a idade fetal foram determinados pelo comprimento ápice sacral, aplicando fórmulas previamente estabelecidas. Posteriormente mediu-se o comprimento do cordão umbilical. A rede vascular do cordão umbilical e anastomoses foram observadas por injeção ou látex de neoprene. O cordão umbilical foi estudado a partir de cortes histológicos, corados por HE, picrossirius, azul de Toluidina, orceína e reação histoquímica de PAS. O cordão umbilical de búfalos é formado por duas artérias centrais, ducto alantóide e duas veias periféricas e apresentam forma de ampulheta. A parede da artéria umbilical é composta por grande quantidade de fibras colágenas e elásticas, fibroblastos e um grande número de vasa vasorum. O ducto alantóide fica alocado entre as artérias e apresenta um grande número de pequenos vasos nutritivos. Os vasos nutritivos devem ser cuidadosamente identificados para evitar-se confundi-los com vasa vasorum. O comprimento médio do cabo de cordão umbilical dos búfalos era 11.8cm (mínimo de 6.8cm e máximo de 17.4cm).

Fator de crescimento fibroblástico básico e seus receptores em relação à atividade proliferativa na placenta bubalina em diferentes fases da gestação / Basic fibloblast growth factor and its receptors in relation to proliferative activity in the buffalo placenta during gestation

Estudou-se a distribuição espaço-temporal do fator de crescimento fibroblástico básico (bFGF), do receptor 1 do fator de crescimento fibroblástico (FGFR1) e do receptor 2 do fator de crescimento fibroblástico (FGFR2) na placenta bubalina, correlacionando-a à proliferação celular. Para a detecção do bFGF, FGFR1, FGFR2 e antígeno Ki-67, colheram-se 12 placentas de búfalas nos terços inicial, médio e final da gestação, em abatedouros, e realizaram-se testes de imunoistoquímica. Detectou-se e avaliou-se a expressão do bFGF, do FGFR1, do FGFR2 e do antígeno Ki-67 ao longo da gestação. No compartimento fetal da placenta, observaram-se correlações positivas entre a expressão do bFGF e Ki-67, entre FGFR1 e Ki-67 e entre FGFR2 com Ki-67 (r=0,313, 0,358 e 0,384, respectivamente). No epitélio e estroma maternos observaram-se altas correlações entre FGFR1 e Ki-67 (r=0,739 e r=0,511, respectivamente). Os resultados sugerem envolvimento do bFGF, FGFR1 e FGFR2 na proliferação do trofoblasto enquanto no compartimento materno da placenta bubalina apenas o FGFR1 atuaria como modulador dessa atividade.

The space-temporal expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in buffalo placenta and correlation to proliferative activity was studied. For the localization of bFGF, FGFR1, FGFR2 and Ki-67, 12 buffalo placentas from initial, middle and final gestational thirds were collected and immunohistochemistry tests were performed. Expression of bFGF and its receptors was detected and analyzed from the initial third until the end of gestation. In the fetal compartment, positive correlations were observed between the expression of bFGF and Ki-67, FGFR1 and Ki-67, besides FGFR2 and Ki-67 (r=0.313, 0.358 and 0.384, respectively). High correlations were found between FGFR1 and Ki-67 in maternal epithelium and stroma (r=0.789 and r=0.511, respectively). The results suggest that bFGF, FGFR1 and FGFR2 may be involved in the modulation of trophoblast proliferation, whereas maternal compartment proliferation in the buffalo placenta would only be modulated by FGFR1.

Polimorfismo cromossômico em búfalos (Bufalus bubalis) / Chromosomic polymorphism in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Para estudar o polimorfismo cromossômico em Bubalus bubalis, 152 animais com características híbridas provenientes da Ilha de Marajó, Regiäo Amazônica, foram citogeneticamente analisados. Nesta amostra, nenhum animal com 48 cromossomos foi encontrado e indivíduos com 2N=50 predominaram (88,81 por cento). Estes resultados, somados às características híbridas, advogam a favor de seleçäo contra a fusäo tandem, responsável pela reduçäo do número cromossômico