Embryonic loss, abortion, and malformations in ewes caused by the ingestion of hay leaves of Cenostigma pyramidale / Perda embrionária, aborto e malformações em ovinos por ingestão de Cenostigma pyramidale na forma fenada

Determining if reproductive failures in ewes at the semiarid region in the state of Bahia are related to the consumption of the species Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnon & G.P. Lewis, and this study was developed using pregnant ewes divided into six groups: G1, G2, G3, G4 with six animals each, G5 and G6 with ten animals. Each group received fence leaves in the proportion of 1%, 2%, 0.5%, and 0.25% of live weight (LW) respectively; G5 and G6, with ten animals each, receiving 0.25% and 0.5% of the LW, respectively, and the Control Group, comprising 16 ewes, were grass feeding (Cynodon dactylon). Ewes from G1 to G4 were the same, except for two, and started ingestion of the plant four days after ending of natural mating on the 80th day of gestation, while those regarding from G5 to G6 groups started ingestion on the 26th day of gestation ending on the 98 day. The ultrasonographic test was performed weekly. In G1 ewes (1%), there was an embryonic loss on the 32nd and 39th days of gestation and abortion on the 46th day. In G2 (2%), the embryo loss was earlier (on the 26th day of gestation), and abortion on the 46th day of gestation. In G3 group (0.5%), there was an embryonic loss around the 40th day of gestation. In G4 group (0.25%), it was observed the occurrence of one death lamb with bone malformations. In G6 (0.5%), abortion occurred later (108 days), followed by retained placenta. This was also verified in G5 group (0.25%). The presence of fetal malformation was found in death lambs born in G4 group, born alive from G5 and G6 groups, and one aborted from G6. In G5 and G6 groups, there were also genetic alterations on surviving lambs. In addition to these results, recurrent estrus was observed without gestation in G1, G2, G3, and G4 ewes. From the Control Group, 13 normal lambs were born without genetic alterations; furthermore, concerning a quadruple birth, three lambs were born dead. The results infer that species of C. pyramidale in low doses causes reproductive losses in pregnant ewes, therefore it is not recommended for sheep diet over the first 60 days of gestation.(AU)

Para determinar se falhas reprodutivas em ovelhas na região semiárida da Bahia estão relacionadas ao consumo de Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnon & G.P. Lewis, foi realizado um estudo utilizando-se ovelhas prenhes divididas em seis grupos e dois Grupos Controle. Os grupos G1, G2, G3 e G4 com seis animais cada. Cada grupo recebeu folhas fenadas na proporção de 1%, 2%, 0,5% e 0,25% do peso vivo (PV) respectivamente; G5 e G6, com 10 animais cada, que receberam 0,25% e 0,5% do PV respectivamente. Os Grupos Controle foram alimentados com ração e capim (Cynodon dactylon). Ovelhas dos grupos 1 a 4 iniciaram ingestão da planta quatro dias após monta natural com término aos 80 dias de gestação, enquanto as dos grupos 5 a 6 iniciaram ingestão no 26º dia de gestação com término aos 98 dias. Avaliação ultrassonográfica foi realizada semanalmente. Nos animais do G1 (1%), verificou-se perda embrionária aos 32 e 39 dias de gestação, e aborto aos 46 dias. Nos do G2 (2%) a perda embrionária foi mais precoce (26 dias), e aborto aos 46 dias. No G3 (0,5%), houve perda embrionária em torno dos 40 dias. No G4 (0,25%), verificou-se ocorrência de natimorto com malformações aos 150 dias de gestação. No G6 (0,5%) o aborto ocorreu mais tardiamente (108 dias), seguido de retenção de placenta. Essa ocorrência também foi verificada no G5 (0,25%). A presença de malformação fetal foi encontrada em fetos natimorto do G4, nascidos vivos do G5 e G6, e um abortado do G6. No G5 e G6 também foram observadas alterações de aprumos em cordeiros sobreviventes. Do Grupo Controle nasceram 13 borregos normais, porém uma ovelha apresentou gestação quádrupla com três natimortos. Os resultados inferem que C. pyramidale fenada em baixas doses causa perdas reprodutivas em ovelhas gestantes, não sendo por isso recomendada para a dieta de ovelhas durante os primeiros 60 dias de gestação.(AU)

Telencephalon vascularity in sheep (Ovis aries)

The studies into the vascularity of the telencephalon in Polish Merino sheep of both sexes were made on 60 cerebral hemispheres. It was found that the middle cerebral artery is the most powerful vessel supplying blood to the telencephalon. The artery gets divided into ten permanent branches. Two olfactory arteries supply the area of the telencephalon located on the border between the old and the new cortex. The other eight branches get divided into three branches running to the region of the frontal lobus of the brain, two branches - to the region of the parietal lobus and three temporal branches heading for the temporal region, supplying blood to the new cortex only. The frontal, parietal and temporal branches descended independently from the main trunk of the middle cerebral artery or first formed a common trunk. Common trunks for respective groups of branches have been referred to as: the anterior, superior and posterior middle cerebral arteries. The posterior olfactory artery in 6.7% of the cases was an independent branch from the rostral cerebral artery.(AU)