Mineral contents in bone and liver of sheep with or without periodontitis / Conteúdo de minerais em ossos e no fígado de ovinos com ou sem periodontite

Due to the supposed involvement of minerals in cases of ruminant periodontitis, this study aimed to analyze the concentrations of phosphorus (P) in bone, and cobalt (Co), copper (Co), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) in liver of a cohort of sheep affected or not by periodontitis. From an outbreak of the disease in 2011 in Pará state, Brazil, rib and liver samples were obtained from 22 sheep with periodontitis and seven samples from healthy animals. Based on the concentrations of the different minerals in the tissues, we concluded that there was no relationship between periodontal disease in sheep with any mineral deficiency status. In contrast, most of the minerals in the tissues were above or within the recommended concentrations in bone and liver. Within the various aspects which until now have been studied regarding periodontitis in ruminants, the results obtained here corroborate the fact that periodontal disease in sheep is an infectious disease and it is not a consequence of the deficiency or excess of mineral elements in the diet.

Devido ao suposto envolvimento de minerais em casos de periodontite em ruminantes, este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as concentrações de fósforo (P) nos ossos, além de cobalto (Co), cobre (Co), ferro (Fe), zinco (Zn) e selênio (Se), no fígado de ovelhas afetadas ou não por periodontite. De um surto da doença em 2011, no estado do Pará, Brasil, foram obtidas amostras de costelas e fígado de 22 ovelhas com periodontite e sete amostras de animais saudáveis. Com base nas concentrações dos diferentes minerais nos tecidos, conclui-se que não houve relação entre a doença periodontal em ovinos com qualquer estado de deficiência mineral. A maioria dos minerais estava acima ou dentro das concentrações recomendadas, seja no tecido ósseo, seja no hepático. Entre os diversos aspectos até agora estudados sobre a periodontite em ruminantes, os resultados obtidos corroboram o fato de a doença periodontal em ovinos ser uma doença infecciosa e não decorrente da deficiência ou do excesso de elementos minerais na dieta.

Treatment of copper deficient buffaloes through the application of parenteral copper / [Tratamento de búfalos deficientes em cobre, por intermédio da aplicação de cobre parenteral]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the treatment of copper deficiency, by parenteral route, in buffalo calves raised on the Marajó Island (PA). Fourteen animals were divided into two groups. Group 1 received three doses of 120 mg of copper glycinate (20mgCu/mL), intramuscularly, on days 1, 45 and 90; in the group 2 (control) the animals were Not supplemented with copper. In both groups liver biopsies were performed on days 1 and 135. The diagnosis of copper deficiency was established through history, clinical signs, and by the analysis of hepatic copper content. In group 1, the mean hepatic copper content increased from 17.4±5.84mg/kgDM (before administration) to 311.2±133.5mg/kgDM (after 135 days) (P<0.05). In the control group, the mean of hepatic copper contents decreased from 17.1±3.4 to 9.11±1.1mg/kgDM at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). Based on the results, it was demonstrated that the administration of copper, by parenteral route, was efficient in the treatment of copper deficiency in buffalo calves and could become a very promising option for the reality of buffalo producers on the Island of Marajó.

A eficácia do tratamento da deficiência de cobre, por via parenteral, em bezerros bubalinos criados na Ilha de Marajó (PA), foi investigada em 14 animais, distribuídos em dois grupos. O grupo 1 recebeu três doses de 120mg de glicinato de cobre (20mgCu/mL), por via intramuscular, nos dias um, 45 e 90, e o grupo 2 (controle) foi formado por animais que não receberam o cobre, seja suplementado por via oral ou por via parenteral. Em ambos os grupos, foram realizadas biópsias hepáticas nos dias um e 135. O diagnóstico da deficiência de cobre foi estabelecido pelo histórico, pelos sinais clínicos e também pelos teores de cobre hepático. No grupo 1, a média do teor de cobre hepático aumentou de 17,4±5,84mg/kgMS (antes da administração) para 311,2±133,5mg/kgMS (após 135 dias) (P<0,05). Ao final do experimento (135 dias), nos animais do grupo controle, as médias dos teores de cobre diminuíram de 17,1±3,4 para 9,11±1,1mg/kgMS, (P<0,05). Diante dos dados, ficou demonstrado que a administração de cobre, por via parenteral, foi eficiente no tratamento da deficiência de cobre nos bezerros búfalos e pode se tornar uma opção muito promissora para a realidade dos criadores de búfalos da Ilha de Marajó.

Protective effects of Hydrocotyle umbellata var. bonariensis Lam. (Araliaceae) on memory in sleep-impaired female mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hydrocotyle umbellata var.bonariensis Lam. (Hb), popularly known in Brazil as acariçoba and outside Brazil Hb by a number of names including marsh-pennywort, and many-flower, has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic medicine in the retardation of aging (Rasayana effect). AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study evaluated the effect of Hb treatment before and during paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) and sleep restriction (SR) on learning, memory, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) brain activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult Swiss nulliparous female mice were randomly distributed among the experimental groups. The treated groups received the aqueous solution of Hb leaves orally at concentrations of 500 and 1.000 mg/kg. PSD and SR were induced by the multiple platform method, in which the animals remained for 3-days in PSD or 15-days in SR for 22 h per day. The collection of the vaginal epithelium occurred daily to determine the estrous cycle. Body mass gain was determined. The animals were submitted to the passive avoidance test and were then euthanized for the collection of brain tissue and the determination of cerebral cholinesterase activity. RESULTS: The aqueous solution of Hb was associated with a significant reduction in cholinesterase activity at both doses in the SR model, and at the dose of 1.000 mg/kg in the PSD model. Regarding the learning and memory test, the PSD group treated with 1.000 mg/kg presented significant improvement, whereas in the SR experiment none of the treated-groups showed any improvement in learning and memory. In the analysis of SR/PSD interference and/or Hb treatment on the estrous cycle, it was possible to observe that the treatment acted as a protector in the SR group, maintaining a normal cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The analyses showed that Hb was safe to use during periods of SR or PSD, acting as an adaptogen for these situations, in addition to being able to reduce cholinesterase activity, which suggests its neuroprotective action. In relation to the estrous cycle, Hb can act as a protector in SR situations.

Morphological characterization of hemocytes from Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria straminea.

Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria straminea have been identified as intermediate hosts for Schistosoma mansoni. Several studies have found two cell types in the hemolymph of B. glabrata (hyalinocytes and granulocytes). However, there are no studies describing the hemocytes of B. straminea. With the aim of further describing the hemocyte subsets in B. glabrata and B. straminea, we conducted a detailed study using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the morphological characteristics of the cells, we identified the same types of hemocytes in two species of molluscs, namely: blast-like cells, granulocytes, type I hyalinocytes, type II hyalinocytes and type III hyalinocytes. Blast-like cells had a spherical profile with a central nucleus filling almost the whole cell. Granulocytes were characterized by presenting variable numbers of granules. Type I hyalinocytes were the most abundant cell type and displayed various cytoplasmic projections. Type II and type III hyalinocytes had never previously been reported. They were few in number and were characterized by having an eccentric nucleus. From these results, it is concluded that there are five types of cells in the hemolymph of B. glabrata and B. straminea. Further studies are now needed to identify the role of these hemocytes in the immune response of these snails.

Ultrassonografia Doppler para avaliação reprodutiva de fêmeas / Doppler ultrasonography for female reprodutive evaluation

Na medicina humana, a ultrassonografia Doppler vem sendo utilizada rotineiramente como ferramenta auxiliar na clínica reprodutiva e na fetal. Já na medicina veterinária, esta técnica vem sendo mais estudada em animais de grande porte, como bovinos e equinos, havendo um menor número de trabalhos em animais de companhia. Devido à grande importância da ultrassonografia Doppler como ferramenta complementar para os estudos de fisiologia e para a avaliação reprodutiva, bem como devido às particularidades existentes em cada espécie, objetivou-se realizar um levantamento bibliográfico sobre o emprego da ultrassonografia com Doppler para avaliação das artérias maternas e fetais em animais domésticos e não domésticos. (AU)

In Medicine, Doppler ultrasound has been used routinely as a tool in reproductive and fetal clinic. In Veterinary Medicine, this technique has been most studied in large animals like bovine and equine, having a smaller number of studies in pets. Due to the great importance of Doppler ultrasound as a complementary tool for studies of physiology and reproductive evaluation, as well as because the particularities of each species, this work aimed to do a survey on the use of Doppler ultrasonography for evaluation of maternal and fetal arteries outcomes in domestic and not domestic animals. (AU)

Ultrassonografia Doppler para avaliação reprodutiva de fêmeas / Doppler ultrasonography for female reprodutive evaluation

Na medicina humana, a ultrassonografia Doppler vem sendo utilizada rotineiramente como ferramenta auxiliar na clínica reprodutiva e na fetal. Já na medicina veterinária, esta técnica vem sendo mais estudada em animais de grande porte, como bovinos e equinos, havendo um menor número de trabalhos em animais de companhia. Devido à grande importância da ultrassonografia Doppler como ferramenta complementar para os estudos de fisiologia e para a avaliação reprodutiva, bem como devido às particularidades existentes em cada espécie, objetivou-se realizar um levantamento bibliográfico sobre o emprego da ultrassonografia com Doppler para avaliação das artérias maternas e fetais em animais domésticos e não domésticos.

In Medicine, Doppler ultrasound has been used routinely as a tool in reproductive and fetal clinic. In Veterinary Medicine, this technique has been most studied in large animals like bovine and equine, having a smaller number of studies in pets. Due to the great importance of Doppler ultrasound as a complementary tool for studies of physiology and reproductive evaluation, as well as because the particularities of each species, this work aimed to do a survey on the use of Doppler ultrasonography for evaluation of maternal and fetal arteries outcomes in domestic and not domestic animals.

O uso da ultrassonografia Doppler na reprodução de cadelas e gatas / The use of Doppler ultrassonography in the reproduction of bitches and queens

A ultrassonografia bidimensional associada ao Doppler colorido e pulsado fornece informações em tempo real sobre a arquitetura vascular e os aspectos hemodinâmicos dos vasos sanguíneos. Na medicina veterinária, a ultrassonografia Doppler tem sido utilizada para monitorar a gestação, bem como para caracterizar a circulação nas artérias uterinas e ovarianas em diferentes fases do ciclo estral sem gestação. A mensuração por Doppler da circulação sanguínea uteroplacentária é uma importante ferramenta de avaliação da circulação materno-fetal. O objetivo desta breve revisão é traçar um panorama do uso da ultrassonografia Doppler para avaliação do trato reprodutivo de cadelas e gatas gestantes e cíclicas.(AU)

B-mode ultrasonography combined with color and pulsed Doppler provides real-time information about the architecture and vascular hemodynamic aspects of blood vessels. In veterinary medicine, ultrasound Doppler has been used for monitoring pregnancy and to characterize the circulation in the uterine and ovarian arteries in different phases of the estrous cycle without pregnancy. The measurement of Doppler uteroplacental blood circulation is an important tool for evaluating maternal-fetal circulation. The purpose of this brief review is to give an overview of the use of Doppler ultrasound for assessment of the reproductive tract in pregnant and cyclic bitches and queens.(AU)

O uso da ultrassonografia Doppler na reprodução de cadelas e gatas / The use of Doppler ultrassonography in the reproduction of bitches and queens

A ultrassonografia bidimensional associada ao Doppler colorido e pulsado fornece informações em tempo real sobre a arquitetura vascular e os aspectos hemodinâmicos dos vasos sanguíneos. Na medicina veterinária, a ultrassonografia Doppler tem sido utilizada para monitorar a gestação, bem como para caracterizar a circulação nas artérias uterinas e ovarianas em diferentes fases do ciclo estral sem gestação. A mensuração por Doppler da circulação sanguínea uteroplacentária é uma importante ferramenta de avaliação da circulação materno-fetal. O objetivo desta breve revisão é traçar um panorama do uso da ultrassonografia Doppler para avaliação do trato reprodutivo de cadelas e gatas gestantes e cíclicas.

B-mode ultrasonography combined with color and pulsed Doppler provides real-time information about the architecture and vascular hemodynamic aspects of blood vessels. In veterinary medicine, ultrasound Doppler has been used for monitoring pregnancy and to characterize the circulation in the uterine and ovarian arteries in different phases of the estrous cycle without pregnancy. The measurement of Doppler uteroplacental blood circulation is an important tool for evaluating maternal-fetal circulation. The purpose of this brief review is to give an overview of the use of Doppler ultrasound for assessment of the reproductive tract in pregnant and cyclic bitches and queens.

Ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects of Schistosoma mansoni cercaria.

An alternative to identify the critical processes necessary to the parasite establishment of the host is to focus on the evolutionary stage responsible for the primary invasion, i.e. the infection structure. The objective of this study was to ultrastructurally characterize Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, using cytochemical techniques. In order to identify basic proteins, techniques such as ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (EPTA) and ammoniacal silver staining were used. Calcium sites location was achieved using the Hepler technique and to evidence anionic groups, we used cationic ferritin particles and enzyme treatment with trypsin Vibrio cholerae, chondroitinase and neuraminidase. The EPTA technique highlighted the presence of basic tegument proteins, nucleus and nucleolus from subtegumental cells, inclusion bodies and preacetabular glands. After using ammoniacal silver, we observed a strong staining in all infective larvae, particularly in the nuclei of muscle cells, circular muscle tissue and preacetabular glands. Calcium site locations were shown to be uniform, thereby limiting the inner spaces of the larvae, especially muscle cells. Samples treated with cationized ferritin particles presented strong staining at the cuticular level. Neuraminidase treatment did not alter the stained shape of such particles on the trematode surface. However, trypsin or chondroitinase treatment resulted in absence of staining on the larval surface. This information on the biochemical composition of the infecting S. mansoni larvae provides data for a better understanding of the biology of this parasite and background on the intriguing parasite-host relationship.

Metabolic adjustments during semi-aestivation of the marble swamp eel (Synbranchus marmoratus, Bloch 1795)--a facultative air breathing fish.

Metabolic changes, principally in intermediary metabolism and nitrogen excretion, were investigated in the marble swamp eel (Synbranchus marmoratus) after 15 and 45 days of artificially induced semi-aestivation. Glucose, glycogen, lactate, pyruvate, free amino acids, triglycerides, ammonia, urea, and urate contents were determined in liver, kidney, white muscle, heart, brain, and plasma. Lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, glutamine synthase, ornithine carbamoyl transferase, and arginase enzymes were assayed. The teleost S. marmoratus maintained initial energetic demands by lipid oxidation. The course of normal oxidative processes was observed through tissue enzyme profiles. After the lipid stores were exhausted, the fish consumed body proteins. Constant values of hematocrit during induced semi-aestivation suggested that the water balance remained normal. Therefore, the surrounding water was probably did not trigger the semi-aestivation in this teleost. Decrease of ammonia and increase of renal urea synthesis after 45 days of semi-aestivation led to the assumption that an alternative form of eliminating ammonia exists. Metabolic changes entailed by starvation were proposed to explain the biosynthesis of small molecules involved in the semi-aestivation of S. marmoratus.

Metabolic adjustments during semi-aestivation of the marble swamp eel (Synbranchus marmoratus, Bloch 1795) - a facultative air breathing fish

Foram investigadas variações metabólicas em muçum (Synbranchus marmoratus) após 15 e 45 dias de semi-estivação artificial induzida, com ênfase no metabolismo intermediário e excreção de nitrogênio. Glicose, glicogênio, lactato, piruvato, aminoácidos livres, triglicerídios, amônia, uréia e uratos foram determinados em fígado, rim, músculo branco, coração, cérebro, e plasma. As enzimas lactato desidrogenase, glutamato desidrogenase, malato desidrogenase, aspartato amino transferase, alanina amino transferase, glutamina sintetase, ornitina carbamil transferase e arginase foram ensaiadas. O teleósteo S. marmoratus manteve sua demanda energética inicial pela oxidação de lipídios. A seqüência normal dos processos oxidativos foi observada por meio do perfil enzimático. Após o consumo das reservas lipídicas, os peixes passaram a consumir proteína. Valores constantes de hematócrito durante a semi-estivação induzida sugeriu que o balanço de água foi mantido normal. Todavia, a água ambiental provavelmente não foi o sinal inicial da semi-estivação em S. marmoratus. A diminuição de amônia e o aumento da síntese de uréia renal após 45 dias de semi-estivação levaram a assumir que existe uma forma alternativa de eliminar amônia. As variações metabólicas conseqüentes do jejum prolongado foram propostas como responsáveis pela síntese de pequenas moléculas envolvidas na semi-estivação de S. marmoratus.

Biochemical and hematological responses of the banded knife fish Gymnotus carapo (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to environmental hypoxia

Oxygen of tropical freshwater environments fluctuates drastically. Eutrophic lakes and ponds of warm waters frequently reach very low oxygen concentrations. This is the most common habitat of the banded knife fish "tuvira" Gymnotus carapo. This electric fish is reported to present bimodal breathing to cope with low environmental oxygen. Biochemical responses can be also observed in fishes facing hypoxia but none were studied in tuvira. In the present study, haematological and metabolic changes were investigated in two groups of fish exposed to hypoxia for 1 and 3 hours. Haematocrit, red blood cells and haemoglobin concentration indicated erythrocyte release from hematopoietic organs and swelling of red blood cells. Glycogen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and amino acids were quantified in liver, kidney and white muscle. The metabolic profile of G. carapo to cope with hypoxia suggested liver gluconeogenesis probably supported by proteolysis. The kidney and liver presented the same biochemical trend suggesting similar metabolic role for both organs. Glucogenolysis followed by glucose fermentation and protein mobilisation was observed in the white muscle. The air breathing behaviour of tuvira works in parallel with metabolism to prevent damages from hypoxia. Metabolic adjustments are observed when the air taking is avoided

Biochemical and hematological responses of the banded knife fish Gymnotus carapo (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to environmental hypoxia.

Oxygen of tropical freshwater environments fluctuates drastically. Eutrophic lakes and ponds of warm waters frequently reach very low oxygen concentrations. This is the most common habitat of the banded knife fish "tuvira" Gymnotus carapo. This electric fish is reported to present bimodal breathing to cope with low environmental oxygen. Biochemical responses can be also observed in fishes facing hypoxia but none were studied in tuvira. In the present study, haematological and metabolic changes were investigated in two groups of fish exposed to hypoxia for 1 and 3 hours. Haematocrit, red blood cells and haemoglobin concentration indicated erythrocyte release from hematopoietic organs and swelling of red blood cells. Glycogen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and amino acids were quantified in liver, kidney and white muscle. The metabolic profile of G. carapo to cope with hypoxia suggested liver gluconeogenesis probably supported by proteolysis. The kidney and liver presented the same biochemical trend suggesting similar metabolic role for both organs. Glucogenolysis followed by glucose fermentation and protein mobilisation was observed in the white muscle. The air breathing behaviour of tuvira works in parallel with metabolism to prevent damages from hypoxia. Metabolic adjustments are observed when the air taking is avoided.