Application of reproductive biotechnology for the recovery of endangered breeds: birth of the first calf of Murciana-Levantina bovine breed derived by OPU, in vitro production and embryo vitrification.

In a conservation project, reproductive biotechnology was implemented for the recovery and conservation of an endangered bovine breed in Spain. The breed Murciana-Levantina, declared to be worthy of special protection status (http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000464/index.html), is of great interest because of its hardness, longevity, docility and disease resistance. This contribution describes the birth of the first calf of this breed obtained by reproductive biotechnology, using ultrasound-guided punction and aspiration of ovarian follicles, in vitro embryo production, vitrification of embryos by a cryotop device and, finally, the transfer of cryopreserved embryos to recipient heifers of a commercial dairy herd.

Photodynamic action of merocyanine 540 on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms.

Photodynamic treatment (PDT) has been proposed as a new approach for inactivation of biofilms associated with medical devices that are resistant to chemical additives or biocides. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of merocyanine 540 (MC 540), a photosensitizing dye that is used for purging malignant cells from autologous bone marrow grafts, against Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. Effect of the combined photodynamic action of MC 540 and 532 nm laser was investigated on the viability and structure of biofilms of two Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, RP62A and 1457. Significant inactivation of cells was observed when biofilms were exposed to MC 540 and laser simultaneously. The effect was found to be light dose-dependent but S. epidermidis 1457 biofilm proved to be slightly more susceptible than S. epidermidis RP62A biofilm. Furthermore, significant killing of both types of cells was attained even when a fixed light dose was delivered to the biofilms. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) analysis indicated damage to bacterial cell membranes in photodynamically treated biofilms, while disruption of PDT-treated biofilm was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Descripción de la composición mineral y otros parámetros de calidad del músculo longissimus dorsi delongissimus del cerdo chato murciano en pureza y cruzado con cerdo large white, en condiciones de explotación outdoor / Description of the mineral composition and other quality parameters of the muscle Longissimus dorsi of the Chato Murciano pig pure and crossed with Large White, reared outdoor

El cerdo Chato Murciano es una raza autóctona en peligro de extinción. Actualmente es explotado en sistemaintensivo y, ocasionalmente, en sistema outdoor. En este trabajo ha sido estudiada la composición mineral(calcio, magnesio, hierro, cobre, zinc, fósforo, manganeso, potasio y sodio) y otras características del músculolongísimo lumbar (Longissimus dorsi) (pH, color, grasa intramuscular) de un total de 22 animales, divididos endos lotes, Chato Murciano (CH) y Chato Murciano cruzado con Large White (CH x LW), explotados en sistemade producción outdoor.Entre los resultados obtenidos, destacamos que la carne del cerdo Chato Murciano y su cruce con LargeWhite es especialmente rica en hierro y cobre, abundante en fósforo, y ligeramente defi ciente en calcio y sodio.Además tiene unos niveles muy elevados de grasa intramuscular (13,01% en CH, 11,17% en CH x LW). Losvalores obtenidos en cuanto al color y al pH se enmarcan dentro de lo normal para esta especie.Al realizarse las correlaciones entre los diversos parámetros de calidad estudiados, destacamos para la composiciónmineral, los existentes entre hierro y cobre (0,50), cobre y magnesio (0,41), sodio y magnesio (0,39),potasio y calcio (0,40), y zinc y fósforo (0,51); además en el resto de parámetros de la carne estudiados hanaparecido diversas correlaciones positivas

The Chato Murciano pig is an autochthonous breed in danger of extinction. At present commonly rearedin an intensive system, and occasionally, in an outdoor system. In this paper the mineral composition (calcium,magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, manganesium, potassium and sodium) and other characteristics ofthe Longissimus dorsi muscle (pH, colour, intramuscular fat) from a total number of 22 pigs. The animals weredivided in two groups, Chato Murciano (CH) and Chato Murciano crossed with Large White (CH x LW), rearedin an outdoor system.From the results obtained, we found that the meat of the Chato Murciano pig and its cross with Large White,about the mineral composition, is especially rich in iron and copper, rich in phosphorus, and slightly poor incalcium and sodium. High levels of intramuscular fat (13,01% in CH, 11,17% in CH x LW) were founded. Thevalues obtained in colour and pH are in a normal range for this specie.About the correlations between the different quality parameters studied, we remark the founded betweeniron and copper (0,50), copper and magnesium (0,41), sodium and magnesium (0,39), potassium and calcium(0,39), zinc and phosphorus (0,51). Between the rest of parameters studied, some other positive correlationshave been as well founded

Histochemical skeletal muscle fibre types in the sheep.

In this study, the differentiation of adult and postnatal muscle fibres in sheep longissimus thoracis muscle has been characterized. By using a variety of histochemical methods, we have investigated the m-ATPase and metabolic activities of skeletal muscle fibres in adult sheep and lambs aged between 1 day and 3 months. Types I, IIA, IIB and IIC fibres were identified. The results showed that the interpretation of the fibre type composition depends on the methods used. The findings also revealed that the fibre types IIA and IIB can be separated histochemically in sheep by using the correct m-ATPase technique, even at early stages of postnatal development, and that the origin of the four different fibres of the adult can be traced back to early postnatal stages.