Kinetics data from bovine sex-specific embryo development from three different bulls.

Here we present kinetics data from bovine sex-specific embryo development. Embryos were originated using sex-sorted semen from three different Nelore bulls, and semen from the same batch was used for X-and Y-chromosome spermatozoa sorting. Data was obtained for six time points (24, 48, 96, 120, and 144 h.p.i.). Analyses for each bull׳s embryos (1, 2 and 3) is presented for female and male groups separately. Also, grouped data analysis, considering bull and sex interaction, is shown. For further interpretation and discussion, see "Cell death is involved in sexual dimorphism during preimplantation development" (Oliveira et al., 2015 [1]).

Cell death is involved in sexual dimorphism during preimplantation development.

In bovine preimplantation development, female embryos progress at lower rates and originate smaller blastocysts than male counterparts. Although sex-specific gene expression patterns are reported, when and how sex dimorphism is established is not clear. Differences among female and male early development can be useful for human assisted reproductive medicine, when X-linked disorders risk is detected, and for genetic breeding programs, especially in dairy cattle, which requires female animals for milk production. The aim of this study was to characterize the development of female and male embryos, attempting to identify sex effects during preimplantation development and the role of cell death in this process. Using sex-sorted semen from three different bulls for fertilization, we compared kinetics of bovine sex-specific embryos in six time points, and cell death was assessed in viable embryos. For kinetics analysis, we detected an increased population of female embryos arrested at 48 and 120h.p.i., suggesting this time points as delicate stages of development for female embryos that should be considered for testing improvement strategies for assisted reproductive technologies. Assessing viable embryos quality, we found 144h.p.i. is the first time point when viable embryos are phenotypically distinct: cell number is decreased, and apoptosis and cell fragmentation are increased in female embryos at this stage. These new results lead us to propose that sex dimorphism in viable embryos is established during morula-blastocyst transition, and cell death is involved in this process.

Larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti of some Brazilian medicinal plants.

Larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti have been determined in the ethanolic extracts obtained from 51 Brazilian medicinal plants. Eleven of the 84 extracts studied showed significant (LC50 < 100 microg mL(-1)) activities against larvae, with extracts from Annona crassiflora (root bark, LC50 = 0.71 microg mL(-1); root wood, LC50 = 8.94 microg mL(-1)) and Annona glabra (seed, LC50 = 0.06 microg mL(-1)) showing the highest activities. The results obtained should be of value in the search for new natural larvicidal compounds.

Acetogenins in Annona muricata L. (annonaceae) leaves are potent molluscicides.

An ethanolic extract of the leaves of Annona muricata was shown to be toxic to adult forms of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata (LC50 9.32 microg mL(-1)) and to larvae of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC50 0.49 microg mL(-1)). Activity-guided fractionation of the extract gave rise to a sample with high molluscicidal activity that contained the acetogenins, annonacin (90%), isoannonacin (6%) and goniothalamicin (4%).

A study of the larvicidal and molluscicidal activities of some medicinal plants from northeast Brazil.

In a search for natural products that could be used to control the vectors of tropical diseases, 23 extracts of medicinal plants from the northeast of Brazil have been tested for molluscicidal activity against egg masses and adults of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, for larvicidal activity against the larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, and for general toxicity against the larvae of the brine shrimp Artemia salina. Of these extracts, two were active against the adult snail, one against snail egg masses, eight against the larvae of the mosquito, and 16 showed toxicity towards the brine shrimp. Chemical tests indicated that a wide variety of natural product classes were present in those extracts that showed significant activities in the bioassays.