Differential Expression of Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 and Ancillary Protein CD147 in Red Blood Cells of Show Jumping Horses.

We compare the expression levels of the lactate transporter complex consisting of the lactate transporter, monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), and its ancillary protein, cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), in the membranes of red blood cells (RBCs) from two breeds of jumping horses and associate the expression levels of these proteins with their jumping ability. The expression levels of MCT1 and CD147 proteins on the membranes of RBCs collected from 30 show jumping horses of two different breeds were quantified: the Brazilian Sport Horses (n = 17) and the European Warmbloods (n = 13). The levels of MCT1 and CD147 in the RBC membranes were measured by Western blot using horse-specific antibodies. Statistical analyses included unpaired Student t-test and Chi-squared test. According to the expression levels of MCT1 and CD147 proteins, 88% of the Brazilian Sport Horses were categorized as high lactate transporters and the remaining 12% as low lactate transporters. The opposite was found for the European Warmbloods, where most animals (77%) were classified as low lactate transporters and the remaining animals (23%) were classified as high lactate transporters. Brazilian Sport Horses express statistically significantly higher levels of CD147 and MCT1 than European Warmbloods. The classification of horses considering the expression of proteins involved in the ability to transport lactate through the complex MCT1-CD147 seems to be breed dependent, with horses that are able to jump higher obstacles showing lower expression of the MCT1-CD147 complex in their RBCs.

Intense Exercise and Aerobic Conditioning Associated with Chromium or L-Carnitine Supplementation Modified the Fecal Microbiota of Fillies.

Recent studies performed in humans and rats have reported that exercise can alter the intestinal microbiota. Athletic horses perform intense exercise regularly, but studies characterizing horse microbiome during aerobic conditioning programs are still limited. Evidence has indicated that this microbial community is involved in the metabolic homeostasis of the host. Research on ergogenic substances using new sequencing technologies have been limited to the intestinal microbiota and there is a considerable demand for scientific studies that verify the effectiveness of these supplements in horses. L-carnitine and chromium are potentially ergogenic substances for athletic humans and horses since they are possibly able to modify the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. This study aimed to assess the impact of acute exercise and aerobic conditioning, associated either with L-carnitine or chromium supplementation, on the intestinal microbiota of fillies. Twelve "Mangalarga Marchador" fillies in the incipient fitness stage were distributed into four groups: control (no exercise), exercise, L-carnitine (10g/day) and chelated chromium (10mg/day). In order to investigate the impact of acute exercise or aerobic conditioning on fecal microbiota all fillies undergoing the conditioning program were analyzed as a separate treatment. The fillies underwent two incremental exercise tests before and after training on a treadmill for 42 days at 70-80% of the lactate threshold intensity. Fecal samples were obtained before and 48 h after acute exercise (incremental exercise test). Bacterial populations were characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using the MiSeq Illumina platform, and 5,224,389 sequences were obtained from 48 samples. The results showed that, overall, the two most abundant phyla were Firmicutes (50.22%) followed by Verrucomicrobia (15.13%). The taxa with the highest relative abundances were unclassified Clostridiales (17.06%) and "5 genus incertae sedis" from the phylum Verrucomicrobia (12.98%). There was a decrease in the phylum Chlamydiae and in the genus Mycobacterium after the second incremental exercise test. Intense exercise changed the community's structure and aerobic conditioning was associated with changes in the composition and structure of the intestinal bacterial population of fillies. The intra-group comparison showed that chromium or L-carnitine induced moderate changes in the fecal microbiota of fillies, but the microbiota did not differ from the control group, which was exercised with no supplementation. Fecal pH correlated positively with Simpson's index, while plasma pH correlated negatively. Our results show that exercise and aerobic conditioning can change in the microbiota and provide a basis for further studies enrolling a larger number of horses at different fitness levels to better understand the effects of exercise and training on the intestinal microbiota of horses.

Degradation, residual determination, and cholinesterase activity of triclorfon in Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg (PACU) 1887.

The aim of this study was to determine the no-observable-adverse-effect concentration (NOAEC) for trichlorfon, an antiparasitic agent used in aquaculture, in Piractus mesopotamicus (pacu) using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity as an end point. Fish were exposed 24 h/d for 15 d to different concentrations of trichlorfon in tanks of water for which a curve of dissipation was previously determined. Analysis of trichlorfon in water and fish plasma using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) enabled measurement of limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), respectively, to be 3 and 10 ppb. Thirty-six hours after trichlorfon dilution in water, the concentration was below the LOD, and data showed that plasma concentrations did not exceed the LOQ. Apart from the 6.25 µg/L, all concentrations of trichlorfon significantly inhibited plasma and brain AChE activity compared to controls. The AChE activity levels returned to control values in 7 d. These data may be useful to determine the concentration of trichlorfon that destroys parasites without producing adverse effects in fish.

Alteraciones metabólicas durante entrenamiento en equinos de la raza pura sangre Árabe / Metabolic alterations during training of purebred arabian breed equines

Se utilizaron 12 equinos de la Raza Pura Sangre Árabe, dos machos y diez yeguas entre los 4 y 11 años de edad. Los animales fueron divididos en dos grupos con seis equinos en cada uno obteniendo así el GI y el GII. Los GI y GII realizaron tres sesiones semanales con una duración de 45 minutos cada una, a campo, montados con una velocidad inicial de 13.9 km/h durante los primeros 45 días de entrenamiento y posteriormente a una velocidad de 15.7 km/h los 45 días restantes de entrenamiento. Los animales del GII realizaron una sesión extra de cuatro horas prevaleciendo el paso. Los equinos realizaron tres ejercicios test en la banda rodante de alta velocidad para caballos “treadmill”: antes (no entrenados), a los 45 y 90 días de entrenamiento. Los valores plasmáticos de glucosa incrementaron durante el ejercicio test (ET) y después de seis horas del ET retornaron a los valores basales tanto para el GI como para el GII presentando una diferencia estadística significativa entre los grupos con el mayor valor en los tiempos T3 y T4. En relación con los valores de la insulina plasmática, estos fueron disminuyendo drásticamente en el T3 del ET tanto en el GI como en GII durante el avance progresivo de la prueba de esfuerzo, presentando una diferencia significativa para cada grupo y entre los grupos. Finalmente los niveles de cortisol fueron mayores en el T3 del ET.

Effects of buprenorphine on nociception and spontaneous locomotor activity in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) and antinociceptive effects of buprenorphine in horses. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses received each of 3 treatments (10 mL of saline [0.9% NaCl] solution, 5 microg of buprenorphine/kg, or 10 microg of buprenorphine/kg). Treatments were administered IV. Order of treatments was randomized, and there was a 10-day interval between subsequent treatments. Spontaneous locomotor activity was investigated in a behavioral box by use of infrared photoelectric sensors connected to a computer, which detected movement of each horse. Antinociceptive effect was investigated by hoof-withdrawal reflex latency (HWRL) and skin-twitching reflex latency (STRL) after painful stimulation with a heat lamp. RESULTS: Moderate excitement was observed in all horses from 5 to 10 minutes after the administration of both dosages of buprenorphine. The SLA increased significantly for 6 and 14 hours after IV administration of 5 and 10 microg of buprenorphine/kg, respectively. Values for HWRL increased significantly only at 30 minutes after injection of 5 microg of buprenorphine/kg, whereas STRL and HWRL each increased significantly from 1 to 6 hours (except at 2 and 4 hours) and 11 hours, respectively, after injection of 10 microg of buprenorphine/kg. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: IV injection of buprenorphine caused a dose-dependent increase in SLA, but only the dose of 10 microg/kg induced analgesia on the basis of results for the experimental method used.

Ultra-sonografia do músculo longissimus dorsi de eqüinos da raça Puro-sangue Árabe em treinamento de resistência associado à suplementação prolongada com creatina

Objetivou-se padronizar medidas ultra-sonográficas do músculo longissimus dorsi de 12 eqüinos da raça Puro-sangue Árabesubmetidos a treinamento aeróbico por 90 dias, com alimentação suplementada ou não com creatina monoidratada, a fim deverificar se estas mensurações poderiam auxiliar programas de treinamento com animais desta raça, e se a creatina alterariaas medidas ultra-sonográficas. A suplementação consistiu na administração diária de 75g desta substância, misturada àração durante os 90 dias de treinamento. Para determinar as quantidades diárias da ração comercial fornecida, os animaistiveram o peso corpóreo e o escore corporal avaliados mensalmente. O condicionamento físico foi realizado em esteira rolantede alto desempenho e a intensidade do treinamento foi estipulada mediante o cálculo da VLAC 4 (velocidade na qual o lactatosanguíneo atinge 4mmol/L) determinada mensalmente para cada animal. Estabeleceu-se a intensidade do esforço físicoindividual, em 80% do limiar aeróbico. Os animais foram avaliados por meio de exames ultra-sonográficos, mensurando-sea área, largura, profundidade de corte transversal e camada de gordura do músculo longissimus dorsi ao final dos oito mesesde inatividade e após 30, 60 e 90 dias de treinamento. Os resultados da ultra-sonografia revelaram que o treinamento aeróbicoassociado ou não à suplementação com creatina causou hipertrofia do músculo

Determinação de variáveis bioquímicas em eqüinos antes e após a participação em prova de enduro

Doze fêmeas eqüinas sadias foram introduzidas em programa de treinamento físico com seis semanas de duração, paraparticipação em provas de enduro na FCAV UNESP/Jaboticabal. Ao final do período de treinamento, foi realizado um exercícioteste (ET), num percurso de 40km de extensão. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue para a determinação sérica de proteínastotais, albumina, uréia, creatinina, sódio, potássio, creatina quinase (CK) e aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e plasmáticasde glicose, amônia e fibrinogênio, antes e imediatamente após a prova, assim como 0,5; 6; 24 e 48 horas após. Foramregistradas elevações na concentração de amônia, proteínas totais e CK, e diminuição na concentração de potássio. As outrasvariáveis bioquímicas analisadas não mostraram alterações significativas no decorrer e ao final do ET. As variáveis bioquímicasestudadas apresentaram valores dentro dos limites fisiológicos para a espécie eqüina durante e após o término dopercurso, indicando que o teste de esforço realizado não foi capaz de determinar fadiga nesses animais.

Avaliação farmacológica de princípios ativos presentes no chá de Erva-de-passarinho - Phoradendron latifolium (SW) Griseb

Nossos experimentos foram realizados com o intuito de avaliar informações populares que indicam que o chá de Erva-de-Passarinho é altamente vasoconstritor, assim como informações científicas referentes a outras espécies da mesma família que, segundo vários autores, apresentam efeitos hiper e hipotensores. O Phoradendron latifolium (SW) Griseb. por nós utilizado foi coletado em Maringá -PR, onde encontra-se parasitando a Figueira Branca entre outras árvores. Realizamos ensaios com o chá liofilizado de Erva-de-Passaronho sobre a motilidade do duodeno isolado de coelhos e sobre a pressão arterial de cães anestesiados com Nembutal. Observamos que o chá promoveu redução da motilidade duodenal até o máximo de 80% das contrações iniciais. Na Pressão Arterial o chá levou ao aparecimento de uma resposta bifásica, ocorrendo inicialmente uma hipertensão seguida de hipotenso que não foi bloqueada pela atropina ou propanolol. Na presença de cocaína foi suprimida a hipertensão. Podemos concluir que o efeito hipotensor não está relacionado com receptores muscarínicos ou adrenérgicos tipo e que o efeito hipertensor seja provavelmente devido a uma substância do tipo da tiramina.

Contribuição ao estudo fitoquímico do Phoradendron latífolíum (SW) Griseb. (Erva-de-passarinho)

Phoradendron latifolium (SW) Griseb. is one of many species of mistletoe growing wild in Brazil. The plant used in our experiments was gathered in Maringá-Paraná where it is found growing on the stacks and branches of different hosts.Two ethanolic extracts were prepared using dried and milled leaves. The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. The residue of the first extract was dissolved with propylene glicol, the other residue, after washed with chloroform was dissolved in the same vehicle. Both extracts showed hipotensive response when tested on nembutal anaesthetized rats. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of volatile and non volatile acids, amino groups, steroids, phenols, gums, mucilage, condensed tannins and heterosidic anthraquinones, flavones and non-haemolytic saponines.

O Phoradendron latifolium (SW) Griseb. objeto de nossa pesquisa é um hemiparasita nativo da região de Maringá-PR onde é encontrado em vários hospedeiros. Utilizamos em nossos experimentos vegetais que tinham como hospedeiro a Figueira Branca (Ficus sp; Moraceae). Foram preparados extratos etanólicos das folhas estabilizadas a 45oC sendo que um deles foi evaporado a pressão reduzida e o resíduo dissolvido em propilenoglicol. O outro teve seu resíduo obtido após evaporação do etanol lavado com clorofórmio objetivando a eliminação de substâncias orgânicas de baixa popularidade, sendo também dissolvido em propilenoglicol. Observou-se que ambos extratos continham princípios ativos hipotensores quando testados na PA de ratos. A marcha fitoquímica evidenciou a presença de ácidos fixos e voláteis, amino grupos, esteróides, fenóis, gomas, mucilagens, taninos condensados, heterosídeos antraquinônicos, flavônicos e saponínicos não hemolíticos.