ACE inhibition in goats under fixed-time artificial insemination protocol increases the pregnancy rate and twin births.

To assess the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the efficiency of the fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI), 69 goats were divided randomly into two groups: enalapril (n = 35) and control (n = 34). In the experiment, all animals underwent the protocol of fixed-time artificial insemination for 12 days. Enalapril group received enalapril maleate dissolved in saline (Enalapril, Lab Teuto Ltda) subcutaneously at the following doses: 0.2 mg/kg/day in D0-D2; 0.3 mg/kg/day in D3-D6 and 0.4 mg/kg/day in D7-D11. The control group received the corresponding volume of 0.9% saline solution. We performed a single insemination 36 hr after sponge removal using frozen semen from two adult male goats with recognized fertility. The ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was 30 days after the artificial insemination (AI). There was significant increase in pregnancy rates and twinning as well as a decrease in foetal loss in animals receiving enalapril (p < .01). The use of ACE inhibitors during the TAI protocol was shown to be a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of such reproductive biotechnology.

Toxicidade subaguda do extrato etanólico das folhas de Myracrodruon urundeuva sobre o ciclo estral de ratas Wistar / Subacute toxicity of Myracrodruon urundeuva leave ethanolic extract and its effects on the estrous cycle of female Wistar rats

RESUMO A fitoterapia, abrangendo o uso popular e empírico de plantas medicinais no combate e prevenção de doenças, deve ser aliada a estudos científicos que comprovem a eficácia e segurança desses compostos. No Brasil, a ampla biodiversidade vegetal da região nordeste favorece o uso e estudo de plantas com potenciais terapêuticos. A Aroeira do Sertão (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) é uma espécie pertencente à família Anacardiaceae, comum no semiárido, desde o Piauí até Minas Gerais. Seu uso é diverso e disseminado por todo o País, sendo indispensáveis estudos de suas potencialidades e riscos. Devido à ampla utilização da Myracrodruon Urundeuva de forma empírica, este trabalho tem por objetivo a pesquisa de efeitos tóxicos com doses repetidas do extrato etanólico de Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem. (EEMU) e sua influência no ciclo estral de ratas Wistar. No protocolo de toxicidade subaguda foram utilizadas 25 ratas Wistar, divididas em 5 grupos (n=5), tratadas com diferentes doses do EEMU (125, 250, 500 e 1000 mg/kg) e água destilada (controle) por um período de 28 dias. Nesse período foram realizadas mensurações do consumo de água e ração e avaliação comportamental. Esses animais foram avaliados diariamente quanto a fase do ciclo estral, por meio de esfregaço vaginal a fresco, sendo observada a frequência de cada fase bem como o intervalo interestro. As ratas foram anestesiadas e o sangue foi coletado para a realização dos ensaios bioquímicos. Em seguida, foram eutanasiadas para coleta e avaliação dos órgãos internos. Durante o período de avaliação, não foram observadas alterações de comportamento, nem de consumo de água ou ração. A evolução ponderal dos animais não diferiu entre os grupos tratados. A concentração sérica de ALT foi maior nos animais tratados com EEMU 1000 mg/kg. As ratas tratadas com o extrato não apresentaram alterações significativas na frequência das fases do ciclo estral bem como duração do estro e intervalo entre estros, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo não apontam alterações tóxicas significativas, sistêmicas ou sobre o ciclo estral, de ratas Wistar tratadas com o extrato, nas doses avaliadas, por um período de 28 dias.

ABSTRACT The herbal medicine, comprising the popular and empirical use of medicinal plants in combating and preventing diseases, should be combined with scientific studies that prove the effectiveness and safety of these compounds. In Brazil, the vast plant biodiversity of the Northeast favors the use and study of plants with therapeutic potential. Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) is a species of the Anacardiaceae family, common in the semiarid region, from Piauí to Minas Gerais. Its use is diverse and widespread throughout the country, making studies of its potential and risks necessary. Due to the wide use of Myracrodruon urundeuva in an empirical form, this paper aims to research toxic effects with repeated doses of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.ethanol extract (EEMU) and its influence on the estrous cycle of female Wistar rats. In a subacute toxicity protocol 35 female Wistar rats were used, divided into 5 groups (n=5) treated with different doses of EEMU (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and distilled water (control) for 28 days. In this period measurements of water intake, feed consumption were carried out and a behavioral assessment was performed. The estrous cycles of these animals were evaluated daily by fresh vaginal smear, it the frequency of each phase as well as the inter-estrus intervals were observed. The rats were anesthetized and blood was collected for the biochemical assays. Then they were euthanized for the collection and evaluation of internal organs. During the evaluation period, there were no observed behavioral changes nor were the water or food consumption variations. The weight gain of the animals did not differ between treatment groups. The serum ALT was higher in animals treated with EEMU 1000 mg/kg. The rats treated with the extract showed no significant changes in the frequency of the phases of the estrous cycle, estrus duration and estrus interval when compared to the control group. The results of this study do not indicate significant toxic alterations, neither systemic nor on the estrous cycle in female rats treated with the extract, at the evaluated doses, over a period of 28 days.

Mortalidade por "septicemia dos peixes tropicais" em tilápias criadas em consorciação com suínos

A rural property was observed for one year to obtain seasonal observations of Edwardsiella septicemia in tilapias (Oreochromis sp.) from an integrated fish farm (using pig excrements as food). Fifty tilapias on summer, forty-five on autumn, fifty-five on winter and one hundred and five on spring were collected and evaluated microbiologically for the presence of Edwardsiella tarda. Samples of the external surface (skin, gills and fin), intestines and muscle were analyzed. Fishes were transported alive to the laboratory, and maintained for five days for observation. The external signs observed were opacity of cornea, respiratory difficulty, disordered swimming, nodules on gills, hemorrhagic lesions under the skin and fins and incoordination of the posterior part of the body. In general, after three days of observation, the tilapias died. At necropsy, ascites with the distension of the celomatic cavity, hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions in the liver, spleen and kidneys were found. Hemorrhagic enteritis was observed in the gut tube. Edwardsiella tarda isolated presented the following biochemical profile: negative urea, sucrose, phenylalanine desaminase and malonate utilization, and positive indole, methyl red, H2S, motility, glucose with gas production and lysine decarboxylase. The mortality rates were 69.9% on spring, 63.6% on winter, 48.0% on summer and 40.0% on autumn, highest rates occurring on spring and winter (P 0,05).

Com o objetivo de estudar a variação sazonal da septicemia dos peixes tropicais provocada por Edwardsiella tarda foram observadas 50 tilápias (Oreochromis sp.) no verão, 45 no outono, 55 no inverno e 105 na primavera. Os peixes doentes apresentavam opacidade de córnea, dificuldade respiratória, nado desordenado, nódulos nas brânquias e lesões hemorrágicas na pele e nadadeiras. Após três dias de observação as tilápias morriam naturalmente. Nas necrópsias foi encontrado ascite com distensão da cavidade celomática e lesões hemorrágicas e necróticas no fígado, baço e rins. No interior do tubo digestivo observou-se enterite hemorrágica. Isolou-se Edwardsiella tarda a partir de provas positivas para H2S, lisina, indol, motilidade e glicose com gás. Os índices de mortalidade foram: na primavera 69,9%, no inverno 63,6%, no verão 48,0% e no outono 40,0%.

Mortalidade por "septicemia dos peixes tropicais" em tilápias criadas em consorciação com suínos

A rural property was observed for one year to obtain seasonal observations of Edwardsiella septicemia in tilapias (Oreochromis sp.) from an integrated fish farm (using pig excrements as food). Fifty tilapias on summer, forty-five on autumn, fifty-five on winter and one hundred and five on spring were collected and evaluated microbiologically for the presence of Edwardsiella tarda. Samples of the external surface (skin, gills and fin), intestines and muscle were analyzed. Fishes were transported alive to the laboratory, and maintained for five days for observation. The external signs observed were opacity of cornea, respiratory difficulty, disordered swimming, nodules on gills, hemorrhagic lesions under the skin and fins and incoordination of the posterior part of the body. In general, after three days of observation, the tilapias died. At necropsy, ascites with the distension of the celomatic cavity, hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions in the liver, spleen and kidneys were found. Hemorrhagic enteritis was observed in the gut tube. Edwardsiella tarda isolated presented the following biochemical profile: negative urea, sucrose, phenylalanine desaminase and malonate utilization, and positive indole, methyl red, H2S, motility, glucose with gas production and lysine decarboxylase. The mortality rates were 69.9% on spring, 63.6% on winter, 48.0% on summer and 40.0% on autumn, highest rates occurring on spring and winter (P 0,05).

Com o objetivo de estudar a variação sazonal da septicemia dos peixes tropicais provocada por Edwardsiella tarda foram observadas 50 tilápias (Oreochromis sp.) no verão, 45 no outono, 55 no inverno e 105 na primavera. Os peixes doentes apresentavam opacidade de córnea, dificuldade respiratória, nado desordenado, nódulos nas brânquias e lesões hemorrágicas na pele e nadadeiras. Após três dias de observação as tilápias morriam naturalmente. Nas necrópsias foi encontrado ascite com distensão da cavidade celomática e lesões hemorrágicas e necróticas no fígado, baço e rins. No interior do tubo digestivo observou-se enterite hemorrágica. Isolou-se Edwardsiella tarda a partir de provas positivas para H2S, lisina, indol, motilidade e glicose com gás. Os índices de mortalidade foram: na primavera 69,9%, no inverno 63,6%, no verão 48,0% e no outono 40,0%.