Histological and physical-mechanical characteristics of the skin of Dorper sheep related to residual feed intake and the confinement environment.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of residual feed intake (RFI) on the histological, physical and mechanical characteristics of the sheep skin confined in full sun or shade. Dorper sheep (n = 64), male, with an initial bodyweight of 17.8 ± 2.43 kg was confined for 40 days to determine the RFI. After classification, 30 animals with positive RFI and 30 animals with negative RFI were selected, which were distributed in 2 confinement environments. This was a factorial arrangement of 2 (groups of animals-positive RFI and negative RFI) × 2 (environments-full sun and shade), with 15 animals for each combination of factors. The sheep remained in confinement for 60 days. After slaughter, skins were divided in half, and fragments were collected from the right portion for histological sections. The left part of each skin was subjected to tanning. Interaction effect RFI × environment was found in the evaluation of leather fragments in the horizontal direction on elongation at break, leather thickness and tear strength (p < 0.05). An isolated effect of the environment was found on elongation at break of leather fragments in the evaluation on the vertical direction (p = 0.01) and on the number of secondary follicles during the histological evaluation of the dorsal and lateral regions of the skin (p < 0.05). An effect of the interaction RFI × environment was observed for the thermostatic layer of the hip region (p = 0.03). Sheep with positive RFI and kept in confinement in full sun have a leather with greater elongation at break and tear strength, important aspects in determining the quality of the product by the leather industry.

Involvement of PTEN and FOXO3a Proteins in the Protective Activity of Protocatechuic Acid Against Cisplatin-Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Mice.

The present study evaluated the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) after cisplatin-induced ovarian toxicity in mice and if PTEN and FOXO3a proteins are involved in PCA action. The mice were divided into five experimental groups (five animals per group) and treated once a day for 3 days as follows: (1) the control group was pretreated with oral administration (o.p.) of saline solution, followed by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of saline solution. The other groups were pretreated (o.p.) with (2) saline solution (cisplatin group), (3) N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg of body weight), or with (4) 20 or (5) 50 mg/kg body weight of PCA, followed by 5 mg/kg body weight (i.p.) of cisplatin. Next, the ovaries were destined to histological (morphology and activation), immunohistochemical (PCNA and cleaved caspase-3 expression), and fluorescence (reactive oxygen species [ROS], glutathione [GSH], and active mitochondria levels) analyses. Moreover, the immunoreactivity for p-PTEN and p-FOXO3a was evaluated to investigate a potential mechanism by which PCA could prevent the cisplatin-induced ovarian damage. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine or 20 mg/kg PCA before cisplatin preserved the percentage of normal follicles and cell proliferation as observed in the control, reduced apoptosis and ROS levels, and showed higher active mitochondria and GSH levels than the cisplatin treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, pretreatment with 20 mg/kg PCA decreased cisplatin-induced p-PTEN and increased (P < 0.05) nuclear export of p-FOXO3a. In conclusion, PCA at 20 mg/kg reduced apoptosis, maintained cell proliferation and mitochondrial function, reduced ROS production, and increased GSH expression likely through the involvement of PTEN and FOXO3a proteins.

Vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue using open or closed systems and different intracellular cryoprotectants.

This study aimed to evaluate different vitrification methods using distinct cryoprotectants (CPAs) for the preservation of collared peccary ovarian preantral follicles (PFs). Ovarian pairs from six females were fragmented and three fragments (fresh control group) were immediately evaluated for morphology, viability, cell proliferation capacity (assessed by quantifying the number of argyrophilic nucleolus organizer regions - NORs), and apoptosis (by the identification of activated caspase-3 expression). The remaining 18 fragments were vitrified using the solid surface vitrification (SSV) method or the ovarian tissue cryosystem (OTC) with 3 M ethylene glycol (EG), 3 M dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or a combination of the two (1.5 M EG/1.5 M DMSO). After two weeks, samples were rewarmed and evaluated as described previously. The OTC with any of the CPAs provided a similar conservation of morphologically normal PFs as the fresh control group (75.6 ±â€¯8.6%); however, the SSV was only efficient with DMSO alone (63.9 ±â€¯7.6%). Regarding the viability or cell proliferation, all tested groups provided post rewarming values similar to those observed for the fresh control group, 84.0 ±â€¯2.9% viable cells with 2.0 ±â€¯0.2 NORs. Related to apoptosis analysis, only the OTC with EG (46.7%) and the SSV method with EG (43.4%) or the combination of EG and DMSO (33.4%) provided similar values to those found for the fresh control group (36.7%). Our findings indicate the utilization of a closed system, the OTC, with 3 M EG as the CPA for the vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue.

Supplemented powdered coconut water (ACP-406®) promotes growth of goat secondary follicles and oocyte meiotic resumption.

The objective of this study was to test the efficiency of powdered coconut water (ACP-406®) base-medium without or with the addition of supplements on in vitro culture of isolated goat secondary follicles. Follicles were cultured for 18 days in α-MEM or in ACP-406®, both without supplements (referred to as α-MEM and ACP, respectively), or both supplemented with BSA, insulin, transferrin, selenium, glutamine, hypoxanthine, and ascorbic acid (referred to as α-MEM+ and ACP+). Follicular morphology, antrum formation, follicular and oocyte diameter, levels of glutathione (GSH), and chromatin configuration after in vitro maturation were evaluated. At the end of culture, ACP-406® base-medium (without or with supplements) showed a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of normal follicles than α-MEM (without or with supplements). Antrum formation was similar among α-MEM+, ACP and ACP+, and significantly higher than α-MEM without supplements. The follicular diameter was greater in ACP+ than α-MEM, and similar to other treatments. Moreover, fully and daily grown rates were higher (P < 0.05) in ACP-406® base-medium (without or with supplements) than α-MEM (without or with supplements). Levels of GSH were similar between ACP+ and α-MEM+ treatments. Both ACP+ and α-MEM+ allowed meiotic resumption without a significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, supplemented ACP-406® base-medium maintained follicular survival and promoted the development as well as meiotic resumption of isolated goat secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days.

Stable experimental model of carotid artery saccular aneurysm in swine using the internal jugular vein.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an experimental model of stable saccular aneurysm in carotid of pigs using the internal jugular vein. METHODS: In 12 healthy pigs, weighing between 25 and 5 0kg, five males and seven females, we made a right common carotid artery aneurysm. After elliptical arteriotomy, we carried out a terminolateral anastomosis with the distal stump of the internal jugular vein. Aneurysm volume was calculated so that the value did not exceed 27 times the area of the arteriotomy. After six days angiography and microscopic examination were performed to assess patency of the aneurysm and the presence of total or partial thrombosis. RESULTS: There was a significant weight gain of pigs in the time interval between the manufacture of the aneurysm and angiography (p = 0.04). Aneurysmal patency was observed in ten pigs (83%). Operative wound infections occurred in two animals (16.6%), both with early onset, three days after the making of the aneurysm. Histological analysis showed aneurysm thrombus partially occluding the light in nine pigs (75%). In these animals, it was observed that on average 9% of the aneurysmal diameter was filled with thrombi. CONCLUSION: It was possible to develop a stable experimental model of saccular aneurysms in pig carotid artery by use of the internal jugular vein.

The fibroblast growth factor family: involvement in the regulation of folliculogenesis.

Several growth factors have been identified as local regulators of follicle development and ovulation. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members are potent mitogens and are involved in cell differentiation, cell migration and angiogenesis in many tissues and organs. In addition to FGF-2, which is the most-studied FGF, other important members are FGF-1, -5, -7, -8, -9 and -10. A number of studies have indicated that FGFs play important roles in regulating the initiation of primordial follicle growth, oocyte and follicle survival, granulosa and theca cell proliferation and differentiation, corpus luteum formation, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of the FGFs on mammalian female reproduction, providing a better understanding of the roles of this family in ovarian physiology and female fertility.