Search

Tropical ewes of the Morada Nova breed were used to evaluate concordance on the effects of body condition score (BCS) and age classification using canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) as the class...

Well adapted animals are characterized by maintain homeostasis under natural conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate physiological and morphological responses, as well as identify the relationship between these parameters in order to maintain homoeothermic status, in the dry and rainy season. Measurements were taken from 383 Morada Nova hair ewes, under dry and rainy season. The studied variables included rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), coat thickness (CT), hair length (HL), hair diameter (HD) and hair density (D). Blood samples were collected for determining biochemical, erythrogam and hormone concentration. The evaluated blood parameters from the Morada Nova breed did not demonstrate any variation from the reference interval established for sheep, confirming its adaptability profile even under high radiation and air temperatures. Multivariate analyses were performed in order to determine relationship between morphological, biochemical, erythrocyte and hormonal traits in each season. Differences correlations were observed according to season of the year. In the dry season, the correlations were significant among RT, RR, Packed cell volume (PCV), thyroxine (T4), Glucose (GLU), CT, HL, Globulin (GLO) and Total Protein (TP), whereas in dry season the characteristics that showed greater correlation were Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), thyroid hormones, Creatinine, GLO, TP, PCV and GLU. In conclusion, Morada Nova ewes was able to maintain homeothermy, even in the most stressful environmental conditions. Their hematological, biochemical and hormonal profile were within the normal range for sheep, confirming the adaptability of this local breed to the Brazilian semiarid environment. [Ovelha brasileira localmente adaptada: um modelo de adaptação para o semiárido]. Resumo: Os animais bem adaptados são caracterizados por manter a homeostase em condições naturais. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas fisiológicas e morfológicas, bem como identificar a relação entre esses parâmetros a fim de, manter o estado homeotérmico, na estação seca e chuvosa. As medições foram tomadas em 383 ovelhas da raça Morada Nova, na época seca e chuvosa. As variáveis estudadas incluíram temperatura retal (TR), frequência respiratória (FR), espessura do pelame (EP), comprimento do pelo (CP), diâmetro do pelo (D) e densidade numérica (DN). Foram coletadas amostras de sangue para determinar a concentração bioquímica, eritrogama e hormonal. Os parâmetros de sangue avaliados da raça Morada Nova não demonstraram variação do intervalo de referência estabelecido para ovinos, confirmando que seu perfil de adaptabilidade, mesmo sob alta radiação e temperaturas do ar. Foram realizadas análises multivariadas para determinar a relação entre características morfológicas, bioquímicas, eritrocitárias e hormonais em cada estação. As correlações de diferenças foram observadas de acordo com a estação do ano. Na estação seca, as correlações foram significativas entre TR, FR, PCV, T4, GLU, CT, HL, GLO e TP, enquanto que na estação seca as características que apresentaram maior correlação foram MCV, T4, T3, CRE, GLO, TP PCV e GLU. Em conclusão, as ovelhas Morada Nova conseguem manter a homeotermia, mesmo nas condições ambientais mais estressantes. Seu perfil hematológico, bioquímico e hormonal permanecem dentro da faixa de normalidade para ovinos, confirmando a adaptabilidade dessa raça local ao ambiente semiárido brasileiro. Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-30T01:04:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CNPC2018Locally.pdf: 369292 bytes, checksum: 512abd1e1b4e107a2d0fd9e18bb87849 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-29

At the end of its growth, the mammalian oocyte, include in preovulatory follicle, is the largest cell of the organism, with about 120 µm in diameter. The size of oocyte, together with the specific arrangement of its organels and cytoskeleton, makes a real challenge for cryopreservation techniques. For such large cell, methods that do not require equilibrium to cryopreservation, such as vitrification, are more promising. It is important to highlight that the cryopreservation of oocytes is more difficult than zygotes or later stage embryos and this technique is a challenging task because of oocyte sensitive nature to chilling and toxic effects of cryoprotectants. However, the development of a reliable method for oocyte cryopreservation would be an important advance in the field of reproductive biology for the preservation of genetic resources. The vitrification of mammalian oocytes is influenced by many variables, such as different cryoprotectants, vitrification techniques, presence or absence of cumulus cells, the oocyte structure, metabolism (such as level of lipid storage) and meiotic stage. Thus, all these factors should be considered to optimize the techniques and adapt them to oocytes from each species. Therefore, the present review aims to describe the main factors that affect oocyte vitrification in sheep and goats, reporting the main findings in both species, as well as perspectives of future improvements.

This study aimed to verify the effects of cryoprotectant and Open Pulled Straw (OPS) vitrification on ultrastructural changes in bovine oocytes. In experiment 1, the cryoprotectant exposure was analyzed by distributing immature and matured cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in groups: control immature, immature and exposed to one vitrification solution (IVS1), immatured and exposed to two vitrification solutions (IVS1-2), matured and exposed to one vitrification solution (MVS1), matured and exposed to two vitrification solutions (MVS1-2), control matured, IVS1 post in vitro maturation (IVS1 post IVM) and IVS1-2 post in vitro maturation (IVS1-2 post IVM). In experiment 2, immature and matured COCs were distributed in: control and vitrified by OPS using VS1-2. Sample COCs from both experiments were evaluated for mitochondrial distribution, nuclear lamins (immature COCs) and meiotic spindle (matured COCs). In both experiments, COCs were in vitro matured and fertilized. In experiment I, nuclear lamins in immature COCs exhibited higher proportion of structures with irregular shape when treated with VS1 and VS1-2. Immature and matured COCs treated with VS1-2, and matured COCs treated with VS1 had lower (P < 0.05) blastocyst development (29%, 20% and 8%, respectively) than control and immature COCs treated with VS1 (51% and 41%, respectively). In experiment 2, immature oocytes exhibited more (P < 0.05) structures with irregular lamin (72%) than control (9%). Vitrification of matured COCs did not induce abnormalities of meiotic spindle, compared to control matured (25% and 37%, respectively) (P > 0.05). The cleavage rate was higher (P < 0.05) in matured vitrified than immature vitrified group (19% vs. 8%). In conclusion, immature COCs were more tolerant to cryoprotectant exposure. However, matured oocytes showed better embryo development (cleavage) after vitrification.

A adaptação dos animais ao ambiente criatório é essencial para o êxito de qualquer empreendimento pecuário. No Brasil, há algumas décadas, foram importadas inúmeras raças, oriundas de clima temperado, das mais diversas espécies de animais de produção, cujas progênies eram avaliadas e selecionadas em consideração apenas dos aspectos produtivos. Nos últimos dez anos, verificou-se que tanto criadores, como a comunidade acadêmica, despertaram para a valorização de aspectos adaptativos, ao selecionarem animais a serem criados nos mais diversos biomas brasileiros. Observa-se, assim, a valorização das raças nativas de pequenos ruminantes e zebuínos para a exploração de carne e leite. No entanto, avaliar e selecionar animais pelas características adaptativas requer uma padronização de parâmetros e metodologias para a colheita de dados confiáveis. Ao se considerar que a homeostase representa a condição de equilíbrio em um sistema biológico e que animais adaptados ao ambiente exibem claros sinais de homeostasia, procurou-se, neste trabalho, abordar uma metodologia fundamentada numa matriz multifatorial para avaliar a adaptação, na qual são consideradas as reações termorreguladoras, como forma de manter a homeotermia, indicadas pelas temperaturas retal e de superfície, acionamento da termólise evaporativa, representadas pela frequência respiratória e taxa de sudação. Para avaliação da homeostase recomenda-se a associação de reações endócrinas, tais como níveis circulantes de hormônios da tireoide e cortisol, aos parâmetros bioquímicos dentro da faixa de normalidade. Todos esses fatores, em equilíbrio, permitem aos animais expressar satisfatoriamente as funções reprodutiva e produtiva. The adaptation of animals to breeding environment is essential to the success of any livestock enterprise. In Brazil, some decades ago, several breeds were imported, originated from temperate climates, from various species of farm animals whose progeny were evaluated and selected taking into account only the productive aspects. In the last ten years it was found that both creators and the academic community awoke to the promotion of adaptive aspects when selecting animals to be created in many different biomes. There is thus, the recovery of native breeds of zebu cattle and small ruminants for meat and milk productions. However, evaluate and select animals for adaptive traits require the standardization of parameters and methodologies for the collection of reliable data. Whereas homeostasis represents the equilibrium condition in a biological system and that animals adapted to the environment exhibit clear signs of homeostasis, this study sought to address a methodology composed of a multifactorial matrix to evaluate the adaptation, which are considered the thermoregulatory reactions As a way to maintain homeothermy indicated by rectal and surface temperatures and activation of evaporative heat loss, represented by the respiratory rate and sweating rate. For evaluation of homeostasis is recommended the association of endocrine reactions, such as circulating levels of thyroid hormones and cortisol, to the biochemical parameters within the normal range. All of these factors in balance allow the animals to express satisfactorily the reproductive and productive roles.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of antifreeze protein type III (AFP III) into vitrification medium on meiotic spindle morphology of in vitro matured bovine oocytes as well as the fertilization and blastocyst rates. Mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were distributed in four groups: control (untreated), vitrified without supplementation (AFP0) or supplemented with 500 (AFP500) or 1000 ng/mL (AFP1000) into vitrification solutions. Samples from each group were used to analyze the organization of meiotic spindle by confocal microscopy and the remaining COC were submitted to in vitro fertilization and culture for eight days. Control group exhibited only 15% of abnormal spindle. However, the spindle morphology was affected in all vitrified groups regardless to AFP concentration: 75.8%, 76.1% and 69.2% (P > 0.05) for AFP0, AFP500 and AFP1000, respectively. Similar cleavage rate was obtained among the vitrified groups (AFP0 = 17.9%, AFP500 = 16.9% and AFP1000 = 17.8%), but lower (P

Background The economic consequences from mortality of sheep after blood loss can be considerable. To date there are no reports addressing hematologic, blood gas, and biochemical changes in ovine blood stored in CPDA-1 bags. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate hematologic, blood gas, and biochemical alterations resulting from storage of ovine blood in CPDA-1 bags to establish transfusion protocols in sheep. Methods From each of 7 healthy 8-month-old sheep 450 mL of blood were collected into CPDA-1 bags and stored for 35 days in at 3–6°C. Samples were taken from the bags at days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 35. Whole blood was used to assess PCV, MCV, RBC count, pH, pO2, pCO2, and concentrations of bicarbonate, sodium, and lactate. Plasma was used to measure potassium, hemoglobin, and glucose concentrations. Results The PCV remained stable throughout the storage period, while plasma hemoglobin and MCV began to increase on days 7 and 21, respectively. The RBC count began to decrease on day 21. Blood pH decreased and pCO2 increased steadily throughout the storage period. Potassium concentration increased from 3.8 to 18.3 mmol/L on day 7 and remained high thereafter. In contrast, sodium concentration began to decrease on day 7. Conclusions The results show that ovine blood undergoes hematologic, blood gas, and biochemical changes during storage. Further studies are required to establish RBC viability in CPDA-1 bags after a storage period of 35 days.

An outbreak of enzootic ataxia among sheep raised in the northeastern region of Brazil is described. Copper (Cu) deficiency was diagnosed in a herd of 56 sheep, among which five presented characteristic clinical symptoms of enzootic ataxia. The symptoms began 30 days after birth, with a clinical condition that included locomotion difficulty, limb ataxia, tremors, and continual falls. Liver biopsies were performed and blood was collected to determine hepatic and plasmatic Cu, iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) concentration, respectively. The laboratory results showed that the animals presented low copper concentrations in the plasma and liver, without difference between the clinically healthy animals and those affected by enzootic ataxia. Even after supplementation with adequate Cu levels had been recommended, it was found on a new visit to the farm four months later that one animal still presented a clinical condition and that the hepatic Cu levels of the herd had not risen. Despite the low copper content of the diet, the high hepatic Fe levels found suggest that antagonism due to this element may have been an important factor in triggering copper deficiency in these animals, and thus, additional copper supplementation may be necessary for these animals.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, haematological and biochemical responses to autologous blood transfusion and the feasibility of this practice in sheep. Thus, we used eight male, 8 months old sheep, weighing on average 30 kg, from which 15 mL/kg of whole blood was collected and stored in CPDA-1 bags. Blood samples were refrigerated for 8 days and subsequently re-infused. The clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated before blood collection and reinfusion, after 10 minutes of collection and reinfusion, after 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 hours after collection and reinfusion. Results With respect to clinical parameters, we observed a decrease in heart rate after 24, 48 and 196 hours from reinfusion compared to basal values (p p p p Conclusion Autologous transfusion in sheep slightly altered the physiological, biochemical and haematological responses of sheep, indicating that the technique proposed is safe and can be applied in the clinical practice of this species. The 8 d period was not sufficient for complete recovery of the haematological parameters after blood collection.