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Livestock production is considered an important factor influencing global warming; however, climate change has also been considered one of the major factors affecting livestock production and reproduction. The present study was carried out in the Southern region of Brazil and aimed to assess the seasonal influence of climatic factors and external morphology of the animals on the semen quality. Three ejaculates were obtained from each bull (Crioulo Lageano and Angus) in summer and winter seasons. Motile cells, sperm vigor, sperm concentration, sperm membrane status, and sperm abnormalities were analyzed in fresh and post-thawed semen. In addition, the sperm kinetics using CASA was assessed on post-thawed semen. Environmental data such as air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), mean radiant temperature (MRT) and temperature-humidity index (THI) were measured. Furthermore, body and testicular metrics, as well as hair coat characteristics, were recorded in each season on all bulls. Environmental traits differed significantly between seasons. Results of the PLS regression and Spearman's correlations confirmed a negative relationship between climatic variables and sperm traits in both seasons. Semen quality between breeds and seasons was similar, satisfactory, and heat stress was not sufficient to impair spermatozoa viability. External morphological traits were considered non-important in the final model. The findings of this study suggest that AT, MRT, and THI were the most important factors that could affect seminal characteristics of bulls raised in a subtropical climate.

RESUMO O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a integridade da membrana plasmática e qualidade seminal de touros suplementados com tocoferol. Foram utilizados 16 touros com idade média de 24 meses e peso médio de 462,2kg, em dois tratamentos: grupo controle (GC) e grupo suplementado com tocoferol (GE- 400 UI de tocoferol/ animal/dia) adicionados ao suplemento concentrado. Os grupos foram mantidos em pastejo com suplementação de 4,5kg/ animal/ dia de concentrado. A suplementação com tocoferol foi fornecida por 60 dias. Foram realizadas 4 coletas de sêmen, sendo: nos dias 0, 30, 60 e 15 dias após o término da suplementação. O sêmen foi coletado por eletroejaculação, aferiu-se as características físicas e morfológicas. Para avaliar a integridade de membrana utilizou-se o teste hiposmótico, coloração eosina/ nigrosina, coloração Pope e trypan blue. Os dados foram analisados através da ANOVA e do teste SNK com um nível de significância de 5%. Foi encontrado efeito da suplementação para vigor (p=0,0183) (GC=2,71±0,095 e GE=2,23±0,16). Não foram encontradas diferenças (p>0,05) para as demais variáveis: volume, motilidade, concentração, morfologia, integridade acrossomal, viabilidade espermática e integridade de membrana. Com os resultados obtidos, nas condições experimentais do presente trabalho, conclui-se que a suplementação oral com tocoferol de 400UI/dia não apresenta melhoria sobre a qualidade seminal nem a integridade da membrana espermática de touros. SUMMARY This study had objective to evaluate the integrity of the plasma membrane and semen quality of bulls supplemented with tocopherol. Bulls were used 16 with an average age of 24 months and average weight of 462.2 kg in two treatments: control group (CG) and group supplemented with tocopherol (GE-400 IU of tocoferol/animal / day) added to the concentrate supplement. The groups were kept in pasture supplemented with 4.5 kg / animal / day concentrate. Tocopherol supplementation was provided for 60 days. 4 semen samples were carried out: on days 0 , 30, 60 and 15 days after the end of supplementation. Semen was collected by electroejaculation , it has measured up the physical and morphological sperm characteristics. To assess the integrity of membrane used the hyposmotic test, eosin / nigrosine, Pope and trypan blue. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with repeated measurements over time. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and SNK test with a 5% significance level with assistance from the SAS statistical program. It found effect of supplementation force (p = 0.0183) (CG = 2.71 ± 0.095 and GE = 2.23 ± 0.16) ;. There were no differences (p> 0.05) for the other variables: motility, concentration, morphology, acrosome integrity, sperm viability and membrane integrity. With the results obtained in the experimental conditions of this study, it is concluded that oral supplementation with tocopherol 400 IU / day showed no improvement over the seminal quality or integrity of the sperm membrane Bulls.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the results of hysterosonography performed prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to correlate anomalous findings with hysteroscopy. METHODS Findings from 197 hysterosonograms of patients examined in an assisted reproduction clinic between January 2012 and August 2014 were included. Enrollment criteria: patients in preparation for IVF not recently submitted to uterine examination through hysterosalpingography or hysteroscopy referred to hysterosonography. Uterine cavity evaluation was considered anomalous when one or more of the following were found: polyps, submucous myomas, uterine synechiae, Mullerian duct anomalies. Individuals with cavity abnormalities that might interfere with IVF results were referred to hysteroscopy. RESULTS Normal test results were seen in 170/197 of the cases (86.3%). Eighteen of the 197 cases (9.1%) were suspected for polyps, two (1%) for submucous myoma, six (3.5%) for synechiae, and one (0.5%) for Mullerian duct anomalies. Sixteen of the patients diagnosed with abnormalities underwent hysteroscopy to confirm or treat the suspected pathology. In only two cases there was no agreement between tests: one patient suspected for synechiae and another for polyps were not confirmed; another individual suspected for polyps was found to have focal endometrial thickening in hysteroscopy. The positive predictive value (PPV) in our study was 93.7%. CONCLUSION In most cases, the diagnoses obtained by hysterosonography showed normal uterine cavities. The most common anomalous findings were polyps, followed by synechiae, submucous myoma, and Mullerian duct anomalies. Hysterosonography is a good option for evaluating the uterus and offers a high positive predictive value, while hysteroscopy stands as the gold standard.