Gossypol is a phenolic compound produced by pigment glands in cotton stems, leaves, seeds, and flower buds (Gossypium spp.). Cottonseed meal is a by-product of cotton that is used for animal feeding because it is rich in oil and proteins. However, gossypol toxicity limits cottonseed use in animal feed. High concentrations of free gossypol may be responsible for acute clinical signs of gossypol poisoning which include respiratory distress, impaired body weight gain, anorexia, weakness, apathy, and death after several days. However, the most common toxic effects is the impairment of male and female reproduction. Another important toxic effect of gossypol is its interference with immune function, reducing an animal's resistance to infections and impairing the efficiency of vaccines. Preventive procedures to limit gossypol toxicity involve treatment of the cottonseed product to reduce the concentration of free gossypol with the most common treatment being exposure to heat. However, free gossypol can be released from the bound form during digestion. Agronomic selection has produced cotton varieties devoid of glands producing gossypol, but these varieties are not normally grown because they are less productive and are more vulnerable to attacks by insects.

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Seven outbreaks of acute intoxication from oleander (Nerium oleander) in cattle were reported in Northeast of Brazil. A total of 92 cattle were poisoned by oleander in 7 different herds; 57 animals died (67% of affected cattle). All cases reported here occurred during dry season. Two of the outbreaks resulted from offering oleander triturated and mixed with fodder. In the other cases, accidental ingestion of residual parts of oleander derived from pruning or cutting plants on grazing land were responsible. Clinical signs were diverse; the most common were locomotion disturbances, diarrhoea, depression and sudden death. Postmortem findings varied from no significant lesions to widespread haemorrhage. The presence of oleander leaves in the rumen was noted in all cases. The lack of information about the toxicity of oleanders was the main cause for the accident, which prompt us to stimulate wide divulgation of the common toxic plants.

Cova da Beira is an interior central region of Portugal, with a population of 93 000 inhabitants. The first pollen counts performed in Portugal revealed the highest values of the country in this area. The aim of this study was to assess the aeroallergens sensitization in an allergic population, according to the age groups. In a 5 year period (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) 1790 consecutive outpatients were observed for suspected allergic symptoms.We included in this study all the 557 paediatric (Յ 15 years old) observed patients (317 male (57 %) and 240 female (43 %) with an average age of 7.6 Յ 4.2 years old). They were divided in three age groups (Group I: Յ 5yr; Group II: 6-10yr; Group III: 11-15yr). 371 patients were submitted to skin prick tests to aeroallergens. 86.5 % of these patients were sensitised to at least one allergen extract. The most representative aeroallergens sensitization were grasses mixture (44.9 %), D. pteronyssinus (32.5 %), D. farinae (29.1 %), Olea europea (27.5 %), Parietaria judaica (23.4 %), cat dander (16.1 %), Artemisia vulgaris (17.6 %), Robinia pseudoacacia (12.2 %), Platanus acerifolia (11.4 %), Tilia cordata (11.4 %) moulds mixture (11.2 %), Plantago lanceolata (10.6 %), dog dander (10.4 %), and Pinus radiata (7.5 %).The sensitisation to indoor aeroallergens, was similar in all age groups and it was less important than that of pollens. The prevalence of sensitisation to grasses was the greatest in all ages and the house dust mites sensitization was the second most prevalent. The highest pollens counts in this region could explain the early sensitisation even in young children.Key words: Aeroallergens. Allergic sensitisation. House dust mite. Pollens. Moulds. RESUMENCova da Beira es una región interior del centro de Portugal con una población de 93.000 habitantes. Los primeros recuentos de polen realizados en Portugal revelaron que en esta zona se hallan los valores más elevados del país. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la sensibilización a los aeroalérgenos en una población alérgica según los grupos de edad. En un período de 5 años (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) se observaron 1.790 pacientes ambulatorios consecutivos con posibles síntomas alérgicos.En el estudio incluimos a los 557 pacientes pediá-tricos (de Յ 15 años) observados (317 niños (57 %) y 240 niñas (43 %), con una edad media de 7,6 Յ 4,2 años). Se dividieron en tres grupos de edad (grupo I: Յ 5 años; grupo II: 6-10 años; grupo III: 11-15 años).Se sometieron 371 pacientes a pruebas cutáneas con aeroalérgenos. El 86,5 % de los mismos estaban sensibilizados como mínimo a un extracto de alergeno. Los alérgenos más significativos frente a los que se observó sensibilización fueron: mezcla de hierbas (11,4 %), Tilia cordata (11,4 %), mezcla de mohos (11,2 %), Plantago lanceolata (10,6 %), caspa de perro (10,4 %) y Pinus radiata (7,5 %). La sensibilización a los aeroalérgenos domésticos fue similar en todos los grupos de edad y menos importante que la de los pólenes. La prevalencia de la se...

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The present study aimed to determine if gossypol interferes with ovarian follicles in rats. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were assigned to two equal groups: one control group and the other dosed with gossypol (25 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) for 15 days. Ovarian follicles were histologically classified according to the stage of development and as normal or atretic. Gossypol treatment reduced the length of estrous with an increase in the duration of the diestrus phase. This compound was responsible for reduced serum levels of T4 and progesterone. Treatment with gossypol was responsible for a significant reduction in the number of normal ovarian follicles and a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles, both in all stages of development. Thus, treatment of rats with gossypol was responsible for reduction in the number of viable follicles and changes in hormone levels that resulted in interference of the estrous cycle.