No abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate hormone and energy profiles in the postpartum period and to correlate these profiles with the resumption of ovarian cyclicity, as well as characterizing the postpartum short estrous cycle of Curraleiro Pé-Duro cows. Twelve Curraleiro Pé-Duro cows were examined via rectal palpation and ultrasound at 10 days postpartum, and subsequently examined daily to evaluate the resumption of ovarian cyclicity as well as every five days in order to evaluate uterine involution. Upon analysis of the data, it was possible to observe the formation of two distinct groups, one of which was comprised of those animals which returned to cyclicity within 60 days postpartum and another comprised of those animals which returned to cyclicity more than 105 days postpartum. Therefore, animals were divided into two groups; precocious, designated Ov Group, and delayed, designated NOv Group, wherein the cut-off time for all tests was 60 days postpartum. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) between the groups occurred only regarding the day of 1st ovulation, which in the Ov Group averaged 51.4 ± 9.3 days and in the NOv Group averaged 138.3 ± 19.8 days postpartum. The other postpartum short estrous cycle variables assessed did not show statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between the groups. NEFA, BHBA and thyroxine concentration levels did not differ (P > 0.05) between the groups in any of the statistical analyses. However, in the analysis comparing growth curves, triglycerides levels were higher for the Ov Group (P = 0.04) and cholesterol levels were higher for the NOv Group (P = 0.02). In this experiment, a small influence of a negative energy balance between the groups was observed, suggesting that these animals can present significant genetic variability due to natural selection, as evidenced by the formation of groups of animals with precocious and delayed reproductive characteristics.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the results of hysterosonography performed prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to correlate anomalous findings with hysteroscopy.MethodsFindings 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, Müllerian duct anomalies. Individuals with cavity abnormalities that might interfere with IVF results were referred to hysteroscopy.ResultsNormal 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 Müllerian 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%.ConclusionIn most cases, the diagnoses obtained by hysterosonography showed normal uterine cavities. The most common anomalous findings were polyps, followed by synechiae, submucous myoma, and Müllerian 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.

-The objective of this study was to use morphometric and ultrasound evaluations to estimate the growth curve of the Pantaneiro cattle breed, raised in its natural habitat, aiming at the re-insertion of this breed in production systems. One hundred and three females, aging from months to 11 years, and raised on native pastures, were evaluated. The animals belonged to the Conservation Nucleus of Embrapa Pantanal, located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Weight, thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), rump height (RH), height at withers (HW), hip height (HH), depth (DP), distance between the ilia (DI) (cm) and rib-eye area (REA) were measured. To relate the measurements with the age of the animals, the univariate regression model was used, assigning the variable response to gamma distribution. The Pearson correlation between variables was also estimated. The inflection point of the growth curve was 37 months for HH; between 38 and 39 months for TP and HW; between 40 and 41 months for DI, HH and DP; and 45 months for BL. The REA results could not fit in a statistical model. The majority of the variables presented a correlation above 60% among themselves, except for REA × Age, of 15.81%; REA × HW, of 34.44%; HH × Age, of 46.19; HH × DI, of 58.07%; REA × HH, of 24.57%; and REA × TP, of 39.9%. The cows showed maturity age at 40 months, which may have occurred because they were raised in natural farming conditions. In Pantaneiro cows reared in extensive systems only on natural pastures, the use of ultrasound is not effective to estimate the curve of muscular development, perhaps because this breed was not selected for weight gain.

Efeito da suplementação oral de selênio e tocoferol sobre a membrana plasmática espermática em touros da raça Brangus* Effect of oral supplementation of selenium and tocopherol on the spermatic plasma membrane in Brangus bulls

Resumo O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar o efeito da época do ano sobre a biometria testicular e qualidade do sêmen fresco e congelado de touros Pantaneiros. Seis touros foram submetidos, mensalmente, durante um ano, à mensuração testicular e à coleta e congelamento do sêmen, utilizando-se meio à base de tris-gema-glicerol. O comprimento e o volume testiculares foram maiores (P < 0,05) nos meses de junho (11,1±0,8 cm; 652,7±138,0 cm3), julho (11,0±0,9 cm; 616,4±156,2 cm3) e setembro (11,8±0,8 cm; 692,4±141,3 cm3) que em outubro (9,4±1,2 cm; 498,5±154,3 cm3) e novembro (10,3±1,1cm; 560,0±111,8 cm3). A concentração espermática foi maior (P < 0,05) no mês de agosto (1265,0±436,8 x106sptz/mL) que nos meses de outubro, dezembro e janeiro (591,6±192,0; 627,5±314,4; 502,5±172,9 x106 sptz/mL, respectivamente). Não houve efeito da época do ano sobre a qualidade do sêmen fresco e congelado (motilidade, vigor, defeitos totais e integridade acrossomal) (P > 0,05). Conclui-se que touros Pantaneiros, na região do Distrito Federal, podem ser utilizados em programas de acasalamento natural em todas as épocas do ano. Visando ao enriquecimento do Banco Brasileiro de Germoplasma Animal com maior número de doses, sugere-se o congelamento do sêmen entre os meses de junho e agosto, embora este não apresente perda de qualidade nas diferentes épocas do ano.

O desenvolvimento da produção de gametas femininos (gametogênese) ocorre de forma interessante, pois seu processo depende de diversos fatores combinados. Esta revisão abordará esses mecanismos morfofuncionais do ovário e a foliculogênese, correlacionando a função dos fatores de crescimento ligados à Insulina (IGFs) que irão influenciar na produção de hormônios esteroides, na manutenção da maturação folicular, e ainda elucidar como a dieta alimentar auxilia melhor nessas fases. Além disso, com as novas pesquisas em reprodução animal, é importante enfatizar o papel e auxiliar os Fatores de Crescimento Insulínicos durante este processo fisiológico, mostrando todo o seu potencial para uma dinâmica folicular mais eficiente em qualquer espécie.

RESUMO Três experimentos foram realizados para adaptar um protocolo de sincronização de estro e da ovulação para ser utilizado em programas de inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) em vacas taurinas tropicalmente adaptadas. No Exp. 1 (crossover), vacas pluríparas Curraleiro Pé-Duro (n= 12) receberam um dispositivo intravaginal contendo 1g de P4 por oito dias e 2mg de BE intramuscular (IM) no momento da inserção do dispositivo (dia 0). No dia da remoção do dispositivo (dia 8), as fêmeas receberam 150μg de D-cloprostenol sódico e 300UI de gonadotrofina coriônica equina (eCG) IM, sendo, então, divididas aleatoriamente para receber 1mg de BE no dia 8 (BE8) ou 1mg de BE no dia 9 (BE9). A aplicação de BE no D9 atrasou a ovulação em aproximadamente 15 horas (P<0,05). No Experimento 2, foram avaliados protocolos com oito (P4D8) e nove dias (P4D9) de exposição à progesterona, resultando em parâmetros de desenvolvimento folicular e luteal semelhantes entre os tratamentos (P>0,05). No Experimento 3, os protocolos hormonais de IATF BE8 e P4D9 foram testados para a taxa de prenhez, alcançando 23% (10/43) e 20% (9/45), respectivamente (P>0,05). Embora o grupo P4D9 tenha mostrado avanço na proporção de animais que responderam ao protocolo quando comparado ao protocolo BE8, este não se refletiu em melhora na taxa de prenhez.