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ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of reusing a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device for up to three times in the reproductive performance of dairy goats raised in the semi-arid zone of northeastern Brazil. Forty-five goats were allocated into three hormone treatments, as follows: CIDR1x, treated with new CIDR during nine days. Two days prior to device removal, injections of 75 g d-cloprostenol and 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) were administrated. For the other treatments, the same hormone protocol was used, differing only by the use of the same CIDR for a second time in CIDR2x and for a third time in CIDR3x. The interval from device removal to the onset of estrus (13.3  1.1h vs. 13.8  2.6h vs. 13.3  1.4h), as well as estrus duration (33.6  7.3h vs. 29.6  3.2h vs. 32.8  4.5h), did not differ (p > 0.05) among groups CIDR1x, CIDR2x and CIDR3x, respectively. All synchronized females were found to be in estrus. The overall fertility and prolificacy after artificial insemination were 82.2% and 1.9 kids, respectively, without significant difference (p > 0.05) among treatments. The use of the same CIDR for up to three times was effective using 9-day estrus synchronization protocols in dairy goats. RESUMO. Uso do mesmo CIDR por até três vezes para sincronização do estro e inseminação artificial de cabras leiteiras. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização do mesmo dispositivo de liberação controlada de drogas (CIDR) por até três vezes sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de cabras leiterias exploradas no semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro. Foram utilizadas 45 cabras divididas em três tratamentos de sincronização do estro, sendo: CIDR1x, tratadas com CIDR novo durante nove dias. Dois dias antes da retirada do dispositivo, foram aplicados 75 g de d-cloprostenol e 300 UI de gonadotrofina coriônica eqüina (eCG). Para os demais tratamentos, foi utilizado o mesmo protocolo hormonal, diferindo apenas pelo uso do mesmo CIDR pela segunda vez no grupo CIDR2x e uso pela terceira vez no grupo CIDR3x. O intervalo entre a retirada do dispositivo e o início do estro (13,3  1,1h vs. 13,8  2,6h vs. 13,3  1,4h), bem como, a duração do estro (33,6  7,3h vs. 29,6  3,2h vs. 32,8  4,5h) não diferiram (p > 0,05) entre os grupos CIDR1x, CIDR2x e CIDR3x, respectivamente. Todas as fêmeas sincronizadas foram identificadas em estro. As médias de fertilidade e prolificidade média após inseminação artificial foram, respectivamente, de 82,2% e 1,9 crias, não havendo diferença significativa (p > 0,05) entre os tratamentos. A utilização do mesmo CIDR por até três vezes foi viável na sincronização do estro de caprinos leiteiros.Palavras-chave: tratamento hormonal, pequenos ruminantes, região Tropical, dispositivos vaginais.

The aim of this study was to determine the period of genital tubercle (GT) migration using ultrasonography in Morada Nova sheep foetuses (n = 117) from natural mating (NM) and frozen embryo transfer (ET) to determine the window when foetal sexing can be determined. The examinations were performed using transrectal ultrasonography with a dual-frequency linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0 MHz) from day 30-54 of pregnancy at 48-h intervals. The period of GT migration of foetuses produced by NM varied from 36 to 46 days of pregnancy, resulting in an average of 39.5 +/- 2.9 days. For foetuses derived from ET, GT migration varied from 42 to 52 days of pregnancy with an average of 48.5 +/- 3.3 days, being possible the GT of foetuses from ET start to migrate 96 h later even if they are of the same gender. Migration of the GT occurred earlier (p < 0.05) in foetuses produced by NM and sexing accuracy for triplet pregnancies (77.8%) was significantly inferior (p < 0.05) to single (100%) and twin (92.9%) pregnancies for foetuses derived by NM. The results allow one to conclude that foetal sexing can be done from the 50th day onwards in foetuses produced by NM and from the 55th day onwards in foetuses derived from ET, and that multiple pregnancies compromise the sexing accuracy by ultrasonography.

SummaryThe present study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin as an alternative antioxidant to cysteamine on in vitro maturation. Oocytes were collected from goat ovaries, destined for in vitro maturation and distributed into three groups: CIS group, oocytes were immersed in MIV base medium; in Groups Q4 and Q8, oocytes were immersed in the medium of the CIS group, adding 4 μM or 8 μM of quercetin, respectively, and cultured for 24 h at 38.5°C with 5% CO2. The CIS and Q4 groups presented the same percentage of expanded cumulus cells, but the per cent in the Q8 group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0.05). The oocyte retraction rate in the Q8 group was higher (P<0.05) than in the CIS and Q4 groups. Treatment with 8 μM of quercetin presented a lower proportion of expanded oocytes than the CIS group and 4 μM of quercetin (P<0.05). The percentage of MII oocytes was higher in the Q4 group than in the CIS group (P<0.05), but the percentages in the CIS and Q8 groups were similar. The rate of apoptosis was higher in the CIS group than in the other groups (P<0.05). In addition, oocytes matured with 4 μM quercetin showed higher mitochondrial activity than matured oocytes in the CIS and Q8 groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, 4 μM of quercetin can be used as an alternative to cysteamine in the in vitro maturation of goat oocytes.

The prevalence of pseudopregnancy over 44 months was investigated in 23 Saanen goats raised in Northeast Brazil during continuous oestrous cycling (cyclic group) or after synchronization of oestrus (synchronized group). The goats were monitored by ultrasonography and their plasma progesterone profile. The overall prevalence of pseudopregnancy was 30.4% (7/23). In the cyclic group, 28.6% (4/14) of goats showed pseudopregnancy, while in the synchronized group the prevalence was 33.3% (3/9). There was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). The mean (+/- SD) length of pseudopregnancy, as shown by the progesterone profile, was 121.6 +/- 33.5 days, ranging from 70 to 155 days. The study defined the prevalence of pseudopregnancy in Saanen goats raised in Northeast Brazil for the first time. This finding identified a major problem for this breed, as without treatment such animals remain unproductive until the spontaneous resolution of the condition. More research seems desirable to ascertain the prevalence of this condition in other breeds in this region of Brazil.

To evaluate the effect of pFSH dose on the in vivo embryo production of Dorper ewes in the semi-arid northeast of Brazil, 40 sheep females were distributed into two groups of 20 animals that received intravaginal CIDR for 14 days, and two days before device removal, they received one of the following treatments: in the FSH200 group, the ewes received 200 mg of pFSH; and in the FSH128 group, the ewes received a total of 128 mg in decreasing doses every 12 h. Beginning 12 h after the conclusion of the treatments, estrus detection was performed every four hours using two Dorper rams of proven fertility. The ewes were mated at estrus onset and 24 hours later. Seven days after intravaginal device removal, the superovulatory response was evaluated, and embryo collection was performed using the laparotomy method. The recovered flushings were subjected to embryo searches under a stereomicroscope and classified according to their qualities. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and LSD tests were used to compare the different parameters. The data expressed as percentages were analysed by chi-square test. The ovulation rate was higher in the FSH200 group, which had 16.3 ± 0.3 corpora lutea (CL), than in the FSH128 group, which had 11.3 ± 0.3 CL (P<0.05). However, higher fertilization rate (83.6% vs. 62.4%) and higher transferable (86.0% vs. 71.6%) and freezable (67.9% vs. 40.8%) embryo rates were observed in the FSH 128 group compared with the group that received 200 mg. Furthermore, no significant differences in the remaining parameters were observed between the experimental groups (P>0.05), demonstrating that pFSH dose reduction promoted a greater production of freezable and transferable embryos in Dorper ewes subjected to MOET. ResumoCom o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da redução de pFSH na produção in vivo de embriões de ovelhas da raça Dorper exploradas no semiárido do Nordeste do Brasil, 40 fêmeas ovinas foram distribuídas em dois grupos com 20 animais, os quais receberam um CIDR intravaginal por 14 dias e dois dias antes da remoção do dispositivo receberam um tratamento superovulatório proposto: grupo FSH200 onde as ovelhas receberam 200 mg de pFSH, enquanto o grupo FSH128 totalizou 128 mg em doses decrescentes intervaladas por 12 horas. Doze horas após o final do tratamento, foi realizada a detecção de estro, a cada quatro horas, utilizando dois carneiros Dorper, de fertilidade comprovada. As ovelhas foram cobertas no início do estro e 24 horas depois. Sete dias após a retirada do dispositivo intravaginal, foi realizada a avaliação da resposta superovulatória e a colheita de embriões pelo método de laparotomia. O lavado recuperado foi submetido à procura de embriões em estereomicroscópio e classificados de acordo com sua qualidade. Para comparação dos diversos parâmetros, foi utilizada a Análise de Variância (ANOVA), seguida da realização do teste LSD. Os dados expressos em porcentagem foram submetidos ao Teste de Qui-quadrado. A taxa de ovulação foi superior no grupo FSH200 com 16,3 ± 0,3 corpos lúteos (CL) quand...

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