No abstract

Reproductive efficiency of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated follicular aspiration [ ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to assess the reproductive response of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU). The study animals were divided into two groups, specifically, adult nanny goats (GA, n=10) and prepubertal nanny goats (GP, n=10), which were subjected to estrous synchronization and ovarian stimulation for LOPU. Both groups underwent six LOPU procedures at seven-day intervals and were subsequently subjected to controlled mating and pregnancy diagnosis to evaluate their future fertility. The study showed a reduction in the number of follicles visualized and in the amount and quality of the oocytes that were recovered and exposed to in vitro maturation. As indicated by the fertility test, however, no complications were found during the laparoscopic procedures that would impair the reproductive future of the animals. Therefore, a viable number of oocytes were obtained even with the decreased reproductive efficiency, proving that repeated LOPUs do not interfere with the reproductive of adult and prepubertal nanny goats. These results indicate a positive aspect of this procedure, allowing for increasing reproductive performance of this kind, when used for the production in vitro.

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Thirty health queens were submitted to ovariectomy by conventional technique or by videolaparoscopy. In order to study the intensity of inflammatory response by means of acute phase protein analysis and white blood cell count, serum samples were taken before and until 144 hours after the surgical procedures. The protein concentrations that were significantly increased 24 hours after surgical procedures were: ceruloplasmin, hemopexin, haptoglobin, and 1 -acid glycoprotein, 69.8%, 103.5%, 117.3%, and 199.0%, respectively, for conventional ovariectomy; and 22.3%, 46.1%, 79.8%, and 74.6%, respectively, for laparoscopic ovariectomy. Therefore, inflammatory response was more intense in queens submitted to conventional ovariectomy. Results indicate that the increase or decrease in acute phase proteins, as well as in white blood cells count, may be useful in the evaluation of inflammatory response induced by these surgical procedures. 1 -glicoproteína ácida, 69,8%, 103,5%, 117,3% e 199,0%, respectivamente, para ovariectomia convencional, e 22,3%, 46,1%, 79,8% e 74,6%, respectivamente, para

Avaliou-se a resposta de fase aguda através da concentração das proteínas de fase aguda (PFA) no soro sanguíneo e no líquido peritoneal de vinte e um equinos, hígidos e submetidos à obstrução intestinal experimental, distribuídos em quatro grupos: obstrução de duodeno - GD (n=6), íleo - GI (n=6), cólon dorsal esquerdo - GM (n=6) e controle instrumentado - GC (n=3). Foram colhidas amostras de sangue e líquido peritoneal e, após centrifugação e fracionamento, as proteínas de fase aguda foram separadas por eletroforese em SDS-PAGE. Identificaram-se as proteínas IgA, ceruloplasmina, transferrina, albumina, IgG, haptoglobina, α1-glicoproteína ácida e P24, no soro e no líquido peritoneal. Houve aumento nas concentrações sérica e peritoneal de todas as PFA, sendo mais evidente no líquido peritoneal e nos animais obstruídos. O fracionamento eletroforético das PFA no líquido peritoneal é mais eficaz no diagnóstico de processos inflamatórios abdominais, quando comparado ao sérico.

Creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are mainly muscle-specific enzymes, which can be associated with muscle tissue damage. The aim of this study was to assess the activities of CK and AST during the postoperative period, after conventional (G1) and videolaparoscopic ovariectomy (G2), in queens. A further group (G3) was subjected to anaesthesia only. Results demonstrate that there were significant differences between groups. The highest levels of CK were recorded in G1, however at a confidence level of p<0.05 there was no significant difference between groups during the first 6 hours after surgery. A significant (p<0.05) increase of CK values was identified between 0 h and 3 h in both groups (G1 and G2). Regarding AST activity there was no significant variation between groups, but again there was a significant difference between values at 0 h and 3h after surgery. In conclusion, ovariectomy performed by videolaparoscopy seems to cause less muscle damage when compared to the conventional method.

No abstract

Cardiac biomarkers are potentially useful to identify primary or secondary cardiac muscle damage in horses and higher values of cardiac troponin have also been seen after high intensity exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cavalcade of different distances on the serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) in Mangalarga Marchador horses. Fifteen clinically normal geldings (age 6.2 ± 1.2 years, weight 420 ± 58 kg) were distributed into three groups of five animals each. The groups were submitted to cavalcade along 4 km (G4), 8 km (G8), and 20 km (G20) at mean speeds of 15 km h , respectively. From each horse, blood samples were collected after and post-exercise. Serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations were determined with a solid-phase chemoluminescence immunoassay. The assay has an analytical sensitivity of 0.02 ng mL-1. The concentration of blood lactate was analyzed using an i-STAT portable clinical analyzer. After exercise, increases (P < 0.01) in cTnI and CK-MB concentrations were observed in G4 and G8. No changes (P > 0.05) in lactate concentration were observed post-cavalcade in all groups. Power tests values were 1.0 for cTnI and CK-MB, 0.63 for lactate. Positive correlations (0.4 < r < 0.5) were observed between cTnI and CK-MB. The changes in cTnI and CK-MB concentrations post-exercise is indicative of myocardial cell injury in healthy Mangalarga Marchador horses, which could be considered as an adaptation to physical exercise.