No abstract

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of hormonal subdoses at acupoint Hou Hai in estrus synchronization of goats. Sixty-nine females goats received intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate for seven days and were randomly distributed among three treatments: T1 (n = 23): application of 125 μg of PGF2α on the sixth day (D6) and 300 UI of eCG on the seventh day (D7), both intramuscularly (IM); T2 (n = 23) and T3 (n = 23): application 37.5 μg of PGF2α at D6 and 90 UI of eCG at D7, applied by Hou Hai acupuncture and false acupuncture (IM), respectively. The goats were subjected to hormonal protocol and monitored for the coverage and evaluation of reproductive parameters. The data were subjected to normality analysis, followed by appropriate statistical tests for each variable. Greater numbers of estrus goats were obtained in treatments one (T1 = 100%) and three (T3 = 91.3%) (p < 0.05). No difference was observed (p > 0.05) for sponge removal intervals at the beginning (35.9 h) and end (59.8 h) of estrus, and for the duration of estrus (24.7 h), gestation rate at 30 (77%) and 60 (76.7%) days, and prolificacy (1.9). The use of PGF2α and eCG in subdoses applied to the Hou Hai acupoint or false acupoint was efficient in synchronizing estrus in goats, based on the rate of gestation and prolificity of the animals. Key words: Pharmacopuncture. Hormone. Small ruminants. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar a eficácia de subdoses hormonais no acuponto Hou Hai na sincronização de estro em cabras. Sessenta e nove fêmeas receberam esponjas intravaginais com 60mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona por sete dias, e distribuídas aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1 (n = 23): aplicação de 125 µg de PGF2 α no sexto dia (D6) e 300UI de eCG no sétimo dia (D7), ambos por via intramuscular (IM); T2 (n=23) e T3 (n=23): receberam 37,5 µg de PGF2 α no D6 e 90UI de eCG no D7, aplicados no acuponto Hou Hai e em falso acuponto (IM), respectivamente. As cabras foram submetidas ao protocolo hormonal e monitoradas para realização das coberturas e avaliação de parâmetros reprodutivos. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de normalidade, seguido dos testes estatísticos adequados para cada variável. Obteve-se maior número de cabras em estro nos tratamentos um (T1=100%) e três (T3=91,3%) (p < 0,05). Não houve diferença (p > 0,05) para os intervalos da retirada da esponja ao início (35,9h) e final (59,8h) do estro, bem como para a duração do estro (24,7h), taxa de gestação aos 30 (77%) e 60 (76,7%) dias, e prolificidade (1,9). O uso de subdoses de PGF 2 α e de eCG aplicados no acuponto Hou Hai ou em falso acuponto foram eficientes na sincronização de estro em caprinos, com base na taxa de gestação e prolificidade dos animais. Palavras-chave: Farmacopuntura. Hormônio. Pequenos ruminantes.

RESUMO Avaliou-se a eficiência da administração de subdoses de eCG nos acupontos Bai Hui e Hou Hai em protocolos de sincronização de estro em cabras. Na primeira etapa, 57 cabras foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em quatro tratamentos: T1- 300UI de eCG intramuscular (IM); T2- 60UI de eCG no acuponto Hou Hai; T3- 60UI de eCG no acuponto Bai Hui e T4- 60UI de eCG IM; e na segunda etapa, 28 cabras foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1- 300UI de eCG IM; T2- 30UI de eCG no acuponto Bai Hui e T3- 30UI de eCG IM. Ao final do tratamento hormonal, as cabras foram monitoradas para detecção do estro, realização das coberturas e avaliação do comportamento reprodutivo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de normalidade, seguida dos testes estatísticos adequados para cada variável. Na primeira etapa experimental, obteve-se maior duração de estro nas cabras do T1 (P=0,009). Na segunda etapa experimental, obteve-se maior número de animais em estros no T1 (P=0,03). As demais variáveis para ambas as etapas não sofreram influência dos tratamentos (P>0,05), demonstrando que a administração de subdoses de eCG nos acupontos Bai Hui e Hou Hai foi eficiente para sincronizar o estro.

Óleo de peixe associado ao ácido ascórbico no diluidor para criopreservação de sêmen caprino [Fish oil associated to ascorbic acid in diluter for cryopreservation goat semen]  RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da inclusão de óleo de peixe associado ao ácido ascórbico no diluidor para criopreservação de sêmen caprino. Dois machos da raça Boer foram submetidos à coleta de sêmen pelo método de vagina artificial, sendo os ejaculados avaliados quanto aos aspectos físicos e morfológicos. Após avaliação, formou-se um pool, seguido do fracionamento em cinco grupos: G1 -diluidor citrato-gema e G2, G3, G4 e G5 -diluidor citrato-gema acrescido de 1,0; 2,0; 3,0 e 4,0% de óleo de peixe e 0,05% de ácido ascórbico, respectivamente. Após descongelamento, foram realizadas avaliações físicas do sêmen e os testes complementares de termorresistência lento (TTR), hiposmótico (HO), integridade acrossomal e compactação da cromatina espermática. Houve comportamento linear crescente (P<0,05) para motilidade pós-descongelamento. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para vigor pós-descongelamento (2,00±0,24). No TTR não houve diferença (P>0,05) para motilidade e vigor espermáticos entre os tempos cinco e 180min, com médias inicial e final de 62,17±12,13 e 14,29±10,55 para motilidade e de 2,00±0,52 e 0,49±0,44 para vigor. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para o HO, com porcentagem média de espermatozoides reativos de 23,5±5,96%. Houve comportamento linear crescente para acrossoma íntegro e decrescente para acrossoma irregular (P<0,05). Não houve diferença (P>0,05) na compactação da cromatina, com 97,06±1,17% de cromatina íntegra. A inclusão até 4% de óleo de peixe acrescido de ácido ascórbico no diluidor melhorou motilidade e integridade de acrossoma após a criopreservação. Palavras-chave: lipídios, membrana celular, viabilidade espermática ABSTRACTThe study aimed to evaluate the effect of fish oil inclusion associated with ascorbic acid in the thinner for goat semen cryopreservation. Two male Boers underwent semen collection through the artificial vagina method, ejaculates being then assessed for physical and morphological aspects. After evaluation, a pool was formed, followed by the split into five groups: G1 -yolk-citrate extender and G2, G3, G4 and G5yolk-citrate extender plus 1.0; 2.0; 3.0 and 4.0% fish oil and 0.05% ascorbic acid, respectively. After thawing, physical evaluations of semen were assessed and additional testing slow heat resistance (TTR), hiposmotic (HO), acrosome integrity and compression of sperm chromatin. There was linear increase (P<0.05) post-thaw motility. No difference was obtained for post-thaw vigor and there was no influence of the association of fish oil and ascorbic acid in TTR. Plasma membrane integrity, by hyposmotic test (HO), presented a mean of reactive spermatozoa of 23.5±5.96% (P>0.05). There was linear increase for intact acrosome and decreasing acrosome irregular (P<0.05). In the analysis of the chromatin compaction, approximately 3% of damages (P>0.05) were observed. The inclusion o...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the testicular biometric, seminal, and plasma testosterone levels in lambs subjected to an anti-GnRH vaccine as a method of castration. Thirty entire, crossbred Santa Inês male lambs were randomly distributed into three treatment (T): T1 was the control group, with the administration of 1 mL of saline solution subcutaneously (SC); 1.0 and 0.5 mL of an anti-GnRH vaccine were administered SC in T2 and T3, respectively. Testicular biometric variables, physical and morphological variables of semen, and plasma testosterone concentrations were evaluated. At D60, there was a reduction in testicular length, width, thickness, and scrotal circumference of the immunocastrated animals regardless of the vaccine dose used (P < 0.05). A reduction in semen physical variables at both dosages (P < 0.05) was observed, with azoospermia, in 80% and 70% of animals in the T2 and T3 groups, respectively. At D60, the immunocastrated animals also showed an increase in spermatozoa defects (P < 0.05), whereas plasma testosterone concentration decreased (P < 0.05). Immunocastration of lambs using the Bopriva vaccine at doses of 1.0 and 0.5 mL is efficient in inducing azoospermia in up to 80% of animals, although two doses in a 30-day interval are necessary for it to be an effective and safe method. Efficacy was demonstrated through a reduction in serum testosterone levels, testicular biometry, and seminal fluid analysis. Considering the efficacy of both doses in this study, we recommend using the lower dose (0.5 mL), which will allow for a 50% reduction in vaccine costs.

0.05). In this way, eCG can be replaced by FSH in synchronization protocols of ovulation in dairy goats.]]>

The substitution of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in protocols for synchronization of ovulation in Santa Inês ewes was assessed. Ten females were submitted to the insertion of intravaginal sponges containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 10 days; after this period sponges were withdrawn and the animals were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 5): intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL d-cloprostenol and 300 UI eCG; Group 2 (n = 5): intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL d-cloprostenol and 20 mg FSH. Interval between sponge withdrawal and estrus beginning was 27.7 h and 35.9 h for eCG and FSH, respectively. Interval between sponge withdrawal and the end of estrus was 55.8 h for eCG treatment and 55.6 h for FSH treatment. Estrus length was 29.3 h and 19.6 h, for eCG and FSH treatments, respectively. The biggest follicle and the second in size measured 0.74 cm and 0.54 cm for eCG treatment, whereas for the FSH treatment they measured 0.73 and 0.50 cm. The interval between the beginning of estrus and ovulation was similar within all groups: 21.0 h for eCG treated ewes and 25.2 h for the ones treated with FSH. Ewes treated with eCG presented an interval of 47.5 h between sponge withdrawal and ovulation, while the ones treated with FSH presented a 61.1 h interval. Ovulation occurred 8.3 h before the end of estrus in the eCG group. On the other hand, ewes treated with FSH ovulated 5.5 h after the end of estrus. Estrus and ovulation were efficiently synchronized in Santa Inês ewes by using long-term progestogen protocol associated to the administration of 20 mg FSH, along with Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) at the moment of sponge withdrawal, thus substituting the use of eCG

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of flaxseed in the diet of male goats on the resistance of semen to the cryopreservation process. Sixteen males were distributed in four groups and fed a diet supplemented with 0, 4, 8, and 12% of flaxseed for a period of 60 days. Only the ejaculates that presented motility and vigor above 70% and 3, respectively, were sent through the cryopreservation process. After thawing, the semen was evaluated through thermo resistance, hypoosmotic, and acrossomal integrity tests. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression at 5% of significance. There was positive quadratic behavior for motility after 60, 120, and 180 min in the thermoresistance test (TTR), and positive quadratic behavior for sperm vigor after thawing after 120 and 180 min in the TTR (P < 0.05). However, negative quadratic behavior was obtained for plasma membrane integrity according to the hypoosmotic test (P < 0.05) and there was a difference in the acrosomal integrity test, presenting an optimum maximum level of 3.25% of flaxseed for acrosomal integrity of 65.83% (P < 0.05). The results obtained demonstrated that the addition of as much as 12% of flaxseed to the diet of goat breeders improved post-thawing sperm quality.