Assessment of tissue development in fattening quails using the stable isotope technique.

We aimed to study the behaviour of tissue renewal in blood, pectoral muscle and keel of fattening quails during their growth and adulthood through carbon-13 turnover using the stable isotope technique. Three hundred male European quails were randomly subjected to six treatments. Diets fed to animals were initially based on corn and soybean meal and were replaced at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of age with diets of rice grits and soybean meal. These diets have distinct isotopic signals and over time it changes; the tissue will incorporate dietary signal, and then, we can measure the return time for each tissue in each age. Treatments were T1 (0 to 21 days), T2 (7 to 35 days), T3 (14 to 42 days), T4 (21 to 56 days), T5 (28 to 63 days) and T6 (35 to 70 days). Carbon-13 turnover in tissues of the birds at the above-mentioned time periods was calculated using the first-order exponential function. The values of half-lives were 2.6, 3.6, 5.4, 6.3, 9.0 and 9.8 days for blood and 2.0, 1.7, 4.8, 6.7, 6.9 and 6.6 days for pectoral muscle in treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. The half-lives for the keel in treatments T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were 2.0, 5.4, 7.7, 8.9 and 15 days respectively. Thus, half-life in sampled tissues generally increased with age of birds. Initially, the tissue half-lives are influenced by growth, and at the end of the growth cycle, the breast muscle tissue was the most metabolically active in either periods, followed by blood and the keel. All tissues showed a sigmoidal growth curve, which can be confirmed by half-life as a function of age.

Modelling and determination of metabolic pools by stable carbon isotopes in the avian duodenal mucosa and albumen.

Stable isotope analyses have helped in assessing dietary switches if the diet undergoes metabolic alteration (isotopic exchange). However, when considering the effects over time of switching from one diet to another, one can assess how quickly the new diet is incorporated into tissues via the isotopic renewal or incorporation rate, or turnover. Turnover is obtained using exponential curves that fit the original data, allowing the determination of practical order parameters such as the half-life (T) and the turnover constant (k). Researchers have found that metabolic incorporation can be fractionated. The resulting fractions, called metabolic pools, are identified using the linearization of the isotopic exchange model and its linear fit. This fractionation methodology is still not well defined. The objective of this study was to assess the behaviour of the metabolic renewal rate (turnover) in fractionated form, explain the theory, and apply it to data from the avian duodenal mucosa and albumen. We concluded that the duodenal mucosa has one metabolic pool, with a half-life of 1.23 days, and that the albumen has two metabolic pools, with half-lives of 1.89 and 6.32 days.

Poultry offal meal in chicken: traceability using the technique of carbon (13C/12C)- and nitrogen (15N/14N)-stable isotopes.

Studies on the detection of animal by-products in poultry meat are rare and practically nonexistent in chicken meat. With the development of the technique of stable isotopes for traceability purposes and the certification of broiler diet patterns, it has been necessary to know the behavior of the isotopic signature of different tissues in birds, in case of a potential replacement of a diet containing animal ingredients with a strictly vegetable one and vice versa. Thus, this study, carried out at the São Paulo State University, Botucatu Campus, Brazil, aimed to evaluate meat from the breast, thigh, drumstick, and wings to trace the presence of poultry offal meal (OM) in broiler feed using the analysis of stable isotopes of carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) by mass spectrometry. In total, 720 one-d-old chicks were distributed into 6 groups: vegetable diet (VD) from 1 to 42 d; 8% poultry offal meal (OM) diet from 1 to 42 d; VD from 1 to 21 d and 8% OM diet from 22 to 42 d; VD from 1 to 35 d and 8% OM diet from 36 to 42 d; 8% OM diet from 1 to 21 d and VD from 22 to 42 d; and 8% OM diet from 1 to 35 d and VD from 36 to 42 d. Through the analysis of C and N, it is possible to trace the use of OM in broiler feeding when this ingredient is part of the feeding throughout the breeding phase or when it substitutes a strictly VD even up to 35 d. When an OM diet is substituted by a VD, the animal ingredient has to be part of the feeding for 21 d or longer to be detected by this method.

Determination of the geographical origin of Brazilian wines by isotope and mineral analysis.

In the present research, we studied wines from three different south Brazilian winemaking regions with the purpose of differentiating them by geographical origin of the grapes. Brazil's wide territory and climate diversity allow grape cultivation and winemaking in many regions of different and unique characteristics. The wine grape cultivation for winemaking concentrates in the South Region, mainly in the Serra Gaúcha, the mountain area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which is responsible for 90% of the domestic wine production. However, in recent years, two new production regions have developed: the Campanha, the plains to the south and the Serra do Sudeste, the hills to the southeast of the state. Analysis of isotopic ratios of (18)O/(16)O of wine water, (13)C/(12)C of ethanol, and of minerals were used to characterize wines from different regions. The isotope analysis of δ(18)O of wine water and minerals Mg and Rb were the most efficient to differentiate the regions. By using isotope and mineral analysis, and discrimination analysis, it was possible to classify the wines from south Brazil.

Dietary glutamine, glutamic acid and nucleotides increase the carbon turnover (δ 13C) on the intestinal mucosa of weaned piglets.

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of dietary glutamine, glutamic acid and nucleotides on duodenal and jejunal carbon turnover, and on mucosa morphometry of piglets weaned at an age of 21 days. The diets were: additive-free diet - control (C); 1% of glutamine (G); 1% of glutamic acid (GA); and 1% of nucleotides (N). In intestinal mucosa morphometry trial, 65 animals were used. At day 0 (baseline), five animals were slaughtered to determine the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), VH : CD ratio and villi density (VD). The remaining 60 animals were allocated into a randomized block design with 4×3 factorial arrangement (four diets: C - control, G - glutamine, GA - glutamic acid and N - nucleotides; three slaughter ages: 7, 14 and 21 days post-weaning) with five piglets slaughtered per treatment. In carbon turnover trial, 123 animals were used. At day 0 (baseline), three animals were slaughtered to quantify the δ 13C half-life (T50%) and the 99% carbon substitution (T99%) on intestinal mucosa. The remaining 120 animals were blocked by three weight categories (light, medium and heavy) and, randomly assigned to pen with the same four diets from the previous trial with one piglet slaughtered per weight category per treatment at days 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 20, 27 and 49 after weaning. Morphometric analyses have yielded no consistent results regarding the action of the evaluated additives, and few reproducible age-related effects. The N diets determined lower T50% values (5.18 days) and T99% (17.21 days) than G and C diets (T50%=7.29, 7.58 days and T99%=24.22, 25.17 days, respectively) in the duodenal mucosa. In jejunum, the N, GA and G diets determined the lowest T50% means (4.9, 6.2 and 6.7 days, respectively) and T99% means (15.34, 21.10 and 21.84 days, respectively) in comparison with C diets (T50%=7.44 and T99%=24.72 days). The inclusion of the additives in the diets of piglets accelerated the carbon turnover in piglets during the post-weaning period. The stable isotopes technique (δ 13C) is an important methodology in studies of additives with trophic effects on the intestinal mucosa of the piglets.

Muscle delta13C change in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): effects of growth and carbon turnover.

The contribution of growth and turnover to the muscle delta(13)C change process was investigated using mathematical models which associate delta(13)C change to time of intake of a new diet or increase in body mass. Two groups of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed on diets based on C3 (delta(13)C=-25.64+/-0.06 per thousand) or C4 (delta(13)C=-16.01+/-0.06 per thousand) photosynthetic cycle plants to standardize the muscle delta(13)C. After establishing the carbon isotopic equilibrium, fish (mean mass 24.12+/-6.79 g) then received the other treatment diet until a new carbon isotopic equilibrium could be established, characterizing T1 (C3-C4) and T2 (C4-C3) treatments. No significant differences were observed in fish productive performance. Good fits were obtained for the models that associated the delta(13)C change to time, resulting in carbon half-life values of 23.33 days for T1 and 25.96 days for T2. Based on values found for the muscle delta(13)C change rate from growth (0.0263 day(-1) and 0.0254 day(-1)) and turnover (0.0034 day(-1) and 0.0013 day(-1)), our results indicate that most of the delta(13)C change could be attributed to growth. The application of model that associated the delta(13)C change to body mass increase seems to produce results with no apparent biological explanation. The delta(13)C change rate could directly reflect the daily ration and growth rate, and consequently the isotopic change rates of carbon and other tissue elements can be properly used to assess different factors that may interfere in nutrient utilization and growth.

Detecting animal by-product intake using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Sheep are used in many countries as food and for manufacturing bioproducts. However, when these animals consume animal by-products (ABP), which is widely prohibited, there is a risk of transmitting scrapie - a fatal prion disease in human beings. Therefore, it is essential to develop sensitive methods to detect previous ABP intake to select safe animals for producing biopharmaceuticals. We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for 13C and 15N to trace animal proteins in the serum of three groups of sheep: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) for 89 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets with 30% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 16-89 in the AVP group and until day 49 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). The AVPR group showed 15N equilibrium 5 days after MBM removal (54th day). Conversely, 15N equilibrium in the AVP group occurred 22 days later (76th day). The half-life differed between these groups by 3.55 days. In the AVPR group, 15N elimination required 53 days, which was similar to this isotope's incorporation time. Turnover was determined based on natural 15N signatures. IRMS followed by turnover calculations was used to evaluate the time period for the incorporation and elimination of animal protein in sheep serum. The δ13C and δ15N values were used to track animal protein in the diet. This method is biologically and economically relevant for the veterinary field because it can track protein over time or make a point assessment of animal feed with high sensitivity and resolution, providing a low-cost analysis coupled with fast detection. Isotopic profiles could be measured throughout the experimental period, demonstrating the potential to use the method for traceability and certification assessments.

Tracing metabolic routes of feed ingredients in tissues of broiler chickens using stable isotopes.

The present study aimed to quantify the proportion of 13C from energy and protein feed ingredients that follow the metabolic routing of the liver and muscle in broiler chickens. A stable isotope of carbon technique was used that is based on the isotopic discrimination that occurs in the plants during the photosynthesis process. One-day-old male chicks were subjected to treatments based on free choice of energy and protein sources. Rice bran (R) and soybean meal (S), C3 plants, have higher isotopic ratios than corn (C), a C4 plant, and corn gluten meal (G). Choices were R+S, C+G, R+G, C+S, or R+C+G+S. A complete feed (CF) was a sixth treatment. Feed intake and BW were measured at 30 d of age, when liver and breast muscle were collected for isotopic analysis. Treatments affected the amount of feed intake and the choices of energy or protein sources. Complete feed had the largest intake, differing from the other treatments that had free-choice feeding. Final BW was a direct reflection of consumption by these birds in all treatments. The isotopic results indicated that the 13C/12C ratio was generally higher in breast muscle than in liver, probably because of higher protein content. Moreover, in the liver, the proportion of 13C retained from the energy ingredient was greater than the proportion from the protein ingredient. That is in contrast to muscle, where the proportion of 13C retained from the protein ingredient was greater than from the energy ingredient that was self-selected.

Effect of etching agent on dentinal adhesive interface in primary teeth.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of a phosphoric acid etchant containing benzalkonium chloride on the dentin/adhesive interface in primary teeth. The teeth had caries lesions involving enamel and dentin, and were stored in a 2% glutaraldehyde solution for 2-4 hours. The teeth were divided into five groups of five teeth each: Group 1: Etching for 15 seconds with a semigel 32% phosphoric acid containing benzalkonium chloride; Group 2: Etching with 35% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds; Group 3: Treated with a 2% benzalkonium chloride in a alcoholic solution; Group 4: Conditioned with a 3% benzalkonium chloride in a alcoholic solution (control group); Group 5: The teeth were untreated (control group). The carious tissue was removed with a carbide bur in high-speed and copious air water spray. The overall dimensions and depths of the cavities were determined by the carious tissue removal. After the caries lesion was removed, the cavity was cleaned with an air-water spray and the dentin was treated according to the specific group. The teeth were then restored with Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus (3M, St. Paul, MN) and Z-100 resin-based composite (3M, St. Paul, MN) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the teeth were restored they were stored in water for 24 hours at room temperature and the restorations polished. After storage the teeth were thermally challenged for 500 cycles in temperatures of 50 C and 550 C and then stored in 100% humidity until the sectioning procedures. The teeth were cut into two sections along the longitudinal axis through the center of the teeth and passed the mesial-distal surfaces through the restoration by using a double-face diamond disc with water coolant. The specimens were ground with 320 up to 600 grit silicon carbide paper and polished with 6 mm and 1 mm diamond paste and 0.25 pm alumina solution. The specimens were etched with 10% citric acid for 1 minute and washed with deionized water. After that, they were deproteinized with 10% NaOCl for 5 seconds. The specimens were dried at room temperature sputter-coated with gold and observed with an SEM for assessment of the morphology of the bonded interface. The interface was observed to determine the presence/absence of hybrid layer formation, resin tags, and gaps. In the groups treated only with benzalkonium chloride solutions, spaces were observed in the resin/dentin interface. Similar findings were observed in the control group, which received no treatment on the dentin before primer application. In these groups neither resin tags or hybrid layer formation was observed. The presence of an amorphous layer, which was unremoved smear layer, was noted. The group treated with 35% phosphoric acid showed a hybrid layer formation (8.15 microns). This layer was linked intimately with the peritubular and intertubular dentin. Tags formation was observed towards the pulp under the hybrid layer. In these specimens the gaps were not observed between the dentin layer and bonding materials. The total removal of the smear layer was observed using 37% phosphoric acid with benzalkonium chloride. A hybrid layer (+/- 7.32 microns) and resin-tags attached to this layer were observed similar to the group in which the 35% phosphoric acid was used. The samples showed total removal of the smear layer and no gaps were observed in the dentin/adhesive interface.

Development of equations to estimate microbial contamination in ruminal incubation residues of forage produced under tropical conditions using 15N as a label.

The objective of this study was to use (15)N to label microbial cells to allow development of equations for estimating the microbial contamination in ruminal in situ incubation residues of forage produced under tropical conditions. A total of 24 tropical forages were ruminal incubated in 3 steers at 3 separate times. To determine microbial contamination of the incubated residues, ruminal bacteria were labeled with (15)N by continuous intraruminal infusion 60 h before the first incubation and continued until the last day of incubation. Ruminal digesta was collected for the isolation of bacteria before the first infusion of (15)N on adaptation period and after the infusion of (15)N on collection period. To determine the microbial contamination of CP fractions, restricted models were compared with the full model using the model identity test. A value of the corrected fraction "A" was estimated from the corresponding noncorrected fraction by this equation: Corrected "A" fraction (A(CP)C) = 1.99286 + 0.98256 × A" fraction without correction (A(CP)WC). The corrected fraction "B" was estimated from the corresponding noncorrected fraction and from CP, NDF, neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP), and indigestible NDF (iNDF) using the equation corrected "B" fraction (B(CP)C) = -17.2181 - 0.0344 × fraction "B" without correction (B(CP)WC) + 0.65433 × CP + 1.03787 × NDF + 2.66010 × NDIP - 0.85979 × iNDF. The corrected degradation rate of "B" fraction (kd)was estimated using the equation corrected degradation rate of "B" fraction (kd(CP)C) = 0.04667 + 0.35139 × degradation rate of "B" fraction without correction (kd(CP)WC) + 0.0020 × CP - 0.00055839 × NDF - 0.00336 × NDIP + 0.00075089 × iNDF. This equation was obtained to estimate the contamination using CP of the feeds: %C = 79.21 × (1 - e(-0.0555t)) × e(-0.0874CP). It was concluded that A and B fractions and kd of CP could be highly biased by microbial CP contamination, and therefore these corrected values could be obtained mathematically, replacing the use of microbial markers. The percentage of contamination and the corrected apparent degradability of CP could be obtained from values of CP and time of incubation for each feed, which could reduce cost and labor involved when using (15)N.

Performance, carcass and meat characteristics of two cattle categories finished on pasture during the dry season with supplementation in different forage allowance / Desempenho, características da carcaça e carne de duas categorias de bovinos de corte terminados em pastagem durante a estação seca com suplementação em diferentes ofertas de forragem

The objective this paper was to evaluate the effect of two categories of beef finished in pasture with supplementation with two herbage allowance on performance, carcass and meat characteristics. Thirty-six Guzera cattle were used, 18 steers and 18 heifers with an initial age of 20 months. There was significant difference in daily weight gain for animal category and the herbage allowance, which were higher in males and animals submitted to high herbage allowance. Steers showed higher final weight, carcass weight and forequarter yield compared with the heifers, although the hindquarter yield was higher in the heifers, however the herbage allowance did not influence these characteristics. There were not statistical differences for carcass yield, ribeye area, backfat thickness and marbling score for the animal categories and herbage allowance. The meat chemical composition of the steers did not differ of the heifers, however, the animals submitted to high herbage allowance was increase in ether extract and pH, decrease in protein percentage. It was concluded that the animal category and the herbage allowance changed the animal performance, improving performance in males and cattle submitted to high herbage allowance.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de duas categorias de bovinos terminados em pastagem com suplementação em duas ofertas de forragem no desempenho, na qualidade da carcaça e da carne. Foram utilizados 36 bovinos Guzerá, 18 novilhos e 18 novilhas, com idade inicial de 20 meses de idade. Observou-se diferença significativa no ganho de peso diário para categoria animal e ofertas de forragem, que foram superiores nos machos e nos animais submetidos à oferta alta de forragem. Os novilhos apresentaram maior peso final, peso de carcaça e rendimento de dianteiro em comparação com as novilhas, embora o rendimento do traseiro tenha sido maior para as novilhas, entretanto as ofertas de forragem não influenciaram essas características. Não houve diferenças estatísticas para rendimento de carcaça, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea e marmorização para categorias de animais e ofertas de forragem. Quanto à composição química, a carne de novilhos não diferiu das novilhas. Os animais submetidos à alta oferta de forragem tiveram aumento no extrato etéreo e pH, redução na porcentagem de proteína. Conclui-se que a categoria animal e os níveis de forragem alteram o desempenho animal, melhorando, assim, o desempenho nos machos e nos bovinos submetidos à alta oferta de forragem.(AU)

Isotopic fractionation and trophic position of zooplankton species in the Upper Paraná River floodplain.

This study aimed to evaluate the isotopic fractionation and trophic position of three zooplankton species (Notodiaptomus amazonicus, Moina minuta and Bosmina hagmanni) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. We predict that phytoplankton is the main food resource used by these species. Three zooplankton samples and three phytoplankton samples were taken from each sampling site, with three to four samples collected for each species. The number of individuals for samples varied according to the body size: from 100 to 130 individuals for Notodiaptomus amazonicus; 150 to 200 for Moina minuta; and from 250 to 300 for Bosmina hagmanni. The isotopic values for δ13C and δ15N were determined using mass spectrophotometer. The isotopic fractionation of 13C was performed according to the relationship Δ = δ13C zooplankton - δ13C phytoplankton. To determine the possible trophic position of these species, we used the expression TL = (δ15N zooplankton - δ15N phytoplankton)/Δ+ 1. The species showed high variation in isotopic fractionation and in trophic position in the different environments. We verified that the species use other food resources in addition to phytoplankton. The elucidation and understanding of the trophic position of the organisms based on stable isotopic analysis offers complementary information to traditional techniques. This analysis helps explain the flow of matter and energy in the food chain of floodplain aquatic environments as well as trace the trophic relationships involved in the ecological roles and strategies of distinct species.

Turnover do carbono em sangue e plasma, nas fases crescimento e postura, de codornas japonesas (Coturnix coturnix japonica) / Turnover of carbon in blood and plasma, growth stages and posture, japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

O estudo objetivou avaliar o turnover do 13C no sangue e plasma de codornas japonesas utilizando a técnica de isótopos estáveis, para a obtenção do patamar de equilíbrio isotópico que servirá de fundamento para estudos de rastreabilidade. Foram utilizadas 300 aves durante o período experimental de 1-42 e 49-97 dias de idade. Os tratamentos da primeira fase foram constituídos de dietas à base de arroz (C3), contendo ou não farinha de carne e ossos bovinos e um com dieta à base de milho (C4). Nessa primeira fase foi analisado o turnover do sinal isotópico do matrizeiro à base de dietas C4 para dietas à base de C3, como também as diferenças isotópicas das dietas contendo ou não farinha de origem animal. Na segunda fase houve uma substituição de dietas, ou seja, as aves no tratamento C4 da primeira fase passaram a consumir dieta C3, e o tratamento que antes consumia dieta C3 passou para dieta C4. Para determinar a taxa de turnover e o percentual estimado de participação da farinha na composição do material coletado, foi empregado o modelo de diluição isotópica utilizando valores do δ13C. A comparação entre as meias-vidas do sangue e plasma da primeira fase revelou o enriquecimento do δ13C na dieta; já na segunda fase foi possível observar as velocidades de incorporação após a troca das dietas...

The study aimed to evaluate the turnover of 13C in the blood and plasma of Japanese quail using the technique of stable isotopes to obtain the level of isotopic equilibrium that will be the foundation for studies of traceability. A total of 300 birds during the experimental period of 1-42 and 49-97 days of age. The first phase of the treatments consisted of diets based on rice (C3), with or without meat and beef bones and a diet based on corn (C4). This was first examined the turnover signal farm matrix isotope-based diets based diets C4 to C3, as well as isotopic differences of diets with or without animal meal In the second stage there was a substitution of diets, or C4 treatment of the first stage passes to consume C3-based diet than before treatment and diet consumed C3 to C4 diet. To determine the turnover rate and the estimated percentage of participation of flour in the composition of the collected material was used isotope dilution model using δ13C values. A comparison of the half-lives of blood and plasma from the first phase discloses the enrichment of dietary δ 13C, in the second phase was observed after incorporation speeds exchange diets...

Muscle delta13C change in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings fed on C3-or C4-cycle plants grain-based diets.

The effects of grain-based diets from C3 or C4-cycle plants on muscle delta(13)C change process in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were investigated. Two groups of sex reversal males Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed with isoproteic (32.0% DP) and isocaloric (3200 kcal DE/kg) diets, differing from each other by their delta(13)C. Muscle samples were collected and the carbon isotopic composition was measured. For C4 diet, the formula for the muscle delta(13)C change related to the intake time of a new diet was delta(13)C=-14.88-9.21e(-0.0209t) and the half-life (T) of the muscle carbon was 33.2 days. For C3 diet, the formula was delta(13)C=-25.43+8.59e(-0.0533t) with T=13 days. The C3 diet was considered more appropriate based on its palatability and consequent larger food intake than the C4 diet, resulting in an increased muscle delta(13)C change rate. However, for future studies, would be necessary to mix both the C3 and C4 feedstuffs to formulate diets nutritionally appropriated, with contrasting stable isotopes signatures. Tissue delta(13)C change rate is therefore indicated as a promising tool to better understand the biotic and abiotic factors that influence nutrients utilization from the diet and animal growth.

Isotopic traceability in body tissues and in different breeding periods of broilers / Rastreabilidade isotópica em tecidos corporais e em diferentes períodos de criação de frangos de corte

The inclusion of poultry viscera meal (VM) in broiler diets to possibly replace it with strictly vegetable diet (VE) and vice-versa, using the technique of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in different tissues was traced. One hundred ninety-two one-day-old chicks that had been distributed randomly were used in twelve experimental treatments with four replications of four chicks each. The treatments consisted of vegetable diet (VG) for diets containing FV going after a certain age or the reverse, in which the birds began feeding VM on diet and then switched to VE diet. At 42 days of age, samples of pectoral muscle (Pectoralis major), keel and tibia were collected, with later determination of isotopic ratios (13C/12C and 15N/14N). The stable isotopes technique couldn't trace the use of VM in feeding broilers when this ingredient was part of broiler diets only in the first seven, 14 or 21 days of age. However, this technique can be applied to younger poultry that have been sampled before a possible change in diet, since they can have the isotopic signature of feeding stabilized around two weeks of age.

Rastrearam-se a inclusão de farinha de vísceras de aves (FV) em dietas de frangos por ocasião de eventual substituição de dieta contendo FV por dieta estritamente vegetal, e vice-versa, por isótopos estáveis de carbono e de nitrogênio. Foram distribuídos aleatoriamente 192 pintos de um dia de idade, em 12 tratamentos com quatro repetições de quatro aves. Os tratamentos constituíam-se de dieta de vegetais (VG) passando para dietas contendo FV, após certa idade, ou o inverso, em que as aves começaram se alimentando de dieta FV e depois passaram para dieta VG. Aos 42 dias de idade, foram coletadas amostras de músculo peitoral (Pectoralis major), quilha e tíbia, para determinação das razões isotópicas (13C/12C e 15N/14N). A técnica dos isótopos estáveis somente não foi capaz de rastrear a utilização de FV na alimentação de frangos de corte, quando esse ingrediente fez parte da dieta das aves apenas nos primeiros sete, 14 ou 21 dias de idade. Entretanto, há a possibilidade da aplicação dessa técnica em aves mais jovens, amostradas antes de eventual mudança de dieta, pois elas podem ter a assinatura isotópica da alimentação estabilizada em torno de duas semanas de idade.

Influence of diet on assimilation and turnover of 13C in the tissues of broiler chickens.

The 13C turnover rates of the liver and thoracic pectoral muscle of growing broilers were determined by feeding diets with varying 13C content. Male chicks (1-d-old) were subjected to treatments based on free choice of 5 different mixes of energy and protein sources from plants with C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways that had differing 13C content. Rice bran (R) and soybean meal (S) were the C3 sources, while maize (C) and maize gluten meal (G) were the C4 sources. Choices were R + S, C + G, R + G, C + S or R + C + G + S. The 6th treatment was a complete feed (CF) that was similar to a commercial broiler feed. The isotopic composition of the birds' tissues was representative of the isotopic composition of the diets. The assimilation was faster for C3, in both liver and muscle, than for C4 diets, and give the delta per mil difference between the diet and tissues. The liver is the most active metabolic tissue and gave more rapid isotope turnover than in muscle.

Importância do controle de qualidade para a redução das amostras insatisfatórias cérvico-vaginais / The importance of quality control to reduce unsatisfactory cervicl smears

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as não-conformidades analíticas dos exames citopatológicos realizados no Setor de Citologia Oncótica, da Divisão de Patologia do Instituto Adolfo Lutz (SCO-IAL), e discutir ações corretivas para minimizar essas ocorrências. O SCO-IAL recebeu 44.197 amostras citopatológicas cérvico-vaginais enviadas pelas Unidades de Saúde (US), de setembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2007, que foram coradas pelo método de Papanicolaou e classificadas segundo a Nomenclatura Brasileira recomendada pelo Ministério da Saúde. Do total, 1.155 (2,61%) foram classificadas como insatisfatórias, sendo: 351 por artefatos de dessecamento; 198 pela presença de piócitos; 98 por material insuficiente; 47 pela presença de sangue e 12 por superposição celular. Em 449 casos, houve associação de duas ou mais causas; sendo o dessecamento presente em 351 casos. Das 198 amostras insatisfatórias pela presença de piócitos, 37 apresentaram agentes infecciosos. Observou-se também nesse mesmo período que dos 1.558(3.52%) casos de atipias de significado indeterminado, 371 foram limitados em seu diagnóstico. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que programas de treinamento nas US são de melhor estratégia para melhoria na qualidade das amostras. O controle de qualidade interno e externo, desde a colheita até a emissão dos laudos, é fundamental para o sucesso dos programas de rastreamento citológico.