Can detomidine replace medetomidine for pharmacological semen collection in domestic cats?

Among the different methods used for semen collection from domestic cats, the pharmacological collection by urethral catheterization becomes disruptive. Medetomidine is the elected α2-adrenoceptor agonist for that, but in several countries, it is not commercially available. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of detomidine compared to medetomidine in collecting semen by urethral catheterization in domestic cats. Urethral catheterization was performed on 13 mongrel cats using a disposable semi-rigid tomcat urinary catheter. Of the 19 semen collections performed with medetomidine induction, 94.7% were successful, while with detomidine induction, only 56.3% of 16 were successful. The values semen samples variables were as follows for volume - 10.56 ± 0.4 vs 8.88 ± 0.5 mL, motility - 171.67 ± 0.79 vs 49.77 ± 3.45%, vigor - 4.1 ± 0.03 vs 3.10 ± 0.1 and concentration - 3.24 ± 0.19 vs 2.15 ± 0.13 ×109 sperm/mL respectively for medetomidine and detomidine group. The failure in semen collections with detomidine was mainly due to azoospermic samples, poor urethral relaxation, insufficient volume, or contamination of urine. The sperm concentration was also lower in the detomidine group (P <0.05) when compared to medetomidine. However, when the volume of semen collected was compared, we found no statistical differences. Despite its low performance in collecting semen from cats, detomidine may be an alternative when medetomidine is not accessible.

The gynecological examination in Pantaneiro mares.

Gynecological examination is essential to assess the reproductive tract of mares and can provide important information about the uterine environment. It includes physical, vaginal, and rectal examination, ultrasound, cytology, culture, and endometrial biopsy. The present study aimed to perform gynecological examination and fertility to assess the fertility prognosis of Pantaneiro mares that have not been reproductively active and to determine their reproductive ability. Eight mares underwent ultrasound and gynecological examination and artificial insemination. Ultrasound revealed changes only in one mare. Histopathological findings were mild, such as periglandular and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates, fibrotic areas, glandular dilation, glandular island formation, and edema due to the phase of the estrous cycle. One animal was classified in category I and the others in category IIA. Cytological changes were found in only one mare. Endometrial culture from five mares resulted in isolation of Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli and Candida sp. Only four mares resulted pregnant through artificial insemination, using the same stallion with fresh semen, which has been proving fertility. Thus, mares with better uterine conditions will not always become pregnant and those with mild changes will not always be barren.

Effects of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside and alpha-tocopherol on the characteristics of equine spermatozoa stored at 5°C.

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of adding ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (AA2G), a water-soluble antioxidant and stable derivative of ascorbate, to the semen extender and compare it to the addition of vitamin C (Vit. C) and the fat-soluble antioxidant α-tocopherol (α-Toh), both individually and in combination, on the seminal variables of equine sperm submitted to cooling for 72 h. We used two ejaculates from 10 stallions and evaluated them for motility, membrane integrity, chromatin fragmentation, mitochondrial activity and lipid peroxidation. In the analysis of lipid peroxidation, the control group showed 2506.2 ± 796.4 ng malondialdehyde/108 sperm, which was higher (P < 0.05) than the groups treated with antioxidants. The average value of motility in the AA2G group was 68.4 ± 18.1%, which was higher (P < 0.05) than that observed in the control group (62.1 ± 16.2%). The variables membrane integrity, chromatin fragmentation and mitochondrial activity did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments. It was concluded that the antioxidants protected sperm cells from lipid peroxidation and that AA2G was effective during the cooling process of equine semen at 5°C for72 h, providing increased levels of total motility.

Homeopatia aplicada à reprodução animal / Homeopathy applied to animal reproduction / Homeopatía aplicada a la reproducción animal

A homeopatia é um sistema terapêutico que propõe abordagem clínica e terapêutica para o tratamento do indivíduo doente, desenvolvida por Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann no final do século XVIII. No Brasil, a homeopatia foi introduzida por Benoit Mure, em 1840, tornando-se uma nova opção de tratamento. Como princípio básico tem-se a utilização de medicamentos dinamizados, ou seja, preparados a partir de substâncias animais, vegetais, minerais ou tecidos doentes. Existem duas leis que sustentam a homeopatia como parte da medicina. A primeira é a Lei dos Semelhantes - ?Similia simili buscurentur?- (os semelhantes que se curem pelos semelhantes) e, a segunda, a Lei do Vitalismo. O uso da homeopatia na reprodução se faz importante na busca de melhorias da fertilidade animal, tanto no diz respeito ao tratamento de patologias quanto na eficiência reprodutiva. Contudo, novos estudos devem ser desenvolvidos, uma vez que há divergências nos resultados encontrados na literatura.

Homeopathy is a therapeutic system proposing both clinical and therapeutic approaches to the treatment of the patient, developed by Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann in the late eighteenth century. In Brazil, homeopathy was introduced by Benoit Mure in 1840, becoming a new treatment option. The use of dynamized medication, or prepared from animal, vegetable or mineral substances, or from diseased tissue is at the core of homeopathy. There are two laws that support homeopathy as part of medicine. The first one is the Law of Similars - ?Similia simili buscurentur? - (like cures like). The second law is the Law of Vitalism. The use of homeopathy in reproduction is important in the search for improvement in animal fertility, both regarding the treatment of diseases and as in reproductive efficiency. However, further studies still need to be developed, since there are differences in the results found in literature.

La homeopatía es un sistema terapéutico que ofrece enfoque clínico y terapéutico para el tratamiento de la persona enferma, desarrollado por Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann a finales del siglo XVIII. En Brasil, la homeopatía fue introducida por Benoit Mure en 1840, convirtiéndose en una nueva opción de tratamiento. Como principio básico se ha utilizado drogas energizadas, es decir, sustancias preparadas a partir de animales, vegetales, minerales o tejidos enfermos. Hay dos leyes que apoyan la homeopatía como parte de la medicina. La primera es la ley de los semejantes - ?Similia simili buscurentur? - (los semejantes que se curen por los semejantes) y, la segunda, la Ley del Vitalismo. El uso de la homeopatía en la reproducción llega a ser importante en la búsqueda de la mejora de la fertilidad de los animales, tanto en lo que respecta al tratamiento de patologías como la eficiencia reproductiva. Sin embargo, nuevos estudios deben ser desarrollados, ya que hay divergencias en los resultados encontrados en la literatura.

Fatores que interferem na eficiência reprodutiva de receptoras de embrião bovino / Fators affecting the reproductive efficiency of bovine embryo recipients / Factores que interfieren en la eficacia reproductiva de receptoras de emvriones bovinos

As receptoras de embriões utilizadas no Brasil, normalmente, são animais mestiços (Bos taurus x Bos indicus), o que as tornam mais susceptíveis às variações ambientais devido ao componente genético taurino. O objetivo dessa revisão é identificar os fatores intrínsecos (corpo lúteo, progesterona, sincronia doadora vs. receptora, protocolos de sincronização, qualidade do embrião, dificuldade na inovulação e ordem da inovulação) e os extrínsecos (nutricionais, manejo e ambiente, raça e categoria animal) que interferem na eficiência reprodutiva das receptoras de embrião. As receptoras precisam estar aptas a receberem o embrião no dia da inovulação, para assim levar a gestação a termo. O manejo nutricional deve ser um aliado, mantendo o escore de condição corporal da receptora sempre adequada entre 2,75 a 4 (escala de 1 a 5). O manejo dos animais deve ter uma visão multidisciplinar, observando as possibilidades de minimizar o estresse sofrido pelas fêmeas, de acordo com as condições de cada propriedade. O estresse térmico por calor interfere nos resultados dos programas de transferência de embrião. Medidas simples como manter as receptoras em ambiente sombreado, com água e comida enquanto aguardam a inovulação podem melhorar a taxa de prenhez. A transferência deve ser feita de preferência nos horários de clima mais ameno.

The embryo recipients utilized in Brazil are often crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus), making them more susceptible to climatic variations due to the taurean genetic component. The aim of this review is to identify the intrinsic factors (corpus luteum, progesterone, synchronization between donor and recipient, synchronization protocols, embryo quality,difficulty in inovulation and inovulation order) as well as extrinsic factors (nutritional, handling and environment, breed and animal category) affecting the reproductive efficiency of embryo recipients. The recipients need to be ready to receive theembryo on the inovulation day in order to carry pregnancies to term. Nutritional management can be an ally, maintaining the body condition score of the recipients always adequate, between 2.75 and 4 (in a range from 1-5). The handling of animals must have a multidisciplinary approach, verifying the possible opportunities to minimize the stress experienced by females, according to the conditions of each property. The heat stress interferes in the results of embryo transfer programs. Simple actions such as keeping the recipients under shade, with food and water while waiting for inovulation might improve the pregnancy rate. The transfer must be made preferably during the cooler periods of the day. KEYWORDS: Bovine. In vitro embryo production. Animal reproduction. Pregnancy rates.

Las receptoras de embriones, utilizadas en Brasil, normalmente, son animales mestizos (Bos taurus x Bos indicus), lo que las hacen más susceptibles a las variaciones ambientales debido al componente genético taurino. El objetivo de esta revisión es identificar los factores intrínsecos (cuerpo lúteo, progesterona, sincronía donante vs. receptora, protocolos de sincronización, calidad del embrión, dificultad en la inovulación y orden de la inovulación) y los extrínsecos (nutricionales, manejo, ambiente, raza y categoría animal), que interfieren en la eficacia reproductiva de las receptoras de embrión. Las receptoras necesitan estar aptas a recibir el embrión en el día de la inovulación, para llevar el embarazo a término. El manejo nutricional debe ser un aliado, manteniendo el escore de condición corporal de la receptora, siempre adecuado entre 2,75 a 4 (escala de 1 a 5). El manejo de los animales debe tener una visión multidisciplinar, observando las posibilidades de minimizar el estrés sufrido por las hembras, de acuerdo con las condiciones de cada propiedad. El estrés térmico, por calor, interfiere en los resultados de los programas de transferencia de embrión. Medidas sencillas como mantener las receptoras en ambiente con sombra, agua y comida, mientras aguardan la inovulación, pueden mejorar la taza de preñez. La transferencia debe ser hecha, de preferencia, en los horarios de clima más ameno.