Cryopreservation of Bovine Semen Using Extract of Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil Nuts).

BACKGROUND: Semen cryopreservation is essential in animal breeding programs for improving the availability of genetic resources from animals with high breeding value. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the addition of Brazil nut extract as a replacement for egg yolk in bovine semen cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen was collected from five Nelore bulls and cryopreserved with the addition (treatments) of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% Brazil nut extract in the cryoprotectant medium. After thawing, spermatic cells were evaluated for morphology, plasma membrane integrity, spermatic kinetics, and in vitro fertilization. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, and the data were submitted to regression analysis. RESULTS: The minor-type and total defects, and plasma membrane integrity were affected (P < 0.05) as a function of egg yolk substitution with Brazil nut extract. There was a significant effect (P < 0.05) of Brazil nut extract addition on the spermatic kinetics and cleavage rate. CONCLUSION: The addition of Brazil nut extract in the cryoprotective medium as a substitute of egg yolk for freezing bovine semen negatively affects sperm quality and fertility.

The Addition of AçaÍ Palm Fruit Extract in the Cryopreservation Diluent of Bull's Semen with Low Performance on Freezing.

BACKGROUND: Semen freezing is of great importance for animal production because it allows the use and the rapid diffusion of the genetic material from economically important animals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of açai (Euterpe oleracea; Arecaceae family) extract addition to the semen cryopreservation diluent on the morphology, sperm motility parameters, and plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ejaculates, obtained from five bulls with low performance on semen freezing, were fractionated and distributed according to the experimental group. The control samples did not have açaí extract added, whereas to the treated groups were added 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg ml-1 of açaí extract into the semen diluent. The sperm morphology was evaluated with a formalin-saline-buffered solution. The plasma membrane integrity was evaluated by the epifluorescent test, while the cellular kinetics was assessed by an automated analysis of the spermatic movement. RESULTS: The sperm defects showed a linearly decreasing effect (P < 0.05) with the addition of different concentrations of açaí extract. The plasma membrane integrity was higher (P < 0.05) after the açaí addition to the cryopreservation diluent. There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of the açaí extract on the kinetics of spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: The addition of açaí extract to the cryopreservation diluent provided better preservation of the structural integrity of the sperm plasma membrane in the bull's semen with low tolerance to the cryopreservation process.

Anaesthetic efficacy of bupivacaine 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin for dental anaesthesia after inferior alveolar nerve block in rats.

Bupivacaine is a long-acting local anaesthetic that is widely used in medicine and dentistry. The duration and intensity of its sensory blockade in animal models is increased by its inclusion in complexes with cyclodextrins. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anaesthetic efficacy of bupivacaine 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) inclusion complex for dental anaesthesia after inferior alveolar nerve block in rats. Thirty rats were each given an injection close to the mandibular foramen of 0.2ml of one of the following formulations: 0.5% bupivacaine alone; 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine; and 0.5% bupivacaine-HPßCD inclusion complex (bupivacaine-HPßCD). The other sides were used as controls, with either 0.9% saline or anaesthetic-free HPßCD solution being injected. The onset, success, and duration of pulpal anaesthesia were assessed by electrical stimulation ("pulp tester") on inferior molars. Results were analysed using ANOVA (Tukey), log rank, and chi square tests (α=5%). There were no differences among the formulations in onset of anaesthesia (p=0.59) or between the bupivacaine plus epinephrine and bupivacaine plus HPßCD in duration of anaesthesia, but bupivacaine plus epinephrine gave significantly higher values than bupivacaine alone (p=0.007). Bupivacaine plus epinephrine was a better anaesthetic than bupivacaine alone (p=0.02), while Bupi-HPßCD gave intermediate results, and therefore did not differ significantly from the other 2 groups (p=0.18 with bupivacaine alone; and p=0.44 with bupivacaine plus epinephrine). The bupivacaine-HPßCD complex showed similar anaesthetic properties to those of bupivacaine with epinephrine.