Inclusion of IgY in a dog's diet has moderate impact on the intestinal microbial fermentation.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) in a diet on the systemic health and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of dogs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen healthy 11-month-old Beagle dogs were distributed at random (eight animals per treatment) in two treatments groups: control (0 g kg-1 IgY) and test (2 g IgY per day). The animals were evaluated on days 0 and 40 for a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical profiles (ALT, ALP, creatinine and urea). Faecal samples were collected from days 35 to 40 to measure nutrient digestibility, faecal characteristics, sialic acid, intestinal microbiota composition and microbial metabolites. The CBC, biochemical profiles, apparent nutrient digestibility and faecal characteristics did not differ between the two treatment groups (P > 0·05). Dog faeces that received IgY were characterized by lower sialic acid and n-valeric concentration, as well as an increase in n-butyric concentration, in contrast to dogs fed a diet without IgY (P < 0·05). The other microbial faecal metabolites did not differ between the two treatment groups (P > 0·05). There tended to be an increase in the copy number of Clostridium cluster XIVa (Clostridium coccoides group) in the IgY group in contrast to the control group (P = 0·07). The other bacteria analysed did not differ between the treatment groups (P > 0·05). The colonic pH in the IgY group was lower than in control group (P < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of IgY in the diet of healthy dogs maintains the microbial balance and has an interesting effect on microbial metabolites. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of IgY, antibodies produced by laying hens, in animal feed is an alternative for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases in companion animals.

Avaliação das curvas de secagem de guaco (Mikania glomerata Spreng. ) em secador de bandejas / Evaluation of drying curves of Mikania glomerata Spreng. in a tray dryer

Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar diferentes modelos matemáticos para determinar a curva de secagem de guaco. Para a condução do experimento, foi utilizado um secador com ventilação forçada, com 4 bandejas, empregando gás liquefeito de petróleo como fonte de aquecimento. Foram realizados 6 tratamentos de secagem: com ar aquecido a 40, 50, 60, 70 e 80ºC, e com ar a temperatura ambiente. Para todos os tratamentos a velocidade do ar de secagem passando através da massa de plantas foi mantida em, aproximadamente, 0,5 m s-1. Para ajuste dos modelos matemáticos aos dados experimentais realizou-se análise de regressão não-linear pelo método Quasi-Newton empregando-se o programa computacional STATISTICA 6.0®, sendo os valores dos parâmetros dos modelos estimados em função da temperatura do ar de secagem. Apenas o modelo proposto por Midilli et al. apresentou ajuste satisfatório para descrever o processo de secagem de guaco, independentemente da temperatura do ar de secagem, enquanto o modelo da aproximação da difusão se adequou para a temperatura ambiente e com ar aquecido a 60ºC.

This work aimed to evaluate different mathematical models to determine the curve of the drying of Mikania glomerata Spreng. . For the conduction of the experiment, a drier with forced ventilation was used, with 4 trays, using liquefied petroleum gas as heating source. Six drying treatments were carried out, that is, with hot air at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80ºC, as well as drying with air at room temperature. For all the treatments, the drying air speed, through the mass of plants, were kept at, approximately, 0.5 m s-1. For the adjustment of the mathematical models to the experimental data, nonlinear regression analysis was performed through the Quasi-Newton method, using the computational program STATISTICA 6.0®, and the values of the parameters of the models were estimated in function of the temperature of the drying air. But only the model considered by Midilli et al. presented satisfactory adjustment to describe the process of drying Mikania glomerata Spreng., regardless of the temperature of the drying air, while the model of diffusion approximation was suitable for room temperature and hot air at 60ºC.

Efeito de estratégias nutricionais para redução de nutrientes poluidores nos dejetos sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos / The effects of nutritional strategies to reduce nutrient pollution in manure on the performance and carcass traits of pigs

Avaliou-se o efeito de estratégias nutricionais sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos dos 30 aos 100kg. Foram utilizados 120 suínos, distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e oito repetições de três animais por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos usados foram: dieta-controle = dieta com alta proteína bruta sem aminoácidos industriais; dieta baixa PB= dieta com baixa proteína bruta com aminoácidos industriais; dieta fitase = dieta-controle com suplementação de fitase; dieta orgânica = dieta-controle suplementada com minerais inorgânico-orgânicos; e dieta composta = dieta com baixa proteína bruta suplementada com aminoácidos industriais, fitase e minerais inorgânico-orgânicos. As dietas avaliadas não alteraram o desempenho e as características de carcaça dos suínos em comparação aos animais da dieta-controle. Conclui-se que a redução de proteína bruta, a suplementação com fitase e minerais inorgânico-orgânicos podem ser adotadas por não alterarem significativamente o desempenho nas fases de crescimento e terminação e as características de carcaças.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies on performance and carcass traits of pigs from 30 to 100kg. One hundred and twenty pigs were used, distributed in randomized blocks, with five treatments and eight replicates of three animals per experimental unit. Treatments were: control diet = corn-soybean based diet without synthetic amino acids; low crude protein diet = corn-soybean based diet with low protein and synthetic amino acids; phytase diet = control diet supplemented with phytase; organic diet = control diet supplemented with inorganic and organic minerals; and combination diet = diet with low protein supplemented with phytase and inorganic-organic minerals. Means were compared with the control diet by the Dunnett test. The diets evaluated did not alter the performance of pigs when compared to pigs fed the control diet. The reduction of crude protein, supplementation with phytase and inorganic-organic minerals can be adopted without significantly changing performance during the growing-finishing and carcass traits at 100kg.

Inclusão de lisina digestível em dietas para leitoas dos 60 aos 100 dias de idade / Digestible lysine inclusion in diets for gilts from 60 to 100 days of age

Foi realizado um experimento utilizando-se 300 leitoas, com peso inicial de 25,00±0,54kg, para avaliar os efeitos da porcentagem de lisina digestível sobre o desempenho e a composição da carcaça de leitoas dos 60 aos 100 dias de idade. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos 0,65; 0,75; 0,85; 0,95 e 1,05% de lisina digestível, cinco repetições e 12 animais por unidade experimental. Não se observou efeito significativo dos tratamentos sobre o consumo de ração diário e o rendimento de carcaça das leitoas. A porcentagem de lisina da dieta influenciou o consumo de lisina digestível e o ganho de peso diário, que aumentaram de forma linear. O aumento na concentração de lisina digestível da dieta melhorou de forma linear a conversão alimentar e aumentou a quantidade de carne magra da carcaça. A porcentagem de lisina influenciou a espessura de toucinho das leitoas, que reduziu de forma quadrática até a porcentagem estimada de 0,87% de lisina digestível. A inclusão de 1,05% de lisina digestível na dieta, correspondente ao consumo de lisina digestível de 18,50g/dia, proporciona os melhores resultados de desempenho e quantidade de carne na carcaça de leitoas dos 60 aos 100 dias de idade.

The experiment was conducted with 300 gilts with initial weight of 25.00±0.54kg, from 60 to 100 days of age, to evaluate the effects of digestible lysine percentages on performance and carcass traits of the animals. The gilts were allotted in a randomized block design, with five treatments (percentages of digestible lysine), five replicates, and twelve animals per experimental unit. The treatments applied were 0.65; 0.75; 0.85; 0.95 and 1.05% of digestible lysine. No effects of treatments on the daily feed intake of the gilts were observed. A linear increase on digestible lysine intake as a result of increasing the concentration of digestible lysine in the diet was verified. The increase in dietary digestible lysine concentration resulted in a linear increase of daily weight gain. The increase of digestible lysine concentrations in the diet resulted in a linear improvement of feed conversion and in a linear increase in the amount of lean meat in the carcass. There was no effect of digestible lysine concentration on gilts' carcass traits. The amount of lean meat in the carcass of pigs increased linearly with the increase of the percentage of digestible lysine in the diets. The percentage of digestible lysine influenced the back fat thickness of the gilts which decreased quadratically up to 0.87% digestible lysine maximum response. The inclusion of 1.05% digestible lysine in the diet, corresponding to a daily intake of 18.5 g digestible lysine provides the greatest performance results and amount of lean meat in the carcass of gilts from 60 to 100 days of age.

Pre-training anandamide infusion within the basolateral amygdala impairs plus-maze discriminative avoidance task in rats.

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) modulate a variety of brain functions via activation of the widely expressed CB1 receptor. One site of high density of this receptor is the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a structure involved in the formation of aversive memories. The activation and blockade of CB1 receptors by systemic or hippocampal drug administrations have been shown to modify memory processing. However, little is known about the role of the BLA endocannabinoid system in aversive memories. Additionally, BLA endocannabinoid transmission seems to be related to emotional states, but the relevance of these effects to memory formation is still unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of the eCB anandamide (AEA) and the CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 infused into the BLA on the acquisition of an aversive memory task, concomitantly evaluating basal anxiety levels in rats. Male rats received pre-training micro-injection of AEA, AM251 or vehicle bilaterally into the BLA, and were studied with the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (a paradigm that allows concomitant and independent evaluation of anxiety-like behavior and the memory of an aversive task). Our results showed that AEA into the BLA before training prevented memory retrieval 24 h later, as evaluated by exploration of the aversive arm of the maze, while AM251 into the BLA did not interfere with animals' performance. In addition, AEA had no effect on anxiety-like behavior (as evaluated by open arm exploration and risk assessment), while AM251 induced an anxiogenic effect. Our data indicate an important role of BLA CB1 receptors in aversive memory formation, and suggest that this involvement is not necessarily related to a possible modulation of anxiety states.

Basolateral amygdala inactivation impairs learned (but not innate) fear response in rats.

Numerous studies have suggested that the amygdala is involved in the formation of aversive memories, but the possibility that this structure is merely related to any kind of fear sensation or response could not be ruled out in previous studies. The present study investigated the effects of bilateral inactivation of the amygdaloid complex in rats tested in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task. This task concomitantly evaluates aversive memory (by discrimination of the two enclosed arms) and innate fear (by open-arm exploration). Wistar rats (3-5 months-old) were implanted with bilateral guide cannulae into basolateral amygdala. After surgery, all subjects were given 1 week to recover before behavioral experiments. Afterwards, in experiment 1, 15 min prior to training, 0.5 µl of saline or muscimol (1 mg/ml) was infused in each side via microinjection needles. In experiment 2 the animals received injections immediately after the training session and in experiment 3 rats were injected prior to testing session (24 h after training). The main results showed that (1) pre-training muscimol prevented memory retention (evaluated by aversive arm exploration in the test session), but did not alter innate fear (evaluated by percent time in open arms); (2) post-training muscimol impaired consolidation, inducing increased percent in aversive arm exploration in the test session and (3) pre-testing muscimol did not affect retrieval (evaluated by aversive enclosed arm exploration in the test session). The results suggest that amygdala inactivation specifically modulated the learning of the aversive task, excluding a possible secondary effect of amygdala inactivation on general fear responses. Additionally, our data corroborate the hypothesis that basolateral amygdala is not the specific site of storage of aversive memories, since retention of the previously learned task was not affected by pre-testing inactivation.

Composição do óleo essencial de quatro espécies do gênero Plectranthus / Essential oil composition of four Plectranthus species

O gênero Plectranthus é considerado um dos mais ricos em óleos essenciais dentro da família Lamiaceae, compreendendo muitas espécies com propriedades medicinais. Algumas destas são conhecidas popularmente como boldo, as quais possuem semelhanças taxonômicas e diversas sinonímias, possuindo ações anti-dispépticas, analgésicas e digestivas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar quantitativa e qualitativamente os óleos essenciais presentes nas folhas das espécies P. amboinicus, P. barbatus, P. grandis e P. neochilus. A extração do óleo foi realizada por hidrodestilação, utilizando pentano como solvente extrator, repetida por três vezes para cada uma das espécies. A análise dos componentes dos óleos essenciais das quatro espécies de Plectranthus, através da CG/EM, permitiu identificar 14 componentes químicos, sendo a maioria sesquiterpenos. O trans-cariofileno se apresentou em elevada concentração nos óleos estudados. Alguns componentes químicos demonstraram ser específicos para cada espécie e outros apresentaram ocorrência comum a todas as quatro, possibilitando a diferenciação das mesmas em dois grupos, um formado por P. amboinicus e P. neochilus e o outro por P. grandis e P. barbatus. Conclui-se que as quatro espécies de boldo apresentam diferenças significativas quanto ao teor e à constituição química do óleo essencial.

Plectranthus has been considered one of the richest genera in essential oils within the Lamiaceae family, which includes several species with medicinal properties. Some of them are commonly known as boldo and present taxonomic similarities and several synonymies, with antidyspeptic, analgesic and digestive actions. The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively the essential oils from P. amboinicus, P. barbatus, P. grandis and P. neochilus leaves. The oil was extracted by hydrodistillation using pentane as extracting solvent and was repeated three times for each species. The analysis of essential oil components by GC/MS in the four Plectranthus species identified 14 chemical components, mostly sesquiterpenes. High concentration of trans-caryophyllene was found in the studied oils. Some chemical components were specific for each species and other components had common occurrence in all four species, allowing their differentiation into two groups, one composed of P. amboinicus and P. neochilus and another one by P. grandis and P. barbatus. In conclusion, the four boldo species had significant differences as to essential oil yield and chemical composition.

Effect of the time-of-day of training on explicit memory.

Studies have shown a time-of-day of training effect on long-term explicit memory with a greater effect being shown in the afternoon than in the morning. However, these studies did not control the chronotype variable. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess if the time-of-day effect on explicit memory would continue if this variable were controlled, in addition to identifying the occurrence of a possible synchronic effect. A total of 68 undergraduates were classified as morning, intermediate, or afternoon types. The subjects listened to a list of 10 words during the training phase and immediately performed a recognition task, a procedure which they repeated twice. One week later, they underwent an unannounced recognition test. The target list and the distractor words were the same in all series. The subjects were allocated to two groups according to acquisition time: a morning group (N = 32), and an afternoon group (N = 36). One week later, some of the subjects in each of these groups were subjected to a test in the morning (N = 35) or in the afternoon (N = 33). The groups had similar chronotypes. Long-term explicit memory performance was not affected by test time-of-day or by chronotype. However, there was a training time-of-day effect [F (1,56) = 53.667; P = 0.009] with better performance for those who trained in the afternoon. Our data indicated that the advantage of training in the afternoon for long-term memory performance does not depend on chronotype and also that this performance is not affected by the synchronic effect.

Effect of the time-of-day of training on explicit memory

Studies have shown a time-of-day of training effect on long-term explicit memory with a greater effect being shown in the afternoon than in the morning. However, these studies did not control the chronotype variable. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess if the time-of-day effect on explicit memory would continue if this variable were controlled, in addition to identifying the occurrence of a possible synchronic effect. A total of 68 undergraduates were classified as morning, intermediate, or afternoon types. The subjects listened to a list of 10 words during the training phase and immediately performed a recognition task, a procedure which they repeated twice. One week later, they underwent an unannounced recognition test. The target list and the distractor words were the same in all series. The subjects were allocated to two groups according to acquisition time: a morning group (N = 32), and an afternoon group (N = 36). One week later, some of the subjects in each of these groups were subjected to a test in the morning (N = 35) or in the afternoon (N = 33). The groups had similar chronotypes. Long-term explicit memory performance was not affected by test time-of-day or by chronotype. However, there was a training time-of-day effect [F (1,56) = 53.667; P = 0.009] with better performance for those who trained in the afternoon. Our data indicated that the advantage of training in the afternoon for long-term memory performance does not depend on chronotype and also that this performance is not affected by the synchronic effect.