Parâmetros fermentativos e composição química de silagem de capim elefante cv. roxo com adição de vagens de faveira / Fermentative parameters and chemical composition of elephant cv. purple grass silage with added faveira pods

Objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros fermentativos e a composição química de silagens de capim elefante com adição de vagens de faveira. As vagens foram adicionadas à forragem nos níveis 8, 16 e 24% com base no peso verde, junto a tratamento controle (0%) em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Foram quantificados os valores de pH, perdas por efluentes (PE) e perdas por gases (PG), recuperação de matéria seca (RECMS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e detergente ácido (FDA), lignina (LIG) e nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA) e estimaram-se os valores de celulose (CEL) e hemicelulose (HCEL). Verificou-se aumento linear (P<0,05) para PG e redução de 52,23% na produção de efluente quando do tratamento de 24%, com pH mantendo-se no nível ideal (média de 3,76). Quanto à composição química da silagem, observou-se elevação dos teores de MS e PB (6,53%) quando da inclusão das vagens, com menores proporções de FDN (52,99%) e FDA (36,48%). No entanto, os teores de NIDA aumentaram quando da elevação dos níveis de vagens na silagem. As vagens de faveira são indicadas como aditivos, em até 24%, para ensilagem de capim elefante, por melhorar a qualidade da silagem, quanto à fermentação e composição química.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentative parameters and chemical composition of elephant grass silages with the addition of faveira pods. The pods were added to the forage at levels of 8, 16 and 24% on a dry matter (DM) basis, together with the control treatment (0%), in a completely randomized design. The pH, losses through effluent and gas, dry matter recovery, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent (ADF), lignin and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) were quantified, and cellulose and hemicellulose were estimated. There was a linear increase (P<0.05) in losses through gas and a reduction in effluent production (1.17 kg/ton DM) at 24%, with pH remaining at the ideal level (3.76). Regarding the chemical composition of silage, an increase in DM and CP (6.53%) was observed at the highest levels of pod inclusion, with lower proportions of NDF (52.99%) and ADF (36.48%). However, ADIN levels increased with increasing pod levels in the silage (+ 6.81%). Faveira pods up to 24% are indicated as additives for elephant grass silage, as they improve silage quality, fermentation and chemical composition.

Parâmetros fermentativos e composição química de silagem de capim elefante cv. roxo com adição de vagens de faveira / Fermentative parameters and chemical composition of elephant cv. purple grass silage with added faveira pods

Objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros fermentativos e a composição química de silagens de capim elefante com adição de vagens de faveira. As vagens foram adicionadas à forragem nos níveis 8, 16 e 24% com base no peso verde, junto a tratamento controle (0%) em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Foram quantificados os valores de pH, perdas por efluentes (PE) e perdas por gases (PG), recuperação de matéria seca (RECMS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e detergente ácido (FDA), lignina (LIG) e nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA) e estimaram-se os valores de celulose (CEL) e hemicelulose (HCEL). Verificou-se aumento linear (P<0,05) para PG e redução de 52,23% na produção de efluente quando do tratamento de 24%, com pH mantendo-se no nível ideal (média de 3,76). Quanto à composição química da silagem, observou-se elevação dos teores de MS e PB (6,53%) quando da inclusão das vagens, com menores proporções de FDN (52,99%) e FDA (36,48%). No entanto, os teores de NIDA aumentaram quando da elevação dos níveis de vagens na silagem. As vagens de faveira são indicadas como aditivos, em até 24%, para ensilagem de capim elefante, por melhorar a qualidade da silagem, quanto à fermentação e composição química.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentative parameters and chemical composition of elephant grass silages with the addition of faveira pods. The pods were added to the forage at levels of 8, 16 and 24% on a dry matter (DM) basis, together with the control treatment (0%), in a completely randomized design. The pH, losses through effluent and gas, dry matter recovery, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent (ADF), lignin and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) were quantified, and cellulose and hemicellulose were estimated. There was a linear increase (P<0.05) in losses through gas and a reduction in effluent production (1.17 kg/ton DM) at 24%, with pH remaining at the ideal level (3.76). Regarding the chemical composition of silage, an increase in DM and CP (6.53%) was observed at the highest levels of pod inclusion, with lower proportions of NDF (52.99%) and ADF (36.48%). However, ADIN levels increased with increasing pod levels in the silage (+ 6.81%). Faveira pods up to 24% are indicated as additives for elephant grass silage, as they improve silage quality, fermentation and chemical composition.(AU)

Fusarium species and fumonisins associated with maize kernels produced in Rio Grande do Sul State for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons.

Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.

Identification of Aspergillus flavus isolates as potential biocontrol agents of aflatoxin contamination in crops.

Aspergillus flavus, a haploid organism found worldwide in a variety of crops, including maize, cottonseed, almond, pistachio, and peanut, causes substantial and recurrent worldwide economic liabilities. This filamentous fungus produces aflatoxins (AFLs) B1 and B2, which are among the most carcinogenic compounds from nature, acutely hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive. Recent efforts to reduce AFL contamination in crops have focused on the use of nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus strains as biological control agents. Such agents are applied to soil to competitively exclude native AFL strains from crops and thereby reduce AFL contamination. Because the possibility of genetic recombination in A. flavus could influence the stability of biocontrol strains with the production of novel AFL phenotypes, this article assesses the diversity of vegetative compatibility reactions in isolates of A. flavus to identify heterokaryon self-incompatible (HSI) strains among nonaflatoxigenic isolates, which would be used as biological controls of AFL contamination in crops. Nitrate nonutilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from 25 A. flavus isolates, and based on vegetative complementation between nit mutants and on the microscopic examination of the number of hyphal fusions, five nonaflatoxigenic (6, 7, 9 to 11) and two nontoxigenic (8 and 12) isolates of A. flavus were phenotypically characterized as HSI. Because the number of hyphal fusions is reduced in HSI strains, impairing both heterokaryon formation and the genetic exchanges with aflatoxigenic strains, the HSI isolates characterized here, especially isolates 8 and 12, are potential agents for reducing AFL contamination in crops.

Fusarium species and fumonisins associated with maize kernels produced in Rio Grande do Sul State for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons

Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.

Fusarium species and fumonisins associated with maize kernels produced in Rio Grande do Sul State for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons

Ear rots caused by Fusarium spp. are among the main fungal diseases that contribute to poor quality and the contamination of maize grains with mycotoxins. This study aimed to determine the visual incidence of fungal-damaged kernels (FDKs), the incidence of two main Gibberella (a teleomorph of Fusarium) complexes (G. fujikuroi and G. zeae) associated with maize using a seed health blotter test, and the fumonisin levels, using high performance liquid chromatography, in samples of maize grains grown across 23 municipalities during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons. Additionally, 104 strains that were representative of all of the analysed samples were identified to species using PCR assays. The mean FDK was seven per cent, and only six of the samples had levels greater than six per cent. Fusarium spp. of the G. fujikuroi complex were present in 96% of the samples, and G. zeae was present in 18% of the samples (5/27). The mean incidence of G. fujikuroi was 58%, and the incidence of G. zeae varied from 2 to 6%. FB1 was found in 58.6%, FB2 in 37.9%, and both toxins in 37.9% of the samples. The FB1 and FB2 levels were below the quantification limits for 41.3% of the samples, and the mean FB1 levels (0.66 µg/g) were higher than the mean FB2 levels (0.42 µg/g). The PCR identification separated the 104 isolates into three of the G. fujikuroi complex: F. verticillioides (76%), F. subglutinans (4%) and F. proliferatum (2%); and G. zeae (anamorph = F. graminearum) (18%). Our results confirmed the dominance of F. verticillioides, similar to other regions of Brazil, but they differed due to the relatively higher incidence of F. graminearum. Total fumonisin levels were below the maximum limit determined by current Brazilian regulations.(AU)

Aerobic exercise improves reverse cholesterol transport in cholesteryl ester transfer protein transgenic mice.

We analyzed the effect of a 6-week aerobic exercise training program on the in vivo macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transgenic (CETP-tg) mice. Male CETP-tg mice were randomly assigned to a sedentary group or a carefully supervised exercise training group (treadmill 15 m/min, 30 min sessions, five sessions per week). The levels of plasma lipids were determined by enzymatic methods, and the lipoprotein profile was determined by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). CETP activity was determined by measuring the transfer rate of ¹4C-cholesterol from HDL to apo-B containing lipoproteins, using plasma from CETP-tg mice as a source of CETP. The reverse cholesterol transport was determined in vivo by measuring the [³H]-cholesterol recovery in plasma and feces (24 and 48 h) and in the liver (48 h) following a peritoneal injection of [³H]-cholesterol labeled J774-macrophages into both sedentary and exercise trained mice. The protein levels of liver receptors were determined by immunoblot, and the mRNA levels for liver enzymes were measured using RT-PCR. Exercise training did not significantly affect the levels of plasma lipids or CETP activity. The HDL fraction assessed by FPLC was higher in exercise-trained compared to sedentary mice. In comparison to the sedentary group, a greater recovery of [³H]-cholesterol from the injected macrophages was found in the plasma, liver and feces of exercise-trained animals. The latter occurred even with a reduction in the liver CYP7A1 mRNA level in exercised trained animals. Exercise training increased the liver LDL receptor and ABCA-1 protein levels, although the SR-BI protein content was unchanged. The RCT benefit in CETP-tg mice elicited by exercise training helps to elucidate the role of exercise in the prevention of atherosclerosis in humans.

Adenine nucleotide contents and ATPases activities in porcine deciduous dental pulp during the root formation, in fully formed root and during root resorption phases.

Nucleotide content and activity of certain enzymes were compared in pigs of various ages in order to study the energetic metabolism of deciduous dental pulps in the three phases of the cycle of tooth ontogeny, namely, root formation, fully formed root and root resorption phases. The frozen pulps were removed with the help of a screw vise and analysed for ATP, ADP and AMP contents and Ca2+ and Mg2+-ATPases activities. The highest ATP content in the first deciduous molar pulp was found when the tooth was still in an intrabony position. The calculated energy charge, although low for all groups, at this stage of development, indicated an activation of the consuming processes. In the root resorption phase, lowest ATP content and higher Ca2+ and Mg2+-ATPases activities were observed.

Adenine nucleotide changes in submandibular salivary glands of rats following isoproterenol or incisor tooth amputation.

Male rats (180-220 g) were injected daily with isoproterenol (2 mg/kg of body weight) for up to 6 days, or their incisor teeth were amputated on every other day for up to six amputations. The animals were subdivided into groups killed 12 or 24 h after the first or last intervention. In the development of sialadenosis caused by isoproterenol, the levels of ATP were greater (13-30%), while those of AMP were lower (13-19%) in the experimental groups. No variation was noted in ADP content. In tooth-amputated animals, only the five and six amputation subgroups showed higher values for ATP (approx. 17%), and ADP (12 and 15%, respectively). The inorganic phosphate level was lower in both experimental groups (between 11-28% for isoproterenol and 13-22% for amputation). Thus isoproterenol caused different metabolic responses in submandibular salivary glands from those induced by incisor amputation.

Changes in glucose metabolism in submandibular salivary glands of rats after isoproterenol or incisor-tooth amputation.

Rats were injected daily with isoproterenol (2 mg/kg of body wt) for up to five days, or their incisor teeth were amputated on every other day for up to five amputations. The animals were subdivided in two subgroups killed 12 or 24 h after the first or last intervention. At 12 h all enzymes except hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PFK) showed decreased activities after isoproterenol. After incisor amputation, only increased HK and PFK activities were observed. With both procedures, there is activation of beta-adrenergic receptors but results show that different biochemical events take place, suggesting different mechanisms.

Changes in glucose metabolism in submandibular salivary glands of rats after isoproterenol or incisor-tooth amputation / Alterações do metabolismo da glicose em glândulas sumandibulares de ratos tratados com isoproterenol ou submetidos a amputação dos dentes incisivos

Rats were infected daily with isoproterenol (2 mg/kg of body wt) for up to five days, or their incisor teeth were amputated on every other day for up to five amputations. The animals were subdivided in two subgroups killed 12 or 24 h after the first or last intervention. At 12 h all enzymes except hexokinase (HK) and pyruvatekinase (PFK) showed decreased activities after isoproterenol. After incisor amputation, only increased HK and PFK activities were observed. With both procedures, there is activation of ß-adrenergic receptors but results show that different biochemical events take place, suggesting different mechanisms