Lipid profile and reproductive performance of female offspring of SWISS mouse females supplemented with resveratrol or canjiqueira (Byrsonima cydoniifolia A Juss) during gestation.

This study aimed to resveratrol supplementation (at 5 or 10 mg/kg) and a hydroethanolic extract of canjiqueira fruits (150 mg/kg) on female SWISS mice. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride levels, gestation rates, and embryonic implantation rates in their female Offspring was evaluated. In conclusion, the consumption of canjiqueira fruit extract altered the lipid profile of their female offspring, and did not impact their reproductive performance. Supplementing female SWISS mice with 10 mg/kg of resveratrol increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL levels, thereby enhancing the reproductive efficiency of their offspring.

1,4-Diaryl-1,2,3-triazole neolignan-celecoxib hybrids inhibit experimental arthritis induced by zymosan.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes cartilage damage. Anti-inflammatories are widely used in the management of RA, but they can have side effects such as gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular disorders. Studies published by our group showed that the synthesis of hybrid triazole analogs neolignan-celecoxib containing the substituent groups sulfonamide (L15) or carboxylic acid (L18) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an acute model of inflammation, inhibited expression of P-selectin related to platelet activation and did not induce gastric ulcer, minimizing the related side effects. In continuation, the present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of these analogs in an experimental model of arthritis and on the functions of one of the important cells in this process, macrophages. Mechanical hyperalgesia, joint edema, leukocyte recruitment to the joint and damage to cartilage in experimental arthritis and cytotoxicity, spread of disease, phagocytic activity and nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages were evaluated. Pre-treatment with L15 and L18 reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, joint edema and the influx of leukocytes into the joint cavity after different periods of the stimulus. The histological evaluation of the joint showed that L15 and L18 reduced cartilage damage and there was no formation of rheumatoid pannus. Furthermore, L15 and L18 were non-cytotoxic. The analogs inhibited the spreading, the production of NO and hydrogen peroxide. L15 decreased the phagocytosis. Therefore, L15 and L18 may be potential therapeutic prototypes to treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA.

Welfare and pregnancy rate of ewes undergoing transcervical artificial insemination with ketamine subarachnoid anesthesia.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of subarachnoid anesthesia with ketamine during transcervical artificial insemination (TCAI) on the welfare of ewes and on subsequent pregnancy rates. Ninety Suffolk adult ewes were randomized into three treatment groups: control group (CG), which underwent the TCAI procedure as established by cervical traction (CG; n = 30) and two groups that received subarachnoid anesthesia with ketamine at a dose of either 0.75 mg/kg (KE0.75; n = 30) or 1.5 mg/kg (KE1.5; n = 30) 5 min before the cervical traction procedure. Intrauterine insemination was performed using frozen semen from three males previously analyzed and approved for fertility. The use of subarachnoid anesthesia decreased ewes' vocalizations (P = 0.0001) and abdominal contraction (P = 0.0150) during cervical manipulations. The CG had more groans and vocalizations at the moment of cervix clamping and applicator passage through the cervix (P = 0.001). The cervix traction was facilitated by anesthesia. For the control group, most of the cervical traction was done just up to the middle of the vagina (P = 0.0021). Pregnancy rates increased significantly with anesthesia (P = 0.04) as shown by the rates of 40.0%, 56.7%, and 66.7% for CG, KE1.5, and KE0.75, respectively. The CG showed behaviors associated with absolute immobility, which is suggestive of distress. In brief, the use of ketamine in subarachnoid anesthesia for transcervical artificial insemination in ewes facilitated cervical traction, increased the pregnancy rate, and improved animal welfare.