Expression of apoptosis and myogenesis related genes during prenatal life in two divergent breeds of pigs.

We aimed to evaluate apoptosis and myogenesis related genes expression in embryos and fetuses from two divergent genetic groups of pigs: Piau breed and a commercial line. Thirty females (15 Piau and 15 commercial line) were selected at 120 days of age. Estrous cycle was observed and on the third estrus females were considered sexually mature. Gilts were inseminated with semen from males of the respective breed. Three females from each breed were slaughtered at five different gestational ages: 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days. Whole embryos (15 and 30 d) and samples of longissimus dorsi muscle from fetuses (45, 60 and 90 d) were collected for RNA extraction. Expression of apoptosis and myogenesis related genes (BAX, BCL2, FGF4, IHH, HHIP, SHH, SOX2, WNT1 and WNT4) were evaluated by quantitative real time PCR. There was significant effect of interaction between breeds and gestational ages for all genes evaluated (P < 0.05). The BCL2 gene expression differed throughout pregnancy in Piau group with lower expression on day 15. The IHH gene expression throughout pregnancy was lower on days 15 and 60 in Piau group and lower on day 90 in commercial line group; and the SHH gene expression throughout pregnancy was higher on day 30 and lower on day 60 in Piau group and lower on day 45 in commercial group. The WNT1 gene expression along pregnancy was lower on day 15 and higher on days 30 and 45 in Piau group, and it was higher on day 30 than days 15 and 60 in commercial group. WNT4 gene expression throughout pregnancy was lower on day 15 in Piau group, and it was lower on day 30 in commercial pigs. Piau group presented higher expression of the FGF4 gene on days 45, 60 and 90, and commercial group showed higher expression on day 15 and 90. SOX2 gene expression was lower on day 15 in Piau pigs and it was constant throughout pregnancy in commercial group. Overall, the expression of IHH, SHH, WNT1, WNT4 and FGF4 genes were higher in commercial than Piau pigs on day 15, besides expression of BCL2 gene in Piau embryos was lower on day 15; these results might indicate that the muscle precursor cells are allowed to proliferate for a longer time in commercial than in Piau embryos by the balance of proliferative and apoptotic genes. Therefore, the expression differential between breeds can stimulate proliferation and differentiation of cells in different ways, explaining the postnatal differences in the muscularity between pigs from Piau breed and a commercial line.

Association between insulin-like growth factor-I, thyroxine and follicle stimulating hormone on the survival and in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles / Associação entre fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina-I, tiroxina ehormônio folículo estimulante sobre a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimentoin vitro de folículos pré-antrais caprinos

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a influência da interação entre o Hormônio Folículo Estimulante obtido da pituitária Humana (hFSH; 10 ng/mL), Fator de Crescimento Semelhante a Insulina Tipo 1 (IGF-I; 100 ng/mL) e Tiroxina (T4 ; 10, 20 ng/mL) na sobrevivência, ativação e crescimento de folículos pré-antrais cultivados in vitro. Fragmentos do córtex ovariano coletados a partir de 17 cabras adultas não gestantes foram submetidos a diferentes tratamentos que incluíam meio α-MEM+, IGF-I, hFSH, T4 e em seguida foram processados para histologia clássica e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Os resultados demonstraram uma redução no percentual de folículos normais, após um e sete dias de cultivo nos meios α-MEM+ (controle cultivado), T4 (10)/IGF-I, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH e nos meios α-MEM+, IGF-I/hFSH, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH, quando comparados ao controle não cultivado. Entretanto, o meio contendo T4 (20)/hFSH apresentou taxa de sobrevivência folicular superior aos demais tratamentos, quando cultivado por sete dias. Observou-se, ainda, que o diâmetro folicular quando cultivado neste meio não se alterou, quando comparado ao controle (não cultivado). As análises ultraestruturais confirmaram a integridade de folículos cultivados em meio contendo T4 (20)/hFSH. Em conclusão, o meio com T4 (20)/hFSH apresentou os melhores resultados, quando se avaliou sobrevivência, crescimento e aspectos ultraestruturais de folículos pré-antrais de caprinos cultivados in vitro.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the interaction between follicle stimulating hormone obtained from Human Pituitary (hFSH; 10 ng/mL), Insulin-like Growth Factor Type 1 (IGF-I; 100 ng/mL) and thyroxine (T4 ; 10, 20 ng/mL) on survival, activation and growth of preantral follicles (PAF) cultured in vitro. Fragments of ovarian cortex collected from 17 nonpregnant adult goats underwent different treatments that included α-MEM+ medium, IGF-I, hFSH, T4 and were processed for classic histology and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed a reduction in the percentage of normal follicles, after one and seven days of culture in media α-MEM+ (cultured control), T4 (10)/IGF-I, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH and in media α-MEM+, IGF-I/hFSH, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH, T4 (20)/IGF-I/hFSH, when compared to the non-cultured control. However, the medium containing T4 (20)/hFSH showed a follicular survival rate higher than the other treatments, when cultured for seven days. It was also observed that the follicular diameter did not change when cultured in this medium, when compared to the control (non-cultured). The ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured in a medium containing T4 (20)/hFSH. In conclusion, the medium containing T4 (20)/hFSH showed the best results, when evaluating the survival, growth and ultrastructural aspects of caprine preantral follicles cultured in vitro.

Surveillance of neutralizing antibodies against Bovine Herpesvirus 1 in cattle herds from different farming property systems / Distribuição de anticorpos neutralizantes contra o Herpesvirus bovino 1 em propriedades bovinas de diferentes sistemas de criação

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of neutralizing antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) in 722 non-vaccinated animals from eight properties that use different farming systems (extensive, semi-confinement and confinement). Serum samples were subjected to neutralization tests in order to search for anti-BoHV-1 antibodies. Serological results were categorized as negative, low titer, intermediate titer or high titer. One property showed no positive samples; while other properties presented frequency of positive samples ranging from 17.95% to 86.96%. For animals raised under confinement, the number of positive samples and neutralizing antibody titers were lower compared to others, possibly due to good sanitary practices adopted by this type of system. Altogether, our results can contribute towards the understanding of the endemic infection in Brazil.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a distribuição de anticorpos neutralizantes contra o herpesvirus bovino 1 (BoHV-1) em 722 animais não vacinados pertencentes a oito propriedades que utilizam diferentes sistemas de criação (extensivo, semi-confinamento e confinamento). As amostras sorológicas foram submetidas ao teste de soroneutralização para pesquisa de anticorpos anti-BoHV-1. Os resultados foram classificados em títulos negativo, baixo, médio e alto. Uma propriedade não apresentou amostras positivas, enquanto que nas demais propriedades a frequência de amostras positivas variou de 17,95% a 86,96%. Os animais do sistema de criação por confinamento apresentaram menor número de amostras positivas quando comparado aos animais do outros sistemas de criação, possivelmente devido às boas práticas sanitárias adotadas por esse sistema. Dessa forma, nossos resultados podem contribuir para o entendimento dessa infecção endêmica no Brasil.

Comparação entre duas concentrações de glicerol para a criopreservação de sêmen de suçuarana (Puma concolor) / Comparison between two glycerol concentrations to cryopreservation of semen of mountain lions (Puma concolor)

O desenvolvimento de biotécnicas de reprodução é uma importante ferramenta para a conservação de animais silvestres ameaçados de extinção. Procedimentos de reprodução assistida em suçuarana, no entanto, são escassos na literatura, em especial aqueles relacionados à criopreservação de sêmen. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a congelabilidade do sêmen de suçuaranas adultas mantidas em cativeiro, por meio da comparação entre duas concentrações de glicerol no meio de congelamento. Foram usados cinco machos adultos de suçuarana, mantidos no Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres do Mato Grosso do Sul (CRAS/MS). As amostras foram coletadas por eletroejaculação e avaliadas quanto ao seu aspecto físico, volume, vigor, motilidade, concentração e índice espermático. De cada ejaculado duas alíquotas foram diluídas em meio Tris-citrato-gema de ovo, em concentrações finais de 5 e 7,5% de glicerol, resfriadas a uma taxa de -0,55ºC/min e congeladas a uma taxa de -5,8ºC/min. Depois de descongeladas, as amostras foram reavaliadas e submetidas aos testes de termorresistência e hiposmótico. O protocolo de criopreservação e descongelamento de sêmen proposto se mostrou eficiente em ambas as concentrações de glicerol testadas, não havendo diferença (p>0,05) entre estas.

The development of biotechnologies of reproduction is an important tool for the conservation of wild animals threatened with extinction. Assisted reproduction procedures in mountain lions, however, are scarce, especially those related to sperm cryopreservation. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the freezing capacity of semen from adult mountain lions in captivity through the comparison of two concentrations of glycerol in the freezing media. Five adult male mountain lions were used, held at the Rehabilitation Center for Wild Animals of Mato Grosso do Sul (CRAS/MS). Samples were collected by electroejaculation and evaluated for physical appearance, volume, sperm progressive status, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm motility index. Each ejaculate was spliced into two aliquots and diluted in Tris-citrate-half egg yolk, at final concentrations of 5 and 7.5% glycerol, cooled at a rate of -0.55ºC/min and frozen at a rate of -5.8ºC/min. Once thawed, the samples were re-evaluated and tested for thermoresistance and hypoosmotic swelling. The suggested protocol for cryopreservation and thawing of semen is efficient in both glycerol concentrations tested, with no difference (p>0.05) between them.