Ovarian steroids modulate the systemic inflammatory response OF COWS challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intrauterine infusion.

Postpartum uterine infections of dairy cows promote a local and systemic inflammation and interfere with reproductive efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of steroid hormones including progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) on the systemic inflammatory response of cows after being challenged with an intrauterine infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For this, a hemogram and serum dosage of haptoglobin (Hp) in eight primiparous Gir cows ovariectomized were performed on day (day 0) and after 24 h (day +1). Four cows (n = 4) were challenged (day 0) with 20 mL of 0.9% NaCl + 12.5 µg/kg LPS, and four cows (n = 4) were challenged (day 0) with 20 mL of 0.9% NaCl. For this, the study was divided in four experimental groups as: (1) Control group: without any hormonal treatment before day 0; (2) Group 24 h - E2: 1 mg of estradiol benzoate 24 h before (day -1); (3) Group 24 h - P4: 2.0 g of P4 device 24 h before (day -1); (4) Group 14 d - P4: 2.0 g of P4 device 14 days before (day -14). In the systemic response to LPS, there was an increase in Hp (control group; 24 h - P4 group; 14 d - P4 group), and on day +1 the Hp of 14 d - P4 group was higher when compared to the other groups. On day 0, the 14 d - P4 group had an increase in circulating leukocytes and lymphocytes cells than the control group (P < 0.01). On day +1 after LPS-challenge the 14 d - P4 group showed a decrease in circulating lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes (P < 0.05). A neutrophilia with left shift in the two treatments with P4 (day +1), in addition to a thrombocytopenia and lower platelets compared to the 24 h - E2 group (P < 0.05) (day 0) were recorded. It was concluded that ovariectomized cows challenged with LPS, previously submitted to steroid hormones induce a systemic inflammatory response. Also, the systemic response is more intense after previous prolonged exposure to P4 and less intense after exposure to E2. This study provided important information relating the effect of ovarian steroids on the systemic inflammatory response of cows challenged with intrauterine LPS.

Caracterização ultrassonográfica das estruturas flexoras musculotendíneas e ligamentares da porção distal dos membros de novilhas cruzadas / Ultrasonographic characterization of flexor tendinous structure muscle and ligaments of the distal limb of crossbred heifers

Caracterizaram-se, por meio da ultrassonografia, as estruturas flexoras da porção distal dos membros de bovinos utilizando-se peças anatômicas da porção distal dos membros torácicos e pélvicos, provenientes de 20 novilhas mestiças da raça Nelore, com idades entre 24 e 36 meses. Para análise ultrassonográfica, foram estabelecidas cinco zonas de avaliação no plano transversal, denominadas, respectivamente, de zonas A, B, C, D e E, e duas em plano sagital, F-III e F-IV. Na face flexora, foram avaliados os tendões flexores digitais superficial e profundo, o músculo interósseo, o ligamento acessório do tendão flexor digital profundo e a manica flexoria, quanto à forma, limites, posição, ecogenicidade e mensurações das áreas transversais em cm². Sendo os resultados apresentados na forma descritiva e em tabelas, foi possível a caracterização das estruturas flexoras, identificando e determinando planos ultrassonográficos apropriados para a observação de imagens adequadas destes tecidos, além da obtenção de valores e parâmetros que possam ser utilizados como referência para esta espécie.

Anatomical specimens of the distal portion of the thoracic and pelvic limbs from 20 crossbred Nelore, aged between 24 and 36 months were studied. For ultrasound examination five areas of assessment in the transverse plane were established, respectively called zones A, B, C, D and E, and two in the sagittal plane, F-III and F-IV. On the face of the flexor tendons we assessed superficial and deep digital flexor, interosseous muscle, ligament tendon and deep digital flexor of shape, manica flexoria, boundaries, location, echogenicity and crosscutting areas in cm 2 , and the results were presented as descriptive and tables. This work was possible to characterize the structures flexor, identifying and determining appropriate plans for the sonographic observation of appropriate images of these tissues, in addition to obtaining values and parameters that can be used as reference for this species, increasing knowledge described in literature.

Avaliação dos reflexos espinhais em cordeiros da raça Suffolk / Evaluation of spinal reflexes in Suffolk lambs

Fez-se a avaliação qualitativa e semiquantitativa dos reflexos espinhais em ovinos, utilizando-se 51 animais da raça Suffolk, machos e fêmeas, entre quatro e cinco meses de idade. Usaram-se os reflexos bilaterais dos membros torácicos, extensor carpo-radial, bicipital, tricipital e flexor, e pélvicos, isquiático, gastrocnêmio, patelar, tibial cranial e flexor, sendo zero indicativo de ausência de reflexo, 1= reflexo discreto e 2= reflexo evidente. Nos membros torácicos, as melhores respostas foram obtidas no flexor (99,0 por cento) e no extensor carpo-radial (87,3 por cento), seguidos de valores menos expressivos no bicipital (11,8 por cento) e no tricipital (2,0 por cento), com grau 2 de avaliação. Nos membros pélvicos, todos os ovinos produziram respostas em grau 2 para o reflexo flexor. Verificam-se também respostas evidentes nos reflexos patelar (98,0 por cento) e isquiático (81,4 por cento). Apenas 20,6 por cento dos animais apresentaram resposta evidente ao reflexo tibial cranial, e nenhum ovino respondeu ao reflexo gastrocnêmio de forma satisfatória.

This study was carried out to determine a qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation of the spinal reflexes in 51 both sexes, 4 to 5 months of age Suffolk lambs. Spinal reflexes were evaluated in the thoracic (extensor carpi reflex, biceps reflex, triceps reflex and flexor reflex) and pelvic (ischiatic reflex, gastrocnemius reflex, patellar reflex, cranial tibial reflex and flexor reflex) limbs, bilaterally. Reflexes were standardized, using a 2-point grading scale (0= absense, 1= mild reflex, 2= evident). Flexor reflex (99.0 percent) and extensor carpi reflex (87.3 percent) were the best reflexes elicited in thoracic limbs, while the least evident scores were found in biceps (11.8 percent) and triceps reflexes (2.0 percent) with grade 2. In pelvic limbs, all of the ovines showed a grade-2 flexor reflex. A high percentage of evident response in patellar (98.0 percent) and ischiatic (81.4 percent) reflexes were also observed. Only 20.6 percent of the animals showed evident response to the cranial tibial reflex but none had a satisfactory response to the gastrocnemius reflex.