Comparison of three different extenders on Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) semen freezability.

The use of frozen semen for artificial insemination is the main approach utilised for the genetic improvement of most domesticated species. The advantages include lower transportation costs, continuous availability of semen, fewer occurrences of sexually transmitted diseases and the incorporation of desirable genes in a relatively short amount of time. Nevertheless, the use of frozen semen in buffalo herds remains limited due to the loss of sperm quality when buffalo semen is frozen. So, the goal of this study was to evaluate the pre- and post-cryopreservation quality of buffalo semen diluted in three distinct freezing media: Tris-egg yolk, Botu-bov® (BB) and ACP-111®. Thirty-two ejaculates from four bulls were analysed in terms of kinetics, morphology and sperm viability by epifluorescence microscope. Thawed samples were also evaluated for capacitation-like damage, DNA fragmentation and plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity using flow cytometry. The Tris-egg yolk and BB® extenders yielded better results than the ACP-111® extender for kinetics parameter (total motility, progressive motility and percentage of rapid cells). However, semen samples were similar for parameters evaluated by flow cytometry. Taken together, the data indicate that in comparison with Tris-egg yolk and BB extender, ACP-111® can also be used as an extender for buffalo semen cryopreservation.

Genetic diversity and relatedness between Canindé and British Alpine goat breeds in Northeastern Brazil accessed by microsatellite markers.

The aim of this study was to access the genetic diversity and relatedness between Canindé and British Alpine goat breeds in the States of Piauí and Ceará using microsatellite markers. Genomic DNA was isolated from hair samples of 99 goats belonging to six different flocks. A panel of polymorphic heterologous microsatellite loci was used to genotype individuals. The microsatellite markers resulted in a total number of 145 alleles, with an average of 8.5 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities were ≥0.687 and ≥0.627, respectively, for all loci. The polymorphic information content showed that all loci were highly informative with an overall mean of 0.757. Overall FST across all populations and loci was 18%, which was consistent with the coefficient of gene differentiation (GST = 0.104). AMOVA revealed that 12.8% of the variation was captured between breeds. The Bayesian STRUCTURE clustering detected the maximum likelihood for a model of two genetically distinct groups, in agreement with the number of predefined studied breeds and the two-dimensional plot from the PCoA analysis. The exotic British Alpine breed and the naturalized Brazilian Canindé breed were clearly differentiated by the microsatellite markers, indicating that these two breeds have distant genetic identities, despite the phenotypic similarity.

Ultrastructure evaluation of goat spermatozoa after freezing in a skim milk-based extender with Trolox supplementation.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro effect of adding Trolox in freezing extender for goat semen. Ejaculates from five bucks were evaluated, and when approved, the samples were pooled, diluted according to experimental groups [Trolox 0 (control), 30, 60 and 120 nmol ml(-1) ] and frozen in an automated system. Thawed samples (37 °C/30 s) were evaluated for plasma membrane (PMi) and acrosome integrity (Aci), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and sperm kinematics by CASA system. Spermatozoa ultrastructure was evaluated in fresh and post-thawed semen. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed among control and Trolox groups in the analyses of PMi, Aci, MMP and CASA in goat spermatozoa after thawing. Samples of 60 and 120 nmol ml(-1) Trolox groups had a higher percentage of cells that had intact plasma membranes in spermatozoa head than in the other groups, although they did not differ (P > 0.05) before being frozen. A higher percentage (P < 0.05) of spermatozoa with intact mitochondria was observed in fresh semen, control and Trolox 60 nmol ml(-1) groups than in the other groups. Addition of Trolox to skim milk extender at 60 nmol ml(-1) ultrastructurally preserves the plasma membrane and mitochondrial sheath integrity in goat spermatozoa after cryopreservation.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of ram sperm frozen in tris egg-yolk and supplemented with superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effect of the addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) to ram semen freezing extender. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were detected between groups regarding total motility (TM), straightness (STR) and wobble (WOB), for which the GSH 7 mM group had lesser TM and better STR than the other groups and the GSH 5 and 7 mM groups had higher wobble values than the control, SOD 25 and 100 U/ml groups. The ultrastructural analysis revealed that the acrosome was better preserved after freezing in the SOD 100 U/ml and GSH 2 and 5 mM (p < 0.05) groups than the other groups, whereas mitochondria in both the control group and the 7 mM GSH group suffered the greatest damage. The plasma membrane remained preserved after freezing, regardless of the group. For in vivo fertilization, the SOD group achieved better results than the GSH group (p > 0.05). It can therefore be concluded that the addition of SOD 100 U/ml and GSH 2 and 5 mM preserves the acrosome integrity of frozen ram spermatozoa, while the addition of SOD 100 U/ml to Tris egg-yolk extender offers protection to the membranes of sperm cells after thawing.

Molecular analysis of a mutant Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) shows an interruption of an inhibitor of apoptosis gene (iap-3) by a new class-II piggyBac-related insect transposon.

A new piggyBac-related transposable element (TE) was found in the genome of a mutant Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus interrupting an inhibitor of apoptosis gene. This mutant virus induces apoptosis upon infection of an Anticarsia gemmatalis cell line, but not in a Trichoplusia ni cell line. The sequence of the new TE (which was named IDT for iap disruptor transposon) has 2531 bp with two DNA sequences flanking a putative Transposase (Tpase) ORF of 1719 bp coding for a protein with 572 amino acids. These structural features are similar to the piggyBac TE, also reported for the first time in the genome of a baculovirus. We have also isolated variants of this new TE from different lepidopteran insect cells and compared their Tpase sequences.

An experimental model for fatal malaria due to TNF-alpha-dependent hepatic damage.

While BALB/c mice survive infection with blood stages of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS), 70% of DBA/2 mice die by day 9-11 of infection, both strains controlling parasitaemia. We describe here that infection of DBA/2 mice results in extensive, multifocal hepatocyte death. Antibody neutralization of TNF-alpha prevents both liver damage and death.

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis: ultrastructural study of lymphocytic dense bodies.

We studied the ultrastructural alterations of the dense bodies of peripheral blood lymphocytes in one case of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. These cytoplasmic vesicles were characterized by vacuolar transformation and "fingerprint" content. When we tilted the specimens, the "fingerprint" arrangement was shown to be the same as the arrangement of the crystalloid inclusions found in the same cells. Both vacuoles and periodic cytoplasmic inclusions could be due to a disorder of secondary lysosomes--the lymphocytic dense bodies.

Plasma cell granuloma of the tongue. Report of a case.

A case of plasma cell granuloma of the tongue in an otherwise symptomless 48-year-old caucasian female is reported. The polyclonal nature of the plasmocytes was revealed by immunostaining of kappa and lambda light chains. Electron microscopic observations showed typical mature plasmocytes. A parasitic etiology of this type of lesion is suggested.

Alveolar adenoma of the lung: further characterization of this uncommon tumour.

Alveolar adenoma of the lung is a poorly characterized, uncommon pulmonary lesion with proliferation of alveolar epithelium and septal mesenchyme. We describe the electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and DNA flow cytometry in a case of alveolar adenoma in a 55-year-old woman. Alveolar adenoma appears to be a distinct benign neoplasm of the alveolar structures. Our findings further suggest that it is not a precursor of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or other type II pneumocyte lesions of presumed malignant potential.

Supratentorial giant cell ependymoma.

Ependymomas account for 3 to 9% of all neuroepithelial tumors and, although occurring most often within the ventricular system, they may arise from the extraventricular parenchyma as well. Several histologic patterns of these neoplasm are well known, but little attention has been devoted to a variant composed of giant elements. We describe the case of a 13-year-old girl experiencing a 3-month history of partial seizures in whom cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed an extraventricular, right parietotemporal neoplasm, adherent to the overlying dura mater. Histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings were consistent with those of a high-grade ependymoma. The tumor was characterized by the presence of a major component of pleomorphic giant cells, as also seen in pleomorphic xantoastrocytoma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Similar elements have been described in two filum terminale and one supratentorial, intraventricular ependymoma, respectively. Histologic and evolutional data of those and of our own case suggest that isolated giant cells are not necessarily linked to a bad prognosis in ependymomas.

Clear cell meningioma variant and clinical aggressiveness.

The few reports about clear cell meningiomas (CCM) point to an inordinate clinical aggressiveness despite their histological benignity. We studied 5 CCM aiming to assess their clinicopathological, cytometric, and ultrastructural features. Two patients were females and 3 males, with a mean age of 36 years. Two tumors were spinal, one of the cerebral convexity, one of the tentorium-clinoid region, and one of the base of the skull. The first 3 were totally removed and have not recurred for a mean follow-up time of 40 months. The tentorium-clinoid and the skull base tumors had radical subtotal and partial resections, and recurred after 16 and 1.5 months, respectively. All tumors but one, a non-recurrent one, presented no signs of histological anaplasia. The proliferative capacity, as assessed by MIB-1 staining index (SI), of recurrent tumors was slightly higher than that of those tumors that did not recur. All cases showed DNA diploid pattern. Amianthoid-type fibers were disclosed on ultrastructural study. CCM arose in patients younger than those with other variants of meningioma, the spinal canal and the posterior fossa were the common sites. Finally, intracranial tumors were linked to an aggressive behavior.

[Ceroid-lipofuscinosis: ultrastructural study of 8 cases]. / Cerolipofuscinose: estudo ultrastrutural de 8 casos.

The authors studied the clinical and ultrastructural features of 8 cases of Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis (NCL). Five cases of the late-infantile type and 3 cases of the juvenile type. The clinical diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by the electron microscopy analysis of the peripheral blood lymphocytes and biopsy material from the skin, palpebral conjunctiva, skeletal muscle and rectal mucosa. Our observations agree with previous reports concerning the predominance of curvilinear bodies in the cells of the late infantile type, and fingerprint-like structures in those of the juvenile type. The finding of parallel tubular arrays and NCL inclusions associated in the same lymphocyte (frequently in the same vacuole) suggests that those structures could be related to the metabolic error of NCL. Ultrastructural examination of microbuffycoats of peripheric blood lymphocytes is a simple, time-saving and reliable method that allows specific confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis.

[Central neurocytomas]. / Neurocitomas centrais.

Central neurocytomas are a well-characterized group of neuronal tumors usually arising in the supratentorial ventricular cavities. We describe the anatomical and clinical study of seven of these neoplasms. Patients were in the first four decades of life, and tumors were usually located in one of the lateral ventricles. Surgical resection was subtotal in 6 cases. Light microscopic examination revealed predominantly benign lesions with morphological features similar to the so-called ependymoma of the foramen of Monro, of the oligodendrogliomas, and of the neuroblastomas. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis in each case, showing expression of neuron specific enolase and synaptophysin and containing microtubuli, neurosecretory granules, and presynaptic vesicles. In agreement with the literature, the authors stress the benign behaviour of most of these tumors and the need for systematic immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. The actual roles of the extent of resection and of postoperative radiotherapy are still a matter of discussion.

Comparação da qualidade seminal de caprinos das raças Canindé e Alpina Britânica no Nordeste brasileiro / Comparison of the seminal quality of Canindé and British Alpine goats in the Brazilian Northeast

O estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade seminal de caprinos das raças Canindé (autóctone) e Alpina Britânica (exótica) no Nordeste brasileiro. O experimento foi realizado nos períodos de julho a setembro dos anos de 2015 e 2016. As coletas seminais foram realizadas com auxílio de vagina artificial, de machos das raças Canindé (n = 4) e Alpina Britânica (n = 7). Após a coleta, o sêmen foi avaliado quanto a: volume (ml), concentração (sptz/ml), motilidade (%) e vigor (1-5). Em seguida, diluído em ACP-101c e criopreservado em máquina TK3000TM. Posteriormente, foram analisados os parâmetros cinéticos, através do software SCA®, e a atividade mitocondrial. No sêmen fresco, as duas raças apresentaram valores de motilidade e concentração dentro do preconizado para a espécie. Entretanto, os valores de volume e circunferência escrotal foram superiores na raça Alpina Britânica (0,73 ml ± 0,32; 27,35 cm ± 2,09) do que na raça Canindé (0,36 ml ± 0,07; 23,25 cm ± 0,95) (p < 0,05). Já no sêmen descongelado, os parâmetros motilidade total - MT (36,96% ± 11,16 vs. 20,50% ± 14,15), motilidade progressiva - MP (26,67% ± 11,13 vs. 11,29% ± 9,42), vigor (2,91 ± 0,90 vs. 1,88 ± 0,67), velocidade curvilinear - VCL (78,12 µm/s ± 12,41 vs. 59,28 µm/s ± 15,57), velocidade linear - VSL (49,23 µm/s ± 9,87 vs. 29,9 µm/s ± 9,48), velocidade média da trajetória - VAP (66,08 µm/s ± 12,77 vs. 45,70 µm/s ± 12,20), linearidade - LIN (62,97% ± 6,96 vs. 49,54%±9,50), retilinearidade - STR (74,63% ± 6,44 vs. 65,77% ± 8,92), e oscilação - WOB (84,32% ± 5,94 vs. 74,42% ± 7,31) foram superiores para a raça Canindé em detrimento à Alpina Britânica (p < 0,05). Portanto, o sêmen fresco das duas raças podem ser utilizados em biotécnicas reprodutivas. Já o sêmen pós-descongelação da raça Canindé apresentou melhor qualidade, provavelmente pelos animais estarem mais adaptados às condições adversas da região Nordeste, sendo recomendado para programas de inseminação artificial.(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sperm quality of Canindé (native) and British Alpine (exotic) goats in the Northeast of Brazil. The experiment was carried out from July to September of the years 2015 and 2016. Sperm collections of Canindé (n = 4) and British Alpine (n = 7) males were performed using artificial vagina. After collection, the sperm was evaluated for volume (ml), concentration (sptz/ml), motility (%), and vigor (1-5). Then diluted in ACP-101c and cryopreserved in TK3000TM machine. Subsequently, kinetic parameters were analyzed through SCA TM software and mitochondrial activity. In fresh sperm, the two races presented values of motility and concentration within the recommended for the specie. However, volume and scrotal circumference values were higher in the British Alpine breed (0.73 mL ± 0.32; 27.35 cm ± 2.09) than in the Canindé breed (0.36 mL ± 0.07; 23 , 25 cm ± 0.95) (p <0.05). In the thawed sperm, the parameters total motility - TM (36.96% ± 11.16 vs. 20.50% ± 14.15), progressive motility - PM (26.67% ± 11.13 vs. 11.29 % ± 9.42), vigor (2.91 ± 0.90 vs. 1.88 ± 0.67), curvilinear velocity - VCL (78.12 µm/s ± 12.41 vs. 59.28 µm/s ± 15.57), linear velocity - VSL (49.23 µm/s ± 9.87 vs. 29.9 µm/s ± 9.48), mean velocity of the trajectory - VAP (66.08 µm/s ± 12.77 vs. 45.70 µm/s ± 12.20), linearity - LIN (62.97% ± 6.96 vs. 49.54% ± 9.50), rectilinearity - STR (74.63% ± 6.44 vs. 65.77% ± 8.92), and oscillation -WOB (84.32% ± 5.94 vs. 74.42% ± 7.31) were higher for Canindé breed than for British Alpine ( p < 0.05). Therefore, fresh sperm from both breeds can be used in reproductive biotechniques. On the other hand, the post-thawed sperm of the Canindé breed showed better quality, probably because the animals were more adapted to the adverse conditions of the Northeast region and are recommended for artificial insemination programs.(AU)

Automatic virus particle selection--the entropy approach.

This paper describes a fully automatic approach to locate icosahedral virus particles in transmission electron microscopy images. The initial detection of the particles takes place through automatic segmentation of the entropy-proportion image; this image is computed in particular regions of interest defined by two concentric structuring elements contained in a small overlapping window running over all the image. Morphological features help to select the candidates, as the threshold is kept low enough to avoid false negatives. The candidate points are subject to a credibility test based on features extracted from eight radial intensity profiles in each point from a texture image. A candidate is accepted if these features meet the set of acceptance conditions describing the typical intensity profiles of these kinds of particles. The set of points accepted is subjected to a last validation in a three-parameter space using a discrimination plan that is a function of the input image to separate possible outliers.

Efeito de vitaminas adicionadas ao diluente ACP-104 sobre a qualidade do sêmen criopreservado de carpa comum (Cyprinus carpio) / Effect of vitamins added to the ACP-104 extender on the quality of cryopreserved semen of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi alcançado com a divisão da pesquisa em dois experimentos: (1) aperfeiçoar o protocolo de congelação utilizando água de coco em pó (ACP-104) como diluente para a criopreservação seminal de carpa comum; (2) avaliar o efeito da suplementação das vitaminas C (ácido ascórbico) ou E (α-tocoferol) sobre os melhores diluidores testados no experimento 1 na qualidade do sêmen pós-descongelado da espécie. Para o experimento 1, foram formados oito pools de sêmen, provenientes de 14 machos selecionados. As amostras seminais coletadas foram avaliadas quanto à motilidade total, à velocidade, ao percentual de espermatozoides normais e à vitalidade espermática antes e depois da criopreservação seminal. Esta foi realizada em meio ACP-104 acrescido de dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO), ou etilenoglicol (EG), ou glicerol, ou metanol, todos à concentração de 10%, diluídos em 1:3 (sêmen:diluidor). As amostras foram, então, congeladas em vapor de nitrogênio líquido em dry shipper e estocadas em nitrogênio líquido (-196°C). Para o experimento 2, foram formados oito pools provenientes da coleta de sêmen de 15 machos. As amostras seminais foram avaliadas seguindo as mesmas análises do experimento 1, acrescentando-se a duração da motilidade total. A criopreservação seminal utilizou-se do meio ACP-104 acrescido de DMSO ou EG, suplementado ou não com vitamina C ou E. Os melhores resultados encontrados no experimento 1 foram obtidos com o DMSO e o EG. Estes não diferiram significativamente entre si para a motilidade total (24% e 28%; P>0,05) e a normalidade espermática (32% e 26%; P>0,05), respectivamente. Para o experimento 2, o EG suplementado com vitamina E produziu significativamente resultados superiores de motilidade total, normalidade espermática e duração da motilidade em relação ao DMSO, concluindo-se que o EG deve ser, portanto, o crioprotetor de escolha a ser utilizado com o ACP-104 suplementado ou não com vitamina E.(AU)

The objective was achieved by dividing the research into two experiments: (1) improving the freezing protocol using powdered coconut water (ACP-104) as a diluent for the cryopreservation seminal of common carp; (2) evaluating the effect of supplementation of vitamins C (ascorbic acid) or vitamin E (α-tocoferol) with the best extenders tested in experiment 1 on the quality of post-thawed. For experiment 1, semen pools from 14 selected males were formed. Seminal samples were evaluated for total motility, velocity, percentage of normal sperm and sperm vitality before and after the seminal cryopreservation. This was done in ACP-104 extender plus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or ethylene glycol (EG), or glycerol or methanol all at concentration 10% diluted in 1:3 (semen:extender). The samples were frozen in vapors of nitrogen into dry shippers and stored in liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). For experiment 2, eight pools were formed from the 15 males. The semen samples were evaluated following the same analysis of experiment 1 adding duration of total motility. The sperm cryopreservation was performed in extenders ACP-104 plus DMSO or EG supplemented or not with vitamin C or E. The best results found in Experiment 1 were obtained with DMSO and EG. They do not differ significantly for total motility (24% and 28%; P>0.05) and normal sperm (32% and 26%; P>0.05) respectively. For experiment 2, EG supplemented with vitamin E, produced significantly better results overall motility, sperm normality and duration of motility relative to DMSO. In conclusion, EG should be the cryoprotectant of choice for use with the ACP-104 supplemented or not with vitamin E.(AU)

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-I on some quality traits and fertility of cryopreserved ovine semen.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the quality and fertility of frozen/thawed ovine semen. Five rams (five ejaculates/ram) were used for evaluation of semen parameters. Before cryopreservation, ejaculates were divided into four aliquots and extended with Tris alone or supplemented with human IGF-I (50, 100, or 250 ng/mL). Semen was evaluated immediately after thawing (T0), after 1 h (T1) and 2 h (T2) post-incubation at 37 °C. The percentage of live cells (fluorescence analysis-calcein and ethidium), acrosome integrity (NAR) and motility were analyzed, and hypo-osmotic swelling tests (HOST) were used to evaluate membrane resistance. In addition, AI was performed using 121 ewes to compare the optimal concentration of IGF-I vs. Tris alone on pregnancy rates after laparoscopic insemination. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by transrectal ultrasonography. After 1 and 2 h post-incubation, in every group, percentage motile sperm, NAR and HOST decreased compared to semen at T0. Motility was higher (P < 0.05) in the IGF-I 100 and IGF-I 250 groups when compared to the IGF-I 50 and Tris groups (76.2 and 74.4% vs. 66.2 and 64.4 percent, respectively) at T0, after 1 h (67 and 63.6% vs. 56.2 and 54.7%) and 2 h post-incubation (58.2 and 55.8% vs. 48 and 47.2%). Furthermore, viability was higher (P < 0.05) in the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) 100 and IGF-I 250 groups than in the IGF-I 50 and Tris groups (88.7 and 88.3% vs. 76.6 and 77.6%, respectively) at T0. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in NAR or hypo-osmotic swelling tests (HOST) among groups. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in fertility between the IGF-I 100 and Tris groups. In conclusion, IGF-I improved subjective sperm motility and structural integrity of the plasma membrane without a significant effect on 45-day pregnancy rates after laparoscopic insemination of ewes with frozen-thawed semen.

A new species of Heredius Marsh 2002 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) from Brazil.

A new species of Heredius Marsh, 2002 is described from Brazil. H. flavus n. sp. differs from the other known Heredius species by its yellow mesosoma and metasoma, acinose-carinate face, acinose temple, malar space length about 0.56 times eye height, ocello-ocular distance about 4.0 times diameter of the lateral ocellus; acinose-rugose mesoscutal lobes, sternaulus finely scrobiculate and almost complete, and first metasomal tergum with apical width almost equal its length.