ABSTRACT The Brazilian bocachico is a rheophilic fish from the northeast region of Brazil that holds great economic and scientific interest. The absence of evident sexual dimorphism and the invasive character of sexing methods and evaluation of gonadal maturation are obstacles to its artificial reproduction. In this scenario, ultrasonography emerges as a non-invasive method for sexing. The objectives of this study were to establish an ultrasound sexing method for Brazilian bocachico and select equations to estimate the gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad weight (GW), and gonad volume (GV) of live bocachico. A total of 32 bocachico fish (18 females and 14 males) were analyzed ultrasonographically and morphologically. The association of morphometric and ultrasonographic parameters was investigated using Pearson Correlations. The following prediction equations were selected using multiple regression analysis: GSI = 16.22 × transvarea; GW = 30.3 × transvarea; and GV = 0.001260036 × pixels. A model capable of predicting the sex of the animals based on the ultrasonographic parameters was obtained using partial least-squares discriminant analysis with principal component analysis. The significance level adopted was P < 0.05. In conclusion, ultrasonography is a useful tool to perform sexing and evaluate the gonads during the breeding season, contributing to artificial reproduction in captivity.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate semen cryopreservation with ACP-Lact® diluent, which consists of coconut water powder (ACP) added to goat milk powder. After thawing, the samples were evaluated for sperm kinetics, membrane evaluation and in vivo insemination. For cryopreservation, a pool was made with the ejaculate of six goats, diluted in four equal aliquots for the respective treatments: T1 (ACP-Lact®); T2 (ACP-Lact® 50%); T3 (ACP + 2.5% egg yolk) and T4 (Tris + 2.5% egg yolk). After dilution of the treatments, the samples were placed in 0.5 ml straws and chilled at a rate of -1.07°C/min. After reaching 4°C and stabilizing for one hour, the straws were placed in nitrogen vapour at -60°C for 15 minutes and then immersed in liquid nitrogen (-196ºC). The straws were thawed in a 37°C water bath and kinetic assessments were performed immediately using a computerized semen analysis program (CSA), viability (EN), membrane functionality (HOST), mitochondrial activity (DAB) and DNA integrity assessment of spermatozoa. For the in vivo experiment, ten goats were inseminated, divided into two groups of five goats each, G1 inseminated with ACP-Lact® and G2 with ACP, by fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). Regarding the kinetic parameters, the ACP-Lact® treatment showed higher progressive motility (PM) and sperm velocity than the other treatments (36.77%). In the VSL parameter the ACP-Lact diluent was superior to ACP and Tris. In viability the treatment with ACP-Lact® was superior to the treatment with Tris, 95% and 83% respectively. In FTAI two goats were born out of the 5 goats inseminated with ACP-Lact®. It was concluded that the use of ACP-Lact® for cryopreservation of caprine semen is efficient in maintaining seminal parameters during thawing in vitro and in vivo and proved to be a good alternative extender for the caprine species.

Abstract The action of substances with non-permeable cryoprotectant potential, besides glucose, has not yet been studied for the species Prochilodus brevis. The objective of this work was to evaluate the action of four non-permeable cryoprotectants on this species sperm cryopreservation. Five pools were cryopreserved in a solution of 5% glucose and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) associated or not (control) with cryoprotectants egg yolk (5, 10 or 12%), soy lecithin (2.5, 7.5 or 10%), sucrose (5, 10 or 20%) and lactose (5, 8 or 15%). After thawing, samples were evaluated for sperm kinetics (total motility, motility duration, velocities, and wobble - WOB), morphology and membrane and DNA integrity. The treatments containing egg yolk improved significantly (P<0.05) results when compared the control for the membrane integrity parameter. When compared to other treatments, egg yolk, at any concentration, presented higher results (P<0.05) for membrane integrity, total motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL) and average path velocity (VAP) parameters. Egg yolk also showed the best results for WOB, but it did not differ from 5% and 8% lactose and 5% and 20% sucrose. Soy lecithin had the lowest percentages of morphologically normal sperm (P<0.05), while the other treatments did not differ from each other. There was no difference regarding DNA integrity data. Thus, 5% egg yolk is indicated as a non-permeable cryoprotectant for P. brevis, in association with 5% glucose and 10% Me2SO.

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of increasing the nutritional plane in finishing diets on meat quality traits of culled adult goats. Forty-one crossbred does were divided into four groups: baseline diet formulated to meet 100% of the nutritional requirements (BD); BD + 30% (BD30); + 60% (BD60); + 90% (BD90) of the nutritional level of BD. The goats received the experimental diets for 28 days. The protein profile of the longissimus lumborum muscle was evaluated using 1D SDS–PAGE and mass spectrometry. Cholesterol and albumin concentrations were highest in the BD group. There were no alterations in loin proximate composition or tissue composition. However, there was a significant reduction in the PUFA content in groups BD60 and BD90 compared with the group fed the baseline diet. Of 37 protein bands identified, 35 showed lower intensities in group BD90 than in BD and 22 bands showed lesser expression in groups BD60 and BD90 than in BD. The multivariate model identified 14 band proteins involved in group-diet segregation. Therefore, increasing the nutrient supply for finishing goats did not have marked positive effects on carcass. A lower expression of these proteins can have a profound impact on the qualitative aspects of the meat product.

Abstract The effect of high dietary lipid on the meat quality parameters of shoulder meat adult goats in raw meat and during curing and smoking was evaluated by classical and multivariate approaches. The animals were divided into two groups of different finishing strategies: without whole full-fat linseed (WFFLG, n = 9) and whole full-fat linseed (FFLG, n = 9), with diets containing an ether extract content of 2.7% and 6.9%, respectively. The physicochemical attributes did not vary according to the experimental diets in raw meat. The colorimetric parameters and pH varied during curing and smoking. Through multivariate analysis the first two principal components (PC), it was possible to identified variables were highly importance the total variation (L*, a*, b*, C*, h*, and fat content) in raw meat and smoking. The fat content and color b* presented the highest scores for importance of the variable in the projection. Lipid supplementation of adult goats did not influence the quality parameters physicochemical of the raw shoulder meat. However, after curing and smoking there was a significant effect of diet on Hue angle (h*).

Abstract Here, we aimed to discriminate between the spectral profiles of spent culture media after oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) from goats of different ages subjected to repeated hormonal treatments. The profiles were discriminated using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate methods. A total of 19 goats (young = 10; old = 9) were subjected to serial hormonal stimulation (HS) with gonadotropins. Cumulus oophorus complexes (COCs) were collected using laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and subjected to IVM and parthenogenetic activation. The initial embryos were subjected to IVC. Spent culture media were collected after oocyte IVM and on day 2 of IVC and analyzed using NIR spectroscopy. NIR spectral data were interpreted through chemometric methods, such as principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results of PCA analysis clearly showed a separation in the spectral profiles between the experimental groups (HS sessions; young and old animals) both after IVM and IVC. Overall, the main absorption bands were attributed to the C-H group second overtone, first overtone of O-H and N-H, and C-H combinations and may serve as molecular markers. On the other hand, the spectral data obtained using PLS-DA models provided a better classification of the groups. The results showed the possibility of discriminating young and old groups as well as the three HS sessions with high specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy using NIR spectra. Thus, the culture medium analysis using NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate methods indicated the dissimilarities between the groups and provided an insight into the in vitro development of goat oocytes. This technique serves as an efficient, objective, rapid, and non-invasive method to discriminate spectral profiles.

RESUMO O Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) é um peixe nativo da Bacia do rio da Prata com grande importância econômica. Diante disso, tem-se despertado o interesse no desenvolvimento de biotecnologias que visam otimizar a reprodução em cativeiro. Portanto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar o efeito da congelação seminal de pacu, em diferentes diluentes e equipamentos de congelação. O sêmen, após a formação dos pools, foi diluído na proporção 1:3 (sêmen: diluidor) em dois diferentes meios de congelação, resultantes da combinação de 10% DMSO associado à Glicose 5% ou ao ACP-104 e criopreservado em Dry shipper ou máquina de congelação programada (MCP). Posteriormente, as amostras foram descongeladas e avaliadas quanto à cinética espermática, com o Computer Assisted Sperm Analyser (CASA), integridade de membrana e morfologia espermática. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA, e para comparação de médias, foi realizado o teste F (P<0,05). Não houve interação entre os diluentes Glicose 5% ou ACP-104 e os equipamentos Dry shipper ou MCP. Porém, a Glicose 5% apresentou melhores resultados de cinética espermática (motilidade: 40,52 ± 7,1%; VCL: 28,53 ± 4,07 µm s-1; VSL: 9,38 ± 3,54 µm s-1 e VAP: 15,24 ± 4,23 µm s-1) quando comparada ao ACP-104 (motilidade: 31,19 ± 3,17%; VCL: 22,76 ± 1,86 µm s-1; VSL: 5,4 ± 1,16 µm s-1 e VAP: 10,06 ± 1,53 µm s-1). Assim, conclui-se que a Glicose 5% apresenta os melhores resultados, em relação ao ACP-104, independente do equipamento utilizado, Dry shipper ou MCP na congelação do sêmen de P. mesopotamicus.

ABSTRACT Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) is a fish native to the Basin of the River Plate and which has great economic importance. In view of this, there has been interest in developing biotechnologies that aim to optimise reproduction in captivity. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of freezing the semen of the pacu using different diluents and freezing equipment. The semen, after pooling, was diluted in the proportion 1:3 (semen: diluent) in two different freezing media, resulting from combining 10% DMSO with Glucose 5% or with ACP-104; it was then cryopreserved in a Dry Shipper or programmable freezer (PF). The samples were later thawed and evaluated for sperm kinetics, membrane integrity and sperm morphology using the Computer Assisted Sperm Analyser (CASA). The data were submitted to ANOVA, and the mean values compared by F-test (P <0.05). There was no interaction between the Glucose 5% or ACP-104 diluents, and the Dry Shipper or PF equipment. However, Glucose 5% showed better results for sperm kinetics (motility: 40.52 ± 7.1%; VCL: 28.53 ± 4.07 µm s-1; VSL: 9.38 ± 3.54 µm s-1 and VAP: 15.24 ± 4.23 µm s-1) compared to ACP-104 (motility: 31.19 ± 3.17%; VCL: 22.76 ± 1.86 µm s-1; VSL: 5.4 ± 1.16 µm s-1 and VAP: 10.06 ± 1.53 µm s-1). It can therefore be concluded that Glucose 5% gives the best results compared to ACP-104, regardless of the equipment used, Dry Shipper or PF, in freezing the semen of P. mesopotamicus.