ABSTRACT This study evaluated the behavior of broiler chickens subjected to thermal stress during different periods of the day and age of birds. A total of 180 one-day-old male broiler chicks were allocated to three chambers. Each chamber contained five boxes, with 12 chicks/box. Birds were assigned to a completely randomized design. The birds were filmed, and the images recorded every minute during the two periods: morning (from 08:00 to 09:00 h) and afternoon (from 17:00 to 18:00 h), at 7, 14, and 35 d of age. The frequency of the behavioral category (water intake, feed intake, resting, exploration, and comfort) was determined. Data were subjected to variance analysis for mixed models with rearing temperatures (cold, usual, and hot) and age of birds (7, 14, and 35 d) as subdivided plot, and periods of the day (morning and afternoon) as sub-subdivided plot. Birds at cold and usual temperatures showed higher feed intake than those at hot temperature in the morning. Birds exposed to cold and usual temperatures explored the environment less frequently at 35 d when compared with 14 d. However, chickens at hot temperature showed decreased exploration according to the increase of age. Birds spent more time feeding during the morning, regardless of age and rearing temperature. Also, during this period of the day, chickens spent most of the time exploring the environment. The frequency of feed intake and exploration decreases with the increase of age. The similarity of behavior between chickens reared at cold and usual temperatures may be due to a change in the thermal comfort zone of the birds. It suggests that the real thermal comfort temperature is between the two temperature ranges studied (cold and usual).

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of continuous ingestion of pectin on intestinal viscosity, intestinal transit time, excreta moisture content, nutrient digestibility and energy metabolism of broilers at starter and growth phases. We used 240 one-day-old Cobb male broiler chicks, distributed in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of four concentrations of pectin (0, 10, 30 and 50 g kg-1) with six replicates of 10 birds each. The ingestion of pectin supplied in the feed by broilers at the starter phase increased intestinal viscosity and intestinal transit time, reduced excreta moisture, improved the use of apparent metabolizable energy, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy, coefficient of apparent metabolizability, coefficient of nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizability, apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein and organic matter; worsened calcium utilization and coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter; and did not influence the coefficients of apparent digestibility of crude fat, ash and phosphorus. Pectin ingestion during the growth phase increased intestinal viscosity and apparent digestibility coefficients of ash and organic matter, but decreased the dry matter, crude fat, crude protein and calcium. Intestinal transit time, energy metabolism and apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein showed quadratic behavior according to pectin levels in the feed. Therefore, pectin ingestion by broilers at the starter phase increases intestinal viscosity and intestinal transit time, reduces excreta moisture and improves energy utilization, whereas at the growth phase nutrient digestibility is decreased.

Este estudo objetivou determinar as adaptações do músculo Gluteus medius de cavalos da raça Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH), que participaram de atividades físicas leves por 10 meses. Foram utilizados 11 eqüinos, machos, da raça BH e com idade de 4 anos, provenientes do "Batalhão Nove de Julho" da Polícia Militar do Estado de São (PM-SP). Realizou-se a biópsia muscular percutânea nos animais inativos e, após participarem das atividades de ronda e policiamento desenvolvido pela PM-SP por 10 meses, foram retirados fragmentos do músculo Gluteus medius nas profundidades de 20mm e 60mm. Para a determinação dos tipos de fibra muscular, foram feitas análises histoquímicas por meio das técnicas de adenosina trifosfatase miofibrilar (mATPase) e nicotinamida adenina dinucleotídeo tetrazólio redutase (NADH-TR). Na análise morfométrica das fibras, calculou-se a área de secção transversal (AST), a freqüência média (F) e a área de secção transversal relativa (ASTR). Após o período de atividade física, as fibras tipo IIA apresentaram aumento da F e da ASTR nas duas profundidades. As fibras tipo I apresentaram diminuição da F na profundidade de 60mm e as fibras tipo IIX não sofreram alteração da F nas duas profundidades. A ASTR das fibras tipo I e IIX não apresentaram alteração após os 10 meses. A atividade física de baixa intensidade produziu adaptações significativas no músculo Gluteus medius de cavalos da raça BH, incluindo mudança nas propriedades metabólicas e contráteis evidenciadas pelo aumento da área ocupada pelas fibras tipo IIA, nas duas profundidades de biópsia.

This study aimed to determine the changes in the Gluteus medius of 4 year-old Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH) horses submitted to light physical activity for 10 months. The study involved 11 horses from the "Nove de Julho" Battalion of the Military Police of São Paulo State (PM-SP). Percutaneous muscle biopsy was performed in horses at maintenance and in those that had participated in routine police work for 10 months with the PM-SP. Fragments of the left Gluteus medius muscle was removed at depths of 20mm and 60mm. To determine the fiber types, the histochemical analyses were performed for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (mATPase) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR). The morphometry of the fibers was performed by calculating the cross sectional area (CSA), relative frequency distribution (F) and relative cross-sectional area (RCSA). After the period of physical activity, type IIA fibers showed an increase in F and RCSA at both depths. The type I fibers showed a decrease in F at a depth of 60mm and the type IIX fibers showed no change in F at the two depths. With regard to the results for RCSA, type I and IIX fibers also did not show alterations after 10 months of light physical activity. Low intensity physical activity produced significant adaptations in the Gluteus medius muscle of horses of the BH breed, including changes in metabolic and contractile properties as evidenced by the increase in the area occupied by type IIA fibers at both depths of the biopsy.

Propõe-se, neste trabalho, o uso de microscopia eletrônica de varredura para avaliar perda de epitélio intestinal da mucosa intestinal de pintos machos e fêmeas submetidos a prolongado jejum pós-eclosão de água e ração. Dois segmentos do duodeno, jejuno e íleo por ave foram coletados e processados pelo método de rotina para microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Seis diferentes graus de perda de epitélio intestinal foram determinados: grau 0, vilos normais, sem extrusão; grau 1, vilos com pequenos pontos de extrusão; grau 2, vilos com perda de epitélio no ápice; grau 3, vilos com perda de epitélio na região apical; grau 4, vilos com perda de epitélio em sua metade superior; grau 5: vilos sem epitélio; grau 6: vilo quebrado. As três regiões intestinais das fêmeas apresentaram aproximadamente 90% de seus vilos normais (graus 0 e 1), enquanto nos machos ocorreu 38% de vilos normais no duodeno e jejuno e 85% no íleo. Além disso, machos apresentaram graus mais acentuados de perda de epitélio (graus 3, 4, 5 e 6) que as fêmeas (grau 3). Os dados indicaram que a mucosa intestinal de pintos machos é mais sensível a prolongado jejum pós-eclosão que a de pintos fêmeas. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura pode ser usada como um método de rotina seguro para a caracterização e quantificação de perda de epitélio intestinal.

This work reports the use of scanning electron microscopy to evaluate intestinal epithelium loss in broilers. Intestinal mucosa of male and female chicks submitted to prolonged period post-hatching of water and feed deprivation was evaluated. Two segments of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were taken per bird, and routinely processed by scanning electron microscopy. Six distinct degrees of epithelium loss were determined: degree 0, normal villi without apparent extrusion; degree 1, villi presenting small areas of epithelium loss; degree 2, villi without epithelium at the apex; degree 3, villi without epithelium at the apical region; degree 4, villi without epithelium in the upper half; degree 5, lack of epithelium in the whole villus; degree 6, loss of villi. Fasted male chicks presented only up to 38% of normal villi (degree 0 and 1) in the duodenum and jejunum, and 85% in the ileum, whereas fasted female chicks presented approximately 92% of normal villi in the three intestinal regions. Besides this, fasted male chicks had more accentuated degrees of epithelium loss (degrees 3, 4, 5 and 6) than females (degree 3). Data indicated that the intestinal mucosa in male chicks presents higher susceptibility to prolonged fasting than in females. Scanning electron microscopy is shown to be a reliable routine technique to characterize and quantify intestinal epithelium loss.

Serotonin-immunoreactive neurons were identified in the central nervous system (CNS) of Anastrepha obliqua Macquart, 1835 wandering stage larvae. The PAP immunocytochemical method was applied to the entire CNS (whole mounts). About 90 neurons were visualized in the CNS (20 in the brain and 70 in the ventral ganglion). Both somata and axons were strongly stained. These neurons showed a segmental arrangement and bilateral symmetry. All processes presented a basic projection pattern, in which the major fibres travel contralaterally. Comparison of these neurons with serotonergic neurons described in other insects suggests order-specific traits such as cerebral clusters and presence of only one 5-HT immunoreactive neuron in the 8th abdominal neuromere as well.