We investigated the expression of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein annexin-II (Ann-II) messenger RNA (mRNA) during preantral follicle development and in oocytes from antral follicles of different diameters (< 3 mm, 5 to 8 mm and > 8 mm). The action of retinol on Ann-II mRNA expression in mature oocytes was also examined. Only oocytes from secondary preantral follicles expressed Ann-II mRNA and at the germinal vesicle stage expression by oocytes from follicles larger than 8 mm was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared with oocytes from follicles smaller than 3 mm or between 5 and 8 mm. Ann-II mRNA expression by metaphase II oocytes from follicles larger than 8 mm was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that from oocytes from follicles smaller than 3 mm, with oocytes from both these size-classes showing similar levels of Ann-II mRNA expression as oocytes recovered from 5-8 mm follicles. In the presence of retinol, Ann-II mRNA expression was higher than when retinol was absent (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that Ann-II mRNA expression is highest in competent oocytes and that retinol increases Ann-II mRNA and may be involved in the regulation of oocyte competence by decreasing the translation and/or degradation of Ann-II mRNA.

O objetivo deste experimento foi comparar a eficiência de um programa hormonal associado ao desmame temporário por 96 horas na indução do estro e ovulação com o desmame definitivo aos 60 dias em vacas de corte. Foram utilizadas 183 vacas de corte amamentando, das raças Charolês (C), Nelore (N) e suas cruzas recíprocas, as quais foram genotipadas como homozigotas (HOM) ou heterozigotas (HET) para o microssatélite (STR) BMS3004, que está localizado no mesmo cromossomo do gene da cadeia beta do LH. Entre 60 e 80 dias pós-parto (dia 0), as vacas foram distribuídas em dois grupos. No grupo indução hormonal (IH), as vacas (n=87) receberam (dia 0) 250 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona por 8 dias, 2,5 mg de benzoato de estradiol (dia 1) e 500 UI de gonadotrofina coriônica eqüina (dia 7). No dia 8, os bezerros foram desmamados por 96 horas. No mesmo dia (dia 8), as vacas (n=96) do outro grupo apenas foram submetidas ao desmame definitivo (grupo DP). Após, procedeu-se 4 dias de inseminação artificial (IA) e, passado esse período, foram entouradas. O primeiro diagnóstico de gestação (DG) foi realizado 60 dias após o período de IA e, o segundo, 60 dias após o final do entoure. As taxas de estro foram maiores nas vacas do grupo IH em relação as do grupo DP. As vacas com condição corporal 2,5 e 3,0 apresentaram menores percentuais de prenhez ao 1ºDG no grupo IH (29,6 e 46,4%) em relação ao grupo DP (56,0 e 72,2%). Os percentuais de prenhez das vacas com índice corporal 65-73 não diferiram entre os grupos IH e DP. As vacas N do grupo IH, apresentaram menor percentual de prenhez ao 1ºDG que as F1 (27,7 vs. 64,2%), mas não diferiram em relação às C (40,0%). No grupo IH, o percentual de prenhez ao 2ºDG foi menor nas vacas HOM do que nas HET. O desmame definitivo precoce mostrou-se mais eficaz no incremento dos percentuais de prenhez em vacas de corte.

The aim of this experiment was to compare the efficiency of a hormonal protocol, associated to the temporary weaning for 96 hours, with the definitive weaning at 60 days in beef cows, for the induction of estrus and ovulation. One hundred and eighty-three suckled beef cows were used. The breeds of the cows were Charolais (C) and Nellore (N) and their crosses. The animals were genotyped as homozygous (HOM) and heterozigous (HET) for the microsatellite BMS3004, that is localized in the same chromossome of the LH beta chain gene. The cows were distributed in two groups between 60 and 80 days postpartum (day 0). In the hormonal induction group (HI), the cows (n=87) received (day 0) 250 mg of medroxiprogesteron acetate for 8 days, 2.5 mg of estradiol benzoate (day 1) and 500 UI of eCG (day 7). On day 8, the calves were weaned for 96 hours. In the same day (day 8), the cows (n=96) of the other group were just submitted to early weaning (group EW). Twelve hours after weaning, artificial insemination (AI) was done during four days. After this period, they were mated. The first diagnosis of pregnancy (DP) was performed 60 days after the AI period and, the second, 60 days after the end of mating. The estrus rates were higher in cows from HI group than in those of EW group. In the HI group, the cows with body condition 2.5 and 3.0 presented lower pregnancy rates at the 1st DP (29.6 and 46.4%) than in the EW group (56.0 and 72.2%). The rates of pregnancy in cows with body index 65-73 did not differ between the HI and EW groups. The N cows of HI group presented lower pregnancy rate at 1st DP than the F1 (27.7 vs. 64.2%), but was not different than the C cows (40.0%). In the HI group, the pregnancy rate at the 2nd DP was lower in HOM cows than in the HET ones. The cows in the early definitive weaning group showed to be more efficient than in the hormonal induction group to improve the pregnancy rate.