RESUMO Avaliou-se a eficiência da administração de subdoses de eCG nos acupontos Bai Hui e Hou Hai em protocolos de sincronização de estro em cabras. Na primeira etapa, 57 cabras foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em quatro tratamentos: T1- 300UI de eCG intramuscular (IM); T2- 60UI de eCG no acuponto Hou Hai; T3- 60UI de eCG no acuponto Bai Hui e T4- 60UI de eCG IM; e na segunda etapa, 28 cabras foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três tratamentos: T1- 300UI de eCG IM; T2- 30UI de eCG no acuponto Bai Hui e T3- 30UI de eCG IM. Ao final do tratamento hormonal, as cabras foram monitoradas para detecção do estro, realização das coberturas e avaliação do comportamento reprodutivo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de normalidade, seguida dos testes estatísticos adequados para cada variável. Na primeira etapa experimental, obteve-se maior duração de estro nas cabras do T1 (P=0,009). Na segunda etapa experimental, obteve-se maior número de animais em estros no T1 (P=0,03). As demais variáveis para ambas as etapas não sofreram influência dos tratamentos (P>0,05), demonstrando que a administração de subdoses de eCG nos acupontos Bai Hui e Hou Hai foi eficiente para sincronizar o estro.

ABSTRACT The efficiency of administration of subdoses of eCG in the Bai Hui and Hou Hai acupoints in oestrus synchronization protocols in goats was evaluated. In the first stage, 57 goats were randomly assigned to four treatments: T1- 300UI of intramuscular eCG (IM); T2- 60UI of eCG in acupoint Hou Hai; T3- 60UI of eCG in the Bai Hui acupoint and T4- 60UI of eCG IM; and in the second stage, 28 goats were randomly assigned to three treatments: T1-300UI of eCG IM; T2-30UI of eCG in the Bai Hui acupoint and T3- 30UI of eCG IM. At the end of the hormonal treatment the goats were monitored for estrus detection, and evaluation of reproductive behavior. The data were submitted to normality analysis, followed by appropriate statistical tests for each variable. In the first experimental stage, a longer duration of estrus in the T1 goats (P= 0.009) was obtained. In the second experimental stage, a greater number of animals were obtained in estrus at T1 (P= 0.03). The other variables for both experiments were not influenced by the treatments (P> 0.05), demonstrating that administration of eCG subdoses in the Bai Hui and Hou Hai acupoints was efficient to synchronize the estrus.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da inclusão de óleo de peixe associado ao ácido ascórbico no diluidor para criopreservação de sêmen caprino. Dois machos da raça Boer foram submetidos à coleta de sêmen pelo método de vagina artificial, sendo os ejaculados avaliados quanto aos aspectos físicos e morfológicos. Após avaliação, formou-se um pool, seguido do fracionamento em cinco grupos: G1 - diluidor citrato-gema e G2, G3, G4 e G5 - diluidor citrato-gema acrescido de 1,0; 2,0; 3,0 e 4,0% de óleo de peixe e 0,05% de ácido ascórbico, respectivamente. Após descongelamento, foram realizadas avaliações físicas do sêmen e os testes complementares de termorresistência lento (TTR), hiposmótico (HO), integridade acrossomal e compactação da cromatina espermática. Houve comportamento linear crescente (P<0,05) para motilidade pós-descongelamento. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para vigor pós-descongelamento (2,00±0,24). No TTR não houve diferença (P>0,05) para motilidade e vigor espermáticos entre os tempos cinco e 180min, com médias inicial e final de 62,17±12,13 e 14,29±10,55 para motilidade e de 2,00±0,52 e 0,49±0,44 para vigor. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para o HO, com porcentagem média de espermatozoides reativos de 23,5±5,96%. Houve comportamento linear crescente para acrossoma íntegro e decrescente para acrossoma irregular (P<0,05). Não houve diferença (P>0,05) na compactação da cromatina, com 97,06±1,17% de cromatina íntegra. A inclusão até 4% de óleo de peixe acrescido de ácido ascórbico no diluidor melhorou motilidade e integridade de acrossoma após a criopreservação.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the effect of fish oil inclusion associated with ascorbic acid in the thinner for goat semen cryopreservation. Two male Boers underwent semen collection through the artificial vagina method, ejaculates being then assessed for physical and morphological aspects. After evaluation, a pool was formed, followed by the split into five groups: G1 - yolk-citrate extender and G2, G3, G4 and G5 - yolk-citrate extender plus 1.0; 2.0; 3.0 and 4.0% fish oil and 0.05% ascorbic acid, respectively. After thawing, physical evaluations of semen were assessed and additional testing slow heat resistance (TTR), hiposmotic (HO), acrosome integrity and compression of sperm chromatin. There was linear increase (P<0.05) post-thaw motility. No difference was obtained for post-thaw vigor and there was no influence of the association of fish oil and ascorbic acid in TTR. Plasma membrane integrity, by hyposmotic test (HO), presented a mean of reactive spermatozoa of 23.5±5.96% (P>0.05). There was linear increase for intact acrosome and decreasing acrosome irregular (P<0.05). In the analysis of the chromatin compaction, approximately 3% of damages (P>0.05) were observed. The inclusion of 4% fish oil plus ascorbic acid in diluter improved motility and acrosome integrity after cryopreservation.

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação com geleia real sobre a morfometria do aparelho genital, resposta superovulatória e qualidade embrionária de coelhas. Trinta e seis fêmeas foram distribuídas em quatro grupos (G), sendo: G1 (n=9) formado por animais não suplementados com geleia real, e G2, G3 e G4 (n=9 em cada grupo) por animais suplementados com 10, 20 e 40mg/dia de geleia real. A superovulação consistiu na aplicação de 40UI de gonadotrofina coriônica equina, seguida por 40UI de gonadotrofina coriônica humana, via intramuscular, 48 horas após, e submetidas à cobrição natural. Os animais foram sacrificados, e os embriões coletados 72 horas após a cópula. Não houve diferença estatística entre tratamentos para as variáveis analisadas. O peso médio do aparelho genital foi de 10,88±0,38g; dos ovários - direito e esquerdo -, 0,28±0,02g; e o índice gonadossomático, 0,02±0,0g. O número médio de estruturas totais recuperadas foi de 9,2±1,4; de embriões viáveis, 8,7±1,4; e de degenerados, 0,5±0,2. Dos embriões viáveis, 5,6±0,8 foram classificados como grau I; 2,3±0,5, como grau II; e 0,8±0,2, como grau III. A suplementação com geleia real na dose de até 40mg/dia não apresentou efeito estimulador sobre o aparelho genital e a qualidade embrionária de coelhas.

The purpose of this paper was to assess the effect of supplementation of royal jelly on the morphometry of the genital tract, superovulatory response and embryonic quality in adult rabbits. 36 rabbits were distributed in four groups (G), as follows: G1 (n=9): no supplementation with royal jelly, G2, 3 and 4 (n=9): supplementation with 10, 20 and 40mg/day of royal jelly. The superovulatory protocol consisted in the application of a dose of 40UI of Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin, followed by a dose of UI of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, intramuscularly, 48 hours later, and submitted to natural cover. The animals were euthanasiated and the embryos collected 72 hours after copulation. There was no statistical difference for the analyzed variables (P>0.05). The average weight for the female genital tract was 10.89±0.38g; the average weight of right and left ovaries was 0.28±0.02g and the average gonadosomatic index rate was 0.02±0.0g. The number of total recovered structures was 9.2±1.4. The average number of viable embryos was 8.7±1.4 and of degenerated embryos was 0.5±0.2. Viable embryos were morphologically classified as degree I: 5.6±0.8; degree II: 2.3±0.5; degree III: 0.8±0.2. Royal jelly did not present stimulatory effect on organs related to the reproduction of rabbits, nor was it effective to improve their embryonic quality at dosages of up to 40mg of in natura royal jelly.

The effect of substitution of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in synchronization protocols of ovulation in dairy goats was evaluated. Twelve goats received intravaginal sponges impregnated with 60mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) for 10 days. The sponges were removed and the animals were distributed into two groups (G): G1 (n=6) treated with 0.5mL of a synthetic analogue of PGF2 α and 100 IU of eCG for each 10kg weight, intramuscular injection (IM); and G2 (n=6) treated with 0.5mL of a synthetic analogue of PGF2α and 20mg of FSH (IM). All animals were monitored for estrus detection with aid of a ruffian after sponge removal. The ovarian dynamics were analyzed by ultrasound, since six hours after sponge removed. Each animal was analyzed in time elapsed of six hours until 12 hours after ovulation detection. For data analyses, the Wilcoxon test and variance analyses were used. There was not difference between the analyzed parameters (P>0.05). In this way, eCG can be replaced by FSH in synchronization protocols of ovulation in dairy goats.