Collection of spermatozoa obtained from the epididymis cauda (CES) is a viable option to preserve of genetic material from threatened species and for use in assisted reproduction. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro effect of four different extenders on spermatozoa from goat epididymis cauda, cooled at 4ºC. Epididymal sperm were recovered from the cauda by flushing six pairs of epididymis. The samples of each pair were mixed, subdivided into four aliquots and diluted in coconut water-egg yolk (CW-EY), physiologic solution with 0.5 % glucose and egg yolk (PSG-EY), UHT skim milk (SM), and UHT skim milk with egg yolk (SM-EY). The samples were cooled at 4ºC for 2, 12, 24 and 48 hours. After storage, in each period, the semen was evaluated by the heat resistance test for sperm motility, vigor and total morphological alterations. The motility degradation rate was calculated at the end of each time period. Sperm viability decreased with time in the four extenders. Epididymal sperm diluted in CW-EY showed higher values for vigor and motility, although these parameters did not differ from the sperm kept in the PSG-EY up to 48 hours at 4ºC, except for spermatic vigor. However, the PSG-EY and SM extenders caused greater morphologic damage to epididymal sperm after 12 and 24 hours, respectively. Extenders based on skim milk provided less spermatic cell stability during 48 hours. In conclusion, CW-EY extender was the most efficient extender to maintain CES viability at 4ºC.

A colheita de espermatozóides da cauda do epidídimo (CES) é uma opção viável de preservação de material genético de espécies ameaçadas de extinção, bem como para uso em reprodução assistida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a eficiência de quatro diferentes diluidores sobre os espermatozóides da cauda do epidídimo de caprinos, resfriado a 4ºC. Os espermatozoides epididimários foram recuperados da cauda de seis pares de epidídimo. As amostras de cada par foram misturadas e subdivididas em quatro alíquotas que foram diluídas na água de cocogema (CW-EY), solução fisiológica glicosada 0,5 %-gema (PSG), leite desnatado UHT (ME) e leite desnatado UHT-gema (ME-EY). As amostras foram resfriadas a 4ºC por 2, 12, 24 e 48 horas. Após o armazenamento, em cada período, o CES foi avaliado através do teste de termoresistência quanto à motilidade, vigor espermático e alterações morfológicas total. A taxa de degradação da motilidade foi calculada no final de cada período. A viabilidade espermática diminuiu com o tempo de refrigeração nos quatro diluidores. Os CES diluídos na CW-EY apresentaram maiores valores para vigor e motilidade, embora estes parâmetros não deferissem daqueles mantidos no PSG por até 48 horas, exceto para vigor espermático. Entretanto, os diluidores PSG e ME ocasionaram maiores danos morfológicos aos CES a partir de 12 e 48 horas, respectivamente. Os diluidores ME e MEEY proporcionaram à célula espermática menor estabilidade durante 48 h de conservação. Concluiu-se que o CW-EY foi o mais eficiente em manter a viabilidade dos CES a 4ºC.

O presente estudo foi conduzido para avaliar a influência da inclusão do resíduo do processamento de abacaxi (Ananas comosus L.) nas dietas sobre os consumos (por unidade de tamanho metabólico - UTM) e coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra detergente neutro (FDN), fibra detergente ácido (FDA), hemiceluloses (HCEL), celulose (CEL) e energia de dietas experimentais isofibrosas e isoprotéicas. Avaliaram-se também os balanços nitrogenados e de energia dos animais. Vinte ovinos machos, inteiros receberam rações com quatro níveis de inclusão do resíduo (0; 11%; 16%; 27%) em base de matéria seca, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições por tratamento. Maiores consumos de matéria seca foram evidenciados quando as rações continham 11% do resíduo. Maiores consumos de proteína bruta, fibra detergente neutro, fibra detergente ácido e celulose (g/UTM) e energia metabolizável (kcal/UTM) foram apresentados por animais alimentados com dietas contendo 11% de resíduo em relação ao das dietas com 27% de inclusão (P<0,05). Maior coeficiente de digestibilidade da FDA ocorreu para dietas que não continham o resíduo de abacaxi. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da CEL foram semelhantes. Os balanços energéticos e protéicos foram positivos. Melhores resultados para os parâmetros analisados foram observados para dietas que incluíam até 16% do resíduo de abacaxi na base da matéria seca.

The influence of increasing levels of pineapple by-product (Ananas comosus L.) on intake (unit metabolic size - UMS) and apparent digestibility (%) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicelluloses (HCEL) and cellulose (CEL) and energy of isofibrous and isoproteic experimental diets of sheep were evaluated. Energetic and nitrogenous balance were also measured. Twenty rams were randomly allotted to four treatments in a completely randomized design with five replications. The treatments were formulated to contain zero; 11, 16 and 27% of pineapple by-product on DM basis. Higher dry matter intake was observed on 11% pineapple by-product diet. CP, NDF, ADF, CEL intake (g/UMS) and metabolizable energy intake (kcal/UMS) of 11% pineapple by-product diet were higher than 27% pineapple by-product diet (P<0.05). ADF digestibility was higher for 0% pineapple by-product diet. Energy and nitrogenous balances were positives. Diets formulated to contain up to 16% of pineapple by-product presented the best results.

Susceptibility to experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in inbred mice has been associated with a dominant Th1 response. Elevated anti-inter-photoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (anti-IRBP) IgG2a/IgG1 antibody ratios have been implicated as candidate markers to predict disease severity. In the present study, both the anti-IRBP antibody isotype and severity of EAU phenotypes were examined in 4 non-isogenic genetically selected mouse lines to determine if they can be used as general markers of disease. Mice between 8 and 12 weeks old selected for high (H III) or low (L III) antibody response and for maximum (AIR MAX) or minimum (AIR MIN) acute inflammatory reaction (AIR) were immunized with IRBP. Each experiment was performed with at least 5 mice per group. EAU was evaluated by histopathology 21 days after immunization and the minimal criterion was inflammatory cell infiltration of the ciliary body, choroid and retina. Serum IgG1- and IgG2a-specific antibodies were determined by ELISA. EAU was graded by histological examination of the enucleated eyes. The incidence of EAU was lower in AIR MIN mice whereas in the other strains approximately 40% of the animals developed the disease. Low responder animals did not produce anti-IRBP IgG2a antibodies or interferon-gamma. No correlation was observed between susceptibility to EAU and anti-IRBP isotype profiles. Susceptibility to EAU is related to the intrinsic capacity to mount higher inflammatory reactions and increased production of anti-IRBP IgG2a isotype is not necessarily a marker of this immunologic profile.

Data from the Brazilian Mangalarga Marchador Breed Association, including information on 292,012 animals borned from 1949 to 2000 were used to describe population structure. Frequency tables, central tendency and variation measurements according to owner, breeder, type of registration (known and unknown pedigree), year and month of births, progeny number for stallions and mares were presented. A total of 72.6% of the animals originated from the Southeast States of Brazil. The maximum number of birth (6.7%) was observed in 1990 and approximately 90.0% of the births occurred from September to March. Concerning progeny numbers, 73.6% of the 90,018 mares produced an average of 3.8 and a maximum of 22 offsprings. For the stallions these numbers were 26.2 and 1,322, respectively. The average generation interval was 8.9 years.

Host resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infection is dependent on both natural and acquired immune responses. During the early acute phase of infection in mice, natural killer (NK) cell-derived IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> is involved in controlling intracellular parasite replication, mainly through the induction of nitric oxide biosynthesis by activated macrophages. We have shown that IL-12, a powerful inducer of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> production by NK cells, is synthesized soon after trypomastigote-macrophage interaction. The role of IL-12 in the control of T. cruzi infection in vivo was determined by treating infected mice with anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and analyzing both parasitemia and mortality during the acute phase of infection. The anti-IL-12 mAb-treated mice had higher levels of parasitemia and mortality compared to control mice. Also, treatment of infected mice with mAb specific for IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> or TNF-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> inhibited the protective effect of exogenous IL-12. On the other hand, TGF-ß and IL-10 produced by infected macrophages inhibited the induction and effects of IL-12. Therefore, while IL-12, TNF-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> correlate with resistance to T. cruzi infection, TGF-ß and IL-10 promote susceptibility. These results provide support for a role of innate immunity in the control of T. cruzi infection. In addition to its protective role, IL-12 may also be involved in the modulation of T. cruzi-induced myocarditis, since treatment of infected mice with IL-12 or anti-IL-12 mAb leads to an enhanced or decreased inflammatory infiltrate in the heart, respectively. Understanding the role of the cytokines produced during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection and their involvement in protection and pathogenesis would be essential to devise new vaccines or therapies.

Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi are intracellular parasites which, as part of their life cycle, induce a potent cell-mediated immunity (CMI) maintained by Th1 lymphocytes and IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font>. In both cases, induction of a strong CMI is thought to protect the host against rapid parasite multiplication and consequent pathology and lethality during the acute phase of infection. However, the parasitic infection is not eliminated by the immune system and the vertebrate host serves as a parasite reservoir. In contrast, Leishmania sp, which is a slow growing parasite, appears to evade induction of CMI during early stages of infection as a strategy for surviving in a hostile environment (i.e., inside the macrophages which are their obligatory niche in the vertebrate host). Recent reports show that the initiation of IL-12 synthesis by macrophages during these parasitic infections is a key event in regulating CMI and disease outcome. The studies reviewed here indicate that activation/inhibition of distinct signaling pathways and certain macrophage functions by intracellular protozoa are important events in inducing/modulating the immune response of their vertebrate hosts, allowing parasite and host survival and therefore maintaining parasite life cycles.