Abstract Introduction: indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids is associated with cardiovascular diseases, renal damage, and hepatic toxicity. Contrastingly, nutraceutical foods such as avocados prevent and control several diseases, as they can reduce the effects of oxidative stress. Objective: this study evaluates the benefits of consuming an avocado oil-based diet to attenuate the systemic damage caused by supraphysiological doses of testosterone, by analyzing the biochemical profile of 28 42-day-old male Wistar rats. Methods: silicone pellets containing testosterone were surgically implanted, and they received control or avocado oil-based feed. After 20 weeks, all the male rats were anesthetized and their blood samples collected. Results: although the high hormone concentration had a negative influence on the biochemical profile of these animals, the groups that consumed avocado oil exhibited a reduction in serum triacylglycerols (-21 %; p = 0.0001), VLDL (-20 %; p = 0.0085), LDL (-78 %; p < 0.0001), and total cholesterol (-12 %; p < 0.0001), along with positive changes in their HDL concentrations (+7 %; p = 0.001). The avocado oil groups also manifested a reduction in the total concentration of serum proteins (-24 %; p = 0.0357), albumin (-26 %; p = 0.0015), urea (-14 %; p = 0.04), and creatinine (-33 %; p < 0.0001). The concentration of liver transaminases was found to be higher in the animals included in the induced group (ALT, +66 %; p = 0.0005, and AST, +23 %; p = 0.0021), whereas they remained stable in the avocado oil group. Conclusion: from the above, it may be concluded that supraphysiological doses of testosterone are related to increased risk factors for cardio vascular, renal, and hepatic diseases, and that the consumption of avocado oil shields the biochemical profile, thus reducing the associated risk factors.

Resumen Introducción: el uso indiscriminado de esteroides anabólicos se asocia con enfermedades cardiovasculares, daño renal y toxicidad hepática. En cambio, los alimentos nutracéuticos como el aguacate previenen y controlan varias enfermedades, ya que pueden reducir los efectos del estrés oxidativo. Objetivo: este estudio evalúa los beneficios de consumir una dieta basada en aceite de aguacate para atenuar el daño sistémico causado por dosis suprafisiológicas de testosterona mediante el análisis del perfil bioquímico de 28 ratas Wistar macho de 42 días de edad. Métodos: se implantaron quirúrgicamente perdigones de silicona que contenían propionato de testosterona y los animales recibieron una alimentación de control o una basada en el aceite de aguacate. Después de 20 semanas se anestesiaron todos los animales y se recogieron sus muestras de sangre. Resultados: aunque la alta concentración de hormonas tuvo una influencia negativa en el perfil bioquímico de estos animales, los grupos que consumieron aceite de aguacate mostraron una reducción de los triglicéridos séricos (-21 %; p = 0,0001), las VLDL (-20 %; p = 0,0085), las LDL (-78 %; p < 0,0001) y el colesterol total (-12 %; p < 0,0001), con cambios positivos en las LDL (+7 %; p = 0,001). Los grupos alimentados con aceite de aguacate manifestaron una reducción de la concentración total de proteínas séricas (-24 %; p = 0,0357), albúmina (-26 %; p = 0,0015), urea (-14 %; p = 0,04) y creatinina (-33 %; p < 0,0001). Se encontró que la concentración sérica de transaminasas hepáticas era mayor en los animales del grupo inducido (ALT: +66 %; p = 0,0005, y AST: +23 %; p = 0,0021), mientras que en los grupos con aceite de aguacate, los parámetros hepáticos se mantuvieron estables. Conclusión: de todo ello se puede concluir que las dosis suprafisiológicas de testosterona están relacionadas con un aumento de los factores de riesgo de sufrir enfermedades cardiovasculares, renales y hepáticas, y que el consumo de aceite de aguacate protege el perfil bioquímico, lo que reduce los factores de riesgo asociados.

ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic hyperglycemia is caused by diabetes mellitus-committed genital morphophysiology, and oxidative stress is one of the main factors involved in this process. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can prevent metabolic and morphological changes in diabetic individuals. Objectives In present study, we evaluated the effects of regular ALA consumption on the spermatogenesis and histoarchitecture in the male genital system of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into groups: Control (CG); Diabetic Control (DCG), receiving commercial diet: ALA Group (ALAG) and Diabetic ALA Group (DALAG), fed diets with added ALA (300 mg/Kg bw). The diabetic groups received a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After sixty days of the diet, the animals were euthanized, and semen, testis and epididymis samples were collected. A histomorphometric analysis was performed to determine the epithelial height, tubular and luminal diameter, tubular and luminal area of seminiferous tubules and each epididymal region. Sertoli cells were evidenced using the antivimenti antibody and were quantified. The results were statistically analyzed by the ANOVA test. Results At the end of the experiment, the DALAG glycemia was significantly lower than DCG. The histomorphometric parameters of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules did not show improvement in the DALAG. However, there was an improvement in the DALAG in terms of the concentration, motility and percentage of spermatic pathologies, as well as in the number of Sertoli cells (p<0.001). Conclusions The results demonstrated that supplementation with the ALA antioxidant retards testicular lesions and preserve the process of spermatogenesis in diabetes.

Estudaram-se as alterações nas concentrações séricas do sódio, potássio, cálcio ionizado, uréia, creatinina, glicose, creatino quinase (CK), aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e lactatodesidrogenase (LDH) em quinze eqüinos e cinco muares, durante prova de resistência de 76km de extensão, com dois dias de duração, no Pantanal de Mato Grosso. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas no primeiro dia, antes do início da prova (T1); ao fim do primeiro dia, após percorrer 38km (T2); no segundo dia, antes do início da prova (T3) e ao final da prova (T4). Nos eqüinos, foi observada queda na concentração sérica de sódio e LDH em T3 com retorno aos valores basais em T4. O potássio e o cálcio apresentaram queda da concentração em T2. Houve aumento da concentração sérica de uréia e creatinina em T2 e de glicose em T3. Os valores séricos de CK e AST permaneceram semelhantes aos de T1. Nos muares, as concentrações séricas do sódio, cálcio, uréia, glicose e LDH apresentaram perfil semelhante ao dos eqüinos, enquanto o potássio, creatinina, CK e AST permaneceram próximos aos de T1. Não foi observada diferença entre a bioquímica sérica de eqüinos e muares. Assim, pode-se concluir que a prova de resistência avaliada não impôs exercício de duração e/ou intensidade acima das condições fisiológicas dos animais participantes.

The alterations in serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, urea, creatinine, glucose, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied in fifteen equines and five mules, participating in a 76km, 2-day long endurance competition, in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso State - Brazil. The blood samples were collected in the first day, before the beginning of the competition (T1); at the end of the first day, after covering 38km (T2); the second day, before the beginning of the ride (T3); and at the closure of the competition (T4). In the horses a decrease was observed in serum concentration of sodium and LDH in T4 with a return to basal values in T4. Potassium and calcium presented a decrease in concentration in T2. There was an increase of serum concentration of urea and creatinine in T2 and of glucose in T3. The serum values of CK and AST remained similar to T1. In the mules, the serum concentrations of sodium, calcium, urea, glucose and LDH presented a profile similar to the equines, while potassium, creatinine, CK and AST remained near T1 values. A difference was not observed between equines and mules serum biochemistry. It can be concluded that the studied endurance race did not impose duration and/or intensity above the physiological conditions of the participating animals.

Relata-se um caso de fratura de tíbia em uma bezerra de sete meses de idade, 200kg de peso, apresentando fratura fechada, cominutiva em diáfise. A fixação externa foi preferida como método de imobilização óssea, utilizando-se pinos transcorticais e gesso sintético. Obteve-se eficiente imobilização da fratura, com rápida recuperação do animal, dispendendo-se pouco tempo para o pós-operatório (52 dias). A técnica demonstrou ser de fácil realização e passível de ser executada a campo.

A case of tibial fracture in a 7-month-old calf is reported, with closed comminuted diaphysial fracture. It has been given preference to external fixation as means of fracture immobilization, and transcortical pins and fiberglass cast have been used. Effective immobilization of the fracture and fast recovering of the animal as well as less time consuming toward the postoperative have been obtained. This technique has showed feasible to be done in the field.