RESUMO Objetivou-se, com este estudo, quantificar o número e a frequência de folículos monocitários (MOF) e polioocitários (POF) provenientes de ovários de cadelas submetidas à ovariossalpingo-histerectomia (OSH). Para tanto, coletaram-se os ovários (direito e esquerdo) de 38 cadelas após OSH, com posterior preparação e análise histológica. Cada ovário foi submetido a dois cortes histológicos (superficial e profundo) onde se quantificou o número e a classificação dos folículos, bem como o número de complexos cumulus oophorus (COCs) por folículo em cada corte histológico. Observaram-se MOF e POF em todos os ovários estudados, em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento, sendo os folículos primários agrupados no córtex ovariano, frente a uma distribuição aleatória dos outros estádios foliculares. FOPs contendo dois, três, quatro ou mais COCs foram observados nos ovários de todas as fêmeas estudadas, e sua frequência tendeu a diminuir de acordo com o número de COC presente no POF. Não se observou influência da idade, do número e do intervalo de estros, assim como do número de filhotes por gestação sobre o número/frequência de FOP nos ovários das cadelas estudadas, enquanto o porte, o número de gestações, o uso e o número de contraceptivo apresentaram algum grau de influência sobre o número/frequência de FOP nos ovários das cadelas estudadas.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to quantify the number and frequency of monocyte (MnOF) and multi-oocyte (MtOF) follicles in ovaries of bitches subjected to ovary salpingohysterectomy (OSH). Right and left ovaries of 38 bitches were collected after OSH, prepared, and a histological analysis was carried out. The ovaries were subjected to surface and deep histological cuts; the follicles were classified, and the number of follicles and cumulus oophorus complexes (COC) per follicle were quantified for each histological cut. MnOF and MtOF were found in all ovaries, at different developmental stages; primary follicles were grouped in the ovarian cortex, and follicles at other follicular stages presented a random distribution. MtOF containing two, three, four, or more COC were found in the ovaries of bitches, with a decreasing frequency trend, according to the number of COC in the MtOF. The effect of the age, number of estrus, estrus interval, and number of progenies per delivery was not significant for the number and frequency of MtOF in the ovaries of the bitches, whereas the size, number of pregnancies, use and number of contraceptive applications had some effect on the number and frequency of MtOF in the ovaries of the bitches.

The aim of this study was to evaluate intake, performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed finishing diets containing 0%, 7.5% and 15% safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius) as a replacement for corn and soybean meal. Thirty-six male lambs with mean bodyweight of 17.9 ± 1.8 kg were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: C0: no safflower seeds, C7.5: 7.5%safflower seeds in diet (DM basis), and C15: 15% safflower seeds in diet (DM basis). The lambs were fed in pens of two and thus there were six replicates per treatment. Performance and carcass characteristics were not affected by including safflower seeds in their diet. Animals fed 7.5% safflower seeds had greater dry matter intake. There was a linear effect of increasing the redness (a*) of meat with the amount of safflower, where a mean of 15.77 was found for lambs that received the C15 diet. With increasing levels of safflower, the concentration of fatty acids C14:0, C17:0, and C22:1 increased. However, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, C18:2) was reduced in lambs fed C15. A concentration of 0.461 g/100 g meat was observed for animals that consumed C7.5. Thus, lambs fed a diet containing 7.5% safflower had the greatest dry matter intake, carcass fat, and concentration of conjugated linoleic acid in their meat, and enhanced meat colour.

It was evaluated the oocyte and embryo in vitro production of 42 Nellore mixed breed cows (Bos taurus indicus) come from de same genetic group, aging from 4 to 9 years, with mean body weight of 420 kg, stimulated with FSH and eCG. The animals were distributed into three groups: group 1, control (n= 14), only with follicular aspiration (OPU); group 2, treated with 1400 UI of eCG in a single dose plus OPU (n= 14); and group 3, treated with 120 UI of FSH administered four times plus OPU with 12 h of interval (n= 14). All groups received auricular implant with 3 mg of Norgestomet on the first day (D0) associated with 2 mg of estradiol benzoate intramuscularly. At the seventh day (D7) the implants were removed and the ovarian aspirations were realized on the cows of group 1(OPU). Group 2 had the eCG applied at the fifth day and the OPU was performed at D7. The animals from group 3 were treated with FSH at fifth and sixth day and the aspiration occurred at D7 (OPU). The follicular aspiration procedure was done via transvaginal guided with ultrasound. It was performed 42 aspirations obtaining 627 oocytes, where 502 were viable and 125 non-viable. Then, it was realized the in vitro maturation and fecundation. The cleavage, blastocyst and eclosion rate were evaluated. There were no significant difference (p>0.05) at these parameters between the groups. In conclusion, the gonadotrophic stimulation with FSH and eCG, at the doses used in this study, was insufficient to increase the quality of the viable oocytes submitted to in vitro fertilization to produce embryos.

Avaliou-se a recuperação de oócitos e produção de embriões in vitro de 42 vacas, mestiça Nelore proveniente de grupo genético homogêneo, com idade de 4 a 9 anos, com peso médio de 420 kg, estimuladas com FSH ou eCG. Estas foram distribuídas em três grupos: grupo 1, controle (n=14), apenas OPU, grupo 2, tratadas com 1400 UI de eCG, em dose única seguida de aspiração folicular (OPU) (n= 14); e, grupo 3, tratadas com 120 UI de FSH, administrados com intervalo de 12 horas em quatro doses seguida de OPU (n= 14). Todos os grupos receberam implante auricular contendo 3 mg de Norgestomet no primeiro dia (D0) associado a administração de 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol via intramuscular. No sétimo dia (D7) foram retirados todos os implantes e na sequência foram realizadas as aspirações ovarianas das vacas do grupo 1. O grupo 2 recebeu a aplicação de eCG no quinto dia e a OPU foi realizada no D7. Já o grupo 3 recebeu o tratamento com FSH no quinto e sexto dia, e foram aspiradas em D7. O procedimento de aspiração folicular foi realizado via transvaginal guiada por ultrassom. Foram realizadas 42 aspirações com obtenção de 627 oócitos, sendo 502 viáveis e 125 inviáveis. Realizou-se a maturação e fecundação in vitro. Avaliaram-se as taxas de clivagem, blastocisto e eclosão. Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nos parâmetros avaliados entre os grupos. Conclui-se que o estímulo ovariano com FSH ou com eCG nas doses utilizadas, foram insuficientes para incrementar o número e a qualidade de oócitos viáveis submetidos a fertilização in vitro para produção de embriões.