Abstract Logistic and economical limitations are often the causes of dog owners not accurately monitoring the estrous cycle and the optimal insemination time. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo early embryonic development in bitches, after the analysis of sequential vaginal cytologies associated to single progesterone measurement and single laparoscopic insemination with high quality semen (fresh and with high spermatozoa concentration) or low-quality semen (frozen/thawed and with low spermatozoa concentration) at 48 h post- ovulation time predicted on a single progesterone measurement. Ten bitches were inseminated with 250 x 106 fresh spermatozoa (80% motility), and ten with 80 x 106 frozen/thawed spermatozoa (60% motility) in the cranial part of each uterine horn. Seven days later, ovariohysterectomy was performed and the oviducts and uterine horns and body were flushed to recover embryos and unfertilized oocytes. In 80% of the bitches inseminated with fresh and 50% of bitches inseminated with frozen/thawed semen, embryos at 2 to 8 cells stage were recovered mostly from the, oviducts. This study indicates that pregnancies can be obtained with a single laparoscopic intrauterine insemination after single serum progesterone measurement, although with a low number of embryos. This result should be taken into account in case economic or logistic restrictions that affect the possibility of owners to plan an accurate monitoring of the optimal breeding time using fresh and frozen semen. concentration lowquality frozenthawed thawed 4 post 25 10 (80 motility, motility , 60% 60 (60 horn later oocytes 50 1 (8 6 (6 5 (

A fisiopatologia da hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) não está totalmente compreendida, no entanto, a diidrotestosterona é o principal hormônio envolvido. Recentemente, o efeito da toxina botulínica A (TB-A) foi investigado, mostrando que esta induz atrofia do parênquima e redução do volume prostático. Com base nisso, este estudo teve como objetivos comparar os efeitos da administração da TB-A com a orquiectomia no tratamento da HPB, além de avaliar os efeitos da TB-A sobre a libido e qualidade do sêmen. Para tanto, 16 cães adultos foram submetidos à castração ou administração de 500U de TB-A, e avaliados durante 16 semanas. A orquiectomia mostrou-se um excelente tratamento, promovendo redução de 80% do volume prostático. Aplicação da TB-A não ocasionou alterações na libido, ereção ou qualidade e características seminais. Por outro lado, reduziu significamente o volume da próstata. Os resultados sugerem que a administração intraprostática de TB-A é um tratamento alternativo efetivo e sem efeitos colaterais para cães destinados a programas de reprodução. No entanto, esta terapia apresenta reduções inferiores do volume prostático, quando comparada com a orquiectomia.

The pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is not completely known, however, dihydrotestosterone is a hormone involved in enlargement of the prostate. Recently, the effect of botulinum toxin A (BT-A) was investigated and has shown to induce atrophy of the gland. Based on that, the aims of this study were to compare the effects of administration of BT-A with orchiectomy in the treatment of BPH, in addition to assessing the effects of BT-A on libido and semen quality. Therefore, 16 sexually intact male dogs were submitted to orchiectomy or administration of 500U BT-A, and evaluated for 16 weeks. Orchiectomy presented excellent results, reducing the prostate volume up to 80%. Administration of BT-A did not interfered on libido, erection or semen characteristics. On the other hand, reduced significantly the prostate volume. The results suggest that intraprostatic injection of BT-A is an effective alternative treatment without adverse effects for valuable breeding dogs with BPH. However, this therapy showed lower reduction of prostate volume when compared to orchiectomy.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar o proteinograma do líquido sinovial de quarenta equinos hígidos. Após colheita, centrifugação e fracionamento das amostras, as proteínas de fase aguda foram separadas por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida, contendo SDS-PAGE, e suas concentrações determinadas por densitometria computadorizada. Foram encontradas 16 a 26 proteínas no fracionamento eletroforético, compeso molecular variando de 16 a 238.000 Daltons (Da). Os pesos moleculares encontrados, correspondentes às proteínas mais conhecidas, foram albumina, 63.000Da; ceruloplasmina, 113.000Da; transferrina, 80.000Da; haptoglobina, 40.000Da; α-1-glicoproteínaácida, 37.000Da; IgA, 189.000Da e IgG, 74.000Da. O estabelecimento do proteinograma do líquido sinovial de equinos hígidos pode trazer contribuição significativa ao diagnóstico, tratamento e prognóstico de animais com alterações articulares.

The aim of this study was to determine the proteinogram of the proteins included in the synovial fluid of forty healthy horses. After collection, centrifugation and fractionation of the samples, the acute phase proteins were separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel containing SDS-PAGE, and their concentrations were determined by computerized densitometry. It was found 16 to 26 proteins on the electrophoretic fraction, with molecular weights from 16 to 238.000 Daltons (Da). The molecular weights found, corresponding to most known proteins were albumin, 63,000Da; ceruloplasmin, 113.000Da; transferrin, 80,000Da; haptoglobin, 40.000Da, α-1-acid glycoprotein, 37.000Da; IgA, IgG and 189.000Da, 74.000Da. The knowledge proteinogram of synovial fluid of healthy horses can bring significant contribution to the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of animals with articular changes.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a ação de diferentes concentrações de toxina botulínica tipo A (TB-A) sobre os parâmetros seminais, perfis bioquímicos e proteicos do plasma seminal de cães com hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB). Dezoito cães hígidos, não orquiectomizados com HPB foram divididos em três grupos, os quais foram submetidos à injeção intra-prostática de solução salina (grupo controle - GC), 250UI (GI) ou 500UI (GII) de TB-A. Amostras seminais foram coletadas previamente aos tratamentos e após 2, 4 e 8 semanas. Os parâmetros seminais assim como os valores de pH e concentrações de proteínas totais (TP), cloretos totais (CT), cálcio (Ca), potássio (K), sódio (Na) do plasma seminal foram mensurados após as coletas. O perfil proteico do fluido prostático foi estabelecido por meio de eletroforese SDS-PAGE. Não foram constatadas diferenças significativas quanto aos parâmetros espermáticos e perfil bioquímico do plasma seminal intragrupos e intergrupos (P>0,05). À SDS-PAGE foram identificadas 31 bandas proteicas com pesos moleculares de 3,9 a 106,2kDA, em todos os tratamentos e durante todo o período de avaliação. Dessa forma, concluiu-se que, independentemente da dose utilizada, a injeção intra-prostática de TB-A não altera os parâmetros seminais, assim como os perfis bioquímico e proteico do plasma seminal de cães com HPB.

This study aimed to determine the effects of different concentrations of botulinum toxin type A (BT-A) on semen parameters, and seminal plasma biochemical and protein profiles of dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Eighteen sexually intact male dogs with BPH were randomly divided in three groups, and received an intraprostatic injection of saline solution (control group - CG), 250UI (GI) or 500UI (GII) of BT-A under transabdominal ultrasound guidance. Semen was collected at baseline, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. Semen parameters were determined and seminal plasma pH, total protein (TP), total chlorides (TC), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) concentrations were assessed. One-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrilamide gel eletrophoresis (SDS- PAGE) was performed to determine seminal plasma protein profile. Sperm parameters and seminal plasma pH, TP, TC, Ca and K mean values did not change significantly at any time point and among treated groups (P>0.05). The SDS-PAGE analysis of the pooled fractions identified 31 protein bands with molecular weights ranging from 3.9 to 106.2kDA in all treatment groups during the entire evaluation period. Regardless the used dose, intraprostatic BT-A injection do not alter semen parameters and seminal plasma biochemical and protein profiles of dogs with BPH.