Abstract Since bull fertility prediction remains challenging, the identification of potential fertility markers is important considering the economic benefits to the livestock industry. The main goal of this study was to determine the Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm of high (HF)- and low-fertility (LF) Angus bulls. Samples from three different batches/bulls with HF (n = 4) and LF (n = 4) were used. The Na/K-ATPase activity was determined after thawing, whereas sperm kinematics, membrane integrity, and expression of Na/K-ATPase on sperm surface were evaluated immediately post-thaw and after 120 minutes of incubation. Within the same incubation time, there was no difference on sperm membrane integrity, kinematics, and the expression of Na/K-ATPase on the sperm surface between HF and LF bulls. Kinematic parameters of LIN and VCL were not influenced by incubation time in samples from HF and LF, respectively. A tendency (P = 0.06) of higher Na/K-ATPase enzymatic activity for sperm of HF bulls compared to LF bulls was observed (0.49 ± 0.07 and 0.32 ± 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm from Angus bulls are not related to the fertility index after fixed-time artificial insemination. However, sperm kinematics related to hyperactivation might indicate higher sperm cryotolerance for HF bulls.

Current therapeutic for the treatment of anxiety is associated with a wild variety of side effects. The traditional use of plant extract to health care can indicate an important source of new pharmaceuticals. Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth, Fabaceae, is a plant commonly employed in the Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. Nevertheless, despite its popular use there are no studies related to its possible neuropharmacological effect. Here, we investigated the possible anxiolytic effect of the extract of B. virgilioides after acute and sub-chronic treatment in mice. The aqueous extract from the stem barks of B. virgilioides (20, 200 or 400 mg/kg) was orally administered, and its anxiolytic effect was evaluated in the elevated plus maze, open-field and rota-rod tests. Diazepam was employed as standard drug. The aqueous extract treatment was effective in inducing anxiolytic effects with single acute treatment, a phenomenon that remained after chronic treatment. However, no changes in spontaneous locomotor activity or myorelaxant effect after aqueous extract treatment. The extract was either safe with no deaths in mice treated orally with 1000 mg/kg. These findings suggest that the aqueous extract from the stem barks of Bowdichia virgilioides has an acute and sub-chronic anxiolytic-like effect without compromising motor activity, demonstrating an advantage regarding to antidepressant drugs.