Maria de Fátima Martins

Efeito de níveis crescentes de uréia na dieta de vacas em lactação sobre a produção e a composição físico-química do leite

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of three different dietary levels of urea on milk yield and composition. Nine lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to three replicated 3 x 3 Latin squares with three periods of 21 days each. Treatments were: A) control diet formulated to meet 100% of the requirements of crude protein (CP), rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and rumen degradable protein (RDP) according to the NRC (2001) model by feeding soybean meal and sugar cane; B) replacing soybean meal with 0.75% urea; or C) replacing soybean meal with 1.5% urea. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (16% CP) and isocaloric (1.53 Mcal/kg of NEl). No significant differences in dry matter intake, milk yield, 3.5% fat corrected milk, yields of milk protein and milk fat, and somatic cell count were observed among treatments when data were analyzed by simple polynomial regression. Milk cryoscopy, pH and density were also not affected by increasing the proportion of urea in the diet treatments; however, milk acidity decreased linearly when the levels of urea were increased in the diet. Milk contents of protein, fat, lactose, total solids and non-solids fat and concentration of milk urea all did not differ across diets. Results obtained in this trial indicated that the inclusion of up to 1.5% of urea (% of diet DM) in the diet had no effect on milk yield, milk composition, and milk physical-chemical characteristics in lactating cows.

Avaliação macro e microscópica da cicatrização de lesões experimentalmente provocadas em pele de coelhos tratadas com secreção mucoglicoproteica do escargot Achatina fulica

Escargots are animals capable to produce a glycoproteic secretion by glands located in all the surface of their bodies which among other functions presents anti-bacterial power and participation in the own immunity. The antimicrobioan power of certain substances may aid of repair of wounds with several origins. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate macroscopic and histologically the reparative effects of the mucus of Achatina fulica escargots on lesions made in the skin of rabbits. Incisions were performed in the skin of 15 rabbits, separated in three groups according to the treatment received. Immediately after the lesion, the respective treatments with pure mucus form and in ointment form were supplied, while the other group received no treatment (control group). The macroscopic characteristics of the lesion were registered daily and a biopsy was performed 72 hours after the treatments. The fragments were processed and stained with Massons trichrome. The macroscopic evolution in the cicatrization process ocurred in a shorter period of time in rabbits from the ointment group, comparativity with the other groups. Histologically, the epidermis of the treated rabbits showed a basal layer of cubic cells, while rabbits of the control group presented a basal layer of cylindrical cells with cutaneous debris.

Análise colorimétrica e espectroscópica do muco de caracóis terrestres Achatina sp alimentados com ração diferenciada

The effects of adding medicinal plants with healing properties (Centelha asiatica, Papaina and Confrei) in the control diet of land snails were studied to evaluate the effect of these plants on the mucus glicoproteic composition. Eighty Achatina sp snails, based on a homogeneous weight (49 and 40 g and averaging 10 and 19 months of age for Achatina fulica and Achatina monochromatica, respectively). The animals were randomly allotted to eight experimental groups: Achatina fulica (FC) and Achatina monochromatica (MC) control, Asian Achatina fulica (FCe) and Achatina monochromatica (MCe) centelha, Achatina fulica (FPa) and Achatina monochromatica (MPa) papaina and Achatina fulica (FCo) and Achatina monochromatica (MCo) confrei. Ration and water were fed ad libitum. At the end of 150 days of treatment, the animals were submitted to the technique for extraction of mucus glicoproteic by manual stimulation of podal gland, responsible for the secretion of this mucus. This methodology considered the well-being of the animals since they were not slaughtered but returned to their creation system. The mucus was analyzed by means of color and spectroscopic tests, that indicated similar changes, but showed significant variation in their glicoproteic composition.