Ricardo Xavier da Rocha

Dextran iron in anemic lambs: effects on reticulocytosis and free radical production

Anemia due to worm infection is a major cause of loss in the sheep industry, due to deaths, drop in average daily gains and long recovery time following treatment. The present experiment was aimed at evaluating the oxidative status and the recovery of red blood cell (RBC) profile in lambs with induced anemia by bleeding, treated or not with dextran iron. Ten ram lambs 5 to 7 months old were used. Blood samples were drawn every other day and when reached packed cell volume (PCV) of 15% were randomly allocated (day zero) to one of the experimental groups. Treated group received a single dose of 25mg per kg body weight of a commercial formulation of dextran iron, the control group received no treatment. Blood samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 after treatment. On days 7 an 21 treated animals presented higher thyobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) values, reduced non-protein thiol groups (NPTH) levels were found in the treated group on days 7, 14 and 21. Erythrocyte membrane resistance to osmotic challenge was improved on day 7 in treated animals. Recovery to normal values for the RBC profile was faster in the treated group with significant differences starting on day 7. It was conclude that althouth the iron treatment increased the oxidative stress, it also accelerated recovery of the hematological profile. Moreover, it did not increase hemolysis in anemic blood by the action of oxygen reactive species upon biological membranes.

Qualidade seminal e histomorfometria dos órgãos reprodutivos de ovinos tratados com fluoreto de sódio

The objective of the present study was to evaluate different reproductive parameters of ram lambs treated with sodium fluoride. Spermogram, indicators of seminal oxidative profile, seminiferous tubules diameter and cell height of the testicular epithelium, epididimus and vas deferens were analyzed. Twelve 5-month-old ram lambs were used. They were allocated into one of two experimental groups: The control, which received daily iodized salt (5g NaCl animal-1 + 0.2mg I kg-1 DM); and the treated, which received (5g NaCl animal-1 + 0.2mg I kg-1 DM + 4.7mg F kg-1 BW). After 150 days of treatment, animals went through a complete andrological exam, and were euthanized on the next day. No differences were observed in sperm motility, dead: alive ratio and morphology between the control and treated group. Also, seminal concentration of reduced glutathione and zinc, as well as, testicular weight, histology and morphometry of testicles, caudal portion of epididimus and vas deferens did not differ between groups. The seminal concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and seminal copper levels were lower (P<0.05) in the treated group. We conclude that chronic fluoride administration to lambs does not affect reproductive capacity as a whole. However, the data suggest that fluoride can induce a reduction in seminal lipoperoxidation and copper levels with are essential for sperm capacitation and fertilization.