Selection of high-quality sperms by nanotechnological method of magnetic activation in Brazilian cervids

Cervids show a high degree of abnormalities in their sperm cells. Thus, this study aimed to select high-quality spermatozoa using magnetic-activated sperm sorting (MASS) compared to density gradient centrifugation (DGC) by assessing the post-selection cell quality. Semen from six Mazama deer was collected by electroejaculation after chemical restraint. The semen was analyzed in four samples: Fresh, DGC, SEMgood - non-apoptotic fraction, and SEMpoor - apoptotic fraction. The material was analyzed for motility and vigor (light microscopy), concentration (Neubauer chamber), semen morphology (phase contrast), and supravital staining test (eosin/ nigrosine). The DGC method used 20 x 106 cells in 90% and 45% percoll® gradient. The MASS used 10 x 106 cells with 20 μl of iron nanoparticles attached to Annexin V and filtration in a magnetic separation column. Both processing methods (DGC and MASS) were effective in producing high-quality sperm samples, with a marked reduction in abnormalities from 41.83 ± 10.25 (fresh) to 14.83 ± 3.17(DGC) and 12 ± 3.01(SEMgood), with 80.3% ± 2.06 livings cells. These findings suggest that this nanotechnological method, using nanoparticles, effectively produces high-quality semen samples in cervids for use in assisted reproduction.

Classification of anemia as to the medullary response through reticulocyte count in dogs attended to in the Veterinary Hospital from Federal University of Mato Grosso, Campus Sinop.

Anemia is defined as the presence of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration and/or hematocrit below the reference values, leading to death if not treated. It is manifested clinically in the presence of pale mucosae, dyspnea, exercise intolerance and increased heart rate due to reduced tissue oxygenation. The aim of this study was to classify the anemia according to the medullar response in regenerative with weak, moderate or intense release and non-regenerative with null response, correlating with its possible causes by reticulocyte count. Thus, 50 blood samples from anemic dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Sinop Campus, were evaluated. After collection, blood smears were prepared for reticulocyte counting using supravital staining. Of the 50 animals evaluated, 54% (27/50) showed non-regenerative anemia with null response (<60,000 cells/μL), 36% (18/50) showed regeneration with weak release (60,000 to 150,000 cells/μL) and 10% (5/50) presented moderate to intense regeneration (>150,000 cells/μL). In conclusion, in this study was observed a predominance of non-regenerative anemia and a lower incidence of responsive anemia; the medullary response was more evident in hemoparasitosis anemia and non-regenerative anemia occurred mainly in animals with renal insufficiency, possibly due to insufficient production of erythropoietin

Screening for Oral Cancer: A Review

Oral cancer is a common disease which affects individuals of mainly the older age group. If diagnosed at later stages, the prognosis is poor. In this review, the various techniques for diagnosis of oral cancer such as screening of the patient by conventional oral examination, supravital staining, visual adjunctive aids, biopsy etc. have been discussed. The traditional treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Newer modalities include gene therapy, immunotherapy, etc. have proven to be successful to some extent. Thorough knowledge of the disease and timely diagnosis by the dental professional can prevent metastasis.

An update of ‘basic light and scanning electron microscopic methods for taxonomic studies of ciliated protozoa’

This is an update of the review by Foissner (1991). Since then, I have improved some methods considerably. The following methods are described in detail: live observation, supravital staining with methyl green-pyronin, dry silver nitrate impregnation, wet silver nitrate impregnation, silver carbonate impregnation, protargol impregnation (three procedures), scanning electron microscopy, and deciliation. Familiarity with these methods (or modifications) is a prerequisite for successful taxonomic work. No staining method is equally appropriate to all kinds of ciliates. A table is provided which indicates those procedures which work best for certain groups of ciliates. A second table relates to the structures revealed by the procedures. Good descriptions usually demand at least live observation, silver nitrate and protargol or silver carbonate impregnation. Some instructions are provided for distinguishing mono- and dikinetids as well as ciliated and non-ciliated basal bodies in silvered ciliates. Furthermore, I added a section on ‘Deposition and Labeling of Preparations’. All methods work not only with ciliates but also with many other heterotrophic and autotrophic flagellated and amoeboid protists. The brilliancy of silver preparations has tempted some taxonomists to neglect live observation. However, many important species characteristics cannot be seen or are changed in silvered specimens. I thus consider all species descriptions based exclusively on silver slides as incomplete and of doubtful value for both α-taxonomists and ecologists.

Optimal inclusion level of butylated hydroxytoluene in semen extender improves the quality of post-thawed canine sperm

The study was conducted to evaluate the potential cryoprotective effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) through post-thaw evaluation of canine semen and its optimal inclusion level. Ejaculated canine semen was extended in TRIS-glucose egg yolk extender containing various concentrations of BHT (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5mM). Semen was frozen at &minus;196&deg;C using 200 &times; 10⁶spermatozoa per 0.5 ml straws and post-thaw evaluation was carried out in terms of sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity through phase-contrast microscope, supravital staining, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and normal acrosomal ridge, respectively. BHT was found to improve (P &gt; 0.005) all post-thawed semen quality parameters at an inclusion level of 1.0mM in the extended semen. However, higher concentrations than this were found to have detrimental effects. &nbsp;