1,721,101 research outputs found
Stress and mu opioid receptor in the management of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) aquaculture
No full textThe growing consumption of aquaculture products requires always new techniques to increase the production yield. Generally, the intensification of aquaculture practices is associated with a stress level rise of bred fishes. Sensitivity to stress, leading to disease, reduced growth and mortality, is higher in larvae than in adult fish. The stress induced effects can be reduced acting on opioid receptors. In this light we evaluated the efficacy of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, directly added to the water during Sparus aurata larval development. We found that in larvae subjected to artificial induced stressors, such as overcrowding, reduced pH, increased temperature and salinity, naloxone was useful to decrease the negative effects caused. In this Research highlight we discuss the finding of our recent study and research advancements
Chemical castration by intra-testicular injection of acalcium chloride in alcohol solution in dogs
No full textAn affordable and effective non-surgical technique for achieving male
dog sterility is needed to solve the problem of overpopulation. The
efficacy of 20% calcium chloride in pure alcohol solution, injected into
the testicular parenchyma, as a method for chemical castration, was
evaluated. Twenty-one dogs of mixed breed, 4.7 ± 1.23 years old,
20 ± 5.84 kg of body weight, with good clinical conditions and
normal reproductive parameters, were lightly sedated and injected into
the dorsocranial portion of both testes with a solution of 20% calcium
chloride dihyrdate in ethanol (95%). The dose injected corresponds
with the testicular width (19–22 mm receive 0.8 ml; 23 and above
1 ml). Semen evaluation was performed by CASA (Computer Assisted
Sperm Analysis) system at day 30–60–90. The animals in the control
group received a single bilateral intratesticular injection of 1 ml sterile
saline solution (testicular width 23 mm and above). Forty-eight hours
after the injection, dogs showed very light discomfort at palpation and
testicular tumefaction, which regressed within 3 days. At day 30,
testicular ultrasonography revealed bilateral more dense nodular
lesions; prostatic volume and parenchyma were normal. Semen
evaluation showed azoospermia at day 30–60 and 90. The sperm
count was decreased significantly (p < 01) in all the CaCl2 treated
dogs in comparison to saline solution control animals. At day 90
testicles were shrunk at palpation. An intratesticular injection of 20%
calcium chloride in pure alcohol solution, as a method for chemical
castration, was effective and economical for the sterilization of male
dogs. It is free from pain and chronic stress and will contribute to a
simple alternative method to surgical castration. The dogs of this study
are under evaluation to study this solution long term effect (1 year)
Relationship between motility and mitochondrial functional status in canine spermatozoa.
No full textAbstract: Inner mitochondrial membrane potential (IMM) is considered a sensitive indicator for the energetic status and motility of spermatozoa. The relationship between sperm motility parameters evaluated by Computer Assisted Sperm motility Analyzer and plasma membrane integrity and IMM assessed by triple staining (PI/SYBR-14 and JC-1) was evaluated in 10 dogs of unknown fertility. Sperm motility showed large variations ranging from 10% to 98%. Proportion of viable sperm cells and of spermatozoa with high IMM ranged from 74% to 99% and from 53% to 87%, respectively. The presence of a high IMM assessed by JC-1 was more strongly correlated to sperm viability (r = 1) than to sperm motility (r = 0.778). Our results indicate that JC-1 is suitable for detection of IMM changes in canine spermatozoa, but it should always be associated with an objective motility analysis to avoid incorrect evaluation of potential sperm fertility. Ejaculates with a low motility rate showed an unexpectedly high proportion of sperm with high IMM, suggesting that mitochondrial respiration could not be sufficient to support sperm motility, although it may be important for sperm survival in the female genital tract
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