We evaluated the effects of detergents based on sodium dodecyl sulfoxide (SDS) on the functional parameters of collared peccary frozen–thawed sperm. Semen aliquots from ten individuals were diluted in a Tris–egg yolk–glycerol extender alone or with 0.5% Equex STM^® paste or SDS (at 0.1%, 0.3% or 0.5% (v/v) concentration). Samples were fast frozen in liquid nitrogen with a post-thaw evaluation of motility, membrane functionality and integrity, mitochondrial activity, sperm binding ability and thermal resistance. The treatments without SDS (41.8 ± 3.5%) and those containing Equex (41.8 ± 4.4%) or 0.1% SDS (41.2 ± 5.5%) provided greater sperm motility (p < 0.05) than those containing SDS 0.3% (30.5 ± 4.7%) and 0.5% (31.2 ± 6.3%). Immediately after thawing, only treatments containing 0.1% SDS effectively preserved sperm straightness (STR) when compared to the negative control. All treatments preserved the amplitude of lateral head (ALH) and straightness (STR) during a thermal resistance test (p > 0.05), but SDS 0.5% impaired the membrane functionality and mitochondrial activity after thawing (p < 0.05). All treatments provided a similar recovery of sperm binding ability after thawing (p < 0.05). Our results showed that the addition of 0.1% SDS to the Tris–yolk–glycerol extender optimized the freeze–thaw recovery of peccary semen.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the use of pyridoxine hydrochloride and its associated side effects in the treatment of pseudopregnancy in female dogs. A total of 40 female dogs, with no defined breed, in non-gestational diestrus, with clinical complaint of milk production were selected. The female dogs were divided into four experimental groups of 10 animals each, treated orally for 20 days with 10mg/kg/day (G1) and 50mg/kg/day (G2) of pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), 5μg/kg/day of cabergoline (G3), and with a placebo, in the case of the control group (G4). The effects of the treatments on milk production were investigated, as well as possible systemic side effects, macroscopic uterine and ovarian alterations, and uterine histology. During the investigated period, G2 and G3 were equally efficient (P>0.05) in lactation suppression, differing (P>0.05) from the other groups. There were no systemic side effects or uterine changes associated with administration of the studied drug. Vitamin B6 (50mg/kg) has shown to be a safe and economically viable alternative for lactation interruption in female dogs with pseudopregnancy.

Anim Reprod, vol.16, n2, p.340-347, 2019

The cryopreservation reduces ram sperm quality, decreasing the pregnancy rate of ewes inseminated with thawed sperm. Hence, we aimed to improve the post-thaw quality of ram sperm replacing egg yolk on Tris-Glucose extender with different concentrations of LDL (2 or 8%), associated with the addition of 10 mM non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, hydroxytoluene butylate, ascorbyl palmitate, and trehalose). Semen samples were collected from six rams, split into different treatments, and frozen. After thawing, kinematic (CASA), structural (propidium iodide and carboxyfluorescein diacetate) and functional (hypoosmotic test) sperm membrane integrity was assessed. Total motility, VCL, and LIN were also assessed in thawed samples during 3 h of incubation (38 °C). The results showed that hydroxytoluene butylate at 10 mM in Tris-Glucose extender with 8% LDL improved velocity parameters immediately post-thaw compared with Tris-Glucose egg yolk extender, as well as prevented the reduction of total motility and VCL after incubation. There was no benefit of adding ascorbic acid and trehalose. Moreover, for the first time, it was shown the motility impairment promoted by ascorbyl palmitate to ram sperm.