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Ribeiro VM, Júnior DMG, Ottino J, Valle GR, de Miranda Estevam LGT, de Carvalho OV, Paz GF. Report of the presence of Leishmania infantum in the milk of a naturally infected female dog in Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 36:100795. [PMID: 36436888 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Dogs are the most important reservoir of Leishmania infantum, the causal agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Although lymphoid tissue is the most important biological tissue where amastigotes can be found, this paper describes the presence of L. infantum DNA in the milk of a lactating naturally infected female dog. This finding suggests the need for further studies to elucidate whether breastfeeding can be a route of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer Ottino
- Santo Agostinho Hospital Veterinário, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Valle GR, Ribeiro VM, Teles PPDA, Ottino J, Salome DM, Melo MN, Silva SDO, da Silveira JAG, Dias AHF, Dantas-Torres F. Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in semen from dogs in southeastern Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 36:100799. [PMID: 36436889 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) are primarily transmitted by arthropod vectors, but secondary ways of transmission have been described, including via venereal route. Nonetheless, there is still limited research on possible sexual transmission of VBPs in dogs. We molecularly investigated the presence of vector-borne pathogens in semen from dogs living in an area where these agents are endemic. Upon PCR testing, seven out of 22 (31.8%) semen samples tested positive for at least one VBP, whereas simultaneous positivity to two or more pathogens was detected in three (13.6%) dogs. Among pathogens detected in semen, Trypanosoma cruzi (n = 1) and Leishmania infantum (n = 3) were identified to species level by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Attempts to sequence PCR products from other pathogens were unsuccessful, but coupled epidemiological and molecular data suggest the presence of Anaplasma platys (n = 5), Babesia vogeli (n = 1) and Ehrlichia canis (n = 1) in semen from dogs. Further experimental studies would be needed to confirm the sexual transmission hypothesis for these VBPs and also the possible implications of these findings for canine reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Ribeiro Valle
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Rua Santa Rita Durão 1160, bairro Funcionários, 30140-111,Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Vitor Márcio Ribeiro
- Hospital Veterinário Santo Agostinho, Av. Amazonas 2218, Bairro Santo Agostinho, 30180-003 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro Paulo de Abreu Teles
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Bairro São Luiz, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Ottino
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Bairro São Luiz, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniel Magalhães Salome
- Hospital Veterinário Santo Agostinho, Av. Amazonas 2218, Bairro Santo Agostinho, 30180-003 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Norma Melo
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Bairro São Luiz, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Soraia de Oliveira Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Bairro São Luiz, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Júlia Angélica Gonçalves da Silveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Bairro São Luiz, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aline Hallais França Dias
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Rua Santa Rita Durão 1160, bairro Funcionários, 30140-111,Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Dantas-Torres F, Alexandre J, Miranda DEDO, Figueredo LA, Sales KGDS, de Sousa-Paula LC, da Silva LG, Valle GR, Ribeiro VM, Otranto D, Deuster K, Pollmeier M, Altreuther G. Molecular epidemiology and prevalence of babesial infections in dogs in two hyperendemic foci in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2681-2687. [PMID: 34110503 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07195-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Babesial parasites are some of the most ubiquitous blood pathogens and consequently have considerable worldwide veterinary impact. Dogs living in the tropics are highly exposed to babesial parasites, particularly to Babesia vogeli. Limited data on the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of Babesia spp. in dogs are available in Latin America. We conducted a cross-sectional study combining serological and molecular tests to estimate the seroprevalence and molecular epidemiology of Babesia spp. infections in dogs in two hyperendemic foci in Brazil. A total of 630 privately owned dogs (417 from Goiana municipality, Pernambuco state, north-eastern Brazil, and 213 from São Joaquim de Bicas municipality, Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil) were sampled and molecularly and serologically tested for Babesia spp. Overall, 519 dogs (82.4%) presented detectable IgG antibodies against Babesia spp., and seropositivity was significantly higher in dogs older than 1 year. Molecularly, 34 dogs (5.4%) were positive for a ~ 200 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp. and 88 (14.0%) for a longer fragment (~ 450 bp) of the same gene of Babesia spp. and other protozoa. The 18S rRNA gene sequences generated herein corresponded to B. vogeli (n = 52) or Hepatozoon canis (n = 20). This study confirms a high level of exposure to B. vogeli in two areas of Brazil and highlights that most of the dogs living in these areas are infected during the course of their life, reflected by increased seroprevalence in older dogs. Increased awareness and prevention of tick-borne protozoa infections in dogs from Brazil and Latin America are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Joanna Alexandre
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Aguiar Figueredo
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Vitor Márcio Ribeiro
- Veterinary School, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Betim, Brazil
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
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Teixeira ACB, Valle GR, Riveros JAN, Diniz JHW, Wenceslau RR, Monteiro GA, Leme FDOP, Oliveira LZ. Effects of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin on Ovulatory and Luteal Characteristics of Mares Submitted to an P4-Based Protocol of Ovulation Induction With hCG. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 94:103233. [PMID: 33077076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at the end of progesterone (P4) treatment on follicular and luteal characteristics during transition period (TP) and reproductive breeding season (RP). A total of 13 crossbred mares were distributed in two experimental groups in the spring and summer (n = 26). The animals received intravaginal P4 (1.9 g) releasing device from D0 to D10. On removal of P4 device, the mares received 400 IU of eCG (eCG group) or saline solution (control group). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1.750 IU) was administered (DhCG) as soon as ovulatory follicle (OF) ≥35 mm was detected. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed from D0 until 15 days after ovulation. Blood samples were collected on D0, D5, D10, DhCG, 9 days after ovulation (CL9D), and 13 days after ovulation (CL13D). P4 and estradiol concentrations were assessed by chemiluminescence. Data were compared by Tukey test at P < .05. Ovulation rate was similar (P = .096) between seasons (RP = 100%; TP = 70%) but occurred earlier (P = .015) in RP (34.8 ± 10.1 hours) compared with TP (42.0 ± 10.4 hours). Interactions between season and treatment were observed for OF diameter (mm) (RP/control = 36.2 ± 1.8ab; RP/eCG = 32.9 ± 2.8 b; TP/control = 32.2 ± 1.2 b; TP/eCG = 37.2 ± 1.9a; P = .004) and for corpus luteum (CL) diameter (mm) on CL13D (RP/control = 25.4 ± 3.5a; RP/eCG = 22.5 ± 1.8ab; TP/control = 21.6 ± 4.9 b; TP/eCG = 27.4 ± 4.3a; P = .023), although no differences were observed for serum P4 on CL13D (RP/control = 6.0 ± 3.1 ng/mL; RP/eCG = 5.8 ± 0.9 ng/mL; TP/control = 3.6 ± 2.7 ng/mL; TP/eCG = 5.1 ± 2.3 ng/mL; P = .429) or for day of structural CL regression (RP/control = 12.8 ± 1.9; RP/eCG = 12.1 ± 1.1; TP/control = 11.0 ± 1.7; TP/eCG = 13.2 ± 2.0; P = .102). The application of eCG at the moment of P4 implant removal seemed to increase the capacity of luteal maintenance during spring TP. However, eCG treatment was worthless during the breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Raphael Rocha Wenceslau
- Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Dantas-Torres F, Figueredo LA, Sales KGDS, Miranda DEDO, Alexandre JLDA, da Silva YY, da Silva LG, Valle GR, Ribeiro VM, Otranto D, Deuster K, Pollmeier M, Altreuther G. Prevalence and incidence of vector-borne pathogens in unprotected dogs in two Brazilian regions. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:195. [PMID: 32312297 PMCID: PMC7171771 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Various vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) affect dogs worldwide, with their diversity and force of infection being usually higher in the tropics. Cross-sectional studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence of VBPs in dogs, but data from longitudinal studies are scarce. Herein, we assessed the prevalence and the year-crude incidence (YCI) of Leishmania spp. and other VBPs in privately-owned dogs from two geographical regions of Brazil. Methods A total of 823 dogs were initially screened for Leishmania spp. by both serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the negatives, 307 (103 from São Joaquim de Bicas, Minas Gerais, and 204 from Goiana, Pernambuco) were randomly selected for the longitudinal study. These dogs were tested for various VBPs at baseline, after 8 and 12 months. Results Out of 823 dogs initially screened, 131 (15.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp. Out of the 307 dogs enrolled in the longitudinal study, 120 (39.1%) were lost for different reasons (e.g. animal death, owner decision, and lost to follow-up). In São Joaquim de Bicas, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 16.5% and 7.1% for Anaplasma spp.; 81.6% and 100% for Babesia spp.; 0% and 1.3% (only one faint positive) for Dirofilaria immitis; 37.9% and 22.9% for Ehrlichia spp.; 19.5% and 43.8% for Leishmania spp. In Goiana, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 45.1% and 38.3% for Anaplasma spp.; 79.9% and 96.0% for Babesia spp.; 36.3% and 39.8% for D. immitis; 64.7% and 58.5% for Ehrlichia spp.; 14.7% and 19.6% for Leishmania spp. Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were not detected in any of the samples tested herein. The prevalence and YCI of Anaplasma spp., D. immitis and Ehrlichia spp. were significantly higher in Goiana. In contrast, the YCI of Leishmania spp. infection was significantly higher in São Joaquim de Bicas. Conclusions We confirmed a high prevalence and YCI of various VBPs among privately-owned dogs in two geographical regions of Brazil. Our data also indicate that the risk of infection varies significantly for individual VBPs and between the regions, which may be related to several factors that are still poorly understood.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil.
| | - Luciana Aguiar Figueredo
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Yury Yzabella da Silva
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vitor Márcio Ribeiro
- Veterinary School, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Betim, Brazil
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
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Rocha CE, de Carvalho EDC, de Castro FCGS, Xavier ILGDS, Young RJ, Palhares MS, da Silva Filho JM, Carvalho RR, Vasconcellos ADS, Valle GR. Is mare sexual behavior affected by age and can it predict ovulation? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Martins ACL, Vaz MA, Macedo MM, Santos RL, Galdino CAB, Wenceslau RR, Valle GR. Maternal age, paternal age, and litter size interact to affect the offspring sex ratio of German Shepherd dogs. Theriogenology 2019; 135:169-173. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Magro AG, Assis VP, Silva LC, Tafuri WL, Silva SO, Melo MN, Valle GR. Leishmania infantum is present in vaginal secretions of naturally infected bitches at lower levels in oestrogenized bitches than in non-oestrogenized bitches. Acta Parasitol 2017; 62:625-629. [PMID: 28682760 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Naturally Leishmania infantum infected bitches were divided into oestrogenized (n = 11) and non-oestrogenized (n = 6) groups. Vaginal secretions were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and vulval, vaginal and uterine tissues were collected for the immunohistochemical (IHQ) identification of L. infantum. Parasite DNA was identified in vaginal secretions of non-oestrogenized (41.8%) and oestrogenized (18.2%) bitches (P<0.05; Fisher's Exact test). IHQ was positive in vulvar dermis (23.5%) and vaginal mucosa (17.7%) but negative in endometrium of all bitches. Poor association between positive vaginal secretion PCR and tissue IHQ (Kappa index) were observed. The results showed that genital secretions are a potential source for dog contamination.
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Santos MM, Maia LL, Nobre DM, Oliveira Neto JF, Garcia TR, Lage MCGR, de Melo MIV, Viana WS, Palhares MS, da Silva Filho JM, Santos RL, Valle GR. Sex ratio of equine offspring is affected by the ages of the mare and stallion. Theriogenology 2015; 84:1238-45. [PMID: 26234461 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of parental age on the sex ratio of offspring in horses. Two trials were performed. In the first trial, the data from a randomly obtained population with a 1:1 sex ratio of 59,950 Mangalarga Marchador horses born in Brazil from 1990 to 2011 were analyzed. The sex ratios of the offspring were compared among groups according to the mare and the stallion ages (from 3 to 25 years). In the first step of the analysis, the mares and stallions were grouped according to age in 5-year intervals. In the second step, the groups were based on the parental age gap at conception. In the third step, the group of the mares and stallions with similar ages from the second step was subdivided, and the different parental age subgroups that were divided into 5-year intervals were compared. In the fourth step, the sex ratio of the offspring was determined according to the ages of the mares and the stallions at conception. The second trial was based on the data from 253 horses of several breeds that were born after natural gestation into a herd from 1989 to 2010, and the offspring of groups that were younger or older than 15 years were compared. The data from both trials were analyzed using a chi-square test (P ≤ 0.01 for the first trial; and P ≤ 0.05 for the second trial) for the comparisons of the sex ratios. In the first trial, the Spearman test (P ≤ 0.01) was used to verify the correlations between the parental age and the offspring sex ratio. In the first trial, the offspring sex ratio decreased as the mare or stallion age increased, and the decrease was more marked for the mares than for the stallions. In the second trial, the mares older than 15 years had more fillies than the younger mares, but the stallion age had no effect on the sex of the offspring. The first trial, with a large number of horses, revealed the pattern of the distribution of the sex ratios of offspring according to the parental age in horses, whereas the second trial, with a more restricted number of horses, confirmed the influence of the age of the mare on the offspring sex ratio. We concluded that the parental age affected the offspring sex ratio in horses and that this effect was stronger for the mares than for the stallions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Machado Santos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lara Maia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniel Magalhães Nobre
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Ferraz Oliveira Neto
- Associação Brasileira dos Criadores do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tiago Rezende Garcia
- Associação Brasileira dos Criadores do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Coeli Gomes Reis Lage
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Vaz de Melo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Walmir Santos Viana
- Regimento de Cavalaria Alferes Tiradentes, Polícia Militar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maristela Silveira Palhares
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Monteiro da Silva Filho
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Renato Lima Santos
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Ribeiro Valle
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Valle GR, Cassali GD, Nogueira JC, Castro ACS, Reis AM, Cardoso FM, Figueiredo CBO, Nascimento EF. Nuclear estrogen and progesterone receptors in the oviduct of heifers under natural and superovulated estrous cycles. Anim Reprod Sci 2006; 101:28-37. [PMID: 17010540 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2005] [Accepted: 08/21/2006] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Oviducts from 22 crossbred heifers were examined for the presence of nuclear estrogen (ERalpha) and progesterone (PR) receptors at different phases (estrus, metaestrus and diestrus) of naturally occurring estrous cycles and estrous cycles during which superovulation was induced. Receptors were detected by immunohistochemistry in the epithelial cells, connective tissue and muscular layer of oviductal infundibulum, ampulla, ampullary/isthmic transition and isthmus. Epithelial ERalpha was found along the entire oviduct regardless of the cycle phase and of the circulating concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)). Epithelial PR was found mainly at the ampullary-isthmic transition and isthmus and more intensely at the estrus phase but their amount was not correlated with P(4) concentrations. ERalpha in the connective tissue was more abundant at the infundibulum and ampulla, regardless of the phase of the estrous cycle and of E(2) and P(4) circulating concentrations. PR in the connective tissue was found mostly at the ampulla, regardless of the estrous cycle phase but no correlations were found between amount and P(4) concentrations. ERalpha staining intensity in the muscular layer was similar at all phases of the estrous cycle and at all anatomical segments of the oviducts. However, PR staining was more intense at the isthmus during the metaestrus phase and it was negatively correlated with P(4) concentrations. In general, data from the present research suggest that P(4) exerts an inhibitory role upon ERalpha and PR. Also, no differences were found between animals subjected or not to superovulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Ribeiro Valle
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- G R Valle
- Veterinary School, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Rua do Rosário 1081, Bairro Angola, CEP 32630-000, Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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