The objective of the study was to evaluate the β-carotene supplementation in nonforage diets of female breeding guinea pigs. Experiment I was carried out in the spring (October-December) with 27 females at the first parturition and experiment II was carried out in the summer (January-April), with the same females during their second parturition. Three diets were evaluated: mixed (green forage + concentrated), integral (only concentrated) and integral + β-carotene. The supplementation of β-carotene did not improve the productive or reproductive parameters in guinea pigs in both experiments. The results of the second parturition were affected by the summer, showing the beneficial role of β-carotene as an antioxidant, natural or synthetic, in body weight of mothers at weaning.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la suplementación de β-caroteno en dietas con exclusión de forraje verde de cuyes hembras en etapa reproductiva. El experimento I se realizó en primavera (octubre-diciembre) con 27 hembras primerizas y el experimento II se hizo en el verano (enero-abril), con las mismas hembras durante su segundo parto. Se evaluaron tres dietas: mixta (forraje verde + concentrado), integral (solo concentrado) e integral + β-caroteno. La suplementación de β-caroteno no mejoró los parámetros productivos ni reproductivos en las hembras en ambos experimentos. Los resultados del segundo parto fueron afectados por el verano, donde se pudo observar el rol benéfico del β-caroteno como antioxidante, natural o sintético, en el peso de las madres al destete.

The purpose of the study was to describe the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the structures that conforms the penis glans of the Peruvian guinea pig, and changes in the structure related to animal age. The study was conducted in 24 guinea pigs distributed in four age groups (1, 2 3, 5 months) of the Peru breed, where 20 samples taken for the macroscopic study and four for the microscopic study. The glans external surface is covered by small corneous scales of convex edge with tiny spicules directed to cranial. In the dorsal and ventral-lateral surfaces is observed the presence of extended and well-developed scales that are convex and have a free edge, with spicules directed dorsal-cranial. The glans sac is located dorsal to the penile urethra and the internal wall is covered by small scales and longitudinal folds and contains a pair of keratinaceous styluses. The os penis ...

The purpose of the study was to describe the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the structures that conforms the penis glans of the Peruvian guinea pig, and changes in the structure related to animal age. The study was conducted in 24 guinea pigs distributed in four age groups (1, 2 3, 5 months) of the Peru breed, where 20 samples taken for the macroscopic study and four for the microscopic study. The glans external surface is covered by small corneous scales of convex edge with tiny spicules directed to cranial. In the dorsal and ventral-lateral surfaces is observed the presence of extended and well-developed scales that are convex and have a free edge, with spicules directed dorsal-cranial. The glans sac is located dorsal to the penile urethra and the internal wall is covered by small scales and longitudinal folds and contains a pair of keratinaceous styluses. The os penis ...