The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of YM976 as a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE-4) on the in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and their capacity for embryonic development. For this, cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained by follicular aspiration of ovaries obtained in a slaughterhouse. They were matured in vitro for 24 hours in TCM-199 medium supplemented with four concentrations of YM976 (1, 10, 100 and 1000 nM) or with gonadotropins (LH and FSH). The expansion of the cumulus was evaluated by visual observation and the resumption of metaphase II by staining with Hoechst dye. The oocytes were fertilized and cultured in KSOM Evolve medium for eight days. The percentage of grade 3 expansion of the cumulus cells in oocytes cultured with gonadotropins was different (p=0.00016) compared to those cultured in the presence of YM976. The resumption of metaphas...

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ractopamine (RAC) and chromiumyeast (Cr-Lev) on the fatty acid profile, haematological parameters and serum leptin levels in finishing pigs. For this, 20 pigs of 63.2 ± 7.6 kg and 118 days of age were assigned to four treatments during the last 30 days of fattening. The treatments were T1: control group with basic food; T2: addition of 10 ppm/kg of RAC, and T3 and T4 with 0.2 and 0.4 ppm/kg of Cr-Lev without addition of RAC, respectively. Serum leptin levels were quantified at days 15 and 30, backfat thickness at day 30, and haematological analysis at days 0, 15, and 30 of the study. In addition, the profile of fatty acids in the meat was determined by gas chromatography. A completely randomized design with five replicates was used. The treatments affected the serum leptin concentration at 15 days (p<0.05), but not at 30 days. Lept...