O plexo braquial é um conjunto de nervos com origem na região medular cervicotorácica que inerva o membro torácico e adjacências. Seu estudo em diferentes espécies é importante não apenas como uma fonte de conhecimento morfológico, mas, também, por facilitar o diagnóstico de disfunções neuromusculares decorrentes de diversas patologias. O objetivo foi descrever as origens e ramificações do plexo braquial do Mazama gouazoubira. Foram utilizados três espécimes, pertencentes ao acervo científico do Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU); eles foram fixados em formaldeído a 3,7% e dissecados. No M. gouazoubira, o plexo braquial resultou de conexões entre os ramos dos três últimos nervos espinhais cervicais, C6, C7 e C8, e do primeiro torácico T1, e teve como derivações os nervos supraescapular, subescapulares cranial e caudal, axilar, musculocutâneo, mediano, ulnar, radial, peitorais, toracodorsal, torácico longo e torácico lateral. Os músculos inervados pelos nervos do plexo braquial foram o supraespinhal, infraespinhal, subescapular, redondo maior, redondo menor, deltoide, cleidobraquial, coracobraquial, bíceps braquial, braquial, tríceps braquial, ancôneo, flexor superficial dos dedos, flexor profundo dos dedos, flexor radial do carpo, flexor ulnar do carpo, extensor radial do carpo, ulnar lateral, extensor oblíquo do carpo, extensores dos dedos, peitoral superficial, peitoral profundo, serrátil ventral e oblíquo externo do abdome.

The use of pesticides is a widely spread practice in Brazilian agriculture, and dispersion of these substances is an important factor for the fauna and flora. Atrazine is an endocrine disruptor in the xenoestrogen class that is used worldwide in agricultural practices. In Brazil, its use is permitted in several crops. Podocnemis expansa is a representative of the Testudines order that is the largest freshwater reptile of South America. Its distribution enables it to get in contact with molecules that are commonly used as pesticides, which may cause deleterious effects in target populations. In order to evaluate the possible effects of the exposure to atrazine on bone ontogeny of this species, eggs were artificially incubated in sand moistened with water contaminated with atrazine at concentrations equal to 0, 2, 20 or 200 μg/L. Embryos were collected throughout incubation and submitted to diaphanization of soft tissues with potassium hydroxide (KOH); bones were stained with Alizarin red S and cartilages by Alcian blue. Embryos were evaluated for the presence of abnormalities during the different stages of pre-natal development of skeletal elements. No effect of atrazine was observed on bone development during the embryonic phase in P. expansa individuals, in the conditions of this study.

Eggshell evaluation may serve as an indicator of the effect of substances released in the environment, which may change eggshell shape, size, structure, and/or chemical composition. Additionally, exposure may interfere with hatching rates in contaminated eggs. The objective of this study was to better understand how exposure to the insecticide methyl parathion interferes with chemical changes in eggshells of Podocnemis expansa throughout their artificial incubation, as well as with egg hatchability. A total of 343 P. expansa eggs were collected in a natural reproduction area for the species. These eggs were transferred to and artificially incubated in the Wild Animal Teaching and Research Laboratory at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. On the first day of artificial incubation, 0, 35, 350, and 3500 ppb of methyl parathion were incorporated to the substrate. Eggs were collected every three days for chemical analysis of eggshells. Hatchability was evaluated as the number of hatchlings in each treatment, for the eggs that were not used in the chemical analysis. Student's T-test was used for data on eggshell chemical composition, and the Binomial Test for Two Proportions was used in the hatchability analysis, at a 5% significance level. It was observed that the incorporation of methyl parathion to the substrate on the first day of artificial incubation of P. expansa eggs reduced the levels of total fat in the shells throughout their incubation, besides reducing egg hatchability.

Bayo por todas as dicas na parte de colheita de material das aves.. ... ao professor Steven Lehotay pela disponibilidade em colaborar na escolha do método de extração. ... à pesquisadora Adriani Hass e à sua equipe, pelo senso de cooperação e pelo treinamento na captura das aves. ... ao IBAMA, pelas licenças de pesquisa. ... aos funcionários do Parque Nacional das Emas, pela colaboração durante a permanência no Parque. ... à prefeitura do município de Chapadão do Céu-GO, pela disposição em participar da discussão da questão do uso de agrotóxicos no entorno do Parque. ... às revendas de agrotóxicos de Chapadão do Céu e Mineiros por todas as informações concedidas. ... ao educador Eder Victor Kanieski, pela sua vontade em participar do Projeto e multiplicar informações junto ao máximo de alunos e professores de Chapadão do Céu. ... ao pesquisador Jorge José do Vale Oliveira, do ITAL-Campinas, pela colaboração nas análises cromatográficas.