Eucalyptol, an essential oil, reduces contractile activity in rat cardiac muscle

Eucalyptol is an essential oil that relaxes bronchial and vascular smooth muscle although its direct actions on isolated myocardium have not been reported. We investigated a putative negative inotropic effect of the oil on left ventricular papillary muscles from male Wistar rats weighing 250 to 300 g, as well as its effects on isometric force, rate of force development, time parameters, post-rest potentiation, positive inotropic interventions produced by Ca2+ and isoproterenol, and on tetanic tension. The effects of 0.3 mM eucalyptol on myosin ATPase activity were also investigated. Eucalyptol (0.003 to 0.3 mM) reduced isometric tension, the rate of force development and time parameters. The oil reduced the force developed by steady-state contractions (50% at 0.3 mM) but did not alter sarcoplasmic reticulum function or post-rest contractions and produced a progressive increase in relative potentiation. Increased extracellular Ca2+ concentration (0.62 to 5 mM) and isoproterenol (20 nM) administration counteracted the negative inotropic effects of the oil. The activity of the contractile machinery evaluated by tetanic force development was reduced by 30 to 50% but myosin ATPase activity was not affected by eucalyptol (0.3 mM), supporting the idea of a reduction of sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx. The present results suggest that eucalyptol depresses force development, probably acting as a calcium channel blocker.

Patrimônio territorial integrado e espaço cotidiano : o planejamento urbano interativo do centro de Vitória (ES)

O conceito de patrimônio territorial e cultural amplia o conceito tradicional de patrimônio, segundo o qual o monumento se restringe a sua materialidade e permanece isolado de seu território. A ambiência e a vivência desse patrimônio ganham importância visto que são essenciais ao seu reconhecimento e a impressão de pertencimento e de identificação por parte de seus usuários. Tais conceitos vão de encontro à mercantilização do patrimônio e ao seu uso puramente turístico, tão comuns na contemporaneidade. Este trabalho traz estudos e discussões referentes ao tema, que auxiliaram na análise da evolução histórica de Vitória, tendo sua origem na região central. Tais abordagens levaram ao entendimento da construção da cidade e dos resultados encontrados na atualidade decorrentes desse desenvolvimento. O conhecimento sobre a temática do patrimônio territorial e cultural e o entendimento histórico do Centro de Vitória tornaram possíveis algumas avaliações referentes aos procedimentos adotados no Planejamento Urbano Interativo do Centro, um programa elaborado pela prefeitura de Vitória em 2006.

Ocupação urbana em áreas de preservação permanente : o caso do manguezal da área continental de Vitória/ES

This research aims to diagnose the environmental impacts caused by the growth of urban occupations over the mangrove in the continental area of Vitória. It is justified by the gradual degradation of mangroves in Vitória that has inestimable importance to the landscape, to the environment and to the economy. With the growth of urban population in Brazil and around the world, researches like this, about environmental management, are essential to allow cities to grow more sustainably and well planned. The thesis was initially based on the study of occupations of Permanent Preservation Areas in general, with the presentation of the basic concepts and reflections, and later on territorial analysis of some protected areas and their surroundings, and the study of the empirical object, a polygon that covers urban areas and mangroves on the continental part of Vitória. The study hopes to promote a reflection and a discussion about the importance of maintenance of protected natural areas inside the cities, generating knowledge about the importance of mangrove and diagnose how it has been urbanized, protected or degraded over the years