Effects of maternal exposure to an aromatase inhibitor on sexual behaviour and neurochemical and endocrine aspects of adult male rat

The present study examined the effects of letrozole exposure during brain sexual differentiation on endocrine, behavioural and neurochemical parameters in male rat descendants. Pregnant female rats received 1 mg kg(-1) day(-1) letrozole or vehicle by oral gavage on gestational Days 21 and 22. Exposure to letrozole reduced anogenital distance in males on postnatal Day (PND) 22. At adulthood (PND 75), plasma testosterone levels and hypothalamic dopaminergic activity were increased, but sexual competence was impaired, because fewer successful sexual behaviours (mount, intromission and principally ejaculation) were observed. The impairment of reproductive function by prenatal exposure to an aromatase inhibitor reinforces the importance of adequate oestrogenic activity during perinatal sexual differentiation for complete masculinisation of the hypothalamus.

Neonatal meningitis according to the microbiological diagnosis: a decade of experience in a tertiary center

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of and mortality due to meningitis and compare data according to microbiological diagnosis. This was a ten-year retrospective study conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Newborns with meningitis confirmed by positive CSF culture were included; those with congenital infection or malformations that made lumbar puncture impossible were excluded. The variables investigated were birth weight, gestational and postnatal age, procedures, hematological and CSF parameters, and complications. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used (statistical value p<0.05). The incidence of meningitis was 0.6% and mortality was 27%. of the 22 cases, 59% involved Gram-negative bacteria; 36% Gram-positive and 5% fungi. The groups did not differ in relation to birth weight, gestational and postnatal age, procedures or hematological and CSF parameters. Sepsis, convulsions and deaths were frequent in both groups, without statistical difference. Gram-negative cases showed abscesses and higher frequency of ventriculitis and hydrocephaly. Meningitis was infrequent, but presented high mortality and frequent complications.

Prenatal testosterone supplementation alters puberty onset, aggressive behavior, and partner preference in adult male rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hypoactivity of the central dopaminergic system and autistic-like behavior induced by a single early prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Relação do peso de recém-nascidos e placentas. Estudo em recém-nascidos de termo, pré-termo e pós-termo, de pesos adequado, baixo e grande para a idade gestacional

Birth weight and placental weight of 566 newborns were determined. The newborns were classified by birth weight and gestational age in seven groups: term, preterm and postterm newborns with weight appropriate for gestational age; term and postterm newborns small for gestational age; term and preterm newborns large for gestational age. The differences in the mean placental weight in the preterm, term and postterm newborns with weight appropriate for gestational age were not significant. After 34 weeks of gestation there was little increase in placental weight. The mean placental weight of newborns large for gestational age was significantly different from that of term newborns appropriate for gestational age. In the term and postterm newborns small for gestational age the mean placental weight was significantly different from term and postterm newborns appropriate for gestational age. These findings suggest that newborns with an appropriate intrauterine growth have little increase in placental weight in the gestational period. Gestational age is not an important factor in determining placental weight in this period. Nutrition is important for placental growth-retarded infants have small placentas and large-for-date infants have large placental weight.

Estudo do peso e da idade gestacional de recem-nascidos e dos fatores que interferem no desenvolvimento fetal: nivel socio-economico, fatores maternos, fetais e placentarios

The present study was undertaken to determine the importance of socioeconomic factors (family income), urban or rural family location, parity, maternal age, the presence of maternal and fetal pathologies as well as placental abnormalities on the weight and gestational age of 566 newborns. The highest incidence of newborns with low birth weight for gestational age was significantly more frequent in urban populations when the mothers were from low socio-economic levels. In mothers from low socioeconomic levels infants with low birth weight for gestational age were seen in greater proportion among primaparas and had a tendency to be higher in mothers aged less than 20 years; prematurity was highest in mothers ≥ 30 years old and significantly higher from the 8th gestation on. Maternal and fetal pathologies emphasized these characteristics and placental pathologies were not correlated with the distribution of weight and length of gestation. In mothers of high socioeconomic levels age and parity were not correlated with weight and gestational age of the newborns.

Alterações anatomopatológicas placentárias. Relação com o peso e idade gestacional de recém-nascido

The authors studied gross and histological abnormalities of placentae from 566 newborns, grouped according to birth and gestational age. The relation of hemorragic abnormalities, infections of membranes and placental tissue, chronic infections, calcifications, hydropic degeneration of villi, chorangioma, cysts, vascular lesions (endarteritis) with newborn weight, length of gestation and intrauterine growth retardation were determined. We concluded that lesions due to disturbances of placental blood flow were significantly more frequent in placentae from term newborns small for gestational age; villi hydropic degenerations were more frequent in placentae of pre-term newborns appropriate for gestational age. Chronic infections had a tendency to be greater in placentae from infants with diminished intrauterine growth. Term newborns small for gestational age had greater proportions of placental abnormalities than the other groups.

Efeito da ciclofosfamida sobre o desenvolvimento de germe dental do incisivo do camundongo.

Thirty six female mice were injected on the 12th day of the gestational period with 0.2 ml of distilled water (control group) or of an acqueous solution containing either 30 mg/Kg or 50 mg/Kg of body weight of cyclophosphamide (treated group). The animal were killed at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after the injection and 3 days after birth. It was verified that cyclophosphamide interferes on the tooth germ development and that this effect is in directly ratio of the doses used.

Efeito da ciclofosfamida sobre o desenvolvimento de germes dentais de molares transplantados para a câmara anterior do olho de camundongos.

Mice foetus were killed between 13 and 16 days of the gestational period and their molar tooth germs grafted into the anterior chamber of the eye. The hosts were injected either with 6.25 mg/Kg or with 125 mg/Kg of cyclophosphamide and killed 15 days later. The cyclophosphamide irreversibly, interferes on tooth germ development causing either its total degeneration or an alteration on its morphology forming hypodeveloped tooth germs; its action is directly proportional to the foetus age and to the dose used; it does not induce the formation of osteodentin while some predentin partial cell inclusion may occur.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus

The present study was performed to assess the rate of hypertensive complications in diabetic pregnant patients and the influence of White's classification and the quality of the diabetic control. This study included 169 diabetic pregnant women who had delivered at the University Hospital of Botucatu Brazil from 1980 to 1981. The hypertensive disorders occurred in 29.8% of the cases. The incidence of the hypertensive process was the same in all classes of diabetic patients, and it was independent of the glycemic control. In patients with gestational diabetes (classes A and AB), chronic hypertension was the commnest type found; in patients with short-term diabetes (classes B and C) pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and chronic hypertension with superimposed PIH was the most frequent type, and diabetic patients with vasculopathies (classes D-R) had preeclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia as the commonest type found.

Morphological aspects of the mid-palatal suture in the human foetus: A light and scanning electron microscopy study

Morphological features of the mid-palatal suture were studied in human foetuses from 4 to 9 months of intra-uterine life. The foetuses were divided into three age groups, GI (16-23 weeks), GII (24-31 weeks) and GIII (32-39 weeks). The mid-palatal suture in GI foetuses is rectilineal in form with a wide space between the palatal processes of the maxilla. The suture has a sinuous nature in GII and GIII foetuses due to growth of the bone processes crossing the mid-line. A wide zone of cellular proliferation observed in GI narrows in GII and GIII foetuses. The imbricating nature of the suture in GII and GIII is caused by bone growth adjacent to the mid-palatal suture. Sharpey's fibres, emerging from the bone processes, run to the median region of the mid-palatal suture and are observed from GI foetuses onwards. The collagen fibres of the mid-palatal suture are orientated transversely under the oral epithelium and exhibit a regular meshwork with a predominance of sagittal fibres in the median region of the suture. These fibres are orientated transversely and obliquely at the junction with the nasal septum.

Evaluation of lacrimal system outflow in the newborn by dye tests

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outflow from the lacrimal excretory system (LES) at birth. METHOD: Two-hundred LES were evaluated by the Milder Test (DDT) and the modified Jones I Test (JIT) in 100 newborns (NBs) from 31 (T 1) until 42 (T 3) weeks of gestational age. The occurrence of obstruction was related to sex, weight at birth, presence of ocular discharge and the degree of maturity. RESULTS: Both tests were in agreement and showed LES obstruction in 61.5% (DDT) and 78.5% (JIT), respectively, while the LES outflow increased with increasing maturity. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of LES outflow at birth reveals obstruction rates that are much higher than those clinically observed in children with complaints of epiphora.

Relação entre comprimento craniocaudal e diãmetro da vesícula embrionária/fetal com idade de gestação por meio de avaliação ultra-sonográfica em ovino da raça Bergamácia

This study aimed to relate embryonic/fetal vesicle diameter (EVD) and crown-rump length (CRL) to gestational age in ewes from the 15 th to the 45 th day of pregnancy. Nineteen adult Bergamácia ewes with synchronized estrus were mated by the same male. Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed every 24 hours from the 15 th to the 30 th day after mating and every five days from the 30 th to the 45 th day using 5.0 and 7.5MHZ linear transducers. Average daily growth of EVD and CRL were 1.40mm and 1.33mm, respectively. The inverse calibration obtained for EVD was: Days = -11 + 50(0.1 + 0.04log EVD) 1/2 with R 2 = 0.85, and for CRL was: Days = 13.63 + 12.5(- 0.71 + 0.16CRL) 1/2 with R 2 = 0.93. Both EVD and CRL obtained by ultrasonography are useful measurements that allow the prediction of gestational age in Bergamácia ewes.

Efeito da posição do prematuro no desmame da ventilação mecânica

Objective: the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of prone positioning on cardiorespiratory stability and weaning outcome of preterm infants during weaning from mechanical ventilation. Methods: from January to December 1999, a sample of 42 preterm infants, with birthweight < 2,000 g, mechanically ventilated in the first week of life, were randomly divided, in the beginning of the weaning process, in two groups according to the position: supine position (n = 21) or prone position (n = 21). Heart rate, respiratory rate, transcutaneous oxygen saturation and ventilatory parameters were recorded every one hour. Length of the weaning process and complications were also assessed. Results: in both groups the mean gestational age was 29 weeks, most of the patients presented very low birthweight and respiratory distress syndrome. The mean length of the weaning process was 2 days. There were no differences between the groups regarding respiratory rate, heart rate and transcutaneous oxygen saturation, however, oxygen desaturation episodes were more frequent in supine position (p = 0.009). Ventilatory parameters decreased faster and reintubation was less frequent in the prone group (4% versus 33%). No adverse effects of prone positioning were observed. Conclusion: these results suggest that prone position is a safe and beneficial procedure during the weaning from mechanical ventilation and may contribute to weaning success in preterm infants.