Light microscope observations on the epididymis of paca (Agouti paca)

The features of paca epididymis, based on its appearance in light microscope, is described in this paper. The cellular population of the epithelial lining comprises principal cells, basal cells, apical cells, narrows cells, and hallo cells. The epididymis is divided in five distinct and continuous regions, Zone I, or initial segment, and zone II, are both localized into the head. Zone III comprises the distal head and all the body. Zones IV and V are restricted to the tail, in the proximal and distal cauda epididymis respectively. Each zone can be readily distinguished on the basis of morphological characteristics. The height of epididymal epithelium is greater in zone I. There is a progressive increase in the diameter of the tubular lumen through the different areas, with the maximum in the zone V. The presence of a high epithelium, and the virtual absence of sperm in zone I suggest fast transit of spermatozoa in this region. Zone V comprises the distal tail, has smaller epithelial lining, greater luminal diameter, shorter stereocilia than the other zones, and contains spermatozoa packed inside the lumen, that characterizes this zone as a place of sperm storage. The findings are compared with other reports in rodents and other domestic animals, to contribute to the understanding of epididymal morphophysiology. © 2013 Firenze University Press.

Tissue-engineered blood vessel substitute by reconstruction of endothelium using mesenchymal stem cells induced by platelet growth factors

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain leaders as the major causes of mortality in Western society. Restoration of the circulation through construction of bypass surgical treatment is regarded as the gold standard treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, and grafts are necessary for this purpose. The great saphenous vein is often not available and synthetic grafts have their limitations. Therefore, new techniques to produce alternative grafts have been developed and, in this sense, tissue engineering is a promising alternative to provide biocompatible grafts. This study objective was to reconstruct the endothelium layer of decellularized vein scaffolds, using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and growth factors obtained from platelets. Methods: Fifteen nonpregnant female adult rabbits were used for all experiments. Adipose tissue and vena cava were obtained and subjected to MSCs isolation and tissue decellularization, respectively. MSCs were subjected to differentiation using endothelial inductor growth factor (EIGF) obtained from human platelet lysates. Immunofluorescence, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were employed for the final characterization of the obtained blood vessel substitute. Results: The scaffolds were successfully decellularized with sodium dodecyl sulfate. MSCs actively adhered at the scaffolds, and through stimulation with EIGF were differentiated into functional endothelial cells, secreting significantly higher quantities of von Willebrand factor (0.85 μg/mL; P < .05) than cells cultivated under the same conditions, without EIGF (0.085 μg/mL). Cells with evident morphologic characteristics of endothelium were seen at the lumen of the scaffolds. These cells also stained positive for fascin protein, which is highly expressed by differentiated endothelial cells. Conclusions: Taken together, the use of decellularized bioscaffold and subcutaneous MSCs seems to be a potential approach to obtain bioengineered blood vessels, in the presence of EIGF supplementation. © 2013 Society for Vascular Surgery.

Performance of race instrumentation system in curved root canals: a comprehensive analysis by three study methods

In this study, curved maxillary molar root canals were instrumented with RaCe rotary system to evaluate: 1. the occurrence of canal transportation using a radiographic platform; 2. the action of the instruments on the dentin walls, centering ability and canal enlargement by analysis of digital images; and the percentage of regular dentin surfaces and debris within the canal by histological analysis. Ten mesiobuccal roots of extracted human maxillary molars were embedded in acrylic resin and sectioned at the middle and apical thirds. Root canal shaping was performed using the RaCe rotary system at 250 rpm and 1 Ncm torque. Each instrument set was used five times according to a crowndown technique in the following sequence: 40/0.10, 35/0.08, 25/0.06, 25/0.04, 25/0.02 (working length - WL), 30/0.02 (WL) and 35/0.02 (WL). Each instrument was inserted until resistance was felt and then pulled back, followed by brushing movements towards all canal walls. Each specimen was assessed by three study methods: radiographic platform, digitized image assessment and histological analysis. The radiographic platform showed lack of apical transportation. No statistically significant difference (Wilcoxon test, p>0.05) was found between the middle and apical thirds regarding instrument action on dentin walls, centering ability, area of root canal enlargement, percentage of regular dentin surfaces and debris within the root canal. It may be concluded that RaCe system is a suitable method for the preparation of curved root canals, regarding the maintenance of root canal original path, action on dentin walls, canal enlargement and removal of debris from the root canal lumen.

Involvement of pituitary gonadotropins, gonadal steroids and breeding season in sex change of protogynous dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Teleostei: Serranidae), induced by a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor

Two experiments were performed using the aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole (100mg/kg) to promote sex change, from female-to-male, in protogynous dusky grouper. One experiment was performed during the breeding season (spring) and the other at the end of the breeding season (summer). During the spring, AI promoted sex change after 9weeks and the sperm produced was able to fertilize grouper oocytes. During the summer, the sex change was incomplete; intersex individuals were present and sperm was not released by any of the animals. Sex changed gonads had a lamellar architecture; cysts of spermatocytes and spermatozoa in the lumen of the germinal compartment. In the spring, after 4weeks, 11ketotestosterone (11KT) levels were higher in the AI than in control fish, and after 9weeks, coincident with semen release, testosterone levels increased in the AI group, while 11KT returned to the initial levels. Estradiol (E2) levels remained unchanged during the experimental period. Instead of decreasing throughout the period, as in control group, 17 α-OH progesterone levels did not change in the AI-treated fish, resulting in higher values after 9weeks when compared with control fish. fshβ and lhβ gene expression in the AI animals were lower compared with control fish after 9weeks. The use of AI was effective to obtain functional males during the breeding season. The increase in androgens, modulated by gonadotropins, triggered the sex change, enabling the development of male germ cells, whereas a decrease in E2 levels was not required to change sex in dusky grouper. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Efeitos de doses subletais do imidaclopride no cérebro, ventrículo e túbulo de Malpighi de Apis melifera africanizada

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Disseminação de Rickettsia rickettsii nas glândulas salivares e ovários de fêmeas de Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille 1806) (Acari:Ixodidae) por meio da aplicação de técnicas morfológicas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Anatomia, histologia, histoquímica e ultra-estrutura das glândulas salivares cefálicas de abelhas eussociais (Hymenoptera, apidae): Silvana Beani Poiani. -

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alterações histológicas no intestino de fêmeas de carrapatos Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) expostas a diferentes concentrações de selamectina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise morfológica e histoquímica do corpo gorduroso e dos túbulos de Malpighi de operárias adultas de Scaptotrigona postica (Latreille, 1807) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) tratadas com fipronil e ácido bórico

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Celular e Molecular) - IBRC

Uso do sistema de cultivo bidimensional e tridimensional para diferenciação de células-tronco espermatogoniais e indução da espermatogênese in vitro em murinos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Quantificação de proteínas de fase aguda em éguas doadoras de embrião da raça quarto de milha

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Perfil bacteriológico de biópsia pulmonar e lavado traqueobrônquico de equinos sadios mantidos em sistema extensivo e estabulado

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Expressão das metaloproteinases e morfologia do tecido laminar do casco de equinos submetidos à obstrução intra-luminal do cólon menor

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Participação de genes associados ao processo de respiração anaeróbica na infecção de aves por Salmonella Typhimurium

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo radiográfico da ossificação dos ligamentos pterigoespinhoso e pterigoalar pela técnica axial de Hirtz invertida

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)