Mapping QTLs for aluminum tolerance in maize

Aluminum toxicity is one of the major constraints for plant development in acid soils, limiting food production in many countries. Cultivars genetically adapted to acid soils may offer an environmental compatible solution, providing a sustainable agriculture system. The aim of this work was to identify genomic regions associated with Al tolerance in maize, and to quantify the genetic effects on the phenotypic variation. A population of 168 F-3:4 families derived from a cross between two contrasting maize inbred lines for Al tolerance was evaluated using the NSRL and RSRL parameters in nutrient solution containing toxic level of aluminum. Variance analyses indicated that the NSRL was the most reliable phenotypic index to measure Al tolerance in the population, being used for further QTL mapping analysis. RFLP and SSR markers were selected for bulked segregant analysis, and additional SSR markers, flanking the polymorphisms of interest, were chosen in order to saturate the putative target regions. Seven linkage groups were constructed using 17 RFLP and 34 SSR markers. Five QTLs were mapped on chromosomes 2, 6 and 8, explaining 60% of the phenotypic variation. QTL(4) and marker umc043 were located on chromosomes 8 and 5, close to genes encoding for enzymes involved in the organic acids synthesis pathways, a widely proposed mechanism for Al tolerance in plants. QTL(2) was mapped in the same region as Alm2, also associated with Al tolerance in maize. In addition, dominant and additive effects were important in the control of this trait in maize.

Male gonadal denervation by guanethidine at pre-puberty: Different doses, different results. The intervention of the pineal deafferentation

Since gonadal denervation and pineal deafferentation by cervical superior ganglionectomy affect sexual development, this study was performed to evaluate testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and the cervical superior ganglion (CSG) histology in rats treated with guanethidine (GD). The treatment was performed by GD s.c. injections for 3 weeks, from the 21st day of age to the 41st day of age (pre-puberty), when the animals were sacrificed. Different doses were used: group A=10 mg/kg/day, group B=50 mg/kg/day and saline (control group). Testicular denervation was confirmed by HPLC for catecholamines in testicular tissue. Testicular concentrations (TC) of progesterone (P4) and testosterone (T) were measured by RIA. Significantly higher TC of P4 and lower TC of T were observed only in group A in comparison with group B and the control group. No alteration of sperm production was observed in either treated group. Histological analysis of CSG showed only few neuronal alterations in group A rats, while in group B the nervous cells were practically destroyed. This suggests that 10 mg/kg/day GD treatment probably produces a specific blockade of 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 desmolase at pre-puberty leading to a decrease of the androgen production. However, in the 50 mg/kg/day group no differences were observed concerning the steroid profiles, this result being attributed to the extensive damage to the CSG observed only in group B. The CSG destruction causes deafferentation of the pineal gland producing abolishment of the inhibition of the 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 desmolase promoted by melatonin or by an out of phase production of androgen.

Antitumor activity of extracts from Peperomia elongata

The cytotoxic potential of ethanol extracts from Peperomia elongata H. B. & K. (Piperaceae) were evaluated against human cancer cell lines by the MTT method. The samples considered cytotoxic were tested for antimitotic activity with the sea urchin egg development test and for hemolytic activity using mice erythrocytes. The extracts from leaves (hexane), stems (ethanol, hexane, hexane: AcOEt, AcOEt, and MeOH: H2O insoluble), and roots (R4) presented potential cytotoxic action. The stems extracts showed the highest toxicity in all tumor cell lines tested, with an IC50 <= 9.0 mu g/mL for ethanol extract, IC50 <= 11.6 mu g/mL for MeOH:H2O insoluble, IC50 <= 7.3 mu g/mL for hexane extract, IC50 <= 11.4 mu g/mL for hexane: AcOEt, and IC50 <= 16.2 mu g/mL for AcOEt extract. All extracts considered cytotoxic for tumoral cell lines presented antimitotic activity. The samples from roots (R4) and stems (ethanol, MeOH: H2O insoluble, and hexane extract from leaves) were found to possess lytic activity in mice erythrocytes but in higher doses (> 125 mu g/mL). Further studies for the isolation and identification of the active principles of these extracts should be undertaken.

CHEMICAL SYMPATHECTOMY BLOCKS ANDROGEN BIOSYNTHESIS DURING PREPUBERTY

Twenty-one-day old male Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with guanethidine (GUA) at doses of 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 20 days. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation during the prepubertal (41 days of age) and early-pubertal (51 days of age) periods of sexual development. The testes were collected, frozen in liquid N-2 and stored at -70 degrees C until determination of testicular progesterone (P): androstenedione (A) and testosterone (T). Higher levels of P (2.18 +/- 0.24 ng/g. control = 1.24 +/- 0.16 ng/g) associated with decreased levels of androgens (A = 0.26 +/- 0.06 ng/g and T = 2.05 +/- 0.19 ng/g; control = 1.86 +/- 0.76 ng/g and 8.48 +/- 1.16 ng/g, respectively) were observed in 10 mg GUA-treated rats of prepubertal age, while only P levels (3.12 +/- 0.51 ng/g control = 1.73 +/- 0.27 ng/g) were increased in rats of early pubertal age. It is important to note that in 41-day old male rats both 5 and 10 mg were effective in decreasing testicular concentration of testosterone. These results suggest that the sympathetic innervation of the testis is involved in the modulation of androgen biosynthesis, acting through a selective step in the steroid biochemical pathway during the pubertal process and that under the conditions employed the blockage in androgen biosynthesis in the prepubertal stage of sexual maturation is dependent on the dose of GUA.

Microtensile bond strength of a resin cement to feldpathic ceramic after different etching and silanization regimens in dry and aged conditions

Objectives. This study evaluated the durability of bond strength between resin cement and a feldspathic ceramic submitted to different etching regimens with and without silane coupling agent application.Methods. Thirty-two blocks (6.4 mm x 6.4 mm x 4.8 mm) were fabricated using a microparticulate feldspathic ceramic (Vita VM7), ultrasonically cleaned with water for 5 min and randomly divided into four groups, according to the type of etching agent and silanization method: method 1, etching with 10% hydrofluoric (HF) acid gel for I min + silanization; method 2, HF only; method 3, etching with 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) for 5 min + silanization; method 4, APF only. Conditioned blocks were positioned in their individual silicone molds and resin cement (Panavia F) was applied on the treated surfaces. Specimens were stored in distilled water (37 degrees C) for 24 h prior to sectioning. After sectioning the ceramic-cement blocks in x- and Y-axis with a bonded area of approximately 0.6 mm(2), the microsticks of each block were randomly divided into two storage conditions: Dry, immediate testing; TC, thermal cycling (12,000 times) + water storage for 150 d, yielding to eight experimental groups. Microtensile bond strength tests were performed in universal testing machine (cross-head speed: 1 mm/min) and failure types were noted. Data obtained (MPa) were analyzed with three-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05).Results. Significant influence of the use of silane (p < 0.0001), storage conditions (p = 0.0013) and surface treatment were observed (p = 0.0014). The highest bond strengths were achieved in both dry and thermocycled conditions when the ceramics were etched with HF acid gel and silanized (17.4 +/- 5.8 and 17.4 +/- 4.8 MPa, respectively). Silanization after HF acid gel and APT treatment increased the results dramatically (14.5 +/- 4.2-17.4 +/- 4.8 MPa) compared to non-silanized groups (2.6 +/- 0.8-8.9 +/- 3.1 MPa) where the failure type was exclusively (100%) adhesive between the cement and the ceramic.Significance. Silanization of the feldspathic ceramic surface after APF or HF acid etching increased the microtensile bond strength results significantly, with the latter providing higher results. Long-term thermocycling and water storage did not decrease the results in silanized groups. (C) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of guanethidine-induced sympathectomy on the spermatogenic and steroidogenic testicular functions of prepubertal to mature rats

Selective chemical sympathectomy of the internal genital organs of prepubertal to mature male Wistar rats was performed by chronic treatment with low doses of guanethidine. Sympathetic denervation caused an increase in intratesticular progesterone levels in prepubertal and early pubertal rats in addition to a decrease in androstenedione and testosterone levels in prepubertal animals, thus indicating a decrease in the conversion of progesterone into androgen, probably by blocking the steroidogenic enzymatic pathway at the 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 desmolase level. A lower degree of testicular maturation, probably related to reduced androgen activity, was observed in prepubertal and early pubertal sympathectomized rats. Concentration of spermatozoa, on the other hand, was increased in the enlarged cauda epididymidis of late pubertal and mature denervated animals. This result is discussed in terms of the impairment of epididymal mechanisms of seminal emission, fluid resorption and spermatozoal disposal.