Nitric oxide of the supraoptic nucleus influences the salivary secretion, sodium renal excretion, urinary volume and arterial blood pressure induced by pilocarpine

Male Holtzman rats weighting 200-250 g were anesthetized with zoletil 50 mg/Kg (tiletamine chloridrate 125.0 mg and zolazepan chloridrate 125.0 mg) into quadriceps muscle and stainless steel cannulas were implanted into their supraoptic nucleus (SON). We investigated the effects of the injection into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of FK 409, a nitric oxide donor, and N(W-)nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (NOS), on the salivary secretion, arterial blood pressure, sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine, which was injected into SON. The drugs were injected in 0.5 mul volume over 30-60 s. Controls was injected with a similar volume of 0.15 M NaCl. FK 409 and L-NAME were injected at doses of 20 mug/0.5 mul and 40 mug/0.5 mul. respectively. The amount of saliva secretion was studied over a five-minute period after injection of pilocarpine into SON. Injection of pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 mug/mul) into SON produced a dose-dependent increase in salivary secretion. L-NAME was injected into SON prior to the injection of pilocarpine into SON, producing an increase in salivary secretion due to the effect of pilocarpine. FK 409 injected into SON attenuating the increase in salivary secretion induced by pilocarpine. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increase after injections of pilocarpine into the SON. L-NAME injected into the SON prior to injection of pilocarpine into SON increased the MAP. FK 409 injected into the SON prior to pilocarpine attenuated the effect of pilocarpine on MAP. Pilocarpine (0.5 mumol/0.5 mul) injected into the SON induced an increase in sodium and urinary excretion. L-NAME injected prior to pilocarpine into the SON increased the urinary sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. FK 409 injected prior to pilocarpine into the SON decreased the sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. All these roles of pilocarpine depend on the release of nitric oxide into the SON. In summary the present results show: a) SON is involved in pilocarpine-induced salivation; b) that mechanism involves increase in MAP, sodium excretion and urinary volume. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Central moxonidine on salivary gland blood flow and cardiovascular responses to pilocarpine

Peripheral treatment with the cholinergic agonist pilocarpine induces intense salivation that is inhibited by central injections of the alpha(2)-adrenergic/imidazoline receptor agonist moxonidine. Salivary gland blood flow controlled by sympathetic and parasympathetic systems may affect salivation. We investigated the changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and in the vascular resistance in the submandibular/sublingual gland (SSG) artery, superior mesenteric (SM) artery and low abdominal aorta (hindlimb) in rats treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) pilocarpine alone or combined with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) moxonidine. Male Holtzman rats with stainless steel cannula. implanted into lateral ventricle (LV) and anesthetized with urethane were used. Pilocarpine (4 mumol/kg of body weight) i.p. reduced SSG vascular resistance (-50 +/- 13% vs. vehicle: 5 +/- 3%). Pilocarpine i.p. also increased mesenteric vascular resistance (15 +/- 5% vs. vehicle: 2 +/- 3%) and MAP (16 +/- 3 mmHg, vs. vehicle: 2 +/- 3 mmHg). Moxonidine (20 nmol) i.c.v. increased SSG vascular resistance (88 +/- 12% vs. vehicle: 7 +/- 4%). When injected 15 min following i.c.v. moxonidine, pilocarpine i.p. produced no change on SSG vascular resistance. Pilocarpine-induced pressor responses and increase in mesenteric vascular resistance were not modified by i.c.v. moxonidine. The treatments produced no change in heart rate (HR) and hindlimb vascular resistance. The results show that (1) i.p. pilocarpine increases mesenteric vascular resistance and MAP and reduces salivary gland vascular resistance and (2) central moxonidine increases salivary gland vascular resistance and impairs pilocarpine-induced salivary gland vasodilatation. Therefore, the increase in salivary gland vascular resistance may play a role in the anti-salivatory response to central moxonidine. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of the medial septal area on pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion and water intake

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

Adherence in vitro of Candida albicans to plasma treated acrylic resin. Effect of plasma parameters, surface roughness and salivary pellicle

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

Maximum inhibitory dilution of mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine and polyhexamethylene biguanide against salivary Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro maximum inhibitory dilution (MID) of two chlorhexidine-based oral mouthwashes (CHX): Noplak (R), Periogard (R), and one polyhexamethylene biguanide-based mouthwash (PHMB): Sanifill Premium (R) against 28 field Staphylococcus aureus strains using the agar dilution method. Materials and Methods: For each product, decimal dilutions ranging from 1/10 to 1/655,360 were prepared in distilled water and added to Mueller Hinton Agar culture medium. After homogenization, the culture medium was poured onto Petri dishes. Strains were inoculated using a Steers multipoint inoculator and dishes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 24hours. For reading, MID was considered as the maximum dilution of the mouthwash still capable of inhibiting microbial growth. Results: Sanifill Premium (R) inhibited the growth of all strains at 1/40 dilution and of 1 strain at 1/80 dilution. Noplak (R) inhibited the growth of 23 strains at 1/640 dilution and of all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution. Periogard (R) showed inhibited growth of 7 strains at 1/640 dilution and of all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution. Data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis statistical test, showing significant differences between the mouthwashes evaluated (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between Noplak (R) and Periogard (R) (p>0.05). Sanifill Premium (R) was the least effective (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that CHX-based mouthwashes present better antimicrobial activity against S. Aureus than the PHMB-based mouthwash.

Antibacterial activity of four mouthrinses containing triclosan against salivary Staphylococcus aureus

A Diluição Inibitória Máxima (DIM) de anti-sépticos bucais à base de triclosan contra 28 cepas de Staphylococcus aureus foi avaliada. Diluições de 1/10 a 1/655.360 foram preparadas. As cepas foram inoculadas com inoculador multipontual Steers. A DIM foi a maior diluição do anti-séptico que inibiu crescimento microbiano. Os anti-sépticos apresentaram diferentes DIMs.

Morphological, histological, and ultrastructural characterization of degenerating salivary glands in females of the cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (CANESTRINI, 1887) (Acari : Ixodidae)

The present study describes the morphology and ultrastructure of the salivary glands of semi-engorged females of the southern cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The acini that compose these glands, at that specific feeding stage, show cells featuring degenerative process of the salivary glands, such as: vacuolated cytoplasm, condensed chromatin, fragmented nuclei, and presence of apoptotic bodies. In addition, the presence of microorganisms was detected, with morphology typical of protozoa, inside these organs. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural and cytochemical changes in the salivary glands of the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (CANESTRINI, 1887) (Acari : Ixodidae) tick female during feeding

This study describes the morphology of salivary glands of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus female ticks at beginning of feeding (24-48 h of attachment) and semi-engorged (4-5 days of attachment) to verify the degenerative characteristics of these organs and the secretory phase in which the process begins. At the beginning of feeding, secretion granules had been observed only in the cytoplasm of cells b, c(1), c(2), c(4) (type II acinus) and d (type III acinus), as well as large nuclei with regular and preserved morphology. In the semi-engorged females the acini presented few normal cells, few partially preserved ones, and the remaining ones in several stages of degeneration, that is, with retraction and cytoplasmic vacuolization, and nuclei with chromatin in several stages of condensation, picnotic and/or in fragmentation. In type I acinus and in the excretory ducts of the studied glands, at both feeding stages, no degenerative characteristic was observed. In females of R. (B.) microplus, the salivary glands degenerate asynchronically and precociously when compared with those of others tick's species. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In situ localization of heat-shock proteins and cell death labelling in the salivary gland of acaricide-treated honeybee larvae

The effects of the acaricides, rotenone and oxalic acid (OA) on salivary glands of honeybee larvae were evaluated. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect cell death and heat-shock protein (HSP70 and 90) localizations. Heat-shock proteins (HSP70 and 90) were localized in the cytoplasm and/or the nuclei of secretory gland cells, both under stress and in normal conditions. In rotenone-treated larvae, there were no changes in the normal level of cell death and also there were no morphological alterations in the secretory cells. In the larvae treated with oxalic acid, the salivary gland showed varying degrees of morphological cellular alteration and an increase in the cell death level. The present data suggest that stress-induced HSP70 might have an antiapoptotic effect while the stress-induced HSP90 might have a chaperone function in the larval salivary glands.

Lipid distribution in salivary glands of larvae and adult bees (Hymenoptera : Apidae)

Cytochemical studies were carried out to establish lipid distribution in the salivary glands of larvae and adult bees, using the imidazole buffer technique. In the duct cells of the larval salivary gland, the reaction was positive in the epicuticle and negative in the glandular lumen. The absence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of lipids in the intercellular space suggest that lipids absorbed from the haemolymph could be used in the constitution of the epicuticle, after having been conveyed through the epithelium. In adult workers (new-emerged, nurse and forager workers), the head salivary glands presented a positive reaction in the secretion in glandular lumen, identifying its lipidic nature.

Ultrastructural study of the salivary glands of the sugarcane spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal, 1854) (Euhemiptera : Cercopidae)

Spittlebugs are insects that suck sap from plants and regurgitate saliva containing toxic enzymes into the leaves. As a consequence, the conductive channels are blocked resulting in dry leaves, thus giving a burned aspect to the plantation. This work performed ultrastructural analyses of the salivary glands of the sugarcane spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata, since these organs produce the enzymes that are injected into the plants, thus being responsible for the economic losses in the production of sugarcane. Three kinds of secretory cells are found in principal gland, forming the lobules I-IV. The main differences among these cells relate to size, morphology and electron density of the secretory vesicles. The accessory glands contain different secretory vesicles to those in the principal gland. Muscular cells are found around the entire gland. The different secretory vesicles found in both principal and accessory glands indicate that the gland produces different substances or that the secretion in the interior of cells passes through a maturation process. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Programmed cell death in the larval salivary glands of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The morphological and histochemical features of degeneration in honeybee (Apis mellifera) salivary glands were investigated in 5th instar larvae and in the pre-pupal period. The distribution and activity patterns of acid phosphatase enzyme were also analysed. As a routine, the larval salivary glands were fixed and processed for light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Tissue sections were subsequently stained with haematoxylin-eosin, bromophenol blue, silver, or a variant of the critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) method. Ultrathin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Glands were processed for the histochemical and cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase, as well as biochemical assay to detect its activity pattern. Acid phosphatase activity was histochemically detected in all the salivary glands analysed. The cytochemical results showed acid phosphatase in vesicles, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes during the secretory phase and, additionally, in autophagic structures and luminal secretion during the degenerative phase. These findings were in agreement with the biochemical assay. At the end of the 5th instar, the glandular cells had a vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei, and epithelial cells were shed into the glandular lumen. The transition phase from the 5th instar to the pre-pupal period was characterized by intense vacuolation of the basal cytoplasm and release of parts of the cytoplasm into the lumen by apical blebbing; these blebs contained cytoplasmic RNA, rough endoplasmic reticule and, occasionally, nuclear material. In the pre-pupal phase, the glandular epithelium showed progressive degeneration so that at the end of this phase only nuclei and remnants of the cytoplasm were observed. The nuclei were pyknotic, with peripheral chromatin and blebs. The gland remained in the haemolymph and was recycled during metamorphosis. The programmed cell death in this gland represented a morphological form intermediate between apoptosis and autophagy.

Changes in the size of cephalic salivary glands of Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens and workers in different life phases

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cephalic salivary glands of two species of advanced eusocial bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): morphology and secretion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)