Ovary peltate trichomes of Zeyheria montana (Bignoniaceae): Developmental ultrastructure and secretion in relation to function

center dot Background and Aims Nectar production in the Bignoniaceae species lacking a nectariferous functional disc is ascribed to trichomatic glands around the ovary base and/or on the inner corolla wall. Nevertheless, knowledge about the secretion and function of these glands is very incomplete. The purpose of this paper is to study, from a developmental viewpoint, the ultrastructure, histochemistry and secretory process of the peltate trichomes on the ovary of Zeyheria montana, a species in the Bignoniaceae which has a rudimentary disc.center dot Methods Samples of the gynoecium at various developmental stages were fixed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Histochemistry and cytochemistry tests were performed to examine the chemical composition of exudates. Thin layer chromatography was used to determine the presence of alkaloids and terpenes in gynoecium and fruit extracts, and in fresh nectar stored in the nectar chamber.center dot Key Results Peltate trichomes at different developmental stages appear side by side from floral budding up to pre-dispersal fruit. Large plastids with an extensive internal membrane system consisting of tubules filled with lipophilic material, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, few Golgi bodies, lipophilic deposits in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and scattered cytoplasmic oil droplets are the main characteristics of mature head cells. The secretion which accumulates in the subcuticular space stains positively for hydrophilic and lipophilic substances, with lipids prevailing for fully peltate trichomes. Histochemistry and thin layer chromatography detected terpenes and alkaloids. Fehling's test to detect of sugars in the secretion was negative.center dot Conclusions the continuous presence and activity of peltate trichomes on the ovary of Z. montana from early budding through to flowering and fruiting set, and its main chemical components, alkaloids and terpenes, suggest that they serve a protective function and are not related to the floral nectar source or to improving nectar quality.

Leaf emergences in Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana (Melastomataceae) and their probable function: An anatomical and ultrastructural study

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

Myostatin and follistatin expression in skeletal muscles of rats with chronic heart failure

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

Morphological aspects of neuromuscular junctions and gene expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in skeletal muscle of rats with heart failure

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Changes of glycogen content in liver, skeletal muscle, and heart from fasted rats

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

Phylogeny, Ecology, and Heart Position in Snakes

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

Research on Candida dubliniensis in a Brazilian yeast collection obtained from cardiac transplant, tuberculosis, and HIV-positive patients, and evaluation of phenotypic tests using agar screening methods

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

Inner satellites of Neptune: I the disturbing function

In this work, we focus our attention to the expansion of the disturbing function (R) which governs the dynamics of a satellite (natural or artificial) in the Neptune-Triton system. What makes this problem quite unusual, is the fact that a small inner satellite can be strongly disturbed by Triton which is moving in a highly inclined and retrograde orbit. These features are unique in our solar system. Although a lot of retrograde satellites are currently known, all of them have negligible mass and the), do not offer almost any perturbation on the others satellites. However, in the case of the inner satellites of Neptune, Triton is an interesting exception. In a highly inclined orbit, the perturbation it exerts on the neighbouring satellites of Neptune cannot be ignored even for the present scenario. However, in the future, this perturbation will be much more important because due to the tides, the orbit of Triton is contracting, whereas the semi major axes of the remaining inner satellites of Neptune will remain almost unaffected by the tides. In this work we first obtain the disturbing function in the retrograde case. After that, we generalize R for arbitrary inclination. Several numerical tests are presented and a possible future case of resonant configuration is briefly discussed as well. (c) 2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Renal function and histology after acute hemorrhage in rats under dexmedetomidine action

OBJETIVO: Cerca de 50% de indicações de diálise em insuficiência renal aguda vêm de problemas do perioperatório. Alterações na hemodinâmica intra-operatória levam a vasoconstrição renal e hipoperfusão. Estudos prévios não definiram o papel renal da dexmedetomidina em hemorragia. Foram estudados os efeitos da dexmedetomidina na função e histologia renais, em ratos, após hemorragia aguda. MÉTODOS: Estudo encoberto com 20 ratos Wistar, anestesiados com pentobarbital sódico intraperitoneal, 50 mg. kg-1, divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos sob sangramento de 30% da volemia: GD - dexmedetomidina iv, 3 µg. kg-1 (10 min), e infusão contínua, 3 µg. kg-1. h-1; GC - pentobarbital. Para estimar depuração renal, administraram-se para-aminohipurato e iotalamato de sódio. Atributos estudados: freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial média, temperatura retal, hematócrito, depuração de para-aminohipurato e iotalamato, fração de filtração, fluxo sangüíneo renal, resistência vascular renal, análise histológica dos rins. RESULTADOS: em GD, houve valores menores de freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial média e resistência vascular, mas valores maiores de depuração de iotalamato e fração de filtração. A depuração de para-aminohipurato e o fluxo sangüíneo foram similares nos grupos. As alterações histológicas foram compatíveis com isquemia e houve maior dilatação tubular em GD. CONCLUSÃO: em ratos, após hemorragia aguda, a dexmedetomidina determinou melhor função renal, porém maior dilatação tubular.

Effects of remifentanil infusion regimens on cardiovascular function and responses to noxious stimulation in propofol-anesthetized cats

Objective-To evaluate the effects of 2 remifentanil infusion regimens on cardiovascular function and responses to nociceptive stimulation in propofol-anesthetized cats.Animals-8 adult cats.Procedures-On 2 occasions, cats received acepromazine followed by propofol (6 mg/kg then 0.3 mg/kg/min, IV) and a constant rate infusion (CRI) of remifentanil (0.2 or 0.3 mu g/kg/min,IV) for 90 minutes and underwent mechanical ventilation (phase I). After recording physiologic variables, an electrical stimulus (50 V; 50 Hz; 10 milliseconds) was applied to a forelimb to assess motor responses to nociceptive stimulation. After an interval (>= 10 days), the same cats were anesthetized via administration of acepromazine and a similar infusion regimen of propofol; the remifentanil infusion rate adjustments that were required to inhibit cardiovascular responses to ovariohysterectomy were recorded (phase II).Results-In phase I, heart rate and arterial pressure did not differ between remifentanil-treated groups. From 30 to 90 minutes, cats receiving 0.3 mu g of remifentanil/kg/min had no response to noxious stimulation. Purposeful movement was detected more frequently in cats receiving 0.2 mu g of remifentanil/kg/min. In phase II, the highest dosage (mean +/- SEM) of remifentanil that prevented cardiovascular responses was 0.23 +/- 0.01 mu g/kg/min. For all experiments, mean time from infusion cessation until standing ranged from 115 to 140 minutes.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Although the lower infusion rate of remifentanil allowed ovariohysterectomy to be performed, a CRI of 0.3 mu g/kg/min was necessary to prevent motor response to electrical stimulation in propofol-anesthetized cats. Recovery from anesthesia was prolonged with this technique.

Relative contributions of beta-cell function and tissue insulin sensitivity to fasting and postglucose-load glycemia

We performed hyperglycemic clamps in 283 nondiabetic Caucasians and, with multiple linear regression, determined the contribution of beta-cell function and tissue insulin sensitivity to variations in glycemia and insulinemia during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) subjects had reduced insulin sensitivity(P < .02) and beta-cell function (P < .0001). Normal glucose tolerance (NGT) subjects with first-degree type 2 diabetic relatives had reduced first and second phase insulin secretion (both, P < .05), but normal insulin sensitivity(P = .37). beta-Cell function and insulin sensitivity accounted for one fourth of the variability in glucose tolerance. Fasting plasma glucose in subjects with NGT (n = 185) was a function of both phases of insulin secretion and of insulin sensitivity tall, P < .05), whereas, in IGT subjects (n = 98), it was a function of first phase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity(P < .01). Two-hour glycemia was a function of second phase secretion and insulin sensitivity (P < .01). Fasting and 2-hour plasma insulin levels were determined by insulin sensitivity land glycemia) in NGT subjects (P < .001), but by second phase secretion in IGT (P < .001). We conclude that beta-cell function is reduced in subjects with IGT; glycemia and insulinemia are not regulated by the same mechanisms in IGT and NGT; insulin sensitivity does not contribute to insulinemia in IGT; family history of diabetes influences beta-cell function, but not insulin sensitivity in Caucasians. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Volume overload influence on hypertrophied myocardium function

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that hypertrophied cardiac muscle is more sensitive to volume-overload than normal cardiac muscle. We assessed the mechanical function of isolated left ventricular papillary muscle from male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) Submitted to volume overload caused by aortocaval fistula (ACF) for 30 days. Muscles were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution at 28degreesC and Studied isometrically at a Stimulation rate of 0.2 Hz. The ACF increased the right and left ventricular weight-to-body weight ratio in WKY rats; it also promoted right ventricular hypertrophy and further increased the basal hypertrophy in the left ventricle from SHR. The arterial systolic pressure was greater in SHR than in WKY rats, and decreased with ACF in both groups. Developed tension (DT) and maximum rate of DT (+dT/dt) were greater in the SHR-control than in the WKY-control (P<0.05); the time from peak tension to 50% relaxation (RT1/2) was similar in these animals. ACE did not change any parameters ill the SHR group and increased the resting tension in the WKY group. However, the significant difference observed between myocardial contraction performance in WKY-controls and SHR-controls disappeared when the SHR-ACF and WKY-controls were compared. Furthermore, RT1/2 increased significantly ill the SHR-ACF in relation to the WKY-controls. In conclusion, the data lead LIS to infer that volume-overload for 30 days promotes more mechanical functional changes in hypertrophied muscle than in normal cardiac muscle.

Improved systolic ventricular function with normal myocardial mechanics in compensated cardiac hypertrophy

There is still controversy about the relation between changes in myocardial contractile function and global left ventricular (LV) performance during stable concentric hypertrophy. To clarify this, we analyzed LV function in vivo and myocardial mechanics in vitro in rats with pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Male Wistar rats (70 g) Underwent ascending aortic stenosis for 8 weeks (group AAS, n = 9). LV performance wits assessed by transthoracic echocardiography Under anesthesia. Myocardial function Was studied in isolated papillary muscle preparations during isometric contraction. The data were compared with age- and sex-matched sham-operated rats (group C, 11 = 9). LV weight-to-body weight ratio (C: 2.13 +/- 0.14 mg/g; AAS: 3.24 +/- 0.44) LV relative wall thickness (C: 0.18 +/- 0.02; AAS: 0.33 +/- 0.09), and LV fractional shortening (C: 54 +/- 5%; AAS: 70 +/- 8%) were increased in group AAS (P<0.05). Echocardio-graphic analysis also indicated a significant association (r = 0.74 P<0.001) between the percent fractional shortening index and LV relative wall thickness. The performance of AAS isolated In muscle revealed that active tension (C: 6.6 +/- 1.7 g/mm(2); AAS: 6.5 +/- 1.5 g/mm(2)) and maximum rate of tension development (C: 69 +/- 21 g/mm(2)/s AAS: 69 +/- 18 g/mm(2)/s) were not significantly different Front group C (P>0.05). In conclusion, compensated pressure-overload myocardial hypertrophy is associated with preserved myocardial function and increased ventricular performance. The improved LV function might be due to the ventricular remodeling, characterized by an increased relative wall thickness.

Energy efficiency for standard penetration tests

The need for standardization of the measured blow count number N-spt into a normalized reference energy value is now fully recognized. The present paper extends the existing theoretical approach using the wave propagation theory as framework and introduces an analysis for large displacements enabling the influence of rod length in the measured N-spt values to be quantified. The study is based on both calibration chamber and field tests. Energy measurements are monitored in two different positions: below the anvil and above the sampler. Both experimental and numerical results demonstrate that whereas the energy delivered into the rod stem is expressed as a ratio of the theoretical free-fall energy of the hammer, the effective sampler energy is a function of the hammer height of fall, sampler permanent penetration, and weight of both hammer and rods. Influence of rod length is twofold and produces opposite effects: wave energy losses increase with increasing rod length and in a long rod composition the gain in potential energy from rod weight is significant and may partially compensate measured energy losses. Based on this revised approach, an analytical solution is proposed to calculate the energy delivered to the sampler and efficiency coefficients are suggested to account for energy losses during the energy transference process.