Glucose homeostasis in pregnant rats submitted to dietary protein restriction

In the present work, we examined the effects of feeding a low protein diet during pregnancy on glucose-induced insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in rats. Young (60 days), pregnant (P) or non-pregnant (NP) rats were fed during pregnancy or for 21 days (the NP) a normal (17%) or a low (6%) protein diet. Serum glucose and insulin levels and pancreas insulin content in the fed state; total area under serum glucose curve (AG) after a glucose load and serum glucose disappearance rate (Kitt) after insulin administration; as well as 86Rb outflow, 45Ca uptake and insulin secretion by isolated pancreatic islets in response to glucose were evaluated. Serum glucose was lower in 17%-P (12%) and 6%-P (27%) than in corresponding NP-rats. Serum insulin was higher in 17%- P (153%) and 6%-P (77%) compared to the corresponding NP-rats. Pancreatic insulin was higher in 6%-rats (55%) than in 17%-rats. No differences were found in AG among the groups whereas Kitt was lower in 6%-NP and higher in 6%-P than in the equivalent 17% rats. Increasing glucose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mmol/l, reduced 86Rb outflow from isolated islets from all groups. Increasing glucose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mmol/l elevated 45Ca uptake by 17%-NP (47%), 17%-P (40%) and 6%-P (214%) islets but not by 6%-NP ones. The increase in 45Ca uptake was followed by an increase in insulin release by the 17%-NP (2767%), 17%-P (2850%) and 6%-P (1200%) islets. In conclusion, 6%-P rats show impaired glucose induced insulin secretion related to reduced calcium uptake by pancreatic islets. However, the poor insulin secretion did not fully compensate the high peripheral sensitivity to the hormone, resulting in hypoglycemia.

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.

Physical, chemical and microbiological aspects during the dry and rainy seasons in a pond covered by macrophyte used in aquaculture water supply

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

Distribuição do sistema radicular do pessegueiro 'Okinawa' propagado por sementes e por estacas herbáceas

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

Effect of pelleting and pellet size of a concentrate for intensively reared beef cattle on in vitro fermentation by two different approaches

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desempenho de reatores aeróbios de leito fluidizado com circulação interna na remoção de matéria carbonácea tratando diferentes águas residuárias

The organic matter. (OM) removal efficiency in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) forms for domestic wastewater and semi-intensive fish culture effluents by using three phase aerobic fluidized bed reactors with circulation in concentric tubes was studied. Three different ratios between external and internal areas by different internal diameter configurations (100, 125 and 150mm) to the same external diameter of 250mm were used; sand for filters and granulated activated carbon were used as supporting media. The reactors were tested for three hydraulic retention times: 11.5min to the R100, and 3h for the R125 and R150 reactors. The results demonstrated that this kind of reactors had good performance in the BOD and COD removal for different concentrations of waste waters. BOD mean removal efficiencies obtained were: 47% at the R100 reactor, 57% and 93% of raw and filtered BOD respectively at R125, 48 and 89% of raw and filtered BOD at R150. The COD mean calculated removal efficiencies were: 75% at the R100 reactor, 56 and 86% of raw and filtered COD at R125, and 54 and 86% of raw and filtered COD at R150. In the case of domestic wastewater it is necessary to provide a solids removal system at the reactor outflow in order to increase the removal of suspended OM from the final effluent.

Artroscopia do joelho de ovinos

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

Curvas de percentis de valores normais de medidas ecocardiográficas em crianças eutróficas procedentes da região centro-sul do Estado de São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os valores de medidas ecocardiográficas em crianças eutróficas sem cardiopatia, relacionando-os com a superfície corporal (SC, m²), e construir curvas de percentis que relacionem as variáveis ecocardiográficas estudadas com a SC. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas medidas ecocardiográficas unidimensionais de crianças entre 1 e 144 meses de idade. Avaliaram-se: diâmetros diastólicos dos ventrículos direito (VDd, mm) e esquerdo (VEd, mm), sistólico do VE (VEs, mm), da via de saída do VD (VSVD, mm), da aorta (DAo, mm) e do átrio esquerdo (DAE, mm); fração de ejeção do VE (FEVE, %); porcentagem da variação do diâmetro ventricular esquerdo (deltaVE, %); espessura diastólica do septo interventricular (ESIV, mm) e da parede posterior do VE (EPPVE, mm); massa (MVE, g) e índice de massa muscular do VE (IMVE, g/m²). RESULTADOS: Ao final do estudo, 595 crianças (326 do sexo masculino) foram avaliadas. Os valores das medidas ecocardiográficas apresentaram boa correlação com a SC e possibilitaram a construção de curvas de percentis (3%, 25%, 50%, 75% e 97%). Diferenças estatisticamente significantes, entre os sexos, foram evidenciadas para as variáveis VEs, VEd, VSVD, DAo, MVE e IMVE, sendo os maiores valores observados em crianças do sexo masculino. CONCLUSÃO: As curvas de percentis dos valores obtidas podem ser utilizadas como referência para a avaliação de crianças com suspeita de cardiopatia ou para o acompanhamento daquelas já diagnosticadas como cardiopatas ou em tratamento com agentes potencialmente cardiotóxicos.

Growth of free-floating aquatic macrophytes in different concentrations of nutrients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of the free-floating aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Salvinia molesta. The plants were cultured in 2,000-l outdoor concrete tanks. Triplicate tanks, with a continuous flow of effluent from culture ponds containing Nile tilapia, were used for each plant type (n = 3). The plant material was collected monthly from 0.25 m(2) floating quadrats, at the two ends of the tanks (higher nutrient concentrations near the inflow and lower nutrient concentrations near the outflow). In low nutrient concentrations, the maximum relative growth rates (RGRs) for E. crassipes (0.016/day) and P. stratiotes (0.016/day) were significantly lower (P <= 0.05) than for S. molesta (0.029/day). There were no significant differences between the RGRs of S. molesta in the different nutrient concentrations. Eichhornia crassipes and P. stratiotes had their growth limited by nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The increase in plant density during the experiment probably also affected the growth of these species. In this context, E. crassipes and P. stratiotes can cause problems in nutrient-rich waterbodies, but under these experimental conditions their growth was limited by nitrogen and/or phosphorus concentrations. The growth of S. molesta was not influenced by the different nutrient concentrations.

The fate of copepod populations in the Paranapanema River (São Paulo, Brazil), downstream from the Jurumirim dam

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Replacement of dicalcium phosphate by rock phosphate in cattle diets: nutrients digestibility, plasma parameters, ruminal fermentation and microbial synthesis efficiency

Este estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos da substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha na dieta de bovinos em crescimento. Foram determinados a digestibilidade aparente das dietas, a absorção aparente do fósforo, cálcio e flúor, o pH ruminal, a concentração de amônia ruminal, a eficiência microbiana e o fósforo no plasma utilizando-se cinco bovinos da raça Holandesa Preto-e-Branco, fistulados, pesando entre 275 e 283 kg. O delineamento estatístico foi um quadrado latino 5 × 5 e as dietas consistiram de 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100% de substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha no suplemento mineral. A adição de fosfato de rocha nas dietas ocasionou aumento linear na ingestão, no fluxo omasal, no fluxo fecal e no desaparecimento total do flúor. As dietas não diferiram quanto à absorção aparente do cálcio, assim como em relação à ingestão, excreção, digestão e digestibilidades aparentes parcial e total da matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e carboidratos não-fibrosos. O fósforo no plasma não foi influenciado pelos tratamentos e a média foi de 5,93 mg/dL. Não houve diferença para o pH ruminal e concentração de amônia ruminal. A substituição do fosfato bicálcico não afetou a síntese microbiana aparente e verdadeira de proteína. A total substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha em suplementos minerais em bovinos em crescimento não afetou o ambiente ruminal e a síntese de proteína no rúmen. Assim, a substituição do fosfato bicálcico em dietas para bovinos em crescimento diminui a absorção de fósforo e deveria ser vista com cuidado dependendo dos requerimentos.

Partial urethral obstruction of rabbit urinary bladder: stereological evidence that the increase in muscle content is mostly driven by changes in number, rather than size, of smooth muscle cells

The effects of partial urethral obstruction on the detrusor muscle of rabbit urinary bladder were investigated using stereological sampling and estimation tools. Twelve female Norfolk rabbits (2.5-3.0 kg body weight) were divided into four groups: 3, 7 and 12 weeks after surgical intervention to produce a standard partial obstruction and unobstructed controls. Following removal, bladder axes (craniocaudal, dorsoventral and laterolateral) and organ weights were recorded. Bladders were prepared for light microscopy by multistage random sampling procedures. Stereological methods were used to estimate the volume of muscle and the packing density and total number of myocyte nuclei in each bladder. We also estimated mean myocyte volume and the mean cross-sectional area and length of myocytes. Group comparisons were made by one-way analysis of variance. Changes in bladder axes were mainly laterolateral and craniocaudal. Mean bladder weight increased roughly six-fold by 3 weeks and 17-fold by 12 weeks and was accompanied, on average, by 12- and 33-fold increases in total muscle volume. These variables did not differ at 3 and 7 weeks post-obstruction. Increases in muscle content were not accompanied by changes in packing densities but were associated with increases in the total numbers of myocyte nuclei (13-fold by 3 weeks, 28-fold by 12 weeks). Mean myocyte volume did not vary significantly between groups but cells in obstructed groups were shorter and wider. These findings support the notion that partial outflow obstruction leads to an increase in the number, but not mean volume, of myocytes. If due solely to myocyte mitosis, the total of 43 x 10(8) cells found at 12 weeks could be generated by the original complement of 15 x 10(7) cells if an average of only 2.1 x 10(6) new cells was produced every hour. In reality, even this modest proliferation rate is unlikely to be achieved because myocyte proliferation rates are very low and it is possible that new myocytes can arise by differentiation of mesenchymal or other precursor cells.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION IN RESPONSE TO BOLUS INJECTION OF PHENYLEPHRINE IN ATROPINIZED PATIENTS

The changes of arterial pressure promoted by bolus injection of 50 mg phenylephrine (PHE) were studied in 20 atropinized patients (5 normal subjects, 13 patients with mitral valve disease, 1 patient with essential arterial hypertension and 1 patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) submitted to routine catheterism. Patients with aortic valve disease, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and intracardiac shunt were excluded from the study. All patients were in sinus rhythm, without heart failure. Arterial pressure started to increase at 14.8 +/- 5.4 s (range, 5.6 to 27 s; mean +/- SD) after PHE. There was an increase of 37.8 +/- 16.7 mmHg (range, 12.5 to 70 mmHg) in systolic pressure and of 26.6 +/- 11.1 mmHg (range, 7.5 to 42.5 mmHg) in diastolic pressure. Peak hypertension was attained at 36.6 +/- 16.4 s (range, 10.8 to 64.9 s) and hypertension continued for 176 +/- 92 s (range, 11 to 365 s). Heart rate was 114 +/- 21 bpm before PHE and 111 +/- 21 bpm (P<0.05) after PHE. There were no adverse events associated with intravenous PHE injection in any patient, in accordance with the general view that bolus injection of PHE is a safe and practical maneuver to promote arterial hypertension.

Mast cells in the developing avian eye

Mast cells are present in the eye of Gallus domesticus, appearing in the anterior uvea in embryos at stage 39 HH (13th day). In hatching and adult birds, they are present in the sclera, uvea, pectinate Ligament, and conjunctiva. Mast cells are absent in the cornea, retina, and pecten oculi.Maturing mast cells in the anterior eye segment appear as round cells having eccentric nuclei and a few cytoplasmic metachromatic granules, whose fluorescence increases during development. Mature cells are more numerous in late development, and their cytoplasm is rich in metachromatic and intensely fluorescent granules. Ultrastructurally, maturing mast cells display progranules and a few electron dense and homogeneous granules on one side of the cell. Mast cells of adult birds possess homogeneous cytoplasmic granules, some of which display protuberances that penetrate hollows of adjoining granules. Heterogeneous granules exhibiting latticed and mottled patterns are also present. The existence of mast cells in the anterior eye segment indicates that these cells might perform a physiological role during development and in aqueous humor outflow. They might modulate exchanges between blood and aqueous humor through chemical mediators present in their granules. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

AMINO-ACID-SEQUENCE OF TSTX-V, AN ALPHA-TOXIN FROM TITYUS-SERRULATUS SCORPION-VENOM, AND ITS EFFECT ON K+ PERMEABILITY OF BETA-CELLS FROM ISOLATED RAT ISLETS OF LANGERHANS

Highly purified Tityustoxin V (TsTX-V), an alpha-toxin isolated from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus, was obtained by ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose-52. It was shown to be homogeneous by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, N-terminal sequencing (first 39 residues) of the reduced and alkylated protein and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate and tricine. Following enzymatic digestion, the complete amino acid sequence (64 residues) was determined. The sequence showed higher homology with the toxins from the venoms of the North African than with those of the North and South American scorpions. Using the rate of Rb-86(+) release from depolarized rat pancreatic beta-cells as a measure of K+ permeability changes, TsTX-V (5.6 mu g/ml) was found to increase by 2.0-2.4-fold the rate of marker outflow in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose. This effect was persistent and slowly reversible, showing similarity to that induced by 100 mu-M veratridine, an agent that increases the open period of Na+ channels, delaying their inactivation. It is suggested that, by extending the depolarized period, TsTX-V indirectly affects beta-cell voltage-dependent K+ channels, thus increasing K+ permeability.