Morphometric characteristics of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes 1847), of the migratory and resident stocks of the river Mogí-Guaçu, São Paulo State, Brazil

A espécie Prochilodus lineatus é de grande importância comercial na região dos rios Grande, Pardo e Mogi-Guaçu e tem como característica a formação de grandes cardumes, apta a desenvolver amplos deslocamentos migratórios. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar, por meio das características morfométricas e etária, se os curimbatás (P. lineatus) dos diferentes estoques migradores e residentes constituem uma única população, havendo interação entre as sub-populações no período de piracema (migração reprodutiva). Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com quatro tipos de estoques (um residente e três migradores) e dois sexos (macho e fêmea) com trinta repetições, considerando cada peixe como unidade experimental. Foi observada variação de 80,19% para o primeiro componente principal e 8,09% do segundo componente principal fornecida pelas dez variáveis morfométricas dos estoques residentes e migradores. O estoque residente correspondeu aos maiores valores para todas as variáveis morfométricas. Houve sobreposição dos escores individuais das mesmas características entre os estoques migradores. Observou-se predominância de machos entre os estoques residentes e migrador I e II. As semelhanças morfométricas verificadas entre os estoques migradores indicam tratar-se de uma única população, com pequenas variações interpopulacional.

Morphologic and morphometric analysis of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) of snakes

Hepatozoon species are the most abundant hemoparasites of snakes. Its identification has been based mainly on the morphologic characterization of the gamonts in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host and also of the cysts found in the internal organs of the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Using a computerized image analysis system, we studied five species of Hepatozoon from recently captured snakes in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the importance of the morphology and morphometry of the gamonts for the characterization of Hepatozoon species and to analyze the morphologic changes induced in the erythrocytes by the parasite. The studied species were H. terzii of Boa constrictor amarali, Hepatozoon sp. of Crotalus durissusterrificus, H. philodryasi of Philodryas patagoniensis, and H. migonei and H. cyclagrasi of Hydrodynastes gigas. We observed three different groups, one of them including the species H. terzii, H. philodryasi and Hepatozoon sp. of C. durissus terrificus; and the other two consisting of H. migonei and H. cyclagrasi. Degree of alterations in the erythrocytes was variable and it may be useful for characterization of Hepatozoon species.

Canine lacrimal and third eyelid superficial glands macroscopic and morphometric characteristics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphologic and morphometric analysis of testis of Pseudis limellum (Cope, 1862) (Anura, Hylidae) during the reproductive cycle in the Pantanal, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of Statin and Aerobic Physical Exercise Association in the Cardiomyocytes of the Rat. Morphometric Study

Physical exercise and statins, recommended interventions to dyslipidaemia treatment, are independently related to cardiomyocytes alterations, characterized by miocardic hypertrophy and apoptosis, respectively. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of statin and aerobic physical exercise association in the morphometric parameters of cardiac cell nucleus. 40 male rats adults were divided into four groups: exercised (DE); sedentary (DS), exercised and statin use (DES); sedentary and statin use (DSS). The animals received during the whole experimental period a hiperlipidic diet added 20% of coconut oil and 1.25% of cholesterol; after 30 days of its ingestion, a blood collection was made to verify the dyslipidaemia. Simvastatin (20 mg) was taken five days a week, during eight weeks. During this period, the animals exercised 60 minutes daily in the treadmill. After the last day of the protocol, the cardiac muscle was collected and maintained in liquid nitrogen (-180 degrees C); the cuts were stained by Hematoxilin-Eosin method, and the cardiac fibers were submitted to the nuclear morphometric analyses. The data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, paired T test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn post hoc test; for all analyses, it was adopted p<0.05. It was verified that the group receiving statin presented values statistically significant in comparison to the other groups, in the tridimensional and linear variables. The exercised and statin group, the values obtained in the morphometric analyses were similar to the control group. It is suggested that statins alone can cause alterations in the nucleus of cardiac cells that can be related to apoptosis occurrence and, when exercise is practiced associated to statin administration, the effects of statin can be reduced, what can be related to beneficial adaptations of cardiac mitochondrial in response to physical exercise, turning them more resistant to apoptotic stimuli.

Morphometric study of placental villi and vessels in women with mild hyperglycemia or gestational or overt diabetes

In this study, morphometric measures of placental terminal villi and villous vessels were compared in overt, as well as gestational diabetes mellitus, and mild hyperglycemia diagnosed by oral 100 g glucose tolerance test (100 g-OGTT) and glucose profile (GP). At delivery (gestational age >= 34 weeks) a total of 207 placentas were assigned to a control group (n = 56) or to one of three groups complicated by mild hyperglycemia (n = 5 1), gestational diabetes (n = 59) and overt diabetes (n = 4 1). Placenta samples were randomly selected for blind morphometric assessment with an image analyser. Morphometric measures obtained included area and number of terminal villi and their respective villous vessels. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, ANOVA and stepwise regression (p <= 0.05). Glycemic means were 86.2 mg/dL in controls, 98.9 mg/dL in mild hyperglycemia, 114.1 mg/dL in gestational diabetes and 122.1 mg/dL in overt diabetes. Our results show that abnormal maternal glycemic levels may change the placental morphometric characteristics related to materno-fetal exchanges. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Ovarian morphometric characterization and in vitro maturation of oocytes obtained from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) ovaries - partial results

Buffalo ovaries were collected from a slaughterhouse (Frigol, Brazil) and transported to the laboratory in saline solution at 36 degrees C. The ovaries were dissected to realize the evaluations (weight, length, width and height of the ovary; corpus luteum and dominant follicle diameters). The Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered by aspiration of 2-8 mm follicles. Selected COCs were matured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, sodium pyruvate, LH, FSH, estradiol and gentamicin. In vitro maturation was carried out at 38.5 degrees C for 22-24 h and 34-36 h. For the evaluation of the nuclear maturation the oocytes were placed in TCM 199 medium added with type v hialuronidase where the granulosa cells were extracted. The denuded oocytes were transferred to 10 mu l of Hoescht 33342 and the chromosomic configuration was evaluated. The oocytes were classified according to meiosis stage in: Germinal Vesicle, Germinal Vesicle Breakdown, Metaphase I, Metaphase II and Degenerated. The means of weight, length, width and height of the ovary were 3.83 g, 2.27 cm, 1.08 cm and 1.56 cm, respectively. The means of corpus luteum and dominant follicle diameters were 1.40 cm and 7.77 mm. The proportion of oocytes that reached metaphase II stage was: 36.68%.

Propolis as storage media for avulsed teeth: microscopic and morphometric analysis in rats

The maintenance of the avulsed teeth in appropriate media for preserving the cellular viability has been important for repairing the periodontal ligament and preventing the root resorption after tooth reimplantation. Propolis is a substance capable of preserving cellular viability. This study aimed to analyze the propolis substance as a storage media for maintaining the avulsed teeth, besides to determine the ideal time period for keeping the tooth inside it. Thus, 60 maxillary right central incisors of rats were extracted and divided into five groups. In groups I and II, teeth were kept in propolis for 60 min and 6 h, respectively; in group III, teeth were kept in milk for 6 h; in group IV, teeth were kept dry for 60 min; and in group V, they were immediately reimplanted. All teeth had their root canals filled with calcium hydroxide paste. Following, teeth were reimplanted in their sockets. After 15 and 60 days, animals were killed and the obtained samples were processed in laboratory for microscopic and morphometric analyzing. The results showed that the occurrence of inflammatory resorption, dental ankylosis and the formation of the connective tissue parallel to the root surface were similar among groups. It could be verified a greater occurrence of replacement resorption in group IV when comparing to other groups. In groups I and IV, the presence of periodontal ligament-like connective tissue was substantially smaller than the other groups. Regarding to the cementum amount over the root, it could be observed that this was present in smaller amount in groups I and IV. Group II was similar to groups III and IV. Therefore, according to the results of this study, the use of propolis as a storage media for maintaining avulsed teeth could be highlighted, and the 6-h period was more appropriate than the 60-min period.

Morphometric study of the root anatomy in furcation area of mandibular first molars

Furcation involvement in periodontal disease has been a challenge for the dentist. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate root dimensions in the furcation area of 233 mandibular first molars. Material and Methods: Digital photomicrographs were used to obtain the following measurements on the buccal and lingual surfaces of each tooth: root trunk height (RT), horizontal interadicular distance obtained 1 mm (D1) and 2 mm (D2) below the fornix and interadicular angle (IA). Results: Mean standard deviation of buccal and lingual furcation measurements were, respectively, 1.37 +/- 0.78 mm and 2.04 +/- 0.89 mm for RT; 0.86 +/- 0.39 mm and 0.71 +/- 0.42 mm for D1; 1.50 +/- 0.48 mm and 1.38 +/- 0.48 mm for D2; 41.68 +/- 13.20 degrees and 37.78 +/- 13.18 degrees for IA. Statistically significant differences were found between all measured parameters for buccal and lingual sides (p<0.05, paired t test). Conclusions: In conclusion, the lingual furcation of mandibular first molars presented narrower entrance and longer root trunk than the buccal furcation, suggesting more limitation for instrumentation and worse prognosis to lingual furcation involvements in comparison to buccal lesions.