Citologia vaginal de preguiça-de-coleira (Bradypus torquatus)

As preguiças-de-coleira (Bradypus torquatus) são mamíferos arborícolas da família Bradypodidae. Podem ser encontradas nos trechos de Mata Atlântica do Brasil e a maior diversidade genética de suas populações ocorre em matas do sul da Bahia. A observação desses animais na natureza é muito difícil, pois passam a maior parte da vida escondidos no denso emaranhado das copas, por isso, dados sobre aspectos reprodutivos são escassos e não existem informações sobre ciclo estral dessa espécie. Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as células do epitélio vaginal da preguiça-de-coleira (Bradypus torquatus) como forma de viabilizar o uso dessa técnica para estudar as fases do ciclo estral desses animais. As amostras para citologia vaginal foram obtidas de quatro preguiças de coleira que habitavam áreas de Mata Atlântica do sul da Bahia. Após captura manual do animal, procedeu-se a coleta de material biológico, introduzindo uma escova ginecológica estéril, na comissura dorsal da vulva. Para cada amostra foram feitos dois esfregaços rotacionando a extremidade da escova sobre cada lâmina de vidro, fazendo-se em geral três impressões lineares. O esfregaço foi imediatamente corado pelo método Panótico rápido (Laborclin®). Nas preguiças BT033, BT065 e BT042 foi possível identificar respectivamente 30%, 33% e 7% de células parabasais (PB); 56%, 22% e 10% de células intermediárias pequenas (IP); 6%, 18% e 6% de células intermediárias grandes (IG); 2%, 13% e 24% de células superficiais nucleadas (SN); 6%, 14% e 53% de células superficiais anucleadas (SA). Na preguiça BT464 foi possível fazer duas coletas com intervalo de 13 meses. Os dados da primeira e segunda coleta foram, respectivamente: 6% e 17,5 de células PB, 5% e 25% de células IP, 11% e 15,5% de células IG, 8% e 19,5% de células SN e 70% e 22,5% de células SA. Enfatiza-se que as porcentagens de células do epitélio vaginal variaram entre indivíduos e também na mesma preguiça. Isto sugere que a citologia vaginal possa ser uma ferramenta de avaliação do ciclo estral em preguiça-de-coleira.

Porcine follicular fluid concentration of free insulin-like growth factor-I collected from different diameter ovarian follicles

The study aimed to quantify the concentrations of free IGF-I in serum and fluid of ovarian follicles in pre-pubertal gilts and describe the ovarian morphology by measuring the size of the ovaries and counting the number of surface follicles. Ovaries (n=1,000) from pre-pubertal gilts were obtained immediately after slaughter. A total of 10 samplings were performed, with ovaries obtained from 50 females for each collection. The follicles situated on the surface of each ovary were classified as small (SFs, 2 to 5mm in diameter) or large (LFs 6 to 10mm in diameter) and the follicular fluid was obtained by follicle aspiration. The collection of serum samples was performed after the gilts exsanguination using sterile tubes. From the pool of serum and follicular fluid obtained from 50 females, the concentration of free IGF-I was determined in each sample using an enzyme immunoassay kit (ELISA). The description of ovarian morphometry was performed in 100 ovaries from randomly selected gilts. The larger and smaller lengths of ovaries were measured, and the total number of SFs and LFs present on the surface of each ovary were also counted. The IGF-I concentration was greater (P<0.05) in LFs (170.92±88.29 ng/mL) compared with SFs (67.39±49.90ng/mL) and serum (73.48±34.63ng/mL). The largest and smallest length of the ovaries was 26.0±3.0 and 19.0mm ±2.0mm, respectively. The number of SFs (70.86±25.76) was greater (P<0.01) than LFs (6.54±5.26). The study concluded that LFs present greater levels of IGF-I when compared with SFs and blood, which is related to increased activity of the LFs and its differentiation to ovulation. In addition, ovaries of pre-pubertal gilts have a higher number of SFs compared to LFs. Therefore, our study demonstrated unique data regarding the physiological concentration of free IGF-I in ovarian follicles, that can be used in future research to evaluate the addition of this hormone in the in vitro production media of porcine embryos with the goal to improve the technique efficiency.

Diarrhea outbreaks in suckling piglets due to rotavirus group C single and mixed (rotavirus groups A and B) infections

Porcine group A rotavirus (PoRVA) is a major cause of neonatal diarrhea in suckling and recently weaned piglets worldwide. The involvement of non-group A rotavirus in cases of neonatal diarrhea in piglets are sporadic. In Brazil there are no reports of the porcine rotavirus group C (PoRVC) as etiologic agent of the diarrhea outbreaks in piglets. The aim of this study was to describe the identification of rotavirus group C in single and in mixed infection with rotavirus groups A and B in three neonatal diarrhea outbreaks in suckling (<21-day-old) piglets, with 70% to 80% and 20% to 25% of morbidity and lethality rates, respectively, in three pig herds located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The diagnosis of PoRV in the diarrheic fecal samples was performed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to identify the presence of porcine rotavirus groups A, B (PoRVB), and C, and by RT-PCR (PoRVA and PoRVC) and semi-nested (SN)-PCR (PoRVB) to partially amplify the VP4 (VP8*)-VP7, NSP2, and VP6 genes of PoRVA, PoRVB, and PoRVC, respectively. One RT-PCR (PoRVA and PoRVC) and SN-PCR (PoRVB) product of each group of rotavirus of each diarrhea outbreak was submitted to nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis. Based on the PAGE technique, 4 (25%) and 1 (6.25%) of the 16 diarrheic fecal samples evaluated in the first outbreak presented PoRVA and PoRVC electropherotype, respectively, and 11 (68.75%) were negative. In the second outbreak, 3 (42.85%) of the 7 fecal samples evaluated presented PoRVA electropherotype, and in 3 (42.85%) and in 1 (14.3%) fecal samples were detected inconclusive and negative results, respectively. Three (30%) of the 10 fecal samples of the third outbreak presented PoRVC electropherotype; 5 (50%) and 2 (20%) samples showed negative and inconclusive results, respectively. Based on the RT-PCR and SN-PCR assays in the first neonatal diarrhea outbreak, PoRVC was detected in 13 (81.2%) of the 16 diarrheic fecal samples evaluated. PoRVC single infection was identified in 4 (25%) of these samples and mixed infections with PoRVA and PoRVB in 9 (56.2%) fecal samples. All of the seven diarrheic fecal samples evaluated from the second neonatal diarrhea outbreak were positive for PoRVC, whereas its mixed infection with other PoRV groups was detected in 4 (57.2%) samples. In the third outbreak, PoRVC in single infection was detected in all of the 10 diarrheic fecal samples analyzed. In the nt sequence analysis, the PoRVA strains of the first and second outbreaks demonstrated higher nt identity with G4P[6] and G9P[23] genotypes, respectively. The PoRVB strains (first and second outbreaks) and the PoRVC strains (first, second, and third outbreaks) showed higher nt identity and clustered in the phylogenetic tree with PoRVB and PoRVC strains that belong to the N4 and I1 genotypes, respectively. This is the first description in Brazil of the involvement of PoRVC in the etiology of diarrhea outbreaks in suckling piglets. The results of this study demonstrated that PoRVC, in both single and mixed infections, is an important enteropathogen involved in neonatal diarrhea outbreaks in piglets and that the use of more sensitive diagnostic techniques allows the identification of mixed infections involving two or even three groups of PoRV, which may be more common than previously reported.

Eficácia do fipronil em cães infestados com diferentes cargas parasitárias de Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar através de teste in vivo, a eficácia e o período residual de proteção do fipronil 10% "top spot" em cães infestados com diferentes cargas parasitárias de Ctenocephalides felis felis. Foram utilizados 24 cães da raça Beagle, compondo seis animais por grupo. Os cães foram divididos em quatro grupos. Os cães dos grupos controles I e II não receberam tratamento, enquanto que os cães dos grupos tratados I e II receberam tratamento com formulação de fipronil 10% "top spot". Os cães dos grupos controle I e tratado I foram infestados com 100 pulgas adultas não alimentadas, e os cães dos grupos controle II e tratado II foram infestados com 300 pulgas adultas não alimentadas. As infestações foram realizadas nos dias, -2, +5, +12, +19, +26, +33 e +40 e nos dias +2, +7, +14, +21, +28, +35 e +42 foi realizada retirada mecânica e contagem de pulgas para avaliação. As eficácias pulguicidas, para o grupo tratado I, nos dias +2, +7, +14, +21, +28, +35 e +42, foram respectivamente 99,36%; 99,73%; 99,48%; 99,74%; 99,75%; 95,06% e 67,62%. As eficácias pulguicidas, para o grupo tratado II, avaliadas nos mesmos dias, foram respectivamente 100%; 100%; 100%; 100%; 99,91%; 95,60% e 68,55%. O fipronil mostrou-se eficaz na eliminação das pulgas em cães até o dia +35. A análise estatística comparativa entre as médias de pulgas vivas, entre os grupos controle I e tratado I, demonstrou que ocorreu diferença significativa (p≤0,05) para os desafios em todos os dias experimentais, após o tratamento. Os grupos controle II e tratado II também apresentaram diferença significativa (p≤0,05) para os desafios em todos os dias experimentais, após o tratamento. A análise estatística entre os grupos tratados I e II demonstrou que não ocorreu diferença significativa (p≥0,05) para os desafios em todos os dias experimentais. O desafio foi encerrado no dia +42 já que a eficácia do fipronil nos grupos tratados I e II foram inferiores 70%. O produto em teste mostrou-se eficaz na eliminação das pulgas em cães até o dia + 35, não apresentando mais efeito residual de proteção quando os animais foram reinfestados. Não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de eficácia entre os grupos infestados com 100 e 300 exemplares adultos de C. felis felis ao longo do período experimental.

Sorção do herbicida atrazine em complexos organominerais

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a sorção do atrazine em complexos organominerais predominantes em solos tropicais. A amostra de herbicida utilizada na experimentação continha 97% de pureza. Alíquotas de 10 mL das soluções de 0,0; 10,0; 20,0; 40,0; 70,0; e 100,0 mmol L-1 de atrazine foram adicionadas aos seguintes substratos: ácidos húmicos, caulinita, goethita, ferridrita, ácidos húmicos+caulinita, ácidos húmicos+ goethita e ácidos húmicos+ferridrita; o extrator utilizado foi o acetato de etila. As concentrações de atrazine sorvidas foram determinadas por cromatografia gasosa, com eficiência de extração de 93,67%. O valor de Kd encontrado (91,89) para os ácidos húmicos foi cerca de nove vezes maior do que para caulinita, goethita e ferridrita isoladas e aproximadamente cinco vezes maior do que para as misturas ácidos húmicos+caulinita, ácidos húmicos+goethita e ácidos húmicos+ferridrita. As interações reduziram a sorção de atrazine pelos ácidos húmicos. A porcentagem de redução da sorção dos ácidos húmicos foi de 62,93; 65,99; e 64,63%, quando em mistura com caulinita, goethita e ferridrita, respectivamente.

Métodos de superação de dormência em sementes de Ipomoea e Merremia

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos de métodos de superação de dormência sobre a germinação das sementes de Ipomoea grandifolia, I. hederifolia, I. nil, I. quamoclit, Merremia aegyptia e M. cissoides. Os tratamentos consistiram em ácido sulfúrico concentrado, nitrato de potássio, água quente e calor seco (50 ºC), lixa e fogo. Constatou-se que o ácido sulfúrico promoveu aumento na germinação das sementes de I. grandifolia (58, 37, 22 e 34%), I. hederifolia (76, 49, 82 e 55%), I. quamoclit (43, 33, 66 e 35%), I. nil (69, 79, 72 e 62%), M. cissoides (8, 19, 35 e 57%) e M. aegyptia (24, 64, 56 e 63%) após períodos de imersão de 5, 10, 15 e 20 minutos, respectivamente. A água (20 e 40 minutos), o calor seco (20 e 40 minutos) e o fogo melhoraram a germinação de I. grandifolia (68, 59, 62, 67 e 59%), M. cissoides (50, 52, 18, 25 e 46%) e M. aegyptia (54, 47, 21, 21 e 45%), respectivamente. O calor seco de 20 e 40 minutos melhorou a germinação de I. nil (49 e 36%), e o de 40 minutos, a de I. hederifolia (70%). O uso de nitrato de potássio e lixa não proporcionou melhoria na germinação das sementes.

Efeitos da dessecação de plantas de feijão sobre a qualidade de sementes armazenadas

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar o efeito da dessecação química de plantas de feijão, em pré-colheita, sobre a qualidade de sementes armazenadas. A dessecação na cultura foi realizada utilizando-se quatro doses de carfentrazone-ethyl (0, 10, 30 e 60 g ha¹), aplicadas aos 30 dias após o florescimento, no final do estádio R8, quando as sementes já haviam atingido a maturidade fisiológica. As sementes, depois de colhidas e beneficiadas, foram acondicionadas em câmara fria (12 ºC e 70% de umidade relativa) por 80 dias. Após esse período, as sementes foram separadas em dois tamanhos: maiores (retidas em peneira de crivo oblongo 16/64" x 19,05 mm) e menores (as que passaram pela mesma peneira). Além do teste de germinação (TG) e do índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), avaliou-se também a sanidade das sementes por meio do blotter test. Sementes oriundas de plantas dessecadas com carfentrazone-ethyl, na dose de 60 g ha¹, apresentaram índice de plântulas normais abaixo de 10%. As sementes maiores foram mais sensíveis ao produto, observando-se, mesmo na dose de 10 g ha-1, 44% de plântulas anormais. Não se observou efeito dos tratamentos sobre a sanidade das sementes. Considerando que, anteriormente ao armazenamento, a germinação das sementes avaliadas e a emergência de suas plântulas não eram afetadas pelo carfentrazone-ethyl, conclui-se que esse produto prejudica a qualidade das sementes após o armazenamento por 80 dias.

Modeling of weeds interference periods in bean

The research objective was to determine the effects of spacing and seeding density of common bean to the period prior to weed interference (PPI) and weed period prior to economic loss (WEEPPEL). The treatments consisted of periods of coexistence between culture and the weeds, with 0 to 10, 0 to 20, 0 to 30, 0 to 40, 0 to 50, 0 to 60, 0 to 70, and 0 to 80 days and a control maintained without weeds. In addition to the periods of coexistence, there were still studies with an inter-row of 0.45 and 0.60 m, 10 and 15 plants m-1. The experimental delineation used was randomized blocks with four repetitions per treatment. The grain productivity of the culture had a reduction of 63, 50, 42 and 57% when the coexistence with the weed plants was during the entire cycle of the culture for a row spacing of 0.45 m and a seeding density of 10 and 15 plants per meter; and a row spacing of 0.60m and a seeding density of 10 and 15 plants per meter, respectively. The PPI occurred in 23, 27, 13, and 19 days after crop emergence and WEEPPEL in 10, 9, 8, and 8 days, respectively.

Quantitative variables applied to phenological studies of Sargassum vulgare C. Agardh (Phaeophyceae - Fucales) from Ilha Grande Bay, State of Rio de Janeiro

The suitability of quantitative variables for phenological studies was evaluated in a population of the brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare from "Praia das Gordas", Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande Bay, state of Rio de Janeiro. From June 1998 to May 1999, twenty adult individuals were randomly sampled at bimonthly intervals. Fifteen variables related to the vegetative and reproductive development of perennial and non-perennial parts of the individuals were quantified. Variables related to the non-perennial parts were more useful than those related to the perennial parts, because they showed a clear variation over the year. Vegetative development declined from June to October, and increased from October to February, when maximum median values of thallus height, total dry mass, non-perennial parts dry mass, and degree of branching were reached. This pattern coincided with those described for other species of the genus from warm temperate regions. Thallus height, a usually employed character in other phenological studies of Sargassum, showed lower coefficient of variation (53.2%) than those related to dry mass (72.0% to 182.3%). Peak of reproduction occurred from June to August, according to the following variables: fertile primary lateral branches number and dry mass and receptacles dry mass. Non-perennial parts dry mass and receptacles dry mass are recommended for phenological studies of S. vulgare. This methodological procedure avoids the sampling of the whole individual and warrants its regeneration from the perennial parts.

TP53 mutations and loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 17 in colorectal tumors

The incidence of TP53 point mutations and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 17 in colorectal tumors was determined in a group of Brazilian patients. We screened DNA samples from tumors and distal normal mucosa of 39 patients with colorectal cancer, for TP53 mutations by PCR-SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) analysis. Chromosome 17 LOH was investigated using six PCR-based polymorphic markers and one VNTR probe. TP53 mutations were demonstrated in 15/39 of the cases. Mutations were distributed among all exons examined (five to eight), the majority of them being G/C to A/T transitions. LOH of chromosome 17p and 17q was detected in 70 and 46% of the tumors, respectively. There was a significant association between TP53 mutations and LOH in chromosome 17p (P = 0.0035) and 17q (P = 0.03). Although no correlation was observed between TP53 genetic alterations and clinical/ pathological characteristics, the association of TP53 mutations with loss of both chromosome 17 arms may indicate that TP53 inactivation provokes an unstable phenotype in tumor cells in colorectal tumors.

Effect of lead acetate on neurobehavioral development of rats

We investigated the effects of lead exposure during the pre- and postnatal period on the neurobehavioral development of female Wistar rats (70-75 days of age, 120-150 g) using a protocol of lead intoxication that does not affect weight gain. Wistar rats were submitted to lead acetate intoxication by giving their dams 1.0 mM lead acetate. Control dams received deionized water. Growth and neuromotor development were assessed by monitoring daily the following parameters in 20 litters: body weight, ear unfolding, incisor eruption, eye opening, righting, palmar grasp, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance and startle reflex. Spontaneous alternation was assessed on postnatal day 17 using a T maze. The animals' ability to equilibrate on a beaker rim was measured on postnatal day 19. Lead intoxication was confirmed by measuring renal, hepatic and cerebral lead concentration in dams and litters. Lead treatment hastened the day of appearance of the following parameters: eye opening (control: 13.5 ± 0.6, N = 88; lead: 12.9 ± 0.6, N = 72; P<0.05), startle reflex (control: 13.0 ± 0.8, N = 88; lead: 12.0 ± 0.7, N = 72; P<0.05) and negative geotaxis. On the other hand, spontaneous alternation performance was hindered in lead-exposed animals (control: 37.6 ± 19.7; lead: 57.5 ± 28.3% of alternating animals; P<0.05). These results suggest that lead exposure without concomitant undernutrition alters rat development, affecting specific subsets of motor skills.

c-Myc protein expression is not an independent prognostic predictor in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

The c-myc protein is known to regulate the cell cycle, and its down-regulation can lead to cell death by apoptosis. The role of c-myc protein as an independent prognostic determinant in cervical cancer is controversial. In the present study, a cohort of 220 Brazilian women (mean age 53.4 years) with FIGO stage I, II and III (21, 28 and 51%, respectively) cervical squamous cell carcinomas was analyzed for c-myc protein expression using immunohistochemistry. The disease-free survival and relapse-rate were analyzed using univariate (Kaplan-Meier) survival analysis for 116 women who completed the standard FIGO treatment and were followed up for 5 years. Positive c-myc staining was detected in 40% of carcinomas, 29% being grade 1, 9% grade 2, and 2% grade 3. The distribution of positive c-myc according to FIGO stage was 19% (17 women) in stage I, 33% (29) in stage II, and 48% (43) in stage III of disease. During the 60-month follow-up, disease-free survival in univariate (Kaplan-Meier) survival analysis (116 women) was lower for women with c-myc-positive tumors, i.e., 60.5, 47.5 and 36.6% at 12, 36, and 60 months, respectively (not significant). The present data suggest that immunohistochemical demonstration of c-myc does not possess any prognostic value independent of FIGO stage, and as such is unlikely to be a useful prognostic marker in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Hepatitis C virus infection in a Brazilian population with sickle-cell anemia

Patients with sickle-cell anemia submitted to frequent blood transfusions are at risk of contamination with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Determination of HCV RNA and genotype characterization are parameters that are relevant for the treatment of the viral infection. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of HCV infection and the positivity for HCV RNA and to identify the HCV genotype in patients with sickle-cell anemia with a history of blood transfusion who had been treated at the Hospital of the HEMOPE Foundation. Sera from 291 patients were tested for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA 3.0 and RIBA 3.0 Chiron and for the presence of HCV RNA by RT-PCR. HCV genotyping was performed in 19 serum samples. Forty-one of 291 patients (14.1%) were anti-HCV positive by ELISA and RIBA. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed a greater risk of anti-HCV positivity in those who had started a transfusion regime before 1992 and received more than 10 units of blood. Thirty-four of the anti-HCV-positive patients (34/41, 82.9%) were also HCV RNA positive. Univariate analysis, used to compare HCV RNA-negative and -positive patients, did not indicate a higher risk of HCV RNA positivity for any of the variables evaluated. The genotypes identified were 1b (63%), 1a (21%) and 3a (16%). A high prevalence of HCV infection was observed in our patients with sickle-cell anemia (14.1%) compared to the population in general (3%). In the literature, the frequency of HCV infection in sickle-cell anemia ranges from 2 to 30%. The serological screening for anti-HCV at blood banks after 1992 has contributed to a better control of the dissemination of HCV infection. Because of the predominance of genotype 1, these patients belong to a group requiring special treatment, with a probable indication of new therapeutic options against HCV.

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in children with severe tetanus: dissociation of cardiac and vascular sympathetic control

The medical records of ten pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of tetanus were reviewed retrospectively. The heart rate and blood pressure of all tetanus patients were measured noninvasively every hour during the first two weeks of hospitalization. Six of ten tetanus patients presented clinical evidence of sympathetic hyperactivity (group A) and were compared with a control group consisting of four children who required mechanical ventilation for diseases other than tetanus (group B). Heart rate and blood pressure simultaneously and progressively increased to a maximum by day 7. The increase over baseline was 43.70 ± 11.77 bpm (mean ± SD) for heart rate (P<0.01) and 38.60 ± 26.40 mmHg for blood pressure (P<0.01). These values were higher and significantly different from those of the control group (group B) at day 6, which had an average heart rate increase over baseline of 19.35 ± 12.26 bpm (P<0.05) and blood pressure of 10.24 ± 13.30 mmHg (P<0.05). By the end of the second week of hospitalization, in group A the increase of systolic blood pressure over baseline had diminished to 9.60 ± 15.37 mmHg (P<0.05), but the heart rate continued to be elevated (27.80 ± 33.92 bpm, P = NS), when compared to day 7 maximal values. The dissociation of these two cardiovascular variables at the end of the second week of hospitalization suggests the presence of asymmetric cardiac and vascular sympathetic control. One possible explanation for these observations is a selective and delayed action of tetanus toxin on the inhibitory neurons which control sympathetic outflow to the heart.

Simultaneous changes in the function and expression of beta 1 integrins during the growth arrest of poorly differentiated colorectal cells (LISP-1)

Cells usually lose adhesion and increase proliferation and migration during malignant transformation. Here, we studied how proliferation can affect the other two characteristics, which ultimately lead to invasion and metastasis. We determined the expression of ß1 integrins, as well as adhesion and migration towards laminin-1, fibronectin, collagens type I and type IV presented by LISP-1 colorectal cancer cells exposed to 2.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an agent capable of decreasing proliferation in this poorly differentiated colorectal cell line. Untreated cells (control), as shown by flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies, expressed alpha2 (63.8 ± 11.3% positive cells), alpha3 (93.3 ± 7.0%), alpha5 (50.4 ± 12.0%) and alpha6 (34.1 ± 4.9%) integrins but not alpha1, alpha4, alphav or ß4. Cells adhered well to laminin-1 (73.4 ± 6.0%) and fibronectin (40.0 ± 2.0%) substrates but very little to collagens. By using blocking monoclonal antibodies, we showed that alpha2, alpha3 and alpha6 mediated laminin-1 adhesion, but neither alpha3 nor alpha5 contributed to fibronectin adherence. DMSO arrested cells at G0/G1 (control: 55.0 ± 2.4% vs DMSO: 70.7 ± 2.5%) while simultaneously reducing alpha5 (24.2 ± 19%) and alpha6 (14.3 ± 10.8%) expression as well as c-myc mRNA (7-fold), the latter shown by Northern blotting. Although the adhesion rate did not change after exposure to DMSO, alpha3 and alpha5 played a major role in laminin-1 and fibronectin adhesion, respectively. Migration towards laminin-1, which was clearly increased upon exposure to DMSO (control: 6 ± 2 cells vs DMSO: 64 ± 6 cells), was blocked by an antibody against alpha6. We conclude that the effects of DMSO on LISP-1 proliferation were accompanied by concurrent changes in the expression and function of integrins, consequently modulating adhesion/migration, and revealing a complex interplay between function/expression and the proliferative state of cells.