Evolução tectono-estrutural do Campo de Xaréu (Sub-bacia de Mundaú, Bacia do Ceará - NE do Brasil: abordagem multiescala e pluriferramental

The Xaréu Oil Field, located in the center-southern portion of the Mundaú Sub-Basin (eastern portion of the Ceará Basin), is characterized by a main Iramework of NW-trending and NE-dipping faults. The faults in the Xaréu Oil Field, among which the Xaréu Fautt stands out, are arranged according to an extensional-listriclan, rooted on a detachment surface corresponding to the Mundaú Fault, the border fautt of Mundaú Sub-Basin. During the tectonic-structural evolution of the Xaréu Oil Field and the Mundaú Sub-Basin, the Mundaú Fault played a crucial role on the control of the geometry of both compartments. The main carbonatic unit in the Xaréu Oil Field, named the Trairí Member(Paracuru Formation of Late Aptian to Early Albian age), contains the largest oil volume in the field, concentrated in structurally-controlled accumulations. The Trairí Member is composed by a variety of carbonatic rocks (massive, bedded or laminated calcilutites, ostracodites, calcarenites and carbonatic rudites, all of them presenting variable degrees of dolomitization). The carbonatic rocks are interbedded into thick packages of black shales and marls, besides local beds of siliciclastic conglomerates, sandstones, siltnes and argillites. From the spatial association and the genetic relationships between the carbonatic and siliciclastic units, it is possible to group them in three lithofacies associations (Marginal Plain, Ramp and Lacustrine Interior) that, together, were developed in a lacustrine system associated to a marginal sabkha. Structural studies based on drill coresthat sample the Trairí Member in the Xaréu Oil Field allowed to characterize two generations of meso- to microscale structures: the D1 group presents a typical hydroplastic character, being characterized by intra/interstratal to oblique-bedding shear zones. The hydroplastic character related to these structures allowed to infer their development at an early-lithilication stage of the Trairí Member, leading to infer an Early Cretaceous age to them. The second group of structures identified in the drill cores, nominated D2 and ascribed to a Neogene age, presents a strictly brttle character, being typilied by normal faults and slickenfibers of re-crystallized clayminerals, ali olthem displaying variable orientations. Although the present faults in the Xaréu Oil Field (and, consequently, in the Mundaú Sub-Basin) were classically relerred as struetures of essentially normal displacement, the kinematics analysis of the meso-to microscaie D1 struetures in the drill cores led to deline oblique displacements (normal with a clockwise strike-slip component) to these faults, indicating a main tectonic transport to ENE. These oblique movements would be responsible for the installation of a transtensive context in the Mundaú Sub-Basin, as part of the transcurrent to translormant opening of the Atlantic Equatorial Margin. The balancing of four struetural cross-sections ofthe Xaréu Oil Field indicates that the Mundaú Fault was responsible for more than 50% of the total stretching (ß factor) registered during the Early Aptian. At the initial stages of the "rifting", during Early Aptianuntil the Holocene, the Mundaú Sub-Basin (and consequently the Xaréu Oil Fleld) accumulated a total stretching between 1.21 and 1.23; in other words, the crust in this segment of the Atlantic Equatorial Margin was subjeeted to an elongation of about 20%. From estimates of oblique displacements related to the faults, it ws possible to construct diagrams that allow the determination of stretching factors related to these displacements. Using these diagrams and assuming the sense 01 dominant teetonictransport towards ENE, it was possible to calculate the real stretching lactors related to the oblique movement 0 of the faults in the Mundaú Sub-Basin. which reached actual values between 1.28 and 1.42. ln addnion to the tectonic-structural studies in the Xaréu Oil Field, the interpretation of remote sensing products, coupled wnh characterization of terrain analogues in seleeted areas along the northern Ceará State (continental margins of the Ceará and Potiguar basins), provided addnional data and constraints about the teetonic-structural evolution of the oil lield. The work at the analogue sites was particularly effective in the recognition and mapping, in semidetail scale, several generations of struetures originated under a brittle regime. Ali the obtained information (from the Xaréu Oil Field, the remote sensor data and the terrain analogues) were jointly interpreted, culminating with the proposnion of an evolutionary model lor this segment of the Atlantic Equatorial Margin; this model that can be applied to the whole Margin, as well. This segmentof the Atlantic Equatorial Margin was delormedin an early E-W (when considered lhe present-day position of the South American Plate) transcurrent to transform regime with dextral kinematics, started Irom, at least, the Early Aptian, which left its record in several outcrops along the continental margin of the Ceará State and specilically in the Xaréu off Field. The continuous operation of the regime, through the Albian and later periods, led to the definitive separation between the South American and African plates, with the formation of oceanic lithosphere between the two continental blocks, due to the emplacement off spreading centers. This process involved the subsequent transition of the transcurrent to a translorm dextral regime, creating lhe Equatorial Atlantic Oceano With the separation between the South American and African plates already completed and the increasing separation between lhe continental masses, other tecton ic mechanisms began to act during the Cenozoic (even though the Cretaceous tectonic regime lasted until the Neogene), like an E-W compressive stress líeld (related to the spreading olthe oceanic floor along lhe M id-Atlantic Ridge and to the compression of the Andean Chain) effective Irom the Late Cretaceous, and a state of general extension olthe horizontal surface (due to the thermal uplift ofthe central portion of Borborema Province), effective during the Neogene. The overlap of these mechanisms during the Cenozoic led to the imprint of a complex tectonic framework, which apparently influenced the migration and entrapment 01 hydrocarbon in the Ceará Basin

Evolução morfotectônica do maciço estrutural pereiro, província Borborema

The Northeast relief was described by the Pediplanation Model. This action discards the theoretical basis of post-Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the landscape. Through this model the Massif Pereiro - MP, Borborema Province, was established as part of the Tablelands Area Residual Sertanejos. The present work aims to establish the post- Cretaceous morphotectonic evolution of the MP by geomorphological and geological mapping using Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing and dating of sediments by Single Aliquot Regenerative-dose (SAR). The MP is contained in the core semi-arid, annual precipitation of 600-800 mm / year. The MP is NE-SW, is limited by Shear Zone Jaguaribe (ZCJ) and Portalegre Shear Zone (ZCPa), the same attitude, and crossed by several other shear zones. These shear zones show evidence of brittle Cenozoic reactivation, mostly as normal faults and shallow crustal level. The Quaternary sedimentation around the MP focuses on fault escarpments in a general pattern cascade, where ages decrease from the summits of the steep foothills. The ages of 51 sediment samples indicate a correlation with global climate following pulses: Last Interestadial-UI, the Last Glacial Maximum - LGM and the transition Pleistocene / Holocene, while the latter focus on 18 of 51 samples dated. This study also finds evidence of a new quaternary basin, here called Merejo Basin. Through these results it is concluded that no evidence of post-Cretaceous tectonic evolution of morphological MP, as their retreat along the fault scarps, invariably following the trend of the shear zones. The erosion of cliffs in large time scale is controlled by weakness zones generated by faults on the other hand the erosion of cliffs in short time, with the formation of deposits and colluvial horizons pedogenizados, has climate control. It was also found that in the study area there is a preponderance of past and current tectonic erosion processes on the morphological evolution

Purificação e caracterização estrutural de homogalactanas sulfatadas anticoagulantes da alga verde Codium isthmocladum

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Síntese e caracterização estrutural e magnética da ferrita de cálcio

The calcium ferrite (Ca2Fe2O5) has a perovskite-type structure with oxygen deficiency and is used as a chemical catalyst. With the advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology, methods of preparation, physical and chemical characterizations, and the technological applications of nanoparticles have attracted great scientific interest. Calcium nanostructured ferrites were produced via high-energy milling, with subsequent heat treatment. The milling products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetization and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Samples of the type Ca2Fe2O5 were obtained from the CaCO3 and Fe2O3 powder precursors, which were mixed stoichiometrically and milled for 10h and thermally treated at 700ºC, 900ºC and 1100ºC. The Mössbauer spectra of the treated samples were adjusted three subespectros: calcium ferrite (octahedral and tetrahedral sites) and a paramagnetic component, related to very small particles of calcium ferrite, which are in a superparamagnetic state. For samples beats in an atmosphere of methyl alcohol, there is a significant increase in area associated with the paramagnetic component. Hysteresis curves obtained are characteristic of a weak ferromagnetic-like material

Análises estratigráfica e estrutural da Seção Rifte (Valanginiano ao Barremiano) na área do levantamento sísmico 3D de baixo vermelho, Bacia Potiguar emersa

Baixo Vermelho area, situated on the northern portion of Umbuzeiro Graben (onshore Potiguar Basin), represents a typical example of a rift basin, characterized, in subsurface, by the sedimentary rift sequence, correlated to Pendência Formation (Valanginian-Barremian), and by the Carnaubais fault system. In this context, two main goals, the stratigraphic and the structural analysis, had guided the research. For this purpose, it was used the 3D seismic volume and eight wells located in the study area and adjacencies. The stratigraphic analysis of the Valanginian-Barremian interval was carried through in two distinct phases, 1D and 2D, in which the basic concepts of the sequence stratigraphy had been adapted. In these phases, the individual analysis of each well and the correlation between them, allowed to recognize the main lithofacies, to interpret the effective depositional systems and to identify the genetic units and key-surfaces of chronostratigraphic character. The analyzed lithofacies are represented predominantly by conglomerates, sandstones, siltites and shales, with carbonate rocks and marls occurring subordinately. According to these lithofacies associations, it is possible to interpret the following depositional systems: alluvial fan, fluvio-deltaic and lacustrine depositional systems. The alluvial fan system is mainly composed by conglomerates deposits, which had developed, preferentially in the south portion of the area, being directly associated to Carnaubais fault system. The fluvial-deltaic system, in turn, was mainly developed in the northwest portion of the area, at the flexural edge, being characterized by coarse sandstones with shales and siltites intercalated. On the other hand, the lacustrine system, the most dominant one in the study area, is formed mainly by shales that could occur intercalated with thin layers of fine to very fine sandstones, interpreted as turbidite deposits. The recognized sequence stratigraphy units in the wells are represented by parasequence sets, systems tracts and depositional sequences. The parasequence sets, which are progradational or retrogradational, had been grouped and related to the systems tracts. The predominance of the progradation parasequence sets (general trend with coarsening-upward) characterizes the Regressive Systems Tract, while the occurrence, more frequently, of the retrogradation parasequence sets (general trend with finning-upward) represents the Transgressive System Tract. In the seismic stratigraphic analysis, the lithofacies described in the wells had been related to chaotic, progradational and parallel/subparallel seismic facies, which are associated, frequently, to the alluvial fans, fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine depositional systems, respectively. In this analysis, it was possible to recognize fifteen seismic horizons that correspond to sequence boundaries and to maximum flooding surfaces, which separates Transgressive to Regressive systems tracts. The recognition of transgressive-regressive cycles allowed to identify nine, possibly, 3a order deposicional sequences, related to the tectonic-sedimentary cycles. The structural analysis, in turn, was done at Baixo Vermelho seismic volume, which shows, clearly, the structural complexity printed in the area, mainly related to Carnaubais fault system, acting as an important fault system of the rift edge. This fault system is characterized by a main arrangement of normal faults with trend NE-SO, where Carnaubais Fault represents the maximum expression of these lineations. Carnaubais Fault corresponds to a fault with typically listric geometry, with general trend N70°E, dipping to northwest. It is observed, throughout all the seismic volume, with variations in its surface, which had conditioned, in its evolutive stages, the formation of innumerable structural features that normally are identified in Pendencia Formation. In this unit, part of these features is related to the formation of longitudinal foldings (rollover structures and distentional folding associated), originated by the displacement of the main fault plan, propitiating variations in geometry and thickness of the adjacent layers, which had been deposited at the same time. Other structural features are related to the secondary faultings, which could be synthetic or antithetic to Carnaubais Fault. In a general way, these faults have limited lateral continuity, with listric planar format and, apparently, they play the role of the accomodation of the distentional deformation printed in the area. Thus, the interaction between the stratigraphic and structural analysis, based on an excellent quality of the used data, allowed to get one better agreement on the tectonicsedimentary evolution of the Valanginian-Barremian interval (Pendência Formation) in the studied area

Estudos sedimentológicos e o contexto estrutural da formação Serra do Martins, nos platôs de Portalegre, Martins e Santana/RN

This dissertation deals with sedimentological and structural framework of the siliciclastic rock of the Serra do Martins Formation (FSM) in the Portalegre, Martins and Santana plateau, located to the south of Potiguar Basin, in the southwest and central Rio Grande do Norte state. This formation, regarded as of Oligo-Miocene age based on intrusive relations of the Miocene Macau volcanics, has a still disputable age due to the lack of appropriate bio and/or chronostratigraphic markers. The FSSM deposits crop out along 650 to 750 m high plateau, as a remanescent sedimentary cover directly overlying topographically uplifted pre-cambrian crystalline rocks. During the last decades, these deposits were interpreted according to a Tertiary paleoclimatic evolutionary model, associated to pedogenetic processes. The sedimentological characterization of the FSM was done through a detailed study of its facies, petrography and diagenetic features. The facies study was based on description of field relations, textures and structures, the piling up of the strata and their lateral variations. The FSM was deposited by an anastomosing to coarse-meandering fluvial system, including deposits of lag, cannel-fill, ouver-bank and flood plain. The petrographic composition of the sediments, coupled to their facies and paleocurrent directions, suggest a rather distal sourcearea, to the south of the present plateau. The diagenetic study identified an incipient grain mechanical compaction, pronounced dissolution of the framework, matrix and/or cement components, intense precipitation of kaolinite, silic and, eventually, iron oxides, besides mechanical infiltration of the clays. Most of these events, regarded in the literature as associated to near-surface conditions (eo or telodiagenesis), indicate the FSM sediments were never deeply buried. Topographic relations along longitudinal and transversal sections reaching the Potiguar Basin to the north identified regional dips that allow to discuss stratigraphic correlations between the FSM and the basin formations. The sedimentological features of the different units and the intrusive relations of the Macau volcanics were also considered in these correlations,which support the Oligo-Miocene age previously accepted for the FSM. Concerning the tectonic framework of the FSM, this work investigated the pre-cambrian to cretaceous heritage and the cenozoic deformation, allowing the recognition of pre-, sin and post-FSM structures. The crystalline basement, belonging to the Seridó Belt, displays NE and WNW foliation trends related to the Brasiliano-age ductile shear zones. In this terrain, brittle-ductile and brittle NE- and NW-trending structures, associated with extensional joints filled with pegmatites and quartz veins, are related to an E-W compression by the end of Brasiliano Cycle. The E-W joints and NE-trending fractures were reactivated by N-S to N-S to NW extension during late Jurassic to Cretaceous times, controlling the emplacement of the Rio Ceará-Mirim basic dyke swarm and the opening of the Potiguar rift basin

Evolução estrutural e termocronológica meso-cenozóica da Zona de Cisalhamento Portalegre, Nordeste do Brasil

The Portalegre shear zone (ZCPa), which is located in the Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba states (Northeastern Brazil), is na important right-lateral, northeast-trending lineament formed during the Brazilian Orogenic Cicle). The ZCPa experienced na important brittle reactivation from the Mesozoic until the present. This reactivation led to the formation of the Gangorra, Pau dos Ferros, Coronel João Pessoa, Icozinho and Rio do Peixe basins. The reactivation northern parto f the ZCPa that marks the boundary of the Potiguar Basin is denominated Carnaubais Fault. Several fracture patterns were mapped along the ZCPa. Samples were collected in Neoproterozoic granite outcrops, along the ZCPa. These samples yielded AFT ages from 86±13 to 376±57 Ma, and the mean track length from 10.9±0.8 to 12.9±1.5 mm. Samples from the East block yielded mean ages of 103 Ma, mean track lengtn 12,1mm, and mean altitude 250m, whereas samples from West block yielded mean ages of 150 Ma, which reach 345 Ma and 220 Ma in the Pau dos Ferros and Coronel João Pessoa basins, respectively. Thermal history models were sorted out for each crustal block. Samples from West block recorded a thermal history from Carboniferous Period until the Permiano, when the block experienced gradual uplift until the Cretaceous, when it underwent downfaulting and heating until the Tertiary, and it eventually experienced a rapid uplift movement until recent times. Samples from the East block presented the same cooling and heating events, but at they occurred different times. The East block thermal record started ~140 Ma, when this block experienced cooling until ~75 Ma. Both blocks show a denundacion/erosional history more similar in the Tertiary. The AFT data indicate an important tectonic event ~140 Ma, when the West block experienced downfaulting and the East block experienced uplift. This tectonic process led to the generation of several sedimentary basins in the region, including the Potiguar basin. This tectonic event is also interpreted as a rift process caused by an E-W-trending extension. It the Tertiary, some heating events can be tentatively attributed to the macau volcanic event

Análise estrutural da deformação cenozóica na Bacia de Cumuruxatiba (BA)

The Cumuruxatiba basin is located at the southern coast State of Bahia in northeastern of Brazil. This basin was formed in distensional context, with rifting and subsequent thermal phase during Neocomian to late Cretaceous. At Cenozoic ages, the Abrolhos magmatism occurs in the basin with peaks during the Paleocene and Eocene. In this period, there was a kinematic inversion in the basin represented by folds related to reverse faults. Structural restoration of regional 2D seismic sections revealed that most of the deformation was concentrated at the beginning of the Cenozoic time with the peak at the Lower Eocene. The post-Eocene is marked by a decrease of strain rate to the present. The 3D structural modeling revealed a fold belt (trending EW to NE-SW) accommodating the deformation between the Royal Charlotte and Sulphur Minerva volcanic highs. The volcanic eruptions have caused a differential overburden on the borders of the basin. This acted as the trigger for halokinesis, as demonstrated by physical modeling in literature. Consequently, the deformation tends to be higher in the edges of the basin. The volcanic rocks occur mainly as concordant structures (sills) in the syn-tectonic sediment deposition showing a concomitant deformation. The isopach maps and diagrams of axis orientation of deformation revealed that most of the folds were activated and reactivated at different times during the Cenozoic. The folds exhibit diverse kinematic patterns over time as response to behavior of adjacent volcanic highs. These interpretations allied with information on the petroleum system of the basin are important in mapping the prospects for hydrocarbons

Aplicação da modelagem estrutural computacional direta na análise da geometria de falhas: exemplo da falha de Baixa Grande (Bacia Potiguar - NE do Brasil)

The Baixa grande fault is located on the edge of the S-SW Potiguar Rift. It limits the south part of Umbuzeiro Graben and the Apodi Graben. Although a number of studies have associated the complex deformation styles in the hanging wall of the Baixa Grande Fault with geometry and displacement variations, none have applied the modern computational techniques such as geometrical and kinematic validations to address this problem. This work proposes a geometric analysis of the Baixa Fault using seismic interpretation. The interpretation was made on 3D seismic data of the Baixa Grande fault using the software OpendTect (dGB Earth Sciences). It was also used direct structural modeling, such as Analog Direct Modeling know as Folding Vectors and, 2D and 3D Direct Computational Modeling. The Folding Vectors Modeling presented great similarity with the conventional structural seismic interpretations of the Baixa Grande Fault, thus, the conventional interpretation was validated geometrically. The 2D direct computational modeling was made on some sections of the 3D data of the Baixa Grande Fault on software Move (Midland Valley Ltd) using the horizon modeling tool. The modeling confirms the influence of fault geometry on the hanging wall. The Baixa Grande Fault ramp-flat-ramp geometry generates synform on the concave segments of the fault and antiform in the convex segments. On the fault region that does not have segments angle change, the beds are dislocated without deformation, and on the listric faults occur rollover. On the direct 3D computational modeling, structural attributes were obtained as horizons on the hanging wall of the main fault, after the simulation of several levels of deformation along the fault. The occurrence of structures that indicates shortening in this modeling, also indicates that the antiforms on the Baixa Grande Fault were influenced by fault geometry

Modelagem estrutural física de semigrábens ortogonais e oblíquos à distenção regional: influência da trama do embasamento e comparação com analógicos no nordeste brasileiro

The physical structural modeling tool is being increasingly used in geology to provide information about the evolutionary stages (nucleation, growth) and geometry of geological structures at various scales. During the simulations of extensional tectonics, modeling provides a better understanding of fault geometry and evolution of the tectonic-stratigraphic architecture of rift basins. In this study a sandbox type apparatus was used to study the nucleation and development of basins influenced by previous structures within the basement, variably oriented as regards to the main extensional axis. Two types of experiments were conducted in order to: (i) simulate the individual (independent) development of half-grabens oriented orthogonal or oblique to the extension direction; (ii) simulate the simultaneous development of such half-grabens, orthogonal or oblique to the extension direction. In both cases the same materials (sand mixed with gypsum) were used and the same boundary conditions were maintained. The results were compared with a natural analogue represented by the Rio do Peixe Basin (one of the eocretaceous interior basins of Northeast Brazil). The obtained models allowed to observe the development of segmented border faults with listric geometry, often forming relay ramps, and the development of inner basins faults that affect only the basal strata, like the ones observed in the seismic sections of the natural analogue. The results confirm the importance of basement tectonic heritage in the geometry of rift depocenters

Avaliação ultra-estrutural dos efeitos tóxicos da mitomicina C no epitélio ciliar de olhos de coelhos normais com e sem tratamento hipotensor ocular prévio

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o epitélio ciliar interno (ECI) do corpo ciliar após aplicação de mitomicina C (MMC) sob retalho escleral, em animais tratados com dois tipos de inibidores da produção do humor aquoso. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados ambos os olhos de 16 coelhos divididos em 4 grupos experimentais. Foi realizado retalho escleral em todos os olhos dos animais, mas apenas os olhos direitos (OD) receberam MMC. No grupo 1 (G1) não houve tratamento prévio. Nos grupos G2 e G4 foi administrada acetazolamida e nos grupos G3 e G4 maleato de timolol. O ECI foi examinado à microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). Os olhos esquerdos formaram os grupos controle. RESULTADOS: em todos os grupos exceto no G1 OE, foram observadas: retração das células e/ou alargamento entre invaginações, mitocôndrias com rarefação, vesículas claras e corpos densos. A membrana limitante interna estava espessada, descontínua ou descolada em todos grupos exceto G1 OE e G2 OE. Foi observada liberação de material citoplasmático apenas nos grupos tratados com inibidores da produção de humor aquoso. CONCLUSÕES: 1- MMC, acetazolamida e maleato de timolol causaram alterações morfológicas no epitélio ciliar mesmo usados isoladamente. 2- A associação MMC e acetazolamida causou mais alterações do que a acetazolamida isoladamente, mas não mais do que a MMC isoladamente. 3- Nas demais associações as alterações foram semelhantes.

Análise morfométrica e ultra-estrutural do nervo óptico de ratos induzidos a ingestão de álcool

OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos da ingestão crônica de álcool sobre o nervo óptico em um modelo murino adulto. MÉTODOS: Doze ratos machos da raça Wistar, de 30 dias de idade, foram divididos por sorteio em 2 grupos experimentais: tratado (TG), com 8 animais, alimentados com ração-padrão para roedores de laboratório e uma mistura de água de torneira e etanol ad libitum; controle (CG), com 4 animais, alimentados com a mesma ração e água de torneira pura ad libitum. Após 40 semanas todos os ratos foram sacrificados, sendo os nervos ópticos de ambos os olhos preparados para microscopia óptica e eletrônica. A área de secção transversal de cada nervo a aumento de 500´, assim como número de fibras axonais dentro de 5 campos aleatoriamente selecionados a aumento de 2000´ foram medidos com auxílio de digitalizador de imagens acoplado ao microscópio óptico. Foram realizadas fotomicrografias de 10 campos aleatoriamente selecionados de cada nervo (5 centrais e 5 periféricos) a aumento de 4200´ em microscópio eletrônico de transmissão. RESULTADOS: A análise morfométrica não mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os 2 grupos estudados. em contraste com o CG, o exame ultra-estrutural dos nervos ópticos do TG mostrou um intenso desarranjo das bainhas de mielina, que se tornaram espessadas, com separação de suas lamelas, apresentando, por vezes, degenerações interlamelares elétron-densas, além da presença de muitas organelas degeneradas. CONCLUSÃO: Os achados desse estudo mostram alterações ultra-estruturais no nervo óptico de ratos adultos após ingestão crônica de álcool, sem modificações morfométricas significativas.

Caracterização estrutural do fator de crescimento de fibroblasto-10 (FGF-10) e seu papel na fisiologia folicular ovariana

Background: Interest in folliculogenesis has grown extensively in recent years. Nevertheless, several aspects of follicular activity are still poorly understood. Thus, in vitro culture of ovarian follicles using new substances has been established as a very viable model, enhancing the prospects for a better understanding of follicular activity. Among the family members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGFs), FGF-10 has received recent attention for its ability to regulate the development of ovarian follicles and oocyte maturation. Given the relevance of FGF-10 in the folliculogenesis process, this review aimed to describe the structural features, expression and the main biological effects of FGF-10 on the development of ovarian follicles in mammals.Review: Along this work, it was shown aspects related to structural characterization of FGF-10 and its receptors, as well as FGF-10 expression in different cell types, emphasizing its importance to follicular development. FGF-10 is a paracrine member of the family of FGFs, and is characterized by promoting biological responses via cell surface receptors (FGFRs) of tyrosine kinase-type. of these receptors, FGFR-1, FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 may undergo alternative transcriptional arrangements, enabling the formation of two isoforms (b and c) that have varying degrees of affinity for the various FGFs. Thus, seven FGFR proteins (FGFRs 1b, 1c, 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c and 4) with different binding specificities are generated from the four FGFR genes. The FGFRs transmit intracellular signals after binding with the ligand through the phosphorylation of tyrosine, which activates various transduction patterns in the cytoplasm. The signal transduction of FGF-10 may occur through three main pathways: protein of rat sarcoma (Ras)/MAPK, PLC gamma/Ca(2+) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), which are involved in the transmission of biological signals, leading to cellular proliferation and differentiation. FGF-10 mRNA expression was detected in the ovarian stroma, oocyte and theca cells of preantral and antral follicles. on the other hand, the expression of mRNA for FGF-10 receptors was found in, granulosa cells, theca cells, cumulus cells and oocytes. Although FGFs are widely distributed in different tissues and cell types, the importance and function of FGFs in the ovary are still poorly documented. FGF-10 has been shown to be an important mediator of mesenchymal and epithelial cell interactions during follicle development, promoting follicular survival, activation and growth. Besides the action on folliculogenesis, FGF-10 was recently identified as a growth factor able to improve oocyte competence. However, in antral follicles, the presence of FGF-10 is associated with increased follicular atresia, which matches its anti-estrogenic action.Discussion: From this review, we can conclude that FGF-10 is an important regulator of female reproduction. This growth factor acts in follicle survival, oocyte maturation, expansion of cumulus cells and proliferation of granulosa/theca cellsthrough direct and/or indirect actions in the control of folliculogenesis. Furthermore, FGF-10 seemed to have different effects throughout the follicular development. However, it is necessary to perform additional studies that may provide a better understanding about the importance of FGF-10 during folicullogenesis.

Caracterização florística e estrutural das florestas naturalmente fragmentadas no Parque Estadual do Guartelá, município de Tibagi, estado do Paraná

A Floresta Ombrófila Mista na região dos Campos Gerais do Paraná é naturalmente fragmentada, ocorrendo em forma de capões ou ao longo dos cursos d'água. Com o objetivo de caracterizar a composição e estrutura destes fragmentos e avaliar as correlações entre a distribuição das espécies e variáveis do solo de tal região, realizou-se um estudo no Parque Estadual do Guartelá, Município de Tibagi (24°39'10S e 50°15'25W). Foram alocadas 50 parcelas de 10x10m, distribuídas em capões de diferentes tamanhos e ao longo da floresta que acompanha o Rio Iapó, amostrando todos os indivíduos com altura > 3m. Foram encontrados um alto número de espécies (140) e uma elevada diversidade (H'=4,10), valores acima daqueles relatados para o domínio da Floresta Ombrófila Mista. As análises da composição e estrutura revelaram uma flora de transição entre a Floresta Ombrófila Mista e a Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, com uma maior similaridade com esta última, possivelmente influenciada pelo clima. Uma análise de correspondência canônica identificou as variáveis textura e acidez como as correlacionadas com a distribuição de abundâncias das espécies, ordenando dois grupos distintos: um formado pelas parcelas distribuídas nos capões, relacionadas fortemente à textura do solo; e outro pelas parcelas alocadas na floresta de galeria, associadas principalmente com a disponibilidade de nutrientes.

Modulação androgênica e estrogênica na próstata: uma abordagem em modelos experimentais de roedores com enfoque na biologia estrutural

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