CYTOPLASMIC AND PLASMA-MEMBRANE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PARACOCCIDIOIDES-BRASILIENSIS YEAST-PHASE CELLS AS REVEALED BY FREEZE-ETCHING

Using a freeze-etch technique the cytoplasmic and plasma membrane ultrastructure of Paracoccidiodies brasiliensis yeast-phase cells was studied. The multinucleate yeast-phase cells which grow by simultaneous multiple budding, like those of Mucor sp. contain several nuclei, mitochondria, well-developed ER, small vacuoles and lipid droplets. Complex structures with no apparent connexion to the plasma membrane of P. brasiliensis usually lack inveginations, but invaginations which do occur are always rod-shaped which indicates P. brasiliensis to be of either ascomycetous or basidiomycetous origin.

Change in the ascorbic-acid content of acerolas (Malpighia-glabra L) as function of harvest maturation degree and storage-temperature

The content of ascorbic acid was assayed in acerolas harvested in three phases of maturation: green-yellow fruits (I); light red (II) and wine-coloured (III). Phase I and Phase II fruit were packed in aluminium sheets and stoppered flasks and stored in freezer (-10o.C) and in refrigerator (8o.C). Samples of 8 fruits from each experimental condiction were analysed for ascorbic acid determination by 2-chlorophenol indophenol discolouration method. The averages of 1.393,5 mg./100g. for Phase I sample, 1024,9 for Phase II and 756,5 for Phase III fruits, showed a statistically significative linear decreasing of the ascorbic acid content related with the maturation extent Phase I samples stored in freezing showed statitically significative decreasing of that vitamin at 408 hours of storage in both: aluminium sheet and stoppered flask package; in chilling temperature there was significative reduction of ascorbic acid content after 240 and 312 hours, respectively, for fruits packed in aluminium sheet and stopped flasks. Phase Il samples showed significative lost at 72 hours of storage when maintained in freezing temperature either, in aluminium sheet or in stoppered flasks: When stored in chilling temperature showed progressive lost of ascorbic acid in all measuring periods in every package. After 144 hours suffered deterioration suggested by colour changes.

Effects of maturation and scarification on seed germination of Syagrus schizophylla (Mart.) glass. (Arecaceae)

Syagrus schizophylla (Mart.) Glass. belongs to the Arecaccae family. This palm is native of Brazil and presents great potential for use in gardens and cultivation in pot. Palms species, with relatively few exceptions, can only be propagated from seeds; even so, there are no reports in the literature about the germination of this palm seeds. The seed maturity is a factor that interferes in the success of the germination process. For some species, studies showed that palm seeds germinated better when the fruits were completely ripe (showing full color) and for other, when they were with green coloration. Several species of the Arecaccae family presents physical dormancy of seeds in varied degrees, demanding treatments for improve germination. The objective of this work was to study the effects of maturation and of the scarification on seed germination of S. schizophylla. The experimental design used was a factorial 3 x 2 (3 maturation stadiums: green, half-ripe - yellow and completely ripe - red; and mechanical scarification: with and without), entirely casualized, with four replications of 15 seeds per plot. The seeds (with 32,43% of humidity) were placed in plastic boxes with sand (60% of humidity, placing water according to weight in each three days), under controlled conditions of alternated temperature of 25-35 degrees C, photoperiod of 12 hours. The percentage of germination and the speed germination index (SGI) were evaluated until 79 days. It was observed that, so much for germination percentage as for SGI, there was not significant difference for the interaction among the two factors, maturation stadium and scarification, however, there were significant differences among the maturation stadiums and between seeds scarified or not. The seeds from green fruits presented lower germination percentage and slower germination when compared with seeds from yellow or red fruits; the seeds from yellow or red fruits didn't differ statistically to each other. To seeds scarificated, independently of the maturation stadium, presented germination percentage significantly larger and the germination was significantly faster when compared with the seeds without scarification.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in the clinical forms of leprosy

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are autoantibodies against enzymes present in primary granules of neutrophils and lysosomes of monocytes detected in systemic vasculitis and in other diseases, including infections, ANCA are markers of active Wegener granulomatosis, which presents some anatomo-pathologic and immune response features similar to those of leprosy. Thus, we raised the hypothesis that ANCA may be present in leprosy as markers specifically linked to the presence of vasculitis. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of ANCA in leprosy and its correlation with the clinical forms of the disease. Sera from 60 normal individuals and from 59 patients with different clinical forms of leprosy were studied. The patients were also allocated into reactional and nonreactional groups. By indirect immunofluorescence, ANCA were positive, an atypical pattern A-ANCA, in 28.8% of the patient sera. A-ANCA predominated, although not significantly (p >0,05), in the reactional groups (37.9% vs 20.0%), and in those at the lepromatous pole (41.6% vs 20.0%). There was no correlation between ANCA positivity and either disease duration, disease activity, or therapeutic regimen (p >0.05), An interesting finding was the correlation between ANCA and gender: 94.1% of ANCA-positive patients were males (p <0.01), a feature that so far has not been reported in ANCA-related diseases and for which there is no explanation at the moment. By ELISA, the sera of the lepromatous leprosy patients did not show activity against either PR3, MPO, HLE, the most common ANCA antigens. Because A-ANCA are nonspecific, this finding requires further investigation for the determination of the responsible antigen(s), in conclusion, A-ANCA are present in 28.8% of leprosy patients but are not related to vasculitis in the erythema nodosum leprosum reaction and are not a marker of a specific clinical form.

Appraisal of the chelipeds size on Hepatus-pudibundus (Herbst, 1785) (Crustacea, Calappidae) in function of sex and maturation

This paper appraises the influence of chelipeds on sexual and maturation phasis of the crab Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785), collected in Ubatuba (SP) region. The allometric constants obtained from the regression (carapace width X cheliped weight) adjusted to a power function (Y=aX(b)) were analysed. It was verified that males show larger chelipeds than females. The mean percentage of the chelipeds weight differs in sex and maturation.

Macro- and microstructure of the superior cervical ganglion in dogs, cats and horses during maturation

The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) provides sympathetic input to the head and neck, its relation with mandible, submandibular glands, eyes (second and third order control) and pineal gland being demonstrated in laboratory animals. In addition, the SCG's role in some neuropathies can be clearly seen in Horner's syndrome. In spite of several studies published involving rats and mice, there is little morphological descriptive and comparative data of SCG from large mammals. Thus, we investigated the SCG's macro- and microstructural organization in medium (dogs and cats) and large animals (horses) during a very specific period of the post-natal development, namely maturation (from young to adults). The SCG of dogs, cats and horses were spindle shaped and located deeply into the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, close to the distal vagus ganglion and more related to the internal carotid artery in dogs and horses, and to the occipital artery in cats. As to macromorphometrical data, that is ganglion length, there was a 23.6% increase from young to adult dogs, a 1.8% increase from young to adult cats and finally a 34% increase from young to adult horses. Histologically, the SCG's microstructure was quite similar between young and adult animals and among the 3 species. The SCG was divided into distinct compartments (ganglion units) by capsular septa of connective tissue. Inside each ganglion unit the most prominent cellular elements were ganglion neurons, glial cells and small intensely fluorescent cells, comprising the ganglion's morphological triad. Given this morphological arrangement, that is a summation of all ganglion units, SCG from dogs, cats and horses are better characterized as a ganglion complex rather than following the classical ganglion concept. During maturation (from young to adults) there was a 32.7% increase in the SCG's connective capsule in dogs, a 25.8% increase in cats and a 33.2% increase in horses. There was an age-related increase in the neuronal profile size in the SCG from young to adult animals, that is a 1.6-fold, 1.9-fold and 1.6-fold increase in dogs, cats and horses, respectively. on the other hand, there was an age-related decrease in the nuclear profile size of SCG neurons from young to adult animals (0.9-fold, 0.7-fold and 0.8-fold in dogs, cats and horses, respectively). Ganglion connective capsule is composed of 2 or 3 layers of collagen fibres in juxtaposition and, as observed in light microscopy and independently of the animal's age, ganglion neurons were organised in ganglionic units containing the same morphological triad seen in light microscopy. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Cytoplasmic protrusions from digestive cells of bees

Midgut cells from the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and the stingless bees Scaptotrigona postica and Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides were examined ultrastructurally and histochemically. Several types of protrusions were evident in the apical surface of the midgut cells. Large apical protrusions formed by the whole apical surface of the cell, whose content had a homogeneous cytoplasmic matrix devoid of organelles and with a different electron density from the subjacent cytoplasm. These protrusions can be cast out to the midgut lumen. A second type of large apical protrusion was produced between the cell microvilli, presenting many ribosomes and polyribosomes. In addition to these large protrusions two other kinds of small ones were observed. One type crowned the cell apex forming small spheres with irregular contours near the cells, and increasing in size further away. The other type was characterized by the microvilli swelling with an electron-lucent content. The Gomori acid phosphatase reaction was positive at the cell apex, in the pinched off protrusions and in the microvilli. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of cell protrusions in secretory mechanisms.

Effect of fruit maturation stage and light on seed germination of Aiphanes aculeata

Despite their spiny nature, Aiphanes palms are popular as ornamentals. They can be grown in various soil conditions, but achieve fast, luxuriant growth in sheltered positions with plenty of water. Shaded conditions are the best when plants are young. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fruit maturation stage and light on the germination of seeds of A. aculeata. Fruits were collected at three different maturation stages: (1) yellow, (2) red, (3) collected on the ground without the fleshy mesocarp (removed by birds and insects). The fleshy mesocarp was also removed in treatments (1) and (2). All fruits were then treated with thiram and 25 seeds per plot were seeded in trays full of sand. The treatments (2) and (3) were subdivided in two other treatments: (a) 12 h photoperiod, (b) continuous darkness. The temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C. Seed germination began 34 days after sowing. After 160 days, the final germination percentage was (1) 54,67%, (2a) 61,33%, (2b) 65,33%, (3a) 38,00% and (3b) 45,33%. The best treatment was (2) independently of the light conditions.

Effect of the chronological age and sexual maturation on the time to exhaustion at maximal aerobic speed

The purposes of this study were: a) to verify the effect of chronological age and sexual maturation on the time to exhaustion at VO(2)max (t(lim)) and; b) to examine the reproducibility of t(lim) in boys aged 10-15 years. Forty boys, divided into 4 groups, in accordance to the chronological age (G10-12 and G13-15) and sexual maturation (P1-P3 and P4-P5 levels for pubic hair), performed the following tests: 1) incremental test for determination of VO(2)max and; 2) all-out exercise bout performed at VO(2)max to determine the t(lim). There was no difference of t(lim) (sec) between G10-12 and G13-15 (181.5 +/- 96.3 vs. 199 105.5). While the two measures of t(lim) were moderately related (r = 0.78), t(lim) from the second test (226.6 +/- 96.1 s) was higher than that of the first (191.3 +/- 79.2 s). We can conclude that the t(lim) is not influenced by chronological age and sexual maturation. Besides, t(lim) presents a lower reproducibility in children and adolescents.

THE EFFECT OF SERUM ON IN-VITRO MATURATION, IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND STEROIDOGENESIS OF BOVINE OOCYTES COCULTURED WITH GRANULOSA-CELLS

The influence of fetal calf serum alone (FCS) or associated with proestrous (FCS+PCS), estrous (FCS+ECS) or metaestrous (FCS+MCS) cow serum added to the culture medium and of the steroids produced by co-cultured granulosa cells were evaluated in terms of the in vitro maturation (TVM) and fertilization (IVF) of bovine oocytes. Supplementation of the medium with FCS+ECS and FCS+MCS resulted in higher proportions of oocytes that reached metaphase II (96.0% and 93.3%, respectively) and in higher proportions of embryos that reached the four- and eight-cell/morula stages (51.9% and 65.6%, respectively), whereas the supplementation with FCS and FCS+PCS resulted in only 79.2% and 67.5%, respectively, of matured oocytes and 26.7% and 34.3%, respectively, of cleaved embryos. These findings show that the best IVM and IVF were obtained at lower concentrations of estradiol produced by co-cultured granulosa cells (supplementation with FCS+ECS: 10.3 ng/ml and FCS+MCS: 2.1 ng/ml), whereas the worst-results in IVM and IVF occurred at higher concentrations of estradiol that were obtained with FCS (33.1 ng/ml) and FCS+PCS (19.9 ng/ml) supplementation. These data suggest an inhibitory effect of estradiol on resumption of oocyte meiosis in vitro.