Immunolocalization of estrogen and progesterone receptors in neuroendocrine tumors of lung, skin, gastrointestinal and female genital tracts

Expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors has traditionally been associated with hormone-responsive organs, such as breast, ovary, and endometrium, and carcinomas arising therefrom. More recently, examples of ''unexpected'' ER or PR expression have been reported, particularly in tumors of endocrine tissues, such as thyroid and pancreatic islet cells. We tested the hypothesis that neuroendocrine tumors of various primary and metastatic sites might also express ER or PR or both by performing a retrospective immunohistochemical study in a series of 59 formalin- or mechacarn-fixed neuroendocrine carcinomas of various sites, including lung, skin, gastrointestinal and female genital tracts, and including carcinoid and atypical carcinoid tumors, small cell carcinomas, and Merkel cell carcinomas. We employed the anti-ER monoclonal antibody 1D5 and the anti-PR monoclonal antibody PgR1A6 using standard immunohistochemical techniques after microwave-based heat-induced epitope retrieval. Two of 28 carcinoid tumors demonstrated ER positivity; six of 30 cases were positive for progesterone receptor only. In addition, PR expression was found in one of two cases of atypical carcinoid, in five of 25 cases of small cell carcinoma, and in one of two cases of Merkel cell carcinoma. None of the atypical carcinoids, small cell carcinomas, or Merkel cell carcinomas were ER positive. In most cases, the fraction of tumor cell nuclei that were positive was <50%. These studies add the spectrum of neuroendocrine tumors that can express these hormone receptors. Similar to the pattern previously described in the subsets of meningiomas and islet cell tumors, PR but not ER is detectable in most cases. These results underscore the caution that should be exercised in determining tissue origin of metastatic carcinomas based only on detection of hormone receptors by immunohistochemistry.

OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION RELATED TO SIZE AND SEX IN THE TROPICAL MILLIPEDE PSEUDONANNOLENE-TRICOLOR (DIPLOPODA, SPIROSTREPTIDA)

1. The oxygen consumption of the tropical millipede, Pseudonannolene tricolor (Spirostreptida, Pseudonannolenidae) was studied in both male and female animals (body mass varying from 0.242 to 2.802 g) using a Warburg microrespirometer at 25-degrees-C.2. The allometric equation M = a W(b) was used in order to check the metabolic increases with increasing body mass. The b exponents were, respectively, 0.68 for males and 0.60 for females.3. Results are discussed in terms of the meaning of the b values in Diplopoda and animals in general.4. A relationship between volume and body mass in P. tricolor is also reported.

Developmental lead exposure induces depressive-like behavior in female rats

The involvement of neurotoxicants in the etiology of emotional pathologies is becoming an issue in neurotoxicology. Lead (Pb) exposure during childhood has been associated with increased impulsivity, aggressivity, and delinquency. Considering the paucity of experimental studies investigating the involvement of developmental Pb exposure in emotional disorders, our objective was to investigate whether Pb exposure during pregnancy and/or lactation could be related to depressive symptoms in adult male and female rats. Wistar dams received 10 mg of Pb, as Pb acetate, or 13.4 mg of Na acetate, by gavage, daily, during pregnancy and lactation. By cross-fostering at the time of birth, pups were either exposed to Ph or Na acetate during pregnancy only, lactation only, or during both pregnancy and lactation. At 70 days of age, animals were submitted to the open-field test followed by the forced swimming test. Ph levels were measured in the blood of dams (weaning) and pups (after behavioral evaluation). The results demonstrated that exposure to Ph during both pregnancy and lactation induced, in males, an increased emotionality state detected in the open-field test, and in females, depressive-like behavior detected in the forced swimming test. These alterations were observed at residual blood Pb levels (i.e., around 5 mug/dL).

Efficacy of the Bm86 antigen against immature instars and adults of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Occurrence of different gynandromorphs and ergatandromorphs in laboratory colonies of the urban ant, Monomorium floricola

Colonies of Monomorium floricola (Jerdon) in laboratory conditions showed gynandromorphic and ergatandromorphic specimens, the former with nine different combinations of male and female tissues and the latter with 6 different combinations. Their development from egg to adult was around 74.6 days for gynandromorphs, and 87.5 days for ergantandromorphs.

Environmentally induced antinociception and hyperalgesia in rats and mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Developmental and behavioral effects of postnatal amitraz exposure in rats

The effects of postnatal amitraz exposure on physical and behavioral parameters were studied in Wistar rats, whose lactating dams received the pesticide (10 mg/Kg) orally on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19 of lactation; control dams received distilled water (1 ml/kg) on the same days. A total of 18 different litters (9 of them control and 9 experimental) born after a 21- day gestation were used. The results showed that the median effective time (ET50) for fur development, eye opening, testis descent and onset of the startle response were increased in rats postnatally exposed to amitraz (2.7, 15.1, 21.6 and 15.3 days, respectively) compared to those of the control pups (1.8, 14.0, 19.9 and 12.9 days, respectively). The ages of incisor eruption, total unfolding of the external ears, vaginal and ear opening and the time taken to perform the grasping hindlimb reflex were not affected by amitraz exposure. Pups from dams treated with amitraz during lactation took more time (in seconds) to perform the surface righting reflex on postnatal days (PND) 3 (25.0 ±2.0), 4 (12.3 ± 1.2) and 5 (8.7 ± 0.9) in relation to controls (10.6 ± 1.2; 4.5 ± 0.6 and 3.4 ± 0.4, respectively); the climbing response was not changed by amitraz. Postnatal amitraz exposure increased spontaneous motor activity of male and female pups in the open-field on PND 16 (140± 11)and 17(124± 12), and 16 (104±9), 17 (137 ± 9) and 18 (106 ± 8), respectively. Data on spontaneous motor activity of the control male and female pups were 59 ± 11 and 69 ± 10 for days 16 and 17 and 49 ± 9, 48 ± 7 and 56 ± 7 for days 16, 17 and 18, respectively. Some qualitative differences were also observed in spontaneous motor behavior; thus, raising the head, shoulder and pelvis matured one or two days later in the amitraz- treated offspring. Postnatal amitraz exposure did not change locomotion and rearing frequencies or immobility time in the open-field on PND 30, 60 and 90. The present findings indicate that postnatal exposure to amitraz caused transient developmental and behavioral changes in the exposed offspring and suggest that further investigation of the potential health risk of amitraz exposure to developing human and animal offsprings may be warranted.

Microhabitat and plant structure of Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) populations in four streams of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

Microhabitat and plant structure of seven Batrachospermum populations (four of Batrachospermum delicatulum (= Sirodotia delicatula), one of Batrachospermum macrosporum and two of the 'Chantransia' stage), including the influence of physical variables (current velocity, depth, irradiance and substratum), were investigated in four streams of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The populations of B. delicatulum and the 'Chantransia' stage occurred under very diverse microhabitat conditions, which probably contributes to their wide spatial and seasonal distribution in Brazilian streams. Results suggest branch reconfiguration as a probable mechanism of adaptation to current velocity based on the occurrence of: (i) B. macrosporum (a large mucilaginous form with presumably little ability for branch reconfiguration) under lower current velocity than B. delicatulum; (ii) only dense plants in populations with high current velocities (> 60 cm s-1), whereas 53-77% of dense plants were seen in populations exposed to lower currents (< 40 cm s-1); (iii) positive correlations of plant length with internode length in populations under low current velocities and negative correlation in a population with high velocity (132 cm s-1); and (iv) negative correlations of current velocity with plant diameter and internode length in a population under high flow. This study, involving mainly dioecious populations, revealed that B. delicatulum displayed higher fertilization rates than B. macrosporum. A complementary explanation for a dioecious species to increase fertilization success was proposed consisting of outcrossing among intermingled male and female adjacent plants within an algal spot.

Analysis of chromatin and nuclear area alterations in triatomines during starvation

In the present study changes in nuclear area and chromatin distribution in the Malpighian tubules of a blood-feeding insect, the vector of Chagas' disease were analysed. Male and female adult insects were dissected, after a starving period of up to 28 days. The Malpighian tubules were fixed and stained by orcein lacto-acetic. The nuclei were analyzed by photomicrography, karyometry and a statistical analysis was performed. It was observed that with the increase of the starvation period there were alterations in the nuclear phenotype, that is, changes in the nuclear area and chromatin extenuation. In males, starting from the second week of starvation, chromatin extenuation was accentuated, and the beginning of nuclear coalition occurred more frequently in the third and fourth starvation weeks. In females, the accentuated chromatin extenuation was observed after the third starvation week, and irregularities in nuclear borders were more frequent. The descriptive statistical analysis of the male and temale nuclear areas revealed that the nuclear areas continued to increase during starvation reaching highest values in the third week. Another outstanding aspect is that in the third starvation week karyometry presented larger heterogeneity with higher standard deviation values for both genders. Therefore, nuclear alterations related to the distribution and extenuation chromatin and increase in nuclear area were observed. These aspects suggest the presence of nuclear metabolic mechanisms that lead to synthesis of specific proteins necessary for the protection and maintenance of the cell during physiologic stress.

Genitalia, acoustics and chromosomes of Urogryllus toledopizai (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Morphological structures of male and female genitalia and the pars stridens of a population of Urogryllus toledopizai Mello (1988) as well as the karyotype of the species are illustrated. The characteristics of song signals and associated behavior are described and information on the seasonality of the species is provided. Disagreements with the results published by other authors are discussed.

Neuroendocrine alterations impair enamel mineralization, tooth eruption and saliva in rats.

Neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in rats causes definite neuroendocrine disturbances which lead to alterations in many organ systems. The possibility that MSG could affect tooth and salivary gland physiology was examined in this paper. Male and female pups were injected subcutaneously with MSG (4 mg/g BW) once a day at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th day after birth. Control animals were injected with saline, following the same schedule. Lower incisor eruption was determined between the 4th and the 10th postnatal days, and the eruption rate was measured between the 43rd and the 67th days of age. Pilocarpine-stimulated salivary flow was measured at 3 months of age; protein and amylase contents were thereby determined. The animals treated with MSG showed significant reductions in the salivary flow (males, -27%; females, -40%) and in the weight of submandibular glands (about -12%). Body weight reduction was only about 7% for males, and did not vary in females. Saliva of MSG-treated rats had increased concentrations of total proteins and amylase activity. The eruption of lower incisors occurred earlier in MSG-treated rats than in the control group, but on the other hand the eruption rate was significantly slowed down. The incisor microhardness was found to be lower than that of control rats. Our results show that neonatal MSG treatment causes well-defined oral disturbances in adulthood in rats, including salivary flow reduction, which coexisted with unaltered protein synthesis, and disturbances of dental mineralization and eruption. These data support the view that some MSG-sensitive hypothalamic nuclei have an important modulatory effect on the factors which determine caries susceptibility.

A preliminary report on the effect of laser therapy on the healing of cutaneous surgical wounds as a consequence of an inversely proportional relationship between wavelength and intensity: Histological study in rats

Objective: The objective of the present investigation was to assess the histological effects of different wavelengths and intensities on the healing process of cutaneous wounds. Background Data: Tissue repair is a dynamic interactive process which involves mediators, cells and extra-cellular matrix. Several reports on the use of laser therapy have shown that the healing process is positively affected when the correct parameters are used. Methods: Eighteen standardized wounds were surgically created on the dorsum of male and female Wistar rats, which were subsequently divided into two experimental groups according to wavelength used λ.670 or λ685 nm) for lasertherapy (LLLT). Each group was divided into three subgroups of three animals according to the intensity of the applied irradiation (2,15, or 25 mW). Twelve animals were used as entreated controls and were not irradiated. The irradiation was carried out during seven consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed eight days after surgery. The specimens were removed, kept in 4% formaldehyde for 24 h, routinely prepared to wax, stained with H&E, and analyzed under light microscopy. Results: For both groups, light microscopy showed a substitution repair process; however, when LLLT was used, a positive biomodulatory effect was detectable, chiefly associated with shorter wavelength and low intensity. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that LLLT improved cutaneous wound repair and that the effect is a result of an inversely proportional relationship between wavelength and intensity, with treatment more effective when combining higher intensity with short wavelength or lower intensity with higher wavelength.

Natural infection by Paramphistomoidea Stiles and Goldberger, 1910 trematodes in wild Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus Illiger, 1815) from Sérgio Mottas's hydroelectric power station flooding area.

Studies on helminthfauna of marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus Illiger, 1815 are rare, although helminthic diseases are an important cause of mortality in these animals. Fifteen male and female adult marsh deer from Sergio Motta's hydroelectric power station flooding area at Paraná River which died during the capture and quarantine procedures, between 1998 and 1999, were necropsied. Three trematodes species, Paramphistomum cervi, Balanorchis anastrofus and Zygocotyle lunatum, all belonging to superfamily Paramphistomoidea, were identified. The obtained trematodes were identified, counted and their respectives descriptors of infection were determined. All necropsied animals were infected by helminths. Paramphistomum cervi was the most prevalent species, while Zygocotyle lunatum was found in only one animal.

Hematological and serum chemistry values for the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus): Variation with sex and age

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Electromyographic analysis of the rectus abdominis muscle in pelvic retroversion and the decrease of the lower limbs

We often face Patients searching for rehabilitation for lower back disorders during the physiotherapeutic routine, and it is known that the abdominal muscle, specially the rectus abdominis muscle, aid the stabilization of the pelvis. Therefore, this paper analyzes the electrical activity of the rectus abdominis muscle in the pelvic retroversion in dorsal decubitus and in orthostatic position and in the lowering of the lower limbs. 30 healthy students, male and female, 17-40 yr, divided into two groups - Group 1: 15 volunteers (pelvic balance); Group 2 (pelvic unbalance) took part in this study. The electrical activity of the right and left supra-umbilical and infra-umbilical portions of the rectus abdominis muscle was detected. The mean RMS values from three attempts ftom the electromyographic traces were usedfor the analysis of the electrical activity. The RMS value was submitted to the normalization process. The data were submitted to statistic treatment by the Friedman test, and the analyses of the means and standard deviation towards a level of significance of 95%. The results demonstrated that the portions of the rectus abdominis muscle presented low electrical activity for the groups studiedfor pelvic retroversion either in dorsal decubitus or and orthostatic position. However, the decreasing movement of the lower limbs towards the portions of the rectus abdominis muscle presented more significant electrical activity whereas the lower portions presented higher activity than the higher ones for Group 2.