ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE MANDIBULAR GLANDS OF PACHYCONDYLA-STRIATA ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, PONERINAE) .1. WORKERS

The mandibular glands of Pachycondyla striata workers consists of a proximal reservoir and secretory portion. The secretion is transported from the cytoplasm of the secretory cells to reservoir through individual canaliculi which is subdivided into two portions : an intracytoplasmatic and extracellular one. The reservoir consists of an epithelium made up of thin cells has a thick cuticle. The secretory cells showed a large amount of structures forming the citoskeleton always associated with myelin figures.

Histological, histochemical and morphometric study of female corpora allata of Pachycondyla striata ants (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)

In this study we utilized both histological/histochemical tests and morphometric/statistical tests to observe developmental differences in the corpora allata in Pachycondyla striata workers and queens ants. The general structure of corpora allata was similar between workers and queens. The differences found among the volumes was not statistically significant when the probability value was set at 5%. Although the queen corpora allata volume has been observed smaller than those of the worker and the right gland volume has been smaller than those of the left one. Differences also were observed histologically, the worker corpora allata cells showed homogeneous cytoplasm and sparse nuclear chromatin in well defined nuclei. It was the reverse in the queens, in which the corpora allata cells showed some secretory cytoplasmic vesicles and nuclei with a different morphology, i. e., from extremely large with sparse chromatin to small with condensed chromatin. Employing histochemical tests verified that the corpora allata in both castes contained large amounts of RNA and protein in the cytoplasm of their cells and an absence of polysaccharides. Differences in the lipid amounts in worker's glands were found, whereas, in the queens' corpora allata lipids always occur.

Division of labor in pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Four colonies of the ant Pachycondyla striata were used to analyze the specie behavioral repertoire. Forty-six behavioral acts were recorded in laboratory. Here, we present the record the division of labor between the castes and the temporal polyethism of monomorphic workers. The queens carried out many of the behavioral traits recorded in this work however; they performed them less frequently compared to the worker. The workers activity involved chasing and feeding on fresh insects and usingthem to nourish larvae besides laying eggs in the C-posture, an activity also performed by queens, which is similar to that of wasps of the subfamily Stenogastrinae. The young workers were involved in activities of brood care, sexuate care, and nest maintenance, and the older workers were involved in defense, exploration, and foraging. © 2012 Adolfo da Silva-Melo and Edilberto Giannotti.

Modelo arquitetônico de ninhos, biologia e divisão de trabalho de Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Hymenoptera : Formicidae : Ponerinae)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Dominância hierárquica, organização social e perfil de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares de Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Seasonal effects and antifungal activity from bark chemical constituents of Sterculia apetala (Malvaceae) at Pantanal of Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modulation of post-coital dopaminergic tone by prior parity

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of reproductive experience on dopaminergic profile in three different brain tissues, hypothalamus, striatum and cortex in rats on 7th-8th day of pregnancy during the light-dark shift (between 1700-1900h). Results showed that in hypothalamus, dopamine levels increased and DOPAC/DA decreased as a function of parity. In cortex, no differences were observed. In striata, the haloperidol-induced HVA and HVA/DA increases were less intense in experienced animals. These findings suggested that reproductive experience produced functional central changes during pregnancy, with different neurochemical responses depending on the brain region.

Status of Early 19th-Century Names Authored in Parallel by Wied and Schinz for South American Reptiles and Amphibians, with Designations of Three Nomina Protecta

Prince Maximilian zu Wied's great exploration of coastal Brazil in 1815-1817 resulted in important collections of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, many of which were new species later described by Wied himself The bulk of his collection was purchased for the American Museum of Natural History in 1869, although many ""type specimens"" had disappeared earlier. Wied carefully identified his localities but did not designate type specimens or type localities, which are taxonomic concepts that were not yet established. Information and manuscript names on a fraction (17 species) of his Brazilian reptiles and amphibians were transmitted by Wied to Prof. Heinrich Rudolf Schinz at the University of Zurich. Schinz included these species (credited to their discoverer ""Princ. Max."") in the second volume of Das Thierreich ... (1822). Most are junior objective synonyms of names published by Wied. However, six of the 17 names used by Schinz predate Wied's own publications. Three were manuscript names never published by Wied because he determined the species to be previously known. (1) Lacerta vittata Schinz, 1822 (a nomen oblitum) = Lacerta striata sensu Wied (a misidentification, non Linnaeus nec sensu Merrem) = Kentropyx calcarata Spix, 1825, herein qualified as a nomen protectum. (2) Polychrus virescens Schinz, 1822 = Lacerta marmorata Linnaeus, 1758 (now Polychrus marmoratus). (3) Scincus cyanurus Schinz, 1822 (a nomen oblitum) = Gymnophthalmus quadrilineatus sensu Wied (a misidentification, non Linnaeus nec sensu Merrem) = Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt and Lutken, ""1861"" [1862]), herein qualified as a nomen protectum. Qualifying Scincus cyanurus Schinz, 1822, as a nomen oblitum also removes the problem of homonymy with the later-named Pacific skink Scincus cyanurus Lesson (= Emoia cyanura). The remaining three names used by Schinz are senior objective synonyms that take priority over Wied's names. (4) Bufo cinctus Schinz, 1822, is senior to Bufo cinctus Wied, 1823; both, however, are junior synonyms of Bufo crucifer Wied, 1821 = Chaunus crucifer (Wied). (5) Agama picta Schinz, 1822, is senior to Agama picta Wied, 1823, requiring a change of authorship for this poorly known species, to be known as Enyalius pictus (Schinz). (6) Lacerta cyanomelas Schinz, 1822, predates Teius cyanomelas Wied, 1824 (1822-1831) both nomina oblita. Wied's illustration and description shows cyanomelas as apparently conspecific with the recently described but already well-known Cnemidophorus nativo Rocha et al., 1997, which is the valid name because of its qualification herein as a nomen protectum. The preceding specific name cyanomelas (as corrected in an errata section) is misspelled several ways in different copies of Schinz's original description (""cyanom las,"" ""cyanomlas,"" and cyanom""). Loosening, separation, and final loss of the last three letters of movable type in the printing chase probably accounts for the variant misspellings.

Melanonychia: the importance of dermatoscopic examination and of nail matrix/bed observation

Melanonychia, from the Greek melaina, means black and is the result of an increased deposition of melanin on the nail plate, originating in the nail matrix. It may have different causes, including subungueal melanoma, making early etiologic diagnosis very important.

Segmentation of striatal brain structures from high resolution pet images

Dissertation presented at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon in fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and Computers

Durabilidade natural da madeira de pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth). I. fungos

A durabilidade da madeira de Bactris gasipaes Kunth (pupunha) face aos fungos foi avaliada em ambiente florestal e urbano e em condições de laboratório. Foram utilizadas, cinco árvores com espinhos e cinco sem espinhos da população Tabatinga, raças Putumayo, sendo retirados discos de 25-30cm da base, meio e do topo de cada pupunheira e colocados em uma área florestal próxima ao Banco Ativo de Germoplama de B. gasipaes (2°38'S, 60°03'W). Os discos foram inspecionados trimestralmente, para acompanhar o processo de biodeterioração da madeira causado por fungos durante dezoito meses. No ensaio em ambiente urbano, as amostras do estipe foram distribuídas, uma na posição côncava e outra na convexa, sobre uma estrutura de madeira localizada em uma área próxima da CPPF do Campus do INPA, Manaus e inspecionadas bimestralmente por um ano. Em ambiente florestal, o revestimento dos discos mostrou-se suscetível aos fungos Hymenogramme javanensis Mont. & Berk. e Hypoxylon rubiginosum (Pers.: Fr.) Fr.. Em ambiente urbano, a madeira apresentou alta susceptibilidade a Lenzites striata (Swart.: Fr.) Fr. e a Lenzites sp. e o revestimento a Porostereum amethysteum Hjortst. & Ryv. e a Stereum strigoso-zonatum (Sch.) G. H. Cunn.. Em condições de laboratório, a madeira da pupunheira demonstrou alta resistência aos fungos Lenzites trabea Pers.:Fr., Polyporus fumosus Pers.:Fr. e Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.:Fr.) Murr.

As espécies de Coccoloba P. Browne (Polygonaceae) da Amazônia brasileira

O gênero Coccoloba está representado na Amazônia brasileira por 23 espécies: Coccoloba acuminata Kunth, C. arborescens (Vell.) R. A. Howard, C. ascendens Duss ex Lindau, C. brasiliensis Nees & Mart., C. charitostachya Standl., C. conduplicata Maguire, C. coronata Jacq., C. declinata (Vell.) Mart., C. densifrons Mart. ex Meisn., C. excelsa Benth., C. gentryi R. A. Howard, C. latifolia Lam., C. lehmannii Lindau, C. lucidula Benth., C. marginata Benth., C. mollis Casar., C. ovata Benth., C. paraensis Meisn., C. parimensis Benth., C. ramosissima Wedd., C. savannarum Standl., C. striata Benth. e C. tenuiflora Lindau, dentre as quais apenas C. paraensis ocorre exclusivamente na Amazônia brasileira, C. charitostachya, C. conduplicata, C. coronata, C. gentryi, C. lehmanni e C. savannarum, são citadas pela primeira vez para o Brasil. As características de maior relevância taxonômica são a posição do pecíolo em relação à ócrea, ramificação da inflorescência, tamanhos relativos das brácteas e ocréolas, perianto frutífero e pericarpo. São apresentadas chaves de identificação, descrições e ilustrações, bem como comentários sobre a distribuição geográfica, hábitats e dados fenológicos para todas as espécies estudadas.