Expressão de zif-268 durante a aquisição, evocação e extinção de uma memória aversiva

In the behavioral paradigm of discriminative avoidance task, both short and long-term memories have been extensively investigated with behavioral and pharmacological approaches. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, using the abovementioned model, the hippocampal expression of zif-268 - a calcium-dependent immediate early gene involved with synaptic plasticity process - throughout several steps of memory formation, such as acquisition, evocation and extiction. The behavioral apparatus consisted of a modified elevaated plus-maze, with their enclosed arms disposed in "L". A pre-exposure to the maze was made with the animal using all arms enclosed, for 30 minutes, followed by training and test, during 10 minutes each. The between sections interval was 24h. During training, aversive stimuli (bright light and loud noise) were actived whenever the animals entered one of the enclosed armas (aversive arm). Memory acquisiton, retention and extinction were evaluated by the percentage of the total time spent exploring the aversive arm. The parameters evaluated (time spent in the arms and total distance traveled) were estimated with an animal tracking software (Anymaze, Stoelting, USA). Learning during training was estimated by the decrease of the time spent exploring the aversive arm. One hour after the beginning of each section, animals were anaesthetized with sodium-thiopental (i.p.) and perfused with 0.9% heparinized saline solution followed by 4% paraformaldehyde. Brains were cryoprotected with 20% sucrose, separeted in three blocks and frozen. The middle block, containing the hippocampus, was sectioned at 20 micro meters in the coronal plane and the resutant sections were submitted to zif-268 immunohistochemistry. Our results show an increased expression of zif-268 in the dentate gyrus (DG) during the evocation and extinction stages. There is a distinct participation of the DG during the memory evocation, but not during its acquisition. Inaddition, all hippocampal regions (CA1, CA3 and DG) presented an increased zif-268 expression during the process of extinction.

Alumina developed by pre-gelling starch consolidation (PSC)

In this paper, pre-gelling starch was used to consolidate alumina-dense ceramic suspensions. The colloidal processing of the ceramic was prepared with alumina and commercial potato starch, and slips were prepared with 55 vol% of solids and 0.5 wt.% of starch. This small amount of starch was possible because of a previous pre-gelling starch treatment, resulting in more homogeneous suspensions and particles smaller than starch granules. Additionally, Sucrose was also used as a dispersion aid. After sintering, the samples were analysed according to their mechanical properties. These processes produced ceramics with a 93% relative density, 325 MPa flexural strength, and a Weibull module whose value wits m = 10, maintaining the capacity of this process to produce complex geometric shaped ceramics. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Síntese enzimática de biosurfactante e sua aplicabilidade na indústria do petróleo

Enzymes have been widely used in biosynthesis/transformation of organic compounds in substitution the classic synthetic methods. This work is the first writing in literature of enzymatic synthesis for attainment the biossurfactants, the use glucose sucrose, ricinoleic acid e castor oil as substratum, and as biocatalyst, used immobilized lipase Thermomyces lanuginose, Rhizomucor miehei and the Candida antarctica lipase B; alkaline protease and neutral protease from Bacillus subtillis and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiaeI. The analysis of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) showed that highest conversions were reached of used the alkaline protease from Bacillus subtillis. Laboratory tests, to evaluate the applicability, indicated that the produced biosurfactantes had good stability in presence of salts (NaCl) and temperature (55 e 25°C), they are effective in the reduction of the superficial tension and contac angle, but they have little foaming capacity, when compared with traditional detergents. These results suggest that the prepared surfactants have potential application as wetting agent and perforation fluid stabilizer

Estudo da estabilidade térmica de adoçantes naturais e artificiais

Sweeteners provide a pleasant sensation of sweetness that helps the sensory quality of the human diet, can be divided into natural sweeteners such as fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose and sucrose, and articial sweeteners such as aspartame, cyclamate and saccharin. This work aimed to study the thermal stability of natural and artificial sweeteners in atmospheres of nitrogen and syntetic air using thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Among the natural sweeteners analyzed showed higher thermal stability for the lactose and sucrose, which showed initial decomposition temperatures near 220 ° C, taking advantage of the lactose has a higher melting point (213 ° C) compared to sucrose (191 ° C). The lower thermal stability was observed for fructose, it has the lowest melting point (122 °C) and the lower initial decomposition temperature (170 °C). Of the artificial sweeteners studied showed higher thermal stability for sodium saccharin, which had the highest melting point (364 ° C) as well as the largest initial decomposition temperature (466 ° C under nitrogen and 435 ° C in air). The lower thermal stability was observed for aspartame, which showed lower initial decomposition temperature (158 ° C under nitrogen and 170 ° C under air). For commercial sweeteners showed higher thermal stability for the sweeteners L and C, which showed initial temperature of thermal decomposition near 220 ° C and melting points near 215 ° C. The lower thermal stability was observed for the sweetener P, which showed initial decomposition temperature at 160 ° C and melting point of 130 °C. Sweeteners B, D, E, I, J, N and O had low thermal stability, with the initial temperature of decomposition starts near 160 °C, probably due to the presence of aspartame, even if they have as the main constituent of the lactose, wich is the most stable of natural sweeteners. According to the results we could also realize that all commercial sweeteners are in its composition by at least a natural sweeteners and are always found in large proportions, and lactose is the main constituent of 60% of the total recorded

Qualidade e produtividade da cana planta e cana soca em função de doses e fontes de manganês

The crop of the sugarcane is stood out in the Brazilian agricultural scenery, due to the great demand of sugar, alcohol and by-products. The present work had as objective to evaluate the effect of five doses and three sources of manganese applied at planting furrow in sugarcane, in two cuts, in the Northwest area of São Paulo State, Brazil. The experiment was conducted at Fujimoto farm with coordinates 20 degrees 32 'S and 50 degrees 58' O, and altitude of 361 meters, area administered by Distillery Vale do Parana S/A Alcool and Acucar, in Suzanapolis county - São Paulo state. A randomizef blocks design in a factorial scheme 5x3, being 5 doses of manganese (0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10.0 kg ha(-1)), and 3 sources (Quelate, FTE and manganese sulfate), applied at planting furrow, in 4 repetitions was used. The plots were constituted by 4 lines of 5 m length, spaced by 1.5 m. The RB 86-7515 variety was used. The sources of manganese did not influence in the technological quality and productivity of stems in none of the cuts of sugarcane. The application of doses of manganese resulted in increase on values of recoverable total sugar per ha and ton of pol per ha in plant cane, not influencing in the other variables analyzed on plant cane and ratoon cane.

Dinâmica sazional de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (Glomeromycota) em cerradão e brejo de altitude na Chapada do Araripe, CE

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligatory symbiotic organisms that associate with roots of a large number of plant taxa, and are found in all terrestrial ecosystems. These fungi promote greater tolerance to environmental stresses to associated plant, favoring the establishment of plant communities, especially where soil fertility is a limiting factor, as in the Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian domain that has been focus of research due to its great biodiversity that can help clarify the history of vegetation in South America. Because of the ecological importance of AMF, the limited number of jobs and the potential diversity of the Caatinga, this work aims to inventory the diversity and determine AMF communities in areas with different faces occurrent in FLONA Araripe, Ceará (CE). The sample collection occurred in four periods at the beginning and end of the dry season (August and December 2011, respectively) and rainy (February and June 2012, respectively) in an area of marsh and woodland altitude of the Araripe, Crato, CE. The glomerosporos were extracted by wet sieving and centrifugation in water and sucrose (50%) mounted between slide and coverslip using PVLG and PVLG + Reagent Melzer. In total, we found 46 species of AMF distributed in eight families and 16 genera: Acaulospora (6), Ambispora (1), Cetraspora (2), Dentiscutata (5), Fuscutata (2), Gigaspora (6), Glomus (13) Intraornatospora (1), Kuklospora (1), Orbispora (1), Paradentiscutata (1), Quatunica (1), Racocetra (1), Scutellospora (2), Septoglomus (2) and a new genus. analysis showed that ecological each area of study has its own seasonal dynamics, with an area of woodland with a greater diversity of species throughout the year, while the marsh elevation showed greater variation in species found among the collection periods, showing that vegetation and rainfall has strong influence on the seasonal dynamics of AMF, as well as the availability of nutrients and soil pH so

Exercise Training and Caloric Restriction Prevent Reduction in Cardiac Ca2+-Handling Protein Profile in Obese Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pós-colheita de pêssegos (Prunus pérsica L. Bastsch) revestidos com filmes a base de amido como alternativa à cera comercial

O presente trabalho objetivou prolongar a conservação póscolheita de pêssegos, armazenando-os à temperatura ambiente. Inicialmente selecionou-se uma microemulsão à base de fécula de mandioca e cera de abelha. Posteriormente ela foi testada, aplicando-a na superfície dos frutos em comparação com Fruit wax (cera comercial), com o intuito de se verificar o efeito dos diferentes tratamentos na composição química, física e físico-química dos mesmos. Utilizaram-se pêssegos 'Biuti' colhidos manualmente em 14/01/1999, ao atingirem o ponto de maturação fisiológica. do lote colhido foram selecionados 120 frutos sendo os mesmos analisados quanto a perda de massa fresca, taxa respiratória, textura, sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável e pH, a cada 3 dias. Os frutos receberam os tratamentos: Testemunha, Fruit Wax, Fécula e Microemulsão. Os tratamentos Fruit Wax e Microemulsão proporcionaram melhor eficiência em relação à perda de massa fresca que os frutos dos tratamentos Testemunha e Fécula. Quanto à taxa de respiração, verificou-se picos da ordem de 40mg de CO2.kg-1.h-1 . Quanto aos açúcares, verificou-se que a sacarose foi o açúcar encontrado em maior quantidade, com apenas traços de glicose e frutose em algumas amostras. Quanto aos teores de sólidos solúveis totais, os frutos tratados com Fruit Wax apresentaram valores inferiores aos do tratamento Testemunha. O efeito da Microemulsão mostrou-se similar ao da cera Fruit Wax em todos os atributos e, superior ao dos tratamentos Testemunha e Fécula na redução da perda de massa fresca.

Uso de microbiota cecal congelada com crioprotetores em pintos infectados experimentalmente com Salmonella enterica sorovar Enteritidis

Pintos de corte com um dia de idade foram tratados com microbiota cecal cultivada em condição de aerobiose, nos tempos de congelamento de 90, 200, 290 e 360 dias, e associada aos crioprotetores sacarose, trealose, dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) e glicerol. Posteriormente as aves foram desafiadas com Salmonella Enteritidis, visando determinar a eficácia dos tratamentos em relação à quantidade de bactérias viáveis da microbiota que foi maior aos 90 dias (10,58 Log10 UFC/ml), quando as aves foram tratadas com sacarose, e menor aos 290 dias, quando tratadas com glicerol (7,73 Log10 UFC/ml). No tempo zero, todas as aves apresentaram Salmonella (100%) quando tratadas com DMSO e glicerol, com colonização cecal de 4,9 e 5,2 Log10 UFC/g do conteúdo cecal, respectivamente; aos 360 dias nenhuma ave foi infectada, independente do tratamento. A microbiota cecal, independente de tratamento, sempre determinou menor quantidade de S. Enteritidis em qualquer um dos parâmetros pesquisados, quando comparada com a das aves não tratadas. O congelamento em nitrogênio líquido foi eficaz na manutenção da viabilidade da microbiota cecal até 360 dias.

Viability of OPS Vitrified Sheep Embryos After Direct Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability in the effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification procedure of sheep embryos after direct transference. Embryos were produced in vivo and cryopreserved in slow freezing or OPS vitrification. The survival rates of cryopreserved embryos were compared to non-frozen standard pattern. In a first set of experiments, embryos at morula and blastocyst stages were dived in ethylene glycol (1.5 M) and frozen in an automatic freezer. After being thawed, they were directly or indirectly transferred to ewes recipient. A second group of embryos were drawn into OPS and plunged into liquid nitrogen after being exposed at room temperature for 1 min and 45 s in 10% EG plus 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), then again for 30 s in 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose. After being warmed, embryos were also directly transferred using a French mini straw as the catheter for the transplantation process or after in vitro dilution of cryoprotectants (two-step-process). No significant difference was observed among fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos on pregnancy rate (50.0%, 38.6% and 55.8%). However, when we evaluated only the direct transference, the pregnancy rate of OPS vitrified embryos was higher than that of frozen embryos (57.1% vs 34.8%) (p = 0.07). In addition, vitrified morulae had a higher pregnancy rate than the one with frozen embryos (64.0% vs 38.9%) (p = 0.07). Finally, our results indicate that OPS vitrification technique in association with direct transference improves the viability of sheep embryos with potential applications to field conditions.

Oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils in sheep treated with sodium monensin and experimentally submitted to ruminal acidosis.

Ruminal acidosis is due to excessive ingestion of carbohydrates of rapid fermentation without previous adaptation of the microorganisms, causing severe metabolic disturbances to the animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the neutrophilic oxidative metabolism in sheep treated with sodium monensin in experimentally induced ruminal lactic acidosis. A total of 18 male sheep, half-bred (ideal x Merino), fistulated in the rumen, were used; nine of them received 33 mg/kg of the ionophore diet per day, for 30 days; the others were controls. The acidosis was induced by supplying 15g of sucrose/kg of body weight. The clinical evaluation and the rumen and blood samples were obtained before (0h) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post-induction. In both groups, all the animals presented clinical manifestations of ruminal lactic acidosis 6 hours after the induction. From this period on, a significant pH decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the ruminal fluid, which reached levels below 5. There were relevant differences (P<0.05) between the groups 12 hours after the induction, when the sheep treated with monensin had higher values than those of the control group. During this period, the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils remained inhibited, and the reestablishment of this function only occurred in the sheep which received monensin. Blood pH, plasmatic glucose and the ionizable calcium suffered alterations within its levels. The seric cortisol concentration rose significantly (P<0.05) in both groups, although differences (P<0.05) between them were found at the end of the observation period. The treatment with monensin did not influence the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils inhibited by the lactic acidosis; however, a faster recovery of this metabolism was verified in the animals treated with the ionophore.

GABAergic mechanisms of the lateral parabrachial nucleus on sodium appetite

GABAergic activation in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) induces sodium and water intake in satiated and normovolemic rats. In the present study we investigated the effects of GABA(A) receptor activation in the LPBN on 0.3 M NaCl, water, 2% sucrose and food intake in rats submitted to sodium depletion (treatment with the diuretic furosemide subcutaneously + sodium deficient food for 24 h), 24 h food deprivation or 24 h water deprivation. Male Holtzman rats with bilateral stainless steel cannulas implanted into the LPBN were used. In sodium depleted rats, muscimol (GABA(A) receptor agonist, 0.5 nmol/0.2 mu/l), bilaterally injected into the LPBN, produced an inconsistent increase of water intake and two opposite effects on 0.3 M NaCl intake: an early inhibition (4.3 +/- 2.7 versus saline: 14.4 +/- 1.0 ml/15 min) and a late facilitation (37.6 +/- 2.7 versus saline: 21.1 +/- 0.9 ml/180 min). The pretreatment of the LPBN with bicuculline (GABA(A) receptor antagonist, 1.6 nmol) abolished these effects of muscimol. Muscimol into the LPBN also reduced food deprivation-induced food intake in the first 30 min of test (1.7 +/- 0.6 g versus saline: 4.1 +/- 0.6 g), without changing water deprivation-induced water intake or 2% sucrose intake in sodium depleted rats. Therefore, although GABAA receptors in the LPBN are not tonically involved in the control of sodium depletion-induced sodium intake, GABAA receptor activation in the LPBN produces an early inhibition and a late facilitation of sodium depletion-induced sodium intake. GABAA activation in the LPBN also inhibits food intake, while it consistently increases only sodium intake and not water, food or sucrose intake. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of fermented milk containing probiotic on dental enamel and biofilm: In situ study

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Short-term in situ/ex vivo study of the anticariogenic potential of a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement associated with adhesive systems

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evaluation of Laser Fluorescence in the Monitoring of the Initial Stage of the De-/Remineralization Process: An in vitro and in situ Study

This study aimed to evaluate laser fluorescence (LF) for monitoring the initial stage of subsurface de- and remineralization (<150 mu m depth). Ninety-six sound blocks of bovine enamel, selected according to surface hardness (SH) and LF were used in two experimental studies, in vitro and in situ. In vitro, blocks were exposed to a demineralizing solution, then remineralized by pH cycling for 6 days. In situ, 10 volunteers wore acrylic palatal appliances, each containing 4 dental enamel blocks that were demineralized for 14 days by exposure to 20% sucrose solution. Following this treatment, blocks were submitted to remineralization for 1 week with fluoride dentifrice (1,100 mu g F/g). In both experiments, SH and LH were measured after demineralization and after remineralization. Further, enamel blocks were selected after the demineralization/remineralization steps for measurement of cross-sectional hardness and integrated loss of subsurface hardness (Delta KHN). SH and Delta KHN showed significant differences among the phases in each study. LF values for sound, demineralized and remineralized enamel were: 5.2 +/- 1.1, 8.1 +/- 1.2 and 5.6 +/- 0.8, respectively, in the in vitro study, and 5.3 +/- 0.3, 16.5 +/- 4.7 and 6.5 +/- 2.5, respectively, in the in situ study, values for demineralized enamel being significantly higher than for sound and remineralized enamel in both studies. However, LF was correlated with Delta KHN only in situ. LF was capable of monitoring de- and remineralization in early lesions in situ, when bacteria are presumably present in the caries lesion body, but is not correlated with mineral changes in bacteria-free systems. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel