Cytogenetic studies of Mastacembelus armatus (Pisces, Mastacembelidae)

The mitotic chromosomes, nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), C-banding pattern and nuclear DNA content of Mastacembelus armatus were studied. The karyotype (2n = 48; 10m + 6sm + 4st + 28a) was characterized by the presence of one chromosome pair with NORs and a small quantity of heterochromatin. The DNA content observed in erythrocyte nuclei of M. armatus was 1.39 +/- 0.08 pg. Comparison of this karyotype with those of other Synbranchiformes revealed a strong similarity, suggesting that small chromosome rearrangements may have been maintained during its evolutionary history.

Development of secondary sexual characters in the seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller 1862) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae): a scanning electron microscope study

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sexual maturity of Eurytium limosum (say 1818) from a subtropical mangrove in Brazil

The size at onset of maturity of Eurytium limosum from a subtropical mangrove in Brazil was investigated. In this species, sexual maturity for males can be indicated by the allometric growth and gonopod length. For females, the morphological sexual maturity can only be externally verified through the relative quantity of setae along the abdominal margins and pleopods. Internally, gonad development was also examined. The size at which half of the population is physiologically mature was 11.6 mm of CW for females and 12.3 mm of CW for males. The values for the morphological and physiological maturity are very similar, indicating that the development of the secondary sexual characters is synchronized with the achievement of the physiological maturity for E. limosum.

Fat body in some genera of leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). Proteins, lipids and polysaccharides detection

The comparative histochemical analysis of the fat body of workers belonging to the basal species Cyphomyrmex rimosus and Mycetarotes parallelus and to derived species Acromyrmex disciger and Atta laevigata revealed that this tissue is constituted mainly by cells denominated trophocytes and oenocytes. The trophocytes of all species studied here were characterized mainly by the proteins and lipids synthesis and storage, being the derived species the ones who have presented higher quantity of lipids in the trophocytes when compared to the trophocytes of basal species. In workers M. parallelus and A. laevigata, besides proteins and lipids, there has being observed the presence of polysaccharides, however, in C. rimosus and A. disciger these elements were detected in lower quantities. The histochemical studies of the oenocytes of basal and derived species revealed significant presence of proteins as well as lipids in these cells. In the oenocytes of derived species A. disciger and A. laevigata a higher quantity of lipidic inclusions has being observed, when compared to the basal species. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sensory structures of the antennae of Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Apidae : Meliponinae)

The total number and distribution per antennal flagellomere of sensilla placodea (olfactory disks), sensilla coeloconica, sensilla ampullacea and sensilla campaniformia were determined in workers of Nannotrigona testaceicornis Lepeletier a stingless bee species quite common in Brazil. The distribution of the sensilla was uniform, with the largest number occurring in flagellomere 10 and gradually decreasing in the direction of the basal flagellomeres in a way similar to that observed in Scaptotrigona postica Latreille.Nannotrigona testaceicornis had a larger number of sensilla ampullacea and a smaller number of sensilla coeloconica and sensilla campaniformia than Scaptotrigona postica. Although Nan notrigona testaceicornis does not communicate through the formation of pheromone trails, this species presents a larger quantity of sensilla placodea (relative to the length of the flagellum) than Scaptotrigona postica.

Inhibitory Action of Neem Aqueous Extract (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on the Vitellogenesis of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks

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

Sewage sludge toxicity in edaphic organism: Analysis of midgut responses in the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology and protein content of hepatocytes in type I diabetic rats submitted to physical exercises

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Rhyncophorus palmarum L. (Linnaeus, 1758): A Morphological and Histological Study of the Female Reproductive System

Rhyncophorus palmarum (Coleoptera) is a pest of great economic importance because of the damage caused in the plants of the Palmae family. This study showed that the female reproductive system of this beetle is composed of two ovaries of the telotrophic meroistic type invariably containing two ovarioles per ovary. Each ovariole is home to about 50 oocytes at different stages of maturation. The proximal region of the ovary is rather peculiar because it houses inside it a large quantity of bacilliform structures immersed in a glycolipoprotein substance, which has never before been described in the literature. The function of these structures is still unknown. However, it is suggested that they can function as a method of neutralizing the resistance of the plant because these insects are responsible for the transmission of the red ring disease to the palm plants. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74: 853-862, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Morphological analysis of colon goblet cells and submucosa in type I diabetic rats submitted to physical training

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Assessment of the Toxic Potential of Sewage Sludge in the Midgut of the Diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of larval food amount on ovariole development in queens of Trigona spinipes (Hymenoptera, Apinae)

Caste determination in Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) is trophogenic. Larvae that eat about 360 mu l of food become queens, while those who consume 36 mu l develop into workers. We studied the effect of larval nutrition on the number and length of ovarioles and on ovarian development in fifth instar larvae, white eyed, pink eyed and black-eyed pupae as well as newly emerged adults. All larvae have four ovarioles per ovary, while in queen pupae this number ranged from 8 to 15. Cyst formation, the cell death and other characteristics of ovary morphogenesis were the same regardless of the quantity of food consumed. These results are discussed in relation to caste differentiation in other bees.

Chromosomal organization of the 18S and 5S rRNAs and histone H3 genes in Scarabaeinae coleopterans: insights into the evolutionary dynamics of multigene families and heterochromatin

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

Morphology and anatomy of inflorescence and inflorescence axis in Paepalanthus sect. Diphyomene Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae, Poales) and its taxonomic implications

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Nest architecture and population dynamics of the Ponerinae ant, Ectatomma opaciventre Roger (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

Eleven nests of Ectatomma opaciventre were collected from January to December, 1994, in Rio Claro, SP, southeastern Brazil. This species excavates their nests up to 68 cm deep, containing 3, 4 or 5 chambers. The hole of entrance has a chimney-like rigid structure, with up to 2/5 cm high. The most numerous colonies were found in January and February, with 47 and 62 adult ants, respectively. The quantity of individuals decreased from March, being observed colonies with only 9 adult ants in June and July. The colony population increased again since September. Reproductive forms (winged ants) were observed between October and February. We did not observed immature stages in July, but they were numerous between September and March. There was a significant correlation between the number of colony individuals and temperature, but not between the number of colony individuals and relative humidity and rainfall. E. opaciventre is a species of hunter ants which have not an efficient recruitment system for food collecting, consequently their colonies are small due to the scarcity of food resources during the colder and dry months.