Involvement of N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor and nitric oxide in cardiovascular responses to dynamic exercise in rats

Dynamic exercise evokes sustained cardiovascular responses, which are characterized by arterial pressure and heart rate increases. Although it is well accepted that there is central nervous system mediation of cardiovascular adjustments during exercise, information on the role of neural pathways and signaling mechanisms is limited. It has been reported that glutamate, by acting on NMDA receptors, evokes the release of nitric oxide through activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brain. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that NMDA receptors and nNOS are involved in cardiovascular responses evoked by an acute bout of exercise on a rodent treadmill. Moreover, we investigated possible central sites mediating control of responses to exercise through the NMDA receptor-nitric oxide pathway. Intraperitoneal administration of the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) reduced both the arterial pressure and heart rate increase evoked by dynamic exercise. Intraperitoneal treatment with the preferential nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole reduced exercise-evoked tachycardiac response without affecting the pressor response. Moreover, treadmill running increased NO formation in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), bed nucleus of the stria teminalis (BNST) and periaqueductal gray (PAG), and this effect was inhibited by systemic pretreatment with MK-801. Our findings demonstrate that NMDA receptors and nNOS mediate the tachycardiac response to dynamic exercise, possibly through an NMDA receptor-NO signaling mechanism. However, NMDA receptors, but not nNOS, mediate the exercise-evoked pressor response. The present results also provide evidence that MPFC, BNST and PAG may modulate physiological adjustments during dynamic exercise through NMDA receptor-NO signaling. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Nanocomposite PAAm/methyl cellulose/montmorillonite hydrogel: Evidence of synergistic effects for the slow release of fertilizers

In this work, we synthesized a novel series of hydrogels composed of polyacrylamide (PAAm), methylcellulose (MC), and calcic montmorillonite (MMt) appropriate for the controlled release of fertilizers, where the components presented a synergistic effect, giving very high fertilizer loading in their structure. The synthesized hydrogel was characterized in relation to morphological, hydrophilic, spectroscopic, structural, thermal, and kinetic properties. After those characterizations, the application potential was verified through sorption and desorption studies of a nitrogenated fertilizer, urea (CO(NH2)2). The swelling degree results showed that the clay loading considerably reduces the water absorption capability; however, the hydrolysis process favored the urea adsorption in the hydrogel nanocomposites, increasing the load content according to the increase of the clay mass. The FTIR spectra indicated that there was incorporation of the clay with the polymeric matrix of the hydrogel and that incorporation increased the water absorption speed (indicated by the kinetic constant k). By an X-ray diffraction technique, good nanodispersion (intercalation) and exfoliation of the clay platelets in the hydrogel matrix were observed. Furthermore, the presence of the montmorillonite in the hydrogel caused the system to liberate the nutrient in a more controlled manner than that with the neat hydrogel in different pH ranges. In conclusion, excellent results were obtained for the controlled desorption of urea, highlighting the hydrolyzed hydrogels containing 50% calcic montmorillonite. This system presented the best desorption results, releasing larger amounts of nutrient and almost 200 times slower than pure urea, i.e., without hydrogel. The total values of nutrients present in the system show that this material is potentially viable for application in agriculture as a nutrient carrier vehicle. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Synthesis, cytotoxic activity and DNA interaction of Pd(II) complexes bearing N′-methyl-3,5-dimethyl-1-thiocarbamoylpyrazole

A new series of complexes of general formulae [PdX2(tmdmPz)] {X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), SCN (4); tmdmPz = N′-methyl-3,5-dimethyl-1- thiocarbamoylpyrazole} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivities, IR, 1H and 13C{ 1H} NMR spectroscopy. In these complexes, the tmdmPz coordinates to Pd(II) center as a neutral N,S-chelating ligand. The geometries of the complexes have been optimized with the DFT method. Cytotoxicity evaluation against LM3 (mammary adenocarcinoma) and LP07 (lung adenocarcinoma) cell lines indicated that complexes 1-4 were more active than cisplatin. The binding of the complexes with a purine base (guanosine) was investigated by 1H NMR and mass spectrometry, showing that the coordination of guanosine occurs through N7. Electrophoretic DNA migration studies showed that all of them modify the DNA tertiary structure. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ação de fungicidas e acibenzolar-se-methyl no controle da pinta preta do tomateiro

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Resposta cortisolêmica e sensibilidade ao hormônio adrenocorticotrófico (ACTH) de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) em exposição sub-letal a agrotóxicos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cytogenetic damage related to low levels of methyl mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon

The mercury rejected in the water system, from mining operations and lixiviation of soils after deforestation, is considered to be the main contributors to the contamination of the ecosystem in the Amazon Basin. The objectives of the present study were to examine cytogenetic functions in peripheral lymphocytes within a population living on the banks of the Tapajós River with respect to methylmercury (MeHg) contamination, using hair mercury as a biological indicator of exposure. Our investigation shows a clear relation between methylmercury contamination and cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes at levels well below 50 micrograms/gram, the level at which initial clinical signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning occur. The first apparent biological effect with increasing MeHg hair level was the impairment of lymphocyte proliferation measured as mitotic index (MI). The relation between mercury concentration in hair and MI suggests that this parameter, an indicator of changes in lymphocytes and their ability to respond to culture conditions, may be an early marker of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in humans and should be taken into account in the preliminary evaluation of the risks to populations exposed in vivo. This is the first report showing clear cytotoxic effects of long-term exposure to MeHg. Although the results strongly suggest that, under the conditions examined here, MeHg is both a spindle poison and a clastogen, the biological significance of these observations are as yet unknown. A long-term follow-up of these subjects should be undertaken.

Avaliação da eficácia de Fusarium spp. e da indução de resistência por acibenzolar-s-methyl à murcha-de-curtobacterium do feijoeiro

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

Protective effect of gamma-tocopherol-enriched diet on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced epithelial dysplasia in rat ventral prostate

Despite recent advances in understanding the biological basis ofprostate cancer (PCa), the management of this disease remains a challenge. Chemoprotective agents have been usedto protect against or eradicateprostatemalignancies. Here, we investigated the protective effect of -tocopherol on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced epithelial dysplasia in the rat ventral prostate (VP). Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=8): control (CT): healthy control animals fed a standard diet; control+-tocopherol (CT+T): healthy control animals without intervention fed a -tocopherol-enriched diet (20mg/kg); N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU): rats that received a single dose of MNU (30mg/kg) plus testosterone propionate (100mg/kg) and were fed a standard diet; and MNU+-tocopherol (MNU+T): rats that received the same treatment of MNU plus testosterone and were fed with a -tocopherol-enriched diet (20mg/kg). After 4months, the VPs were excised to evaluate morphology, cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) and androgen receptor (AR) protein expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. An increase in the incidence of epithelial dysplasias, such as stratified epithelial hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia, in the MNU group was accompanied by augmented cell proliferation, GST-pi and Cox-2 immunoexpression and pro-MMP-9 activity. Stromal thickening and inflammatory foci were also observed. The administration of a -tocopherol-enriched diet significantly attenuated the adverse effects of MNU in the VP. The incidence of epithelial dysplasia decreased, along with the cell proliferation index, GST-pi and Cox-2 immunoexpression. The gelatinolytic activity of pro-MMP-9 returned to the levels observed for the CT group. These results suggest that -tocopherol acts as a protective agent against MNU-induced prostatic disorders in the rat ventral prostate.

Development and characterization of biocompatible isotropic and anisotropic oil-in-water colloidal dispersions as a new delivery system for methyl dihydrojasmonate antitumor drug

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Novel bioassay for the discovery of inhibitors of the 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-Phosphate (MEP) and terpenoid pathways leading to carotenoid biosynthesis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Validação e aplicação de método para análise de pesticidas em água para consumo humano de dourados (ms) por CLAE/UV e CG/DTE

Indiscriminate and inappropriate use of pesticides in agriculture has been pointed out for increasing health problems and environmental damage. Considering that water resources are the principal destiny of those compounds after application, the present study presents optimization and validation of two simple and effi cient analytical methods for pesticides quantifi cation in both surface and groundwater. Were selected the pesticides more commonly used at Dourados (MS - Brazil), region with intense agricultural activity. Pesticides were preconcentrated by solid-phase extraction using C18 (500 mg) cartridges and then divided in two groups for elution and quantifi cation: 2.4-D and 2.4-DCP were eluted with methanol and quantifi ed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detector (HPLC-UV) while atrazine, DIA, DEA, trifl uralin and methyl parathion were eluted with ethylacetate (1:1, v/v) and quantifi ed by gas chromatography with thermionic specifi c detector (GC-TSD). The methods showed satisfactory accuracy (76-107%) and precision (<12%) for the substances analyzed at the fortifi ed levels selected for the study, except for DIA (<51%). Study of pesticide stability also presented good results: C18 cartridges could be stored for at least for 21 days at -20ºC with no signs of the compounds degradability. Both methods limits of quantifi cation of the pesticides (0.22 - 0.48 μg L-1) are in accordance to the levels currently established by the Brazilian national legislation for pesticides in water. Although only the pesticide 2.4-D has been detected in two distinct collection points in the study period of time, this work warns for the requirement of systematical analysis of pesticides presence in water destined to human consume, principally in areas of intense agriculture activity. Such monitoring can provide subsidies for public environmental policies.

N-Methyl-2-(1-methyl-3-phenyl­prop-2-en-1-yl­idene)hydrazinecarbo­thio­amide

In the title compound, C12H15N3S, the mol­ecule deviates slightly from planarity, with a maximum deviation from the mean plane of the non-H atoms of 0.2756 (6) Å for the S atom and a torsion angle for the N-N-C-N fragment of -7.04 (16)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N-H...S hydrogen-bond inter­actions, forming centrosymmetric dimers. Additionally, one weak intra­molecular N-H...N hydrogen-bond inter­action is observed. The crystal packing shows a herringbone arrangement viewed along the c axis.

Synthesis and preliminary characterization of Poly(Propylene)Imine hexadecylamine dendrimer (DAB-Am-16) modified with methyl acrylate

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

Aplicação em subdose do haloxyfop-methyl na aveia-preta

One of the major constraints to sustainable of the tillage is the rapid decomposition of dry the matter. One of the mechanisms known to facilitate this process is the interference in pathways of polymers of lignin from tests of application of low doses of herbicide based on the relation that higher the content of the lignin greater the resistance to degradation. With this purpose, the herbicide Verdict * R (haloxyfop-methyl) was used to verify the effect of low doses at the height of the plants, productivity of dry matter and in the metabolism of the lignin in plants of black oat. Preliminary tests in the greenhouse were realized for adjustments ​​to the best low doses to be applied in the definitive experiment in the production area. The results obtained were 24% of increase in productivity in the experiments conducted in greenhouse, from the application of 3.125g of the active ingredient of the haloxyfop-methyl per hectare, in this subdose no changes was observed in growth and content of lignin in plants of black oat. In the field, the concentration of 2.5g i. a. ha-1 of haloxyfop-methyl decreased in 9% the lignification rate without interfering with the height and productivity of the plants, this being favorable to the degradation rate of stubble tillage on outcome

Respostas de populações autógamas de Avena fátua à seleção por baixas doses de diclofop-methyl e glyphosate

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA