Fetal and maternal lesions of cyanide dosing to pregnant goats

The present work evaluated the pathological effects in both dams and their fetuses of cyanide ingestion during pregnancy using goat as animal model. From the Day 24 of pregnancy, three pregnant goats were dosed by gavage with 3.0 mg KCN/kg bw/day, and two others received only tap water. All dams were euthanized and necropsied at Day 120 of pregnancy. The fetuses were examined carefully for gross abnormalities. Determinations of cyanide and thiocyanate were performed in maternal and fetal blood and in amniotic fluid. Samples of several organs were collected for histopathologic evaluation. No clinical changes were seen in any animal throughout the pregnancy. No malformations or dead fetuses were observed: however, placenta from one treated goat presented increased cotyledon surface area occupied by vascular lumina. Histological lesions in KCN-treated dams consisted of vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, increased number of vacuoles on thyroid follicular colloid. and spongiosis of cerebral, internal capsule, and cerebellar peduncles tracts. Fetuses from these mothers showed vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, and spheroids in the cerebellar white matter. Levels of cyanide and thiocyanate were higher in maternal than fetal blood, which suggests that these substances were largely but not freely transferred from mothers to fetuses. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estudo do peso e da idade gestacional de recem-nascidos e dos fatores que interferem no desenvolvimento fetal: nivel socio-economico, fatores maternos, fetais e placentarios

The present study was undertaken to determine the importance of socioeconomic factors (family income), urban or rural family location, parity, maternal age, the presence of maternal and fetal pathologies as well as placental abnormalities on the weight and gestational age of 566 newborns. The highest incidence of newborns with low birth weight for gestational age was significantly more frequent in urban populations when the mothers were from low socio-economic levels. In mothers from low socioeconomic levels infants with low birth weight for gestational age were seen in greater proportion among primaparas and had a tendency to be higher in mothers aged less than 20 years; prematurity was highest in mothers ≥ 30 years old and significantly higher from the 8th gestation on. Maternal and fetal pathologies emphasized these characteristics and placental pathologies were not correlated with the distribution of weight and length of gestation. In mothers of high socioeconomic levels age and parity were not correlated with weight and gestational age of the newborns.

A scanning electron microscopic study of the rete testis of the guinea pig

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of the structure of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pigs preceded by and complemented with stereomicroscopy and light-microscopic studies showed that the RT of this species is predominantly cavitary. An axial and labyrinth-like morphological pattern was also observed in the RT complex, with partially interconnected chambers and epithelium-lined channels accompanying a connective axis observed in the middle portion of the cranial end of the testis. Characteristics of the chordae retis and bullae retis were also visualized in the guinea pig RT and the results are discussed in terms of the morphological patterns observed in the RT of other mammals and of man.

Morphology of testis and epididymis in an ethanol-drinking rat strain (UChA and UChB)

The objective of the present study was to analyze the prospective alterations of the testis and epididymis in a defined strain of alcoholic rats in order to contribute to our understanding of the effects of chronic alcoholism on reproduction. The testis and epididymis of the animals were submitted to morphological analysis by macroscopy, light microscopy and electron microscopy and to morphometric analysis. The UCh rats showed atrophy of the epithelium and reduction of testis and epididymis weight, liver hypertrophy and fat infiltration and alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Ethanol induces changes in the weight and in the epithelium of the testis and epididymis and in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis of the UCh rats.

Laparoscopic evaluation and treatment of the impalpable testis

Objectives: To evaluate the laparoscopic technique as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of patients with impalpable testis. Material and Methods: Fifty-nine patients with mean age of 6.3 years underwent laparoscopy to evaluate 85 impalpable testes that were classified as absent, canalicular and intra-abdominal. In the case of testicular absence, the procedure was terminated. In the case of canalicular testis, open inguinal exploration was performed. In intra-abdominal testis, either laparoscopic orchiopexy or orchiectomy was performed. According to the length of the vascular pedicle, orchipexy was performed either with or without vascular ligature. Post-operatively, the treated testes were evaluated according to size and location in the scrotum. Results: Seventeen (20%) of the 85 impalpable testes were diagnosed as absent, 21 (24.7%) as canalicular and 47 (55.3%) as intra-abdominal. Of the canalicular testes, 20 were explored by inguinotomy and one by laparoscopy. All the intra-abdominal testes were treated initially by laparoscopy, four being removed due to atrophy, 31 submitted to vascular ligature and 12 to primary orchipexy. Of those submitted to vascular ligature, 22 underwent a second stage orchipexy, of which 18 laparoscopically and 4 by inguinotomy. Of the 18 testes brought to the scrotum by staged laparoscopic orchipexy, 15 (83.3%) presented normal characteristics in the late follow-up, while of the 12 submitted to primary laparoscopic orchipexy, 8 (66.6%) were normal. There were no perioperative or late complications. Conclusions: Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with low morbidity that enables precise diagnosis of the impalpable testes. When intra-abdominal testes are found, either immediate laparoscopic orchiectomy, or primary and staged orchipexy are possible, with results equivalent to open procedures, with the advantage of smaller surgical incisions and shorter postoperative recovery.

Cytogenetical and histological studies in testis of Tayassu tajacu (Cateto), Tayassu pecari (Queixada) and a natural interspecific hybrid

The karyotype, the histological structure of the testis and the synaptonemal complex (SC) of the mammalian species Tayassu tajacu, Tayassu pecari and of an interspecific male hybrid captured in nature were analysed. The specimens of T. tajacu (2n = 30) and T. pecan (2n = 26) exhibited seminiferous tubules with germ cells in all sperma to genesis stages. In the SC studies both species had a regular structure, easily identified in the autosomes and in the sex chromosomes. The hybrid (2n = 28) had seminiferous tubules with almost all germinal cells in the spermatogonium stage and only a few cells in the primary spermatocyte stage. Gross abnormalities in SC were observed. A few lateral elements showed regular or partially regular synapsis, other lateral elements were synapsed as multivalents, and most axial elements remained unsynapsed. The results suggest that the karyotypes of the parental species have sufficient differentiation to avoid chromosome synapsis. Alternatively, the hypothesis of the existence of genetic incompatibilities between the parental species is discussed.

Relação entre comprimento craniocaudal e diãmetro da vesícula embrionária/fetal com idade de gestação por meio de avaliação ultra-sonográfica em ovino da raça Bergamácia

This study aimed to relate embryonic/fetal vesicle diameter (EVD) and crown-rump length (CRL) to gestational age in ewes from the 15 th to the 45 th day of pregnancy. Nineteen adult Bergamácia ewes with synchronized estrus were mated by the same male. Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed every 24 hours from the 15 th to the 30 th day after mating and every five days from the 30 th to the 45 th day using 5.0 and 7.5MHZ linear transducers. Average daily growth of EVD and CRL were 1.40mm and 1.33mm, respectively. The inverse calibration obtained for EVD was: Days = -11 + 50(0.1 + 0.04log EVD) 1/2 with R 2 = 0.85, and for CRL was: Days = 13.63 + 12.5(- 0.71 + 0.16CRL) 1/2 with R 2 = 0.93. Both EVD and CRL obtained by ultrasonography are useful measurements that allow the prediction of gestational age in Bergamácia ewes.

The ultrastructure of the guinea pig rete testis

The chambers of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pig are lined by a simple epithelium, whose cells are squamous, cubical and columnar in shape. The epithelial cells with distinct shapes were counted and the quantitative analysis of the number of these cells showed relative predominance of cubical cells. The ultrastructural observations showed predominance of membrane interdigitations among the epithelial cells. These cells present common cytoplasmic organelles. The Golgi complex polarity is typical with observation of electronlucent vesicles on the Golgi cis face closely related to rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lamellae, mitochondria and large number of polysomes on the Golgi trans face. These related structures present in Golgi area of RT cells suggest secretory activity which maybe occurs in the RT epithelium. Endocytotic process also occurs in the RT and this function probably concerns the uptake of substances and resorption of seminiferous fluid. Apical cilia present in RT epithelium cells are related with fluid transport and perhaps with chemoreception. Presence of spermatozoa portions enclosed into the cytoplasm of some epithelium cells has been refferred to as spermatophagy. The RT complex is mainly supported by loose connective tissue, with collagen fibres and some Leydig cells. Leydig cells are adjacent to the network channels of the septal part of the RT and apparently are able to secrete inside the RT lumen.

Cysts reabsorption in the testis of the bee wax pest Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) during spermatogenesis

The present paper reports the occurrence of testicular cysts degeneration during spermatogenesis of Achroia grisella, a Lepidoptera with dimorphic spermatogenesis, through ultrastrucutural studies. Signs of cysts degeneration can be detected in the last larval instar but it increases during pupation and early adulthood. The degeneration affects the eupyrene, as well apyrene cysts but it is not always possible to recognize which cysts are degenerating. Some morphological features of cysts degeneration resemble apoptosis.

Identification and complete sequencing of novel human transcripts through the use of mouse orthologs and testis cDNA sequences

The correct identification of all human genes, and their derived transcripts, has not yet been achieved, and it remains one of the major aims of the worldwide genomics community. Computational programs suggest the existence of 30,000 to 40,000 human genes. However, definitive gene identification can only be achieved by experimental approaches. We used two distinct methodologies, one based on the alignment of mouse orthologous sequences to the human genome, and another based on the construction of a high-quality human testis cDNA library, in an attempt to identify new human transcripts within the human genome sequence. We generated 47 complete human transcript sequences, comprising 27 unannotated and 20 annotated sequences. Eight of these transcripts are variants of previously known genes. These transcripts were characterized according to size, number of exons, and chromosomal localization, and a search for protein domains was undertaken based on their putative open reading frames. In silico expression analysis suggests that some of these transcripts are expressed at low levels and in a restricted set of tissues.

Avaliação da fertilidade e de possíveis defeitos estruturais externos sobre a prole de ratos machos expostos cronicamente ao arsênio

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant that influences the male reproductive function, affecting the spermatogenesis process in the testis and causing alterations in the sperm. The objective of this work was evaluate the reproductive efficiency in adult male rats exposed to arsenic and the possible male-mediated structural malformations. The animal were treated with sodium arsenato (3,6 mg/Kg, i.p.), twice a weak, for 15, 30, 45, 60 or 75 days whereas control received only distilled water. Results have showed a reduced pregnancy rate associated to a decrease in the fertility potencial and to a increase in the preimplantation loss. There was a decrease in the fetal weights, as showed by its average. Malformations rate, postimplantation loss and resorptions were unaffect by treatment. These results suggest that chronic exposure to arsenic provokes reduction on fertility of male rats. Further studies are required to clarify the arsenic effects on male reproductive system and male-mediated effects on progeny.