Ecology and morphological characterization of gametophyte and 'Chantransia' stages of Sirodotia huillensis (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from a stream in central Mexico

The morphology and phenology of Sirodotia huillensis was evaluated seasonally in a central Mexican first-order calcareous stream. Water temperature was constant (24-25°C) and pH circumneutral to alkaline (6.7-7.9), and calcium and sulfates were the dominant ions. The gametophyte stages were characterized by the presence of a distinctive mucilaginous layer, a marked difference in phycocyanin to phycoerythrin ratio between female and male plants, and the presence of a carpogonia with a large trichogyne (>60 μm). Occasionally three capogonia were observed on a single basal cell. The 'Chantransia' stages were morphologically similar to those described for the other members of Batrachospermales. A remarkable observation was the formation of dome-shaped structures, consisting of prostrate filaments that are related with the development of new gametophytes. Chromosome numbers were n = 4 for fascicle cells, cortical filament cells and dome-shaped cells, and 2n = 8 for gonimoblast filament cells and 'Chantransia' stage filaments. Gametophytes and 'Chantransia' stages occurred in fast current velocities (60-170 cm/s) and shaded (33.1-121 μmol photons/m2/s) stream segments. The population fluctuated throughout the study period in terms of percentage cover and frequency: the 'Chantransia' stages were most abundant in the rainy season, whereas gametophytic plants had the highest frequency values during the dry season. These results were most likely a result of fluctuations in rainfall and related changes in current velocity. Some characteristics of this population can be viewed as probable adaptations to high current velocities: the mucilaginous layer around plants that reduces drag; potential increase in fertilization by the elongate and plentiful trichogynes and abundant dome-shaped structures producing several gametophytes.

Morphological alterations on the prostate of Calomys callosus submitted to chronic ethanol ingestion

The objective of the present study was to assess the possible toxic effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on the ultrastructure of the glandular epithelium of the prostate of the rodent Calomys callosus, in order to contribute to the understanding of the consequences of alcohol abuse for the morphology of the male reproductive apparatus. Sixteen adult animals aged three months were divided into two experimental groups. The control group received a solid diet and tap water, and the alcoholic group received the same solid diet and ethanol P.A. diluted 20% in water (v/v). After 120 days of treatment, all animals were anesthetized, weighed and sacrificed. At the end of treatment, mean body weight did not differ between control and alcoholic animals. The prostate epithelial cells of the alcoholic group showed intense atrophy and ultrastructural alterations such as the presence of lipid droplets, altered nuclei, ruptured mitochondrial cristae, and intense dilatation of the cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum. It was concluded that 20% ethanol provokes marked lesions on the epithelium of the prostate probably interfering on the glandular secretion.

Morphological, cytochemical, and ultrastructural study of thrombocytes and leukocytes in neotropical fish, Brycon orbignyanus Valenciennes, 1850 (Characidae, Bryconinae)

Morphological, cytochemical and ultrastructural studies are important to demonstrate the function of the blood cells, which is very little understood in teleosts. In peripheral blood of piracanjuba' Brycon orbignyanus, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and heterophils were studied and characterized. Thrombocytes had a fusiform or oval shape with PAS-positive granules. Lymphocytes presented small size with sparse basophilic cytoplasm. Monocytes were large in size, presented basophilic cytoplasm that may be foamy or vacuolated, with non-specific esterase staining. The neutrophils presented lightly neutrophilic granule cytoplasm, with positivity for PAS and peroxidase. The heterophils were large in size, with eosinophilic and basophilic granules cytoplasm and PAS-positive. Transmission electron microscopy study demonstrated that the thrombocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes features were similar to other teleosts. In ultrastructural study only one type of neutrophils was observed. Cytochemical findings indicated that neutrophils and monocytes of B. orbignyanus may be involved in phagocytosis, and neutrophils play an important microbicidal role.

Morphological and histochemical analysis of the human vestibular fold

A morphological and histochemical study of the human vestibular fold was carried out using routine histological techniques. Seven μm-thick histological sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Calleja showed the presence of elastic collagen fibers and seromucous glands in the vestibular fold. Muscle fibers forming the ventricular muscle were also identified. Ultrastructural analyses of the epithelial layer by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed ciliated cells and gland ducts opening on the epithelial surface. Histochemical analyses were performed on ventricular muscles submitted to nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (mATPase) reactions. Based on these reactions, it was observed that the muscle is formed by three types of muscle fibers: slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch oxydative glycolytic (FOG) and fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) fibers distributed in a mosaic pattern. The fiber frequency was 22.7%, 69.9% and 7.4%, respectively. The higher frequency of SO and FOG fibers characterized the muscle as having aerobic metabolism and resistance to fatigue. The ventricular muscle was considered fast. The study of the neuromuscular junctions performed after nonspecific esterase reaction showed that they are of the en-plaque type and have multiple occurrences in the ventricular muscle.

Genetic divergence in sesame based on morphological and agronomic traits

The evaluation of diversity in germplasm collections is important for both plant breeders and germplasm curators to optimize the use of the variability available. Diversity can be estimated by different genetic markers. The purpose of this study was to estimate the genetic divergence of 30 morphological and agronomic traits in 108 sesame genotypes by multivariate analysis. The Cole-Rodgers index was used to establish the dissimilarity matrices. The principal component analysis identified the traits that contributed most to the divergence and the genotypes were clustered by Tocher's optimization. Despite the narrow genetic basis, the markers were efficient to characterize the genotypes and identify the most similar groups or duplicate and divergent genotypes. Greatest variation was found for the traits number of capsules per plant and grain yield.

Morphological characterization of the leukocytes in circulating blood of the turtle (Phrynops hilarii)

The Phrynops hilarii specie of turtle has its characterization not well defined in the literature, it was proposed in this study the leukocyte characterization of the blood, stained by Leishman and analyzed under light and transmission electron microscope. It was not observe any cellular type with similar characteristics to neutrophils in mammalian group. We believed, based on the data obtained in this study that the heterophils have a morphofuncional analogy with another neutrophils belonged to mammalian group. This conclusion is being supported in many recent studies found in the literature.

The effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on the gingival tissues of rats - A morphological evaluation

Background: Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplantation, has been reported not to induce gingival overgrowth. However, prevalence studies are limited, and the methods used for assessing gingival overgrowth varies among studies. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on gingival tissues of rats. Materials and methods: Rats were treated for 60, 120, 180 and 240 days with daily subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg body weight of tacrolimus. After histological processing, the oral and connective tissue, volume densities of fibroblasts (Vf), collagen fibers (Vcf) and other structures (Vo) were assessed in the region of the lower first molar. Results: After 60 and 120 days of treatment with tacrolimus, gingival overgrowth was not observed. The gingival epithelium, connective tissue, as well as the values for Vf, Vcf, and Vo were similar to those of the control rats (P > 0.05). After 180 and 240 days of the treatment, gingival overgrowth was associated with a significant increase in the gingival epithelium and connective tissue as well as an increase in the V f and Vcf (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limits of the experimental study, it may be concluded that the deleterious side effects of tacrolimus on the gingival tissues of rats may be time-related. © 2007 Blackwell Munksgaard All rights reserved.

Effects of atrazine on female Wistar rats: Morphological alterations in ovarian follicles and immunocytochemical labeling of 90 kDa heat shock protein

Fertility in female mammals may be affected by a variety of endocrine disrupters present in the environment. Herbicide atrazine is an example of endocrine disrupter employed in agriculture, which disrupts estrous cyclicity in rats. Aiming to characterize morphologically the effect of low and sublethal doses of atrazine on the ovaries of Wistar rats, in an effort to determine the possible intrafollicular target site through which this herbicide acts adult females were submitted to both subacute and subchronic treatments. Additionally, immunocytochemical labeling of 90 kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) was performed in order to evaluate the role played by this protein in the ovary, under stressed conditions induced by herbicide exposure. The results indicated that atrazine induced impaired folliculogenesis, increased follicular atresia and HSP90 depletion in female rats submitted to subacute treatment, while the subchronic treatment with low dose of atrazine could compromise the reproductive capacity reflected by the presence of multioocytic follicle and stress-inducible HSP90. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Colors and some morphological traits as defensive mechanisms in anurans

Anurans may be brightly colored or completely cryptic. Generally, in the former situation, we are dealing with aposematism, and the latter is an example of camouflage. However, these are only simple views of what such colorations really mean and which defensive strategy is implied. For instance, a brightly colored frog may be part of a mimicry ring, which could be either Batesian, Müllerian, or Browerian. These are only examples of the diversity of color-usage systems as defensive strategies. Unfortunately, reports on the use of colors as defensive mechanisms are widespread in the available literature, and the possible functions are rarely mentioned. Therefore, we reviewed the literature and added new data to this subject. Then, we the use of colors (as defensive mechanism) into categories. Mimicry was divided into the subcategories camouflage, homotypy, and nondeceitful homotypy, and these groups were also subcategorized. Dissuasive coloration was divided into behavioral display of colors, polymorphism, and polyphenism. Aposematism was treated apart, but aposematic colorations may be present in other defensive strategies. Finally, we propose functions and forms of evolution for some color systems in post-metamorphic anurans and hope that this review can be the basis for future research, even on other animal groups. © 2009 L. F. Toledo and C. F. B. Haddad.

Morphological routine proposal to extraction of highways in digital images of high resolution

This research proposes to apply techniques of Mathematics Morphology to extract highways in digital images of high resolution, targeting the upgrade of cartographic products. Remote Sensing data and Mathematical Morphological techniques were integrated in the process of extraction. Mathematical Morphology's objective is to improve and extract the relevant information of the visual image. In order to test the proposed approach some morphological operators related to preprocess, were applied to the original images. Routines were implemented in the MATLAB environment. Results indicated good performances by the implemented operators. The integration of the technologies aimed to implement the semiautomatic extraction of highways with the purpose to use them in processes of cartographic updating.

Modifications induced by acetylacetone in properties of sol-gel derived Y3Al5O12:Tb3+ - I: Structural and morphological organizations

Acetylacetone has been used as a chemical modifier for the synthesis of undoped and Tb3+-doped Y3Al5O12 powders. A systematic investigation concerning its influence on the structural and morphological properties of amorphous and crystallized samples has been carried out. These properties have been comparatively studied by means of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, SEM, XAS and SAXS. 27Al NMR and EPR experiments have been performed to complete the study. The combined results have evidenced that acetylacetone promotes organic groups departure during calcination, entailing a better structural organization at lower temperatures compared with unmodified powders. Structuration has been proven to occur at short-scale range until a 600°C heating treatment before being extended by coalescence at higher temperatures. Finally, the presence of acac ligands on the alkoxides leads to a monomer-cluster aggregation process, and thus to a more open network. © 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Morphological caste differences in three species of the Neotropical genus Clypearia (Hymenoptera: Polistinae: Epiponini)

Clypearia is a rare genus of swarm-founding Neotropical wasp whose biology is very little known. Morphological castes differences, condition of ovaries, relative age, and color pattern differences were analyzed in three species of Clypearia. Physiological differences and low morphometric differentiation between queens and workers were present in all species studied, indicating that these species are characterized by physiological caste only. We suggest that caste determination in the three Clypearia species studied is postimaginal. © 2010 Giovanna Tocchini Felippotti et al.

Morphological characteristics of foramen of Vesalius and its relationship with clinical implications

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence as well morphometry of the foramen of Vesalius in human skulls and analyzing their clinical importance. Dry human skulls (n = 80) and with gender distinction were used (40 male and 40 female). The results demonstrates an total incidence of 40%, 13.75% skulls with the bilateral presence of the foramen, 26.25% skulls with the unilateral presence of the foramen, 31.25% skulls with foramen only of the right side, 22.50% skulls with foramen only of the left side, 25% masculine skulls with at least 1 foramen and 52.25% skulls with at least 1 foramen. The morphometry showed an average diameter of 1.457 ± 1.043 mm on the right and 1592 ± 0938 mm to the left. The average distance to the foramen ovale was 1.853 ± 0.303 mm on the right side and 2.464 ± 0.311 mm on the left. It can be concluded that a deepened anatomical study of the foramen of Vesalius collaborates not only for anatomical knowledge of this structure, but also in clinical situations involving this foramen.

Morphological and molecular analysis of the collagen fibers in inflammatory process

Collagen makes up one third of the total protein in humans, being formed by the connection of three polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix. This protein has fundamental importance in the formation of extracellular matrix of connective tissue. This study aimed to analyze the structural changes of collagen, which are resulting from inflammatory processes in oral mucosa, and to make the comparative analysis between the histopathology and the Raman spectra. The samples of tissues with inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) and normal mucosa (NM) were evaluated by Raman Spectroscopy, hematoxylin-eosin and Massons trichrome stain. The histological analysis in both stains showed differences in collagen fibers, which was presented as thin fibers and arranged in parallel direction in NM and as collagen fibers are thick, mature and not organized, showing that these types of stain show morphological changes of collagen in IFH. The Raman Spectroscopy discriminate the groups of NM and IFH based on vibrational modes of proline, hydroxiproline and CH3, CH2. The histological stains only shows information from morphological data, and can be complemented by Raman spectra. This technique could demonstrate that inflammatory process caused some changes in collagen structure which is related to aminoacids such as proline and hidroxyproline. © 2011 SPIE-OSA.