EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH GROWTH-REGULATORS AND SCARIFICATION ON THE TOLERANCE TO WATER-STRESS IN SEEDS OF ORYZA-SATIVA LCVIAC-165

The effect of treatment of seeds of Oryza sativa L. cv. IAC 165 with gibberellic acid, 6-benzyladenine and ethrel on the tolerance to the water stress were analysed. Gibberellic acid had no effect and 6-benzyladenine and ethrel promoted slight increase in the tolerance to water stress, specially in darkness. After scarification, those growth regulator presented no effect. Our results suggest that 6-benzyladenine and ethrel promoted water stress tolerance due to the decrease in the resistance of the seed coat to embryo expansion.

Effects of CSN3 and LGB gene polymorphisms on production traits in beef cattle

The objective of the present study was to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies of the CSN3/Hinfl and LGB/HaeIII gene polymorphisms in beef cattle belonging to different genetic groups, and to determine the effects of these polymorphisms on growth and carcass traits in these animals, which are submitted to an intensive production model. Genotyping was performed on 79 Nelore, 30 Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) and 275 crossbred cattle originating from the crosses of Simmental (n = 30) and Angus (n = 245) sires with Nelore females. Body weight, weight gain, dressing percentage, longissimus dorsi area and backfat thickness were fitted using the GLM procedure, and least square means of the genotypes were compared by the F test. The results showed that the CSN3/Hinfl and LGB/HaeIII polymorphisms did not have any effect on growth or carcass traits (p > 0.05). Copyright by the Brazilian Society of genetics.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of the natural polyphenol chlorogenic acid

Phenolic compounds are numerous and ubiquitous in the plant kingdom, being particularly present in health-promoting foods. Epidemiological evidences suggest that the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods reduces the incidence of cancer, coronary heart disease and inflammation. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the most abundant polyphenol compounds in human diet. Data obtained from in vivo and in vitro experiments show that CGA mostly presents antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic activities. However, the effects of CGA on the inflammatory reaction and on the related pain and fever processes have been explored less so far. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities of CGA in rats. In comparison to control, CGA at doses 50 and 100 mg/kg inhibited carrageenin-induced paw edema beginning at the 2nd hour of the experimental procedure. Furthermore, at doses 50 and 100 mg/kg CGA also inhibited the number of flinches in the late phase of formalin-induced pain test. Such activities may be derived from the inhibitory action of CGA in the peripheral synthesis/release of inflammatory mediators involved in these responses. On the other hand, even at the highest tested dose (200 mg/kg), CGA did not inhibit the febrile response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Additional experiments are necessary in order to clarify the true target for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CGA. © 2006 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.

Apoptosis in different gastric lesions and gastric cancer: Relationship with Helicobacter pylori, overexpression of p53 and aneuploidy

Apoptosis has an essential function in maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Its deregulation is associated with the occurrence of lesions such as in atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcers, intestinal metaplasia, and stomach tumorigenesis. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of apoptotic cells (apoptotic index, AI) by using two different immunohistochemical techniques, TUNEL and anti-activated caspase-3 antibody (CPP32), in gastric dyspepsia [chronic gastritis (CG, N = 34), chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG, N = 11), gastric ulcer (GU, N = 17), and intestinal metaplasia (IM, N = 15)], normal gastric mucosae (NM, N = 8), and gastric adenocarcinoma (GC, N = 12). The relationship was investigated between the AI and Helicobacter pylori infection, diagnosed by PCR, overexpression of p53 protein determined by immunohistochemistry, and aneuploidy by fluorescence in situ hybridization, as performed by our laboratory in previous studies. No significant differences were observed in AI between the different groups, whether by the TUNEL technique (F = 1.60; P = 0.1670) or by CPP32 antibody (F = 1.70; P = 0.1420). Nonetheless, CAG and CG groups had AI statistically higher than those of normal mucosae. These two groups (CAG and CG) also showed a higher frequency of apoptosis-positive cases (TUNEL+ or CPP32+). Generally, there was no correlation between the AI detected by the TUNEL and CPP32 techniques in the groups studied, except in the GC group (r = 0.70). Moreover, there was no significant association between apoptosis and H. pylori infection, overexpression of p53 protein and aneuploidy, but the H. pylori-positive cases only of GU (P = 0.0233) and IM (P = 0.0253) groups displayed a statistically higher AI compared to H. pylori-negative NM, when the CPP32 antibody technique was used. Thus, CG and CAG have increased apoptosis, which may occur independent of an association with H. pylori infection, aneuploidy and overexpression of p53 protein. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Evolutionary dynamics of 5S rDNA location in acridid grasshoppers and its relationship with H3 histone gene and 45S rDNA location

We analyze the chromosomal location of 5S rDNA clusters in 29 species of grasshoppers belonging to the family Acrididae. There was extensive variation among species for the number and location of 5S rDNA sites. Out of 148 sites detected, 75% were proximally located, 21.6% were interstitial, and only 3.4% were distal. The number of 5S rDNA sites per species varied from a single chromosome pair (in six species) to all chromosome pairs (in five species), with a range of intermediate situations. Thirteen chromosomes from eight species carried two 5S rDNA clusters. At intraspecific level, differences among populations were detected in Eyprepocnemis plorans, and some heteromorphisms have also been observed in some species. Double FISH for 5S rDNA and H3 histone gene DNA, performed on 17 of these 29 species, revealed that both markers are sometimes placed in a same chromosome but at different location, whereas they appeared to co-localize in five species (Calliptamus barbarus, Heteracris adpersa, Aiolopus strepens, Oedipoda charpentieri and O. coerulescens). Double fiber-FISH in A. strepens and O. coerulescens showed that the two DNAs are closely interspersed with variable relative amounts of both classes of DNA. Finally, no correlation was observed between the number of 5S and 45S rDNA clusters in 23 species where this information was available. These results are discussed in the light of possible mechanisms of spread that led to the extensive variation in the number of clusters observed for both rDNA types in acridid grasshoppers. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Tumor-associated macrophages and the profile of inflammatory cytokines in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate and characterize macrophage populations (M1/M2) in the tumor microenvironment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). The relationship between macrophages and clinicopathological factors, such as survival data, lymph node metastasis, tumoral proliferation, and WHO histological grading are also analyzed. Materials and methods: The samples consisted of surgically excised specimens from patients with non-metastatic and metastatic OCSCC and normal oral mucosa (control). Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate macrophage populations and the expression of pro- (IL-12, IL-23, and INF-γ) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and TGF-β) cytokines. The level required for statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: The data showed a predominance of M2 phenotype (high percentage of IL-10+TGF-β+) macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of OCSCC. A higher percentage of macrophages expressing TGF-β was seen in the OCSCC group when compared with healthy individuals. The assessment of mRNA expression also presented a greater expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines TGFβ and IL10 in OCSCC when compared with the control group. The percentage of macrophages, demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, was significantly higher in the metastatic OCSCC group than in the non-metastatic and control groups. The log-rank test also showed that the mean survival time for patients with high levels of macrophages was less (44 months) when compared with patients with a low percentage of such cells (93 months). Conclusion: A predominance of the M2 phenotype in the tumor microenvironment of OCSCC could contribute to local immunosuppression, via TGF-β production, and consequently greater lymph node involvement and reduced patient survival time. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Motor Recovery and Synaptic Preservation after Ventral Root Avulsion and Repair with a Fibrin Sealant Derived from Snake Venom

Background:Ventral root avulsion is an experimental model of proximal axonal injury at the central/peripheral nervous system interface that results in paralysis and poor clinical outcome after restorative surgery. Root reimplantation may decrease neuronal degeneration in such cases. We describe the use of a snake venom-derived fibrin sealant during surgical reconnection of avulsed roots at the spinal cord surface. The present work investigates the effects of this fibrin sealant on functional recovery, neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and glial reaction in the spinal motoneuron microenvironment after ventral root reimplantation.Methodology/Principal Findings:Female Lewis rats (7 weeks old) were subjected to VRA and root replantation. The animals were divided into two groups: 1) avulsion only and 2) replanted roots with fibrin sealant derived from snake venom. Post-surgical motor performance was evaluated using the CatWalk system twice a week for 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery, and their lumbar intumescences were processed for motoneuron counting and immunohistochemistry (GFAP, Iba-1 and synaptophysin antisera). Array based qRT-PCR was used to evaluate gene regulation of several neurotrophic factors and receptors as well as inflammatory related molecules. The results indicated that the root reimplantation with fibrin sealant enhanced motor recovery, preserved the synaptic covering of the motoneurons and improved neuronal survival. The replanted group did not show significant changes in microglial response compared to VRA-only. However, the astroglial reaction was significantly reduced in this group.Conclusions/Significance:In conclusion, the present data suggest that the repair of avulsed roots with snake venom fibrin glue at the exact point of detachment results in neuroprotection and preservation of the synaptic network at the microenvironment of the lesioned motoneurons. Also such procedure reduced the astroglial reaction and increased mRNA levels to neurotrophins and anti-inflammatory cytokines that may in turn, contribute to improving recovery of motor function. © 2013 Barbizan et al.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract and fractions from seeds of Piper cubeba L. (Piperaceae)

Some of the Piper species have been applied for the treatment of several diseases (anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic), considering multiple applications used in traditional medicine of different countries. About these, the present study evaluated some biological activities of Piper cubeba, as writhing test induced by acetic acid, ear edema induced by croton oil and paw edema induced by carrageenan were used by evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of crude hydroalcoholic extract (PCE) and its fractions of different polarities of P. cubeba L. seeds. The lethal dose (LD50) and the effective dose (ED50) were evaluated too. Both the PCE and dichloromethane fraction showed decrease values of edema and abdominal constrictions. The results obtained in this study confirm the low toxicity and analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of PCE from P. cubeba seeds, justifying its use in folk medicine. Copyright © 2013, Phcog.Net, Published by Reed Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Análise filogenética de Brachyplatytoma platynemum (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Capacidade antioxidante na Hb S: influência de talassemia alfa, haplótipos do gene βS globina e melatonina

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Quantificação diferencial de transcritos em espermatozóides de suínos suplementados com vitaminas e minerais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anti-inflammatory and opioid-like activities in methanol extract of Mikania lindleyana, sucuriju

ABSTRACT: Mikania lindleyana DC., Asteraceae (sucuriju), grows in the Amazon region, where is frequently used to treat pain, inflammatory diseases and scarring. This study was carried out to investigate phytochemical profile accompanied by in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory screening of n-hexane (HE), dichloromethane (DME) and methanol (ME) extracts obtained from the aerial parts of the plant. The oral administration of ME (0.1, 0.3, 1 g/kg) caused a dose-related reduction (16.2, 42.1 e 70.2%) of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing while HE and DME (1 g/kg, p.o.) were ineffective. In the hot plate test, ME (300 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the latency of heat stimulus between 30 and 120 min and inhibited the first (45%) and second (60%) phases of nociception in the formalin test. The antinociception induced by ME or positive control fentanyl (150 µg/kg, s.c.) in hot plate and formalin tests was prevented by naloxone (3 mg/kg, s.c.). When submitted to the carrageenan-induced peritonitis test, ME (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg, p.o.) impaired leukocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity by 46.8, 59.4 and 64.8% respectively, while positive control dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, s.c.), inhibited leukocyte migration by 71.1%. These results indicate that the antinociception obtained after oral administration of methanol extract of M. lindleyana involves anti-inflammatory mechanisms accompanied with opioid-like activity which could explain the use of the specie for pain and inflammatory diseases.

Sequenciamento de DNA e imunoistoquímica renal para detecção de Leishmania sp em cães

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

Lycopene supplementation modulates plasma concentrations and epididymal adipose tissue mRNA of leptin, resistin and IL-6 in diet-induced obese rats

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

Diabetes mellitus activates fetal gene program and intensifies cardiac remodeling and oxidative stress in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)