Morphometric and quantitative evaluation of the NADH-diaphorase positive myenteric neurons of the jejunum of streptozotocin-diabetic rats supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine

In this study we investigated the effect of the acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) supplementation on the myenteric neurons of the jejunum of rats made diabetic at the age of 105 days by streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight). Four groups were used: non-diabetic (C), non-diabetic supplemented with ALC (CC), diabetic (D), diabetic supplemented with ALC (DC). After 15 weeks of diabetes induction the blood was collected by cardiac puncture to evaluate glycaemia and glycated haemoglobin. Next the animals were killed and the jejunum was collected and subjected to whole-mount preparation to evidence the myenteric neurons through the histochemical technique of the NADH-diaphorase. The neuronal counts were made in 80 microscopic fields, in tissue samples of five animals of each group. The profiles of the cell bodies of 1000 neurons per group were analysed. Diabetes induced a significant increase in the area of the cell body and decrease in the number of NADH-diaphorase positive myoenteric neurons. ALC suplementation to the diabetic group promoted smaller hypertrophic effects and less neuronal loss than in the myoenteric neurons of the diabetic rats, and in addition diminished the body weight decrease and reduced the fasting glycaemia. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag.

Desenvolvimento e produtividade da cúrcuma (Curcuma longa L.) em função de doses de nitrogênio e potássio

The objective of the experiment was evaluating the development and production of turmeric, it was carried out at FCAV-UNESP, in Jaboticabal-SP, during 11/18/ 1999 to 7/18/2000, in randomized blocks, with three replications, factorial scheme 5 × 5. The factors evaluated were doses of N (0, 68, 136, 170 and 204 kg.ha-1) and doses of K2O (0, 92, 184, 230 and 276 kg.ha-1). The potassium doses influenced plant-mother's height significantly, answering lineally to the increment in the potassium fertilization. There was significant interaction between nitrogen and potassium on the number of leaves of the sons and total-plant. In the doses of 0 and 92 kg of K2O.ha-1 a lineal increase was observed in the number of leaves with the increment of the applied nitrogen. The potassium doses also influenced the foliar area of the sons and total-plant, reaching values of 3260 and 4971 cm2 per plant, respectively, for the application of 276 kg K2O.ha1. The number of sons had a lineal increment with the growing fertilization of potassium, contemplating on the dry mass of the aerial part of the sons. The production of rhizomes per plant wasn't influenced for the factors evaluated.

Lesões intestinais decorrentes de isquemia e reperfusão: Fisiopatologia e modelos experimentais

The intestinal ischemia is unusual in vascular surgery emergency. Its main causes are embolisms and arterial thrombosis. In addition to severe ischemia, reperfusion of the ischemic tissues can lead to several complications that may worsen the ischemic lesion and produce a life threatening situation caused by systemic alterations. Intestinal tissue injuries due to ischemia and reperfusion have been demonstrated in clinical and experimental studies, in which pathophysiology and adequate treatment were also studied. The great variety of experimental models used and results achieved reflect the need for an intestinal ischemia and reperfusion experimental model that is simple, reproducible and consistent, in order to search for treatments that can reduce the damage caused by this situation. In this review, the main pathophysiologic aspects and the most used experimental models will be reviewed. Copyright © 2005 by Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular.

Critical protective role for annexin 1 gene expression in the endotoxemic murine microcirculation

The inflammatory response is a protective process of the body to counteract xenobiotic penetration and injury, although in disease this response can become deregulated. There are endogenous biochemical pathways that operate in the host to keep inflammation under control. Here we demonstrate that the counter-regulator annexin 1 (AnxA1) is critical for controlling experimental endotoxemia. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly activated the AnxA1 gene in epithelial cells, neutrophils, and peritoneal, mesenteric, and alveolar macrophages-cell types known to function in experimental endotoxemia. Administration of LPS to AnxA1-deficient mice produced a toxic response characterized by organ injury and lethality within 48 hours, a phenotype rescued by exogenous application of low doses of the protein. In the absence of AnxA1, LPS generated a deregulated cellular and cytokine response with a marked degree of leukocyte adhesion in the microcirculation. Analysis of LPS receptor expression in AnxA1-null macrophages indicated an aberrant expression of Toll-like receptor 4. In conclusion, this study has detailed cellular and biochemical alterations associated with AnxA1 gene deletion and highlighted the impact of this protective circuit for the correct functioning of the homeostatic response to sublethal doses of LPS. Copyright © American Society for Investigative Pathology.

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.

Morphometric analysis of a population of diplopods of the genus Rhinocricus Karsch, 1881

Diplopods belonging to the subclass Helminthomorpha may present one or both leg pairs of the seventh diplosegment modified into structures that aid copulation, called gonopods. These structures are used as a taxonomic trait for the description of most species. In the genus Rhinocricus these structures are closely similar, so that it is difficult to distinguish species only on the basis of this trait. Two species, R. padbergi and R. varians, are found in the same habitat and present gonopods practically identical in shape; together they present a broad colour gradient, ranging from dark brown to light beige. Morphometric data for individuals of the experimental group were submitted to ANOVA and MANOVA, using Hotelling-Lawley Trace and generalized Mahalanobis distances (D 2) tests. The results demonstrated a relationship between size and colour, with darker individuals being larger. On the basis of this preliminary analysis, we may suggest that the two species are distinct since dark individuals are distant from medium- and light-coloured individuals according to the D 2 values. This seems to indicate a possible polymorphism of individuals belonging to R. padbergi which present close proximity in the values obtained. In all analyses, we observed that the main variables were diameter, length and telson size.

Acute and short-term insulin-induced molecular adaptations of GLUT2 gene expression in the renal cortex of diabetic rats

Increased GLUT2 gene expression in the renal proximal tubule of diabetic rats is an adaptive condition, which may be important in the diabetic nephropathy development. We investigated the effects of insulin treatment upon the renal GLUT2 overexpression of diabetic rats. Acute treatment, surprisingly, induced a rapid further increase in GLUT2 mRNA content. Twelve hours after insulin injection, GLUT2 mRNA was twice the value of saline-injected rats (P < 0.001), when GLUT2 protein remained unchanged. In response to short-term treatment, both GLUT2 mRNA and protein were increased in 1-day treated rats (P < 0.05 versus saline-injected), decreasing after that, and reaching, within 6 days, values close to those of non-diabetic rats. Concluding, insulin treatment induced: initially, an additional upregulation of GLUT2 gene expression, involving posttranscriptional modulation; thereafter, downregulation of GLUT2 expression, which returns to non-diabetic levels. The former may be related to increased insulin concentration, the latter may be due to glycemic control. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A fatal attack caused by a lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in Southeastern Brazil

A 55-year-old man was attacked by a Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) after surprising and stabbing the animal in his corn plantation. The victim received deep bites in the thighs, neck, and cervical areas, resulting in severe hemorrhage and death. This is the first report of a tapir incident resulting in death and is of interest because of the severity of the contusions and lacerations caused by the provoked animal.

Methods of experimental induction of periapical inflammation. Microbiological and radiographic evaluation

Aim: To evaluate the influence of coronal filling and apical perforation on the induction of periapical inflammation. Methodology: Fifty-eight root canals in the teeth of dogs were divided into four groups. Groups I and II: root canals were exposed for 180 days; groups III and IV: root canals were exposed for 7 days and then the access cavity filled for 53 days. The root apices of groups I and III were perforated after the coronal opening, whilst those of groups II and IV remained intact. Standard radiographs were taken before and after the experimental periods. Digital images of the radiographs were created and then analysed by three examiners. After induction of periapical inflammation, the root canal contents were collected using paper points. Microbiologic evaluation of the type of microorganism was carried out by culture in different growth media. The radiographic and microbiologic data were statistically analysed using ANOVA at a 5% significance level. Results: There were a greater total number of microorganisms in groups I and II (P < 0.05). The number of anaerobes was greater than the number of aerobes (P < 0.05). The size of the periapical radiolucencies were not significantly different between the experimental groups. Conclusions: The different methods analysed induced similar areas of periapical radiolucency in dogs with predominantly anaerobic bacteria. However, the time required for induction was less when the method with coronal filling was used. © 2005 International Endodontic Journal.

Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of organic extracts of mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill on V79 cells

Agaricus blazei Murrill, popularly known as the sun mushroom, is a native mushroom in SP, Brazil, that has been widely used in the treatment of cancer and many other pathologies in different parts of the world. A water-soluble protein-polysaccharide complex (1 → 6)β-D-glucan has been isolated from its fruiting body that showed immune-modulation activity. From organic extracts, linoleic acid has been isolated and determined to be the main substance with antimutagenic activity. Using both the micronucleus (MN) and comet (single cell microgel electrophoresis) assays, this study determined the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of A. blazei (AB) obtained from commercial sources or the following strains: a) strains AB 97/29 (young and sporulated phases); b) a mixture taken from AB 96/07, AB 96/09 and AB 97/ 11 strains; and c) commercial mushrooms from Londrina, PR and Piedade, SP, designated as AB PR and AB SP, respectively. The extracts from these mushrooms were isolated in chloroform:methanol (3:1) and used in vitro at three different concentrations. V79 cells (Chinese hamster lung cells) were exposed to the extracts under pre-, simultaneous and post-treatment conditions, combined with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Under the circumstances of this study, these organic extracts did not show any genotoxic or mutagenic effects, but did protect cells against the induction of micronuclei by MMS. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics.

Purificação de lacases PPO-I de Botryosphaeria rhodina

Laccases are glycoprotein polyphenol oxidases which are involved in fungal pathogenicity and they are also useful for biotechnological applications. The ligninolytic ascomycete, Botryosphaeria rhodina, has been studied as producer of exopolysaccharide and PPO-I and PPO-II laccases induced by veratryl alcohol. However, as the induced laccases have not been isolated, the aim of this study was to purify the enzyme and to identify the carbohydrates constituents of the glycosidic moiety. The fungus was cultivated on broth Vogel, 1% glucose and 30.4mM veratryl alcohol during 4.5 days at 28°C/180 rpm. The extracellular fluid showed high carbohydrate concentration and the stability of PPO-I laccase under conditions of refrigeration and freezing at 4°C-18°C over 40 days. The purification was developed by ultrafiltration using a NMWL 100 and 30 kDa membrane, gelfiltration on Sephadex G-100, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purified laccase was identified as a glycoprotein, weight molecular 113 kDa, consisting of 40% protein and 60% carbohydrate identified by HPAEC-PAD as fucose, galactose, mannose, glucose and glucosamine.

Feeding and condition factor of characidiin fish in Ribeirão Grande system, Southeastern Brazil

Feeding, seasonal changes in visceral fat and condition factor were compared in two species of characidiin fishes, Characidium lauroi and C. alipioi from Ribeirão Grande system, southeastern Brazil. Five streams of Ribeirão Grande system were sampled (22° 47' 08 S, 45° 28' 17W). The samples were taken four times per site, from July, 2001 to April, 2002: winter (July 2001), spring (October 2001), summer (February 2002) and autumn (April 2002). Quantitative collections were made with an electro-fishing device powered by a generator with maximum capacity of 1,500 V and 8.7 A of 60 Hz alternating current. Ephemeroptera nymphs, Diptera larvae (Chironomidae, Simuliidae), Plecoptera nymphs, Trichoptera larvae (Hydroptilidae, Psychoyiidae), terrestrial insects (Coleoptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera [Heteroptera, Homoptera]), Megaloptera larvae (Corydalidae), Arachnida, Ostracoda and vegetal debris were found in both species' diets. Visceral fat declined in February, coinciding with the decline of the condition factor in both species. The increased feeding from summer to fall provides fat accumulation. During subsequent seasons, fish may utilize visceral fat reserves for maintenance and reproduction.

Uso do grau de preferência alimentar para a caracterizaç ão da alimentação de peixes na APA de São Pedro e Analândia

We studied feeding habits of four fish species in two watershed at APA - Área de Proteção Ambiental (Area of Environmental Protection) in São Pedro and Analândia, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Feeding Preference Degree (FPD) was used to demonstrate the importance of each food item for the species of both basins. Feeding habits of both species of lambari was variable. The allochtonous items such as insects, autochtonous items, and vegetal material were very important, characterizing omnivory. The bagre (Rhamdia quelen) fed mainly on insects at the Jacaré-pepira Basin and also on fishes at the Corumbataí basin. The cascudo Hypostomus strigaticeps ingested autochtonous vegetal material and sediments at both basins.

Chronic renal failure in male and female rats

Gender influences the progression of chronic renal failure (CRF). We studied male (M) and female (F) Wistar rats for 90 days: castrated (CMc, n=7; CFc, n=6) and non castrated controls (CM, n=9; CF, n=6); castrated (CRFMc, n=8; CRFFc, n=6) and non castrated animals submitted to 5/6 nephrectomy (CRFM, n=13; CRFF, n=6). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Proteinuria (PTN) was higher in CRFM (554 ± 69mg/24h) compared to CRFMc (277 ± 85 mg/24h), but not in females (CRFF=193 ± 20mg/24h, CRFFc=164 ± 71mg/24h). Mesangial fractional volume increased in all CRF animals. CRF animals showed an increase of glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) and tubulointerstitial damage (TID) but in a smaller proportion in male castrated animals; the opposite occurred with females: castration induced an increase of these parameters. CRF animals showed increased cortical and glomerular fibronectin (FN) rates. Castration decreased glomerular and cortical FN rates in CRFM but not in females. In conclusion, proteinuria was higher in CRFM and probably led to glomerular and interstitial damage, as well as to FN accumulation, castration seems to protect against development of PTN, TID and FN accumulation in males. Castrated female rats presented mesangial expansion, with no changes in PTN, TID and FN rates. It seems that female sex hormones do not protect against renal disease progression, instead, we suggest that male sex hormones lead to acceleration of CRF.