Water content and GA(3)-induced embryonic cell expansion explain Euterpe edulis seed germination, rather than seed reserve mobilisation

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

Effects of swimming training on tissue glycogen content in experimental thyrotoxic rats

Thyrotoxicosis, a condition in which there is an excessive amount of circulating thyroid hormones, leads to reduced glycogen content in different tissues. In this study we analyzed the effects of aerobic swimming training on liver, heart, and skeletal muscle glycogen content in experimentally induced thyrotoxicosis. Wistar male rats were divided into euthyroid sedentary (ES, n = 12), euthyroid trained (ET, n = 11), thyrotoxic sedentary (TS, n = 12), and thyrotoxic trained (TT, n = 10) groups. Thyrotoxic groups received daily i.p. doses of T4 (sodium levothyroxine, 25 mu g/100 g body mass) through the experimental period, and trained groups swam for 1 h at 80% of the aerobic-anaerobic transition intensity, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Heart and liver glycogen stores were similar to 30% lower in T4 treated compared with nontreated groups, but were not changed by training status. on the other hand, glycogen content in mixed fiber type gastrocnemius of TT was 1.5- to 2.3-fold greater than those in other groups, whereas no significant differences were found for the slow soleus muscle. Increased gastrocnemius but not soleus, liver, or heart glycogen indicates that in mild long-term thyrotoxicosis chronic swimming affects glycogen stores in a tissue-specific manner.

Changes of glycogen content in liver, skeletal muscle, and heart from fasted rats

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

Different exercise protocols improve metabolic syndrome markers, tissue triglycerides content and antioxidant status in rats

Background: An increase in the prevalence of obesity entails great expenditure for governments. Physical exercise is a powerful tool in the combat against obesity and obesity-associated diseases. This study sought to determine the effect of three different exercise protocols on metabolic syndrome and lipid peroxidation markers and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in adult Wistar rats (120 days old).Methods: Animals were randomly divided into four groups: the control (C) group was kept sedentary throughout the study; the aerobic group (A) swam1 h per day, 5 days per week, at 80% lactate threshold intensity; the strength group (S) performed strength training with four series of 10 jumps, 5 days per week; and the Concurrent group (AS) was trained using the aerobic protocol three days per week and the strength protocol two days per week.Results: Groups A and S exhibited a reduction in body weight compared to group C. All exercised animals showed a reduction in triglyceride concentrations in fatty tissues and the liver. Exercised animals also exhibited a reduction in lipid peroxidation markers (TBARS) and an increase in serum superoxide dismutase activity. Animals in group A had increased levels of liver catalase and superoxide dismutase activities.Conclusions: We concluded that all physical activity protocols improved the antioxidant systems of the animals and decreased the storage of triglycerides in the investigated tissues.

High fat-induced obesity associated with insulin-resistance increases FGF-2 content and causes stromal hyperplasia in rat ventral prostate

Obesity affects sex hormone secretion, which can negatively influence prostatic structure, homeostasis, and disease. This investigation aimed to evaluate the repercussions of obesity induced by a high-fat diet on the rat prostate, with or without treatment with the aromatase inhibitor, Letrozole. Adult Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (20% saturated fat, O) for 15 weeks to induce obesity or received a balanced diet (4% fat, C). Then, a group of C and O rats were daily treated with Letrozole (1 mg/kg b.w. per day) for 2 weeks (CL and OL, respectively). Subsequently, ventral prostate was processed for analysis by transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Obesity decreased 70% of the testosterone plasma level. The prostate showed epithelial atrophy and dilated acini in the intermediate portion and epithelial wrinkling in the distal tips. The relative frequency of smooth muscle alpha-actin in the O group increased by 67%. Ultrastructurally, epithelial cells in obese animals presented altered secretory organelles, lipid droplets, and thicker subjacent fibromuscular layer. Letrozole treatment caused a partial restoration of the prostatic changes caused by obesity. Obesity increased the prostatic content of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) by 150%, and Letrozole treatment increased this protein even more in the control and obese groups. This investigation shows that obesity provokes structural and ultrastructural changes in the epithelium of rat prostate; these changes might affect gland homeostasis and physiology. The epithelial and smooth muscle cell hyperplasia and increased FGF-2 expression observed in this experimental model of obesity/insulin-resistance might explain the high frequency of benign prostatic hyperplasia in insulin-resistant men.

FLOW PROPERTIES and TUBE FRICTION FACTOR of MILK CREAM: INFLUENCE of TEMPERATURE and FAT CONTENT

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

Thermophysical Properties of Lemon Juice as Affected by Temperature and Water Content

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

IMPROVED STATISTICAL QCD MODEL FOR THE QUARK CONTENT of THE NUCLEON

The neutron-to-proton ratio of the structure functions, F(2)(n)/F(2)(p), as well as the corresponding difference F(2)(p)-F(2)(n) are obtained within a statistical quark model for the nucleon, where the quark energy levels are given by a central linear confining potential.

Pectin methylesterase activity and ascorbic acid content from guava fruit, cv. Predilecta, in different phases of development

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

The effect of preparation method and Sb content on SnO2-CuO sintering

The sintering behavior of SnO2-CuO system has been investigated for two preparation methods and as a function of antimony concentration. A chemical preparation (Pechini's method) resulted in powders with smaller particle sizes than for a conventional oxide mixture. This led to smaller grain sizes in Pechini's method ceramics. The microstructures were heterogeneous in both systems, showing grain coarsening. The densification was aided by liquid phase formation, due to copper, in both systems, but the temperature of maximum shrinkage rate was larger for the Pechini's method ceramic because copper had to diffuse to the grain surface. Independently of the preparation method, antimony did not aid densification, and increasing its concentration led to a higher densification temperature and lower shrinkage rate. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Influence of the Al content on the phase transformations in Cu-Al-Ag alloys

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

Proline content and protein patterns in Eucalyptus grandis shoots submitted to high and low temperature shocks

As respostas às mudanças de temperatura de plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas de E. grandis cultivadas in vitro foram avaliadas considerando alterações dos níveis de prolina e proteínas solúveis totais. Análises de proteínas solúveis através de SDS-PAGE e prolina foram realizadas após 12h a 12ºC (aclimatação ao frio) ou a 33ºC (aclimatação ao calor), e imediatamente depois dos choques térmicos a 41ºC e 0ºC. Análises também foram realizadas após um período de 24h depois dos choques térmicos (período de recuperação). O tratamento de temperatura a 0ºC não alterou o padrão de proteínas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas, entretanto a temperatura baixa induziu altos níveis de prolina, que se mantiveram relativamente altos após o período de recuperação. Três novas proteínas (90,5, 75 e 39 kDa), provavelmente HSPs, foram observadas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas submetidas às temperaturas altas. As plantas expostas a 41ºC foram capazes de recuperar-se dos choques após o período de recuperação, entretanto não houve recuperação completa das plantas expostas às baixas temperaturas. O efeito da aclimatação sobre a recuperação (homeostasis) pode variar dependendo do parâmetro avaliado, tipo e duração do choque térmico.

Nymphal development, lipid content, growth and weight gain of Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed on soybean genotypes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)