Reproductive physiology, and physical and sexual development of female offspring born to diabetic dams

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

LARVAL INSTARS AND IMMATURE DEVELOPMENT OF A BRAZILIAN POPULATION OF PHARAOHS ANT, MONOMORIUM-PHARAONIS (L) (HYM, FORMICIDAE)

The immature development of pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis, workers was s died in a naturally collected Brazilian population. Three larval instars were confirmed by measuring maximal cephalic widths in cohorts of known age. Minimum egg to adult duration was 25 days, while the maximum duration was 54 days, both of which are larger than those reported for European populations. Larval instar development is cyclical at the colony level, suggesting reproductive bursts followed by lower reproductive activity of the queens.

FUNCTIONAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF MYOCARDIAL PROTECTION PROVIDED BY INTERMITTENT CORONARY SINUS PERFUSION IN THE ISOLATED DOG HEART

1. The protection offered by intermittent perfusion of of cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus was investigated in isovolumic blood-perfused dog heart preparations submitted to 60 min of ischemia and 45 min of reperfusion.2. The preparations were divided into three treatment groups: a) coronary sinus, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the coronary sinus under 40 cm water pressure; b) aortic, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the aortic stump under 100 mmHg pressure; c) control, consisting of hearts (N = 9) that were not perfused with cardioplegic solution.3. Properties of contractile capacity and relaxation were markedly impaired in the control group but were preserved to a comparable extent in the groups perfused with cardioplegic solution through the aorta and coronary sinus. Developed pressure decreased in the control group (before ischemia: 70 +/- 5.5 mmHg; after reperfusion: 35 +/- 12 mmHg; P < 0.05) and didn't vary in the aortic group (from 69 +/- 4 mmHg to 65 +/- 13 mmHg; P > 0.05) and coronary sinus group (from 69 +/- 4.6 mmHg to 60 +/- 10 mmHg; P > 0.05). Myocardial relaxation was evaluated by the +/- dp/dt ratio. In the control group there was impairment of myocardial relaxation as indicated by an increase of this index after reperfusion (from 1.05 +/- 0.05 to 1.46 +/- 0.23; P < 0.05), whereas in the aortic (from 1.10 +/- 0.13 to 1.15 +/- 0.20; P > 0.05) and the coronary sinus (from 1.03 +/- 0.14 to 1.08 +/- 0.16; P > 0.05) groups there was no variation. Ultrastructural changes in the myocardium were negligible in all three groups at the end of reperfusion.4. We conclude that intermittent perfusion of a hypothermic cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus is effective for the protection of the myocardium during total ischemia.

Muscular, functional and orthodontic changes in pre school children with enlarged adenoids and tonsils

Introduction: Hypertrophy of the adenoids and palatine tonsils is the second most frequent cause of upper respiratory obstruction and, consequently, mouth breathing in children. Prolonged mouth breathing leads to muscular and postural alterations which, in turn, cause dentosketetal changes. Objective: the aim of this study was to determine muscular, functional and dentoskeletal alterations in children aged 3-6 years. Materials and methods: Seventy-three children, including 44 with tonsil hypertrophy and 29 controls, were submitted to otorhinolaryngologic, speech pathologic and orthodontic assessment. Results: Otorhinolaryngologic evaluation revealed a higher incidence of nasal obstruction, snoring, mouth breathing, apneas, nocturnal hypersalivation, itchy nose, repeated tonsillitis and bruxism in children with tonsils hypertrophy. Speech pathologic assessment showed a higher incidence of open lip and lower tongue position, and of hypotonia of the upper and lower lips, tongue and buccinator muscle in these children, accompanied by important impairment in mastication and deglutition. Orthodontic evaluation demonstrated a higher incidence of lower mandible position in relation to the cranial base, a reduction in lower posterior facial height, transverse atresia of the palate, and a dolicofacial pattern. Conclusion: Postural and functional alterations anticipate dentoskeletal changes, except for the facial pattern. Postural alterations and the skeletal pattern seem to play an important role in infant dentofacial growth. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Embryology and seed development of Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus (Koern.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae)

The embryology and seed structure of Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus species were studied. The embryological and structural seed characters fit well with those of the other commelinaceous families. Within the Commelinales sensu Dahlgren, Eriocaulaceae and Xyridaceae represent two embryologically close families. In Paepalanthus sect. Actinocephalus the ovule is orthotropus, bitegmic, and tenuicellate with a micropyle formed by the inner integument. The seeds are endotestal. The outer cell layer of the testa and the outer periclinal wall of the endotesta disintegrate during development. The endotegmen is tanniniferous. The outer layer of the tegmen becomes compressed and is no longer recognizable in the mature seed. The seeds are operculate.

Embryology and seed development of Syngonanthus caulescens (Poir.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae-Poales)

The embryology and the seed development of Syngonanthus caulescens are presented. This species possesses: a bithecous and tetrasporangiate anther, with a four-layered wall, a conspicuous endothecium of the baseplate type, a secretory tapetum formed by uninucleate cells, successive microsporogenesis resulting in isobilateral microspore tetrads, spiraperturate and binucleate pollen grains, an orthotropous, pendulous, bitegmic and terminucellate ovule, with a micropyle formed only by the inner integument, a megagametophyte of the Polygonum type, with formation of an antipodal cyst, free-nuclear and starchy endosperm, a broad and bell-shaped embryo, operculate and endotestal seeds, a seed coat derived from the inner layers of both integuments, and tanniniferous endotegmen. These embryological aspects are characteristic not only for Syngonanthus, but for the whole family, with few differences between genera. Furthermore, the pollen grain of the spiraperturate type and the cystic arrangement of the antipodals in the megagametophyte are peculiar and very distinctive features of Eriocaulaceae within the other Poales (commelinids). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth and juvenile development of Uca maracoani Latreille 1802-1803 in laboratory conditions (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Ocypodidae).

The life cycle of decapod crustaceans can be classified into three distinct morphological phases: larval, juvenile and adult. Despite its recognized importance, studies of the juvenile phase have been neglected. The present Study aimed to analyze the growth of juveniles from a single population of Uca maracoani under laboratory conditions, and also to describe the morphological differentiation of pleopods in each sex. Megalopae and juvenile crabs or U. maracoani obtained on a Mud beach at Jabaquara, Paraty, on the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), were reared in the laboratory. The specimens were checked daily for molts and deaths. The carapace widths (CW) of intact exuviae and dead individuals were measured under a stereoscopic microscope provided with a micrometer rule. These data allowed the definition of a growth equation as well as the stages related to the beginning of pleopod development, which begins when females reach 3.0 mill CW (6th juvenile developmental stage), similar to the sizes reported for other species of the genus. In males, however, pleopods appear when the crabs reach 3.5 mm CW, equivalent to the 7th developmental stage. This difference may be related to differential growth between sexes. It also may be a consequence of laboratory rearing, or may represent an actual feature of the species.

LH and FSH concentration and follicular development in Nellore heifers submitted to fixed-time artificial insemination protocols with different progesterone concentrations

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

Follicular somatic cell factors and follicle development

Considerable attention is currently paid to oocyte-derived secreted factors that act upon cumulus and granulosa cells. Also important for follicle development are somatic cell-derived secreted factors. This is illustrated by the ability of granulosa cell-derived Kit ligand (KITL) to promote primordial follicle activation, and the loss of follicle development that accompanies KITL gene disruption. This review summarises our current understanding of somatic cell factors during both preantral and antral follicle growth, involving not only signalling from granulosa cells to the oocyte, but also signalling between granulosa and theca cells. Principal granulosa cell-derived factors include activin, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Theca cells also secrete BMPs and FGFs. The interplay between these factors is equally important for follicle growth as the activity of oocyte-derived factors.

Activity of the Ovarian Germinal Epithelium in the Freshwater Catfish, Pimelodus maculatus (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes): Germline Cysts, Follicle Formation and Oocyte Development

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

Comparative study of ovule and fruit development in species of Hypolytrum and Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae, Poales)

The development of the ovule and of the fruit of Hypolytrum bullatum and H. schraderianum (Mapanioideae) and of Rhynchospora consanguinea and R. rugosa (Cyperoideae) are described. All species share anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate ovules, funicular obturator, megagametophyte of the Polygonum type, presence of starch grains in the mature megagametophyte, free-nuclear endosperm, Onagrad-type embryogeny, testal-tegmic seed, and a simple fruit of the achene type. Rhynchospora species have characters typical of the family: micropyle formed by the inner integument alone; 3-4-layered parietal tissue; and hard achene. Hypolytrum species differ in those characters by presenting a slightly zigzag micropyle formed by both integuments connected with the funicular obturator, 5-8-layered parietal tissue, and fibrous-spongy achene. The peculiar formation of the micropyle in Hypolytrum is a feature reported here for the first time in the family. The ontogeny provides evidence for a better understanding of the dispersal unit in Hypolytrum supporting the classification as a true achene, like that of Rhynchospora, which is characteristic of the family.

Functional and structural analysis of two fibrinogen-activating enzymes isolated from the venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus and Crotalus durissus collilineatus

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