Effects of magnesium intake deficiency on bone metabolism and bone tissue around osseointegrated implants

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

Quercetin ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism and improves antioxidant status in postnatally monosodium glutamate-induced metabolic alterations

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

Growth hormone and heart failure: Oxidative stress and energetic metabolism in rats

Several evidences point for beneficial effects of growth hormone (GH) in heart failure (HF). Taking into account that HF is related with changes in myocardial oxidative stress and in energy generation from metabolic pathways, it is important to clarify whether GH increase or decrease myocardial oxidative stress and what is its effect on energetic metabolism in HF condition. Thus, this study investigated the effects of two different doses of GH on energetic metabolism and oxidative stress in myocardium of rats with HF. Male Wistar rats (n = 25) were submitted to aortic stenosis (AS). The HF was evidenced by tachypnea and echocardiographic criteria around 28 weeks of AS. The rats were then randomly divided into three groups: (HF) with HF, treated with saline (0.9% NaCl); (HF-GHI), treated with 1 mk/kg/day recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), and (HF-GH2) treated with 2 mg/kg/day rhGH. GH was injected, subcutaneously, daily for 2 weeks. A control group (sham; n = 12), with the same age of the others rats was evaluated to confirm data for AS. HF had lower IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-I) than sham-operated rats, and both GH treatments normalized IGF-I level. HF-GH1 animals had lower lipid hydroperoxide (LH), LH/total antioxidant substances (TAS) and glutathione-reductase than HF. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were higher in HF-GH1 than in HF. HF-GH2 compared with HF, had increased LH/TAS ratio, as well as decreased oxidized glutathione and LDH activity. Comparing the two GH doses, GSH-Px, superoxide dismutase and LDH were lower in HF-GH2 than in HF-GHI. In conclusion, GH effects were dose-dependent and both tested doses did not aggravate the heart dysfunction. The higher GH dose, 2 mg/kg exerted detrimental effects related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress. The lower dose, 1 mg/kg GH exerted beneficial effects enhancing antioxidant defences, reducing oxidative stress and improving energy generation in myocardium of rats with heart failure. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interleukin-15 augments oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of human monocytes against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

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

Butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced oxidative stress: Effects on serum lipids and cardiac energy metabolism in rats

Recent lines of evidences indicate that several pathological conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, are associated with oxidative stress. In order to validate a butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced experimental model of oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue and serum lipids, 12 Wistar rats were divided into two groups, a control group and the BHT group, Which received BHT i.p. twice a week (1500 mg/kg body Weight) during 30 days. BHT group presented lower body weight gain and heart weight. BHT induced toxic effects on serum through increased triacylglycerols (TG), VLDL and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The heart of BHT animals showed alteration of antioxidant defenses and increased concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides, indicating elevated lipoperoxidation. TG concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in the cardiac Muscle of BHT animals. Thus, long-term administration of BHT is capable to induce oxidative and metabolic alterations similarly to some pathological disorders, constituting an efficient experimental model to health scientific research. (c) 2005 Elsevier GrnbH. All rights reserved.

Alcoholism and alcohol abstinence: N-acetylcysteine to improve energy expenditure, myocardial oxidative stress, and energy metabolism in alcoholic heart disease

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

Differential benthic occupation by crabs in the Ubatuba bay, São Paulo, Brazil

The goal of this work was to examine the occurrence of brachyurans in soft bottom sublittoral habitats and their association with some environmental factors. The relative abundance of crabs in two depth strata (from 4.5 to 9 m and from 9 to 18 m) was quantified. Crabs were collected with an otter-trawl with 3.7 m of mouth opening and 12-mm mesh in the cod end. Monthly sampling, consisted of a single trawl in each stratum during a 1-yr period, were carried out. Fifteen brachyuran and six anomuran species were found, including Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863; Callinectes danae Smith, 1869; Hepatus pudibundus (Herbst, 1785); Libinia spinosa H. Milne-Edwards, 1834; Persephona punctata (Linnaeus, 1758), and P. mediterranea (Herbst, 1794), which were the most abundant and frequent in the area. The most abundant swimming crabs in both strata were C. ornatus and C, dan(re. Size differences in C. ornatus were observed between strata, suggesting a spatial separation of juveniles and adult crabs.

Benthic macroinvertebrates in the Paranapanema reservoir cascade (southeast Brazil)

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

Controlling factors of benthic macroinvertebrates distribution in a small tropical pond, lateral to the Paranapanema River (São Paulo, Brazil).

The aim of the present study was to examine the benthic fauna in a marginal pond lateral to the Paranapanema River and to identify the main controlling factors of its distribution. Considering the small size of the lacustrine ecosystem, we expected that seasonal variations of the benthic community attributes are more important than spatial variations; Methods: Two samplings, one in March and another in August, were carried out at nine sites in the pond. Sediment samples were obtained through a Van Veen grab for invertebrate sorting, granulometric analysis, and for quantification of organic matter in sediment. Other abiotic factors were measured, such as water transparency, dissolved oxygen, pH, electric conductivity, temperature, and depth of sediment sampling sites. Regarding the comparative analysis at spatial scale, no significant variations in density of the benthic invertebrate community were found. Results: In relation to the studied abiotic factors, only depth presented significant differences among sampling sites; All the measured environmental parameters presented significant differences among sampling months, except depth and the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediment. The abundance of Chaoboridae and Chironomidae was the unique attribute with a significant difference in comparing the two months. A higher abundance of taxa occurred in August, especially for Oligochaeta, Nematoda, Chaoboridae, and Chironomidae; Conclusions: Because of the low structural complexity of the studied pond, we concluded that the changes in benthic macroinvertebrate community attributes were mainly due to seasonal effects.

Colonization of rocky and leaf pack substrates by benthic macroinvertebrates in a stream in southeast Brazil.

A comparative analysis was conducted of the colonization by benthic macroinvertebrates of rocky and leaf pack substrates, both natural and artificial. This colonization was evaluated by season, with the objective of ascertaining the influence of rainfall on the rate of colonization. The total density of macroinvertebrates after 21 days of colonization was significantly greater in the dry than in the wet season. When the substrate types were compared, artificial leaf pack substrate presented the smallest density for both seasons. In the wet season, Chironomidae, Leptohyphidae, Hydropsychidae, Elmidae, immature stages of Trichoptera, and Hydroptilidae showed a more representative density. In the dry season, Chironomidae, Baetidae and Oligochaeta were the most abundant taxa. The artificial rocky substrate used in this experiment was the most appropriate, due to its resemblance with natural substrate conditions in terms of the maintenance of the structural integrity of the substrate throughout the experimental period. Successional and seasonal effects were of great relevance, playing an important role in the colonization process.

Muscle protein metabolism in neonatal alloxan-administered rats: effects of continuous and intermittent swimming training

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