Serum and plasma hormonal concentrations are sensitive to periods of intensity and volume of soccer training

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

Characterization of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Expressing VEGF and its Receptors in the Subventricular Zone of Newborn Piglet Brain

Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSP) biology and neurogenesis in adult central nervous system (CNS) are important both towards potential future therapeutic applications for CNS repair, and for the fundamental function of the CNS. In the present study, we report the characterization of NSP population from subventricular zone (SVZ) of neonatal piglet brain using in vivo and in vitro systems. We show that the nestin and vimentin-positive neural progenitor cells are present in the SVZ of the lateral ventricles of neonatal piglet brain. In vitro, piglet NSPs proliferated as neurospheres, expressed the typical protein of neural progenitors, nestin and a range of well-established neurodevelopmental markers. Upon dissociation and subculture, piglet NSPs differentiated into neurons and glial cells. Clonal analysis demonstrates that piglet NSPs are multi-potent and retain the capacity to generate both glia and neurons. These cells expressed VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and Neuropilin-1 and -2 mRNAs. Real time PCR revealed that SVZ NSPs from newborn piglet expressed total VEGF and all VEGF splice variants. These findings show that piglet NSPs may be helpful to more effectively design growth factor based strategies to enhance endogenous precursor cells for cell transplantation studies potentially leading to the application of this strategy in the nervous system disease and injury.

Interactions between TLR2, TLR4, and mannose receptors with gp43 from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis induce cytokine production by human monocytes

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

Reinforcing properties of fencamfamine: Involvement of dopamine and opioid receptors

Fencamfamine (FCF) is a psychostimulant classified as an indirect dopamine agonist. The conditioning place preference (CPP) paradigm was used to investigate the reinforcing properties of FCF. After initial preferences had been determined, animals were conditioned with FCF (1.75, 3.5, or 7.0 mg/kg; IP). Only at the dose of 3.5 mg/kg FCF produced a significant place preference. Pretreatment with SCH23390 (0.05 mg/kg, SC) or naloxone (1.0 mg/kg SC) 10 min before FCF (3.5 mg/kg; IP) blocked both FCF-induced hyperactivity and CPP. Pretreatment with metoclopramide (10.0 mg/kg; IP) or pimozide (1.0 mg/kg, IP), respectively, 30 min or 4 h before FCF (3.5 mg/kg; IP), which blocked the FCF-induced locomotor activity, failed to influence place conditioning produced by FCF. In conclusion, the present study suggests that dopamine D 1 and opioid receptors are related to FCF reinforcing effect, while dopamine D 2 subtype receptor was ineffective in modifying FCF-induced CPP.

Primordial germ cells (spermatogonial stem cells) of bullfrogs express sex hormone-binding globulin and steroid receptors during seasonal spermatogenesis

In vertebrate species, testosterone seems to inhibit spermatogonial differentiation and proliferation. However, this androgen can also be converted, via aromatase, into estrogen which stimulates spermatogonial differentiation and mitotic activity. During seasonal spermatogenesis of adult bullfrogs Lithobates catesbeianus, primordial germ cells (PGCs) show enhanced testosterone cytoplasm immunoexpression in winter; however, in summer, weak or no testosterone immunolabelling was observed. The aim of this study was to confirm if PGCs express stem cell markers-alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and GFRα1 (glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor)-and verify whether testosterone is maintained in these cells by androgen receptors (ARs) and/or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in winter. Furthermore, regarding the possibility that testosterone is converted into estrogen by PGCs in summer, the immunoexpression of estrogen receptor (ER)β was investigated. Bullfrog testes were collected in winter and in summer and were embedded in glycol methacrylate for morphological analyses or in paraffin for the histochemical detection of AP activity. GFRα1, AR, SHBG and ERβ expression were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. The expression of AP activity and GFRα1 in the PGCs suggest that these cells are spermatogonial stem cells. In winter, the cytoplasmic immunoexpression of ARs and SHBG in the PGCs indicates that testosterone is maintained by these proteins in these cells. The cytoplasmic immunoexpression of ERβ, in summer, also points to an ER-mediated action of estrogen in PGCs. The results indicate a participation of testosterone and estrogen in the control of the primordial spermatogonia during the seasonal spermatogenesis of L. catesbeianus. © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Detection of cavitated approximal surfaces using cone beam CT and intraoral receptors

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare cone beam CT (CBCT) in a small field of view (FOV) with a solid-state sensor and a photostimulable phosphor plate system for detection of cavitated approximal surfaces. Methods: 257 non-filled approximal surfaces from human permanent premolars and molars were recorded by two intraoral digital receptors, a storage phosphor plate (Digora Optime, Soredex) and a solid-state CMOS sensor (Digora Toto, Soredex), and scanned in a cone beam CT unit (3D Accuitomo FPD80, Morita) with a FOV of 4 cm and a voxel size of 0.08 mm. Image sections were carried out in the axial and mesiodistal tooth planes. Six observers recorded surface cavitation in all images. Validation of the true absence or presence of surface cavitation was performed by inspecting the surfaces under strong light with the naked eye. Differences in sensitivity, specificity and agreement were estimated by analysing the binary data in a generalized linear model using an identity link function. Results: A significantly higher sensitivity was obtained by all observers with CBCT (p,0.001), which was not compromised by a lower specificity. Therefore, a significantly higher overall agreement was obtained with CBCT (p,0.001). There were no significant differences between the Digora Optime phosphor plate system and the Digora Toto CMOS sensor for any parameter. Conclusions: CBCT was much more accurate in the detection of surface cavitation in approximal surfaces than intraoral receptors. The differences are interpreted as clinically significant. A CBCT examination performed for other reasons should also be assessed for approximal surface cavities in teeth without restorations. © 2013 The British Institute of Radiology.

Immunoexpression of aromatase and estrogen receptors β in stem spermatogonia of bullfrogs indicates a role of estrogen in the seasonal spermatogonial mitotic activity

Bullfrog stem spermatogonia, also named primordial germ cells (PGCs), show strong testosterone immunolabeling in winter, but no or weak testosterone immunoexpression in summer. Thus, the role of testosterone in these cells needs to be clarified. In this study, we proposed to evaluate whether PGCs express aromatase and estrogen receptors, and verify a possible role of estrogen in PGCs seasonal proliferation. Testes of male adult bullfrogs, collected in winter (WG) and summer (SG), were fixed and embedded in historesin, for quantitative analysis, or paraffin for immunohistochemistry (IHC). The number of haematoxylin/eosin stained PGCs/lobular area was obtained. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), aromatase, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and PCNA/ERβ double immunolabeling were detected by IHC. The number of PCNA-positive PGCs and the histological score (HSCORE) of aromatase and ERβ immunolabeled PGCs were obtained. Although the number of PGCs increased significantly in WG, a high number of PCNA-positive PGCs was observed in summer. Moreover, aromatase and ERβ HSCORE was higher in SG than WG. The results indicate that PGCs express a seasonal proliferative activity; the low mitotic activity in winter is related to the maximal limit of germ cells which can be supported in the large lobules. In SG, the increased ERβ and aromatase HSCORE suggests that testosterone is converted into estrogen from winter to summer. Moreover, the parallelism between the high PGCs mitotic activity and ERβ immunoexpression suggest a participation of estrogen in the control of the PGCs seasonal proliferative activity which guarantee the formation of new germ cysts from summer to next autumn. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

IL-4 and IL-13 inhibit IL-1β and TNF-α induced kinin B 1 and B2 receptors through a STAT6-dependent mechanism

Background and Purpose Bone resorption induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) is synergistically potentiated by kinins, partially due to enhanced kinin receptor expression. Inflammation-induced bone resorption can be impaired by IL-4 and IL-13. The aim was to investigate if expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors can be affected by IL-4 and IL-13. Experimental Approach We examined effects in a human osteoblastic cell line (MG-63), primary human gingival fibroblasts and mouse bones by IL-4 and IL-13 on mRNA and protein expression of the B1 and B2 kinin receptors. We also examined the role of STAT6 by RNA interference and using Stat6-/- mice. Key Results IL-4 and IL-13 decreased the mRNA expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors induced by either IL-1β or TNF-α in MG-63 cells, intact mouse calvarial bones or primary human gingival fibroblasts. The burst of intracellular calcium induced by either bradykinin (B2 agonist) or des-Arg10-Lys-bradykinin (B1 agonist) in gingival fibroblasts pretreated with IL-1β was impaired by IL-4. Similarly, the increased binding of B1 and B2 ligands induced by IL-1β was decreased by IL-4. In calvarial bones from Stat6-deficient mice, and in fibroblasts in which STAT6 was knocked down by siRNA, the effect of IL-4 was decreased. Conclusions and Implications These data show, for the first time, that IL-4 and IL-13 decrease kinin receptors in a STAT6-dependent mechanism, which can be one important mechanism by which these cytokines exert their anti-inflammatory effects and impair bone resorption. © 2013 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

ANGIOTENSINERGIC AND CHOLINERGIC RECEPTORS OF THE SUBFORNICAL ORGAN MEDIATE SODIUM INTAKE INDUCED BY GABAergic ACTIVATION OF THE LATERAL PARABRACHIAL NUCLEUS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)