Development of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Brachyura: Portunidae)

This study describes the histology and histochemistry of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus, comparing juvenile and adult developmental stages. We also analyzed changes in the gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indices, and the weights of the testis and vas deferens during the development. The results showed that all stages, beginning with the juvenile (JUV), through developing (DEV) and mature (MAT) adult males of C. ornatus produce sperm and spermatophores. During development, testicular lobes showed the same characteristics of production and release of sperm into the seminiferous duct. The vas deferens showed little histological and histochemical change in the epithelium in juvenile and adult males. The differences consisted of the larger amount of secretion in MAT males compared to JUV and DEV ones. The chemical composition of the seminal fluid was similar, but MAT males produced a more homogeneous secretion. Morphological and physiological maturation are not synchronized in C. ornatus, since JUV males produced spermatophores similar to those in DEV and MAT males. However, these JUV are not yet able to reproduce, since they still have the abdomen attached to the cephalothoracic sternum. The increase of the GSI during development was significant for MAT males, and is related to the production of sufficient volume of seminal fluid to form the sperm plug in the female seminal receptacle. The HSI decreased from DEV to MAT adult stages, indicating that reserves from the hepatopancreas are used to develop the reproductive system after the pubertal molt.

Influence of the combination of probiotic cultures during fermentation and storage of fermented milk

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

Ultrastructural features of spermatogenesis in Melanorivulus punctatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

Fish belonging to the family Rivulidae possess one of the most complex reproductive systems. Rivulus, a genus of freshwater fish in the Rivulidae family, was recently reclassified into five genera, including Melanorivulus. Its type species, M. punctatus, is widely distributed and probably represents a species complex. The ultrastructure of sperm has been broadly used in systematics, and we hereby describe the ultrastructural features of spermatogenesis in M. punctatus. Ten M. punctatus males were collected from the reservoir of Parque Estadual da Quineira, municipality of Chapada dos Guimardes, Mato Grosso, Brazil, and prepared for analysis by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. M. punctatus undergoes cystic spermatogenesis. Its cysts consist of groups of germ cells that are in synchronous development and are surrounded by cytoplasmic projections of Sertoli cells. With the breakdown of the cysts, the spermatozoa are released and their maturation is completed in the duct, where part of the cytoplasmic material is discarded through the vesicles. The mature spermatozoon is characterized by a spherical head with homogeneously condensed chromatin, a symmetric midpiece consisting of a pair of perpendicular centrioles, a ring of mitochondria, several vesicles, and one flagellum medial to the nucleus. Early stages of spermatogenesis show no peculiarities; however, in spermiogenesis, we observed that the spermatids remain interconnected by cytoplasmic bridges and have pockets of residual cytoplasm. The sperm is of the aquasperm type and is similar to that observed in the members of the family Rivulidae. The spermatozoa have a single flagellum that consists of a classic axoneme (9 +2), as found in most groups of fish, despite the lateral extensions. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Male Gonadal Differentiation and the Paedomorphic Evolution of the Testis in Teleostei

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

Bioaccumulation of butyltins and liver damage in the demersal fish Cathorops spixii (Siluriformes, Ariidae)

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

Testes of Astyanax altiparanae: The Sertoli cell functions in a semicystic spermatogenesis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance and emissions of a gas turbine engine using ox tallow ethyl-ester blended with kerosene

The performance and emissions behavior of a Rover 1S/60 turboshaft engine when operated with several blends of aviation kerosene and ox tallow ethyl-ester are shown in this article. The tests were performed with a compressor shaft coupled to an hydraulic dynamometer where data of power and mass fuel flow were collected to determine the brake specific fuel consumption. A flue gas analyzer was positioned at the exhaust duct to collect oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides. An increase in the specific fuel consumption was observed due to the lesser lower heating value of the most oxygenated blends. However, reductions of CO, CO2 and NO (x) have been observed and no-significant ill effects have occurred in the turbine operation.

Estudo imuno-histoquímico da co-expressão de citoqueratinas, vimentina e actina em neoplasias de glândula salivar

Human salivary gland tumors originated from intercalated ducts present a broad range of histologic and cytologic patterns, mainly due to the presence of myoepithelial cells. The aim of this study is to verify the differentiation grade of neoplastic cells and a possible relation between myoepithelial cell differentiation and the presence of luminal secretory contents. The expression of vimentin and cytokeratin (CK) intermediate filaments, actin myofilament and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was investigated by double labeling immunocytochemical technique, in thirty salivary gland neoplasms: 5 pleomorphic adenomas, 5 myoepitheliomas, 3 basal cell adenomas, 7 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) and 10 polimorphous low grade adenocarcinomas (PLGA). Tumors with intercalated duct differentiation (pleomorphic adenomas, basal cell adenomas and ACC) express CKs 7, 8, 18 and 19 in the luminal cells and coexpress eventually CK14 with these CKs. Some luminal cells stained with anti-EMA antibody, mainly where a secretory content in the lumen was observed. Outer ductal cells and other myoepithelial-like cells express vimentin, sometimes coexpressing actin and/or CK14 with vimentin. Plasmacytoid cells in myoepitheliomas and pleomorphic adenomas express vimentin and rarely CKs 7, 8, 18 and 19, sometimes coexpressing these CKs with CK14 but they are negative for the remaining antigens. Tumors without intercalated duct differentiation (solid basal cell adenoma and PLGA) express vimentin and CKs 7, 8, 14 and 18, sometimes coexpressing CKs 8 and 18 with CK14. In conclusion, in tumors with intercalated duct differentiation, myoepithelial cells express vimentin and sometimes coexpress actin and/or CK14 with vimentin, never coexpressing other CKs with vimentin. CK14 and actin are independently expressed by myoepithelial cells, so their expression is probably induced by different stimulus. However, the secretory function of luminal cells, visualized by EMA staining, ....

Portal hypertension in dogs

Portal hypertension (PH) is the pathological increase in portal vein pressure above normal limits. Two variables control the pressure in the portal system: the resistance to blood flow and blood flow volume in the portal system. If one these variables changes, PH may develop. Classification: Pre-hepatic (e. g. compression of the portal vein), intrahepatic (e. g. chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis) or post-hepatic (e. g. right heart failure). The invasive methods (intravenous catheter) were replaced by an indirect method of diagnosis: Doppler Ultrasound. This technique does not measure portal pressure, but indirectly allows the diagnosis of PH. Average speed of portal flow decrease (<10 cm/s) and hepatofugal flow have been reported in cirrhotic dogs with PH. Currently, the focus of the ultrasound is the detection of acquired collateral portal circulation (ACPC), closely correlated with hepatic encephalopathy. The characterization of these vessels is essential to differentiate them from congenital shunts. They are usually multiple vessels, small and tortuous, with turbulent flow, near to the kidneys, and/or a single and larger vessel, draining into the left renal vein (dilated gonadal vein). Gastric, esophageal and mesenteric varices may occur. After identifying the PH, it is important to determine its origin in order to treat the underlying disease. B-Mode Ultrasound and Doppler are the best choices in cases of suspected PH, because they may recognize not just the hypertension, but also its complications and origin.

Estudos para obtenção de palmitato de taurina

A taurina (ácido 2-etanoaminossulfônico) apresenta diversas funções fisiológicas, como atuação no neurodesenvolvimento, ação no coração contra arritimias, ação nos músculos esqueléticos contra atrofia, faz parte da bile na forma de um composto conjugado, constutuindo um dos sais biliares, e anti-inflamatória, inibindo mediadores pró-inflamatórios. Neste projeto a ênfase foi voltada para a ação anti-oxidante da taurina, que forma um complexo com espécies como o ácido hipocloroso (HOCl) e ânions clorito (OCl-) que potencialmente possuem ações danosas à célula. Esse complexo, a taurina cloramina (Tau-Cl), possui também ações contra mediadores inflamatórios, como o fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-α) e o óxido nítrico (NO). Por ser uma molécula com alta polaridade e hidrossolubilidade, a taurina não consegue penetrar na pele pelo extrato córneo intacto, a camada mais externa da pele, que constitui sua barreira contra perda ou absorção de água e eletrólitos. Foi feita então a síntese de um pró-fármaco derivado da taurina, formado por seu acoplamento com uma cadeia carbônica longa, aumentando significativamente a lipossolubilidade em relação a taurina pura, e podendo assim, essa molécula, transpor o extrato córneo intacto e exercer sua ação anti-oxidante, podendo ser, portanto, caracterizado como um pró-ativo. Este pró-fármaco, o ácido 2-palmitamidoetanossulfônico, foi sintetizado por meio de uma reação entre um cloreto de acila (cloreto de palmitoíla) e taurina, utilizando trietilamina como base, por meio de um método conhecido por Schotten-Baumann. O produto formado foi analisado por cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD), faixa de fusão, espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (IV) e espectometria de massa (EM), sendo que todas as análises confirmaram que a síntese foi bem sucedida

Análise do fígado de peixes da espécie Prochilodus lineatus de ambientes alterados, quantificada pelo Image J

Além de ser bom bioindicar a espécie Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) também apresenta importância econômica, ecológica e ampla distribuição na região neotropical. A ecotoxicologia estuda a interação da química ambiental e a biota, sendo assim, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar alterações quantitativas de bile e glicogênio no fígado dos peixes, órgão responsável pelo processo de detoxificação, biotransformação e também pela reserva de nutrientes como o glicogênio e por secretar a bile. Os grupos foram separados em três tratamentos com o objetivo de comparar os danos causados aos peixes que vivem em áreas perturbadas, (como é o caso do Lago Azul – Rio Claro-SP), e os que vivem em águas com detergentes biodegradáveis diluídos, como na maioria dos nossos cursos d’água, comparados a um grupo controle (água clorada do poço artesiano da UNESP- Campus Rio Claro). Análises histológicas foram feitas com a utilização das técnicas de H-E e PAS, sendo o material coletado após sete e 20 dias de experimento, visando identificar os efeitos agudos de tais poluentes. A identificação de alterações na estrutura histológica foi realizada com o auxilio do programa ImageJ com o qual foi feita a quantificação da área ocupada pela bile e pelo glicogênio

Expressão e localização de aquaporinas no epidídimo do gerbilo, Meriones unguiculatus, em diferentes fases do desenvolvimento pós-natal

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane protein channels expressed in a wide variety of cells and tissues that are involved in the transport of water. In the male excurrent duct, the movement of fluid and solutes across the epithelium is essential for establishing the proper luminal environment in which sperm mature and are stored. The initial aim of the present propose is to localize AQP 2 e 9 in epithelium of the initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis in Mongolian gerbil during postnatal development (10, 30, 60, 120 and 300 days), observing possible changes in the pattern of expression of the AQPs along the postnatal development. The animals will be killed by inhalation of carbon dioxide. After euthanasia, the epididymis will be removed and the different regions will be isolated. The biological material obtained will be processed in accordance with the routines of histological techniques and imunnohistochemistry to study the expression and localization of the AQPs 2 and 9. The results obtained will be analyzed and photographed in conventional light microscope

Diagnóstico molecular da alteração mutagênica nt 230 (del4) no gene MDR1 em cães

P-glycoprotein is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven drug efflux carrier responsible for transport of xenobiotics and multiple classes of drugs, many usually use in veterinary medicine. Encoded by MDR1 gene, also referred to as ABCB1, located on chromosome 14, is expressed in many tissues with secretory or excretory functions, such as liver, kidney and intestine, where it limits drug absorption from the gut and promotes drug excretion into the bile and urine of their substrates. In 2001, a 4 base pair gene deletion mutation in the canine MDR1 gene was identified as MDR1-1▲, ABCB1-1▲, MDR1 MDR1 nt 230 (del4) and associated with an non-functional Pglycoprotein. The clinical correlation is the (hyper) sensitivity of certain dogs breeds, mostly collies, to a few classes of drugs such as anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, vincristine, vinblastine), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine), antiparasitic drugs (ivermectin, moxidectin), steroids hormones (aldosterone, cortisol, dexamethasone), antimicrobial agents (tetracycline, doxycycline, levofloxacin, ketoconazole, itraconazole), analgesics (morphine, methadone), antidiarrheals (loperamide), antiepileptic agents (phenothiazine), cardiac drugs (digoxin, diltiazem, verapamil, talinolol) and others. Dogs with homozygous MDR1 nt 230 (del4) MDR1 mutations (MDR1 - / -) have a higher predisposition to intoxication with substrates of P-gp than heterozygous (MDR1 + / -) and these are more likely than dogs homozygous nonmutant (MDR1 +/ +). After the identification of nt230 (del4) mutation, several molecular techniques have been developed for identification of mutant animals as a diagnostic method. The importance of molecular diagnosis is, after the identification of mutant animals, establish treatment protocols safe, exclude this animals from reproduction (genetic selection program) and investigating the history of adverse drugs reactions... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Platinosomíase em felinos domésticos: um diferencial para obstrução biliar

The platinosomiase is a disease the hepatobiliary system of domestic felines being caused by trematode Platynosomum fastosum. The life cycle of the parasite includes the presence of three intermediate hosts (snails, terrestrial isopodes, lizards or frogs). The cat is considered definitive host of the parasite and acquires the infection eating a vertebrate intermediate host containing metacercariae. The adult parasites generally inhabit the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts of cats. The severity of clinical manifestations depends mainly on the number of flukes in the biliary tract. Many animals are asymptomatic or exhibit nonspecific clinical manifestations such as anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. In large infestations can occur biliary obstruction resulting in jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis cholangiohepatitis and even death. The definitive diagnosis is accomplished through by the detection of fluke eggs in feces or through laparotomy and liver biopsy. Treatment should be based on the use of anthelmintic for the elimination of the parasite and supportive therapy for the animal. Prevention is difficult due to predatory nature of the cat. The control can be accomplished through periodic fecal examinations

Aplicação de técnicas de geoprocessamento para a avaliação da expansão urbana no municípo de Duque de Caxias (RJ) como subsídio ao monitoramento de dutos: trecho da faixa de dutos Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte

Different forms of human pressure may occur in the pipeline ranges, due to the large extensions and various configurations of land use, which can pass through the pipelines. Due to the dynamics of these pressures, it is necessary to monitor temporal changes of land use and cover the surface. Under this theme, appears as extremely important to use products and techniques of remote sensing, as they allow the identification of objects of the land surface that may compromise the security and monitoring of the pipeline, and allows the extraction of information conditions on land use at different periods of time. Based on the above, this paper aims to examine in a temporal approach, the process of urban expansion in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, located on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, as well as settlement patterns characteristic of areas that the changes occurred in the period 1987 to 2010. We used the technique of visual analysis to perform the change detection and the technique of image classification, aimed at monitoring human pressure over a stretch of track pipeline Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte, located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The stages of work involved the characterization of the study area, urban sprawl and the existing settlement patterns, through the analysis of bibliographic data. The processing of Landsat 5 images and the application of the technique of change detection were performed in three scenes for the years 1987, 1998 and 2010, while the classification process was performed on the image RapidEye for the year 2010. Can be noted an increase in urban area of approximately 22.38% and the change of land cover from natural to built. This growth is concentrated outside to the area of direct influence of the duct, occurring in the area of indirect influence of the enterprise. Regarding the settlement patterns of growth areas, it was observed that these are predominantly