Inhibin B and the ovarian follicular reserve

Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins composed of an α-subunit and a βA-subunit (inhibin A) or βB-subunit (inhibin B), which inhibits pituitary gonadotropin secretion of FSH. The inhibin B is a product of the cohort of antral follicles. The ovarian follicle number decrease steadily as a function of increasing age, with consequent falls in the levels of inhibin B and increase of FSH levels. It is sufficient to maintain ovulatory function and continued secretion of estradiol. Elevated FSH levels seem to occur late in the sequence of events associated with ovarian failure. The inhibin B, produced by granulosa cells, is the earliest marker of the decline in ovarian follicular reserve across reproductive aging.

Ultrastructural and morphometric analysis on the ovary of Wistar rats after chronic ethanol ingestion

In the present study, seventy-two adult rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) aged three months were used. The animals were divided into two groups (control and alcoholic). The control group received a solid diet (Purina rat chow) and tap water ad libitum. The alcoholic group received the same solid diet and sugar-cane liquid (trade 51, 41° Gay Lussac - GL) diluted 30° GL. At the end or 90, 180 and 270 days of treatment, ten rats of each group were anaesthetized with ethyl ether and sacrificed. The ovaries were collected, fixed, included and submitted to analysis by both light and electron microscopy. The alcoholic group showed increase in the number of corpora lutea at both 180 and 270 days of treatment, atresic follicles at 270 days of treatment, decreased diameter of corpora lutea at 180 and 270 days of treatment, the granulosa layer of the antral follicles at 180 days of treatment, and gradual regression of the theca antral follicles. Furthermore, an increase in diameter and posterior regression of the antral follicle were observed, as well as vacuolation, increased lipid droplets in the granulosa cell at 90 days and in the theca at 180 and 270 days of treatment and gradually in the interstitial cell. The rats showed ovarian alterations after ingestion of alcohol. There was a correlation between exposure time to the drug and the injury observed.

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma presenting as vaginal nodule

Endometrial stromal sarcoma is a rare neoplasm of the uterus. Extrauterine locations of this neoplasm, excluding metastases or local extension, are even more unusual and are usually associated with the presence of endometriosis. The authors report a case of endometrial stromal sarcoma presenting as a vaginal wall nodule, without any sign of primary uterine tumor after extensive evaluation or presence of endometriosis. The morphology, immunohistochemical profile, differential diagnoses, and pathogenesis are discussed, as well as a review of the literature on this issue. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of atrazine on female Wistar rats: Morphological alterations in ovarian follicles and immunocytochemical labeling of 90 kDa heat shock protein

Fertility in female mammals may be affected by a variety of endocrine disrupters present in the environment. Herbicide atrazine is an example of endocrine disrupter employed in agriculture, which disrupts estrous cyclicity in rats. Aiming to characterize morphologically the effect of low and sublethal doses of atrazine on the ovaries of Wistar rats, in an effort to determine the possible intrafollicular target site through which this herbicide acts adult females were submitted to both subacute and subchronic treatments. Additionally, immunocytochemical labeling of 90 kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) was performed in order to evaluate the role played by this protein in the ovary, under stressed conditions induced by herbicide exposure. The results indicated that atrazine induced impaired folliculogenesis, increased follicular atresia and HSP90 depletion in female rats submitted to subacute treatment, while the subchronic treatment with low dose of atrazine could compromise the reproductive capacity reflected by the presence of multioocytic follicle and stress-inducible HSP90. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antitumor properties of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides and terpenoids

Ganoderma lucidum is an edible medicinal mushroom with immunomodulatory and antitumor properties, which are mainly attributed to polysaccharides and triterpenes that can be isolated from mycelia, fruiting bodies and spores. G. lucidum has been us d in a powdered form, as a medicinal beverage and a nutraceutical food (usually dried). In the present review we report some historical facts and the experimental evidence that polysaccharides and triterpenes obtained from this mushroom present potential antitumor activity. Direct effects on tumor cells include induction of apoptosis and interference in the cell cycle, whereas indirect effects are based on the modulation of immune response, usually impaired by cancer cells. Data indicate that G. lucidum can be used as a complementary tool for treatment of cancer patients. © by São Paulo State University.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor and oral cancer

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with pro-inflammatory functions and involved in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and localization of the macrophage MIF in oral squamous carcinoma (OSC). In addition, the relationship between MIF expression and clinicopathological parameters such as survival data, tobacco use, alcohol habits, TNM stage, tumor graduation, and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate were evaluated. Methods: Using immunohistochemistry, expression and localization of MIF was detected in 44 specimens of OSC. The absolute number and relative proportions of MIF-positive cells detected were also determined separately for tumor parenchyma vs. stroma. All counts were determined from 10 consecutive high-power fields using an integration graticule. Moreover, some parameters were analyzed separately for lip and intra-oral cancers. Results: Migration inhibitory factor-positive cells were observed in both the tumor parenchyma and in inflammatory cells of all specimens. In contrast, MIF expression was not detected in tumoral nests associated with poorly differentiated tumors. In specimens of lip cancer, a greater number of MIF-positive stromal immune cells were detected than in intra-oral cancer specimens (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.049). Conclusions: Oral squamous carcinoma cells consistently express MIF independent of their location. Lip tumors presented more MIF-positive peritumoral inflammatory cells, similar to control, suggesting that immunological differences in leukocyte activation exist between in lip and intra-oral cancers. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

In vitro targeting of Polo-like kinase 1 in bladder carcinoma: Comparative effects of four potent inhibitors

Despite the improvements in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the outcome of patients with advanced bladder cancer has changed very little over the past 30 years. In the present study we tested and compared the in vitro antitumor activities of four different inhibitors of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) (BI 2536, BI 6727, GW843682X, and GSK461364), against 3 bladder carcinoma cell lines RT4, 5637 and T24. The impact on radiosensitivity and drug interactions in simultaneous treatments with cisplatin, methotrexate, and doxorubicin were also investigated. Our results showed that PLK1 inhibition prevented cell proliferation and clonogenicity, causing significant inhibition of invasion of tumor cells, though modest differences were observed between drugs. Moreover, all PLK1 inhibitors induced G2/M arrest, with the subsequent induction of death in all 3 cell lines. Drug interactions studies showed auspicious results for all PLK1 inhibitors when combined with the commonly used cisplatin and methotrexate, though combinations with doxorubicin showed mostly antagonistic effects. Comparably, the four PLK1 inhibitors efficiently sensitized cells to ionizing radiation. Our findings demonstrate that irrespective of the inhibitor used, the pharmacological inhibition of PLK1 constrains bladder cancer growth and dissemination, providing new opportunities for future therapeutic intervention. However, further laboratorial and preclinical tests are still needed to corroborate the usefulness of using them in combination with other commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs. © 2013 Landes Bioscience.

Avaliação da expressão da cicloxigenase-2 de macrófagos em diferentes graus histológicos de mastocitoma canino

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

Alterações no número de cópias genômicas em mastocitomas cutâneos caninos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Expressão de fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina (IGF-1), alvo da rapamicina em mamíferos (M-TOR), fator de célula tronco (SCF) e receptor C-KIT (CD117) em mastocitomas cutânios caninos em lâminas de arranjo de matriz tecidual (TMA)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da prliferação e apoptose com a utilização de arranjos em matriz de amostra tecidual (Tissue Microarray - TMA) em mastocitomas cutâneos caninos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mastocitoma canino: abordagem histopatológica e imunoistoquímica na busca de biomarcadores prognósticos

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

Avaliação histopatológica e caracterização morfométrica testicular e epididimária em cães adultos sem raça definida (SRD)

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

Reatividade de tecidos neoplásicos caninos à proteína associada à resistência a múltiplas drogas-1 (MRP1), à glutationa-s-transferase pi (GSTpi) e à proteína p53

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