rEnolase maternal immunization confers caries protection on offspring.

Therapeutic vaccination with Streptococcus sobrinus recombinant enolase (rEnolase) protects rats from dental caries. Here, we investigated the effect that maternal rEnolase vaccination before pregnancy had on the offspring's immune response to S. sobrinus oral infection and dental caries progression. Female Wistar rats were immunized by intranasal and subcutaneous routes with rEnolase adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant or similarly treated with the adjuvant alone (sham-immunized). Ten days after the last administration, the immunized females were paired with a male rat. The oral immune responses to S. sobrinus infection and dental caries in the offspring were evaluated. The results showed that pups born from rEnolase-immunized mothers had higher levels of rEnolase-specific salivary IgA and IgG antibodies (indicating a placental antibody transfer) and lower sulcal and proximal enamel caries scores than rats born from sham-immunized mothers. In conclusion, rEnolase maternal immunization before pregnancy provides offspring with protection against S. sobrinus-induced dental caries.

Evaluation of gastric toxicity of indomethacin acid, salt form and complexed forms with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin on Wistar rats: histopathologic analysis.

Indomethacin (IM) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis. It is practically insoluble in water and has the capacity to induce gastric injury. Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) is an alkylated derivative of beta-CD with the capacity to form inclusion complexes with suitable molecules. IM is considered to form partial inclusion complexes with HP-beta-CD by enclosure of the p-chlorobenzoic part of the molecule in the cyclodextrin channel, reducing the adverse effects. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the gastric damage induced by the IM inclusion complex prepared by freeze-drying and spray-drying. A total of 135 Wistar rats weighing 224.4 +/- 62.5 g were put into 10 groups. They were allowed free access to water but were maintained fasted for 18 h before the first administration until the end of the experiment. IM acid-form, IM trihydrated-sodium-salt and IM-HP-beta-CD spray and freeze-dried, at normal and toxic doses, were administered through gastric cannula once/day for 3 days. Seventy-two hours after the first administration, the animals were sacrificed and the stomachs collected and prepared for morphological study by using the haematoxylin-eosin technique. Lesion indexes (rated 0/4) were developed and the type of injury was scored according to the severity of damage and the incidence of microscopic evidence of harm. Microscopic assessment demonstrated levels of injury with index one on 10-25%. The type of complexation method had different incidence but the same degree. The results show that IM inclusion complexation protects against gastric injury, reducing the incidence and the maximum degree of severity from 4 to 1, with a better performance of the spray-dried complex.

A role for transforming growth factor-beta apoptotic signaling pathway in liver injury induced by ingestion of water contaminated with high levels of Cr(VI).

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] exposure is commonly associated with lung cancer. Although other adverse health effects have been reported, some authors, on assuming that orally ingested Cr(VI) is efficiently detoxified upon reduction by body fluids, believe that Cr(VI) do not target cells other than respiratory tract cells. In rodents, ingested Cr(VI)-contaminated water was reported to induce, in the liver, increases in TGF-beta transcripts. As TGF-beta dependent signaling pathways are closely associated with hepatic injury, the present study was undertaken addressing two specific issues: the effects of ingestion of water contaminated with high levels of Cr(VI) in rat liver structure and function; and the role of the TGF-beta pathway in Cr(VI)-induced liver injury. Examination of Wistar rats exposed to 20 ppm Cr(VI)-contaminated water for 10 weeks showed increased serum glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Liver histological examination revealed hepatocellular apoptosis, further confirmed by immunohystochemical study of Caspase 3 expression. Liver gene expression analysis revealed increased expression of Smad2/Smad4 and Dapk, suggesting the involvement of the TGF-beta pathway in the apoptotic process. Since no changes in Smad3 expression were observed it appears apoptosis is using a Smad3-independent pathway. Increased expression of both Caspase 8 and Daxx genes suggests also the involvement of the Fas pathway. Gene expression analysis also revealed that a p160(ROCK)-Rho-independent pathway operates, leading to cell contraction and membrane blebbing, characteristic apoptotic features. These findings suggest that either the amount of Cr(VI) ingested overwhelmed the body fluids reductive capacity or some Cr(VI) escapes the reductive protection barrier, thus targeting the liver and inducing apoptosis.

Incorporation of impacted morselized bone allografts in rabbits.

Morselized bone allografts have been used for the treatment of bone stock loss in orthopedic revision surgery with encouraging results. However, several parameters can influence the graft incorporation including the processing treatments. This experimental work used a cavitary bone defect in 90 rabbits to evaluate the sequence of incorporation of three different kinds of morselized bone allografts: uncryopreserved cancellous bone, freeze-dried cancellous bone, and totally demineralized cortical bone each of which were prepared in accordance with our rigid protocol. Revascularization and remodeling of the transplanted bone grafts were evident upon histological evaluation. Bone apposition and bone resorption resulted in a mixture of graft and new bone. Mineralized cancellous grafts showed great osteoconductive capacity, whereas demineralized cortical grafts showed an intense osteoinductive capacity and a weak osteoconductive capacity. In a general evaluation, cryopreserved cancellous bone grafts showed superior biological efficacy for reconstruction of experimental bone defects, closely followed by freeze-dried cancellous bone grafts, and, finally, by demineralized cortical bone grafts. These results validate our protocol for the processing and preservation of these three kinds of bone grafts.

A rat model for the study of intestinal heterotopic gastropathy.

This study analyzes an experimental model for the study of reactions from gastric tissue exposed to enteric environment. Morphological studies were performed by histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, using formalin-fixed biopsies of full-wall-thickness gastric implants in a whole-wall jejunal defect. These grafts suffered severe lesions, characterized by chronic atrophic gastritis, foveolar hyperplasia, glandular cystic transformation, and intestinal metaplasia. Increase in acidic mucins was also observed. There was no proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) overexpression. The results suggest that this model can be useful to investigate the heterotopic grastropathy and can be applied in further research studies.