Prenatal effects of alprazolam treatment on the immature cerebellum of rats.

The use of benzodiazepines (BZDs) during pregnancy, especially alprazolam, is common and its impact on the fetal neural tissue is not known. In this sense, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal treatment with alprazolam on the cerebellum of Wistar rat pups. Thirty animals (24 females and six males, CEUA protocol 014/17) were separated into pairs for copulation. Females were divided into three groups: Control (CT), treatment 1 (T1, 1.25 mg per animal), and treatment 2, which is an overdose (T2, 30 mg per animal). Alprazolam was administered 10 days before copulation and throughout pregnancy. We evaluated the number and weight of pups and the macroscopic changes in the brain. Eight neonates (n = 8) from each group were used in the following analyses: Cellular and chromatin density, gliosis, synaptic density, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The results showed no significant differences regarding the number of pups, body weight, and macroscopic changes. The morphological study focused on the external granular layer (EGL) that is presented only in the immature cerebellum. Here, we detected more cells after alprazolam treatment; the T2 group showed large nuclei and some pyknotic nuclei; also, both treated groups presented an increase in the euchromatin density compared with the control. The molecular and biochemical analyses used the total protein extract of the entire cerebellum and showed an increased expression of Iba-1 and NF-κBp65 but without indication of inflammation or degeneration in the T1 group. Overdose of alprazolam presented an increased level of oxidative degradation of lipids. The treatment with alprazolam during pregnancy involved cellular and molecular changes in the immature cerebellum.

Anatomical study of the ventral rami of thoracic spinal nerves in Sapajus apella (Primates: Cebidae).

This study aimed to describe the gross anatomy of the ventral rami of the thoracic spinal nerves in capuchin monkey (Sapajus apella) and compare with humans and other primate species. Eight specimens, prepared in 10% formalin solution and dissected following routine standard techniques, were used. The animals presented 13-14 pairs of thoracic spinal nerves emerging from the intervertebral foramen and divided into dorsal and ventral rami. The ventral rami of the first 12 or 13 pairs represented intercostal nerves and the latter referred to the subcostal nerve. The intercostal and subcostal nerves gave off muscular and cutaneous branches (lateral and ventral), which promote innervation of muscles and skin associated with the chest and abdominal wall. Atypical anatomy was verified for the 1st, 2nd and 7th to 13th intercostal nerves as well as for the subcostal nerve. The morphological characteristics were similar to those observed in humans and some non-human primates, especially in the absence of collateral branches.

Effects of egg exposure to atrazine and/or glyphosate on bone development in Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines, Podocnemididae).

This study was designed to investigate skeletal changes in Podocnemis unifilis embryos derived from artificially incubated eggs exposed to different concentrations of atrazine, glyphosate or atrazine and glyphosate mixture. Forty-two eggs were randomly allocated to one of seven trays containing vermiculite treated distilled water (control group) or the following solutions: 2 or 200 µg L-1 of atrazine (groups A1 and A2 respectively); 65 or 6500 µg L-1 of glyphosate (groups G1 and G2 respectively); 2 µg L-1 and 65 µg L-1 or 200 µg L-1 and 6500 µg L-1 of atrazine and glyphosate mixture (groups AG1 and AG2 respectively). Three eggs per tray were randomly collected on days 30 and 50 of the incubation period. Embryos were submitted to soft tissue diaphanization and stained with Alizarin red S or Alcian blue for morphological analysis of bone and cartilage tissues; histological analysis was performed to confirm ossification changes. Findings were compared between groups. Morphological changes were limited to sclerotic ring features and number of ribs. Malformations rates differed significantly (p < 0.05) between embryos in the control and treated groups A2, AG1 and AG2. Concurrent exposure to atrazine and glyphosate did not affect the presence or severity of embryonic malformations and was not associated with appendicular skeleton changes in P. unifilis embryos. However, further studies focusing on the axial skeleton with particular emphasis on rib abnormalities are warranted.