RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiogenesis is a feature of the atherogenic process, with intimal neovascularisation arising from vessels in the adventitia, adjacent to a plaque. Immature, leaky blood vessels from unstable plaques proliferate abnormally and, being poorly invested with smooth muscle cells, may contribute to instability of the plaque by facilitation of inflammatory cell infiltration and haemorrhagic complications. METHODS: We used laser-capture microdissection to isolate angiogenic areas of the extracellular matrix (containing CD105/flt-1-positive, fragile thin-walled vessels) and non-angiogenic vascular areas (CD105-negative, with smooth muscle cell covering) of complicated endarterectomy plaques, and specifically designed angiogenesis-TaqMan real-time PCR microarrays to identify gene expression. RESULTS: Important pro-angiogenic components, including Notch-3, delta-like-4 (DLL4), Tie-2, angiopoietin-1 (Angio-1) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and one anti-angiogenic factor, endostatin, were up-regulated in these regions. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated localisation within intimal, active (CD105-positive) microvessels and co-localisation of Notch-3 and DLL4/Tie-2 and Angio-1 in the same vessels indicating multiple/synergistic signalling mechanisms associated with vessel development. CONCLUSION: These data, although providing only a snapshot of information, demonstrate that plaque vascularisation occurs in the presence of multiple angiogenically active factors. Knowledge of their combined effects could help in the formulation of novel therapeutics designed to stabilise or prevent their formation in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Assuntos
Proteínas Angiogênicas/genética , Estenose das Carótidas/genética , Dissecação/instrumentação , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Marcadores Genéticos , Lasers , Neovascularização Fisiológica/genética , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal , Idoso , Proteínas Angiogênicas/análise , Angiopoietina-1/genética , Antígenos CD/análise , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio , Artérias Carótidas/química , Artérias Carótidas/imunologia , Artérias Carótidas/cirurgia , Estenose das Carótidas/imunologia , Estenose das Carótidas/fisiopatologia , Estenose das Carótidas/cirurgia , Endarterectomia das Carótidas , Endoglina , Endostatinas/genética , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/genética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Receptor para Produtos Finais de Glicação Avançada , Receptor Notch3 , Receptor TIE-2/genética , Receptores de Superfície Celular/análise , Receptores Imunológicos/genética , Receptores Notch/genética , Ruptura , Receptor 1 de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/genéticaRESUMO
This paper analyzed seasonal and diurnal differences in feeding, locomotion, inactivity, and social grooming of adult and subadult free-ranging vervet monkeys in Natal (38 degrees 35'S and 31 degrees 46'E). Breaking down hourly activity budgets from the perspective of reproductive seasons (birth, premating, and mating seasons) which correspond to environmental conditions in Natal, we obtained several results. First, there were diurnal variations for all the behaviours in all seasons studied, except for inactivity during the mating season when days were shorter and there was greater food shortage and sexual competition. Second, the seasonal influence on the hourly periods of increased activity could not be explained solely by the photoperiod or by the other climatic factors analyzed. Finally, over-all seasonal differences in activity were mainly reflected by the hourly distribution of feeding in the morning and the pattern of inactivity throughout the day. Therefore, rhythms in activity should be understood in terms of adaptation to both climatic constraints and other unrelated metabolic requirements.
Assuntos
Ritmo Circadiano , Comportamento Alimentar , Atividade Motora , Estações do Ano , Comportamento Social , Animais , Chlorocebus aethiops , Clima , Feminino , Asseio Animal , Masculino , Valores de Referência , Comportamento Sexual AnimalRESUMO
Antigonadotropic activities of Precocene 1 (P1), Precocene 2 (P2) and Ethoxyprecocene 2 (EP2) on the seed bug Oxycarenus lavaterae (F.) (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae), are reported. EP2 proved to be the most active compound followed by P2 and P1, which agrees with the structure-activity relationships reported for these compounds thus far. Mortality in both sexes was furthermore studied. In this context, compound P2 showed the highest degree of toxicity. Males, interestingly, appeared to be more sensitive to the toxic effects of Precocenes.
Assuntos
Benzopiranos/farmacologia , Gônadas/efeitos dos fármacos , Hemípteros/efeitos dos fármacos , AnimaisRESUMO
The application of a combined HPLC-RIA methodology to estimate immunoreactive PGE2 levels in two insect species, namely, males of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) and males and females of Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera, Blattellidae) is reported. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that, whereas in the crickets the presence of a female does exert a stimulating effect on the PGE2 levels of the male, in cockroaches nonsignificant differences on PGE2 contents were observed among virgin and mated individuals under the conditions assayed, thus suggesting that the biosynthetic pattern of this prostanoid in the cricket studied cannot be extended to the case of the Dictyoptera.