Study of morphometric and ruminal parameters in santa inês sheep fed spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica, MILL) / [Estudo dos parâmetros morfométricos e ruminais em ovinos Santa Inês alimentados com cactus sem espinhos (Opuntia ficus-indica, MILL)]

The present study aimed to morphometrically evaluate the ruminal mucosa and ruminal fluid characteristics of Santa Inês sheep fed different levels of spineless cactus as a replacement for Tifton grass hay. A total of 32 intact male Santa Inês sheep, approximately 180 days old and with a mean weight of 32.0±1.6kg, were studied in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replicates. The morphometric measurements evaluated in the ruminal epithelium (papilla height and surface area) were significantly affected (P< 0.05) by supplementation of the diet with spineless cactus, and these effects showed increasing linear trends. Evaluations of the ruminal fluid also showed a significant increasing linear effect (P< 0.05) for ammonia and a quadratic effect for microbial protein. The inclusion of spineless cactus in the sheep diet affects the ruminal epithelium morphology, including the papilla height and surface area, and favors the absorption process in the rumen. The diet containing higher levels of spineless cactus led to maximum microbial protein production. These results characterize spineless cactus as a feasible alternative for feeding sheep during periods of drought, when the typical food source is scarce.(AU)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar morfometricamente a mucosa ruminal e as características do líquido ruminal de ovinos Santa Inês alimentados com diferentes níveis de palma forrageira como substituta do feno de capim-Tifton. Um total de 32 ovinos, machos inteiros, da raça Santa Inês, com aproximadamente 180 dias de idade e peso médio de 32,0±1,6kg, foi estudado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. As medidas morfométricas avaliadas no epitélio ruminal (altura e área superficial da papila) foram significativamente afetadas (P<0,05) pela suplementação da dieta com palma forrageira, e esses efeitos mostraram tendências lineares crescentes. As avaliações do fluido ruminal também mostraram um efeito linear crescente significativo (P<0,05) para a amônia e um efeito quadrático para a proteína microbiana. A inclusão de palma forrageira na dieta de ovinos afeta a morfologia do epitélio ruminal, englobando a altura e a área da papila, e favorece o processo de absorção no rúmen. A dieta contendo níveis mais altos de palma forrageira levou à produção máxima de proteína microbiana. Esses resultados caracterizam a palma forrageira como uma alternativa viável para a alimentação de ovelhas durante períodos de seca, quando a fonte típica de alimento é escassa.(AU)

Role of Corticotrophin-releasing Factor in the Stress-induced Dilation of Esophageal Intercellular Spaces

Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a major role in coordinating stress responses. We aimed to test whether blocking endogenous CRF activity can prevent the stress-induced dilation of intercellular spaces in esophageal mucosa. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) a non-stressed group (the non-stressed group), 2) a saline-pretreated stressed group (the stressed group), 3) and an astressin-pretreated stressed group (the astressin group). Immediately after completing the experiments according to the protocol, distal esophageal segments were obtained. Intercellular space diameters of esophageal mucosa were measured by transmission electron microscopy. Blood was sampled for the measurement of plasma cortisol levels. Mucosal intercellular spaces were significantly greater in the stressed group than in the non-stressed group. Mucosal intercellular spaces of the astressin group were significantly smaller than those of the stressed group. Plasma cortisol levels in the stressed group were significantly higher than in the non-stressed group. Pretreatment with astressin tended to decrease plasma cortisol levels. Acute stress in rats enlarges esophageal intercellular spaces, and this stress-induced alteration appears to be mediated by CRF. Our results suggest that CRF may play a role in the pathophysiology of reflux-induced symptoms or mucosal damage.

Mucous Membrane of the Rumen of Ovines, Fed With Spineless, Forrage Cactus or Palm (Barbary Fig) (Opuntia ficus indica Mil): Hystochemical Study by Means of Light Microscopy / Membrana Mucosa del Rumen de Ovinos, Alimentados con Forraje de Cactus Sin Espinas o Palmeras (Barbary Fig) (Opuntia ficus indica Mil): Estudio Histoquímico por Medio de Microscopía de Luz

The mucosa of the rumen performs the functions of absorption, transportation, metabolism and protection, due to the presence of microorganisms in this compartment of the digestive tract, which are responsible for the digestion of approximately 60% of the organic material apparently digested. The histological structure and the histochemical profile of glicoconjugate of the mucosa of the stomach of sheep that were being fed with forrage cactus or palm (Giant Palm - Opuntia ficus indica Mil)1. Twelve sheep were used, with approximately 14 months old, which were oddly distributed in four diets: D1- 60.0% forrage palm + 40.0% concentrated ration; D2- 47.5% forrage palm + 12.5% elephant, napier grass + 40.0% concentrated ration, and D3 - 34,8% forrage palm + 25.2% elephant, napier grass + 40.0% concentrated ration and D4 - 60.0% elephant, napier grass + 40.0% concentrated ration. The experience period lasted 90 days, and, at the end, the animals were euthanized and fragments of different compartments of their stomachs were taken right after. The animals having consumed diets D1, D2 e D3 presented more developed papillas, while the ones of diet D4, presented less developed papillas. The stratum corneum of the epithelium of the rumen coating of the animals in diet D1 presented a slight erosion, when compared to those in diets D2, D3 and D4.

La mucosa del rumen actúa en la absorción, transporte, metabolismo y protección, debido a la presencia de microorganismos en este compartimiento del tracto digestivo, los cuales son responsables de la digestión de aproximadamente el 60% de material orgánico aparentemente digerido. Se analizó la estructura histológica y el perfil histoquímico de las estructuras de glicoconjugados de la mucosa del estómago de las ovejas que fueron alimentadas con forraje de cactus o palmeras (Giant Palm - Opuntia ficus indica Mil)1. Fueron utilizadas 12 ovejas, con aproximadamente 14 meses de edad, las cuales fueron distribuidas de manera impar en cuatro dietas: D1- 60.0% forraje de palmera + 40.0% ración concentrada; D2- 47.5% forraje de palmera + 12.5% hierba alta africana + 40.0% ración concentrada, y D3 - 34,8% forraje de palmera + 25.2% hierba alta africana + 40.0% ración concentrada y D4 - 60.0%hierba alta africana + 40.0% ración concentrada. La experiencia duró 90 días y al final, los animales fueron sacrificados y fragmentos de diferentes compartimientos de sus estómagos fueron directamente recogidos. Los animales que habían consumido dietas D1, D2 y D3 presentaron papilas más desarrolladas, mientras que los alimentados con dieta D4 presentaron papilas menos desarrolladas. El estrato córneo del epitelio del rumen de los animales de la dieta D1 presentaron pequeña erosión, cuando fueron comparados con los animales sometidos a las dietas D2, D3 y D4.

effect of age and sex on the esophageal wall structure in dogs

The aim of this project was to study the influence of the sex and age factors on the wall structure of the esophagus of the dog. Eighteen mixed breed dogs, [9 male and 9 female] in three age groups [3 neonate, 3 sexually mature and 3 old] were used. Animals were euthanized and after removing the whole esophagus, full thickness transverse sections were cut from the proximal, middle and distal parts. Microscopic sections of these samples were prepared and then examined for minimum and maximum thicknesses of the tunicae mucosa, submucosa and muscularis. Due to the absence of lamina muscularis mucosa in the proximal part of canine esophagus, the tunicae mucosa and submucosa in this region were collectively named tunica mucosa-submucosa. Results obtained from this study showed that there is a large increase in the thickness of tunica mucosa-submucosa and mucosa, from neonatal to sexually mature stages followed by a smaller increase between sexually mature and old stages in both sexes. We also found that the thickness of the mucosal layer is greater in distal part of esophagus than its middle part in all three age groups and both sexes. The thickness of tunica submucosa of the middle and distal parts and tunica muscularis of the proximal, middle and distal parts of esophagus showed a large increase between neonatal and sexually mature stages followed by a smaller decrease between sexually mature and old stages in both sexes. Also we found that the thickness of the submucosal layer is greater in distal part of esophagus than its middle part in all three age groups and both sexes. The thickness of the muscular layer showed a progressive increase from proximal part to the distal part in all age groups and both sexes. The differences between the two sexes in the thickness of esophageal layers do not follow a constant pattern

[Reproducibitity of keratinized gingival width assessment with three methods of mucogingival junction determination]

Although the need for "adequate" amount of keratinized tissue [KT] for periodontal health is questionable, the mucogingival junction [MGJ] often serves as a measurement landmark in periodontal evaluations. Limited information is available on the reproducibility of KT width [KTW] assessment. The purpose of this study was to assess reproducibility of 3 different methods to identify MGJ location. In this test evaluation study, fourteen patients contributed with 40 teeth. At the midbuccal aspect of each tooth, KTW was assessed by 2 independent examiners after MGJ identification by the visual [VM], functional [FM], and visual with histochemical staining [HM] method. Data analysis was based on intra-class correlation coefficients [ICC] and paired t test. The results of this study exhibits no significant differences in keratinized tissue width assessment in visual and histochemical methods, but a significant difference in functional method is found. Intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility has been shown to be substantially consistent when different methods of mucogingival junction determination are used to measure in order to determining corono apical dimension of the gingival. Finally the results of this study indicate that all three methods for detecting MGJ location are accurate and reproducible, but if we need more accuracy and reproducibility, the histochemical method is recommended

Aspectos histológicos da mucosa da concha nasal inferior em indivíduos normais / Hystopathological aspects of the nasal inferior concha mucosal in normal individuals

Os aspectos histopatológicos da túnica mucosa do 1/3 médio da concha nasal inferior foram avaliados em 3 indivíduos normais, considerando como parâmetros no plano epitelial: hiperplasia, hipertrofia, necrose, metaplasia escamosa e atrofia; no plano da lâmina própria: alteraçöes vasculares, infiltrado inflamatório, fibrose da lâmina própria, espessamento da membrana basal; no plano das células secretoras: aumento do número de células secretoras, aumento da secreçäo, aumento do muco neutro e do muco ácido intracelular. Foram demonstrados proliferaçäo vascular discreta da lâmina própria, ausência de ectasia linfática e marcado espessamento da membrana basal além da atrofia e de metaplasia escamosa importante.

La túnica muscularis mucosae de la vejiga urinaria: distribución y características regionales / The muscularis mucosae tunic of the urinary bladder: distribution and sectional distribution

El reconocimiento de bandas de músculo liso (ML) en la lámina propia (LP) de la vejiga urinaria es un hallazgo reciente. Con el objeto de establecer su distribución regional se analizaron cerca de 200 cortes histológicos tomados de 8 vejigas no patológicas de autopsias consecutivas. En cada caso se obtuvieron 6 cortes de 2,5 x 0,5 cmc de cada una de las siguientes regiones : Pared Anterior (PA), Pared Posterior (PP), Trígono (T) y Cuello (C). Se confeccionó un protocolo consignando el porcentaje de ML en PL en una escala de 0 a 100 por ciento con intervalos de 10. Se calcularon promedios y desvío standard de los valores hallados por caso y región. Se determinó el patrón de distribución según los criterios de Ro y Col (Am J Surg Pathol 11(9), 1987). Resultados : N§ de casos : 8. Edad promedio : 60 (rango 47-71). Sexo : M6, F2. Porcentajes promedio totales de ML en LP por región y Desvío St. : PA 25/21, PP : 17/15; T : 21/15, C : 20/15. Porcentajes promedio por caso y Desvío St. : 1) 23/17; 2) 9/6; 3) 23/18; 4) 31/30; 5) 11/9; 6) 26/17; 7) 17/8; 8) 26/10. Se observó frecuente coexistencia de patrones y combinación de ausencia y presencia de ML en la misma vejiga y en la misma región. La comparación de porcentajes promedio por caso, región y sexo no mostró diferencias significativas. La gran dispersión de valores y superposición de patrones indican que la distribución de ML en LP es heterogénea y aleatoria. Un corte al azar puede no reprentar la situación en el resto de la vejiga.

Role of allogenic vesical mucosa in inducing neo-osteogenesis in guineapigs.

Fresh allogenic mucosa lining the urinary bladder was transplanted into a 1 cm gap of right ulna bone in 24 guineapigs. The 1 cm, bone gap in the left ulna served as control. At regular intervals, the implanted and control sites were studied grossly with naked eye, radiologically and histopathologically to ascertain the role of allogenic vesical mucosa in inducing neo-osteogenesis. The bone gaps were uniformly bridged by bone in 10-12 wk at the implanted sites and fibrous tissue at control sites. There was no evidence of graft rejection. The study thus suggests the potential of the use of stored allogenic vesical mucosal grafts for neo-osteogenesis in clinical practice.