Deleterious effects of gestational diabetes mellitus on the characteristics of the rectus abdominis muscle associated with pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence.

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the structural characteristics of the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) and its indirect effects on pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PSUI). METHODS: A total of 92 pregnant women were divided into four groups, according to their clinical conditions: non-GDM continent, non-GDM associated PSUI, GDM continent and GDM associated PSUI. The muscle morphometry (histochemistry and immunohistochemistry) for the fiber types and collagen fiber distribution, the ultrastructural analysis (transmission electron microscopy), the protein expression of fiber types and calcium signaling (Western blotting), and the content of types I and III collagen fiber (ELISA) in RAM collected at delivery were assessed. RESULTS: The GDM groups presented a significantly increased number of slow fibers and slow-twitch oxidative fiber expression; decreased fiber area, number of fast fibers, and area of collagen; an increase in central nuclei; ultrastructural alterations with focal lesion areas such as myeloid structures, sarcomere disorganization, and mitochondrial alteration. The PSUI groups presented a considerable decrease in types I and III collagen contents and the localization of collagen fiber. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that GDM causes morphological, biochemical and physiological changes in the RAM, and this might predispose women to PSUI.

Alterations in the structural characteristics of rectus abdominis muscles caused by diabetes and pregnancy: A comparative study of the rat model and women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we compared the effect of diabetic pregnancy on the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) in humans and rats. We hypothesized that our animal model could provide valuable information about alterations in the RAM of women with Gestational Diabetes (GDM). METHOD: Newborns female rats (n = 10/group) were administered streptozotocin (100 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously and were mated on reaching adulthood, to develop the mild hyperglycemic pregnant (MHP) rat model. At the end of pregnancy, the mothers were sacrificed, and the RAM tissue was collected. Pregnant women without GDM (non-GDM group; n = 10) and those diagnosed with GDM (GDM group; n = 8) and undergoing treatment were recruited, and RAM samples were obtained at C-section. The RAM architecture and the distribution of the fast and slow fibers and collagen were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the maternal and fetal characters were observed between the groups in both rats and women. However, significant changes in RAM architecture were observed. Diabetes in pregnancy increased the abundance of slow fibers and decreased fast fiber number and area in both rats and women. A decrease in collagen distribution was observed in GDM women; however, a similar change was not observed in the MHP rats. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that pregnancy- associated diabetes- induced similar structural adaptations in the RAM of women and rats with slight alterations in fiber type number and area. These findings suggest that the MHP rat model can be used for studying the effects of pregnancy-associated diabetes on the fiber structure of RAM.

Morphology of the vaginal complex in the white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): Gross anatomy and light microscopy.

Opossums, the largest marsupials found in Brazil, are animals of great interest due to their commonality in large urban centres and their frequent use as laboratory animals. Thus, this study was designed to describe the vaginal complex in ten female opossums by gross anatomy and light microscopy. The vaginal complex comprises two lateral vaginae, a vaginal cul-de-sac and a urogenital sinus. No marked morphological contrast of the vaginal complex was observed in the proestrus and metestrus phases of the females studied. The epithelium lining of cul-de-sac was simple columnar and folded. The lateral vagina was lined by a stratified squamous epithelium that was keratinised in its cranial portion and nonkeratinised in the caudal region. The urogenital sinus was also lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. The morphology of vaginal complex of white-eared opossum is similar to those reported for other marsupials, showing similar histological features.

Can low-level laser therapy when associated to exercise decrease adipocyte area?

Obesity affects approximately 20% of the world population, and exercise is the primary non-pharmacological therapy. The combined use of exercise and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may potentiate the effects promoted by exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise in combination with phototherapy on adipocyte area, activity of the enzyme citrate synthase and muscle morphological analysis. We used 64 Wistar rats, which were divided into eight groups with 8 rats each: sedentary chow-diet (SC); sedentary chow-diet plus laser therapy (SCL), exercised chow-diet (EC); exercised chow-diet plus laser therapy (ECL); sedentary high-fat diet (SH); sedentary high-fat diet plus laser therapy (SHL); exercised high-fat diet (EH); exercised high-fat diet, laser therapy (EHL). The animals were submitted to a program of swimming training for 90min/5 times per week for 8weeks and LLLT (GA-Al-AS, 830nm) at a dose of 4.7J/point and a total energy of 9.4J/animal, with duration of 47s, which was applied to both gastrocnemius muscles after exercise. We conclude that the combined use of exercise and phototherapy increases the activity of the enzyme citrate synthase and decreases the white adipocyte area epididymal, retroperitoneal and visceral in obese rats, enhancing the effects of exercise.