Omega-3 Supplementation Prevents Short-Term High-Fat Diet Effects on the α7 Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptor Expression and Inflammatory Response.

The study is aimed at investigating if PUFA supplementation could prevent the effects of a short-term HFD on α7nAChR expression and on the severity of sepsis. Swiss mice were used for the in vivo experiments. For the in vitro experiments, we used a microglia cell line (BV-2) and a hepatoma cell line (Hepa-1c1c7) derived from mice. The animals were either fed standard chow, fed a short-term HFD (60%), or given supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid (2 g/kg or 4 g/kg bw) for 17 days, followed by a short-term HFD. Endotoxemia was induced with an intraperitoneal (i.p.) lipopolysaccharide injection (LPS, 5 or 12 mg/kg), and sepsis was induced by subjecting the animals to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). BV-2 and Hepa-1c1c7 cells were treated with LPS (100 and 500 ng/mL, respectively) for 3 hours. RT-PCR or Western blotting was used to evaluate α7nAChR expression, inflammatory markers, DNMT1, and overall ubiquitination. LPS and HFD reduced the expression of α7nAChR and increased the expression of inflammatory markers. Omega-3 partially prevented the damage caused by the HFD to the expression of α7nAChR in the bone marrow and hypothalamus, decreased the inflammatory markers, and reduced susceptibility to sepsis-induced death. Exposing the BV-2 cells to LPS increased the protein content of DNMT1 and the overall ubiquitination and reduced the expression of α7nAChR. The inflammation induced by LPS in the BV-2 cell decreased α7nAChR expression and concomitantly increased DNMT1 expression and the ubiquitinated protein levels, indicating the participation of pre- and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Non-destructive linear model for leaf area estimation in Vernonia ferruginea Less.

Leaf area estimation is an important biometrical trait for evaluating leaf development and plant growth in field and pot experiments. We developed a non-destructive model to estimate the leaf area (LA) of Vernonia ferruginea using the length (L) and width (W) leaf dimensions. Different combinations of linear equations were obtained from L, L2, W, W2, LW and L2W2. The linear regressions using the product of LW dimensions were more efficient to estimate the LA of V. ferruginea than models based on a single dimension (L, W, L2 or W2). Therefore, the linear regression "LA=0.463+0.676WL" provided the most accurate estimate of V. ferruginea leaf area. Validation of the selected model showed that the correlation between real measured leaf area and estimated leaf area was very high.

Parâmetros genéticos de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) / Genetic parameters of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill., subsidiando futuros programas de melhoramento e conservação genética. Foram selecionadas 20 matrizes da espécie e os frutos coletados em área de Caatinga, no Município de Jequié - BA / Brasil. Para descrição morfológica foram observadas características de 50 frutos e 50 sementes. Para germinação foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com 20 tratamentos (progênie) e três repetições de 20 sementes. O fruto de J. ribifolia é seco, cápsula loculicida e septicida, endocarpo lenhoso e deiscência explosiva (autocórica). A semente é oval, endospérmica, de testa lisa, com diferentes colorações e carúncula presa na parte ventral. O hilo é visível e a rafe bem marcada longitudinalmente. A germinação é hipógea-criptocotiledonar. O tempo médio para germinação foi de 10 a 40 dias. As matrizes de J. ribifolia estudadas apresentaram variabilidade genética significativa para a maioria dos caracteres estudados.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill, subsidizing future breeding and genetic conservation programs. Twenty matrices of the species and the fruits collected in the Caatinga area in the city of Jequié - BA / Brazil were selected. For morphological description, the features of 50 fruits and 50 seeds were observed. For germination, completely randomized design was used with 20 treatments (progeny) and three replicates of 20 seeds. J. ribifolia fruit is dry and has loculicidal and septicidal capsule, woody endocarp and explosive dehiscence (autochory). The seed is oval, endospermic and has smooth testa and different colors, with caruncle attached to the ventral part. The hilum is visible and the raphe is longitudinally marked. Germination is hypogeal-cryptocotylar. The average time for germination was from 10 to 40 days. The matrices of J. ribifolia showed significant genetic variability for most of the studied traits.

Propriedades do pólen e do estigma de Ocimum basilicum L. (cultivar Maria Bonita) para aumentar a eficiência de cruzamentos em programas de melhoramento / Ocimum basilicum L. (cultivar Maria Bonita) pollen and stigma properties to improve the efficiency of crossings in plant breeding programs

Ocimum basilicum, cv. Maria Bonita (Lamiaceae), conhecido como manjericão, é espécie que apresenta propriedades aromáticas, condimentares e medicinais, por ser rico emóleos essenciais. É muito usado nas indústrias farmacêuticas e de alimentos em geral. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as propriedades do pólen e estigma do manjericão (cultivar Maria Bonita) identificando procedimentos simples que possam contribuir para programas de melhoramento. Para análise da disponibilidade, viabilidade do pólen e receptividade de estigma, botões florais foram coletados de hora em hora ao longo do dia, e lâminas eram montadas e coradas, para observação em microscópio óptico. Foi verificado que o manjericão apresenta antese diurna, assincrônica e com a maioria das flores se abrindo entre 10:00 e 11:00 horas. Quanto ao estudo do pólen foi verificado que a viabilidade manteve-se elevada ao longo do dia e a conservação por até 90 dias demonstrou bons níveis de viabilidade. O estigma apresentou receptividade desde a pré-antese até a pós-antese. Estas informações são relevantes para os melhoristas que desejam fazer seleção de genótipos ou hibridações em programas de melhoramento, contribuindo para aumentar o potencial da espécie que já se destaca como produtora de óleos essenciais.

Known as basil, Ocimum basilicum cv. Maria Bonita (Lamiaceae) is a species that presents aromatic, condimental and medicinal properties, since it is rich in essential oils. This species is largely used in pharmaceutical and food industries. The aim of this work was to study basil (cultivar Maria Bonita) pollen and stigma properties, identifying simple procedures that can contribute to plant breeding programs. To analyze pollen availability and viability, besides stigma receptivity, flower buds were collected at every hour throughout the day, and slides were mounted, stained and observed under an optical microscope. Basil presented diurnal asynchronous anthesis and most flowers opened between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. As regards pollen analysis, viability was high throughout the day and its conservation until 90 days was good. Stigma presented receptivity from pre- to post-anthesis. These data are relevant to breeders who wish to select genotypes or hybridizations in plant breeding programs, contributing to improve the potential of this species, which already represents a producer of essential oils.