Clinical features and corneal optical anisotropies in a rabbit model of limbal stem cell deficiency / Fenótipos clínicos e anisotropias ópticas da córnea em coelhos com deficiência de células tronco limbais

ABSTRACT Purposes: To investigate the intra-laboratory reproducibility of clinical features and to evaluate corneal optical anisotropies in a rabbit model of limbal stem cell deficiency. Methods: Limbal injury was induced in the right eye of 23 adult New Zealand White rabbits using a highly aggressive protocol that combined 360 degrees limbal peritomy, keratolimbectomy, alkaline chemical burn, and mechanical removal of the epithelium. Clinical evaluation of the injured eyes was performed for 28 days and included corneal impression cytology. Corneas with a severe clinical outcome set typical of limbal stem cell deficiency were then collected, subjected to a histopathological examination, and examined for optical anisotropies. Corneas from healthy rabbit eyes were used as controls. Differences in optical path due to stromal collagen birefringence, as well as linear dichroism related to the expression and spatial orientation of glycosaminoglycan chains from proteoglycans, were measured from cross-sections under a quantitative polarized light microscope. Results: One eye showed signs of hypopyon and was excluded. Signs of ocular inflammation were observed in all eyes studied (n=22). Corneal impression cytology did not detect goblet cells. Twelve of the 22 corneas presented a clinical outcome set typical of limbal stem cell deficiency, which is characterized by the presence of epithelial defects, inflammatory cells, moderate-to-severe opacity, and neovascularization. Microscopic studies under polarized light revealed that relative to controls, limbal stem cell deficiency caused a 24.4% increase in corneal optical path differences. Further, corneas with limbal stem cell deficiency were less dichroic than controls. Conclusions: These results suggest that rabbit models of limbal stem cell deficiency must be rigorously screened for use in preclinical studies to ensure experimental homogeneity because protocols used to create limbal stem cell deficiency could be not associated with good intra-laboratory reproducibility of clinical features. Limbal stem cell deficiency, as induced herein, altered the optical anisotropic properties of the corneal stroma. Such alterations are indicative of changes in collagen packing and the spatial orientation of glycosaminoglycan chains from proteoglycans. Knowledge of these changes is important to potentiate strategies aimed at restoring the morphofunctional integrity of the corneal stroma affected by limbal stem cell deficiency.

RESUMO Objetivos: Investigar a reprodutibilidade intra-la­boratorial dos fenótipos clínicos e avaliar anisotropias ópticas em córneas de coelhos com deficiência de células tronco limbais. Métodos: Lesões ao limbo foram feitas no olho direito de 23 coelhos adultos da Nova Zelândia Branco, usando um protocolo altamente agressivo, que envolveu peritomia limbal em 360 graus, ceratolimbectomia, cauterização por álcali, e remoção mecânica de epitélio remanescente. Os olhos foram clinicamente avaliados por 28 dias, inclusive por citologia de impressão corneal. As córneas que manifestaram um conjunto de alterações típicas de deficiência de células tronco limbais foram coletadas e submetidas à estudos em histopatologia e em anisotropias ópticas. Córneas saudáveis foram usadas como controles. Diferenças de caminho óptico de birrefringência relacionada à organização do colágeno estromal, e dicroísmo linear relacionado à expressão e à orientação das cadeias de glicosaminoglicanos dos proteoglicanos estromais, foram quantificados por microscopia de luz polarizada. Resultados: Um olho apresentou hipópio e foi excluído do estudo. Todos os olhos estudados (n=22) apresentaram sinais de inflamação ocular. A citologia de impressão não detectou células caliciformes na superfície corneal. Doze de 22 córneas manifestaram alterações clínicas típicas de deficiência de células tronco limbais, caracterizado por defeitos epiteliais, infiltrados inflamatórios, opacidade de moderada à severa, e neovascularização. Estudos por microscopia de luz polarizada mostraram que a deficiência de células tronco limbais aumentou a diferenças de caminho óptico corneal em 24,4% (versus controles). As cór­neas com deficiência de células tronco limbais foram menos dicroicas do que as córneas controle. Conclusões: Coelhos com deficiência de células tronco limbais, para aplicações em estudos pré-clínicos, devem ser rigorosamente selecionados para assegurar homogeneidade experimental, pois há evidências de que protocolos utilizados para indução de deficiência de células tronco limbais não estão associados com boa reprodutibilidade intra-laboratorial de fenótipos clínicos. A deficiência de células tronco limbais, como induzida aqui, alterou as propriedades ópticas anisotrópicas do estroma corneal. Tais alterações são indicativas de mudanças no empacotamento de colágeno e na orientação das cadeias de glicosaminoglicanos dos proteoglicanos. Conhecimentos nessas alterações são importantes para potencializar estratégias que visam a restabelecer a integridade morfofuncional do estromal corneal acometido pela deficiência de células tronco limbais.

Clinical features and corneal optical anisotropies in a rabbit model of limbal stem cell deficiency.

PURPOSES: To investigate the intra-laboratory reproducibility of clinical features and to evaluate corneal optical anisotropies in a rabbit model of limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS: Limbal injury was induced in the right eye of 23 adult New Zealand White rabbits using a highly aggressive protocol that combined 360 degrees limbal peritomy, keratolimbectomy, alkaline chemical burn, and mechanical removal of the epithelium. Clinical evaluation of the injured eyes was performed for 28 days and included corneal impression cytology. Corneas with a severe clinical outcome set typical of limbal stem cell deficiency were then collected, subjected to a histopathological examination, and examined for optical anisotropies. Corneas from healthy rabbit eyes were used as controls. Differences in optical path due to stromal collagen birefringence, as well as linear dichroism related to the expression and spatial orientation of glycosaminoglycan chains from proteoglycans, were measured from cross-sections under a quantitative polarized light microscope. RESULTS: One eye showed signs of hypopyon and was excluded. Signs of ocular inflammation were observed in all eyes studied (n=22). Corneal impression cytology did not detect goblet cells. Twelve of the 22 corneas presented a clinical outcome set typical of limbal stem cell deficiency, which is characterized by the presence of epithelial defects, inflammatory cells, moderate-to-severe opacity, and neovascularization. Microscopic studies under polarized light revealed that relative to controls, limbal stem cell deficiency caused a 24.4% increase in corneal optical path differences. Further, corneas with limbal stem cell deficiency were less dichroic than controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rabbit models of limbal stem cell deficiency must be rigorously screened for use in preclinical studies to ensure experimental homogeneity because protocols used to create limbal stem cell deficiency could be not associated with good intra-laboratory reproducibility of clinical features. Limbal stem cell deficiency, as induced herein, altered the optical anisotropic properties of the corneal stroma. Such alterations are indicative of changes in collagen packing and the spatial orientation of glycosaminoglycan chains from proteoglycans. Knowledge of these changes is important to potentiate strategies aimed at restoring the morphofunctional integrity of the corneal stroma affected by limbal stem cell deficiency.

Dietary camu camu, Myrciaria dubia, enhances immunological response in Nile tilapia.

Camu camu, Myrciaria dubia, is an Amazon plant that presents high levels of vitamin C in its composition. Several studies in animals and humans have demonstrated their efficiency in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. However, there are no reports of its properties in fish. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the oral administration of the extract of this plant in the immune parameters in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. 400 Nile tilapia (80 ± 5 g) were randomly distributed into 20 tanks with 1500 L capacity each (20 fish/tank). After a week of adaptation to environmental conditions, it was provided a diet for 5 weeks, using different levels of inclusion of camu camu extract: 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg of feed. Each treatment consisted of four replicates. It was obtained 40.5 mg of vitamin C/g of camu camu pulp powder by high-performance liquid chromatography. At the end of the trial period, fish were inoculated with Aeromonas hydrophila in the swim bladder. Samples were taken after 6; 24 and 48 h of the challenge. Results revealed that fish supplemented with this herb showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in white blood cells counts in blood and exudate, burst respiratory activity, lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, direct agglutination, and melanomacrophage centers count. Red blood cells count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and biochemical profile of fish supplemented with the herb presented no statistical differences compared to control group (P > 0.05). No histopathological lesions were observed in intestine, kidney, spleen, and gills. It can be concluded that the addition of Myrciaria dubia in tilapia feed improves the immune response and the growth after 5 weeks, especially, at a dose of 500 mg/kg.

Uncaria tomentosa increases growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae.

Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is an Amazon herb using in native cultures in Peru. In mammals, it has been described several effects of this herb. However, this is the first report of its use on the diet of fish. The aim of this study was to determinate the effect of this plant on the growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus. Nile tilapia (81.3 ± 4.5 g) were distributed into 5 groups and supplemented with 0 (non-supplement fish), 75, 150, 300, and 450 mg of U. tomentosa.kg(-1) of diet for a period of 28 days. Fish were inoculated in the swim bladder with inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae and samples were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h post inoculation (HPI). Dose dependent increases were noted in some of the evaluated times of thrombocytes and white blood cells counts (WBC) in blood and exudate, burst respiratory activity, lysozyme activity, melanomacrophage centers count (MMCs), villi length, IgM by immunohistochemistry in splenic tissue, and unexpectedly on growth parameters. However, dietary supplementation of this herb did not affect red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and there were no observed histological lesions in gills, intestine, spleen, and liver. The current results demonstrate for the first time that U. tomentosa can stimulate fish immunity and improve growth performance in Nile tilapia.

Acute Toxicity and Determination of the Active Constituents of Aqueous Extract of Uncaria tomentosa Bark in Hyphessobrycon eques.

Uncaria tomentosa is a medicinal plant used in folk medicine by Amazon tribes. In this study the constituents of aqueous extract of U. tomentosa bark were quantified by chromatographic technique and its lethal concentration 50 (48 h) in Hyphessobrycon eques was determined. The chromatography showed high levels of oxindole alkaloids, quinovic acid glycosides, and low molecular weight polyphenols. The CL50 48 h was 1816 mg/L. Fish showed behavior changes at concentrations above 2000 mg/L, accompanied by a significant decrease of dissolved oxygen. At the highest concentration 100% mortality was observed attributed to oxygen reduction by the amount of oxindole alkaloids, polyphenols accumulation of the extract in the gills, and the interaction of these compounds with dopamine. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of U. tomentosa did not alter the chemical components and it was shown that U. tomentosa has low toxicity to H. eques; therefore, it can be used safely in this species.

Influence of glyceryl guaiacolate ether on anesthetics in tilapia compared to benzocaine and eugenol / Influencia del eter gliceril guayacolato sobre la anestesia en tilapias comparado con benzocaina y eugenol

Objective. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of glyceryl guaiacolate ether (GGE) and compare the times of induction, recovery, hematological changes, total protein and glycaemia among anesthetics in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Materials and methods. A total of 60 tilapia distributed in 3 aquariums (N=20) were used, which formed the group benzocaine (100 mg/L), eugenol (50 mg/L) and guaiacol glyceryl ether (9.000 mg/L). After the induction of anesthesia fish blood samples were collected to determine the complete hemogram and glycemia. Then the animals were placed in aquariums with running water for assessing the anesthesia recovery. Results. It was verified that GGE showed longer induction and recovery times as well a significant increase (p<0.05) of glycemia, when compared with the other groups (p<0.05). The concentration of total protein did not differ between groups (p>0.05). An increase in the number of monocytes in the group treated with benzocaine (p <0.05) was observed in the analysis of the hematological parameters with no difference between groups for other variables. Conclusions. Eugenol and benzocaine allow rapid induction and recovery in Nile tilapia, without evidence of stress during handling and GGE showed high induction and recovery times, being inadequate for anesthetic use in Nile tilapia.

Objetivo. El trabajo tuvo como objetivo investigar la eficacia del eter gliceril guayacolato (EGG) y comparar los tiempos de inducción, recuperación, alteraciones hematológicas, de proteínas totales y glicemia entre los anestésicos en tilapias del Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus. Materiales y métodos. Fueron utilizadas 60 tilapias distribuidas en 3 acuarios (n=20), que formaron los grupos benzocaína (100 mg/L), eugenol (50 mg/L) y éter gliceril guayacolato (9.000 mg/L). Después de la inducción anestésica se procedió a colectar la sangre para determinar el hemograma y glicemia. A seguir, los animales fueron colocados en acuarios con agua corriente para la evaluación de la recuperación anestésica. Resultados. Se verificó que el EGG presentó mayor tiempo de inducción y recuperación, así como aumento significativo (p<0.05) de la glicemia, cuando fue comparado con los otros grupos (p<0.05). La concentración de las proteínas totales no fueron diferentes entre los grupos (p>0.05). En el análisis de los parámetros hematológicos fue observado aumento del número de monocitos en el grupo tratado con benzocaína (p<0.05) sin diferencia ente los grupos para las otras variables. Conclusiones. El eugenol y la benzocaína permiten rápidas inducciones y recuperación en tilapias del Nilo, sin evidencias de estrés durante la manipulación y el EGG presenta tiempos elevados de inducción y recuperación, no siendo este adecuado para el uso en tilapias del Nilo.

Lectinhistoquímica del granuloma inducido por el bacilo de Calmette Guérin en Piaractus mesopotamicus / Lectinhistochemical staining of granuloma induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin in Piaractus mesopotamicus

Objetive. This study was conducted to evaluate, by means of lectinhistochemistry (LHC), the expression of carbohydrates in granulomas induced by the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in muscle tissue of Piaractus mesopotamicus after 33 days. Material and methods. Histological sections with 3 μm thick were incubated with the following lectins :WGA (Wheat germ agglutinin), DBA (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin) and HPA (Helix pomatia agglutinin), and the results were evaluated by light microscopy. Results. Acid fast bacilli were stained by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) and strong labeled by WGA in the cytoplasm of macrophages. Labeling with DBA was intense in fibroblasts and weak in macrophages. On the other hand, HPA binding was stronger in macrophages, especially in those that were in close contact with epithelioid cells, without evidence of binding to fibroblasts. The epithelioid cells were not labeled by the used lectins, but they were identified by Hematoxilin-Eosin (HE). The lectins labeled specific type saccharides in glycoproteins, as N-acetylglucosamine present in bacilli and macrophages, as well as N-acetyl-galactosamine in macrophages. The control group showed no inflammation or lectin binding. Conclusions. This technique may be useful in identifying receptors for WGA, DBA and the HPA lectins in epithelioid granuloma induced by BCG in P. mesopotamicus.

El presente estudio fue realizado para evaluar por medio de lectinhistoquímica (LHC), la expresión de carbohidratos en granulomas inducidos por el bacilo de Calmette-Guérin (BCG) en músculo de Piaractus mesopotamicus después de 33 días. Materiales y métodos. Cortes histológicos de 3 µm de grosor fueron incubados con las siguientes lectinas: WGA (Wheat germ aglutinin), DBA (Dolichos biflorus agglutin) y HPA (Helix pomatia agglutinin), y los resultados evaluados por medio de microscopia de luz. Resultados. Bacilos ácido resistentes fueron identificados por la tinción de Ziehl Neelsen(ZN). Se observó un marcaje intenso con WGA en el citoplasma de macrófagos. El marcaje con DBA fue intenso en fibroblastos y débil en macrófagos. Con la lectina HPA el marcaje fue intenso en macrófagos, principalmente en los que estaban en estrecho contacto con las células epitelióides, externamente se observó marcaje débil en fibroblastos. Las células epitelióides no fueron marcadas por las lectinas, pero fueron identificadas con la tinción de Hematoxilina-Eosina (HE). Las lectinas tuvieron un tipo de marcaje específico en algunos monosacáridos, como N-acetilglucosamina presente en los bacilos y en macrófagos, y N-acetilgalactosamina en macrófagos. En el grupo control no fue observada inflamación así como tampoco marcaje con las lectinas. Conclusiones. Esta técnica resultó eficiente en la identificación de receptores para las lectinas WGA, DBA y HPA en el granuloma epitelióide inducido por BCG en P. mesopotamicus.

Acute aerocystitis in Piaractus mesopotamicus: participation of eicosanoids and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

A total of 360 pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were used to study vascular permeability (VP) and inflammatory cell component (CC) in induced aerocystitis in P. mesopotamicus through inoculation of inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila, and the effect of steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It was observed that after inoculation of A. hydrophila, the maximum VP occurred 180 min post-stimulus (MPS). Pretreatment with anti-inflammatory drugs inhibited VP, and the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone was seen earlier than the effects caused by meloxicam and indomethacin. Inoculation of the bacterium caused a gradual increase in the accumulation of cells, which reached a maximum 24 h post-stimulus (HPS). Pretreatment with dexamethasone, indomethacin and meloxicam reduced the accumulation of lymphocytes, thrombocytes, granulocytes and macrophages. There was no significant difference between the different doses of the drugs tested. The results suggest that eicosanoids and pro-inflammatory cytokines participate in chemical mediation in acute inflammation in pacus.