RESUMO
To investigate the influence of the pineal gland through melatonin secretion on the physiological and morphological parameters of pancreatic islets, we studied the plasma biochemistry and morphological and morphometric characteristics of the endocrine pancreas of male Wistar rats. The animals were distributed into five groups of ten rats each: NC - normal control group; NS -- sham-operated group; Px (25) -- pinealectomised group, studied 15--25 days after surgery; Px (70) -- pinealectomised group, studied 60-70 days after surgery; ALX - alloxan monohydrate-treated group. Data are analyzed statistically by ANOVA and by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Although there was no significant difference in plasma glucose or insulin levels between the Px (25), Px (70) and NC groups, Px (25) animals showed a tendency to increased glucose and reduced insulin levels. The ALX group showed a clear elevation of plasma glucose and a reduction of plasma insulin compared to the other groups. Morphometric analysis showed a larger pancreatic islet area and a lower pancreatic islet density in the pancreas of Px (70) animals and an increase in degenerative pathological processes in the pancreatic islets of the Px (25) and ALX groups. The present results suggest that melatonin, in addition to acting on tissue sensitivity to insulin (as reported in other studies), affects the secretory action of beta cells, as demonstrated by the morphological and morphometric changes observed in pinealectomised animals.
Assuntos
Ilhotas Pancreáticas/citologia , Melatonina/metabolismo , Glândula Pineal/fisiologia , Animais , Glicemia/análise , Insulina/sangue , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/fisiologia , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos WistarAssuntos
Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidores da Colinesterase/toxicidade , Colinesterases/metabolismo , Peixes/metabolismo , Inseticidas/toxicidade , Paraoxon/toxicidade , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Animais , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Brasil , Butirilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Colinesterases/sangue , Monitoramento AmbientalRESUMO
The serum of 134 patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni, including both acute and chronic forms of the disease, were tested for the presence of cold lymphocytotoxins. These were found in 4.5% of acute forms of the disease, in 88.4% of chronic infections and in only 9.8% of the uninfected control group (blood donors). An analysis of the results suggests a probable role for cold lymphocytotoxins in the immune response of the different phases of human schistosomiasis.
Assuntos
Soro Antilinfocitário/análise , Esquistossomose/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Formação de Anticorpos , Criança , Temperatura Baixa , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Schistosoma mansoniAssuntos
Leishmania/classificação , Leishmaniose Mucocutânea/parasitologia , Animais , Brasil , Cricetinae , HumanosAssuntos
Infecção Laboratorial/etiologia , Leishmaniose Mucocutânea/etiologia , Adulto , Animais , Cricetinae , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
A case of hemolytic disease in a newborn infant caused by anti-Dia is described. The parents are Japanese. The antibody was an IgG of subclasses IgG1 and IgG3, did not bind complement, and gave a 27 percent phagocytosis rate when used to sensitize red blood cells for a macrophage binding assay. The antibody was not detected during antenatal serologic testing. This case suggests the need for reagent red blood cell panels selected to match antibody specificities likely to be encountered in a particular population.