Vascular dysfunction programmed in male rats by topiramate during peripubertal period.

AIM: The present study evaluated whether topiramate (TPM) treatment during the peripubertal period affects vascular parameters of male rats and whether oxidative stress plays a role in these changes. MAIN METHODS: Rats were treated with TPM (41 mg/kg/day, gavage) or vehicle (CTR group) from the postnatal day (PND) 28 to 50. At PND 51 and 120 the rats were evaluated for: thoracic aorta reactivity to phenylephrine, in the presence (Endo+) or absence of endothelium (Endo-), to acetylcholine and to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), aortic thickness and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. In serum were analyzed: the antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay; endogenous antioxidant reduced glutathione, and superoxide anion. Results were expressed as mean ± s.e.m., differences when p < 0.05. STATISTICS: Two-way ANOVA (and Tukey's) or Student t-test. KEY FINDINGS: At PND 51, the contraction induced by phenylephrine in Endo+ ring was higher in TPM when compared to CTR. At PND 120, the aortic sensitivity to acetylcholine in TPM rats was reduced in comparison with CTR. The aortic eNOs expression and the aortic thickness were similar between the groups. At PND 51 and 120, TPM group presented a decrease in antioxidants when compared to CTR groups and at PND 120, in TPM group the superoxide anion was increased. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, the treatment of rats with TPM during peripubertal period promoted permanent impairment of endothelial function probably mediated by oxidative stress.

Effects of swimming on the testicular histomorphology of alcoholized rats / Efeitos da natação na histomorfologia testicular de ratos alcoolizados

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar se a prática do exercício físico de longa duração e baixa intensidade reverte as alterações observadas nos testículos de ratos submetidos à dependência alcoólica induzida pela ingestão semivoluntária. Foram distribuídos 40 ratos machos em quatro grupos: alcoolizado não-exercitado (ANE); alcoolizado com exercício (ACE); não-alcoolizado e não-exercitado (NANE); não-alcoolizado com exercício (NACE) . A aguardente (marca '51') foi oferecida nas seguintes diluições: 10% (10 dias), 15% (11 dias), 20% (12 dias), 25% (12 dias), 30% do 45º ao 120º dia, quando o álcool foi substituído por água. No 120º dia, os animais dos grupos NACE e ACE foram transferidos para nadar em tanques individuais com água na temperatura de 30º por 20 min., cinco dias semana- 1, durante oito semanas. No grupo ANE houve depleção do epitélio seminífero, enquanto nos ratos do grupo ACE, a maioria dos túbulos seminíferos estava inalterado. Comparado ao grupo ACE, houve redução no diâmetro tubular e na altura do epitélio seminífero no grupo ANE. Os resultados mostraram menor atrofia testicular nos animais que foram exercitados do que nos sedentários. O exercício físico, após a interrupção da ingestão de álcool, parece acelerar o processo de recuperação de tecidos lesados.

The objective of this study was to examine whether the practice of long-duration, low-intensity physical exercise helped reverse changes observed in the testes of rats subjected to alcohol dependence induced by semi-voluntary intake. Forty male rats were distributed into four groups: alcohol no exercise (ANE); alcohol with exercise (AWE); no alcohol no exercise (NANE); no alcohol with exercise (NAWE). The cachaça ("51" brand) was offered in the following dilutions: 10% (10 days), 15% (11 days), 20% (12 days), 25% (12 days), 30% from the 45th to 120th day, when the alcohol was replaced by drinking water. On the 120th day, the groups NAWE and AWE were assigned to swim in individual tanks with water temperature around 30ºC for 20 minutes, 5 days week- 1 for 8 weeks. In the ANE group there was a depletion of the seminiferous epithelium, while in AWE rats the majority of seminiferous tubules were unaltered. Compared to the AWE group, there were reductions in tubular diameter and the height of the seminiferous epithelium in the ANE group. The results showed lesser testicular atrophy in animals that exercised than in sedentary ones. Physical exercise after the discontinuation of alcohol seems to accelerate the process of recovery of damaged tissue.

Histology and ultrastructure of the fat body of Anticarsia gemmatalis (HÜBNER, 1818) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphologically the fatty body of fourth-instar Anticarsia gemmatalis larvae under light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Two distinct portions of the fat body were detected: the parietal (PA) and perivisceral (PV). The PA, the parietal portion, presented a long-stripped shape located below the tegument and lateral to the digestive tube. The PV, rarely observed, was in dorsal region, adhered to digestive wall. Both the portions were constituted of only one cellular type, the trophocytes. These cells in the PA were organized in one layer of thickness showing cylindrical contiguously morphology, whereas the PV was comprised by a mass of small cells, superposed as clusters. Both the portions were covered by a layer of connective tissue, grouping the trophocytes and keeping them separated from the hemolymph. The cytoplasm of the trophocytes from the PA presented acidophilic stain, while the basophilic cytoplasmic of the trophocytes from the PV was due to the large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum. From the results, it could be concluded that the fat body presented morphological and ultrastructural differences according to the portion and that these features could characterize distinct functions.

An optimized one-tube, semi-nested PCR assay for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis detection.

INTRODUCTION: Herein, we report a one-tube, semi-nested-polymerase chain reaction (OTsn-PCR) assay for the detection of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. METHODS: We developed the OTsn-PCR assay for the detection of P. brasiliensis in clinical specimens and compared it with other PCR methods. RESULTS: The OTsn-PCR assay was positive for all clinical samples, and the detection limit was better or equivalent to the other nested or semi-nested PCR methods for P. brasiliensis detection. CONCLUSIONS: The OTsn-PCR assay described in this paper has a detection limit similar to other reactions for the molecular detection of P. brasiliensis, but this approach is faster and less prone to contamination than other conventional nested or semi-nested PCR assays.

Efeito do treinamento físico no pulmão de ratos submetidos à ingestão alcoólica / Effects of physical training on lungs of rats submitted to alcohol intake

O alcoolismo crônico provoca alterações nos tecidos pulmonares caracterizadas por edema pulmonar e formação de extenso infiltrado inflamatório. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do exercício físico sobre as lesões pulmonares provocadas por ingestão crônica de álcool em ratos Wistar. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Trinta e dois ratos Wistar machos (261,1 ± 1,3 gramas) receberam aguardente de cana-de-açúcar diluída (30 por cento, v/v, grupo alcoolizado) ou água potável (grupo controle) durante 120 dias. Após este período, cinco animais de cada grupo foram sacrificados. Os demais animais receberam apenas água potável até o final do experimento e foram divididos em quatro grupos: alcoolizados sedentários (AS), controle sedentários (CS), alcoolizados treinados (AT) e controles treinados (CT). Os animais AT e CT foram submetidos a protocolo de natação, aumentando gradativamente o tempo de exercício até 20 minutos por dia, cinco vezes por semana, durante um período total de cinco semanas. Neste mesmo período, os animais AS e CS foram mantidos em sedentarismo. RESULTADOS: Após o período de ingestão alcoólica, os animais do grupo alcoolizado apresentaram redução de peso (P < 0,05) e aumento da massa relativa do pulmão (P < 0,05). O pulmão do grupo alcoolizado apresentou edema pulmonar e extenso infiltrado inflamatório. Os animais dos grupos CS e CT não apresentaram diferenças morfológicas. Os animais do grupo AT apresentaram aumento do quadro de edema pulmonar e do número de macrófagos pigmentados em relação ao grupo AC (P < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O exercício físico pode acentuar o processo inflamatório pulmonar quando aplicado em animais com lesão pulmonar inflamatória provocada pelo consumo crônico de álcool.

Chronic alcohol consumption causes alterations in the lung tissues characterized by edema and formation of large inflammatory infiltrate. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of physical exercise on lung injuries caused by chronic alcohol intake in Wistar rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats (261.1 ± 1.3 g) received sugarcane distilled alcoholic beverage diluted (30 percent, v/v, alcohol group) or tap water (control group) for 120 days. After this period, five animals of each group were sacrificed. The remaining animals received water and were sorted in four groups: alcoholic and sedentary (AS), control and sedentary (CS), alcoholic and trained (AT) and control and trained (CT). The AT and CT groups were submitted to a swimming exercise protocol with progressive daily increase in the training time until 20 minutes per day, five times per week, for five weeks. For the same period, AS and CS groups were maintained at sedentary state. RESULTS: after the alcoholic intake period, the alcohol group presented decreased (P<0.05) body weight and increased relative lung weight (P<0.05). Lungs of alcoholic group showed characteristics of edema and inflammatory infiltrate. The CS and CT groups did not present morphological changes. AT animals showed increased inflammation and number of hyper pigmented macrophages in relation to CT group. CONCLUSION: exercise can increase lung inflammation when applied in animals with inflammatory injury induced by chronic alcohol consumption.

Hemocyte quantitative changes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae infected by AgMNPV

The initial effects of the infection by AgMNPV in the total and differential counts of the hemocytes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were studied. The total number of the hemocytes did not decrease in infected larvae, as it occurred in non infected larvae. In infected larvae, the hemocyte types showed the following frequencies: plasmatocytes - 47.8 percent, esferulocytes - 25.9 percent, granulocytes - 15.8 percent, oenocytoids - 7.2 percent, prohemocytes - 2.8 percent, vermicytes - 0,5 percent. Only the percentage of the granulocytes was different among infected and non infected larvae, indicating that these cells responded quickly to the initial viral infection. These results showed the effective role of the hemocytes in the response of the A. gemmatalis to the infection by AgMNPV. The comprehension of the immunological mechanisms of this insect is an important tool to understand its biological control.

Os efeitos iniciais da infecção por AgMNPV nas contagens total e diferencial dos hemócitos em Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) foram estudados. O número total de hemócitos não diminuiu nas larvas infectadas, como ocorreu nas larvas não infectadas. Nas larvas infectadas, os tipos de hemócitos apresentaram as seguintes freqüências: plasmatócitos - 47,8 por cento, esferulócitos - 25,9 por cento, granulócitos - 15,8 por cento, oenocitóides - 7,2 por cento, prohemócitos - 2,8 por cento, vermiformes - 0,5 por cento. Apenas a porcentagem de granulócitos foi diferente entre larvas infectadas e não infectadas, indicando que estas células responderam rapidamente à infecção viral inicial. Estes resultados mostraram o papel efetivo que dos hemócitos na resposta de A. gemmatalis à infecção por AgMNPV. A compreensão dos mecanismos imunológicos deste inseto é uma ferramenta importante para compreender seu controle biológico.