Deposition of collagen III and alterations in basement membrane integrity as candidate prognostic markers in prostate cancer.

The extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor undergoes changes in its organization during the metastasis process. The present study aims to quantify total collagen, collagen I (Col I) and collagen III (Col III), analyze the alignment of collagen fibers and assess the basement membrane integrity in samples from patients with metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer. Tissue samples from 60 patients were classified into groups based on prognostic parameters: better prognosis (n=20), worse prognosis without metastasis (n=23) and metastatic (n=17). Picrosirius red with further analysis under polarizing microscope was used to quantify (with validation using immunohistochemistry) and analyze collagen alignment, and Periodic Acid Schiff staining was used to analyze the basement membrane integrity. The Col I/Col III ratio was found to be higher in the metastatic group than in the groups with better prognosis (p=0.012) and worse prognosis without metastasis (p=0.018). Basement membrane integrity constitution in malignant tumor tissue differed from that of adjacent non-tumor tissue (p<0.001). Moreover, the worsening in the tumor tissue integrity was positively correlated with worse prognostic parameters. All in all, absence of Col III and basement membrane integrity might be indicators of poor prognosis in prostate cancer.

Kinetics of acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii and histopathological changes in the duodenum of rats.

Toxoplasma gondii crosses the intestinal barrier to spread into the body. We investigate the intestinal wall and epithelial cells of the duodenum of rats infected with T. gondii during different time points of acute infection. Male Wistar rats, 60 days of age, were assigned into groups that were orally inoculated with 5000 sporulated oocysts T. gondii for 6 h (G6), 12 h (G12), 24 h (G24), 48 h (G48), 72 h (G72), 7 days (G7d), and 10 days (G10d). The control group (CG) received saline. The rats were killed and the duodenum was processed to obtain histological sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff, and Alcian blue (pH 2.5 and 1.0). Morphometry was performed on the layers of the intestinal wall and enterocytes, and the number of goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes was counted. The data were compared by ANOVA considering 5% as level of significance. The infection provoked an increase in the width of villi and crypts; decrease in enterocyte height; increase in the smaller-diameter and reduction in the larger-diameter of the enterocytes nuclei, increased number of goblet cells secreting neutral (G6, G12 and G7d) and acidic (G7d and G10d) mucus, and increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (G48). The infected groups showed atrophy of the submucosa and muscular layers and the total wall. Acute infection with T. gondii caused morphological changes in the intestinal wall and epithelial cells of the duodenum in rats.

Atrophy of myenteric neurons in the ileum of rats submitted to severe protein deficiency - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v34i2.6793 / Atrofia de neurônios do plexo mientérico do íleo de ratos submetidos à intensa carência de proteínas - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v34i2.6793

The effects of a 4%-protein diet in adult rats with respect to the morphometric aspects of the myenteric plexus in the ileum were assessed. Twenty animals were randomly divided into two groups: Control Group (n = 10), which received 26%-protein chow, and Experimental Group (n = 10), which received 4%-protein chow for 90 days. Neurons in the myenteric plexus in the ileum in whole mount were evidenced through Giemsa and NADH-diaphorase techniques. The overall neuronal population as well as the subpopulation positive for NADH diaphorase presented atrophy, with a reduction of the perikaryon, nucleus and cytoplasm.

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da oferta de uma dieta contendo 4% de proteínas para ratos adultos, quanto aos aspectos morfométricos do plexo mientérico do íleo. Vinte animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Controle (n = 10) que receberam ração comercial com 26% de proteína e Experimental (n = 10) alimentados com ração com teor proteico reduzido para 4%, durante 90 dias. Neurônios do plexo mientérico do íleo presentes em preparados totais foram evidenciados por intermédio da técnica de Giemsa e da NADH-diaforase. Tanto a população neuronal total, assim como a subpopulação NADH-diaforase positiva sofreram atrofia com redução da área do pericário, do núcleo e do citoplasma.

Hypertrophy of the neurons in the ileum of rats infected with cysts of Toxoplasma gondii (genotype II) - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.796 / Hypertrophy of the neurons in the ileum of rats infected with cysts of Toxoplasma gondii (genotype II) - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.796

This paper verified possible alterations caused by a genotype II Toxoplasma gondii strain with respect to the total number and morphometry of the myenteric neurons in the terminal ileum and descending colon of rats. Eight rats were divided into two groups: control (n = 4) and experimental (n = 4). This group was inoculated orally with 20 tissue cysts of T. gondii from a genotype II strain (ME-49). Whole mounted from the terminal ileum and the descending colon were stained with Giemsa. There was not any neuronal loss on both organs. The neurons became hypertrophied in the terminal ileum, whereas morphometric alterations were not observed for the neurons in the descending colon.

This paper verified possible alterations caused by a genotype II Toxoplasma gondii strain with respect to the total number and morphometry of the myenteric neurons in the terminal ileum and descending colon of rats. Eight rats were divided into two groups: control (n = 4) and experimental (n = 4). This group was inoculated orally with 20 tissue cysts of T. gondii from a genotype II strain (ME-49). Whole mounted from the terminal ileum and the descending colon were stained with Giemsa. There was not any neuronal loss on both organs. The neurons became hypertrophied in the terminal ileum, whereas morphometric alterations were not observed for the neurons in the descending colon.