Micropropagation of Calophyllum brasiliense (Cambess) from nodal segments / Micropropagação de Calophyllum brasiliense (Cambess) a partir de segmentos nodais

Abstract Micropropagation of Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae) is a way to overcome difficulties in achieving large-scale plant production, given the recalcitrant nature of the seeds, irregular fructification and absence of natural vegetative propagation of the species. Cultures were established using nodal segments 2 cm in length, obtained from 1-2 year old seedlings, maintained in a greenhouse. Mercury chloride and Plant Preservative Mixture™ were used in the surface sterilizing stage, better results being achieved with Plant Preservative Mixture™ incorporation in culture medium, at any concentration. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, activated charcoal, cysteine, ascorbic acid or citric acid were added to the culture medium to avoid oxidation. After 30 days of culture, polyvinylpirrolidone and ascorbic acid gave better results, eliminating oxidation in most explants. For shoot multiplication, benzylaminopurine was used in concentrations of 4.4 and 8.8 µM in Woody Plant Medium, resulting in an average of 4.43 and 4.68 shoots per explant, respectively, after 90 days. Indole-3-butyric acid and α-naphthalene acetic acid were used to induce root formation, reaching a maximum rooting rate of 24% with 20µM α-naphthalene acetic acid. For acclimatization. the rooted plants were transferred to Plantmax® substrate and cultured in a greenhouse, reaching 79% of survival after 30 days and 60% after one year.

Resumo A micropropagação de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae) é uma maneira de superar dificuldades para sua produção em larga escala, devido à natureza recalcitrante das sementes, frutificação irregular e ausência de propagação vegetativa natural da espécie. Culturas foram estabelecidas utilizando segmentos nodais com 2 cm de comprimento, obtidos de plantas com 1 a 2 anos de idade, mantidas em casa de vegetação. Cloreto de mercúrio e Plant Preservative Mixture™ foram utilizados durante a etapa de desinfestação, com melhores resultados alcançados com a incorporação de Plant Preservative Mixture™ ao meio de cultura. Polivinilpirrolidona, carvão ativado, cisteína, ácido ascórbico ou ácido cítrico foram adicionados ao meio de cultura para evitar a oxidação dos explantes. Após 30 dias de cultivo, o uso de polivinilpirrolidona ou ácido ascórbico proporcionou melhores resultados, eliminando a oxidação na maioria dos explantes. Para multiplicação das brotações, benzilaminopurina foi usada em concentrações de 4.4 e 8.8 µM em meio WPM, resultando em uma média de 4.43 e 4.68 brotações por explante, respectivamente, após 90 dias. Ácido indol-3-butírico e ácido α-naftaleno acético foram usados para a indução de raízes, alcançando um enraizamento máximo de 24% com o uso de 20µM de ácido α-naftaleno acético. As plantas enraizadas foram transferidas para substrato Plantmax® e cultivadas em casa de vegetação, alcançando 79% de sobrevivência após 30 dias e 60% após um ano.

Micropropagation of Calophyllum brasiliense (Cambess.) from nodal segments.

Micropropagation of Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae) is a way to overcome difficulties in achieving large-scale plant production, given the recalcitrant nature of the seeds, irregular fructification and absence of natural vegetative propagation of the species. Cultures were established using nodal segments 2 cm in length, obtained from 1-2 year old seedlings, maintained in a greenhouse. Mercury chloride and Plant Preservative Mixture™ were used in the surface sterilizing stage, better results being achieved with Plant Preservative Mixture™ incorporation in culture medium, at any concentration. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, activated charcoal, cysteine, ascorbic acid or citric acid were added to the culture medium to avoid oxidation. After 30 days of culture, polyvinylpirrolidone and ascorbic acid gave better results, eliminating oxidation in most explants. For shoot multiplication, benzylaminopurine was used in concentrations of 4.4 and 8.8 µM in Woody Plant Medium, resulting in an average of 4.43 and 4.68 shoots per explant, respectively, after 90 days. Indole-3-butyric acid and α-naphthalene acetic acid were used to induce root formation, reaching a maximum rooting rate of 24% with 20µM α-naphthalene acetic acid. For acclimatization. the rooted plants were transferred to Plantmax® substrate and cultured in a greenhouse, reaching 79% of survival after 30 days and 60% after one year.

Filamentous fungi vectored by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a public hospital in North-Eastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The increase in opportunistic fungal infections has led to the search for putative sources of contamination in hospital environments. AIM: Ants in a public hospital in Itabuna, north-eastern Brazil were examined for carriage of filamentous fungi. METHODS: During a year-long survey, ants from different hospital areas were sampled. Preference was given to locations where it was possible to observe ants actively foraging. The fungi found on the ants' integument were cultured and identified. FINDINGS: A total of 106 ant workers belonging to 12 species in 11 genera were collected. A total of 47 fungal strains was isolated from 40% of the ants (N = 42). We found 16 fungal species in 13 genera associated with the ant workers. The prevalent fungal genera were Aspergillus, Purpureocillium and Fusarium. The ants Tapinoma melanocephalum, Paratrechina longicornis and Pheidole megacephala were associated with six fungal genera; and four genera of fungi were associated with Solenopsis saevissima workers. Fungal diversity was higher in the following hospital areas: nursery, hospital beds, breastmilk bank and paediatrics. CONCLUSION: Ants act as carriers of soil and airborne fungal species, and ant control in hospital areas is necessary to prevent the dissemination of such micro-organisms.

Lithothamnium calcareum no tratamento de osteotomia experimental em coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) / Lithothamnium calcareum in the treatment of experimental osteotomy in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da suplementação com Lithothamnium calcareum na consolidação de osteotomia experimental em coelhos, por meio de exames radiográfico e histológico. Utilizaram-se 10 coelhos machos da raça Nova Zelândia, de quatro a cinco meses de idade, com massa corporal média de 2,5kg, os quais foram submetidos à osteotomia do terço médio da tíbia direita e à fixação interna com dois pinos intramedulares. Os coelhos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais (A e B) com cinco animais cada. O grupo A recebeu diariamente dieta contendo 0,75% de L. calcareum, e o grupo B constituiu o controle sem tratamento adicional à fixação da osteotomia. A evolução clínica ocorreu sem intercorrências. As radiografias foram realizadas antes do estudo e em intervalos de 15 dias até o final do experimento, e a histologia foi realizada aos 60 dias. As avaliações radiográficas permitiram acompanhar a evolução do processo de consolidação que ocorreu em todos os casos. Histologicamente, verificou-se consolidação completa em todos os animais do grupo B (controle) e em 75% do grupo A. Dos resultados pode-se concluir que, embora tenha ocorrido a consolidação clínica e a radiográfica aos 60 dias em todos os casos, histologicamente o grupo-controle (B) foi melhor, mostrando que o organismo sadio não necessita de estímulo para o processo de reparação óssea. Novas pesquisas devem ser realizadas para avaliar o efeito da suplementação mineral em animais portadores de deficiências nutricionais.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate Lithothamnium calcareum suplementation in the consolidation of experimental osteotomy in rabbits, through radiographic and histology examinations. Ten male New Zealand white rabbits, 4-5 months of age with an average body mass of 2.5kg, had surgically induced mid-tibial osteotomies, fixed with two intramedullary pins. The animals were randomly divided into two experimental groups (A and B). Group A received a diet containing 0.75% of L. calcareum, and group B served as control without further treatment of the osteotomy fixation. Radiographs were done every 15 days until the end of the experiment and histology was performed at day 60. Radiographs show consolidation in all cases. Histologically there was bone consolidation in all animals in group B (control), and 75% in group A. From the results we can conclude that, although there was clinical and radiographic bone consolidation in all cases after 60 days, the control group proved to be better histologically, showing that a healthy organism needs no aid to repair bone. Further research should be conducted to assess the effects of mineral supplementation on animals with nutritional deficiencies.

Actions of L-NAME and methylene blue on the hypotensive effects of clonidine and rilmenidine in the anesthetized rat.

The antihypertensive mechanism of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists, such as clonidine and rilmenidine, is not completely elucidated, although it is probably due to reduction of sympathetic tone mediated by stimulation of central alpha2-adrenoceptors. Because activation of alpha2-adrenoceptors on endothelial cells induces release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), we determined whether nitric oxide (NO) release is involved in the antihypertensive action of clonidine and rilmenidine. In chloralose-anesthetised Wistar rats, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressures were recorded on a polygraph. Intravenous injection of clonidine or rilmenidine (control group) caused a rapid increase of arterial blood pressure. followed by a long-lasting hypotensive effect. The hypotensive effects, estimated as the area enclosed by the decrease in diastolic pressure during the 20 min after clonidine and rilmenidine injections, were 574+/-60 and 410+/-59 mm Hg/min, respectively. The delta decrease in diastolic arterial blood pressure observed 20 min after intravenous injections of clonidine and rilmenidine was 48+/-5 and 34+/-3 mm Hg, respectively. Clonidine and rilmenidine injected 5-10 min after intravenous pretreatment with L-NAME (2 and 1 mg/kg) or methylene blue (10 mg/kg) induced hypotensive effects that were significantly smaller than that observed for the control group. These results suggest that the antihypertensive effects of clonidine and rilmenidine also may be modulated by the NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway at the level of the central nervous system and/or at the vascular peripheral circulation.