Chronic Exposure to Fluoride During Gestation and Lactation Increases Mandibular Bone Volume of Suckling Rats.

We aimed to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to NaF on mandibular bone microarchitecture and phosphocalcic plasma parameters of the offspring. For this purpose, 10-, 15-, and 21-day-old pups (n = 6-8 per group) from two groups of mothers, control and NaF 50mg/L treated dams, were used. Plasma calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were measured. Fluoride concentration (F-) in bone and in stomach content was measured using potentiometry after isothermal distillation. Morphometric, histological, and histomorphometric analyses of the jaw bones were performed. Plasma Ca and P levels and ALP activity increased in 10-day and decreased in 21-day-old pups from NaF-treated mothers. Fluoride concentration in stomach content samples of 15- and 21-day-old nursing pups from mothers exposed to NaF in their drinking water was higher compared to that observed in control dam offspring. Mandibular F- content was higher in 21-day-old pups born to F--exposed dams compared to those observed in age-matched control pups. Mandibular area increased in 21-day-old pups born to treated mothers as compared to controls. Mandibular bone volume BV/TV (%) was higher in offspring from NaF-exposed dams than in controls at all the studied times. The increase in bone volume after exposure to F- was concomitant with the increase in trabecular thickness and the decrease in trabecular separation. Altogether, our results showed that exposure to NaF during gestation and lactation increased mandibular area and bone volume of pups, with concomitant changes in phosphocalcic parameters associated with the bone modeling process.

Rat caltrin protein modulates the acrosomal exocytosis during sperm capacitation.

Caltrin is a small and basic protein of the seminal vesicle secretion that inhibits sperm calcium uptake. The influence of rat caltrin on sperm physiological processes related to fertilizing competence was studied by examining its effect on 1) spontaneous acrosomal exocytosis, 2) protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and 3) sperm-egg interaction. Results show that the presence of caltrin during in vitro capacitation both reduced the rate of spontaneous acrosomal exocytosis without altering the pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and enhanced the sperm ability to bind to the zona pellucida (ZP). The significantly higher proportion of sperm with intact acrosome observed in the presence of caltrin was accompanied by a strong inhibition in the acrosomal hyaluronidase release. Enhancement of sperm-ZP binding was evident by the increase in the percentage of eggs with bound spermatozoa as well as in the number of bound sperm per egg. Similar results were obtained when the assays were performed using spermatozoa preincubated with caltrin and then washed to remove the unbound protein, indicating that the sperm-bound caltrin was the one involved in both acrosomal exocytosis inhibition and sperm-ZP binding enhancement. Caltrin bound to the sperm head was partially released during the acrosomal exocytosis induced by Ca-ionophore A23187. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy studies revealed that caltrin molecules distributed on the dorsal sperm surface disappeared after ionophore exposure, whereas those on the ventral region remained in this localization after the treatment. The present data suggest that rat caltrin molecules bound to the sperm head during ejaculation prevent the occurrence of the spontaneous acrosomal exocytosis along the female reproductive tract. Consequently, more competent spermatozoa with intact and functional acrosome would be available in the oviduct to participate in fertilization.

The analysis of chromatin organisation allows selection of mouse antral oocytes competent for development to blastocyst.

Mouse antral oocytes can be classified in two different types termed SN or NSN oocytes, depending on the presence or absence, respectively, of a ring of Hoechst 33342-positive chromatin surrounding the nucleolus. The aim of the present study was to test the developmental competence to blastocyst of the two types of oocytes. Here we show that following isolation, classification and culture of cumulus-free antral oocytes, 14.7% and 74.5% of NSN and SN oocytes, respectively, reached the metaphase II stage. When fertilised and further cultured none of the metaphase II NSN oocytes developed beyond the 2-cell stage whilst 47.4% of the metaphase II SN oocytes reached the 4-cell stage and 18.4% developed to blastocyst. The findings reported in this paper may contribute to improved procedures of female gamete selection for in vitro fertilisation of humans and farm animals. Furthermore, the selection of oocytes with better developmental potential may be of interest for studies on nuclear/cytoplasm interaction, particularly in nuclear-transfer experiments.

Alteraciones en mucosa bucal y percepción de salud oral en adultos mayores portadores de prótesis / Oral mucosal alterations and oral health perception in older adults bearing dental prostheses

Actualmente, los problemas asociados al progresivo envejecimiento de la población son objeto de mayor atención, debido al aumento de las personas mayores, especialmente en las sociedades industrializadas. En el corto y el mediano plazo, estaremos frente a una población importante de adultos mayores; así, se tendrá que asumir la atención de este grupo poblacional. Estas personas pueden haber perdido piezas dentarias y la instalación de un aparato protésico constituye una solución para rehabilitar la función del sistema estomatognático. La terapia prostodóntica debe conservar la salud de los tejidos bucales y disminuir la resorción ósea. El descubrimiento y la prevención de las lesiones significará prolongar la esperanza y la calidad de vida de las personas de la tercera edad. La forma en que las personas perciben su salud bucal está relacionada con el bienestar; una boca saludable contribuye a que se sienta bien y ayuda a su satisfacción. Por ello, la percepción de salud bucal puede ser considerada como un factor predictor de la calidad de vida y se asocia a una variedad de indicadores de salud general y conductas saludables. Existen estudios que informan sobre la asociación entre la autopercepción de la salud bucal global con la autopercepción específica de limitaciones funcionales bucales. Los instrumentos para evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal, son sensibles para detectar la influencia de los tratamientos odontológicos en la percepción del paciente sobre su salud bucal, lo que podría ser útil para relacionar satisfacción y percepción del paciente en relación a su rehabilitación

Alteraciones en mucosa bucal y percepción de salud oral en adultos mayores portadores de prótesis / Oral mucosal alterations and oral health perception in older adults bearing dental prostheses

Actualmente, los problemas asociados al progresivo envejecimiento de la población son objeto de mayor atención, debido al aumento de las personas mayores, especialmente en las sociedades industrializadas. En el corto y el mediano plazo, estaremos frente a una población importante de adultos mayores; así, se tendrá que asumir la atención de este grupo poblacional. Estas personas pueden haber perdido piezas dentarias y la instalación de un aparato protésico constituye una solución para rehabilitar la función del sistema estomatognático. La terapia prostodóntica debe conservar la salud de los tejidos bucales y disminuir la resorción ósea. El descubrimiento y la prevención de las lesiones significará prolongar la esperanza y la calidad de vida de las personas de la tercera edad. La forma en que las personas perciben su salud bucal está relacionada con el bienestar; una boca saludable contribuye a que se sienta bien y ayuda a su satisfacción. Por ello, la percepción de salud bucal puede ser considerada como un factor predictor de la calidad de vida y se asocia a una variedad de indicadores de salud general y conductas saludables. Existen estudios que informan sobre la asociación entre la autopercepción de la salud bucal global con la autopercepción específica de limitaciones funcionales bucales. Los instrumentos para evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal, son sensibles para detectar la influencia de los tratamientos odontológicos en la percepción del paciente sobre su salud bucal, lo que podría ser útil para relacionar satisfacción y percepción del paciente en relación a su rehabilitación(AU)