Gene expression study related with the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in bladder cancer by real-time PCR technique.

We examined the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (XIAP and Bcl-2) and apoptotic genes (cytochrome c, caspase-9, Apaf-1) in tissue samples of patients with superficial bladder cancer. Thirty-two bladder cancer tissue samples (8 papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential, 10 low-grade, and 14 high-grade) and 8 normal bladder tissue samples from necropsy were used for the study of gene expression by real-time PCR analysis. Analysis of the expression of apoptotic gene constituents of an apoptosome demonstrated an increase in Apaf-1 expression in the three tumor grades when compared with the control (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01), low expression of caspase-9 in all groups (P < 0.05), and an increase in cytochrome c expression in all tumor grades in relation to the control, although without statistically significant difference. The expression of anti-apoptotic genes revealed an increase in XIAP expression in all tumor grades in relation to the control, although without statistically significant difference, and low expression of Bcl-2 in all tumor grades and the control (P < 0.05). The results proved that there is low evidence of apoptotic activity by the intrinsic pathway, demonstrated by the low expression of caspase-9 and considerable increase in XIAP expression, which may render these genes potential therapeutic targets in bladder cancer treatment.

Expression profile of endothelin receptors (ETA and ETB) and microRNAs-155 and -199 in the corpus cavernosum of rats submitted to chronic alcoholism and diabetes mellitus.

Recent evidence shows that chronic ethanol consumption increases endothelin (ET)-1 induced sustained contraction of trabecular smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa in corpus cavernosum of rats by a mechanism that involves increased expression of ETA and ETB receptors. Our goal was to evaluate the effects of alcohol and diabetes and their relationship to miRNA-155, miRNA-199 and endothelin receptors in the corpus cavernosum and blood of rats submitted to the experimental model of diabetes mellitus and chronic alcoholism. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (C), alcoholic (A), diabetic (D), and alcoholic-diabetic (AD). Samples of the corpus cavernosum were prepared to study the protein expression of endothelin receptors by immunohistochemistry and expression of miRNAs-155 and -199 in serum and the cavernous tissue. Immunostaining for endothelin receptors was markedly higher in the A, D, and AD groups than in the C group. Moreover, a significant hypoexpression of the miRNA-199 in the corpus cavernosum tissue from the AD group was observed, compared to the C group. When analyzing the microRNA profile in blood, a significant hypoexpression of miRNA-155 in the AD group was observed compared to the C group. The miRNA-199 analysis demonstrated significant hypoexpression in D and AD groups compared to the C group. Our findings in corpus cavernosum showed downregulated miRNA-155 and miRNA-199 levels associated with upregulated protein expression and unaltered mRNA expression of ET receptors suggesting decreased ET receptor turnover, which can contribute to erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats exposed to high alcohol levels.

Study of Wistar rats heart at different stages in the evolutionary cycle / Estudio del corazón de ratas Wistar en diferentes etapas del ciclo evolutivo

The rat is probably the most commonly used animal in scientific research. There are many benefits to its use such as: ability to work a large number of animals allowing greater statistical validity, the relatively short life cycles. However, the scant literature regarding the anatomy and morphology of these animals is also old and not very descriptive. The objective of this research is to study the macroscopic morphometric aspects of several parameters that have not been described yet regarding the heart of Wistar rats in different phases of their lives. Thirty-six adult male and female rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighting 150-770 g were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups. The heart was then carefully dissected and removed from the chest. After this process, the heart had their weight measured on a precision scale HELMAC HM100, and for each front section of the heart related measures were taken through a semi-automatic image analysis of Kontron Build Analyse (Minimop). The percentage ratio between the relative heart weight to body weight was between 0.5 and 0.7% in the animals with body weight up to 650 g. The maximum and minimum diameters were always statistically lower in females compared to males. The measurements showed the hearts of the females shorter, narrower, smaller and lighter than those of males. Over the life of these females, although the heart weight increases, the heart apparently keeps its shape and size. Furthermore, the hearts of males narrow and stretch along their development.

La rata es probablemente el animal más utilizado en investigaciones científicas. Hay muchos beneficios por su uso como la capacidad de trabajar con un gran número de animales permitiendo una mayor validez del punto de vista estadístico o el ciclo de vida relativamente corto del animal. Sin embargo, la escasa literatura sobre la anatomía y la morfología de la rata es antigua y no muy descriptiva. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estudiar parámetros morfométricos macroscópico no descritos con respecto al corazón de la rata Wistar en diferentes fases de la vida. Treinta y seis ratas (Rattus norvegicus) adultas, hembras y machos pesando entre 150­770 g, fueron divididas al azar en 6 grupos diferentes. El corazón fue cuidadosamente disecado y retirado del tórax. Cada corazón fue pesado en una balanza de precisión y para cada sección frontal del corazón fueron tomadas medidas relativas mediante un análisis de imágen semi-automático Kontron Build Analyse (Minimop). El porcentaje de proporción entre el peso relativo del corazón y el peso del cuerpo fue entre 0,5­0,7% en animales con peso corporal de hasta 650 g. Los diámetros máximos y mínimos fueron estadísticamente menores en hembras comparádolos con machos. Las medidas mostraron que los corazones en las hembras son más cortos, angostos, pequeños y livianos que en machos. Durante la vida de estas hembras, aunque el peso del corazón aumenta, aparentemente mantiene su forma y su tamaño. Por otro lado, los corazones de los machos se estiran y se estrechan durante su desarrollo.