The study investigated the gross and microscopic anatomy of the genital organs of 20 agoutis at different stages of the estrous cycle and four in the final trimester of pregnancy. Specimens were euthanized and their reproductive organs were fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde or 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution and submitted to routine histological techniques for light and scanning electron microscopy. In the ovary, during the proestrus phase, we observed developing follicles and corpus luteum (CL) in regression; during estrus, there were Graafian follicles; during metestrus, there was a hemorrhagic corpus, whereas in diestrus, there was a mature CL. The uterus was partially double because the cervix was cranially septate but caudally, the septum disappeared, forming a single ostium that opened into the vagina. Changes occurred along the estrous cycle in the uterine and vaginal epithelia, that is, an increase in the uterine epithelium height accompanied by an increase of thickness of the vaginal epithelium during the follicular phase and a decrease of thickness of both epithelia during the luteal phase. The endometrial lining was composed of a simple cuboidal epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with basal nuclei. The vaginal mucosa consisted of epithelium that varied from nonkeratinized stratified squamous (luteal phase) to keratinized stratified squamous (follicular phase). The clitoris was external to the vagina. It presented two protruding lateral keratinized spicules and a centralized urethra, with no common parts between the urinary and genital tracts. Anatomical and histological changes were observed mainly in the cervix, vagina and spicules of the clitoris during the EC.

No abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the honey bee Apis mellifera ethanolic extract of the red propolis, obtained in four municipalities of the Rio Grande do Norte semi-arid region, through an in vitro evaluation of the antineoplastic potential in human hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and normal cell lines (L929), and from the comet assay in hepatic cell lines (ZF-L hepatocytes) to evaluate the genoprotective potential of the extract. The hepatoprotective effect was also evaluated in vivo by the induction of chronic experimental hepatic lesions in rodents (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769), Wistar line, by intraperitoneal administration of thioacetamide (TAA) at the dose of 0.2g/kg. The animals were distributed in the following experimental groups: G1 (control), G2 (treated with 500mg/kg ethanolic extract of propolis), G3 (treated with 500mg/kg of ethanolic extract and TAA) and G4 (treated with TAA). All rats were submitted to serum biochemical, macroscopic, histological and stereological biochemical exams of the liver. It was verified the genoprotective effect of red propolis since the mean damages promoted to DNA in cells tested with the extract were significantly lower than the mean of the positive control damage (hydrogen peroxide). The red propolis extract did not present cytotoxic activity to the tumor cells of human liver cancer, as well as to normal ones. The absence of cytotoxicity in normal cells may indicate safety in the use of the propolis extract. The results of the serum biochemical evaluation showed that the serum levels of the aminotransferase enzymes (AST) did not differ significantly between G1, G2 and G3 when compared to each other. G4 showed significant increase in levels compared to the other groups, indicating that the administration of the extract did not cause liver toxicity, as well as exerted hepatoprotective effect against the hepatic damage induced by TAA. The G3 and G4 animals developed cirrhosis, but in G3 the livers were characterized by the presence of small regenerative nodules and level with the surface of the organ, whereas in G4 the livers showed large regenerative nodules. The livers of the G1 and G2 animals presented normal histological appearance, whereas the livers of the G3 animals showed regenerative nodules surrounded by thin septa of connective tissue, and in G4 the regenerative nodules were surrounded by thick septa fibrous connective tissue. The analysis of the hepatic tissues by means of stereology showed that there was no statistical difference between the percentage of hepatocytes, sinusoids, and collagens in G1 and G2. In G3 the percentage of hepatocytes, sinusoids, and collagen did not differ significantly from the other groups. It was concluded that the ethanolic extract of the red propolis exerted a hepatoprotective effect, because it promoted in vitro reduction of the damage to the DNA of liver cells, antineoplastic activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and did not exert cytotoxic effect in normal cells or was able to reduce liver enzyme activity and the severity of cirrhosis induced by TAA in vivo.

The red-rumped agouti, a small, wild rodent belonging to the Dasyproctidae family, has great zootechnical potential and adapts well to captivity. In order to contribute to the knowledge regarding the neuroanatomy of the species, the aim of this study was to describe the origin of the nerves forming the lumbosacral plexus by evaluating 12 animals (six males and six females) that had been used in previous experiments. Animals were fixed in a 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution and eviscerated after 72 hours. Major and minor psoas muscles were then retracted to expose the nerves forming the plexus, and the plexus was bleached via cotton soaked in 20-volume hydrogen peroxide for 12 hours for subsequent dissection. Topographical relations of the lumbosacral plexus were grouped into tables and arranged in terms of simple percentages. In seven cases (58.34%), the lumbosacral plexus in the red-rumped agouti stemmed from the ventral roots of the last four lumbar nerves and the first three sacral nerves (Type I: L 4 -S 3 ). In four animals (33.33%), the lumbosacral plexus stemmed from L 5 -S 3 (Type II), and in one case (8.33%) it stemmed from L 5 -S 4 (Type III). Together, our observations demonstrated that the lumbosacral plexus of the red-rumped agouti comprised the lateral femoral cutaneous, genitofemoral, femoral, obturator, sciatic, cranial gluteal, caudal gluteal, and pudendal nerves. Finally, the origin of the lumbosacral plexus and its constituent spinal nerves was similar to what has been described in other rodents, including the rock cavy, lowland paca, and Spix's yellow-toothed cavy. Key words: Anatomy. Dasyprocta leporine. Nerves. Nervous system. Rodent. ResumoA cutia é um roedor silvestre, de pequeno porte pertencente à família Dasyproctidae, com grande potencial zootécnico e que se adapta bem ao cativeiro. De forma a contribuir acerca da biologia da espécie, objetivou-se descrever a origem dos nervos que formam o plexo lombossacral. Foram utilizados 12 animais (6 machos e 6 fêmeas), provenientes de experimentos anteriores. Os animais foram fixados em solução aquosa de formaldeído a 10% e após 72 horas, eviscerados. Em seguida os músculos psoas maior e menor foram rebatidos, expondo-se os nervos que formavam o plexo. Sobre estes nervos foi colocado algodão embebido com peróxido de hidrogênio a 20 volumes, permanecendo por 12 horas seguidas para clareamento e consequente dissecação. As relações topográficas do plexo lombossacral agrupadas em tabelas em forma de porcentagem simples. O plexo lombossacral da cutia originou-se em sete casos (58,34%) a partir das raízes ventrais dos quatro últimos nervos lombares e três primeiros nervos sacrais (Tipo I -L 4 -S 3 ), em quatro animais (33,33%) a partir de L 5 -S 3 (Tipo II) e um caso (8,33%) a partir de L 5 -S 4 (Tipo III). Os nervos que participaram do plexo lombossacral da cutia foram: cutâneo femoral lateral, genitofemoral, femoral, obturatório, isquiático, glúteo cranial, glúteo caudal e nervo pudendo. A origem do plexo lombossacral e os nervos espinhais c...

Resumo Para o estudo foram utilizados 20 animais, que estavam em freezer no Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres (CEMAS/UFERSA). Os animais foram descongelados, a cavidade abdominal aberta e a aorta torácica canulada no sentido caudal para injeção de solução de látex Neoprene 650 corado de vermelho e, em seguida, fixados em solução de formaldeído a 10%, por um período mínimo de 48 horas, para que pudessem ser dissecados, fotografados e os resultados analisados. A artéria celíaca originou-se da aorta abdominal e emitiu as artérias gástrica esquerda, lienal e esplênica. A artéria gástrica esquerda emitiu de dois a três ramos à região da curvatura menor do estômago. A artéria lienal emitiu quatro ramos ao parênquima do baço, de seis a doze ramos pancreáticos e a artéria gastroepiplóica esquerda. A artéria hepática emitiu de um a dois ramos pancreáticos e bifurcou-se em um curto tronco formado pelas artérias gástrica direita e hepática própria e ainda na artéria gastroduodenal, que originava a pancreaticoduodenal cranial e gastroepiplóica direita. O comportamento de trifurcação da artéria celíaca do preá assemelha-se ao encontrado em roedores, como o nutria, a cutia, o hamster e os ratos, o que sugere que este seja o padrão para a ordem.

Detailed knowledge of the arterial system is an important prerequisite when interpreting experimental data in research, as well as in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease using imaging techniques such as Doppler echocardiography and contrast radiography. Thus, considering the importance of the aortic arrangement, the objective of this study was to describe the collateral arteries of the aortic arch of agoutis in order to establish the standard model, and therefore contribute to studies involving research related to heart disease, and produce information for a more accurate diagnosis in complementary imaging examinations. In this study, 14 adult animals were used, comprising eight males and six females. The vascular system was washed with 0.9% aqueous saline solution and perfused with Neoprene 450 latex coloured with yellow or red pigment, which was subsequently dissected and analysed. One male animal was used for the digital contrast radiography technique perfused with a liquid barium sulphate solution (Bariogel®) (1 g/ml) and Neoprene 450 latex, both diluted 1/3. The aortic arch of the agouti presented with only the brachiocephalic trunk as collateral branch in all the animals studied. Thus, agouti falls into type 1 for mammalian aortic arch vascular arrangements.

O mollissima de Jatropha(Pohl) O Baill é um arbusto autóctone nativo da vegetação da Caatinga, encontrado em grande parte da região semi-árida do Nordeste brasileiro, utilizado na cultura popular para fins terapêuticos. O látex de Jatropha e seus extratos foram avaliados quanto à composição química, identificando os principais metabólitos secundários e suas atividades farmacológicas utilizando métodos qualitativos e quantitativos. Sua toxicidade foi investigada através da dose tóxica aguda em ratos Wistar, sua ação antioxidante foi investigada de acordo com o método fotocolorimétrico do radical livre DPPH, e sua ação antibacteriana foi investigada através de concentração inibitória mínima e concentração bactericida mínima. Fenóis, taninos, flavonóides e saponinas foram detectados em látex e em outros extratos, exceto o extrato aquoso.Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans e Enterococcus faecalis) e cepas Gram-negativas ( Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium e Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) em várias diluições juntamente com o extrato hidroalcoólico. O látex de J. mollissima também apresentou baixa toxicidade aguda em ratos. Portanto, os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa corroboram o uso popular de J. mollissima e seu potencial terapêutico.

Animal models are essential to understand healthy human placentation. Guinea pig related rodents became on focus for such purposes. In particular, processes of trophoblast invasion are similar. The latter is associated with a specialized area, the subplacenta. Since previous results showed differences between the guinea pig and its close relative Galea spixii, we aimed to study subplacental development with more detail. We investigated 16 pregnant females of 14 to 55 days of gestation by means of histology, morphometrics, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The overlap between the fetomaternal blood systems resulted as intimate, suggesting some exchange processes. Proliferation was revealed by three independent methods, being most active in early and mid-gestation, which was in accordance to former results. Though degeneration of tissues took place, the subplacenta was maintained towards term with access to the fetal vascularization, supporting a hypothesis about the release of substances to the fetal unit in advanced gestation. In contrast to other species, the extraplacental trophoblast showed a shift from syncytial streamers to giant cells during mid-gestation. Views on placentation in caviomorphs were influenced by the guinea pig, but our data supported recent studies that the subplacenta had a much greater placidity. In regard to subplacental grow, degeneration and likely also exchange processes, Galea and other species showed a more basal pattern of caviomorphs than the guinea pig. Such differences should be considered, when choosing most adequate animal models for special purposes in comparison to human placentation.