Introduction: The present study aimed to establish the staining protocol for quantification of elastic fibers and muscle fibers in arterial vessels through the Verhoeff method adapted with eosin in Chelonia mydas. Materials and Methods: Aorta and pulmonary arteries of 11 individuals of the species Chelonia mydas were used. The fragments were fixed in formaldehyde solution buffered 10% for 24 hours, subjected to routine histological processing and staining technique to be adapted Verhoeff, take the photografies and analyzed by Image Pro Plus Software. Results: The combination of ferric hematoxylin Verhoeff use blushed black elastic arteries blades, already eosin stained muscle fibers and collagen, allowing the tissue quantification through distinction staining by software. Conclusion: The protocol is a low-cost alternative that facilitate the acquisition of morphometric data for research with turtles.

Objectives To evaluate the effects of the surface modification of 316L stainless steel (SS) by lowtemperature plasma nitriding on endothelial cells for stent applications. Results X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the incorporation of nitrogen into the treated steel. The surface treatment significantly increased SS roughness and hydrophilic characteristics. After 4 h the cells adhered to the nitride surfaces and formed clusters. During the 24 h incubation period, cell viability on the nitrided surface was higher compared to the polished surface. Nitriding reduced late apoptosis of rabbit aorta endothelial cell (RAEC) on the SS surface. Conclusion Low temperature plasma nitriding improved the biocompatible of stainless steel for use in stents.

A titanium surface nitrided by plasma contains nitrogen ions that guarantee resistance to corrosion and biocompatibility. Despite this, no descriptions concerning the influence of the expression of cell adhesion proteins and their influence on osteogenic cell differentiation are available. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the response of murine pre‐osteoblastic cells (MC3T3‐E1) cultured on nitrided titanium surfaces. Pre‐osteoblastic cells were grown on polished titanium discs, used as controls, and on previously characterized plasma‐nitrided titanium discs. Cells from both groups were submitted to the MTT cell viability test. The expressions of α5, α2, and β1 integrin were assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, while osteocalcin expression was assessed by flow cytometry. The nitrided surface presented higher α2 and β1 integrin expressions, as well as osteocalcin expression, when compared to the polished surface, with no alterations in cell viability. These findings seem to suggest that the plasma nitriding treatment produces a titanium surface with the potential for effective in vitro osseointegration.

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This study describes the implications of cardiac ventricular microscopy in Chelonia mydas relating to its ability to dive. For this work, 11 specimens of the marine turtle species C. mydas found dead on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte (Northeast Brazil) were used. After necropsy, fragments of the cardiac ventricular wall were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution for 24 h and then subjected to routine processing for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ventricle in this species is formed by the epicardium, myocardium and endocardium. The subepicardial layer consists of highly vascularised connective tissue that emits septa to reinforce the myocardium surface. There is an abundant and diffuse subepicardial nerve plexus shown by immunostaining technique. The thickness of the spongy myocardium and the nature of its trabeculae varied between the heart chambers. The endocardium shows no characteristic elements of the heart conduction system. The valves have a hyaline cartilage skeleton, coated by dense irregular connective tissues characterised by elastic fibres. These findings in the green turtle ventricular microscopy are related to hypoxia resistance during diving.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 33(Supl.1):32-38, dezembro 2013 32 RESUMO.-Objetivou-se caracterizar a morfologia das câ-maras cardíacas e das artérias aortas e pulmonares da espécie Chelonia mydas. Foram avaliados 11 espécimes de C. mydas mortas coletadas no litoral do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Os animais foram necropsiados para a obtenção do coração, fragmentos das artérias aorta e pulmonares direita e esquerda. Os vasos adquiridos foram fixados em formol e submetidos ao processamento histológico de rotina e coloração com Técnica de Verhoff modificada.Enquanto, do coração, os parâmetros largura, altura base--ápice e a circunferência ventricular foram mensurados por meio do paquímetro. Nessa espécie a microscopia das arté-rias pulmonares e artérias aortas variaram de acordo com o antímero. A maior espessura relativa do Cavum Venosum (CV) auxilia no bombeamento cardíaco durante o mergulho e sua menor espessura direita é uma vantagem para a dilatação ventricular durante a imersão profunda enquanto que a quantificação das lâminas elásticas e fibras musculares da túnica média das artérias aortas e pulmonares direita e esquerda comprovaram que a túnica média das aortas predomina o componente elástico vs. muscular, entretanto, nas artérias pulmonares o componente elástico não-predomina. Essa angioarquitetura pode estar relacionada com a capacidade de mergulho, favorecendo um maior aproveitamento do sangue oxigenado armazenado previamente durante o período de apneia. This study aimed to characterize the morphology of the heart chambers, pulmonary arteries and aortas of Chelonia mydas. Eleven specimens were evaluated from dead C. mydas collected on the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The animals were necropsied to obtain heart, aorta and fragments of the right and left pulmonary vessels. The vessels were fixed in formalin and subjected to histological processing and staining by a modified Verhoff technique. The parameters width, height and base-apex ventricular circumference of the heart were measured with a caliper. In the species the microscopy of pulmonary arteries and aorta varied according to the antimere. The largest relative thickness of Cavum venosum (CV) assists the cardiac output during diving, and its smaller thickness is advantageous for the right ventricular dilation during deep immersion, while the quantification of elastic and muscle fibers of the tunica media of aortas and right and left pulmonary arteries showed that the medial layer of aorta dominates the elastic vs. muscle fibers; however the elastic fibers are not dominating in the pulmonary arteries. The angioarchitecture may be related to the ability to swim, favoring better use of oxygenated blood previously stored during the period of apnea.

This study aimed to evaluate the morphological changes in microvascular density and corpus luteum (CL) vascularization in cows treated with eCG during stimulatory and superovulatory protocols. Sixteen cows were synchronized and divided into three groups: control (n = 6), stimulated (n = 4) and superovulated (n =6), one was submitted to estrous synchronization (ES) and received no eCG (control), and those that were submitted to ES and received eCG before or after follicular deviation (superovulation and stimulation of the dominant follicle, respectively). Ovulation was synchronized using a progesterone device-based protocol. After six days of ovulation, the cows were slaughtered and the ovaries and CL were collected. The CLs were processed and photomicrographs were taken under light microscopy to assess the vascular volume density (Vv) by stereology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to perform ultrastructural analysis of the microvasculature. The Vv in stimulated and superovulated cows significantly increased (P ≤ 0.0001) when compared to control, indicating that the eCG is able to induce angiogenic activity in bovine CL. However, no significant differences were observed between stimulated and superovulated cows. The SEM demonstrated ratings indicative of angiogenesis, marked by several button-shaped projections in the capillaries, and the presence of more dilated capillaries in CL treated with eCG. These morphological findings are evidence of an angiogenic effect of the eCG treatment in CL of cows.