Chemotherapy-induced morphonuclear modifications were monitored in vivo by means of the digital cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. Two experimental models were used, i.e. the P388 mouse leukaemia and the MXT mouse mammary carcinoma. The drugs used were doxorubicin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide. The results indicate that the chemotherapy induced a significant decrease in the MXT tumour growth and a significant increase in the survival of the P388 leukaemic mice. These effects were accompanied at the morphonuclear level by an increase in the nuclear area, by modifications in the DNA content in accordance with the effects of the drugs on the cell cycle and by several modifications in the chromatin texture in accordance with the model or the drugs studied. While there were neither homogeneous morphonuclear changes in all treatment groups nor clearcut correlations between the morphonuclear changes and tumour growth or the survival of the animals, the present study nevertheless shows that it is possible, at least partly, to monitor in vivo certain chemotherapy-induced effects occurring at the morphonuclear level, and subsequently to obtain information on the mode of action of the drugs.
To investigate the effect of social isolation (SI) on spatial
memory in rats from two experimental paradigms: Morris Water Maze (WM) and Barnes Maze
(BM). Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: G1, G2, and
G3. G1 was maintained in the social condition (SC) from the beginning to the end of the
study (± 200 days). G2 was submitted to induced social isolation (SI) until the end of
the study, and G3, maintained in SI for 60 days, from its arrival and in a social
condition (SC) until the end of the research (± 200 days). The spatial memory was
evaluated at 90 and 200 days of life, using the BM and WM. Results: G1 shows better
performance in the A test in both Phase I (g1 - f1) and Phase II (g2 - f2). G2 in both
phases (g2 - f1; g2 - f2) was shown to be the group with the highest data dispersion,
thus constituting the group with the worst performance during WM and BM in both phases
(I and II). G3 (g3 - f1; g3 - f2) was constituted as an intermediate group in both tests
and in both phases. Regardless of the group or stage, the subjects had worse performance
in test B. Conclusion: Social isolation can generate negative impacts in terms of
training and recovery of long-term spatial memory. Keywords: Space Memory, Induced
Social Isolation, Recognition
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