Does treatment with dutasteride or finasteride has impact on renal morphology? Experimental study

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate whether renal modifications occur following treatment with dutasteride or finasteride. Methods: Twenty-four male rats were divided into three groups: control (that received distilled water), dutasteride (0.5 mg/kg/day), and finasteride (5 mg/kg/day) groups. All administrations were given by gavage for 40 consecutive days. After inducing euthanasia, blood was collected for urea and creatinine analyses, and both the kidneys were collected for stereological analyses of kidney morphology. Results: Serum urea and creatinine levels were increased in both the finasteride and the dutasteride groups compared with those in the control group. In addition, kidney weight, kidney volume, cortical volume, glomerular volumetric density, and mean glomerular volume were reduced in both treatment groups. Finally, the number of glomeruli per kidney was reduced by 26.8% in the finasteride group and by 51.6% in the dutasteride group compared with that in the control group. Conclusions: The 5-ARIs finasteride and dutasteride promoted morphological and functional damages in rat kidneys. In addition, rats in the dutasteride group showed more severe renal modifications than those in the finasteride group.

Different sample preparation methods for glomerular morphological evaluation: to coat or not to coat? / Diferentes métodos de preparación de muestras para la evaluación morfológica glomerular ¿recubrir o no recubrir?

The renal glomerulus is coated by fenestrated endothelial cells and externally covered by specialized epithelial cells, known as podocytes. Scanning electron microscopy becomes an important and effective tool for its studies. Normally, samples destined for scanning microscopy are covered with a thin metallic layer. However, this step can be dispensed for some analyzes. We aimed to compare coated and uncoated samples for evaluation of the glomerular morphology of the Wistar rat kidney. Cortical region of the kidney of the 5month-old male Wistar rats were used. The fragments followed the routine procedure for scanning electron microscopy processing. Half of 10 fragments were coated with palladium gold and the remaining were not coated. Auriga Compact FIB - SEM scanning electron microscope was used to observe the samples. Different increases and voltages was evaluated. For the uncoated samples, when using voltages of 2 KV (or higher) a great charging was observed, impairing the use of such voltage. Thus, these samples were always observed under voltage of 0.5 KV. On the other hand, in the coated samples, the use of 2 KV was adequate. Almost as a consequence, in the coated samples, the podocyte structures were better characterized, generating better images. Inversely, in the uncoated samples, it was possible to visualize the desired structures and to detect the morphological characteristics of these. The results showed that it is possible to use kidney samples without previous coating to evaluate the glomerular morphology at the ultrastructural level, serving as a tool in the study of pathologies.

El glomérulo renal está recubierto por células endoteliales fenestradas y cubierto externamente por células epiteliales especializadas, conocidas como podocitos. La microscopía electrónica de barrido se convierte en una herramienta importante y efectiva para sus estudios. Normalmente, las muestras destinadas a microscopía de barrido se cubren con una capa metálica delgada. Sin embargo, este paso se puede dispensar para algunos análisis. El objetivo fue comparar muestras recubiertas y no recubiertas para evaluar la morfología glomerular del riñón de rata Wistar. Se utilizó la región cortical del riñón de ratas Wistar macho de 5 meses de edad. Se realizó el procedimiento de rutina para el procesamiento de microscopía electrónica de barrido. La mitad de 10 fragmentos se recubrieron con oro paladio y los restantes no se recubrieron. Se utilizó un microscopio electrónico de barrido SEM Auriga Compact FIB para observar las muestras. Se evaluaron diferentes aumentos y voltajes. Para las muestras no recubiertas, al usar voltajes de 2 KV (o más) se observó una gran carga, impidiendo el uso de dicho voltaje. Por lo tanto, estas muestras siempre se observaron a bajo voltaje de 0,5 KV. Por otro lado, en las muestras recubiertas, el uso de 2 KV fue adecuado. Como consecuencia, en las muestras recubiertas, las estructuras de los podocitos se caracterizaron mejor, generando mejores imágenes. Inversamente, en las muestras no recubiertas, fue posible visualizar las estructuras deseadas y detectar las características morfológicas de éstas. Los resultados mostraron que es posible utilizar muestras de riñón sin recubrimiento previo para evaluar la morfología glomerular a nivel ultraestructural, que sirve como una herramienta en el estudio de patologías.

Effect of a high-fat diet on the rat bladder wall and bioactive action of Brazil nut oil

ABSTRACT High-fat diet-induced obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. The Brazil nut has bioactive substances and has been used to control the damage caused by obesity in several organs. The work intended to show the damage caused by high-fat diet in the bladder wall and if the Brazil nut oil added to the diet could ameliorate or reverse this effect. Sixty-day-old rats were divided into two groups: C (control, n = 30) and HF (high-fat, n = 30) diets. At 90 days, 10 animals of each group were sacrificed. The others were divided into 4 groups: C and HF (animals that maintained their previous diet, n = 10 for each group) and C / Bno and HF / Bno (animals whose control or high-fat diet was supplemented by Brazil nut oil, n = 10 for each group). Sacrifice occurred at 120 days, and the bladders were removed and analyzed. Epithelial height was increased in the HF compared to the C group. In contrast, the C / Bno had a lower epithelial height compared to the others. The percentage of collagen between the detrusor muscle fibers was significantly greater in C / Bno, HF and HF / Bno than in control group. The HF had a larger muscle fiber diameter than the C group, while the C / Bno presented lower values than the HF and HF / Bno groups. HF diets induced bladder wall damage. These changes in the rat's bladder wall were partially reversed by the Bno.

Scientific leaders for the future: primary and secondary education / Preparando lideranças científicas para o futuro: ensino médio e fundamental

Objective: To present a high school insertion pilot project in post graduate programs (PPG) and discuss the mechanisms for the formation of leaders in science. Methods: This study presents a review and pilot project. Bibliographic search occurred in sites of CAPES, MEC, SciELO and library of virtual books from January/ 2014 to February/2015. The pilot is in PPG-Medicine III Translational Surgery/UNIFESP and Pathophysiology and Surgical Sciences / UERJ. The junior undergraduate students (ICj) came from public school and develop scientific activities: scientific meetings, graduation and inclusion in research projects. The evaluation will occur at the end of one year, with the results essays, reports and participation in scientific events. Results: In Brazil, one of the main challenges of education is the high average years of study. The PNPG (2011-2020) shows the insertion of basic education in all PPG. In the Pathophysiology and Surgical Sciences/UERJ there are currently 11 high school students who have followed the scientific meetings and are being prepared for the inclusion in research projects. There was 30% of absence, owing to the high school hours. This result and the experience allow creating future alternatives to enhance the integration project. Conclusion: The leadership in science is formed from a complex relationship between basic education and investment in research. PPG-Medicine III courses follow the vanguard with initiatives focused on scientific and technological development. Thus, projects involving basic education students represent promoter model and environment leaders.

Objetivo: Apresentar um projeto piloto de inserção do ensino médio em programas de pós-graduação (PPG) e discutir os mecanismos para a formação de líderes em ciência. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo de revisão e apresentação de piloto. A busca bibliográfica ocorreu nos sites da CAPES, MEC, Scielo e biblioteca de livros virtuais, de janeiro/2014 a fevereiro/2015. O piloto ocorre nos PPG-Medicina III em Cirurgia Translacional/UNIFESP e Fisiopatologia e Ciências Cirúrgicas/UERJ. Os alunos de iniciação científica júnior (ICj) são oriundos de escola pública e desenvolvem atividades científicas: participação em reuniões científicas, graduação e inserção nos projetos de pesquisa. A avaliação ocorrerá ao final de um ano, com redações dos resultados, relatórios e participações em eventos científicos. Resultados: No Brasil, um dos principais desafios da educação é a alta média de anos de estudo. O PNPG (2011-2020) apresenta a inserção da educação básica em todos os PPG. Na Fisiopatologia e Ciências Cirúrgicas/UERJ há atualmente 11 alunos do ensino médio, que já acompanharam as reuniões científicas e preparam-se para a inserção em projetos de pesquisa. Houve 30% de desistência, devido à alta carga horária escolar. Esse resultado e a experiência vivenciada permite criar alternativas futuras para aprimorar o projeto de inserção. Conclusão: A liderança em ciências é formada a partir de uma complexa relação entre educação básica e investimentos na pesquisa. Cursos de PPG-Medicina III seguem na vanguarda com iniciativas focadas no desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico. Assim, projetos envolvendo alunos da educação básica representam modelo e ambiente promotor de líderes.

Lard and/or canola oil-rich diets induce penile morphological alterations in a rat model

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of dietary lipid quantity and/or quality on penis morphology in adult rats. METHODS: Thirty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: normal lipid diet (NL), high-fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids (HF-S), high-fat diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (HF-P), and high-fat diet rich in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (HF-SP). Blood samples were collected and the penises were removed for histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: All high-fat diets promoted an increase in the body mass (p<0.0001). The HF-S and HF-SP groups presented hyperglycemia (p=0.0060), hyperinsulinemia (p=0.0030), and hypercholesterolemia (p=0.0020). Concerning the penis, the high-fat diets led to an increase in the collagen fibers (p<0.0001) and smooth muscle cell density area (p=0.0027), and a decline in the sinusoidal space density area (p<0.0001) and corpus cavernosum cell proliferation (p=0.0003). CONCLUSION: Diets rich in saturated and/or polyunsaturated fatty acids promoted overweight and induced penile changes in rodent models, which may lead to the development of erectile dysfunction. .

Age-dependent expression of Pten and Smad4 genes in the urogenital system of Wistar rats

PURPOSE: To analyze Pten and Smad4 gene expression in the urogenital system of Wistar rats in differents ages. METHODS: Pten and Smad4 mRNA expression was assessed in the bladder, ventral prostate, testis, ovaries, and uterus by real-time PCR. Statistical analysis using the ANOVA (p<0.05). RESULTS: Pten levels showed a progressive age-dependent increase in the bladder (male and female) and prostate and were elevated in the ovaries of the middle-aged. In the uterus, no statistically significant differences were observed; in the testis, increased and decreased levels were seen in young adult and middle-aged rats, respectively. Smad4 expression was downregulated in the ovaries of the pubertal group but increased in the middle age group. In the uterus, Smad4 expression in the oldest group was higher than the others groups. In the testis, Smad4 expression steadily declined with age; in the prostate, it was higher in middle-aged rats than in younger rats. A similar trend was observed in the bladder of male and female middle-aged rats, compared with the pubertal group. CONCLUSION: The changes in phosphatase tensin homologue and Smad4 mRNA expression in Wistar rats appear to be associated with hormonal modifications in puberty and may be related to early follicular and testicular development. .

Dieta hiperlipídica materna e pós-natal promove remodelamento adverso do fígado, pâncreas e tecido adiposo na prole / Maternal and postnatal high-fat diet and promotes adverse remodeling of the liver, pancreas and adipose tissue in offspring

A dieta hiperlipídica (high-fat, HF) materna durante a gestação e/ou lactação aumenta a susceptibilidade da prole para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas na fase adulta. Verificar a hipótese que a ingestão materna de dieta HF nos períodos críticos de desenvolvimento (gestação e/ou lactação) predispõe à doença não alcoólica do fígado gorduroso e alterações pancreáticas e no tecido adiposo de camundongos machos adultos. Camundongos C57BL/6 fêmeas receberam durante a gestação e/ou lactação dieta padrão (standard chow, SC) ou HF. Filhotes machos foram divididos em cinco grupos: SC - provenientes de mães SC; G - provenientes de mães HF durante a gestação; L - provenientes de mães HF durante a lactação; GL/HF - provenientes de mães HF durante a gestação/lactação, mantendo a mesma dieta HF no período pós-natal (do desmame aos 3 meses de idade); GL - provenientes de mães HF durante a gestação/lactação trocando a dieta para SC no período pós-natal (do desmame aos 3 meses de idade). Foi analisada ao longo do experimento a massa corporal da prole. No sacrifício (3 meses), o fígado, o pâncreas e a gordura epididimária foram removidos, pesados e processados e o sangue foi coletado para análise bioquímica. Ao nascimento e ao desmame, filhotes GL/HF foram mais pesados (+6% e +44%, p<0,05, respectivamente) que os filhotes SC. Os filhotes G apresentaram resistência à insulina e menor expressão do transportador de glicose no fígado (GLUT-2). A esteatose hepática foi observada nos grupos G, L, GL e principalmente nos filhotes do grupo GL/HF. A expressão hepática da proteína ligante de elementos regulatórios de esteróis (SREBP-1c) estava aumentada nos filhotes G, GL e GL/HF. Os filhotes G, GL e GL/HF apresentaram hipertrofia da ilhota pancreática e dos adipócitos quando comparados com o grupo SC. O consumo de dieta HF durante a gestação mostra-se ser o período mais prejudicial para os filhotes adultos de camundongos. A programação metabólica por dieta HF ...

Maternal high-fat diet (HF) during gestation and/or lactation period increases the susceptibility to development of chronic disease in offspring adult life. This work aimed to verify the hypothesis that maternal intake of high-fat diet in critical periods of pregnancy and/or suckling period predisposes to non alcoholic fatty liver disease, pancreatic and adipose tissue alterations in adulthood mice offspring. C57BL/6 female mice were fed, during gestation and/or lactation phases, with standard chow (SC) of HF diet. Male pups were divided into 5 groups: SC - from SC fed dam; G - from HF fed dam during gestation period; L - from HF fed dam during lactation period; GL - from HF fed dam during gestation and lactation periods and GL/HF - from HF fed dam during gestation and lactation, maintaining HF diet from post-weaning to adulthood. We analyzed body mass in all experiment, and at the euthanasia (3 mo-old), liver, pancreas and adipose tissue were removed, weighted and embedded. Blood was collected to biochemical analyses. At birth and at weaning, GL/HF pups were heavier than SC pups (+6% and +44%, p<0.05, respectively). G offspring showed insulin resistance and lower glucose transporter-2 expression (GLUT-2). Hepatic steatosis was present in G, L, GL and mainly in GL/HF offspring. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression was higher in G, GL and GL/HF offspring. It is important to mention that pancreatic islet hyperthophy and adipocyte hypertrophy were affected in G, GL and GL/HF offspring in comparison to SC. HF diet administration during gestation period is worse than lactation period. Furthermore, this type of programming by HF predisposes to adverse remodeling in liver, pancreas and adipose tissue in adult mice offspring

Influência do aquecimento sobre as propriedade físico-químicas de óleos comestíveis / Influence of the heating about physical chemical properties

Os lipídios são moléculas orgânicas compostas de carbono, hidrogênio e oxigênio. Algumas classes de lipídios podem conter em sua molécula fósforo, nitrogênio e enxofre. Na nutrição humana, os óleos apresentam uma importância significante, uma vez que são ricos em ácidos graxos insaturados e conseqüentemente pobres em ácidos graxos saturados. A qualidade físico-química dos óleos pode ser alterada quando estes são submetidos ao processo de aquecimento. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar as alterações promovidas pela fritura e reutilização de óleos comestíveis. As amostras utilizadas foram: óleo de canola, óleo de soja, óleo de milho e óleo de girassol. As análises realizadas foram: índices de acidez, índice de refração, densidade e reação de kreiss. Para fins estatísticos foram aplicados o teste t de student e o teste Q de Dixon. Percebeu-se que no processo de fritura as alterações físicas e químicas de óleos levam à formação de compostos que podem trazer implicações nutricionais. O óleo de canola, apesar de conter um alto teor de gordura monoinsaturada, demonstrou-se como sendo o único a apresentar rancificação hidrolítica quando reutilizado em processo de frituração. Percebe-se variações no grau de insaturação em todos os óleos, sendo que em alguns, como soja e girassol, as quebras das duplas ligações foram mais proeminentes. Logo, a necessidade de avaliar a concentração de substâncias e também o grau de comprometimento nutricional e metabólico que as mesmas podem induzir se faz primordial, assim como monitorar adequadamente a qualidade dos óleos, alertando sempre à população a não reutilizá-los.

Avaliação dos teores totais de cobre e zinco de frutas oleaginosas / Evaluation of the gross of copper and zinc of fruits oleaginosas

Na nutrição humana, as frutas oleaginosas apresentam uma importância significante, por serem ricas em ácidos graxos insaturados e fontes de proteína vegetal, fibras dietética e mineral. O cobre e o zinco são elementos traços considerados essenciais ao organismo homano. Amostras de frutas oleaginosas foram analisadas quanto aos teores totais de cobre e zinco através da espectroscopia de absorção atômica em chama. Para fins estatísticos, foram aplicados os testes de Grubbs e t de Student. Os resultados mostraram que os teores dos metais encontrados nas amostras foram em média de 1,10 mg por cento para o cobre e 2,48 mg por cento para o zinco, merecendo destaque a castanha do caju e o amendoim, que podem ser considerados fontes de cobre. Observa-se ainda que para a maioria das amostras é mantida uma relação quanto aos teores de cobre e zinco de 1:2, o que provavelmente minimiza o antagonismo entre eles. Acredita-se ser importante considerar os dados obtidos na elaboração de uma dieta no que diz respeito aos teores de cobre e zinco.