Caracterização da produtividade do funcho (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ) no sertão de Sergipe / Characterization of the of fennel's (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ) yield semi-arid areas of Sergipe state

Com o objetivo de avaliar a produtividade e qualidade do funcho (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) produzido nas condições edafoclimáticas de Sergipe, foi conduzido cultivo orgânico de funcho em Frei Paulo-SE. Em junho de 2008 e de 2009, início do período de chuvas, foram instalados plantios por meio de mudas. Adicionalmente, em dezembro de 2010 foi realizada colheita de frutos a partir de plantas obtidas após poda drástica e rebrota. Foi realizada colheita de frutos e determinação da produtividade de dezembro a janeiro de 2008, 2009 e em dezembro de 2010. Verificou-se produtividade de 720 Kg.ha-1, no primeiro plantio e de 349 Kg.ha-1 no plantio de 2009. As plantas obtidas por rebrota em 2010 resultaram em produtividade de 589 Kg.ha-1. Sugere-se que a maior produtividade verificada no primeiro ano seja decorrente da maior precipitação média e conseqüente maior disponibilidade de água. A produtividade verificada nas plantas que rebrotaram em 2010 foi também superior a verificada em 2009, o que pode ser explicado tanto em função da maior precipitação, quanto em função do provável maior desenvolvimento das raízes e maior número de ramos após poda, devido à quebra da dominância apical. Esses dados sugerem importância da disponibilidade hídrica na determinação da produtividade na região e explicam a variação na produtividade verificada. A massa seca dos frutos (5, 29 g para 1000 frutos) e o alto teor de óleo essencial verificado (3,2 por cento), assim como a composição do óleo, revelam a alta qualidade dos frutos produzidos na região.

Aiming to evaluate the productivity and quality of fennel fruits produced in the countryside of Sergipe, with no irrigation, they were evaluated organic crops in Frei Paulo-SE. They were installed crops in 2008 and 2009 from seeds, on beginning rainy time. Seedlings obtained from seeds were transplanted in June 2008 and 2009. Besides, after the last harvest of the plants, grown in 2009, it was done a drastic pruning on plants, on May, 2010. The plants were held on the area until their fruits harvest, on december and January of 2008, 2009 and December 2010. The fennel fruits yield was 720 Kg ha -1 in the first crop (2008) and 349 Kg ha -1 at following crop (2009), while the fruits yield obtained from pruned plants was 589 Kg.ha-1. It is suggested that the higher yield at the first year has been due to the higher average rainfall and its greater availability of water. The observed yield in sprouted plants was higher (at 2010) than fennel yield of 2009. It can be explained as a function of precipitation, likely as a function of greater root development and increased number of branches and umbels after pruning and breaking of apical. These results reveal water availability importance to fennel yield. The dried mass of fruits (5.29 g to 1000 fruits), high content of essential oil in fruits (3.2 percent) and the essential oil composition reveal good quality of fennel fruits of Sergipe.

Hepatic capillariasis in rats: a new model for testing antifibrotic drugs

Rats infected with the helminth Capillaria hepatica regularly develop septal hepatic fibrosis that may progress to cirrhosis in a relatively short time. Because of such characteristics, this experimental model was selected for testing drugs exhibiting antifibrosis potential, such as pentoxifylline, gadolinium chloride and vitamin A. Hepatic fibrosis was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in liver samples obtained by partial hepatectomy and at autopsy. The material was submitted to histological, biochemical and morphometric methods. A statistically significant reduction of fibrosis was obtained with pentoxifylline when administered intraperitoneally rather than intravenously. Gadolinium chloride showed moderate activity when administered prophylactically (before fibrosis had started), but showed a poor effect when fibrosis was well advanced. No modification of fibrosis was seen after vitamin A administration. Hydroxyproline content was correlated with morphometric measurements. The model appears to be adequate, since few animals die of the infection, fibrosis develops regularly in all animals, and the effects of different antifibrotic drugs and administration protocols can be easily detected

Opiatergic participation in the thirst-inhibiting effect of acute third ventricle injections of cadmium (Cd 2+ ) and lead (Pb 2+ )

We have previously demonstrated that acute third ventricle injections of both lead and cadmium prevent the dipsogenic response elicited by dehydration or by central injections of dipsogenic agents such as angiotensin II, carbachol and isoproterenol in rats. We have also shown that the antidipsogenic action of cadmium may be due, at least in part, to activation of thirst-inhibitory central serotonergic pathways. In the present paper we show that in Wistar male rats the antidipsogenic effect of both lead acetate (3.0 nmol/rat) and cadmium chloride (3.0 nmol/rat) may be partially dependent on the activation of brain opiatergic pathways since central injections of naloxone (82.5 nmol/rat), a non-selective opioid antagonist, blunt the thirst-inhibiting effect of these metals. One hundred and twenty minutes after the second third ventricle injections, dehydrated animals (14 h overnight) receiving saline + sodium acetate displayed a high water intake (7.90 ñ 0.47 ml/100 g body weight) whereas animals receiving saline + lead acetate drank 3.24 ñ 0.47 ml/100 g body weight. Animals receiving naloxone + lead acetate drank 6.94 ñ 0.60 ml/100 g body weight. Animals receiving saline + saline drank 8.16 ñ 0.66 ml/100 g body weight whilst animals receiving saline + cadmium chloride drank 1.63 ñ 0.37 ml/100 g body weight. Animals receiving naloxone + cadmium chloride drank 8.01 ñ 0.94 ml/100 g body weight. It is suggested that acute third ventricle injections of both lead and cadmium exert their antidipsogenic effect by activating thirst-inhibiting opioid pathways in the brain

Lead (Pb+) and cadmium (Cd2+) inhibit the dipsogenic action of central beta-adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol

We have previously demonstrated that acute third ventricle injections of both Pb2+ and Cd2+ impair the dipsogenic response elicited by three different situations: dehydration and central cholinergic or angiotensinergic stimulation. beta-Adrenergic activation is part of the multifactorial integrated systems operating in drinking behavior control in the central nervous system. In the present study acute third ventricle injections of Pb2+ (3,30 and 300 pmol/rat) or Cd2+ (0.3, 3 and 30 pmol/rat) blocked the dipsogenic response induced by third ventricle injections of isoproterenol (ISO; 160 nmol/rat) in a dose-dependent manner. Normohydrated animals receiving ISO + NaAc (sodium acetate) or saline (controls) displayed a high water intake after 120 min (ISO + saline = 5.78 ñ O.54 ml/lOO g; ISO + NaAc = 6.00 ñ O.6 ml/lOO g). After the same period,animals receiving ISO but pretreated with PbAc at the highest dose employed (300 pmol/rat) drank O.78 ñ O.23 ml/lOO g while those receiving ISO and pretreated with the highest dose of CdCl(2)(30 pmol/rat) presented a water intake of O.7 ñ O.30 ml/lOO g. Third ventricle injections of CdCl(2) (3 nmol/rat) or PbAc (3 nmol/rat) did not modify food intake in rats deprived of food for 24 h. Thus, general central nervous system depression explaining the antidipsogenic action of the metals can be safely excluded. It is concluded that both Pb2+ and Cd2+ inhibit water intake induced by central beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Calcium channel blockers inhibit the antidipsogenic effect of central injections of zinc in rats

Previous data from our laboratory have indicated that acute third ventricle injections of Zn2+ elicit a significant antidipsogenic response in rats in three different situations: dehydration, and central angiotensinergic or cholinergic stimulation. In the present study we analyzed whether this response depends on voltage-dependent calcium channels. Dehydrated (l4 h of water deprivation, overnight) animals received 2-mul icv injections of zinc acetate (Zn(AC)2; 300 pmol/rat) after pretreatment with the voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers gadolinium (Gd3+;0.03, 3.0 and 30 pmol/rat) or verapamil (VER; 0.027, 0.05 and 0.11 pmol/rat). Both blockers reversed the antidipsogenic effect of third ventricle injections of Zn2+ in a dose-dependent manner. After 120 min, animals pretreated with saline receiving Zn(AC)2 drank 3.10 ñ 0.57 ml/100 g body weight while those pretreated with GD3+ at the highest dose displayed a water intake of 5.45 ñ O.41 ml/l00 g body weight (P<0.01). Animals pretreated with the vehicle of VER receiving Zn(AC)2 drank 3.15 ñ 0.45 ml/l00 g while animals pretreated with VER at the highest dose receiving Zn(AC)2 drank 6.16 ñ 0.62 ml/l00 g (P<0.01). The antidipsogenic effect of Zn(AC)2 seems to be specific since the metal (same dose and injection procedures) did not modify food intake in rats after 24 h of food deprivation. It is suggested that Zn2+ exerts its antidipsogenic effect by activation of mechanism(s) depending on the functional integrity of voltage-dependent calcium channels.

SDZ 216-525, a selective 5-Ht1A receptor antagonist, reverts zinc-induced inhibition of water intake in dehydrate rats

Zinc is found in many brain regions where it participates in important processes such as neurotransmission and neuromodulation. We previously demonstrated that acute third ventricle injection of zinc inhibits wather intake in dehydrated rats. The present study was undertaken to explore a possible link between zinc-induced inhibition of water intake in dehidrated rats and seotonergic systems in the brain. Adult, male Wistar rats had the third ventricle cannulated a week before the experiments. After an overnight period of water deprivation, the animals (N=12 per group) received acute intracerebroventricular injections (2µl) of Zn(Ac)2 (6.7, 67.1 and 67.6 ng/rat). Control animals (N = 12) receives NaAc (671.6 ng/rat). Zinc-treated animals displayed a significant after 120 min was 7.70 ñ 0.50 ml in control (NaAc-treated) dehydrated rats while animals treated with the highest dose of Zn(AC)2 drank 2.63 ñ 0.73 ml. Third ventricle injections of SDZ 216-525, a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 45 min before zinc administration, generated a dose-dependent reversal of zinc-induced thirst blockade in water-deprived rats. At the highest dose used (10µg/rat), the water intake of the animal after 120 min was 7.30 ñ 0.23 ml, a value equal to that of control animals. These data suggest that zinc may decrease water intake in dehydrated rats by activation of a 5-HT1A receptor-related mechanism