Histopathologic alterations of gill tissue in Siluriformes and Characiformes from the Middle Tocantins River in the Brazilian Amazon / Alterações histopatológicas do tecido branquial em Siluriformes e Characiformes do médio rio Tocantins, na Amazônia brasileira

As águas do rio Tocantins têm sofrido descargas de dejetos tóxicos que ameaçam a biota aquática. Para tanto, a investigação das brânquias de peixes atua como biomonitoramento, visto que esses órgãos respondem por meio de adaptações a xenobióticos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de alterações morfológicas das espécies de Psectrogaster amazonica, Pimelodina flavipinnis e Pimelodus blochii. As coletas ocorreram nas estações chuvosa e seca. As brânquias de todos os espécimes coletados foram processadas de acordo com metodologia específica para protocolo de hematoxilina e eosina. As principais alterações histológicas observadas no período chuvoso foram: hiperplasia, destacamento do epitélio filamentar, fusão parcial e total das lamelas secundárias, congestão, aneurisma e encurtamento das lamelas respiratórias. Em relação ao período seco, as principais lesões observadas foram: ruptura do epitélio, aneurisma, hiperplasia e necrose. Considerando a diversidade ictiológica do rio Tocantins, o presente estudo propiciará o conhecimento da condição das brânquias, órgão imprescindível para a saúde do peixe, e consequentemente a compreensão das implicações sobre a qualidade das águas do rio Tocantins.(AU)

Adrenal glands of Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii, Wagler, 1831): morphological and morphometric aspects / Glândulas adrenais de preás (Galea spixii, Wagler, 1831): aspectos morfológicos e morfométricos

Abstract Considering the physiological importance and need of greater morphophysiological knowledge of adrenal glands, the aims of present study were compare the morphometric data between left and right adrenal of male and female; perform a histological, scanning and transmission electron microscopy study showing tissue constitution of glands; finally, in order to define the presence and correct site of the cytochrome P450c17 expression in adrenal glands, immunohistochemical study of this enzyme was performed in 18 adrenal glands (right n=9 and left n=9) of nine adult Galea spixii (four males and five females). Right adrenal was more cranially positioned than left adrenal; dimensions (weight, length and width) of right adrenal was larger than left adrenal; no differences between male and female body and adrenal measurements were found; the morphology of cells and different amounts of lipid droplets may be related to the different demands of steroid hormones production, related to each zone of the adrenal cortex; and, the cytochrome P450c17 immunolocalization in fasciculate and reticular zone may be related with synthesis of 17-hydroxy-pregnenolone, 17-hydroxy-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone or androstenedione.

Resumo Considerando a importância fisiológica e a necessidade de melhor conhecimento morfofisiológico das glândulas adrenais, os objetivos do presente estudo foram comparar dados morfométricos entre adrenais direitas e esquerdas de machos e fêmeas; realizar estudos histológicos e microscopia eletrônica de varredura e transmissão revelando a constituição tecidual das glândulas; finalmente, foi realizado estudo imunohistoquímico com objetivo de definir a presença e correto sítio de expressão da citocromo P450c17 nas glândulas adrenais em 18 glândulas adrenais (direita n=9 e esquerda n=9) de nove Galea spixii adultos (quatro machos e cinco fêmeas). A glândula adrenal direita estava posicionada mais cranialmente que a adrenal esquerda; as dimensões (peso, comprimento e largura) da glândula adrenal direita foram maiores que as da esquerda; não houve diferença entre as medidas corpóreas e das adrenais entre machos e fêmeas; a morfologia das células e diferentes quantidades de gotículas lipídicas podem estar relacionadas a diferentes demandas na produção de hormônios esteroides relacionados a cada zona do córtex adrenal; e, a imunolocalização da citocromo P450 na zona fasciculada e reticular pode estar relacionado com a síntese de 17-hidroxi-pregnenolona, 17-hidroxi-progesterona, dehidroepiandrosterona ou androstenediona.

Morphologic features frommdxmice spleens, used for duchenne muscular dystrophy studies

The mdx mice model is widely used for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) studies, which is present in a high percentage from newborns human males. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate possible morphological changes from spleens in these mice and to compare with normal mice (Mus musculus) in contribution to DMD understanding and its consequences on immune system by affected individuals. The study was performed by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques beyond immunohistochemistry. Was found microscopically an increased number of lymph nodes and decreased in red pulp region by mdx, beyond a larger VEGF-C (vascular endothelial growth factor C) expression stimulates lymphangiogenesis in red pulp region from spleen. These findings suggest a spleen adaptation in order to supply immunological demand due upper respiratory infection, which are common in individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Comparative study of the kidneys from dystrophic mice

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive genetic disease linked to chromosome X. Thisdisease is characterized by an absence or dysfunction in the expression of dystrophin. Experimental modelsmdxare widely used for the development of research addressing the DMD. The objective of this research is tocontribute to a detailed study of possible renal morphological changes resulting from DMD. We used five pairsof kidneys frommdxmice and five from normal mice, which were subjected to measurement, light microscopy,and scanning electron microscopy. The morphological findings of kidneys frommdxmice are within thepatterns described in animal studies with severe dehydration, which exhibit signs of diffuse hemorrhage inthe cortical and medullary area, while the glomeruli in the cortical region showed a decrease in urinary space,located between the Bowman’s capsule and the inner cell mass of the glomeruli. However, future experimentswith animals in different ages can assist in the proving of the morphological changes found here.