ABSTRACT
Due to the urbanization and human invasion of the natural environments, great changes have been occurred on the food composition and feeding ecology of several animals especially those are sharing human his habitat in fields, wadis and gardens. The desert hedgehogs Paraechinus aethiopicus populations inhabiting different localities in Saudi Arabia were studied by using stomach contents analysis between February 2015 and October 2019. Precise analysis of stomach contents of 55 hedgehogs showed that the food of P. aethiopicus is highly diverse and highly influenced with effect of human on the environment including cooked rice, insects, plant materials, eggshells, worms, garbage and remnants of mammals and birds. Diet composition showed seasonal variations that are apparently associated with changes in the availability of different food items. The present results clearly showed that P. aethiopicus is an omnivorous mammal, capable of adapting to a great variety of dietary compositions in the study sites.
Devido à urbanização e invasão humana dos ambientes naturais, grandes mudanças têm ocorrido na composição alimentar e ecologia alimentar de vários animais, especialmente aqueles que estão compartilhando seu hábitat humano em campos, wadis e jardins. As populações de ouriços-do-deserto Paraechinus aethiopicus que habitam diferentes localidades na Arábia Saudita foram estudadas usando análise de conteúdo estomacal entre fevereiro de 2015 e outubro de 2019. A análise precisa do conteúdo estomacal de 55 ouriços mostrou que a alimentação de P. aethiopicus é altamente diversa e altamente influenciada com efeito de humanos no meio ambiente, incluindo arroz cozido, insetos, materiais vegetais, cascas de ovo, vermes, lixo e restos de mamíferos e pássaros. A composição da dieta apresentou variações sazonais que aparentemente estão associadas a mudanças na disponibilidade de diferentes itens alimentares. Os presentes resultados mostraram claramente que P. aethiopicus é um mamífero onívoro, capaz de se adaptar a uma grande variedade de composições dietéticas nos locais de estudo.
Subject(s)
Animals , Feeding Behavior , Diet/veterinary , PorcupinesABSTRACT
Abstract Due to the urbanization and human invasion of the natural environments, great changes have been occurred on the food composition and feeding ecology of several animals especially those are sharing human his habitat in fields, wadis and gardens. The desert hedgehogs Paraechinus aethiopicus populations inhabiting different localities in Saudi Arabia were studied by using stomach contents analysis between February 2015 and October 2019. Precise analysis of stomach contents of 55 hedgehogs showed that the food of P. aethiopicus is highly diverse and highly influenced with effect of human on the environment including cooked rice, insects, plant materials, eggshells, worms, garbage and remnants of mammals and birds. Diet composition showed seasonal variations that are apparently associated with changes in the availability of different food items. The present results clearly showed that P. aethiopicus is an omnivorous mammal, capable of adapting to a great variety of dietary compositions in the study sites.
Resumo Devido à urbanização e invasão humana dos ambientes naturais, grandes mudanças têm ocorrido na composição alimentar e ecologia alimentar de vários animais, especialmente aqueles que estão compartilhando seu hábitat humano em campos, wadis e jardins. As populações de ouriços-do-deserto Paraechinus aethiopicus que habitam diferentes localidades na Arábia Saudita foram estudadas usando análise de conteúdo estomacal entre fevereiro de 2015 e outubro de 2019. A análise precisa do conteúdo estomacal de 55 ouriços mostrou que a alimentação de P. aethiopicus é altamente diversa e altamente influenciada com efeito de humanos no meio ambiente, incluindo arroz cozido, insetos, materiais vegetais, cascas de ovo, vermes, lixo e restos de mamíferos e pássaros. A composição da dieta apresentou variações sazonais que aparentemente estão associadas a mudanças na disponibilidade de diferentes itens alimentares. Os presentes resultados mostraram claramente que P. aethiopicus é um mamífero onívoro, capaz de se adaptar a uma grande variedade de composições dietéticas nos locais de estudo.
ABSTRACT
Due to the urbanization and human invasion of the natural environments, great changes have been occurred on the food composition and feeding ecology of several animals especially those are sharing human his habitat in fields, wadis and gardens. The desert hedgehogs Paraechinus aethiopicus populations inhabiting different localities in Saudi Arabia were studied by using stomach contents analysis between February 2015 and October 2019. Precise analysis of stomach contents of 55 hedgehogs showed that the food of P. aethiopicus is highly diverse and highly influenced with effect of human on the environment including cooked rice, insects, plant materials, eggshells, worms, garbage and remnants of mammals and birds. Diet composition showed seasonal variations that are apparently associated with changes in the availability of different food items. The present results clearly showed that P. aethiopicus is an omnivorous mammal, capable of adapting to a great variety of dietary compositions in the study sites.
Devido à urbanização e invasão humana dos ambientes naturais, grandes mudanças têm ocorrido na composição alimentar e ecologia alimentar de vários animais, especialmente aqueles que estão compartilhando seu hábitat humano em campos, wadis e jardins. As populações de ouriços-do-deserto Paraechinus aethiopicus que habitam diferentes localidades na Arábia Saudita foram estudadas usando análise de conteúdo estomacal entre fevereiro de 2015 e outubro de 2019. A análise precisa do conteúdo estomacal de 55 ouriços mostrou que a alimentação de P. aethiopicus é altamente diversa e altamente influenciada com efeito de humanos no meio ambiente, incluindo arroz cozido, insetos, materiais vegetais, cascas de ovo, vermes, lixo e restos de mamíferos e pássaros. A composição da dieta apresentou variações sazonais que aparentemente estão associadas a mudanças na disponibilidade de diferentes itens alimentares. Os presentes resultados mostraram claramente que P. aethiopicus é um mamífero onívoro, capaz de se adaptar a uma grande variedade de composições dietéticas nos locais de estudo.
Subject(s)
Animals , Ecosystem , Hedgehogs , Saudi Arabia , Ecology , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
SUMMARY: The rabbit is considered an ideal animal model for studies that describe abnormalities in the testicles due to the similar morphogenetic mechanisms of sexual development and diseases commonly found in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the male sexual differentiation of the New Zealand rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) through development. The gestational age was estimated and classified as 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23 and 28 gestational days. The morphological and sexual determination were performed by histological analysis of the reproductive tract in the embryos and fetuses (9-28 days) as well as by immunohistochemistry- Desert hedgehog-Dhh- (testis-specific protein on Y chromosome- 16, 20, 23 days and adult rabbits). Gonads were observed from the 14th day in an undifferentiated stage and with homogeneous aspect. Sexual differentiation was observed from the 16th day with presence of cells forming gonadal cords and Dhh+ cells in the gonadal parenchyma. From the 18th gestational day testicular cords were observed, which evolved into organized seminiferous tubules. The formation of the efferent ducts and ductus deferens and epididymis was observed on the 20th and 23rd days, respectively. The differentiation of the external genitalia occurred from the 23rd days from the anogenital distance and was identified to identify the penile structures. In summary, the features of the sexual differentiation were determined by observation of the Dhh+ protein in embryos from the 16th day to adulthood, and the morphological particularities observed from the 18th gestational day, determined by differentiation of the external genitalia from the 23rd day.
RESUMEN: El conejo se considera un modelo animal ideal para estudios que describen anomalías a nivel testícular debido a que presenta mecanismos morfogenéticos similares al desa- rrollo sexual y enfermedades que se encuentran comúnmente en los seres humanos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la diferenciación sexual masculina del conejo de Nueva Zelanda (Oryctolagus cuniculus) a través del desarrollo. La edad gestacional se estimó y clasificó en 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23 y 28 días gestacionales. La determinación morfológica y sexual se realizó mediante análisis histológico del tracto reproductivo en los embriones y fetos (9 - 28 días) así como mediante inmunohistoquímica -Desert hedgehog-Dhh- (proteína testicular específica en el cromosoma Y- 16, 20, 23 días y conejos adultos). Las gónadas se observaron a partir del día 14 en un estadio indiferenciado y con aspecto homogéneo. Se observó diferenciación sexual a partir del día 16 con presencia de células formadoras de cordones gonadales y células Dhh+ en el parénquima gonadal. A partir del día 18 de gestación se observaron cordones testiculares, que evolucionaron a túbulos seminíferos organizados. La formación de los conductos eferentes, deferentes y del epidídimo se observó a los 20 y 23 días, respectivamente. La diferenciación de los genitales externos ocurrió a partir del día 23 desde la distancia anogenital y se utilizó para identificar las estructuras del pene. En conclusión, las características de la diferenciación sexual se determinaron mediante la observación de la proteína Dhh en embriones desde el día 16 hasta la edad adulta, y las particularidades morfológicas observadas a partir del día 18 de gestación, determinadas por diferenciación de los genitales externos a partir del día 23.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rabbits , Cell Differentiation , Embryonic and Fetal Development , Gonads/growth & development , Gonads/embryology , Seminiferous Tubules , Sex Differentiation , ImmunohistochemistryABSTRACT
SUMMARY: In testicular differentiation, somatic cells must adopt a specific destiny towards sustentacular, peritubular and interstitial cells, being fundamental for the morphogenesis of seminiferous tubules, mediated by morphogens such as Desert Hedgehog (DHH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and fibroblastic growth factor 2 (FGF-2). Its alteration could be related to failures in the development mechanisms, such as those caused by valproic acid (VPA), which can be reversed with vitamin E (VE). The objective of the study was to evaluate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the testicular development of mice exposed to VPA and VE. 12 groups of pregnant female mice were formed that were separated by days post-coital (dpc) at 12.5 dpc, 17.5 dpc and 6 weeks postnatal, each one subdivided into 4 groups of 5 pregnant women each. Subgroups received different treatments from the beginning to the end of gestation orally: 600 mg/kg of VPA, 600 mg/kg of VPA and 200 IU of VE, 200 IU of VE and the control group 0.3 mL of 0.9% physiological solution. Immunohistochemistry was performed for the detection of DHH, IGF-1 and FGF-2. Immunolocalization of DHH was observed in all stages, with more evident significant differences in integrated optical density (IOD) and percentage of immunoreaction area at 6 weeks postnatal, being lower in the VPA group. In IGF-1, lower intensity and distribution of immunostaining was observed in the fetal and pubertal stages in the VPA groups, a similar situation with FGF-2, but only evident at 17.5 dpc, with significant differences. These results demonstrate that VPA can alter EMT between somatic cells in testicular development, with VE being an agent capable of attenuating this process.
RESUMEN: En la diferenciación testicular, es necesario que las células somáticas adopten un destino específico hacia células sustentaculares, peritubulares e intersticiales, siendo fundamental para la morfogénesis de los túbulos seminíferos, mediado por morfógenos como Desert Hedgehog (DHH), Factor de Crecimiento Fibroblástico 2 (FGF-2) y Factor de Crecimiento símil a Insulina (IGF-1). Su alteración se podría relacionar a fallas en los mecanismos de desarrollo, como los que ocasiona el ácido valproico (VPA), los cuales pueden ser revertidos con la vitamina E (VE). El objetivo de estudio fue evaluar la transición epitelio-mesenquimática (EMT) en el desarrollo testicular de ratones expuestos a VPA y VE. Se conformaron 12 grupos de ratones hembra gestantes que se separaron por días post-coital (dpc) a los 12.5 dpc, 17.5 dpc y 6 semanas post-natal, cada uno subdividido en 4 grupos de 5 gestantes cada uno. Cada subgrupo recibió diferentes tratamientos desde el inicio hasta el término de la gestación vía oral: 600 mg/kg de VPA, 600 mg/kg de VPA y 200 UI de VE, 200 UI de VE y el grupo control 0,3 mL de solución fisiológica 0,9%. Se realizó técnica inmunohistoquímica para la detección de DHH, IGF-1 y FGF-2. Se observó la inmunolocalización de DHH en todos los estadios, con diferencias significativas más evidentes en la densidad óptica integrada (IOD) y porcentaje de área de inmunoreacción a las 6 semanas post-natal, siendo menor en el grupo VPA. En IGF-1, se observó en la etapa fetal y puberal menor intensidad y distribución de la marcación en los grupos VPA, situación similar con la inmunomarcación de FGF-2, pero sólo evidenciándose a los 17.5 dpc, con diferencias significativas. Estos resultados demuestran que el VPA puede alterar la EMT entre las células somáticas en el desarrollo testicular, siendo la VE un agente capaz de atenuar este proceso.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Pregnancy , Mice , Testis/growth & development , Vitamin E/pharmacology , Valproic Acid/toxicity , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects , Testis/drug effects , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis , Immunohistochemistry , Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/analysis , Hedgehog Proteins/analysisABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of Desert Hedgehog on direct differentiation of neural progenitor cells(NPCs) cultured from embryonic mesencephalon in the rats.Methods We infected DHH into COS7,NIH/3T3 and 9L cells,and detected the expression of DHH in the cells with immunofluorescence,real-time PCR and Western blot.All of the three cells were co-cultured with NPCs isolated from ventral mesencephalon in embryonic SD rats(E13.5) respectively.Immunoreactivities of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) was detected by immunocytochemistry after 10 days.Results The expression of DHH in COS7,NIH/3T3 and 9L cells was remarkably detected,but few TH-positive cells were found in the three co-cultral systems at the 10th day.Conclusion The protein derived from DHH itself does not show any inductive effect on the differentiation of NPCs to the dopaminergic neurons in vitro.