Effect of finasteride on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and on prostate of hamster Mesocricetus auratus (hMa) / Efeito da finasterida no antígeno prostático específico (PSA) sérico e na próstata do hamster Mesocricetus auratus (hMa)

PURPOSE: Evaluate the effects of finasteride on the serum PSA and on the prostate of hamster-Mesocricetus auratus(hMa). METHODS: Twenty hMa male adults were split in groups control and experimental (n=10). Animals of the experimental group received 7.14ng/mL of finasteride, subcutaneously (SC) on the back three times per week, during 90 days. The finasteride dose was equivalent to 5.0mg administered to a 70kg man. At the end of the experiment the mean age for the animals in the control group was 15.2±1.13months and for the experimental group was 17.7±0.67 months. There was a statistically significant difference between mean ages of both groups (t value=5.98; p=0.001). The animals of the control group weighted 129.0±18.8g and the experimental group weighted 145.0±15.5g, t=1.88 e p=0.0514. The serum PSA was assessed through ELISA method. Prostates of those animals were collected and processed to histology and morphometry: the diameter of the acinous glands and the acinous epithelium, apoptosis, AgNORs and cellularity were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: Serum PSA decreased in the experimental group, 0.003ng/mL versus 0.763ng/mL, H= 7.982 e p= 0.0047. Decrease in the acinous area occurred in animals that received finasteride, 238.000±24.600 μm² versus 398.600±55.320 μm²; t= 2.653; p= 0.0122. A remarkable decrease in the area of the acinous epithelium occurred in the animals that received finasteride, 111.900±12.820 μm² versus 160.400±18.430 μm² t= 2.162; p= 0.0361. AgNORs were less expressed in finasteride treated animals, 2.846±0.877 versus 3.68 ±1.07 argyrophilic clusters for μm², p= < 0.0001. Apoptosis was more intense in the experimental group, 53.62±1.389 than in controls, 14.76 ± 2.137, p= 0.0408. However, there was no statistical difference in the cellularity between both groups, 74.75±5.5 cells, in controls versus 65.07±13.24, in treated animals, p=0.5105. CONCLUSIONS: Use of finasteride decreased serum ...

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da finasterida no PSA sérico e na próstata do hamster-Mesocricetus auratus (hMa). MÉTODOS: 20 hMa adultos machos foram divididos em grupos de 10 animais. No experimento foram administrados 7,14 ng/mL de finasterida, subcutâneo (SC), no dorso, três vezes por semana, por 90 dias, dose equivalente a 5,0 mg usada em homem de 70Kg. Ao final da pesquisa, grupo experimento apresentou idade média de 17,7 ± 0,67 meses. O grupo controle apresentou idade média de 15,2 ± 1,13 meses. O valor de t na comparação das médias das idades entre os dois grupos foi de 5,98 e p=0.0001. Os animais-controle pesaram em média 129,0 ± 18,8g e o experimento 145,0 ± 15,5g; t=1,88 e p=0,0514. Na microscopia óptica de luz e estudo morfométrico: avaliaram-se o diâmetro dos ácinos e epitélio acinar prostáticos, a apoptose, a expressão AgNORs e a celularidade. RESULTADOS: O grupo-experimento apresentou média de PSA de 0,003 ng/mL e o grupo-controle de 0,763 ng/mL, H=7,982 e p=0,0047. A área dos ácinos do grupo-experimento foi de 238,000±24,600 μm² versus 398,600±55,320 μm²; t= 2,653; p= 0,0122. A área do epitélio acinar no grupo-experimento foi de 111,900±12,820 μm² versus 160,400±18,430 μm² t= 2,162; p= 0,0361. A expressão de AgNORs foi menor no grupo-experimento 2,846±0,877 versus 3,68 ±1,07 grumos argilófilos por μm², p= < 0,0001. A apoptose foi mais freqüente no grupo-experimento, 53,62±1,389 versus controle, 14,76 ± 2,137, p= 0,0408. Não houve diferença na celularidade entre os grupos de animais, 74,75±5,5 células no grupo-controle versus 65,07±13,24, no grupo-experimento, p= 0,5105. CONCLUSÕES: A finasterida diminuiu o PSA sérico, a área do lúmen, o epitélio acinar, a expressão de AgNORs e promoveu a apoptose nos ácinos da próstata dos hamsteres experimento e não houve diferença na celularidade acinar entre os animais estudados.

Nucleolar translocalization of GRA10 of Toxoplasma gondii transfectionally expressed in HeLa cells

Toxoplasma gondii GRA10 expressed as a GFP-GRA10 fusion protein in HeLa cells moved to the nucleoli within the nucleus rapidly and entirely. GRA10 was concentrated specifically in the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus morphologically by the overlap of GFP-GRA10 transfection image with IFA images by monoclonal antibodies against GRA10 (Tg378), B23 (nucleophosmin) and C23 (nucleolin). The nucleolar translocalization of GRA10 was caused by a putative nucleolar localizing sequence (NoLS) of GRA10. Interaction of GRA10 with TATA-binding protein associated factor 1B (TAF1B) in the yeast two-hybrid technique was confirmed by GST pull-down assay and immunoprecipitation assay. GRA10 and TAF1B were also co-localized in the nucleolus after co-transfection. The nucleolar condensation of GRA10 was affected by actinomycin D. Expressed GFP-GRA10 was evenly distributed over the nucleoplasm and the nucleolar locations remained as hollows in the nucleoplasm under a low dose of actinomycin D. Nucleolar localizing and interacting of GRA10 with TAF1B suggested the participation of GRA10 in rRNA synthesis of host cells to favor the parasitism of T. gondii.

Effect of enrofloxacin on AgNOR counts in chick bone marrow nuclei.

The mAgNOR and pAgNOR counts reflecting the number of rDNA genes being transcribed, showed a highly significant increase from control values following administration of 5X, 10X, 15X doses of enrofloxacin in chicken. The maximum increase for both, mAgNOR and pAgNOR was shown by birds receiving 15X dose, sacrificed 48 hr after the last drug injection. The increase of pAgNOR at 5X (24 hr) was not significant relative to control values. After 72 hr time interval, AgNOR counts were not feasible due to poor differentiation. Values at 15X (24 hr) showed a decrease in number of AgNOR counts (non-significant) relative to 10X, probably due to depression of transcriptional activity of rDNA genes, which, however, is removed at 48 hr. The general increase in mAgNOR and pAgNOR with dose reflects hypertranscription of rDNA genes so that the birds can cope up with the drug induced toxicity.

Chromosomal comparisons among and within populations of Simulium (Chirostilbia) pertinax (Diptera, Simuliidae)

Chromosomal studies were carried on six larval populations of Simulium (Chirostilbia) pertinax from different locations in Brazil. Larvae were collected in the states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Polytene chromosome map comparisons within and among populations showed no differences in banding pattern, except for some limited polymorphism (secondary NOR and four band polymorphisms). There were no chromosomal variations associated with the resistance or susceptibility of the larvae to temephos. The chromosomal homosequentiality found among the six populations suggests that S. pertinax may be a monomorphic species

Altered remodeling of nucleolar machineries in cultured hepatocytes treated with thioacetamide

Thioacetamide (TA) is converted into a hyperacetylating agent which causes hepatic necrosis, regeneration, cirrhosis and cancerous transformation. One of the most characteristic toxicities of TA in rat is observed with a 50 mg/kg per day which induces nucleolar enlargement different from that in regenerating liver. From TA-treated liver, the nucleoli were isolated and characterized for an altered nucleolar signal transduction system. Immunochemistry revealed that the poisoned nucleoli had increased levels of both nucleolus specific proteins (nucleophosmin and nucleolin) and various signal molecules (CK2, Erk1/2, p38, protein kinases A and C, and cyclin A). Using flow cytometry, the nucleoli were found to be in G2-arrested nuclei. Manifestation of the nucleolar enlargement could be readily observed using an ex vivo hepatocyte culture. There were two types of nucleolar enlargement. One was observed in normal hepatocytes with light density of enlarged nucleoli. The other was in TA-treated hepatocytes with dense and compact density of enlarged nucleoli, which contained a 3 to 5-fold higher nudeophosmin content than the control. In vitro induction of nucleolar enlargement with TA was possible. As soon as the hepatocytes anchored on a collagen coat, exogeneous TA (higher than 1 microg/mL) could induce dense and compact nucleoli. However, when an exogeneous drug was added after monolayer formation (1 day), no drug-induced nucleolar enlargement was observed.