Apéndices testicular y epididimario en individuos brasileños / Testicular and epididymal appendices in Brazilian individuals

Los apéndices testiculares y epididimarios son remanescentes embriológicos del conducto paramesonéfrico y del conducto mesonéfrico, respectivamente. Estos apéndices pueden sufrir torsión causando un cuadro conocido como escroto agudo. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar las variaciones de los apéndices testicular y epididimario, registrando su forma y tamaño. Se utilizaron 30 cadáveres de indivíduos adultos, Brasileños, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 70 años, fijados en formaldehído 40%, facilitados por el Laboratorio de Anatomía Descriptiva y Topográfica de la Universidad Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brasil. A través de disección se identificó la presencia de los respectivos apéndices, los que fueron medidos con un caliper manual (MetricaR), registrando su longitud y anchura. Los apéndices testiculares fueron observados en 41 testículos (68,3%) y los apéndices epididimarios en 15 casos (25%). El promedio de la longitud fue de 4,9 mm (DE=1,7) para el apéndice testicular y de 5,2 mm (DE=2,4) para el epididimario. Con respecto a la anchura de los apéndices, el promedio registrado fue de 3,2 mm (DE=1,7) para el testicular y de 2,6 mm (DE=0,9) para el epididimario. Los datos obtenidos puede ser utlizados como soporte morfológico a la clínica urológica y cirugía testicular.

Testicular and epididymal appendages are embryologic remnants of the mesonephric duct and paramesonephric, respectively. These appendices are subject to a torsion causing condition known as acute scrotal syndrome. This study aimed to determine the variations of testicular and epididymal appendices, registering its presence and size. We studied 30 cadavers of adult individuals, Brazilians, aged 18 and 70, fixed in formaldehyde 40%, provided by the Laboratory of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brazil. By dissecting these, the presence of the respective appendixes were identified, which were measured with a manual caliper (Metrica), recording its length and width. The testicular appendices were observed in 41 testes (68.3%) and epididymal appendices in 15 cases (25%). The average length was 4.9 mm (SD=1.7) for the appendix testis and epididymis to 5.2 mm (SD=2.4). With respect to the width of the appendices, the average recorded were 3.2 mm (SD=1.7) and 2.6 mm (SD=0.9) for testicular and epididymal, respectively. The data obtained can be used as morphological support in urological clinical and testicular surgery.

Cardiovascular effects induced by the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem of Solanum stipulaceum in rats

The cardiovascular effects induced by the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem (AFS) of Solanum stipulaceum Roem. & Schult were studied in rats. In non-anesthetized rats, AFS injections produced significant and dosedependent hypotension associated with increase in heart rate. In isolated rat superior mesenteric rings, AFS was able to antagonize the contractions induced by phenylephrine and KCl. The vasorelaxant activity of AFS was not inhibited by either removal of vascular endothelium, L-NAME, atropine or indomethacine. In isolated rat atrial preparations, AFS produced concentration-related negative inotropic and chronotropic responses. These results suggest that the hypotensive effect of AFS is due to a peripheral vasodilation, which can not be attributed to the participation of vascular endothelium. Finally, AFS acts directly on the heart decreasing contractility and heart rate.