Psychological and relational meanings of the experience of motherhood with toxoplasmosis / Significados psicológicos e relacionais da experiência da maternidade com toxoplasmose / Significados psicológicos y relacionales de la experiencia de la maternidad con toxoplasmosis

With the purpose of understanding the psychological and relational meanings of the experience of motherhood in the face of toxoplasmosis, a clinical-qualitative study was carried out performing semi-directed interviews with five mothers of babies with toxoplasmosis. The information was submitted to Content Analysis, and the results demonstrated that the psychological meanings include both the presence of difficulties and suffering and the potentiality of the babies and the establishment of emotional mother-baby bonds. Relative to the relational meanings, the importance of support networks was identified, emphasizing the role of family members, health services, and religiosity as sources of support in facing difficulties. However, it was identified that the care is provided primordially to the babies, with the emotional assistance to mothers being insufficient. In conclusion, it stands out that each mother experienced toxoplasmosis from their possibilities and available support network, which affected the establishment of the mother-baby bond. (AU)

Com o objetivo de compreender os significados psicológicos e relacionais da experiência da maternidade diante da toxoplasmose, realizou-se uma pesquisa clínico-qualitativa, em que foram realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas com cinco mães de bebês com toxoplasmose. As informações foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo e os resultados demonstraram que os significados psicológicos incluem tanto a presença de dificuldades e sofrimento, quanto de potencialidade dos bebês e do estabelecimento de vínculo emocional mãe-bebê. Com relação aos significados relacionais, identificou-se a importância das redes de apoio, destacando-se o papel de familiares, serviços de saúde e da religiosidade como fonte de suporte para o enfrentamento das dificuldades. Contudo, identificou-se que a atenção é dispensada primordialmente aos bebês, sendo insuficiente a assistência emocional para as mães. Em conclusão, destaca-se que cada mãe experienciou a toxoplasmose a partir das suas possibilidades e das redes de apoio disponíveis, o que afetou no estabelecimento da vinculação mãe-bebê. (AU)

Para comprender los significados psicológicos y relacionales de la maternidad frente a la toxoplasmosis, se realizó una investigación clínico-cualitativa, en la que se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con cinco madres de bebés con toxoplasmosis. La información fue sometida a Análisis de Contenido y los resultados demostraron que los significados psicológicos incluyen tanto la presencia de dificultades y sufrimiento, como la potencialidad de los bebés para el establecimiento de un vínculo emocional con sus madres. Considerando los significados relacionales, se identificó la importancia de las redes de apoyo, destacando el papel de la familia, los servicios de salud y la religiosidad como soporte frente a las dificultades. Sin embargo, se identificó que la atención se presta principalmente a los bebés, con asistencia emocional insuficiente para las madres. Como conclusión, se enfatiza que cada madre ha experimentado toxoplasmosis en función de sus posibilidades y de las redes de apoyo disponibles, lo que ha afectado el establecimiento de la conexión madre-bebé. (AU)

Morphometric development of the vertebral segments of the vertebral column in the goat (Capra hircus) during the fetal period / Desarrollo morfométrico de los segmentos vertebrales de la columna vertebral en cabra (Capra hircus) durante el periodo fetal

Understanding normal fetal growth rates of the vertebral column, and between species, provide a basis to establish reference values for evaluation of body development and estimation of fetal age by ultrasonography. Goats are also widely used in biomedical perinatal research and are still considered a key to understanding the skeletal development. This study was carried out to clarify growth of length of vertebral column at segmental, regional, and total level of vertebral column in the fetal goats during different gestational age. The length of each vertebral segment of 25 goat fetuses, aged between 6 and 20 weeks were measured for each vertebra using a digital caliper. Our study demonstrated differences among various fetal ages in terms of regional, segmental, and total growth rate of the length of vertebral segments. With increase of fetal age, the relative length of vertebral segments of cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions diminished, whereas sacral and caudal regions increased in relative length. The thoracic vertebrae were the longest followed by cervical, lumbar, caudal, and sacral regions except at the oldest fetuses where caudal region became longer than lumbar region. Although the longest and shortest vertebral segments in cervical and lumbar regions were consistent among age groups, the trend of segmental growth of the vertebral regions was variable. Based on these detailed findings, the relative regional lengths of vertebral column were essentially different among fetal goats, humans, and neonatal rats. There is also a general trend of increasing segmental and regional initial growth and there is a relatively significant increase in growth rate caudally along the column during fetal period. This research yield important results that may be also useful for future orthopedic studies that contemplate the use of goat as a new model for the human spine.

Entender el crecimiento fetal normal de la columna vertebral entre las especies, proporciona una base para establecer valores de referencia en la evaluación del desarrollo corporal y la estimación de la edad fetal por ultrasonografía. Las cabras se utilizan frecuentemente en investigaciones biomédicas perinatales y son consideradas clave en el estudio del desarrollo esquelético. Este estudio se realizó con el objetivo de determiner el crecimiento de longitud de la columna vertebral a nivel segmentario, regional y total de la columna vertebral en cabras fetales durante diferentes etapas gestacionales. La longitud de cada segmento vertebral de 25 fetos de cabra, con edades comprendidas entre las 6 y 20 semanas se midió utilizando un calibre digital. Nuestro estudio demostró diferencias entre varias edades fetales en términos de tasa de crecimiento regional, segmentario y total de longitud de los segmentos vertebrales Con el aumento de la edad fetal, la longitud relativa de los segmentos vertebrales de las regiones cervical, torácica y lumbar disminuyó, mientras que las regiones sacras y caudales aumentaron en longitud relativa. Las vértebras torácicas fueron las más largas seguidas por las regiones cervical, lumbar, caudal y sacral excepto en los fetos más antiguos donde la región caudal se hizo más larga que la región lumbar. Aunque los segmentos vertebrales más largos y más cortos en las regiones cervical y lumbar fueron consistentes entre los grupos de edad, la tendencia de crecimiento segmentario de las regiones vertebrales fue variable. En base a estos resultados, las longitudes relativas de columna vertebral fueron esencialmente diferentes entre cabras fetales, humanos y ratas neonatas. También existe una tendencia general de aumento del crecimiento inicial segmentario y regional, como tambien un aumento relativamente significativo en la tasa de crecimiento a lo largo de la columna durante el período fetal. Esta investigación arroja importantes resultados que también pueden ser útiles para futuros estudios ortopédicos que contemplan el uso de la cabra como un nuevo modelo para la columna vertebral humana.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of the goat forestomach during prenatal development

Here we report the detection and distribution of synaptophysin (SPY), non-neuronal enolase (NNE), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin (VIM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) expression in the goat forestomach during prenatal development. A total of 140 embryos and fetuses were examined to evaluate protein expression from the first stage of prenatal life until birth. In all cases, SPY immunoreactivity was detected at 53 days gestation in the lamina propria-submucosa, tunica muscularis, serosa, and myenteric plexuses. Immunoreactivity to NNE was observed at 64 days gestation in the same locations as well as the epithelial layer. Glial cells were found at 64 days as indicated by signals corresponding to GFAP and VIM at 39 days. Positive staining for NPY and VIP was observed at 113, 75, and 95 days in the rumen, reticulum, and omasum, respectively, in the lamina propria-submucosa, tunica muscularis, and myenteric plexuses of each of these gastric compartments. These findings indicate possible preparation of the fetal goat forestomach for postnatal function. Compared to other ruminant species, neuroendocrine cells, glial cells and peptidergic innervations markers were detected earlier compared to sheep but at around the same stage as in deer.

Histological and Histochemical Studies on the Prenatal Development of Testis in Goat (Capra hircus) / Estudios Histológicos e Histoquímicos del Desarrollo Prenatal del Testículo de Cabra (Capra hircus)

The study has been conducted on the prenatal development of testis on 70 goat embryo/foeti, categorized into group-I (0-30 days), Group-II (31-60 days), Group-III (61-90 days), Group-IV (91-120 days) and group V (121days-till birth), having 14 embryos/ foeti in each group. The genital ridge was observed at 23 days of gestation. It contained an accumulation of mesenchymal cells, immature RBC's, differentiating fibroblasts and primordial germ cells. The formation of sex cords was evidenced on 44th day of gestation. It contained small mesenchymal cells and large cells arranged in a chain like manner. The convolution of the sex cords started between 61-90 days of gestation, which increased with the increase in the gestation period and at 125 day of gestation few sex cords attained the form of reverse question mark. The sustentocytes (Sertoli cells) were observed among the small cells of sex cords at 56th day of gestation. The tunica albuginia appeared just beneath the germinal epithelium at 44th day of gestation. It consisted of 2-4 layers of mesenchymal cells, fibroblasts and small capillaries. The thickness of tunica albuginia increased with the increase in the age of foetus and between 61-90 days of gestation, the outer thick fibrous and inner thin vascular layer could be demarcated separately. Few mesenchymal cells start differentiating into interstititial endocrine cells (Leydig cells) located in the interstitial spaces at 44th day of gestation.

El estudio se basó en el desarrollo prenatal de testículosde de 70 embriones / fetos de cabra, clasificados en el grupo I (0-30 días), Grupo-II (31-60 días), Grupo III-(61-90 días), grupo IV (91 a 120 días) y el grupo V (121 días-hasta el nacimiento), con 14 embriones / fetos en cada grupo. La cresta genital se observó a los 23 días de gestación. Contenía una acumulación de células mesenquimales inmaduras de RBC, fibroblastos de diferenciación y células germinales primordiales. La formación de los cordones sexuales se puso de manifiesto en el día 44 de gestación. Contenía pequeñas células mesenquimales y células grandes dispuestas en cadena. La convolución de los cordones sexuales se inició entre 61-90 días de gestación, que se incrementaron con el aumento en el período de gestación, a los 125 días de gestación pocos cordones sexuales alcanzaron la forma de signo de interrogación inversa. Los sustentocitos se observaron entre las pequeñas células de los cordones sexuales en el día 56 de gestación. La túnica albugínea apareció justo debajo del epitelio germinal en el día 44 de gestación. Se componía de 2-4 capas de células mesenquimáticas, fibroblastos y capilares pequeños. El espesor de la túnica albugínea aumentó con el avance en la edad del feto y entre 61-90 días de gestación, la capa fibrosa gruesa exterior y la capa interior delgada vascular podría ser demarcadas por separado. Pocas células mesenquimales inician diferenciación en los endocrinocitos intesticiales localizadas en los espacios intersticiales en el día 44 de gestación.

An Ultrastructural Study on the Structural Development of the Cardiac Ganglion in the Human Fetuses

The development of the cardiac ganglion was studied by electron microscopy in human fetuses ranging from 30mm to 270mm crown rump length. At 40mm fetus, the cardiac ganglia were observed in the adventitia of both the aorta and pulmonary artery, superior aspect of the left and right atrium, and interatrial septum. The cardiac ganglia were comprised of clusters of undifferentiated cells, neuroblasts, and unmyelinated nerve fibers. The ganglia were small and uncapsulated until 70mm fetus. At 70mm fetus, the cardic ganglia consisted of neuroblasts, satellite cells, and unmyelinated nerve fibers. Each ganglion was ensheathed in a connective tissue capsule. The cytoplasm of neuroblast contained Nissl bodies, mitochondria, coated vesicles, extensive Golgicomplex, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Synaptic contacts between the cholinergic preganglionic axon and dendrites of postganglionic neuron were first observed. At 100mm fetus, the cardiac ganglia consisted of small clusters of ganglion cells and dendrites, together with supporting elements and blood vessels. During next prenatal stage from 170mm fetus, the ganglion cells were large and each contained a large nucleus with one or more nucleoli. The cytoplasm of ganglion cells contained much rough endoplasmic reticulum and extensive Golgi complex. Cholinergic preganglionic axons were numerous and interposed between the satellite cells. Adrenergic axons were rarely observed. A great number of synaptic junctions between the cholinergic preganglionic axon terminals and the dendrites of postganglinic neuron were found, and a few axosomatic synapses were also observed. Adrenergic nerve terminals did not seem to be involved in the synaptic transmission. The cardiac ganglion cells of the human fetal heart were innervated only by cholinergic nerve.