Influence of high environmental temperature on inflamation and repair induced by a foreign body in bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles

RESUMO

We investigated the effect of high environmental temperature (31-C vs 25-C) on the inflammatory and repair phenomena induced by a foreign body in the tail of Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog) tadpoles. The data obtained using quantitative morphometric models showed that environmental temperature influences the time course but not the intensity of the inflamamatory process and the tissue repair. Animals treated at 31-C presented an initial increase of the inflammation and repair area (IRA, 402 ñ 24*m*, mean ñ SEM, on the 3rd day), which quickly decreased and stabilized, with tissue restoration occurring after 21 days (327 ñ 3). In contrast, tadpoles kept at 25-C showed an active inflammatory focus which persisted throughout the experiment. However, the maximum values obtained for the parameters analyzed were quite similar at both temperatures. IRA was 378 ñ 15 *m* on the 21st day at 25-C vs 402 ñ 24 on the 3rd day at 31-C and inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI)was 175 ñ 12 cells per 145 *m* tissue on the 7th day 25-C vs 171 ñ 23 on the 3rd day at 31-C