Rats Born to Mothers Treated with Dexamethasone 15 cH Present Changes in Modulation of Inflammatory Process.

As little information about the effect of ultra high dilutions of glucocorticoid in reproduction is available in the literature, pregnant female Wistar rats (N = 12) were blindly subcutaneously treated during all gestational and lactation period with: dexamethasone 4 mg/kg diluted into dexamethasone 15 cH (mixed); or dexamethasone 4 mg/kg diluted in water; or dexamethasone 15 cH, or vehicle. Parental generation had body weight, food and water consumption monitored. The F1 generation was monitored regarding to newborn development. No birth occurred in both groups treated with dexamethasone 4 mg/kg. After 60 days from birth, 12 male F1 rats were randomly selected from each remaining group and inoculated subcutaneously with 1% carrageenan into the footpad, for evaluation of inflammatory performance. Edema and histopathology of the footpad were evaluated, using specific staining methods, immunohistochemistry and digital histomorphometry. Mothers treated with mixed dexamethasone presented reduced water consumption. F1 rats born to dexamethasone 15 cH treated females presented significant increase in mast cell degranulation, decrease in monocyte percentage, increase in CD18+ PMN cells, and early expression of ED2 protein, in relation to control. The results show that the exposure of parental generation to highly diluted dexamethasone interferes in inflammation modulation in the F1 generation.

O comportamento de acasalamento de Calyptommatus leiolepis Rodrigues, 1991 em cativeiro (Sauria, Gymnophthalmidae): Observações preliminares / Mating behavior of Calyptommatus leiolepis Rodrigues, 1991 in captivity (Sauria, Gymnophthalmidae): First description

O comportamento de acasalamento de Calyptommatus leiolepis, um lagarto ápodo, é aqui relatado pela primeira vez. Foi observado em maio de 2001, no Zoológico de São Paulo. Parecem ocorrer sete fases distintas: 1)encontro do casal, 2)acompanhamento da fêmea pelo macho, 3) emparelhamento, 4) imobilização da fêmea, 5) pré-cópula, 6)cópula 7) separação do casal. Interações físicas foram observadas apenas a partir da quarta fase, quando o macho morde a fêmea na região pós-cefálica. Movimentos intensos da cauda foram observados a partir da pré-cópula, quando também foi observado o uso das patas posteriores estiliformes para raspar o corpo da fêmea. Durante a cópula, o macho deixa de morder a fêmea. Estímulos químicos devem ser importantes durante a segunda fase. Estímulos tácteis são importantes na quarta, quinta e sexta fase (AU)