Highly active antiretroviral therapy during gestation: effects on a rat model of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the adverse effects of the chronic use of zidovudine/lopinavir/ritonavir in a rat pregnancy model.Type of article: Original paper. DESIGN: A prospective experimental study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics, São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP). METHODS: 40 pregnant EPM-1 albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups of 10 animals each: control (Ctrl) group (untreated) and three experimental groups (Exp1, Exp2 and Exp3), which received zidovudine/lopinavir/ritonavir in the corresponding doses of 10/13.3/3.3; 30/39.9/9.9 and 90/119.7/29.7 mg/Kg/day from the first up to the 20th day of pregnancy, respectively. The rats were treated by gavage daily. Body weights were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 20. At term, the rats were sacrificed and the implantation sites, number of live and dead fetuses and placentas, resorptions and fetal and placental weights were recorded. The fetuses were evaluated for external abnormalities under a stereomicroscope. The chi-square test was used to compare death rates between groups. RESULTS: Weight gain during pregnancy no showed significant differences between groups. Average weight gains between the 7th and 20th day were 45.70 ± 5.27 g for Ctrl; 48.49 ± 3.64 g for Exp1; 45.39 ± 6.22 g for Exp2 and 44.19 ± 6.78 g for Exp3. However, the percentage weight gain in the 7th was lower in groups Exp2 and Exp3 and in the 14th in the Group Exp2. All other parameters assessed did not differ significantly between groups. Exp2 and Exp3 in relation of the others. CONCLUSIONS: The chronic exposure of pregnant rats to high doses of zidovudine/lopinavir/ritonavir in association resulted in a significant reduction in maternal body weight gain but was not associated with significant adverse fetal parameters.

Morphological and biochemical action of dipyrone on rat placenta.

1. The morphological and biochemical action of dipyrone (N-[2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-4-yl]-methylamino methanesulfonate, sodium monohydrate) on the placenta of albino rats was studied by means of karyometry of trophoblastic giant cells and by determinations of DNA, RNA and total protein contents. 2. The animals were treated with a single daily dose of 50 mg/kg body weight during 5 different periods: from the 9th to the 12th, 11th to the 14th, 13th to the 16th, 15th to the 18th or 17th to the 20th day of pregnancy. 3. Karyometric results showed that the nuclear volumes of placental cells in rats treated with dipyrone during the first 3 periods were significantly greater than in control animals and that, closer to term, no differences were observed in this regard. Only the animals treated from the 9th to the 12th day of pregnancy had higher placental contents of DNA, RNA and protein than the corresponding controls. 4. Our results showed that dipyrone had a blocking effect on placental cell division which occurs mainly in the initial steps of placental development.

Estudo comparativo das dosagens de sódio, potássio, uréia, creatinina e ácido úrico no líquido amniótico entre 15-20 semanas e 38-42 semanas / A comparative study of human amniotic fluid concentration of sodium, potassium, urea, creatinini, and uric acid between 15-20 week and 38-42 week

O volume e a concentraçao do líquido amniótico dependem da integraçao entre o organismo materno e fetal e se modificam ao longo da gravidez. OBJETIVO. Analisar a concentraçao de sódio, potásio, uréia, cratinina e ácido úrico no líquido amnioótico no segundo e terceiro trimestre de gravidezes normais e verificar a influência da idade materna, raça, paridade e sexo dos conceptos nestes elementos. MÉTODOS. Cincoenta gestantes no segundo trimestre e 50 gestantes no termo da gravidez tiveram seus líquidos amnióticos submetidos a dosagem dos elementos acima descritos. O material foi obtido por amniocentese de indicaçao genética, no primeiro grupo, e em cesáreas eletivas, no segundo grupo. Foram utilizados os seguintes testes estatísticos: análise de variância a um critério; teste t de Student; teste do qui-quadrado; teste de Mann-Whitney na dependência da natureza das variáveis (a ( 0,05). RESULTADOS. Foi verificado que no terceiro trimestre ocorre diminuiçao significante na concentraçao de sódio, aumento significante na uréia, creatinina e ácido úrico, ao passo que o potássio nao apresenta alteraçoes. Por outro lado, nao houve interferência da idade materna, paridade, raça e sexo dos conceptos. Conclusao. Aanálise destes parâmetros no líquido amniótico pode servir como base para a avaliaçao do bem-estar fetal, principalmente em relaçao à funçao renal e na detecçao de algumas síndromes genéticas.

Infecçäo por Chlamydia trachomatis e fatores de risco em gestantes / Chlamydia trachomatis infection and risk factors in pregnant women

Introduçäo. Realizado estudo com a finalidade de avaliar a freqüência da infecçäo por C. trachomatis em gestantes de Säo Paulo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS. Um grupo de 122 gestantes (80 adultas e 42 adolescentes) foram submetidas a exame obstétrico completo e pesquisa de C. trachomatis na cérvice, pela técnica de ELISA (Chlamydiazyme). RESULTADOS. Foram positivos 11 mulheres (9 por cento), sendo oito (10 por cento) adultas e três (7 por cento) adolescentes. CONCLUSÄO. Nesta populaçäo estudade em Säo Paulo a idade das pacientes, bem como eatado civil, número de parceiros sexuais, existência de outra doença sexualmente transmissível, presença de cervicite ou a ocorrência de abortos näo foram fatores de risco para a presença de C. trachomatis

Chronic effects of azidothymidine and acyclovir on pregnant rats.

1. The antiviral effect of azidothymidine (AZT) can be potentiated by acyclovir (ACV), and this drug association has been used in the management of HIV-infected patients. In the present study we examined the effects of such an association on rat pregnancy. 2. AZT (60 mg/kg b.w.) and ACV (60 mg/kg b.w.) were given to groups of pregnant rats once a day from the 1st to the 20th day of gestation. 3. Maternal body weight gain was severely affected by ACV; this effect was attenuated in rats treated with AZT+ACV and was virtually absent with AZT alone. 4. The abortive action of ACV was markedly diminished in the group treated with the association AZT+ACV. 5. The deleterious effects of ACV on rat pregnancy are presumably due to its extraplacental actions, and these are, at least in part, counteracted by concomitant treatment with AZT.

[Chlamydia trachomatis infection and risk factors in pregnant women]. / Infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis e fatores de risco em gestantes.

INTRODUCTION: In order to assess the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy in São Paulo (Brazil), a group of 122 successive pregnant women (80 adults and 42 adolescents) attending the pre-natal care clinic of the Department of Obstetrics were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The exam consisted of an epidemiological survey, a complete obstetrical clinical examination and the assessment of the presence of C. trachomatis in the vagina by ELISA (Chlamydiazyme). RESULTS: A total of 11 women (9%) were positive, being 8 (10%) of them adults and 3 (7%) adolescents. CONCLUSION: In São Paulo the age of the patient as well as the marital status, the number of sexual partners, the existence of other sexually transmitted diseases, the presence of cervicitis or the occurrence of abortions could not be considered as risk factors for the presence of the Chlamydia trachomatis.

Action of diclofenac sodium on the reparation process of the surgically-perforated myometrium of pregnant albino rats: morphological and morphometrical evaluation.

1. The action of a non-hormonal anti-inflammatory agent on the reparation process of the surgically-perforated myometrium of pregnant albino rats was histologically evaluated. 2. On the 14th day after perforation, the muscular layers were still interrupted. 3. The morphological study was inconclusive. A morphometrical analysis, however, demonstrated that there was a meaningful diminution in the number of leucocytes and collagen fibers and an increase in the number of fibroblasts, probably with low synthetical power, in the group treated with diclofenac sodium. All these data indicate a delay in the reparation process of the uterine musculature.

[Ultrastructural aspects of the human uterine tube epithelium during menstrual cycle]. / Aspectos ultra-estruturais do epitélio da tuba uterina humana durante o ciclo menstrual.

PURPOSE: The authors perform an electron microscopy analysis of the human uterine tube epithelium during the menstrual cycle. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective, experimental. Site: São Paulo School of Medicine. PATIENTS: Four eumenorrheic multiparous patients, two in the proliferating stage, and two in the secreting stage of the cycle. INTERVENTIONS: PATIENTS were submitted to bilateral salpingectomy because they presented a high reproductive risk. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The authors evaluated ultrastructural aspects of the epithelium in the isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum. Two types of cells were identified: ciliated and non-ciliated or secretory. Secretory cells have more marked ultrastructural changes than ciliated cells during the cycle. In the luteal stage, secretory cells present quite developed and dilated endoplasmatic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, and numerous electro-lucent vesicles. They also verified that during the second stage of the cycle, the secretory cells in the ampullar region seems to release part of its cytoplasm in the tube lumen. CONCLUSIONS: The ampullar region of the uterine tube suffers greater hormonal influences than the other regions. Morphological changes occurring in the ampullar might have their role to play in the nutrition of the egg cell during the time it remains inside it.

[Morphologic and morphometric aspects of the uterine tube epithelium during the menstrual cycle]. / Aspectos morfológicos e morfométricos do epitélio da tuba uterina durante o ciclo menstrual.

PURPOSE: Under light microscopy, the authors observed the morphologic and morphometric features of the human uterine tube during the menstrual cycle. TYPE OF STUDY: Experimental, prospective study. SITE: Escola Paulista de Medicina. PATIENTS: Specimens obtained from ten eumenorrheic, multigesta patients, ages ranging from 22 to 35 years. INTERVENTION: They were all submitted to salpingectomy because they showed a high reproductive risk. They were operated during the proliferating and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The isthmus, ampullae and infundibulum were studied under light microscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The authors observed that the epithelium of the human tube has a single layer of cylindrical and ciliated cells. Three kinds of cells were present: ciliated, secretory, and non-differentiated. Height of the epithelium was uniform in the secretory phase, but not in the isthmus and ampullae. Images of mitosis were rarely seen. In the isthmus, the number of secretory cells predominated in both phases of the cycle; in the ampullae, the number of ciliated cells was increased in the proliferation phase, while secretory cells were proeminent in the lutheal phase. In the infundibulum and fimbrae, ciliated cells were increased. Morphometric features of human uterine epithelium were studied during the menstrual cycle and showed: 1) the height of the epithelium in the ampullae was significantly higher in the proliferating phase; 2) the number of secretory cells was significantly higher in the isthmus, while in the infundibulum ciliated cells were increased in number in both phases of the cycle. The number of ciliated cells in the ampullae was significantly higher in the proliferating phase while secretory cells predominated in the secretory phase; 3) The nuclear volume of ciliated and secretory cells is not statistically significant in all regions during the two phases of the cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The uterine tube epithelium shows cyclic modifications which are probably associated to its function in reproductive physiology.

Effects of dipyrone on the placenta of albino rats: morphological and biochemical aspects

The effect of dipyrone (N-2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-4-yl)-methyllamino methanesulfonate sodium monohydrate) on the placenta of 2 BAW albino rats was studied through Karyometry of trophoblastic giant cells and DNA, RNA and total protein determinations. The animals received a single daily dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight during different periods of pregnancy: from the 9th to the 12th, 11th to the 14th, 13th to the 16th, 15th to the 18th and 17th to the 20 thday. Control animals received a single daily dose of 0.5ml distilled water at the same time. Karyometric results showed a statistically significant increase in nuclear volumes of placental cells of rats receiving dipyrone during the first three periods, when compared to control groups. In the two groups that received the drug nearer to term there was no significant difference. Regarding DNA, RNA and total protein determinations, there was a statistically significant difference, for all of them, in the rats that received the drug from the 9th to the 12 th day of pregnancy when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the groups that received the drug after that period. The results show that dipyrone had a blocking effect on cell division and that this effect happens mainly in the initial period of placental development

Histochemical study on the behavior of glycogen and total lipids in pregnant albino rats and their progenies treated with naphazoline

The histochemical study of 25 pregnant rats liver submitted to nasal drop instillation of saline and naphazoline at increasing concentrations, at the 19th day pregnancy, showed glycogen decrease and total lipid increase, only at a concentration of 1:1,000 of naphazoline. In this group occured also an increase of fetal liver lipids.

Aspectos ultra-estruturais do colo uterino da rata no final de prenhez, parto e pos-parto imediato. / Ultrastructural aspects of uterine cervix of rats at the term of pregnancy, labor and immediate postpartum

Os autores apresentam uma analise ultra-estrutural dos fibroblastos e macrofagos presentes no colo uterino da rata, no final da prenhez, parto e pos-parto imediato A observacao das eletromicrografias constatou, a partir do 1o. dia pos-parto, nos fibroblastos, a presenca de vesiculas intracitoplasmaticas contendo fibrilas colagenas em varios estagios de reabsorcao, apoiando, assim, a hipotese de que os fibroblastos tambem atuam na degradacao do colageno cervical

Aspectos ultra-estruturais do endometrio da rata no final da prenhez parto e pos-parto imediato. / Ultra-structural aspects of endometrium during late pregnancy and postpartum of the rat

Os autores apresentam uma analise ultraestrutural dos fibroblastos e macrofagos presentes no endometrio da rata no final da prenhez, parto e pos-parto imediato. O estudo das eletromicrografias mostrou, a partir do 1o. dia pos-parto, nos fibroblastos, a presenca de vesiculas intracitoplasmaticas contendo fibrilas colagenas em varios estadios de reabsorcao. Estes achados sugerem que os fibroblastos, alem de sintetizarem as moleculas do colageno, sao tambem os responsaveis pela sua reabsorcao. A atividade dos macrofagos por sua vez, esta relacionada com a fagocitose dos restos celulares

Aspectos ultra-estruturais da vagina da rata ooforectomizada sob o efeito de dose unica de dietilestilbestrol. / Ultrastructural aspects of the vagina of ovariectomized rat under the effect of single dose of diethylstilbestrol

Ratas ooforectomizadas receberam injecao subcutanea de 1 mg de dietilestilbestrol no 21o. dia apos a intervencao. Grupos de 5 animais foram sacrificados 12, 24 e 48 horas apos a administrcao do hormonio e fragmentos de vagina foram analisados ao microscopio eletronico. No decorrer do experimento, observou-se que ha diminuicao do numero de leucocitos no epitelio e lamina propria, assim como desaparecimento das vesiculas superficiais. Apos 48 horas o epitelio encontra-se queratinizado e a lamina propria apresenta numerosos fibroblastos estabelecendo contatos entre si, alem da presenca de plasmocitos