A technique to obtain fibroblast cells from skin biopsies of living bats (Chiroptera) for cytogenetic studies

We developed a procedure to obtain fibroblasts from bat skin. A small fragment of the ear is removed under ether anesthesia. This material is then cut up into small pieces and cultured in standard cell culture media. Very good quality chromosome preparations for cytogenetic studies are obtained in about three weeks. Secondary cultures can be used for other biological studies. This procedure does not require sacrificing the animals

Immune response to vaccine against influenza in smokers, non-smokers and, in individuals holding respiratory complications.

Levels of antibody against influenza virus were evaluated in serum pairing samples from individuals immunized against influenza by Hemagglutination Inhibition and Single Radial Hemolysis tests. For this purpose, groups of smokers, non-smokers and, of those holding respiratory complications, were formed. Results of serologic titrations pointed out to an increase in the level of antibodies for the smoker and non-smoker groups, with significant degrees of difference up to P < 0.001 difference between both averages after immunization. However, in the group of respiratory complications no significant differences (P > 0.05) were found out between the averages antibody levels for the subtype A (H1N1) and the Type B (vaccine components); an increase only at the level of antibodies was registered, with differences among the averages of the antibody levels, for the subtype A (H3N2) (vaccine component) at degrees of P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 on the titration of the SRH and HI tests, respectively. It can demonstrate that immunization against influenza presents a good protection for the smoker and non-smoker groups; however, in the group of respiratory complications it only occurred with the subtype A (H3N2), indicating that this subtype presents good antigenicity since it has induced better formation of antibodies, even in defective organisms.

[Results of intracerebral inoculation of the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson disease in experimental animals]. / Resultados das inoculações intracerebrais de líquido cefalorraquiano de parkinsonianos em animais de experimentações.

Intracerebral inoculation of parkinsonian's cerebrospinal fluid were carried out in 720 mice, under strict observation during 48 weeks. The inoculations led to a mortality rate of 157 mice (21.8%), being 31% (76) in the first, 17% (41) in the second, and 16% (40) after the third one. High mortality rates occurred, most prevalent in the first inoculation and during the first 7 weeks. Dendrite tumefaction and disintegration as well as nerve cell swelling were the ultrastructural changes observed in the brain of mice.