Diet-tissue discrimination factors (Δ(13) C and Δ(15) N) and turnover rate in somatic tissues of a neotropical detritivorous fish on C3 and C4 diets.

In this study, diet-tissue discrimination factors and turnover rates were determined from the somatic tissues of a detritivorous fish Prochilodus lineatus. The carbon (Δ(13) C) and nitrogen (Δ(15) N) diet-tissue discrimination factors varied for all feed rations with a range of Δ(13) C values between -1·9 and 3·6‰ and Δ(15) N between 3·3 and 5·7‰. Carbon turnover rate in the blood was 23·1 days for the C3 ration and 34·7 days for the C4 ration, in the liver was 9·9 days under the C3 ration and nitrogen turnover rate was the same (23·1 days) in the liver for both C4 and C3 -C4 rations, and 13·9 days in the muscle for C3 -C4 ration.

Testes fitoquímicos em extratos foliares de Oeceoclades maculata Lindl. (Orchidaceae) / Phytochemical tests in Oeceoclades maculata Lindl. (Orchidaceae) leaf extracts

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a capacidade antioxidante de Oeceoclades maculata. A atividade foi determinada de acordo com a capacidade do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas reduzir o radical DPPH. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que os conteúdos de polifenóis e flavonas/flavonóis são maiores no extrato preparado a frio (EBHF) do que no extrato preparado a quente (EBHQ), sugerindo que o aquecimento usado na preparação do extrato altera esses componentes ativos. Portanto, para esta espécie deve ser realizado o método de extração a frio para conservar as substâncias que possuem atividade antioxidante.

This work aimed to determine the antioxidant capacity of Oeceoclades maculata. The antioxidant activity was determined in accordance with the ability of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves to reduce the DPPH radical. The results showed that the polyphenol and flavonoid contents are greater in the cold extract (EBHF) than in the hot extract (EBHQ), which suggests that the heating effect in the preparation of the extract modifies these active compounds. Therefore, for this species, the cold extraction method must be carried in order to conserve the substances with antioxidant activity.

The influence of fish cage culture on delta13C and delta15N of filter-feeding Bivalvia (Mollusca) / A influência dos tanques rede sobre o delta13C e delta15N de uma espécie filtradora Bivalvia (Mollusca)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Oreochromis niloticus cage culture promoted variations in the 13C and 15N in Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca; Bivalvia) and in the sediment of an aquatic food web. Samples were taken before and after net cage installation in the Rosana Reservoir (Paranapanema River, PR-SP). Samples of specimens of the bivalve filterer C. fluminea and samples of sediment were collected using a modified Petersen grab. All samples were dried in an oven (60 °C) for 72 hours, macerated to obtain homogenous fine powders and sent for carbon (delta13C) and nitrogen (delta15N) isotopic value analysis in a mass spectrometer. There were significant differences in the delta13C and delta15N values of the invertebrate C. fluminea between the beginning and the end of the experiment. There were no differences between the delta13C and delta15N values of sediment. These results indicate that the installation of fish cage culture promoted impacts in the isotopic composition of the aquatic food web organisms, which could exert influence over the native species and the ecosystem.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do cultivo de Oreochromis niloticus em tanques rede sobre os valores de 13C e 15N em tecidos Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca; Bivalvia) e no sedimento da cadeia alimentar aquática. As amostragens foram realizadas em períodos prévios e posteriores a instalação de tanques redes no reservatório de Rosana (Rio Paranapanema, PR-SP). As amostras de espécimes de bivalves filtradores exóticos e as de sedimento foram coletadas utilizando uma versão modificada do pegador tipo Petersen. Todas as amostras foram secas em estufa (60 °C) durante 72 horas, maceradas até obtenção de pó fino e homogêneo e enviadas para determinação do carbono (delta13C) e do nitrogênio (delta15N) em espectrofotômetro de massa. Houve diferenças significativas nos valores delta13C e delta15N do invertebrado C. fluminea entre o início e o fim do experimento. Entretanto, não foram evidenciadas diferenças nos valores delta13C e delta15N presente no sedimento. Estes resultados demonstram que a instalação dos tanques rede promoveram impactos na composição isotópica do invertebrado, que podem influenciar as espécies nativas e o ecossistema.

The influence of fish cage culture on 13C and 15N of filter-feeding Bivalvia (Mollusca)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Oreochromis niloticus cage culture promoted variations in the 13C and 15N in Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca; Bivalvia) and in the sediment of an aquatic food web. Samples were taken before and after net cage installation in the Rosana Reservoir (Paranapanema River, PR-SP). Samples of specimens of the bivalve filterer C. fluminea and samples of sediment were collected using a modified Petersen grab. All samples were dried in an oven (60 °C) for 72 hours, macerated to obtain homogenous fine powders and sent for carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15N) isotopic value analysis in a mass spectrometer. There were significant differences in the 13C and 15N values of the invertebrate C. fluminea between the beginning and the end of the experiment. There were no differences between the 13C and 15N values of sediment. These results indicate that the installation of fish cage culture promoted impacts in the isotopic composition of the aquatic food web organisms, which could exert influence over the native species and the ecosystem.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do cultivo de Oreochromis niloticus em tanques rede sobre os valores de 13C e 15N em tecidos Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca; Bivalvia) e no sedimento da cadeia alimentar aquática. As amostragens foram realizadas em períodos prévios e posteriores a instalação de tanques redes no reservatório de Rosana (Rio Paranapanema, PR-SP). As amostras de espécimes de bivalves filtradores exóticos e as de sedimento foram coletadas utilizando uma versão modificada do pegador tipo Petersen. Todas as amostras foram secas em estufa (60 °C) durante 72 horas, maceradas até obtenção de pó fino e homogêneo e enviadas para determinação do carbono (13C) e do nitrogênio (15N) em espectrofotômetro de massa. Houve diferenças significativas nos valores 13C e 15N do invertebrado C. fluminea entre o início e o fim do experimento. Entretanto, não foram evidenciadas diferenças nos valores 13C e 15N presente no sedimento. Estes resultados demonstram que a instalação dos tanques rede promoveram impactos na composição isotópica do invertebrado, que podem influenciar as espécies nativas e o ecossistema.

The influence of fish cage culture on δ13C and δ15N of filter-feeding Bivalvia (Mollusca).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Oreochromis niloticus cage culture promoted variations in the δ13C and δ15N in Corbicula fluminea (Mollusca; Bivalvia) and in the sediment of an aquatic food web. Samples were taken before and after net cage installation in the Rosana Reservoir (Paranapanema River, PR-SP). Samples of specimens of the bivalve filterer C. fluminea and samples of sediment were collected using a modified Petersen grab. All samples were dried in an oven (60 °C) for 72 hours, macerated to obtain homogenous fine powders and sent for carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic value analysis in a mass spectrometer. There were significant differences in the δ13C and δ15N values of the invertebrate C. fluminea between the beginning and the end of the experiment. There were no differences between the δ13C and δ15N values of sediment. These results indicate that the installation of fish cage culture promoted impacts in the isotopic composition of the aquatic food web organisms, which could exert influence over the native species and the ecosystem.

Isotopic fractionation and trophic position of zooplankton species in the Upper Paraná River floodplain.

This study aimed to evaluate the isotopic fractionation and trophic position of three zooplankton species (Notodiaptomus amazonicus, Moina minuta and Bosmina hagmanni) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. We predict that phytoplankton is the main food resource used by these species. Three zooplankton samples and three phytoplankton samples were taken from each sampling site, with three to four samples collected for each species. The number of individuals for samples varied according to the body size: from 100 to 130 individuals for Notodiaptomus amazonicus; 150 to 200 for Moina minuta; and from 250 to 300 for Bosmina hagmanni. The isotopic values for δ13C and δ15N were determined using mass spectrophotometer. The isotopic fractionation of 13C was performed according to the relationship Δ = δ13C zooplankton - δ13C phytoplankton. To determine the possible trophic position of these species, we used the expression TL = (δ15N zooplankton - δ15N phytoplankton)/Δ+ 1. The species showed high variation in isotopic fractionation and in trophic position in the different environments. We verified that the species use other food resources in addition to phytoplankton. The elucidation and understanding of the trophic position of the organisms based on stable isotopic analysis offers complementary information to traditional techniques. This analysis helps explain the flow of matter and energy in the food chain of floodplain aquatic environments as well as trace the trophic relationships involved in the ecological roles and strategies of distinct species.

Trophic position of bottom-feeding fish in the Upper Paraná River floodplain.

The delta15N composition of bottom-feeding fish (iliophagous = Apareiodon affinis, Cyphocharax nagelii, Prochilodus lineatus, Steindachnerina brevipinna and S. insculpta; detritivorous = Loricariichthys platymetopon and Liposarcus anisitsi; benthophagous = Satanoperca pappaterra and Hoplosternum littorale) and their primary food sources were investigated in the upper Paraná River floodplain during rainy seasons in different environments (lotic and lentic). Two hypotheses were tested: i) that the trophic position and isotopic values of the investigated organisms (fish and food resources) vary spatially; and ii) that trophic position and isotopic compositions differ among iliophagous, detritivorous and benthophagous fish. C4 macrophytes, periphyton and phytoplankton were isotopically different in sites analyzed. Significant isotopic differences occurred in the species of each trophic category. Spatial differences were observed in the isotopic composition of P. lineatus and L. platymetopon, whose values were more enriched in the Paraná River and Pau Véio Lake. Significant spatial differences in trophic position were observed for L. platymetopon and H. littorale, which presented the highest values in the Paraná and Baía rivers, respectively. Trophic positions were significantly different among the species that composed each trophic category. These findings demonstrate that in energy-flow studies in detrital food chains generalizations concerning the grouping of fish into trophic categories and/or habitats should only be carried out after careful investigations of the local/specific trophic dynamics of the organisms.

Trophic position of bottom-feeding fish in the Upper Paraná River floodplain

The 15N composition of bottom-feeding fish (iliophagous = Apareiodon affinis, Cyphocharax nagelii, Prochilodus lineatus, Steindachnerina brevipinna and S. insculpta; detritivorous = Loricariichthys platymetopon and Liposarcus anisitsi; benthophagous = Satanoperca pappaterra and Hoplosternum littorale) and their primary food sources were investigated in the upper Paraná River floodplain during rainy seasons in different environments (lotic and lentic). Two hypotheses were tested: i) that the trophic position and isotopic values of the investigated organisms (fish and food resources) vary spatially; and ii) that trophic position and isotopic compositions differ among iliophagous, detritivorous and benthophagous fish. C4 macrophytes, periphyton and phytoplankton were isotopically different in sites analyzed. Significant isotopic differences occurred in the species of each trophic category. Spatial differences were observed in the isotopic composition of P. lineatus and L. platymetopon, whose values were more enriched in the Paraná River and Pau Véio Lake. Significant spatial differences in trophic position were observed for L. platymetopon and H. littorale, which presented the highest values in the Paraná and Baía rivers, respectively. Trophic positions were significantly different among the species that composed each trophic category. These findings demonstrate that in energy-flow studies in detrital food chains generalizations concerning the grouping of fish into trophic categories and/or habitats should only be carried out after careful investigations of the local/specific trophic dynamics of the organisms.

A composição de 15N de peixes exploradores de fundo (iliófagos = Apareiodon affinis, Cyphocharax nagelii, Prochilodus lineatus, Steindachnerina brevipinna e S. insculpta; detritívoros = Loricariichthys platymetopon e Liposarcus anisitsi; e bentófagos = Satanoperca pappaterra e Hoplosternum littorale) e suas fontes alimentares foram investigadas na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná durante a estação de chuvas em ambientes lóticos e lênticos. Duas hipóteses foram testadas: i) que a posição trófica e os valores isotópicos dos organismos investigados (peixes e fontes alimentares) variam espacialmente; e ii) que a posição trófica e a composição isotópica diferem entre os peixes iliófagos, detritívoros e bentófagos. Macrofitas C4, perifíton e fitoplâncton foram isotopicamente diferentes entre os locais analisados. Diferenças isotópicas ocorreram entre as espécies de cada categoria trófica. Diferenças espaciais foram observadas na composição isotópica de P. lineatus e L. platymetopon, as quais tiveram valores mais enriquecidos no rio Paraná e ressaco do Pau Véio. Diferenças espaciais significativas nas posições tróficas foram verificadas para L. platymetopon e H. littorale, as quais apresentaram os maiores valores nos rios Paraná e Baía, respectivamente. As posições tróficas foram significativamente diferentes entre as espécies que compuseram cada categoria trófica. Estes resultados demonstram que em estudos de fluxo de energia em cadeias alimentares detritais generalizações a respeito do agrupamento de peixes em categorias tróficas e/ ou habitats devem ser conduzidos somente após investigações criteriosas da dinâmica trófica local/ específica dos organismos.

Arterite de Takayasu: estudo clínico e angiográfico / Clinical and angiographic features of Takayasu's arteritis

Os autores descrevem os dados clínicos e angiográficos de pacientes com arterite de Takayasu (AT) atendidos no Ambulatório Multidisciplinar de Vasculites da Unifesp/Hospital Säo Paulo entre 1993 e 1997. Foram atendidos 34 pacientes (28 mulheres, 20 de cor branca) com AT. A média de idade por ocasiäo do diagnóstico foi de 27,7 anos e o tempo de doença variou de 2 a 360 meses (mediana de 41 meses). As queixas clínicas por ocasiäo do diagnóstico foram: claudicaçäo de membros superiores em 32 por cento, claudicaçäo de membros inferiores em 23 por cento, emagrecimento em 15 por cento, febre em 15 por cento, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva em 9 por cento, cefaléia em 6 por cento, hipertensäo arterial em 6 por cento e dor precordial em 6 por cento. Durante o seguimento, 60,7 por cento apresentaram ausência ou diminuiçäo de pulso em membro superior, 56 por cento tinham diferença de pressäo arterial > 10 mmHg em membros superiores, 53 por cento tinham sopros arteriais e 29 por cento apresentavam sopros cardíacos. A classificaçäo angiográfica proposta em 1994 para arterite de Takayasu foi aplicada a 28 pacientes com pan-angiografia, que foram classificados como tipo I em 21,4 por cento, tipo IIa em 3,6 por cento, tipo III em 3,6 por cento, tipo IV em 14,3 por cento e tipo V em 57,1 por cento. Nenhum paciente foi classificado como tipo IIb. Três famílias apresentavam mais de um caso de AT: duas famílias com mäe e filha e uma com duas irmäs com AT. Os pacientes com AT atendidos em nosso serviço mostraram grande predomínio da doença em mulheres; 21 por cento dos pacientes apresentavam comprometimento exclusivo dos ramos do arco aórtico (tipo I). Esse padräo de comprometimento é semelhante ao relatado em pacientes japoneses e difere do descrito em pacientes com AT na +ndia

Melanin formation in the inner ear is catalyzed by a new tyrosine hydroxylase kinetically and structurally different from tyrosinase.

Detergent solubilized extracts of the cochleae of adult gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) contain a tyrosine hydroxylase activity measurable by the radiometric method of Pomerantz. This activity is not related to Fenton-type reactions, since it is not inhibited by free radical scavengers and is heat and protease sensitive. It does not appear to be related to a peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) since it is neither dependent on H2O2, nor inhibited by catalase (EC 1.11.1.6). The involvement of a tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2) related to catecholamine synthesis is also unlikely, since the activity is highly sensitive to 2-mercaptoethanol and is not increased by addition of tetrahydrobiopterin. The activity in crude inner ear extracts displayed an unusual maturation behaviour, with a slow activation upon aging at 4 degrees C. Fully active enzyme displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a Km for L-tyrosine of 47 microM. Cochlear tyrosine hydroxylase, but not melanoma tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1), was inhibited by o-phenanthroline, and was not dependent on L-DOPA as cofactor for full enzymatic activity. Crude extracts were also able to catalyze L-DOPA oxidation and melanin formation from either L-tyrosine or L-DOPA. The tyrosine hydroxylase, DOPA oxidase and melanin formation activities most probably resided in the same molecule, as suggested by inhibition studies. A tyrosine hydroxylase and melanin formation activity with identical properties was found in primary cultures of stria vascularis melanocytes. Immunochemical evidence confirmed the absence of either the tyrosinase encoded for by the albino locus, or the tyrosinase isoenzyme TRP1, encoded for by the brown locus. Conversely, an immunorreactive band of molecular weight 70 kDa was specifically recognized by a tyrosinase polyclonal antiserum in Western blot experiments. These results prove that melanogenesis in the cochlea, and likely in other extracutaneous locations such as the brain, is catalyzed by enzymatic systems different from, but related to tyrosinase.

Evaluation of zone electrophoresis of serum proteins performed on the Helena Laboratories rapid electrophoresis analyser.

Zone electrophoresis of serum proteins is still widely performed as a routine procedure in clinical laboratories. It is used in the diagnosis and management of many disorders, e.g. monoclonal gammopathies, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, acute-phase reaction, immunoglobulin deficiency and others. The aim of this work is to evaluate the analytical performance of zone electrophoresis of serum proteins carried out in the Helena Laboratories Rapid Electrophoresis analyser (REP) comparing the results with those obtained in the Olympus Hite System 200 (HS-200). The REP system employs agarose gel as support medium, the HS-200 system employs cellulose acetate and it is the routine method in our laboratory. To date, we have not found any paper that deals with the assessment of a system for performing zone electrophoresis of serum proteins in terms of comparison with another.

Biochemical characterization of the melanogenic system in the eye of adult rodents.

The melanogenic activities in the eye of the adult gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) have been investigated and compared to those found in the B16 mouse melanoma model. Eye extracts contain tyrosine hydroxylase, DOPA oxidase, DOPAchrome tautomerase and DHICA oxidase activities. The subcellular distribution of these activities was investigated by differential centrifugation and detergent solubilization of the particulate fractions. The distribution pattern closely resembled the one found for mouse melanoma, with a higher percentage of activity associated to the particulate fractions but a substantial proportion in the cytosolic fraction. The tyrosine hydroxylase activity was characterized by a KM of 62 microM for L-tyrosine and a stringent requirement for the co-factor L-DOPA (Ka 10.3 microM). The KM for L-DOPA was 0.41 mM. The sensitivity of the eye and mouse melanoma tyrosinase activity to a variety of substrate analogs and metal chelators was found to be identical. In keeping with these kinetic similarities, eye tyrosinase displayed some structural properties resembling those of the melanoma enzyme. The molecular weight of the enzyme, determined by SDS-PAGE and DOPA oxidase activity stain, was 75 kDa for the eye enzyme and 66.2 kDa for melanoma tyrosinase, and both enzymes were apparently dimeric in non ionic detergent solution. Immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies proved that at least 80% of the total tyrosinase activity could be immunoprecipitated with the specific anti-tyrosinase antibody alpha PEP7, while the anti-TRP-1 monoclonal antibody TMH-1 precipitated little, if any, tyrosinase activity. Taken together, these observations provide the first vis-à-vis comparison of an extracutaneous melanogenic system and the melanogenic system of melanoma. Our results prove that, at least in rodents, the melanogenic system in the eye is similar, but not identical, to the melanin biosynthesis machinery of epidermal melanocytes.

Melatonin antagonizes alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone enhancement of melanogenesis in mouse melanoma cells by blocking the hormone-induced accumulation of the c locus tyrosinase.

Melatonin was found to have a small inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity and a slight stimulatory action on dopachrome tautomerase activity in B16 mouse melanoma cells. These effects were time and dose dependent, with the maximal response being observed after 24-48 h treatment and at concentrations of melatonin higher than the physiologic levels of the circulating hormone. Although these effects on the melanogenic activities were modest, incubation of melanocytes with melatonin prior to the addition of the melanotropin mediated a dramatic inhibition of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-(alpha-MSH)-induced melanogenesis. This inhibitory effect was evident at melatonin concentrations as low as 10 nM. Inhibition was nearly total at 0.1 mM melatonin, even at high concentrations of alpha-MSH (1 microM). The inhibitory effect of melatonin on alpha-MSH stimulation of melanogenesis was investigated. Melatonin appeared to act at least at two stages. Pharmacological concentrations of melatonin diminished the number of alpha-MSH receptors to about 75% of the control values without an apparent effect on receptor affinity, as determined by receptor-binding studies using 125I-[N-Leu4-D-Phe7]alpha-MSH as a probe. Physiological concentrations of melatonin also appeared to interfere with the intracellular events coupling increased cAMP levels and induction of the c locus tyrosinase, since it strongly inhibited the theophylline-mediated stimulation of melanogenesis. The inhibition of tyrosinase stimulation was higher in the microsomal than in the melanosomal fractions of cells which were treated with melatonin, then exposed to either alpha-MSH (1 microM) or theophylline (1 mM), suggesting that one of the main effects of melatonin might be inhibition of the induction of tyrosinase de novo synthesis.