Morfometria de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied) (Diptera: Tephritidae) relacionada a hospedeiros nativos, Myrtaceae / Morphometry of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied) (Diptera: Tephritidae) related to native Myrtaceae hosts

A mosca-das-frutas, Anastrepha fraterculus, tem, como principais hospedeiros primários, frutos de Myrtaceae. O tamanho do inseto pode ser indicador de aptidão e fecundidade, sendo os estudos morfométricos utilizados para auxiliar nestas identificações. Este trabalho objetivou verificar a associação entre peso dos frutos, pupários e tamanho das asas das moscas-das-frutas que se desenvolveram em diferentes mirtáceas. Foram amostrados frutos de araçazeiro-amarelo, araçazeiro-vermelho, goiabeira e goiabeira-serrana em cinco árvores de cada espécie. Os frutos foram pesados e os pupários oriundos destes pesados e individualizados. Registrou-se o número, sexo e área total da asa direita das moscas. Comparou-se o peso médio dos frutos, dos pupários e o tamanho de asas. O peso médio dos pupários foi maior em goiaba e araçá-vermelho. A maior área média de asa foi registrada nos indivíduos emergidos de goiabas e a menor, nos de araçá-amarelo. O peso dos frutos e dos pupários em araçá-amarelo, vermelho e goiaba-serrana não apresentaram associação significativa. Nas goiabeiras, a correlação entre o peso dos frutos e o dos pupários foi negativa. O peso dos frutos e a área da asa das moscas provenientes das espécies de mirtáceas não evidenciaram correlação. Os resultados indicam que a mosca é capaz de desenvolver-se de forma semelhante nas espécies de mirtáceas amostradas.

The fruit-fly Anastrepha fraterculus uses the myrtacean fruits as its main primary hosts. The insect size might be an indicator of aptitude and fecundity, and morphometric studies are used to help in those identifications. This study aimed to verify the association among fruit weight, puparial weight and wing size of fruit-flies that developed in different myrtacean species. Yellow strawberry guava, cattle guava, guava and feijoa fruits were sampled from 5 trees of each species. The fruits were weighed, and the puparia originated from them were also weighed and individualized. The number, gender and total right-wing area of the flies were registered. Mean fruit and puparial weights and wing sizes were compared. Mean puparial weight was higher in guava and cattle guava. The largest mean wing area was recorded for individuals from guavas; the smallest, for those from yellow strawberry guava. The fruit and puparial weights did not present a significant association in yellow strawberry guava, cattle guava and feijoa. In guavas, the correlation between fruit and puparial weights was negative. The fruit weight and wing area in all myrtacean species did not show any correlation. These results indicate the fly is able to develop similarly in all sampled myrtacean species.

Clinical implications of rhinoceros reproductive tract anatomy and histology.

Reproductive tracts or tissues from five male black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), two male white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum), two male one-horned Asian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis), seven female black rhinoceroses, and six female white rhinoceroses from multiple institutions were examined to characterize their anatomy and histology. Some observations and measurements were obtained from in situ tracts of intact animals before or during necropsy. Formalin-fixed tissues were dissected and examined histologically. Retrospective reproductive data from each rhinoceros was obtained from the institutions of origin. Reproductive histology of these species was similar to that of other mammals. Male accessory gland structure varied among species, and the Asian rhinoceros epididymis was more loosely attached and had larger duct diameters than did the epididymides of the African species. Although histology was typically mammalian, rhinoceros reproductive morphology combined characteristics of several different mammals. Defining this unique morphology of rhinoceroses may help in understanding their reproductive physiology and will effect the development of appropriate reproductive techniques.

Ultrasonographic monitoring of artificially stimulated ejaculation in three rhinoceros species (Ceratotherium simum, Diceros bicornis, Rhinoceros unicornus).

Manual massage of the penis and rectal electroejaculation methods have been minimally effective for collecting semen from the rhinoceros. These two methods for stimulating ejaculation were evaluated by rectal ultrasonography. One individual each of three rhinoceros species (Ceratotherium simum simum, Rhinoceros unicornis and Diceros bicornis) was stimulated by manual massage of the penis and two black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) were electroejaculated. On ultrasonography, neither manual massage nor rectal electroejaculation affected the accessory glands. The pelvic urethra remained empty during manual massage of unconditioned animals; however, this area was filled before commencement of massage of conditioned animals. The pelvic urethra also filled during electroejaculation. Semen accumulated in the pelvic urethra during pauses between electrical stimulations and was moved distally into the penile urethra by rectal and penile massage. The volumes of seminal fluid recovered from electroejaculation in this study exceeded previously reported attempts. This study demonstrated the potential of transrectal imaging for improving the recovery of semen by these methods.

Strategies for ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval in the lowland gorilla.

PURPOSE: Ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval were performed in a lowland gorilla in an attempt to propagate and potentially cryopreserve embryos from an infertile animal and to advance techniques to help preserve this endangered species. RESULTS: Following 34 days of leuprolide acetate suppression, human menopausal gonadotropins were administered for 14-days in a 32-year-old wild-born lowland gorilla. Ten oocytes were retrieved by transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration. Other approaches to oocyte recovery were not feasible in this case. A serum estradiol concentration of 4700 pg/ml at the time of human chorionic gonadotropin administration did not induce ovarian hyperstimulation. Mature oocytes were recovered from follicles measuring 14 to 24 mm in diameter, with a corresponding average serum estradiol concentration of approximately 300 pg/ml for each mature follicle. Cryopreservation of a gorilla embryo was effected from cryopreserved gorilla spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS: Parameters for monitoring ovulation induction in the gorilla appear to be similar to those for humans. The results indicate that the use of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and higher doses of gonadotropins than previously used in gorillas appear to improve oocyte recovery.

Repetitive relationship themes in waking narratives and dreams.

The aims of the study were to see whether the core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT) measure can be reliably applied to dreams and to evaluate the degree to which the main components of the CCRT are present in both dreams and waking narratives in psychotherapy. For 13 psychoanalytic cases, the reliability of the CCRT was found to be good. Dreams and narratives were found to contain significant degrees of similarity in their CCRT components and similar and high level of negativity in both dreams and waking narratives. The results support the concept of a central relationship pattern that can be expressed in common in both waking narratives and dreams.

In vitro fertilization and gamete micromanipulation in the lowland gorilla.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to utilize current reproductive technologies to treat an infertile female lowland gorilla. RESULTS: Following pituitary down-regulation with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and follicular stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropins, transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian follicles yielded nine oocytes. Following failed fertilization with both epididymal and electroejaculated sperm, zona dissection and sperm injection were performed and produced one embryo, which was cryopreserved. Immature oocytes were obtained from ovarian sections and were either cultured in vitro or cryopreserved. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrates that in vitro fertilization techniques, including pituitary suppression, ultrasound-guided aspiration, micromanipulation, and cryopreservation, can be used to assist reproduction in the lowland gorilla.

Laparoscopic myomectomy.

Laparoscopic myomectomy was performed on 154 women, with minimal perioperative complications resulting. Small and single leiomyomata were managed more easily than multiple and larger tumors. Although suturing the excisional sites improved healing, it increased the incidence of adhesion formation. We conclude that laparoscopic myomectomy can be a safe and cost-effective alternative to laparotomy when performed by a skilled operative laparoscopist, but only in selected cases.

Maintaining a balanced treatment approach with the borderline patient.

There has been an ongoing controversy in the nature of the recommended treatment for the borderline personality disorder early in therapy. Kernberg emphasizes the negative features of the transference early in therapy and recommends dealing with it primarily by interpretation, confrontation, and limit setting. Adler views the transference early in therapy as primarily reflecting subjectively perceived breakdowns in needed self-object merger, and recommends creating a symbolic holding environment through empathy and support. Gunderson devotes more equal emphasis to empathizing with and challenging the patient's point of view. The balance between empathy and confrontation is difficult to maintain because of the counter-transference pull of the borderline. In order to avoid bias toward empathic or confrontive treatment strategies, it is argued that one must pay special attention to the extent to which the therapist understands the plausibility and adaptiveness of the borderline patient's experience and behaviour as readily as the implausibility and maladaptiveness.

Viable spermatozoa in the bladder after electroejaculation of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus).

The bladder of 6 lion-tailed macaques was emptied and flushed with sterile saline. TALP-Hepes buffer was infused and the animals were electroejaculated. After electroejaculation, the semen quality was determined in the ejaculate and the bladder infusate. Of the 15 ejaculates analysed, a mean (+/- s.e.m.) sperm count of 133.8 (+/- 30.7) x 10(6) with 69.5 (+/- 6.0)% motility was obtained in the infusate as compared to the sperm count of 72.4 (+/- 38.6) x 10(6) with significantly lower (47.7 +/- 5.8%) motility in the ejaculate.