Immunohematological features of free-living Alouatta belzebul (Linnaeus, 1766) red-handed howler monkeys in the Eastern Amazon.

The red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul) is one of the 35 threatened Brazilian primate species found in two highly endangered Brazilian biomes. Their Amazonian native populations have been declining due to exponential deforestation associated with human activities, especially the construction of dams. The studied population (n = 27) was located in the Belo Monte dam Area of Influence. For the first time, we presented hematological parameters and the basic profile of T (CD3) and B (BSAP PAX5) cells by immunocytochemistry. The results supported the hypothesis that the immuno-hematological profile is influenced by sex, age, and season. Eosinophils were significantly higher in females (p = 0.03), monocytes statistically greater in juveniles (p = 0.04), and total plasma protein increased significantly (p > 0.001) during the dry season. Furthermore, adults showed a statistically higher average absolute number of B lymphocytes than young individuals (p = 0.03), in contrast to T lymphocytes. Even without knowing the full history of antigenic exposure, these results not only contribute to elucidating the boundaries between health and disease but may help lay the groundwork for future research into the effects of anthropogenic stress on immune activation.

Functional and Structural Evaluation of Sildenafil in a Rat Model of Acute Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

PURPOSE: Retinal ischemia is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. Sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor which inhibits cGMP degradation and in turn prolongs the effect of nitric oxide, has been shown to be protective in a number of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries, as well as in neuronal damage. We hypothesized that treatment with sildenafil might be neuroprotective in a model of acute retinal I/R injury. METHODS: Anterior chamber cannulation was performed to induce unilateral I/R injury in 38 Lewis rats. Animals received intraperitoneal injections of sildenafil (0.5 and 1 mg/kg once a day, for a period of 7 and 18 days, respectively), or saline. Electroretinography recordings, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts following retrograde labeling with fluorogold, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antibodies against PDE5, NOS2, caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 were conducted. RESULTS: No significant differences in electroretinography, RGC counts, or retinal morphometry were observed between experimental eyes of sildenafil- and saline-treated animals. A tendency toward less necrosis in histopathology, and a slight trend toward lower PDE5, NOS2, and caspase-9 and higher Bcl-2 IHC scores were evident in experimental retinas of sildenafil-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Electroretinography, RGC counts, and retinal morphometry failed to show any neuroprotective effect of sildenafil in acute retinal I/R injury in rats. A slight positive effect of sildenafil was qualitatively indicated by histopathology and IHC.

Emprego do cell block de agarose como método complementar no diagnóstico citológico de tumores mamários caninos / Employment of cell block of agarose as additional method in the cytological diagnosis of canine mammary tumors

Os tumores mamários são neoplasias comuns em diversas espécies, sendo os processos oncológicos de maior incidência em cães. A elevada frequência e agressividade desses processos justificam a busca de métodos diagnósticos e prognósticos rápidos, de custo reduzido e menor invasividade, visando a uma abordagem cirúrgica e terapêutica adequada. O presente estudo avaliou a adequação da utilização da técnica de cell block de agarose como método diagnóstico complementar aos esfregaços tradicionais no diagnóstico desses processos. Para tanto, foram obtidas 51 amostras citológicas de tumores mamários de 30 cadelas que passaram por excisão tumoral no HOVET-UMESP, comparando-se os resultados obtidos a partir dos esfregaços, de cell blocks, e de sua associação (esfregaços cell blocks-1) com o diagnóstico histopatológico. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos mediante a associação dos métodos, reduzindo os resultados falso-negativos e elevando a correlação cito-histológica, reforçando a importância da citologia na rotina oncológica veterinária.

The breast tumors are common neoplasms in several species, with high incidence in dogs. The high frequency and aggressiveness of these cases justifies the search for rapid, low cost and less invasive diagnostic methods, seeking for surgical approach and appropriate therapy. This study evaluated the appropriateness of the use of the agarose cell block technique as a diagnostic tool to complement traditional smears in the diagnosis of these processes. Therefore, it was obtained 51 samples from 30 dogs with breast tumors that underwent tumoral excision at the HOVET-UMESP, comparing the results obtained from smears, cell blocks, alone and in association (smears cell blocks-1), with the histopathologic diagnosis. The best results were obtained with the association of smears and cell block analysis, reducing the false negative results and increasing the cyto-histological correlation, reinforcing the importance of the use of cytology in routine veterinary oncology.