Léa Resende Moura

Chondrogenesis of the limbs and mesopodial ossification of Podocnemis expansa Schweigger, 1812 (Testudines: Podocnemidae).

We address the chondrogenic formation of the limbs and the mesopodial ossification pattern of the Pleurodira Podocnemis expansa, to resolve the homology of these elements as well as the pattern of connection of the autopodial elements and the origin of the digital arch. Embryos and juveniles of P. expansa were cleared and stained for cartilage and bone. The fore‐ and hind‐limbs were also studied histologically. We describe the development of the stylopodium and zeugopodium originating from a Y‐shaped cartilaginous condensation, and the differentiation of the primary axis and the digital arch in the initial stages of limb development. The most pronounced changes were observed in the chondrogenic pattern and ossification of the mesopodium, although development of the digits is similar and we found no ontogenetic reduction such as that described for other Testudines. In this study, as in previous research involving several groups of reptilian sauropsids, we found an inconsistent pattern between the chondrogenic formation and mesopodial ossification of the limbs, indicating that these developmental events are dissociated. In summary, the chondrogenic and ossification sequences of these elements do not follow the same pattern. In addition, the differences found between P. expansa and other species to which it was compared clearly indicate that these events follow more than one pattern in Testudines. J. Morphol., 2011.

Efeito EFEITO DO EXTRATO ETANÓLICO DA CASCA DO PEQUI SOBRE A ENZIMA GLUTATIONA REDUTASE EM RATOS SUBMETIDOS A CARDIOTOXICIDADE POR DOXORRUBICINA

Léa Resende Moura1, Ângela Alves Viegas2, Loanny Maria de Almeida3, Raquel Emanuelle de Jesus Neves3, Claudinei Sousa Lima4* & Veridiana Maria Brianezi Dignani de Moura5 1Veterinary, Dr. Escola de Medicina, Centro Universitário UniEvangélica, Anápolis, GO, Brasil 2Biomedical, MSc. Escola de Medicina, Centro Universitário Unievangélica, Anápolis, GO, Brasil 3Graduate students in Biological Science. Faculdade Metropolitana de Anápolis, Anápolis, GO, Brasil 4Pharmaceutical, Dr. Unidade Universitária de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Anápolis, GO, Brasil 5Veterinary, Dr. Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

Morphology, development and heterochrony of the carapace of Giant Amazon River Turtle Podocnemis expansa (Testudines, Podocnemidae)

With aim to report the ontogeny of the osseous elements of the carapace in Peurodiras, 62 embryos and 43 nestlings of Podocnemis expansa were collected and submitted to the clearing and staining technique of bones and cartilages and study of serial histological slices. The carapace has mixed osseous structure of endo and exoskeleton, formed by 8 pairs of costal bones associated with ribs, 7 neural bones associated with neural arches, 11 pairs of peripheral bones, 1 nuchal, 1 pygal and 1 suprapygal. This structure begins its formation in the beginning of stage 16 with the ossification of the periosteal collar of the ribs. With exception of the peripheral bones, the other ones begin their ossification during the embrionary period. In histologic investigation it was found that the costal bones and neural bones have a close relation to the endoskeleton components, originating themselves as intramembranous expansions of the periosteal collar of the ribs and neural arches, respectively. The condensation of the mesenchyme adjacent to the periosteal collar induces the formation of spikes that grow in trabeculae permeated by fibroblasts below the dermis. The nuchal bone also ossifies in an intramembranous way, but does not show direct relation to the endoskeleton. Such information confirms those related to the other Pleurodira, mainly with Podocnemis unifilis, sometimes with conspicuous variations in the chronology of the ossification events. The formation of dermal plates in the carapace of Pleurodira and Criptodira follow the same pattern.