Marcelo Campos

Effects of castration and of testosterone replacement on α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in the rat vas deferens

The contractions of the rat vas deferens in response to noradrenaline are mediated through α1A-adrenoceptors. We observed participation of α1B-adrenoceptors in these contractions after castration. We now investigated the time course of this plasticity and the effects of testosterone by determining the actions of competitive antagonists on noradrenaline-induced contractions after 7, 14, 21 and 30 days of castration. BMY 7378 (8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione dihydrochloride) antagonised noradrenaline-induced contractions in control and castrated rats with low pA2 values (≅6.8). In control vas deferens, WB 4101 (2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxyethyl)aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane hydrochloride) had a slope in the Schild plot no different from 1.0, while slopes lower than 1.0 (≈0.6) were observed for vas deferens from castrated rats. Chloroethylclonidine was ineffective in the control vas while it inhibited noradrenaline-induced contractions in vasa from castrated rats and converted the complex antagonism by WB 4101 into simple competitive antagonism. Treatment of castrated rats with testosterone prevented the effects of castration. The results suggest that α1B-adrenoceptors are detectable in vas deferens from at least the 7th through the 30th day after castration and that testosterone prevents this plasticity.

Ki-67 and CD100 immunohistochemical expression is associated with local recurrence and poor prognosis in soft tissue sarcomas, respectively

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors of >50 subtypes. However, STSs represent <1% of types of cancer. Despite this low frequency, the disease is aggressive and treatment, when possible, is based on traditional chemotherapies. A number of cases of resistance to adjuvant therapies have been reported. Metastases are commonly identified in STS patients during diagnosis and the development of effective clinical parameters is crucial for correct management of the disease. The use of biological markers in cancer is a useful tool to determine patient prognosis. Ki-67 is a protein marker for proliferation of somatic cells and is widely used in prognostic studies of various types of tumor, including STSs. Cluster of differentiation 100 (CD100) is a member of the semaphorin family. The family was initially described as axon guidance molecules important for angiogenesis, organogenesis, apoptosis and neoplasia. CD100 was previously utilized as a prognostic factor in tumors and also in STSs. In the present study, protein expression of Ki-67 and CD100 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in samples of STS patients of the Barretos Cancer Hospital (Barretos, Brazil) to establish prognostic criteria of the disease. Results demonstrate a correlation between CD100 expression and poor prognosis, consistent with a previous study. Moreover, the expression of Ki-67 was identified to correlate with presence of local or locoregional recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, no large casuistic study has revealed this correlation between Ki-67 and local recurrence in STSs. The use of Ki-67 and CD100 as markers in clinical pathological analysis may be suitable as a prognostic criterion in disease progression.

Effects of indoramin in rat vas deferens and aorta: concomitant α1-adrenoceptor and neuronal uptake blockade

The actions of the α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist indoramin have been examined against the contractions induced by noradrenaline in the rat vas deferens and aorta taking into account a putative neuronal uptake blocking activity of this antagonist which could result in self‐cancelling actions. Indoramin behaved as a simple competitive antagonist of the contractions induced by noradrenaline in the vas deferens and aorta yielding pA2 values of 7.38±0.05 (slope=0.98±0.03) and 6.78±0.14 (slope=1.08±0.06), respectively. When the experiments were repeated in the presence of cocaine (6 μM) the potency (pA2) of indoramin in antagonizing the contractions of the vas deferens to noradrenaline was increased to 8.72±0.07 (slope=1.10±0.05) while its potency remained unchanged in the aorta (pA2=6.69±0.12; slope=1.04±0.05). In denervated vas deferens, indoramin antagonized the contractions to noradrenaline with a potency similar to that found in the presence of cocaine (8.79±0.07; slope=1.09±0.06). It is suggested that indoramin blocks α1‐adrenoceptors and neuronal uptake in rat vas deferens resulting in Schild plots with slopes not different from unity even in the absence of selective inhibition of neuronal uptake. As a major consequence of this double mechanism of action, the pA2 values for this antagonist are underestimated when calculated in situations where the neuronal uptake is active, yielding spurious pKB values.

Physiological highlights of manganese toxicity symptoms in soybean plants: Mn toxicity responses

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for plants; however, high concentrations in certain soil conditions can cause toxicity symptoms in the plant tissue. Here, we describe Mn toxicity symptoms and Mn toxicity responses in soybean plants. Soybean plants exposed to excess Mn showed reductions in the CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance, which in turn resulted in decreased shoot biomass. Furthermore, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity were higher in plants grown with the highest Mn concentration. The Mn doses increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, POD, and SOD. The toxicity symptoms presented by the leaves included hypertrophying of the adaxial epidermis and the formation of necrotic areas with purple-colored veins. Dramatic movement of calcium from the healthy region to the purple-colored necrotic region was observed, as was the exit of potassium from the necrotic area to the healthy region of the tissue. The high activities of POD and SOD in the presence of high Mn compartmented in the roots was the main physiological responses at high Mn uptake by soybean plants.

Effect of cyproterone acetate on alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat vas deferens

Gonadal hormones regulate the expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in several tissues. The present study was carried out to determine whether or not cyproterone acetate, an anti-androgenic agent, regulates the alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes that mediate contractions of the rat vas deferens in response to noradrenaline. The actions of subtype selective alpha1-antagonists were investigated in vas deferens from control and cyproterone acetate-treated rats (10 mg/day, sc, for 7 days). Prazosin (pA2 approximately 9.5), phentolamine (pA2 approximately 8.3) and yohimbine (pA2 approximately 6.7) presented competitive antagonism consistent with activation of alpha1-adrenoceptors in vas deferens from both control and treated rats. The pA2 values estimated for WB 4101 ( approximately 9.5), benoxathian ( approximately 9.7), 5-methylurapidil (approximately 8.5), indoramin ( approximately 8.7) and BMY 7378 ( approximately 6.8) indicate that alpha1A-adrenoceptors are involved in the contractions of the vas deferens from control and cyproterone acetate-treated rats. Treatment of the vas deferens from control rats with the alpha1B/alpha1D-adrenoceptor alkylating agent chloroethylclonidine had no effect on noradrenaline contractions, supporting the involvement of the alpha1A-subtype. However, this agent partially inhibited the contractions of vas deferens from cyproterone acetate-treated rats, suggesting involvement of multiple receptor subtypes. To further investigate this, the actions of WB 4101 and chloroethylclonidine were reevaluated in the vas deferens from rats treated with cyproterone acetate for 14 days. In these organs WB 4101 presented complex antagonism characterized by a Schild plot with a slope different from unity (0.65 0.05). After treatment with chloroethylclonidine, the complex antagonism presented by WB 4101 was converted into classical competitive antagonism, consistent with participation of alpha1A-adrenoceptors as well as alpha1B-adrenoceptors. These results suggest that cyproterone acetate induces plasticity in the alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes involved in the contractions of the vas deferens.

The Effect of Co and Zn Addition on Densification and Electrical Properties of Ceria-Based Nanopowders

In this work, cobalt and zinc-doped Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 samples were prepared starting from a commercial nanopowder and compared to the undoped material. The powder samples were pressed and afterwards sintered by a two-step procedure, before characterization by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Impedance Spectroscopy (IS) in air. Cobalt or zinc additions are effective as sintering aid, allowing peak sintering temperatures around 1000°C to reach densifications above of 93% of theoretical density, showing no evidence for the presence of secondary phases. The total conductivity at 800 °C of pressed Zn-doped samples (6.7x10-2 S/cm) and Co-doped samples (7.5x10-2 S/cm) is similar for undoped samples (7.2x10-2 S/cm) showing that Zn and Co has a positive effect on densification without compromising the electrical conductivity.

Impact of foliar nickel application on urease activity, antioxidant metabolism and control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa) in soybean plants

J. P. Q. Barcelos, H. P. G. Reis, C. V. Godoy, P. L. Grat~ ao, E. Furlani Junior, F. F. Putti, M. Campos and A. R. Reis* S~ ao Paulo State University – UNESP, Ilha Solteira, SP, 15385-000; Embrapa Soybean, Rodovia Carlos Jo~ ao Strass – Distrito de Warta, Londrina, 86001-970, PR; S~ ao Paulo State University – UNESP, Jaboticabal, 79560-000, SP; and S~ ao Paulo State University – UNESP, Tup~ a, 17602-496, SP, Brazil

Imagens orbitais aplicadas na evolução do uso e ocupação da terra de uma mcirobacia, visando sua sustentabilidade ambiental

Sistemas de informacao geografica (SIG), juntamente com a tecnica de analise multi-criterio, permite a padronizacao e integracao de dados, que normalmente comer de varias fontes, permitindo uma avaliacao conjunta da mesma, proporcionando mais eficiencia e confiabilidade no processo de tomada de decisao para promover a adequacao do uso do solo. O presente estudo destinado a analisar a fragilidade ambiental no Ribeirao das Agulhas - Botucatu (SP). O uso de um Sistema de Informacao Geografica para a elaboracao de mapas de fragilidade: classes de pedologia, declividade, geologia e uso e ocupacao do solo. Os fatores foram integrados e interpolados, onde todos receberam as mesmas variaveis de peso na analise e a sobreposicao de destes mapas geraram informacoes da fragilidade ambiental da microbacia. Os resultados mostraram que a classe de fragilidade ambiental media merece maior atencao, uma vez maior atencao, pois representa quase 35% da area, mostrando que mal planejada e se nao forem tomadas precaucoes, essas areas tendem a ser mais facilmente degradadas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Microbacia. Geoprocessamento. Sistema de Informacao Geofgrafica.

Fragilidade ambiental do Ribeirão Água da Lúcia – Botucatu (SP), visando o desenvolvimento sustentável

Sistemas de informacao geografica (SIG), juntamente com a tecnica de analise multi-criterio, permite a padronizacao e integracao de dados, que normalmente comer de varias fontes, permitindo uma avaliacao conjunta da mesma, proporcionando mais eficiencia e confiabilidade no processo de tomada de decisao para promover a adequacao do uso do solo. O presente estudo destinado a analisar a fragilidade ambiental no Ribeirao Agua da Lucia - Botucatu (SP). O uso de um Sistema de Informacao Geografica para a elaboracao de mapas de fragilidade: classes de pedologia, declividade, geologia e uso e ocupacao do solo. Os fatores foram integrados e interpolados, onde todos receberam as mesmas variaveis de peso na analise e a sobreposicao de destes mapas geraram informacoes da fragilidade ambiental da microbacia. Os resultados mostraram que as classes de fragilidade ambiental alta, media e muito alta merecem maior atencao, uma vez maior atencao, pois representam quase 86% da area, mostrando que mal planejada e se nao forem tomadas precaucoes, essas areas tendem a ser mais facilmente degradadas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Microbacia. Geoprocessamento. Sistema de Informacao Geografica.

SIG APLICADO NA DISCRIMINAÇÃO MORFOMÉTRICA DAMICROBACIA DO CÓRREGO DO VEADO - BROTAS/SP

RESUMO As caracteristicas fisicas das microbacias sao de suma importância, pois atuam no ciclo hidrologico, influenciando diretamente nos aspectos relacionados com a infiltracao, a evapotranspiracao e o escoamento superficial e subsuperficial.Esse trabalho teve como objetivo a aplicacao de geoprocessamento na caracterizacao morfometrica da microbacia Corrego do Veado - Brotas (SP), atraves do Sistema de Informacao Geografica - Selva, buscando a preservacao, racionalizacao de seu uso e recuperacao ambiental. A base cartografica utilizada foi a carta planialtimetrico de Brotas (SP) para extracao das curvas de nivel, da hidrografia e da topografia, em ambiente de Sistema de Informacao Geografica - Idrisi Selva, Para a determinacao dos indices morfometricas. Os resultados mostram que os valores baixos da densidade de drenagem, associados a presenca de rochas permeaveis, facilitar a infiltracao de agua no solo, reduzindo o escoamento superficial e o risco de erosao e da degradacao do meio ambiente, bem como o valor baixo o factor de forma auxiliado pelo indice circular indica que a bacia tende a ser mais prolongada com menor susceptivel a ocorrencia de inundacoes mais acentuadas. O coeficiente de rugosidade ambiental parâmetro permitiu classificar o divisor de aguas para a vocacao com reflorestamento. Palavras-chave: sensoriamento remoto, processamento de imagens, geologia. SIG APPLIED TO DISCRIMINATION MORPHOMETRIC THE STREAM VEADO WATERSHED - BROTAS / SP ABSTRACT The physical characteristics of watersheds are very important because they act in the hydrological cycle, influencing directly on aspects of infiltration, evapotranspiration and surface and subsurface flow. This study aimed to the application of GIS in the morphometric characterization of the Stream Veado watershed - Brotas (SP) through the Geographic Information System - Selva, seeking the preservation, rationalization of their use and environmental recovery. The base map used was planialtimetric chart of Brotas (SP) for the extraction of contour lines, hydrography and topography in the geographic information system environment - IdrisiSelva, for determination of morphometric indices. The results show that the low values of the drainage density associated with the presence of permeable rock, to facilitate water infiltration, reducing runoff and the risk of erosion and environmental degradation, as well as the low value of the factor aided by the circular shape index indicates that the basin tends to be longer less susceptible to the occurrence of flooding more pronounced. The environmental roughness coefficient parameter allowed to classify the watershed for the vocation with reforestation. Keywords: remote sensing, image processing, geology.