Marcelo Cecim

Syzygium cumini and the regeneration of insulin positive cells from the pancreatic duct

Syzygium cumini is a plant that has been used in popular medicine for the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (DMID). This study verified the effect of Syzygium cumini upon the regeneration of insulin producing cells in the pancreatic duct wall. The animals were divided into four groups, control (C), treated control (TC), diabetic control (DC) and treated diabetic (TD). An aqueous extract from Syzygium cumini bark was given by gavage in a daily dose of 1g/kg of body weight. After a thirty day period the animals were euthanized and the pancreas taken to immunohistochemical analysis. In this study, it was observed the positive staining for insulin on cells of the pancreatic duct and connective tissue in the pancreas of TD and TC animals. These results indicate that Syzygium cumini bark extract stimulates development of insulin positive cells from the pancreatic duct epithelial cells.

Etileno glicol na criopreservação de sêmen canino

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the efficiency of ethylene glycol on criopreservation of canine semen, considering its possible deleterious effects upon semen motility, vigor and morphology at the pre and post freezing stages, using a tris-egg yolk extender. Four adult german shepards were used as donors. Samples were obtained by digital manipulation, and only ejaculates presenting a minimum of 90% motility and 5 (0-5) vigor and no more than 35% of total morphological defects were considered. Ethylene glycol concentrations tested were 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0M and 0.80M glycerol served as control. Motility and vigor were evaluated in the rich fraction, after first and second dilution, after 1 hour of stabilization at 4oC and after thawing. Sperm morphology was examined in the fresh sample and after thawing in each of the treatments. There were no detectable differences among the groups in sperm motility and morphology after thawing. There were no differences in vigor among the 0.25, 0.50M ethylene glycol and the 0.8M glycerol, but the 1M ethylene glycol had lower vigor scores after thawing. We conclude that ethylene glycol can be used as a cryoprotectant in the concentration of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0M instead of glycerol.

17-β estradiol in the acetylcholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation in the brain and blood of ovariectomized adult and middle-aged rats

AIMS To investigate the 17-β estradiol in the acetylcholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation in the brain and blood of ovariectomized rats of different ages. MAIN METHODS Animals were randomly assigned into three experimental groups of each age (n=6). Control groups consisted of adult (sham-A) and middle-aged (sham-MA) female rats, ovariectomized adult (OVX-A) and middle-aged (OVX-MA) rats without estrogen therapy reposition, and ovariectomized adult (OVX+E2-A) and middle-aged (OVX+E2-MA) rats treated with 17-β estradiol for 30days. After this period, AChE activity and lipid peroxidation were measured in the brain and blood. KEY FINDINGS The AChE activity increased (p<0.05) in striatum (ST) in OVX-A, OVX+E2-A and OVX-MA, and hippocampus (HP) in OVX-MA. The enzyme activity decreased (p<0.05) in ST of OVX+E2-MA, and cerebral cortex (CC) in OVX+E2-A, OVX-MA and OVX+E2-MA. Blood AChE activity increased (p<0.05) in OVX+E2-A and decreased (p<0.05) in OVX-MA. Lymphocyte AChE activity increased (p<0.05) in OVX-A and OVX+E2-A and decreased (p<0.05) in OVX-MA. Lipid peroxidation increased (p<0.05) in ST of OVX-A, CC of OVX-A and OVX-MA, HP of OVX-A, and cerebellum (CE) of OVX-A, OVX-MA, and OVX+E2-MA. Lipid peroxidation decreased (p<0.05) in ST, CC and CE of OVX+E2-A, and ST and HP of OVX+E2-MA. Similar values of lipid peroxidation to control groups were found in ST and HP of OVX-MA, HP of OVX+E2-A and CC of OVX+E2-MA. SIGNIFICANCE 17-β estradiol is able to modulate the AChE activity and non-neuronal cholinergic response as well as to reduce lipid peroxidation. Its response is dependent on the age and brain structure analyzed.

Níveis glicêmicos e de colesterol em ratos com Diabetes Mellitus aloxano induzido, tratados com infusão de Bauhinia candicans ou Syzygium Jambolanum

The present study verified the efficiency of two plants used in folk medicine for the reduction of hyperglycemia in diabetic people. Sixty adult male wistar rats, with body weights ranging from 220 to 240g were treated with Alloxan to induce insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Two experiments were performed. In the first, 15 rats were treated with a single dose of alloxan (40mg/kg, i.p.); while in the second experiment animals received 60mg/kg, daily for three days. Three days after the last injection, hyperglycemia was confirmed. Positive animals were allocated into 3 groups of 5 and 15 rats for experiments I and II, respectively. Group 1 (C) was the control group, receiving standard rodent feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 (TI) received rodent feed and an infusion of Syzygium jambolanum ad libitum. Group 3 (TII) received the feed and an infusion of Bauhinia candicans. Animals were treated for a period of 21 and 40 days for experiments I and II respectively. Blood was collected by retro orbital sinus puncture with animals under ether anesthesia on days 3, 9, 16, and 23 for experiment I; and days 3, 12, 24, and 40 for experiment II. At the end of both experiments, all animals were euthanized and liver and pancreas samples were collected for light microscopy. All animals, in both experiments, had blood glucose levels above 170mg% on the third day after last alloxan injection. In the first experiment, plasma glucose was lower (P < 0.001) in TI as compared to C on day 23. In experiment II, plasma glucose was lower in TI when compared to C on days 16 (P < 0.004) and 40 (P < 0.0001). Moreover, clinical signs of IDDM like polyfagya, polydpsya were attenuated in this group. Plasma cholesterol showed a slight increase in all animals in experiment II but no differences were observed between control and treated groups. Histopathological analysis of pancreas and liver samples in the first experiment did not show marked differences between C and treated groups. However, in experiment II, 9 out of 10 pancreas samples examined from C, and 5 out of 9 samples from TII presented necrosis. Meanwhile, only 2 out of 9 pancreas samples from TI showed islet necrosis. In conclusion, the results suggest that the use of an infusion of Syzygium jambolanum instead of water is efficient in the control of hyperglycemia and reduction of clinical signs associated with IDDM. On the other hand, the use of an infusion of Bauhinia candicans has no effect over theses variables.

Extrato da casca de Syzygium cumini no controle da glicemia e estresse oxidativo de ratos normais e diabéticos

The plant Syzygium cumini, also known as Black Plum is used widely in the popular medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This study verified the efficiency of the extract of the bark of Syzygium cumini on the glycemic levels and oxidative stress of normal and diabetic rats induced by alloxan. The animals were divided in control group (C), control treatment group (CT), diabetic control group (DC) and diabetic treatment group (DT). Oral administration of the aqueous extract of the bark of Syzygium cumini, in the dose of 1g/kg live weight, for a period of thirty days, did not result in a significant reduction on glycemia or on glucosilated hemoglobin levels. The treatment with the extract demonstrated an increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS) in the plasma of the DT group (P <0.05), compared to the C. Kidney catalase activity of rats in DC group decreased significantly (P <0.01) and, in the liver, it showed a significant elevation in group DC (P <0.01). Those results indicated that the extract of Syzygium cumini bark does not possess hypoglycemic effect in alloxan diabetic induced rats. The antioxidant effect of this plant was not enough to reduce the production of TBA-RS significantly. The decrease of catalase activity in the kidneys can be owed to its exhaustion or inhibition, and its increase in the liver could be due to oxidative stress caused by the diabetic status.

Dextran iron in anemic lambs: effects on reticulocytosis and free radical production

Anemia due to worm infection is a major cause of loss in the sheep industry, due to deaths, drop in average daily gains and long recovery time following treatment. The present experiment was aimed at evaluating the oxidative status and the recovery of red blood cell (RBC) profile in lambs with induced anemia by bleeding, treated or not with dextran iron. Ten ram lambs 5 to 7 months old were used. Blood samples were drawn every other day and when reached packed cell volume (PCV) of 15% were randomly allocated (day zero) to one of the experimental groups. Treated group received a single dose of 25mg per kg body weight of a commercial formulation of dextran iron, the control group received no treatment. Blood samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 after treatment. On days 7 an 21 treated animals presented higher thyobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) values, reduced non-protein thiol groups (NPTH) levels were found in the treated group on days 7, 14 and 21. Erythrocyte membrane resistance to osmotic challenge was improved on day 7 in treated animals. Recovery to normal values for the RBC profile was faster in the treated group with significant differences starting on day 7. It was conclude that althouth the iron treatment increased the oxidative stress, it also accelerated recovery of the hematological profile. Moreover, it did not increase hemolysis in anemic blood by the action of oxygen reactive species upon biological membranes.

Isolamento de Campylobacter jejuni em feto ovino abortado: relato de caso

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from aborted ovine fetus at the end of gestation. Three abortion cases within a week and another fourth case one month later were observed. Immediately after the third case, one fetus was submitted to necropsy and samples from abomasal content were collected for bacteriological analysis. At necropsy, only post-mortem and autolytic lesions were observed. Under microaerophilic conditions, a pure bacterial growth was obtained and identified by morphological and tintorial characteristics as Campylobacter sp., being the isolate confirmed as C. jejuni, by phenotypic and molecular assays. This is an alert for the possibility of this pathogen cause abortion in ovine.

Metabolismo e distribuição do flúor em ovinos jovens tratados cronicamente com fluoreto de sódio

The objective of the present study was to evaluate fluorine metabolism in growing lambs. Twelve 5-month-old male lambs maintained on alfalfa hay (3% BW) and non-fluorinated water ad libitum were used. Animals were allocated into Control, receiving 5g NaCl/animal/day + 0.2mg I/kg dry matter) and Treated group, receiving the same treatment plus sodium fluoride (4.7mg F/kg body weight). Mineral treatment was given by gavage, daily for 150 days. Blood, urine and fecal samples were collected during and the end of the experiment. At the end of treatment period animals were euthanized and kidney, pineal and bone samples were collected. Urine F was higher in treated animals throughout the experiment. Bone F levels were also increased in treated animals; pineal F content however, was not different between groups. Kidney histology revealed no differences. It is concluded that chronic F administration induces accumulation of the element in the skeleton. However such fact appears not to be detrimental to animals. Rates of F accumulation in bone and urine excretion obtained in other species can not be used in growing lambs.

A somatotrofina bovina recombinante sobre a ovulação, condição corporal e níveis séricos de colesterol e glicose em ovinos

O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de avaliar o efeito da somatotrofina bovina recombinante (BSTr) sobre a taxa de ovulacao apos a inducao, sobre o metabolismo intermediario do colesterol e da glicose em ovelhas, e no o ganho de peso de cordeiros lactentes cujas maes foram tratadas com BSTr bem como as variacoes do peso e escore corporal das mesmas. Utilizou-se para tanto 3mg/kg de BSTr em formulacao de liberacao prolongada em dose unica para o primeiro experimento e, 4mg/kg para o segundo. No primeiro experimento, os resultados obtidos mostraram que a incidencia de estro foi de 100% nos grupos controle e tratado, onde o numero de corpos luteos encontrados foi de 0,9 ± 0,18 no grupo controle e 1,18 ± 0,12 no grupo tratado, nao sendo diferentes estatisticamente. Tambem nao houve diferencas entre os grupos quanto aos niveis de colesterol e glicose. No experimento 2, houve uma diminuicao na condicao corporal das ovelhas do grupo tratado entre os dias 1 e 10 e seu aumento entre os dias 10 e 20, (p<0,05). O peso dos cordeiros, das ovelhas e a variacao do escore corporal entre os dia 1 e 20 nao diferiram estatisticamente. Conclui-se que a somatotrofina bovina recombinante nao interfere na taxa de ovulacao em ovelhas, bem como no metabolismo intermediario do colesterol e da glicose destes animais. O seu uso afeta os escores corporais dos animais tratados alguns dias apos o inicio do tratamento.

What is your diagnosis? Liver from a cow.

A 10-year-old Aberdeen Angus cow was presented to the Large Animal Medicine Service at Federal University of Santa Maria Veterinary Hospital with a history of weight loss for the past 6 months, watery diarrhea for the last 30 days, tenesmus, and fever. The owner reported the presence of the plant Senecio brasiliensis on pasture and that 10 cattle had died on his property during the past 4 years demonstrating similar antemortem clinical signs as the cow that was presented. On physical examination, the cow was dehydrated and mildly febrile (101.7°F) with pale mucous membranes. A moderate mature neutrophilia was noted on the CBC (17,300 cells/lL, RI 4000– 12,000). The biochemical serum panel revealed mild hypoalbuminemia (2.79 g/dL, RI 3.30–3.55), moderately decreased AST activity (36 IU/L, RI 78–132), markedly increased GGT activity (39.98 IU/L, RI 6.10–17.40), and moderately decreased urea concentration (35.33 mg/dL, RI 42.80–64.20). A fine-needle aspirate (FNA) smear of the liver was submitted for cytologic evaluation (Figure 1), and a liver biopsy was collected and routinely processed for histopathology. Figure 1. Fine-needle aspirate of liver from a cow with chronic signs of liver disease. Diff-Quik,940 objective.