T. C. S. Rodrigues

Antitumoral effects of γCdcPLI, a PLA 2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus via PI3K/Akt pathway on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell

Phospholipases A2(PLA2s) overexpression is closely associated with the malignant potential of breast cancers. Here, we showed for the first the antitumoral effects of γCdcPLI, a PLA2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus via PI3K/Akt pathway on MDA-MB-231 cell. Firstly, γCdcPLI was more cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells than other cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa, PC3 and A549) and did not affect the viability of non-tumorigenic breast cell (MCF 10A). In addition, γCdcPLI induced modulation of important mediators of apoptosis pathways such as p53, MAPK-ERK, BIRC5 and MDM2. γCdcPLI decreased MDA-MB-231 adhesion, migration and invasion. Interestingly, the γCdcPLI also inhibited the adhesion and migration of endothelial cells and blocked angiogenesis by inhibiting tube formation by HUVECs in vitro and sprouting elongation on aortic ring assay ex vivo. Furthermore, γCdcPLI reduced the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). γCdcPLI was also able to decrease PGE2 levels in MDA-MB-231 and inhibited gene and protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In conclusion, γCdcPLI showed in vitro antitumoral, antimestatatic and anti-angiogenic potential effects and could be an attractive approach for futures studies in cancer therapy.

Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. In free-ranging wild canids from the Brazilian savanna

The Brazilian savanna, also known as Cerrado, is one of the worlds richest and most ecologically invaluable tropical savanna regions. There are few studies in Brazil about the diseases that affect the wild canids of this biome, which may be harmful to wildlife populations and public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in three Cerrado wild canids species using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Serum samples were tested from 19 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), 14 maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and seven hoary foxes (Lycalopex vetulus), all free-ranging animals found in the municipalities of Araguari and Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, and Cumari, Goias State, Brazil. Fourteen (35%) of these samples were seropositive. The most frequent serovars detected in the samples were Copenhageni and Hardjo, but reactions to the serovars Autumnalis, Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, Wolffi, and Icterohaemorrhagiae also occurred. Notwithstanding other reported results, this study is the first to report the presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in L. vetulus. The three species of wild canids examined may act as potential hosts for several serovars of leptospira in Brazils savanna environment.

Determinação das concentrações plasmáticas de proteínas e metabólitos de cascavéis em cativeiro

Para determinar as concentracoes plasmaticas de proteinas e metabolitos de cascaveis em cativeiro, foram utilizadas 60 serpentes adultas, sendo 30 machos e 30 femeas. O sangue foi coletado atraves de puncao do seio venoso paravertebral cervical e armazenado em tubos com heparina. As analises bioquimicas foram processadas colorimetricamente em Analisador Automatico de Bioquimica Chemwell (Awareness Technology®, Inc). Foram calculadas as medias e desvios padrao dos seguintes constituintes: proteinas totais, albumina, globulinas, relacao albumina/globulinas, acido urico, creatinina, ureia, colesterol, colesterol HDL e triglicerides. Os valores obtidos foram semelhantes aos descritos na literatura para repteis e serpentes, sendo as diferencas observadas provavelmente decorrentes da diferenca entre especies, clima, estacao do ano e metodologia utilizada. Nao houve diferencas significativas entre machos e femeas para os parâmetros estudados. Estes resultados podem ser uteis no estabelecimento de valores de referencia para planos de conservacao destes ofidios em cativeiro.

Estudo da vascularização arterial do baço em javalis (Sus scrofa scrofa, linnaeus - 1758)

Related searches to wild animals are growing more each day, yielding important information related to anatomy, physiology and behavior, essential for the survival of the animals. The spleen is an organ with multiple functions being responsible for the formation of blood cells, blood filtration and immune response. Although there are many studies on this organ segmentation in wild animals, there is not much information about this vascularization in Sus scrofa scrofa. The aim of this study was to describe the arteries distribution of the in the spleens of wild boars. To conduct the work we used 20 organs of animals from breeding. The carotid artery was isolated and injected with Neoprene Latex solution. The animals were fixed and spleens were dissected exposing the branches from the splenic artery. Analyzing the results we found similarities spleens characteristics of pigs, carnivores (dogs and cats) and opossums. However there were differences in the branches of the lienais arteries between the gender of the specie.