Tais Malysz

Endurance and Resistance Exercise Training Programs Elicit Specific Effects on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration After Experimental Traumatic Lesion in Rats

Objective. To evaluate the effects of endurance, resistance, and a combination of both types of exercise training on hindlimb motor function recovery and nerve regeneration after experimental sciatic nerve lesion in rats. Methods. Sciatic nerve crush was performed on adult male rats, and after 2 weeks of the nerve lesion, the animals were submitted to endurance, resistance, and a combination of endurance-resistance training programs for 5 weeks. Over the training period, functional recovery was monitored weekly using the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) and histological and morphometric nerve analyses were used to assess the nerve regeneration at the end of the trainings. Results. The SFI values of the endurance-trained group reached the control values from the first posttraining week and were significantly better than both the resistance-trained group at the first, second, and third posttraining weeks and the concurrent training group at the first posttraining week. At the distal portion of the regenerating sciatic nerve, the endurance-trained group showed a greater degree of the myelinated fiber maturation than the sedentary, resistance-trained, and concurrent training groups. Furthermore, the endurance-trained group showed a smaller percentage area of endoneurial connective tissue and a greater percentage area of myelinated fibers than the sedentary group. Conclusion . These data provide evidence that endurance training improves sciatic nerve regeneration after an experimental traumatic injury and that resistance training or the combination of 2 strategies may delay functional recovery and do not alter sciatic nerve fiber regeneration.

Beneficial effects of treadmill training in experimental diabetic nerve regeneration.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of treadmill training (10 weeks) on hindlimb motor function and nerve morphometric parameters in diabetic rats submitted to sciatic nerve crush. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Wistar rats (n = 64) were divided into the following groups: non-diabetic; trained non-diabetic; non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush; trained non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush; diabetic; trained diabetic; diabetic with sciatic nerve crush or trained diabetic with sciatic nerve crush. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg, iv). Hindlimb motor function was evaluated weekly by assessing sciatic functional indices, and the proximal and distal portions of the sciatic nerve were used for morphometric analysis. RESULTS: At 13 weeks post-injury, the distal nerve portion of all injured groups and the proximal nerve portion of the diabetic with sciatic nerve crush group presented altered morphometric parameters such as decreased myelinated fiber diameter (∼7.4±0.3µm vs ∼4.8±0.2µm), axonal diameter (∼5±0.2µm vs ∼3.5±0.1µm) and myelin sheath thickness (∼1.2±0.07µm vs ∼0.65±0.07µm) and an increase in the percentage of area occupied by endoneurium (∼28±3% vs ∼60±3%). In addition, in the non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush group the proximal nerve portion showed a decreased myelinated fiber diameter (7.4±0.3µm vs 5.8±0.3µm) and myelin sheath thickness (1.29±0.08µm vs 0.92±0.08µm). The non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush, trained non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush, diabetic with sciatic nerve crush and trained diabetic with sciatic nerve crush groups showed normal sciatic functional index from the 4th, 4th, 9th and 7th week post-injury, respectively. Morphometric alterations in the proximal nerve portion of the diabetic with sciatic nerve crush and non-diabetic with sciatic nerve crush groups were either prevented or reverted to values similar to the non-diabetic group by treadmill training. CONCLUSION: Diabetic condition promoted delay in sciatic nerve regeneration. Treadmill training is able to accelerate hindlimb motor function recovery in diabetic injured rats and prevent or revert morphometric alterations in proximal nerve portions in non-diabetic and diabetic injured rats.

Treadmill training improves motor skills and increases tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra pars compacta in diabetic rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treadmill training on motor skills and immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area from diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, diabetic and trained diabetic. Treadmill training was performed for 8weeks. Blood glucose concentrations and body weight were evaluated 48h after diabetes induction and every 30days thereafter. Motor skills were evaluated on the rotarod and open field tests. Then, animals were transcardially perfused and the brains were post-fixed, cryoprotected and sectioned in a cryostat. Immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase analyses was done in the ventral tegmental area and in the substantia nigra. Motor skills showed that diabetic animals had a decrease in the latency to fall and enhanced number of falls in the rotarod test compared to control and trained diabetic animals. In the open field, diabetic animals had a decrease in the number of crossed squares, rearings and spent a less time moving compared to control and trained diabetic animals. In diabetic animals, optical densitometry of immunohistochemistry showed that tyrosine hydroxylase reaction decreased in the ventral tegmental area and in the neurons and process in the substantia nigra. In the later region, that decrease was reversed by treadmill training. In conclusion, we demonstrated that treadmill training can reverse the loss of the motor skills, which was correlated to tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra of diabetic animals without pharmacological treatment.

A Morphometric Study of the Larynx

OBJECTIVE Describe anatomical measurements of a selection of laryngeal structures, performing a comparison of such measurements between men and women and between different age groups. STUDY DESIGN Populational morphometric study. PARTICIPANTS Larynges from 50 male and 50 female fresh cadavers of older than 40 years were removed during autopsy. METHODS The following measurements were made on the external angle laryngeal framework between the blades of the thyroid cartilage: width of the thyroid cartilage, distance from the thyroid notch to the anterior commissure (AC), distance from the AC to the inferior thyroid border, distance from the AC to the larynx proeminence, length of membranacea part of vocal fold (VF), length of cartilaginea part of VF, width and thickness of true VF. RESULTS The differences between men and women were highly significant. All measured values of larynx obtained in the study were greater in men than in women, except for the thyroid angle, which was higher in women (P < 0.05). A significant difference in the comparison between the morphological measurements in the age groups for both men and women was not observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The comparison of larynx dimensions showed the presence of sexual dimorphism in the group of South Brazilian people studied. There was no morphometric difference between the larynx samples of the individuals of the same sex after 40 years of age.

More Than A Neuroanatomical Representation in The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Buonarroti, A Representation of the Golden Ratio

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) was a master anatomist as well as an artistic genius. He dissected numerous cadavers and developed a profound understanding of human anatomy. Among his best‐known artworks are the frescoes painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508–1512), in Rome. Currently, there is some debate over whether the frescoes merely represent the teachings of the Catholic Church at the time or if there are other meanings hidden in the images. In addition, there is speculation regarding the image of the brain embedded in the fresco known as “The Creation of Adam,” which contains anatomic features of the midsagittal and lateral surfaces of the brain. Within this context, we report our use of Image Pro Plus Software 6.0 to demonstrate mathematical evidence that Michelangelo painted “The Creation of Adam” using the Divine Proportion/Golden Ratio (GR) (1.6). The GR is classically associated with greater structural efficiency and is found in biological structures and works of art by renowned artists. Thus, according to the evidence shown in this article, we can suppose that the beauty and harmony recognized in all Michelangelos works may not be based solely on his knowledge of human anatomical proportions, but that the artist also probably knew anatomical structures that conform to the GR display greater structural efficiency. It is hoped that this report will at least stimulate further scientific and scholarly contributions to this fascinating topic, as the study of these works of art is essential for the knowledge of the history of Anatomy. Clin. Anat. 28:702–705, 2015.

Michelangelo, the Last Judgment fresco, Saint Bartholomew and the Golden Ratio

Art and anatomy were particularly closely intertwined during the Renaissance period and numerous painters and sculptors expressed themselves in both fields. Among them was Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564), who is renowned for having produced some of the most famous of all works of art, the frescoes on the ceiling and on the wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Recently, a unique association was discovered between one of Michelangelos most celebrated works (The Creation of Adam fresco) and the Divine Proportion/Golden Ratio (GR) (1.6). The GR can be found not only in natural phenomena but also in a variety of human‐made objects and works of art. Here, using Image‐Pro Plus 6.0 software, we present mathematical evidence that Michelangelo also used the GR when he painted Saint Bartholomew in the fresco of The Last Judgment, which is on the wall behind the altar. This discovery will add a new dimension to understanding the great works of Michelangelo Buonarroti. Clin. Anat. 28:967–971, 2015.

Exercise training improves the soleus muscle morphology in experimental diabetic nerve regeneration

In this study we evaluate the effects of exercise training (10 weeks) on soleus muscle morphology in diabetic nerve regeneration after injury by sciatic nerve crush.

Chronic exposure to ethanol causes steatosis and inflammation in zebrafish liver

AIM To evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to ethanol in the liver and the expression of inflammatory genes in zebrafish. METHODS Zebrafish (n = 104), wild type, adult, male and female, were divided into two groups: Control and ethanol (0.05 v/v). The ethanol was directly added into water; tanks water were changed every two days and the ethanol replaced. The animals were fed twice a day with fish food until satiety. After two and four weeks of trial, livers were dissected, histological analysis (hematoxilin-eosin and Oil Red staining) and gene expression assessment of adiponectin, adiponectin receptor 2 (adipor2), sirtuin-1 (sirt-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-a), interleukin-1b (il-1b) and interleukin-10 (il-10) were performed. Ultrastructural evaluations were conducted at fourth week. RESULTS Exposing zebrafish to 0.5% ethanol developed intense liver steatosis after four weeks, as demonstrated by oil red staining. In ethanol-treated animals, the main ultrastructural changes were related to cytoplasmic lipid particles and droplets, increased number of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns and glycogen particles. Between two and four weeks, hepatic mRNA expression of il-1b, sirt-1 and adipor2 were upregulated, indicating that ethanol triggered signaling molecules which are key elements in both hepatic inflammatory and protective responses. Adiponectin was not detected in the liver of animals exposed and not exposed to ethanol, and il-10 did not show significant difference. CONCLUSION Data suggest that inflammatory signaling and ultrastructural alterations play a significant role during hepatic steatosis in zebrafish chronically exposed to ethanol.

The hidden symbols of the female anatomy in Michelangelo Buonarroti's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel

A number of published articles have suggested that each element of Renaissance art contains an inner meaning. Some of these elements include the choice of theme and protagonists, faces selected for the characters, colors used, species of flowers and trees chosen, animals depicted, positions of the elements, posture of the characters and their gestures, juxtapositions in the scenes, and even the very scenario or landscape. All of these elements are thought to have hidden meanings. In this context, this manuscript presents a new hypothesis suggesting that Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) may have concealed symbols associated with female anatomy in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (painted 1508–1512) in Rome. Thus, this paper is useful to better understand the history of anatomy and corroborates recent descriptions that have suggested the possible existence of anatomic figures concealed in many of Michelangelos works. Clin. Anat. 29:911–916, 2016.

Distribuição dos brônquios lobares dos pulmões do veado-catingueiro Mazama gouazoubira

The study aimed to describe the lung lobation of the brown brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira. Two animal of the species, obtained postmortem by trampling on the highway, were used for the study, according to criteria of the Governing Law (1.153/95). The skin was completely removed and the animals were fixed in 10% formaldehyde. The viscera were removed and the lungs were dissected by a section of the block in the thoracic trachea and other structures of the pulmonary hilum. The lungs and bronchial tree were dissected, photographed and the images were recorded with a digital camera (Sony a200 Camera, 10.2mpx). The lungs showed themselves united by structures that penetrate the region of the pulmonary hilum, the right lung was found to be composed of the cranial lobes (segment cranial and caudal segment), middle, caudal and accessory. The left lung showed only cranial lobe (segmented into the cranial and caudal part) and caudal lobe. The bronchial tree begins emerges to the right lung one tracheal bronchus above the bifurcation of the trachea that are sequentially named right and left main bronchi, which at the level of the pulmonary hilum penetrate the left and right lungs respectively. The lungs and bronchial tree of M. gouazoubira showed the same anatomical description of other ruminants, like buffaloes, sheep and cattle.