Vera Alvarenga Nunes

Foliculogênese e esteroidogênese ovarianas em ratas adultas hipertireóideas

Ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis were studied in hyperthyroid adult rats. Hyperthyroidism was induced in 27 five month-old Wistar rats by daily administration of 50µg L-thyroxin. Other 27 rats were maintained in euthyroid state as controls. At 30, 60 and 90 days after the beginning of the treatment, nine rats from each group were sacrificed. The ovaries were weighed, inspected and processed for histomorphometric evaluation. Plasmatic levels of free T4, estradiol and progesterone were determined. The levels of T4 were significantly higher in the hyperthyroid rats at 30, 60 and 90 days, but significant differences on the ovarian weight were detected only at 90 days. The number of secondary and tertiary follicles and of corpus luteum was greater at 60 or 90 days, but the rate of follicular atresia was different only at 90 days. No significant differences were observed on the number of primary and pre-ovulatory follicles and on the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. Our data suggest that hyperthyroidism stimulates ovarian folliculogenesis in sexually mature rats. Furthermore, there is a reduction on the rate of follicular atresia.

Relação tireóide-gônadas e níveis plasmáticos de fósforo, cálcio e fosfatase alcalina em ratas

The interrelation between thyroid, gonads and osseous metabolism was studied in either intact or castrated adult female rats kept under hyperthyroidism or euthyroidism for 30, 60, or 90 days. Plasmatic levels of phosphorus, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase were measured to assess the osseous metabolism. These characteristics were correlated to the levels of estrogen, progesterone, and free T4. Either hypogonadism or hyperthyroidism interfered with the plasmatic characteristics of osseous metabolism. Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia were induced by hyperthyroidism, whereas the hypogonadism had little effect on the levels of phosphorus, but it had a potencialization effect on the hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia induced by hyperthyroidism. The effect of hypogonadism on the alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced by the hyperthyroidism.

Efeito da associação hipertireoidismo-castração no osso de ratas adultas

The relationship between thyroid, gonads and bone morphology was investigated in 5 month-old Wistar rats, castrated and kept in hyperthyroid or euthyroid state for periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. A non-castrated control group was maintained in the same condition. At the end of each period, plasma concentrations of free T4, progesterone and estradiol were measured. The bones from each group were submitted to radiological and histological analysis. Hyperthyroidism in intact rats caused variation in bone morphology throughout the experiment, leading to loss of trabecular bone tissue at day 60, due to increased bone resorption. At day 90 there was no bone loss, because the increase in bone resorption was accompanied by higher bone apposition. In castrated euthyroid rats reduction in progesterone levels inhibited the bone apposition, causing a slight loss of trabecular bone tissue in vertebrae and alveolar bone at day 30, which was intensified at days 60 and 90, affecting cortical bone tissue. The administration of thyroxine to castrated rats reversed osteopenia at days 30 and 60, which did not occur at day 90 when bone loss was more extensive. In conclusion, hypoprogesteronism and hypoestrogenism alter bone metabolism and the bone response to hyperthyroidism depends on the plasma profile of sex steroids, time of exposure and bone tissue configuration.

Pododermatite de contato em frangos de corte

Occurrence of contact pododermatitis in broilers in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is reported. Lesions in the footpad were detected as early as 13 days of age and progressed to ulceration. Histologically, primarily inflammatory and degenerative changes mostly at the epidermal-dermal junction were observed. Retrospective evaluation indicated that pododermatitis in these cases were associated with exposure to high litter moisture during the first days of life.

Histomorphometry and Quantification of Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Bovine Thyroid Containing Methylthiouracil Residues

In order to study the morphology and morphometry and to characterize and quantify the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of bovine thyroids containing methylthiouracil (MTU) residues, five animals were orally treated with a suspension of MTU (5 g/animal/day) for 20 days (group A). This treatment protocol was interrupted 5 days before the the animals were slaughtered. Six animals receiving placebos composed group B. A third group (group C) was composed of normal thyroids obtained from a slaughterhouse. All glands were previously assessed for detection of antithyroid residues by chromatography, and only those glands from MTU-treated animals were positive. Follicles of glands from group A showed wide variation in size and shape. There was a predominance of small follicles covered by multiple layers of columnar cells, sometimes forming papillary projections into the lumen, characterizing severe interfollicular and intrafollicular adenomatosis. Many follicles had vacuolated cells with nuclei showing karyolysis or pyknosis and reduced amounts of a low-density and very excavated colloid. They also showed higher follicular epithelia and larger proportions of their structural components when compared with glands of groups B and C. In the thyroids from group A, the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins (AgNORs) were greater in number, with small ones scattered all over the nucleus. Although the size of AgNORs in thyroids from groups B and C was variable, these AgNORs were fewer and larger than were those in glands from group A. In conclusion, the MTU induces proliferation and regressive changes in follicular cells, and the AgNOR technique is efficient to distinguish different degrees of thyroid hyperplasia.

Effects of chondroitin sulfate and sodium hyaluronate on chondrocytes and extracellular matrix of articular cartilage in dogs with degenerative joint disease

Foram utilizadas amostras de cartilagem articular do femur, tibia e patela de 15 caes com doenca articular degenerativa (DAD), induzida experimentalmente. Foram constituidos tres grupos de cinco animais: grupo 1 - controle, nao medicado; grupo 2 - tratado com sulfato de condroitina e grupo 3 - tratado com hialuronato de sodio. As amostras foram processadas e coradas pelas tecnicas de HE e de azul de toluidina para avaliacao das alteracoes morfologicas, e impregnadas pelo nitrato de prata para analise da atividade metabolica e/ou proliferativa dos condrocitos, por meio da visualizacao e quantificacao de regioes organizadoras do nucleolo (NORs). Nao foram notadas diferencas significativas (P 0,05) na contagem de NORs, celulas e NORs/celula entre os grupos. As maiores contagens de NORs e de celulas no grupo tratado com hialuronato de sodio sugeriram aumento da taxa de proliferacao dos condrocitos. A maior relacao de NORs/celula obtida no grupo tratado com sulfato de condroitina sugere que essa droga estimula a atividade metabolica do condrocito, minimizando as lesoes ocorridas durante a DAD.

Sulfato de condroitina e hialuronato de sódio no tratamento da doença articular degenerativa em cães: estudo histológico da cartilagem articular e membrana sinovial

Fifteen mongrel dogs, both genders, weighting from 18 to 25kg were used and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) was induced through cranial cruciate ligament (CCrL) artroscopical section. After three weeks, CCrL was reconstructed by Schawalders (1989) technique. Then, dogs were distributed in three groups and the following protocols were used: group I, control, no other treatment but the CCrL reconstruction; group II received chondroitin sulfate 24mg per animal every five days, intramuscularly, in a total of six injections; and group III received sodium hyaluronate 20mg per animal every five days, intravenously, in a total of three injections. Clinical observation was done until 90 days after treatments. By that time, the articular cartilage and synovium were collected and their morphology was evaluated. In group I, the degenerative alterations of the DJD were the most intense. Thus, decrease of chondrocytes number, pannus, fibrillations, grooves, erosion, and irregular articular surface were observed on the cartilage. In group II, raise of chondrocytes number was observed, with increase of synthesis activity of matrix and decrease of lesions on the articular surface. There was an increase of chondrocytes in group III, but the cells were morphologically unviable. All the groups showed proliferation of the synovial membrane, with limpho-plasma cells infiltrated in subintim and perivascular. In groups I and III, the proliferation of synovium was abundant, with formation of pannus, flattened synoviocytes or synovium absent with granulation tissue. Those results suggest that the chondroitin sulfate stimulated the articular cartilage; decreasing or delaying the alterations of DJD, as well as, the sodium hyaluronate did not interfere on degenerative process in articular cartilage. No favorable action of these drugs in the synovial membrane was verified.

Histomorfometria e histoquímica dos ovários, tubas e útero de ratas hipotireóideas em metaestro-diestro

Ovarian folicullogenesis was studied in adult Wistar rats. The animals were hypothyroid in the metaestrus/diestrus phase of the estrous cycle. Hypothyroidism was induced by oral treatment with 1mg/animal of propylthiouracil. Euthyroid rats were kept under the same experimental conditions receiving placebo. After 120 days under treatment, all animals were killed and plasma was taken to assessing free thyroxine, progesterone, and estradiol. The ovaries, tubes and uterus were sampled for histomorphometric and histochemistry evaluation. Hypothyroidism significantly reduced the weight of the ovaries and the number of secondary and tertiary follicles, and corpora luteum. The number of atretic follicles as well as primary and pre-ovulatory follicles was not affected. Granulosa cells in the secondary follicles of treated rats had small nuclei with a reduced number of AgNORs. Significant reduction of the endometrium thickness, number of endometrial glands and the infundibulum epithelium height was observed.

Efeito da associação hipotireoidismo-castração no osso e nas paratireóides de ratas adultas

The effect of hypothyroidism on bone metabolism and the parathyroids in states of deficiency or sufficiency of sex steroids was studied in 32 two-months-old female Wistar rats distributed in 4 groups of 8 animals each: intact euthyroid (IE), castrated euthyroid (CE), intact hypothyroid (IH) and castrated hypothyroid (CH). After 120 days of treatment, animals were sacrificed and plasma taken to assess free T4. Hyperplasia or hypertrophy of all parathyroids were evident only in IH and CE groups. Of all groups, IH rats presented the most extensive osteopenia, reaching lumbar vertebrae, dental alveolae (jaw and mandible) and long bones. In this group osteopenia resulted from the reduced bone growth, inhibition of bone apposition and return of bone resorption. Although osteopenia in the CH group was almost always more intense in relation to osteopenia presented by CE rats, its intensity was variable when compared to IH rats and dependent on the region studied. Even though it also caused necrosis of higher metabolism bones, the association hypothyroidism-castration did not potentialize the resultant osteopenia of the isolated action of hypothyroidism or castration until 120 days of treatment.

Hipogonadismo e função tireoidiana em ratas hipertireóideas e eutireóideas

The effects of hypogonadism on thyroid function of hyper and euthyroid rats were measured based on plasmatic profile of thyroid hormones, ovarian steroids, TSH and thyroid histomorphometry. A group of five-month-old ovariectomized Wistar rats were maintained at hyper or euthyroid state for 30, 60 and 90 days. A group of non castrated was used as control. The hyperthyroidism was induced by gastric infusion of L-tiroxin 50µg daily. At the end of each period nine rats of each group were sacrificed, the blood plasma collected and the thyroid inspected, measured and processed for histomorphometric analyses. In blood plasma the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, total and free tiroxin, total and free T3 and TSH were determined. The hypogonadism did not alter the values of free T3 and TSH but was able to rise free tiroxin in both hyper and euthyroid states. Total tiroxin levels were affected by castration, but only in the hyperthyroid state. Folicular epithelium height presented variations along the experiment in euthyroid individuals although these did not influence thyroid weight. No correlations between estrogen and any other variables were observed, but the progesterone levels were conversely proportional to the total and free tiroxin levels. It was concluded that hypogonadism alter the histomorphometric patterns of thyroid gland in euthyroid individuals, rise the plasmatic levels of free tiroxin regardless the functional state of thyroid gland and powered the total tyroxin rise in hyperthyroidism, probably due to the influence of hypoprogesteronism but not to the hypoestrogenism.