Analysis of nuclear maturation, DNA damage and repair gene expression of bovine oocyte and cumulus cells submitted to ionizing radiation

Radiotherapy causes destruction of tumor cells, but also threatens the integrity and survival of surrounding normal cells. Then, woman submitted to irradiation for cancer treatment may present permanent ovary damage, resulting in impaired fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation (IR), used for ovarian cancer treatment in humans, on bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) as experimental model. Bovine ovaries were exposed to 0.9 Gy, 1.8 Gy, 3.6 Gy or 18.6 Gy IR, and then COCs were collected and used to evaluate: (a) oocyte nuclear maturation; (b) presence of phosphorylated H2A.X (γH2AX), as an indicator of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs); and (c) expression of genes involved in DNA repair (TP53BP1, RAD52, ATM, XRCC6 and XRCC5) and apoptosis (BAX). The radiation doses tested in this study had no detrimental effects on nuclear maturation and did not increase γH2AX in the oocytes. However, IR treatment altered the mRNA abundance of RAD52 (RAD52 homolog, DNA repair protein) and BAX (BCL2-associated X protein). We conclude that although IR doses had no apparent effect on oocyte nuclear maturation and DNA damage, molecular pathways involved in DNA repair and apoptosis were affected by IR exposure in cumulus cells

EFEITO DO EXTRATO AQUOSO DE SCUTIA BUXIFOLIA SOBRE CONTEÚDO SÉRICO DE ALBUMINA E PESO CORPORAL DE RATOS

Scutia buxifolia is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of cardiac diseases but little know about its toxicity on liver. Wistar rats (n=32) were divided into 4 groups: control and treated groups with 100, 200 and, 400 mg of lyophilized aqueous extract of S. buxifolia (EASB)/ kg of body weight, daily, during 30 days. The blood of animals was collected on 15th and 30th day of experiment for serum albumin dosage. The blood samples were centrifugated (3000 rpm) for 15 minutes.  The present study was planned to explore the hepatotoxic effect of EASB, which was assessed by total body weight, liver weight and, serum albumin. EASB did not alter the parameters analyzed. This way, EASB was not toxic for the liver in the dosages used.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2236583413726 Scutia buxifolia é uma planta usada no tratamento de doenças cardíacas. No entanto, seus efeitos tóxicos no fígado são pouco conhecidos. Ratos Wistar (n=32) foram divididos em 4 grupos: controle e os tratados com 100, 200 e 400 mg do extrato aquoso liofilizado de S. buxifolia (EASB) / kg de peso corporal diariamente, durante 30 dias. O sangue dos animais foi coletado no 15º e 30º dia de experimento para a realização da dosagem de albumina sérica. As amostras foram centrifugadas a 3000 rpm durante 15 minutos. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar os efeitos hepatotóxicos de EASB através do peso corporal, da massa úmida hepática e do conteúdo sérico de albumina. O EASB não altera os parâmetros analisados no presente estudo. Dessa forma, o extrato não foi tóxico nas doses usadas no ensaio. Descritores: Toxicologia; Plantas Medicinais.

UTILIZAÇÃO E ACEITAÇÃO DO TRATAMENTO COM PLANTAS MEDICINAIS EM ROQUE GONZALES, RS

O estudo avaliou o conhecimento, acesso e aceitação às plantas medicinais pela população de Roque Gonzales – RS. Foram realizadas 171 entrevistas, tendo como instrumento de coleta um questionário com perguntas fechadas e abertas. Foram citadas 274 plantas pelo conjunto dos entrevistados sendo que 88,88% das pessoas afirmaram que cultivam algumas destas plantas em seus quintais e jardins. Constatou-se que 89,50% dos pesquisados utilizam plantas medicinais, sendo a maior prevalência pessoas do sexo feminino. Comprovou-se que a maioria dos entrevistados (78,36%) acreditam que o tratamento com plantas medicinais seja eficaz. O conhecimento sobre usos e os modos de preparação provém, em geral, dos familiares (79,77%) e a faixa etária que mais faz uso de plantas com ação medicamentosa são os idosos (36%), confirmando sua importância no domínio deste tipo de conhecimento. A utilização de plantas para tratar doenças ao invés de medicamentos ainda é muito significativo e estudos desta natureza são necessários para resgatar e valorizar o saber popular sobre o uso destas plantas

PEROXIDAÇÃO LIPÍDICA E ATIVIDADE DA SUPEROXIDO DISMUTASE EM JUVENIS DE JUNDIÁ (Rhamdia quelen) EXPOSTOS A DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE OXIGÊNIO DISSOLVIDO LIPID PEROXIDATION AND SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN SILVER CATFISH (Rhamdia quelen) JUVENILES EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS

<span><p align="justify">Peixes são freqüentemente expostos a episódios de hipóxia ambiental e fisiológica, e usualmente produzem níveis elevados de espécies reativas de oxigênio. Juvenis de jundiá (<em>Rhamdia quelen</em>) foram expostos a diferentes níveis de oxigênio dissolvido (hipóxia severa: 1,96 ± 0,08, hipóxia moderada: 3,10 ± 0,10 e normóxia: 6,15 ± 0,03 mg.L<sup>-¹</sup>) por trinta dias, para verificar se tais condições poderiam induzir algum estresse oxidativo no fígado e músculo dessa espécie. Os níveis de peroxidação lipídica e a atividade da superóxido dismutase no fígado e músculo foram mais altos em peixes expostos à hipóxia severa e moderada que nos expostos à normóxia. Trata-se de resultados que sugerem que baixos níveis de oxigênio dissolvido na água levam à peroxidação lipídica, mas ao mesmo tempo há um aumento da atividade da superóxido dismutase, mantendo o equilíbrio oxidativo.</p><p align="justify"> </p><p align="justify">PALAVRAS-CHAVES: Enzimas anti-oxidantes, hypoxia, normóxia, radicais livres. </p></span> <span><p align="justify">Fish are usually exposed to episodes of environmental and physiological hypoxia, and are likely to produce elevated levels of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, silver catfish (<em>Rhamdia quelen</em>) juveniles were exposed to different dissolved oxygen levels (severe hypoxia: 1.96 ± 0.08, moderate hypoxia: 3.10 ± 0.10 and normoxia: 6.15 ± 0.03 mg.L<sup>-¹</sup>) for 30 days to verify if these conditions may induce any oxidative stress in the liver and muscle of this species. The levels of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in liver and muscle were higher in fish exposed to severe and moderate hypoxia than in those exposed to normoxia. This result suggests that low dissolved oxygen levels in the water lead to lipid peroxidation, but at the same time there is an increase of superoxide dismutase activity, maintaining the oxidative equilibrium.</p><p align="justify">KEY WORDS: Anti-oxidant enzymes, free radicals, hypoxia, normoxia. </p></span&gt

Preliminary studies of anti-ulcerogenic effect of Aster squamatus leaves hydroalcoholic extract on various ulcer models in rats

Se comprobó el efecto antiulcerogénico del extracto crudo hidroalcólico (70%) de las hojas de Aster squamatus (ECH) frente a úlceras inducidas por etanol, indometacina y estrés provocado por el frío. El ECH (500 y 1000mg/kg) redujo el índice de la lesión (IL) y el número de úlceras (NU) inducido por etanol. La dosis de 1000 mg/kg redujo el NU en el modelo de la indometacina y también redujo el IL e NU en el modelo provocado por estrés a frío. De acuerdo con los datos obtenidos, varios mecanismos de acción pueden estar involucrados en la protección gástrica. Subsiguientes estudios deben ser realizados para intentar poner en evidencia las substancias involucradas en el efecto anti-ulcerogénico del Aster squamatus.The anti-ulcerogenic effect of crude hydroalcoholic extract (70%) of Aster squamatus leaves (CHE) was tested against ethanol-, indomethacin-, and cold stress- induced ulcers. The CHE (500 and 1000 mg/kg) reduced the lesion index (LI) and the number of ulcers (NU) in ethanol-induced ulcers. The dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced the NU in the model of the indomethacin, and also reduced the LI and NU in the stress model. According to the obtained data, several action mechanisms may be involved in the gastric protection. Subsequent studies should be made trying to evidence the substances involved in Aster squamatus anti-ulcerogenic effect.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

<b>Trans-resveratrol reduces cardiac oxidative stress in rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Differences between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense system unbalance the redox status. The exposure to cigarette smoke can increase this imbalance. Trans-resveratrol is a polyphenol with great antioxidant action that reduces the oxidative stress. This study investigated the effect of the trans-resveratrol supplementation on the cardiac oxidative stress in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: Control Group (CG), Exposure to Smoke Group (ESG), Antioxidant Group (AG) and Exposure to Smoke plus Antioxidant Group (ESAG). Animals were exposed to cigarette smoke and supplemented with trans-resveratrol (6.0 mg kg-1) for two months. The lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and the enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT) were measured in the cardiac muscle. The ESG presented the highest lipid peroxidation level compared with CG (p < 0.001), AG (p < 0.001) and ESAG (p < 0.006). The CAT activity was higher in the AG (p < 0.001) and ESAG (p < 0.001) compared with CG. The ESG presented lower CAT activity compared with the ESAG (p < 0.001). The supplementation of Trans-resveratrol attenuated the cardiac oxidative stress and increased the activity of catalase. Our findings evidenced the cardioprotective effect of trans-resveratrol in rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Preliminary studies of anti-ulcerogenic effect of Aster squamatus leaves hydroalcoholic extract on various ulcer models in rats

Se comprobó el efecto antiulcerogénico del extracto crudo hidroalcólico (70%) de las hojas de Aster squamatus (ECH) frente a úlceras inducidas por etanol, indometacina y estrés provocado por el frío. El ECH (500 y 1000mg/kg) redujo el índice de la lesión (IL) y el número de úlceras (NU) inducido por etanol. La dosis de 1000 mg/kg redujo el NU en el modelo de la indometacina y también redujo el IL e NU en el modelo provocado por estrés a frío. De acuerdo con los datos obtenidos, varios mecanismos de acción pueden estar involucrados en la protección gástrica. Subsiguientes estudios deben ser realizados para intentar poner en evidencia las substancias involucradas en el efecto anti-ulcerogénico del Aster squamatus.The anti-ulcerogenic effect of crude hydroalcoholic extract (70%) of Aster squamatus leaves (CHE) was tested against ethanol-, indomethacin-, and cold stress- induced ulcers. The CHE (500 and 1000 mg/kg) reduced the lesion index (LI) and the number of ulcers (NU) in ethanol-induced ulcers. The dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced the NU in the model of the indomethacin, and also reduced the LI and NU in the stress model. According to the obtained data, several action mechanisms may be involved in the gastric protection. Subsequent studies should be made trying to evidence the substances involved in Aster squamatus anti-ulcerogenic effect.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Estresse oxidativo em fígados de ratos tratados com diferentes tipos de óleos na dieta

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