Effects of chronic restraint stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the effects of chronic stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were assigned into four groups depending on the type of treatment (control or stressed) and the age at which stress was initiated (prepubertal or adult). Restraint stress stimuli were applied for six weeks. Stressed prepubertal and adult rats evaluated immediately after the last stress stimuli were named SP and SA groups, respectively. Age-matched rats were used as control groups (CP and CA). At the end of the experiment, the rats were euthanized, and prostate morphological parameters were evaluated and statistically compared. Results: Application of stress stimuli to the SP group resulted in reduced body weight, but no prostate morphological modification was noted. The SA group showed reduced testosterone level and prostatic epithelium surface density, in comparison to CA group. Further, the prostatic lumen surface density was increased in adult stressed animals, in comparison to adult controls. Conclusions: The stress stimuli promoted changes in hormonal and morphological parameters in the prostate of adult stressed rats. Prepubertal stressed animals did not presented modifications of prostate morphology

Histology of 24 organs from Asian elephant calves (Elephas maximus)

Background Elephants are the largest and heaviest living terrestrial animals, but information on their histology is still lacking. This study provides a unique insight into the elephant’s organs and also provides a comparison between juvenile Asian elephants and adult Asian elephants or other species. Here we report on the histological structure of 24 organs, including the skin, brain (cerebrum, cerebellar hemisphere, vermis, thalamus, midbrain), spinal cord, sciatic nerve, striated skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, bone (flat bone and long bone), cartilage (hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage), heart (right atrium, right ventricle), blood vessels (aorta, pulmonary artery and caudal vena cava), trunk, trachea, lung, tongue, esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), large intestine (cecum, colon, rectum), liver and pancreas, kidney, ovary, uterus (body and horn) and spleen of two juvenile Asian elephants. Methods Tissue sections were stained with Harris’s hematoxylin and eosin Y. Results While almost all structures were similar to those of other species or adult elephants, some structures were different from other mammalian species, such as: plexiform bone was found in flat bone only; a thin trachealismuscle was observed in the trachea; and no serous or mucinous glands were found in the submucosa of the trachea. Discussion Histological information from various organs can serve as an important foundation of basal data for future microanatomical studies, and help in the diagnosis and pathogenesis in sick elephants or those with an unknown cause of death

Ampulex compressa Fabricius

Ampulex compressa (Fabricius) Last larval instar Body: General body form as illustrated for Sphex tepanecus Saussure in Stehr (1987). Pale yellow, length ranging from 0.9 cm (penetrating larva) to 2.5 cm (fully fed mature larva), dorsoventrally compressed and rather flattened ventrally and rounded dorsally; more tapered anteriorly than posteriorly. Its maximum width ranged from 0.2 cm (penetrating larva) to 0.9 cm (fully fed mature larva) at fifth and sixth abdominal segments. Pleural lobes prominent. Most body segments divided into two annulets dorsally, integument slightly granulose. All spiracles brown and located inside pronounced depressions (Fig. 1 A). Spiracular atrium apparently unornamented; peritreme with five valve­like projections (Fig. 1 A). Anus terminal. Head capsule: Subcircular; measuring 1.1 mm long and 1.0 mm in maximum width with distinct depressions in antennal and coronal regions (Fig. 1 B). Anterior tentorial arms and pleurostoma unpigmented and discrete, hypostoma dark brown, parietal bands feeble (Fig. 1 C). Depressions in clypeal region; metopic suture strongly pronounced and continuous with the frontal suture (Fig. 1 B). Antennal orbits discrete and circular (diameter = 40 μm), with 3 sensilla apically. Cephalic surface with few punctures, mainly concentrated in clypeal region and with a distinct group of 6 punctures in subgenal area (not shown). Mouthparts: Labrum 562.6 ± 253.9 m (n= 5) wide, strongly bilobed (Fig. 1 C, 1 D), pigmented mesally and with 30–32 surface punctures, setae (8 m long) and basiconic sensilla (10 m diameter) (Fig. 1 D). Epipharynx densely spinulose mesally with 4 m spines directed apically, shorter spines present at the lobes’ extremities, but these are absent on the sensory area, which contains 8–10 scattered basiconic sensilla (7–8 m in diameter) (Fig. 1 E). Mandible is 418.2 ± 204.4 (n= 4) m long, brown, darker at apex and articulations, bearing 4–5 teeth, with neither punctures nor setae (Fig. 1 C). Maxilla with few setae (about 12 m); its inner basal portion with flattened papillae margined with short spikes; lacinial area with 3–5 m­long spines (Fig. 1 F). Pigmented maxillary palpus stout, 60 m long x 55 m wide, with three basiconic sensillae apically; galea pigmented, 30 m long x 30 m wide (not shown). Salivary lips with a deep medial groove just above a transverse spinneret with prominent raised lips, margined with spoon­like papillae on the upper lip which also bears short spikes internally (Fig. 2 A). Labium about 329 m wide, and pigmented at the sides; bearing weakly pigmented, cone­shaped, 47 m long x 61 m wide labial palpi (Fig. 1 C), culminating in three basiconic sensilla (not shown). Labiobase with few 9 m long setaceous sensilla (Fig. 2 A). Examined material: Two entire larvae and three head capsules, two analysed with a light microscope and one by scanning electronic microscopy. Second larval instar Body: light yellow, measuring 6.5 mm in maximum length and 3.0 mm in width, dorsoventrally compressed and with evident segmentation (Fig. 2 B). Pleural lobes pronounced, spiracular depressions present. Integument wholly covered with short spines (not shown). Head capsule: Mainly unpigmented; 2.0 mm long x 1.9 mm in maximum width. Coronal suture continuous with frontal suture (Fig. 2 C). Antennal orbits very inconspicuous with three sensilla (not shown). A distinct group of 6 punctures on subgenal area; parietal bands indistinguishable; hypostoma, pleurostoma and anterior tentorial arms pigmented, epistoma well defined and also pigmented (Fig. 2 C). Mouthparts: Labrum about 500 m wide, with 18–20 punctures (Fig. 2 C). Spines at middle of epipharynx, directed apically. Maxilla unpigmented, lacking setae. Mandible about 263 m long, bearing 3 teeth and various spine­like denticles; labium unpigmented and very simple, 230 m wide (Fig. 2 C). First larval instar Body: white and cylindrical, 3.0 mm long x 0.8 mm wide, with evident segmentation (Fig 2 D). Pleural lobes slightly pronounced in thoracic region, spiracles brown (not shown). Body covered with 1–2 μm spines, more densely so at posterior portion and intersegmental areas (Fig. 2 D—detail). Head capsule: Mostly unpigmented, except for brown maxillary scleromes, epistoma and pleurostoma. Mouthparts greatly reduced: labrum about 100 m wide with 9–10 punctures, mandible pigmented (172 m long) with 3 teeth, maxilla with no setae; labium unpigmented and very reduced (Fig. 2 D). Cocoon Wall composed of two distinct layers: a silky outer one and a sturdy dark brown internal one. Inner surface shiny black and smooth (not shown). Walls apparently composed of spherical grains embedded in some kind of secreted matrix (Fig. 2 E). Egg White, cylindrical, not curved, with rounded extremities; 2.5 mm length x 0.7 mm width. Micropyle appears as a punctured area on the anterior extremity (Fig. 2 F).Published as part of Fox, Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson, Buys, Sandor Cristiano, Mallet, Jace- Nir Reis Dos Santos & Bressan-Nascimento, Suzete, 2006, On the morphology of the juvenile stages of Ampulex compressa (Fabricius 1781) (Hymenoptera, Ampulicidae), pp. 43-51 in Zootaxa 1279 on pages 45-49, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27351

What is the effect of Tribulus terrestris on testicular morphology and sperm production? An experimental study in the rat model

The objective of this study was to investigate whether treatment with Tribulus terrestris (Tt) has any impact on the testicular morphology and function in a rodent model. Twenty male rats were divided into a control group and a group receiving 100 mg kg−1 body weight of Tt supplementation. After 40 days of experiment, the animals were submitted to euthanasia; epididymal tail spermatozoa were collected; and spermatozoa concentration, motility, and viability were analyzed. In addition, testicles were collected and processed for histomorphometrical analyses. Data were compared using the Student's t-test and considered significant when P < 0.05. Spermatozoa concentration, motility, and viability showed no difference between the groups. Further, testicular weight and volume, seminiferous tubule diameter, tunica propria surface density, seminiferous epithelium surface density, and intertubular compartment surface density were statistically similar between the groups. However, seminiferous epithelium height and tubular lumen surface density were augmented in animals treated with Tt. Treatment with Tt does not cause a major impact on testicular morphology, promoting only subtle modifications. No difference on spermatozoa parameters was observed

Antioxidants as Renoprotective Agents for Ischemia during Partial Nephrectomy

Small renal masses have been diagnosed increasingly in recent decades, allowing surgical treatment by partial nephrectomy. This treatment option is associated with better renal function preservation, in comparison with radical nephrectomy. However, for obtaining a bloodless field during surgery, occlusion of renal artery and veins is often required, which results in transitory ischemia. The renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is associated with increased reactive oxygen species production leading to renal tissue damage. Thus, the use of antioxidants has been advocated in the partial nephrectomy perioperative period. Several antioxidants were investigated in regard to renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. The present manuscript aims to present the literature on the most commonly studied antioxidants used during partial nephrectomy. The results of experimental and clinical studies using antioxidants during partial nephrectomy are reported. Further, alimentary sources of some antioxidants are presented, stimulating future studies focusing on perioperative antioxidant-rich diets