Lower carboniferous palynomorphs from Potí Formation, Parnaíba basin, Brazil

A rich and varied miofloral assemblage consisting of Spores, Acritarchs and Chitinozoans is recovered from a sample belonging to the Poti Formation. Parnaiha Basin, Brazil. This assemblage is quite interesting in having characteristic palynomorphs like Verrucosisporites nitidus, Densosporites spitsbergensis, Vallatisporites vallatus, Dibolisporites microspicatus. Florinites guttatus, Hymenozonotriletes explanatus, Cirratriradites veeversii, etc. which suggest a stratigraphic range of Tournaisian-Visean to the sample under study. This is being reported first from the western border of this region while some palynological data exist regarding the eastern border In addition to this, this assemblage has a greater bearing in tackling the stratigraphic problems associated with these sediments. This also can help interpreting the geological data in a better fashion. A comparative study with other known Lower Carboniferous palynozones of Argentina, Australia, United States of America and Great Bretain is also attempted.Uma rica e variada assembléia miofloral consistindo de Esporos. Acritarca e Quitinozoários é descrita em amostra pertencente a Formação Potí, (Bacia do Parnaiba - Brasil). Esta assembléia, constituída por Verrucosisporites nitidus, Densosporites spitsbergensis, Vallatisporites vallatus, Dibolisporites microspicatus. Florinites guttatus, Hymenozonotriletes explanatus, Cirratriradites veeversii, sugere um posicionamento estratigráfico no Tournaisiano-Viseano Pela primeira vez apresentam-se resultados referentes a borda oeste da bacia e confronta-se com alguns dados palinológicos existentes na borda este. Em adição a isto. esta assembléia tem grande valor no esclarecimento de problemas estratigráficos destes sedimentos. Isto também pode ajudar na melhor forma de interpretação dos dados geológicos. Apresenta-se também um estudo comparativo com outras palinozonas conhecidas do Carbonffero Inferior da Argentina, Austrália, Estados Unidos da América e Inglaterra

Medula do tipo artisia na formação Iratí (Permiano), estado de São Paulo, Brasil

This paper records the first ocurrence of a pith cast resembling Artisia in Brazil, from near Porongaba, São Paulo. This pith cast may be related to the genus Solenoxylon Kräusel, first registred in southwest Africa, but also known in the Permian of Brazil

Estudo palinológico dos sedimentos Devonianos, Bacia do Paraná: perfil Ponta Grossa - Campo Largo

The present communication deals with the palynological observations on the Devoniam sediments from Parana Basin, Paraná State, Brazil. This is the first of a series of research work under study and records observations on the paleoecology and biostratigraphy of this region. Though the assemblage is not very rich it has some characteristic spores along with acritarchs which suggests a lower Denovian age (Emsian) to the sediments studied. General comments based on palynological assemblage are also attempted.Este trabalho apresenta algumas observações sobre os palinomorfos dos sedimentos devonianos da Bacia do Paraná, no Estado do Paraná. Trata-se do primeiro de uma série de estudos que estão em andamento, visando melhor compreensão da bioestratigrafia e paleoecologia do Devoniano naquele Estado. A assembléia palinológica por nós estudada e identificada, embora escassa, conte'm esporos e acritarcas que comparados com os de palinozonas devonianas de outras regiões, sugerem uma idade, preliminar, devoniana inferior (Emsiano)

Kinin B(1) receptor deficiency leads to leptin hypersensitivity and resistance to obesity

OBJECTIVE-Kinins mediate pathophysiological processes related to hypertension, pain, and inflammation through the activation of two G-protein-coupled receptors, named B(1) and B(2). Although these peptides have been related to glucose homeostasis, their effects on energy balance are still unknown.RESEARCH DESIGN and METHODS-Using genetic and pharmacological strategies to abrogate the kinin B(1) receptor in different animal models of obesity, here we present evidence of a novel role for kinins in the regulation of satiety and adiposity.RESULTS-Kinin B(1) receptor deficiency in mice (B(1)(-/-)) resulted in less fat content, hypoleptinemia, increased leptin sensitivity, and robust protection against high-fat diet-induced weight gain. Under high-fat diet, B(1)(-/-) also exhibited reduced food intake, improved lipid oxidation, and increased energy expenditure. Surprisingly, B(1) receptor deficiency was not able to decrease food intake and adiposity in obese mice lacking leptin (ob/ob-B(1)(-/-)). However, ob/ob-B(1)(-/-) mice were more responsive to the effects of exogenous leptin on body weight and food intake, suggesting that B(1) receptors may be dependent on leptin to display their metabolic roles. Finally, inhibition of weight gain and food intake by B(1) receptor ablation was pharmacologically confirmed by long-term administration of the kinin B(1) receptor antagonist SSR240612 to mice under high-fat diet.CONCLUSIONS-Our data suggest that kinin B(1) receptors participate in the regulation of the energy balance via a mechanism that could involve the modulation of leptin sensitivity.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi Das Cruzes, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilSanofi Aventis, Montpellier, FranceUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilInst Natl Sante & Rech Med, Dept Renal & Cardiac Remodeling, U858 I2MR, Toulouse, FranceUniv Toulouse 3, Inst Med Mol Rangueil, F-31062 Toulouse, FranceInst Natl Rech Agron AgroParisTech, UMR914 Nutr Physiol & Ingest Behav, Paris, FranceMax Delbruck Ctr Mol Med, Berlin, GermanyUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Antibody reactivity against potato apyrase, a protein that shares epitopes with Schistosoma mansoni ATP diphosphohydrolase isoforms, in acute and chronically infected mice, after chemotherapy and reinfection

Schistosoma mansoni ATP diphosphohydrolase isoforms and potato apyrase share conserved epitopes. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, elevated levels of IgM, IgG2a and IgG1 antibody reactivity against potato apyrase were observed in S. mansoni-infected BALB/c mice during the acute phase of infection, while only IgM and IgG1 antibody reactivity levels maintained elevated during the chronic phase of infection. Antibody reactivity against potato apyrase was monitored over an 11-month period in chronically-infected mice treated with oxamniquine. Eleven months later, the level of seropositive IgM decreased significantly (~30%) compared to the level found in untreated, infected mice. The level of seropositive IgG1 decreased significantly four months after treatment (MAT) (61%) and remained at this level even after 11 months. The IgG2a reactivity against potato apyrase, although unchanged during chronic phase to 11 MAT, appeared elevated again in re-infected mice suggesting a response similar to that found during the acute phase. BALB/c mouse polyclonal anti-potato apyrase IgG reacted with soluble egg antigens probably due to the recognition of parasite ATP diphosphohydrolase. This study, for the first time, showed that the IgG2a antibody from S. mansoni-infected BALB mice cross-reacts with potato apyrase and the level of IgG2a in infected mice differentiates disease phases. The results also suggest that different conserved-epitopes contribute to the immune response in schistosomiasis