Immunophenotyping of leukocytes in bovine placenta

Lymphocytes and macrophages are the main white cells involved in fetal-maternal tolerance. Little is known about these leukocytes in bovine placenta, such as the quantity and location of these cells. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify lymphocyte and macrophage populations in bovine placenta using specific markers and flow cytometry. This study analyzed samples of placentomes and intercaruncular regions of cows in the three quarters of pregnancy. In the placentomes, during the first quarter of pregnancy, mean percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 2.34%; CD8+, 1.28%; CD14+, 1.66%; and CD335+, 0.96%. For the intercaruncular region, percentage of CD3+ cells was 0.71%; CD8+, 1.63%; CD14+, 2.81%; and CD335+, 2.81%. In the second quarter, placentomes showed 0.94% CD3+ cells; 0.77% CD8+; 0.72% CD14+; and 0.51% CD335+. In the intercaruncular region, percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 0.50%; CD8+, 1.81%; CD14+, 2.64%; and CD335+, 0.51%. In the third quarter, placentomes showed labeling of 0.88% CD3+; 0.66% CD8+; 1.06% CD14+; and 0.74% CD335+ cells. In the intercaruncular region, percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 0.19%; CD8+, 2.23%; CD14+, 2.43%; and CD335+, 0.16%. The results showed that there was a greater immunomarking of leukocytes CD3+ and CD335+ in the placentome when compared to the intercaruncular region during the third trimester. It can be concluded that leukocytes populations in bovine placenta is reduced, probably because of the syndesmochorial characteristic of bovine placenta. This represents a significant barrier for the immunological system of the mother, sharply decreasing the exposure of the conceptus to the mother’s immune system.Linfócitos e macrófagos são os principais leucócitos envolvidos na tolerância materno-fetal. Pouco se sabe sobre esses leucócitos na placenta bovina, como por exemplo, a quantidade e localização dessas células. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi identificar populações de linfócitos e macrófagos na placenta bovina utilizando marcadores específicos e citometria de fluxo. Este estudo analisou amostras de placentônios da região intercaruncular de bovinos nos três trimestres da gestação. No primeiro trimestre, nos placentônios, a porcentagem média de células CD3+ foi 2,34%; CD8+, 1,28%; CD14+, 1,66%; e CD335+, 0,96%. Na região intercaruncular, a porcentagem de células CD3+ foi 0,71%; CD8+, 1,63%; CD14+, 2,81%; e CD335+, 2,81%. No segundo trimestre, os placentonios apresentaram 0,94% de células CD3+; 0,77% de CD8+; 0,72% de CD14+e 0,51% de CD335+. Na região intercaruncular, a porcentagem de células CD3+ foi 0,50%; CD8+, 1,81%; CD14+, 2,64%; e CD335+, 0,51%. No terceiro trimestre, os placentônios apresentaram 0,88% de células marcadas CD3+; 0,66% de CD8+; 1,06% de CD14+ e 0,74% de CD335+. Na região intercaruncular, a porcentagem de células CD3+ foi 0,19%; CD8+, 2,23%; CD14+, 2,43% e CD335+, 0,16%. Os resultados mostraram que a imunomarcação de leucócitos na região do placentônio foi maior do que na região intercaruncular no terceiro trimestre. Concluiu-se que a população de leucócitos CD3+ e CD335+ na placenta bovina está reduzida, provavelmente devido a sua característica sindesmocorial. Essa característica representa uma barreira significante para o sistema imunológico da mãe, o que diminui drasticamente a exposição do concepto ao sistema de defesa da mãe

Análise qualitativa do estabelecimento da espermatogênese em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

A determinação do estabelecimento da puberdade é bastante estudada em animais domésticos e roedores, no entanto, são escassas as pesquisas com a finalidade de estabelecer parâmetros para a biologia reprodutiva em cutias. Foram utilizadas 31 cutias machos da espécie Dasyprocta agouti, oriundas da Universidade Federal do Piauí, Estado do Piauí, e da Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Imediatamente após a orquiectomia foram retirados fragmentos e estes foram processados histologicamente, os tecidos foram corados com hematoxilina-eosina e analisou-se os parâmetros seguintes: aspectos de luminação dos túbulos seminíferos; presença de espermatócitos primários; presença de espermátides e formação dos primeiros estágios do ciclo do epitélio seminífero (CES) segundo o método da morfologia tubular. O período desde o nascimento até os cinco meses de idade correspondeu à fase impúbere; dos seis aos oito meses de idade a fase de transição da pré-puberdade à puberdade; dos nove aos dez meses de idade à fase da puberdade; e dos doze aos quartoze meses de idade à fase da pós-puberdade. A puberdade da cutia (Dasyprocta aguti), ocorreu em animais a partir dos sete meses de idade, e o estabelecimento da puberdade foi constatado em todos os animais estudados aos nove meses de idade.The determination of the puberty beginning is widely studied in domestic animals and rodents. However, there are scarce researches with the purpose to establish parameters for the reproductive biology in Agoutis. Thirty-one male Agoutis, Dasyprocta agouti species had been used, originated from the Universidade Federal do Piauí - PI, and from the Mossoró Superior Scholl of Agriculture - RN. Immediately after the orchiectomy, histological sections were made, the tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosine and analyzed for the following parameters: aspects of the seminiferous tubule lumen; presence of primary spermatocytes; presence of spermatid cells and formation of the first stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC), in accordance with the tubular morphology method. The period from the birth up to five months of age corresponded to the impuberal phase; from six to eight months, to the transition from the prepuberal phase to puberty; from nine to ten months, to the puberty; and, from twelve to fourteen months of age to the after-puberty phase. The puberty of the Agouti (Dasyprocta aguti), occurred since seven months of age, being the establishment puberty beginning evidenced at nine months of age

Aspectos biométricos do desenvolvimento testicular e corporal em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

Biometric data of the testicular and corporal weight development of 31 Agoutis (Dasyprocta aguti), from the birth up to 14 months of age, were analyzed. The correlations between corporal weight, age and testicular parameters were highly significant. Testicular weight, testicular volume, as well other testicular biometric parameters (length, diameter and perimeter), evolved slow and gradually until eight months of age. Beginning on 9 months of age, the growth was faster, and in this period. the seminiferous epithelium was already formed. Biometric development of the testes can be shared in two phases: 0 - 8 months and 9 - 14 months of age, however the 9 months age are the maximum point of the testicular development in Agoutis (Dasyprocta aguti) rised in captivity.Analisou-se os dados biométricos do desenvolvimento testicular e peso corporal de 31 cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) desde o nascimento até os 14 meses de idade. As correlações entre o peso corporal, idade e parâmetros testiculares apresentaram-se altamente significativas. O peso testicular, o volume testicular, assim como os demais parâmetros biométricos testiculares (comprimento, diâmetro e perímetro), evoluíram lenta e gradualmente até os 8 meses de idade. A partir dos 9 meses, o crescimento foi mais rápido. O desenvolvimento biométrico do testículo pode ser dividido em duas fases, de 0 - 8 meses e de 9 - 14 meses de idade, sendo 9 meses considerado ponto de corte em se tratando de desenvolvimento testicular de cutias criadas em cativeiro

Quantificação de células dos túbulos seminíferos e rendimento da espermatogênese em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

This study has as objective to evaluate the spermatogenesis yield of Agoutis rised in captivity, through the rates found between cellular types of the seminiferous epithelium. The results showed that the spermatogenesis yield of the Agoutis since 9 to 14 months of age did not reach the stabilization point. The coefficient of efficiency of the spermatogonium mitoses, did not increase with the age. The meiotic yield, usual spermatogenesis yield and the Sertoli cells index didn't showed numeric variation at function of the age, however, it was not detected by statistic data.O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o rendimento da espermatogênese de cutias criadas em cativeiro, por intermédio das razões encontradas entre tipos celulares do epitélio seminífero. Os resultados apontaram que o rendimento da espermatogênese da cutia dos nove aos quatorze meses de idade não chegou a um ponto de estabilização. O coeficiente de eficiência de mitoses espermatogoniais não aumentou com a idade. O rendimento meiótico, o rendimento geral da espermatogênese e o índice de células de Sertoli mostraram variações numéricas em função da idade, entretanto, não detectadas estatisticamente

CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts and ratio in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus: a preliminary study

This study aimed to evaluate the CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes counts and CD4+: CD8+ ratio in a colony of cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS). We used forty domestic short-haired cats inhabiting the same colony. Ten cats with CGS were immunodeficiency virus-positive (group IV), and ten with CGS were immunodeficiency virus-negative (group III). As a control, twenty cats without CGS were used: ten cats were immunodeficiency virus-positive (group II) and ten cats were immunodeficiency virus-negative (group I). We employed flow cytometry to count CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In cats infected with the immunodeficiency virus, the presence of CD4+ lymphocytes were lower both for animals with and without CGS. Conversely, not immunodeficiency virus-infected cats with CGS had a higher amount of CD4+ when compared to seronegative animals without CGS. The counts of CD8+ T lymphocytes showed no significant difference among cats with CGS, whether infected with immunodeficiency virus or not. The CD4+: CD8+ ratio was only different for group III, which was higher than any other group. No difference was observed for total lymphocyte number and CD8+ among groups. By contrast, mean CD4+ levels were different, with cats from groups III and IV showing higher levels than those from groups I and II. The flow cytometry could be a useful tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of cats with CGS infected by the immunodeficiency virus

The The teaching of immunology in veterinary medicine course

The discipline of Immunology Applied to the Veterinary Medicine aims to study the cellular and molecularcomponents of domestic and wild animals’ immune system, as well as the mechanisms of immune response.In the most of the courses, the pedagogical practice is approached through the traditional lecture classes on a paradigm of attack-defense of the organism, although some courses have incorporated a current view focusing on the comprehension of the immune system as a recognition system, with different consequences to the organisms such as: tolerance, immunity, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity. In this sense, it is important to emphasize the notion that the immune system is part of a large apparatus of balance and equilibrium maintenance of the organisms and, when this system is compromised, dysfunction arises. In addition, it is important to reinforce the great interaction between its components with other systems, especially the neuroendocrine system, as well as the complex regulation network that controls them. From this point of view, active learning methodologies such as problem-based learning aim to improve theoretical Immunology classes. An important trend in Veterinary Medicine undergraduate course is the multimodal teaching strategies through varied tools that amplifies academic performance. Therefore, it suggests that innovative teaching and learning methodologies about animal’s immune system must be encouraged in Brazilian universities.A disciplina de Imunologia Aplicada à Medicina Veterinária objetiva estudar os componentes celulares e moleculares do sistema imunológico dos animais domésticos e silvestres, bem como os mecanismos de resposta imune. Na maioria dos cursos, sua prática pedagógica ainda é abordada através da tradicional aula expositiva sob um paradigma de ataque-defesa do organismo, embora alguns cursos já estejam incorporando uma visão mais contemporânea cujo enfoque está no entendimento do sistema imune como um aparelho de reconhecimento, com diferentes consequências para os organismos como: tolerância, imunidade, hipersensibilidade e autoimunidade. Nesse sentido, é importante enfatizar a noção de que o sistema imunológico é parte de um amplo programa de manutenção de equilíbrio do organismo e, quando esse sistema está comprometido, disfunções podem surgir. Além disso, vale ressaltar a grande interação entre seus componentes com outros sistemas, especialmente o sistema neuroendócrino, além da complexa rede de regulação que os controla. Por esse ponto de vista, as metodologias ativas de ensino e aprendizagem, com ênfase em uma aprendizagem baseada em problemas, objetivam a melhoria das aulas expositivas de Imunologia. No curso de graduação em Medicina Veterinária, uma tendência é o ensino multimodal em que o aluno aprende por meio de ferramentas variadas, incrementando assim o desempenho acadêmico. Portanto, sugere-se que as metodologias inovadoras para ensino-aprendizagem sobre o sistema imunológico sejam encorajadas dentro das instituições de Ensino Superior

Ultrastructure of motor nerve terminals in the anterior third of wistar rat tongue

The nerve terminals of intrinsic muscular fibers of the tongue of adult wistar rats was studied by using silver impregnation techniques, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) to observe the nerve fibers and their terminals. Silver impregnation was done according to Winkelman and Schmit, [1957]. For TEM, small blocks were fixed in modified Karnovsky solution, postfixed in 1% buffered osmium tetroxide solution, and embedded in Spurr resin. For HRSEM, the parts were fixed in 2% osmium tetroxide solution with 1/15 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 4°C for 2 h, according to the technique described by Tanaka, [1989]. Thick myelinated nerve bundles were histologically observed among the muscular fibers. The intrafusal nerve fiber presented a tortuous pathway with punctiform terminal axons in clusters contacting the surface of sarcolemma. Several myelinated nerve fibers involved by collagen fibers of the endoneurium were observed in HRSEM in three-dimensional aspects. The concentric lamellae of the myelin sheath and the axoplasm containing neurofilaments interspersed among the mitochondria were also noted. In TEM, myofibrils, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi's apparatus, and glycogen granules were observed in sarcoplasm. It is also noted that the sarcomeres constituted by myofilaments with their A, I, and H bands and the electron dense Z lines. In areas adjacent to muscular fibers, there were myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers involved by endoneurium and perineurium. In the region of the neuromuscular junction, the contact with the sarcolemma of the muscular cell occurs forming several terminal buttons and showing numerous evaginations of the cell membrane. In the terminal button, mitochondria and numerous synaptic vesicles were observe