Morphological Aspects Of Cultured Rat Seminiferous Tubules In The Presence Of Fetal Calf Serum And Follicle-stimulating Hormone.

Culturing seminiferous tubules allows the analysis of spermatogenesis under controlled conditions. Reproducing the specific microenvironment for germ cells is a challenge taken up by various studies. The difficulty in supplementing all nutrients and the physical disturbances during isolation procedures cause degeneration of many cells in the seminiferous epithelium. We tested some culture conditions in order to preserve an acceptable morphology of cells inside the tubules. Seminiferous tubules were cultured during fifteen days in HAM F10 medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) and/or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The cellular morphology was analyzed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. During the culture period cellular degeneration occurred progressively. Morphological modifications of the Sertoli cells and germ cells such as accumulation of lipid droplets, nuclear and cytoplasmatic vacuolization and the presence of cell debris were observed. The addition of FCS activated the myoid cells causing nuclear rounding and thickening of the tubular wall. The best results were obtained with a serum-free culture medium supplemented with FSH.32103-1

Malpighiaceae: correlations between habit, fruit type and basic chromosome number Malpighiaceae: correlações entre hábito, tipo de fruto e número cromossômico básico

The family Malpighiaceae presents species with different habits, fruit types and cytological characters. Climbers are considered the most derived habit, followed, respectively, by the shrubby and arboreal ones. The present study examines the relationship between basic chromosome numbers and the derivation of climbing habit and fruit types in Malpighiaceae. A comparison of all the chromosome number reports for Malpighiaceae showed a predominance of chromosome numbers based on x=5 or 10 in the genera of sub-family Malpighioideae, mainly represented by climbers with winged fruits, whereas non-climbing species with non-winged fruits, which predominate in sub-family Byrsonimoideae, had counts based on x=6, which is considered the less derived basic number for the family. Based on such data, confirmed by statistic assays, and on the monophyletic origin of this family, we admit the hypothesis that morphological derivation of habit and fruit is correlated with chromosome basic number variation in the family Malpighiaceae.<br>A família Malpighiaceae apresenta diferentes tipos de hábito, frutos e caracteres citogenéticos. Em geral, espécies lianas são consideradas as mais derivadas, seguidas, respectivamente, pelas arbustivas e arbóreas. O presente estudo propõe para Malpighiaceae uma relação entre a variação do número cromossômico básico e a derivação do hábito trepador e da morfologia dos frutos. Para estabelecer esta relação analisamos todas as contagens de cromossomos já relatadas para a família Malpighiaceae, sendo que a freqüência relativa destas contagens foi calculada para todos os gêneros estudados. Esta comparação mostrou a predominância de números cromossômicos baseados em x=5 ou 10 na sub-família Malpighioideae, predominantemente composta por lianas com frutos alados, enquanto que espécies de outros hábitos, com frutos não alados, apresentaram contagens baseadas em x=6, considerado o número básico menos derivado para a família, predominante na sub-família Byrsonimoideae. Baseados em consistentes dados estatísticos, e também na origem monofilética da família, admitimos a hipótese de que as derivações do hábito e dos tipos de fruto estão diretamente relacionadas com a variação do número cromossômico na família Malpighiaceae

Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity to tumor cells of nitric oxide donor and silver nanoparticles containing PVA/PEG films for topical applications

Because of their antibacterial activity, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been explored in biomedical applications. Similarly, nitric oxide (NO) is an important endogenous free radical with an antimicrobial effect and toxicity toward cancer cells that plays pivotal roles in several processes. In this work, biogenic AgNPs were prepared using green tea extract and the principles of green chemistry, and the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was prepared by the nitrosation of glutathione. To enhance the potentialities of GSNO and AgNPs in biomedical applications, the NO donor and metallic nanoparticles were individually or simultaneously incorporated into polymeric solid films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The resulting solid nanocomposites were characterized by several techniques, and the diffusion profiles of GSNO and AgNPs were investigated. The results demonstrated the formation of homogeneous PVA/PEG solid films containing GSNO and nanoscale AgNPs that are distributed in the polymeric matrix. PVA/PEG films containing AgNPs demonstrated a potent antibacterial effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. GSNO-containing PVA/PEG films demonstrated toxicity toward human cervical carcinoma and human prostate cancer cell lines. Interestingly, the incorporation of AgNPs in PVA/PEG/GSNO films had a superior effect on the decrease of cell viability of both cancer cell lines, compared with cells treated with films containing GSNO or AgNPs individually. To our best knowledge, this is the first report to describe the preparation of PVA/PEG solid films containing GSNO and/or biogenically synthesized AgNPs. These polymeric films might find important biomedical applications as a solid material with antimicrobial and antitumorigenic properties11665896604CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçãosem informação2016/10347-6; 2018/02832-

Sulforaphane loaded hyaluronic acid poloxamer hybrid hydrogel enhances cartilage protection in osteoarthritis models

Sulforaphane SFN is an isothiocyanate with anti arthritic and immuno regulatory activities, supported by the downregulation of NF amp; 954;B pathway, reduction on metalloproteinases expression and prevention of cytokine induced cartilage degeneration implicated in OA progression. SFN promising pharmacological effects associated to its possible use, by intra articular route and directly in contact to the site of action, highlight SFN as promising candidate for the development of drug delivery systems. The association of poloxamers PL and hyaluronic acid HA supports the development of osteotrophic and chondroprotective pharmaceutical formulations. This study aims to develop PL HA hybrid hydrogels as delivery systems for SFN intra articular release and evaluate their biocompatibility and efficacy for osteoarthritis treatment. All formulations showed viscoelastic behavior and cubic phase organization. SFN incorporation and drug loading showed a concentration dependent behavior following HA addition. Drug release profiles were influenced by both diffusion and relaxation of polymeric chains mechanisms. The PL407 PL338 HA SFN hydrogel did not evoke pronounced cytotoxic effects on either osteoblast or chondrosarcoma cell lines. In vitro ex vivo pharmacological evaluation interfered with an elevated activation of NF amp; 954;B and COX 2, increased the type II collagen expression, and inhibited proteoglycan depletion. These results highlight the biocompatibility and the pharmacological efficacy of PL HA hybrid hydrogels as delivery systems for SFN intra articular release for OA treatmen