NADPH- Diaphorase positive cardiac neurons in the atria of mice. A morphoquantitative study

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to determine the location, the morphology and distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the cardiac nerve plexus of the atria of mice (ASn). This plexus lies over the muscular layer of the atria, dorsal to the muscle itself, in the connective tissue of the subepicardium. NADPH- diaphorase staining was performed on whole-mount preparations of the atria mice. For descriptive purposes, all data are presented as means ± SEM. RESULTS: The majority of the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were observed in the ganglia of the plexus. A few single neurons were also observed. The number of NADPH-d positive neurons was 57 ± 4 (ranging from 39 to 79 neurons). The ganglion neurons were located in 3 distinct groups: (1) in the region situated cranial to the pulmonary veins, (2) caudally to the pulmonary veins, and (3) in the atrial groove. The largest group of neurons was located cranially to the pulmonary veins (66.7%). Three morphological types of NADPH-diaphorase neurons could be distinguished on the basis of their shape: unipolar cells, bipolar cells and cells with three processes (multipolar cells). The unipolar neurons predominated (78.9%), whereas the multipolar were encountered less frequently (5,3%). The sizes (area of maximal cell profile) of the neurons ranged from about 90 μm(2)to about 220 μm(2). Morphometrically, the three types of neurons were similar and there were no significant differences in their sizes. The total number of cardiac neurons (obtained by staining the neurons with NADH-diaphorase method) was 530 ± 23. Therefore, the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons of the heart represent 10% of the number of cardiac neurons stained by NADH. CONCLUSION: The obtained data have shown that the NADPH-d positive neurons in the cardiac plexus of the atria of mice are morphologically different, and therefore, it is possible that the function of the neurons may also be different

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING ON THE MYOCARDIUM OF FEMALE LDL KNOCKOUT OVARIECTOMIZED MICE

Introduction: The emergence of coronary heart disease increases with menopause, physical inactivity and with dyslipidemia. It is known that physical training promotes the improvement of cardiovascular functions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic physical training on the left ventricle in female LDL knockout ovariectomized mice. Methods: Thirty animals were divided into 6 groups (n=5), namely, sedentary non-ovariectomized control; sedentary ovariectomized control; trained ovariectomized control; sedentary non-ovariectomized; sedentary ovariectomized; and trained ovariectomized. We analyzed the mean nuclear volume parameters, the cross sectional area of the myocytes, the apparent density of the capillaries, interstitium, myocytes and collagen fibers. Results: The results show that for the density of the number of nuclei, the physical activity decreased to values close to the ovariectomized control group. Regarding the mean nuclear volume and the average area of myocytes, training and ovariectomy promoted the elevation of these values but hypercholesterolemia was lower. the volume density of myocytes, hypercholesterolemia showed an increase of these values as well as the training. There was no change in the volumetric density of the capillaries and the density of collagen fibers. The training caused the decrease in the density of the interstitial volume, and the hypercholesterolemia changed to a smaller one than the control group. Conclusion: We concluded that the moderate aerobic activity or the training time used in our study were not sufficient to generate significant alterations in the hypercholesterolemic group.Univ Sao Judas Tadeu, Programa Posgrad, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFac Adventista Hortolandia UNASP, Campus Hortolandia, Hortolandia, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Goias, Dept Histol Embriol & Biol Mol, Goiania, Go, BrazilFMABC, Lab Anal Clin, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Biol, Diadema, SP, BrazilInst Dante Pazzanese Cardiol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Biol, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Morphological and biochemical effects on the skeletal muscle of ovariectomized old female rats submitted to the intake of diets with vegetable or animal protein and resistance training

Introduction. Sarcopenia is a process characterized by reduction in protein mass and muscle strength with increasing age, especially in the postmenopausal period, resulting in functional limitations and with great impact on the physical autonomy of the elderly. Objective. To evaluate the effects of diets with vegetable proteins (VP) or animal proteins (AP) associated with resistance training (RT) on the structural and biochemical parameters of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in Wistar rats with sarcopenia. Methods. An experimental model with ovariectomized rats was used to induce sarcopenia and resistance training. The histochemical technique was used for the typing of muscle fibers, the cross-sectional area of myocytes, and volume densities of myocytes and interstitiumthe technique of Picrosirius stain was used to highlight the collagen fibers. Results. The VP diet was not able to minimize the effects of sarcopenia in the medial gastrocnemius of sedentary animals and when associated with RT, it promoted maintenance of the CSA, attenuating the atrophy of type IIB fibers in the medial gastrocnemius. The AP diet in sedentary animals protected the type I fibers. When combined with RT, the AP promoted muscle remodeling, with reduction in volume density of type I and IIA fibers, and increase of IIB fibers, together with an increase in collagen volume density. Conclusion. The data suggest a tendency to better results of hypertrophy in animal groups that consumed the AP diet, even the sedentary animals, although more evident in those trained.Laboratory of Morphological and Immunohistochemical Studies, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, BrazilPostgraduate Program (Stricto Sensu), Ph.D. Course in Physical Education, Universidade São Judas Tadeu, BrazilBiological Sciences Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema, SP, BrazilLaboratory of Clinical Analysis, ABC Medical School, Santo André, SP, BrazilBiological Sciences Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Morphological and functional changes in urinary bladder of multiparous female rats submitted to resistance exercise

Objective: investigate whether resistance exercise can induce morphological and functional alterations in urinary bladder (UB) in multiparous rats. Methods: we used 40 adults female Wistar rats of which 20 were nulliparous and 20 were multiparous submitted to different volumes of moderate resistance exercise (one, three or ten weeks). Animals were submitted to the functional evaluation of UB. At the end of the protocol, the UB was removed, weighed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for structural evaluation, and picrosirius red for collagen fibers. Results: we observed that multiparity promoted increase in body mass, reduction in UB layers, decrease in volume densities of collagen fibers I and III. However, 10-weeks of training was able to reverse the negative effects of multiparity. Conclusion: the intervention of physical exercise in 10 weeks times seems to cause greater benefit in UB of multiparous animals by preventing morphofunctional changes that trigger lower urinary tract symptoms, such as urinary loss

Aspectos morfológicos, histoquímicos e imunohistoquímicos do plexo mientérico do colo camundongo SWISS(Mus musculus), na fase crônica da infecção por Trypanosoma cruzi(CEPA Y)

BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

Morphometry and acetylcholinesterase activity of the myenteric plexus of the wild mouse Calomys callosus

The myenteric plexus of the digestive tract of the wild mouse Calomys callosus was examined using a histochemical method that selectively stains nerve cells, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemical technique in whole-mount preparations, Neuronal density was 1,500 +/- 116 neurons/cm(2) (mean +/- SEM) in the esophagus, 8,900 +/- 1,518 in the stomach, 9,000 +/- 711 in the jejunum and 13,100 +/- 2,089 in the colon, The difference in neuronal density between the esophagus and other regions was statistically significant, The neuron profile area ranged from 45 to 1,100 mu m(2). The difference in nerve cell size between the jejunum and other regions was statistically significant. AChE-positive nerve fibers were distributed within the myenteric plexus which is formed by a primary meshwork of large nerve bundles and a secondary meshwork of finer nerve bundles, Most of the nerve cells displayed AChE activity in the cytoplasm of different reaction intensities. These results are important in order to understand the changes occurring in the myenteric plexus in experimental Chagas' disease.UNIV SAO PAULO,INST CIENCIAS BIOMED,DEPT ANAT,BR-05508900 SAO PAULO,SP,BRAZILINST DANTE PAZZANESE CARDIOL,BR-04012180 SAO PAULO,SP,BRAZILUNIV FED SAO PAULO,BR-04023000 SAO PAULO,SP,BRAZILUNIV FED SAO PAULO,BR-04023000 SAO PAULO,SP,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

The role of cyclooxygenase-2 on endurance exercise training in female LDL-receptor knockout ovarieetomized mice

Estrogen deprivation in postmenopausal women increases cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular risk as a result of atherosclerosis is able to induce an inflammatory disease as far as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of COX-2 on exercise training in female mice low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDL-KO) with or without ovariectomy. A total of 15 female C57BL/6 mice and 15 female LDE-KO mice were distributed into 6 groups: sedentary control, sedentary control ovariectomized, trained control ovariectomized, LDL-KO sedentary, LDL-KO sedentary ovariectomized and LDL-KO trained ovariectomized. The ascending part of the aorta was stained with H&E and COX-2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results revealed that ovariectomy as well as exercise training were not able to induce histopathological changes in mouse aorta for all groups investigated. LDL-KO mice demonstrated plaque containing cholesterol clefts, foamy histiocytes and mild inflammatory process for all groups indistinctly. Ovariectomy induced a strong immunoexpression in atherosclerosis lesion of EDE-KO mice. Nevertheless, a down-regulation of COX-2 expression was detected in LDL-KO trained ovariectomized when compared to LDE-KO sedentary. Our results are consistent with the notion that exercise training is able to modulate COX-2 expression in LDL-KO mice as a result of COX-2 down-regulation.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, BR-11060001 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Judas Tadeu, Lab Anal Morfoquantitat & Imunohistoquim, BR-03166000 Sao Paulo, BrazilInst Dante Pazzanese Cardiol, BR-04012180 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, BR-11060001 Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Resistance training attenuates the effects of aging in the aorta of Wistar rats

Abstract The objective of the present study was to follow the structural modifications of the aortic wall in middle-aged rats submitted to a resistance training protocol for a period of four months. Three groups of 8 animals per group were considered: middle-aged group (MA), old control group (OC) and old trained group (OT). Training consisted in to climb a 1.1-m vertical (80° incline) ladder with weights tied to their tail. Aortic wall structural modifications were studied through light and electron microscopy and morphometry. The mean arterial blood pressure at rest was similar in the three experimental groups (p = .07). At the beginning of the experiment, the OC and OT groups had similar repetition maximums, ranging from 1.6-fold to 1.9-fold the body weight. At the end of the experiment, the repetition maximum of the OT group was 5-fold greater than the body weight (p = .03). The LV weight was 15% larger in the OT group than in the MA group and 12% larger than in the OC group (p = .02). The LV wall thickness of the OT group was significantly larger than that of both, the MA group and the OC group (p = .03). The LV internal diameter in the OT group was significantly smaller than that observed in the MA and OC groups (p = .02). Resistance training diminished the alterations associated with aging improving aortic wall structure by reducing the thickness, normalising the elastic material, the collagen and the smooth muscle cells. Resistance training seems to be a potential treatment for reducing the deleterious effects of aging on the aortic wall