Effects of castration on the immunoreactivity to NGF, BDNF and their receptors in the pelvic ganglia of the male rat

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and are members of the neurotrophin family, a family of neurotrophic factors that also includes neurotrophin (NT) 3 and NT4/5. Neurotrophins have essential roles in the survival, development and differentiation of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurotrophins exert their effects by binding to corresponding receptors which are formed by the tyrosine protein kinases TrkA, TrkB and TrkC, and the low affinity neurotrophic receptor (p75NTR). In the present study, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis, we have investigated immunoreactivity to BDNF, NGF, TrkB, p75NTR and TrkA in the pelvic ganglia of normal and castrated rats. Neurons of the pelvic ganglia expressed both these neurotrophins and their receptors. After castration the immunoreactivity persisted. However, the number of BDNF- and p75NTR–IR cells statistically significant decreased after castration. These results suggest that castration modulates the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in pelvic autonomic neurons

Seasonal reproductive activity and innervation of vas deferens and accessory male genital glands in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Autonomic nerves supplying mammalian male internal genital organs have an important role in the regulation of reproductive function. To find out the relationships between the neurochemical content of these nerves and the reproductive activity, we performed an immunohistochemical study in a species, the water buffalo, exhibiting a seasonal sexual behaviour. The distribution of noradrenergic and peptide-containing nerves was evaluated during the mating (autumn-winter) and non-mating (spring-summer) periods. During the mating period, a dense noradrenergic innervation was observed to supply the vas deferens as well as the accessory genital glands. Peptide-containing nerves were also observed but with a lower density. During the non-mating period noradrenergic nerves dramatically reduced. These results suggest that there is a neuro-endocrine interaction between androgen hormones and the autonomic nerve supply in the regulation of male water buffalo reproductive functions

Urocortin-like immunoreactivity in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck. (Anas platyrhynchos).

Urocortin (UCN) is a 40 aminoacid peptide which belongs to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. This family of peptides stimulates the secretion of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), b-endorphin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary gland. In the present study, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, the distribution of UCN in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck was investigated at different ages. In the cloacal burse and thymus, Western blot demonstrated the presence of a peptide having a molecular weight compatible with that of the mammalian UCN. In the cloacal burse, immunoreactivity was located in the medullary epithelial cells and in the follicular associated and cortico-medullary epithelium. In the thymus, immunoreactivity was located in single epithelial cells. Double labelling immunofluorescence studies showed that UCN immunoreactivity completely colocalised with cytokeratin immunoreactivity in both the thymus and cloacal burse. Statistically significant differences in the percentage of UCN immunoreactivity were observed between different age periods in the cloacal burse. The results suggest that, in birds, urocortin has an important role in regulating the function of the immune system

Urocortin-like immunoreactivity in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Urocortin (UCN) is a 40 aminoacid peptide which belongs to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. This family of peptides stimulates the secretion of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), β-endorphin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary gland. In the present study, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, the distribution of UCN in the primary lymphoid organs of the duck was investigated at different ages. In the cloacal burse and thymus, Western blot demonstrated the presence of a peptide having a molecular weight compatible with that of the mammalian UCN. In the cloacal burse, immunoreactivity was located in the medullary epithelial cells and in the follicular associated and corticomedullary epithelium. In the thymus, immunoreactivity was located in single epithelial cells. Double labelling immunofluorescence studies showed that UCN immunoreactivity completely colocalised with cytokeratin immunoreactivity in both the thymus and cloacal burse. Statistically significant differences in the percentage of UCN immunoreactivity were observed between different age periods in the cloacal burse. The results suggest that, in birds, urocortin has an important role in regulating the function of the immune system

Pengaruh waktu pengeratan ranting terhadap iceragaan setek batang bawah lima. Varietas jeruk =The effect of branch ring barking on rootstock cutting performance of five citrus varieties.

This experiment was conducted at Tlekung, Bahl, Malang, in 1996. The objective was to study whether ring barking could improve citrus rootstock cutting quality to meet the need of culture in tidal area. The experiment used a split plot design with three replications. Five citrus varieties, `JC \u27Volkameriana\u27, \u27Citromello\u27, and \u27keprok Siena, were randomly assigned in main plots. Three treatments, i.e., not ring barked, ring barked a week before planting, and ring barked two weeks before planting were applied to each variety as subplots. Observation was conducted twelve weeks after cut on percentage of bud breakage, rooted cutting, and callused cuttingalso on root number, root length, shoot lenght, shoot and root dry weight. Results showed that :IC\u27 gave the best perfomance in percentage of bud breakage and rooted cutting, bud number average, shoot length, root number, shoot and root dry weight, and root lengthfollowed by `Volkameriana\u27. \u27Keprok Siam\u27 cutting was difficult to grow Ring barking conducted two weeks before planting can increase the percentage of callused cutting, root number, shoot and root dry weight. Keywords : cutting propagation, ring barking, citrus rootstock, tidal area culture. Percobaan dilaksanakan di Tlekung , Batu, Malang. 1996. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk memperoleh cara perbanyakan yang dapat memperbaiki kualitas setek batang bawah jeruk. Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan adalah rancangan petak terpisah dengan 3 ulangan. Petak utama percobaan ada 5 perlakuan varietas jeruk, masing-masing `Volkameriana\u27, `RL\u27, dan `keprok Siem\u27. Sedangkan anak petak ada tiga perlakuan yang dilaksanakan yaitu setek tanpa pengeratan, dikerat seminggu sebelum tanam, dan dikerat dua minggu sebelum tanam. Pengamatan dilakukan sampai pada umur 12 minggu terhadap persentase pucuk bertunas, persentase setek berkalus, persentase setek berakar, jum]ah akar, panjang akar, panjang tunas, berat kering tunas dan akar. Persentase tumbuh tunas, panjang tunas, jumlah.akar, dan berat kering tunas varietas menunjukkan hasil terbaik diikuti oleh varietas `Volkameriana\u27. Setek varietas `keprok Siem\u27 sukar untuk tumbuh. Pengeratan yang dilakukan duaminggu sebelum tanam dapat men ingkatkan persentase setek berkalus, jumlah akar, berat kering akar dan tunas setek dibandingkan dengan perlakuan tanpa pengeratan. Kata kunci : batang bawah jeruk, pengeratan, perbanyakan dengan setek, budidaya lahan pasang surut

Avaliação sistemática do grau de satisfação dos clientes da Embrapa.

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Severity of oxidative stress and inflammatory activation in end-stage heart failure patients are unaltered after 1 month of left ventricular mechanical assistance

This study investigates the impact of early left ventricular (LV)-mechanical unloading on systemic oxidative stress and inflammation in terminal heart failure patients and their impact both on multi organ failure and on intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Circulating levels of urinary 15-isoprostane-F2t (8-epi-PGF2a) and pro-inflammatory markers [plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and urinary neopterin, a monocyte activation index] were analyzed in 20 healthy subjects, 22 stable end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients and in 23 LV assist device (LVAD) recipients at pre-implant and during first post-LVAD (PL) month. Multiorgan function was evaluated by total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (tSOFA) score. In LVAD recipients the levels of oxidative-inflammatory markers and tSOFA score were higher compared to other groups. After device implantation 8-epi-PGF2a levels were unchanged, while IL-6, and IL-8 levels increased during first week, and at 1 month returned to pre-implant values, while neopterin levels increased progressively during LVAD support. The tSOFA score worsened at 1 PL-week with respect to pre-implant value, but improved at 1 PL-month. The tSOFA score related with IL-6 and IL-8 levels, while length of ICU stay related with pre-implant IL-6 levels. These data suggest that hemodynamic instability in terminal HF is associated to worsening of systemic inflammatory and oxidative milieu that do not improve in the early phase of hemodynamic recovery and LV-unloading by LVAD, affecting multi-organ function and length of ICU stay. This data stimulate to evaluate the impact of inflammatory signals on long-term outcome of mechanical circulatory support