Seasonality of the secretory ducts and essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare Mill. (Apiaceae)

This work aimed to analyze the secretory ducts and the essential oil of the leaves of Foeniculum vulgare in different periods of the year. For this purpose, the anatomic characterization, and histochemical tests of the leaves were performed as well as the comparative anatomy of the secretory ducts. The essential oil was obtained from the leaves and fruits by hidrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer, each analysis was repeated three times for leaves collected during the winter and spring, and for fruits collected in the Summer. The results obtained for the secretory ducts, corresponded to the yield reduction of essential oil in the leaves collected in the end of the spring. The major substance of the essential oil of the leaves and fruits, in all seasons of the year was trans-anetol. Therefore, it was evidenced that the secretory ducts and yield of essential oils are related, and also that the substances are subject to the seasonality, according to the phenologic stage of the plant.Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os ductos secretores e o óleo essencial das folhas de Foeniculum vulgare em diferentes épocas do ano. Para esta finalidade, foram realizados estudos de caracterização anatômica, bem como anatomia comparada dos ductos secretores e testes histoquímicos das folhas. O óleo essencial foi obtido de folhas e frutos, por hidrodestilação em aparelho de Clevenger e analisados quantitativamente e qualitativamente por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massa, realizando-se análises seguidas de três réplicas para folhas coletadas durante o inverno e primavera, e frutos no verão. Os resultados encontrados para os ductos secretores de óleo corresponderam à redução do teor de óleo essencial nas folhas coletadas no final da primavera. O componente majoritário do óleo essencial de folhas e frutos foi o trans-anetol, durante todas as estações do ano. Portanto, evidenciou-se que os ductos secretores e teor de óleo essencial estão relacionados, bem como os constituintes químicos também estão sujeitos a sazonalidade, conforme o estágio fenológico da planta

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of pyramidal-like neurons in the stratum oriens of Cornu ammonis 1 and Cornu ammonis 2 area of Proechimys

AbstractProechimys (Rodentia: Echimyidae) is a neotropical rodent of the Amazon region that has been successfully colonized in the laboratory and used for experimental medicine. Preliminary studies indicated that Proechimys (casiragua) rodents express an atypical resistance to developing a chronic epileptic condition in common models of temporal lobe epilepsy. Moreover, previous investigation of our laboratory described a remarkably different Proechimy's cytoarchitecture organization of the hippocampal CA2 subfield. In the present study, we investigated the intrinsic neuronal properties and morphological characteristics of the Proechimys's hippocampal pyramidal neurons of the CA1 and CA2 areas. A comparative approach was performed using neurons recorded in Wistar rats. A striking finding in Proechimys rodents was the presence of large pyramidal-like neurons throughout the stratum oriens from CA2 to CA1 area. In order to confirm such distinctive feature of the Proechimys's hippocampus, we performed Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry for neurofilament protein SM311. CA2 pyramidal neurons in the stratum pyramidale of Proechimys exhibited a significantly higher input resistance and lower time constant when compared to corresponding cell groups in the same area of the Wistar rat's. This newly identified population of pyramidal-shaped neurons in stratum oriens of Proechimys exhibited distinct electrophysiological and morphological properties. This included larger capacitance, lower input resistance, larger rheobase, long latency to first action potential and slower firing frequency. In addition, the apical dendrites of these neurons were oriented in parallel to apical dendrites of regular pyramidal neurons in stratum pyramidale. Moreover, these neurons were immunoreactive to SM311 as the majority of the neurons of the pyramidal layer. The functional role of these hippocampal neurons of the rodent Proechimys deserves further investigation

Infinite symmetries in the Skyrme model

We show that the Skyrme theory possesses a submodel with an infinite number of local conserved currents. The constraints leading to the submodel explore a decomposition of SU(2) with a complex field parametrizing the symmetric space SU(2)/U(1) and a real field in the direction of U(1). We demonstrate that the Skyrmions of topological charges $\pm 1$ belong to such integrable sector of the theory. Our results open ways to the development of exact methods, compensating for the non-existence of a BPS type sector in the Skyrme theory.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, version to appear in Phys. Lett.

Studies on the mineral nutrition of the rice plant: XII. effects of the deficiencies of macronutrients on the varieties IAC-25 and IAC-47

Plantas de arroz, variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47, foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva completa e com deficiência de macronutrientes. Foram obtidos dados sobre a influência dos tratamentos na área foliar, produção de matéria seca e na composição mineral e observados os sintomas de carência. O estado nutricional das plantas deficientes em N foi também avaliado pela determinação da atividade da redútase de nitrato na folha.Rice plants, varieties IAC-25 and IAC-47 were grown in nutrient solution both in the presence and in the absence of macronutrients. Symptons of deficiency were observed in general agreement with description found in the literature. The deficiency of N affected most dry matter yield among the three major macronutrients. although the effect on grain production was greater when K was omitted. The following levels could be taken as indication of adequate nutrition when leaf samples are analysed at the boot stage (respectively) for var. IAC-25 and IAC-47): N - 4.18% and 3.54%; P - 0.36 and 0.27; K - 2.30 and 2.09; Ca - 1.22 and 1.00; Mg - 0.80 and 0.77; S - 0.24 and 0.18. Leaf nitrate reductase activity at the same physiological period correlated well both with N supply and dry matter production

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do arroz: XIV. efeitos dos excessos de Al, Cl e Mn nas variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47

Rice plants were grown either in full strength nº 2 solution of HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950) or in the same with high levels of Al, Cl and Mn (25, 1750 and 25 ppm, respectively). Plants with excess of each element did not complete the reproductive phase of development. Symptoms of toxicity appeared in response to the high levels supplied in the substrate. Dry matter production was relatively more affected in the case of the variety IAC-47. On the other hand, both varieties were more sensitive to Mn toxicity than to Al excess. The leaves had the following levels of the elements under the respective treatments, respectively for the variety IAC-25 and for the variety IAC-47; Al-107 and 221 ppm; Cl-87,500 and 17,500 (lower and upper leaves), 44,125 and 16,250 (lower and upper leaves); Mn - 1,670 and 1,769. The Al content of the roots was 5,639 and 5,872 ppm. Al toxicity decreased P content in all plant parts.Plantas de arroz, variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47 foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva completa e com excesso de Al, Cl e Mn (25, 1750 e 25 ppm, respectivamente). As últimas não completaram o ciclo. Foram observados sintomas típicos de toxidez. A produção de matéria seca foi mais afetada pelos tratamentos na variedade IAC-47. Ambas as variedades mostraram-se mais sensíveis a toxidez de Mn que à de Al. Foram determinados os teores foliares de Al, Cl e Mn associados à toxidez correspondente