Repositório RCAAP

Este artigo analisa os resultados do primeiro e segundo turnos da eleição municipal de 2000 no Brasil. Enfoca o desempenho de cada um dos principais partidos e de alguns dos principais candidatos, nas regiões do país e nas principais cidades, analisa o desempenho geral das candidatas mulheres, e procura traçar considerações sobre o impacto dos resultados no cenário político das eleições gerais de 2002. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

The objective was to determine the morphological and ultrastructural features of sheep primordial follicles preserved in either 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199 at different temperatures. Soon after death, the ovarian pair of each ewe (n=5) was divided into 25 fragments. One fragment was immediately fixed for morphological evaluation (control). The other 24 fragments were randomly distributed in tubes containing 2 ml of 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199 and maintained at 4, 20 or 39 °C for 2, 4, 12, or 24 h. Based on histological assessment, storage of ovarian fragments in 0.9% saline solution at 20 °C for up to 24 h and in both solutions at 39 °C for 4, 12 or 24 h increased (P<0.01) the percentage of degenerate primordial follicles compared with controls. In contrast, preservation at 4 °C in both solutions, kept the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles similar to control values. Although histological integrity of primordial follicles was maintained in fragments stored at 20 °C for up to 24 h in TCM 199, these results were not confirmed by ultrastructural analysis. Based on transmission electron microscopy, only primordial follicles stored at 4 °C for up to 24 h, at 20 °C for up to 12 h and at 39 °C for up to 2 h in both solutions were ultrastructurally normal. In conclusion, sheep primordial follicles were successfully preserved at 4 °C for up to 24 h, at 20 °C for up to 12 h and at 39 °C for 2 h in 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199.

Este projeto faz parte de uma antropologia crítica da antropologia, uma perspectiva que descentraliza, re-historiciza, e pluraliza o que tem sido considerado “antropologia” até então. Ele questiona não só os conteúdos, mas também os termos e as condições dos encontros antropológicos. “Antropologias Mundiais” têm como objetivo a construção de um cânone policêntrico, que, de forma parecida ao multiculturalismo policêntrico (Shohat e Stam citado em Turner 1994), implica em uma reconceitualização dos relacionamentos entre comunidades antropológicas. A observação introdutória refere-se ao meu entendimento da antropologia como uma cosmopolítica. A noção de cosmopolítica procura prover uma perspectiva crítica e plural sobre as possibilidades de articulações supra e transnacionais. Ela é baseada, por um lado, nas evocações positivas associadas historicamente à noção de cosmopolitismo e, por outro lado, em análises nas quais assimetrias de poder são de fundamental importância (sobre cosmopolítica veja Cheah e Robbins 1998, e Ribeiro 2003).

In this study, the interaction of DMSA-coated magnetite nanoparticles (5 and 10 nm core-size) with Saccharomyces cerevisae was investigated using magnetic resonance (MR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM micrographs revealed magnetite nanoparticles attached externally to the cell wall. The MR data support the strong interaction among the nanoparticles supported by the cells. A remarkable shift in the resonance field was used as signature of particle attachment to the cell wall.

Sperm ultrastructure of five teiid lizards (Callopistes flavipunctatus, Crocodilurus amazonicus, Dicrodon guttulatum, Dracaena guianensis, and Teius oculatus), and the gymnophthalmid Cercosaura ocellata is described for the first time. Comparisons of sperm ultrastructure among these species and with those of previously examined teiids and gymnophthalmids revealed that the two groups of Teiioidea (Gymnophthalmidae and Teiidae), and the two subfamilies of Teiidae (Teiinae and Tupinambinae) could be distinguished on the basis of sperm ultrastructure data. Significant differences in sperm dimensions between Cnemidophorus and Aspidoscelis support the recent splitting of these two lineages into different genera. Our results revealed high levels of inter-generic variability in sperm ultrastructure within Teiidae, which produces a data set useful in analyzing relationships between genera and families. In phylogenetic analyses, however, sampling multiple species within teiid genera is essential and recording sperm measurements may profitably complement qualitative ultrastructural characters, maximizing the information content of these structures.

Freeze-drying sperm is an alternative to cryopreservation. Although sperm from various species has been freeze-dried, there are few reports for bovine sperm. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of various freeze-drying media on the structural and functional components of bovine sperm. The media tested were composed of TCM 199 with Hanks salts supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and TCM 199 with Hanks salts supplemented with 10% FCS and 0.2 M trehalose and EGTA solution. The efficiency of each medium on the preservation of freeze-dried sperm structures was evaluated with conventional and electron microscopy, DNA integrity was analyzed by a TUNEL assay, and fertilizing ability of lyophilized sperm was determined with ICSI. Although the plasma membrane was damaged in all media tested, mitochondria were similarly preserved in all freeze-drying treatments. The acrosome was best preserved in the media that contained trehalose (other treatments also conserved this structure). In contrast, media containing EGTA or trehalose most effectively preserved the nuclei in freeze-dried sperm, with only 2 and 5%, respectively, of cells with fragmented DNA. Furthermore, sperm conserved with these media also had higher (P < 0.05) rates of sperm head decondensation (32.5 and 27.5%), pronucleus formation (37.5 and 45.0%) and blastocyst formation (19.4 and 18.3%) than medium supplemented with FCS (15.0, 20.0 and 10.2%, respectively). In conclusion, media with EGTA and trehalose adequately protected bovine sperm during freeze-drying by preserving the viability of their nuclei.

The aim of this study was to verify the histological and ultrastructural characteristics of sheep preantral follicles after exposure of ovarian tissue to cryopreservation in glycerol (GLY), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in order to determine the optimum method to store sheep ovarian tissue for later experimental or clinical use. Each ovarian pair from five mixed-breed ewes was divided into 17 fragments. One (control) fragment was immediately fixed for routine histological and ultrastructural studies and the remaining (test) fragments were randomly distributed in cryotubes, equilibrated at 20 °C/20 min in 1.8 mL of minimal essential medium (MEM) containing 1.5 or 3 M GLY, EG, PROH or DMSO and then either fixed for morphological studies to determine their possible toxic effect or frozen/thawed and then fixed to test the effect of cryopreservation on preantral follicles. Histological analysis showed that, compared to control fragments, all cryoprotectants at both concentrations significantly reduced the percentage of normal preantral follicles in ovarian fragments prior to or after cryopreservation. PROH 3.0 M appeared to exert a more toxic effect (P < 0.05) than the other cryoprotectants in noncryopreserved tissues. After freezing/thawing, the highest (P < 0.05) percentages of lightmicroscopical normal preantral follicles were observed in ovarian fragments cryopreserved in EG (1.5 and 3 M) or DMSO (1.5 M). However, transmission electronic microscopical (TEM) examination showed that only the DMSO-cryopreserved preantral follicles had normal ultrastructure. The data suggest that sheep preantral follicles should be cryopreserved with 1.5 M DMSO for later clinical or experimental application.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, 2008.

The spermatozoa of Chrysomya megacephala are similar to those described for other Brachycera. In this species, the spermatozoa are long and thin, measuring about 590 μm in length, of which the head region measures approximately 60 μm. The head includes a monolayered acrosome with electron-lucid material, and the shape of the nucleus, in cross-sections, varies from circular to oval with completely condensed chromatin. The centriole was observed in the zone of flagellar implantation, below the “peg” region. In the region of overlap, the followings structures are observed: nucleus, centriolar adjunct, mitochondrial derivatives and axoneme. The two mitochondrial derivatives are of different lengths but similar diameter. The axoneme is of a conventional insectan type with a 9 + 9 + 2 microtubular arrangement, with accessory tubules flanked by the electron-dense intertubular material. The male internal reproductive tract consists of testis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, accessory glands and ejaculatory duct.

The objective of this study was to characterize the morphometry and ultrastructure of porcine preantral and antral follicles, especially the lipid component evolution. Ovarian tissue was processed for light microscopy. Ovarian tissue and dissected antral follicles (< 2, 2–4, and 4–6 mm) were also processed for transmission electron microscopy using routine methods and using an osmium-imidazole method for lipid detection. Primordial follicles (34 ± 5 μm in diameter, mean ± SD) had one layer of flattened-cuboidal granulosa cells around the oocyte, primary follicles (40 ± 7 μm) had a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells around the oocyte, and secondary follicles (102 ± 58 μm) had two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells around the oocyte. Preantral follicle oocytes had many round mitochondria and both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In oocytes of primordial and primary follicles, lipid droplets were abundant and were mostly located at the cell poles. In secondary and antral follicles, the zona pellucida completely surrounded the oocyte, whereas some microvilli and granulosa cells projected through it. Numerous electron-lucent vesicles and vacuoles were present in the oolemma of secondary and antral follicles. Based on osmium-imidazole staining, most of these structures were shown to be lipid droplets. As the follicle developed, the appearance of the lipid droplets changed from small and black to large and gray, dark or dark with light streaks, suggesting that their nature may change over time. In summary, although porcine follicles and oocytes had many similarities to those of other mammalian species, they were rich in lipids, with lipid droplets with varying morphological patterns as the follicle developed.

Iron is essential for the proliferation of fungal pathogens during infection. The availability of iron is limited due to its association with host proteins. Fungal pathogens have evolved different mechanisms to acquire iron from host; however, little is known regarding how Paracoccidioides species incorporate and metabolize this ion. In this work, host iron sources that are used by Paracoccidioides spp. were investigated. Robust fungal growth in the presence of the iron-containing molecules hemin and hemoglobin was observed. Paracoccidioides spp. present hemolytic activity and have the ability to internalize a protoporphyrin ring. Using real-time PCR and nanoUPLC-MSE proteomic approaches, fungal growth in the presence of hemoglobin was shown to result in the positive regulation of transcripts that encode putative hemoglobin receptors, in addition to the induction of proteins that are required for amino acid metabolism and vacuolar protein degradation. In fact, one hemoglobin receptor ortholog, Rbt5, was identified as a surface GPI-anchored protein that recognized hemin, protoporphyrin and hemoglobin in vitro. Antisense RNA technology and Agrobacterium tumefaciensmediated transformation were used to generate mitotically stable Pbrbt5 mutants. The knockdown strain had a lower survival inside macrophages and in mouse spleen when compared with the parental strain, which suggested that Rbt5 could act as a virulence factor. In summary, our data indicate that Paracoccidioides spp. can use hemoglobin as an iron source most likely through receptor-mediated pathways that might be relevant for pathogenic mechanisms.

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue may be a potential alternative for the conservation of genetically superior animals, including high milk- and meat-producing goat breeds. However, until now, no information was available concerning the cryopreservation of preantral follicles (PF) enclosed in caprine ovarian tissue. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the structural and ultrastructural characteristics of caprine PF after exposure to and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue in 1.5 and 3 M glycerol (GLY) and ethylene glycol (EG). At the slaughterhouse, each ovarian pair from five adult mixed breed goats was divided into nine fragments and randomly distributed into treatment groups. One fragment was immediately fixed for histological examination and ultrastructural analysis, after slaughter (control). Four of the ovarian fragments were equilibrated at 20 °C for 20 min in 1.8 ml of MEM containing 1.5 or 3 M GLY or EG for a toxicity test and the final four fragments were slowly frozen using these cryoprotectants at the concentrations above. After toxicity testing and freezing/thawing, the ovarian fragments were fixed for histological examination. Histological analysis showed that after toxicity testing and cryopreservation of the ovarian tissue in GLY or EG at both concentrations, the percentage of normal PF was significantly lower than controls. Ultrastructural analysis of PF frozen in 1.5 and 3 M GLY, as well as 3 M EG demonstrated that these follicles remained morphologically normal. In conclusion, we demonstrated cryopreservation of caprine PF in ovarian tissue.

Bovine preantral follicles within ovarian fragments were exposed and cryopreserved in absence or presence of 1.5 M glycerol (GLY), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), undergoing a previous cooling at 20 °C for 1 h (protocol 1) or at 4 °C for 24 h (protocol 2) in 0.9% saline solution. At the end of each treatment, preantral follicles were classified as non-viable/viable when they were stained/not stained with trypan blue, respectively. To confirm viability staining, ultra-structure of the follicles was evaluated by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Data were compared by Chi-square test (P < 0.05). The storage of the ovaries at 20 °C for 1 h (78%) and 4 °C for 24 h (80%) did not reduce significantly the percentage of viable preantral follicles when compared to the control (75%). Similar results were obtained when ovarian fragments, respectively, for protocols 1 and 2, were exposed to MEM (78 and 77%), 1.5 M EG (78 and 71%), as well as frozen in 1.5 M EG (74 and 77%). Percentages of viable follicles in control were similar to those observed after exposure (75%) and freezing (76%) in presence of 1.5 M DMSO only when protocol 1 was used. The increase of the concentration from 1.5 to 3.0 M, for all cryoprotectants, reduced significantly the percentage of viable preantral follicles after freezing. Ultra-structural analysis has confirmed trypan blue results, showing that not only basement membrane, but also organelles, were intact in viable preantral follicles. In conclusion, ovarian tissue cooling at 4 °C for 24 h before cryopreservation (protocol 2) does not affect the viability of bovine preantral follicles when 1.5 M EG is present in the cryopreservation medium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to soy isoflavones concentrate on the morphology of reproductive organs, semen quality, puberty age, serum levels of testosterone and sexual behavior of male rabbits. With this purpose, pregnant female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive orally 2.5mg (ISF 2.5) or 10mg (ISF 10) of soy isoflavones/kg of body wt/day. The animals of control group were manipulated as the other groups and received placebo (corn starch). All the rabbits were maintained on a soy-and alfafa-free diet throughout the gestation and lactation. Their male offspring received the same treatments from weaning to 33 weeks of age. Chronic exposure to isoflavones did not induce statistically significant alteration in the age at puberty, semen volume, daily sperm output, sperm concentration, motility, vigor and abnormalities. Also, isoflavones exposure had no effects on serum testosterone levels or sexual behavior in any group. Histopathologic evaluation did not reveal alterations in the testis, epididymis, prostate and pro-prostate glands of the rabbits. Taken together, these results show that gestational, lactational and post-lactational exposure to soy isoflavones, in doses comparable to those found in soy-containing animal and human diets, has no adverse effects on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits.

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is a new and promising technique for germ-line storage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of four cryoprotectants (at two concentrations each) on the preservation of zebu bovine preantral follicles after ovarian cryostorage. Strips of ovarian cortex were cryopreserved using glycerol (GLY; 10 or 20%), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO; 1.5 or 3 M). In addition, a toxicity test was performed for each cryoprotectant by exposing the ovarian tissue to them without freezing. Tissues were analyzed by histology and transmission electron microscopy. Ovarian tissue frozen in either concentration of DMSO or PROH or in 10% GLY retained a higher percentage of morphologically normal follicles (73–88%) than tissue frozen in 20% GLY or in either concentration of EG (16–52%). In the toxicity test, exposure of tissues to DMSO, PROH or GLY resulted in higher percentages of normal follicles (80–97%) than exposure to EG (49%). Electron microscopy revealed damage to the ultrastructure of follicles frozen in 10% GLY, while follicles cryopreserved in DMSO and PROH at either concentration exhibited normal ultrastructure. In conclusion, DMSO and PROH were the most effective cryoprotectants for zebu ovarian tissue, preserving the structural integrity of somatic and reproductive cells within the ovary.

Background: Rhodium (II) citrate (Rh2(H2cit)4) has significant antitumor, cytotoxic, and cytostatic activity on Ehrlich ascite tumor. Although toxic to normal cells, its lower toxicity when compared to carboxylate analogues of rhodium (II) indicates Rh2(H2cit)4 as a promising agent for chemotherapy. Nevertheless, few studies have been performed to explore this potential. Superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIOs) represent an attractive platform as carriers in drug delivery systems (DDS) because they can present greater specificity to tumor cells than normal cells. Thus, the association between Rh2(H2cit)4 and SPIOs can represent a strategy to enhance the former’s therapeutic action. In this work, we report the cytotoxicity of free rhodium (II) citrate (Rh2(H2cit)4) and rhodium (II) citrate-loaded maghemite nanoparticles or magnetoliposomes, used as drug delivery systems, on both normal and carcinoma breast cell cultures. Results: Treatment with free Rh2(H2cit)4 induced cytotoxicity that was dependent on dose, time, and cell line. The IC50 values showed that this effect was more intense on breast normal cells (MCF-10A) than on breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7 and 4T1). However, the treatment with 50 μM Rh2(H2cit)4-loaded maghemite nanoparticles (Magh-Rh2(H2cit)4) and Rh2(H2cit)4-loaded magnetoliposomes (Lip-Magh-Rh2(H2cit)4) induced a higher cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and 4T1 than on MCF-10A (p < 0.05). These treatments enhanced cytotoxicity up to 4.6 times. These cytotoxic effects, induced by free Rh2(H2cit)4, were evidenced by morphological alterations such as nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and phosphatidylserine exposure, reduction of actin filaments, mitochondrial condensation and an increase in number of vacuoles, suggesting that Rh2(H2cit)4 induces cell death by apoptosis. Conclusions: The treatment with rhodium (II) citrate-loaded maghemite nanoparticles and magnetoliposomes induced more specific cytotoxicity on breast carcinoma cells than on breast normal cells, which is the opposite of the results observed with free Rh2(H2cit)4 treatment. Thus, magnetic nanoparticles represent an attractive platform as carriers in Rh2(H2cit)4 delivery systems, since they can act preferentially in tumor cells. Therefore, these nanopaticulate systems may be explored as a potential tool for chemotherapy drug development.

The use of the large pool of preantral follicles is a promising alternative to provide high numbers of fertilizable oocytes to reproductive biotechnology. This issue is particularly important to canids, since current rates of success of in vitro techniques using oocytes are very limited, and many species within this family are threatened by extinction. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of temperature, medium and time on morphology and viability of canine preantral follicles during short-term preservation. Canine ovaries were cut into fragments which were incubated in 0.9% NaCl solution or in minimum essential medium (MEM) at 4, 20 or 38 °C for 2, 6, 12 or 24 h. Afterwards, preantral follicles were analyzed by histology, transmission electron microscopy and viability testing using trypan blue, calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer-1. Percentages of morphological normal and viable follicles were maintained similar to control (time 0 h) after incubation in 0.9% NaCl at 4 or 20 °C for up to 6 h and at 38 °C for 2 h. Using MEM, such preservation was possible for 12 h at 4 or 20 °C, and for 6 h at 38 °C. These results indicate that preservation of canine preantral follicles might be better accomplished through hypothermic (4 or 20 °C) storage in MEM, which ensures maintenance of morphology and viability for up to 12 h.

Soy and derivative diets deliver large doses of isoflavones to human and animals throughout their lifespan, including gestation. Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that the consumption of soybean containing foods may protect against cardiovascular disease and decrease breast, prostate and endometrial cancer risk. Based on animal and in vitro studies, however, concerns have been raised that consumption of isoflavones may cause potential adverse effects on the reproductive tract and behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic consumption of a soy meal containing diet or soy isoflavones supplement on the morphology of reproductive organs, semen quality, age that males reached puberty, and sexual behavior of male rabbits. With this purpose, 16 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy- and alfafa-free diet; (2) a soy- and alfafa-free diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg body wt./day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy- and alfafa-free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt./day of soy isoflavones; (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout the gestation and lactation. After weaning, male offspring received the same diet, which was given to the respective mother. The age that males reached puberty, semen characteristics and sexual behavior were evaluated in these animals. At 33 weeks of age, the reproductive organs were submitted to histological evaluation. Rabbits, which received large amounts of isoflavones (20 mg/kg body wt./day) had a lesser food intake, body weight and semen volume. Spermatogenesis, morphology of male genital organs and sexual behavior did not differ significantly from the control group. We conclude that chronic dietary treatment with soy based diet or soy isoflavones have no adverse effects on the observed reproductive patterns of male rabbits.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Serviço Social, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Política Social, 2006.

A comparative analysis of the distribution of tubulin types in apyrene and eupyrene sperm of Euptoieta hegesia butterflies was carried out, also verifying the presence of tubulin in lacinate appendages of the eupyrene sperm. Ultrathin sections of LR White embedded spermatids and spermatozoa were labeled for alpha, beta, gamma, alpha-acetylated and alpha-tyrosinated tubulins. Apyrene and eupyrene spermatids show the same antibody recognition pattern for tubulins. All tubulin types were detected in axonemal microtubules. Alpha and gamma tubulins were also detected on the cytoplasmic microtubules. However, for beta and tyrosinated tubulins only scattered labeling was detected on cytoplasmic microtubules and acetylated tubulin was not detected. In apyrene and eupyrene spermatozoa only the axoneme labeling was analyzed since cytoplasmic microtubules no longer exist in these cells. Alpha, beta and tyrosinated tubulins were easily detected on the apyrene and eupyrene axoneme; gamma tubulin was strongly marked on eupyrene axonemes but was scattered on the apyrene ones. Acetylated tubulin appeared with scattered labeling on the axoneme of both sperm types. Our results demonstrate significant differences in tubulin distribution in apyrene and eupyrene axonemal and cytoplasmic microtubules. Extracellular structures, especially the lacinate appendages, were not labeled by antibodies for any tubulin.