Cytogenetic and morphologic approaches of hybrids from experimental crosses between Triatoma lenti Sherlock & Serafim, 1967 and T. sherlocki Papa et al., 2002 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

The reproductive capacity between Triatoma lenti and Triatoma sherlocki was observed in order to verify the fertility and viability of the offspring. Cytogenetic, morphological and morphometric approaches were used to analyze the differences that were inherited. Experimental crosses were performed in both directions. The fertility rate of the eggs in crosses involving T. sherlocki females was 65% and 90% in F1 and F2 offspring, respectively. In reciprocal crosses, it was 7% and 25% in F1 and F2 offspring, respectively. The cytogenetic analyses of the male meiotic process of the hybrids were performed using lacto-acetic orcein, C-banding and Feulgen techniques. The male F1 offspring presented normal chromosome behavior, a finding that was similar to those reported in parental species. However, cytogenetic analysis of F2 offspring showed errors in chromosome pairing. This post-zygotic isolation, which prevents hybrids in nature, may represent the collapse of the hybrid. This phenomenon is due to a genetic dysregulation that occurs in the chromosomes of F1. The results were similar in the hybrids from both crosses. Morphological features, such as color and size of connexive and the presence of red–orange rings on the femora, were similar to T. sherlocki, while wins size was similar to T. lenti in F1 offspring. The eggshells showed characteristics that were similar to species of origin, whereas the median process of the pygophore resulted in intermediate characteristics in the F1 and a segregating pattern in F2 offspring. Geometric morphometric techniques used on the wings showed that both F1 and F2 offspring were similar to T. lenti. These studies on the reproductive capacity between T. lenti and T. sherlocki confirm that both species are evolutionarily closed; hence, they are included in the brasiliensis subcomplex. The extremely reduced fertility observed in the F2 hybrids confirmed the specific status of the species that were analyzed.     

Relationship between mentalis muscle hyperactivity and mandibular symphysis morphology in skeletal Class I and II patients

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between mentalis muscle activity and mandibular symphysis morphology in patients with Class I or II skeletal patterns.Materials and methods123 female Thai patients (17 years old+) participated in the present study. Subject pretreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs were examined. All subjects were diagnosed as having a skeletal normal bite. Subjects were grouped according to their sagittal skeletal pattern (ANB angle) into Class I (ANB 2–6) or Class II (ANB > 6). For each skeletal type, the subjects were divided into 2 groups, normal mentalis muscle activity (control group) and hyperactivity (experimental group). The skeletal Class I group comprised 37 subjects with mentalis muscle hyperactivity and 31 subjects with normal activity, while the skeletal Class II group comprised 30 hyperactive and 25 normal activity subjects. Eight cephalometric variables (angular, linear, and proportional measurements) were measured to evaluate mandibular symphysis morphology. The data were statistically analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test or Independent-Sample t-test based on the normality of the data.ResultsIn the skeletal Class I type, the experimental group revealed a trend of narrower alveolar symphysis width and greater symphysis height compared to the control group, but this was not significant. However, in the skeletal Class II type, the experimental group demonstrated significantly narrower alveolar symphysis width and significantly greater symphysis height compared to the control group (p < 0.05).ConclusionAn increase in mandibular symphysis height and decrease in alveolar symphysis width may relate to mentalis muscle hyperactivity, and such relationship is more obvious in patients with Class II skeletal pattern.     

Quantitative Image Analysis Study of the Cerebral Vasodilatory Activity of Nicardipine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The effect of the Ca²⁺ channel blocker nicardipine on the circle of Willis and the different sized pial arteries was assessed in 20—week- old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) using quantitative image analysis techniques. Normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were also used as a normotensive reference group. In SHR a significant increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is noticeable in comparison with WKY rats. The media-to-lumen ratio was increased in the circle of Willis arteries, large sized (diameter > than 150 μm), medium sized (diameter between 150 and 50 μm) and small sized (diameter < than 50 μm), pial artery branches. An increase in the thickness of the tunica media and a luminal narrowing was also seen in medium and small sized pial arteries of SHR in comparison with WKY rats. Treatment with an oral dose of 10 mg/Kg of nicardipine 3 h before the sacrifice significantly reduced SBP in SHR. The drug was without effect on circle of Willis and on large sized pial arteries. Moreover, treatment with nicardipine reduced the thickness of the tunica     

Neuroprotective effects of testosterone on dendritic morphology following partial motoneuron depletion: Efficacy in female rats

Motoneuron loss is a significant medical problem, capable of causing severe movement disorders and even death. We have previously demonstrated that partial depletion of motoneurons induces dendritic atrophy in remaining motoneurons, with a concomitant reduction in motor activation. Treatment of male rats with testosterone attenuates the regressive changes following partial motoneuron depletion. To test whether testosterone has similar effects in females, we examined potential neuroprotective effects in motoneurons innervating muscles of the quadriceps of female rats. Motoneurons were selectively killed by intramuscular injection of cholera toxin-conjugated saporin. Simultaneously, some saporin-injected rats were given implants containing testosterone or left untreated. Four weeks later, surviving motoneurons were labeled with cholera toxin-conjugated HRP, and dendritic arbors were reconstructed in three dimensions. Compared to normal females, partial motoneuron depletion resulted in decreased dendritic length in remaining quadriceps motoneurons, and this atrophy was greatly attenuated by testosterone treatment. These findings suggest that testosterone has neuroprotective effects on morphology in both males and females, further supporting a role for testosterone as a neurotherapeutic agent in the injured nervous system.     

川芎嗪对免疫性肾损伤大鼠肾脏形态及功能的影响

目的探讨中药川芎嗪对免疫性肾损伤大鼠肾组织形态及功能的影响。方法猪血清复制大鼠肾损伤动物模型,川芎嗪注射液治疗4周。观察肾小球毛细血管基底膜厚度、系膜增生等形态学改变以及尿蛋白与血清MDA含量、SOD活性的变化。结果模型组基底膜厚度明显大于正常组(P<0.01),川芎嗪组明显低于模型组(P<0.05),明显减轻肾脏病理形态损害。川芎嗪组和模型组比较大鼠尿蛋白、血清MDA含量明显下降(P<0.01);SOD活性明显升高(P<0.01)。结论川芎嗪可以明显改善免疫性肾损伤大鼠肾脏病理形态和功能,减少尿蛋白,对抗自由基引起的脂质过氧化损伤。     

高脂饮食对大鼠血管内皮功能及腹主动脉形态学的影响

目的观察高脂饮食对大鼠血管内皮功能和腹主动脉形态学的影响。方法选用健康SD雄性大鼠16只,体质量150～180g,随机分为正常对照组和高脂饮食组,每组8只。正常对照组用普通饲料喂养,高脂饮食组用高脂饲料喂养4周。观察高脂饮食对大鼠血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ（angiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ）、血浆内皮素（endothelin,ET）和血清一氧化氮（nitrogen monoxide,NO）的影响,以及腹主动脉形态学变化。结果4周后高脂饮食组血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ、血浆内皮素与正常对照组相比明显升高（P〈0.01）,血清NO与正常对照组相比明显降低（P〈0.01）;光学显微镜、透射电镜下见高脂饮食组腹主动脉壁结构异常。结论高脂饮食可致大鼠血管内皮功能障碍和腹主动脉形态学改变。     

WHO新分类对36例非霍奇金淋巴瘤的重新评估

目的 探讨WHO新分类对非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)在我省的实际应用价值.方法 对我省36例以往诊断的NHL石蜡包埋组织重新进行HE、PAS染色,同时选择性进行免疫组化标记,根据WHO新分类标准进行重新分类.结果 在36例NHL中,B细胞肿瘤24例,占66.7%;T细胞肿瘤12例,占33.3%.免疫组化:B细胞肿瘤全B细胞标记物CD20阳性21例(87.8%);T细胞肿瘤均表达全T细胞标记物CD45RO(100%).NK/T细胞淋巴瘤(NK/TCL)2例均表达CD56.结论 我省NHL中,B细胞淋巴瘤发病率最高,为66.7%;T细胞淋巴瘤发病率为33.3%.除高质量的HE、PAS和Giemsa染色外,一套规范的免疫组织化学检测是淋巴瘤分型所必不可少的.     

基于模糊数学形态学及免疫智能的旋转机械状态参数图形识别方法

以旋转机械振动多维图形为对象，研究了直接提取和挖掘图形特征信息的模糊形态学方法，提出了基于模糊数学形态学及免疫智能的旋转机械振动参数图形识别方法。利用模糊形态滤波方法实现图形滤波，研究了模糊形态边缘检测算子，并结合旋转机械振动参数图形进行形态学梯度的边缘纹理特征提取，最后利用人工免疫算法对图形特征进行诊断识别。在600MW模化汽轮机转子试验台上进行了转子正常、转子不平衡故障、转子不对中故障及汽流激振故障的试验，诊断结果表明本文所提出的方法可以获得较高的诊断精度，为旋转机械故障诊断探索了一条新路。     

嗅鞘细胞的原代培养

目的：探讨大鼠嗅鞘细（olfactory ensheathing cells，OECs）培养纯化方法并对其形态学进行研究。方法：取材后采用差速贴壁法和NGFRp75免疫吸附法相结合的纯化培养方法培养嗅鞘细胞，并分不同阶段进行观察和NGFRp75免疫组化染色鉴定。结果：成功培养出高纯度的嗅鞘细胞，胞体呈梭形、多突起形及油煎蛋形三种类型，突起细长编织成网状为其特点。结论：用差速贴壁法和NGFRp75免疫吸附法相结合的纯化培养方法得到的嗅鞘细胞纯度达95％以上，证实是一种简单经济而又有实效的嗅鞘细胞培养方法。