Vol.28-Issue 1-2004
Vol.28-Issue 1-2004
Uterine mast cells: A new hypothesis to understand how we are
born
M. ISOLDE RUDOLPH1, I. GINA ROJAS2, AND ALICIA B. PENISSI3
1. Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción,
Chile.
2. Departamento de Estomatología Quirúrgica, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C,
Concepción, Chile.
3. Instituto de Histología y Embriología “ Dr. Mario H Burgos” (IHEM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad
Nacional de Cuyo, Casilla de Correo 56, (5500) Mendoza, Argentina.
Key words: uterine mast cells, labor, myometrium contractions, cervical ripening
ABSTRACT: Birth is the result of complex, well-defined, and coordinated events, that are tightly regulated by endocrine, nervous, and immune responses, and take place primarily in the female reproductive tract. Various mechanisms and mediators involved in pregnancy, labor, and delivery, are highly conserved among different mammalian species and mast cells emerge as potential and crucial participants in these processes, as it is discussed in this review.
Genetic stability in rice micropropagation
R. MEDINA, M. FALOCI, M.A. MARASSI, AND L.A. MROGINSKI.
Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNNE). C.C. 209. Corrientes (3400). Argentina.
Key words: micropropagation, multiple shoots, Oryza sativa L., isozyme, genetic stability.
ABSTRACT: An efficient clonal propagation procedure for six rice varieties cultivated in Argentina was developed by using shoot tip cultures, and the genetic stability of the micropropagated plants was verified by isozyme analysis. One week old seedlings obtained on MS medium were sectioned and subcultured on MS medium (0.75% agar) supplemented with different combination and concentrations of cytokinins (BAP and KIN) and auxins (2,4-D and NAA). After four weeks of culture, multiple shoots were obtained. The best response was observed on MS supplemented with BAP 5 mg l-1. Shoot clumps were multiplied in MS liquid medium containing BAP 5 mg l-1. Profuse rooting was obtained after transfer to MS medium lacking growth regulators and with sucrose 8% (w/v). Complete plants were successfully transferred to soil and grown to maturity. ADH and EST patterns of micropropagated rice plants showed polymorphisms compared with plants of the original varieties. However, the zymograms of the seed derived progeny of the micropropagated plants were similar to that of the original varieties. These results indicate the maintenance of the genetic stability in the sexual progeny of micropropagated plants.
Abbreviations: BAP, 6-benzylaminopurine; 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; KIN, kinetin; NAA, 1-
naphthalenacetic acid; ADH, alcohol dehydrogenase; CAT, catalase; DIA, diaphorase; EST, esterase; PGI,
phosphoglucoisomerase.
Tissue alterations in the Guinea pig lateral prostate following
antiandrogen flutamide therapy
RENATO SIMÕES CORDEIRO*, WELLERSON RODRIGO SCARANO*, REJANE MAIRA GÓES**, AND
SEBASTIÃO ROBERTO TABOGA**
* Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, UNICAMP, CP 6109 - 13084-971. Campinas, SP, Brazil.
** Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Biology, IBILCE/UNESP, 15054-000. São José do Rio
Preto, SP, Brazil.
Key words: lateral prostate; flutamide, antiandrogen, secretory cells
ABSTRACT: The flutamide antiandrogenic effects on the Guinea pig male prostate morphology in puberal,
post-puberal and adult ages were evaluated in the present study. Daily-treated group animals received flutamide
subcutaneous injection at a dose of 10 mg/Kg body weight for 10 days. The control group animals received a
pharmacological vehicle under the same conditions. The lateral prostate was removed, fixed and processed
for light and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed an increase of the acinus diameter in the
treated puberal animals and straitness in the stromal compartment around the acini. The epithelial cells exhibited
cubic phenotype. In the post-puberal and adult animals, a decrease of the acinus diameter was observed,
as well as an increase of the smooth muscle layer and presence of the folds at epithelium. The ultrastructural
evaluation of the secretory cells in the treated group demonstrated endomembrane enlargement, mainly in the
rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In addition, a decrease of the microvilli and alterations in
the distribution patterns and density of the stromal fibrillar components were observed. In conclusion, the
flutamide treatment exerts tissue effects on the lateral prostate, promoting stroma/epithelium alterations.
Bacteriostatic action of synthetic polyhydroxylated chalcones
against Escherichia coli
MARÍA DE LOS ANGELES ALVAREZ, VALERIA E. P. ZARELLI, NORA B.PAPPANO AND NORA B. DEBATTISTA
Laboratory of Physical-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National University of San Luis. Chacabuco 917.
(5700) San Luis, Argentina.
Keywords: chalcones, bacteriostatic activity, hydroxylation
ABSTRACT: In previous work the bacteriostatic action of trihydroxylated chalcones against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25 923 was investigated. In this work the action of 2´,4´,2-(OH)3-chalcone, 2´,4´,3-(OH)3- chalcone and 2´,4´,4-(OH)3 –chalcone against Escherichia coli ATCC 25 922 was evaluated. Growth kinetic curves of E.coli were made in nutritive broth added with increasing drug concentrations. The specific growth rates of the microorganisms were calculated by a kinetic turbidimetric method, which was previously probed and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC´s) were evaluated by a mechanism of action proposed. The MICs of 2´,4´,3-(OH)3-chalcone and 2´,4´,2-(OH)3-chalcone were 46 mg/ml and 122 mg/ml, respectively. The 2´,4´,4-(OH)3–chalcone was inactive. The MIC value of 2´, 4´, 3-(OH) 3-chalcone (46 mg/ml), more active than 2´, 3-(OH) 2-chalcone (72.2 mg/ml) may be due to the introduction of an electron donating group (-OH) at position 4´ in the aromatic A- ring, which activates the region that includes the 2´-hydroxyl neighbur group and the a,b- unsaturated carbonyl group.
Influence of genotype and explant source on indirect
organogenesis by in vitro culture of leaves of Melia azedarach L.
S.K. VILA*, H.Y. REY AND L.A. MROGINSKI
Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNNE). C.C. 209. (3400) Corrientes, Argentina.
Key words: genotype, leaf explants, organogenesis, paradise tree, plant regeneration.
ABSTRACT:In vitro regeneration of shoots from leaf explants of the Paradise tree (Melia azedarach L.) was studied. Three different portions (proximal portion, distal portion and rachis of the leaflets) of three developmental stages (folded, young still expanding and completely expanded) of leaves of 10 – 15 years old plants of seven genotypes were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) supplemented with 1mg.l-1 benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.1mg.l-1 kinetin (KIN) + 3 mg.l-1 adenine sulphate (ADS). The rachis of the leaflets of the completely expanded leaves was found to be the most responsive tissue, in most of the genotypes employed. Shoot regeneration occurred in leaf explants of all the genotypes tested. The best genotype for shoot regeneration was clone 4. Rooting was induced on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg.l-1 3-indolebutyric acid, IBA, (4 days) followed by subculture on MS lacking growth regulators (26 days). Complete plants were transferred to soil.
Abbreviations: ADS: adenine sulphate; BAP: 6-benzylaminopurine; IBA: 3-indolebutyric acid; KIN: kinetin;
MS: Murashige & Skoog (1962) medium.