Abstract Hematological and biochemical profile studies help to evaluate functional changes of animals used in experiments. The aim of this study was to determine the hematological and biochemical profile of immunosuppressed BALB/c nude and C57BL/6 SCID mice after bovine ovarian xenotransplantation. Therefore, a total of 74 female mice were divided into four groups: non-xenotransplanted animals, xenotransplanted animals, xenotransplanted animals treated with eCG and xenotransplanted animals treated with FSH + LH. After anesthesia, blood samples were collected and hematologic and biochemical values were evaluated. The results showed no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) for hematological parameters between the control group and the treatment groups of both strains. However, considering the biochemical profile, it was observed an increase of AST concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) in both strains and a decrease of ALT concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) only in C57BL/6 SCID strain of the groups subjected to hormonal treatment compared with those non subjected. Additionally, the values of the renal enzymes, urea and creatinine, did not differ (p ≤ 0.05) between the groups. Our findings suggest that the xenotransplantation procedure as well as the hormonal dosages had no significant effect on the well-being of the animals considering the evaluated hematological and biochemical profile.

RESUMO: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as características dos dois diferentes modelos de murinas tratadas hormonalmente após xenotransplante de tecido ovariano bovino sob a cápsula renal. Dois modelos de camundongos imunodeficientes (BALB/c NUDE e C57BL6 SCID) receberam fragmentos de ovário de novilhas e cada grupo foi submetido a dois tratamentos hormonais de eCG ou uma combinação de FSH+LH. Ovários doadores e receptores foram avaliados por histologia e termografia infravermelha em diferentes momentos. No momento da retirada do xenotranplante, os animais foram avaliados quanto a alterações na bioquímica hepatorrenal. O teste estatístico utilizado no estudo foi ANOVA, seguido do teste de Tukey. Entre as linhagens, 80% de C57BL6 SCID e 77% das BALB/c NUDE mostraram desenvolvimento e vascularização do tecido transplantado, que adquiriu a ciclicidade 19 e 9 dias após o transplante, respectivamente. Corpos hemorrágicos foram encontrados após o xenotransplante induzidos com FSH+LH na linhagem C57BL6 SCID. A termografia infravermelha foi insuficiente para distinguir o tecido doador do receptor. Em conclusão, a linhagem C57BL6 SCID demonstrou ser o melhor hospedeiro para xenotransplante de ovário, uma vez que os transplantes nestes camundongos foram viáveis e mostraram desenvolvimento folicular. Este trabalho ajudará futuras escolhas de linhagens imunodeficientes para procedimentos de xenotranplante.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of two different murine models of hormone-treated renal-encapsulated bovine ovarian tissue xenotransplantation. Two immunodeficient mouse models (BALB/c Nude and C57BL6 SCID) were xenografted with ovarian pieces from heifers and each group was subjected to two hormonal treatments of eCG or a combination of FSH+LH. Donor ovaries and recipients were evaluated by histology and infrared thermography at different times. At the time of xenograft collection, animals were evaluated for alterations in hepatorenal biochemistry. The statistical test used in the study was ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s test. Among the strains, 80% of C57BL6 SCID and 77% of BALB/c Nude mice showed development and vascularization of the transplanted tissue, which acquired cyclicity at 19 and 9 days post-transplant, respectively. Hemorrhagic follicles in xenografts induced with FSH+LH were found in the C57BL6 SCID strain. Infrared thermography was insufficient to distinguish the tissue donor recipient. In conclusion, the C57BL6 SCID strain appears to be the best host for ovarian xenografts, since the transplants in these mice were viable and showed robust follicular development. This work will aid future choices of immunodeficient strains for xenografting procedures.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a produção e as propriedades de compósitos a base de poli(ácido lático) (PLA) e de celulose microcristalina (CMC). Os compósitos foram produzidos por vazamento de solução, gerando filmes contendo diferentes teores de celulose. Neste experimento, a CMC foi previamente intumescida em água e, em seguida, seca por liofilização. O inchamento teve a finalidade de permitir a penetração das cadeias de PLA entre as partículas da celulose. Nos filmes obtidos foram avaliados os efeitos do teor e do inchamento da celulose sobre a dispersão desta na matriz polimérica, a cristalinidade e as propriedades mecânicas sob tração. Os filmes e os materiais utilizados em sua obtenção foram caracterizados por difratometria de raios X, microscopia eletrônica de varreduta, ressônancia magnética nuclear e quanto ao desempenho mecânico sob tração. Os resultados encontrados indicam que o tratamento da CMC por inchamento/liofilização permitiu a obtenção de filmes com melhor dispersão da carga na matriz e melhor desempenho mecânico quando comparados com os filmes contendo CMC sem tratamento.

The goal of this work was to investigate the production and properties of composites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The composites were obtained by solution casting in the film form, with different amounts of cellulose. In this experiment, MCC was previously swollen in water and then dried by lyophilization. Swelling was aimed at allowing the PLA chains to penetrate between cellulose particles. The effects from the contents and swelling of cellulose were evaluated with regard to its dispersal in the matrix, crystallinity and strain mechanical properties. The materials employed and the resulting films were investigated according to their mechanical properties and by using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results indicate that the MCC treatment by swelling/lyophilization led to films with better load dispersion in the matrix and better mechanical performance compared with films obtained with non-treated MCC.