The effects of quercetin supplementation in NADH-diaphorase positive (NADH-d) neurons of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was carried in this study. Fifteen male rats were divided into three groups: normoglycemic (N), diabetic (D) and diabetic supplemented with quercetin (DQ). Whole mount preparations of the muscular layer of the ileum underwent NADH-d histochemistry for evidencing the NADH-d neuronal subpopulation. Quantitative analyzes were performed on 30 random fields, and morphometric analyzes in 100 neuronal bodies and nuclei per animal. The supplementation promoted a 44 % reduction in the neuronal density in D group when compared to N group (p <0.001); a 24.5 % reduction was observed in the DQ group when compared to N (p <0.01). Animals in D group presented an 18.7 % increase in the cell body areas of myenteric neurons when compared to N (p <0.001); DQ group showed a 14.2 % decrease in neuronal areas when compared to D (p <0.01); the nuclear area were similar among the three groups. We conclude that quercetin supplementation was positive for animals with diabetes mellitus.

Se estudiaron los efectos de la suplementación con quercetina en neuronas NADH-diaforasa positiva (NADH-d) de ratas diabéticas inducidas por estreptozotocina. Quince ratas machos se dividieron en tres grupos: normoglicémico (N), diabéticos (D) y diabéticos suplementados con quercetina (DQ). Las cortes montados de la capa muscular del íleon fueron sometidos a histoquímica de NADH-d para evidenciar la subpoblación neuronal NADH-d. Se realizaron análisis cuantitativos en 30 campos aleatorios y análisis morfométricos en 100 cuerpos y núcleos neuronales, por animal. La suplementación promovió una reducción del 44 % en la densidad neuronal en el grupo D cuando se comparó con el grupo N (p <0,001). Se observó una reducción del 24,5 % en el grupo DQ en comparación con N (p <0,01). Los animales del grupo D presentaron un aumento del 18,7 % en las áreas del cuerpo celular de las neuronas mientéricas cuando se compararon con N (p <0,001). El grupo DQ mostró una disminución de 14,2 % en las áreas neuronales en comparación con D (p <0,01). El área nuclear fue similar entre los tres grupos. Se concluye que la suplementación con quercetina fue positiva para animales con diabetes mellitus.

Enteric nervous plexuses have been the object of several studies, specially the myenteric plexus whose studies describe its organization, functions and alterations. On the other hand, the submucosal plexus has been less studied and still needs descriptive studies. To analyze morphologically and quantitatively submucosal neurons of the jejunum of 90-day-old healthy rats using different techniques for neuronal staining as a way to provide normality data to compare with future experimental studies. Whole mount preparations of the jejunum were submitted to Giemsa, NADH-diaphorase and NADPH-diaphorase techniques to stain the total neuronal population, more metabolically active subpopulation and subpopulation of nitrergic neurons, respectively. Neurons of the submucosal plexus of adult rats are mainly organized in ganglia with varied sized and shapes. Giemsa technique stained 243.93 ± 7.68 neurons per mm2. Regarding the total population stained by Giemsa, NADH- diaphorase positive (139.09 ± 11.14/mm2) neurons represented 57 % and NADPH-diaphorase positive (18.17 ± 0.28/mm2) represented 7.5 %. The area of the cell body was bigger in nitrergic neurons (412.29 ± 150.22) than in the ones stained by Giemsa (254.71 ± 63.32) and NADH-diaphorase positive (243.98 ± 123.82).

El plexo nervioso entérico ha sido objeto de varios estudios, especialmente el plexo mientérico, cuyos estudios consisten en describir su organización, funciones y alteraciones. Por otro lado, el plexo submucoso ha sido menos investigado y todavía necesita estudios descriptivos. Para analizar morfológica y cuantitativamente las neuronas de la submucosa del yeyuno de ratas de 90 días de edad, se realizaron diferentes técnicas de tinción neuronales, en animales sanos, como una forma de proporcionar datos de normalidad y compararlo con futuros estudios experimentales. Se realizaron montajes con preparados enteros del yeyuno que fueron sometidos a las técnicas de Giemsa, de NADPH-diaforasa y NADH-diaforasa para teñir la población total neuronal, subpoblación más activa metabólicamente y subpoblación de neuronas nitrérgicas, respectivamente. Las neuronas del plexo submucoso de ratas adultas se organizan principalmente en los ganglios con variaciones de tamaño y formas. Con la técnica de Giemsa se tiñeron 243.93±7.68 neuronas por mm2. Con respecto a la población total teñida con Giemsa, fueron positivas para NADH- diaforasa en 139.09 ±11.14 / mm2 neuronas, representando el 57% y fueron positivas para NADPH-diaforasa en 18,17 ± 0,28 / mm2 neuronas, lo que representó el 7,5%. El área del cuerpo celular fue mayor en neuronas nitrérgicas (412,29 ± 150.22) que en las teñidas con Giemsa (254,71 ± 63,32) y NADH-diaforasa positivas (243,98 ± 123,82).

Effects of protein and B-complex vitamin deficiency were assessed with respect to the morphometry of myenteric neurons in the descending colon of adult rats. Sixteen animals were divided into two groups: Control Group (CG, n=8) and Experimental Group (EG, n=8). The CG received 22% protein chow and the EG received 4% protein chow for 120 days. The descending colon was submitted to NADH- and NADPH-diaphorase technique in order to evidence nervous cells in the whole mounts preparations. In the EG, NADH-d positive neurons presented reduced nuclei, while NADPH-d positive neurons showed atrophy of the soma area (~41.7%) inducing an increase of the proportion occupied by the nucleus inside in the soma of these cells.

Esta investigación buscó evaluar los efectos de la desnutrición proteica y vitamínica delcomplexo B sobre aspectos morfométricos del plexo mientérico del colon descendente de ratones adultos. Dieciséis animales fueron distribuidos en dos grupos: control que recibieron ración comercial con 22% de proteína y experimental alimentados con ración de tenor proteico reducido para 8%, durante 120 días. Neuronas del plexo mientérico presentes en preparados totales fueron evidenciados a través de la técnica histoquímica de la NADH-diaforasa y de la NADPH-diaforasa. En el grupo experimental, las neuronas NADH-d positivos sufrieron reducción del núcleo celular, ya las neuronas NADPH-d sufrieron atrofia de 41,7% de la superficie de su pericarion, lo que hizo con que el núcleo celular pasase a ocupar una mayor proporción de la región trófica de las neuronas.

Morphometric and quantitative analyses were accomplished to study the effects of the consumption of alcohol above the size and density of the myenteric neurons of cecum of rats. Ten rats with 90 days were divided in the groups: control (C), and alcoholic (A). After 120 days of treatment with ethanol the cecum of both groups were collected, submitted it prepared of membranes that after carried out to Giemsa´s technique, permitted to evaluate the neuronal density, in an area of 13.44mm², and measure the cell body area of 300 neurons by group. The alcoholic rats presented an increase in the number of small neurons and a reduction of the big and medium neurons. The neuronal density verified in alcoholic rats was significantly reduced regarding the controls rats, however, that reduction left of be statistically significant when was projected the neuronal density for the total area of cecum, since the macroscopic observation showed that the alcoholic rats presented a cecum dilated. The alcoholism induced a significant reduction in the final body weight of the rats of the GA, provoked enlargement of cecum of the rats causing to a big dispersion neuronal. The enlargement of cecum of the alcoholic rats is probably associated with the functional alterations of the myenteric neurons that have repercussions in the tone of the intestinal smooth muscle.

Los análisis morfométrico y cuantitativo fueron hechos para estudiar los efectos del consumo de alcohol sobre el tamaño y densidad de las neuronas mientéricas del ciego de ratones. Diez ratones de 90 días, fueron divididos en los grupos: control (C), y alcohólico (A). Después de 120 días de tratamiento con etanol, los ciegos de ambos grupos fueron colectados, sometidos a preparación de membranas que después de coloreados por el método de Giemsa. Fue posible evaluar la densidad neuronal en un área de 13,44 mm², y medir el área del cuerpo celular de 300 neuronas por grupo. Los ratones alcohólicos presentaron un incremento en el número de neuronas pequeñas y una disminución de las neuronas medianas y grandes. La densidad neuronal verificada en los ratones alcohólicos fue significativamente reducida, en relación a los ratones controles. Esa reducción dejó de ser estadísticamente significativa cuando fue proyectada la densidad de las neuronas para el área del ciego, ya que la observación macroscópica mostraba que los ratones alcohólicos presentaban un ciego dilatado. El alcoholismo indujo una reducción significativa en el peso corporal final de los ratones del grupo A, provocó dilatación del ciego de los ratones, llevando a una gran dispersión neuronal. La dilatación del ciego de los ratones alcohólicos está probablemente asociada a alteraciones funcionales de las neuronas mientéricas que repercuten en el tono de la musculatura lisa intestinal.

We studied the effects of a severely hypoproteic diet on the quantitative aspects of the myenteric plexus of the descending colon of young rats. Eighteen rats were divided into two groups, one of them being fed with a chow having 26% protein (control) and the other with a chow having 4% protein, balanced for minerals and vitamins, during 12 weeks. The whole-mounts of the descending colon had their myenteric neurons stained either with Giemsa or NADPH diaphorase. The rats from the experimental group had deficits of body weight (54.23%) and area of the descending colon (48.14%); additionally, we observed that there was no alteration in the total number of neurons of the colon, but a decrease in the number of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons (37.80%). The implications of these results concerning the priority that some cellular types may have when nutrients are less available are discussed

Estudiamos los efectos crónicos de una dieta severamente hipoproteica sobre los aspectos cuantitativos del plexo mientérico del colon descendente de ratones jóvenes. 18 ratones fueron divididos en dos grupos, a uno de estos grupos se le dió ración con contenido proteico del 26% (control) y al otro, ración con contenido proteico del 4%. Se mantuvo el balance vitamínico y mineral, durante 12 semanas. Elaboramos los preparados de membrana del colon descendente y marcamos las neuronas del plexo mientérico con Giemsa y NADPH-diaforasa. Los ratones del grupo experimental presentaron déficit de peso corporal (54,23%) y del área del colon descendente (48,14%); además, observamos que no hubo alteración en el número total de neuronas en todo el colon; sin embargo, hubo una disminución en la marcación de neuronas NADPH-diaforasa positivas (37,80%). Los resultados son discutidos, respecto a la prioridad que ciertos tipos celulares pudiesen tener, con la menor disponibilidad de nutrientes

The purpose of this work was to analyze the morphoquantitative behavior of the neurons of the myenteric plexus, as well as the morphometry of the duodenal wall, in adult rats fed with normoproteic (22%) and hypoproteic (8%) rations, killed at the age of 345 days. For neuronal assessments duodenal wholemounts stained with the Giemsa method were used, and for the evaluation of the duodenal wall routine histological processing and staining with Hematoxilin-Eosin were employed. The means of the number of neurons in 80 microscopic fields (12.72 mm2) and of the size of the neuronal cell bodies did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups, but there was a greater incidence of large neurons in the protein restriction group (RP). The duodenum was markedly smaller in the RP group and, although there was no difference in the thickness of its wall, the mucosa was larger and the muscular layer was smaller in group RP. It was concluded that the neuronal and non-neuronal components of the duodenum adjust themselves to the nutritional condition, assuring the maintenance of their functions.

Temos por objetivo contribuir com informações sobre os aspectos quantitativos dos neurônios mioentéricos NADH-diaforase positivos do jejuno de ratos submetidos a desnutrição protéica. Foram utilizados 10 ratos (90 dias de idade), divididos em grupos: controle (n=5, ±278g) e desnutrido (n=5, ±280g). Nos 120 dias seguintes, os ratos do grupo controle receberam ração com teor protéico de 22%, os do grupo desnutrido, 8%. Ao final deste período, os ratos do grupo controle pesaram ±394,4g e os desnutrido ±273,5g.O jejuno foi submetido à técnica histoquímica da NADH-diaforase para evidenciação de células nervosas em preparado de membranas. Foram contados os neurônios presentes em 80 campos microscópicos em ambos os grupos. Verificaram-se no controle ±674,6 neurônios e no desnutrido ±1326,8 neurônios; A dieta não alterou a organização dos neurônios entretanto, levou a um menor desenvolvimento corporal nos animais desnutridos, contribuindo para que os neurônios destes sofressem menor dispersão e apresentassem maior densidade por mm².

We aim at contributing with information on the quantitative aspects of the NADH-diaphorase positive myenteric neurons of the jejunum of adult rats subjected to protein desnutrition. Ten rats aging 90 days were divided into two groups: control (n=5, ±278 g) and disnurtured (n=5, ±280 g). In the following 120 days, the rats from the control group had chow with 22% protein level, and those from the disnurtured group, with 8% protein level. After this period, the control rats weighted ±394.4g and the disnurtured ±273.5g. The jejunum was subjected to the histochemical technique of the NADH-diaphorase to stain nerve cells in whole-mounts. The neurons found in 80 microscopic fields of both groups were counted. In the control ±674.6 neurons were observed, and ±1326.8 neurons were counted in the disnurtured group. The low-protein diet did not alter the organization of the neurons, but led to a smaller body growth in the disnurtured animals, preventing neuronal dispersal and leading to a greater density per mm².

Realizamos este estudo com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da desnutrição protéica e da carência de vitaminas do complexo B sobre os aspectos morfológicos e quantitativos do plexo mioentérico do colo descendente de Rattus norvegicus adultos. Vinte e oito ratos foram divididos em dois grupos, sendo oferecida para um dos grupos ração com teor protéico de 22% (controle) e, para outro, ração com teor protéico de 8% sem suplementação de vitaminas do complexo B, durante 120 dias. Elaboramos os preparados de membrana do colo descendente e os coramos pelo método de Giemsa, pela técnica da NADH diaforase e da NADPH diaforase. Os ratos desnutridos apresentaram peso corporal 11,84% menor que o grupo controle. Em relação ao controle, observou-se uma redução da área do colo do grupo experimental de 48%, e de 51,9% dos neurônios corados por Giemsa, 28,3% dos neurônios NADH-diaforase positivos e 24,2% neurônios NADPH-diaforase.

We carried out this work with the purpose of studying the effects of protein and vitamin B deficiency on the morphologic and quantitative aspects of the myenteric plexus of the descending colon of adult Rattus norvegicus. Twenty-eight rats were divided in two groups, one of them receiving chow with 22% protein level (control) and the other fed with chow having 8% protein level without vitamin B supplementation, during 120 days. Whole-mounts of the descending colon were prepared and stained with Giemsa, NADH-diaphorase and NADPH-diaphorase. The undernourished rats had a body weight 11.84% less than the control group. Relative to the controls, the experimental group had a colonic area 48% smaller, 51.9% less Giemsa-stained neurons, 28.3% less NADH-diaphorase positive neurons and 24.2% less NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a densidade neuronal do plexo mioentérico das regiões intermediária e antimesocólica do colo descendente de ratos. Preparados de membrana foram corados com três técnicas diferentes de evidenciação neuronal. Através da contagem do número de neurônios, em uma área de 6,64 mm², sob microscopia de luz, encontramos com a coloração de Giemsa: 1271 ± 227,54 neurônios na região intermediária e 1234 ± 225,92 na região antimesocólica. Utilizando a técnica de marcação da NADH-diaforase, encontramos 530 ± 92,97 neurônios na região intermediária e 539 ± 146,72 na região antimesocólica. Através da histoquímica da NADPH-diaforase, encontramos 417 ± 34,42 neurônios na região intermediária e 547 ± 84,01 na região antimesocólica. Concluímos que há uma variação da densidade de neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos ao redor da circunferência intestinal; que a subpopulação neuronal NADH-diaforase positivos representou 42,7% da população evidenciada no Giemsa e que os neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos representam 37,8% do total.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the neuronal density of the myenteric plexus of the intermediate and antimesocolic regions of the descending colon of rats. Whole-mounts were stained with three different techniques of neuronal evidenciation. Through counts of the number of neurons in an area of 6.64 mm² under light microscopy, we found 1,271 ± 227.54 neurons with Giemsa in the intermediate region and 1,234 ± 225.92 neurons in the antimesocolic region; with the NADH-diaphorase technique we found 530 ± 92.97 neurons in the intermediate region and 539 ± 146.72 neurons in the antimesocolic region; and through the NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, we found 417 ± 34.42 neurons in the intermediate region and 547 ± 84.01 neurons in the antimesocolic region. We conclude that there is a variation in the density of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the intestinal circumference; that the NADH-diaphorase positive neuronal subpopulation represented 42.7% of that stained with Giemsa; and that the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons represented 37.8% of the whole myenteric population.

This work verified the changes caused by ethanol ingestion on the myenteric neurons of the ileum of rats subjected to chronic alcoholism. Twenty rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided in control (GC) and alcoholic (GA) groups during 210 days. The animals from group GA received sugar-cane brandy diluted to 30 GL and those from group GC received water. Both groups were fed with rodent chow ad libitum. The ileum was prepared as whole-mounts for neuronal staining according to Barbosa (1978) and Gabella (1979). The neurons were counted and the cell bodies were measured. The statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in the number of large neurons in GA compared with GC, while there was a significant increase in the number of small neurons in GA. There was a smaller body growth in GA, thus causing a smaller spread of the nerve cells and a larger number of neurons evidenced by the techniques of Giemsa and NADH-diaphorase in the alcoholic animals than in the controls, and a decrease in the size of the cell bodies, evidenced by the increase in the proportion of small neurons and decrease in the proportion of large nerve cells

Verificamos los cambios causados por la ingestión de etanol en las neuronas mioentéricas del íleon en ratas sometidas a alcoholismo crónico. 20 ratas (Ratus novergicus) fueran divididas en grupo control (GC) y grupo alcohólico (GA). Durante 210 días los animales del GA recibieron aguardiente de caña diluida a 30° y los animales del GC recibieron agua. El íleon fue sometido a la elaboración de preparados totales para marcación neuronal de acuerdo con Barbosa (1978) y Gabella (1969). Las neuronas fueran contadas y medidos los cuerpos celulares. En ambas técnicas, las ratas alcoholizadas presentaron una mayor densidad neuronal. El análisis estadístico, reveló una redución significativa del número de neuronas grandes en el GA cuando fue comparado con el GC; en el GA hubo un aumento significativo en el número de neuronas pequeñas. Ocurrió un menor crecimiento en las ratas GA, causando una menor dispersión de las células nerviosas y un amplio número de neuronas evidenciado a través de las técnicas de Giemsa y NADH-diaforase tanto en los animales del GA como del GC y reducción en el tamaño de los cuerpos celulares, comprobado por el aumento de la proporción de neuronas pequeñas

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação com ácido ascórbico (AA) sobre os neurônios que expressam o peptídeo intestinal vasoativo (VIP) no plexo submucoso do íleo de ratos, quatro meses após a indução do diabetes mellitus experimental com estreptozootocina. Três grupos de ratos foram usados: C- controles, D- diabéticos, DA- diabéticos recebendo AA. Foram avaliadas a imunoreatividade e a área de 80 corpos celulares de neurônios VIP-érgicos de cada grupo estudado. Nos animais diabéticos ocorreram hirperfagia, polidipsia, elevação da glicemia e hemoglobina glicada. Os neurônios VIP-érgicos apresentaram aumento da imunorreatividade e os maiores perfis, quando comparados aos demais grupos. Nos animais diabéticos suplementados com AA observou-se pequena redução na glicemia, ingesta de água e de alimento, verificando-se também menor imunorreatividade nos neurônios VIP-érgicos, o que foi semelhante ao observado nos animais do grupo controle (grupo C).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation on the neurons that produce the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submucous plexus of the ileum of rat, four months after the induction of experimental diabetes mellitus with streptozotocin. Three groups of rats were used: C - control, D - diabetic, DA - diabetic receiving AA. We have measured the immunoreactivity and area of 80 cellular bodies of VIP-ergic neurons from each studied group. In the diabetic animals, we have observed hyperphagia, polydipsia, and an increase of glycemia and glycated hemoglobin. The VIP-ergic neurons have presented an increase of their immunoreactivity and the highest profiles when compared to the other groups. In the diabetic animals supplemented with AA it has been observed a small reduction in the glycemia and the water and food intake. We have also noticed smaller immunoreactivity in their VIP-ergic neurons, similar to what we have observed in the control group animals (group C).

The stomach carried out movements characterized by potent peristaltic slow waves which serve mixture, mechanical digestion and slow emptying through the pylorus. The control of this movement is made by hormone action and neural activity, especially the intrinsic innervation by the neurons of the myenteric plexus. Once the condition of desnutrition can cause morphological alterations even upon the neurons this work was proposed with the purpose of verifying the effects of protein desnutrition lasting 120 days on the quantitative aspects of the NADH-diaphorase positive neurons. It was used 10 adult rats aging 90 days, which were divided in two groups, control and disnurtured. The rats of the disnurtured group (n=5) were subjected to a diet of 8% protein level, and those of the control group (n=5) received chow with normal protein level (22%). After 120 days, the aglandular stomach was subjetec to the histoenzymologic technique of the NADH-diaphorase for neuronal evidenciation. The aglandular regions was divided in a region near the major gastric curvature and a region anterior to the limitant ridge. According to the sampling method of counting, the observed neurons in 40 microscopic fields (6.64 mm²) of each region in all the animals of the two groups were counted using light microscope with 40X objective. We verified that the neurons can be isolated or grouped into ganglia. Next to the limitant ridge it was found a mean of 570.8 neurons in the control group and 718.4 in the disnurtured group. On the other hand, next to the major gastric curvature, we observed 25.8 neurons in the control group and 52.6 neurons in the disnurtured group. The low-protein diet resulted in less body growth with a weight decrease of about 30.33% when compared to the control animals, as well as a decrease in the area of the stomach of 20.13%. We concluded that the neurons are not uniformly distributed in the stomach wall and that the disnurtured animals showed less neuronal dispersion, thus exhibiting a greater neuronal density per mm²

El estómago realiza movimientos caracterizados por potentes ondas peristálticas lentas, útiles en la mezcla del bolo alimenticio, la digestión mecánica y su lenta liberación por el píloro. El control de este movimiento se realiza por acción hormonal y por actividad nerviosa, destacando la inervación intríseca que representan las neuronas del plexo mioentérico. Considerando que un estado de desnutrición puede provocar alteraciones morfológicas, incluso neuronales, se ha propuesto este trabajo, con el objetivo de verificar los efectos provocados por la desnutrición proteínica durante un período de 120 días, en el aspecto cuantitativo de las neuronas NADH-diaforasa positivas. Para este estudio se utilizaron 10 ratones adultos, los cuales, a los 90 días de vida fueron divididos en dos grupos; control y desnutridos. A los ratones del grupo desnutridos (n=5) se les alimentó con una dieta proteínica de, aproximadamente, 8% y a los ratones del grupo control (n=5) con dieta de valor proteínico normal, 22%. Transcurridos 120 días, al estómago aglandular se le hizo un ensayo de histoenzimología del NADH-diaforasa, para verificar características neuronales. La región glandular fue dividida en dos áreas: una, próxima al lóbulo gástrico mayor y la otra, anterior al repliegue límite. En el recuento por muestreo, las neuronas observadas en 40 campos microscópicos (6,64 mm²) de cada área, de las muestas de los ratones de los grupos control y desnutridos, fueron contadas con un microscopio de 40x. Constatamos entonces que las neuronas pueden estar aisladas o agrupadas en sus ganglios. Cerca del repliegue límite encontramos un promedio de 570,8 neuronas en el grupo control y 718,4 en el grupo desnutridos. Por otra parte, cerca del lóbulo gástrico mayor, encontramos 25,8 neuronas en el grupo control y 52,6 en el grupo desnutridos. La dieta hipoproteínica implicó un menor crecimiento físico, con una descompensación de alredededor de 30,33%, al compararlo con ratones del grupo control, como también hubo una reducción de la superficie del perfil estomacal, de aproximadamente 20,13%. Concluimos que, las neuronas no están distribuidas uniformemente en la pared estomacal y que en los ratones desnutridos presentaron una menor dispersión, presentando por lo tanto una mayor densidad neuronal por mm²

Os mecanismos de virulência em Paracoccidioides brasiliensis não estão totalmente esclarecidos. Há um consenso que subcultivos sucessivos de P. brasiliensis acarretam a perda de sua patogenicidade que pode ser revertida pelo reisolamento do agente após passagem animal. As propriedades morfológicas e bioquímicas que são recuperadas ou demonstradas após passagem animal podem fornecer novas informações quanto a fatores relacionados à patogenicidade e virulência de P. brasiliensis. Nós avaliamos características morfológicas: porcentagem de células brotantes, número de brotamentos por célula e determinação do diâmetro de 100 células-mãe em 30 isolados de P. brasiliensis, antes e após passagem animal. Os isolados foram obtidos de pacientes com diferentes formas clínicas de paracoccidioidomicose (PCM): forma aguda (grupo A n=15) e forma crônica (grupo C n=15). A mensuração do tamanho das células foi feita em microscópio óptico Olympus CBB acoplado com régua micrométrica. Nós medimos o maior eixo transversal e longitudinal de 100 células viáveis de cada preparação. A porcentagem de células brotantes bem como o número de brotamentos por célula não foram influenciados pela passagem animal independente da origem da amostra (grupo agudo ou crônico). Os valores dos tamanhos dos isolados de P. brasiliensis dos grupos A e C medidos antes e após passagem animal exibiram o mesmo comportamento. Após passagem animal, houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre o tamanho das células de P. brasiliensis isolados a partir de testículos inoculados com amostras dos grupos A e C. O diâmetro máximo das células mãe dos isolados do grupo A exibiram tamanho de 42.1<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m, em contraste com 32.9<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m exibidos pelas células mãe do grupo C (p<0.05). O diâmetro de 1500 células do grupo A exibiram tamanho médio de 16.0<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m (SD ± 4.0), valor significativamente maior que 14.1<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m (SD ± 3.3) exibidos pelas 1500 células do grupo C (p<0.05). Nossos resultados confirmam o polimorfismo exibido por P. brasiliensis em amostras biológicas e reforça a necessidade de mais investigações com o objetivo de elucidar o papel que parâmetros morfológicos do fungo possam assumir na história natural da doença.

The basis for virulence in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is not completely understood. There is a consensus that the sequencial in vitro subcultivation of P. brasiliensis leads to loss of its pathogenicity, which can be reverted by reisolation from animal passage. Attention to morphological and biochemical properties that are regained or demonstrated after animal passage may provide new insights into factors related to the pathogenicity and virulence of P. brasiliensis. We evaluated morphological characters: the percentage of budding cells, number of buds by cell and the diameter of 100 mother cells of yeast-like cells of 30 P. brasiliensis isolates, before and after animal passage. The isolates were obtained from patients with different clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM): acute form (group A, n=15) and chronic form (group C, n=15). The measurement of the yeast cell sizes was carried out with the aid of an Olympus CBB microscope coupled with a micrometer disc. We measured the major transverse and longitudinal axes of 100 viable cells of each preparation. The percentage of budding cells as also the number of buds by cell was not influenced by animal passage, regardless of the source of the strain (acute or chronic groups). The size values of P. brasiliensis isolates from groups A and C, measured before the animal passage exhibited the same behavior. After animal passage, there was a statistically significant difference between the cell sizes of P. brasiliensis isolates recovered from testicles inoculated with strains from groups A and C. The maximum diameter of mother cells from group A isolates exhibited a size of 42.1<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m in contrast with 32.9<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m exhibited by mother cells from group C (p<0.05). The diameter of 1500 mother cells from group A isolates exhibited a medium size of 16.0<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m (SD ± 4.0), a value significantly higher than the 14.1<FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m (SD = ± 3.3) exhibited by 1500 mother cells from group C isolates (p<0.05). Our results reinforce the polymorphism exhibited by P. brasiliensis in biological material and the need for further investigations to elucidate the role of morphological parameters of the fungus in the natural history of the disease.

Estudamos os efeitos da desnutrição protéica materna sobre os neurônios do plexo mientérico do jejuno de ratos da espécie norvegicus. Utilizamos filhotes de ratas que receberam dieta com teor protéico normal durante a gestação e a lactação (grupo NN), dieta normoprotéica durante a gestação e hipoprotéica durante a lactação (grupo ND); dieta hipoprotéica durante a gestação e normoprotéica durante a lactação (grupo DN); dieta hipoprotéica durante a gestação e lactação (grupo DD). Após o desmame todos os animais receberam dieta com teor protéico normal até os 60 dias de vida ocasião em que foram sacrificados. Preparados de membrana do jejuno foram corados pelo método de Giemsa e foram utilizados para análises morfológicas e quantitativas dos neurônios do plexo mientérico. Verificamos que a desnutrição protéica materna não provoca redução no número de neurônios mientéricos por área do jejuno de ratos, porém desencadeia mecanismos que fazem com que quando o animal volta a receber dieta com teor protéico normal (22%) ocorra acúmulo de material protéico no citoplasma dos neurônios, o que os torna maiores e fortemente basofílicos.

We studied the effects of maternal proteic desnutrition on the neurons of the myenteric plexus of the jejunum of rats from Rattus norvegicus species. It was used litters of female rats which received diet with normal proteic level during gestation and lactation (group NN), normal diet during gestation and hypoproteic diet during lactation (group ND); hypoproteic diet during gestation and normal diet during lactation (group DN); hypoproteic diet during both gestation and lactation (group DD). After weaning all the animals received diet of normal proteic level until the 60th day of age, when they were killed. The jejunum of the animals was subjected to whole-mount preparations stained by the method of Giemsa and used for the morphologic and quantitative analyses of the neurons of the myenteric plexus. We verified that maternal proteic malnutrition does not cause decrease on the number of myenteric neurons per unit area of jejunum in rats, but elicits mechanisms which assure that, when the animal again receives normal proteic level diet (22%) there occurs storage of proteic material on the cytoplasm of the neurons, thus rendering them larger and strongly basophylic.

SUMMARY: We carried out this research with the purpose of studying the relations of the facial vein with adjacent structures. The right and left facial veins of 50 corpses were dissected under stereomicroscope and their relations to the neighbour structures were described. Segments of facial veins of 10 corpses were subjected to histological sections stained by the method of Weigert modified by van Gieson. The facial vein, in spite of its short course, undergoes major changes on its wall composition. It is also diversified in its relations of syntopy, relating to muscles, adipose tissue and glands, in addition to other tissues. We verified the presence of elastic and collagen fibers connecting the adventitia to the adjacent tissues, as well as forming a fibrous sheath around the facial vein, which most probably protects this vein against strains produced during the motion of the neighbouring structures. In this work it is also discussed the implications of the syntopy of the facial vein and the biodynamic requirements elicited by motion on the morphology and functioning of this vein.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de esta investigación es estudiar las relaciones de la vena facial con las estructuras adyacentes. Las venas faciales, derecha e izquierda, de 50 cadáveres, fueron disecadas bajo microscopio estereoscopio y descritas sus relaciones con estructuras vecinas. Segmentos de las venas faciales de 10 cadáveres fueron sometidos a cortes histológicos teñidos por el método de Weigert modificado por Van Gieson. La vena facial, a pesar de su corto trayecto, sufre importantes variaciones en la constitución de su pared. En sus relaciones de sintopía, se relacionan con músculos, tejido adiposo y glándulas, entre otros tejidos. Verificamos la existencia de fibras elásticas y colágenas, conectando la adventicia a los tejidos adyacentes, así como formando una vaina fibrosa alrededor de la vena facial, lo que probablemente protege esta vena de tracciones producidas durante los movimientos de las estructuras vecinas. En el trabajo también son discutidas las implicancias de la sintopía de la vena facial y de los requerimientos biodinámicos generados por el movimiento sobre la morfología de esta vena.