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A descrição de retalhos cutâneos pediculados em ramos perfurantes musculares é recente. O retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é vascularizado por vasos perfurantes musculares do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa femoral lateral. Trata-se de retalho de pouca espessura, pedículo vascular longo e calibroso e baixa morbidade de área doadora. Entretanto, a dissecção do trajeto intramuscular de seu pedículo é tecnicamente difícil. Sua indicação é por vezes questionada por tratar-se de retalho de características semelhantes a outros vascularizados por artérias cutâneas diretas ou septocutâneas. Estes têm menor variação anatômica e dissecção mais simples. O presente estudo avaliou as características anatômicas do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, através de dissecção em cadáveres frescos, comparando-as com as do retalho paraescapular e lateral do braço. Foram dissecados 60 retalhos (20 retalhos ântero-laterais da coxa, 20 paraescapulares e 20 retalhos laterais do braço) em 20 cadáveres frescos, não formolizados, com menos de 24 horas após o óbito. Todos os retalhos tiveram os seguintes parâmetros avaliados: comprimento do pedículo vascular, espessura do retalho, diâmetro do pedículo vascular arterial e venoso. Além disso, foi avaliada a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo vascular (apenas nas dissecções do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa). A análise comparativa evidenciou que o pedículo vascular do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é mais longo quando comparado aos dos retalhos paraescapular e lateral do braço (p<0,001). O retalho cutâneo lateral do braço apresenta a menor espessura (p<0,001) e o menor diâmetro arterial e venoso do pedículo vascular (p<0,001). Constatou-se a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa em 17 (85%) casos. O comprimento médio do segmento intramuscular do principal ramo perfurante foi de 4,13+2,02 cm. Os dados foram comparados e avaliados através de técnica de análise de variância com medidas repetidas. O nível de significância utilizado para os testes foi de 5%. As informações obtidas permitem concluir que o retalho ântero-lateral da coxa apresenta como vantagem o pedículo vascular de maior comprimento. Entretanto, apresentou em 85% dos casos a necessidade de dissecção intramuscular de um segmento deste pedículo. O retalho lateral do braço apresenta como principais características a pouca espessura e o menor diâmetro de seus pedículos vasculares. O retalho paraescapular tem características anatômicas semelhantes às do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, não sendo evidenciada diferença significativa entre suas espessuras e diâmetros de seus pedículos vasculares. Apresenta pedículo vascular mais curto quando comparado ao do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa. Entretanto, trata-se de vaso septocutâneo, sem a necessidade de dissecção de trajeto intramuscular. / The description of the skin flaps based on perforator vessels is recent. The vascularization of the anterolateral thigh flap is based on perforator vessels coming from the lateral circumflex femoral artery. It has a thin skin paddle, a long and large vascular pedicle and low donor site morbidity. However, the dissection of the intramuscular path of its pedicle is technically difficult. Its indication is sometimes questionable since it is a flap with characteristics similar to others based on direct cutaneous or septocutaneous vessels, which have less anatomical variations and are easier to dissect. This study evaluated the anatomical characteristics of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap through the dissection of fresh cadavers, comparing them with those of the parascapular and lateral arm skin flap. Sixty flaps were dissected (20 anterolateral thigh, 20 parascapular and 20 lateral arm flaps) in 20 fresh cadavers, not perfused with formaldehyde, less than 24 hours after death. The following aspects were evaluated in all the flaps: length of the vascular pedicle, thickness of the flap and diameter of the arterial and venous vascular pedicle. Additionally, the presence of the intramuscular path of the vascular pedicle was evaluated (only in the dissections of the anterolateral thigh flap). The comparative analysis showed that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap is longer when compared to those of the parascapular and lateral arm flaps (p<0,001). The lateral arm flap presented a pedicle with smaller arterial and venous diameter (p<0,001), in addition to being the thinner flap (p<0,001). It was verified that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh flap presented an intramuscular path in 17 (85%) cases. The average length of the intramuscular segment of the main perforator vessel was 4,13+2,02 cm. The data was compared and evaluated with variance analysis. The information obtained allows one to conclude that the advantage the anterolateral thigh perforator flap has over the other skin flaps is a longer vascular pedicle. However, the need for intramuscular dissection of a segment of this pedicle presented itself in 85% of the cases. The lateral arm flap is the thinnest flap, and the one with the smaller arterial and venous diameter of its vascular pedicle. The parascapular flap has anatomical characteristics similar to those of the anterolateral thigh flap, with no evidence of a significant difference between their thicknesses and diameters of vascular pedicles. Its vascular pedicle is shorter when compared to that of the anterolateral thigh flap. On the other hand, it is a fasciocutaneous vessel, without the need for intramuscular dissection.

A descrição de retalhos cutâneos pediculados em ramos perfurantes musculares é recente. O retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é vascularizado por vasos perfurantes musculares do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa femoral lateral. Trata-se de retalho de pouca espessura, pedículo vascular longo e calibroso e baixa morbidade de área doadora. Entretanto, a dissecção do trajeto intramuscular de seu pedículo é tecnicamente difícil. Sua indicação é por vezes questionada por tratar-se de retalho de características semelhantes a outros vascularizados por artérias cutâneas diretas ou septocutâneas. Estes têm menor variação anatômica e dissecção mais simples. O presente estudo avaliou as características anatômicas do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, através de dissecção em cadáveres frescos, comparando-as com as do retalho paraescapular e lateral do braço. Foram dissecados 60 retalhos (20 retalhos ântero-laterais da coxa, 20 paraescapulares e 20 retalhos laterais do braço) em 20 cadáveres frescos, não formolizados, com menos de 24 horas após o óbito. Todos os retalhos tiveram os seguintes parâmetros avaliados: comprimento do pedículo vascular, espessura do retalho, diâmetro do pedículo vascular arterial e venoso. Além disso, foi avaliada a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo vascular (apenas nas dissecções do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa). A análise comparativa evidenciou que o pedículo vascular do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é mais longo quando comparado aos dos retalhos paraescapular e lateral do braço (p<0,001). O retalho cutâneo lateral do braço apresenta a menor espessura (p<0,001) e o menor diâmetro arterial e venoso do pedículo vascular (p<0,001). Constatou-se a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa em 17 (85%) casos. O comprimento médio do segmento intramuscular do principal ramo perfurante foi de 4,13+2,02 cm. Os dados foram comparados e avaliados através de técnica de análise de variância com medidas repetidas. O nível de significância utilizado para os testes foi de 5%. As informações obtidas permitem concluir que o retalho ântero-lateral da coxa apresenta como vantagem o pedículo vascular de maior comprimento. Entretanto, apresentou em 85% dos casos a necessidade de dissecção intramuscular de um segmento deste pedículo. O retalho lateral do braço apresenta como principais características a pouca espessura e o menor diâmetro de seus pedículos vasculares. O retalho paraescapular tem características anatômicas semelhantes às do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, não sendo evidenciada diferença significativa entre suas espessuras e diâmetros de seus pedículos vasculares. Apresenta pedículo vascular mais curto quando comparado ao do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa. Entretanto, trata-se de vaso septocutâneo, sem a necessidade de dissecção de trajeto intramuscular. / The description of the skin flaps based on perforator vessels is recent. The vascularization of the anterolateral thigh flap is based on perforator vessels coming from the lateral circumflex femoral artery. It has a thin skin paddle, a long and large vascular pedicle and low donor site morbidity. However, the dissection of the intramuscular path of its pedicle is technically difficult. Its indication is sometimes questionable since it is a flap with characteristics similar to others based on direct cutaneous or septocutaneous vessels, which have less anatomical variations and are easier to dissect. This study evaluated the anatomical characteristics of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap through the dissection of fresh cadavers, comparing them with those of the parascapular and lateral arm skin flap. Sixty flaps were dissected (20 anterolateral thigh, 20 parascapular and 20 lateral arm flaps) in 20 fresh cadavers, not perfused with formaldehyde, less than 24 hours after death. The following aspects were evaluated in all the flaps: length of the vascular pedicle, thickness of the flap and diameter of the arterial and venous vascular pedicle. Additionally, the presence of the intramuscular path of the vascular pedicle was evaluated (only in the dissections of the anterolateral thigh flap). The comparative analysis showed that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap is longer when compared to those of the parascapular and lateral arm flaps (p<0,001). The lateral arm flap presented a pedicle with smaller arterial and venous diameter (p<0,001), in addition to being the thinner flap (p<0,001). It was verified that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh flap presented an intramuscular path in 17 (85%) cases. The average length of the intramuscular segment of the main perforator vessel was 4,13+2,02 cm. The data was compared and evaluated with variance analysis. The information obtained allows one to conclude that the advantage the anterolateral thigh perforator flap has over the other skin flaps is a longer vascular pedicle. However, the need for intramuscular dissection of a segment of this pedicle presented itself in 85% of the cases. The lateral arm flap is the thinnest flap, and the one with the smaller arterial and venous diameter of its vascular pedicle. The parascapular flap has anatomical characteristics similar to those of the anterolateral thigh flap, with no evidence of a significant difference between their thicknesses and diameters of vascular pedicles. Its vascular pedicle is shorter when compared to that of the anterolateral thigh flap. On the other hand, it is a fasciocutaneous vessel, without the need for intramuscular dissection.

O presente trabalho avaliou os rins de ratas Wistar prenhes e não prenhes submetidas ao estresse e seus respectivos controles. O estresse crônico consistiu de estímulo sônico de 100 decibéis por trinta minutos, interrompido por noventa minutos, e superpopulação entre o sétimo e o décimo quarto dia de gestação e o estresse agudo foi representado pela imobilização durante trinta minutos, no décimo oitavo dia da prenhez ou período equivalente nas ratas não prenhes, dois dias antes do final do experimento. Todas as ratas foram sacrificadas no vigésimo dia do protocolo. Foram avaliados os rins de todas as ratas do estudo, assim como o peso das ratas no primeiro, sétimo, décimo quarto e vigésimo dia do experimento, a pressão arterial caudal no quinto e décimo oitavo dia de prenhez, ou período equivalente, e os pesos dos fetos e respectivas placentas. Não foram encontradas alterações à microscopia óptica nos rins das ratas submetidas ao estresse; entretanto foram observadas maiores medidas de pressão arterial caudal sistólica (154,4 ± 14,2 mmHg) e diastólica (89,0 ± 8,7 mmHg) no grupo prenhe estresse (p < 0,05) em relação ao grupo prenhe controle (129,1 ± 13,1 mmHg e 79,9 ± 18,1 mmHg, respectivamente) no décimo oitavo dia e menor peso dos fetos (2,54 ± 0,32g) e das placentas (0,53 ± 0,09 g) de ratas submetidas ao estresse crônico no vigésimo dia de prenhez (p < 0,001) quando comparados aos do grupo controle (2,95 ± 0,53g e 0,60 ± 0,08g, respectivamente). Desta maneira, o modelo analisado pode ser empregado para avaliar a restrição do crescimento intra-uterino de ratos causada pelo estresse crônico, provavelmente decorrente do aumento dos níveis pressóricos maternos durante a prenhez / This study evaluated the kidneys from pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar rats exposed to chronic stress and its respective control groups. The chronic stress consisted of noise exposure (30 minutes of 100-dB each two hours interval) and super-population between the 7th and 14th day and the acute stress of thirty minutes immobilization in the 18th of pregnancy two days before the end of the experiment. All the rats were killed in the 20th day of protocol. The kidneys were studied and also the weight of the rats in the 1st, 7th, 14th and 20th day, the caudal artery blood pressure in the 5th and 18th day, and the fetus and placentas weight. There were not seen any alteration using light microscopy in the kidney of rats submitted to stress; although it was observed a significant increase in systolic (154.4 ± 14.2 mmHg) and diastolic (89.0 ± 8.7 mmHg) caudal blood pressure in the 18th day in the pregnant stress group (p < 0.05) in relation to the control group (129.1 ± 13.1 mmHg and 79.9 ± 18.1 mmHg, respectively) and a decrease in fetal (2.54 ± 0.32g) and placenta (0.53 ± 0.09g) weight in the 20th day in the pregnant stress group (p < 0.001) in relation to the control group (2.95 ± 0.53g and 0.60 ± 0.08g, respectively). The analyzed model may be employed to evaluate the intrauterine growth restriction in rats, caused by chronic stress, probably induced by hypertension during the pregnancy

by Sau Cheung Tiu. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 348-388). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

by Wai-Ying Li. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-94). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter CHAPTER I. --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter A. --- Plasticity of central nervous system --- p.1 / Chapter B. --- The response of spinal cord after injury --- p.2 / Chapter C. --- Sprouting in the corticospinal tracts --- p.3 / Chapter D. --- Influential factors of sprouting in CNS --- p.5 / Chapter E. --- The objective of the present study --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER II. --- THE NORMAL RAT CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS --- p.9 / Chapter CHAPTER III. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter A. --- The experimental model --- p.15 / Chapter B. --- Retrograde fluorescing tracer study to confirm sprouting --- p.16 / Chapter C. --- Protagol silver study to detect axonal sprouting --- p.19 / Chapter D. --- Chromatolysis study to prove the sprouting --- p.22 / Chapter E. --- Degenerating silver study to detect where sprouting might have come from --- p.25 / Chapter F. --- Cytochrome oxidase study to evaluate the cytochemical change of the motor neurons after hemisection --- p.28 / Chapter G. --- Labelled uptake studies to assay the biochemical changes after hemisection --- p.31 / Chapter H. --- The Raman spectroscopy study to detect proteins change after hemisection --- p.33 / Chapter I. --- Study on preferential growth sprouts into spinal cord or peripheral nerve --- p.35 / Chapter J. --- Study on target specificity of sprouting fibers --- p.37 / Chapter K. --- Study on the behavior of the hemisected rats --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER IV. --- RESULTS / Chapter A. --- Examination of the sprouting / Chapter 1. --- Results of the retrograde fluorescent tracer study --- p.50 / Chapter 2. --- Result of protagol silver study --- p.51 / Chapter 3. --- Result of chromatolysis study --- p.52 / Chapter 4. --- Result of degenerating silver study --- p.52 / Chapter B. --- Estimation of biochemical changes / Chapter 1. --- Result of cytochemical changes --- p.53 / Chapter 2. --- Result of labelled uptake study --- p.54 / Chapter 3. --- Result of Ramam spectroscopy study --- p.54 / Chapter C. --- Result on preferential growth of sprouts into the spinal cord or peripheral nerve --- p.55 / Chapter D. --- Result of target specificity study --- p.55 / Chapter E. --- Changes in the walking ability --- p.56 / Chapter CHAPTER V. --- Conclusion and discussion / Chapter A. --- Evaluation of the sprouting --- p.77 / Chapter B. --- Estimation on the source of sprouting --- p.79 / Chapter C. --- Evaluation of promoting effect of peripheral nerve --- p.79 / Chapter D. --- Evaluation of target specificity of sprouting --- p.80 / Chapter E. --- Analysis of functional activity of sprouting --- p.80 / Chapter F. --- Factors influencing sprouting --- p.81 / REFERENCES --- p.87 / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.95

O presente trabalho avaliou os rins de ratas Wistar prenhes e não prenhes submetidas ao estresse e seus respectivos controles. O estresse crônico consistiu de estímulo sônico de 100 decibéis por trinta minutos, interrompido por noventa minutos, e superpopulação entre o sétimo e o décimo quarto dia de gestação e o estresse agudo foi representado pela imobilização durante trinta minutos, no décimo oitavo dia da prenhez ou período equivalente nas ratas não prenhes, dois dias antes do final do experimento. Todas as ratas foram sacrificadas no vigésimo dia do protocolo. Foram avaliados os rins de todas as ratas do estudo, assim como o peso das ratas no primeiro, sétimo, décimo quarto e vigésimo dia do experimento, a pressão arterial caudal no quinto e décimo oitavo dia de prenhez, ou período equivalente, e os pesos dos fetos e respectivas placentas. Não foram encontradas alterações à microscopia óptica nos rins das ratas submetidas ao estresse; entretanto foram observadas maiores medidas de pressão arterial caudal sistólica (154,4 ± 14,2 mmHg) e diastólica (89,0 ± 8,7 mmHg) no grupo prenhe estresse (p < 0,05) em relação ao grupo prenhe controle (129,1 ± 13,1 mmHg e 79,9 ± 18,1 mmHg, respectivamente) no décimo oitavo dia e menor peso dos fetos (2,54 ± 0,32g) e das placentas (0,53 ± 0,09 g) de ratas submetidas ao estresse crônico no vigésimo dia de prenhez (p < 0,001) quando comparados aos do grupo controle (2,95 ± 0,53g e 0,60 ± 0,08g, respectivamente). Desta maneira, o modelo analisado pode ser empregado para avaliar a restrição do crescimento intra-uterino de ratos causada pelo estresse crônico, provavelmente decorrente do aumento dos níveis pressóricos maternos durante a prenhez / This study evaluated the kidneys from pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar rats exposed to chronic stress and its respective control groups. The chronic stress consisted of noise exposure (30 minutes of 100-dB each two hours interval) and super-population between the 7th and 14th day and the acute stress of thirty minutes immobilization in the 18th of pregnancy two days before the end of the experiment. All the rats were killed in the 20th day of protocol. The kidneys were studied and also the weight of the rats in the 1st, 7th, 14th and 20th day, the caudal artery blood pressure in the 5th and 18th day, and the fetus and placentas weight. There were not seen any alteration using light microscopy in the kidney of rats submitted to stress; although it was observed a significant increase in systolic (154.4 ± 14.2 mmHg) and diastolic (89.0 ± 8.7 mmHg) caudal blood pressure in the 18th day in the pregnant stress group (p < 0.05) in relation to the control group (129.1 ± 13.1 mmHg and 79.9 ± 18.1 mmHg, respectively) and a decrease in fetal (2.54 ± 0.32g) and placenta (0.53 ± 0.09g) weight in the 20th day in the pregnant stress group (p < 0.001) in relation to the control group (2.95 ± 0.53g and 0.60 ± 0.08g, respectively). The analyzed model may be employed to evaluate the intrauterine growth restriction in rats, caused by chronic stress, probably induced by hypertension during the pregnancy

nÃo hà / Os localizadores eletrÃnicos foraminais (LEFs) disponÃveis atualmente utilizam diversos mÃtodos de determinaÃÃo eletrÃnica da posiÃÃo foraminal, qual seja a medida entre o forame apical e uma referÃncia incisal/oclusal, definindo consequentemente o comprimento do canal radicular. Cada um desses mÃtodos procura oferecer maior precisÃo e menor sensibilidade a possÃveis interferÃncias no sistema de canais radiculares. Desta forma, procurou-se avaliar a precisÃo de alguns destes LEFs ex vivo e in vivo na realizaÃÃo de odontometrias eletrÃnicas em diferentes posiÃÃes (0,0 mm e -1,0 mm) e em condiÃÃes de uso clÃnico, respectivamente. No estudo ex vivo, 42 prÃ-molares inferiores tiveram seus comprimentos reais comparados a odontometrias eletrÃnicas realizadas com os LEFs Root ZX, Mini Apex Locator, Propex II, iPex e RomiApex A-15. Inicialmente, em funÃÃo dos displays dos aparelhos, determinaram-se mediÃÃes 1,0 mm aquÃm do forame apical (FA), e posteriormente as mediÃÃes no FA. Para o estudo in vivo, dez pacientes que apresentavam prÃ-molares com indicaÃÃo de exodontia como parte de seus planejamentos clÃnicos ortodÃnticos tiveram odontometrias eletrÃnicas realizadas com os LEFs Propex II e Root ZX previamente a exodontia. Os Ãltimos instrumentos utilizados foram fixados aos dentes que foram entÃo extraÃdos e tiveram 4,0 mm apicais de suas raÃzes expostos e analisados quanto à distÃncia entre as pontas dos instrumentos e os FA. No estudo ex vivo, considerando as mediÃÃes realizadas por cada um dos aparelhos a 0,0 mm e a -1,0 mm, a precisÃo dos LEFs foi: 70,6% e 47,1% (Root ZX), 61,8% e 52,9% (Mini Apex Locator), e 67,6% e 38,2% (Propex II), 61,8% e 38,2% (iPex), e 73,5% e 38,2% (RomiApex A-15), respectivamente (Â0,5 mm). DiferenÃas estatÃsticas foram encontradas para o Propex II, iPex e RomiApex A-15, quando comparadas suas leituras nas duas posiÃÃes (0,0mm X -1,0 mm). NÃo foram encontradas diferenÃas entre os LEFs a 0,0 mm, porÃm, a -1,0 mm o iPex foi estatisticamente inferior aos demais. Jà no estudo in vivo, o FA foi localizado em 75% (Root ZX) e 66,7% (Propex II), considerando margem de Â0,5 mm, tendo sido encontrada diferenÃa estatisticamente significante entre os LEFs. Diante do exposto, nas condiÃÃes do estudo, pode-se concluir que os LEFs sÃo ferramentas confiÃveis na determinaÃÃo de comprimentos reais, todavia, nÃo sÃo infalÃveis; que em condiÃÃes ex vivo, quando mantidos aquÃm do FA, todos os LEFs reduziram sua precisÃo, tendo o Propex II, iPex e RomiApex A-15 apresentado diferenÃas significantes; e que em condiÃÃes de uso clÃnico, o Root ZX apresentou maior confiabilidade do que o Propex II. / The electronic foramen locators (EFLs) currently available are based on different methods for determination of the distance between the apical foramen and a coronal reference, consequently presenting the real root canal length. Each of these methods aim to offer greater precision while presenting lower sensitivity to potential interferences found in the root canal system. With this in mind, the goal of this work was to evaluate the precision of some of these EFLs ex vivo and in vivo for electronic measurement of the root canal length at two different positions (0.0 mm and -1.0 mm) and under clinical conditions, respectively. In the ex vivo study, 42 mandibular bicuspids had their actual lengths compared to electronic measurements performed by the following EFLs: Root ZX, Mini Apex Locator, Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15. Initial measurements were performed to positions identified by the devices as 1.0 mm short of the apical foramen (AF), and subsequent measurements were at the AF (0.0 mm). For the in vivo study, ten patients with bicuspids referred for extraction as part of their orthodontic clinical planning had electronic root length measurements using two EFLs, Propex II and Root ZX, prior to extraction. The last files used were fixated to the teeth, which were then extracted. Then, the apical 4 mm of the canals were exposed to allow assessment of the distance between the tip of the file and the AF. The percentages of precision from the ex vivo electronic measurements at 0.0 mm and -1.0 mm considering each device were: 70.6% and 47.1% (Root ZX); 61.8% and 52.9% (Mini Apex Locator); 67.6% and 38.2% (Propex II); 61.8% and 38.2% (iPex); and 73.5% and 38.2% (RomiApex A-15), respectively (Â0.5 mm). Statistical differences were observed for Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15 when measurements at both positions were compared (0.0 mm X -1.0 mm). No significant differences between the EFLs were observed at 0. 0 mm. However, at -1.0 mm, the precision of iPex was statistically lower compared with the other devices. Regarding the in vivo study, the AF was located in 75% (Root ZX) and 66.7% of the teeth (Propex II), under a tolerance margin of Â0.5 mm. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two EFLs. Based on the results obtained and considering the conditions of this work, it was concluded that EFLs are reliable tools for determining the real length of the canal, but are not infallible. It was also observed in the ex vivo experiments that all EFLs had decreased precision in measurements with the instruments short of the AF, with significant differences observed between Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15. Moreover, it was concluded that under clinical conditions, Root ZX was more reliable than Propex II.

The aim of this study was to investigate the intra- and intermodal impact of different kinds of early sensory experience on the development of specific neural/perceptual systems. The manipulations of the rats' early experience involved a combination of early binocular deprivation through dark-rearing, somatosensory restriction through cauterization of mystacial vibrissae, and multimodal enrichment through rearing in a complex environment. Specific lesions to somatosensory (Parl) and visual (Oc2M) cortex in differentially reared animals were included in an attempt to gain further insight into the plasticity surrounding manipulations of early stimulation history. Five tasks were used to assess these effects of early rearing condition in combination with later cortical lesions. Behavioral assessment focused on the ability of the animals to encode, abstract, and remember specific relationships between stimuli within the deprived modality itself, their ability to do so with information presented in other modalities, and on the basic species specific behavior. The only effect found was a main effect for rearing condition. Basically, complex-reared rats were more competent on several of the behavioral tasks than were dark-reared rats. However, this result provided little behavioral support for ideas of modality interdependence. Dendritic proliferation is considered to be a general mechanism supporting behavioral change. The subsequent neuroanatomical assessment focused on dendritic branching of neurons in specific cortical areas thought to be most affected by early environmental manipulations. Animals that were raised in a complex environment, but had experienced early tactile restriction through cauterization of vibrissae, showed significantly more dendritic branching than animals from all other rearing conditions in all cortical areas measured. This finding is consistent with ideas of both intra- and intermodal compensation following damage to an early developing modality, as well as behavioral demand acting as a significant factor in determining the impact of early somatosensory restriction. It is reasonable to assume that anatomical changes should be manifested behaviorally. Suggestions for smaller, more restricted studies, that would be more effective in describing the behavioral impact of early manipulations of the environment, were outlined. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

A comparative study was made between two similar red algal endophytes, Audouinella porphyrae (Drew) Garbary and Audouinella vaga (Drew) Garbary, Hansen et Scagel, (Acrochaetiaceae, Acrochaetiales) and their red algal hosts Porphyra spp. and Pterosiphonia bipinnata, respectively. Both endophytes have axial, stellate chloroplasts with a central pyrenoid and reside in their host's cell walls, producing erect portions outside the host that may bear monosporangia. The endophytes were cultured "free" from their hosts and morphological and cytological features of the free-living forms were compared with field material. Although the two endophytes differ significantly in cell dimensions and branching patterns, the free-living forms do not retain these differences. Cell dimensions, branching patterns and developmental patterns are identical in the two free-living forms. Asexual reproduction with regeneration by monospores was observed. Sexual reproduction was not observed in either endophytic or free-living forms of the endophytes. Free-living forms were used for re-infection and cross-infection experiments. Under all experimental conditions, the endophytes showed only epiphytic growth. The hosts seem to have some effect on both of the endophytes. Epiphytes, Audouinella porphyrae and A. vaga were not selective and grew on both hosts, Porphyra torta and Pterosiphonia bipinnata. Both epiphtyes growing on blades of Porphyra tended to branch and have more extensive prostrate portions (3-5 cells) whereas both epiphytes on Pterosiphoni a bipinnata tend not to branch and have only 1-2 cells in the prostrate portions. Ultrastructural studies of both endophytes showed typical florideophycean features. Ultrastructural features of field material of the two endophytes were similar and free-living, cultured endophytes were similar to field material. A large vacuole was observed in sections of the field material of both prostrate and erect portions whereas this was not observed in cultured material. Based on the results of this study it is proposed that the two endophytes are conspecific. Audouinella vaga is referred to synonymy in Audouinella porphyrae (Drew) Garbary, Hansen et Scagel. / Science, Faculty of / Botany, Department of / Graduate