O aumento do consumo no Brasil aparte com problemas de abastecimento de energia elétrica na década de 90, durante um período de más condições hidrológicas causou uma preocupação e instou uma pesquisa sobre as formas de redução do consumo. A qualidade de energia não era uma prioridade, cargas não eram tão sensíveis, nem os processos existentes exigiam tanto na qualidade do fornecimento de energia elétrica. A preocupação sobre a qualidade do abastecimento de energia aumentou, principalmente no setor industrial, com o aumento da concorrência nos mercados nacionais e no exterior. A qualidade e a quantidade da produção tornaram-se um item para distinguir o lucro. Desta forma, a qualidade do fornecimento de energia e a continuidade das linhas de produção tornaram-se mais importante. Este trabalho pretende mostrar resultados de um estudo experimental sobre lâmpadas fluorescentes compactas com reator integrado, e algumas conseqüências da sua utilização generalizada. / The increase of the consumption in Brazil aside with problems of supply of electrical energy in the decade of 90, during a period of bad hydrological conditions caused a concern and urged a search for ways of reduction of the consumption. The quality of power was not a priority, loads were not so sensitive nor the existing processes demanded as much as quality of the supply of electric energy. The concern on quality of energy supply increased, mainly in the industrial sector, with the increase of the competition in the domestic markets and overseas. The quality and the amount of production became a distinguished item for the profit. In this way, the quality of energy supply and the continuity of the production lines became more important. This work aims to show results of an experimental survey about compact fluorescent light bulbs with integrated reactor, and some consequences of its generalized use.

O aumento do consumo no Brasil aparte com problemas de abastecimento de energia elétrica na década de 90, durante um período de más condições hidrológicas causou uma preocupação e instou uma pesquisa sobre as formas de redução do consumo. A qualidade de energia não era uma prioridade, cargas não eram tão sensíveis, nem os processos existentes exigiam tanto na qualidade do fornecimento de energia elétrica. A preocupação sobre a qualidade do abastecimento de energia aumentou, principalmente no setor industrial, com o aumento da concorrência nos mercados nacionais e no exterior. A qualidade e a quantidade da produção tornaram-se um item para distinguir o lucro. Desta forma, a qualidade do fornecimento de energia e a continuidade das linhas de produção tornaram-se mais importante. Este trabalho pretende mostrar resultados de um estudo experimental sobre lâmpadas fluorescentes compactas com reator integrado, e algumas conseqüências da sua utilização generalizada. / The increase of the consumption in Brazil aside with problems of supply of electrical energy in the decade of 90, during a period of bad hydrological conditions caused a concern and urged a search for ways of reduction of the consumption. The quality of power was not a priority, loads were not so sensitive nor the existing processes demanded as much as quality of the supply of electric energy. The concern on quality of energy supply increased, mainly in the industrial sector, with the increase of the competition in the domestic markets and overseas. The quality and the amount of production became a distinguished item for the profit. In this way, the quality of energy supply and the continuity of the production lines became more important. This work aims to show results of an experimental survey about compact fluorescent light bulbs with integrated reactor, and some consequences of its generalized use.

Many South African medicinal plants face the threat of over-collection for use in traditional medicines. Many bulbous plants suffer as the whole plant is removed from the wild so that the bulb may be used for medicine. Micropropagation is a technique which can be used as an alternative to conventional propagation methods. Micropropagation produces many plantlets in a relatively short period of time. Different plant parts of Brunsvigia undulata F.M. Leight, a rare South African species of medicinal value, were used in an attempt to produce in vitro plantlets using micropropagation techniques. Although leaf and floral explants were successfully formed from seedling explants and twin-scales. Seeds germinated quickly in culture. Seedlings which grew from seeds were cut into sections and used to initiate bulblets. Seedling explants formed bulblets, shoots and callus best when the explants included a meristematic region. Callus from seedling explants formed shoot clusters readily when placed on hormone-free MURASHIGE and SKOOG (1962) (MS) medium. Shoots from shoot clusters formed bulblets and rooted on medium supplemented with IBA. The greatest rooting response was achieved by bulblets on 1 mgl-1 IBA. The callus which was left after shoot clusters were separated was placed back onto hormone-free MS medium. Callus explants continued to form shoot clusters. Twin-scales, cut from large parent bulbs, were cultured on 25 hormone treatments. Bulblets formed on twin-scales even in the absence of plant growth hormones. Bulblets formed by twin-scales were used to determine the effects of both medium constituents and environmental factors on bulblet multiplication. Bulblet multiplication was greatest when bulblets were split in half and cultured as half-bulblets. Optimal multiplication was achieved on hormone-free MS, with 4% sucrose, kept at high temperatures in the dark. Bulblets were successfully initiated and multiplied from both seedlings and twin-scales. Bulblets which were produced via both protocols were acclimatized relatively easily. Both explant types could be used to mass propagate Brunsvigia undulata. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Eucomis L’ Hér. is a genus of 10 species that fall within the Hyacinthaceae family. Eucomis zambesiaca Baker is a summer-blooming bulbous geophyte occurring from northern South Africa to Malawi. Eucomis species are used in southern African traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments, in particular, pain and inflammation. As a result, the bulbs are heavily harvested for trade in South Africa’s traditional ‘muthi’ markets. Over-collection of Eucomis species has seriously depleted natural populations and now Eucomis plants are among the 15 scarcest medicinal species to be traded. Micropropagation is a useful technique for rapid clonal multiplication of plant material which could potentially yield useful secondary metabolites as well as alleviate the pressure on the wild plant populations. The in vitro induction of storage organs is especially beneficial as it can limit the loss of plants during acclimatization as bulblets are hardier than shoots or plantlets. The aim of this research was to determine optimal growth conditions for bulblet induction of Eucomis zambesiaca. The effect of environmental and physiological parameters on the initiation and growth of bulblets was investigated. These included the effect of temperature, photoperiod, various carbohydrates at different concentrations and combinations as well as various plant growth regulators. Maximum number of bulblets per explant was obtained at 20 °C, with an average of three bulbs p er leaf explant. The average bulblet mass was 57 mg, which was significantly higher than bulblets formed at other tested temperatures. An 8 h light regime was the optimum photoperiod. The highest mean number of bulblets (1.4 per leaf explant) developed under the 8 h photoperiod and the bulblets that formed were large in size. They had a mean bulb diameter of 3.4 mm and a mean bulb weight of 42 mg. Different carbohydrates such as fructose, sucrose and glucose were tested at concentrations of; 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12%. Fructose at a concentration of 3% was found to produce the best results. An average of 1.2 bulbs formed per explant. The mean bulb diameter was 3.4 mm and mean bulb weight was 56.6 mg. Plant growth regulators (GA3, IAA, IBA, NAA, BA, zeatin, iP and others) were tested at concentrations of 1, 2 and 5 mg/L. 1 mg/L IBA was found to be the optimum hormone treatment for bulblet induction. Bulblets were large, had good leaves and well established roots. Medium supplemented with 1 mg/L IBA produced bulblets that had an average bulb diameter of 4.36 mm and a mean bulblet weight of 79.1 mg. Bulblets grown in vitro were transferred to vermiculite and placed in a misthouse to acclimatize. After 2 months the plantlets were transferred to pots containing a sand:soil mixture of 1:1 and placed in a greenhouse. There was a 80 to 90% survival rate. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Submitted by Camila Paula Rossetto Pescatori Jacon (capescatori@fca.unesp.br) on 2016-11-22T10:47:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese completa impressa.pdf: 5118013 bytes, checksum: 4331829f5c23efb70accd8824afcccfc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-11-25T16:33:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 jacon_cprp_dr_bot.pdf: 5118013 bytes, checksum: 4331829f5c23efb70accd8824afcccfc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-25T16:33:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 jacon_cprp_dr_bot.pdf: 5118013 bytes, checksum: 4331829f5c23efb70accd8824afcccfc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A utilização de plantas livres de vírus, associada a outras tecnologias, pode proporcionar maior produtividade no cultivo de alho vernalizado. No entanto, essas plantas apresentam comportamento produtivo distinto das plantas infectadas, tornando necessária a adequação das técnicas de manejo empregadas na cultura até então. Estudos sobre a nutrição das plantas de alho livres de vírus ainda não são conclusivos. Visando alcançar alta produtividade, e considerando as características dos solos tropicais, os adubos fosfatados têm sido utilizados em altas doses. Então, o presente trabalho teve o objetivo de verificar o efeito da adubação fosfatada no cultivo de alho vernalizado livre de vírus. Para tanto foram conduzidos três experimentos em anos subsequentes, em área de produção, na região de Santa Juliana – MG. No primeiro experimento foram avaliadas duas fontes (100% superfosfato simples: SS e 50% superfosfato simples + 50% termofosfato: SS+T) e 5 doses de fósforo (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg dm-3) em 4 repetições. Observou-se que houve pouca influência das fontes de fósforo utilizadas nos resultados e que as maiores doses de P utilizadas ocasionaram redução na produção e qualidade dos bulbos. No experimento 2 foram avaliadas 5 doses de P (0, 70, 140, 210, 180 e 350 mg dm- 3 ) em 4 repetições, utilizando-se a fonte SS+T. Verificou-se que, da mesma forma que no primeiro experimento, nas doses mais elevadas de P ocorreu redução da produção. Devido a uma chuva ocorrida na fase de diferenciação, ocorreu o superbrotamento, verificando-se aumento da incidência de plantas com essa anomalia com a elevação das doses de P. O terceiro experimento foi conduzido avaliando-se 5 doses de P (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 mg dm-3) em 4 repetições e também foi verificada redução na produção na dose mais elevada de P. A dose de 200 mg dm-3 de P, utilizando-se a fonte superfosfato simples + termofosfato, em solo com alto teor inicial de fósforo, proporcionou maior produção e porcentagem de bulbos nas classes mais valorizadas. / The use of virus-free garlic plants, associated with other technologies can increased productivity in vernalized garlic growing. However, these plants have different productive behavior from the infected plants, requiring the adequacy of management techniques used for the culture until then. Studies on virus-free garlic plants nutrition of are not conclusive. In order to achieve high productivity and considering the characteristics of tropical soil, phosphate fertilizers have been used in high doses. So, this study aimed to vertify the effect of phosphate fertilization on vernalized virus-free garlic growing. Therefore three experiments were carried out in subsequent years in growing field, in the Santa Juliana - MG. In the first experiment were evaluated two sources (SS and SS + T) and 5 doses of phosphorus (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg dm-3) in 4 replications. It was observed that the results were little influenced by the P sources and that higher doses of P applied occasioned reduction in yield and quality of the bulbs. In experiment 2 were evaluated five doses of P (0, 70, 140, 210, 180 and 350 mg dm-3) in 4 replicates using SS+T. It was found that, as in the first experiment, at the higher doses of P, there was a decrease of production. Due to a rain occurred in the differentiation stage, there was incidence of secondary bulb growth and it was verified that plants with this anomaly increased with P doses rising. The third experiment was carried out evaluating five levels of P (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg dm-3) in 4 replicates and it was also verified that there was a decrease in production at the highest dose. The use of 200 mg dm-3 of P, with the source superphosphate + thermophosphate, in soil with high phosphorus initial level, provided higher yield and percentage of bulbs in more valued classes.

Orientador: Sylvio Luis Honório / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T03:54:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Martins_MarceloLuis_M.pdf: 770308 bytes, checksum: 481ff6a7c14306c173ede0d4ee971464 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Com a finalidade de determinar algumas características físicas e químicas do Hippeastrum hybridus da variedade Apple Blossom durante o armazenamento foi conduzido este experimento na faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola - UNICAMP. O experimento foi realizado no mês de agosto do ano de 2008 em virtude da época de colheita do bulbo. Apos a coleta do material uma parcela dos bulbos foi impactada, todas as parcelas foram curadas até que perdessem cerca de 15% de matéria fresca. Após este tratamento os bulbos foram divididos entre aqueles que foram impactados e os não impactados, ambas as parcelas foram colocadas sob refrigeração a 13ºC durante 3 meses, uma parcela do material não impactado foi mantido a temperatura de 25±3 durante o mesmo período para efeito de comparação. Foram realizadas analises físico-químicas e visuais antes de depois dos tratamentos, e a cada 10 dias durante todo o período de armazenagem a frio do material. Acompanharam-se as alterações físico-químicas, mediante avaliação dos parâmetros, sólidos solúveis, altura, circunferência. A aparência geral do bulbo também foi acompanhada pela presença ou não de vermelhidão por impacto. Os bulbos submetidos ao ensaio de volume apresentaram volume médio igual a 495cm³ com coeficiente de variação igual a 0, 028%, o volume aparente possui valor igual 95,625 kg, a massa específica aparente 0, 617cm³, e o volume intersticial determinado foi igual a 174cm³. A massa específica real possui valor igual a 0,834g/cm³.Os bulbos submetidos à pesagem apresentaram massa média de valor igual a 413g com coeficiente de variação igual a 0,28%, a porosidade equivalente a 27%. Os valores dos coeficientes de variação demonstram que os bulbos apresentaram boa uniformidade de volume e massa e baixa porosidade na massa. Os resultados das analises realizadas permitiram avaliar que os bulbos impactados e mantidos sob refrigeração não apresentam diferenças significativas em nível de significância de 5% para o parâmetro de sólidos solúveis quando comparados aos bulbos não impactados sob mesma condição climática. Entretanto o bulbo colocado fora da refrigeração apresentou diferença significativa em nível de significância de 5% para o parâmetro de lidos solúveis quando comparado ao bulbo não impactado e sob refrigeração. O bulbo é um esferóide oblato com 90,8% de esferificidade / Abstract: It was developed a research to determinate some physical and chemical characteristics of Hippeastrum hybridus (Apple Blossom variety) during storage, the experimental tests were conducted on the UNICAMP lab. The experiment tests were carried out in august, 2008 because of the harvest season of the bulbs. After the harvest part of the material were impacted and the whole material were separated in portions and then received the curing treatment with hot air at 30ºC for twenty four hours making the bulbs lose about 15% of water.After curing treatment the material were divided on "impacted" and "non impacted" both portions were stored for 3 months on 13ºC, one portion didn't receive the cold treatment. After that, some physical and chemical analyses were conducted, a visual analysis was made as well, and the analyses started 10 days after the product was impacted. The following parameters were evaluated: moisture content, soluble solids (ºBRIX), weight, circumference and general appearance. The statistical analysis results showed that the impact did not affect the bulbs soluble solids but the cold chain affects them. In matters of volume the bulbs showed medium volume equal to 495cm³, the variation about 0, 028%, the apparent volume 95,625 kg , specific mass apparent 0, 617cm³ and the interstitial volume equal to 174cm³, the specific real mass it's equal to 0,834g/cm³, porosity it's equal to 27%. The bulb is an oblate spheroid with 90, 8% of sphericity / Mestrado / Tecnologia Pós-Colheita / Mestre em Engenharia Agrícola

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacognosy Candidate: Sabina Tanková Supervisor: PharmDr. Daniela Hulcová, PhD. Title of diploma thesis: Alkaloids of the genus Narcissus and their biological activity. Key worlds: Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. cv. Dutch Master, Amaryllidaceae, alkaloids, AChE, BuChE, POP, GSK-3β, biological activity. Alkaloid extract obtained from bulbs of Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. cv. Dutch Master was extracted by ethanol and was purified by liquid-liquid extraction and fractionated by column chromatography to individual fractions. At the end, were obtained 11 pooled fractions, which were used to isolate pure alkaloids. The ND 3-5 / 7 fraction was processed by preparative thin layer chromatography followed by crystallization of pure substances. In total, 5 alkaloid substances of ST1D2, ST1D3, ST2A, ST2B1 and ST3C were obtained from this fraction in various amounts. These substances were determined by GC-MS analysis, NMR analysis and optical rotation. Subsequently, the obtained data were compared with the NIST library spectra and the literature. Isolated substances have been identified as caranine, O-ethyllycorenine, narwedine, pluviine and N-demethylhomolycorine. The alkaloids obtained in sufficient amounts were subsequently subjected to...

Puskásová Dominika: Alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae family and their biological activity I. Diploma thesis 2019. Charles university in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmacognosy. The aim of this thesis was to isolate alkaloids from herbal extract, which was obtained from Narcissus pseudonarcissus 'Dutch Master' plant. The preparation and column chromatography of the extract were performed by PharmDr. Daniela Hulcová, Ph.D. as a part of her doctoral study. Using the preparative TLC method, 2 alkaloids marked as No.2.1 and 2.2.2 were isolated from the fraction No.4. Their structure was determined by using the NMR, GC-MS analysis and optical rotation. After comparing the data obtained with literature, the compounds were identified as (+)-homolycorine and (+)-masonine. Both homolycorine and masonine were subsequently subject to testing of inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), prolyloligopeptidase (POP) and glycogensynthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). The activity was expressed as IC50 and was compared to IC50 of the reference substances. Galanthamine (IC50 AChE = 1,7 ± 0,1 μM, IC50 BuChE = 42,3 ± 1,3 μM) and huperzine A (IC50 AChE = 0,033 ± 0,001 μM, IC50 BuChE > 500 μM) were used as standards to compare the inhibitory activity...

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department: Department of Pharmacognosy (16-16180) Author: Štefan Kosturko Supervisor: PharmDr. Marcela Šafratová, Ph.D. Advisor: PharmDr. Daniela Hulcová, Ph.D. Thesis title: Alkaloids of the family Amaryllidaceae and their biological activity II. Key words: Narcissus pseudonarcissus dutch master; bulbs; alkaloidal extracts; GC/MS analysis; biological activity; acetylcholinesterase; butyrylcholinesterase. The main aim of the thesis ‚,Alkaloids of the family Amaryllidaceae and their biological activity II.'' was the isolation of alkaloids, as a pure substances, in sufficient quantities to identify their structure and to test their biological aktivity in vitro. Alkaloids were separated from subfraction number 82 - 97 of weigh 2,3268 g. This subfraction was a part of the total plant extract, which was prepared by PharmDr. Daniela Hulcová Ph.D., as a part of her dissertation thesis and who also performed primary extraction and separation work. A total and concentrated alkaloid extract weighing 58 g, which included the aforementioned subfraction, was obtained. The already mentioned alkaloid subfraction, was divided by preparative thin-layer chromatography into five separates, which were subjected to further phytochemical work, and five pure...

La cécité précoce induit des changements comportementaux souvent accompagnés par des changements fonctionnels et neuroanatomiques au niveau du cerveau. Alors que les modifications dans les modalités tactiles et auditives ont été largement étudiées, les changements touchant l’olfaction et la douleur chez les aveugles sont restés moins explorés. Chez l’humain aveugle précoce, certaines études ont rapporté une amélioration de la fonction olfactive alors que d’autres n’ont pas réussi à démontrer de tels effets. Chez l’humain, des études récentes ont mis en évidence une hypersensibilité à la douleur aiguë chez les aveugles précoces. Cependant, les mécanismes sous-jacents sont restés inconnus. Afin d’étudier les changements olfactifs et nociceptifs induits par la cécité précoce ainsi que la plasticité fonctionnelle et neuroanatomique qui les accompagne, nous avons développé un modèle de souris de cécité précoce appelé ZRDBA. Dans cette souche, en croisant un parent homozygote pour le gène Rax/Rx (gène responsable de l’anophtalmie) avec un parent hétérozygote, dans une même portée la moitié des souris naissent anophtalmes alors que l’autre moitié a une vue normale. Cette souche nous permet d’examiner les modifications comportementales et cérébrales induites par la cécité chez deux groupes de souris ayant la même base génétique. Le premier objectif de cette thèse était d’évaluer les changements comportementaux olfactifs induits par la cécité chez les souris ZRDBA et d’examiner si ces changements sont accompagnés de plasticité anatomique dans les régions cérébrales impliquées dans le traitement olfactif. Trois tests comportementaux ont été menés : le test de recherche de nourriture, le test du seuil olfactif et le test de performance olfactive. Les résultats ont révélé des meilleures performances olfactives chez les aveugles dans le test de recherche de nourriture ainsi que dans le test de performance olfactive, mais pas dans le test du seuil olfactif. Ces résultats indiquent une amélioration de la discrimination et identification des odeurs chez les souris aveugles. La plasticité cérébrale dans les structures olfactives a été examinée par des analyses histologiques et analyses IRM. Les résultats des mesures histologiques ont révélé une augmentation du volume des bulbes olfactifs, premier relais de traitement des informations olfactives, chez les souris aveugles. Les analyses IRM ont révélé une augmentation du volume dans les couches granulaires et glomérulaires des bulbes olfactifs ainsi que dans d’autres régions impliquées dans ii le traitement olfactif, notamment, le cortex orbitofrontal et le cortex piriforme. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’amélioration de la fonction olfactive chez les souris aveugles peut être expliquée par la plasticité anatomique mise en évidence dans les structures olfactives. Le deuxiéme objectif de cette thèse était d’évaluer la sensibilité à la douleur chez les souris aveugles ZRDBA. Quatre tests nociceptifs ont été réalisés : le test de formaline (sensibilité chimique), le test de Von Frey (sensibilité mécanique), le test d’acétone (sensibilité au froid) et le test de tail-flick dans l’eau (sensibilité au chaud). Les souris aveugles, lorsque comparées à leurs congénères voyantes, ont montré une hypersensibilité à la douleur dans tous les tests. Afin d’examiner les mécanismes sous-jacents de cette hypersensibilité, nous avons investigué par le biais d’analyses immunohistologiques la plasticité fonctionnelle et anatomique dans l’amygdale, structure clé pour la modulation et traitement de la douleur. Les résultats ont montré une augmentation de l’activité c-fos induite par l’injection de la formaline dans le noyau central de l’amygdale et dans toute l’amygdale chez les souris aveugles. Les analyses histologiques ont également montré une augmentation du volume de l’amygdale chez les souris aveugles. Ces résultats suggèrent la contribution de l’amygdale dans l’hypersensibilité à la douleur mise en évidence chez les souris aveugles. Finalement, dans la troisième partie de cette thèse, nous avons voulu investiguer l’impact de la cécité sur la plasticité dans l’ensemble du cerveau à l’aide d’analyses IRM et d’analyses histologiques. Les résultats de cette étude ont révélé une atrophie de la plupart des structures visuelles, notamment, le corps géniculé latéral, le cortex visuel primaire, le cortex visuel secondaire ainsi que les collicules supérieurs. En outre, les analyses histologiques ont révélé une atrophie de la couche IV dans le cortex visuel primaire et dans le cortex visuel secondaire ainsi qu’une atrophie des couches visuelles superficielles des collicules supérieurs chez les souris aveugles expliquant la réduction du volume observée dans ces régions. Dans les autres structures non visuelles, les analyses ont révélé une augmentation du volume dans l’amygdale, impliquée dans la douleur ainsi que dans plusieurs régions olfactives comme les bulbes olfactifs, le cortex piriforme et le cortex orbitofronal chez les souris aveugles. Ces résultats permettent de faire le parallèle avec les études réalisées chez l’humain et ouvrent la porte pour plus d’investigations des mécanismes sous-jacents de la plasticité cérébrale observée chez les aveugles. / Early blindness induces behavioral changes often accompanied by functional and neuroanatomical changes in the brain. While changes in tactile and hearing modalities have been largely investigated, changes in olfaction and pain in the blind remained less explored. While some studies reported an improvement in olfactory function in early blind humans, others failed to demonstrate such effects. In addition, recent studies evidenced hypersensitivity to acute pain in early blind humans. However, the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. In order to study changes induced by early blindness in olfactory function and as well as the underlying functional and neuroanatomical plasticity, we developed a mouse model of early blindness called ZRDBA. In the unique ZRDBA strain, half of the mice homozygous for the Rax / Rx gene (gene responsible for anophthalmia) are born anophthalmic while the other half heterozygous are born sighted. This ZRDBA mice allow investigation of the behavioral and cerebral changes impacts of early blindness without worrying about strain differences. The first aim of this thesis was to assess olfactory changes induced by blindness in ZRDBA mice and examine whether these changes are accompanied by anatomical plasticity in brain regions involved in olfactory processing. Three behavioral tests were conducted: the buried food test, the odor detection threshold test (sensitivity measure) and the olfactory performance test (three-odor discrimination measure). The results revealed better olfactory performance of blind mice the buried food test as well as in the olfactory performance test but not in the olfactory threshold test. These results indicate an improvement in olfactory discrimination and identification in blind mice. Brain plasticity in olfactory structures was examined by histological and MRI analyses. The results of the histological measurements revealed a larger volume of the olfactory bulbs, the first site for processing olfactory information, in blind mice. MRI analysis revealed a larger volume in the granular and glomerular layers of the olfactory bulbs as well as in other regions involved in olfactory processing, namely, the orbitofrontal cortex and the piriform cortex. These results suggest that plasticity in the olfactory structures may explain the improved olfactory function in blind mice. The second aim of this thesis was to assess pain sensitivity in the blind ZRDBA mice. Four nociceptive tests were carried out: the formalin test (chemical sensitivity), the Von Frey iv test (mechanical sensitivity), the acetone test (cold sensitivity) and the water tail-flick test (hot pain sensitivity). Blind mice showed hypersensitivity to pain in all tests. In order to examine the underlying mechanisms of this pain hypersensitivity, we investigated the functional and anatomical plasticity in the amygdala, a key structure for the modulation and treatment of pain using immunohistological analyses. The results revealed an increase of c-Fos activity induced by the injection of formalin in the central nucleus of the amygdala as well as the whole amygdaloid complex in blind mice. Histological measurement also revealed a larger volume of the amygdala in blind mice. These results suggest the contribution of the amygdala in pain hypersensitivity evidenced in blind mice. Finally, in the third part of this thesis, we wanted to investigate the impact of blindness on anatomical plasticity in the whole brain using MRI and histological analyses. The results of this study revealed atrophy of most of the visual structures, in particular, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the primary visual cortex, the secondary visual cortex as well as the superior colliculi. Moreover, histological analyses revealed an atrophy of layer IV of the primary visual cortex and the secondary visual cortex as well as atrophy of the superficial visual layers of the superior colliculus in blind mice explaining the volumetric reduction observed in these regions. In the non-visual structures, analyses revealed a larger volume in the amygdala, as well as in several olfactory structures such as the olfactory bulbs, the piriform cortex and the orbitofronal cortex in blind mice. These results clarify the impact of early blindness on brain plasticity and opens the door for further investigation of its underlying mechanisms.