INTRODUÇÃO: Após uma lesão de um nervo periférico, o seu reparo é realizado com suturas epineurais dos cotos utilizando-se fio de náilon. O processo inflamatório provocado pela passagem da agulha e pela presença do material de sutura com consequente formação de tecido cicatricial na linha de sutura torna-se um obstáculo à regeneração axonal após o reparo do nervo. Existe na literatura a hipótese que a utilização de um menor número de pontos necessários para assegurar a união dos dois cotos correlaciona-se com uma melhor regeneração axonal. Foi avaliada a influência do diferente número de suturas epineurais terminoterminais no nervo ciático do rato na regeneração axonal, além de avaliar o remodelamento da matriz extracelular através da caracterização dos tipos de colágenos tipo I e III presentes no local de sutura de acordo com o número de pontos adotados. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo experimental foram utilizados trinta ratos machos Wistar submetidos à exposição do nervo ciático direito e divididos em três grupos. Em dois grupos, o nervo foi seccionado e imediatamente reparado com três (Grupo 3P, n=10), ou seis (Grupo 6P, n=10) suturas epineurais usando fio de náilon 10.0. Um grupo (Grupo C, n=10) foi utilizado como controle para determinar os valores normais de todos os parâmetros avaliados. Cada animal pertencente aos grupos de reparo foram submetidos à avaliação eletrofisiológica previamente a secção do nervo e após um intervalo de oito semanas após a neurorrafia, consistindo de registro do potencial de ação motor do músculo gastrocnêmio. Segmentos do nervo foram utilizados para avaliação histomorfométrica da regeneração axonal, avaliada pela contagem de axônios e medida do diâmetro das fibras, e para caracterização e quantificação do colágeno no local de reparo. Imunofluorescência foi utilizada para caracterização dos colágenos tipo I e II no epineuro e endoneuro. RESULTADOS: O índice de regeneração axonal (IR) foi menor no grupo submetido à sutura epineural com seis pontos (IR=1,18±0,26) que no grupo de três pontos (IR=1,32±0,25) e, naquele mesmo grupo, houve uma diminuição mais acentuada da velocidade de condução do potencial de ação do nervo. Os animais submetidos à sutura epineural com seis pontos apresentaram uma diferença significativa na produção do colágeno epineural tipo I (p=0,014) e de colágeno epineural tipo III (p=0,002) quando comparados com os animais submetidos à sutura com três pontos. Não houve diferença significativa na produção de colágeno tipo I ou tipo III endoneural. CONCLUSÕES: O grupo submetido a um maior número de suturas epineurais apresentou maior quantidade de colágenos tipo I e III no epineuro, mas não no endoneuro, que se correlacionou com um menor índice de regeneração axonal e uma diminuição mais acentuada da velocidade de condução do potencial de ação do nervo. / PURPOSE: After an injury to a peripheral nerve, its repair is performed with epineural sutures of the stumps using nylon. The inflammatory process caused by the passage of the needle and the presence of suture material with the consequent formation of scar tissue at the suture line becomes an obstacle to axonal regeneration after nerve repair. In the literature there is a hypothesis that the use of a smaller number of points needed to ensure the union of the two stumps is correlated with better axonal regeneration. It was evaluated the influence of different number of end-to-end epineural sutures in rat sciatic nerve on axonal regeneration and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix through the characterization of collagen type I and III present at the suture according to the number of stitches. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were operated on to exposure the right sciatic nerve and were divided in three groups. In two groups the nerve was sectioned and immediately repaired by means of three (Group 3P, n=10) or six (Group 6P, n=10) epineurium sutures using 10-0 monofilament nylon. One group (Group C, n=10) was used as a control to assess normal values of all evaluated parameters. Each animal from repaired groups underwent electrophysiologic evaluation previously to nerve section and at 8-week interval after neurorrhaphy, consisting of motor action potential recording from the gastrocnemius muscle. Nerve biopsy specimens were used for histomorphometric assessment of axonal regeneration, evaluated by axonal counting and measurement of fiber diameter, and for collagen characterization and quantification at repair site. Immunofluorescence was used for characterization of types I and III collagen at epineurium and endoneurium. RESULTS: The axonal regeneration index (RI) was lower in the group submitted to suture with six stitches (RI = 1.18 ± 0.26) than in the group of three stitches (RI = 1.32 ± 0.25) and the group submitted to six stitches showed a greater reduction in conduction velocity of nerve action potential. Animals submitted to suture with six stitches showed a significant difference in the production of epineural collagen type I (p = 0.014) and type III (p = 0.002) compared to animals submitted to suture with three stitches. There was no significant difference in production of endoneural collagen type I or type III. CONCLUSIONS: The group submitted a greater number of epineural sutures had a higher amount of collagen type I and III in the epineurium but not in the endoneurium, which correlated with a lower rate of axonal regeneration and a greater reduction in conduction velocity of action potential nerve.

INTRODUÇÃO: O hipoestrogenismo pode determinar perda da massa mineral óssea, diminuindo a qualidade do osso. Assim, vários fármacos são ministrados para evitar esta perda, porém, podem determinar efeitos colaterais importantes. Portanto, questiona-se se o emprego do estrogênio associado a estas substâncias poderia minimizar os efeitos adversos e manteria a massa mineral óssea. Contudo, há poucas informações sobre os efeitos destas combinações. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a ação do estrogênio, raloxifeno e do extrato de soja rico em gensteína, isolado ou combinado no osso de ratas ovariectomizadas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: No nono dia de nascimento, todas as ratas receberam propionato de testosterona (0,1 g/g). No sexto mês de idade, os animais do controle fisiológico foram identificados como GI e receberam apenas o veículo (propilenoglicol em 0,5 ml/dia) durante o experimento e os outros que receberam testosterona foram ovariectomizados e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos: GII veículo (controle castrado, n=6); GIII - estrogênio conjugados eqüinos (ECE, (50 g/Kg/dia, n=8); GIV raloxifeno (RAL, 0,75 mg/kg/dia, n=8); GV extrato de soja enriquecido com genisteína (ESG, 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVI ECE + ESG (50 g/Kg/dia + 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVII - ECE+RAL (50 g/Kg/dia + 0,75mg/kg/dia, n=6). Após três meses da cirurgia, os fármacos foram ministrados por 120 dias consecutivos. Posteriormente, os animais foram sacrificados sob anestesia, sendo retirada a tíbia esquerda para rotina histológica. Os cortes histológicos foram corados pela hematoxilina-eosina para avaliar a microarquitetura óssea. Foram feitos procedimentos imunoistoquímicos, de imunofluorescência e PCR para quantificar as principais proteínas ósseas estruturais (colágeno tipo I, osteocalcina, osteopontina e osteoprotegerina), bem como de seus respectivos RNA mensageiros. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes de ANOVA e Tukey. RESULTADOS: Todos os tratamentos determinaram aumento da quantidade de osso trabecular (p<0,05). As fibras totais de colágeno apresentaram-se aumentadas em todos os grupos tratados, exceto com o raloxifeno. Já as fibras finas de colágeno diminuíram apenas no grupo tratado com estrogênio. As frações de colágeno tipo I, mostraram-se aumentadas nos grupos tratados com estrogênio e sua asssociação com o raloxifeno. O colágeno tipo III esteve aumentado no grupo tratado com estrogênio em associação com extrato de soja rico em genisteína. Em relação às proteínas não colagenosas, a osteoprotegerina apresentou-se aumentada nos grupos tratados com estrogênio, suas associações e com o extrato de soja rico em genisteína. A osteopontina esteve diminuída em todos os grupos tratados e a osteocalcina mostrou-se aumentada apenas no grupo tratado com ralolxifeno, em comparação ao grupo castrado (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatística significante do PCR em tempo real na análise dos transcritos entre os grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: A combinação de estrogênio com raloxifeno ou extrato de soja rico em genisteína não trouxe benefícios adicionais na qualidade do tecido ósseo, como ocorreu com esses fármacos isoladamente / INTRODUCTION: Hypoestrogenism can determine bone mineral loss, resulting in decreased bone quality. To prevent that process, several drugs are administered, which can lead, however, to important side effects. Therefore, it is questionable whether the use of estrogen associated with those substances could minimize the adverse effects and maintain bone mineral mass. There is little information on the effects of those compounds. This research aims to evaluate the action of unopposed estrogen or combined with raloxifene and genistein-rich soy extract on ovariectomized adult female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the ninth day of birth, rats received, testosterone propionate (0.1 mg / g). On the sixth month, animals in the physiological control were identified as GI and received only the vehicle (propylene glycol at 0.5 ml / day) during the experiment and the other which was administered testosterone underwent ovariectomy and divided randomly into six groups: GII - vehicle (control castrated, n = 6); GIII - conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 50 mg / kg / day, n = 8); GIV - raloxifene (RAL, 0.75 mg / kg / day, n = 8) ; GV - soy extract enriched with genistein (ESG, 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7), GVI - ECE + ESG (50 mg / kg / day + 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7); GVII - ECE + RAL (50 mg / kg / day + 0.75mg/kg/day, n = 6).Three months after the surgery, drugs were consecutively administered for 120 days. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed on anesthesia and their left tibiae were removed for routine histology. The histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate bone microarchitecture. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and PCR procedures were performed to quantify the main structural bone proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin) as well as their mRNA. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: All treatments led to increased amounts of trabecular bone (p <0.05). The total collagen fibers had to be enlarged in all treated groups, except with raloxifene. Already thin collagen fibers decreased only in the group treated with estrogen. The fractions of type I collagen, were increased in groups treated with estrogen and its asssociação with raloxifene. Type III collagen was increased in the group treated with estrogen in combination with soybean extract rich in genistein. Regarding the non-collagenous proteins, the increased osteoprotegerin presented in groups treated with estrogen, and their associations with soy extract rich in genistein. The osteopontin was decreased in all treated groups and osteocalcin was increased only in the treated group ralolxifeno, compared to the castrated group (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference from the real-time PCR analysis of transcribed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of estrogen with raloxifene or genistein-rich soy extract was uncapable of bringing additional benefits to the quality of bone tissue as observed with those drugs alone

Introdução: A bexiga é responsável em armazenar urina em volume adequado e de esvaziar seu conteúdo de forma plena. Suas propriedades miogênicas intrínsecas e viscoelásticas são as responsáveis por esta função. Disfunções vesicais podem ser decorrentes, dentre outras causas, de anormalidades intrínsecas da musculatura detrusora ou da composição de sua matriz extracelular (MEC). O colágeno corresponde a 50% do estroma vesical, possuindo importante papel na adaptação vesical a condições fisiopatológicas específicas. Os colágenos tipo I e III são os mais comuns, sendo o colágeno tipo III o primeiro a ser sintetizado em processos de reparação e fibrose. Diversas afecções como a obstrução infravesical (OIV) parcial crônica podem induzir estes processos através da remodelação da MEC e conseqüentemente alterar a função vesical. Acredita-se que a hipercolesterolemia também o faça, porém ainda não foi reproduzida tal associação a nível morfológico. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar se dieta hipercolesterolêmica promove alterações estruturais vesicais em ratos, especialmente no que diz respeito à remodelação colágena. Método: Foram utilizadas 45 ratas da raça Wistar, de quatro semanas de idade, divididas em três grupos: 1) controle com dieta comum padrão para roedores (DN); 2) modelo de OIV com DN e 3) controle com dieta de alto teor lipídico (DATL 1,25% colesterol). Análise sérica do colesterol e fração LDL e medição do peso corporal foram realizadas em todos os animais inicialmente e no final do estudo. Com quatro semanas de estudo, as ratas dos grupos 1 e 3 foram submetidas à cirurgia simulada, enquanto os animais do grupo 2 foram efetivamente submetidos à cirurgia de OIV parcial. Após dissecção da uretra, fez-se uma ligadura parcial com Nylon 5-0, com um lúmen residual de aproximadamente 1 mm. Após seis semanas, todos os animais foram submetidos à remoção de suas bexigas e então sacrificados. Análise morfológica foi realizada através da coloração de Picrosirius vermelho e de imuno-histoquímica para os colágenos tipos I e III. As variáveis categóricas fora expressas em médias ± desvio padrão e a comparação entre grupos realizada pelo método ONEWAY-ANOVA e pela análise de comparações múltiplas de Tukey, quando houve diferença. A significância estatística foi definida como p < 0,05. Resultados: Este estudo demonstrou que a DATL em ratas Wistar proporcionou aumento significativo das taxas de LDL-colesterol (p < 0,001) e do peso corporal (p = 0,017) em relação a ratas alimentadas com DN no período de dez semanas. Além disto, induziu alterações morfológicas significativas da matriz extracelular, no que diz respeito à remodelação das fibras colágenas imaturas e do colágeno tipo III em relação ao grupo controle (p = 0,002 e p = 0,016, respectivamente), de forma semelhante ao que ocorre no modelo experimental de OIV parcial crônica. Conclusão: A dieta hipercolesterolêmica administrada a ratas Wistar promoveu, além de aumento do peso corporal e elevação da fração LDL-colesterol, alterações significativas na composição colágena da MEC vesical. / Purpose: Preserved bladder function is defined as the adequate storage and emptying of its urinary content. Compliance is an important factor for these functions and is directly related to the extracellular matrix composition. Its abnormalities can lead to bladder dysfunctions. The collagen represents 50% of bladder stroma, playing an important role in the bladder adaptation to specific pathologic conditions. Types I and III collagens are the most prevalent in bladder wall whereas type III collagen is the first synthesized in reparation and fibrosis processes. Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) promotes this process and hypercholesterolemia is also believed to create conditions for it, although no morphologic association has already been demonstrated. In this study we aimed to verify if hypercholesterolemic diet promotes structural bladder wall modifications, regarding the collagen remodeling. Methods: Forty-five female heterogenic Wistar 4 weeks-old rats were divided into three groups: 1) control fed on a normal diet (ND); 2) BOO model fed on a ND and 3) control fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD 1.25% cholesterol). Initially, serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body weight were measured. Four weeks later groups 1 and 3 underwent a sham operation while group 2 underwent a partial BOO operation. After the urethra was dissected a 5-zero nylon suture was passed and tied loosely around the urethra with a 22G needle besides it. Six weeks later the bladders of all animals were removed, serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol analysis was performed, body weight was measured and then they were sacrificed. Morphological analysis was performed by Picrosirius red staining and immunohistochemistry for types I and III collagen. Statistical analysis was done comparing groups by the Oneway-Anova method and Tukey multiple comparisons when needed. Significance was considered when p < 0.05. Results: Wistar rats fed on a HC diet had a significant increase of LDL-cholesterol levels (p < 0.001) and body weight (p = 0.017), when compared to the control group fed on a normal diet in the period of ten weeks. Moreover, HC diet induced significant morphological alterations of the extracellular matrix of the bladder wall, regarding immature collagen fibers and type III collagen remodeling, when compared to the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.016, respectively), resembling the process promoted in the BOO model. Conclusions: A hypercholesterolemic diet in Wistar rats promoted, besides the body weight and LDL-cholesterol increase, morphological alterations of the bladder extracellular matrix, regarding collagen remodeling.

Interactions of cells with their environment regulate important cellular functions and are required for the organization of cells into tissues and complex organisms. These interactions involve different types of adhesion receptors. Interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are mainly mediated by the integrin family of adhesion molecules. Situations in which integrin-ECM interactions are deregulated cause diseases and play a crucial role in cancer cell invasion. Thus, the mechanisms underlying integrin-binding and regulation are of high interest, particularly at the molecular level. How can cell-ECM interactions be studied? While there are several methods to analyze cell adhesion, few provide quantitative data on adhesion forces. One group, single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS), quantifies adhesion at the single-cell level and can therefore differentiate the adhesive properties of individual cells. One implementation of SCFS is based on atomic force microscopy (AFM); this technique has been employed in the presented work. Advantageously AFM-SCFS combines high temporal and spatial cell manipulation, the ability to measure a large range of adhesion forces and sufficiently high-force resolution to allow the study of single-molecule binding events in the context of a living cell. Since individual adhesion receptors can be analyzed within their physiological environment, AFM-SCFS is a powerful tool to study the mechanisms underlying integrin-regulation. The presented work is split into six chapters. Chapter one gives background information about cell-ECM interactions. In chapter two, different adhesion assays are compared and contrasted. The theoretical Bell-Evans model which is used to interpret integrin-mediated cell adhesion is discussed in chapter three. Thereafter, the three projects that form the core of the thesis are detailed in chapters four through six. In the first project (chapter 4), α2β1-integrin mediated cell adhesion to collagen type I, the most abundant structural protein in vertebrates, was quantified using CHO cells. Firstly, α2β1-collagen interactions were investigated at the single-molecule level. Dynamic force spectroscopy permitted calculation of bond specific parameters, such as the bond dissociation rate koff (1.3 ± 1.3 sec-1) and the barrier width xu (2.3 ± 0.3 Å). Next, α2β1-integrin mediated cell adhesion to collagen type I was monitored over contact times between 0 and 600 sec. Thereby the kinetics of α2β1-integrin mediated interactions was explored and insights into the underlying binding mechanisms were gained. In the second project (chapter five), effects of cryptic integrin binding sites within collagen type I exerted on pre-osteoblasts were investigated. Collagen type I matrices were thermally denatured which lead to exposure of cryptic RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-motifs. As a consequence pre-osteoblasts enhanced their adhesion to denatured collagen. Compared to native collagen type I, adhesion to denatured collagen was mediated by a different set of integrins, including αv- and α5β1-integrins. Cells grown on denatured collagen showed enhanced spreading and motility, which correlated with increased focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation levels. Moreover, osteogenic differentiation kinetics and differentiation potential were increased on denatured collagen. The findings of this project open new perspectives for optimization of tissue engineering substrates. In the third part (chapter six), the effect of the fusion protein BCR/ABL, a hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia, on adhesion of myeloid progenitor cells was studied. Adhesion between BCR/ABL transformed progenitor cells to bone marrow derived stromal cells and to different ECM proteins was quantitatively compared to that of control cells. The tyrosine kinase activity of BCR/ABL enhanced cell adhesion, which was blocked by imatinib mesylate, a drug interfering with BCR/ABL activity. BCR/ABL-enhanced adhesion correlated with increased β1-integrin cell surface concentrations. Since adhesion of leukemic cells to the bone marrow compartment is critical for the development of drug resistance, the reported results may provide a basis for optimized target therapies. In the three described projects AFM-based SCFS was applied to investigate early steps of integrin-mediated adhesion at the molecular level. Taken together, the results demonstrate that AFM-SCFS is a versatile tool that permits monitoring of cell adhesion from single-molecule interactions to the formation of more complex adhesion sites at the force level. / Interaktionen zwischen Zellen und ihrer Umgebung sind maßgeblich an der Regulierung zellulärer Funktionen beteiligt und daher notwendig für die Organisation von Zellen in Geweben und komplexen Organismen. Zellinteraktionen mit der extrazellulären Matrix (EZM) werden hauptsächlich durch Integrine vermittelt. Situationen, in denen Integrin- EZM Interaktionen verändert sind, können Krankheiten verursachen und spielen zudem eine wichtige Rolle bei der Invasion von Krebszellen. Daher besteht ein großes Interesse darin, die molekularen Mechanismen, die Integrin-EZM Interaktionen regulieren, besser zu verstehen. Wie können Zell-EZM Interaktionen untersucht werden? Obwohl es mehrere Methoden gibt, mit denen Zelladhäsion untersucht werden kann, sind die wenigsten dazu geeignet, Zelladhäsionskräfte zu quantifizieren. Einzelzellspektroskopie erfasst die Adhäsionskräfte einzelner Zellen quantitativ und ermöglicht dadurch eine differenzierte Betrachtung der Adhäsion individueller Zellen. Eine Variante der Einzelzellspektroskopie basiert auf der Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM); diese Technik wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit verwendet. Ein Vorteil von AFM- Einzelzellspektroskopie besteht darin, dass Zellen mit hoher zeitlicher und räumlicher Präzision manipuliert werden können. Zelladhäsionskräfte können zudem über einen großen Kraftbereich hinweg untersucht werden. Dabei ermöglicht es die hohe Kraftauflösung, einzelne Integrin-Ligandenbindungen in lebenden Zellen zu untersuchen. Die vorliegende Arbeit gliedert sich in sechs Kapitel. Kapitel eins gibt Hintergrundinformationen über Zell-EZM Wechselwirkungen. In Kapitel zwei werden verschiedene Adhäsionsassays einander gegenüber gestellt. Das theoretische Bell-Evans Modell, mit dessen Hilfe die gewonnenen Daten interpretiert wurden, wird in Kapitel drei diskutiert. Im Anschluss werden drei Projekte, welche das Herzstück dieser Doktorarbeit bilden, in Kapiteln vier bis sechs näher ausgeführt. Im ersten Projekt (Kapitel vier) wurde die Adhäsion von α2β1-Integrin exprimierenden CHO Zellen zu Kollagen I, dem häufigsten strukturellen Protein in Wirbeltieren, quantitativ untersucht. Zunächst wurden α2β1-Kollagen-Interaktionen auf Einzelmolekülebene analysiert. Mithilfe der dynamischen Kraftspektroskopie wurden für diese Bindung Dissoziationsrate koff (1.3 ± 1.3 sec-1) und Potentialbarrierenbreite xu (2.3 ± 0.3 Å) bestimmt. Daraufhin wurde die α2β1-vermittelte Adhäsion über einen Zeitraum von zehn Minuten untersucht. Dadurch konnten Einblicke in die Kinetik von α2β1-integrin vermittelter Zelladhäsion sowie in die zugrunde liegenden Regulationsmechanismen gewonnen werden. Im zweiten Projekt (Kapitel fünf) wurde die Rolle von kryptischen Integrin-Bindungsstellen in Kollagen I untersucht. Die zuvor verwendeten Kollagenoberflächen wurden thermisch denaturiert, wodurch versteckte RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-Sequenzen freigelegt wurden. Die partielle Denaturierung hatte- verglichen mit nativem Kollagen I- eine erhöhte Adhäsion von Präosteoblasten (MC3T3-E1) zur Folge, was auf das Binden zusätzlicher Integrine zurückgeführt wurde. Im Unterschied zu nativem Kollagen wurde die Zelladhäsion zu denaturiertem Kollagen I u.a. durch αv- and α5β1-Integrine vermittelt. Präosteoblasten zeigten verstärktes Zellspreiten sowie höhere Motilität auf denaturiertem Kollagen I; zudem wurde ein erhöhtes Differenzierungpotential der Präosteoblasten festgestellt. Die in diesem Projekt erhaltenen Einblicke bilden eine hilfreiche Basis für die Entwicklung optimierter Oberflächen für diverse Zell- und Gewebekulturanwendungen. Im dritten Projekt (Kapitel sechs) wurde der Einfluss des Fusionproteins BCR/ABL, charakteristisch für chronische myeloische Leukämie, auf die Adhäsion von myeloischen Vorläuferzellen untersucht. Dazu wurde die Adhäsion von BCR/ABL transformierten Vorläuferzellen (32D Zellen) bzw. Kontrollzellen zu Stromazellen (M2-10B4) sowie verschiedenen EZM Proteinen untersucht. BCR/ABL erhöhte die Zelladhäsion der myeloischen Vorläuferzellen signifikant. Dieser Effekt wurde durch die Zugabe von Imatinib, welches die Tyrosinkinaseaktivität von BCR/ABL inhibiert, aufgehoben. Die BCR/ABL-verstärkte Zelladhäsion korrelierte mit erhöhten β1-Integrin-konzentrationen. Da die Adhäsion von Leukämiezellen im Knockenmark bekanntermaßen kritisch für die Entwicklung von Resistenzen gegenüber verschiedenen Wirkstoffen ist, könnten die Ergebnisse dieser Studie eine Grundlage für die Entwicklung optimierter Target-Therapien sein. In den drei beschriebenen Projekten wurde AFM Einzelzellspektroskopie verwendet, um Integrin- vermittelte Adhäsion auf molekularer Ebene zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass AFM-Einzelzellspektroskopie ein vielseitiges Werkzeug darstellt, das überaus geeignet dazu ist, Zelladhäsion- ausgehend von Einzelmolekülinteraktionen bis hin zur Entstehung komplexerer Adhäsionsstellen- auf der Kraftebene zu verfolgen.

Synthetic biomaterials are constantly being developed and play central roles in contemporary strategies in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as artificial extracellular microenvironments. Such scaffolds provide 2D- and 3D-support for interaction with cells and thus convey spatial and temporal control over their function and multicellular processes, such as differentiation and morphogenesis. A model fibrillar system with tunable viscoelastic properties, comprised of 2 native ECM components like collagen type I and the GAG heparin, is presented here. Although the individual components comply with the adhesive, mechanical and bioinductive requirements for artificial reconstituted ECMs, their interaction and structural characterization remains an intriguing conundrum. The aim of the work was to analyze and structurally characterize a xenogeneic in vitro cell culture scaffold reconstituted from two native ECM components, collagen type I and the highly negatively charged glycosaminoglycan heparin. Utilizing a broad spectrum of structural analysis it could be shown that pepsin-solubilized collagen type I fibrils, reconstituted in vitro in the presence of heparin, exhibit an unusually thick and straight shape, with a non-linear dependence in size distribution, width-to-length ratio, and morphology over a wide range of GAG concentrations. The experiments imply a pronounced impact of the nucleation phase on the cofibril morphology as a result of the strong electrostatic interaction of heparin with atelocollagen. Heparin is assumed to stabilize the collagen-GAG complexes and to enhance their parallel accretion during cofibrillogenesis, furthermore corroborated by the heparin quantitation data showing the GAG to be intercalated as a linker molecule with a specific binding site inside the cofibrils. In addition, the exerted morphogenic effect of the GAG, appears to be influenced by factors as degree of sulfation, charge, and concentration. Further detailed structural analysis of the PSC-heparin gels using TEM and SFM showed a hierarchy involving 3 different structural levels and banding patterns in the system: asymmetric segment longspacing (SLS) fibrils and symmetric segments with an average periodicity (AP) of 250 - 260 nm, symmetric fibrous longspacing (FLS IV) nanofibrils with AP of 165 nm, and cofibrils exhibiting an asymmetric D-periodicity of 67 nm with a striking resemblance to the native collagen type I banding pattern. The intercalation of the high negatively charged heparin in the cofibrils was suggested as the main trigger for the hierarchical formation of the polymorphic structures. We also proposed a model explaining the unexpected presence of a symmetric and asymmetric form in the system and the principles governing the symmetric or asymmetric fate of the molecules. The last section of the experiments showed that the presence of telopeptides and heparin both had significant effects on the structural and mechanical characteristics of in vitro reconstituted fibrillar collagen type I. The implemented structural analysis showed that the presence of telopeptides in acid soluble collagen (ASC) impeded the reconstitution of D-periodic collagen fibrils in the presence of heparin, leaving behind only a symmetric polymorphic form with a repeating unit of 165 nm (FLS IV). Further x-ray diffraction analysis of both telopeptide-free and telopeptide-intact collagen fibrils showed that the absence of the flanking non-helical termini in pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) resulted in a less compact packing of triple helices of atelocollagen with an increase of interhelical distance from 1.0 to 1.2 nm in dried samples. The looser packing of the triple helices was accompanied by a decrease in bending stiffness of the collagen fibrils, which demonstrated that the intercalated heparin cannot compensate for the depletion of telopeptides. Based on morphological, structural and mechanical differences between ASC and PSC-heparin fibrils reported here, we endorsed the idea that heparin acts as an intrafibrillar cross-linker which competed for binding sites at places along the atelocollagen helix that are occupied in vivo by telopeptides in the fibrillar collagen type I. The performed studies are of particular interest for understanding and gaining control over a rather versatile and already exploited xenogeneic cell culture system. The reconstituted cofibrils with their unusual morphology and GAG intercalation – a phenomenon not reported in vivo – are expected to exhibit interesting biochemical behavior as a biomaterial for ECM scaffolds. Varying the experimental conditions, extent of telopeptide removal, and heparin concentration provides powerful means to control the kinetics, structure, dimensions, as well as mechanical properties of the system which is particularly important for predicting a certain cell behavior towards the newly developed matrix. The GAG intercalation could be interesting for studies with required long-term 'release upon demand' of the GAG, as well as native binding and stabilization of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, thus providing a secondary tool to control cell signaling and fate, and later on tissue morphogenesis. / Synthetische Biomaterialien werden stetig weiterentwickelt und spielen als künstliche Mikroumgebungen eine zentrale Rolle in den modernen Strategien der regenerativen Medizin und des Tissue Engineerings. Solche sogenannten Scaffolds liefern eine 2D- und 3D-Struktur zur Interaktion mit Zellen und üben somit eine räumliche und zeitliche Kontrolle auf ihre Funktion und multizelluläre Prozesse aus, wie die Differenzierung und Morphogenese. Obwohl häufig die adhäsiven, mechanischen und bioinduzierenden Eigenschaften von Einzelkomponenten aus natürlichen Bestandteilen der extrazellulären Matrix (ECM) rekonstituierten Trägerstrukturen bekannt sind, bleiben die funktionalen und strukturellen Auswirkungen in Mehrkomponentensystemen eine faszinierende Fragestellung. Das Ziel der Arbeit war die Analyse und die strukturelle Charakterisierung einer xenogenen in vitro Zellkultur-Trägerstruktur, die aus den zwei nativen ECM Komponenten Kollagen Typ I und das stark negativ geladene Glykosaminoglykan (GAG) Heparin rekonstituiert wurde. Unter Nutzung eines breiten Spektrums von Methoden zur strukturellen Analyse konnte gezeigt werden, dass im Beisein von Heparin rekonstituierte Pepsin-gelöste Kollagen Typ I Fibrillen eine ungewöhnlich dicke und gerade Form, mit nichtlinearen Abhängigkeiten der Größenverteilung, des Breite-zu-Länge Verhältnises und der Morphologie für eine Reihe von GAG Konzentrationen, aufweisen. Die Experimente deuten auf eine besondere Wirkung der Nukleierungsphase auf die Kofibrillmorphologie hin, als Folge der starken elektrostatischen Inteaktionen Heparins mit Atelokollagen. Es wird angenommen, dass Heparin die Komplexe aus Kollagen-GAG stabilisiert, die parallele Anlagerung während der Kofibrillogenese verbessert und dass überdies, belegt durch Heparin Quantitätsdaten, als Verbindungsmolekül mit einer spezifischen Anbindungsstelle innerhalb der Kofibrillen eingelagert wird. Darüber hinaus scheint der ausgeübte morphogene Effekt des GAGs Heparins von Faktoren wie Grad der Sulfatierung, Ladung und Konzentration abzuhängen. Weitere detailierte Strukturanalysen der PSC - Heparin Gele mit TEM und SFM zeigten eine Hierarchie mit drei unterschiedlichen strukturellen Ebenen und Bandmustern im System: asymmetrisch segmentierte, weitabständige Fibrillen (SLS) und symmetrische Segmente mit einem AP von 250-260 nm, symmetrische fibrose weitabständige (FLS IV) Nanofibrillen mit einem AP von von 165 nm und Kofibrillen asymmetrischer D-Periodizität von 67 nm, die eine erstaunliche Ähnlichkeit zum natürlichen Kollagen Typ I Bandmuster haben. Die Einlagerung des sehr negativ geladenen Heparins in die Kofibrillen wurde als Hauptauslöser der hierarchischen Formation der polymorphen Strukturen betrachtet. Wir schlugen ebenso ein Model vor, welches sowohl das unerwartete Vorhandensein symmetrischer und asymmetrischer Formen im System als auch die Regeln erklärt, die das symmetrische oder asymmetrische Schicksal der Moleküle steuern. Der letzte Abschnitt der Experimente zeigte, dass die Anwesenheit der Telopeptide und Heparins eine signifikante Wirkung auf die strukturellen und mechanischen Charakteristika der in vitro rekonstituierten Kollagen Typ I Fibrillen hatte. Die durchgeführten Strukturanalysen zeigten außerdem, dass die Anwesenheit der Telopeptide in säurelöslichem Kollagen (ASC) die Rekonstitution D-periodischer Kollagenfibrillen mit Heparin verhinderte, sodass nur symmetrisch polymorphe Formen mit einer Wiederholeinheit von 165 nm möglich waren (FLS IV). Weitere Messungen der Telopeptid-freien und Telopeptid-intakten Kollagenfibrillen mit Röntgendiffraktometrie ergaben, dass die Abwesenheit der nicht-helix-strukturierten Enden in Pepsin-gelöstem Kollagen (PSC) zu einer weniger kompakten Anordnung der Tripelhelices von Atelokollagen führte. Der interhelix Abstand erhöhte sich von 1,0 zu 1,2 nm für getrocknete Proben. Das zeigt, dass die losere Anordnung der Tripelhelices einhergeht mit der Verringerung der Biege-Elastizitäts-module der Kollagenfibrillen,. Basierend auf den hier vorgestellten morphologischen, strukturellen und mechanischen Unterschieden zwischen ASC und PSC-Heparin Fibrillen wird die Idee unterstützt, dass Heparin als intrafibrillärer Vernetzer fungiert und an Bindungsstellen der Helix bindet, welche in vivo bei Kollagen Typ I Fibrillen durch Telopeptide besetzt sind. Die durchgeführten Studien sind von besonderem Interesse für das Verständnis und die Steuerung eines sehr vielseitigen und bereits verwendeten xenogenes Zellkultursystem für das Tissue Engineering. Von den rekonstituierten Kofibrillen mit ihrer ungewöhnlichen Morphologie und GAG Einlagerung - ein in vivo nicht bekanntes Phänomen - erwartet man, dass sie ein intressantes biochemisches Verhalten als Biomaterial für ECM Scaffolds zeigen. Variationen der experimentellen Bedingungen, des Ausmaßes der Telopeptidentfernung und der Heparinkonzentration liefern vielfältige Möglichkeiten um die Kinetik, Struktur, Dimension sowie die mechanischen Eigenschaften des Systems zu kontrollieren. Damit sollte es möglich sein, ein bestimmtes Zellverhalten gegenüber der neu entwickelten Matrix vorherzusagen. Die GAG-Einlagerung bietet interessante Optionen für eine langfristige Freisetzung des GAGs 'on demand', sowie die native Bindung und Stabilisierung von Wachstumsfaktoren, Cytokinen, Chemokinen, womit zusätzlich Zellsignalisierung und -schicksal und später Gewebemorphogenese kontrolliert werden kann.

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INTRODUÇÃO: O hipoestrogenismo pode determinar perda da massa mineral óssea, diminuindo a qualidade do osso. Assim, vários fármacos são ministrados para evitar esta perda, porém, podem determinar efeitos colaterais importantes. Portanto, questiona-se se o emprego do estrogênio associado a estas substâncias poderia minimizar os efeitos adversos e manteria a massa mineral óssea. Contudo, há poucas informações sobre os efeitos destas combinações. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a ação do estrogênio, raloxifeno e do extrato de soja rico em gensteína, isolado ou combinado no osso de ratas ovariectomizadas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: No nono dia de nascimento, todas as ratas receberam propionato de testosterona (0,1 g/g). No sexto mês de idade, os animais do controle fisiológico foram identificados como GI e receberam apenas o veículo (propilenoglicol em 0,5 ml/dia) durante o experimento e os outros que receberam testosterona foram ovariectomizados e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos: GII veículo (controle castrado, n=6); GIII - estrogênio conjugados eqüinos (ECE, (50 g/Kg/dia, n=8); GIV raloxifeno (RAL, 0,75 mg/kg/dia, n=8); GV extrato de soja enriquecido com genisteína (ESG, 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVI ECE + ESG (50 g/Kg/dia + 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVII - ECE+RAL (50 g/Kg/dia + 0,75mg/kg/dia, n=6). Após três meses da cirurgia, os fármacos foram ministrados por 120 dias consecutivos. Posteriormente, os animais foram sacrificados sob anestesia, sendo retirada a tíbia esquerda para rotina histológica. Os cortes histológicos foram corados pela hematoxilina-eosina para avaliar a microarquitetura óssea. Foram feitos procedimentos imunoistoquímicos, de imunofluorescência e PCR para quantificar as principais proteínas ósseas estruturais (colágeno tipo I, osteocalcina, osteopontina e osteoprotegerina), bem como de seus respectivos RNA mensageiros. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes de ANOVA e Tukey. RESULTADOS: Todos os tratamentos determinaram aumento da quantidade de osso trabecular (p<0,05). As fibras totais de colágeno apresentaram-se aumentadas em todos os grupos tratados, exceto com o raloxifeno. Já as fibras finas de colágeno diminuíram apenas no grupo tratado com estrogênio. As frações de colágeno tipo I, mostraram-se aumentadas nos grupos tratados com estrogênio e sua asssociação com o raloxifeno. O colágeno tipo III esteve aumentado no grupo tratado com estrogênio em associação com extrato de soja rico em genisteína. Em relação às proteínas não colagenosas, a osteoprotegerina apresentou-se aumentada nos grupos tratados com estrogênio, suas associações e com o extrato de soja rico em genisteína. A osteopontina esteve diminuída em todos os grupos tratados e a osteocalcina mostrou-se aumentada apenas no grupo tratado com ralolxifeno, em comparação ao grupo castrado (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatística significante do PCR em tempo real na análise dos transcritos entre os grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: A combinação de estrogênio com raloxifeno ou extrato de soja rico em genisteína não trouxe benefícios adicionais na qualidade do tecido ósseo, como ocorreu com esses fármacos isoladamente / INTRODUCTION: Hypoestrogenism can determine bone mineral loss, resulting in decreased bone quality. To prevent that process, several drugs are administered, which can lead, however, to important side effects. Therefore, it is questionable whether the use of estrogen associated with those substances could minimize the adverse effects and maintain bone mineral mass. There is little information on the effects of those compounds. This research aims to evaluate the action of unopposed estrogen or combined with raloxifene and genistein-rich soy extract on ovariectomized adult female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the ninth day of birth, rats received, testosterone propionate (0.1 mg / g). On the sixth month, animals in the physiological control were identified as GI and received only the vehicle (propylene glycol at 0.5 ml / day) during the experiment and the other which was administered testosterone underwent ovariectomy and divided randomly into six groups: GII - vehicle (control castrated, n = 6); GIII - conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 50 mg / kg / day, n = 8); GIV - raloxifene (RAL, 0.75 mg / kg / day, n = 8) ; GV - soy extract enriched with genistein (ESG, 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7), GVI - ECE + ESG (50 mg / kg / day + 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7); GVII - ECE + RAL (50 mg / kg / day + 0.75mg/kg/day, n = 6).Three months after the surgery, drugs were consecutively administered for 120 days. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed on anesthesia and their left tibiae were removed for routine histology. The histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate bone microarchitecture. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and PCR procedures were performed to quantify the main structural bone proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin) as well as their mRNA. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: All treatments led to increased amounts of trabecular bone (p <0.05). The total collagen fibers had to be enlarged in all treated groups, except with raloxifene. Already thin collagen fibers decreased only in the group treated with estrogen. The fractions of type I collagen, were increased in groups treated with estrogen and its asssociação with raloxifene. Type III collagen was increased in the group treated with estrogen in combination with soybean extract rich in genistein. Regarding the non-collagenous proteins, the increased osteoprotegerin presented in groups treated with estrogen, and their associations with soy extract rich in genistein. The osteopontin was decreased in all treated groups and osteocalcin was increased only in the treated group ralolxifeno, compared to the castrated group (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference from the real-time PCR analysis of transcribed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of estrogen with raloxifene or genistein-rich soy extract was uncapable of bringing additional benefits to the quality of bone tissue as observed with those drugs alone

Introdução: A bexiga é responsável em armazenar urina em volume adequado e de esvaziar seu conteúdo de forma plena. Suas propriedades miogênicas intrínsecas e viscoelásticas são as responsáveis por esta função. Disfunções vesicais podem ser decorrentes, dentre outras causas, de anormalidades intrínsecas da musculatura detrusora ou da composição de sua matriz extracelular (MEC). O colágeno corresponde a 50% do estroma vesical, possuindo importante papel na adaptação vesical a condições fisiopatológicas específicas. Os colágenos tipo I e III são os mais comuns, sendo o colágeno tipo III o primeiro a ser sintetizado em processos de reparação e fibrose. Diversas afecções como a obstrução infravesical (OIV) parcial crônica podem induzir estes processos através da remodelação da MEC e conseqüentemente alterar a função vesical. Acredita-se que a hipercolesterolemia também o faça, porém ainda não foi reproduzida tal associação a nível morfológico. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar se dieta hipercolesterolêmica promove alterações estruturais vesicais em ratos, especialmente no que diz respeito à remodelação colágena. Método: Foram utilizadas 45 ratas da raça Wistar, de quatro semanas de idade, divididas em três grupos: 1) controle com dieta comum padrão para roedores (DN); 2) modelo de OIV com DN e 3) controle com dieta de alto teor lipídico (DATL 1,25% colesterol). Análise sérica do colesterol e fração LDL e medição do peso corporal foram realizadas em todos os animais inicialmente e no final do estudo. Com quatro semanas de estudo, as ratas dos grupos 1 e 3 foram submetidas à cirurgia simulada, enquanto os animais do grupo 2 foram efetivamente submetidos à cirurgia de OIV parcial. Após dissecção da uretra, fez-se uma ligadura parcial com Nylon 5-0, com um lúmen residual de aproximadamente 1 mm. Após seis semanas, todos os animais foram submetidos à remoção de suas bexigas e então sacrificados. Análise morfológica foi realizada através da coloração de Picrosirius vermelho e de imuno-histoquímica para os colágenos tipos I e III. As variáveis categóricas fora expressas em médias ± desvio padrão e a comparação entre grupos realizada pelo método ONEWAY-ANOVA e pela análise de comparações múltiplas de Tukey, quando houve diferença. A significância estatística foi definida como p < 0,05. Resultados: Este estudo demonstrou que a DATL em ratas Wistar proporcionou aumento significativo das taxas de LDL-colesterol (p < 0,001) e do peso corporal (p = 0,017) em relação a ratas alimentadas com DN no período de dez semanas. Além disto, induziu alterações morfológicas significativas da matriz extracelular, no que diz respeito à remodelação das fibras colágenas imaturas e do colágeno tipo III em relação ao grupo controle (p = 0,002 e p = 0,016, respectivamente), de forma semelhante ao que ocorre no modelo experimental de OIV parcial crônica. Conclusão: A dieta hipercolesterolêmica administrada a ratas Wistar promoveu, além de aumento do peso corporal e elevação da fração LDL-colesterol, alterações significativas na composição colágena da MEC vesical. / Purpose: Preserved bladder function is defined as the adequate storage and emptying of its urinary content. Compliance is an important factor for these functions and is directly related to the extracellular matrix composition. Its abnormalities can lead to bladder dysfunctions. The collagen represents 50% of bladder stroma, playing an important role in the bladder adaptation to specific pathologic conditions. Types I and III collagens are the most prevalent in bladder wall whereas type III collagen is the first synthesized in reparation and fibrosis processes. Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) promotes this process and hypercholesterolemia is also believed to create conditions for it, although no morphologic association has already been demonstrated. In this study we aimed to verify if hypercholesterolemic diet promotes structural bladder wall modifications, regarding the collagen remodeling. Methods: Forty-five female heterogenic Wistar 4 weeks-old rats were divided into three groups: 1) control fed on a normal diet (ND); 2) BOO model fed on a ND and 3) control fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD 1.25% cholesterol). Initially, serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body weight were measured. Four weeks later groups 1 and 3 underwent a sham operation while group 2 underwent a partial BOO operation. After the urethra was dissected a 5-zero nylon suture was passed and tied loosely around the urethra with a 22G needle besides it. Six weeks later the bladders of all animals were removed, serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol analysis was performed, body weight was measured and then they were sacrificed. Morphological analysis was performed by Picrosirius red staining and immunohistochemistry for types I and III collagen. Statistical analysis was done comparing groups by the Oneway-Anova method and Tukey multiple comparisons when needed. Significance was considered when p < 0.05. Results: Wistar rats fed on a HC diet had a significant increase of LDL-cholesterol levels (p < 0.001) and body weight (p = 0.017), when compared to the control group fed on a normal diet in the period of ten weeks. Moreover, HC diet induced significant morphological alterations of the extracellular matrix of the bladder wall, regarding immature collagen fibers and type III collagen remodeling, when compared to the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.016, respectively), resembling the process promoted in the BOO model. Conclusions: A hypercholesterolemic diet in Wistar rats promoted, besides the body weight and LDL-cholesterol increase, morphological alterations of the bladder extracellular matrix, regarding collagen remodeling.

INTRODUÇÃO: Após uma lesão de um nervo periférico, o seu reparo é realizado com suturas epineurais dos cotos utilizando-se fio de náilon. O processo inflamatório provocado pela passagem da agulha e pela presença do material de sutura com consequente formação de tecido cicatricial na linha de sutura torna-se um obstáculo à regeneração axonal após o reparo do nervo. Existe na literatura a hipótese que a utilização de um menor número de pontos necessários para assegurar a união dos dois cotos correlaciona-se com uma melhor regeneração axonal. Foi avaliada a influência do diferente número de suturas epineurais terminoterminais no nervo ciático do rato na regeneração axonal, além de avaliar o remodelamento da matriz extracelular através da caracterização dos tipos de colágenos tipo I e III presentes no local de sutura de acordo com o número de pontos adotados. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo experimental foram utilizados trinta ratos machos Wistar submetidos à exposição do nervo ciático direito e divididos em três grupos. Em dois grupos, o nervo foi seccionado e imediatamente reparado com três (Grupo 3P, n=10), ou seis (Grupo 6P, n=10) suturas epineurais usando fio de náilon 10.0. Um grupo (Grupo C, n=10) foi utilizado como controle para determinar os valores normais de todos os parâmetros avaliados. Cada animal pertencente aos grupos de reparo foram submetidos à avaliação eletrofisiológica previamente a secção do nervo e após um intervalo de oito semanas após a neurorrafia, consistindo de registro do potencial de ação motor do músculo gastrocnêmio. Segmentos do nervo foram utilizados para avaliação histomorfométrica da regeneração axonal, avaliada pela contagem de axônios e medida do diâmetro das fibras, e para caracterização e quantificação do colágeno no local de reparo. Imunofluorescência foi utilizada para caracterização dos colágenos tipo I e II no epineuro e endoneuro. RESULTADOS: O índice de regeneração axonal (IR) foi menor no grupo submetido à sutura epineural com seis pontos (IR=1,18±0,26) que no grupo de três pontos (IR=1,32±0,25) e, naquele mesmo grupo, houve uma diminuição mais acentuada da velocidade de condução do potencial de ação do nervo. Os animais submetidos à sutura epineural com seis pontos apresentaram uma diferença significativa na produção do colágeno epineural tipo I (p=0,014) e de colágeno epineural tipo III (p=0,002) quando comparados com os animais submetidos à sutura com três pontos. Não houve diferença significativa na produção de colágeno tipo I ou tipo III endoneural. CONCLUSÕES: O grupo submetido a um maior número de suturas epineurais apresentou maior quantidade de colágenos tipo I e III no epineuro, mas não no endoneuro, que se correlacionou com um menor índice de regeneração axonal e uma diminuição mais acentuada da velocidade de condução do potencial de ação do nervo. / PURPOSE: After an injury to a peripheral nerve, its repair is performed with epineural sutures of the stumps using nylon. The inflammatory process caused by the passage of the needle and the presence of suture material with the consequent formation of scar tissue at the suture line becomes an obstacle to axonal regeneration after nerve repair. In the literature there is a hypothesis that the use of a smaller number of points needed to ensure the union of the two stumps is correlated with better axonal regeneration. It was evaluated the influence of different number of end-to-end epineural sutures in rat sciatic nerve on axonal regeneration and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix through the characterization of collagen type I and III present at the suture according to the number of stitches. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were operated on to exposure the right sciatic nerve and were divided in three groups. In two groups the nerve was sectioned and immediately repaired by means of three (Group 3P, n=10) or six (Group 6P, n=10) epineurium sutures using 10-0 monofilament nylon. One group (Group C, n=10) was used as a control to assess normal values of all evaluated parameters. Each animal from repaired groups underwent electrophysiologic evaluation previously to nerve section and at 8-week interval after neurorrhaphy, consisting of motor action potential recording from the gastrocnemius muscle. Nerve biopsy specimens were used for histomorphometric assessment of axonal regeneration, evaluated by axonal counting and measurement of fiber diameter, and for collagen characterization and quantification at repair site. Immunofluorescence was used for characterization of types I and III collagen at epineurium and endoneurium. RESULTS: The axonal regeneration index (RI) was lower in the group submitted to suture with six stitches (RI = 1.18 ± 0.26) than in the group of three stitches (RI = 1.32 ± 0.25) and the group submitted to six stitches showed a greater reduction in conduction velocity of nerve action potential. Animals submitted to suture with six stitches showed a significant difference in the production of epineural collagen type I (p = 0.014) and type III (p = 0.002) compared to animals submitted to suture with three stitches. There was no significant difference in production of endoneural collagen type I or type III. CONCLUSIONS: The group submitted a greater number of epineural sutures had a higher amount of collagen type I and III in the epineurium but not in the endoneurium, which correlated with a lower rate of axonal regeneration and a greater reduction in conduction velocity of action potential nerve.

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Os peelings químicos são um importante arsenal terapêutico, sendo o peeling de fenol classicamente recomendado para tratamento de clareamento de pele, atenuação das rugas estáticas e flacidez cutânea da face, exigindo sedação em ambiente hospitalar. Na técnica pontuada, sua execução pode ser feita em ambiente ambulatorial, com segurança. Objetivo: investigar os mecanismos pelos quais a técnica se mostra eficaz quando aplicado de forma pontuada, avaliando as alterações da matriz extracelular colagenosa, das fibras elásticas e as fibras colágenas Tipo I e Tipo III, por morfometria automática, e o aumento de células de origem mesenquimal da derme através da imuno-histoquímica. Métodos: Foram utilizados blocos de biópsias de pele da face de pacientes do sexo feminino (n = 17) realizadas antes e depois do tratamento que foram atendidas no Serviço de Dermatologia do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, submetidas ao protocolo de cinco sessões de peeling de fenol pontuado. Os cortes histológicos foram submetidos à análise histopatológica de rotina (HE), análise histoquímica para fibras elásticas (Verhöeff) e para fibras colágenas Tipo I e Tipo III (picrosirius red) e à análise imuno-histoquímica para células com expressão vimentina positiva na derme. Três pacientes foram excluídas, por material insuficiente nos blocos para todas essas colorações. Os dados foram expressos em média aritmética simples ± desvio padrão, mediana e expostos em boxplot. Resultados: Ao compararmos as concentrações de matriz extracelular colagenosa pelo HE e de fibras elásticas (Verhöeff) houve uma relação inversa na histomorfometria, onde das oito pacientes que apresentavam as menores concentrações de fibras colágenas do grupo, seis possuíam as maiores concentrações de fibras elásticas. Das seis pacientes que apresentavam as maiores concentrações de fibras colágenas do grupo, todas apresentavam concentração abaixo da média do grupo para fibras elásticas. Quanto a análise da relação entre fibras colágenas Tipo III e Tipo I, houve uma inversão de valores por maior ganho de fibras colágenas Tipo I em relação as fibras colágenas Tipo III. Na imuno-histoquímica, 64,28% das pacientes (n = 9) apresentou aumento da celularidade mesenquimal. Conclusão: os resultados sugerem que a melhora clínica no tratamento do fotoenvelhecimento facial com a técnica proposta pode estar correlacionada com o maior equilíbrio entre material colágeno e elástico, com maior produção de fibras colágenas Tipo I em relação as fibras colágenas Tipo III e com o aumento do número de células mesenquimais nas amostras pós-tratamento. Diante dos resultados sugerimos que novos estudos sejam realizados, tanto clínicos quanto experimentais, para melhor elucidar os mecanismos de ação da técnica. / Introduction: The physical appearance of the population has been increasingly taking on a significant role when we speak of general health and well-being. Thus, dermatological questions take on an ever greater medical significance. Chemical peels are an important therapeutic arsenal, with phenol peeling being classically recommended for treatment of skin lightening, attenuation of static wrinkles and facial skin flaccidity, requiring sedation in a hospital environment. In the punctuated technique, treatment can safely be done in an outpatient setting. Objective: investigating the mechanisms by which the technique proves effective when applied in a punctuated form and evaluating the changes in the collagenous extracellular matrix, elastic fibers and Type I and Type III collagen fibers, by automatic morphometry, and the increase of dermal mesenchymal cells, through immunohistochemistry. Methods: Facial skin biopsy blocks from female patients (n = 17), taken before and after treatment at the Dermatology Service of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora University Hospital, were used. Patients were submitted to the protocol of five punctuated phenol peeling sessions. The histological sections were submitted to routine histopathological analysis (HE), histochemical analysis for elastic fibers (Verhöeff) and for Type I and Type III collagen fibers (picrosirius red), and immunohistochemical analysis for cells with positive vimentin expression in the dermis. Three patients were excluded because of insufficient material in the blocks for all of these stains. The data were expressed as simple arithmetic mean ± standard deviation, median, and shown in boxplot. Results: Upon comparing the collagenous extracellular matrix concentrations by HE and for elastic fibers (Verhöeff), there was an inverse relation in the histomorphometry, where of the eight patients with the lowest concentrations of collagen fibers in the group, six had the highest concentrations of elastic fibers. Of the six patients who had the highest concentrations of collagen fibers in the group, all of them had a concentration for elastic fibers below the group mean. Regarding the analysis of the relationship between Type III and Type I collagen fibers, there was an inversion of values due to the higher gain of Type I collagen fibers in relation to Type III collagen fibers. In the immunohistochemistry, 64. 28% of the patients (n = 9) presented increased mesenchymal cellularity. Conclusion: the results suggest that the clinical improvement in the treatment of facial photoaging with the proposed technique may be correlated with the greater balance between collagen and elastic material, with a higher production of Type I collagen fibers in relation to Type III collagen fibers, and with the increase of the number of mesenchymal cells in the post-treatment samples. In view of the results, we suggest that new studies be conducted, both clinical and experimental, to better elucidate the action mechanisms of the technique.