Com o objetivo de usar o cão doméstico (Canis familiaris) como modelo biológico no monitoramento endocrinológico de populações de canídeos selvagens foram comparadas as concentrações de progesterona sérica com as concentrações dos metabólitos deste hormônio nas fezes dos animais. Foram colhidas amostras diárias de sangue e fezes, durante o proestro e estro, e duas vezes por semana durante o diestro ou gestação, de 17 cadelas da Raça Boxer, com idade entre 2 e 7 anos. Os metabólitos fecais de progesterona, após a extração, e a progesterona sérica foram mensurados por radioimunoensaio (RIE). As correlações encontradas entre a progesterona sérica e seus metabólitos nas fezes foram de r = 0,26; p⁢0,05. Pelo teste de análise de variância verificou-se pequena diferença estatística entre as fases do ciclo estral avaliadas (p⁢0,05). Os resultados mostraram uma grande variabilidade individual. Existe diferença média estatisticamente significante entre as fases do ciclo seja em soro quanto no extrato fecal (p⁢0,05). Existe significativa diferença estatística entre os períodos de estro / diestro e proestro / diestro (p⁢0,05). Averiguou-se ainda que em todas as fases a concentração média do hormônio nas fezes é sempre maior que a do soro (p⁢0,001). Há uma grande variabilidade nas informações, principalmente nas fezes, obrigando as coletas a serem seriadas e em grande número. Em avaliações individuais, cinco cadelas obtiveram uma correlação considerada boa (p≤0,05) ou ótima (p⁢0,001). A correlação melhora se for comparada a concentração de Progesterona sérica com a concentração de Progestinas fecais do dia seguinte (r=0,33; p⁢0,05) / It was studied and analyzed the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as biological model applying an endocrinological monitoring in the wild canines population. The main goal of this work is to compare serum progesterone with metabolics concentration of hormones in animal feces. It was collected blood and feces samples during proestus and estrus period and after that during the diestrus period, twice a week, from 17 boxer bitches, aged between 02 and 07 years old. Progesterone fecal metabolities and serum progesterone were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The correlations that were found between serum progesterone and their metabolities in feces were r = 0,26 p⁢0,05. It was verified a small difference between the estral cycle phases evaluated (p⁢0,05), by the ANOVA test. The outcomes have presented a great individual variability and an average statistical difference between the phases in the serum and feces stratum (p⁢0,05). It is important to mention that there is a significant difference between estrus / diestrus and proestrus / diestrus periods (p⁢0,05). It was noticed that in all the phases the average amount of hormones in feces was always higher than the one that was found in serum (p⁢0,001). There is a great variability in all the gathered information specially when dealing with feces, establishing a need to prepare several amounts of in-series samples. In individual evaluation, only 05 bitches had the following correlation: good (p≤0,05) or excellent (p⁢0,001). The correlation between serum progesterone and progesterone fecal metabolities improves if we compare it with the concentration of progesterone fecal metabolities measured in the following next day (r=0,33; p⁢0,05)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um protocolo de extração hormonal à partir de fezes de onça-pintada (Panthera onca) e validar uma metodologia de análise destes extratos por eletroforese capilar, verificando a eficiência analítica desta técnica no estudo dos metabólitos de esteróides sexuais em fezes, com o intuito de utilização futura desta metodologia na rotina dos laboratórios de endocrinologia. Foram testados sete tratamentos para as amostras de fezes liofilizadas: quatro protocolos de extração em diferentes solventes, um de hidrólise ácida e dois protocolos de extração em fase sólida (SPE). O protocolo de extração em acetonitrila foi satisfatório como pré-tratamento da amostra e aliado à SPE C-18 apresentou bons resultados no que diz respeito à sensibilidade, precisão, recuperação e tempo de análise. Com base nos resultados obtidos, a eletroforese capilar pode ser considerada uma ótima alternativa para a prospecção de metabólitos de hormônios, podendo ser utilizada em análises de rotina nos laboratórios de endocrinologia animal, sobretudo naqueles que se dedicam às metodologias não-invasivas de avaliação da função reprodutiva em animais selvagens. / The objective of this work was to develop a protocol of hormonal extraction from jaguar feces (Panthera onca) and validate a methodology of analysis of these extracts with capillary electrophoresis, verifying the analytical efficiency of this technique in the study of the steroids metabolites in feces, with the objective of future use of this methodology in the routine of the endocrinology laboratories. Seven treatments were tested for the samples: four extraction protocols in different solvents, one of acid hydrolysis and two extraction protocols in solid phase (SPE). The extraction protocol in acetonitrila was satisfactory as pre-treatment of the samples and ally to SPE C-18, it presented good results with respect to the sensibility, precision, recovery and time of analysis. Based on the obtained results, the capillary electrophoresis can be considered a great alternative for the research of metabolites of hormones, it could also be used in routine analyses in the endocrinology laboratories, mainly in those that are devoted to the non-invasive evaluation methodologies of the reproductive function in wild animals.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:18:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009 - Vanessa Pimentel de Faria.pdf: 2466878 bytes, checksum: b861fc3c8a06c44e7646fb5d2a403ae8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-25 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder of older cats. Due to the progressive nature of the disease, the identification of a sublcinical stage is essential in order to have a better control of the disease. The present study was a survey of the frequency of feline hyperthyroidism in Rio de Janeiro, from March, 2007 to April, 2008. The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of the clinical, laboratorial and echocardiographic aspects in a feline population of naturally acquired hyperthyroidism. Moreover, this study wants to emphasize the palpation and classification of thyroid lobes. This is the first report in Brazil that classifies the thyroid lobes in a standardized scale. A total of 51 cats coming from 20 different districts of Rio de Janeiro and also from Niter?i were evaluated in a feline practice in Botafogo. The selection of the cats was done by the documentation of an elevation of total T4 levels by radioimmunoassay. The animals were dividided in two groups according to the thyroid palpation: group I (nonpalpable thyroid lobe) and group II (palpable thyroid lobe). Laboratorial and complete clinical evaluation were performed in all cats. The clinical evaluation included behavioral evaluation, body weight, body condition, dermatologic, cardiopulmonary auscultation, thyroid palpation and systolic blood pressure reading. Besides the total T4, the following exams were performed: urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glucose. Thirty one cats had an echocardiogram performed. This study concluded that the clinical, laboratorial and echocardiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. However, the T4 levels were significantly lower in the nonpalpable thyroid group. Vocalization, tachypnea, changes in cardiopulmonary auscultation, hypertension, increase in alanine aminotransferase and echocardiographic changes observed in cats from group I emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis before the disease attacks organs as liver, kidneys and heart. / O hipertireoidismo ? a endocrinopatia mais comum em gatos idosos. Devido ? natureza progressiva da doen?a, a identifica??o de um est?gio subcl?nico se torna essencial para melhor controle da doen?a. O presente estudo compreendeu um levantamento da freq??ncia de gatos hipertire?ideos durante o per?odo de mar?o de 2007 a abril de 2008, no estado do Rio de Janeiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos cl?nicos, laboratoriais e ecocardiogr?ficos em uma popula??o de gatos dom?sticos com hipertireoidismo naturalmente adquirido, al?m de enfatizar a palpa??o dos lobos tireoidianos, assim como a classifica??o dos mesmos. Este ? o primeiro estudo no pa?s que classifica lobos tireoidianos dentro de uma escala padronizada. A popula??o estudada foi composta por 51 gatos, provenientes de 20 bairros distintos dentro do munic?pio do Rio de Janeiro e tamb?m do munic?pio de Niter?i. Esses animais foram atendidos em uma cl?nica privada exclusiva para gatos no bairro de Botafogo. A sele??o dos animais foi realizada atrav?s da detec??o do valor de T4 total acima dos valores de refer?ncia com a t?cnica de radioimunoensaio. Os animais foram divididos em dois grupos com base na identifica??o de aumento da tire?ide ? palpa??o: grupo I (tire?ide n?o palp?vel) e grupo II (tire?ide palp?vel). Avalia??es cl?nica e laboratorial completas foram realizadas em todos os gatos do estudo. A avalia??o cl?nica incluiu avalia??o comportamental, peso, escore de condi??o corporal, pele e pelagem, ausculta??o cardiopulmonar, palpa??o tireoidiana e aferi??o da press?o arterial sist?lica. Al?m do T4 total, os seguintes exames laboratoriais foram realizados: hemograma, ur?ia, creatinina, alanina aminotransferase (ALT), fosfatase alcalina (FA) e glicose. Trinta e um animais foram submetidos ? avalia??o card?aca, atrav?s de ecocardiograma. Este estudo concluiu que os par?metros cl?nicos, laboratoriais e ecocardiogr?ficos foram muito semelhantes entre os dois grupos. No entanto, os n?veis s?ricos de T4 total foram significativamente menores nos gatos com tire?ide n?o palp?vel. Vocaliza??o, taquipn?ia, altera??es em ausculta cardiopulmonar, hipertens?o arterial sist?mica, aumento da enzima alanina aminotransferase e altera??es em ecocardiograma observados em gatos do grupo I enfatizam a import?ncia do diagn?stico precoce para que o hipertireoidismo seja identificado antes do acometimento de ?rg?os como f?gado, rins e cora??o.

A presente pesquisa investigou a relação de alguns comportamentos de liderança, denominados de Liderança Executiva, com a concentração hormônio Testosterona, medido na saliva. Também foram analisadas as relações da Liderança Executiva com a Relação Digital (RD=2d/4d), definida pela razão entre o comprimento do 2º dedo (indicador) dividido pelo comprimento do 4º dedo (anelar) e com o conceito de internalidade do Lócus de Controle. Estes estudos visavam dar um subsídio maior para a adoção de um modelo bio-social no estudo da liderança. Um grupo de 169 participantes, estudantes de um curso de Pós-graduação, foram submetidos ao questionário de auto-avaliação (autopercepção) de liderança executiva, elaborado a partir do Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. Com base no escore obtido foram divididos em três grupos: (1) baixa percepção de liderança (BPL), (2) média percepção de liderança (MPL) e (3) alta percepção de liderança (APL). Uma análise estatística permitiu selecionar 10 participantes mais característicos em cada grupo. Estes 30 participantes foram submetidos à coleta e análise da concentração de T salivar, utilizando-se o kit da Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). Também foram feitas medições do comprimento do segundo e quarto dedo, para o cálculo da Relação Digital. Para avaliação do Lócus de Controle (LoC) foi aplicada a Escala de Rotter. A hipótese principal de que os três grupos iriam diferir na concentração de Testosterona salivar foi confirmada estatisticamente, revelando uma relação direta positiva entre autopercepção de liderança e concentração de T salivar. A hipótese relativa à relação inversa entre percepção de liderança e relação digital não foi confirmada. Da mesma forma a relação entre percepção de liderança e internalidade do Lócus de Controle também não foi confirmada pelos dados da pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos oferecem uma contribuição importante para os projetos futuros de aperfeiçoamento de um modelo mais integrado, de natureza biossocial, para o constructo da liderança. / The current research investigated the relationship of some leadership behaviors, thereafter called Executive Leadership, with the concentration levels of testosterone found in the human saliva. The research also investigated the corelations among Executive Leadership behaviors, the digital ratio (2nd:4th) and the concept of internal Locus of Control. The digit ratio is defined as the division of the length of 2nd finger (index finger) by the length of 4th finger (ring finger). Such study aimed at providing additional subsidies for adopting a biosocial model to understanding leadership. A group of 169 male students enrolled in a postgraduation program was selected as participants. They answered an Executive Leadership behaviors self assessment questionnaire (self perception). The questionnaire was based on the Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. The subjects were grouped based on their questionnaire\'s scores: (1) low self perception of leadership (BPL), (2) average self perception of leadership (MPL) e (3) high self perception of leadership (APL). Through statistic analysis the 10 most characteristic participants of each of the three groups were selected. These 30 participants were submitted to collection and analysis of saliva testosterone concentration level, using the kit provided by Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). On top of that, their index and ring fingers´s length was measured, as means to obtain data to calculate the digital ratio. The Rotter Scale was used to assess the Locus of Control (LoC). The main hypothesis - the three groups would differ with regards to the concentration of testosterone found in their saliva - was statistically confirmed, therefore there is direct positive relationship between self perception of leadership and concentration of T in the saliva. The hypothesis of inverse relationship between self perception of leadership and Digit Ratio was not confirmed. The research data also did not confirm relationship between internal Locus of Control and self perception of leadership. The results obtained through the research offer an important contribution for future studies of integrated biosocial leadership models.

Zhang, Chaoxiong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-132). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter I --- Title page --- p.i / Chapter II --- Thesis committee --- p.ii / Chapter III --- Abstract --- p.iii / Chapter IV --- Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.v / Chapter V --- Acknowledgement --- p.vii / Chapter VI --- Table of content --- p.viii / Chapter VII --- List of figure --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature review --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- An introduction to myostatin --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- A general introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Myostatin identification --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Structural studies of myostatin --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Phenotype of myostatin-null animals or transgenic animal --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Regulation of myostatin --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Biosynthesis of myostatin --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Regulation of myostatin expression --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Regulation of myostatin protein --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- Myostatin effect --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Myostatin Signaling Pathway --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Cellular Responses to Myostatin Signaling --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4 --- Possible functions in tissues other than muscle --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5 --- Myostatin in fishes --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Introduction of silver sea bream --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Studies carried out in fishes --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Possible novel functions of myostatin in fishes --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Characterization of myostatin gene in the silver seabream (Sparus sarba) --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Abstract --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2 --- Introduction --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Experimental fish --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Total RNA extraction and cDNA cloning of myostatin-1 and myostatin-2 in silver sea bream --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Multiple sequence alignment --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Real-time PCR for quantification of myostatin-1 and myostatin-2 mRNA expression --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- 1 --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Data processing and statistical analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Cloning of myostatin-l and myostatin-2 cDNA --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Myostatin tissue distribution and seasonal pattern --- p.42 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- "Effects of growth hormone, 11-ketotestosterone and cortisol on myostatin mRNA expression in silver sea bream (Sparus sarba)" --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1 --- Abstract --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2 --- Introduction --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3 --- Materials and methods --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Experimental fish --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Growth hormone injection --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- 11-ketotestosterone and cortisol injection --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Muscle explants culture and hormone exposure --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Primary pituitary cell culture and cortisol exposure --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Measurement of growth hormone secretion by ELISA --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Data processing and statistical analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Growth hormone injection --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- 11-ketotestosterone injection --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Cortisol injection --- p.71 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- "In vitro hormone treatment-growth hormone, 11-ketotestosterone and cortisol" --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Pituitary cell growth hormone secretion under cortisol treatment --- p.72 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Expression of myostatin mRNA in silver sea bream in different salinity --- p.87 / Chapter 5.1 --- Abstract --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2 --- Introduction --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Experimental fish --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Long term salinity adaptation --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Abrupt transfer form seawater to freshwater --- p.92 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Data processing and statistical analysis --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Long term adaptation to different salinities --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Abrupt transfer from 33ppt to 6ppt - 24 h --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Abrupt transfer from 33ppt to 6ppt - 72 h --- p.94 / Chapter 5.5 --- Discussion --- p.104 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General discussion and conclusion --- p.108 / References --- p.115

Yuen, Wing Sum. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-155). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter I --- Title page --- p.i / Chapter II --- Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Chapter III --- Abstract --- p.iii / Chapter IV --- Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.vi / Chapter V --- Table of contents --- p.viii / Chapter VI --- List of abbreviations --- p.xv / Chapter VII --- List of figures --- p.xvi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature review --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in human --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Pathology of cystic fibrosis --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- CFTR gene and the encoded protein --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Hypothetical model for CFTR function --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Functions of CFTR --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.5. --- Regulation of CFTR gene expression --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Regulation of CFTR protein --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.7. --- Discovery of CFTR homologues in other vertebrates --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in teleosts --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Evidence for the presence of CFTR homologue in teleosts --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Molecular cloning of teleost CFTR genes --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Role of teleost CFTR in osmoregulation --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.3.1. --- Tissue distribution of CFTR --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.3.2. --- Changes in CFTR expression in response to ambient salinities --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.3.3. --- Immunocytochemical studies of CFTR --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.3.4. --- Regulation of CFTR --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Osmoregulation in teleosts --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- Importance of osmoregulation --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Major components of chloride cells in marine teleosts --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2.1. --- Overview --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2.2. --- Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+，K+-ATPase) --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2.3. --- Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2.4. --- Na+/K+/2Cr cotransporter (NKCC) --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.2.5. --- Potassium (K+) channel --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Endocrine control of osmoregulation --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- Overview --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.2.1. --- Role of GH in osmoregulation --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.2.2. --- Mediation through IGF-I --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.2.3. --- Synergic effect with cortisol --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.3. --- Prolactin (PRL) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.3.1. --- Role of PRL in osmoregulation --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.3.2. --- Synergic effect with cortisol --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.4. --- Cortisol --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.4.1. --- Role of cortisol in osmoregulation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.4.2. --- Dual functions of cortisol --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Cloning and tissue distribution of silver sea bream CFTR gene --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Part A: Cloning of silver sea bream CFTR gene --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.1. --- Fish and culture conditions --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.2. --- Sampling of fish --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.3. --- Preparation of first strand cDNA --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1.4. --- Design of primers --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.1.5. --- Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.1.6 --- Cloning --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Part B: Tissue distribution of CFTR in silver sea bream --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.2.1. --- Fish and culture conditions --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.2.2. --- Tissue sampling --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.2.3. --- Preparation of first strand cDNA --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Design of primers --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.2.5. --- Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Part A: Cloning of silver sea bream CFTR gene --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Part B: Tissue distribution of CFTR in silver sea bream --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Part A: Cloning of silver sea bream CFTR --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.2. --- Part B: Tissue distribution of CFTR in silver sea bream --- p.64 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Effect of salinity on CFTR mRNA expression in gill and posterior intestine of silver sea bream --- p.68 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1. --- Part A: Effect of long-term exposure to different salinities on CFTR expression --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1.1. --- Experimental fish and salinity adaptation --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1.2. --- Tissue sampling --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.1.3. --- Serum ion levels --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.1.4. --- Preparation of first strand cDNA --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.1.5. --- Design of primers --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.1.6. --- Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.1.7. --- Statistical analysis --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Part B: Effect of abrupt transfer on CFTR expression --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2.1. --- Experimental fish --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2.2. --- Experimental design --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2.2.1 --- Experiment 1: Abrupt transfer from seawater (SW) to 6 ppt --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2.2.2. --- Experiment 2: Abrupt transfer from 6 ppt to SW --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.2.3. --- Tissue sampling --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.2.4. --- Serum ion levels --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.2.5. --- Preparation of first strand cDNA --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.2.6. --- Design of primers --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.2.7. --- Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.2.8. --- Statistical analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Part A: Effect of long-term exposure to different salinities on CFTR expression --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1.1. --- Serum ion levels --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1.2. --- CFTR expression in gill --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1.3. --- CFTR expression in posterior intestine --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- Part B: Effect of abrupt salinity transfer on CFTR expression --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2.1. --- Experiment 1: Abrupt transfer from SW to 6 ppt --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2.1.1. --- Serum ion levels --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2.1.2. --- CFTR in gill --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2.1.3. --- CFTR in posterior intestine --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2.2. --- Experiment 2: Abrupt transfer from 6 ppt to SW --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2.2.1. --- Serum ion levels --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2.2.2. --- CFTR in gill --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2.2.3. --- CFTR in posterior intestine --- p.89 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Long-term exposure to various salinities --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.2. --- Abrupt salinity transfer --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.2.1. --- Abrupt hypo-osmotic transfer (33 ppt to 6 ppt) --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.2.2. --- Abrupt seawater transfer (6 ppt to 33 ppt) --- p.99 / Chapter 4.4.3. --- CFTR mRNA expression in posterior intestine --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.4. --- Conclusion --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Effect of hormones on CFTR expression in gill and posterior intestine of silver sea bream --- p.102 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.1. --- Part A: In vivo effect of hormones on CFTR expression --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.1.1. --- Experimental fish and salinity adaptation --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.1.2. --- Hormone treatment --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.1.3. --- Tissue sampling --- p.105 / Chapter 5.2.1.4. --- "Serum ion levels, preparation of first strand cDNA, design of primers and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR" --- p.105 / Chapter 5.2.1.5. --- Statistical analysis --- p.105 / Chapter 5.2.2. --- Part B: In vitro effect of hormones on CFTR expression --- p.106 / Chapter 5.2.2.1. --- Fish and culture conditions --- p.106 / Chapter 5.2.2.2. --- Gill and posterior intestine preparations --- p.106 / Chapter 5.2.2.3. --- Hormone treatment --- p.106 / Chapter 5.2.2.4. --- "Preparation of first strand cDNA, design of primers and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR" --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.2.5. --- Statistical analysis --- p.107 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1. --- Part A: In vivo effect of hormones on CFTR expression --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1.1. --- Serum ion levels --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1.1.1. --- Serum [Na+] level --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1.1.2. --- Serum [K+] level --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1.1.3. --- Serum [Cl' ] level --- p.108 / Chapter 5.3.1.2. --- CFTR expression in gill --- p.109 / Chapter 5.3.1.3. --- CFTR expression in posterior intestine --- p.109 / Chapter 5.3.2. --- Part B: In vitro effect of hormones on CFTR expression --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.2.1. --- CFTR expression in gill --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.2.2. --- CFTR expression in posterior intestine --- p.115 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.122 / Chapter 5.4.1. --- Effects of cortisol on CFTR expression --- p.122 / Chapter 5.4.2. --- Effects of growth hormone on CFTR expression --- p.124 / Chapter 5.4.3. --- Effects of prolactin on CFTR expression --- p.127 / Chapter 5.4.4. --- "Overall effect of cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin on CFTR expression" --- p.128 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.130 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General discussion and conclusion --- p.132 / References --- p.136

A presente pesquisa investigou a relação de alguns comportamentos de liderança, denominados de Liderança Executiva, com a concentração hormônio Testosterona, medido na saliva. Também foram analisadas as relações da Liderança Executiva com a Relação Digital (RD=2d/4d), definida pela razão entre o comprimento do 2º dedo (indicador) dividido pelo comprimento do 4º dedo (anelar) e com o conceito de internalidade do Lócus de Controle. Estes estudos visavam dar um subsídio maior para a adoção de um modelo bio-social no estudo da liderança. Um grupo de 169 participantes, estudantes de um curso de Pós-graduação, foram submetidos ao questionário de auto-avaliação (autopercepção) de liderança executiva, elaborado a partir do Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. Com base no escore obtido foram divididos em três grupos: (1) baixa percepção de liderança (BPL), (2) média percepção de liderança (MPL) e (3) alta percepção de liderança (APL). Uma análise estatística permitiu selecionar 10 participantes mais característicos em cada grupo. Estes 30 participantes foram submetidos à coleta e análise da concentração de T salivar, utilizando-se o kit da Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). Também foram feitas medições do comprimento do segundo e quarto dedo, para o cálculo da Relação Digital. Para avaliação do Lócus de Controle (LoC) foi aplicada a Escala de Rotter. A hipótese principal de que os três grupos iriam diferir na concentração de Testosterona salivar foi confirmada estatisticamente, revelando uma relação direta positiva entre autopercepção de liderança e concentração de T salivar. A hipótese relativa à relação inversa entre percepção de liderança e relação digital não foi confirmada. Da mesma forma a relação entre percepção de liderança e internalidade do Lócus de Controle também não foi confirmada pelos dados da pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos oferecem uma contribuição importante para os projetos futuros de aperfeiçoamento de um modelo mais integrado, de natureza biossocial, para o constructo da liderança. / The current research investigated the relationship of some leadership behaviors, thereafter called Executive Leadership, with the concentration levels of testosterone found in the human saliva. The research also investigated the corelations among Executive Leadership behaviors, the digital ratio (2nd:4th) and the concept of internal Locus of Control. The digit ratio is defined as the division of the length of 2nd finger (index finger) by the length of 4th finger (ring finger). Such study aimed at providing additional subsidies for adopting a biosocial model to understanding leadership. A group of 169 male students enrolled in a postgraduation program was selected as participants. They answered an Executive Leadership behaviors self assessment questionnaire (self perception). The questionnaire was based on the Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. The subjects were grouped based on their questionnaire\'s scores: (1) low self perception of leadership (BPL), (2) average self perception of leadership (MPL) e (3) high self perception of leadership (APL). Through statistic analysis the 10 most characteristic participants of each of the three groups were selected. These 30 participants were submitted to collection and analysis of saliva testosterone concentration level, using the kit provided by Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). On top of that, their index and ring fingers´s length was measured, as means to obtain data to calculate the digital ratio. The Rotter Scale was used to assess the Locus of Control (LoC). The main hypothesis - the three groups would differ with regards to the concentration of testosterone found in their saliva - was statistically confirmed, therefore there is direct positive relationship between self perception of leadership and concentration of T in the saliva. The hypothesis of inverse relationship between self perception of leadership and Digit Ratio was not confirmed. The research data also did not confirm relationship between internal Locus of Control and self perception of leadership. The results obtained through the research offer an important contribution for future studies of integrated biosocial leadership models.

Com o objetivo de usar o cão doméstico (Canis familiaris) como modelo biológico no monitoramento endocrinológico de populações de canídeos selvagens foram comparadas as concentrações de progesterona sérica com as concentrações dos metabólitos deste hormônio nas fezes dos animais. Foram colhidas amostras diárias de sangue e fezes, durante o proestro e estro, e duas vezes por semana durante o diestro ou gestação, de 17 cadelas da Raça Boxer, com idade entre 2 e 7 anos. Os metabólitos fecais de progesterona, após a extração, e a progesterona sérica foram mensurados por radioimunoensaio (RIE). As correlações encontradas entre a progesterona sérica e seus metabólitos nas fezes foram de r = 0,26; p⁢0,05. Pelo teste de análise de variância verificou-se pequena diferença estatística entre as fases do ciclo estral avaliadas (p⁢0,05). Os resultados mostraram uma grande variabilidade individual. Existe diferença média estatisticamente significante entre as fases do ciclo seja em soro quanto no extrato fecal (p⁢0,05). Existe significativa diferença estatística entre os períodos de estro / diestro e proestro / diestro (p⁢0,05). Averiguou-se ainda que em todas as fases a concentração média do hormônio nas fezes é sempre maior que a do soro (p⁢0,001). Há uma grande variabilidade nas informações, principalmente nas fezes, obrigando as coletas a serem seriadas e em grande número. Em avaliações individuais, cinco cadelas obtiveram uma correlação considerada boa (p≤0,05) ou ótima (p⁢0,001). A correlação melhora se for comparada a concentração de Progesterona sérica com a concentração de Progestinas fecais do dia seguinte (r=0,33; p⁢0,05) / It was studied and analyzed the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as biological model applying an endocrinological monitoring in the wild canines population. The main goal of this work is to compare serum progesterone with metabolics concentration of hormones in animal feces. It was collected blood and feces samples during proestus and estrus period and after that during the diestrus period, twice a week, from 17 boxer bitches, aged between 02 and 07 years old. Progesterone fecal metabolities and serum progesterone were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The correlations that were found between serum progesterone and their metabolities in feces were r = 0,26 p⁢0,05. It was verified a small difference between the estral cycle phases evaluated (p⁢0,05), by the ANOVA test. The outcomes have presented a great individual variability and an average statistical difference between the phases in the serum and feces stratum (p⁢0,05). It is important to mention that there is a significant difference between estrus / diestrus and proestrus / diestrus periods (p⁢0,05). It was noticed that in all the phases the average amount of hormones in feces was always higher than the one that was found in serum (p⁢0,001). There is a great variability in all the gathered information specially when dealing with feces, establishing a need to prepare several amounts of in-series samples. In individual evaluation, only 05 bitches had the following correlation: good (p≤0,05) or excellent (p⁢0,001). The correlation between serum progesterone and progesterone fecal metabolities improves if we compare it with the concentration of progesterone fecal metabolities measured in the following next day (r=0,33; p⁢0,05)

Alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Excessive intake of alcohol can result to alcoholic fatty liver disease, the number one cause of live related mortalities in the US. The outlining purpose for this project is to determine the alcohol-induced changes in the liver cell protein signaling. For this project, we treated H4IIE rat hepatoma cells (with 100 and 200 mM ethanol overnight). H4IIE cells were chosen because they are a commonly used liver cell culture line that maintains characteristics of intact liver cells. After treatment we collected and prepared the cells for protein signaling analysis, using standard western blotting procedure. A western blot detects relative quantity of proteins in a sample. Briefly, protein samples are separated by size through electrophoresis, smaller proteins move faster through the gel so that the larger proteins are toward the top and smaller towards the bottom. The proteins are then transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane and protein concentration is detected by chemiluminescence. We chose to examine the effects of ethanol on the activation of the key regulator of metabolic signaling, Protein Kinase B/Akt (Akt). Based on our results, ethanol has no effect on the total amount of Akt in the H4IIE liver cells. However, ethanol significantly attenuates insulin-induced activation of Akt in a dose-dependent manner, as seen by a reduction in the amount of phosphorylated Akt. Therefore, we conclude that treatments that increase Akt activation may be a viable option for the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The incidence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is about 9.6% in the US, and its prevalence is increasing rapidly and globally (NIDDKD, 2007). A common, but under-recognized, complication of DM is hearing difficulties. Although epidemiological studies (Bainbridge, et al., 2008) suggests that individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss as non-diabetic individuals, research on DM-related auditory deficits is relatively sparse and have been inconclusive and/or ambiguous regarding the nature of the hearing loss. We tested the hypothesis that the DM-related listening difficulties are manifestations of subclinical deficit(s) in higher-order auditory processing. Following a routine audiological evaluation, we examined a group of adult DM (Type II) patients with tests that assessed peripheral (high-frequencyaudiometry) and central processing (spatial listening, listening in competing noise, temporal processing and contralateral-suppression of OAEs) abilities. Our results indicate elevated high frequency pure-tone (>4 kHz) thresholds, increased difficulty listening in competing noise, poorer spatial listening skills, and poorer temporal processing abilities in the group of DM patients when compared to controls. These results suggest that central auditory processing deficits in patients with DM are more striking than commonly investigated peripheral deficits and thus contribute, and probably exacerbate, the functional listening difficulties experienced by these patients.