Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Despite the general advice of avoiding medication during pregnancy, the majority of pregnant woman use one or more ‘over the counter’ analgesics. During the last few years there has been growing evidence that analgesic exposure, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or indomethacin, during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on rodent and human fetal gonads. The majority of previous studies have focused in alterations in testosterone production and male reproductive disorders. However, few studies have analysed the effect of these analgesics on fetal germ cells and possible consequences on fertility. During my thesis, I first focused on the effect of paracetamol and indomethacin exposure during pregnancy on rat fetal gonads. These showed that both paracetamol and indomethacin are able to alter the expression of genes important for fetal gonad and germ cell development. Previous studies on germ cells and analgesics have focused on rat models, but there is a lack of similar studies performed in human models. Therefore, I investigated the consequences of exposure of therapeutically relevant doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen on human gonads, with a special attention to the germ cells. Fetal gonads from the 1st and 2nd trimester were used in two different models: hanging drop cultures for 1st trimester testes and ovaries and a xenograft system for 2nd trimester fetal testes. Fetal gonad culture in the presence of paracetamol or ibuprofen reduced AP2γ+ (gonocyte) GC number in both 1st trimester fetal testes (22-28% reduction) and ovaries (43-49% reduction). 2nd trimester fetal testes were exposed to three different regimes, 1 or 7 days paracetamol and 7 days ibuprofen, which led to reductions of 17% and 30%, respectively in AP2γ+ GC number for paracetamol and a 53% reduction in total germ cell number for ibuprofen.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:52:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigues_am_me_botfm.pdf: 593199 bytes, checksum: 3862ac32735e6b1acf2a9269bf6223f8 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Com a finalidade de avaliar a repercussão no prognóstico e na morbidade dos pacientes com TCG em função da adesão do cirurgião ao protocolo cirúrgico, foram analisados retrospectivamente, com ênfase nos aspectos cirúrgicos, 64 pacientes de 0 a 18 anos completos, durante o período de junho de 1996 a janeiro de 2009 em dois centros de referência para o tratamento do paciente oncológico pediátrico: Hospital Amaral Carvalho de Jaú e o Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (UNESP). Os dados coletados eram referentes a variáveis qualitativas e, desse modo, foram obtidas frequências e porcentagens para cada variável. As associações entre as variáveis de interesse foram feitas obtendo-se tabelas de contingência e testes qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher. Em todos os testes foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%. Dos 64 pacientes estudados, 22 do Hospital Amaral Carvalho e 42 do Hospital das Clínicas – UNESP, com relação ao local primário, houve predomínio do ovário, seguido de testículo, sacrococcígeo, retroperitoneal, mediastino, orofaringe e útero. O tipo histológico predominante foi o teratoma puro, e o estadio I foi o mais freqüente. Quarenta e quatro pacientes foram classificados como baixo risco, e todos os 64 pacientes receberam tratamento cirúrgico, sendo em 44 deles exclusivo. A cirurgia pediátrica foi quem mais encaminhou casos operados dos serviços de origem, enquanto a ginecologia foi a especialidade que mais operou nas instituições de estudo. Quinze casos foram encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia e 49 encaminhados sem cirurgia. A quantidade de casos encaminhados sem cirurgia prévia foi estatisticamente significante quando comparado aos casos encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia. Dos 15 pacientes encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia, 10 seguiram o protocolo... / In order to assess the impact on prognosis and morbidity of patients with GCT according to the surgeon's accession to the surgical protocol were analyzed retrospectively, with emphasis on surgery, 64 patients 0-18 years of age, during the period of June 1996 to January 2009 in two hospitals for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients: Hospital Amaral Carvalho de Jau and the Hospital of the Medical School of Botucatu (UNESP). Data were collected regarding the qualitative variables, and thus, frequencies and percentages were obtained for each variable. The associations between the variables of interest were made by obtaining contingency tables and chisquare or Fisher exact test. In all tests, we adopted the significance level of 5%. Of the 64 patients studied, 22 of 42 Amaral Carvalho Hospital and the Hospital das Clinicas - UNESP, with respect to the primary site, there was a predominance of the ovary, followed by testis, sacrococcygeal, retroperitoneal, mediastinal, oropharynx and uterus. The predominant histological type was pure teratoma, and the stage I was the most frequent. Forty-four patients were classified as low risk, and all 64 patients received surgical treatment in 44 of them being unique. The pediatric surgery was the most referred cases operated source of services, while gynecology was the specialty that most institutions operated in the study. Fifteen cases were referred to some type of surgery and 49 conveyed without surgery. The number of cases referred without previous surgery was statistically significant when compared to cases presenting with some type of surgery. Of the 15 patients referred with type of surgery, 10 followed the protocol and not 5, while the 49 patients referred without surgery, 24 were operated on following the protocol and not 25. Although there was no statistically significant differences... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Érika Veruska Paiva Ortolan / Banca: Bonifácio Katsumori Takegawa / Banca: José Roberto de Souza Baratella / Resumo: Com a finalidade de avaliar a repercussão no prognóstico e na morbidade dos pacientes com TCG em função da adesão do cirurgião ao protocolo cirúrgico, foram analisados retrospectivamente, com ênfase nos aspectos cirúrgicos, 64 pacientes de 0 a 18 anos completos, durante o período de junho de 1996 a janeiro de 2009 em dois centros de referência para o tratamento do paciente oncológico pediátrico: Hospital Amaral Carvalho de Jaú e o Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (UNESP). Os dados coletados eram referentes a variáveis qualitativas e, desse modo, foram obtidas frequências e porcentagens para cada variável. As associações entre as variáveis de interesse foram feitas obtendo-se tabelas de contingência e testes qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher. Em todos os testes foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%. Dos 64 pacientes estudados, 22 do Hospital Amaral Carvalho e 42 do Hospital das Clínicas - UNESP, com relação ao local primário, houve predomínio do ovário, seguido de testículo, sacrococcígeo, retroperitoneal, mediastino, orofaringe e útero. O tipo histológico predominante foi o teratoma puro, e o estadio I foi o mais freqüente. Quarenta e quatro pacientes foram classificados como baixo risco, e todos os 64 pacientes receberam tratamento cirúrgico, sendo em 44 deles exclusivo. A cirurgia pediátrica foi quem mais encaminhou casos operados dos serviços de origem, enquanto a ginecologia foi a especialidade que mais operou nas instituições de estudo. Quinze casos foram encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia e 49 encaminhados sem cirurgia. A quantidade de casos encaminhados sem cirurgia prévia foi estatisticamente significante quando comparado aos casos encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia. Dos 15 pacientes encaminhados com algum tipo de cirurgia, 10 seguiram o protocolo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In order to assess the impact on prognosis and morbidity of patients with GCT according to the surgeon's accession to the surgical protocol were analyzed retrospectively, with emphasis on surgery, 64 patients 0-18 years of age, during the period of June 1996 to January 2009 in two hospitals for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients: Hospital Amaral Carvalho de Jau and the Hospital of the Medical School of Botucatu (UNESP). Data were collected regarding the qualitative variables, and thus, frequencies and percentages were obtained for each variable. The associations between the variables of interest were made by obtaining contingency tables and chisquare or Fisher exact test. In all tests, we adopted the significance level of 5%. Of the 64 patients studied, 22 of 42 Amaral Carvalho Hospital and the Hospital das Clinicas - UNESP, with respect to the primary site, there was a predominance of the ovary, followed by testis, sacrococcygeal, retroperitoneal, mediastinal, oropharynx and uterus. The predominant histological type was pure teratoma, and the stage I was the most frequent. Forty-four patients were classified as low risk, and all 64 patients received surgical treatment in 44 of them being unique. The pediatric surgery was the most referred cases operated source of services, while gynecology was the specialty that most institutions operated in the study. Fifteen cases were referred to some type of surgery and 49 conveyed without surgery. The number of cases referred without previous surgery was statistically significant when compared to cases presenting with some type of surgery. Of the 15 patients referred with type of surgery, 10 followed the protocol and not 5, while the 49 patients referred without surgery, 24 were operated on following the protocol and not 25. Although there was no statistically significant differences... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Yes / Genotoxic compounds have induced DNA damage in male germ cells and have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes including enhanced risks for maternal, paternal and offspring health. DNA strand breaks represent a great threat to the genomic integrity of germ cells. Such integrity is essential to maintain spermatogenesis and prevent reproduction failure. The Comet assay results revealed that the incubation of isolated germ cells with n-ethyl-n-nitrosourea (ENU), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) led to increase in length of Olive tail moment and % tail DNA when compared with the untreated control cells and these effects were concentration-dependent. All compounds were significantly genotoxic in cultured germ cells. Exposure of isolated germ cells to ENU produced the highest concentration-related increase in both DNA damage and gene expression changes in spermatogonia. Spermatocytes were most sensitive to 6-MP, with DNA damage and gene expression changes while spermatids were particularly susceptible to MMS. Real-time PCR results showed that the mRNA level expression of p53 increased and bcl-2 decreased significantly with the increasing ENU, 6-MP and MMS concentrations in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids respectively for 24 hr. Both are gene targets for DNA damage response and apoptosis. These observations may help explain the cell alterations caused by ENU, 6-MP and MMS in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. Taken together, ENU, 6-MP and MMS induced DNA damage and decreased apoptosis associated gene expression in the germ cells in vitro. / Libyan Government

As células germinativas primordiais (CGPs) são as precursoras dos gametas, capazes de gerar um novo indivíduo os quais transmitirão os materiais genéticos para as futuras gerações. Normalmente, a linha germinal de mamífero é determinada por fatores genéticos e epigenéticos que possuem funções essenciais para guiar na direção e desenvolvimento das CGPs, bem como das células germinativas embrionárias (CGEs). A reprogramação epigenética é fundamental para a regulação do genoma durante o desenvolvimento das células germinativas responsáveis por originar a linhagem gametogênica nos mamíferos. A metilação e desmetilação em CGPs são um evento único, essencial para apagar a memória epigenética e também prevenir transmissões de epimutações para a próxima geração. Assim, o completo entendimento das vias e mecanismos para a migração inicial e diferenciação destas células em CGEs podem ser importantes para identificar e corrigir falhas possíveis nesses processos, o que será importante, no futuro, para o desenvolvimento e desempenho reprodutivo. A maioria dos estudos com CGPs e CGEs é realizado em camundongos, porém nem sempre esta espécie torna-se o melhor modelo de estudo quando se quer transpor esses conhecimentos a humanos. O cão doméstico (Canis lúpus familiaris) apresenta-se como um modelo ideal para o estudo do desenvolvimento em mamíferos, pois possui inúmeras similaridades com a bioquímica, fisiologia e genética. Deste modo, torna-se interessante expandir os estudos sobre as CGPs e CGEs na espécie canina, a fim de mostrar a importância de diferentes modelos que se assemelham a seres humanos. Portanto, objetiva-se, nesta proposta, identificar qual é a dinâmica de marcadores pluripotentes, germinativos e epigenéticos que são importantes para o desenvolvimento das CGPs e CGEs caninas. Para tal procedimento, essa pesquisa foi dividida em duas fases: a primeira, consiste no processo in vivo, desde o desenvolvimento inicial do embrião até a completa formação da crista gônadal. Análises de RTq-PCR e imunofluorescência para marcadores pluripotentes POU5F1 (OCT4) e NANOG, germinativos DDX4 (VASA), DAZL e DPPA3 (STELLA) e epigenéticos 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 e H3K9me2 foram realizados para criar um perfil de genes que são importantes para o desenvolvimento das CGPs caninas. Prosseguiu-se para a segunda fase in vitro, que incide na derivação e caracterização das CGEs caninas. Ensaios de Fosfatase Alcalina, imunofluorescência para os marcadores: pluripotente POU5F1 (OCT4), germinativos DDX4 (VASA), DAZL e DPPA3 (STELLA), mesodérmico THY-1 (CD90) e epigenéticos 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 e H3K9me2, RT-qPCR para os genes NANOG e DDX4 e formação de teratoma foram efetivados para comprovar a linhagem de células CGEs. Como resultado in vivo, percebe-se que diferentes padrões de marcações e genes foram expressos nas CGPs, comprovando que a espécie canina se assemelha mais com os humanos do que com os camundongos. Os resultados in vitro mostraram que foi possível derivar as células CGEs e que estas conseguem reter sua pluripotencialidade e que diminuem a expressão dos genes germinativos. Porém, essas células tendem a se diferenciar em outros tecidos somáticos, mesmo com a adição de suplementos, fato também notado em CGEs humanas. / Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are known as the only cells capable of generating a new individual, they originate the gametes which then will transmit genetic material to future generations. Normally, the mammalian germ line is determined by genetic and epigenetic factors that have essential functions to guide the direction and development of PGCs as well as embryonic germ cells (EGCs). Epigenetic reprogramming is fundamental for the regulation of the genome during the development of the germ cells responsible for originating the gametogenic lineage in mammals. Methylation and demethylation in PGCs is a unique event, essential for erasing epigenetic memory and also preventing transmissions of epimutations to the next generation. Thus, the understanding of the patterns of differentiation of PGCs in EGCs can be important in identifying and correcting possible failures in these processes, which will be important in the future for development and reproductive performance. Most of the studies with PGCs in EGCs are carried out in mice, but this species is not always the best model of study when transposing this knowledge to humans. In canines, no study has ever been reported on canine PGCs and maybe the Canine species has become interesting as a new animal model for studies. It is known that the study material of human embryos are scarce samples and difficult to obtain, so it is necessary to use other animal models, such as the Canids, which also resemble humans. Dogs were the first fundamental models for the development of bone marrow transplantation in humans, but also made valuable contributions to the development of therapies for cardiovascular and orthopedic diseases. Then, it has become interesting to expand the studies on PGCs in the canine species in order to show the importance of different models that might resemble humans. Therefore, we had how proposal identify which were pluripotent, germinative and epigenetic markers that are important for the development of PGCs and canine EGCs. It research was divided into two phases: the first consists of the in vivo process, from the initial development of the embryo to the complete formation of the gonadal ridge. We analyzed through the techniques of real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence for pluripotent markers POU5F1 (OCT4) and NANOG, germline DDX4 (VASA), DAZL and DPPA3 (STELLA) and epigenetic 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 were performed to create a profile of genes that are important for the development of canine PGCs. We proceeded to the second in vitro phase, which focuses on the derivation and characterization of canine EGCs. Alkaline Phosphatase (AP), immunofluorescence for the markers: pluripotent POU5F1 (OCT4), germinative DDX4 (VASA), DAZL and DPPA3 (STELLA), mesodermal THY-1 (CD90) and epigenetic 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 and H3K9me2. We also analyzed RT-qPCR for NANOG and DDX4 genes and teratoma formation were performed to prove the EGCs cell lineage. As a result in vivo, different marking patterns and genes had been expressed in CGPs, proving that the canine species is more similar to humans than to mice. The in vitro results showed that it was possible to derive the EGCs and that they are able to retain their pluripotency and decrease the expression of the germinative genes. However, these cells continue to differentiate into other somatic tissues, even with the addition of supplements, a fact also noted in human CGEs.

As células germinativas primordiais (CGPs) são as precursoras dos gametas, capazes de gerar um novo indivíduo os quais transmitirão os materiais genéticos para as futuras gerações. Normalmente, a linha germinal de mamífero é determinada por fatores genéticos e epigenéticos que possuem funções essenciais para guiar na direção e desenvolvimento das CGPs, bem como das células germinativas embrionárias (CGEs). A reprogramação epigenética é fundamental para a regulação do genoma durante o desenvolvimento das células germinativas responsáveis por originar a linhagem gametogênica nos mamíferos. A metilação e desmetilação em CGPs são um evento único, essencial para apagar a memória epigenética e também prevenir transmissões de epimutações para a próxima geração. Assim, o completo entendimento das vias e mecanismos para a migração inicial e diferenciação destas células em CGEs podem ser importantes para identificar e corrigir falhas possíveis nesses processos, o que será importante, no futuro, para o desenvolvimento e desempenho reprodutivo. A maioria dos estudos com CGPs e CGEs é realizado em camundongos, porém nem sempre esta espécie torna-se o melhor modelo de estudo quando se quer transpor esses conhecimentos a humanos. O cão doméstico (Canis lúpus familiaris) apresenta-se como um modelo ideal para o estudo do desenvolvimento em mamíferos, pois possui inúmeras similaridades com a bioquímica, fisiologia e genética. Deste modo, torna-se interessante expandir os estudos sobre as CGPs e CGEs na espécie canina, a fim de mostrar a importância de diferentes modelos que se assemelham a seres humanos. Portanto, objetiva-se, nesta proposta, identificar qual é a dinâmica de marcadores pluripotentes, germinativos e epigenéticos que são importantes para o desenvolvimento das CGPs e CGEs caninas. Para tal procedimento, essa pesquisa foi dividida em duas fases: a primeira, consiste no processo in vivo, desde o desenvolvimento inicial do embrião até a completa formação da crista gônadal. Análises de RTq-PCR e imunofluorescência para marcadores pluripotentes POU5F1 (OCT4) e NANOG, germinativos DDX4 (VASA), DAZL e DPPA3 (STELLA) e epigenéticos 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 e H3K9me2 foram realizados para criar um perfil de genes que são importantes para o desenvolvimento das CGPs caninas. Prosseguiu-se para a segunda fase in vitro, que incide na derivação e caracterização das CGEs caninas. Ensaios de Fosfatase Alcalina, imunofluorescência para os marcadores: pluripotente POU5F1 (OCT4), germinativos DDX4 (VASA), DAZL e DPPA3 (STELLA), mesodérmico THY-1 (CD90) e epigenéticos 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 e H3K9me2, RT-qPCR para os genes NANOG e DDX4 e formação de teratoma foram efetivados para comprovar a linhagem de células CGEs. Como resultado in vivo, percebe-se que diferentes padrões de marcações e genes foram expressos nas CGPs, comprovando que a espécie canina se assemelha mais com os humanos do que com os camundongos. Os resultados in vitro mostraram que foi possível derivar as células CGEs e que estas conseguem reter sua pluripotencialidade e que diminuem a expressão dos genes germinativos. Porém, essas células tendem a se diferenciar em outros tecidos somáticos, mesmo com a adição de suplementos, fato também notado em CGEs humanas. / Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are known as the only cells capable of generating a new individual, they originate the gametes which then will transmit genetic material to future generations. Normally, the mammalian germ line is determined by genetic and epigenetic factors that have essential functions to guide the direction and development of PGCs as well as embryonic germ cells (EGCs). Epigenetic reprogramming is fundamental for the regulation of the genome during the development of the germ cells responsible for originating the gametogenic lineage in mammals. Methylation and demethylation in PGCs is a unique event, essential for erasing epigenetic memory and also preventing transmissions of epimutations to the next generation. Thus, the understanding of the patterns of differentiation of PGCs in EGCs can be important in identifying and correcting possible failures in these processes, which will be important in the future for development and reproductive performance. Most of the studies with PGCs in EGCs are carried out in mice, but this species is not always the best model of study when transposing this knowledge to humans. In canines, no study has ever been reported on canine PGCs and maybe the Canine species has become interesting as a new animal model for studies. It is known that the study material of human embryos are scarce samples and difficult to obtain, so it is necessary to use other animal models, such as the Canids, which also resemble humans. Dogs were the first fundamental models for the development of bone marrow transplantation in humans, but also made valuable contributions to the development of therapies for cardiovascular and orthopedic diseases. Then, it has become interesting to expand the studies on PGCs in the canine species in order to show the importance of different models that might resemble humans. Therefore, we had how proposal identify which were pluripotent, germinative and epigenetic markers that are important for the development of PGCs and canine EGCs. It research was divided into two phases: the first consists of the in vivo process, from the initial development of the embryo to the complete formation of the gonadal ridge. We analyzed through the techniques of real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence for pluripotent markers POU5F1 (OCT4) and NANOG, germline DDX4 (VASA), DAZL and DPPA3 (STELLA) and epigenetic 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 were performed to create a profile of genes that are important for the development of canine PGCs. We proceeded to the second in vitro phase, which focuses on the derivation and characterization of canine EGCs. Alkaline Phosphatase (AP), immunofluorescence for the markers: pluripotent POU5F1 (OCT4), germinative DDX4 (VASA), DAZL and DPPA3 (STELLA), mesodermal THY-1 (CD90) and epigenetic 5mC, 5hmC, H3K27me3 and H3K9me2. We also analyzed RT-qPCR for NANOG and DDX4 genes and teratoma formation were performed to prove the EGCs cell lineage. As a result in vivo, different marking patterns and genes had been expressed in CGPs, proving that the canine species is more similar to humans than to mice. The in vitro results showed that it was possible to derive the EGCs and that they are able to retain their pluripotency and decrease the expression of the germinative genes. However, these cells continue to differentiate into other somatic tissues, even with the addition of supplements, a fact also noted in human CGEs.

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Anatomy / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy