Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, May, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-154).

Honors Project--Smith College, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 125)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-263). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-130).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 97-129. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 212-244. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-263). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Chemistry Department, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-10T11:09:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-04-04Bitstream added on 2014-11-10T11:58:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000785503_20150404.pdf: 497224 bytes, checksum: a459a5b949a60edee526c57ea3fc8d80 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-04-13T18:26:26Z: 000785503_20150404.pdf,Bitstream added on 2015-04-13T18:27:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000785503.pdf: 1639502 bytes, checksum: 2fca464d3fcaa51a719adf9dfb1cd8d2 (MD5) / Interferons (IFNs) são pequenas proteínas conhecidas por suas atividades antiproliferativa e imunorregulatória e por seu envolvimento crucial na ação antiviral celular. Os IFNs do tipo I incluem os IFN-α, β e ω e são utilizados terapeuticamente no tratamento de diversos tipos de cânceres e hepatites B e C. Sabe-se que dentre os efeitos adversos causados pelo IFN-α estão as disfunções endócrinas. Pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos dos IFNs na reprodução. Assim, o presente estudo objetivou investigar, em ratos adultos, os efeitos da exposição subcrônica a diferentes doses de IFN-α sobre parâmetros reprodutivos masculinos. No experimento 1, ratos Wistar adultos (90 dias/350-470g) foram distribuídos em três grupos experimentais (n=10), sendo um controle, cujos animais receberam o veículo, e dois tratados, subcutaneamente, com as doses de 5x104 unidades/Kg e 10x104 unidades/Kg, diluídas em salina. Após 30 dias de tratamento os animais foram pesados e eutanasiados para coleta dos órgãos do sistema genital. Testículo e epidídimo direitos, próstata ventral e glândula seminal (sem a glândula coaguladora) de cada animal foram retirados e pesados. Testículos e epidídimos direitos foram utilizados para determinação do número de células germinativas e os epidídimos esquerdos para a coleta de espermatozoides para avaliação da motilidade e morfologia espermática e para serem usados nas inseminações artificiais intrauterinas. Os níveis séricos de testosterona também foram mensurados. No experimento 2, outro lote de animais, seguindo o mesmo design experimental, foi utilizado para a coleta dos testículos e epidídimos esquerdos para avaliações histopatológica e morfométrica. Os pesos corpóreos e dos órgãos reprodutores foram semelhantes entre os grupos, bem como a produção espermática diária, tempo de trânsito espermático através do epidídimo, motilidade e morfologia ... / Interferons (IFNs) are small proteins known their antiproliferative and immunoregulatory activities and their crucial involvement in the cellular antiviral. Type I IFNs include the IFN-α, β e ω and are used therapeutically in the treatment of several kinds of cancers and hepatitis B and C. Endocrine dysfunction is among the adverse side effects of IFN-α. Little is know about the effects of IFNs on reproduction. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigated, in adult rats, the effects of subchronic exposure to different doses of IFN-α on male reproductive parameters. In the experiment 1, adult male Wistar rats (90 days/350-470g) were distributed in three experimental groups (n=10), one control, which received the vehicle, and two treated, subcutaneously, with 5x104 units/Kg e 10x104 units/Kg of IFN-α, diluted in saline. After 30 days of treatment the animals were weighed and euthanized for collection of reproductive organs. Right testis and epididymis, ventral prostate and seminal gland (without coagulating gland) of each animal were removed and weighed. Right testis and epididymis were used for the determination of sperm number and left epididymis for collection of sperm to evaluate of sperm motility and morphology and for intrauterine artificial insemination. The serum testosterone levels were also measured. In the experiment 2, another lot of animals, following the same experimental design, were used for collection of left testis and epididymis for to histopathological and morphometric evaluation. The body and reproductive organ weights were unchanged, as well as the daily sperm production, sperm transit time through the epididymis, sperm motility and morphology and fertility potential of animals. The histopathological and morphometric evaluation did not reveal injuries related to treatment. Thus, our results show that subchronic exposure to IFN-α did not interfere with levels of serum testosterone ...