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Most embryonal mortality occurs during early embryonic development. Two experiments were designed to study aspects of early embryonic development. Experiment 1 was to determine if early ovine embryos were capable of metabolizing arachidonic acid. Cyclic ewes were estrous synchronized with 6⍺-methyl-17β-hydroxy progesterone acetate (MPA) pessaries, superovulated with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and bred artificially. Embryos were collected on d 4, 8, 10, 12 or 14 of pregnancy and incubated with 1 μCi of [¹⁴C] arachidonic acid in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂, 45% O₂ and 50% N at 37°C for 24 h. Embryos from all days of pregnancy metabolized arachidonic acid to a number of compounds. Embryos produced primarily an unidentified polar compound, 6-keto-prostaglandin F₁⍺ (6-keto-PGF₁⍺), prostaglandin F₂⍺ (PGF₂⍺), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F₂⍺ (PGFM), prostaglandin B₂ (PGB₂) and 12L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT). Experiment 2 was to determine whether prostaglandins have a role in embryo hatching from the zona pellucida. Ewes were superovulated and bred artificially, and embryos were collected on d 7 of pregnancy. Embryos were incubated with ethanol (control), indomethacin, PGE₂ or indomethacin and PGE₂ in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ and 95% air at 37°C for 24 h. Indomethacin appeared to decrease embryo hatching rate (indomethacin, 34.5% vs control, 46.4%). Prostaglandin E₂ appeared to increase embryo hatching rate (PGE₂, 60.0% vs. control, 46.4%). However, hatching rates for indomethacin and PGE₂ treatment groups were not different from control (P > .05). When compared to any group with indomethacin treatment, PGE₂ increased (P < .05) embryo hatching rate. The results of this study indicated that early ovine embryos can convert arachidonic acid to various compounds in vitro. Although not conclusive, indomethacin may decrease and PGE₂ may increase embryo hatching rate. Therefore, embryo-produced prostaglandins may be involved in hatching of sheep embryos from the zona pellucida. / Master of Science

Autoregulation of renal blood flow is partly mediated by antagonistic vasodilating and vasoconstricting effects of products of the arachidonic acid cascade. Vasodilatory prostaglandins have been evaluated in experimental models of acute renal failure and clinical human medicine, with variable results. This study assessed potential protective effects of an oral prostaglandin E₁ analogue, misoprostol, in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis in dogs. Twelve dogs were initially assessed to be clinically healthy and to have normal renal function. Each received gentamicin (10 mg/kg intravenously, every 8 hours) for 8 days. Six dogs received oral placebo and 6 received misoprostol (3 µg/kg by mouth, every 8 hours) for the duration of study. Serum biochemical profiles, urinalyses, and exogenous creatinine clearances were monitored every 2 to 3 days. Three dogs receiving misoprostol were withdrawn early because of severity of clinical signs. Changes in serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, chloride, total protein, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio appeared more severe in dogs receiving misoprostol, but were not significantly different between groups over time. Exogenous creatinine clearances were significantly decreased in dogs receiving misoprostol. Histopathological changes included patchy necrosis of renal proximal and were not significantly different between groups. Administration of misoprostol appeared to adversely affect glomerular filtration rates in this model of acute nephrotoxicosis in dogs. In previous studies, supplementing vasodilatory prostaglandins in experimental acute renal failure had beneficial effects or there were no changes in renal function. Additional study is needed to assess effects of manipulating vasoactive products of the arachidonic acid cascade in renal failure. / Master of Science

No / There is growing interest in the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for immune therapy. Clinical trials that use MSC for treatment of therapy resistant graft versus host disease, Crohn's disease and organ transplantation have initiated. Nevertheless, the immunomodulatory effects of MSC are only partly understood. Clinical trials that are supported by basic research will lead to better understanding of the potential of MSC for immunomodulatory applications and to optimization of such therapies. In this manuscript we review some recent literature on the mechanisms of immunomodulation by MSC in vitro and animal models, present new data on the secretion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and prostaglandins by MSC under resting and inflammatory conditions and discuss the hopes and expectations of MSC-based immune therapy.

No / Balding causes widespread psychological distress but is poorly controlled. The commonest treatment, minoxidil, was originally an antihypertensive drug that promoted unwanted hair. We hypothesized that another serendipitous discovery, increased eyelash growth side-effects of prostamide F2α-related eyedrops for glaucoma, may be relevant for scalp alopecias. Eyelash hairs and follicles are highly specialized and remain unaffected by androgens that inhibit scalp follicles and stimulate many others. Therefore, we investigated whether non-eyelash follicles could respond to bimatoprost, a prostamide F2α analog recently licensed for eyelash hypotrichosis. Bimatoprost, at pharmacologically selective concentrations, increased hair synthesis in scalp follicle organ culture and advanced mouse pelage hair regrowth in vivo compared to vehicle alone. A prostamide receptor antagonist blocked isolated follicle growth, confirming a direct, receptor-mediated mechanism within follicles; RT-PCR analysis identified 3 relevant receptor genes in scalp follicles in vivo. Receptors were located in the key follicle regulator, the dermal papilla, by analyzing individual follicular structures and immunohistochemistry. Thus, bimatoprost stimulates human scalp follicles in culture and rodent pelage follicles in vivo, mirroring eyelash behavior, and scalp follicles contain bimatoprost-sensitive prostamide receptors in vivo. This highlights a new follicular signaling system and confirms that bimatoprost offers a novel, low-risk therapeutic approach for scalp alopecias.

The chicken ductus arteriosi (DA) are two embryonic blood vessels that shunt blood away from the non-ventilated lungs and towards the body and chorioallantoic membrane. I show that prostaglandins have a diminished role in maintaining chicken DA patency and nitric oxide inhibits oxygen induced contraction of the day 19 proximal DA in a time dependent manner. The pathways governing oxygen induced contraction in the chicken DA are similar to those found in mammals and include contributions from ROS, Kv channels, L-type Ca2+ channels, and the Rho kinase pathway. Longer exposure to high oxygen generates increased oxygen induced constriction of the day 19 DA that may be mediated through the Rho kinase pathway.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / IntroduÃÃo: A via da hemeoxigenase-1 (HO-1) possui aÃÃes antioxidantes. Por outro lado, a ciclo-oxigenase 2 (COX-2) està envolvida na patogÃnese de muitas doenÃas inflamatÃrias e sua inibiÃÃo seletiva reduz eventos inflamatÃrios sem efeitos gÃstricos. Entretanto, ensaios clÃnicos demonstraram que os inibidores seletivos de COX-2 estÃo associados com efeitos cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Avaliar a interaÃÃo entre as vias da HO-1/BVD/CO e da COX-2 no controle da nocicepÃÃo e da inflamaÃÃo. MÃtodos: Protocolo 1: No modelo de contorÃÃo abdominal induzido por Ãcido acÃtico, camundongos foram prÃ-tratados com etoricoxibe (inibidor seletivo da COX-2; 0,1, 1 ou 10mg/Kg; i.p) ou com moduladores da via HO-1/BVD/CO, a saber: Hemina (substrato da via HO-1/BVD/CO; 0,3, 1, ou 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (doador de CO; 0,00025, 0,025 ou 2,5ÂMol/Kg; s.c) ou ZnPP-IX (inibidor especÃfico da HO-1; 1, 3 ou 9mg/Kg; s.c). Os animais prÃ-tratados com etoricoxibe ou com os moduladores da via HO-1/BVD/CO receberam, apÃs 30 e 60 min, respectivamente, a injeÃÃo (i.p) de Ãcido acÃtico, seguido da quantificaÃÃo do nÃmero de contorÃÃes abdominais. Realizou-se ainda no mesmo modelo a coadministraÃÃo de doses inefetivas de etoricoxibe com hemina ou DMDC e de uma dose efetiva de etoricoxibe com ZnPP-IX. ApÃs 4 h da injeÃÃo de Ãcido acÃtico, a bilirrubina (produto da conversÃo de BVD pela enzima BVD redutase) foi entÃo dosada no lavado peritoneal. Protocolo 2: No modelo de placa quente, os camundongos foram prÃ-tratados com hemina (0,3, 1, ou 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (0,00025, 0,025 ou 2,5ÂMol/Kg; s.c) ou ZnPP-IX (1, 3 ou 9mg/Kg; s.c) e, apÃs 30, 60 e 90 min, foi medido o tempo de permanÃncia dos animais na placa quente (55ÂC). Protocolo 3: No modelo de edema de pata induzido por carragenina (Cg), ratos foram prÃ-tratados com etoricoxibe (0,1, 1 ou 10mg/Kg; i.p) 30 min antes de receber a injeÃÃo sub-plantar na pata traseira direita de Cg, ou 60 min antes com Hemina (0,3, 1, ou 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (0,25, 2,5 ou 25ÂMol/Kg; s.c) ou ZnPP-IX (1, 3 ou 9mg/Kg; s.c). Realizou-se ainda no mesmo modelo a coadministraÃÃo de doses nÃo efetivas de etoricoxibe com hemina ou DMDC e de uma dose efetiva de etoricoxibe com ZnPP-IX. Em seguida, o edema da pata foi medido por meio de um pletismÃmetro 1, 2, 3 e 4 h apÃs 60 min da injeÃÃo de Cg. ApÃs 4 h da injeÃÃo de Cg, amostras de tecidos da pata foram coletadas para anÃlise imunohistoquÃmica com anticorpos anti-COX-2 e anti-HO-1. Resultados: Hemina ou DMDC reduziram (p<0,05) o nÃmero de contorÃÃes e o edema de pata na 3 h, enquanto que o ZnPP-IX potencializou (p<0,05) o efeito do Ãcido acÃtico aumentando (p<0,05) o nÃmero de contorÃÃes e o edema de pata na 3 h, intensificando a aÃÃo da Cg. A coadministraÃÃo de etoricoxibe com hemina ou DMDC reduziu (p<0,05) o nÃmero de contorÃÃes. A coadministraÃÃo de etoricoxibe com DMDC reduziu (p<0,05) o edema de pata na 3 h, o que nÃo foi observado de forma significativa (p>0,05) na co-administraÃÃo de etoricoxibe com hemina. Jà na coadministraÃÃo de etoricoxibe com ZnPP-IX, observou-se que o ZnPP-IX reduziu o efeito analgÃsico e antiedematogÃnico do etoricoxibe. Nos modelos de placa quente, a administraÃÃo de hemina, DMDC ou ZnPP-IX nÃo afetou o tempo de permanÃncia dos camundongos na placa. ConclusÃo: A via da HO-1/BVD/CO à ativada nos modelos de contorÃÃo por Ãcido acÃtico e edema de pata por Cg, mas parece nÃo participar na mediaÃÃo central da nocicepÃÃo. O efeito analgÃsico e antiedematogÃnico do etoricoxibe depende, pelo menos parcialmente, da participaÃÃo da via da HO-1/BVD/CO. / Introduction: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a preventive role in oxidative stress. In contrast, COX-2 is involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases and COX-2 selective inhibition has been shown to be effective in reversing inflammation without gastric side effects. However, serious cardiovascular effects of some selective COX-2 inhibitors emerged from clinical studies. Purpose: To assess the interaction between heme oxygenase -1/ biliverdin/ carbon monoxide (HO-1/BVD/CO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathways for nociception and inflammation control in rats and mice. Methods: Protocol 1: In the abdominal writhe model induced by acetic acid, mice were pretreated with etoricoxib (selective COX-2 inhibitor; 0.1, 1 or 10mg/Kg; i.p) or with HO-1/BVD/CO pathway modulators, knowingly: Hemin (substrate of HO-1/BVD/CO pathway; 0.3, 1 or 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (CO donor; 0.00025, 0.025 or 2.5ÂMol/Kg; s.c) or ZnPP-IX (specific HO-1 inhibitor; 1, 3 or 9mg/Kg; s.c). Animals pretreated with etoricoxib or HO-1/BVD/CO pathway modulators received the acetic acid injection (i.p.) after 30 and 60 min, respectively. Next, the number of abdominal contortions was quantified. In the same model, ineffective doses of etoricoxib were coadministered with hemin or DMDC and an effective dose of etoricoxib with ZnPP-IX. Four hours after the acetic acid injection, bilirubin levels (product of BVD conversion by the BVD reductase enzyme) were diagnosed in the peritoneal lavage. Protocol 2: In the hot-plate model, mice were pretreated with hemin (0.3, 1 or 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (0.00025, 0.025 or 2.5ÂMol/Kg; s.c) or ZnPP-IX (1, 3 or 9mg/Kg; s.c) and, after 30, 60 and 90 min, the animalsâ response latency on the hot plate (55ÂC) was measured. Protocol 3: In the paw edema model induced by carrageenin (Cg), rats were pretreated with etoricoxib (0.1, 1 or 10mg/Kg; i.p) 30 min before receiving the subplantar injection of Cg in the right back paw, or 60 min before receiving injections with Hemin (0.3, 1 or 3mg/Kg; s.c), DMDC (0.25, 2.5 or 25ÂMol/Kg; s.c) or ZnPP-IX (1, 3 or 9mg/Kg; s.c). In the same model, ineffective doses of etoricoxib were coadministered with hemin or DMDC and an effective dose of etoricoxib with ZnPP-IX. Next, the paw edema was measured with a plethysmometer 1, 2, 3 and 4 h at 60 min after the Cg injection. Four hours after the Cg injection, paw tissue samples were collected for immunohistochemical analysis with anti-COX-2 and anti-HO-1 antibodies. Results: Hemin or DMDC reduced (p<0.05) the number of writhes and the paw edema in the 3rd h, while ZnPP-IX potentiated (p<0.05) the effect of acetic acid by increasing (p<0.05) the number of writhes and the paw edema in the 3rd h, intensifying Cg action. The coadministration of etoricoxib with hemin or DMDC reduced (p<0.05) the number of writhes. Coadministration of etoricoxib with DMDC reduced (p<0.05) the paw edema in the 3rd h, which was not significantly observed (p>0.05) when etoricoxib was coadministered with hemin. When etoricoxib was coadministered with ZnPP-IX, it was observed that ZnPP-IX reduced the analgesic and antiedematogenic effects of etoricoxib. In the hot-plate model, hemin, DMDC or ZnPP-IX administration did not affect the miceâs response latency on the plate. Conclusion: The HO-1/BVD/CO pathway is activated in the abdominal writhe model induced by acetic acid and paw edema by Cg, but does not seem to participate in the central mediation of nociception. The analgesic and antiedematogenic effect of etoricoxib at least partially depends on the participation of the HO-1/BVD/CO pathway.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 M52 / Master of Science