Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-09T12:28:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-02-03Bitstream added on 2015-04-09T12:48:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000815988.pdf: 670904 bytes, checksum: df849f5b7af31dd25a1aabd5ab80b4cd (MD5) / O Brasil é o país com a maior diversidade de psitacídeos do mundo, abrigando 72 espécies reconhecidas, com 16 espécies presentes no “Livro Vermelho da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçada de Extinção”. O papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) se destaca por sua popularidade como animal de estimação, sendo coletado na natureza em grande número para atender ao mercado ilegal de animais silvestres. Sua reprodução em cativeiro pode se tornar uma ferramenta para a conservação das populações na natureza, porém isso exige uma criação baseada em conhecimentos científicos e técnicas avançadas de reprodução. Esta tese teve como objetivos apresentar o perfil anual endócrino dos esteroides sexuais do Amazona aestiva e realizar um ensaio de estímulo hormonal através da aplicação de análogo de GnRH de liberação lenta na espécie. Utilizamos 10 casais e 4 machos adultos da espécie Amazona aestiva mantidos em viveiros suspensos, pertencentes ao Criadouro da Brisa, situado Jaboticabal/SP. As excretas foram coletadas ao menos uma vez por semana entre junho de 2011 e julho de 2012 para entendimento dos processos endócrinos que regem a reprodução da espécie e entre agosto de 2012 e dezembro de 2012 no ensaio de estímulo hormonal. O monitoramento da atividade gonadal foi feita de forma não invasiva por mensuração de metabólitos de andrógenos nas excretas dos machos e de progestágenos nas excretas de fêmeas. Foram coletadas amostras frescas de excretas, sempre no período entre 14h as 17h, e mantidas congeladas até o processamento. As amostras foram secas em estufa a 57oC, trituradas e os hormônios extraídos utilizando metanol a 80%. A dosagem hormonal foi realizada no Laboratório de Endocrinologia do NUPECCE (Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos) utilizando ensaio imunoenzimático com o anticorpo para andrógenos e progestágenos. No ensaio de estimulo hormonal exógeno com analago de GnRH foi aplicado ... / Brazil is the country with the greatest diversity of parrots in the world , with to 72 recognized species , with 16 species in the Red List of Endangered Brazilian Wild Animals . The blue-fronted amazon parrot ( Amazona aestiva ) stands out for its popularity as a pet , being collected from the wild in large numbers to attend the illegal market for wildlife. His captive breeding can become a tool for the conservation of populations in nature , but this requires a creation based on scientific knowledge and advanced breeding techniques . This thesis aimed to present the annual endocrine profile of sex steroids of Amazona aestiva and a test of hormonal stimulation by applying GnRH analogue of the slow release. It was used 10 couples and 4 adult males of Amazona aestiva kept in suspended cages, properties of the commercial breeder “Criadouro da Brisa”, located in Jaboticabal / SP. The droppings were collected at least once a week between June 2011 and July 2012 for the understanding of endocrine processes of the reproduction in this specie and between August 2012 and December 2012 for testing hormonal stimulation . The monitoring of gonadal activity was noninvasively by measuring androgen metabolites in droppings of males and females of droppings progestogens. Fresh droppings samples were collected , always in between 14h to 17h , and kept frozen until processing . The samples were dried at 57oC, crushed and hormones were extracted using 80% methanol . The hormone dosage was performed at the Laboratory of Endocrinology, NUPECCE ( Center for Research and Conservation of Deer ) using enzyme immunoassay with antibody to androgens and progestins . In exogenous hormone stimulation test with GnRH was applied analago buserelin slow release in 5 couples and 5 couples were used to control the following excreta collection , processing and hormonal dosage previously described . The results of the annual listing of androgens in males ...

Orientador: José Mauricio Barbanti Duarte / Banca: Lindsay Unno Gimenes / Banca: Eveline dos Santos Zanetti / Banca: Denise Calisto Bongalhardo / Banca: Ricardo José Garcia Pereira / Resumo: O Brasil é o país com a maior diversidade de psitacídeos do mundo, abrigando 72 espécies reconhecidas, com 16 espécies presentes no "Livro Vermelho da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçada de Extinção". O papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) se destaca por sua popularidade como animal de estimação, sendo coletado na natureza em grande número para atender ao mercado ilegal de animais silvestres. Sua reprodução em cativeiro pode se tornar uma ferramenta para a conservação das populações na natureza, porém isso exige uma criação baseada em conhecimentos científicos e técnicas avançadas de reprodução. Esta tese teve como objetivos apresentar o perfil anual endócrino dos esteroides sexuais do Amazona aestiva e realizar um ensaio de estímulo hormonal através da aplicação de análogo de GnRH de liberação lenta na espécie. Utilizamos 10 casais e 4 machos adultos da espécie Amazona aestiva mantidos em viveiros suspensos, pertencentes ao Criadouro da Brisa, situado Jaboticabal/SP. As excretas foram coletadas ao menos uma vez por semana entre junho de 2011 e julho de 2012 para entendimento dos processos endócrinos que regem a reprodução da espécie e entre agosto de 2012 e dezembro de 2012 no ensaio de estímulo hormonal. O monitoramento da atividade gonadal foi feita de forma não invasiva por mensuração de metabólitos de andrógenos nas excretas dos machos e de progestágenos nas excretas de fêmeas. Foram coletadas amostras frescas de excretas, sempre no período entre 14h as 17h, e mantidas congeladas até o processamento. As amostras foram secas em estufa a 57oC, trituradas e os hormônios extraídos utilizando metanol a 80%. A dosagem hormonal foi realizada no Laboratório de Endocrinologia do NUPECCE (Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos) utilizando ensaio imunoenzimático com o anticorpo para andrógenos e progestágenos. No ensaio de estimulo hormonal exógeno com analago de GnRH foi aplicado ... / Abstract: Brazil is the country with the greatest diversity of parrots in the world , with to 72 recognized species , with 16 species in the " Red List of Endangered Brazilian Wild Animals " . The blue-fronted amazon parrot ( Amazona aestiva ) stands out for its popularity as a pet , being collected from the wild in large numbers to attend the illegal market for wildlife. His captive breeding can become a tool for the conservation of populations in nature , but this requires a creation based on scientific knowledge and advanced breeding techniques . This thesis aimed to present the annual endocrine profile of sex steroids of Amazona aestiva and a test of hormonal stimulation by applying GnRH analogue of the slow release. It was used 10 couples and 4 adult males of Amazona aestiva kept in suspended cages, properties of the commercial breeder "Criadouro da Brisa", located in Jaboticabal / SP. The droppings were collected at least once a week between June 2011 and July 2012 for the understanding of endocrine processes of the reproduction in this specie and between August 2012 and December 2012 for testing hormonal stimulation . The monitoring of gonadal activity was noninvasively by measuring androgen metabolites in droppings of males and females of droppings progestogens. Fresh droppings samples were collected , always in between 14h to 17h , and kept frozen until processing . The samples were dried at 57oC, crushed and hormones were extracted using 80% methanol . The hormone dosage was performed at the Laboratory of Endocrinology, NUPECCE ( Center for Research and Conservation of Deer ) using enzyme immunoassay with antibody to androgens and progestins . In exogenous hormone stimulation test with GnRH was applied analago buserelin slow release in 5 couples and 5 couples were used to control the following excreta collection , processing and hormonal dosage previously described . The results of the annual listing of androgens in males ... / Doutor

Mutações inativadoras do receptor de GnRH (GNRHR) são a causa genética mais frequente de hipogonadismo hipogonadotrófico isolado (HHI) normósmico. Os genes envolvidos da patogênese do HHI, incluindo o GNRHR, estão associados a um amplo espectro fenotípico, variando de HHI parcial a completo. O atraso constitucional do crescimento e desenvovimento (ACCD) poderia constituir uma variante fenotípica leve do HHI. Neste estudo avaliamos a frequência de mutações no gene GNRHR em pacientes com HHI normósmico e ACCD, bem como correlacionamos o genótipo/fenótipo nesses pacientes. Além disso, avaliamos o efeito fundador de uma mutação do GNRHR (p.R139H) frequente na população brasileira com HHI normósmico. Para esse estudo, selecionamos 116 pacientes com HHI normósmico e 51 com ACCD. Um grupo de 130 indivíduos com desenvolvimento puberal normal foi utilizado como controle. A região codificadora do gene GNRHR foi amplificada por PCR e sequenciada. Análises in silico e in vitro foram realizadas nas duas novas variantes (p.V134G e p.Y283H). Três marcadores de microssatélites (D4S409, D4S2387, D4S3018) foram amplificados e analisados nos pacientes portadores da mutação p.R139H, familiares e controles. No grupo de HHI normósmico, nove mutações (p.N10K,p.Q11K, p.Q106R, p.R139H, p.C200Y, p.R262Q, p.Y284C, p.Y283H, p.V134G) foram identificadas em onze pacientes (9,5%). Entre as mutações identificadas no GNRHR, duas foram descritas pela primeira vez no estudo atual: p.Y283H e p.V134G, cuja análise in vitro demonstrou inativação completa do receptor. Em geral, uma boa correlação genótipo-fenótipo foi observada. Pacientes portadores de mutações inativadoras apresentavam HHI completo e mutações com perda parcial de função causavam HHI parcial, incluindo dois pacientes que evoluíram com reversão do hipogonadismo após reposição androgênica. Por outro lado, não houve diferença fenotípica entre os casos com e sem mutação do GNRHR. Análise de ancestralidade genética da mutação p.R139H demonstrou que todos os casos brasileiros apresentaram o mesmo haplótipo, sugerindo que a mutação p.R139H possui um ancestral comum na população brasileira. Por outro lado o caso familial proveniente da Polônia apresentou apenas um marcador em comum com as famílias brasileiras e estudos mais abrangentes seriam necessários para determinar a origem da mutação p.R139H em indivíduos não Brasileiros. Na casuística de ACCD apenas a mutação p.Q106R foi identificada no gene GNRHR em heterozigose em um paciente. Em conclusão, o GNRHR foi o gene mais comumente afetado, apresentando uma boa correlação genótipo-fenótipo, e deve ser o primeiro candidato para análise genética em HHI normósmico. Os resultados sugerem que a mutação p.R139H possui um ancestral comum na população brasileira. Mutações no GNRHR parecem não estar envolvidas na patogênese do ACCD / GnRH receptor (GNRHR) inactivating mutations are the most common genetic cause of normosmic IHH. The genes involved in the IHH, including GNRHR, have been associated with a large phenotypic spectrum, varying from partial to complete IHH. Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) might represent a mild phenotypic variant of IHH. In this study we investigated novel variants and characterized the frequency and phenotype-genotype correlation of GNRHR mutations in normosmic IHH and CDGP patients. Additionally, we determined de cause of the recurrence of GNRHR p.R139H mutation in patients with normosmic IHH. We studied 116 patients with normosmic IHH and 51 with CDGP. The control group was composed by 130 adults with normal pubertal development. The coding region of GNRHR was amplified and automatically sequenced. The two novel variants identified (p.Y283H, p.V134G) were submitted to in silico and in vitro analysis. Three microsatellite markers (D4S409, D4S2387, D4S3018) were amplified by PCR and analyzed in the patients with the p.R139H mutation. In the CDGP group, the previously described mutation p.Q106R was identified in the heterozygous state in one boy. The p.Q106R mutation has been identified in heterozygous state in individuals with normal pubertal development and does not appear be involved on the CDGP phenotype in this patient. In the normosmic IHH group, nine variants were identified (p.N10K, p.Q11K, p.Q106R, p.R139H, p.C200Y, p.R262Q, p.Y284C, p.Y283H, p.V134G) in eleven patients (9.5%). In vitro analysis of the novel variants p.Y283H and the p.V134G demonstrated that both of them cause complete loss of function of the receptor. The founder effect study revealed that all the p.R139H affected Brazilian patients presented the same haplotype, suggesting that the this mutation has a common ancestor in the Brazilian population. Nevertheless the affected Polish family presented a different haplotype, with only one marker in common with the Brazilian families and further studies would be necessary to determine the origin of the p.R139H mutation in the European population. In conclusion this study demonstrated that GNRHR was the most commonly affected gene in normosmic IHH, with a good genotype-phenotype correlation, and should be the first candidate gene for genetic screening in this condition. The results of the founder effect study suggested that the p.R139H mutation has a common ancestor in the Brazilian population. Finally, mutations in the GNRHR do not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of CDGP

Depression occurs in about one third of patients with stroke and cardiac arrest. Hyperactivity of the stress system is the most commonly observed neuroendocrine change in major depressive disorder (MDD), which involves elevated levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a key stress neurohormone. Substantial evidence suggests that normalization of the stress system may be a requirement for successful treatment of MDD through region-specific changes in the mesocorticolimbic circuitry. Thus, alteration in the stress system may underlie the emotional and functional impairments observed following brain ischemic events. In addition, recent findings suggest that ischemic brain injury triggers a restorative process, creating a cerebral environment similar to that of early brain development, a period characterized by rapid neuronal growth and neuroplasticity, critical to optimize functional recovery of individuals post stroke. In particular brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of major depression and cerebral ischemia. However, whether CRH can mediate the expression of BDNF in the reparative process triggered by ischemic injury remains to be characterized. Therefore, the purpose of the current thesis is to characterize the effect of pharmacological blockade of CRH signaling at the onset of a global ischemic stroke, on emotional and cognitive behaviors, alteration in the neuroendocrine stress system, and markers of neuroplasticity including BDNF. To do this, an animal model of global cerebral ischemia with subsequent behavioral testing and postmortem brain analysis was used to determine underlying biochemical and behavioral changes modulated by CRH signaling following brain ischemia. This doctoral work will help elucidate the relationship between CRH and BDNF in the context of cerebral ischemia, and may provide insights for therapies targeting the stress system. These studies address considerations such as: the interplay between stress, neuroplasticity and emotionality, and whether global ischemia can affect mood via changes in the HPA axis response.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Anxiety disorders are estimated to impact 1 in 4 individuals within their lifetime. For some individuals, repeated episodes of the stress response leads to pathological anxiety and depression. The stress response is linked to increased levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA), a putative site for regulating anxiety and associative processes related to aversive emotional memories, and activation of CRF receptors in the BLA of rats produces anxiety-like behavior. Mimicking repeated episodes of the stress response, sub-anxiogenic doses of urocortin 1 (Ucn1), a CRF receptor agonist, are microinjected into the BLA of rats for five consecutive days, a procedure called priming. This results in 1) behavioral sensitization, such that a previously non-efficacious dose of Ucn1 will elicit anxiety-like response after the 3rd injection and 2) the development of a persistent anxiety-like phenotype that lasts at least five weeks after the last injection without any further treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to identify mechanisms involved in the Ucn1-priming-induced anxiogenesis. The first a set of experiments revealed that the anxiety-like behavior was not due to aversive conditioning to the context or partner cues of the testing environment. Next, Ucn1-priming-induced gene expression changes in the BLA were identified: mRNA expression for Sst2, Sst4, Chrna4, Chrma4, and Gabrr1 was significantly reduced in Ucn1-primed compared to Vehicle-primed rats. Of these, Sst2 emerged as the primary receptor of interest. Subsequent studies found that antagonizing the Sstr2 resulted in anxiety-like behavior and activation of Sstr2 blocked acute Ucn1-induced anxiety-like responses. Furthermore, pretreatment with a Sstr2 agonist delayed the behavioral sensitization observed in Ucn1-induced priming but did not stop the development of persistent anxiety-like behavior or the Ucn1-priming-induced decrease in the Sstr2 mRNA. These results suggest that the decrease in Sstr2 mRNA is associated with the expression of persistent anxiety-like behavior but dissociated from the mechanisms causing the behavioral sensitization. Pharmacological studies confirmed that a reduced Sstr2 mediated effect in the BLA is likely to play a role in persistent anxiety and should be investigated further.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

With approximately 8.5 million unwanted cats euthanized in the U.S. annually, convenient, cost effective methods of sterilization are greatly needed. Current spay/neuter techniques, such as surgery and hormonal intervention, are not satisfying this need due to their high cost, significant expertise required, and the need for feral cats to be collected and brought into clinics for treatment. The aim of this research is to develop a safe contraceptive vaccine that could be delivered to the feral cat population in bait without compromising non-feline species. Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) is a feline specific virus. The USDA has approved the immunization of cats with an attenuated, non-pathogenic strain of FHV expressing foreign antigens. In our research, we have partially replaced Glycoprotein I of FHV to express a fusion protein of Flagellin (FliC), Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP), and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). FliC has been shown to stimulate a heightened antibody response when antigens are expressed as fusion proteins with it. GnRH, a major reproductive hormone responsible for the development of testes and ovaries in felines, is the target of our vaccine vector. Expression of EGFP will allow tracking of the viral vector. The expression of the fusion protein (FliC-EGFP-GnRH) is expected to stimulate an antibody and cell mediated immune response directed towards feline GnRH, which will provide an immunocontraceptive effect specific to cats. / Master of Science

This diploma thesis deals with the analysis of structural and dynamic organization of thyrotropin releasing hormone receptor (TRH-R) and δ-opioid receptor (DOR) within plasma membrane (PM) in relation to the specific sub-compartments of PM denominated as domains or membrane rafts. Modern fluorescence microscopy techniques FLIM, FRAP and RICS were used for this purpose. The experiments were performed on the live cells derived from HEK293 cell line. To reach the main goal of this work, the integrity of PM structure was altered by depletion of cholesterol which was performed by incubation of cells with β cyclodextrin. Results clearly support our previously suggested idea that the vast majority of TRH-R is localized in non-raft regions of plasma membrane. This work also compared different modes of performance of FRAP and results obtained by FRAP and RICS because these methods are to some extent analogous. This is one of the first works that used the RICS approach to characterize the G protein-coupled receptors. In the second part of this work, the setup of transient transfection of the HEK293 cells with DOR-ECFP and DOR EYFP constructs was established. Simultaneously, the functionality of these constructs, i.e. the ability of DOR to activate the cognate G protein was determined. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)