A reticulonodular splenic pattern is commonly associated with neoplastic or infectious etiologies. However, this has been described as an age-related variant in both humans and dogs, likely representing lymphoid follicles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ultrasonographic appearance of the spleens of growing kittens mimics the canine presentation. This was a prospective, descriptive study design. Healthy kittens up to 18 months old were scanned using a high frequency linear transducer. A reticulonodular pattern was present in (89%) of spleens. After 4 months of age, there was an overall negative correlation with age and the grade of the imaged spleen, which persisted even amongst the kittens that were enrolled serially. The findings of this study suggest that a reticulonodular pattern in young cats and kittens may be a normal finding within this population.

Chiu, Wang Kei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-110). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Contents --- p.v / Acknowledgements --- p.viii / Abbreviations --- p.ix / List of tables --- p.xii / List of figures --- p.xii / Chapter 1. --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Cell cycle and chromosome replication --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Telomere-associated proteins --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Telomere repair protein --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Function of telomere --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Telomerase --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Factors affecting telomere length --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7 --- Stress and telomere length --- p.14 / Chapter 1.8 --- Definition of Stress --- p.16 / Chapter 1.9 --- Central nervous system components involved in stress response --- p.17 / Chapter 1.10 --- Glucocorticoid --- p.17 / Chapter 1.11 --- Physiological effects under the activation of stress system --- p.19 / Chapter 1.12 --- Effects of chronic hyperactivation of the stress system --- p.20 / Chapter 1.13 --- Hypothesis --- p.23 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experiment animals --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- Methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Treatment schedule --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Organ extraction and serum preparation --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4 --- Serum corticosteroid assay --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5 --- Telomere length assay --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Genomic DNA digestion --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Southern blotting procedure --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6 --- Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) assay --- p.37 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Extract preparation and protein concentration quanititation --- p.38 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Real-time PCR reaction --- p.39 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Melt Curve --- p.41 / Chapter 2.7 --- Detection of mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase component (mTERT) mRNA expression by reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.42 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.42 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- RT-PCR --- p.44 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis of RT-PCR products --- p.45 / Chapter 2.8 --- Detection of mouse TERT (mTERT) by Western blotting --- p.46 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Nuclear protein extraction --- p.46 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) --- p.47 / Chapter 2.9 --- Statistics --- p.49 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1 --- Body and spleen weights of study animals --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2 --- Serum corticosterone level --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Telomere lengths of spleen --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4 --- Telomerase activity of spleen tissue --- p.58 / Chapter 3.5 --- Correlation between serum corticosterone level and telomere length --- p.65 / Chapter 3.6 --- Correlation between serum corticosterone level and telomerase activity --- p.66 / Chapter 3.7 --- Correlation between telomere length and telomerase activity --- p.67 / Chapter 3.8 --- Detection of telomerase reverse transcriptase component (mTERT) mRNA expression by RT-PCR --- p.69 / Chapter 3.9 --- Detection of mTERT by Western blotting --- p.72 / Chapter 3.10 --- Correlation between serum corticosterone level and mTERT mRNA /protein expression --- p.75 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter 4.1 --- Serum corticosterone level in mice --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2 --- Mice body weight and spleen weight --- p.80 / Chapter 4.3 --- Telomere lengths in the spleen tissue --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4 --- Telomerase activity in spleens --- p.84 / Chapter 4.5 --- Correlation between serum corticosterone level and telomere length --- p.87 / Chapter 4.6 --- Correlation between serum corticosterone level and telomerase activity --- p.89 / Chapter 4.7 --- Mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase component (mTERT) mRNA expression --- p.89 / Chapter 4.8 --- Expression of mTERT protein --- p.90 / Chapter 4.9 --- Conclusion --- p.92 / Chapter 5. --- References --- p.95 / Chapter 6. --- Appendix --- p.111

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of fatal, neurodegenerative diseases that can affect both humans and animals. TSEs can be sporadic, familial, or acquired diseases. The prion hypothesis states that a misfolded form of the host glycoprotein, PrPC, acts as the infectious agent in TSE disease. The misfolded form, PrPSc, is increased in β-sheet content, detergent insoluble and partially resistant to proteinase K (PK) digestion. Based on the prion hypothesis, most current post-mortem diagnostic tests rely on the presence of PrPSc as indicative of TSE disease. However, recently experimental cases of TSE disease have been identified where no PrPSc deposition is evident. One example of this is a murine transgenic model of Gerstmann Sträussler Scheinker (GSS) disease. GSS is a familial TSE disease, caused by a number of different mutations in human PrP including a point mutation from proline to leucine at residue 102. A murine model of GSS disease, produced through gene-targeting, contains the same point mutation at the equivalent residue, 101, in murine PrP. These mice do not develop spontaneous disease during their lifespan, but when inoculated intra-cerebrally with either human P102L GSS (101LL/GSS) or hamster 263K scrapie (101LL/263K); develop a clinical disease and vacuolar TSE-related pathology. Upon biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis, the brain tissues of these clinically ill mice contain little or no detectable PrPSc. However titration experiments have previously shown infectivity titres of 107-109IU/g of brain tissue. Standard PK digestion (at 37°C), NaPTA precipitation and isolation of PrPSc through detergent insolubility and differential centrifugation all confirmed the observation of little or no detectable PK-resistant PrP (PrP-res) in the 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K brain tissues, despite the high levels of TSE infectivity. The presence of PrPSc and/or TSE infectivity in the spleen during disease pathogenesis is dependent upon TSE agent strain and host species. Previous studies utilising wild-type mice infected with ME7, have shown that the levels of infectivity observed in spleen tissue are 2- 3log10 lower than those observed in the brain tissue of the same mice. However, experiments conducted as part of this thesis showed that sub-passage of both the brain and spleen tissue from clinically ill 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K mice into 101LL mice by intra-cerebral inoculation result in short incubation periods, indicating that infectivity levels were similarly high in both tissues. Biochemical analysis of the primary spleen tissue identified the presence of PrP-res, albeit at lower levels than those observed in wild-type spleens infected with a standard laboratory TSE strain, ME7 or 79A. However, the presence of PrP-res indicates that the spleen has a role in disease pathogenesis, which will require further investigation. Additionally, the spleen tissue maintains the discrepancy between PrP-res and TSE infectivity that is observed in the brain tissue of these models and further questions the prion hypothesis. As little or no PrP-res was detectable in the brain tissues of 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K mice by standard biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, it was hypothesised that an in vitro amplification technique, protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) could amplify PrPSc to detectable levels. A series of optimisation experiments were performed to produce a reliable positive control for amplification of mouse PrPSc from a standard laboratory mouse TSE strain, 79A or ME7, with a normal wild-type mouse brain homogenate substrate. While a wide range of technical and experimental conditions were investigated, consistent and reproducible amplification of mouse PrPSc was not achieved and therefore amplification of PrPSc from 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K tissues could not be performed as interpretation of results would be complicated without the presence of a positive control. Previous research has shown that while other commercial assays, e.g. TeSeE (BioRad), identified tissues from these models as borderline positive or negative for TSE disease, one TSE diagnostic assay, the IDEXX HerdChek kit, that utilises the Seprion ligand, identified both the brain and spleen tissue from 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K clinical mice as positive for TSE disease. In order to identify if TSE infectivity is associated with the target of the Seprion ligand, brain tissue homogenates from 101LL/GSS, 101LL/263K and a positive control wild-type/79A homogenate were depleted of the Seprion ligand target utilising a PAD-beads kit (Microsens Biotechnologies), which incorporates the Seprion ligand as the capture agent, in combination with magnetic beads. Upon inoculation, a single depletion of the homogenates produced no significant reduction in incubation period to clinical disease in either the depleted homogenates or the wash buffers produced, in comparison to a non-depleted brain homogenate. This result indicates that a single depletion with the Seprion ligand, did not remove enough of the aggregated protein to significantly alter the level of infectivity in the depleted homogenate and that any infectious agent, which was initially bound to the Seprion ligand due to non-specific interactions, was then released during the wash steps of the procedure. Proteomic differences between all components produced during a single depletion of an infected brain homogenate, wild-type/79A, or a normal uninfected brain homogenate were assessed to potentially identify the target of the Seprion ligand. In conclusion, these murine models of TSE disease, 101LL/GSS and 101LL/263K, which contain both high infectivity levels with little or no PrP-res in the brain tissue and similar high levels of infectivity with low levels of PrP-res in the spleen, questions the accepted correlation between levels of infectivity and PrP-res or PrPSc as proposed by the prion hypothesis. It is hypothesised that either an alternative form of PrP, which has not yet been identified is the infectious agent in these disease models, or that the TSE infectious agent is a component which associates with PrPSc rather than being PrPSc itself. The eventual identification of the infectious agent present in these unusual disease models will increase our understanding of these diseases, potentially offer improved diagnostics for infectivity, and perhaps identify novel therapeutic targets.

O tubarão-azul, Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) é uma espécie cosmopolita, de alto valor comercial, principalmente capturado por embarcações que operam em alto mar e vendido em mercados e feiras-livres. Poucos dados biológicos estão disponíveis sobre esta espécie, principalmente quanto à sua sanidade e, o conhecimento do desenvolvimento de seus órgãos linfoides pode trazer importantes informações neste contexto. Desta forma, o objetivo do trabalho é descrever o desenvolvimento embrionário dos órgãos linfoides em embriões de tubarão-azul: timo, órgão epigonal, baço e órgão de Leydig, quanto à estrutura e arquitetura macroscópica, microscópica e ultraestrutural, pelas técnicas de microscopia de luz e eletrônica de transmissão. Foram coletados cinco espécimes de cada fase representativa do desenvolvimento embrionário: I, II, III e IV e do animal adulto. O timo foi visível macroscopicamente nas fases III e IV e microscopicamente da fase I a IV. O órgão de Leydig está presente nas fases II, III e IV. O baço e o órgão epigonal estão presentes em todas as fases embrionárias e no adulto. O timo apresentou principalmente populações de timócitos em diversos estágios de maturação e melanomacrófagos, o baço apresentou melanomacrófagos linfócitos em diversos estágios de maturação, neutrófilos, trombócitos e grande quantidade de eritrócitos. O órgão epigonal apresentou um grande número de células imaturas, principalemente de linfócitos e células polimorfonucleares. A função do órgão de Leydig é perdida quando adulta, sendo substituída pelo órgão epigonal. Os resultados desse trabalho permitem sugerir que esses órgãos apresentam uma função hematopoiética desde o inicio da embriogênese até a fase adulta. / The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a cosmopolitan species of high commercial value, easily caught by vessels operating on the high seas and sold in markets and street fairs. Few biological data are available on this species, mainly from their sanity. Studies on development of these lymphoid organs can provide important information in this regard. Thus, the aim of this study is to describe the gross, microscopic and ultraestrutural morphology of the embryonic development of lymphoid organs: thymus, epigonal organ, spleen and the Leydig organ by light microscopy and transmission electron techniques. Five specimens were collected from each representative stage of embryonic development: II, III and IV besides adult specimens. Thymus was visible macroscopically at phases III and IV and microscopically from phase I to IV. Leydig organ is presente in phases II, III and IV. Spleen and epigonal organ are present in all embrionic phases and adult. Thymus presented mainly thymocytes populations in several maturation stages and melanomacrophages, spleen presentes melanomacrophages and lymphocytes, neutrophyls, trombocytes and huge amount of erytrocytes. Epigonal organ presented many immature cells, mainly lymphocytes and polimorphonuclear cells. Leidigs organ function is lost in adulthood being replaced by the epigonal organ. The results of this work allow to suggest that these organs present a hematopoietic function since the early development until the adult phase.

A comunicação entre sistema nervoso e imune contribui para a homeostasia. Em humanos, a convivência com portadores de doenças crônicas (\"caregiving\") é agente causador de alterações inclusive imunológicas. Modelos animais podem contribuir para a compreensão dos mecanismos aí envolvidos. Avaliamos aqui, em fêmeas sadias, as alterações decorrentes do convívio com parceira singenêica (C57/Bl6) portadora do melanoma B16F10. Os resultados mostraram que esta convivência, por 20 dias: 1) alterou o comportamento, sem modificar a concentração sérica de corticosterona; 2) aumentou a expressão de CD80 nas populações MHCII+CD11c+, no baço, mas não nos linfonodos; 3) diminuiu o percentual de células MHCII+CD80+ após cultura de medula óssea, por sete dias em meio com GM-CSF, IL-4 e LPS; 4) inibiu, parcialmente, a indução de uma reação de hipersensibilidade tardia; 5) não modificou o estabelecimento do melanoma. Assim, este modelo pode, com cautela, ser usado para o estudo das alterações imunes observadas em \"caregivers\". / The communication between the nervous and immune systems contributes to the homeostasis. In humans, living with chronic disease bearers (caregiving) is the causing agent of alterations including the immunological ones. Animal models can contribute for understanding the involved mechanisms. Herein, we evaluated, in healthy females, the alterations caused by cohabiting with a syngeneic (C57Bl/6) partner bearing the B16F10 melanoma. The results showed that such cohabitation for 20 days: 1) altered the behavior without modifying the corticosterone seric level; 2) increased the CD80 expression on MHC+CD11c+ cells at the spleen, but not those at the lymph node; 3) decreased the percentage of MHCII+CD80+ bone marrow cells cultured for 7 days in a GM-CSF, IL-4 and LPS medium. 4) partially inhibited the induction of a delayed type hypersensitivity; 5) did not modified the melanoma establishment. So forth, this model may cautiously be taken as a means for the study of immune alteration observed in caregivers.

A leptospirose é a zoonose mais comum, distribuída em todas as regiões do mundo e causada por bactérias virulentas do gênero Leptospira spp. A apresentação clínica da leptospirose varia de uma doença febril inespecífica a quadros graves com insuficiência renal aguda, icterícia, hemorragias graves, choque cardiovascular e falência de múltiplos órgãos. Pouco se sabe sobre a resposta imune do hospedeiro e os mecanismos patogênicos associados com a leptospirose grave com hemorragia pulmonar e choque cardiovascular. O baço tem sido estudado e considerado nos últimos anos como um órgão essencial na fisiopatologia da sepse/choque séptico, uma vez que nele ocorre perda de células da imunidade, secundária à apoptose. Objetivos: descrever os achados histológicos e a resposta imune in situ do baço de pacientes falecidos por leptospirose com hemorragia pulmonar e choque refratário, comparando-os com dois grupos controles, um formado por pacientes falecidos por choque séptico causado por bactérias Gram-positivas/-negativas e um segundo, formado por vítimas de trauma. Metodologia: retrospectivamente, 11 baços de pacientes com leptospirose grave e 10 baços de pacientes com choque séptico foram obtidos por necrópsia e comparados com 12 baços de vítimas de trauma abdominal fechado (controles normais), obtidos por esplenectomia. Os achados histológicos da polpa vermelha e da polpa branca esplênica foram analisados por meio de escore semi-quantitativo. A reação de imunohistoquímica (IH) foi empregada para a marcação de células NK, S100+, CD68+, TCD4+, TCD8+ e CD20+, bem como para células expressando caspase-3, TNF, IFN, IL-1, IL-2r, IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, IL-4 e TGF. A contagem de células marcadas foi realizada utilizando-se gratículo sobre 10 campos da polpa vermelha e 10 campos da polpa branca, escolhidos aleatoriamente. IH também foi realizada nos baços dos casos de leptospirose para a detecção de antígenos de Leptospira spp. Resultados: os baços de pacientes do grupo leptospirose e do grupo choque séptico demonstraram similaridades na análise histológica, divergindo do grupo trauma, com as seguintes alterações: congestão difusa da polpa vermelha com infiltração moderada a intensa de plasmócitos e polimorfonucleares e folículos da polpa branca com atrofia. A IH para antígenos de Leptospira foi positiva em oito (72,7%) amostras de baços do grupo leptospirose. Pela análise quantitativa das células marcadas pela IH, os seguintes resultados foram estatisticamente significantes: alta contagem de células S100+ no grupo leptospirose; alta densidade de células CD68+ no grupo choque séptico; baixa quantidade de células NK e TCD4+ nos grupos leptospirose e choque séptico; baixa quantidade de células TCD8+ nos casos de choque séptico e alta contagem de células CD20+ nos grupos leptospirose e choque séptico. Quanto às células expressando citocinas, encontrou-se alta quantidade de TNF nos pacientes do grupo leptospirose e grande número de células positivas para IL-10 nos grupos leptospirose e choque séptico. A expressão de IL-6, IFN, IL-1 e IL-2r foi insignificante nos baços dos três grupos estudados. Células expressando IL-12 foram encontradas apenas na polpa vermelha de casos de leptospirose. Conclusões: Semelhantes clinicamente aos casos de choque séptico, pacientes com leptospirose grave com choque apresentam disfunção endotelial difusa no baço, esplenite aguda e sinais de comprometimento da imunidade inata e adaptativa in situ no baço, caracterizado por uma baixa densidade de células NK, de células TCD4+ e baixa expressão de IL-6, IL-1, IL-2r, IFN e IL-12, com alta expressão de IL-10. Estes resultados sugerem que um estado de imunossupressão pontua a resposta imune do hospedeiro no estágio terminal da leptospirose grave com hemorragia pulmonar e choque cardiovascular. A presença de antígenos de Leptospira nos baços de casos de leptospirose sugere que o agente etiológico contribui diretamente para a patogênese das lesões / Leptospirosis is the most common worldwide zoonosis caused by virulent bacteria from the genus Leptospira spp. The clinical presentation of leptospirosis ranges from unspecific febrile illness to severe forms with acute renal failure, jaundice, hemorrhages, shock and multi organ failure. Little is known about the hosts immune response and the pathogenic mechanisms involved in severe leptospirosis. In recent years the spleen has been considered a pivotal organ in the patophysiology of the sepsis/septic shock because immune cells are lost due to apoptosis in this organ Objectives: describe and compare the splenic histological features and the immune response in situ in patients who died of pulmonary hemorrhage and shock caused by leptospirosis, with spleens from patients who suffered from Grampositive/- negative septic shock and abdominal trauma. Methodology: in retrospect, 11 spleen tissue samples from patients with leptospirosis and 10 spleens from patients with septic shock were obtained by necropsy, and compared with 12 spleens obtained by splenectomy from patients with abdominal trauma. The histological features in the red pulp and white pulp were analyzed by a semi quantitative score. Immunohistochemistry (IH) methods for NK , S100+, CD68+, TCD4+, TCD8+, CD20+ cells, caspase-3, TNF, IFN, IL-1, IL-2r, IL-6, IL-12, IL- 10, IL-4 and TGF were carried out and the stained cells were counted using a grid scale in ten fields of red pulp and white pulp chosen randomly. Also, IH was performed for Leptospira antigens in the leptospirosis patients. Results: the trauma group was totally different from the leptospirosis and septic shock patients which demonstrated strong similarities in the histological analysis: diffuse congestion in the red pulp with a moderate to intense infiltration of plasma cells, and polymorph nuclear cells, and follicles with marked atrophy. The Leptospira antigen was positive in eight (72,7%) spleen tissue samples from the leptospirosis group. By the IH methods and quantitative analysis, the following results reached statistical significance: high account of S100+ cells in the leptospirosis group; high density of CD68+ cells in the septic group; low density of NK and TCD4+ cells in the leptospirosis and septic groups; low quantities of TCD8+ cells in the septic group; high density of CD20+ cells in the leptospirosis and septic groups; high expression of TNF in the leptospirosis group and a strong expression of IL-10 in the leptospirosis and sepsis groups. The expression of IL-6, IFN, IL-1 and IL-2r was insignificant in all groups. IL-12 was only expressed in the red pulp of leptospirosis cases. Conclusion: similar to patients with septic shock, cases of severe leptospirosis (with pulmonary hemorrhage and shock) are associated with a splenic diffuse endothelial dysfunction, splenitis and signs of splenic disturbance in the innate and adaptative immunity in situ, characterized by an low density of NK cells, TCD4+ cells and low expression of IL-6, IL-1, IL-2r, IFN and IL-12 with a high expression of IL-10. These results suggest that an immunosuppressive state develops in the hosts immune response at the terminal stage of severe leptospirosis with pulmonary hemorrhage and shock. Also, the presence of leptospiral antigens in the spleen of the leptospirosis patients suggests the ethyological agent contributes directly to the pathogenesis of the lesions

Cannabis sativa (maconha) é a droga ilícita mais conhecida e utilizada em todo o mundo. Recentemente, o uso recreativo da droga por jovens aumentou muito, especialmente entre as gestantes. Estudos indicam que seu uso na gestação causa efeitos fetotóxicos adversos, no entanto, poucos estudos avaliam esses efeitos durante este período crítico sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema imunológico. Neste estudo, avaliamos o impacto da exposição gestacional à fumaça de maconha resultante da queima de cigarros sobre o desenvolvimento do baço e do timo de proles de camundongos BalbC. Utilizamos um modelo que se aproxima das reais condições de uso humano (inalação) sob os aspectos de dose e média exposição. Camundongos fêmeas gestantes (n = 20) foram expostas ao fumo da maconha ou ao ar filtrado (grupo controle) do 5,5° ao 17,5° dia gestacional (DG) por 5 minutos diariamente. Para isso, foi utilizado um aparelho para inalação da fumaça desenvolvido em nosso laboratório, onde os cigarros de maconha (200mg de Cannabis sativa) foram queimados e a fumaça conduzida para a câmara de exposição dos animais (exposição somente inalatória). Os baços e timos das proles foram coletados no 18,5° dia gestacional (DG), 20° e 60° dias pós-natais (DPN) para a realização das análises histológica e histoquímica. Avaliações morfológicas e quantitativas dos órgãos foram realizadas utilizando-se métodos estereológicos e por meio da semi quantificação de fibras do sistema colágeno. Os resultados indicam um aumento no peso corporal dos animais com 60 DPN cujas mães foram expostas ao fumo de Cannabis sativa durante a gravidez. Os machos com 60 DPN expostos apresentaram redução no volume total do timo, assim como em seus principais compartimentos, medula e córtex, onde também foi observado um aumento de fibras do sistema colágeno, quando comparados aos animais controles. Além disso, o baço desses animais também apresentou redução significativa em seu volume, porém não houve redução significativa no volume total da polpa vermelha. Machos e fêmeas com 60 DPN do grupo exposto apresentaram redução no volume total da polpa branca e aumento de fibras do sistema colágeno na região das trabéculas do parênquima do baço. Em suma, a exposição gestacional à maconha causa efeitos fetotóxicos que podem ser observados por alteração no baço e no timo da prole (sendo os efeitos distintos para machos e fêmeas) e estas alterações se tornam mais marcantes com o avanço da idade do animal, com potencial comprometimento da resposta imune nesses indivíduos. / Cannabis sativa (marijuana) is one of the most well-known and used illicit drugs worldwide. Recently, recreational use of that drug among young people has increased greatly, especially among pregnant women. Studies indicate that its use in pregnancy causes adverse fetotoxic effects, however there are few studies evaluating the effects of marijuana use during this critical period on the developing immune system. In this study, we evaluated the impact of gestational exposure to smoke marijuana resulting from burning cigarettes on the spleen and thymus development of BalbC mice offspring. We have used a model that approximates the real conditions of human use (inhalation) under the dose and medium exposure aspects. Pregnant mice (n=20), were exposed to marijuana smoke or filtered air (control group) from 5.5° to 17.5° gestational day (GD) for 5 minutes daily. Thus, we used a smoke inhalation apparatus developed in our laboratory where the marijuana cigarettes (200mg of Cannabis sativa) were burned and conducted to exposure chamber reaching the animals (nose-only exposure). Spleen and thymus of the offspring were collected on the 18.5° gestational day (GD), 20° and 60° postnatal day (PND) for the histological and histochemical analysis. Morphological and quantitative evaluations of these organs were performed using stereological methods and semi quantification of collagen fibers. The results indicate an increase in the mice body weight at PND 60 whose mothers were exposed to Cannabis sativa smoke during pregnancy. The PND 60 males from exposed group showed lower thymus total volume, as well as its main compartments such as medulla and cortex, where collagen fibers was also observed, when compared with males from the control group. Also, the spleen of these animals also presented a significant reduction, however no significant reduction was showed in the total volume of the red pulp. In addition, males and females from the exposed group at PND 60 presented reduction in total volume in the white pulp and increased of collagen fibers in the trabeculae region of the spleen. In summary, gestational exposure to marijuana causes fetotoxic effects that can be observed due to alteration in the spleen and thymus of the offspring (the effects being different for males and females), and these changes being marked with the advancement of the age, with potential impairment of the immune response in these individuals.

A vascularização arterial do baço do eqüino foi estudada por meio de radiografias contrastadas, cintilografias, dissecações e moldes. O baço está situado no antímero esquerdo e a sua posição na cavidade abdominal determina uma face parietal lisa e levemente convexa, enquanto que a face intestinal, onde estão localizados os vasos, nervos e ligamentos, é levemente côncava determinando uma área com menor espessura. O estudo da vascularização arterial demonstrou uma área paucivascular que coincide justamente com a área côncava onde a espessura é menor. Este comportamento foi observado tanto nos adultos como nos fetos. Baseado na distribuição dos vasos arteriais a região onde a espessura é menor foi indicada como local de eleição para a incisão no caso de esplenectomias parciais, dividindo o baço do eqüino em dois segmentos anátomo-cirúrgicos. A cirurgia de ressecção parcial do baço não foi descrita, no cavalo, conforme atesta a literatura atual. Duas cirurgias experimentais foram realizadas para comprovar a indicação, demonstrando que a proposta é exeqüível. A análise proporcional da área mostrou que a ressecção parcial na região indicada preserva em média 50% do parênquima. / Observation on the mode of parenchymal distribution of equine splenic artery was studied using arteriography, scintigraphy, dissection and corrosion cast. The spleen is situated in the left region of the abdomen. The parietal surface is convex and the visceral surface, where the blood vessels, nerves and ligaments are situated, is concave. The vascular arrangement may lead to division the organ into two anatomicosurgical segments. No literature is available on partial splenectomy in horses. Two partial resection was performed successfully by the method described, this partial resection preserve 50% of spleen parenchyma.

Descrições morfológicas são os primeiros passos para compreender a fisiologia dos organismos e seus sistemas. A biologia do desenvolvimento e a ontogenia da hematopoese de serpentes são pouco conhecidas, sendo a hematopoese embrionária inteiramente desconhecida. Os principais objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar o desenvolvimento e a hematopoese embrionária da serpente falsa-coral Oxyrhopus guibei (Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) a partir da oviposição, através da análise de caracteres morfológicos externos para a classificação dos estágios de desenvolvimento embrionário, de 30 embriões com 1-3, 15, 25, 30, 45, 65 e ~75 dias de ovipostura (d.o.) (quando eclodem), e de cortes histológicos de 29 ovos (ou embriões) de 1-3, 15, 25, 30, 45, 60d.o. e de filhotes do dia da eclosão e com uma semana de nascimento para a caracterização da hematopoese embrionária. Os embriões de 1-3d.o. foram classificados entre os estágios (st.) 17 e 23, com ausência da formação ocular até a presença de olhos sem pigmentação; de 15d.o. no st. 26, com olhos pigmentados e ductos endolinfáticos calcificados; de 25d.o. no st. 31, com escamas no corpo não pigmentado e a musculatura dos flancos não fusionada na linha mediana ventral; de 30d.o. entre os st. 31 e 33, que em adição à formação descrita no período anterior, apresentam membrana palpebral completa e musculatura fusionadas na linha mediana ventral na região pré-cardíaca; de 45d.o. entre os st.34 e 36, com musculatura completamente fusionada na linha mediana ventral e começando a desenvolver um padrão de pigmentação; de 65d.o. no st. 37 (último da tabela) com o padrão de pigmentação bem desenvolvido de coral em tríades, típico da espécie, e com o dente do ovo, e com ~75d.o. os ovos eclodiram com filhotes sadios, que apresentam cicatriz umbilical e o dente do ovo permanece presente até dois dias após a eclosão. A hematopoese em ovos de 1-3 e 15d.o. foi caracterizadas como hematopoese extraembrionária, ocorrendo nos vasos das membranas extraembrionárias e na fenda vitelínica, e hematopoese intraembrionária, na região AGM (aorta gonadal mesonéfrons), principalmente no interior da artéria aorta dorsal, que continua como local hematopoético embrionário até no período de 30d.o., porém com estruturas mais diferenciadas; com 45d.o. o principal local hematopoético passa a ser medula óssea, com foco hematopoético de multi-linhagem sanguínea a partir de 60d.o., nos seios vertebrais e medula costal, constituindo o local hematopoético definitivo. Foi observada a atividade hematopoética junto ao tecido renal, com o desenvolvimento da região AGM, entre os períodos de 15 a 30d.o., o timo e baço apresentam diferenciação linfocítica, observados a partir de 30 e 45d.o., respectivamente e o fígado não apresenta hematopoese embrionária. Esta é a primeira descrição do desenvolvimento embrionário de uma serpente Caenophidia ovípara e da hematopoese embrionária de Serpentes, contribuindo para o conhecimento da fisilogia destes processos e indicando a necessidade de estudos tanto para um melhor entendimento do desenvolvimento embrionário, quanto para a compreensão da ontogenia da hematopoese das serpentes. / Morphological descriptions are the first steps to understand the physiology of organisms and their systems. Developmental biology and ontogeny of hematopoiesis of snakes are poorly known, and the embryonic hematopoiesis is completely unknown. The main goals of this study were to characterize the embryonic and hematopoiesis development of the false coral snake Oxyrhopus guibei (Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) since oviposition. Analysis of external morphological characters regarding the classification developmental stages for developmental stages classification has been made for 30 embryos with 1 -3, 15, 25, 30, 45, 65 and ~ 75 days after oviposition days (o.d.) (when hatched), and histological sections of 29 eggs (or embryos) from 1-3, 15, 25, 30, 45, 60o.d. and one day neonates and one week after birth for the characterization of embryonic hematopoiesis. The embryos with 1-3o.d. were ranked between 17 and 23 stages (st.), with the absence of eye formation to the presence of unpigmented eyes; with 15o.d. in 26 st., with pigmented eyes and calcified endolymphatic duct; with 25o.d. in 31 st., with unpigmented body scales and muscles of the flanks not fused in the midline, with 30o.d. between 31 and 33 st., which in addition to the preceeding form, have full eyelid membrane and muscles fused at midline in the pre-cardiac region; with 45d.o. between 34 and 36 st., with muscles completely fused in the midline and beginning the development of pigmentation pattern, with 65o.d. in 37 st. (last stage of table) with the distinctive pigmentation tricolor-triad pattern , and the egg tooth, and ~ 75 d.o. health newborns have hatched, exhibiting the umbilical scar and the egg tooth up to two days after hatching. The hematopoiesis in eggs of 1-3 and 15o.d. was characterized as extraembryonic hematopoiesis, occurring in the vessels of extraembryonic membranes and in yolk clef, and intraembryonic hematopoiesis, in the AGM (gonad mesonefron aorta), mainly within the dorsal aorta, which continues as the embryonic hematopoietic site until the 30o.d., although with better differentiated structures; wth 45o.d. the bone marrow turns the main hematopoietic site, and with a hematopoietic focus of multi-lineage blood beginning in the 60d.o. at vertebral sinus and the ribs marrow, consisting the definitive hematopoietic sites. Hematopoietic activity was observed with the kidney tissue, through development of the AGM region, between the periods of 15 to 30d.o., thymus and spleen lymphocyte differentiation have been observed at 30 . and 45o.d., respectively, and the liver does not displays embryonic hematopoiesis. This is the first description of embryonic development of an oviparous Caenophidia snake and of the embryonic hematopoiesis in Serpentes, contributing to the knowledge the physiology of these processes and demonstrating the need of further studies for a better understanding of both embryonic development and the ontogeny snake.

Os peptídeos antimicrobianos são importantes ferramentas do sistema imune inato para controle das infecções e recentemente tem sido investigado seu potencial como estratégia terapêutica nas infecções e sepse. Estes peptídeos apresentam diversas atividades decorrentes de mecanismos de ação antimicrobianas e imuno estimuladoras. A indução de tolerância com a administração de pequenas doses de LPS reduz a mortalidade em modelos animais de sepse, modulando diversos aspectos do sistema imune. Nossa hipótese neste estudo foi que o efeito protetor da tolerância ao LPS está relacionado com a modulação da produção dos peptídeos antimicrobianos na sepse. A tolerância ao LPS foi induzida em camundongos C57bl/6 por injeção de lipopolissacarídeo de E. coli na dose de 1mg/kg por cinco dias. No oitavo dia os animais foram eutanasiados por overdose anestésica ou submetidos ao modelo de ligadura e punção cecal. Após seis horas os animais foram eutanasiados por overdose anestésica e o sangue, baço, intestino e pulmões foram coletados para determinação das concentrações de citocinas e peptídeos antimicrobianos. Nossos resultados mostram que o efeito da tolerância ao LPS sobre a produção de peptídeos antimicrobianos é tecido específica. Sistemicamente (plasma) a tolerância aumenta a concentração plasmática de beta defensina-3 e CRAMP somente em animais submetidos à CLP. No baço ocorre redução de beta defensinas 1 e 7 pela CLP e também pela tolerância. No pulmão há elevação de beta defensinas 1 e 3 pela CLP e esta é revertida pela tolerância. No intestino ocorre redução de defensinas pela tolerância tanto em animais controle quanto em animais submetidos à CLP. Observamos em nosso estudo um padrão invertido entre as concentrações de peptídeos antimicrobianos e citocinas no intestino e baço dos animais, principalmente nos submetidos à CLP. Quanto maior a concentração da citocina no tecido, menor a concentração da defensina em questão. No intestino podemos observar que a tolerância e a CLP aumentam a concentração de IL-6 e IL-10 e diminuem as concentrações de beta defensinas 1 e 7. No baço observamos esse padrão entre beta defensina-7 e IL-6 e entre beta defensina-1 e TNF-alfa. Não foi possível encontrar esse tipo de correlação no pulmão. Concluímos que os efeitos protetores da tolerância ao LPS estão relacionados com uma menor produção de defensinas no baço, pulmão e intestino de animais submetidos à sepse, e com maior concentração de peptídeos antimicrobianos no plasma / Antimicrobial peptides are important tools of the innate immune system to control infections and its potential as a therapeutic strategy in infections and sepsis has recently been investigated. These peptides present both antimicrobial and immuno-stimulatory activities. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance is a defense mechanism against invading microorganisms also widely distributed in nature. Induction of tolerance with the administration of small doses of LPS reduces mortality in animal models of sepsis, modulating several immune system aspects. Our hypothesis was that the protective effect of LPS tolerance is related to the modulation of antimicrobial peptide production in sepsis. LPS tolerance was induced in C57bl / 6 mice by injection of E. coli LPS at 1mg / kg for five days. On the eighth day the animals were submitted to the sepsis model of cecal ligation and puncture. After six hours the animals were euthanized by anesthetic overdose and blood, spleen, intestine and lungs were collected for the determination of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides concentrations. Our results show that the effect of LPS tolerance on the production of antimicrobial peptides is tissue specific. LPS tolerance increases the plasma concentration of beta-defensin-3 and CRAMP only in animals undergoing CLP. In the spleen, there is reduction of ? defensins 1 and 7 by CLP and also by tolerance. In the lung, there is elevation of beta defensins 1 and 3 by PLC and this is reversed by tolerance. In the intestine, there is reduction of defensins by tolerance in both control and CLP animals. In our study, we observed an inverted pattern between the concentrations of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines in the intestine and spleen of animals, especially those submitted to CLP. The higher the cytokine concentration in the tissue, the lower the concentration of defensin in question. In the gut we can observe that tolerance and CLP increases IL-6 and IL-10 concentration and decreases ? defensins 1 and 7 concentrations. In the spleen, we observed this pattern between ?-defensin-7 and IL-6 and between alpha-defensin-1 and TNF-alpha. It was not possible to find this type of correlation in the lung. We conclude that the protective effects of LPS tolerance are related to a lower production of defensins in the spleen, lung and intestine of animals submitted to sepsis, and with a higher concentration of antimicrobial peptides in plasma