Numerous studies have indicated that the microgravity environment of space has harmful effects on several tissues throughout the body. Although this phenomenon is well documented, research in this area is still in its relative infancy. This study investigates the effects of space flight on mucin production of the uterine tubes of mice. This study examined the epithelium of the uterine tubes from female mice that were flown on the space shuttle Endeavour for 13 days in August, 2007 and their concomitant controls. The tissue was qualitatively analyzed for the type of mucin produced, i.e.; acidic, neutral, acidic/neutral mixture. Further, the tissue was quantitatively analyzed for the amounts of mucins produced by measuring the thickness of the mucin layer for each region of the uterine tube: isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum. One way ANOVA tests were used to compare mucin thickness between all three sets of animals. Results indicate similar but not identical results between the three regions of the uterine tube. The Baseline tissue had the thickest mucin layer regardless of treatment group. In the ampulla the mucin layer was the thinnest in the Flight tissue, followed by the Ground Control, with the Baseline being the thickest. Analysis of the mucin layer of the infundibulum of the three treatment groups indicated no difference in its thickness between the three regions of the uterine tube. These results indicate a trend toward thinning of the mucin layer of the uterine tube in space flight, but also indicate an influence by the housing environment.

Numerous studies have indicated that the microgravity environment of space has harmful effects on several tissues throughout the body. Although this phenomenon is well documented, research in this area is still in its relative infancy. This study investigates the effects of space flight on mucin production of the uterine tubes of mice. This study examined the epithelium of the uterine tubes from female mice that were flown on the space shuttle Endeavour for 13 days in August, 2007 and their concomitant controls. The tissue was qualitatively analyzed for the type of mucin produced, i.e.; acidic, neutral, acidic/neutral mixture. Further, the tissue was quantitatively analyzed for the amounts of mucins produced by measuring the thickness of the mucin layer for each region of the uterine tube: isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum. One way ANOVA tests were used to compare mucin thickness between all three sets of animals. Results indicate similar but not identical results between the three regions of the uterine tube. The Baseline tissue had the thickest mucin layer regardless of treatment group. In the ampulla the mucin layer was the thinnest in the Flight tissue, followed by the Ground Control, with the Baseline being the thickest. Analysis of the mucin layer of the infundibulum of the three treatment groups indicated no difference in its thickness between the three regions of the uterine tube. These results indicate a trend toward thinning of the mucin layer of the uterine tube in space flight, but also indicate an influence by the housing environment.

Orientador: Francisco Eduardo Martinez / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T19:06:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Almeida-Francia_CamilaContinDinizde_D.pdf: 36206900 bytes, checksum: d44823fb5bde1faf04aa09c33b7f7a87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O alcoolismo é o terceiro problema mais sério de Saúde Pública Mundial. A maioria é constituída de homens, entretanto, o índice de mulheres viciadas em bebidas alcoólicas vem aumentando. A tuba uterina promove o meio necessário para a maturação dos gametas femininos e masculinos (capacitação), a fertilização e o desenvolvimento inicial do embrião. As variedades UChA e UChB constituem modelos para os trabalhos relacionados aos aspectos genéticos, bioquímicos, fisiológicos, nutricionais e farmacológicos dos efeitos do álcool que são importantes fatores do alcoolismo humano. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho analisou o ciclo estral e as células epiteliais da tuba uterina da linhagem de ratos UChA e UChB, bebedores voluntários de etanol, divididos em três grupos: 1°) UChA de consumo voluntário de 6,05 glK.gIdia de etanol a 10%; 2°) UChB de consumo voluntário de 8,18 glK.gIdia de etanol a 100/Ó e 3j ratas Wistar (controle). Durante 20 dias seguidos procedeu-se à análise do ciclo estral através da coleta de esftegaços vaginais. Fêmeas em estro foram selecionadas para coleta e processamento dos órgãos, empregando-se técnicas microscópicas e morfométricas. Os grupos UChA e UChB apresentaram ciclo estral irregular. A região intramural (In) da tuba uterina dos ratos tratados apresentou vacúolos no citoplasma e cisternas dilatadas, núcleos com formatos irregulares e gotas lipídicas. A região do istmo (I) apresentou alteração de elétron-densidade dos microvilos e distribuição irregular dos cHios, além das características citadas na região In. A região da ampola (A) apresentou aumento de corpos lamelares e gotas lipídicas no citoplasma e na luz do epitélio. Da mesma forma, as regiões de infundíbulo (Inf) e fimbrias (F) dos ratos tratados apresentaram vacúolos e lacunas com conteúdo ou não em seu interior, mitocôndrias não preservadas, corpos lamelares, gotas lipídicas e cisternas dilatadas. Foram observados núcleos com formas irregulares e núcleos e conteúdo citoplasmático na luz do epitélio. A morfologia dos cHios apresentou-se alterada. O processo degenerativo adquiriu proporções crescentes do grupo UChA para o UChB. Os grupos tratados apresentaram menores áreas citoplasmáticas e nucleares comparados ao controle. Conclui-se que o etanol altera o ciclo estral e a estrutura das células epiteliais da tuba uterina. Devido às alterações, os processos de capacitação e fertilização estão comprometidos. Infere-se que devido à grande quantidade de lisosomos e formação de vacúolos, o álcool induza inicialmente morte celular diferente da apoptose / Abstract: Alcoholism is the third most serious problem of World Public Health. Although the majority consists of men, the index of women addicted to alcoholic beverages is increasing. The uterine tube promotes the necessary means for maturation of female and male gametes (capacitation), the fertilization and the initial development of the embI)'o. The varieties VChA and VChB constitute rare models for works related to genetic, biochemical, physiological, nutritional, and pharmacological effects of alcohol that are important factors in human alcoholism. Thus the present work analyzed the estrous cycle and the epithelial cells ofthe uterine tube (intramural- In, isthmus - I, ampulla - A, injUndibulum - Infandfimbrias - F) ofthe rat lineage VChA and VChB, voluntary drinkers of alcohol, divided into three groups: 1st) VChA, voluntary consumption of 6.05 gIKglday of ethanollO%; 2nd) VChB, voluntary consumption of8.18 gIKglday of ethanollO% and 3rd) Wistar rats (control). For 20 following days it was preceded to the ana1ysis ofthe estrous cycle through the collection of vaginal smears. Females in estrus were selected for collection and processing of organs, employing microscopic and morphometric techniques. The VChA and VChB rats show irregular estrous cycle. The In region of treated rats presented cytoplasmic vacuoles and dilated cisterna, nuclei with irregular forms and lipid droplets. The I region showed altered electrondensity and irregular distribution ofthe cilia, and the characteristics mentioned in the In region. The A region showed increase of lamellar bodies and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm and lumen of the epithelium. The Inf and F of treated rats showed vacuoles and lacunas with content or not in their interiors, non-preserved mitochondria, lamellar bodies, lipid droplets and dilated cisterna. There were observed nuclei with irregular forms and nuclei and cytoplasmic content in the lumen of the epithelium. Morphology of the cilia was observed to be altered. The degenera tive process acquired growing proportions ftom the VChA group to the VChB one. Treated groups presented smaller cytoplasmic and nuclear areas compared to the controI. It's concluded that ethanol alters the estrous cyc1e and the epithelial cell structure of uterine tube. Due the alterations, the fertilization and the capacitation process of ethanol-drinking rats are damaged. Yet it is inferred that due to the great quantity of lysosomes and formation of vacuoles, alcohol initially leads to cell death different ftom the apoptosis / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural