The phylogeny of Acanthaceae, chiefly based on molecular data, confirms the monophyly of the family, however, a morphological synapomorphy to characterize it is still unknown. Apart from being well represented in our flora, the identification of its species is quite difficult due to taxonomic problems and lack of morphological studies. The family presents many morphological instabilities within genera, for example with the pattern of inflorescences. Lepidagathis Willd. serves as an example, presenting three types of inflorescence and divergent floral morphologies that have challenged its systematics. Therefore, exploring the morphology, anatomy, vascularization and development of the inflorescence and flowers, it was possible to find homologies between the studied species and speculate around its evolution. The patterns of the inflorescence were discovered to be enriched or depleted forms of the same architecture. On some species, there were more or less reproductive meristems on the axil of bracts, and therefore, more or less possibilities of developing flowers or partial inflorescences. The available phylogeny for the group suggests an equal probability of gain or loss of such reproductive meristems on the inflorescences. The development of the floral whorls on the studied species was the same, despite their different external morphology. Nevertheless, the vascularization of the flowers revealed important aspects of the floral evolution of the genus, showing that the anatomy may retain ancestral characteristics that relate the species. Thus, the display and volume of flowers of each inflorescence, and the size and arrangement of the flowers are more likely related to the pollination syndromes of each species. The results corroborate the current circumscription of Lepidagathis and encourages further investigations with Acanthaceae species that may lead to interesting discoveries on homologies and assist the phylogenetic studies with the family / A filogenia de Acanthaceae, sobretudo baseada em dados moleculares, confirma a monofilia da família, no entanto, ainda não se conhece uma sinapomorfia morfológica que a caracterize. Apesar de estar bem representada em nossa flora, a identificação de suas espécies é dificultada por problemas taxonômicos e pela falta de estudos morfológicos. A família apresenta muitas inconstâncias morfológicas dentro dos gêneros, por exemplo no padrão de inflorescências. Lepidagathis Willd. serve como exemplo, apresentando três tipos de inflorescências e morfologias florais divergentes que tem dificultado sua sistemática. Assim, explorando a morfologia, anatomia, vascularização e desenvolvimento das inflorescências e flores, foi possível encontrar homologias entre as espécies estudadas a especular sobre sua evolução. Descobriu-se que os padrões das inflorescências são formas enriquecidas ou escassas da mesma arquitetura. Em algumas espécies, existem mais ou menos meristemas reprodutivos nas axilas das brácteas e, portanto, mais ou menos possibilidades de desenvolvimento de flores e inflorescências parciais. A filogenia disponível para o grupo sugere que há uma probabilidade igual de ganho ou perda dos meristemas reprodutivos nas inflorescências. O desenvolvimento dos verticilos florais nas espécies estudadas é igual, apesar das diferenças na morfologia externa. No entanto, a vascularização revelou aspectos importantes sobre a evolução floral no gênero, mostrando que a anatomia pode reter características ancestrais que relacionam as espécies. Portanto, a disposição e o volume de flores por inflorescência e o tamanho e arranjo das flores tem mais chances de estarem relacionadas com a síndrome de polinização de cada espécie. Os resultados corroboram a circunscrição atual de Lepidagathis e encorajam mais investigações com as espécies de Acanthaceae que possam levar a descobertas importantes sobre homologias e ajudar nos estudos filogenéticos com a família

O Callithrix penicillata (sagui-de-tufo-preto) mesmo sendo utilizado em algumas pesquisas e também mantido tanto em zoológicos como animal de estimação, possui ainda diversas lacunas acerca de sua anatomia. Assim, utilizamos 10 animais somente para o estudo da topografia, do padrão de irrigação vascular e de alguns índices biométricos do estômago, e outros cinco animais para estudos microscópicos. Ambos tendo com o objetivo caracterizar a anatomia do estômago e comparar as variações entre os sexos e eventualmente com outras espécies. Para o padrão vascular realizamos injeção de neoprene látex corado na aorta torácica com posterior dissecação dos ramos abdominais e no caso do estudo biométrico o mesmo foi realizado com o uso de um paquímetro digital, fita métrica e transferidor. E procedimentos tanto para a microscopia de luz com colorações de Hematoxilina-Eosina e Tricrômio de Masson quanto para a microscopia eletrônica de varredura foram efetuados. Com base no estudo ora realizado verificamos que o estômago localizava-se medialmente da 9° a 12° costelas e os aspectos biométricos revelam os padrões primários para este órgão, não se registrando diferenças entre machos e fêmeas. A artéria celíaca surge como o primeiro ramo da aorta abdominal, ocorrendo maior prevalência (70%) de trifurcação a partir desta artéria, com a emissão da artéria lienal, artéria gástrica esquerda e artéria hepática. A artéria lienal acompanhou a curvatura maior do estômago dando origem à artéria gastroepiplóica esquerda. A artéria gástrica esquerda no seu trajeto acompanhava a região da cárdia e do esôfago abdominal, cedendo-lhes contribuições. Já a artéria hepática originava a artéria gástrica direita e a artéria gastroduodenal. E esta por sua vez fornecia a artéria gastroepiplóica direita e a artéria pancreático-duodenal. Quanto aos aspectos microscópicos observamos a presença de quatro camadas: mucosa, submucosa, muscular e serosa e a presença de pregas da mucosa. Desta forma nesta oportunidade visamos contribuir para o estudo da anatomia comparativa, o que procuramos por vezes realizar neste trabalho, a fim também de oferecer subsídios indispensáveis em procedimentos clínico-cirúrgicos nesta espécie. / The Callithrix penicillata (black-tufted-ear-marmoset), have being used in some research and also kept both in zoos and pet. There are still many questions to be answered about their anatomy. Then to study the topography, the vascular pattern of irrigation and some biometric indices of the stomach, we used 10 animals and five other animals to microscopic studies. Both group of animals were studied in order to characterize the anatomy of the stomach and compare the variations between the sexes and possibly other species. To perform the vascular standard thoracic aorta was stained with injection of neoprene latex. Subsequently, we performed the dissection of the abdominal branches and in the case of the same biometric study was conducted using a digital caliper, tape measure and protractor. Procedures for both light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Massons Trichrome as for scanning electron microscopy were perfomed. Based on our study we verified that the stomach was located medially from 9° to 12° ribs and biometric aspects reveal the primary standards body for this, not registering differences between males and females. The celiac artery arises as the first branch of the abdominal aorta, causing a higher prevalence (70%) from the trifurcation of the artery, originating the lienal artery, left gastric artery and the hepatic artery. Lienal artery accompanied the greater curvature of the stomach giving rise to the left gastroepiploic artery. The left gastric artery in its course follow and irrigate the region of the abdominal esophagus and cardia, originating new branches for that region. In its turn the hepatic artery originated the right gastric artery and gastroduodenal artery which gives rise to the right gastroepiploic artery and pancreatic-duodenal artery. In regards to the microscopic aspects we observed the presence of four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscle and serosa and the presence of mucosal folds. Thus we aim to contribute to the study of comparative anatomy, in order to offer indispensable subsidies in clinical and surgical procedures in this specie.

Tissue neovascularization in postnatal life occurs during post-traumatic tissue healing, neoplastic growth and in the endometrium during the reproductive cycle of females. Although embryonic angiogenesis has been intensively studied, far less is known about tissue revascularization and vessel remodeling in adults due to methodological difficulties. In the current studies, we developed a novel in vivo model of neovascularization that is performed on the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). A provisional matrix placed on the CAM was vascularized in response to FGF-2. In order to distinguish new from pre-existing vessels, the matrix was separated from the CAM by a nylon grid. Techniques to visualize the three dimensional structure of vascular networks and a method for rapid and semi-automated quantification were developed. This novel model allowed us to study the effects of potential inhibitors of tissue vascularization and their effects on the pre-existing vasculature. We found that while fumagillin or inhibition of MEK and Src inhibited only neovascularization, addition of cortisol or wortmannin was toxic to pre-existing vessels. The CAM model allowed intravital observations during extended periods of time, which together with immunohistochemical analysis revealed a novel mechanism of tissue vascularization. Tensional forces generated by myofibroblast-mediated contraction of the provisional matrix, induced and directed ingrowth of vascular tissue. During the initial stages of vascularization, the vascular network was recruited from the surrounding tissue through a non-angiogenic mechanism by elongation and enlargement of pre-existing vessels, which were moved as vascular loops with constant functional circulation. Ingrown vessels were remodeled, presumably through intussusception, fusion and pruning. The CAM model was validated by observations of neovascularization associated with healing of the injured mouse cornea.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones through creation of new vessel branch points by sprouting or vessel splitting, is an important part of tissue growth in both physiological processes like wound healing and pathological conditions such as cancer. Growth factors like VEGF-A, FGF-2 and PDGF-BB are involved in both types of angiogenesis. Screening for genes regulated by VEGF-A stimulation in endothelial cells revealed up regulation of the endothelial cell specific glycoprotein endocan. Endocan itself did not stimulate angiogenesis. VEGF was a specific inducer since FGF-2, PDGF-BB, HGF and EGF did not alter expression. The signaling molecule PI3K was a negative regulator of endocan expression. Endocan was expressed in tumor cells and vessels, suggesting that although endocan did not directly regulate angiogenesis it can serve as a marker for angiogenic tumors. In two models of wound healing angiogenesis, the chick extra-embryonal CAM assay and the mouse cornea assay, we observed that blood vessels grew into avascular areas as functional mural cell covered loops by elongation of preexisting vessels. Loop formation was simultaneous with contraction of the avascular matrix mediated by proto/myofibroblasts. Reducing the contractibility of the stroma reduced vessel ingrowth, showing that contraction was necessary for mediating and directing growth of the vascular loops. These findings suggest a model for biomechanical regulation of vascularization that is complementary to sprouting angiogenesis which is guided by gradients of growth factors. In defining the role of growth factors, in the CAM assay, we found that FGF-2 and PDGF-BB induced vessel ingrowth, while VEGF-A, EGF and HGF did not. TGF-beta reduced the effect of FGF-2. By use of specific receptor kinase inhibitors we found an absolute requirement VEGF- and PDGF-receptor activity for vascularization while FGF- and TGF-beta-receptor function was dispensable. This suggests that functional VEGF- and PDGF-receptors are needed for vessel elongation.

Type 1 diabetes affects one in every 400-600 children and adolescents in the US. Standard therapy with exogenous insulin is burdensome, associated with a significant risk of dangerous hypoglycemia, and only partially efficacious in preventing the long term complications of diabetes. Pancreatic islet transplantation has emerged as a promising therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, this cell-based therapy is significantly limited by inadequate islet supply (more than one donor pancreas is needed per recipient), instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction, and loss of islet viability/function during isolation and following implantation. In particular, inadequate revascularization of transplanted islets results in reduced islet viability, function, and engraftment. Delivery of pro-vascularization factors has been shown to improve vascularization and islet function, but these strategies are hindered by insufficient and/or complex release pharmacokinetics and inadequate delivery matrices as well as technical and safety considerations. We hypothesized that controlled presentation of angiogenic cues within a bioartificial matrix could enhance the vascularization, viability, and function of transplanted islets. The primary objective of this dissertation was to enhance allogenic islet engraftment, survival and function by utilizing synthetic hydrogels as engineered delivery matrices. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-maleimide hydrogels presenting cell adhesive motifs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were designed to support islet activities and promote vascularization in vivo. We analyzed the material properties and cyto-compatibility of these engineered materials, islet engraftment in a transplantation model, and glycemic control in diabetic subjects. The rationale for this project is to establish novel biomaterial strategies for islet delivery that support islet viability and function via the induction of local vascularization.

Foram utilizados 30 encéfalos de nutria (Myocastor coypus), injetados com látex, corado em vermelho, com objetivo de sistematizar e descrever a distribuição e territórios das artérias cerebrais rostral, média e caudal e suas ramificações na superfície dos hemisférios cerebrais e no tronco encefálico. A artéria carótida interna apresentou-se atrofiada, sendo o encéfalo vascularizado exclusivamente pelo sistema vértebro-basilar. A artéria vertebral penetrou pelo forame magno, e seus antímeros anastomosaram-se formando uma calibrosa artéria basilar. A artéria basilar, de grande calibre, alcançou o sulco rostral da ponte, dividiu-se em dois ramos terminais, em uma divergência de aproximadamente 90°, e lançou as artérias cerebelar rostral, cerebral caudal, hipofisária, corióidea rostral e ramos centrais para o lobo piriforme. Após, os ramos terminais da artéria basilar projetaram-se rostro-lateralmente até a altura da origem aparente do nervo oculomotor (III par craniano), e curvaram-se alcançando o trato óptico, lançando a artéria cerebral média e a artéria cerebral rostral, seu ramo terminal. A artéria cerebelar rostralemitiu um ramo tectal mesencefálico caudal, para a face caudal do colículo caudal. A artéria cerebral caudal, normalmente única, de grosso calibre, projetava-se látero-dorsalmente para o interior da fissura transversa do cérebro, lançando as artérias tectal mesencefálica rostral (componente proximal) e inter-hemisférica caudal. A artéria tectal mesencefálica rostral vascularizou a maior parte do tecto mesencefálico, e os ramos terminais das artérias tectais mesencefálicas, rostral e caudal, formaram uma rede anastomótica sobre a superfície dos colículos rostrais e caudais. A artéria inter-hemisférica caudal lançou ramos centrais, artérias corióidea caudal (esta anastomosava-se com a artéria corióidea rostral, vascularizando o diencéfalo e o hipocampo), hemisféricas occipitais (para o pólo occipital do hemisfério cerebral), ramos tectais mesencefálicos rostrais (componentes distais), e então contornava o esplênio do corpo caloso anastomosando-se “em ósculo” com a artéria inter-hemisférica rostral. A artéria cerebral média, de grande calibre, projetava-se pelo interior da fossa lateral do cérebro, lançando ramos centrais caudais e rostrais para o páleo-palio da região. Ela ultrapassou o sulco rinal lateral, formando um a dois eixos principais para a face convexa do hemisfério cerebral, originando ramos hemisféricos convexos caudais e rostrais, e suas ramificações terminais anastomosavam-se “em ósculo” no lobo parietal com os ramos das artérias hemisféricas mediais rostrais, ramo da artéria cerebral rostral. A artéria cerebral rostral, de grosso calibre, projetou-se rostro-medialmente, na altura do quiasma óptico, emitindo um ramo medial, para a fissura longitudinal do cérebro. Seu eixo principal projetava-se rostralmente, acompanhando a fissura longitudinal do cérebro, até o bulbo olfatório, continuando-se para a cavidade nasal como artéria etmoidal interna. Esta emitiu ramos centrais, hemisférico medial e artérias lateral e medial do bulbo olfatório. O ramo medial anastomosava-se com seu homólogo contralateral, quando presente, fechando o círculo arterial cerebral rostralmente, formando uma artéria comunicante rostral, mediana ímpar. Esta se bifurcou nas artérias inter-hemisféricas rostrais, que vascularizavam toda face medial dos hemisférios cerebrais, até o esplênio do corpo caloso, emitindo as artérias hemisférica rostral e hemisférica medial rostral, sendo que os ramos terminais desta alcançavam a face convexa, anastomosando-se com os ramos terminais da artéria cerebral média. / Thirty nutria brains were used (Myocastor coypus), injected with latex and stained in red, in order to systematize and describe the distribution and the territories of the rostral, middle and caudal cerebral arteries and their ramifications in the surface of cerebral hemispheres and in the brain stem in nutria. The internal carotid artery was atrophied, being the encephalic vascularized exclusively by the vertebro-basilar system. The vertebral artery penetrated the magnum foramen, and their antimeres anastomosed to form a calibrous basilar artery. The basilar artery, of great caliber, reached the rostral sulcus of the pons, divided into two terminal branches, at a divergence of approximately 90°, and launched the rostral cerebellar, caudal cerebral, hypophyseal, rostral choroid arteries and central branches to the piriform lobe. Afterwards, the terminal branches of the basilar artery were projected rostrolaterally up to the apparent origin of the oculomotor nerve (III cranial nerve), and bent over reaching the optic tract, launching the middle cerebral artery and the rostral cerebral artery, its terminal branch. The rostral cerebellar artery emitted a caudal tectal mesencephalic branch, to the caudal surface of the caudal colliculus. The caudal cerebral artery, usually unique, of large caliber, projected laterally into the transverse fissure of the brain, launching the rostral tectal mesencephalic (proximal component) and caudal inter-hemispheric arteries. The rostral tectal mesencephalic artery vascularized most of the mesencephalic roof, and the terminal branches of the tectal mesencephalic arteries, rostral and caudal, formed an anastomotic network on the surface of rostral and caudal colliculus. The caudal inter-hemispheric artery emitted central branches, caudal choroid (this anastomosis with the rostral choroidal artery, vascularizing of the diencephalon and hippocampus), occipital hemispheres artery (to the occipital pole of the cerebral hemisphere), rostrais tectral mesencephalic branches (distal components), and then bypassed the splenius of the corpus callosum anastomosing "in osculum" with the rostral inter-hemispheric artery. The medium cerebral artery, of great caliber, projected through the interior of the cerebral lateral fossa, Releasing caudal and rostrais central branches to the paleopallio region. It crossed the lateral rinal groove, forming one to two main axes to the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere, originating caudal and rostral convex hemispheric branches, and its terminal branches anastomosed "in osculum" in the parietal lobe with the branches of the mediais rostrais hemispherics arteries, branch of the rostral cerebral artery. The rostral cerebral artery, of large caliber, projected rostro-medially, at the level of optic chiasm, emitting a medial branch, for the cerebral longitudinal fissure. Its main axis was projected rostrally, accompanying the cerebral longitudinal fissure, until the olfactory bulb, continuing to the nasal cavity as internal ethmoidal artery. It emitted central branches, medial hemispheric and lateral and medial of the olfactory bulb arteries. The medial branch was anastomosed with its contralateral homologous, when present, closing the cerebral arterial circle rostrally, forming a rostral communicating artery, unique median. This bifurcated in the inter-hemispheric rostrais arteries, which vascularized the entire medial face of the cerebral hemispheres, until the splenius of the corpus callosum, emitting the rostral hemispherical and hemispherical medial rostral arteries, being that the terminal branches of this reached the convex surface, anastomosing with the terminal branches of the middle cerebral artery.

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-05-30T14:48:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RadanEMO_DISSERT.pdf: 6837797 bytes, checksum: 89dcc00cf60da48345d45e9b30832edb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-30T14:48:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RadanEMO_DISSERT.pdf: 6837797 bytes, checksum: 89dcc00cf60da48345d45e9b30832edb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The cloacal bursa is the responsible organ of the birds for the maturation and transfer of lymphocytes to other tissues. Despite the importance of this organ in the immunological mechanisms of these animals, there is little information on the development and ultrastructure in young greater rhea. The objective of this study was to describe macroscopy, microscopy, ultrastructure and arterial vascularization of cloacal bursa of young greater rhea. In this study, 26 animals of both sexes (8 males and 18 females) were used, 20 of which were animals for macroscopy and arterial vascularization, and the six for light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The greater rhea cloacal bursa is a hollow organ, rounded, slightly flattened, pinkish color and with pleated inner mucosa, located dorsally to the cloaca, with whom it communicates through an ostium. It was verified that, irrigation of the cloacal sac occurs from terminal branches of the abdominal aorta, such as the right and left internal iliac arteries and the caudal mesenteric arteries. Left and right internal iliac arteries originated the right and left internal pudendal arteries, which in turn gave rise to right and left bursocloacal and cloacal arteries in all animals analyzed. Microscopically, the cloacal sac of the emu presented, at all ages, the pleated internal mucosa composed of lymphoid lobes of various sizes and organized as alveolar structure, presenting two types of lining epithelia, the bundle lobe epithelium, the simple squamous type and interlobular epithelium, corresponding to the columnar stratification. These lobes consisted of cortical zone, corticomedular zone and medullar zone. Arranged in these lobes, the existence of lymphocytes of various sizes, lymphoblasts, blood capillaries, epithelial reticular cells and macrophages were verified by transmission microscopy. In the scanning, the surface of the mucosa of the bursal lobes presented polygonal projections, with the presence of small microvilli on the whole surface. It was concluded that the cloacal bursa of the young greater rhea was presented as a distinct structure of the cloaca, with varied size as a function of age, and also, its development was observed from the sixth week of life / A bolsa cloacal é o órgão das aves responsável pela maturação e transferência de linfócitos B para outros tecidos. Apesar da importância deste órgão nos mecanismos imunológicos desses animais, são poucas as informações sobre o desenvolvimento e ultraestrutura em emas jovens. Desta forma, objetivou-se descrever a macroscopia, microscopia, ultraestrutura e vascularização arterial da bolsa cloacal de emas jovens. Neste estudo, utilizou-se 26 animais de ambos os sexos (8 machos e 18 fêmeas), sendo 20 animais destinados à macroscopia e vascularização arterial e os seis para a microscopia de luz, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A bolsa cloacal de emas é um órgão oco, arredondado, ligeiramente achatado, coloração rosada e com mucosa interna pregueada, localizada dorsalmente à cloaca, com quem se comunica por meio de um óstio. Verificou-se que, a irrigação da bolsa cloacal ocorre a partir de ramos terminais da artéria aorta abdominal, tais como as artérias ilíacas internas direita e esquerda e a mesentérica caudal. Das ilíacas internas direita e esquerda originaram-se as artérias pudendas internas direita e esquerda, que por sua vez deram origem às artérias bursocloacais e cloacais direita e esquerda em todos os animais analisados. Microscopicamente, a bolsa cloacal da ema apresentou, em todas as idades, mucosa interna pregueada composta por lóbulos linfoides de diversos tamanhos e organizados como estrutura alveolar, apresentando dois tipos de epitélios de revestimento, o epitélio associado ao lóbulo bursal, do tipo pavimentoso simples e o epitélio interlobular, correspondendo ao estratificado colunar. Esse lóbulo compunha-se de zona cortical, zona corticomedular e zona medular. Dispostos nesses lóbulos, verificou-se por meio da microscopia de transmissão a existência de linfócitos de tamanhos variados, linfoblastos, capilares sanguíneos, células reticulares epiteliais e macrófagos. Na varredura, a superfície da mucosa dos lóbulos bursais apresentaram projeções poligonais, com a presença de curtas microvilosidades em toda superfície. Conclui-se, que a bolsa cloacal das emas jovens se apresentou como estrutura distinta da cloaca, com tamanho variado em função da idade, e ainda, observou-se seu desenvolvimento a partir da sexta semana de vida / 2017-05-30

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-11-27T14:28:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JulioCRS_TESE.pdf: 3302198 bytes, checksum: 7ca6307c0127e1a56312a219843109bd (MD5) / Rejected by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br), reason: ref on 2017-12-22T13:50:23Z (GMT) / Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-12-22T13:51:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JulioCRS_TESE.pdf: 3302198 bytes, checksum: 7ca6307c0127e1a56312a219843109bd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:30:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 JulioCRS_TESE.pdf: 3302198 bytes, checksum: 7ca6307c0127e1a56312a219843109bd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:30:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 JulioCRS_TESE.pdf: 3302198 bytes, checksum: 7ca6307c0127e1a56312a219843109bd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-20T14:31:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JulioCRS_TESE.pdf: 3302198 bytes, checksum: 7ca6307c0127e1a56312a219843109bd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-31 / The collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), a small-sized, omnivorous and diurnal animal, lives in groups of up to 20 animals in several areas of Brazil, the Brazilian northeast included. It is easily adapted to captive breeding and stands out in relation to cattle as an alternative protein source for human consumption, in addition to other commercial applications, posing less damage to the environment. Because there is a scarcity of studies addressing this animal, this work aimed to perform craniometry and morphometry of its cranium, as well as to describe the morphology of the encephalon and its arterial vascularization, in ventral view. We used 14 animals that died of natural causes. These had both their carotid arteries cannulated and fixation in 10% formaldehyde was then performed. From that total, ten animals were injected with latex solution, duly stained, in order to make the blood vessels evident. The skin, as well as the musculature, were rebounded. Craniometric measurements were performed. Subsequently, the encephalons were removed from the crania for measurement, dissection and description. Photographs were taken for demonstration of the structures and, after collection, the database was assembled. In the statistical analysis of the metric data, unpaired Student's t-test and Pearson’s correlation study were conducted. Thus, a significant difference was observed between the male and female collared peccaries, with regard to the Total Head Length, as well as to the face length, the cranium width, face width, and right cerebral hemisphere length, always with higher values for males. In females, the left cerebral hemisphere is wider than the right one. There was a positive correlation between the variable total head length and the right cerebral hemisphere width, in both males and females. The brain-to-body weight ratio of the collared peccaries was, on average, 0.42%. This is a gyrencephalic animal with a developed neocortex, although without evidence of sulci and gyri symmetry between the right and left cerebral hemispheres, nor between the different specimens. The arterial vascularization of the base of the encephalon is presented as a closed circuit, which is dependent on the carotid artery of the encephalon, both the antimeres, and the basilar artery, in all the analyzed specimens. The middle cerebral arteries ranged from one to three vessels, originating from the rostral branch of the cerebral carotid artery. The basilar artery results from the confluence of the vertebral arteries of both the antimeres and the ventral spinal artery. This species tends to fit into type II, of De Vriese's classification / O cateto (Pecari tajacu), animal de pequeno porte, onívoro e de hábitos diurnos, vive em grupos de até 20 animais em diversas áreas do Brasil, inclusive no nordeste brasileiro. É de fácil adaptação à criação em cativeiro e se destaca em relação ao gado como fonte alternativa de proteína na alimentação humana, além de outras aplicações comerciais, com menor dano ao meio ambiente, pois necessita de uma menor área para sua criação. Por tratar-se de um animal ainda pouco estudado, este trabalho objetivou realizar a craniometria e a morfometria de seu encéfalo, bem como descrever a morfologia encefálica e sua vascularização arterial, em vista ventral. Foram utilizados 14 animais que vieram a óbito por causas naturais. Estes tiveram ambas suas artérias carótidas canuladas e, em seguida, realizou-se a fixação em formaldeído a 10%. Deste total, dez animais foram injetados com solução de látex, devidamente corado, para evidenciação dos vasos sanguíneos. A pele foi rebatida, bem como a musculatura. Foram realizadas as medidas craniométricas. Posteriormente, os encéfalos foram retirados dos crânios para a sua medição, dissecação e descrição. Fotografias foram realizadas para demonstração das estruturas, bem como, após a coleta, montou-se o banco de dados. Na análise estatística dos dados métricos, foi realizado o Teste t de Student não-pareado e o estudo de correlação de Pearson. Dessa forma, observou-se que existe diferença significativa entre o comprimento total da cabeça dos catetos macho e fêmea, bem como no comprimento da face, largura do crânio, largura da face e comprimento do hemisfério cerebral direito, sempre com maiores valores para o macho. Nas fêmeas, o hemisfério cerebral esquerdo apresenta-se mais largo que o direito. Ficou evidenciada uma correlação positiva entre a variável comprimento total da cabeça e a largura do hemisfério cerebral direito, tanto nos machos como nas fêmeas. A relação peso do encéfalo/peso do corpo dos catetos foi, em média, de 0,42%. É um animal girencéfalo, com neocórtex desenvolvido, embora sem evidência de simetria dos sulcos e giros entre os hemisférios cerebrais direito e esquerdo, ou entre os diferentes espécimes. A vascularização arterial da base do encéfalo apresenta-se na forma de circuito fechado, sendo dependente da artéria carótida do encéfalo, de ambos os antímeros, e da artéria basilar, em todos os espécimes analisados. As artérias cerebrais médias variaram de um a três vasos, tendo origem a partir do ramo rostral da carótida do encéfalo. A artéria basilar resulta da confluência das artérias vertebrais de ambos os antímeros com a artéria espinal ventral. Esta espécie tende a enquadrar-se no tipo II, da classificação de De Vriese / 2017-11-27

Foram utilizados 30 encéfalos de coelhos Nova Zelândia (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injetados com látex, corado em vermelho, com objetivo de sistematizar as artérias da base do encéfalo e suas fontes de suprimento sanguíneo. Sistematizou-se a origem das fontes de suprimento sanguíneo para o encéfalo e as artérias (Aa) da face ventral do mesmo, tanto à direita (D) como à esquerda (E), com suas respectivas percentagens de aparecimento: o arco aórtico emitiu tronco braquiocefálico e artéria (A.) subclávia E (83,3%), ou tronco braquiocefálico, A. carótida comum E e A. subclávia E (16,7%). O tronco braquiocefálico lançou A. carótida comum D e E e A. subclávia D (83,3%), ou A. carótida comum D e A. subclávia D (16,7%). A. carótida comum dividiu-se em Aa carótidas externa e interna (96,7% D, 100% E). A. carótida interna D presente (96,7%) e ausente (3,3%), à E presente (100%). A. corióidea rostral D ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna D (83,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna D (16,7%), à E, ramo colateral do ramo rostral da A. carótida interna E (93,3%), ramo colateral do ramo caudal da A. carótida interna E (6,7%). A. cerebral média D e E ímpar (80%) e dupla (20%). A. cerebral rostral D com calibre médio (90%), calibre fino (6,7%), calibre muito fino (3,3%), à E, com calibre médio (76,7%), calibre fino (16,7%), calibre muito fino (6,7%). A. etmoidal interna ausente (73,3%), presente e ímpar (26,7%). A. cerebral caudal D, ímpar (66,7%), dupla (26,7%) e tripla (6,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Ramos terminais das Aa. vertebrais D e E presentes (100%) formaram a A. basilar (100%). A. espinhal ventral ímpar presente (100%). A. cerebelar caudal D, ímpar (43,3%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (26,7%) e dupla (30%), à E, ímpar (50%), ímpar com A. labiríntica isolada (6,7%), dupla (40%) e tripla (3,3%). A. trigeminal D e E presente (100%). A. cerebelar rostral D, ímpar (53,3%) e dupla (46,7%), à E, ímpar (63,3%) e dupla (36,7%). Observou-se que o círculo arterial cerebral do coelho foi fechado caudalmente (100%), rostralmente fechado (93,3%) e aberto (6,7%). O encéfalo foi suprido pelos sistemas vértebro-basilar e carotídeo. / It was utilized 30 brains of New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), injected with red stained latex. The arteries to the blood supply’s sources and to the ventral surface of the brain were systematized, on the right (R) and on the left (L) sides, with respective percentages of appearance: the aortic arch emitted the braquicephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery (83,3%); or the braquicephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery (16,7%). The braquicephalic trunk emitted the right and the left commons carotids arteries and the right subclavian artery (83,3%); or the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery (16,7%). Commons carotid arteries divided into external and internal carotids arteries (96.7% on the R, 100% on the L.). The internal carotid artery, on the R, present (96,7%) and absent (3,3%), on the L, present (100%).The rostral corioidea artery, on the R, collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (83,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (16,7%), on the L, , collateral branch of rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (93,3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artey (6,7%).The middle cerebral artery, on the R and on the L, single (80%) and double (20%).The rostral cerebral artery, on the R, with middle caliber (90%), thin caliber (6,7%) and much thin caliber (3,3%), on the L, with middle caliber (76,7%), thin caliber (16,7%) and much thin caliber (6,7%).The internal ethmoidal artery single, absent (73,3%), present and single (26,7%). The caudal cerebral artery, on the R, single (66,7%), double (26,7%) and triple (6,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,,7%). The terminal branches of the right and the left vertebral arteries present (100%) were forming the basilar artery (100%). The ventral spinal artery present (100%).The caudal cerebellar artery, on the R, single (43,3%), single with labirintic artery isolated (26,7%) and double (30%), on the L, single (50%), single with labirintic artery isolated (6,7%), double (40%) and triple (3,3%).The trigeminal artery, on the R and on the L, present (100%).The rostral cerebellar artery, on the R, single (53,3%) and double (46,7%), on the L, single (63,3%) and double (36,7%). The rabbit’s cerebral arterial circle was closed caudally (100%) and it was rostrally closed (93,3%) or open (6,7%). The brain was supplied by vertebral-basilar and carotid systems.

Neste estudo definiu-se o padrão, as variações e a distribuição dos ramos colaterais parietais e viscerais e ramos terminais da aorta abdominal em coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) da raça Nova Zelândia, sendo utilizados 30 animais, 14 machos e 16 fêmeas, adultos jovens. O sistema arterial foi preenchido com látex corado em vermelho através da aorta torácica no sentido do fluxo sanguíneo e fixado em uma solução aquosa de formaldeído a 20%. A artéria celíaca foi o primeiro ramo colateral visceral direto, seguida da artéria mesentérica cranial, sendo estas emitidas ventralmente da aorta abdominal. As artérias renais foram originadas lateralmente da aorta abdominal, sendo que o vaso direito teve origem mais cranial que o esquerdo. Próximo à entrada da cavidade pélvica, a aorta abdominal emitiu ventralmente a artéria mesentérica caudal e nas proximidades desta última, originou as artérias gonadais. Os ramos colaterais parietais diretos foram as artérias lombares, enquanto que os ramos colaterais indiretos foram as artérias frênico-abdominais, que eram ramos colaterais das artérias renais; artérias frênicas craniais, ramos colaterais das artérias intercostais dorsais e as artérias circunflexas ilíacas profundas que eram ramos colaterais das artérias ilíacas comuns, normalmente. Pouco antes de dividir-se em seus ramos terminais, a aorta abdominal emitiu dorsal e caudalmente seu último ramo colateral, a artéria sacral mediana. As artérias adrenais foram os ramos colaterais viscerais indiretos, sendo na maioria dos casos originadas da artéria frênica caudal. Os ramos terminais da aorta abdominal, as artérias ilíacas comuns direita e esquerda, geralmente eram responsáveis pela origem das artérias circunflexas ilíacas profundas. Cada ramo terminal emitiu uma artéria ilíaca interna e continuou-se como artéria ilíaca externa. A artéria ilíaca interna originou a artéria umbilical que se dividiu em artéria vesical e artéria uterina, nas fêmeas e artéria do ducto deferente, nos machos. Já a artéria ilíaca externa lançou o tronco pudendo-epigástrico nas proximidades do trígono femoral e após este, continuou-se como artéria femoral. / In this study was defined the pattern, the variations and distribution of the parietal and visceral collateral branches and terminal branches of the abdominal aorta in New Zeland rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), being used 30 animals, 14 males e 16 females, young adults. The arterial system was filled with red colored latex through the thoracic aorta in the direction of blood flow, and fixed in an aqueous solution of formaldehyde 20%. The celiac artery was the first direct visceral collateral branch, followed by the cranial mesenteric artery, wich were issued ventrally from the abdominal aorta. The renal arteries were originated laterally from the abdominal aorta, and the right vessel was originated more cranial than the left. Near the entrance of the pelvic cavity, the abdominal aorta issued ventrally the caudal mesenteric artery and near this latter, the aorta abdominal originated the gonadal arteries. The direct parietal collateral branches of the aorta abdominal were the lumbar arteries, while the indirect parietal collateral branches were the phrenicoabdominal arteries, wich were collateral branches of the renal arteries; cranial phrenic arteries, that were collateral branches of the dorsal intercostal arteries and the deep iliac circunflex arteries that usually were branches of the commom iliac arteries. Before dividing into its terminal branches, the aorta abdominal issued dorsally and caudally the last collateral branch, the median sacral artery. The adrenal arteries were the indirect visceral collateral branches, and in most of the cases were originated from the caudal phrenic artery. The terminal branches of the abdominal aorta, the right and left commom iliac arteries, were often responsible for the origin of the deep iliac circunflex arteries. Each terminal branches issued an internal iliac artery and continued as external iliac artery. The internal iliac artery originated the umbilical artery wich divided into vesical artery and uterine artery, in females and ductus deferens artery in males. Already the external iliac artery lauched the pudendoepigastric trunk near the femoral triangle and after this, continued as femoral artery.