Submitted by MILENE ROCHA RIBEIRO (mrocharibeiro@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-07-12T17:13:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tese milene Final 2018.pdf: 2347108 bytes, checksum: e7698208bc381aa0ba18d041fd938d1b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Paula Torres Monteiro da Torres (paulatms@sjrp.unesp.br) on 2018-07-13T18:00:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_mr_do_sjrp.pdf: 2347108 bytes, checksum: e7698208bc381aa0ba18d041fd938d1b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-13T18:00:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_mr_do_sjrp.pdf: 2347108 bytes, checksum: e7698208bc381aa0ba18d041fd938d1b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O ZIKV é um vírus de RNA, não segmentado, de fita simples e sentido positivo membro da família Flaviviridae. O genoma viral possui uma arquitetura típica de flavivírus, com cerca de 11kb de comprimento, que codifica três proteínas estruturais (Capsídeo, precursor-Membrana, Envelope) e sete proteínas não-estruturais (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5). Nas Américas, emergiu rapidamente após surto na ilha da Páscoa, Chile. No Brasil, o surto iniciou em 2015, aumentando consideravelmente casos de microcefalia em recém-nascidos. Aliada a esses casos, também foi observada a ocorrência de síndrome neurológica de Guillain-Barré. Essas associações transformaram o impacto da transmissão e infecções por ZIKV em uma preocupação de saúde pública global. O vírus é transmitido principalmente pelos mosquitos do gênero Aedes, que possuem ampla distribuição e apresentam grandes adaptações a ambientes urbanos. Além de transmissão vetorial, pode ser transmitido via sexual e materno-fetal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as infecções por uma cepa contemporânea de ZIKV com DENV2 em modelo de explantes de placenta humana a termo, bem como quantificar expressão de citocinas, interferons do tipo I, II e III e marcadores de apoptose induzida via infecção viral. Os resultados demonstram que os explantes da placenta a termo são permissivos e apoiam a infecção por ZIKV. A quantificação da carga viral entre infecções ZIKV e DENV2 foram similares. No entanto, DENV2 apresentou decréscimo na liberação de carga viral em 24 horas pós-infecção. A cinética da replicação viral coincidiu com a expressão de citocinas pró-inflamatórias e o aumento de apoptose no tecido infectado. Clivagem de caspase 3 foi parcialmente dependente de TNF- α e o tratamento com Anti-TNF-α diminuiu significativamente essa ativação mediada por infecção viral. Cumulativamente, este modelo demonstra que os tecidos placentários humanos são alvo de infecção por ZIKV e que a infecção é patogênica para o tecido placentário. Palavras-chave: placenta humana, Flavivírus, explantes, apoptose, interferon, caspase 3. / ZIKV is a non-segmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus and a member of the Flaviviridae family. Its genome has a typical 11 kB-long flavivirus architecture that encodes three structural proteins (Capsid, PrecursorMembrane, Envelop) and seven non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B and NS5). In the Americas, the viruses emerged rapidly after outbreak on Pascoa Island, Chile. The outbreak reached Brazil in 2015, substantially increasing cases of microcephaly in newborns. In addition to microcephaly, cases associated with neurological diseases such as GuillainBarré syndrome have made ZIKV a global public health concern. The virus is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, which are widely distributed and which have adapted well great to urban environments. In addition to vector transmission, ZIKV can be transmitted via sexual and maternal-fetal routes, the virus has been isolated is from sperm, amniotic fluid and central nervous systems of stillborn fetuses. The goal of this report was compare ZIKV-infected to DENV2 in full-term human placenta explant model. Quantify expression of cytokines, type I, II and III interferons and markers of induced-apoptosis by viral infection. The results demonstrated that full-term placenta explants are permissive and support ZIKV infection. Viral loads in ZIKV and DENV2 infections were similar. However, DENV2 presented a decrease in viral load release at 24 hours post infection (h.p.i). The kinetics of viral replication coincided with the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the increase of apoptosis in the infected tissue. Apoptosis was partially dependent on TNF-α. Anti-TNF-α treatment significantly decreased the activated-caspase 3 mediated viral infection. Cumulatively, this model demonstrates that human placental tissues are targets of ZIKV-infection and that the infection is pathogenic to placental tissue.

A encefalopatia hipóxico-isquêmica neonatal, ou simplesmente hipóxia-isquemia (HI) neonatal, é uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade em neonatos humanos. De 20% a 50% dos recém-nascidos com HI severa morrem no período perinatal. Quando sobrevivem, 25% apresentam deficiências neuropsicológicas, como dificuldade de aprendizado, epilepsia e paralisia cerebral. Devido a isso, a eficácia de possíveis agentes neuroprotetores tem sido testada em modelos animais. Há razão para se pensar que a progesterona tem um forte potencial para o tratamento da HI neonatal, já que a sua utilização tem se mostrado benéfica em pesquisas relacionadas com lesão cerebral traumática, lesão cerebral isquêmica e outros modelos de lesão do sistema nervoso central (SNC) em adultos. Inúmeros estudos têm mostrado que o modelo animal de HI de Rice e Vannucci (1981) em animais neonatos, utilizado no presente trabalho, pode produzir lesões no sistema nervoso central relativamente previsíveis, e que estas lesões encefálicas parecem semelhantes às observadas clinicamente em humanos (SALMASO et al., 2014). Para a realização do modelo de HI foram utilizados ratos Wistar com idade de 7 dias (P7). Após a oclusão da carótida esquerda, os animais foram colocados em câmaras para exposição à atmosfera hipóxica com 8% O2/92% N2 por 90 minutos. Os animais foram divididos em cinco grupos experimentais: SHAM, HI, HI+PROG-PRÉ (PRÉ), HI+PROG-PÓS (PÓS), HI+PROG-PRÉ/PÓS (PP). Os termos PRÉ e PÓS referem-se à administração de progesterona (na dose de 5 mg/kg) antes ou após o procedimento de HI neonatal . Dependendo do grupo experimental, os animais foram tratados com progesterona imediatamente antes da isquemia e/ou 6 e 24 horas após o início da hipóxia. Foram analisados o peso corporal dos animais (imediatamente antes da isquemia e 6, 24 e 48 horas após o início da hipóxia), o volume de lesão cerebral, além da expressão das proteínas p-Akt e caspase-3 pela técnica de Western blotting. / Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or simply neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a main cause of morbidity and mortality in human neonates. Moreover, 25% of survivors show neuropsychological dysfunctions such as learning difficulties, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Because of this, the effectiveness of potential neuroprotective agents has been tested in animal models. There is a reason to suppose that progesterone has a strong potential for the treatment of neonatal HI since its use has been shown to be beneficial in researches related to traumatic brain injury, ischemic brain injury and other central nervous system injury models (CNS) in adults. Several studies have shown that the newborn animal model of HI developed by Rice and Vannucci (1981), and used in the present study, can produce lesions in the central nervous system which are predictable and similar to those observed clinically in humans. In order to perform the HI model we used 7 days old (P7) Wistar rats. After occlusion of the left carotid, the animals were placed in hypoxic chambers and exposed to the hypoxic atmosphere (8% O2/92% N2 for 90 minutes). The animals were divided into five groups: SHAM, HI, HI+PROG-PRÉ (PRÉ), HI+PROG-PÓS (PÓS), HI+PROG-PRÉ/PÓS (PP).The PRÉ and PÓS terms refer to the administration of progesterone (5 mg/kg) before and/or after the HI procedure. Progesterone was administered immediately before ischemia, 6 and 24 hours after the beginning of hypoxia, depending on the experimental group. Body weight was evaluated immediately before ischemia and/or 6 and 24 hours after the start of hypoxia. The volume of brain damage, in addition to the expression of p-Akt and caspase-3 were also evaluated.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-11-03T12:32:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ricardo de Macedo Chaves.pdf: 847836 bytes, checksum: d3823ad319704f7a05a04fb624401ca9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-03T12:32:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ricardo de Macedo Chaves.pdf: 847836 bytes, checksum: d3823ad319704f7a05a04fb624401ca9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study was divided in three stages and aimed to determine the cellular changes induced by heat stress on nuclear maturation in vitro and induction of cell death by apoptosis in goat oocytes and embryos. The ovaries of goats in the dry season and rainy season were collected in a slaughterhouse and transported to the Laboratory of Biotechnical Reproduction of UFRPE. The first stage, the cumulus oophorus complexes in goat of 12 repetitions were collected by the technique of "slicing" of the follicles from 2 to 6 mm in diameter and selected based on morphology. Divided into Group-1 (recovered) and Group-2 (in vitro matured), 25 oocytes per drop were placed in basic medium maturity (MBM). After collection of oocytes, it was determined the quality of oocytes, the enzyme activity of group II caspases with reagent PhiPhiLux-G1D2 and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL). Group-2, after maturation, were determined the stage of nuclear maturation, enzymes caspases and DNA fragmentation. In the stages of nuclear maturation stages of germinal vesicle, disruption of the germinal vesicle, metaphase I and II showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the activity ofenzymes and caspases in DNA fragmentation of oocytes recovered and matured in vitro. The second stage, the cumulus oophorus complexes in goat were submitted to maturation, fertilization and in vitro. The percentage of cleaved oocytes was determined on day 3 (D-3) and the oocytes that developed to the stages of 8-16 cells (D-4), morulae (D-5) and blastocyst (D-8) after fertilization. The quality of blastocysts was assessed with the pigment DAPI and the determination of blastomeric positive for apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Significant difference (P < 0.05) stages of fertilization, cultivation in D-3 and morulae. No significant difference (P > 0.05) phases of maturation, growing on D-4, blastocyst and the TUNEL test. Based on these results, we concluded that the dry and rainy seasons will notinfluence the nuclear maturation in vitro apoptosis of oocytes and embryos and in vitro production of embryos in goats. / Este estudo foi dividido em duas etapas e teve como objetivo determinar as alterações celulares induzidas pelo estresse térmico na maturação nuclear in vitro e na indução da morte celular por apoptose em oócitos e embriões caprinos. Os ovários de cabras nas estações seca e chuvosa, foram coletados em abatedouro e transportados ao Laboratório de Biotécnicas da Reprodução da UFRPE. Na primeira etapa, os complexos cumulus oophorus caprinos de 12 repetições foram colhidos pela técnica de “slicing” dos folículos entre 2 a 6 mm de diâmetro e selecionados com base na morfologia. Divididos em Grupo-1 (recuperado) e Grupo-2 (maturados in vitro), 25 oócitos foram colocados por gota em meio básico de maturação (MBM). Após a coleta dos oócitos, foi determinado a qualidade dos oócitos, atividade das enzimas Caspases do grupo II com reagente PhiPhiLux-G1D2 e fragmentação de DNA (TUNEL). O Grupo-2, após maturação, foi determinado o estádio de maturação nuclear, enzimas Caspases e fragmentação de DNA. Nos estádios de maturação nuclear as fases de Vesícula Germinativa, Rompimento da Vesícula Germinativa, MetáfaseI e II não apresentaram diferença significativa (P > 0,05). Não foi encontrada diferença significativa (P > 0,05) na atividade das enzimas Caspases e na fragmentação do DNA dos oócitos recuperados e maturados in vitro. Na segunda etapa, os complexos cumulus oophorus caprinos foram submetidos à maturação, fertilização e cultivo in vitro. A porcentagem de oócitos clivados foi determinada no dia 3 (D-3) e os oócitos que se desenvolveram aos estádios de 8-16 células (D-4), mórula (D-5) e blastocisto (D-8) após a fertilização. A qualidade dos blastocistos foi avaliada com o corante DAPI e a determinação de blastômeros positivos para apoptose através do ensaio de TUNEL. Foi encontrada diferença significativa (P < 0,05) nas fases de fertilização, cultivo no D-3 e mórula. Não apresentaram diferença significativa (P > 0,05) às fases de maturação, cultivono D-4, blastocisto e no teste de TUNEL. Com base nos dados obtidos, podemos concluir que as estações seca e chuvosa não exercem influência na maturação nuclear in vitro, na apoptose de oócitos e embriões e na produção in vitro de embriões da espécie caprina..

Quelque soit le type de dégénérescences rétiniennes, les cellules photoréceptrices à l'origine de la genèse du signal lumineux, meurent par un mécanisme commun : l'apoptose. Au laboratoire, nous avons mis en évidence que l'inhibition de la caspase-3, une caspase effectrice de l'apoptose, permet de réduire l'apoptose des cellules photoréceptrices (Perche et al. 2007). Dans la continuité de ces résultats, le but de nos travaux de thèse est d'identifier les molécules impliquées en amont de la caspase-3. Pour mener à bien notre projet, nous avons utilisées un modèle expérimentale de dégénérescence rétinienne induite par une exposition à la lumière (modèle de photodégénérescence rétinienne). Les atteintes rétiniennes sont quantifiées par : l'électrorétinographie in-vivo permettant d'évaluer la fonction rétinienne, l'histologie pour l'analyse morphométrique de la rétine aux quelles sont associés des dosages enzymatiques. Ainsi, nous avons montré que l'injection d'un inhibiteur de la caspase-12 à 0,4 ou à 0,8 mM, de la caspase-9 à 0,2 ou à 0,4 mM, ou de la caspase-8 à 0,2 mM, injecté dans le vitré n'a aucun effet toxique sur la rétine et n'a aucun effet protecteur contre l'apoptose des cellules photoréceptrices induites par la lumière. Ces résultats suggèrent que les caspases-8, 9 et 12 ne sont pas impliquées dans l'activation de la caspase-3 et donc dans l'initiation de l'apoptose des photorécepteurs induite par la lumière. Toutefois, après injection dans le vitré, les inhibiteurs inhibent leur cible respective uniquement transitoirement. Par conséquent, pour pouvoir conclure sur le rôle de ces caspases dans le processus dégénératif, il faudrait pouvoir inhiber les caspases de façon plus persistante. Il serait donc intéressant de reproduire des expérimentations similaires en augmentant la concentration de l'inhibiteur injecté ou en réduisant le délai entre l'injection de l'inhibiteur et l'induction du stress. De plus, la caspase-3 peut être activée indépendamment des caspases initiatrices, comme par exemple : les céramides, les cathepsines et les calpaïnes. / No abstract available

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterised by uncontrollable shaking, muscular rigidity and cognitive impairment, due to low levels of dopamine caused by loss of dopamine containing neurons (DCN). The loss of DCN has been strongly associated with Caspase mediated apoptotic death. At present there are many studies that indicate exercise is beneficial in PD treatment, but there is a lack of research exploring the potential pathways, which exercise can activate and suppress to provide such positive and even negative effects. This study is the first to explore the effect of treadmill exercise on the level of Caspases, along with CAMK-IV protein in different brain regions of MPTP-treated rat model, using WB analysis. The results of this research has demonstrated reduction or completely suppression of some active Caspases, as well as, elevated amount of CAMK-IV in different brain regions of exercised PD animal model. To determine how exercise is reducing and inhibiting activation of Caspases, the first step was to identify how Caspases are stimulated, using ReNcell VM stem cell line that had been differentiated and treated with 6OHDA. The results of the study demonstrated 6OHDA triggered Caspase mediated apoptotic death of dDCN via PERK ER stress and NFκB classical pathway. IF, WB and cell viability analysis, using a wide range of inhibitors, showed that Caspase-2 is activated by the PERK pathway of ER stress and NFB classical pathway in 6OHDA treated dDCN. 6OHDA triggered activation of Caspase- 8 by the classical pathway in NFB mediated death of dDCN. 6OHDA triggered Caspase-4 activation but the exact mechanism involved remains to be identified. Only through understanding the molecular pathways regulating death of DCN in PD, new potential targets for therapy may be identified, which may ultimately reduce further death of DCN and slow PD progression. This proposed study has the potential to seek for more efficient drugs, which can suppress Caspase activation by targeting key targets in the pathways that the Caspases follow. These new specific targeted drugs could be used with treadmill exercise to achieve maximum effect, by slowing down or inhibiting further death of DCN.

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is the most common mechanism of cell death in eukaryotes. The ability of cancer cells to evade and inhibit apoptosis has become a hallmark feature of cancer. This is accomplished through a family of proteins known as the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). X-Linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is one of the best characterized IAPs. XIAP suppresses apoptosis by forming complexes with cysteine-aspartic proteases (caspase), through one of its baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domains. Its activity is endogenously antagonized by a second mitochondria derived activator of caspase (Smac). The anti-apoptotic behaviour of XIAP and the critical role it plays in the apoptotic program makes the Smac-XIAP interaction an important drug target. To this end, our laboratory is interested in synthesizing biologically related Smac mimetics which can induce apoptosis in a MDA-MB-231 cell line. Efforts have focused on (1) understanding BIR domain binding sites which allow for this interaction, and (2) the design and synthesis of molecules which are much more effective at inducing apoptosis compared to other well known analogues. Through the synthesis and evaluation of various divalent Smac mimetics we have been able to support the hypothesis that the likely binding site on XIAP is the BIR3 domain. As well, through the synthesis of a library of novel compounds, as described in the thesis, we have been able to assess the nature of the linker which joins the two tetrapeptide units. In our effort to understand which domains Smac binds with, various divalent analogues were synthesized containing MeAVPI-linker-IPVMeA (forward-reverse) and MeAVPI-linker-MeAVPI (forward-forward) sequence, which incorporated linkers with varying degrees of flexibility. We hypothesized that the forward-forward divalent mimetics would have decreased activity compared to the peptides synthesized in a forward-reverse fashion. Lastly, information gathered from structure activity relationship (SAR) studies have shown that substituting the lysine (P2) and isoleucine residues (P4) in the AVPI protein can create more potent inducers of apoptosis than its native AVPI sequence. As one of the most potent Smac mimetic that has been previously made known contains an alkyne bridge at P2 and a large hydrophobic moiety at P4, we hypothesized that similar Smac mimetics containing a propargyl glycine residue at P2 and a bulky hydrophobic moiety at P4 will be much more potent in inducing apoptosis.

Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are known flame retardants with highly persistent and lipophilic in nature. The continued usage of PBDE in various products amplifies the human burden of PBDEs. It is therefore, important to study the potential toxicological and/or biological effects of PBDE exposure in human. In this study we investigated the mode of action of PBDE induced toxicity in human liver by exposing human hepatocarcinoma cells in a time (24-72h) and dose (0-100μM) dependent manner. The highest test dose caused an inhibition in cell viability up to 50% after 72h, whereas lower doses (<50μM) showed slight increase in cell viability. Likewise, higher doses caused significant accumulation of intracellular ROS over time. Further, increase in caspase-3 enzyme levels and DNA fragmentation showed that, lower brominated PBDEs induce liver toxicity through accumulation of toxic metabolites and reactive oxygen species over time leading to caspase-mediated apoptotic cell death.

Le cancer du côlon reste un problème majeur de santé publique puisqu’il constitue en France en 2013 le deuxième cancer en termes de mortalité. La chirurgie, la radiothérapie et les traitements par chimiothérapies classiques secondés par les thérapeutiques ciblées ne constituent pas toujours un arsenal efficace mettant ainsi en évidence la nécessité de trouver de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques.Dans ce contexte, nous avons étudié la possibilité soit d’utiliser de nouvelles thérapeutiques (ligands du récepteur Liver X Receptor (LXR)), soit d’améliorer les conditions de traitements classiques (chimiothérapie intrapéritonéale hyperthermique (CHIP)) ainsi que le rôle de la caspase-1 dans ces événements.Nous avons d’abord démontré que les agonistes de LXR, un récepteur nucléaire aux oxystérols, pouvaient activer une mort de type pyroptotique dans les cellules cancéreuses coliques en permettant la construction de l’inflammasome et le clivage de la caspase-1. De plus, nous soulignons le potentiel thérapeutique des agonistes de LXR, puisque nous mettons en évidence une perte de localisation nucléaire du récepteur LXRβ dans les cellules tumorales coliques par rapport aux cellules épithéliales saines qui ne sont pas sensibles à la cytotoxicité des ligands de LXR.Nous démontrons également que la caspase-1 pourrait aussi avoir un rôle dans un modèle in vitro de CHIP lorsque celle-ci associe l’oxaliplatine à l’hypotonie. Cette technique chirurgicale utilisée pour des patients atteints de carcinose péritonéale consiste en l’infusion de chimiothérapie dans la cavité abdominale à 42°C pendant un temps variant généralement de 30 à 60 minutes. Même si cette procédure a permis l’augmentation de la survie chez des patients au pronostic vital sombre, les résultats de notre modélisation in vitro montrent que l’efficacité de la CHIP pourrait être améliorée. / Colon cancer is a major public health matter because it has reached the second rank of cancer mortality in 2013 in France. Surgery, radiotherapy and standard chemotherapies helped by targeted therapies are not often efficient enough, underlying the need of using new therapies.Against this background, we have studied the possibilities to use new therapies (Liver X Receptor (LXR) ligands) or to improve classical treatment conditions (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPC)) and the implication of caspase-1.We have first demonstrated that the nuclear receptor (LXR) agonists can induce pyroptotic cell death of colon cancer cell lines by inflammasome activation and subsequent caspase-1 cleavage. Moreover LXR agonists can act as a targeted therapy because we show that nuclear localization of LXRβ in normal colon cells turns into a cytoplasmic expression in colon tumor cells leading LXRβ ready to induce pyroptosis by its agonists.We also demonstrated that caspase-1 could have an implication in an in vitro model of HIPC when it associates oxaliplatin and hypotony. This surgery procedure used for patients suffering from peritoneal carcinomatosis involves a 42°C chemotherapy bath inside the abdominal cavity during 30 to 60 minutes. Although HIPC has increased global survival of patients with poor prognosis, the results of our study indicates that HIPC combining oxaliplatin and hypotony could significantly improve the procedure efficacy.

No description available.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as DDT have the ability to disrupt hormonally controlled processes, such as spermatogenesis, which is the maturation of germ cells into spermatozoa. During normal spermatogenesis, germ cell apoptosis can occur, but the degree of apoptosis within the testis could possibly be affected by exposure to EDCs. In 2004, a pilot study on the reproductive health of two freshwater fish species, Oreochromis mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus, from three impoundments in the Luvuvhu River, found concerning levels of DDT and its metabolites in both species from the Nandoni Dam, and in O. mossambicus from the Xikundu Weir. This was not surprising as a large part of the Luvuvhu River catchment is located within an area where ongoing DDT-spraying occurs for vector control purposes. Hence, in 2006, a larger WRC-funded project began to further investigate the findings from the pilot study. A subsidiary study, spanning two seasons, was initiated to investigate testicular apoptosis in fish from the polluted systems, the Nandoni Dam (ND) and the Xikundu Weir (XW), as well as a reference site, the Albasini Dam (AD), utilizing caspase-3 and TUNEL immunoexpression as apoptotic markers. In addition, three fixatives, Bouin’s Fluid (BF), Neutrally Buffered Formalin (NBF) and Paraformaldehyde (PFA), were used to determine which would be the optimal fixative for both histological and immunohistochemical assessments. Sampling occurred during season 1, the low-flow season (October 2007), during DDT spraying of the surrounding area, and season 2, the high–flow season (February 2008), two months after the DDT-spraying was completed. The testes of O. mossambicus (n = 19 season 1, n = 25 season 2) and C. gariepinus (n = 19 season 1, n = 20 season 2) were fixed in the above-mentioned fixatives, embedded in paraffin wax, prepared for immunohistochemistry, and exposed to caspase-3 antibodies and TUNEL antibodies individually. The results indicated that the residues of p,p´-DDT - DDD and - DDE were found in the fat samples of both O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus, in AD, ND and XW. Testicular apoptotic assessment using the caspase-3 assay clearly labeled spermatocytes in the process of cellular death in both seasons, in all three fixatives. When comparing the two assays, a significant difference is found between the caspase-3 and TUNEL positive cells. The results further show that, when comparing the three sampling sites, the highest amount of positive cells are found at the XW. The decrease observed in season two, in both the caspase-3 and TUNEL assay may possibly be linked to the stage of spermatogenesis, coinciding with hormonal changes associated with the different sampling seasons (i.e. breeding and non-breeding seasons). The levels of DDT found in the fat tissue, could not be correlated to an up-regulation in apoptotic cells. The results The results indicated that the choice of fixative, could affect the identification of the amount of positive cells. The utility of the caspase-3 and TUNEL assays, in conjunction with all three fixatives, proves a successful tool in assessing and quantifying modulated testicular apoptosis, creating greater research potential in the assessment of the effects of aquatic pollution. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Physiology / unrestricted