abstract: Many animals thermoregulate to maximize performance. However, interactions with other animals, such as competitors or predators, limit access to preferred microclimates. For instance, an animal may thermoregulate poorly when fighting rivals or avoiding predators. However, the distribution of thermal resources should influence how animals perceive and respond to risk. When thermal resources are concentrated in space, individuals compete for access, which presumably reduces the thermoregulatory performance while making their location more predictable to predators. Conversely, when thermal resources are dispersed, several individuals can thermoregulate effectively without occupying the same area. Nevertheless, interactions with competitors or predators impose a potent stress, often resulting in both behavioral and physiological changes that influence thermoregulation. To assess the costs of intraspecific competition and predation risk during thermoregulation, I measured thermoregulation, movement, and hormones of male lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi) in experiment landscapes, with clumped to patchy distributions of microclimates. I found lizards aggressively competed for access to microclimates, with larger males gaining priority access when thermal resources were aggregated. Competition reduced thermoregulatory performance, increased movements, and elevated plasma corticosterone in large and small males. However, the magnitude of these responses decreased as the patchiness of the thermal environment increased. Similarly, under simulated predation risk, lizards reduced thermoregulatory performance, decreased movements, and elevated plasma corticosterone. Again, with the magnitude of these responses decreased with increasing thermal patchiness. Interestingly, even without competitors or predators, lizards in clumped arenas moved greater distances and circulated more corticosterone than did lizards in patchy arenas, indicating the thermal quality of the thermal landscape affected the energetic demands on lizards. Thus, biologists should consider species interactions and spatial structure when modeling impacts of climate change on thermoregulation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biology 2017

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-04-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:08:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 contarteze_rvl_me_rcla.pdf: 244333 bytes, checksum: bb439309fd00a352f846a3b4aad3fa24 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Muitos estudos enfocando metabolismo e exercício são desenvolvidos em modelos animais, especialmente os ratos. Entre os exercícios mais utilizados nas pesquisas com animais estão a esteira rolante e a natação. Contudo, ainda persistem dúvidas de qual seria o exercício mais apropriado para desencadear mais respostas ao exercício e menos respostas associadas a outros estresses. A atividade do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal constituído pelos hormônios ACTH e corticosterona são importantes biomarcadores de estresse. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar biomarcadores do estresse durante exercício de intensidade conhecida em ratos exercitados por natação e por corrida em esteira rolante. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar adultos, adaptados aos exercícios, que tiveram a máxima fase estável de lactato (MFEL) determinada. Para isso, foram submetidos a 3 testes de 25 minutos de exercícios de natação (n=18) suportando cargas de 5,0 ; 5,5 e 6,0% do peso corporal (PC) ou 3 corridas com 25 minutos de duração (n=13) às velocidades de 15; 20 e 25 m/min. Houve coleta sangüínea da extremidade da cauda dos ratos a cada 5 minutos de exercício para dosagem de lactato. Após obtenção da MFEL, os animais foram divididos em subgrupos: (M) sacrificados imediatamente após sessão de 25 minutos de exercício (natação=09 ou esteira=07) na intensidade da MFEL ou (S) sacrificado após exercício exaustivo (natação=09 ou esteira=06) em intensidade 25% superior a MFEL. Para comparações, um grupo controle C (n=10) foi sacrificado em repouso. Utilizou-se Anova Two Way para identificar possíveis diferenças nos parâmetros de estresse (p<0,05). Foram obtidos os seguintes resultados MFEL: natação 5,5% do PC e corrida 20m/min às concentrações de lactato sanguíneo (mmol/L) de 5,2l0,3 na natação e 3,8l0,1 na corrida... / Many studies on metabolism and exercise are developed with animal models especially rats. Treadmill running and swimming are among the exercises most used in researches involving animals. However, doubts on which would be the most suitable exercise to unchain more responses to exercise and less responses associated to other stresses still remain. The activity of the hypothalamic-pytuitary-adrenal axis composed of ACTH and corticosterone hormones are important stress biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare stress biomarkers during known-intensity swimming and treadmill running exercises performed by rats. Wistar adult rats previously adapted to exercises and with their maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) determined were used. To do this, rats were submitted to 3 swimming tests with 25 minutes of duration (n=18) with loads of 5.0; 5.5 and 6.0% of their body weight (BW) or to 3 running sessions with 25 minutes of duration (n=13) at velocities of 15; 20 and 25 m/min. Blood samples were collected from the tip tail of rats each 5 minutes of exercise for lactate dosage. After MLSS attainment, the animals were divided into the following subgroups: (M) sacrificed shortly after session of 25 minutes of exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=07) at the MLSS intensity or (S) sacrificed after exhaustive exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=06) at intensity 25% above MLSS. For comparison purposes, a control group C (n=10) was sacrificed in rest. The Two-Way ANOVA was used in order to identify possible differences in the stress parameters (P<0.05). The following results were obtained: MLSS: swimming 5.5% of the BW and treadmill running at 20 m/min at blood lactate concentrations (mmol/L) of 5.2l0.3 in swimming and of 3.8l0.1in running. Serum ACTH concentrations (pg/mL) were significantly higher for the swimming group (963.3l420.4)... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)

Orientador: Maria Alice Rostom de Mello / Banca: José Roberto Moreira de Azevedo / Banca: Eliane Stevanato / Resumo: Muitos estudos enfocando metabolismo e exercício são desenvolvidos em modelos animais, especialmente os ratos. Entre os exercícios mais utilizados nas pesquisas com animais estão a esteira rolante e a natação. Contudo, ainda persistem dúvidas de qual seria o exercício mais apropriado para desencadear mais respostas ao exercício e menos respostas associadas a outros estresses. A atividade do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal constituído pelos hormônios ACTH e corticosterona são importantes biomarcadores de estresse. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar biomarcadores do estresse durante exercício de intensidade conhecida em ratos exercitados por natação e por corrida em esteira rolante. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar adultos, adaptados aos exercícios, que tiveram a máxima fase estável de lactato (MFEL) determinada. Para isso, foram submetidos a 3 testes de 25 minutos de exercícios de natação (n=18) suportando cargas de 5,0 ; 5,5 e 6,0% do peso corporal (PC) ou 3 corridas com 25 minutos de duração (n=13) às velocidades de 15; 20 e 25 m/min. Houve coleta sangüínea da extremidade da cauda dos ratos a cada 5 minutos de exercício para dosagem de lactato. Após obtenção da MFEL, os animais foram divididos em subgrupos: (M) sacrificados imediatamente após sessão de 25 minutos de exercício (natação=09 ou esteira=07) na intensidade da MFEL ou (S) sacrificado após exercício exaustivo (natação=09 ou esteira=06) em intensidade 25% superior a MFEL. Para comparações, um grupo controle C (n=10) foi sacrificado em repouso. Utilizou-se Anova Two Way para identificar possíveis diferenças nos parâmetros de estresse (p<0,05). Foram obtidos os seguintes resultados MFEL: natação 5,5% do PC e corrida 20m/min às concentrações de lactato sanguíneo (mmol/L) de 5,2l0,3 na natação e 3,8l0,1 na corrida... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Many studies on metabolism and exercise are developed with animal models especially rats. Treadmill running and swimming are among the exercises most used in researches involving animals. However, doubts on which would be the most suitable exercise to unchain more responses to exercise and less responses associated to other stresses still remain. The activity of the hypothalamic-pytuitary-adrenal axis composed of ACTH and corticosterone hormones are important stress biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to compare stress biomarkers during known-intensity swimming and treadmill running exercises performed by rats. Wistar adult rats previously adapted to exercises and with their maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) determined were used. To do this, rats were submitted to 3 swimming tests with 25 minutes of duration (n=18) with loads of 5.0; 5.5 and 6.0% of their body weight (BW) or to 3 running sessions with 25 minutes of duration (n=13) at velocities of 15; 20 and 25 m/min. Blood samples were collected from the tip tail of rats each 5 minutes of exercise for lactate dosage. After MLSS attainment, the animals were divided into the following subgroups: (M) sacrificed shortly after session of 25 minutes of exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=07) at the MLSS intensity or (S) sacrificed after exhaustive exercise (swimming=09 or treadmill=06) at intensity 25% above MLSS. For comparison purposes, a control group C (n=10) was sacrificed in rest. The Two-Way ANOVA was used in order to identify possible differences in the stress parameters (P<0.05). The following results were obtained: MLSS: swimming 5.5% of the BW and treadmill running at 20 m/min at blood lactate concentrations (mmol/L) of 5.2l0.3 in swimming and of 3.8l0.1in running. Serum ACTH concentrations (pg/mL) were significantly higher for the swimming group (963.3l420.4)... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Mestre

O estresse crônico promove diversas alterações no funcionamento de um organismo. O aumento de glicocorticoides pode interferir no estado físico e psicológico de um individuo. Trabalhos recentes correlacionam estresse psicossocial crônico à redução do comprimento dos telômeros de determinadas células. E o estrógeno, além de ser um fator modulador da atividade do sistema de estresse, também pode interferir no comprimento dos telômeros. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar se a exposição crônica aos glicocorticóides promove alterações no comprimento dos telômeros de áreas encefálicas envolvidas no controle da atividade do eixo Hipotálamo-Hipófise-Adrenal (HPA) e em respostas comportamentais de ratas, e se o estrógeno pode modular essas alterações. Ratas Wistar ovariectomizadas foram tratadas com cipionato de estradiol (50 ou 100 µg/kg, s.c.) ou óleo, e submetidas à administração de corticosterona 20 mg/Kg ou veículo (salina isotônica 2% Tween 80, s.c.), durante 28 dias. No 25 º dia os animais foram submetidos ao teste do nado forçado, e no 27º dia, ao teste de labirinto em cruz elevado. No dia subsequente ao término do tratamento hormonal, os animais foram eutanasiados para coleta do sangue, cérebro e hipófise. O tratamento com cipionato de estradiol causou: aumento das concentrações plasmáticas de corticosterona e progesterona; redução da expressão de mRNA para CRH, AVP e POMC no PVN; um efeito ansiolítico a avaliado pelo teste do labirinto em cruz elevado; . um efeito depressivo indicado pelo teste de nado forçado; reduziu o tamanho dos na amígdala central e hipocampo dorsal, mas não no PVN. A corticosterona causou: redução da secreção de gonadotrofina; redução da expressão de RNA mensageiro para CRH e POMC e aumento para AVP no PVN; um efeito depressivo indicado pelo teste de nado forçado. O conjunto de resultados mostra que modificação na atividade do eixo HPA e a variação das concentrações plasmáticas de estrógeno podem provocar diversas alterações de ações hormonais, atividades comportamentais e de estrutura do DNA em áreas cerebrais. / Chronic stress promotes several changes in the functioning of an organism. Increased glucocorticoids may interfere with an individual\'s physical and psychological state. Recent works correlate chronic psychosocial stress to the reduction of the telomere length of certain cells. And estrogen, besides being a modulating factor of the activity of the stress system, can also interfere in the length of telomeres. The objective of this study was to verify if chronic exposure to glucocorticoids promotes changes in telomere length of encephalic areas involved in the control of hypothalamic-hypophysis-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and in rat behavioral responses, and whether estrogen can modulate these changes. Ovariectomized Wistar rats were treated with estradiol cypionate (50 or 100 ?g / kg, s.c.) or oil, and given 20 mg / kg corticosterone or vehicle (isotonic saline 2% Tween 80, s.c.) for 28 days. On the 25th day the animals were submitted to the forced swim test, and on the 27th day, the elevated plus maze test. On the day after the end of the hormonal treatment, the animals were euthanized for collection of blood, brain and pituitary gland. Treatment with estradiol cypionate caused: increased corticosterone and progesterone plasma concentrations; reduction of mRNA expression for CRH, AVP and POMC in PVN; an anxiolytic effect as assessed by the elevated plus maze test. A depressive effect indicated by the forced swim test; reduced size in the central amygdala and dorsal hippocampus, but not in PVN. Corticosterone caused: reduction of gonadotrophin secretion; reduction of mRNA expression for CRH and POMC and increase for AVP in PVN; a depressive effect indicated by the forced swim test. The set of results shows that changes in HPA axis activity and variation in plasma estrogen concentrations can lead to several changes in hormonal actions, behavioral activities and DNA structure in brain areas.

Glicocorticóides modulam a resposta imune de forma complexa em vertebrados expostos a diferentes estressores. Dado que as populações naturais têm estado expostas a uma multiplicidade de estressores, uma melhor compreensão da associação funcional entre a duração e a intensidade da resposta ao estresse, as mudanças resultantes nos níveis dos hormônios esteróides e seu impacto sobre os diferentes aspectos da imunocompetência emergem como um ponto chave para as estratégias de conservação dos vertebrados. Nós investigamos as relações entre os níveis plasmáticos de hormônios esteróides e a imunocompetência inata em anfíbios anuros, incorporando as metodologias de desafio de contenção, elevação experimental dos níveis de corticosterona por aplicação transdérmica, capacidade bactericida por espectrofotometria e o desafio imunológico com fitohemaglutinina. Nossos resultados demonstram que a capacidade bactericida plasmática (CBP) medida por espectrofotometria é um método confiável e preciso para estimar a imunocompetência de anfíbios anuros, além disso, mostramos a existência de uma grande diversidade interespecífica na CBP de anuros machos. Quando quatro diferentes espécies de Bufonídeos foram submetidas a um desafio de contenção, as respostas gerais incluíram aumento dos níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona (CORT) e da relação neutrófilo/linfócito (N:L) e diminuição dos níveis plasmáticos de testosterona (T). As respostas da CBP à contenção foram muito mais variáveis, com R. ictérica mostrando diminuição e R. marina mostrando aumento dos valores de CBP. Adicionalmente, CORT e N:L tenderam a aumentar mais em resposta à contenção com restrição de movimento do que à contenção sem restrição de movimento, indicando que os sapos demostraram um aumento da resposta ao estresse quando submetidos ao estressor mais intenso. Todas as variáveis estudadas mostraram variação interespecífica. Rhinella ornata apresentou os maiores níveis basais de CORT quando comparado com as outras espécies, enquanto R. ornata e R. ictérica mostraram os maiores valores basais de CBP. Entretanto, as mudanças na relação N:L, nos níveis de T e na CBP, não foram correlacionadas com o aumento em CORT, dentro ou entre espécies. A aplicação transdérmica de corticosterona eficientemente simulou eventos repetidos de resposta ao estresse agudo em Rhinella ictérica, sem alterar os parâmetros imunitários, mesmo após treze dias de tratamento. Curiosamente, o cativeiro a longo prazo não atenuou a resposta ao estresse, uma vez que estes sapos mantiveram um aumento de três vezes em CORT mesmo depois de três meses sob estas mesmas condições. Além disso, a manutenção em cativeiro a longo prazo, nas mesmas condições, aumentou a contagem total de leucócitos (TLC) e gerou uma diminuição ainda maior na CBP, sugerindo que as consequências da resposta ao estresse podem ser agravadas pelo tempo em cativeiro. Com base em nossos resultados, consideramos que uma avaliação cuidadosa é necessária para compreender a modulação da resposta imunitária pelo estresse a nível intra e interespecífico. A inclusão de diferentes segmentos da resposta imune é desejável, e a padronização da coleta de dados para todas as espécies sob o mesmo período (em geral, dentro ou fora da época reprodutiva) e mesma atividade (em geral, vocalizando ou forrageando) se faz obrigatória / Glucocorticoids modulate the immune response in complex ways in vertebrates exposed to different stressors. Given that natural populations have been exposed to a multitude of stressors, a better understanding of the functional association between duration and intensity of the stress response, the resulting changes in steroid hormone levels and their impact on different aspects of immunocompetence emerges as a cornerstone for vertebrate conservation strategies. We investigated the relationships between steroids levels and innate immunocompetence in anuran amphibians, incorporating the methodology of restraint challenge, experimental elevation of corticosterone levels by transdermal application, bacterial killing ability by spectrophotometry and the immune challenge with phytohemagglutinin. Our results demonstrate that the bacterial killing ability (BKA) measured by spectrophotometry is a reliable and accurate method to estimate the immunocompetence of anuran amphibians, additionally showed the existence of a large interspecific diversity in BKA from male anurans. When four different species of Bufonids were submitted to a restraint challenge, the general responses included increased in corticosterone plasma levels (CORT) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N:L) and decreased in testosterone plasma levels (T). The responses of BKA to restraint were much more variable, with R. icterica showing decreased and R. marina showing increased values. Additionally, CORT and N:L tended to increase more in response to restraint with movement restriction than to restraint without movement restriction, indicating that toads showed an increased stress response to the more intense stressor. All variables studied show interspecific variation. Rhinella ornate showed higher baseline CORT when compared to other species, while R. ornate and R. icterica showed the highest baseline BKA values. However, changes in N:L ratio, T levels and BKA, were not correlated to increased CORT within or between species. Transdermal application of corticosterone efficiently mimics repeated acute stress response events in Rhinella icterica, without changing the immune parameters even after thirteen days of treatment. Interestingly, long-term captivity did not mitigate the stress response, since the toads maintained three fold increased CORT even after three months under these conditions. Moreover, long-term captivity in the same condition increased total leukocyte count (TLC) and generated an even greater decrease in BKA, suggesting that consequences of the stress response can be aggravated by time in captivity. Based on our results, we consider that a careful evaluation is necessary in order to understand the modulation of the immune response by stress at intra and interspecific levels. The inclusion of different segments of the immune response is desirable, and a standardized data collection for all the species under the same period (e.g. inside or outside of breeding season) and same activity (e.g. calling or foraging) is mandatory

A partir de estudos sobre o controle endócrino do comportamento reprodutivo em anuros sabemos que diversos aspectos do comportamento vocal e das interações agonísticas nestes animais encontram-se associados a alterações dos níveis hormonais de testosterona e corticosterona. Dentre as espécies de anuros neotropicais de grande interesse para estudos a respeito do controle endócrino do comportamento reprodutivo destaca-se Hypsiboas faber, uma espécie de hilídeo caracterizada pela presença de machos territorialistas, cujas interações agonísticas abrangem uma diversidade de padrões vocais com agressividade escalar, podendo culminar em embate físico, além da construção de ninhos para oviposição e comportamento facultativo de guarda deste ninho. O objetivo deste trabalho foi entender as inter-relações entre os níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona e testosterona, e os comportamentos de vocalização e defesa territorial em machos de H. faber durante a atividade reprodutiva. Tais interrelações foram investigadas através da observação do comportamento durante as atividades vocais, seguidas de coleta de sangue para dosagem hormonal. Contamos adicionalmente com uma abordagem experimental, que consistiu no uso de gravações do coaxo de anúncio (playback), simulando a invasão de outro macho no território dos indivíduos focais, seguida de observação comportamental e coleta de sangue para dosagem hormonal. O estímulo experimental não surtiu qualquer efeito sobre os níveis plasmáticos de corticosterona e testosterona, nem sobre a maior parte das variáveis comportamentais. Conseguimos identificar um padrão de variação sazonal nos níveis de corticosterona e testosterona, bem como uma correlação positiva entre estes hormônios. Adicionalmente, indivíduos que vocalizam a taxas mais altas apresentam níveis mais elevados de corticosterona durante o início da temporada reprodutiva, enquanto níveis mais elevados de testosterona aparecem nos indivíduos mais responsivos a estímulos provindos do entorno social. / From studies on the endocrine control of reproductive behavior in anurans, we know that many aspects of vocal behavior and agonistic interactions of these animals are related to changes in plasma levels of testosterone and corticosterone. Among the species of neotropical frogs of great interest for studies on the endocrine control of reproductive behavior stands out Hypsiboas faber, a hylid characterized by the presence of territorial males, whose agonistic interactions cover a variety of vocal patterns with aggressiveness scale, which may culminate in physical conflict. Males of H. faber also build nests for oviposition and presents optional guard of the nests with eggs. The aim of this study was to understand the interrelationships between plasma levels of corticosterone and testosterone with calling behavior and territorial defense in males of H. faber during reproductive season. These relationships were investigated by focal observations during the vocal activities, followed by blood sampling for hormonal assay. We additionally used an experimental approach, which consisted of using recorded advertisement calls (playback), simulating an invasion of another male in the territory of the focal subjects, followed by behavioral observation and blood sampling for hormonal assay. The experimental stimulus had no effect on plasma levels of corticosterone and testosterone, neither on the majority of behavioral variables. We can identify a pattern of seasonal variation in levels of corticosterone and testosterone, as well as a positive correlation between these hormones. Additionally, individuals who vocalize at higher rates have higher levels of corticosterone during the beginning of reproductive season, while higher levels of testosterone appear in individuals more responsive to stimuli from the social environment.

Across avian systems, plumage ornamentation is often considered a signal of individual fitness, condition, sex, or status, and varies due to genetics or environmental sources. In species with structural coloration, plumage variation results from differences in the amount of energy allocated to feather growth during molt, presenting a unique opportunity to study the link between individual quality and ornamentation. In cooperative breeding species, such as the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), the role of structural color as a signal is particularly important because helpers may delay breeding for one to several years and competition for space is high. Florida Scrub-Jay juveniles are sexually dimorphic in the ultraviolet range, and plumage color predicts social dominance and condition, but not adult reproductive fitness. Little is known about the consistency of ultraviolet reflectance across molts, and I tested the following questions: 1) does plumage color change across molts within individuals; 2) how do environmental variables and stress affect structural color; and 3) does adult color or change in color predict reproductive fitness? I measured relative change in color within individuals by comparing their juvenile and first set of adult feathers after pre-basic molt. I used several measures of nutritional condition, social dynamics, habitat quality, and parasite infection to model color, and I experimentally administered corticosterone during pre-basic molt to examine the effects of increased stress on color. Plumage reflectance was compared with breeding status to investigate the role of color in breeding space acquisition. Plumage reflectance was significantly different within individuals across molts, but juvenile and adult color were correlated. Adults were significantly less bright than juveniles, with higher proportions of UV chroma and hues shifted toward UV wavelengths. Variation in feather color was best explained by sex, mass, parasite infection, and an interaction between area of oak scrub and group size. Juvenile feather color was also strongly associated with mother ID, but this was not the case for adults even though adult color was correlated with juvenile color. Adult chroma was reduced in birds treated with corticosterone, and hues were shifted toward longer wavelengths. No measure of adult color predicted acquisition of breeding space, but change in brightness and hue were significant predictors of acquisition for females, where breeders tended to experience greater reductions in brightness and shifts toward UV hues compared to helpers. This may be due to sex-specific differences in reproductive strategies in Florida Scrub-Jays. Females tend to disperse farther distances and breed earlier than males, potentially expending more energy foraying and searching for breeding space, which could reduce brightness if it is linked with condition. These results suggest that sexual selection is not a dominant factor in plumage ornamentation for Florida Scrub-Jays, and understanding the interaction between plumage color, personality, and reproductive fitness should be a priority for future research.

Corticosterone in foetal tissues after injection of the mother with ¹⁴C-corticosterone was determined by acetylation. with ³H-acetic anhydride and crystallization to constant specific activity. The corticosterone content of whole foetal tissue varied between gestational days 13 and 17 from 641 to 300 ng/g respectively. The specific activity of foetal hormone recovered remained essentially constant; after a 15-minute pulse this was as much as one-fourth that of maternal hormone. However, placenta, head and liver showed distinctly different patterns of metabolism, which changed greatly during this time in head and liver, with a decrease in the conversion of corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone and a rise in foetal liver 113-hydroxysteroid:NADP oxidoreductase activity. This mitochondrial enzyme, Km=33yM, pH optimum 6, which reduces the 11-dehydro metabolite to the biologically active 116-OH compound, increased sharply, raising the relative amount of the latter in foetal tissues from 15 to 91% during this period. One day after removal of maternal adrenals, foetal corticosterone was normal and maternal levels close to normal, indicating ability of foetal adrenals to function. Maternal hormone, however, crossed to the foetus readily and it was considered most likely that, normally, the maternal source predominates. Regardless of origin, foetal or maternal, however, the hormone is maintained in different foetal tissues in a distinct and different manner. / Medicine, Faculty of / Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of the present study was twofold: (1) to determine if X-irradiation can be considered a direct stress agent, and if so, to what extent it differs from other stressors; and (2) to further elucidate the role of the adrenal cortex in the radiation syndrome by determining the more immediate responses of this system to X-irradiation.

Orientadores: Sebastião Roberto Taboga, Ricardo Alexandre Fochi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T10:21:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antoniassi_JuliaQuilles_M.pdf: 2795390 bytes, checksum: 43457dd2f5a6928d83f9fa9c05fd3820 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A próstata, glândula do sistema reprodutor que tem origem embrionária a partir do seio urogenital, sendo formada por quatro pares de lobos fortemente associado à uretra: lobo anterior ou glândula coaguladora (GC), lobo dorsal (LD), lobo dorsolateral (LDL) e lobo ventral (LV). A fisiologia prostática é regulada por hormônios esteroides, principalmente andrógenos e estrógenos. Enquanto os andrógenos induzem a diferenciação, desenvolvimento, e atividade secretora, os estrógenos parecem modular os efeitos androgênicos, mantendo o crescimento e fisiologia normal da próstata. Embora o cortisol seja um hormônio largamente utilizado em medicamentos por suas ações anti-inflamatórias e imunossupressoras, pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos colaterais desses medicamentos, principalmente na morfofisiologia prostática. Além disso, sabe-se que esse hormônio está altamente relacionado com o estresse e com alguns distúrbios de comportamento. Desta forma, este projeto visou avaliar, por métodos histológicos, histoquímicos, imunocitoquímicos e estruturais com parâmetros qualitativos e quantitativos, diversos aspectos morfofuncionais da glândula prostática ventral de machos de gerbilo (Meriones unguiculatus), após a aplicação por cinco dias de corticosterona em duas doses diferentes: 0,5mg/kg/dia e 1,5mg/kg/dia, além disso os grupos foram subdivididos em um grupo com um período de 5 dias de descanso após o tratamento e outro grupo que foi morto um dia após o fim do tratamento. Os dados apresentados mostram que a corticosterona possui propriedades antiproliferativas e antiapoptóticas sobre a próstata de gerbilos. Esse hormônio também alterou a frequência dos receptores dos principais hormônios reguladores desse órgão, como andrógenos e estrógenos. Em relação aos receptores de glicocorticóides (GR), foi observada uma redução da sua expressão quando a concentração sérica da corticosterona encontrava-se elevada. As alterações na expressão dos receptores supracitados levaram ao surgimento de displasias prostáticas importantes. Houve uma variação nos efeitos desencadeados por esse hormônio de acordo com a dose aplicada, sendo que uma maior dose apresentou efeitos mais discretos e uma menor dose mostrou ser mais impactante. Os efeitos da corticosterona nos receptores nucleares foram revertidos ou atenuados após o período de descanso, o que não foi observado para os padrões de proliferação e apoptose celular / Abstract: The prostate, gland of reproductive system, has embryonic origin from the urogenital sinus and consists four lobes that are strongly associated with the urethra: anterior lobe or coagulating gland (CG), dorsal lobe (LD), dorsolateral lobe (LDL) and ventral lobe (LV). Steroid hormones, mainly androgens and estrogens, regulate the prostate physiology. While androgens induce differentiation, development and secretory activity, estrogens appear to modulate androgen effects, maintaining normal growth and prostate physiology. Although cortisol is widely used in drugs because their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions, little is known about the side effects of these drugs, especially in the prostate morphophysiology. Furthermore, it is known that this hormone is highly correlated with stress and some behavioral disorders. Thus, this research aimed evaluate, by histological methods, histochemical, immunocytochemical with structural and qualitative and quantitative parameters, various morphological and functional aspects of the ventral prostate gland of male gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) after application of corticosterona. This hormone was applicated for five days with two doses of corticosterone: 0.5mg/kg/day and 1.5mg/kg/day, in addition, the groups were divided into a group with a 5-day period of rest after the treatment and another group was killed one day after the end treatment. The data showed that corticosterone has antiproliferative and anti-apoptotic properties on the prostate gerbils. This hormone also changed the frequency of AR, ER?, ER? e GR. We observed a reduction of glucocorticoids receptors expression when serum concentration of corticosterone was elevated. These changes led to the emergence of important prostatic dysplasia. There was a variation in effects triggered by this hormone in accordance with the applied dose, being that a higher dose reported effects more discrete and a lower dose was shown to be more impactful. The effects of corticosterone on nuclear receptors have been reversed or attenuated after rest period, which was not observed for apoptosis and cell proliferation patterns / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestra em Biologia Celular e Estrutural