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Behavioral and physiological reactivity, and its relationship to cardiovascular disease has been studied in men for a number of years, and the expression of anger has been identified as a possible contributing factor. Few studies, however, have focused specifically on the reactivity of women, and those which have suggest that women are less reactive to laboratory tasks than men. For the present study, 45 undergraduate women, ages 19-21 were selected from a larger sample of 135 women to represent three discrete groups: (1) low anger/low denial, (2) high anger/low denial, and (3) low anger/high denial, based on their scores on the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, P and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. It was hypothesized that the three groups would show reliable differences in heart rate and blood pressure during presentation of a stressful laboratory stimulus, the Stroop Color and Word Test. Each subject received three counterbalanced conditions: (1) no feedback, (2) error feedback without observer present, (3) error feedback with observer present. As hypothesized, women who reported a high level of denial and a low level of anger exhibited reliably greater systolic blood pressure to the no-feedback condition than subjects who reported low levels of denial and anger. The hypothesis that all groups would display greater A reactivity in a condition which provided error feedback with observation was not supported. / Master of Science

Ces dernières années, un nouveau composant de l'environnement des tumeurs (ET) a été mis en évidence: les projections des neurones du système nerveux. En effet, les tumeurs sont infiltrées par des axones, ce qui pourrait réguler la progression du cancer.Le cancer du pancréas fait partie des cancers les plus mortels. Les traitements thérapeutiques actuels qui ciblent ce cancer ne sont pas efficaces. Il est donc important de mieux comprendre les différentes composantes de l'ET de ce cancer afin d’identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. Nous proposons de décrire l’innervation des tumeurs pancréatiques ce qui est le point de départ pour mieux comprendre l’importance de cette composante de l'ET. Les objectifs ont été d’analyser en 3D les réseaux d'axones qui innervent le pancréas sain et cancéreux, ainsi que leurs relations avec d'autres types cellulaires de l'ET (vaisseaux sanguins (VS)).Pour cela, nous avons utilisé une méthode d'imagerie 3D de pancréas entiers, rendus transparents, qui proviennent de modèles génétiques de souris qui développent des cancers du pancréas similaires à ceux de l'homme. Nous avons observé que les réseaux d'axones sont plus denses et plus complexes dans les régions cancéreuses du pancréas par rapport aux régions saines. Alors que dans les tissus sains les axones sont associés aux VS, ils ne le sont plus dans les régions cancéreuses. Nous avons de plus identifié des groupes morphologiques de réseaux d'axones qui permettent de discriminer une région saine d'une région cancéreuse.L’analyse de la structure en 3D de ces réseaux d'axones pourrait donc représenter une donnée prédictive et pronostique de l'état d'avancé clinique de la maladie. / Cancers are diseases in which cancer cells interact with a complex tumor environment (TE). In recent years, a new component of TE has been highlighted: neuronal projections of the nervous system. Indeed, the axons of neurons innervate the tumors, which could regulate cancer progression.Pancreatic cancer is among the most deadly cancers. Indeed, the current therapeutic treatments that target this cancer are not effective. It is therefore important to better understand the different components of the TE of this cancer in order to identify new potential therapeutic targets.In this thesis, we propose to describe the innervation of pancreatic tumors which is the starting point to better understand the importance of this component of the TE. The objectives were to visualize and analyze in 3D the networks of axons that innervate the healthy and cancerous pancreas, as well as their relations with other cell types of the TE (blood vessels (BV)).For this, we used a method of 3D imaging of whole pancreas, made transparent, which come from genetic models of mice that develop pancreatic cancer similar to that of humans.We observed that axon networks are denser and more complex in cancerous regions of the pancreas compared to healthy regions. Moreover, while in healthy tissue, axons are associated with BV, they are no longer in cancerous areas.We also identified morphological groups of axon networks that discriminate a healthy region from a cancerous region.The analysis of the 3D structure of these axon networks could thus represent a predictive and prognostic value for the progression of the disease.

La Sclérose Latérale Amyotrophique (SLA) est une affection neurodégénérative touchant les motoneurones, habituellement mortelle en 3 à 5 ans. La cause de la maladie n'est pas connue et le seul traitement actuellement disponible ne permet qu'un allongement modeste de la survie. Des altérations fonctionnelles de la jonction neuromusculaire (JNM) ont été rapportées dans la SLA mais leur origine physiopathologique n'est pas connue. Nous avons étudié les JNM chez 11 patients atteints de SLA, en associant étude morphologique en microscopie confocale et analyse ultrastructurale. L'analyse fonctionnelle réalisée en EMG de surface retrouvait une anomalie de transmission neuromusculaire (décrément > 10%) chez 45% des patients. Des altérations morphologiques des JNM étaient visibles chez tous les patients, y compris au stade précoce de la maladie. Associé aux anomalies en rapport avec le phénomène de dénervation, nous avons observé un aspect anormal de spiculation de la gouttière primaire dans environ un tiers des cas. Une interposition marquée de la cellule de Schwann terminale entre la terminaison nerveuse et la membrane postsynaptique, pouvant altérer la transmission synaptique, était parfois visible. Nous avons objectivé une réinnervation compensatrice significativement plus importante chez les patients présentant une SLA d'évolution lente et montré que certains facteurs moléculaires musculaires comme l'histone déacétylase 4 pourraient jouer un rôle crucial dans la capacité de réinnervation. Ce travail a mis en évidence des altérations morphologiques majeures au niveau des JNM des patients atteints de SLA et a permis d'identifier des cibles thérapeutiques potentielles. / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons, usually leading to death in 3 to 5 years. The only treatment currently available, riluzole, has a modest effect on survival. Functional alterations of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) have been reported in ALS, but their pathophysiological significance remains unknown. We studied the morphology of neuromuscular junctions in muscle samples collected from 11 ALS patients, using confocal and electron microscopy. Functional analysis of the NMJs was performed using surface-recording of compound motor action potentials after repetitive nerve stimulation at slow stimulus rate. A significant decrement (>10%), suggesting impairment of the neuromuscular transmission, was present in 45% of the patients. Morphological alterations of the NMJs were present in all ALS patients even at the early-stages. Beside denervation-induced morphological changes, one third of the NMJs showed abnormal spike-like areas of the outer edge of the postsynaptic primary gutter. A marked interposition of the terminal Schwann cell between the nerve terminal and the postsynaptic membrane, which was likely to alter synaptic transmission, was sometimes present. We found a significantly greater compensatory reinnervation in muscle from patients with slowly progressive ALS. Furthermore, we identified that the muscle molecular factor histone deacetylase 4 could play a key role in muscle reinnervation and disease progression in patients with ALS. This work has highlighted the presence of major morphological changes at the NMJs of ALS patients and identified potential new targets for future treatment.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a preservação da inervação de porções intestinais macroscopicamente viáveis em cães portadores de intussuscepções. Para tanto, realizou-se comparação entre segmento intestinal proveniente deste grupo de animais (G1) e segmentos intestinais de animais sem qualquer distúrbio do aparelho digestório (G2). Avaliações histológicas e imunoistoquímicas foram realizadas em sistema computadorizado (Image Pro-Plus®) além da avaliação tardia da qualidade de vida e função digestiva. As variáveis analisadas foram: densidade média das camadas musculares circular e longitudinal, relação entre as camadas musculares, número média de plexos mioentéricos, densidade celular média dos plexos mioentéricos, grau de degeneração neuronal nos plexos mioentéricos, imunoreatividade à sinaptofisina e ao NSE além de existência de distúrbios de defecação. Com exceção da densidade celular média da camada longitudinal, relação entre as camadas musculares e imunoreatividade à sinatpofisina, todos os demais parâmetros apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos testados. Foram observadas correlações entre densidade celular média dos plexos mioentéricos e densidade celular média da camada muscular circular; grau de vacuolização dos plexos mioentéricos e imunoreatividade ao NSE; além de grau de vacuolização dos plexos mioentéricos e densidade celular média dos plexos mioentéricos. Quanto aos anticorpos utilizados, o NSE apresentou melhor padrão de marcação quando comparado à sinaptofisina. Dos 13 cães pertencentes ao G1, três foram a óbito no pós-operatório inicial. No período pós-operatório tardio, três cães apresentaram alterações de consistência e freqüência de defecação, além de episódios diarréicos agudos intermitentes. O tempo de segmento foi de 6 meses após intervenção cirúrgica. Os achados deste estudo sugerem que porções intestinais macroscopicamente viáveis podem apresentar lesões de inervação eventualmente traduzidas em sintomatologia clínica futura. Assim sendo, deve-se avaliar de maneira cuidadosa a margem cirúrgica preservada durante o procedimento de enterectomia/enteroanastomose bem como realizar acompanhamento da função digestória tardia. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preservation of the innervation of macroscopically viable bowel segments of dogs with intussusceptions. This group (G1) was compared to bowel segment of normal dogs (G2). Histological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed using computed system (Image Pro-Plus®). Late assessment of the quality of life and digestive function were also evaluated. Analyzed variables included: mean density of circular and longitudinal muscular layers cells, ratio between muscular layers, mean of myenteric plexuses, mean density of myenteric cells, neuronal degeneration degree in myenteric plexus, synaptophysin and NSE immunoreactivity and defecatory disorders. All tested parameters, except mean density of longitudinal muscular layers cells, ratio between muscular layers and synaptophysin immunoreactivity, showed statistical differences when group G1 was compared with group G2. Correlations between mean density of myenteric cells and mean density of circular muscular layers cells; neuronal degeneration degree in myenteric plexus and NSE immunoreactivity; neuronal degeneration degree in myenteric plexus and mean density of myenteric cells were observed. Regarding the immunohistochemical antibodies, NSE showed better staining pattern than synaptophysin. Three animals of G1 (n=13) died during the initial post-operative period. During the late post-operative period, three animals presented disorders in fecal consistency, frequency of defecation and acute intermittent diarrheal episodes. The follow-up time was 6 months. These findings showed that macroscopically viable bowel segments can present innervation damage eventually translated in clinical symptoms in the future. So, a careful evaluation of the preserved surgical margin during enterectomy and enteroanastomosis must be carried out as well as monitoring of the late digestive function.

Neste trabalho, mostramos que a extração de veneno promove aumento na ativação dos fatores de transcrição NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB e AP-1. Noradrenalina, liberada após extração de veneno, é responsável por esse aumento. A estimulação dos adrenoceptores <font face=\"symbol\">a e <font face=\"symbol\">b estão envolvidos nessa resposta, entretanto, o grau de ativação de AP-1 é alterado dependendo do tempo. Foi verificado dimorfismo sexual na ativação dos fatores de transcrição da glândula de veneno, sendo a ativação de NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB mais rápida nas fêmeas do que nos machos e a ativação de AP-1 maior nas fêmeas. Mostramos ainda que a extração de veneno ativa a glândula de veneno através da estimulação da inervação noradrenérgica. Noradrenalina atuando em adrenoceptores <font face=\"symbol\">a e <font face=\"symbol\">b regula a síntese de proteínas da glândula de veneno e não a síntese de toxinas do veneno. Em conclusão, a estimulação da inervação noradrenérgica desencadeia o ciclo de produção de veneno regulando a síntese de proteínas da glândula que provavelmente são essenciais para sua ativação e posterior produção de veneno, através da ativação de fatores de transcrição. Thesis: Noradrenergic Innervation in activation of venom gland of Bothrops jararaca snake. / In this work we showed that venom extraction increases the activation of transcription factors like NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB and AP-1. Noradrenaline released after venom extraction is responsible for NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB and AP-1 activation. Stimulation of both <font face=\"symbol\">a- and <font face=\"symbol\">b-adrenoceptors is involved in this response, however the increase of AP-1 activation is time dependent. A sexual dimorphism has been verified in NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB and AP-1 activation. Activation of NF<font face=\"symbol\">kB occurs earlier in female than in male snakes and activation of AP-1 is greater in female than in male snakes. We also showed that venom extraction activates venom gland by stimulating noradrenergic innervation. Noradrenaline acting at both <font face=\"symbol\">a- and <font face=\"symbol\">b-adrenoceptors regulates synthesis of protein of the venom gland, but not the toxin of the venom. In conclusion, stimulation of noradrenergic innervation triggers the venom production cycle by regulating synthesis of protein that probably is essential to activate venom gland to produce venom by activating transcription factors.

INTRODUÇÃO - O câncer de próstata é a doença maligna mais diagnosticada no mundo, desconsiderando os tumores de pele. A prostatectomia radical tem sido considerada a opção terapêutica preferida no tratamento do câncer clinicamente localizado. O conhecimento da anatomia neurovascular da próstata é de extrema importância para a obtenção de resultados funcionais satisfatórios sem prejuízo aos fins oncológicos. A maioria dos estudos anatômicos já publicados utilizou próstatas removidas cirurgicamente - espécime de prostatectomia radical. Estudos realizados com próstata de cadáveres são importantes por permitir a ressecção em bloco dos órgãos pélvicos, possibilitando uma melhor avaliação da neuroanatomia periprostática. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar detalhadamente a distribuição das fibras nervosas periprostáticas em cadáveres humanos. MÉTODOS - Foram obtidos 10 blocos viscerais de cadáveres com idade superior a 50 anos constituídos por bexiga, próstata e fáscias adjacentes, uretra proximal e reto. Após fixação em formalina, o bloco visceral foi fatiado transversalmente em fatias de aproximadamente 5 mm. Cada fatia foi dividida em quatro setores, tendo a uretra como eixo central e encaminhada para inclusão em parafina, secção com micrótomo padrão e confecção das lâminas coradas em HE. A cápsula prostática (CP) foi identificada e demarcada e áreas de avaliação foram definidas conforme distância da CP, designadas como distância D1(até 2,5 mm), D2 (2,5 a 5 mm) e D3(maior de 5 mm). Em cada região da próstata (região apical, região média e região basal) as fibras nervosas foram avaliadas de acordo com a distribuição circunferencial nos segmentos anterior, ântero-laterais direito e esquerdo, póstero-laterais direito e esquerdo e posterior e conforme a distância da CP - distâncias D1, D2 e D3. RESULTADOS - Foram identificados 29.275 fibras nervosas, das quais 3.274 (11,18%) foram detectados na região apical, 11.997 (40,98%) na região média e 14.004 (47,84%) na região basal da próstata. Na região basal, aproximadamente, 46% das fibras nervosas foram identificadas nas faces póstero-laterais, 20% na face posterior da próstata e menos de 9% na face anterior. Houve predomínio numérico de FN nas áreas mais distantes, com 46,62% delas sendo identificadas em D3. Na região média, 45% das fibras nervosas se distribuíram nos segmentos anteriores a ântero-laterais. Cerca de 45% se distribuíram igualmente nas faces póstero-laterais direita e esquerda e apenas 10% na face posterior. Nesta região, observou-se que mais de 60% das FN estavam dispostas nas áreas D1. Na região apical, também se observou predomínio de fibras nervosas nos segmentos que compõem as faces posteriores e póstero-laterais (61%). Aproximadamente, 24% das FN se distribuíram igualmente entre as faces ântero-laterais direita e esquerda e quase 15% estavam distribuídas na face anterior do ápice prostático. Mais da metade delas encontravam-se distribuídas a até 2,5 mm da cápsula prostática. Nos segmentos anteriores e ântero-laterais, o predomínio de FN nas áreas D1 foi mais acentuado do que nos outros segmentos. Na avaliação geral, a quantidade relativa de fibras nervosas identificadas nas áreas D1 variou de maneira inversamente proporcional à quantidade relativa de FN das áreas D3. Nas áreas demarcadas entre 2,5 mm e 5 mm da CP (D2), a quantidade relativa de fibras nervosas se manteve relativamente constante. CONCLUSÕES - No sentido craniocaudal, a quantidade de fibras nervosas diminui progressivamente, a distribuição circunferencial se modifica, com aumento da quantidade relativa de fibras nervosas nas faces anteriores e a distribuição em relação à distância da próstata também se modifica, com aumento da quantidade relativa de fibras nervosas nas áreas mais próximas da próstata. A quantidade relativa de fibras nervosas dispostas a uma distância mínima de 2,5 mm da cápsula prostática se mantém constante / INTRODUCTION - Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the world, excluding skin tumors. The incidence of localized tumor increased substantially after the PSA era. Consequently, the percentage of men treated by radical surgery for clinically localized prostate cancer increased. The exact paths of periprostatic nerves have been under debate over the last decades. In the present study, the topographic distribution of nerves around the prostate and their relative distances from the prostatic capsule were analyzed in male cadaver visceral blocs. METHODS - The pelvic organs from ten fresh male cadavers were removed and serial sectioned en bloc for histological investigation. The prostatic capsule was identified, and distances of 2.5 mm and 5 mm from the prostate were demarked with lines. We quantified the number of nerve fibers present in each subsector of each slide and recorded their position relative to the prostatic capsule. RESULTS - A total of 29,275 nerve fibers were identified, of which 3,274 (11.18%) were detected in the apex, 11,997 (40.98%) in the middle and 14,004 (47.83%) in the basal area of the prostate. The majority of nerves were identified in the posterolateral and posterior surfaces of the prostate. At the apical region, the percentage of nerve fibers identified in the anterior region was higher. The nerves identified at the apex were mainly located up to 2.5 mm from the prostate. This proximity to the prostate was specifically observed in the ântero-lateral and anterior sectors. In the craniocaudal sense, the percentage of nerves identified between 2.5 and 5 mm from the prostatic capsule remained constant. CONCLUSIONS - A significant number of nerve fibers were present in the anterior and ântero-lateral positions, especially at the apex. The anterior nerves were closer to the prostate. This proximity suggests that the anterior nerves may participate in local physiology. It is likely that the safe distance of 2.5 mm from all surfaces of the prostate may be related to cavernous fiber preservation

For the purpose of developing an effective therapeutic strategy for HSCR, the enteric neural crest stem cells were investigated firstly which were isolated from the E14.5 mouse embryonic gut, cultured as neurospheres and characterized by multiple immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-PCR, population doubling time, frequency of forming secondary neurospheres and limited dilution assay. In the differentiation culture medium, several types of cells were induced to form from the neurospheres derived from single cells. Hence the putative enteric neural crest stern cells, which were isolated from the embryonic mouse gut tube and cultured as neurospheres for many passages ex vivo with the demonstrated capacity of proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation, showed properties of stem cells. / Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is caused by the absence of the enteric neural crest-derived neurons at the distal region of the gut. Cell-based therapy using stem cells or progenitors gives the potential to supplement these missing enteric neurons in the gut. Enteric neural crest stem cells isolated from the human or rodent gut can give rise to neurons and glia after they are transplanted into the recipient guts of the mouse or rat. However, numbers of issues are unresolved about the basic biology of the enteric nervous system, the characteristics of the stem cells isolated from the enteric nervous system and the biological significance of these cells in prenatal and postnatal periods. In this study, the characteristics and therapeutic potential on HSCR of the enteric neural crest stem cells were explored. / In addition to the above, a recombination organotypic gut culture ex vivo showed that the colonization of enteric neural crest-derived cells in the recipient gut was influenced not only by the genotypes of enteric neural crest-derived cells themselves but also the microenvironment of the gut through which enteric neural crest-derived cells migrated. For instance, the developmental stage of the recipient gut and also the presence of endogenous enteric neural crest-derived cells along the migratory pathway of neural crest-derived cells both affected the extent of the migration and colonization of exogenous enteric neural crest-derived cells and stem cells. The gradual maturation and differentiation of the neighboring structures, such as the smooth muscle layer, during the time period of the enteric neural crest cells migration, might also suggest that these neighboring tissues may have a role in regulating the neural crest-derived cells migration. / In conclusion, enteric neural crest stem cells isolated from the embryonic mouse gut tube showed properties of stem cells, and had the potential to compensate missing enteric neural crest-derived cells both ex vivo and in vivo. However, the colonization of enteric neural crest-derived cells in the developing gut was affected cell-autonomously and also by the microenvironment of the gut and the presence of existing enteric neural crest-derived cells. / Their potential applications in the transplantation experiments were shown by transplantation of the neurospheres isolated to the gut tube maintained in an organotypic culture or to the descending colon of neonates at postnatal day 7. The development of the enteric neural crest stern cells from the neurospheres was found to be compatible to endogenous enteric neural crest-derived cells in the recipient gut as evidenced by the formation of interconnected cellular networks of donor stem cells and endogenous neural crest-derived cells. The enteric neural crest stem cells also possess the potential to compensate the loss of enteric neural crest-derived cells ex vivo and in vivo in recipient prenatal and postnatal guts. / Bao, Lihua. / Adviser: Wood Yee Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-228). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Submitted by Leticia Schettini (leticia@ufrrj.br) on 2017-04-24T14:23:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Carlos Augusto dos Santos Sousa.pdf: 2340153 bytes, checksum: 5ef373f242c2c4700a9a9e55280bc62c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-24T14:23:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Carlos Augusto dos Santos Sousa.pdf: 2340153 bytes, checksum: 5ef373f242c2c4700a9a9e55280bc62c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Morphology studies provide knowledge that allow us to understand how animals interact with the natural environment or in captivity. In this context, the comparative anatomy of the formation of the brachial plexus awakens interest since the nineteenth century and remains one of the most intriguing topics of contemporary anatomy. The aim of this study was to describe the origin and the antimeric distribution of the brachial plexus nerves in Macaca mulatta, as well as the innervated muscles. Ten male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were used, from the Non-human Primates? Breeding Department at the Laboratory Animals Breeding Centre (Cecal/Fiocruz), donated to the Animal Anatomy Department of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). The specimens were fixed in formaldehyde solution by infusion of 10% solution. They were subsequently wrapped in a low-density polythene container with 500 liters of formaldehyde 30% solution over a period of 12 months. After this period, they were washed in running water and subjected to X-ray examinations of the neck at the Small Animals Veterinary Hospital of the UFRRJ to characterize the number of cervical vertebrae. Then, they had both antimeres dissected aiming at the exposure of the origins and the nerves arising from the brachial plexus. Data were presented both in absolute frequency and in simple percentage. In 11 (55%) animals the resulting nerves were constituted by the connections between the ventral spinal branches C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. In 5 (25%) animals, the participants roots were C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In 2 (10%) animals C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In the other 2 (10%) animals the formation of the plexus was observed from C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. The ventral branches formed three nerve trunks: cranial, middle and caudal. The suprascapular nerves, subscapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median, ulnar innervated the intrinsic muscles and the subclavian nerve innervated the thoracodorsal, medial cutaneous arm and forearm, long thoracic, cranial pectoral and caudal pectoral innervate extrinsic muscles. The results obtained in this study contribute to the comparative anatomy of primates and to the information for applied research, serving as basis for clinical and surgical procedures that uses this species as an animal model. / Estudos morfol?gicos fornecem conhecimentos que permitem entender o modo como os animais interagem com o ambiente natural ou em cativeiro. O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever a origem e a distribui??o antim?rica dos nervos do plexo braquial em Macaca mulatta, assim como dos m?sculos inervados. Foram utilizados 10 cad?veres de Macaca mulatta do sexo masculino, oriundos do Servi?o de Cria??o de Primatas N?o Humanos do Centro de Cria??o de Animais de Laborat?rio (Cecal/Fiocruz) doados a ?rea de Anatomia Animal da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Os esp?cimes foram fixados com perfus?o de solu??o de formalde?do a 10%. Posteriormente, foram acondicionados em caixas de polietileno de baixa densidade com capacidade de 500 litros contendo solu??o de formalde?do a 30% por um per?odo de 12 meses. Ap?s este per?odo, foram lavados em ?gua corrente e submetidos a exames radiogr?ficos da regi?o cervical no Hospital Veterin?rio de Pequenos Animais da UFRRJ para a caracteriza??o do n?mero de v?rtebras cervicais. Em seguida, foram dissecados at? a exposi??o das origens e dos nervos oriundos do plexo braquial. Os dados foram representados em frequ?ncia absoluta e percentual simples. Em 11 (55%) os nervos resultantes foram constitu?dos das conex?es entre os ramos espinhais ventrais de C5, C6, C7, C8 e T1. Em 5 (25%) as ra?zes participantes foram C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 e T2. Em 2 (10%) de C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 e T2. Em outros 2 (10%) verificamos a constitui??o do plexo a partir de C6, C7, C8, T1 e T2. Os ramos ventrais formaram tr?s troncos nervosos: cranial, m?dio e caudal. Os nervos supraescapular, subescapulares, axilar, musculocut?neo, radial, mediano, ulnar inervaram a musculatura intr?nseca e os nervos subcl?vios, toracodorsal, tor?cico longo, peitoral cranial e peitoral caudal inervaram a musculatura extr?nseca. Tamb?m foram registrados os nervos cut?neos oriundos do plexo braquial, sendo eles o nervo cut?neo medial do bra?o, nervo cut?neo medial do antebra?o e ramos para a musculatura cut?nea do tronco. Os dados descritos neste estudo contribuem para a anatomia comparada de primatas e fornecem informa??es para a pesquisa aplicada, servindo como base para procedimentos cl?nico-cir?rgicos em que venha a se utilizar esta esp?cie como modelo experimental.

[Truncated abstract] The present study investigated whether any of the characteristics of the compound action potential (CAP) waveform or the spectrum of the neural noise (SNN) recorded from the cochlea, could be used to examine abnormal spike generation in the type I primary afferent neurones, possibly due to pathologies leading to abnormal hearing such as tinnitus or tone decay. It was initially hypothesised that the CAP waveform and SNN contained components produced by the local action currents generated at the peripheral ends of the type I primary afferent neurones, and that changes in these local action currents occurred due to changes in the membrane potential of these neurones. It was further hypothesised that the lateral olivo-cochlear system (LOCS) efferent neurones regulate the membrane potential of the primary afferent dendrites to maintain normal action potential generation, where instability in the membrane potential might lead to abnormal primary afferent firing, and possibly one form of tinnitus. We had hoped that the activity of the LOCS efferent neurones could be observed through secondary changes in the CAP waveform and SNN, resulting from changes in the membrane potential of the primary afferent neurones. The origins of the neural activity generating the CAP waveform and SNN peaks, and the effects of the LOCS on the CAP and SNN were experimentally investigated in guinea pigs using lesions in the auditory system, transient ischemia and asphyxia, focal and systemic temperature changes, and pharmacological manipulations of different regions along the auditory pathway. ... Therefore, the CAP and SNN are altered by changes in the propagation of the action potential along the primary afferent neurones, by changes in the morphology of the tissues surrounding the cochlear nerve, and by changes in the time course of the action currents. If the CAP waveform is not altered, the amplitude of the 1kHz speak in the spontaneous SNN can be used as an objective measure of the spontaneous firing rate of the cochlear neurones. However, because the SNN contains a complex mixture of neural activity from all cochlear neurones, and the amplitude of the spontaneous SNN is variable, it would be difficult to use the spontaneous SNN alone as a differential diagnostic test of cochlear nerve pathologies. To record extratympanic electrocochleography (ET ECochG) from humans, a custom-designed, inexpensive, low-noise, optically isolated biological amplifier was built. Furthermore, a custom-designed extratympanic active electrode and ear canal indifferent electrode were designed, which increased the signal-to-noise ratio of the ECochG recording by a factor of 2, decreasing the overall recording time by 75%. The human and guinea pig CAP waveforms recorded in the present study appeared similar, suggesting that the origins of the human and guinea pig CAP waveforms were the same, and that experimental manipulations of the guinea pig CAP waveform can be used to diagnose the cause of abnormal human ECochG waveforms in cases of cochlear nerve pathologies.