This study aims to characterize the gonads, folliculogenesis, and spermatogenesis processes of male and female Rhinella bergi through anatomical, histological and morphometric analysis. We worked ...with specimens previously collected in the spring and summer seasons (2014–2015), in which the gonads were studied based on morphological, histological and morphometric analysis. The reproductive system was analyzed using a stereoscopic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Histological preparations were made following the conventional protocol of dehydration, inclusion in paraffin and stained with haematoxylin–eosin, Mallory trichrome and PAS histochemical reactions. The anatomical and morphometric characteristics and the gametogenesis in R. bergi agree with what was proposed for other analyzed species of the Bufonidae family. Females with ovaries with oocytes in different stages of maturity and postovulatory females were found. The males presented continuous spermatogenesis. The results of this work serve as a basis for the characterization of the reproductive cycle in R. bergi and, at the same time, provide background information on the analysis of gametogenic activity. Future investigations will be focused on evaluating the reproductive cycle in this species, both in ovaries and testes as well as Bidder's organ, to compare and correlate with the results obtained in this study.
Abstract The present study aims to structurally and histochemically characterize the Gymnotus carapo tegument. 30 specimens were captured and slaughtered by spinal section with anesthesia. The ...observation was carried out with a stereoscopic microscope and the body surface was photographed. Fragments of the dorsal, ventral and lateral region were fixed in Bouin’s solution for 12 hours and subsequently preserved in 70% alcohol. They were subsequently observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The preparation for SEM was performed following the standardized protocol. Histological preparations were made, and the cuts were colored with H-E, PAS and Coomassie Blue. The images were obtained in an Olympus BX41-ENUTV-4 microscope. From the observations in SEM a plain tegument with pores of different sizes could be evidenced. The scales of the different regions of the body have different ornaments. Microscopically it was composed of a stratified non-keratinized epithelium consisting of two types of morphologically distinct cells: epidermal cells and mucous cells (PAS-Commassie Blue positive). Under the epithelium there is a layer of dense irregular connective tissue with associated chromatophores and more deeply scales. These analyzes are the basis for future studies that will focus on elucidating the events related to integumentary healing in this species.
The magnitude and duration of acute inflammation are controlled by active resolution programs involving specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs; resolvins and maresins) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, ...we report that miR-466l was temporally regulated in murine exudate-infiltrating leukocytes. Neutrophil miR-466l overexpression in vivo promoted initiation of inflammation that anteceded macrophage expression of this miRNA, which accelerated resolution when overexpressed. In macrophages, miR-466l overexpression increased prostanoids and SPMs (e.g., resolvin D1 RvD1 and RvD5), which enhanced resolution. RvD1, RvD2, maresin 1 (MaR1), and apoptotic neutrophils reduced miR-466l expression within human macrophages, a feedback regulation that most likely prepares for homeostasis. miR-466l was upregulated in peripheral blood of sepsis patients, and its increase correlated with nonsurvival from sepsis. SPMs and miR-466l regulated transcription factors activator protein 1 and nuclear factor κB1 in miRNA biogenesis. These results demonstrate pivotal roles for SPMs and miR-466l in dynamic leukocyte plasticity during resolution of acute inflammatory responses.
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•Acute inflammation upregulates miR-466l, which regulates resolution•Overexpression of miR-466l promotes specialized proresolving mediator production•Resolvin D1 and miR-466l each enhance efferocytosis, contributing to resolution•miR-466l is present and increased in sepsis nonsurvivors
We report a neonate with severe Marfan syndrome (MS), prenatally identified to have persistent atrial tachycardia, biventricular dysfunction, and an unusual structure within the atria. Detailed ...postnatal echocardiographic evaluation and cross‐sectional imaging confirmed congenital pseudoaneurysm of the mitral‐aortic intervalvular fibrosa. Emergent testing by next‐generation sequencing identified a FBN1 pathological variant, key to establishing goals of care. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a congenital pseudoaneurysm of the mitral‐aortic intervalvular fibrosa in MS.
Tsunamic events are a frequent hazard to coastal towns. Despite this, the extent to which resilience models can be applied to coastal towns as well as the aspects that should be considered when doing ...so have not been fully evaluated. There is little information regarding the specific indicators that allow cities to better cope and adapt to the impacts of tsunamis, and this information is especially scarce for developing countries such as Chile. The main objective of this study is to develop a resilience model to explore the extent to which local characteristics influence the resilience of Chilean coastal communities to tsunami hazards. Accordingly, this study presents the Coastal Community Resilience model (The CORE model) for exploring the adaptive capacity of coastal areas affected by tsunamis. This model was then applied to fourteen coastal villages, distributed within four towns, three communes, and two regions of Chile. Data comprising 21 indicators that address the physical, environmental, and social resilience aspects of the villages were obtained on-site and from governmental and municipality databases; these data were then subjected to multivariate analysis in order to determine which indicators most and least affect resilience and whether indicators affect resilience positively or negatively. Variation in resilience among the villages was explained by similarities and differences in the administrative-political, urban, rural, and indigenous characteristics of the study areas. In addition to these results, we discuss land use planning considerations to build community resilience, and we provide insight into the utility of the resilience model proposed here. Overall, our findings shed light on gaps in planning policies and opportunities for planning coastal resilient communities, particularly for those where data of explicit indicators are scarce like in Chile and other developing countries.
Los claspers en los condrictios son alargamientos especializados en el lado posterior de las aletas pélvicas de los machos que se utilizan para la transferencia de esperma durante la cópula. El ...objetivo del presente estudio fue la descripción y caracterización de la morfología externa y los componentes esqueléticos en aletas pélvicas del clasper de Potamotrygon motoro (Batoidea: Potamotrygonidae). Se trabajó con tres ejemplares juveniles (2 machos y 1 hembra) y dos ejemplares adultos (1 macho y 1 hembra) provenientes del Rio Paraná, Corrientes Capital. Las muestras se fijaron en formol al 10%, y procesadas mediante la técnica de diafanización. El material fue conservado en glicerol para su observación. Macroscópicamente, el dimorfismo sexual se hace evidente en machos, mediante una estructura en la región posterior denominada clasper, de forma cónica ligeramente ahusada, visible dorsal y ventralmente. En muestras diafanizadas se puede distinguir los elementos cartilaginosos posteriores, diferenciándose un propterigio y un basipterigio, que unidos a este se localizan los segmentos basales y los cartílagos radiales de las aletas pélvicas; sin embargo, solo los machos desarrollan un clasper o mixopterigio. En las hembras, las únicas estructuras esqueléticas posteriores al basipterigio son pequeños elementos nodulares (cartílagos terminales). Se evidenció que estos ejemplares en sus primeros días de vida ya presentan el dimorfismo sexual asociado a la presencia de clasper en machos y su ausencia en hembras; sin embargo, los machos juveniles no presentan el desarrollo total del mixopterigio que forma el clasper.
This work aims to study the testicular morphology and spermatogenesis of Gymnotus carapo to provide information on their reproductive biology which is useful in managing this species as a fishing ...resource. The testicles were isolated and fixed in 10% formalin; subsequently, they were processed for scanning electron microscopy with conventional histological technique. To analyze the cell proliferation of germline cells and Sertoli cells, immunodetection of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein was performed. In G. carapo spermatogenesis, the spermatogenic line is organized into cysts. Spermatogonia A is characterized by more bigger and solitary cells. Spermatogonia B are smaller cells; their nucleus has a larger area concerning the cytoplasm and is grouped in tubules. Spermatocytes (I–II) are smaller than spermatogonia in the prophase of meiotic division. Spermatids are cells with dense, rounded nucleus. The sperm were found in the lumen of the tubule. By immunostaining PCNA, it was possible to observe the proliferative activity of germ line cells and Sertoli cells during the cyst reorganization phase. These results are the basis for future studies focusing on the analysis compared to females of the reproductive cycle of G. carapo.
Testicular morphology varies according to the reproductive state of the male by simulating the histological changes in the testicles. The anatomical and histological characteristics of the germ line cells during gametogenesis give us information for elaborating reproductive management plans in fish. From PCNA immunodetection it was possible to demonstrate the proliferative activity of each seminiferous tubule.
The aim of this study was to assess the leaf aqueous extract composition of
Serjania marginata
and the effects of its inclusion on the diet of Nile tilapia (
Oreochromis niloticus
), with respect to ...the activity of digestive enzymes and enzymes associated with the metabolism of the liver and intestine and liver histopathology. Fish (initial mean weight, 54.36 ± 17.04 g) were divided into groups: fasting (without feeding), control (commercial feed), and treatment (commercial feed with leaf aqueous extract of
Serjania marginata
), and in each aquarium, there were five individuals and the fish fed ad libitum for 15 days. Treatment fish had ingested on average 224.3 mg of extract/kg of fish/day. In the extract analysis by mass spectrometry, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, A-type proanthocyanidin trimer, and quinic acid were identified. In the enzymatic activity, fish from the treatment group showed higher level of alkaline phosphatase, while the hepatotoxic markers (AST and ALT) and levels of lipase, amylase, and nonspecific protease did not differ (
p
> 0.05). In liver histopathological analysis, it was observed that fish from the treatment showed normal structure, while abnormalities were associated with control (fibrosis, loss of cordonal architecture, vacuolated hepatocytes with nucleus displaced to the periphery) and fasting (reduction in hepatocyte size and sinusoidal space). The intestine histopathology evidenced that the extract favored the development of goblet cells and intestinal fold height. The results indicated that the leaf aqueous extract of
S
.
marginata
assists in the structural maintenance of the liver and intestine and stimulates intestinal alkaline phosphatase production in Nile tilapia, suggesting that the identified compounds act on the liver and intestine, showing hepatoprotective effects and stimulating intestinal digestion.
This study aimed to further our understanding of a characteristic of Community Resilience known as Disaster Governance. Three attributes of Disaster Governance-redundancy, diversity, and overlap-were ...studied in four coastal towns in southern Chile that are at risk of tsunamis. Overall, we explored how different spatial structures of human settlements influence Disaster Governance. Using the Projective Mapping Technique, the distribution of emergency institutions (N = 32) and uses given to specific sites (e.g., for refuge, sanitary purposes and medical attention) were mapped. Content and GIS analyses (Directional Distribution and Kernel Density Index) were used to explore the dispersion and concentration of institutions and uses in each town. Disaster Governance was found to be highly influenced by decisions taken during regional, urban, and emergency planning. Governance is better in towns of higher order in the communal hierarchical structure. Most of the emergency institutions were found to be located in central and urban areas, which, in turn, assures more redundancy, overlap, and diversity in governance in the event of a tsunami. Lack of flexibility of emergency plans also limits governance in rural and indigenous areas. While the spatial relationships found in this study indicate that urban sectors have better Disaster Governance than rural and indigenous sectors, the influence of resource availability after tsunamis, the role and responsibility of different levels of governments, and the politics of disaster also play an important role in Disaster Governance for determining Community Resilience. These findings shed light on emergency planning and aspects of the Disaster Management cycle.
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