RESUMO
We evaluated the potential of two parasitoids as biocontrol agents of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard in northeastern Brazil. The two species were the koinobiont larval-pupal endoparasitoid Phaedrotoma scabriventris Nixon (Braconidae) and the idiobiont larval endoparasitoid Chrysocharis vonones (Walker) (Eulophidae). The biological parameters evaluated were survivorship, parasitism, and host-feeding, at 25 and 30°C. Differences between the species were observed at 25°C, but not at 30°C. At 25°C, the total parasitism for P. scabriventris (196.1 ± 17.7) and C. vonones (176.6 ± 7.24) was similar and with higher values compared to 30°C, 102.5 ± 8.81 and 89.1 ± 5 66 parasitized larvae, respectively. However, C. vonones showed a 3.97 lower survivorship as well as higher daily parasitism (1.4-fold) and host-feeding means (1.9-fold) than the braconid at 25°C. The results indicate a potential for both natural enemies to be used as biocontrol agents of L. sativae. The differences between species detected at 25°C suggest the best conditions for the application of each parasitoid.
Assuntos
Agentes de Controle Biológico/classificação , Dípteros/parasitologia , Controle Biológico de Vetores , Vespas/fisiologia , Animais , Brasil , Feminino , Herbivoria , Larva/parasitologia , Masculino , Pupa/parasitologia , Vespas/classificaçãoRESUMO
Several human health problems have been related to the allergenic constitution of bovine milk due to the body's immune reaction to milk proteins. It is necessary find solutions to minimize the occurrence of such reactions, given the importance of milk as a source of animal protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the allelic frequency of the CSN2 gene and to evaluate differences in the characteristics of Gir and Guzerá bovine milk. One hundred and fifty-six cows were used (68 Gir and 88 Guzerá) from the Felipe Camarão Experimental Station herd of the Agricultural Research Corporation of RN (EMPARN). DNA extractions were carried out from hair follicles of the animals; the gene was then amplified and sequenced in an ABI 3100 automatic sequencer. The obtained sequences were submitted to analysis using the Geneious 5.6.5® program. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and to the Tukey-Kramer test at 5% probability and cluster analyses by main components were performed. Allele frequencies were 98 and 97% for the A2 allele and 0.96 and 0.93% for the genotype A2A2 for Gir and Guzerá, respectively. Gir and Guzerá animals showed differences in protein, lactose, and non-fat dry extract levels. Although correlations between milk yield and the production and some milk components are moderate, increases in milk yield are always greater than the increase in constituent yield. In addition, even though Guzerá animals have a higher percentage of protein, lactose, and non-fat dry extract, milk from Zebu breeds is an alternative for individuals sensitive to ß-casein protein.
Assuntos
Caseínas/genética , Bovinos/genética , Leite/metabolismo , Polimorfismo Genético , Animais , Feminino , Leite/normasRESUMO
The little-known Neotropical tortricid moth Lasiothyris luminosa (Razowski & Becker) is reported for the first time as a grapevine pest in northeastern Brazil. A diagnosis based on morphological characters including the genitalia is provided for both sexes, together with a preliminary description of economic damage caused by the larval stage on flowers and fruits. In addition, we sequenced a partial region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene from specimens from the region and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships using representative lineages of closely related tortricids as terminals.
Assuntos
Mariposas , Filogenia , Vitis , Animais , Brasil , Feminino , Frutas , Larva , MasculinoRESUMO
Yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) is the most used beverage in Latin America with approximately 426 thousand of tons consumed per year. Considering the broad use of this plant, we aimed to investigate the anxiety-like and stimulant activity of both the hydroethanolic (HE) and aqueous (AE) extracts from leaves of I. paraguariensis. Swiss mice were treated with I. paraguariensis HE or AE chronically or acutely, respectively, followed by evaluation in the elevated plus-maze (EPM; anxiety-like paradigm), open field (OF; locomotor activity) or the step-down avoidance task (memory assessment). Following behavioral protocols the brains were collected for evaluation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity ex vivo. Chronic treatment with HE induced an anxiolytic-like effect and increased motor activity besides augmented AChE activity. Additionally, acute treatment with AE prevented the scopolamine-induced memory deficit in the step-down avoidance task. Overall, our results indicate the importance of the I. paraguariensis-induced CNS effects, since it is a widely used nutraceutical. We have reported anxiolytic, stimulant and neuroprotective effects for this plant species. These effects are potentially modulated by the cholinergic system as well as by caffeine.
Assuntos
Ansiolíticos/farmacologia , Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Ilex paraguariensis , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Animais , Ansiolíticos/química , Ansiedade/tratamento farmacológico , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Cafeína/química , Cafeína/farmacologia , Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/química , Colinérgicos/química , Colinérgicos/farmacologia , Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Ilex paraguariensis/química , Masculino , Transtornos da Memória/prevenção & controle , Camundongos , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/química , Fototerapia , Extratos Vegetais/química , Folhas de Planta/química , EscopolaminaRESUMO
Total mercury concentrations were determined in muscle, liver and kidney of Cichlia ocellaris and Colossoma macropomum sampled at Tapajos and Carnapijo Rivers in Amazon ecosystem during the flood period of 2009. In background area the highest levels of mercury were observed in liver of piscivorous (0.3 ± 0.03 ug/g dry wt) and non piscivorous fish (0.20 ± 0.1 ug/g dry wt), but in contaminated area the highest level of mercury in piscivorous fish was detected in liver (0.45 ± 0.27 ug/g dry wt) and in muscle (0.26 ± 0.05 ug/g dry wt) of non piscivorous fish. These results suggested that the presence of anthropogenic source plays a key role in the pattern of mercury distribution in fish tissues.
Assuntos
Caraciformes/metabolismo , Ciclídeos/metabolismo , Mercúrio/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Animais , Brasil , Monitoramento Ambiental , Rim/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Músculos/metabolismo , Rios/químicaRESUMO
We studied a population of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae) identified by morphological and molecular techniques from the semiarid region of the Brazilian northeast. The influence of temperature and relative humidity on the survival and reproductive parameters of L. sativae in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) was evaluated. We used temperatures of 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, and 32 +/- 1 degrees C (50 +/- 10% RH) and relative humidity values of 30, 50, 70, and 90 +/- 10% (25 +/- 1 degrees C) under a 14 L:10 D photoperiod. Adult longevity decreased as temperature and relative humidity increased and was greater, in general, for females. The preoviposition and oviposition periods also decreased as temperature increased, whereas relative humidity only caused reductions in the oviposition period at higher levels. Fecundity was similar in the range from 18 to 30 degrees C but decreased at 32 degrees C with respect to relative humidity; the best performances of L. sativae occurred at lower levels. The pattern of oviposition rate changed with temperature and relative humidity. Regardless of temperature and relative humidity, L. sativae laid between 75 and 92% of its eggs on the adaxial surface of the cowpea leaves. This information will be highly useful to design a leafminer production system aimed at the multiplication of natural enemies, as well as for pest management in the field.
Assuntos
Dípteros/fisiologia , Umidade , Oviparidade , Temperatura , Animais , Produtos Agrícolas/parasitologia , Feminino , MasculinoRESUMO
The L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathways have been implicated in the control of a variety of physiological mechanisms and are believed to participate in the modulation of anxiety in the CNS. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), a non-selective inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS); 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a preferential inhibitor of neuronal NOS; and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, administered into the ventral hippocampus (VH) of rats submitted to the elevated T-maze (ETM). The ETM, an animal model derived from the elevated plus-maze, allows the measurement of two defensive behavioral responses in the same rat: inhibitory avoidance and escape. Results showed that L-NAME and 7-NI impaired the acquisition of inhibitory avoidance and prolonged escape latency in the ETM, suggesting an anxiolytic-like and panicolytic-like effect, respectively. SNP facilitated the acquisition of inhibitory avoidance without interfering with escape performance, suggesting an anxiogenic-like effect. Treatment with methylene blue did not alter per se any of the behavioral responses measured in the ETM, but blocked the effect promoted by SNP. Thus, altogether these results suggest that NO in the VH is critically involved in the modulation of defensive behavior of rats exposed to the ETM.
Assuntos
Ansiedade/metabolismo , GMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Reação de Fuga/fisiologia , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Análise de Variância , Animais , Ansiolíticos/farmacologia , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/fisiologia , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Reação de Fuga/efeitos dos fármacos , Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Indazóis/farmacologia , Masculino , Azul de Metileno/farmacologia , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , NG-Nitroarginina Metil Éster/farmacologia , Doadores de Óxido Nítrico/farmacologia , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Nitroprussiato/farmacologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Coloração e RotulagemRESUMO
The L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathways are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and have been implicated in the modulation of anxiety. The elevated plus-maze (ETM) is an animal test pharmacologically validated for the study of experimental anxiety in rats, designed to evaluate inhibitory avoidance (AVOID) learning and one-way escape (ESC) from open arms, thought to represent learned (conditioned) and innate (unconditioned) fear, respectively. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of prior treatment with the NO-synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on both AVOID and ESC behavior of rats in the ETM, when applied to different cerebral regions associated with defensive behaviors. Central treatment with L-NAME (50, 100, 400 and 800 nmol) did not impair the AVOID response through the trials and had no effect on the ESC behavior. Nevertheless, animals treated with L-NAME at 200 nmol into the lateral ventricle (LV), basolateral amygdala (BLA), dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) matter, lateral septal nucleus (LSN), but not in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), displayed impaired AVOID2 in comparison to the control group. Thus, our results suggest that NO may underlie learned fear in the ETM via BLA, dlPAG and LSN, but not BNST. These results are compatible with the proposal that NO exerts a positive modulatory role on defensive reactions in rats, exerting among them an anxiogenic-like effect as evaluated in rats submitted to ETM.
Assuntos
Ansiedade/enzimologia , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/fisiologia , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Reação de Fuga/fisiologia , Medo/fisiologia , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Análise de Variância , Animais , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Inibidores Enzimáticos/administração & dosagem , Reação de Fuga/efeitos dos fármacos , Medo/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/efeitos dos fármacos , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/fisiologia , Microinjeções , NG-Nitroarginina Metil Éster/administração & dosagem , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the putative antidepressant-like effects of a hydro-ethanolic extract (CEAp) and their fractions from the aerial parts of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke (Verbenaceae) on the performance of male mice in the forced swimming test (FST). A single dose (100.0mg/kgp.o.) of CEAp, in male mice provoked a significant reduction of the immobility time (p<0.01). Such effect was also observed with short-term treatment (7 days) with single doses of 1.0 (p<0.01), 10.0 (p<0.05) and 100.0 (p<0.05)mg/kg/day of CEAp. Additionally, in a different set of experiments, repeated administration in a 24-h period (24, 18 and 1h before swimming test) with doses of 1.0 (p<0.05) and 10.0 (p<0.05)mg/kg p.o., of CEAp and 10.0mg/kgp.o., (p<0.05) of ethyl acetate fraction, provoked significant reduction of the immobility time of male mice in the FST. Moreover, it was noted important differences in the onset of the antidepressant-like effect in the FST, depending on the modality of treatment with CEAp (acute, short-term or repeated). Both, efficacy and potency were higher when repeated administration of CEAp was used, and surprisingly the dose of 10mg/kg (24, 18 and 1h before swimming test) was more effective than imipramine. In the same way, the short term administration (7 days) improved significantly efficacy and potency of the CEAp in comparison to a single dose treatment. The ethyl acetate fraction submitted to TLC demonstrated that main and minor components are phenolics and terpenes, respectively. In addition, this fraction gives a negative Shinoda's test for flavonoids. These results indicate an antidepressant-like profile of action for the hydro-ethanolic extract and the component(s) of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from A. polystachya, which deserve further investigation.
Assuntos
Antidepressivos/análise , Resposta de Imobilidade Tônica/efeitos dos fármacos , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/administração & dosagem , Verbenaceae/química , Animais , Depressão/tratamento farmacológico , Masculino , Camundongos , Estresse Psicológico/tratamento farmacológico , Natação/psicologiaRESUMO
The present study aimed to characterize the antidepressant-like effect of a standardized aqueous extract (AE) of Cecropia glazioui Sneth and its purified fractions on in vivo (forced swimming test), ex vivo (hippocampal monoamines levels) and in vitro (serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine uptake) tests, searching for the active principles and the underlying mechanisms of action. Treatment with AE, or with its butanolic fraction (BuF), the latter rich in catechins, procyanidins and flavonoids, reduced the immobility of rats in the forced swimming test indicating an antidepressant-like effect. Biochemical analysis of the hippocampal neurotransmitters in BuF-treated rats showed significant increase in monoamines levels. BuF and six of its purified constituents inhibited the uptake of [(3)H]-serotonin, [(3)H]-dopamine and [(3)H]-noradrenaline by synaptosomes of different brain regions. Catechin, catechin (4alpha-->8) ent-catechin (Procyanidin B3 isomer) and epicatechin (4beta-->8) epicatechin (Procyanidin B2) were the most active compounds. Comparatively, the uptake of [(3)H]-noradrenaline was the most affected. These results show that the antidepressant-like effect promoted by C. glazioui extract is most likely due to the blockade of the monoamines uptake in the CNS.