RESUMO
Essential oils from plants have remarkable biological properties, for example as insecticides and acaricides. Here we provide chemical analysis and evaluate the toxicity of the essential oil of Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae) and its main constituent menthol against Tetranychus urticae Kogan 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae), a polyphagous pest present in agricultural landscapes. The essential oil was obtained from M. piperita leaves via hydrodistillation. Subsequently, concentration-response bioassays in adult females (fumigation and contact) were conducted to evaluate the lethal effect on the mite with three exposure intervals. We also evaluated the reproductive performance of females after exposure. Both substances were lethal in the fumigation bioassay, in addition, the essential oil was about 6-fold more toxic than menthol after 24 and 48 h of exposure. The fecundity of T. urticae females decreased inversely proportional to the increase of the used concentrations. Essential oil contact tests showed sublethal effects, with low mortality and reproductive stimulation of T. urticae females. Therefore, menthol and M. piperita essential oil can be considered potential acaricides for T. urticae by fumigant exposure due to the deleterious effect in adults and reduction in the number of individuals in subsequent generations, that represents a promising management tool.
Assuntos
Lamiaceae , Óleos Voláteis , Tetranychidae , Humanos , Animais , Mentha piperita , Monoterpenos , Mentol/farmacologia , Óleos Voláteis/toxicidadeRESUMO
Herbicides are agrochemicals applied in the control of weeds. With the frequent and repetitive use of these substances, serious problems have been reported. Compounds of natural origin and their derivatives are attractive options to obtain new compounds with herbicidal properties. By aiming to develop compounds with potentiated herbicidal activity, phenoxyacetic acids were synthesized from eugenol and guaiacol. The synthesized compounds were characterized and the herbicidal potential of phenoxyacetic acids and precursors was evaluated through bioassays regarding the germination and initial development of Lactuca sativa and Sorghum bicolor seedlings, with the induction of DNA damage. The induction of changes in the mitotic cycle of meristematic cells of roots of L. sativa was also analyzed. At the concentration of 3 mmol L-1, phenols and their respective phenoxyacetic acids presented phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities in L. sativa and S. bicolor. Eugenol and guaiacol also presented genotoxic action in L. sativa. The toxic effect of eugenoxyacetic acid was more pronounced in L. sativa than in S. bicolor, similar to the commercial 2,4-D herbicide. Molecular properties of the phenols and their derivatives phenoxyacetic acids were compared with the ones obtained for the herbicide 2,4-D, where it was found a correlation between their molecular properties and bioactivity.
Assuntos
Herbicidas , Ácido 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacético/toxicidade , Eugenol/toxicidade , Germinação , Guaiacol , Herbicidas/toxicidadeRESUMO
The objective of the present work was the molecular characterization of 11 parents and 101 hybrid progenies of conilon coffee, obtained through diallel crosses from the breeding program of the Instituto Capixaba de Pesquisa, Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (Incaper, ES, Brazil). The analyses were performed with 18 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) molecular markers, obtaining a total of 32 alleles. SSR markers were classified as moderately informative (PIC = 0.37), being efficient in characterizing individuals. High genetic diversity was verified in the 112 genotypes, based on the greater values of observed heterozygosity about to the expected heterozygosity (0.55 and 0.44, respectively), negative values for the fixation index (F) (-0.14), and the formation of distinct groups by UPGMA. These results indicate high genetic variability among the conilon coffee genitors, which remained similar and persisting in the progenies. The average dissimilarity between parents was 0.29 and between progenies 0.34. The progenies 38 and 40 and the parent P11 were considered the most divergent in the study. The genetic variability found can be explored in the genetic breeding of the conilon coffee and guide crossings between diversified and compatible genetic materials, for the composition of novel cultivars for the state of Espírito Santo.
Assuntos
Coffea/genética , Variação Genética , Genótipo , Hibridização Genética , Repetições de Microssatélites , Melhoramento VegetalRESUMO
Due to rising concerns for environmental and human health, many toxic compounds, such as auxin-based herbicides, have been tested in relation their toxicity effect. Especially cyto- and phytotoxic assays have been performed on a number monocot and eudicot plant species. In these approaches the toxicity level of the auxin is compared to a positive control - usually a commercial compound with known effects and chemical similarity to the target compound. However, many target compounds still lack an indication of an adequate positive control. Here, we evaluate the phytotoxic and cytotoxic effect of the auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, dicamba, and picloram in order test their potential use as positive controls. All tested auxinic herbicides showed clastogenic and aneugenic effect mechanisms. The results indicate 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as the most phyto- and cytotoxic in the discontinuous method in Lactuca sativa L. and Allium cepa L., and also in the continuous method in A. cepa. Thus, we suggest 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as a positive control for future mutagenesis studies involving new auxins. For studies with L. sativa in continuous method, we recommend the auxin picloram as positive control as this one was the only one which allowed the development of roots.
Assuntos
Herbicidas , Dicamba/toxicidade , Herbicidas/toxicidade , Humanos , Ácidos Indolacéticos , Picloram , Raízes de PlantasRESUMO
Fipronil is an insecticide widely used in agriculture, veterinary medicine and public health that has recently been listed as a potential endocrine disrupter. In the present study we evaluated the effects of perinatal exposure to fipronil during the period of sexual brain differentiation and its later repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Pregnant rats were exposed (via gavage) to fipronil (0.03, 0.3 or 3mgkg-1) from Gestational Day 15 until Postnatal Day 7. Fipronil exposure did not compromise the onset of puberty. In adulthood, there was no effect on organ weight or sperm production. Furthermore, there were no adverse effects on the number of Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule, testicular and epididymal histomorphometry or histopathology or expression patterns of androgen receptor in the testis. Similarly, no changes were observed in the sexual behaviour or hormone levels. However, in rats exposed to fipronil, changes in sperm motility were observed, with a decrease in motile spermatozoa and an increase in non-mobile spermatozoa, which can compromise sperm quality in these rats. Perinatal exposure to fipronil has long-term effects on sperm parameters, and the epididymis can be a target organ. Additional studies should be undertaken to identify the mechanisms by which fipronil affects sperm motility.
Assuntos
Astenozoospermia/induzido quimicamente , Disruptores Endócrinos/toxicidade , Epididimo/efeitos dos fármacos , Inseticidas/toxicidade , Lactação , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Pirazóis/toxicidade , Administração Oral , Animais , Astenozoospermia/patologia , Forma Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Disruptores Endócrinos/administração & dosagem , Epididimo/patologia , Feminino , Desenvolvimento Fetal/efeitos dos fármacos , Inseticidas/administração & dosagem , Masculino , Neurogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Tamanho do Órgão/efeitos dos fármacos , Gravidez , Pirazóis/administração & dosagem , Ratos Wistar , Túbulos Seminíferos/efeitos dos fármacos , Túbulos Seminíferos/patologia , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Testículo/efeitos dos fármacos , Testículo/patologiaRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Background and rationale for the study. We designed to test whether there is interaction of maternal separation (MS) on the ethanol-preferring rats liver structure. The UCh rat pups were separated daily from their mothers during the stress hyporesponsive period (SHRP), between four and 14 days-old, always at the same time for four hours in a cage containing eight subdivisions, one for each pup. Subsequently, rats that presented the highest (UChB) and the lowest (UChA) ethanol (EtOH) consumption were selected to the study. Both UChB and UChA rats received 10% (v/v) EtOH and distilled water ad libitum until the end of the experiment (120 days-old). The liver was collected to histological routine for morphometric and stereological analyses, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There was an interaction of MS and EtOH on the liver: increased liver mass, peritubular vessels, stellate cell numbers, steatosis and cell death, decreased necrosis, sinusoidal capillary diameters and cell proliferation. While there was a decrease in FSH, testosterone and 5α-di-hidrotestosterone, and increasing corticosterone and cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: There is interaction of MS and EtOH on the liver structure, dependent on the amount of EtOH intake. Furthermore, the interaction of stress and drugs can increase or decrease their effects on the liver or indirectly via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes.
Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/efeitos adversos , Ansiedade de Separação/patologia , Etanol/toxicidade , Hepatopatias Alcoólicas/etiologia , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fatores Etários , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/patologia , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Ansiedade de Separação/sangue , Ansiedade de Separação/psicologia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Etanol/administração & dosagem , Fígado Gorduroso Alcoólico/etiologia , Fígado Gorduroso Alcoólico/patologia , Feminino , Células Estreladas do Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Estreladas do Fígado/patologia , Hepatomegalia/induzido quimicamente , Hepatomegalia/patologia , Fígado/patologia , Hepatopatias Alcoólicas/patologia , Hepatopatias Alcoólicas/psicologia , Masculino , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are effector molecules expressed on the surface of ovarian cancer (OC) cells, but the functions of the TLR2/TLR4 signaling pathways in these cells remain unclear. Melatonin (mel) acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and has been reported to modulate TLRs in some aggressive tumor cell types. Therefore, we investigated OC and the effect of long-term mel therapy on the signaling pathways mediated by TLR2 and TLR4 via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and toll-like receptor-associated activator of interferon (TRIF) in an ethanol-preferring rat model. METHODS: To induce OC, the left ovary of animals either consuming 10% (v/v) ethanol or not was injected directly under the bursa with a single dose of 100 µg of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) dissolved in 10 µL of sesame oil. The right ovaries were used as sham-surgery controls. After developing OC, half of the animals received i.p. injections of mel (200 µg/100 g b.w./day) for 60 days. RESULTS: Although mel therapy was unable to reduce TLR2 levels, it was able to suppress the OC-associated increase in the levels of the following proteins: TLR4, MyD88, nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB p65), inhibitor of NFkB alpha (IkBα), IkB kinase alpha (IKK-α), TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), TRIF, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), interferon ß (IFN-ß), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, mel significantly attenuated the expression of IkBα, NFkB p65, TRIF and IRF-3, which are involved in TLR4-mediated signaling in OC during ethanol intake. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results suggest that mel attenuates the TLR4-induced MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways in ethanol-preferring rats with OC.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/metabolismo , Melatonina/metabolismo , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ovarianas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ovarianas/patologia , Transdução de Sinais , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transporte Vesicular/genética , Animais , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Inflamação/metabolismo , Inflamação/patologia , Mediadores da Inflamação/metabolismo , Melatonina/sangue , Melatonina/farmacologia , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/genética , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ovarianas/genética , Ratos , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/genéticaRESUMO
Maternal malnutrition due to a low-protein diet is associated with functional disorders in adulthood, which may be related to embryonic development failures. The effects of gestational protein restriction on prostate morphogenesis in male offspring were investigated. Pregnant rat dams were divided into normoprotein (NP; fed a normal diet containing 17% protein) and hypoprotein (LP; fed a diet containing 6% protein) groups. On the day of birth (PND1), anogenital distance and bodyweight were measured in male pups. Seven males per experimental group (one male per litter) were killed, and the pelvic urethra was evaluated. LP offspring showed a significant reduction in bodyweight and anogenital distance on PND1. On three-dimensional reconstruction of the prostate, the number of prostatic buds was lower in LP than in NP males. Mesenchymal cells surrounding the buds were androgen-receptor positive, and the quantity and intensity of nucleus immunoreactivity was decreased in LP. The proliferation index was lower in LP than in NP prostatic buds. Immunoreactivity for α-actin in mesenchymal cells and that for epidermal growth factor receptor in epithelial cells was higher in NP than in LP. Our findings demonstrate that maternal protein restriction delays prostatic morphogenesis, probably because of considerable disruption in the epithelium-mesenchyme interaction.
Assuntos
Organogênese/fisiologia , Complicações na Gravidez , Próstata/embriologia , Deficiência de Proteína/complicações , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Apoptose , Proliferação de Células , Dieta com Restrição de Proteínas , Células Epiteliais/citologia , Feminino , Masculino , Mesoderma/química , Mesoderma/embriologia , Gravidez , Complicações na Gravidez/etiologia , Próstata/citologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Receptores Androgênicos/análiseRESUMO
Intrauterine dietary restriction may cause changes in the functioning of offspring organs and systems later in life, an effect known as fetal programming. The present study evaluated mRNA abundance and immunolocalization of nutrient transporters as well as enterocytes proliferation in the proximal, median and distal segments of small intestine of rats born to protein-restricted dams. Pregnant rats were fed hypoproteic (6% protein) or control (17% protein) diets, and offspring rats were evaluated at 3 and 16 weeks of age. The presence of SGLT1 (sodium-glucose co-transporter 1), GLUT2 (glucose transporter 2), PEPT1 (peptide transporter 1) and the intestinal proliferation were evaluated by immunohistochemical techniques and the abundance of specific mRNA for SGLT1, GLUT2 and PEPT1 was assessed by the real-time PCR technique. Rats born to protein-restricted dams showed higher cell proliferation in all intestinal segments and higher gene expression of SGLT1 and PEPT1 in the duodenum. Moreover, in adult animals born to protein-restricted dams the immunoreactivity of SGLT1, GLUT2 and PEPT1 in the duodenum was more intense than in control rats. Taken together, the results indicate that changes in the small intestine observed in adulthood can be programmed during the gestation. In addition, they show that this response is caused by both up-regulation in transporter gene expression, a specific adaptation mechanism, and intestinal proliferation, an unspecific adaptation mechanism.
Assuntos
Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição Animal , Dieta com Restrição de Proteínas , Intestino Delgado/metabolismo , Desnutrição/metabolismo , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição Materna , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/metabolismo , Adaptação Fisiológica , Adiposidade , Animais , Peso Corporal , Proliferação de Células , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Transportador de Glucose Tipo 2/metabolismo , Imuno-Histoquímica , Desnutrição/etiologia , Desnutrição/genética , Desnutrição/fisiopatologia , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/genética , Transportador 1 de Peptídeos , Gravidez , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Transportador 1 de Glucose-Sódio/metabolismo , Simportadores/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ethanol (EtOH) alters the all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) levels in some tissues. Retinol and ATRA are essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of prostate homeostasis. It has been suggested that disturbances in retinol/ATRA concentration as well as in the expression of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) contribute to benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate whether EtOH consumption is able to alter retinol and ATRA levels in the plasma and prostate tissue as well as the expression of RARs, cell proliferation, and apoptosis index. METHODS: All animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 10/group). UChA: rats fed 10% (v/v) EtOH ad libitum; UChACo: EtOH-naïve rats without access to EtOH; UChB: rats fed 10% (v/v) EtOH ad libitum; UChBCo: EtOH-naïve rats without access to EtOH. Animals were euthanized by decapitation after 60 days of EtOH consumption for high-performance liquid chromatography and light microscopy analysis. RESULTS: EtOH reduced plasma retinol concentration in both UChA and UChB groups, while the retinol concentration was not significantly different in prostate tissue. Conversely, plasma and prostate ATRA levels increased in UChB group compared with controls, beyond the up-regulation of RARß and -γ in dorsal prostate lobe. Additionally, no alteration was found in cell proliferation and apoptosis index involving dorsal and lateral prostate lobe. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that EtOH alters the plasma retinol concentrations proportionally to the amount of EtOH consumed. Moreover, high EtOH consumption increases the concentration of ATRA in plasma/prostate tissue and especially induces the RARß and RARγ in the dorsal prostate lobe. EtOH consumption and increased ATRA levels were not associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis in the prostate.