Buprenorphine suppresses cocaine self-administration by rhesus monkeys

Cocaine abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and the search for an effective pharmacotherapy continues. Because primates self-administer most of the drugs abused by humans, they can be used to predict the abuse liability of new drugs and for preclinical evaluation of new pharmacotherapies for drug abuse treatment. Daily administration of buprenorphine (an opioid mixed agonist-antagonist) significantly suppressed cocaine self-administration by rhesus monkeys for 30 consecutive days. The effects of buprenorphine were dose-dependent. The suppression of cocaine self-administration by buprenorphine did not reflect a generalized suppression of behavior. These data suggest that buprenorphine would be a useful pharmacotherapy for treatment of cocaine abuse. Because buprenorphine is a safe and effective pharmacotherapy for heroin dependence, buprenorphine treatment may also attenuate dual abuse of cocaine and heroin.     

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN REVEGETATED MINED DUNES

This study aimed to thoroughly investigate communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in six coastal, mined, reconstituted and revegetated dune areas in Northeast Brazil. AMF spore density and species richness as well as the numbers of infective AMF propagules and glomalin‐related soil protein (GRSP) were analyzed. Four areas had been restored for 16, 12, 8 and 4 years, and after being mined, reconstituted and re‐vegetated, the fifth was mined and reconstituted but not yet re‐vegetated, and the sixth had a native and undisturbed coastal forest vegetation. The soil samples were sampled in the dry and wet seasons of 2005. The number of infective propagules was significantly higher in the dry than in wet season, except in the un‐vegetated dune area, which had less than 0·2 propagules cm⁻³ soil. AMF spore density and especially GRSP contents changed little between the seasons. GRSP contents were positively correlated to Al and Fe soil levels and were highest in the restinga forest. In total, 29 AMF species were identified, and glomoid and gigasporoid species predominated in all areas. AMF species richness and viable propagules of AMF were lowest in the un‐vegetated dune area. Remarkably, higher species richness (28) was found in the re‐vegetated areas, compared with the forest area that had only 10 species. The numbers of infective propagules tended to be also lower in the forest than in the re‐vegetated sites. In conclusion, re‐vegetation appears to favour the AMF communities in terms of infective propagule numbers and AMF species richness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PHOSPHORUS EFFECTS IN THE NUTRITION AND GROWTH OF DEVELOPING MANGO PLANTS

The objective was to study the effects of phosphorous (P) fertilization on nutritional and developmental aspects of growing mango plants. The mango plants were evaluated by soil chemical analyses, leaf chemical analyses, biological examination of plant growth, and the starting point of fruit production. Having this in view, an experiment was set up on 2 January 2003, at Flora, a farm in Uberlandia, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The soil was a clayish Oxisol. The doses at planting were: D₀ = zero, D₁ = 40, D₂ = 100, D₃ = 200, and D₄ = 300 g of P₂O₅ plant^?1. These doses at the beginning of the second year were multiplied by 1.5 and at the beginning of the third year by 2.0 and applied to the plants. The fertilizer used in this experiment was triple superphosphate (44% of P₂O_5.). During August of 2004, 2005, and 2006, soil samples were taken at a depth of 20 cm in between the plant rows. Leaf samples were taken during August of 2004 and 2005 to determine macro- and micronutrient contents in the leaves. Plant stem diameter was measured during January of 2004 and 2005. Plant height and crown radius were measured during January of 2005 and fruit production in 2005 and 2006. Fertilizer applications increased the level of P in the soil but significantly influenced plant performance only after the second year. The effects of phosphorus on mango plants take place slowly leading to increments in plant stem diameter only at the third year. Fruit set was not influenced by phosphorous fertilization.     

Effects of acute exercise on angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in horses

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) level measurement in blood samples is an important tool in human medicine for the detection, treatment and control of diseases such as sarcoidosis and hypertension. Recently ACE has been advocated as being correlated to athletic aptitude in human athletes and a genetic polymorphism has been shown to be responsible for the enzymatic levels in the circulation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of acute exercise in horses in order to increase the understanding of a possible correlation between ACE levels in plasma and performance in equine athletes. A standardised exercise test (SET) to fatigue was conducted on 8 horses and repeated venous blood collections carried out for ACE activity measurements before, during and after the SET. Our results show an increase in ACE activity up to fatigue and a return to baseline values at 30 min post exercise.     

The effect of ultraviolet rays and climatic conditions (solar radiation and temperature) on the calcinogenic activity of Trisetum flavescens and Nierembergia veitchii]

Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) and its metabolites participate in the regulation of Ca and P metabolism in vertebrates. The intermediate (6,7-cis-precalciferol) is formed by a photoreaction at wave length of 250-310 nm from 7-dehydrocholecalciferol in skin tissues. Vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2 D3 and other metabolites, previously known to be synthesized only in mammalians and avians, have been detected also in plants. The influence of the UV light (6 hrs radiation with 254 nm) in the calcinogenic activity of T. flavescens and N. veitchii was tested. The extracts of the plants were administered to rachitic chicks in two research models: "Alimentation without Vitamin D" and "Strontium added Alimentation". After 25 days the extracts were administered (per os) and the serum was analyzed to determine the level of Ca, P and alkaline phosphatase. The results were compared with those obtained in chicks with standards of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2 D3, T. flavescens and N. veitchii not irradiated and also with T. flavescens that has grown in Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil.     

Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euterpe edulis</Emphasis> Mart. (Arecaceae) under forest and agroforestry in southern Brazil

The palm Euterpe edulis has high ecological and economic importance in Brazil. Currently, this species is being cultivated and managed for spontaneous regeneration in banana plantations. However, there are no data comparing its plantation growth performance to its native forest growth. We evaluated growth and mortality (M) of individuals of E. edulis planted in secondary dense ombrophilous forest and in banana plantations, as well as their relationships with site variables (canopy opening, soil nutrient availability, density of existing E. edulis, and herbivory). Twelve banana plantation sites and 12 sites in secondary dense ombrophilous forests were selected. At each site, 25 young individuals of E. edulis were planted in 2003. Annually until 2008, morphometric, herbivory, and M of the individuals were evaluated. In 2008, canopy and soil variables were measured at each plot. E. edulis growth was five times higher in banana plots compared to forest plots; current annual increment on height reached 38.9 cm in banana plots, compared to 7.3 cm in forest plots. M was relatively low and similar at both sites, presenting an intraspecific density-dependence pattern. Significant correlations were found between morphometric variables, M, and herbivory of E. edulis and canopy and soil variables. Euterpe edulis presented plasticity that allows for its establishment in banana plantations, indicating high potential for management in agroforestry consortia. Such management may be a useful conservation strategy for this and other shade-tolerant species.     

Immunohistochemical Detection of Retinoid Receptors in Tumors from 30 Dogs Diagnosed with Cutaneous Lymphoma

Background: Retinoids exert their effects by binding to retinoid receptors. Two types of retinoid receptors have been described: retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR), and their subtypes α, β, and γ. The expression of subtypes varies depending on the disease process. This study intended to detect the pattern of retinoid receptor expression in cutaneous lymphomas in dogs. Hypothesis: Cutaneous lymphomas in dogs have variable expression of retinoid and retinoid X receptors. Animals: Biopsy specimens from 30 dogs with cutaneous lymphoma. Methods: Tissues of dogs with cutaneous lymphoma were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for expression of retinoid receptors. The tissues were tested for the presence of 3 RAR and RXR subtypes (α, β, and γ). Lymphoma immunophenotype was determined by the use of the immunohistochemical markers CD79a (B‐cell) and CD3 (T‐cell) in all cases. Results: Twenty‐nine of 30 dogs were CD3 positive. The retinoid receptors expressed with the greatest frequency were RARβ (87% of cases), and RXRα and RXRγ (77% of cases). The expression of RARγ was not observed. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Retinoid and rexinoid receptor binding drugs may have an impact on the treatment of dogs with cutaneous lymphoma.     

Observations anatomiques sur l''épididyme de la sarigue Sud-Americaine (Didelphis azarae)

The epididymides of eight South American Didelphis azarae were examined gross anatomically after in situ preservation with formalin. The shape and division into head, body and tail correspond to those of domestic mammals. The attachment of the vascular portion of the spermatic cord to the middle of the body of the epididymis is similar to conditions in other marsupials. The runica vaginalis parietalis is pigmented as found in other species of didelphis.