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Extrinsic thoracic limb muscles are a muscular group that supports the thoracic limb in mammals without the clavicle and serve to move the scapula and shoulder joint. However, there are few evolutionary studies of these muscles in Felis catus, which should take into account the topology and innervation of the muscles to hypothesize the muscle derivation from a common ancestor. The main objective of this study was to check the extrinsic thoracic limb muscles in ten cadavers. Intra‐ and interspecific anatomical variants were found with that formerly described and other felids. Based on the topology and innervation found in this study, the evolutionary derivation was hypothesized. Therefore, the omotransversarius and rhomboideus muscles are derived from the serratus ventralis cervicis muscle. The cleidobrachialis muscle is derived mainly from the m. deltoideus and accessorily from the supracoracoid muscular group. The pectoantebrachialis and pectoralis abdominalis muscles are derived from the pectoralis descendens and cutaneus trunci muscles, respectively. In conclusion, most extrinsic thoracic limb muscles of F. catus may have evolutionary derivations from the last common ancestor of mammals, while some of them are from the last common ancestor of carnivorans or within the family Felidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Anatomical variants in the brachial plexus of the cat are few reported, and its knowledge should be considered in veterinary procedures of the thoracic limb. Thus, this study aimed to report the anatomical variants of the brachial plexus nerves presented in three cats. Methods: Gross dissections were performed in three formalin-fixed specimens (two females and one male) of the Veterinary Anatomy Laboratory of the Universidade de São Paulo (Brasil). The bioethics committee approved this study (CEUAx 3928240820). Results: All brachial plexus originated from C6-T1. In one specimen, the nerve to the coracobrachialis muscle originates directly from a communicating branch between the cranial and caudal pectoral nerves. In two specimens, C7 sent a branch to the median nerve, which passed medial to the axillary artery forming an ansa axillaris, while in one specimen, the same branch joined to the median nerve medially to the brachial artery. On the dorsum of the manus in two specimens, the lateral branch of the superficial branch of radial nerve sent a communicating branch to the abaxial dorsal proper common digital nerve IV (ulnar nerve). Whereas in another specimen, on the right manus, there was no communication; however, on the left manus, the dorsal common digital nerve IV (ulnar nerve) sent a branch to the dorsal common digital nerve III (radial nerve). Conclusion: The brachial plexus of the cat may have ansa axillaris as an anatomical variant but formed from C7 and not from the musculocutaneous nerve. The nerves to the manus can have communications among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombocytes are blood cells that protect fish by aggregation to hinder hemorrhages and play a role on pathogen phagocytosis. Moreover, there is a lack of information regarding to the population of thrombocytes and its relationship with fish ploidy. The goal of this work was to determine the thrombocyte numbers and its aggregation capacity in adult diploid and triploid rainbow trouts Oncorhynchus mykiss by flow cytometry screening using monoclonal antibody and magnetic separation. As expected, thrombocytes were in similar proportions between ploidies with 15.26 ± 6.77% in diploid and 13.11 ± 6.37% in triploid blood samples; however, with thrombocytes of triploid trouts showing less aggregation activity when exposed to collagen (85.59 ± 3.36% vs. 95.51 ± 1.25%). In conclusion, triploid thrombocytes have lower aggregation capacity than the diploid ones. This response is possibly related to the deficiency of receptors on the surface of thrombocytes of triploid trouts, which requires further studies for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoleamine 2 3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a protein usually described in mammals, which, among other functions, participates in the maternal-fetal tolerance process. The blue-shark, Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) is a viviparous placentary species in which the yolk sac develops during the pregnancy, turning into a placenta for matrotrophic nutrition of the embryo. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of IDO in the P. glauca maternal-fetal interface along three gestation phases and describe its distribution and the meaning of its presence. The results showed IDO labelling during the yolk sac/placenta development in the ectoderm on the three development phases and in the endoderm at the two first phases. In the uterine epithelium, IDO was observed in the last two phases. These interface tissues are major contact areas between the mother and the semiallogeneic conceptus and this relation could induce an immunological response against the fetus. Therefore, the presence of IDO may indicate that it could have a similar role in the mechanism of maternal-fetal tolerance in the P. glauca placental interface, as described in eutherian mammals. • New findings on Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in relation to sharks pregnancy and developmental biochemistry: • First finding of IDO in Chondrichthyes. • IDO distribution on vertebrates. • Morphological changes in maternal fetal interface in sharks along development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of caloric restriction on aged femoral articular cartilage of Wistar rats. Three groups of eight animals each were considered: young (YC) and old (OC) control groups fed with a normal diet and old caloric restriction group (OCR) composed of 18-month-old animals fed with a 31% less caloric diet from 6-months of age. Articular cartilage was studied through morphometry and immunohistochemistry. Body mass was 12% less in the OCR group than in the OC group. The articular cartilage from OC rats show thinner medial condyles, fewer chondrocytes, smaller chondrocytes nuclear volume and, in both condyles, a predominance of collagen type II and less collagen density compared to both YC and OCR groups (p < .001). In contrast, OCR articular cartilage show thicker medial condyles, larger chondrocytes nuclear volume and increased collagen density compared to OC group (p < 0.001). We concluded that caloric restriction minimizes the effects of aging on medial condyles of the femoral articular cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Problem: Several mechanisms contribute to the tolerogenic state observed during pregnancy, such as the activity of the enzyme indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO). This initializes the catabolism of tryptophan, inducing T cells to apoptosis due to its deprivation and by the action of its catabolites in the placental microenvironment. Progesterone plays an important part on immunological tolerance mechanisms during pregnancy; however, there is no evidence it is related to IDO activity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate progesterone influence on the maternal-fetal interface of pregnant Wistar rats, by identifying IDO positive cells by immunophenotyping and flow cytometry under exogenous progesterone supplementation. Method of study: Placenta and embryo cells were cultured and separated into groups that received interferon γ or progesterone, supplemented or not with mifepristone. After 2 and 24 h, these were labeled with an anti-IDO and a series of antibodies specific to leucocytes and progesterone receptor and processed through flow cytometry analysis. Results: Progesterone induced a significant decrease in the expression of IDO in dendritic cells and CD4+lymphocytes. Conclusion: The blocking of progesterone receptor on these cells by mifepristone restored IDO expression levels and may constitute evidence of the participation of this hormone through a direct route in these cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensory organs in elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays) detect and respond to a different set of biotic and/or abiotic stimuli, through sight, smell, taste, hearing, mechanoreception and electroreception. Although gustation is crucial for survival and essential for growth, mobility, and maintenance of neural activity and the proper functioning of the immune system, comparatively little is known about this sensory system in elasmobranchs. Here we present a preliminary investigation into the structural and dimensional characteristics of the oral papillae and denticles found in the oropharyngeal cavity of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) during embryonic development through adulthood. Samples were obtained from the dorsal and ventral surface of the oropharyngeal cavity collected from embryos at different development stages as well as from adults. Our results suggest that development of papillae occurs early in ontogeny, before the formation of the oral denticles. The diameter of oral papillae gradually increases during development, starting from 25 μm in stage I embryos, to 110 μm in stage IV embryos and 272-300 μm in adults. Embryos exhibit papillae at early developmental stages, suggesting that these structures may be important during early in life. The highest density of papillae was observed in the maxillary and mandibular valve regions, possibly related to the ability to identify, capture and process prey. The oral denticles were observed only in the final embryonic stage as well as in adults. Accordingly, we suggest that oral denticles likely aid in ram ventilation (through reducing the hydrodynamic drag), to protect papillae from injury during prey consumption and assist in the retention and consumption of prey (through adhesion), since these processes are only necessary after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]