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ABSTRACTRicinoleic acid is obtained from castor bean and studies related to its effects on glucose and insulin dynamic are scarce in the literature. Eight male Crioulo breed horses (362 ± 16 of live weight, mean ± SD) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment that consisted of 10 days of adaptation and 7 days for data collection. The horses were allocated in each square to receive one of the following treatments: Control (0) and 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/d of ricinoleic acid (diet DM basis). Diets were composed of a commercial concentrate and Coast cross hay. Treatments did not affect DM and nutrient intake. Ricinoleic acid did not alter the nutrient digestibility, regardless of the dosage used. The quadratic effect was observed for glucose and insulin area under the curve. Ricinoleic acid quadratically affected glucose and insulin concentrations. Increasing dietary doses of ricinoleic acid altered glycemic and insulinemic responses of horses, and the present study recommends the dietary inclusion of 1.8 g of ricinoleic acid to improve horse's energetic metabolism.

Objectives:To evaluate somatostatin receptor 2A (SSTR2A) and dopamine receptor 2 (DR2) protein expression in somatotropinomas and to relate it to response to somatostatin analogues (SA). Design and patients:SSTR2A and DR2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 88 somatotropinomas from patients submitted to either pre-surgical or adjuvant SA treatment. Tumors were scored according to percentage of immunostained cells: 0 (<25%), 1 (25–50%), and 2 (>50%). Relation between protein expression and response to SA was performed in 66 patients. Response to SA was assessed by percent IGF-I reduction, being considered as an IGF-I per cent reduction higher than 50%. Disease control was also assessed (GH<1.0 ng/ml and normal IGF-I). Results:SSTR2A and DR2 were expressed in 100% and 98% of tumors, respectively. Biochemical response and disease control rates were 48% and 32%, respectively. Median IGF-I percent reduction after 3 months of SA treatment was lower in the SSTR2A score 0 than in the scores 1 and 2 (p<0.001, both), and after 6 months in the score 0 than in the score 1 (p=0.001) and 2 (p<0.001). Biochemical response and disease control were associated with SSTR2 expression (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). A negative predictive value for biochemical response of 100% was found when a SSTR2A expression <25% of immunostained cells cut-off point was considered. No relation was found between DR2 expression and biochemical response and disease control. Conclusion:SSTR2A and DR2 are highly expressed in somatotropinomas. Low SSTR2A, but not DR2, expression is a negative predictive factor to response to SA.

Somatostatin receptors subtype 2 (SSTR2) expression in somatotropinomas is recognized as a predictor of response to the currently available somatostatin analogs and may be analyzed, mainly, by quantitative RT-PCR or immunohistochemistry (IHC). The former has the advantages of a higher sensitivity and of being quantitative, while the latter, although semi-quantitative, evaluates protein expression and is routinely used in the evaluation of pituitary adenomas. We aimed to evaluate the SSTR2A protein expression in somatotropinomas and to compare it to our previous data regarding mRNA expression, assessed by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Thirteen somatotropinomas were analyzed by IHC and the tumors were scored according to percent of immunostained cells: 0 (<25%), 1 (25–50%) and 2 (>50%). SSTR2A immunostaining was present in all but one somatotropinoma, 4 (31 %) tumors were classified as score 0, 4 (31%) as score 1, and 5 (38%) as score 2. Median SSTR2 mRNA content was significantly different among the three IHC scores (p=0.036) and was lower in the score 0 than in the score 2 (p=0.016). The finding that there is a positive correlation between RT-PCR and IHC indicates that IHC can be applied in order to assess the SSTR2A content in somatotropinomas.

Galectin‐3 (gal‐3), a β‐galactoside‐binding animal lectin, plays a role in cell‐cell and cell‐extracellular matrix interactions. Extracellular gal‐3 modulates cell migration and adhesion in several physiological and pathological processes. Gal‐3 is highly expressed in activated macrophages. Schistosoma mansonieggs display a large amount of gal‐3 ligands on their surface and elicit a well‐characterized, macrophage‐dependent, granulomatous, inflammatory reaction. Here, we have investigated the acute and chronic phases of S. mansoniinfection in wild‐type and gal‐3−/−mice. In the absence of gal‐3, chronic‐phase granulomas were smaller in diameter, displaying thinner collagen fibers with a loose orientation. Schistosoma‐infected gal‐3−/−mice had remarkable changes in the monocyte/macrophage, eosinophil, and B lymphocyte subpopulations as compared with the infected wild‐type mice. We observed a reduction of macrophage number, an increase in eosinophil absolute number, and a decrease in B lymphocyte subpopulation (B220+/highcells) in the periphery during the evolution of the disease in gal‐3−/−mice. B lymphopenia was followed by an increase of plasma cell number in bone marrow, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes of the infected gal‐3−/−mice. The plasma IgG and IgE levels also increased in these mice. Gal‐3 plays a role in the organization, collagen distribution, and mobilization of inflammatory cells to chronic‐phase granulomas, niches for extramedullary myelopoiesis, besides interfering with monocyte‐to‐macrophage and B cell‐to‐plasma cell differentiation.

Abstract. Hepatocytes from different vertebrates are used increasingly as models of environmentally driven cell structure plasticity and for the investigation of ultrastructural pathological patterns induced by cell injury. The present study was carried out to assess the morphological changes in hamster hepatocytes subjected to chronic infection by amastigote forms of Leishmania donovani. Liver fragments were processed for routine light and transmission electron microscopy. For cytochemical visualization of peroxisomes, liver slices were incubated in alkaline 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium at pH 10.0. The results showed that the presence of Leishmania donovani induced distinct ultrastructural changes in the liver acinus (zone 2). The significant pathological changes in hepatocytes consisted of disruption of the endomembrane system and alterations of both the peroxisomal compartment and the distribution of hepatic glycogen. Particularly, hepatic peroxisomes exhibited different shapes and sizes, with modifications of the peroxisomal matrix, including absence of the catalase reaction. These observations suggest an adaptive response of hepatocytes, with cytological reorganization after parasitic infection. The presence of DAB-negative peroxisomes could be morphological evidence of a metabolic disturbance of this organelle. The parasitic infection, through deregulation of the cytokene network, is probably responsible for those structural alterations, since similar changes have been observed in vivo and in vitro.

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and castor oil have been defined as functional oils (FO) due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and gastroprotective properties. Twenty-four multiparous cows (150.24 ± 61.43 d in milk and 29.1 ± 4.01 kg/d of milk yield) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment with 21-d periods to compare the effects of FO or monensin (MON) supplementation on DM total apparent digestibility and milk yield and composition. Cows were assigned to one of these treatments: no additive (CON), supplementation of 500 mg/kg DM of FO (CNSL and castor oil as active ingredients; Essential; Oligo Basics, Cascavel, Brazil), and supplementation of 22 mg/kg DM of MON (Rumensin; Elanco Animal Health, São Paulo, Brazil). Diet was offered as a total mixed ration twice daily. Orts were weighed daily to determine feed intake, and samples of ingredients, orts, and feces were collected on Days 16, 17, and 18 of each period. Feces were collected every 9 h. All samples were analyzed for DM and indigestible NDF (iNDF) content. To obtain iNDF content, samples of ingredients, orts, and feces were placed in bags of nonwoven textile, incubated during 288 h in the rumen of two cows, and submitted to neutral detergent treatment. Fecal excretion was calculated based on iNDF intake and its concentration in feces. Cows were milked twice daily. Milk samples were automatically collected on Days 15, 16, and 17 of each period and analyzed fresh for fat, protein, and lactose by infrared methodology (Lactoscan; Entelbra, São Paulo, Brazil). Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS, and when treatment effects were significant, the PDIFF test was applied. Treatments did not affect DM intake or digestibility. Functional oils and MON increased (P< 0.01) milk (25.92, 27.17, and 27.13 kg/d for CON, MON, and FO, respectively), protein (0.78, 0.81, and 0.81 kg/d for CON, MON, and FO, respectively), and lactose (1.17, 1.22, and 1.22 kg/d CON, MON, and FO, respectively) yields. Cows supplied MON showed lower milk fat percentage compared with CON and milk fat from FO cows was not different from any of treatments (3.66, 3.46, and 3.60% for CON, MON, and FO, respectively). Cows supplemented MON produced milk with lower lactose concentration compared with FO cows. Monensin increased milk production with a decrease in milk fat percentage and FO increased milk production without affecting milk fat percentage.