Melanomacrophage functions in the liver of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus.

Melanomacrophages are phagocytes that synthesize melanin. They are found in the liver and spleen of ectothermic vertebrates, and in the kidney of fish. In agnathan and elasmobranch fish, melanomacrophages are seen as isolated cells, and forming clusters in all the other vertebrates.

Rudimentary eyes of squamate fossorial reptiles (amphisbaenia and serpentes).

The rudimentary characteristic of the eyes of fossorial animals raises some questions regarding its evolution and functionality. Would these eyes result from atrophy or from stagnated development? How would its visual function work? Anatomical investigations of these organs are the fundamental preamble to answer those questions, which are still little explored by the literature. In this article we have studied anatomical aspects of the eyes of three species of fossorial reptiles, within the suborder Amphisbaena (Amphisbaena alba, Amphisbaena mertensi, Leposternon infraorbitale), as well as a species within the ophidian suborder (Typhlops brongersmianus).

Histopathology of tick-bite lesions in naturally infested capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in Brazil.

In the present work features of tick-bite lesions were evaluated in capybaras naturally infested with Amblyomma cajennense and Amblyomma dubitatum ticks. Gross appearance of tick bite site was characterized by a mild swelling and erythema. Microscopic examination revealed the cement cone, a tube-like homogenous eosinophilic mass penetrating deep into the dermis.

Involvement of lysosomal cathepsins in the cleavage of DNA topoisomerase I during necrotic cell death.

Objective: Autoantibodies to DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) are associated with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc), appear to be antigen driven, and may be triggered by cryptic epitopes exposed during in vivo topo I fragmentation. These autoantibodies recognize topo I and fragments of this autoantigen generated during apoptosis and necrosis. We undertook this study to determine whether lysosomal cathepsins are involved in topo I fragmentation during necrosis.

[Latent TGFbeta1 activation in the lung irradiated in vivo].

Purpose: assess the latent and active TGFb1 localization in the lung, whether or not radiation induces latent TGFbeta1 activation, and the distribution of collagen fibers in the irradiated lung.

Methods: Thirty two C57BL mice were randomly assigned in two groups: GI (non irradiated animals) and GII (irradiated animals). The mice from GII received a single whole - body radiation dose of 7Gy, using a 60Co source at a dose rate of 0.