Larval metamorphosis is inhibited by methimazole and propylthiouracil that reveals possible hormonal action in the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Larval metamorphosis in bivalves is a key event for the larva-to-juvenile transformation. Previously we have identified a thyroid hormone receptor (TR) gene that is crucial for larvae to acquire “competence” for the metamorphic transition in the mussel Mytilus courscus (Mc). The mechanisms of thyroid signaling in bivalves are still largely unknown. In the present study, we molecularly characterized the full-length of two iodothyronine deiodinase genes (McDx and McDy). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that deiodinases of molluscs (McDy, CgDx and CgDy) and vertebrates (D2 and D3) shared a node representing an immediate common ancestor, which resembled vertebrates D1 and might suggest that McDy acquired specialized function from vertebrates D1. Anti-thyroid compounds, methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU), were used to investigate their effects on larval metamorphosis and juvenile development in M. coruscus. Both MMI and PTU significantly reduced larval metamorphosis in response to the metamorphosis inducer epinephrine. MMI led to shell growth retardation in a concentration-dependent manner in juveniles of M. coruscus after 4 weeks of exposure, whereas PTU had no effect on juvenile growth. It is hypothesized that exposure to MMI and PTU reduced the ability of pediveliger larvae for the metamorphic transition to respond to the inducer. The effect of MMI and PTU on larval metamorphosis and development is most likely through a hormonal signal in the mussel M. coruscus, with the implications for exploring the origins and evolution of metamorphosis.

Parallel modulation of intracortical excitability of somatosensory and visual cortex by the gonadal hormones estradiol and progesterone

The levels of the gonadal hormones estradiol and progesterone vary throughout the menstrual cycle thereby affecting cognition, emotion, mood, and social behaviour. However, how these hormones modulate the balance of neural excitation and inhibition, which crucially regulate processing and plasticity, is not fully understood. We here used paired-pulse stimulation to investigate in healthy humans the action of low and high estradiol and progesterone on intracortical inhibition in somatosensory (SI) and visual cortex (V1). We found that paired-pulse suppression in both SI and VI depended on estradiol. During high estradiol levels, paired-pulse suppression was significantly reduced. No comparable effects were found for progesterone, presumably due to a confounding effect of estradiol. Also, no hormone level-depending effects were observed for single-pulse evoked SEPs (somatosensory evoked potentials) and VEPs (visual evoked potentials) indicating a specific hormonal action on intracortical processing. The results demonstrate that estradiol globally modulates the balance of excitation and inhibition of SI and VI cortex.

Effect of the electrolipophoresis in the lipodystrophy treatment and its influence on lipid profile

Introduction: The excess of body adiposity and the hormonal action can lead to the accumulation of adipose tissue in certain parts of the body. The electrolipophoresis is a technique used to treat localized fat, by applying low frequency electrical currents that act directly on the adipocytes and lipids accumulated subcutaneously or epicutaneously. This electrical stimulation causes physiological modifications in the adipocyte, among them the increase in blood flow and cellular metabolism leading to lipolysis. Objective: This study aimed to prove, through the measurement of triglycerides in the blood, which is the most effective method of electrolipophoresis practical application in the promoted lipolysis. Methods: The old female patients aged from 49 to 62 underwent evaluation that measured the body mass index (BMI); perimetry performed with the use of measuring tape of the waist and abdomen region and the realization of abdominal (vertical) skinfold measurement with the use of adipometer. After the evaluation, the volunteers were divided into two groups in which one of them received subcutaneous application of electrolipophoresis equipment (needles) and the other one received epicutaneous electrolipophoresis application (plates). They were positioned and oriented about the procedure and received the practical application of electrolipophoresis (DGM equipment) twice a week for ten sessions of 60 minutes each. The dosage of triglycerides was performed in the first and last session. Results: There was a reduction in all evaluations performed, and a subcutaneous application shows more effective in the treatment of localized fat. Conclusion: With these findings was observed a reduction in abdominal measurement and decreased of triglycerides in the blood thus showing that treatment using plates or electrodes is effective in localized lipodystrophy. Despite the significant reduction of localized adiposity, further studies with more participants and sessions are needed to make this treatment, widely used in clinical practice of Dermato-Functional Physiotherapy, most reliable.

FSH, Oxytocin and IGF-I Regulate the Expression of Sirtuin 1 in Porcine Ovarian Granulosa Cells

The involvement of the mTOR system/enzyme sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) intracellular signaling system in the control of ovarian functions and its role in mediating hormonal action on the ovary has been proposed, but this hypothesis should be supported by a demonstrated influence of hormones on mTOR/SIRT1. Therefore, the aim of our in vitro experiments was to examine the effect of the known hormonal regulators of ovarian functions, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), oxytocin (OT) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), on mTOR/SIRT1. The accumulation of SIRT1 in porcine ovarian granulosa cells cultured with and without these hormones (at doses of 1, 10 or 100 ng.ml-1) was evaluated using immunocytochemistry. It was observed that the addition of FSH (at 10 ng.ml-1 but not at 1 or 100 ng/ml) and OT (at all tested doses) increased the expression of SIRT1 in ovarian cells. In addition, 100 ng.ml-1, but not at 1 or 10 ng.ml-1, of IGF-I decreased SIRT1 accumulation. Our observations are the first demonstration that hormones can directly regulate the ovarian mTOR/SIRT1 system and that this system could mediate the action of hormonal regulators on the ovary.

Atypical presentation of Leydig cell tumour in three prepubertal patients: diagnosis, treatment and outcomes

Background Testicular tumours are uncommon in children, accounting for only 1% of all childhood tumours. Prepubertal Leydig cell tumours actively secrete testosterone and as a result, patients typically present with isosexual precocious pseudopuberty, this being the first cause of consultation. We present three cases of Leydig cell tumours in prepubertal patients with an atypical presentation. Methods We studied three cases of Leydig cell tumours in prepubertal boys, who either consulted for testicular asymmetry or were incidentally found to have the tumour in the absence of systemic signs of systemic hyperandrogenism or precocious puberty. In all cases, a well-circumscribed testicular mass was found by testicular ultrasound. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology. In all three cases, testicular enucleation was performed with satisfactory follow-up. Results Following the surgical procedure, during the follow-up, all patients showed a normal testicular volume in comparison with the contralateral testis. No complications were seen during follow-up. Conclusions A testicular ultrasound in children developing asymptomatic testicular asymmetry might be recommended due to its possible hormonal action locally. An early testicular ultrasound, testicular swelling discrepancies, tumour size and androgen production are key factors in the prognosis and management of this type of tumour.

Influence of Post-Flowering Chemical Thinning on Development and Fruit Quality of 'Fuji Suprema' and 'Maxigala' Apple Trees

Aims: Evaluate possible alterations in the development, anatomy and quality of fruits from 'Maxi Gala' and 'Fuji Suprema' apple plants treated with Metamitrom (MM) and Benzyladenine (BA) alone or in combination, applied at different stages of fruit development in the Midwestern region of the state of Santa Catarina. Study Design: The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with five replicates. Place and duration of Study: The experiment was carried out in the municipality of Caçador-SC, Brazil, during the growing season of 2016/2017. Methodology: Two products, BA (with hormonal action) and MM (photosynthesis inhibitor) were applied individually or in a tank mix in post-flowering periods (in fruits of 5-10 mm and 15-20 mm in equatorial diameter), which were compared with plants with no thinning and manual thinning of both cultivars. Treatments were as follows: Control (no thinning) MM, BA, MM + BA (in fruits of 5-10 mm in diameter); MM, BA, MM + BA, manual thinning (in fruits of 15-20 mm in diameter). The phenological stage of F2 (Full flowering (FF) was observed on September 28, 2016 for both cultivars. Evaluations of the anatomical characteristics of fruits at the time of harvest did not show any alteration in cell size (mean cell area - μm2) and cell density (number of cells per fruit section area); the mean fruit mass was higher in MM 350 mg L-1 (5-10 mm), MM 350 mg L-1 + BA 40 mg L-1 (5-10 mm), and MM 350 mg L-1 (15-20mm) treatments. In the 'Fuji Suprema' cultivar, except for control treatments, MM 350 mg L-1 (5-10mm) and BA 80 mg L-1 (5-10mm), a significant reduction in production was observed (kg plant-1 and fruit-1). While in 'MaxiGala', all the thinning treatments reduced yield per plant. The cultural thinning practice, fruit load management, adapting the number of fruits according to plant size is the most important factor that producers are able to influence. Thinning reduces fruit load in the plant, which allows remaining fruits the possibility of greater growth and size gain. The combination of MM + BA is efficient in the thinning of apple fruits, especially when applied at the beginning of fruit development (5-10 mm in diameter). The application of chemical thinners, such as MM and BA, may influence the early stages of fruit development.

Vitamin D Status and Its Association with Parathyroid Hormone Concentration in Brazilians

Vitamins are organic compounds that play a vital role in the control of metabolic processes. The D complex is considered a nutrient with a hormonal action and has an important participation in the constant maintenance of serum and extracellular calcium levels. The present study aims to analyze the results of 105.588 vitamin D (25(OH)D) measurements obtained from a database from a clinical analysis laboratory in Brazil, between the years of 2011 and 2013. The values of 25(OH)D were correlated with age, gender, and values of PTH. The results show a high prevalence of values of 25(OH)D considered inadequate, characterizing 76% of the studied population. It was observed that 26,5% of the individuals had deficiency and 49,5% had insufficiency of vitamin D. It was also shown that there was a negative correlation between 25(OH)D and PTH levels. In conclusion, this study is in accordance with others that show a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in different populations and alerts us for the importance of these measurements and analysis in clinical practice and as a base for diagnosis and treatment of hypovitaminosis.

Involvement of Hormone- and ROS-Signaling Pathways in the Beneficial Action of Humic Substances on Plants Growing under Normal and Stressing Conditions

The importance of soil humus in soil fertility has been well established many years ago. However, the knowledge about the whole mechanisms by which humic molecules in the rhizosphere improve plant growth remains partial and rather fragmentary. In this review we discuss the relationships between two main signaling pathway families that are affected by humic substances within the plant: one directly related to hormonal action and the other related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this sense, our aims are to try the integration of all these events in a more comprehensive model and underline some points in the model that remain unclear and deserve further research.

Induced reproduction and early development histology of Oscar Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz, 1831)

SummaryOscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is an important fish from the Amazon Basin that has great potential for fish farming, human consumption, sport fishing and fish keeping. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two hormonal treatments on the induction of artificial reproduction in broodstock and to describe the histological development of embryos and larvae. Broodstocks were selected and induced using two different hormones: (i) extract of carp pituitary (ECP); and (ii) synthetic human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Spawnings were transferred to hatcheries, collected at pre-established times, processed and analysed by histology. Astronotus ocellatus did not respond well to induced reproduction. From 16 couples of breeding fish, only five out of the eight females released oocytes after the hormonal action time, three with hCG and two with ECP; just one male responded positively to hCG. Oscar eggs were oval, and semi-adhesive, the yolk contained granules, and egg diameter was approximately 1.65 ± 0.057 to 1.98 ± 0.038 mm. Development from the initial collection (IC) point until the total absorption of the yolk lasted 315 h, at an average temperature of 27.45 ± 2.13°C. Several events marked embryonic and larval development, including the formation of the optic cup, forebrain, otic vesicle and cephalic divisions. The newly hatched larvae had non-pigmented eyes, and a closed mouth and anus, as well as the presence of adhesive glands on the head. Larval development was characterized by formation of the heart, liver, gaseous bladder, gills, pronephros, brain, fins and also the digestive tract. These results provide important information for the rearing and reproduction of A. ocellatus.

Devastating Metabolic Consequences of a Life of Plenty: Focus on the Dyslipidemia of Overnutrition

Although undernutrition and starvation continue to affect a substantial portion of the world’s population, billions of people in both developed and developing countries are affected by the opposite problem: consumption of calories that exceed their daily energy expenditure, a condition of overnutrition. The body’s response to a positive net energy balance is to store energy, predominantly as triglyceride molecules, in the subcutaneous and visceral fat compartments that expand and ultimately manifest in obesity. The body’s fat depot, however, does not have an infinite capacity to store and expand, and at set points, which differ from individual to individual and are also influenced by ethnicity, energy substrates ‘spill over’, resulting in ‘ectopic’ fat storage in tissues and organs that are not typically major fat storage depots in lean individuals. A complex web of nutrient overload, chronic inflammation, hormonal action, mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance, to mention some of the factors involved, results in devastating metabolic abnormalities that have far reaching implications for health and disease, leading ultimately to some of the most common chronic diseases of our time; i.e., diabetes mellitus, cancer, chronic liver disease and atherosclerosis. Given the complexity and wide-ranging manifestations of overnutrition (also referred to here as insulin resistant states), we will highlight a specific aspect of the condition, that of dyslipidemia. This review will draw mainly on knowledge acquired from whole body, integrative physiology research in animals and humans affected by overnutrition, and will demonstrate how these types of studies can shed light on our understanding of the pathophysiology of the typical dyslipidemia of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.