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GRACIELI DALLA NORA¹, TAMARA PASTORI¹, HAYWOOD DAIL LAUGHINGHOUSE IV^2,3, THAIS SCOTTI DO CANTO-DOROW¹, SOLANGE BOSIO TEDESCO^1*
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 95-102, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.095
Abstract Mikania glomerata is a plant used in Brazilian traditional medicine, known as ‘guaco’. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties and the aqueous extracts of its leaves are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract. This study aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative and genotoxic effect of Mikania glomerata leaf infusions on the cell cycle of onion. The material used was collected in the native environment from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Aqueous extracts through infusions were prepared in two concentrations: 4g/L (usual concentration) and 16g/L (4x more concentrated) of each of the populations. Two groups of… More >

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GISELE ORLANDI INTROÍNI¹, FERNANDA MARTINS MAESTER¹, FOSCA Pedini PEREIRA LEITE² AND SHIRLEI MARIA RECCO-PIMENTEL¹
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 103-112, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.103
Abstract Ultrastructural analyses of bivalve spermatozoa are relevant in studies that aim to identify taxonomic traits for the purposes of discriminating species and conducting phylogenetic studies. In the present work, spermatozoa of mussel specimens of the genus Mytella, collected from two populations living in distinct habitats, were examined by electron microscopy. The objective was to identify sperm ultrastructural taxonomic traits that could be used to differentiate Mytella species. The specimens were from populations that live in intertidal zones on the southeast coast of Brazil, either buried in muddy-sand sediment or anchored to rocky substrates. The acrosomal vesicle… More >

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THANDI MQOCO¹, SUMARI MARAIS¹ AND ANNIE JOUBERT
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 113-120, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.113
Abstract 2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is a bis-sulphamoylated derivative of the naturally occurring 17-beta-estradiol metabolite namely 2-methoxyestradiol. 2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is regarded as a potential anticancer drug with increased antiproliferative activity when compared to 2-methoxyestradiol. The aim of this pilot in vitro study was to determine the influence of 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate on cell growth, morphology and possible induction of certain types of cell death in the SNO esophageal carcinoma cell line. A dose-dependent study (0.2-1.0μM) was conducted with an exposure time of 24 hours. Data revealed that 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate reduced cell numbers statistically significantly to 74% after exposure to 0.4μM of the drug. Morphological More >

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852

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LUCIANA MAZZEI¹, ISABEL MERCEDES GARCÍA¹, VALERIA CACCIAMANI¹, MARÍA EUGENIA BENARDÓN¹ AND WALTER MANUCHA^{1, 2, 3}
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 121-132, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.121
Abstract Wilms tumor gene 1 (wt-1), a key regulator of mesenchymal-epithelial transformation, is downregulated during congenital obstructive nephropathy, leading to apoptosis. There is a functional interaction between WT-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In this regard, we reported that after neonatal unilateral ureteral obstruction, rosuvastatin prevents apoptosis through an increase in nitric oxide bioavailability, which in turn is linked to higher Hsp70 expression. Hence, the goal of this study was to determine whether a nitric oxide/Hsp70 interaction is involved in changes in WT-1 mRNA expression after ureteral obstruction. Neonatal rats submitted to experimental ureteral obstruction were… More >

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M.M. GOTELLI*, B.G. GALATI, D. MEDAN
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 133-138, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.133
Abstract This is the first report of the ultrastructure of the stigma and style during and after anthesis in Helianthus annuus L. using light and transmission electron microscopy. The stigma is bifid with unicellular papillae. There is no secretion of lipids, carbohydrates or proteins at anthesis. The style is semisolid in the upper portion, closer to the stigma, and becomes solid below. Ultrastructural changes on cells of the stigma and the style are described. The transmitting tissue of the ovule is first evident 40 minutes after pollination and persists during the first stages of embryogenesis. Only one More >

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YAN PI1, KEJI JIANG2, RONG HOU¹, YIFU GONG³, JUAN LIN¹, XIAOFEN SUN¹, AND KEXUAN TANG^1,4*
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.3, pp. 139-144, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.139
Abstract Camptothecin and its derivatives are monoterpenoid indole alkaloids exhibiting significant anti-tumor actions. With the aim of improving the production of these pharmaceuticals, the contents of camptothecin and 10-hydroxycamptothecin in different tissues including roots, stems, leaves, young flower buds, opening flowers, fading flowers and seeds from Camptotheca acuminata, were investigated. The young flower buds had the highest alkaloid concentrations (camptothecin, 2.46 mg/g of dry weight; 10- hydroxycamptothecin, 1.41 mg/g of dry weight). Callus showed lower concentrations but it should also be considered as a potential source of these pharmaceuticals. In the present study, the growth rate of Camptotheca More >

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