CARLOS ALBERTO-SILVA^1,*, ANA CAROLINA DE ARAUJO¹, RODRIGO SIMãO BONFIM¹, JOYCE MEIRE GILIO²

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.2, pp. 289-295, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.023787 - 18 November 2022

Abstract Bothrops envenomation is complex and provokes prominent local tissue damage and systemic disturbances, but little is known about their effects on the male reproductive system. After intratesticular injection, the bioactive peptide fraction (Bj-PF) obtained from Bothrops jararaca snake venom changes the structure of different stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in adult mice. For the first time, we investigated whether local envenomation of Bj-PF induces toxicological effects on the male reproductive system, particularly on the seminiferous epithelium and Sertoli cells. Male adult mice were treated with 0.24 mg.kg⁻¹ by intramuscular (i.m.) injection for 24 h. The testes… More >

CLAIRE ELIZABETH HILLS, ELEFTHERIOS SIAMANTOURAS, PAUL EDWARD SQUIRES^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.4, pp. 937-940, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018414 - 15 December 2021

Abstract Changes in cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion markers are increasingly used to characterize disease onset and progression. However, these relationships depend on both the biochemical and molecular association between cells and between cells and their extracellular matrix, as well as the biophysical and mechanical properties orchestrated by cytoskeletal, membrane and matrix components. To fully appreciate the role of cell adhesion when determining normal physiology and the impact of disease on cellular function, it is important to consider both biochemical and biophysical attributes of the system being investigated. In this short viewpoint we reflect on our experiences More >

LUCÍA VELOZ^1,2, SANTIAGO A. BOSCH^1,3, GONZALO APARICIO^1,2,*, FLAVIO R. ZOLESSI^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.3, pp. 639-644, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018798 - 18 November 2021

Abstract Cell extrusion is an active mechanism to eliminate non-viable or supernumerary cells in healthy epithelia. It also plays a role in carcinogenesis, both in tumor growth (apical extrusion) and metastasis (basal extrusion). Embryonic tissues like the neuroepithelium, on the other hand, present rates of proliferation comparable to that of carcinomas, without the occurrence of cell extrusion. However, the downregulation or phosphorylation of actin-modulating proteins like MARCKS, causes extensive neuroepithelial apical cell extrusion. As changes in MARCKS proteins phosphorylation and expression have also been correlated to carcinogenesis, we propose here an integrated model for their functions More >

Erik B. Kistler¹, Geert W. Schmid-Schönbein^2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 8-8, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07256

Abstract A longstanding question in research on organ failure after physiological shock (such as trauma, burns, sepsis, surgery and medical emergencies) is the underlying mechanism for a progressive loss of cell and tissue functions. Our systematic analysis of this problem has served to identify digestive enzymes as key players [1, 2]. After synthesis and discharge from the pancreas, the digestive enzymes are usually contained inside the lumen of the small intestine where they break down food every day. Escape of the digestive enzymes out of the lumen of the intestine is kept to a minimum by… More >

CRISTIAN ACOSTA, MABEL FÓSCOLO, JUAN CARLOS CAVICCHIA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.41, No.2-3, pp. 63-66, 2017, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2017.41.063

Abstract The testis is a double gland comprised of the sperm-producing seminiferous tubules and a complex endocrine interstice. The former structures generate and release whole cells (exocrine aspect of the gland) while the latter synthesize and release androgens and related hormones. The testis also has poorly understood paracrine connexions. These connexions play an important role during spermatogenesis. A key molecule within these structures is β-actin. Therefore, the present study aims at examining the expression pattern of β-actin during the various stages of the spermatic cycle in the rat. To achieve this goal, we used a combination More >

JUAN CARLOS CAVICCHIA^1*, MABEL FÓSCOLO¹ , JORGE IBAÑEZ¹, CHRISTOPHER LILLIG², FRANCISCO CAPANI³

BIOCELL, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 81-90, 2011, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2011.35.081

Abstract Junctional devices in Sertoli cells conform the blood-testis barrier and play a key role in maturation and differentiation of germ cells. The spacial distribution of ectoplasmic specializations of Sertoli cells was studied by β-actin immunolabelling, using laser confocal and transmission electron microscopy. For confocal microscopy, β-actin immunolabelling of ectoplasmic specializations was studied over the background of either prosaposin or glutaredoxin immunolabelling of the Sertoli cytoplasm. Labelling was found near the basal lamina, surrounding early spermatocytes (presumably in leptotene-zygotene) or at one of two levels in the seminiferous epithelium: (1) around deep infoldings of the Sertoli… More >

VANINA L. JULIANELLI¹ , LILIANA N. GUERRA^*1, JUAN C. CALVO^*1,2

BIOCELL, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 237-245, 2007, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2007.31.237

Abstract Interaction between parenchyma and stroma is essential for organogenesis, morphogenesis, and differentiation. Mammary gland has being the chosen model for developmental biologist because the most striking changes in morphology and function take place after birth. We have demonstrated a regulation of triglyceride accumulation by protein factors synthesized by normal mouse mammary gland epithelial cells (NMMG), acting on a cell line, 3T3-L1, long used as a model for adipogenesis. In this paper, we demonstrate that this inhibitory effect seems to be shared by other cells of epithelial origin but not by other cell types. We found More >

GLADYS N. HERMIDA, ALEJANDRO FARÍAS, LUISA E. FIORITO

BIOCELL, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 347-355, 2002, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2002.26.347

Abstract The lung of the toad, Melanophryniscus stelzneri stelzneri was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In M.s.stelzneri the parenchyma forms a polygonal network arrangement, therefore the parenchyma is edicular. These spaces are delimited by the interconnection of third order septa which are covered by respiratory epithelium. Small patches of ciliated epithelium without goblet cells appear irregularly distributed on the septa. The respiratory epithelium consists of one type of pneumocyte, which shows characteristics of both type I and type II alveolar cells of higher vertebrates. The pneumocytes are irregular in shape and possess attenuated cytoplasmic processes, which… More >