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ABSTRACT: Zineb [ethylene bis(dithiocarbamate) zinc] is a widely employed foliar fungicide for agricultural and industrial applications. Allium cepa L. is a reliable model for the assessment of xenobiotic genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. We evaluated the effects of the zineb-containing commercial formulation Azzurro(®) (70% zineb) in cell cycle stages of the meristem root cells of A. cepa. The mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations at anaphase/telophase (CAs), micronuclei (MN), and abnormalities in immunodetected microtubule structures, e.g., preprophasic band (PPB), mitotic spindle (MS), and phragmoplast (Phrag), were used as end-points. Azzurro(®) (1 and 10μg/ml) induced a significant increase in the frequency of CAs (P<0.05), and the higher concentration inhibited the MI (P<0.05) compared to control values. The frequency of MN did not differ from control values at any concentration. Treatment with 1μg/ml Azzurro(®) induced a significant increase in the frequency of abnormal PPB (P<0.01), MS (P<0.001), and Phrag (P<0.01) and, at 10μg/ml, enhancements in the frequencies of abnormal MS (P<0.05) and Phrag (P<0.05) were seen. A tubulin immunodetection assay showed that exposure to Azzurro(®) interferes with normal assembly of microtubule structures during mitosis.
Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 12/2011; 742(1-2):48-53. · 2.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Homologous chromosomes exchange genetic information through recombination during meiotic synapsis, a process that increases genetic diversity and is fundamental to sexual reproduction. Meiotic studies in mammalian species are scarce and mainly focused on human and mouse. Here, the meiotic recombination events were determined in three species of Platyrrhini monkeys (Cebus libidinosus, Cebus nigritus and Alouatta caraya) by analysing the distribution of MLH1 foci at the stage of pachytene. Moreover, the combination of immunofluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridisation has enabled us to construct recombination maps of primate chromosomes that are homologous to human chromosomes 13 and 21. Our results show that (a) the overall number of MLH1 foci varies among all three species, (b) the presence of heterochromatin blocks does not have a major influence on the distribution of MLH1 foci and (c) the distribution of crossovers in the homologous chromosomes to human chromosomes 13 and 21 are conserved between species of the same genus (C. libidinosus and C. nigritus) but are significantly different between Cebus and Alouatta. This heterogeneity in recombination behaviour among Ceboidea species may reflect differences in genetic diversity and genome composition.
Chromosoma 07/2011; 120(5):521-30. · 3.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The karyotype of the neotropical primate genus Cebus (Platyrrhini: Cebidae), considered the most ancestral one, shows the greatest amount of heterochromatin described among Platyrrhini genera. Banding techniques and restriction enzyme digestion have previously revealed great variability of quantity and composition of heterochromatin in this genus. In this context, we use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyse this genomic region and discuss its possible role in the diversification of Cebus.We used a heterochromatin probe for chromosome 11 of Cebus libidinosus (11qHe+ CLI probe), obtained by chromosome microdissection. Twenty-six specimens belonging to the families Atelidae, Cebidae, Callitrichidae and Pithecidae (Platyrrhini) were studied. Fourteen out of 26 specimens were Cebus (Cebidae) individuals of C. libidinosus, C. xanthosternos, C. apella, C. nigritus, C. albifrons, C. kaapori and C. olivaceus. In Cebus specimens, we found 6 to 22 positive signals located in interstitial and telomeric positions along the different species. No hybridization signal was observed among the remaining Ceboidea species, thus reinforcing the idea of a Cebus-specific heterochromatin composed of a complex system of repetitive sequences.
Journal of Genetics 04/2010; 90(1):111-7. · 1.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The chromosomal sex determination system differs among platyrrhine monkeys more than any other group of primates. Although a number of studies have investigated mitotic chromosomes across platyrrhine species, the meiotic chromosomes of many genera have not yet been described. The goal of this study was to characterize the sex determination system of Saimiri boliviensis. We described for the first time the meiotic cycle, confirming the sexual system in germ cells from testicular biopsies of four adult male S. boliviensis. All specimens were weighed and testicular volume was measured. We observed 22 bivalents corresponding to 2N = 44, and a "human-like" XY bivalent was found in diakinesis/metaphase I. In addition, mitotic studies from blood samples of both sexes were performed and G- and C-banding patterns agreed with previously reported karylogy of S. boliviensis boliviensis. Further meiotic studies should be performed in New World primates based on the great value of those studies for systematic evolutionary biology and conservation programs.
American Journal of Primatology 12/2007; 69(11):1236-41. · 2.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to assess the effect of metronidazole (MTZ) on the stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle and spermatozoa morphology when the drug is administered in human therapeutic doses to 60-day-old CFW male mice. The frequency of the stages was established by counting spermatocytes in pachytene and spermatids. Abnormalities in the flagellum or the head, lack of maturity and multiple malformations, were considered in the morphological analysis. Murine control strain was compared with MTZ treated group (v.ip 130 mg/kg/bw) both kept in standard captivity conditions. Cellular composition or number of stages in the seminiferous tubules were not altered in MTZ exposed animals, though the number of cells in stages I, V and XII was increased. The sperm cell morphology was severely affected by the treatment with potentially serious consequences on the normal fertilization process. Thus, the MTZ has to be considered as a conceivable thread regarding male fertility.
Reproductive Toxicology 03/2007; 23(2):246-52. · 3.23 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Catecholestrogens are endogenous metabolites that have been shown to modulate granulosa, theca, and luteal cell function in some species. The present study was aimed at determining the possible role of these steroids on oocyte maturation. Cumulus-enclosed bovine oocytes were matured for 24 h, fertilized, and then cultured for 8 days. Whereas estradiol was without effect, addition of catecholestrogens (2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol, and 2-methoxyestradiol [2-MOE2]) to the maturation medium did not affect the cleavage rate but was associated with a decrease in blastocyst production on Day 8. Although 2-MOE2 was also able to inhibit blastocyst formation when added during embryo culture, the effects were less pronounced than those seen when the steroid was added only during maturation. In agreement with the known ability of 2-MOE2 to bind tubulin at the colchicine site, marked alterations were observed in the spindle assembly of oocytes exposed to 2-MOE2 during maturation, which lead to gross chromosomal aberrations after fertilization and consequent developmental arrest at the morula stage. Moreover, that the blastocyst rate was not affected when meiosis was blocked with roscovitine during 2-MOE2 exposure is consistent with the idea that altered nuclear maturation is the cause of the low developmental competence. Because 2-MOE2 could be increased in follicular fluid in response to aryl hydrocarbon-receptor ligands, such as some environmental contaminants, our results show that abnormally high intraovarian levels of catecholestrogens could have a deleterious effect on oocyte maturation and early embryonic development arising from the alterations in the meiotic spindle.
Biology of Reproduction 01/2004; 69(6):1793-800. · 4.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study we evaluated the performance of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) mitochondrial gene as a tool for inferring phylogenetic relationships among platyrrhines. Twenty-nine COII sequences were examined in seven platyrrhine genera (Alouatta, Ateles, Lagothrix, Brachyteles, Cebus, Saimiri, and Aotus) employing parsimony and distance methods. Phylogenetic signal (g1) was present in all codon positions, despite the transitional saturation detected at the third position. In tree reconstructions bootstrap support values decreased abruptly above the generic level. Parsimony trees based on weighted transversions (tv : ts, 10 : 1) at the third position showed similar topologies. The utility of COII in phylogenetic studies among platyrrhines seems to be limited, due to its low rate of replacement substitutions and a relatively fast saturation of silent substitutions at third codon positions. Our data suggest that its main utility in platyrrhine systematics lies at the intrageneric level.
Zoologica Scripta 08/2003; 32(5):397 - 406. · 2.91 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nucleotide sequence variation at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene (COII) was analyzed in 27 New World monkey specimens, nine newly reported herein. The study involved comparisons among platyrrhines and also between platyrrhines and catarrhines. The analysis of the frequencies of transitions and transversions at each codon position showed transitional saturation at third codon position. Neighbor-Joining trees obtained from genetic distances estimated by means of Kimura's (1980) two-parameter model showed poor resolution of phylogenetic relationships among platyrrhine genera. Rates of nucleotide substitutions were largely homogeneous except in the genus Saimiri that showed low numbers of unique substitutions suggesting the maintenance of ancestral or plesiomorphic states of platyrrhine mt DNA nucleotide characters probably due to its large population sizes as compared to other platyrrhines.
Genetica 05/2002; 114(3):253-67. · 2.15 Impact Factor
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Folia Primatologica 74(3):165-7. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: 1 Grupo de Investigación en Biología Evolutiva (GIBE), Laboratorio 46, 4 • piso, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Pabellón II -Ciudad Universitaria, Abstract The karyotype of the neotropical primate genus Cebus (Platyrrhini: Cebidae), considered the most ancestral one, shows the greatest amount of heterochromatin described among Platyrrhini genera. Banding techniques and restriction enzyme digestion have previously revealed great variability of quantity and composition of heterochromatin in this genus. In this context, we use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyse this genomic region and discuss its possible role in the diversification of Cebus. We used a heterochromatin probe for chromosome 11 of Cebus libidinosus (11qHe+ CLI probe), obtained by chro-mosome microdissection. Twenty-six specimens belonging to the families Atelidae, Cebidae, Callitrichidae and Pithecidae (Platyrrhini) were studied. Fourteen out of 26 specimens were Cebus (Cebidae) individuals of C. libidinosus, C. xanthoster-nos, C. apella, C. nigritus, C. albifrons, C. kaapori and C. olivaceus. In Cebus specimens, we found 6 to 22 positive signals located in interstitial and telomeric positions along the different species. No hybridization signal was observed among the remaining Ceboidea species, thus reinforcing the idea of a Cebus-specific heterochromatin composed of a complex system of repetitive sequences. Analysis of the heterochromatin of Cebus (Primates, Platyrrhini) by micro-FISH and banding pattern comparisons.
J. Genet. 90:111-117.
