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The aging ovary in mammals leads to the reduced production of sex hormones and a deterioration in follicle quality. The interstitial gland originates from the hypertrophy of the theca cells of atretic follicles and represents an accumulative structure of the ovary that may contribute to its aging. Here, reproductive and mature rabbit ovaries are used to determine whether the interstitial gland plays a crucial role in ovarian aging. We demonstrate that, in the mature ovary, interstitial gland cells accumulate lipid droplets and show ultrastructural characteristics of lipophagy. Furthermore, they undergo modifications and present a foamy appearance, do not express the pan-leukocyte CD-45 marker, and express CYP11A1. These cells are the first to present an increase in lipofuscin accumulation. In foamy cells, the expression of p21 remains low, PCNA expression is maintained at mature ages, and their nuclei do not show positivity for H2AX. The interstitial gland shows a significant increase in lipofuscin accumulation compared with the ovaries of younger rabbits, but lipofuscin accumulation remains constant at mature ages. Surprisingly, no accumulation of cells with DNA damage is evident, and an increase in proliferative cells is observed at the age of 36 months. We suggest that the interstitial gland initially uses lipophagy to maintain steroidogenic homeostasis and prevent cellular senescence.

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Although hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in elderly cats, systematic studies investigating the prevalence of thyroid lesions in feline animals are scarce. Our objective was to evaluate morphological changes in the thyroid glands of 61 cats submitted to necropsy without clinical suspicion of hyperthyroidism. Thirteen (13/61 [21.3%]) cats had thyroid enlargement and 54/61 (88.5%) had some histological thyroid changes. Proliferative lesions were histologically seen in 33/61 (54%) cats while non-proliferative lesions were observed in 48/61 (78.7%) cats. Thyroid hyperplasia (18/33 [54.5%]) and cystic adenoma (6/33 [18.2%]) were the most prevalent proliferative changes and lesions with little or no clinical significance (37/61 [60.6%]), degenerative (31/61 [50.8%]) and inflammatory changes (12/61 [19.7%]) were the most common non-proliferative changes. Among cats with proliferative lesions, 16/33 (48.4%) had a proliferation grade ≥A4, a grade previously associated with clinical hyperthyroidism. Although the cats from this study did not have any clinical diagnosis of thyroid disease, it is possible that one or more had some degree of clinically unnoticed thyroid dysfunction. The high prevalence of follicular lesions in this study highlights the importance of a more careful clinical and pathological investigation regarding thyroid diseases in mature and elderly cats.

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The prostate undergoes normal or pathological morphological changes throughout life. An understanding of these changes is fundamental for the comprehension of aging-related pathological processes such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer. In the present study, we show some of these morphological changes, as well as histochemical techniques like Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin method, Picrosirius Red, and Gömöri's reticulin for use as tools in the study of prostate tissue under light microscopy. For this purpose, prostates of the Mongolian gerbil (n = 9), an experimental model that develops BPH spontaneously, were analyzed at three life stages: young (1 month old), adult (3 months old), and old (15 months old). The results showed that fibrillar components such as collagen, and reticular and elastic fibers, change throughout life. In young animals, the prostate has cuboidal epithelium surrounded by thin layers of smooth muscle, continuous collagen fibers, winding reticular fibers, and sporadic elastic fibers. With adulthood, the epithelium becomes columnar, encircled by compacted muscle cells among slender collagen fibers, elongated reticular fibers, and linear elastic fibers. In aging individuals, the prostate's epithelium stratifies, surrounded by thick muscle layers among dense collagen fibers, disordered reticular fibers, and elastic fibers in different planes. We also identified a few accumulations of lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules in adult animals and high accumulation in old animals evidenced by Oil red O and Gömöri-Halmi techniques, respectively. The histochemical techniques presented here have been demonstrated to be useful and accessible tools in prostate studies. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Cytochemical techniques to study prostate morphology. The prostate changes with age.

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This is a case report of a young adult who died of COVID-19 twelve days after admission, with coronavirus nucleocapsid protein and lipofuscin found in the heart and kidney tissues, providing further evidence of the role of SARS-CoV-2 in cellular senescence.

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Visible light (VL) surely affects human skin in several ways, exerting positive (tissue regeneration, pain relief) and negative (oxidation, inflammation) effects, depending on the radiation dose and wavelength. Nevertheless, VL continues to be largely disregarded in photoprotection strategies, perhaps because the molecular mechanisms occurring during the interaction of VL with endogenous photosensitizers (ePS) and the subsequent biological responses are still poorly understood. Besides, VL encompass photons with different properties and interaction capacities with the ePS, but there are no quantitative comparisons of their effects on humans. Here, we studied the effects of physiologically relevant doses of four wavelengths ranges of VL, i.e. (in nm), 408-violet, 466/478-blue, 522-green, 650-red, in immortalized human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT). The level of cytotoxicity/damage follows the order: violet>blue >green>red. Violet and blue light induced the highest levels of Fpg-sensitive lesions in nuclear DNA, oxidative stress, lysosomal and mitochondrial damage, disruption of the lysosomal-mitochondrial axis of cell homeostasis, blockade of the autophagic flux, as well as lipofuscin accumulation, greatly increasing the toxicity of wideband VL to human skin. We hope this work will stimulate in development of optimized sun protection strategies.

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ABSTRACT Purpose: Stargardt disease is the most common type of juvenile-onset macular dystrophy. It is bilateral and symmetrical in appearance, affects the macula, and its main characteristic is the loss of central vision that starts in the first or second decade of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the profile of the patients evaluated at the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, as well as describe the electroretinographic findings with the full-field electroretinogram in these patients. Methods: An observational, retrospective study was performed by analysis of records and electroretinographic examinations of 27 patients with Stargardt disease and fundus flavimaculatus who were treated at the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná's Department of Ocular Electrophysiology and Neuro-Ophthalmology between 1997 and 2014. The patients included in this study presented clinical features, fundus examination and/or electroretinographic findings compatible with Stargardt disease. Results: The visual acuity in the best eye varied from 0 to 1.6 logMAR (20/20 to 20/800) with an average of 0.89 ± 0.42 logMAR. The age at onset of symptoms varied from since birth to 36 years old (average 19.2 ± 9.2) with the majority of patients having symptom onset in the first or second decade of life. The mean time from the disease's first symptoms until the diagnosis was 7.3 years. In the fundus examination, every patient presented some kind of abnormality. In the electroretinogram analysis, the majority of patients had results that differed from those of sample controls, i.e., reduced amplitude and increased implicit time in the photopic and scotopic phases. Conclusions: The visual acuity and the age at symptoms onset in this study were compatible with the natural history of this dystrophy. The typical fundus appearance of Stargardt disease and altered electroretinogram were more frequent because of the delay until diagnosis. New prospective studies are necessary to evaluate these patients based on emergent technologies.

RESUMO Objetivo: A doença de Stargardt é a forma mais comum de distrofia macular de início juvenil. É bilateral e simétrica em aparência, afeta a mácula e sua característica principal é a diminuição da visão central que geralmente inicia-se na primeira ou segunda década de vida. O objetivo do estudo é descrever o perfil clínico dos pacientes avaliados no Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, bem como descrever os achados eletrorretinográficos destes pacientes com o eletrorretinograma de campo total. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional retrospectivo, baseado na análise de prontuários e eletrorretinograma de 27 pacientes com Doença de Stargardt e Fundus Flavimaculatus, atendidos em consulta oftalmológica no ambulatório de Eletrofisiologia Ocular e Neuro-Oftalmologia do Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, entre 1997 e 2014. Os pacientes incluídos no estudo apresentavam quadro clínico, fundoscopia e/ou achados eletrorretinográficos compatíveis com a doença. Resultados: A acuidade visual no melhor olho variou de 0 a 1,6 logMAR (20/20 a 20/800), com média de 0,89 ± 0,42 logMAR. A idade de aparecimento dos sintomas variou desde o nascimento a 36 anos (19,2 ± 9,2), sendo a maioria nas 1ª e 2ª década de vida. Em relação ao tempo entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico, a média foi de 7,3 anos. Na fundoscopia, todos os pacientes apresentaram alguma alteração. Na análise do eletrorretinograma, a maioria dos pacientes demonstrou resultados que diferem da amostra de pacientes controles, ou seja, amplitudes reduzidas e tempos de culminação aumentados nas fases fotópicas e escotópicas. Conclusões: A acuidade visual e idade de início de aparecimento dos sintomas encontrados neste estudo são compatíveis com a evolução desta distrofia. Achados fundoscópicos típicos da doença de Stargardt e eletrorretinograma alterados foram mais frequentes em decorrência do atraso no diagnóstico. Novos estudos prospectivos são necessários para avaliar estes pacientes, fundamentando-se em novas tecnologias.

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Goji berry fruit is considered a healthy food. However, studies on its effects on aging and safety are rare. This study is the first to evaluate the effects of goji berry juice (GBJ) on oxidative stress, metabolic markers, and lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. GBJ caused toxicity, reduced the lifespan of C. elegans by 50%, and increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by 45-50% at all tested concentrations (1-20 mg/µL) of GBJ. Moreover, the highest concentration of GBJ increased lipid peroxidation by 80% and altered the antioxidant enzymes. These effects could be attributed to a pro-oxidant effect induced by GBJ polyphenols and carotenoids. Moreover, GBJ increased lipofuscin, glucose levels, number of apoptotic bodies, and lipase activity. The use of mutant strains demonstrated that these effects observed in the worms treated with GBJ were not associated with the Daf-16/FOXO or SKN-1 pathways. Our findings revealed that GBJ (mainly the highest concentration) exerted toxic effects and promoted premature aging in C. elegans. Therefore, its consumption should be carefully considered until further studies in mammals are conducted.

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Abstract Given the lack of standardized guidance for follow-up of patients with neuronal ceroid lipofucsinosis-2 disease in Latin-American countries and the heterogeneity of the region, an expert panel was created with the participation of 11 pediatric neurologists from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The aim of the expert panel was to describe a framework for standardized follow-up in patients with neuronal ceroid lipofucsinosis-2 disease, on or off therapy, that could benefit patients and treating physicians alike. Experts made recommendations in the following areas: seizures, abnormal movements and ataxia, sleep disorders and pain, cognitive function, visual function, hearing and speech, cardiac function, quality of life, and motor function. Recommendations include the most appropriate tools for use in the Latin-American context and health care systems, and provide feasible follow-up guidance, applicable in public and private healthcare facilities. They take into consideration the availability of clinical assessment resources, tools (scales, questionnaires, paraclinical tests) and access to these tools in Latin-American countries, as well as other regional and local needs defined by the participating experts.

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In this study, we evaluated homeostatic and functional disorders of the spleen in mice inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii. The kinetics of megakaryocyte and leukocyte production, body and spleen mass and certain histopathological aspects were analyzed. There was increased (P < 0.05) the accumulation of lipofuscin in the red pulp of the spleen, in the periods of 30 and 60 dpi of the infection, that is, in the chronification stage of the disease and decrease of the white pulp area. In addition, we observed (from 7dpi) a quantitative and qualitative increase (P < 0.05) in the deposition of collagen fibers in the spleen of all infected mice. Since resolution of the inflammatory process resulted in pathophysiological changes, we can suggest that the T. gondii invaded and multiplied in the cells of the white and red pulps of the spleen. Although we did not find the parasite in the spleen, this hypothesis is supported by the presence of diffuse inflammatory infiltrate, which extended through the spleen parenchyma of all inoculated mice. Taken together, our results suggest that T. gondii causes severe homeostatic disorders that have altered spleen physiology, including diffuse parenchymal inflammation, lipofuscinosis in histiocytes, early aging, collagenopathy, systemic sclerosis and spleen and white pulp atrophy.

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The study of brain pathology by fluorescence microscopy finds in the autofluorescence of the tissue an additional difficulty for the recognition of markers of interest. In particular, in the immunofluorescence study of brains from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, several approaches have been attempted to eliminate or mask the presence of autofluorescent aggregates. In the present work, we propose a method to characterize by fluorescent microscopy senile plaques discriminating them from autofluorescent aggregates, such as lipofuscin granules.This work describes four protocols carried out in human brain tissue of patients with AD, covering adequate tissue preparation, immunofluorescence acquisition, and data analysis: 1. Tissues processing of frozen samples for optimal epitope conservation. 2. Analysis of the fluorescence emission spectrum of the tissue by performing a confocal microscopy λ-scan. 3. Analysis of fluorescence emission of both intact and formic acid-treated tissues in four channels corresponding to the emission in blue, green, near red, and far-red regions. 4. Analysis a specific immunostaining of amyloid beta in senile plaques, using fluorescent-labeled antibodies by using specific emission channels to avoid detection of tissue autofluorescence.

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Aging is a multifactorial process associated with functional deficits, and the brain is more prone to developing chronic degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Several groups have tried to correlate the age-related ultrastructural alterations to the neurodegeneration process using in vivo pharmacological models, but due to the limitations of the animal models, particularly in aged animals, the results are difficult to interpret. In this work, we investigated neurodegeneration induced by rotenone, as a pharmacological model of Parkinson's disease, in both young and aged Wistar rats. We assessed animal mobility, tyrosine hydroxylase staining in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling-positive nuclei and reactive oxygen species production in the striatum. Interestingly, the mobility impairment, dopaminergic neuron loss, and elevated number of apoptotic nuclei in the striatum of aged control rats were similar to young rotenone-treated animals. Moreover, we observed many ultrastructural alterations, such as swollen mitochondria in the striatum, and massive lipofuscin deposits in the SNpc of the aged rotenone-treated animals. We conclude that the rotenone model can be employed to explore age-related alterations in the ontogeny that can increase vulnerability in the striatum and SNpc, which may contribute to Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.

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This study aimed to report the case of a successful live birth from a woman having oocytes with abnormally large cytoplasmic inclusions. The patient described in this case is a 28 year-old woman with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) with a history of two previous unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts offered an antagonist protocol. Stimulation was performed with human menopausal gonadotropin 300 IU/day. The intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure was performed 4-6 hours after oocyte aspiration for all mature oocytes. Six oocytes were retrieved, five of which mature (MII). All oocytes had abnormal cytoplasmic structures. Two were fertilized after ICSI and two top quality embryos were transferred on Day 2. Our case report suggests that HH patients with refractile bodies/lipofuscin in their oocytes may not have their pregnancies negatively affected. While there have been several reports of successful births from dysmorphic oocytes, no cases of successful pregnancies followed by live births from young women with HH and oocytes with large cytoplasmic inclusions had been reported to date.

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Currently there is a growing concern, in both population and governments, to identify the effects of substances commonly disposed of into rivers and lakes, on aquatic fauna and flora. Thus the objective of the present study was to verify effects of biodegradable detergents and water from an urban lake on gills and liver of two neotropical fish species of great economic importance, Astyanax altiparanae and Prochilodus lineatus. In order to do so, lipofuscin, also called the ageing pigment, was used as bioindicator. After one and five months of experiment both tissues accumulated this pigment. These data are discussed from physiological points of view, related with lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial damage.

Existe una preocupación creciente de la población y los gobiernos para identificar los efectos de substancias comúnmente arrojadas en ríos y lagos, sobre la fauna y flora acuática. El objetivo fue verificar los efectos de detergentes biodegradables y agua de un lago urbano sobre las branquias e hígado de dos especies de peces neo-tropicales de gran importancia económica, Astyanax altiparanae y Prochilodus lineatus. Analizamos los pigmentos de lipofuscina, también llamado pigmento de envejecimiento, el que fue utilizado como biomarcador. Después de uno y cinco meses de experimento, ambos tejidos acumulados con el pigmento fueron analizados. Los datos fueron discutidos desde el punto de vista fisiológico, relacionado con la peroxidación lipídica y daño mitocondrial.

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Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder in humans and mice. The pearl (pe) mouse, a mouse model for the human HPS-2, bears a mutation in Ap3b1 gene. Here we investigated the pigmentation in eyes of pearl (pe) mice, and compared it with our previously published data in pale ear (ep) mice. We revealed that the hypopigmentation in eyes of pearl mice was more severe than pale ear mice, especially in the neural crest-derived tissues. However, the total tyrosinase activity in eyes of pearl mice was stronger than pale ear mice, suggesting that the degradation of aberrantly transported tyrosinase in eyes of pearl mice was weaker than that of pale ear mice. Furthermore, the pigmentation in eyes of mice doubly heterozygous for Hps1 and Ap3b1 genes was similar to the wild-type, while the hypopigmentation in iris of double mutant mice was more severe than either single mutant. Besides, we found several previously reported characters in pale ear mice, including macromelanosomes in the neural crest-derived melanocytes and increased accumulation of lipofuscin in the RPE, were absent in pearl mice. Our study indicates that Ap3b1 gene play distinct roles in melanin production and tyrosinase distribution compared with Hps1 gene.

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Odontoblasts are dentin-secreting cells that survive for the whole life of a healthy tooth. Once teeth are completely erupted, odontoblasts transform into a mature stage that allows for their functional conservation for decades, while maintaining the capacity for secondary and reactionary dentin secretion. Odontoblasts are also critically involved in the transmission of sensory stimuli from the dentin-pulp complex and in the cellular defense against pathogens. Their longevity is sustained by an elaborate autophagic-lysosomal system that ensures organelle and protein renewal. However, progressive dysfunction of this system, in part caused by lipofuscin accumulation, reduces the fitness of odontoblasts and eventually impairs their dentin maintenance capacity. Here we review the functional activities assumed by mature odontoblasts throughout life. Understanding the biological basis of age-related changes in human odontoblasts is crucial to improving tooth preservation in the elderly.

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The free radical, or oxidative stress, theory of aging proposes that the accumulation of oxidative cellular damage is a major contributor to the aging process and a key determinant of species longevity. This study investigates the oxidative stress theory in a novel model for aging research, the sea urchin. Sea urchins present a unique model for the study of aging because of the existence of species with tremendously different natural life spans, including some species with extraordinary longevity and negligible senescence. Cellular oxidative damage, antioxidant capacity, and proteasome enzyme activities were measured in the tissues of three sea urchin species: short-lived Lytechinus variegatus, long-lived Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, which has an intermediate life span. Levels of protein carbonyls and 4-hydroxynonenal measured in tissues (muscle, nerve, esophagus, gonad, coelomocytes, ampullae) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine measured in cell-free coelomic fluid showed no general increase with age. The fluorescent age pigment lipofuscin, measured in muscle, nerve, and esophagus, increased with age; however, it appeared to be predominantly extracellular. Antioxidant mechanisms (total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase) and proteasome enzyme activities were maintained with age. In some instances, levels of oxidative damage were lower and antioxidant activity higher in cells or tissues of the long-lived species compared to the short-lived species; however, further studies are required to determine the relationship between oxidative damage and longevity in these animals. Consistent with the predictions of the oxidative stress theory of aging, the results suggest that negligible senescence is accompanied by a lack of accumulation of cellular oxidative damage with age, and maintenance of antioxidant capacity and proteasome enzyme activities may be important mechanisms to mitigate damage.

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OBJETIVOS: Definir características do exame de autofluorescência, verificando sua utilidade no diagnóstico e acompanhamento de distrofias retinianas. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo, 28 pacientes, adultos, divididos igualmente em quatro grupos com diagnósticos de doença de Stargardt, distrofia de Cones, retinose pigmentar e voluntários saudáveis para estabelecimento do padrão de normalidade. Em média foram obtidas nove imagens com o filtro para angiofluoresceinografia para a formação da imagem autofluorescente no Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2. As imagens de cada grupo de pacientes foram analisadas para verificar características comuns. RESULTADOS: As imagens fundoscópicas autofluorescentes dos voluntários do grupo controle mostraram área foveal hipoautofluorescente em relação à retina do pólo posterior. As imagens dos portadores de doença de Stargardt, em geral, apresentaram lesão hipoautofluorescente, correspondendo à área macular. As principais alterações da autofluorescência em pacientes com distrofia de cones foram hipoautofluorescência macular com halo hiperautofluorescente. Nos portadores de retinose pigmentar, foram encontrados pigmentos periféricos causando hipoautofluorescência. Na região macular, hipoautofluorescência ou apenas desorganização do pigmento. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo mostrou a existência de padrões de autofluorescência de fundo nas distrofias de retina que permitem o diagnóstico e melhor interpretação da fisiopatogenia destas doenças.

PURPOSE: To define characteristics of the fundus autofluorescence examination, verifying usefulness in the diagnosis and care of hereditary retinal diseases. METHODS: 28 patients, adults, divided equally into four groups with diagnoses of Stargardt macular dystrophy, cone dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa and healthy volunteers for the establishment of the normality pattern. An average of nine images with the filter for fluorescein angiography was obtained for the formation of the image autofluorescence using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2. The images of each group of patients were analyzed to verify common characteristics. RESULTS: The fundus autofluorescence of healthy volunteers showed the foveal area darker than the surrounding retina. The images of Stargardt macular dystrophy, in general, presented an oval central lesion, with reduced autofluorescence. The main alterations of the autofluorescence in patients with cone dystrophy were reduced foveal autofluorescence with a parafoveal ring of increased autofluorescence. In general, the images of retinitis pigmentosa showed outlying pigments with reduced autofluorescence, and of the foveal area, in some cases disorganization or reduced autofluorescence. CONCLUSION: The study showed the existence of patterns of fundus autofluorescence in the hereditary retinal diseases that allow the diagnosis and better interpretation of the pathogenesis of these diseases.

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A preliminary study was done on the age-pigment lipofuscin content in the brains of captive Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (5 months old) and wild adults (estimated age of 12-15 months). Random samples of 6 individuals were obtained from each group (juvenile and adult) for histological analysis. Serial sections (6 mum) of the brains were mounted without staining and observed in an epifluorescent microscope. The fluorescent images of the five most central sections of the olfactory lobe cell mass (OLCM) of each individual were digitized for image analysis. The lipofuscin granule mean diameter was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), however the lipofuscin area fraction (percentage of the OLCM occupied by pigment granules) was significantly higher (p 0.05) in the adult shrimp. The detection of lipofuscin granules in 5 month old F. paulensis indicates that lipofuscin deposition probably takes place even earlier in the juvenile phase. Our results suggested that the amount of granules in the F. paulensis OLCM is related to age, but further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between lipofuscin content and the age of captive F. paulensis.

Foi realizada análise preliminar do conteúdo de lipofuscina em cérebros de juvenis de Farfantepenaeus paulensis oriundos de cativeiro (5 meses de idade) e de adultos selvagens (idade estimada de 12-15 meses). Foram coletadas amostras aleatórias de 6 indivíduos de cada grupo (juvenis e adultos) para análises histológicas. Cortes frontais (6 mim) dos cérebros foram montados em lâminas, sem serem corados, e observados em microscópio de epifluorescência. As imagens fluorescentes dos 5 cortes mais centrais da massa de células do lóbulo olfatório (MCLO) de cada indivíduo foram digitalizadas para posterior análise de imagens. O diâmetro médio dos grânulos de lipofuscina foram similares entre os dois grupos (p > 0,05), entretanto, a porcentagem da área de MCLO ocupada por grânulos foi significativamente maior (p 0,05) nos camarões adultos. A detecção de grânulos de lipofuscina em F. paulensis com 5 meses de idade indica a possibilidade de o início de deposição ocorrer anteriormente em juvenis. Os resultados sugerem que a quantidade de grânulos na MCLO de F. paulensis está relacionada à idade, contudo, futuros estudos são necessários para avaliar a relação entre a quantidade de lipofuscina e a idade de F. paulensis mantidos em cativeiro.

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A preliminary study was done on the age-pigment lipofuscin content in the brains of captive Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (5 months old) and wild adults (estimated age of 12-15 months). Random samples of 6 individuals were obtained from each group (juvenile and adult) for histological analysis. Serial sections (6 mum) of the brains were mounted without staining and observed in an epifluorescent microscope. The fluorescent images of the five most central sections of the olfactory lobe cell mass (OLCM) of each individual were digitized for image analysis. The lipofuscin granule mean diameter was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), however the lipofuscin area fraction (percentage of the OLCM occupied by pigment granules) was significantly higher (p 0.05) in the adult shrimp. The detection of lipofuscin granules in 5 month old F. paulensis indicates that lipofuscin deposition probably takes place even earlier in the juvenile phase. Our results suggested that the amount of granules in the F. paulensis OLCM is related to age, but further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between lipofuscin content and the age of captive F. paulensis.

Foi realizada análise preliminar do conteúdo de lipofuscina em cérebros de juvenis de Farfantepenaeus paulensis oriundos de cativeiro (5 meses de idade) e de adultos selvagens (idade estimada de 12-15 meses). Foram coletadas amostras aleatórias de 6 indivíduos de cada grupo (juvenis e adultos) para análises histológicas. Cortes frontais (6 mim) dos cérebros foram montados em lâminas, sem serem corados, e observados em microscópio de epifluorescência. As imagens fluorescentes dos 5 cortes mais centrais da massa de células do lóbulo olfatório (MCLO) de cada indivíduo foram digitalizadas para posterior análise de imagens. O diâmetro médio dos grânulos de lipofuscina foram similares entre os dois grupos (p > 0,05), entretanto, a porcentagem da área de MCLO ocupada por grânulos foi significativamente maior (p 0,05) nos camarões adultos. A detecção de grânulos de lipofuscina em F. paulensis com 5 meses de idade indica a possibilidade de o início de deposição ocorrer anteriormente em juvenis. Os resultados sugerem que a quantidade de grânulos na MCLO de F. paulensis está relacionada à idade, contudo, futuros estudos são necessários para avaliar a relação entre a quantidade de lipofuscina e a idade de F. paulensis mantidos em cativeiro.