INTRODUÇÃO: A restrição do crescimento intrauterino (RCIU) é conhecida como uma condição na qual o feto não consegue desenvolver todo o seu potencial de crescimento intrínseco. Crianças com RCIU em idade escolar têm prejuízos no aprendizado, memória, atenção e cognição em geral, e maior predisposição a transtornos psicológicos como Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH), quando comparados com crianças não restritas. OBJETIVO: este estudo busca encontrar modificações neurobiológicas encefálicas, em ratos Wistar adolescentes, que possam explicar os efeitos, em parâmetros comportamentais, de neuroplasticidade e memória, da RCIU por redução da pressão de perfusão uterina (RPPU). MÉTODOS: ratas Wistar prenhes de 75 dias de idade foram submetidas à RPPU no dia gestacional 14, período que corresponde ao inicio da fase de rápido crescimento, diferenciação e maturação em ratos, por meio da colocação de um clipe na artéria aorta abdominal descendente antes da bifurcação para as artérias ilíacas e um clipe em cada artéria ovariana. O grupo Sham foi submetido à laparotomia exploratória sem a RPPU e o grupo controle não foi submetido a nenhum procedimento cirúrgico. Ratos Wistar de 30 dias, provenientes de mães submetidas à RPPU, Sham ou Controles, foram submetidos ao Teste de Campo Aberto, para avaliação da atividade locomotora e exploratória, e no 32º dia pós-natal (DPN) foram submetidos ao teste de Reconhecimento do Novo Objeto para avaliar a memória de longo prazo. Os encéfalos da prole foram coletados no 34º DPN e conservados para análise. A Técnica de imunoistoquímica foi realizada para mensurar a expressão de marcadores celulares neurais: NeuN (neurônios maduros) GFAP (astrócito) no córtex pré-frontal e estriado da prole. RESULTADOS: a RPPU causou diminuição no peso ao nascimento no grupo RCIU e Sham, porém não houve diferença no peso entre os grupos no 30º DPN. A RPPU aumentou significativamente a duração da gestação no grupo RCIU em um dia. Os animais restritos apresentaram aumento na atividade exploratória no teste de campo aberto. RCIU e Sham apresentaram déficit de memória no teste de reconhecimento do novo objeto. Associado a essas alterações comportamentais, a RCIU levou a o aumento significativo na expressão de NeuN no CPF e de GFAP no estriado no 34º DPN. CONCLUSÃO: a RPPU produz alterações na gravidez causando maior duração da ges-tação e RCIU na prole, conduzindo a modificações comportamentais e de memória, assim como a nível encefálico celular, promovendo novas perspectivas sobre as consequências do modelo em ratos de RCIU-RPPU. São necessários mais estudos para desvendar se essas modificações continuam presente na vida adulta dos ratos. / INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is known as a condition where the fetus cannot develop its intrinsic growth potential. IUGR Children in early scholar age have impaired learning abilities, memory, attention and cognitive deficit in general; also, they are in higher risk of psychological disorders as Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when compared with non-IUGR children. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to find neurobiologi-cal brain modifications, in adolescent Wistar rats, that could clarify these memory and behav-ioral impairments in a rat animal model of IUGR by Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP). METHODS: 75 days-old pregnant Wistar rats were underwent to RUPP procedure on 14th gestational day, period where the fast growing, differentiation and maturation phase begins in rats, by putting one clip at the abdominal descendent aorta before iliac bifurcation and one clip in each ovarian artery. The Sham group underwent exploratory laparotomy procedure without the RUPP and the control group was not exposed to any surgical procedure. 30 days old Wistar rats from RUPP, Sham, and Control mothers were exposed to the Open Field Test to assess the locomotor and exploratory activity and, at 32th postnatal day (PND), to the Novel Object Recognition test to assess the long-term memory. Offspring brains were collected at 34th PND and preserved for analysis. Immunohistochemistry technique was performed to measure the expression of neural cells markers: NeuN (mature neurons) and GFAP (astrocytes) in prefrontal cortex and striatum on the offspring. RESULTS: RUPP caused a decreased birth weight in IUGR and Sham group, however there was no difference between birth weight at 30th PND. RUPP significantly increased gestation in 1 day in IUGR rats. IUGR animals had greater exploratory, locomotor activity in the Open Field test. IUGR and Sham showed memory deficit in the Novel Object Recognition test. Associated to those behavioral modifications, the RUPP leaded to a significant increase in expression of NeuN and GFAP marker in prefrontal cortex and striatum at PND34. CONCLUSIONS: The RUPP dis-turbs pregnancy increasing gestation length and inducing IUGR in the offspring; which leads to behavioral and memory modifications, also, in a brain cellular level, promoting new insight about the IUGR-RUPP rat model consequences. Further analysis are needed to find whether this changes are still present in adult life.

Introduction: The surgical and endovascular results of the treatment of pial AVM provided at our Neurosurgical centre are presented. These results are supported by neuropsychological outcomes of subgroup of treated patients. Going by these results and by an overview of literary data on the efficacy and complications of each therapeutic modality, the optimal algorithm of indications is presented Cohort of patients: The main series comprises 222 patients aged 9 to 87 years treated in the years 1998 - 2013. The surgical group consists of 85 patients, 55 patients received solely endovascular treatment. Thirty-four patients were consulted and referred directly to the Radiosurgical unit. The remaining 48 were recommended to abide by the strategy of "watch and wait". A subgroup of 66 patients, who underwent treatment of AVM was neuro-psychologically tested at least two years after treatment using a battery of tests constructed specifically for this study. A control group consisted of 10 subjects without any neurological disease. Results: In the surgical group, serious complications were 3.5% at a 96.5% therapeutic efficacy. As for AVM treated with purely endovascular methods, serious procedural complications were seen in 5.5% of patients, with efficacy totalling 36.4%. One observed patient suffered...

INTRODUÇÃO: A restrição do crescimento intrauterino (RCIU) é conhecida como uma condição na qual o feto não consegue desenvolver todo o seu potencial de crescimento intrínseco. Crianças com RCIU em idade escolar têm prejuízos no aprendizado, memória, atenção e cognição em geral, e maior predisposição a transtornos psicológicos como Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH), quando comparados com crianças não restritas. OBJETIVO: este estudo busca encontrar modificações neurobiológicas encefálicas, em ratos Wistar adolescentes, que possam explicar os efeitos, em parâmetros comportamentais, de neuroplasticidade e memória, da RCIU por redução da pressão de perfusão uterina (RPPU). MÉTODOS: ratas Wistar prenhes de 75 dias de idade foram submetidas à RPPU no dia gestacional 14, período que corresponde ao inicio da fase de rápido crescimento, diferenciação e maturação em ratos, por meio da colocação de um clipe na artéria aorta abdominal descendente antes da bifurcação para as artérias ilíacas e um clipe em cada artéria ovariana. O grupo Sham foi submetido à laparotomia exploratória sem a RPPU e o grupo controle não foi submetido a nenhum procedimento cirúrgico. Ratos Wistar de 30 dias, provenientes de mães submetidas à RPPU, Sham ou Controles, foram submetidos ao Teste de Campo Aberto, para avaliação da atividade locomotora e exploratória, e no 32º dia pós-natal (DPN) foram submetidos ao teste de Reconhecimento do Novo Objeto para avaliar a memória de longo prazo. Os encéfalos da prole foram coletados no 34º DPN e conservados para análise. A Técnica de imunoistoquímica foi realizada para mensurar a expressão de marcadores celulares neurais: NeuN (neurônios maduros) GFAP (astrócito) no córtex pré-frontal e estriado da prole. RESULTADOS: a RPPU causou diminuição no peso ao nascimento no grupo RCIU e Sham, porém não houve diferença no peso entre os grupos no 30º DPN. A RPPU aumentou significativamente a duração da gestação no grupo RCIU em um dia. Os animais restritos apresentaram aumento na atividade exploratória no teste de campo aberto. RCIU e Sham apresentaram déficit de memória no teste de reconhecimento do novo objeto. Associado a essas alterações comportamentais, a RCIU levou a o aumento significativo na expressão de NeuN no CPF e de GFAP no estriado no 34º DPN. CONCLUSÃO: a RPPU produz alterações na gravidez causando maior duração da ges-tação e RCIU na prole, conduzindo a modificações comportamentais e de memória, assim como a nível encefálico celular, promovendo novas perspectivas sobre as consequências do modelo em ratos de RCIU-RPPU. São necessários mais estudos para desvendar se essas modificações continuam presente na vida adulta dos ratos. / INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is known as a condition where the fetus cannot develop its intrinsic growth potential. IUGR Children in early scholar age have impaired learning abilities, memory, attention and cognitive deficit in general; also, they are in higher risk of psychological disorders as Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when compared with non-IUGR children. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to find neurobiologi-cal brain modifications, in adolescent Wistar rats, that could clarify these memory and behav-ioral impairments in a rat animal model of IUGR by Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP). METHODS: 75 days-old pregnant Wistar rats were underwent to RUPP procedure on 14th gestational day, period where the fast growing, differentiation and maturation phase begins in rats, by putting one clip at the abdominal descendent aorta before iliac bifurcation and one clip in each ovarian artery. The Sham group underwent exploratory laparotomy procedure without the RUPP and the control group was not exposed to any surgical procedure. 30 days old Wistar rats from RUPP, Sham, and Control mothers were exposed to the Open Field Test to assess the locomotor and exploratory activity and, at 32th postnatal day (PND), to the Novel Object Recognition test to assess the long-term memory. Offspring brains were collected at 34th PND and preserved for analysis. Immunohistochemistry technique was performed to measure the expression of neural cells markers: NeuN (mature neurons) and GFAP (astrocytes) in prefrontal cortex and striatum on the offspring. RESULTS: RUPP caused a decreased birth weight in IUGR and Sham group, however there was no difference between birth weight at 30th PND. RUPP significantly increased gestation in 1 day in IUGR rats. IUGR animals had greater exploratory, locomotor activity in the Open Field test. IUGR and Sham showed memory deficit in the Novel Object Recognition test. Associated to those behavioral modifications, the RUPP leaded to a significant increase in expression of NeuN and GFAP marker in prefrontal cortex and striatum at PND34. CONCLUSIONS: The RUPP dis-turbs pregnancy increasing gestation length and inducing IUGR in the offspring; which leads to behavioral and memory modifications, also, in a brain cellular level, promoting new insight about the IUGR-RUPP rat model consequences. Further analysis are needed to find whether this changes are still present in adult life.

INTRODUÇÃO: A restrição do crescimento intrauterino (RCIU) é conhecida como uma condição na qual o feto não consegue desenvolver todo o seu potencial de crescimento intrínseco. Crianças com RCIU em idade escolar têm prejuízos no aprendizado, memória, atenção e cognição em geral, e maior predisposição a transtornos psicológicos como Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH), quando comparados com crianças não restritas. OBJETIVO: este estudo busca encontrar modificações neurobiológicas encefálicas, em ratos Wistar adolescentes, que possam explicar os efeitos, em parâmetros comportamentais, de neuroplasticidade e memória, da RCIU por redução da pressão de perfusão uterina (RPPU). MÉTODOS: ratas Wistar prenhes de 75 dias de idade foram submetidas à RPPU no dia gestacional 14, período que corresponde ao inicio da fase de rápido crescimento, diferenciação e maturação em ratos, por meio da colocação de um clipe na artéria aorta abdominal descendente antes da bifurcação para as artérias ilíacas e um clipe em cada artéria ovariana. O grupo Sham foi submetido à laparotomia exploratória sem a RPPU e o grupo controle não foi submetido a nenhum procedimento cirúrgico. Ratos Wistar de 30 dias, provenientes de mães submetidas à RPPU, Sham ou Controles, foram submetidos ao Teste de Campo Aberto, para avaliação da atividade locomotora e exploratória, e no 32º dia pós-natal (DPN) foram submetidos ao teste de Reconhecimento do Novo Objeto para avaliar a memória de longo prazo. Os encéfalos da prole foram coletados no 34º DPN e conservados para análise. A Técnica de imunoistoquímica foi realizada para mensurar a expressão de marcadores celulares neurais: NeuN (neurônios maduros) GFAP (astrócito) no córtex pré-frontal e estriado da prole. RESULTADOS: a RPPU causou diminuição no peso ao nascimento no grupo RCIU e Sham, porém não houve diferença no peso entre os grupos no 30º DPN. A RPPU aumentou significativamente a duração da gestação no grupo RCIU em um dia. Os animais restritos apresentaram aumento na atividade exploratória no teste de campo aberto. RCIU e Sham apresentaram déficit de memória no teste de reconhecimento do novo objeto. Associado a essas alterações comportamentais, a RCIU levou a o aumento significativo na expressão de NeuN no CPF e de GFAP no estriado no 34º DPN. CONCLUSÃO: a RPPU produz alterações na gravidez causando maior duração da ges-tação e RCIU na prole, conduzindo a modificações comportamentais e de memória, assim como a nível encefálico celular, promovendo novas perspectivas sobre as consequências do modelo em ratos de RCIU-RPPU. São necessários mais estudos para desvendar se essas modificações continuam presente na vida adulta dos ratos. / INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is known as a condition where the fetus cannot develop its intrinsic growth potential. IUGR Children in early scholar age have impaired learning abilities, memory, attention and cognitive deficit in general; also, they are in higher risk of psychological disorders as Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when compared with non-IUGR children. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to find neurobiologi-cal brain modifications, in adolescent Wistar rats, that could clarify these memory and behav-ioral impairments in a rat animal model of IUGR by Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP). METHODS: 75 days-old pregnant Wistar rats were underwent to RUPP procedure on 14th gestational day, period where the fast growing, differentiation and maturation phase begins in rats, by putting one clip at the abdominal descendent aorta before iliac bifurcation and one clip in each ovarian artery. The Sham group underwent exploratory laparotomy procedure without the RUPP and the control group was not exposed to any surgical procedure. 30 days old Wistar rats from RUPP, Sham, and Control mothers were exposed to the Open Field Test to assess the locomotor and exploratory activity and, at 32th postnatal day (PND), to the Novel Object Recognition test to assess the long-term memory. Offspring brains were collected at 34th PND and preserved for analysis. Immunohistochemistry technique was performed to measure the expression of neural cells markers: NeuN (mature neurons) and GFAP (astrocytes) in prefrontal cortex and striatum on the offspring. RESULTS: RUPP caused a decreased birth weight in IUGR and Sham group, however there was no difference between birth weight at 30th PND. RUPP significantly increased gestation in 1 day in IUGR rats. IUGR animals had greater exploratory, locomotor activity in the Open Field test. IUGR and Sham showed memory deficit in the Novel Object Recognition test. Associated to those behavioral modifications, the RUPP leaded to a significant increase in expression of NeuN and GFAP marker in prefrontal cortex and striatum at PND34. CONCLUSIONS: The RUPP dis-turbs pregnancy increasing gestation length and inducing IUGR in the offspring; which leads to behavioral and memory modifications, also, in a brain cellular level, promoting new insight about the IUGR-RUPP rat model consequences. Further analysis are needed to find whether this changes are still present in adult life.

La gravité du traumatisme crânien (TC) dépend de la sévérité immédiate des lésions primaires mais également de leur aggravation dans les heures et les jours qui suivent le TC, avec l’apparition de lésions secondaires. La neuro-inflammation constitue l’une des cascades physiopathologiques post-TC dont le contrôle a été décrit comme une stratégie neuroprotectrice potentielle. Elle compromet le taux de la forme soluble α du précurseur du peptide ß amyloÏde, sAPPα, un neuroprotecteur endogène issu de l’action des enzymes α-sécrétases (ADAMs). Dans ce contexte, mon travail de thèse a eu pour but d’étudier l’intérêt thérapeutique des composés pharmacologiques modulant le taux de sAPPα post-TC sur les conséquences biochimiques, histopathologiques et fonctionnelles, à court et à long terme, dans un modèle de TC par percussion mécanique chez la souris. Parmi les différents composés, la minocycline, une tetracycline de 2e génération aux effets anti-inflammatoires, et l’étazolate, une pyrazolopyridine récemment décrite comme activateur des α-sécrétases, ont été sélectionnés. Le traitement anti-inflammatoire par la minocycline permet de restaurer le taux de la sAPPα, et cet effet dans la phase précoce est accompagné d’une réduction des conséquences histopathologiques (atrophie callosale et striatale, lésion des bulbes olfactifs et ventriculomégalie) à 3 mois post-TC. Sur le plan fonctionnel, le test d’aversion olfactive a été pour la première fois mis au point sur un modèle expérimental de TC et a permis de révéler un déficit olfactif persistant dans notre modèle. De plus, un déficit cognitif persistant a été également mis en évidence par le test NORT « Novel Object Recognition Test ». Le même traitement par la minocycline a permis de corriger ces déficits olfactif et cognitif à court et à long terme (3 mois) post-TC. Les résultats obtenus sur l’étazolate (étude de fenêtre thérapeutique, étude d’effet-dose) ont montré, pour la première fois dans un modèle de lésion cérébrale, son potentiel anti-inflammatoire et anti-œdémateux, associé à la restauration du taux de la sAPPα, avec une fenêtre thérapeutique d’au moins de 2h. Le même traitement réduit les conséquences histopathologiques (activation microgliale, ventriculomégalie, lésion des bulbes olfactives) et fonctionnelles (hyperactivité locomotrice, déficit cognitif), à court à long terme (3 mois) post-TC. En conclusion, l’ensemble de ce travail a permis d’établir les bénéfices d’une stratégie pharmacologique s’opposant à la fois à la neuro-inflammation et à la chute du taux de la sAPPα dans la phase précoce de TC avec une amélioration histologique et fonctionnelle à long terme, soulignant son intérêt thérapeutique. Il est important de souligner que la minocycline est déjà entrée en essai clinique pour le traitement de TC, et que malgré le peu de données précliniques, l’étazolate (EHT-0202) est tout récemment entré en phase II pour le traitement de la maladie d’Alzheimer. / The severity of the sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) depends on the extent of primary damage as well as the implication of secondary injury cascades that are triggered within the hours and days post- insult. Neuroinflammation is an important post-TBI cascade whose inhibition has been described as a potential neuroprotective strategy. Neuroinflammation has been associated to the decrease of an endogenous neuroprotector, the soluble form α of the amyloid precursor protein (sAPPα), generated by the activity of the enzymes α-secretases or ADAMs. The aim of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic interest of pharmacological compounds that restore sAPPα levels on short- and long-term biochemical, histological and functional outcome in a mouse model of TBI by mechanical percussion. Among the potential candidates, the compounds selected were minocycline, a tetracycline that exerts anti-inflammatory activity, and etazolate, a pyrazolopyridine that activates α-secretases. The anti-inflammatory treatment with minocycline was able to restore post-TBI sAPPα levels, and this acute effect was accompanied by lasting neuroprotection, namely reduction of lesion size (corpus callosum, striatum and olfactory bulbs) and ventriculomegaly and attenuation of glial reactivity. The olfactory aversion test, developped for the first time in experimental TBI, unraveled a persistant olfactory deficit. Moreover, a durable cognitive deficit was revealed by the Novel Object Recognition Task (NORT). Treatment with minocycline was able to attenuate both the olfactory and cognitive deficits in an effective manner. Moreover, the results obtained in the pharmacological study with etazolate (therapeutic window, dose-response) demonstrated, for the very first time, the anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous efficacy of etazolate, when administered at least 2 hours post-TBI. The same treatment protocol was also able to attenuate sAPPα levels and offered persistent neuroprotection, namely reduction of lesion size (ventriculomegaly, olfactory bulb lesion) and microglial activation, and attenuation of functional deficits (hyperactivity, cognitive deficit). In conclusion, the findings of this work highlight the therapeutic efficacy of compounds that attenuate neuroinflammation and restore sAPPa levels within the acute and critical post-TBI aftermath, on histological and functional outcome. It is worth noting that minocycline is actually in a clinical trial for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and etazolate (EHT 0202), despite the poor experimental data available, has managed to enter a clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Introduction: The surgical and endovascular results of the treatment of pial AVM provided at our Neurosurgical centre are presented. These results are supported by neuropsychological outcomes of subgroup of treated patients. Going by these results and by an overview of literary data on the efficacy and complications of each therapeutic modality, the optimal algorithm of indications is presented Cohort of patients: The main series comprises 222 patients aged 9 to 87 years treated in the years 1998 - 2013. The surgical group consists of 85 patients, 55 patients received solely endovascular treatment. Thirty-four patients were consulted and referred directly to the Radiosurgical unit. The remaining 48 were recommended to abide by the strategy of "watch and wait". A subgroup of 66 patients, who underwent treatment of AVM was neuro-psychologically tested at least two years after treatment using a battery of tests constructed specifically for this study. A control group consisted of 10 subjects without any neurological disease. Results: In the surgical group, serious complications were 3.5% at a 96.5% therapeutic efficacy. As for AVM treated with purely endovascular methods, serious procedural complications were seen in 5.5% of patients, with efficacy totalling 36.4%. One observed patient suffered...

La démyélinisation et la mort oligodendrocytaire sont bien connues dans la sclérose en plaques (SEP). Au cours de ces dernières années, plusieurs études ont également décrit ce type de lésion après un traumatisme crânien (TC), participant à l’aggravation des lésions de la substance blanche, responsables des dysfonctionnements cognitifs et moteurs. Malgré de nombreux efforts, aucune thérapie efficace n’est disponible à ce jour pour traiter les lésions de la substance blanche. Dans ce contexte, une stratégie thérapeutique prometteuse serait de freiner la neuro-inflammation et la démyélinisation, en plus de promouvoir la maturation des oligodendrocytes afin de favoriser la remyélinisation des axones et de limiter ainsi leur dégénérescence. Notre choix de stratégie porte sur la stimulation des processus de réparation endogène via la protéine neuroprotectrice et neurotrophique sAPPα, forme soluble de la protéine βAPP libérée par l’action des α-sécrétases (ADAM10). Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de mes travaux de thèse était d’étudier l’intérêt thérapeutique de l’étazolate, un activateur desα-sécrétases, sur les conséquences biochimiques, histologiques et fonctionnelles, dans différents modèles de TC et de SEP in vivo chez la souris, et ex vivo sur des tranches organotypiques de cervelet. Les résultats obtenus sur le modèle de TC par percussion mécanique chez la souris ont montré pour la première fois le potentiel anti-inflammatoire de l’étazolate, associé à la restauration du taux de la sAPPα. De plus, l’étazolate s’est également opposé aux troubles fonctionnels post-TC tels que l’hyperactivité locomotrice et le déficit cognitif à court et à long terme. Par la suite, j’ai développé un nouveau modèle ex vivo de TC par percussion mécanique sur des tranches organotypiques de cervelet. Nous avons montré pour la première fois que l’étazolate était neuroprotecteur dans le tissu cérébelleux, et qu’il s’opposait à la démyélinisation post-traumatique. Par ailleurs, les effets bénéfiques de l’étazolate sur les gaines de myéline ont été reproduits dans un modèle ex vivo de démyélinisation induite par la lysolécithine, modèle ex vivo de SEP. De façon intéressante nous avons montré que l’étazolate exerçait un effet remyélinisant en stimulant la différenciation des oligodendrocytes. Cet effet a été reproduit in vitro dans des cultures primaires mixtes de cellules gliales issues de souris PLP-eGFP, où la maturation morphologique des oligodendrocytes a été favorisée en présence d’étazolate. L’ensemble des effets bénéfiques exercés par l’étazolate a été inhibé en présence d’un inhibiteur pharmacologique spécifique d’ADAM10, le GI254023X, suggérant que l’effet remyélinisant de l’étazolate dépend, au moins en partie, d’ADAM10. Par la suite, l’effet remyélinisant de l’étazolate a été étudié dans un modèle in vivo de démyélinisation chronique induite par la cuprizone. Dans ce modèle, l’étazolate a été capable de promouvoir la remyélinisation en stimulant la différenciation des oligodendrocytes, confirmant nos résultats in vitro et ex vivo. L’ensemble de mon travail permet de considérer le potentiel thérapeutique de l’étazolate, en visant l’ADAM10 comme nouvelle cible thérapeutique neuroprotectrice et remyélinisante. Cela aura pour intérêt de limiter la neuro-inflammation, la démyélinisation, ainsi que de promouvoir la différenciation des oligodendrocytes et la remyélinisation, afin de favoriser la récupération fonctionnelle suite aux lésions de la substance blanche survenant après un TC ou la SEP chez l’homme. / Demyelination and oligodendrocyte cell death are well established in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are increasingly described after traumatic brain injury (TBI), participating in the aggravation of white matter injury responsible of motor and cognitive deficits. Despite many efforts in clinical research, no efficient therapy against white matter injury progression is available nowadays. Thus, promoting remyelination and counteracting neuroinflammation and demyelination are major therapeutic strategies in order to restore white matter integrity. Here, we studied the stimulation of endogenous repair mechanisms through the neuroprotective and neurotrophic protein sAPPα, the soluble form of βAPP protein released by the α-secretases (ADAM10). In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of etazolate, an α-secretase activator on short- and long-term biochemical, histological and functional outcome in different mouse models of TBI and MS in vivo, and ex vivo on organotypic cerebellar slices. The results obtained from the TBI mouse model by mechanical percussion showed for the first time the anti-inflammatory effect of etazolate associated to a restoration of sAPPα levels. The same treatment was able to attenuate functional deficits (hyperactivity, cognitive deficit). We also developed a new ex vivo model of TBI by mechanical percussion on organotypic cerebellar slices. We confirmed the neuroprotective effect of etazolate on cerebellar tissue reducing the lesion size. Interestingly, etazolate treatment attenuated post-traumatic ex vivo demyelination. Moreover, the beneficial effect of etazolate on myelin sheaths have been well reproduced after lysolecithin-induced demyelination, an ex vivo model of MS. Interestingly, etazolate was able to enhance remyelination promoting oligodendrocyte differentiation. This effect has been reproduced in the primary mixed glial culture from PLP-eGFP mice, enhancing oligodendrocyte morphological maturation. However, etazolate failed to promote its beneficial effects in the presence of GI254023X, a specific ADAM10 (α-secretase) inhibitor, suggesting that the mechanism of action of etazolate is partly through the activation of ADAM10. Furthermore, etazolate reproduced in vivo the oligodendrocyte differentiation, accompanied by an increase of the myelinated axons, observed by electron microscopy in a mouse model of cuprizone-induced chronic demyelination. Taken together, the findings of this work provide a first evidence for the therapeutic potential of etazolate, with ADAM10 as new therapeutic target in white matter repair. The interest of this approach is to attenuate neuroinflammation and demyelination and to enhance oligodendrocyte differentiation and thus remyelination, in order to promote functional recovery following white matter lesions arising after TBI or MS.

Le immagini mentali sono un analogo della percezione? Studiando i pazienti con danni cerebrali, abbiamo visto che le menomazioni percettive sono spesso associate a limitazioni nella capacità di creare immagini (Farah 1988, 2000). Nella recente letteratura tuttavia sono riportati casi di doppia dissociazione, in cui funzioni percettive sono preservate e quelle immaginative danneggiate, o viceversa, funzioni percettive danneggiate ma intatta capacità immaginativa. Nel seguente studio l’obiettivo è indagare i rapporti tra la percezione e immaginazione in pazienti con danno cerebrale, in 5 diversi domini: forme, colori, volti, materiale ortografico e relazioni spaziali. Nel primo studio l'obiettivo era di esplorare le immagini mentali e la capacità di percezione visiva in pazienti con lesioni cerebrali attraverso una batteria di test sviluppata da Bachoud Levi, Bartolomeo, Chokron nel 2001 e adattata per il campione italiano da Antonietti, Oliveri, Incorpora et al. (2008). In un secondo studio abbiamo indagato le relazioni tra imagery e stile cognitivo visualizzatore/verbalizzatore, proponendo 2 questionari (VVQ e QSVV). Infine in un terzo studio, attraverso indagini strumentali (DTI, TAC, RMN) in un gruppo di pazienti con danno focale e deficit specifici di imagery, abbiamo individuato le correlazioni tra deficit nei diversi domini dell’imagery e della percezione con i danni corrispondenti a livello neurale. / Is imagery an analogous of perception? By studying patients with brain damage we saw that perceptual impairments are often associated to limitations in the ability to create images (Farah 1988, 2000). In recent literature we found cases of double dissociation, in which perceptual functions are preserved and those imaginative impaired or, vice versa, there are damaged perception functions but intact imaginative capacity. We aim to investigate the relationships between perception and imagery in patients with brain damage, in 5 different domains: shapes, colour, faces, orthographic material and spatial relationships. In the first study the aim was to explore mental imagery and visual perception skills in patients with brain injury through a battery of tests developed by Bachoud-Lèvi, Bartolomeo, Chokron in 2001, and readapted for the Italian sample by Antonietti, Oliveri, Incorpora et aal (2008). In a second study we investigated the relationships between imagery test performance and visualizer/verbalizer cognitive style, detected by proposing 2 questionnaires (VVQ and QSVV). Finally in a third study, through instrumental investigations (DTI, TAC, MRI) in a group of patient with focal damage and specific imagery deficit, we aimed to correlate imagery and perception deficits to corresponding impairment in neural correlates.

Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons évalué les effets inflammatoires, comportementaux et cognitifs de l’exposition périnatale des souris à trois matrices alimentaires d’anguilles, reflétant 3 niveaux de pollution (faible, moyenne et haute), tout en considérant le sexe de la progéniture ainsi que les différentes phases d’âges. Les réponses inflammatoires ont été évaluées, aussi bien au niveau cérébral, y compris dans les cellules de la microglie, qu’au niveau périphérique, à 4 stades de vie distincts, et ce dès la naissance jusqu’à l’âge moyen. Chez les souriceaux, mâles et femelles, dont leurs génitrices ont consommé de l’anguille contaminée, durant la période gestationnelle et lactationnelle, vs les témoins dont leurs mères ont consommé uniquement la diète standard, nos résultats ont montré une neuro-inflammation précoce et prononcée, ainsi qu’une production accrue des marqueurs pro-inflammatoires par les cellules de la microglie durant la période néonatale et postnatale. Cette réponse pro-inflammatoire a été chronique puisqu’elle a été à nouveau détectée même à un âge avancé (âges adulte et moyen). Nos résultats mettraient en évidence l’activation et la polarisation des cellules de la microglie depuis la naissance, chez les animaux exposés, vers le phénotype M1, susceptible d’induire les effets neurotoxiques apparus beaucoup plus tard dans les stades de la vie. En effet, un comportement dépressif-like a été observé à l’âge adulte uniquement chez les mâles. Cette altération sexe dépendante du comportement de résignation a été attribuée à l’hyperactivation de l’axe de stress, l’axe hypothalamique pituitaire surrénalien, mise en évidence par une forte production de la corticostérone chez les mâles à l’âge adulte. Chez les femelles, nous avons mis en évidence le développement d’un comportement hyperactif dès l’âge adulte, et d’un déclin cognitif à l’âge moyen. Nos résultats suggèrent que le déficit de la mémoire de rétention des femelles d’âge moyen exposées périnatalement à des anguilles moyennement et hautement contaminées serait lié à la diminution significative de l’activation à la fois d’ERK ½ et du NF-κB ainsi qu’à la réduction significative du taux d’acétylcholine, détectées au niveau de l’hippocampe de ces souris. A partir de ces données et de celles obtenues par d’autres membres de notre équipe, il apparait de plus en plus pertinent de prendre en considération le risque du couplage des effets neuro-oxydatif et neuro-inflammatoire dans la genèse de nombreux troubles cognitifs et comportementaux surtout de manière tardive et irréversible. Cela pourrait également être à l’origine d’une fragilité et d’une imprégnation précoce de différentes populations cellulaires qui conduiraient tardivement à une dégénérescence précoce des cellules en particulier au niveau neuronal et glial. En conclusion, nos résultats suggèrent une programmation périnatale sexe-dépendante des troubles, mis en évidence aussi bien sur le plan comportemental que sur le plan cognitif chez les souris dont leurs mères ont consommé de l’anguille polluée, via des mécanismes inflammatoires. Cela laisse supposer un impact endocrino-dépendant dont il faudrait confirmer la réalité et les mécanismes / Several lines of evidence indicate that early-life inflammation may predispose to mental illness in later-life. In our study, we investigated the impact of perinatal exposure to polluted eels on the brain and microglia inflammation in a lifespan approach as well as on the resignation behavior, the locomotor activity and the cognitive performances in the later life of male and female offspring mice. The effects of maternal standard diet (laboratory food) were compared to the same diet enriched with low, intermediate, or highly polluted eels. Our results showed a chronic brain inflammation in male and female offspring mice compared to controls, as assessed at the birth, up weaning, adulthood and middle-age. Activated microglia produced pro-inflammatory markers across the lifespan of male as well as female exposed offspring. The plasmatic level of myeloperoxidase was found to be significantly higher in both adult and middle-aged males and females vs. control offspring. However, high corticosterone levels were only found in adult male offspring mice perinatally exposed to polluted eels, suggesting a sex-selective dysregulation of the adult hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Sex selective differences were also found in adulthood, with regard to the offspring resignation behavior. Indeed, depressive-like symptoms were only found in adult male mice perinatally exposed to polluted eels. On the middle- age, sexe selective effects were found with regard to memory and locomotor activity. Indeed, hyperactive phenotype was only detected in females. In addition, impaired long-term memory was only detected in middle-aged females, perinatally exposed to either intermediately or highly polluted eels. This deficit was related to decreases in ERK1/2 and p65 activation, and acetylcholine levels that were only detected in female hippocampus exposed to either intermediately or highly polluted eels. In conclusion, our results indicated that early-life inflammatory insults were the plausible causative factor that programmed the behavior impairments and cognitive deficit in the later-life of offspring, and suggested that sex played an important role in the determination of nature of the appeared alterations

In preclinical research on Alzheimer's disease pharmacotherapy, attention is paid to multipotent compounds, enabling intensification of the effect by targeting multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. The aim of the thesis was to assess the effect of multipotent compounds and combination therapy in models of cognitive deficit in the rat. The mechanism of action of the tested compounds was modulation of neurotransmitter systems. The aim of the first part of the study was to compare the effect of experimental monotherapy and combination therapy with an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and a γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor positive modulator in the trimethyltin-induced model. Superiority of the combination therapy was proven by histological analysis of hippocampal neurodegeneration; however, it did not reach statistical significance in the cognitive test. The other part of the thesis focused on multipotent tacrine derivatives. We demonstrated a positive effect of 6- chlorotacrine-6-nitrobenzothiazole hybrid, as well as 6-chlorotacrine-L-tryptophan hybrid, acting as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, in the scopolamine-induced model of cognitive deficit. Besides, we demonstrated a low risk of serious side effects of other tacrine derivatives acting as NMDA receptor antagonists....