Stroke is a common and multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental risk factors. It is a highly heterogeneous entity consisting of two main types, ischemic (80%) and hemorrhagic (20%) stroke. The most common form of hemorrhagic stroke is intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Ischemic stroke mainly results from thrombotic or embolic events, while ICH is caused by the rupture of an artery in the brain. The mean age of first-ever stroke is 75 years (73 vs. 78 years, for men and women, respectively) and the age-specific stroke incidence is higher for men as compared to women, suggesting that hormonal factors confer protection. A large body of experimental and observational studies shows that estrogens exert beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system. However, large, recent, clinical randomized trials have failed to demonstrate a lower risk of stroke with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in elderly postmenopausal women. It is possible that HRT may only protect a subgroup of women. Here, genetic predisposition might be involved. Stroke incidence is 50% higher in northern compared to southern Sweden, suggesting a genetic predisposition in this population. This relatively homogeneous population displays founder effects, making it well suited for genetic studies. Since 1985, the MONICA and VIP projects have conducted large-scale cardiovascular health surveys in this population. Information about conventional stroke risk determinants and also DNA have been collected, and two prospective, nested case-referent cohorts (113 cases and 226 controls; 275 cases and 549 controls) have been sampled. To investigate whether genes of the estrogen signaling system may be important in stroke development, we performed genetic association studies, including specific functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, ESR1), and its target genes osteoprotegerin (OPG, TNFRS11B) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, IL6). We found a significant association between the common c.454-397T/T genotype in ESR1 and ICH, remaining after adjustments for conventional stroke risk factors. The c.454-397T/T genotype also associated with increased systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The combination of c.454- 397T/T and either hypertension, increased SBP, or increased DBP boosted this association substantially and significant synergistic effects on ICH risk between this genotype and increased blood pressure were demonstrated. In a second study, we found a similar association between the common OPG-1181C/C genotype and ICH. Cognitive impairments, including spatial memory and learning deficiencies, are common after stroke. Estrogens improve cognitive functions, including memory and learning processes, in postmenopausal women and ovariectomized rodents. Post-ischemic housing of rats in an enriched environment (EE) improves recovery of spatial memory and learning impairments. Both estrogen and EE induce neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. We hypothesized that 17β- estradiol combined with EE would accelerate recovery after experimental focal brain ischemia in ovariectomized rats and that such improvements could be related to expression of nerve growth factor-induced gene A (NGFI-A) in the hippocampus. Five to six weeks after middle cerebral artery occlusion, 17β-estradiol–treated rats housed in an EE showed significant improvements in cognitive function (i.e., shorter latency and path in the Morris water maze task) and significantly higher NGFI-A mRNA expression in bilateral cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and ipsilateral dentate gyrus (DG) compared to placebo-treated animals in EE. In conclusion, we present evidence for the association between polymorphic variants in the ESR1 and TNFRS11B genes and ICH and show that 17β-estradiol in combination with EE accelerates cognitive functions in a rat stroke model, putatively through upregulation of NGFI-A in hippocampal subregions. These findings may contribute to an increased understanding of the underlying genetic etiology of ICH and may be informative for the primary prevention of this disease. They also provide hope for 17β-estradiol combined with early environmental enrichment as a novel therapeutic option following ischemic stroke.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoseRS.pdf: 1457742 bytes, checksum: 2f02b1d902f74f6756aecf4c07ded437 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / In the present work, we investigated behavioral changes associated with the increase in Zif268 protein expression within telencephalic areas of the tropical lizard Tropidurus hispidus that correspond to the mammalian hippocampus (HC). We used 13 male individuals of this species, collected at the Federal Agrotechnical School of Rio Grande do Norte, under SISBIO license number 19561-1. Four animals had their brains removed and were submitted to a Western blot with antibodies for the Zif268 protein. The remaining animals were separated in two different groups: a control group (n=4) and an exploration group (n=5). Animals from the exploration group were exposed to an enriched environment with many sensory cues novel to them. Control group animals stayed in the environment they were already habituated to. After 90 min from the onset of exposure to the new environment, animals from both groups were submitted to intracardiac perfusion with fixative, and the brains were removed, cryoprotected and frozen. After that, brains were sectioned at 20 μm and the sections were subjected to immunohistochemistry for the Zif268 protein. We verified that the Zif268 protein is likely conserved in the brain of T. hispidus, which showed antigenicity for the antibody anti-Zif268 made in mammals. In animals from the exploration group, we detected an increase of the Zif268 protein in the Septum, Striatum, Dorsoventricular Area and in cortical areas corresponding to the HC. This increase was proportional to the amount of environmental exploration, with maximum positive correlation in the hippocampal subareas Medial Cortex (R = 0.94 and p = 0.004) and Dorsomedial Cortex (R = 0.92 and p = 0.006). The data corroborate the notion that the reptilian hippocampus, as well as the mammalian HC, plays an important role in spatial exploration. / Neste trabalho, foram investigadas altera??es comportamentais associadas ao aumento da express?o da prote?na Zif268 em ?reas telencef?licas do lagarto tropical Tropidurus hispidus correspondentes ao Hipocampo (HC) de mam?feros. Foram utilizados 13 animais machos do lagarto T. hispidus, coletados no campus da Escola Agrot?cnica Federal do RN, sob a licen?a do SISBIO (n.19561-1). Quatro animais tiveram seus c?rebros removidos a fresco e submetidos a Western blot com anticorpo para a prote?na Zif268. Os animais restantes foram separados em dois grupos distintos, grupo controle (n=4) e grupo explora??o (n=5). Animais do grupo explora??o foram expostos a um Ambiente Enriquecido (AE) com diversas pistas espaciais desconhecidas pelos animais. Os animais do grupo controle permaneceram no ambiente ao qual j? estavam previamente habituados. Transcorridos 90min do in?cio da exposi??o ao ambiente, animais de ambos os grupos, foram submetidos a perfus?o intracard?aca com fixador, e os c?rebros foram removidos crioprotegidos e congelados. Posteriormente os c?rebros foram seccionados a 20μm e submetidos ? imunohistoqu?mica para Zif268. Verificamos a conserva??o da prote?na Zif268 no c?rebro do T. hispidus, com antigenicidade para o anticorpo anti-Zif268 produzido em mam?feros. Nos lagartos do grupo explora??o detectou-se aumento da express?o da prote?na Zif268 no Septo, Estriado, ?rea Dorsoventricular e ?reas corticais que correspondem ao HC (C?rtices Medial CM, Dorsal CD, Dorsomedial CDM). Esse aumento ? proporcional ? explora??o do ambiente novo, com m?xima correla??o nas sub?reas hipocampais do grupo explora??o, C?rtex Medial (R = 0,94 e p = 0,004) e Dorsomedial (R = 0,92 e p = 0,006). Os dados corroboram a no??o de que o hipocampo reptiliano, assim como o HC de mam?feros, desempenham um papel importante na explora??o de novos ambientes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:37:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ClarissaLCC_DISSERT.pdf: 1971406 bytes, checksum: 8e8a69b6fc521e4494ca707dfa5a90fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-11 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / A doen?a de Parkinson (DP) ? uma doen?a cr?nica e progressiva que acomete principalmente os neur?nios dopamin?rgicos da subst?ncia negra parte compacta (SNpc) e ? caracterizada pela presen?a de sintomas motores , altera??es cognitivas e depress?o. Estudos com modelos animais da DP permitem ampliar o conhecimento dos mecanismos neuropatol?gicos e bioqu?micos e auxiliar no desenvolvimento de novas abordagens terap?uticas. A estimula??o ambiental ? uma estrat?gia neuroprotetora em diferentes modelos animais de dano neurodegenerativo, inclusive na DP. Os estudos realizados at? o momento priorizam as repercuss?es da estimula??o ambiental sobre os aspectos motores e em modelos farmacol?gicos agudos desta patologia. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as repercuss?es da exposi??o ao ambiente enriquecido nos aspectos motores, cognitivos e neuronais (n?veis de tirosina hidroxilase (TH) e fator neurotr?fico derivado do enc?falo (BDNF)) no modelo progressivo da DP pela administra??o repetida de reserpina (RES) em camundongos. Foram utilizados 76 camundongos machos tratados repetidamente com ve?culo ou 0,1 mg/kg de RES (s.c), divididos em duas condi??es de alojamento: padr?o e ambiente enriquecido. Nos animais mantidos na condi??o padr?o, o tratamento com RES foi capaz de provocar altera??es motoras (teste de catalepsia, atividade motora no campo aberto e movimentos orais) e altera??es cognitivas nos teste de reconhecimento do objeto novo (RON) e na tarefa da esquiva discriminativa no labirinto. Quando iniciada antecedendo o tratamento (mas n?o quando iniciada concomitantemente), a estimula??o ambiental retardou o aparecimento dos d?ficits motores avaliados pela catalepsia e facilitou a recupera??o destes d?ficits ap?s o final do tratamento. Al?m disso, a estimula??o ambiental preveniu o aparecimento do d?ficit cognitivo no teste de RON. Na avalia??o histoqu?mica, o tratamento com RES reduziu o n?mero de c?lulas positivas para TH na SNpc e em VTA dos animais eutanasiados ao final das inje??es. Contudo, 30 dias ap?s o final do tratamento esse d?ficit foi revertido. Apesar da ANOVA ter apontado efeito do ambiente neste par?metro, essa diferen?a n?o foi detectada pelo teste post hoc. O tratamento com RES reduziu os n?veis de BDNF no estriado e na regi?o CA3 do hipocampo e a exposi??o ao ambiente enriquecido impediu esse efeito no estriado. Desta forma, o protocolo de estimula??o ambiental utilizado no presente estudo, quando iniciado previamente ao tratamento, foi eficiente em retardar o aparecimento dos d?ficits motores e acelerar a recupera??o destes, al?m de prevenir o d?ficit de mem?ria de curto prazo e evitar a redu??o dos n?veis de BDNF. Esses resultados corroboram estudos pr?vios sugerindo que altera??es pl?sticas cerebrais induzidas pelo enriquecimento ambiental promovem efeitos ben?ficos sobre a progress?o de doen?as neurodegenerativas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome with unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, having the reduction of the physical/ functional performance as a major comorbidity. Pharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia presents limited effectiveness, making it important to use non-pharmacological therapies, such as physical activity, cognitive behavioral therapy and distracting techniques. The qualification of the environment and the AF has been associated with the treatment of conditions that increase the peripheral and central nociceptive activity. This study proposes the investigation of environmental enrichment (EE), a technique based on physical, sensory and cognitive stimulation, and physical activity (PA) as strategies for fibromyalgia prevention. To this end, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into five intervention groups: 1) EE, 2) PA, 3) EE + PA and 4) control, where they were maintained for 4 weeks. After this time, was diffuse chronic muscle pain induced by two injections of acidic saline in the left gastrocnemius muscle. We evaluated the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (von Frey electronic), temperature threshold (Hot Plate), neuromuscular activity (Rod Route), ambulation (number of quadrants) through the Open Field in six stages: basal after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks and 24 hours after induction of diffuse chronic pain model. The animals kept with environmental enrichment and physical activity (EE + PF) showed a significant increase in mechanical and thermal thresholds after the third (P<0.001) and second (P<0002) weeks, respectively, when compared to the other groups. This increase remained at the post-induction assessment, while the other groups showed a significant decrease (P<0.01), suggesting the development of hyperalgesia. In the engine testing, EA + FA group showed a significant increase in neuromuscular activity from the first week compared to the other groups (P<0.01), keeping the increase even after induction, while in the other groups there was a significant decrease in performance (P<0.01), whereas in other groups, there was a significant reduction in weight gain (P<0.01). In the Open Field, a significant increase in the total ambulation in AE + AF group from the 1st week (P<0.01) compared to the other groups. These results suggest an association between environmental enrichment and physical activity as a preventive strategy for chronic musculoskeletal pain and optimization of motor control in a model of diffuse chronic muscle pain. / A fibromialgia é uma síndrome complexa, com etiologia indefinida, caracterizada pela presença de dor musculoesquelética crônica generalizada, tendo, como uma das principais comorbidades, a redução do desempenho físico/funcional. O tratamento farmacológico da fibromialgia apresenta efetividade limitada, tornando importante a utilização de terapias não farmacológicas, destacando-se a atividade física (AF), terapia cognitivo-comportamental e técnicas distratoras. A qualificação do ambiente e a AF tem sido associadas ao tratamento de doenças que aumentam a atividade nociceptiva periférica e central. Assim, o presente estudo propõe a investigação do enriquecimento ambiental (EA), técnica baseada em estimulação física, sensorial e cognitiva, e indução à atividade física (AF) voluntária como recursos para prevenção da fibromialgia em um modelo experimental. Para isso, 24 ratos Wistar machos foram divididos em quatro grupos: (1) EA, (2) AF, (3) EA + AF e (4) controle, mantidos nesses protocolos por 4 semanas. Após este período, foi induzida dor muscular crônica difusa através de dupla injeção de salina ácida no músculo gastrocnêmio esquerdo. Foram avaliados o limiar mecânico de retirada da pata (von Frey eletrônico), limiar térmico (Hot Plate), atividade neuromuscular (Rota Rod), ambulação (nº de quadrantes) através do Campo Aberto, em seis momentos: basal, após a 1ª, 2ª, 3ª e 4ª semanas e 24 horas após indução do modelo de dor crônica difusa. Os animais mantidos com enriquecimento ambiental e atividade física (EA+AF) apresentaram aumento significativo do limiar mecânico e da latência térmica a partir da terceira (P<0,001) e segunda (P<0,002) semanas, respectivamente, quando comparado aos outros grupos. Esse aumento se manteve no momento pós-indução, enquanto nos outros grupos houve uma redução significativa (P<0,02), sugerindo o desenvolvimento de hiperalgesia. Já no teste motor, o grupo AE+AF apresentou aumento significativo na atividade neuromuscular a partir da primeira semana quando comparado aos outros grupos (P<0,01), mantendo esse aumento mesmo após a indução, enquanto nos outros grupos houve uma redução significativa (P<0,02). No Campo Aberto, houve aumento significativo na ambulação total no grupo AE+AF a partir da 1ª semana (P<0,01) em comparação aos demais grupos. Esses resultados sugerem a associação entre o enriquecimento ambiental e a atividade física como uma estratégia preventiva da dor musculoesquelética crônica e otimização do controle motor em um modelo de dor crônica muscular difusa.

L'étude de l'impact des facteurs environnementaux sur les effets à long-terme des psychostimulants a montré que des facteurs négatifs, comme le stress, augmentent le risque de développer une addiction, alors que des facteurs positifs, comme l'exposition à des conditions stimulantes, le réduisent. Une partie de cette thèse a consisté à rechercher les mécanismes neurobiologiques et cellulaires qui sous-tendent cette influence environnementale. Ainsi, l'exposition d'animaux à un environnement enrichi (EE), qui procure des conditions stimulantes, diminue leur niveau d'anxiété, un effet qui serait en partie lié à la régulation de gènes appartenant au système cannabinoïde endogène (SCE) dans des régions impliquées dans la réactivité au stress (article 1). Par ailleurs, nos travaux ont mis en évidence des limites de l'exposition à l'EE : quand celle-ci est interrompue, ses effets bénéfiques sont perdus et la vulnérabilité à la cocaïne est même augmentée. Ceci s'expliquerait par l'apparition d'un état émotionnel négatif, associé à une activation du facteur CREB dans l'amygdale étendue, une région carrefour entre la récompense et le stress (article 2). Nous nous sommes aussi intéressés à la toxicité de la méthamphétamine et à sa modulation par le SCE, pour lequel des propriétés neuroprotectives avaient déjà été suggérées. Ainsi, une stimulation pharmacologique du SCE permet de prévenir la neurotoxicité dopaminergique induite par la méthamphétamine (article 3). Nos résultats soulignent la complexité d'utilisation des manipulations environnementales et mettent en lumière les capacités protectives du SCE contre la dépendance et la neurotoxicité engendrées par les psychostimulants. / Studies of the impact of environmental factors on the long-term effects of psychostimulants have shown that negative factors, such as stress, increase the risk of developing drug addiction, while positive factors, such as exposure to stimulating conditions, reduce it. The first aim of this thesis work was to look for the neurobiological and cellular mechanisms that underlie this environmental influence. We found that exposure of animals to stimulating enriched environments (EE) reduces anxiety levels, an effect that may be partly related to the regulation of genes belonging to the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in regions involved in stress reactivity (Article 1). In addition, our work has highlighted some limitations of the exposure to EE since discontinuation of enrichment results not only in the loss of its beneficial effects but also in increased vulnerability to cocaine. This effect is associated with emotional distress associated and changes in the activity of the transcription factor CREB in the extended amygdala, an interface region between reward and stress processes (Article 2). We also investigated whether ECS, for which neuroprotective properties have already been suggested, could reduce the brain toxicity induced by methamphetamine. We found that pharmacological stimulation of ECS provides protection against the methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity (Article 3). Our results highlight the complex consequences of environmental conditions on brain and behavior and highlight the protective role of ECS against both addiction and neurotoxicity induced by psychostimulants.

La dépression est une pathologie multifactorielle induisant des troubles psychiques et physiques. De nouvelles thérapies visant à enrichir l’environnement des patients par des activités physiques, sociales et cognitives aident à la rémission en complément des traitements pharmacologiques. Cependant les bases moléculaires sous-jacentes aux bénéfices observés dans ces thérapies sont méconnues. C’est dans ce contexte que nous avons étudié les effets de ces thérapies via la mise en place d’un modèle murin d’environnement enrichi (EE). L’objectif de ma thèse a été d’évaluer les effets antidépresseurs de l’EE sur un modèle murin de dépression et d’identifier une nouvelle cible thérapeutique. J’ai montré que l’administration chronique de corticostérone induit un état dépressif et une neuroinflammation qui peuvent être réversés par l’EE. De plus, mes travaux ont mis en évidence, l'adiponectine (ApN), comme étant un acteur clef des effets de l'EE. J’ai montré que l’EE via l’ApN était capable de limiter la neuroinflammation. Par ailleurs, la caractérisation de souris n’exprimant pas l’ApN a montré que ces souris étaient insensibles en partie aux effets de l’EE. Par la suite, je me suis intéressée à la voie de signalisation de l’ApN impliquée dans ses effets anti-inflammatoires, j’ai montré que l’ApN inhibe l’activation de la microglie en se liant à son récepteur AdipoR1. Enfin, j’ai testé l’effet de l’AdipoRon, un agoniste des récepteurs de l’adiponectine, sur des souris traitées par la corticostérone. J’ai montré que l’AdipoRon réduisait l’état « dépressif » de ces souris. Mon travaille suggère que les effets antidépresseurs de l’AdipoRon sont dus à sa pléiotropie car il agit simultanément sur différents systèmes altérés dans la dépression dont la neurogenèse hippocampique, la neurotransmission sérotoninergique et la neuroinflammation. Pour conclure ce travail met en avant les effets bénéfiques de l’EE sur la dépression et la neuroinflammation. De plus, ils identifient l’ApN et sa voie de signalisation comme de nouvelles cibles prometteuses dans le traitement de la dépression. / Major depression is a complex disorder characterized by behavioral and cognitive impairments triggered by various factors including genetic predispositions, stress and environment. The pathophysiology of depression is poorly understood. Numerous evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is associated with depression. Alternative therapeutic strategies are needed and "positive" life experiences could be an efficient way to help the remission of the disorder. To study the potential antidepressant effects of such “positive” living conditions, we used the enriched environment (EE) paradigm on mice. The aim of our work was to fully characterize the antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects of EE in a well-characterized murine model of depression-like behavior induced by long-term administration of corticosterone. We showed that EE efficiently reverses the anxiety/depression‐like state of mice and reduces neuroinflammation. Moreover, we identified the adipokine Adiponectin as a key player in the beneficial effects of EE. We reported that increased levels of Adiponectin in the brain led to microglia phenotype and activation state regulation, thus reducing global brain inflammation in mice. Indeed, the anti-inflammatory and antidepressants effects of EE are abolished in Adiponectin deficient mice. We demonstrated that anti-inflammatory actions of Adiponectin on microglia is mediated through the Adiponectin Receptor 1. Those results highlight the key role of the adiponergic system in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we tested the effect of AdipoRon, a potent Adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 agonist on corticosterone-treated mice. AdipoRon successfully reversed the corticosterone-induced depression-like state in mice. AdipoRon exerted its pleiotropic actions on various systems including hippocampal neurogenesis, serotonergic neurotransmission and neuroinflammation, which can explain its antidepressant properties. Together, our findings bring insight into the beneficial effects of "positive" life experiences in depression and neuroinflammation, highlight the pivotal role of Adiponectin pathway and emphasizes that AdipoRon or other Adiponectin receptor agonist may constitute a promising novel antidepressant.

Neurorehabilitation is a multidisciplinary rehabilitation process used in patients with neurological diseases. These patients have not only movement disorders but also cognitive and neurobehavioral problems as well as aphasias. Their rehabilitation is a long term process and the results are often unsatisfactory. Neuroplasticity - physiological basis for neurorehabilitation induces functional restitution or recovery after secondary brain damage. Various neuroprotective substances (e.g. erythropoietin - EPO) are tested to empower mechanisms of plasticity after brain injury. Preclinical studies testing efficacy of those substances in animal brain damage models are essential to prepare clinical trials. The aim of the study was to reveal the influence of EPO combined with rehabilitation on functional outcomes after global cerebral hypoxia. FIM (Functional independence measure) test was used for functional evaluation and Meilli test for visual memory of the patients who attended special program for rehabilitation in clinical part. Patients who came earlier had better prognosis than patients who came later. In experimental part three-months old male Wistar albino rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 60 minutes in an experimental chamber, simulating an altitude of 8000 m. Half of the animals received...

Neurorehabilitation is a multidisciplinary rehabilitation process used in patients with neurological diseases. These patients have not only movement disorders but also cognitive and neurobehavioral problems as well as aphasias. Their rehabilitation is a long term process and the results are often unsatisfactory. Neuroplasticity - physiological basis for neurorehabilitation induces functional restitution or recovery after secondary brain damage. Various neuroprotective substances (e.g. erythropoietin - EPO) are tested to empower mechanisms of plasticity after brain injury. Preclinical studies testing efficacy of those substances in animal brain damage models are essential to prepare clinical trials. The aim of the study was to reveal the influence of EPO combined with rehabilitation on functional outcomes after global cerebral hypoxia. FIM (Functional independence measure) test was used for functional evaluation and Meilli test for visual memory of the patients who attended special program for rehabilitation in clinical part. Patients who came earlier had better prognosis than patients who came later. In experimental part three-months old male Wistar albino rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 60 minutes in an experimental chamber, simulating an altitude of 8000 m. Half of the animals received...

No description available.

Está estabelecido na literatura de neurociência que ocorrem transformações no encéfalo de animais, devido à neuroplasticidade; estas podem ser potencializadas de acordo com os ambientes nos quais o indivíduo interage, assim como o tipo de interação estabelecida por este. Na literatura, a aplicação do conceito de ambiente enriquecido para a prática experimental mostra resultados favoráveis e significativos na aprendizagem e desenvolvimento de animais. Neste estudo, buscou-se ampliar o conceito de ambiente enriquecido para o ambiente educacional de um centro de ciência. Investigar a interação de alunos do 5º ano da rede pública de ensino, em ambiente educacional de oficinas de construção de brinquedos oferecidas, no Centro de ciência Sabina: Escola Parque do Conhecimento (Santo André, SP), e possíveis aproximações com o conceito de ambiente educacional enriquecido, proposto neste estudo, constitui o objeto deste trabalho. Nesta investigação buscou-se destacar os componentes ambientais que influem no desempenho e na interação dos alunos durante as oficinas. A investigação, de natureza qualitativa, foi inspirada na metodologia de Estudo de Caso do tipo Etnográfico Aplicado à Educação, que indica a imersão do pesquisador no campo investigado para apreensão de relações e significados dos sujeitos, apenas realizada após longa permanência do pesquisador em campo. Foram utilizados como instrumentos entrevistas, gravação em áudio e em vídeo e adotado o diário de campo para registro das observações. Os dados mostraram incorporação de elementos conceituais de fenômenos observados durante a execução das oficinas, assim como busca ativa de explicação para compreensão desses fenômenos físicos identificados durante a interação dos alunos com os brinquedos. Por meio deste estudo, identificou-se a necessidade de considerar os ambientes educacionais em perspectiva integral, em seus componentes físico-estruturais e humanos. Em ambiente educacional, as aquisições por parte dos alunos não se restringem ao ensino e aprendizagem de conteúdos, mas também se realizam na mudança de atitudes e crenças, compreensão de fenômenos e aspectos do cotidiano, entendimento estético, identidade etc. Foi observado que alunos rotulados no ambiente escolar como aluno com distúrbios; com dificuldades de aprendizagem e ou comprometimento, no ambiente das oficinas de construção de brinquedos apresentaram desempenho e envolvimento tão bom ou melhor quanto os dos alunos considerados normais. O estudo destacou o papel do mediador e do professor como essencial na atividade, como parte dos elementos enriquecedores do ambiente de aprendizagem, em que sua expectativa em relação ao desempenho dos alunos, sua concepção de ensino e de aprendizagem e orientações oferecidas aos alunos influem significativamente no ambiente, condução da atividade e desempenho dos alunos. Desta forma, observamos que o ambiente de construção de brinquedos possui elementos que propiciam a aprendizagem, a interação e desenvolvimento dos alunos / It is well established in the literature of Neuroscience that transformations occur in the brain of animals due to neuroplasticity, these can be potentiated according to the environments in which the individual interacts, as well as the type and quality of interaction established by the individual. In the literature, the application of the concept of enriched environment for the experimental practice shows favorable and significant results in learning and development of animals. In this study, we sought to extend the concept of an enriched environment for the educational environment of a science center. To investigate the interaction of students in the 5th year of public school in the educational environment of workshops to build toys that are offered at the Centro de Ciência Sabina: Escola Parque do Conhecimento (Santo André, SP), and possible approaches to the concept of enriched educational environment, proposed in this study are the objective of this research. In this study we sought to investigate the environmental components that influence the performance and interaction of students during the workshops. The research, qualitative in nature, was inspired by the methodology of case study Ethnographic Applied to Education type which indicates the immersion of the researcher in the investigated field for seizure of relationships and meanings of the subjects performed only after long enough residence of the researcher in the field. Interviews, audio and video recording were used as instruments along with the field diary to record observations. The data showed incorporation of elements of the conceptual phenomena worked during the workshops, as well as an active search for an explanation for understanding these identified physical phenomena during the students\' interaction with the proposed toys. Through this study, we identified the need to consider the educational environments in a comprehensive perspective on their physical-structural and human components. In the educational environment, acquisitions of knowledge by students are not restricted to teaching and learning contents, but also take place by changing attitudes and beliefs, understanding of the phenomena and aspects of everyday life, aesthetic understanding, identity, etc. It was also observed that students labeled at school as a student with learning problems, in the environment of the workshops to build toys showed involvement and performance as good or better as the students originally considered normal. The study highlighted the role of the mediators and the teacher as essential in the activity as part of the elements enriching the learning environment, in which their expectations regarding the performance of the students, their conception of teaching and learning and guidance offered to pupils significantly affect the environment, conducting the activity and performance of students. Thus, we observed that the environment of building toys might have physical and human elements to promote learning and students interaction and so it might be considered as enriched environment