This thesis examined whether it is possible to enhance core elements of the information processing system with specific forms of environmental stimulation. The first series of experiments demonstrated that a preweaning environmental enrichment procedure that provided 60 minutes of daily multisensory stimulation accelerated the development of long-term contextual memory and enhanced inhibitory processing in young rats. That is, whilst stimulated and non-stimulated rats exhibited long-term memory of a context at 26 days of age, only stimulated rats showed this ability at 18 days of age. In addition, stimulated rats showed a faster rate of extinction of long-term contextual memory at 21 days of age, which was taken as evidence of enhanced inhibitory learning (i.e., context ??? no US) in these rats. Subsequent experiments with adult rats demonstrated that a combination of preweaning multisensory stimulation and postweaning rearing in an enriched environment improved the (1) specificity of long-term contextual memory, (2) speed of contextual information processing, and (3) availability of attentional resources. More specifically, enriched-reared rats demonstrated superior ability to discriminate between two similar contexts in comparison to standard-reared rats. In addition, enriched-reared rats showed superior memory of a context when there was limited time available to form a memory of that context. This finding was taken to indicate that rats that receive environmental enrichment are able to process contextual information more rapidly. Finally, standard-, but not enriched-, reared rats showed less conditioning to a discrete stimulus when it was presented in combination with a stronger stimulus during training compared to when it was presented by itself. The finding that enriched-reared rats did not show this overshadowing effect suggests that these rats have greater availability of attentional resources to divide between two stimuli that are competing for attention. The experiments with rats were followed by two experiments with children that investigated the effects of a computerised cognitive training procedure on information-processing speed. These experiments demonstrated that 30-minutes per weekday of training in rapid decision-making for three to five weeks improved children???s performance on two tests of processing speed (i.e., a choice reaction time and odd-man-out task). In addition, the speeded training improved children???s ability to sustain their attention and inhibit impulsive responses on a continuous performance test (Test of Variables of Attention). The cognitive training procedure had no effect on children???s performance on a measure of fluid intelligence (Raven???s Standard Progressive Matrices). The results of the experiments reported in this thesis suggest that a number of fundamental cognitive processes can be modified by environmental conditions that place increasing demands on the information-processing system. A neurobiological model, focusing on myelin, axon diameter, and the glutamatergic, glucocorticoid, noradrenergic, and cholinergic systems, was proposed in order to explain the observed effects of environmental stimulation on cognition in children and rats. The rationale for attempting to enhance fundamental cognitive processes was that improving these processes should ultimately improve general intellectual functioning. With respect to this aim, the correlational data from the present experiments with children revealed promising trends towards greater improvements on the tests of fundamental cognitive processes in those children in the training group with slower processing speed at the start of the intervention. This finding suggests that cognitive training may be even more effective at enhancing processing speed and other fundamental cognitive processes in children with intellectual impairments???who reportedly have slower processing speed than normal children. However, the extent to which training-related improvements in fundamental cognitive processes generalise to improvements in general cognitive functioning is unclear. That is, there is insufficient evidence that processing speed and other fundamental cognitive processes are causally related to intelligence. It is therefore essential that future cognitive training research is mindful of related developments within the intelligence and information processing literature.

La formation de souvenirs nécessite la mise en place de programmes génétiques dans l’hippocampe. L’activation de la transcription de gènes impliqués dans les processus de plasticité comme le bdnf s’effectue, au moins en partie, via l’acétylation des histones, mécanisme qui permet des changements de la structure de la chromatine. Nos résultats soulignent l’existence d’une régulation spécifique et différentielle de l’acétylation des histones dans l’hippocampe de rongeurs adultes en fonction du type d’information à traiter. Les acétylations des histones H2B et H4 sont spécifiques de l’apprentissage d’une tâche (MWM, CFC) alors que celle de l’histone H3 semble plus sensible au contexte environnemental. Il est par ailleurs décrit que le vieillissement ainsi que l’environnement enrichi (EE) sont des facteurs susceptibles d’induire des changements d’acétylation des histones, aboutissant respectivement à la répression et à l’activation de gènes de « mémoire ». Nos études mettent en évidence qu’un EE de 6 mois, même appliqué à des rats âgés de 18 mois qui présentent déjà des déficits mnésiques, est capable d’induire des modifications durables de la structure de la chromatine par l’intermédiaire de H3. En favorisant l’expression de gènes comme le bdnf, ces changements participent au maintien des capacités mnésiques, normalement perdues chez le Rat âgé de 24 mois. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats soulignent l’importance des mécanismes liés aux acétylations des histones dans les processus mnésiques et indiquent que ces régulations restent modulables au cours de la vie, permettant d’envisager d’éventuelles options thérapeutiques dans des conditions de vieillissement pathologique. / Hippocampal-dependent memory formation is associated with the establishment of specific genetic programs in the rat hippocampus. This transcriptional activation of genes involved in synaptic plasticity and memory processes, like bdnf, can in part be attributable to histone acetylation-related mechanisms, allowing dynamic chromatin structure changes. Our results indicate a specific and differential regulation of histone acetylation in young rodents hippocampus depending on the nature of the stimuli. In fact, H2B and H4 acetylations are specific to rats having learnt a task (MWM, CFC), whereas H3 acetylation seems to be more sensitive to the environmental context. Besides, it is known that ageing and environmental enrichment (EE) are factors able to modulate histone acetylation, leading respectively to repression and activation of memory-related genetic programs. Here, we showed that an EE of 6 months, even applied to 18 month-old rats, which already present memory deficits, is able to induce persistent chromatin structure modifications through H3. By favoring the expression of genes as bdnf, these changes could participate in the preservation of memory abilities, which are normally lost in 24 month-old rats. The precise identification of regulating elements located on the bdnf promoter brings new data about the potential factors involved in the transcriptional response following EE, e.g. CREB and NFκB. Altogether, our results confirm the role of histone acetylation in memory processes and underline that these regulations remain flexible during life, thus highlighting possible therapeutic strategies in pathological ageing conditions.

Ovinos são modelo animal para diversas pesquisas biomédicas, além de serem estudados nas pesquisas zootécnicas e veterinárias. Em algumas circunstâncias experimentais as ovelhas necessitam ser alojadas sozinhas, sem contato social com coespecíficos. Como são altamente sociais, os ovinos ficam estressados com mudanças no seu ambiente social, especialmente com a separação do rebanho. Isso desencadeia uma série de respostas endócrinas e comportamentais, comprometendo o bem-estar do animal e possivelmente os resultados da pesquisa que está sendo realizada. Uma forma de minimizar esses efeitos é prover um ambiente mais estimulante, através de enriquecimento ambiental. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a influência do enriquecimento ambiental com espelhos, para ovinos mantidos isolados em ambiente novo, após estresse agudo causado pelo transporte. Vinte e quatro ovelhas foram divididas em quatro grupos: Grupo Espelho, no qual as ovelhas foram mantidas em isolamento social num ambiente enriquecido com um painel de espelho; Grupo OvCo e OvDes, no qual as ovelhas ficaram acompanhadas, respectivamente, de uma ovelha do mesmo rebanho e de um rebanho diferente; Grupo Isolado, no qual as ovelhas foram mantidas em isolamento social e sem enriquecimento ambiental. Cada ovelha foi transportada da propriedade de origem até o local do experimento, sempre no mesmo horário, onde permaneciam até o dia seguinte. Foram realizadas seis coletas de sangue para dosagem de cortisol: basal, na chegada ao local do experimento e duas, quatro, seis e 24 horas após a chegada. O comportamento dos animais foi registrado durante as primeiras 6 horas de permanência no local do experimento, através de uma microcâmera. Nas dosagens de cortisol não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos. Houve diferença estatística no momento da chegada, logo após o transporte, em todos os grupos. Observa-se uma tendência do declínio do cortisol nas primeiras duas horas ser mais acentuado no grupo OvCo, menos acentuado no grupo Isolado e os outros dois grupos apresentando valores intermediários. A análise comportamental não evidenciou diferença estatística nos parâmetros número de balidos, número de passos, tempo de interação com o enriquecimento ambiental, tempo de permanência deitada e tempo gasto se alimentando. A latência para iniciar a alimentação foi significativa (P<0,05), sendo maior no grupo OvCo em relação ao OvDes e ao Espelho. O benefício do uso de espelhos como ferramenta de EA para a espécie ovina não ficou evidente no presente estudo para as condições que o mesmo foi executado. / Sheep are animal model for several biomedical research, in addition to being studied in agricultural and veterinary research. In some experimental conditions the sheep need to be housed alone, without social contact with conspecifics. Sheep, being highly social animals, are stressed by changes in their social environment, especially by the separation from the flock. As consequence, a series of endocrine and behavioral responses is triggered, compromising the welfare of the animal and possibly the research results. One way to minimize these effects is to provide a more stimulating environment, through environmental enrichment. This study aimed to verify the influence of environmental enrichment with mirrors for sheep kept isolated in the new environment, following acute stress caused by transportation. Twenty-four sheep were divided into four groups: Mirror Group, in which the sheep were kept in social isolation in an environment enriched with a panel mirror, OvCo and OvDes Groups, where the sheep were accompanied, respectively, by a sheep from the same flock and from a different flock, and the Isolated Group, in which the sheep were kept in social isolation, without environmental enrichment. Each sheep were transported from the farm to the location of the experiment, always at the same time, where they remained until the following day. Serum cortisol analysis were performed at six different time points: baseline, on arrival at the experiment site, and two, four, six and 24 hours after arrival. Animal behavior was recorded during the first 6 hours at the place of the experiment with a camera. Cortisol levels were not statistically different among groups. We observed an increase in cortisol levels at arrival time in all groups. There is a trend towards a faster reduction in cortisol levels in OvCo group, while the reduction seems to be slower in the Isolated sheep, and the other two groups having intermediate values. Behavioral analysis showed no statistical difference in the number of bleatings, number of steps, time of interaction with environmental enrichment, lying, and eating. The latency to start feeding was significant (P <0.05), being higher in group OvCo in relation to OvDes and the Mirror groups. The benefit of using mirrors as a tool of environmental enrichment for the sheep was not evident in this study for the conditions that it was developed.

A hipóxia-isquemia (HI) é a principal causa de mortalidade no período perinatal e, nos sobreviventes, a incidência de seqüelas neurológicas é elevada. O encéfalo imaturo, altamente susceptível ao insulto hipóxico-isquêmico, é vulnerável a estímulos ambientais tais como o enriquecimento ambiental (EA). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o desempenho comportamental no teste do campo-aberto, reconhecimento de objetos, esquiva-inibitória e no rota-rod, bem como a densidade de espinhos dendríticos no hipocampo, utilizando o método de Golgi, em ratos submetidos à HI e expostos ao EA (1h/dia, 6 dias/semana, 9 semanas). Ratos de 7 dias de idade foram submetidos ao procedimento de HI e divididos em 4 grupos experimentais: controle mantido em ambiente padrão (CTAP), controle em ambiente enriquecido (CTAE), HI em ambiente padrão (HIAP) e HI em ambiente enriquecido (HIAE). Parâmetros comportamentais e morfológicos foram avaliados após 9 semanas de estimulação ambiental. Os dados indicaram que a memória de reconhecimento de objetos foi prejudicada em ratos HI adultos e recuperada após a estimulação pelo ambiente enriquecido; no teste de esquiva-inibitória os animais apresentaramum prejuízo na memória aversiva em animais HI, independentemente do ambiente. Surpreendentemente, no teste do campo-aberto, um maior número de crossings foi identificado nos grupos HI no primeiro minuto quando comparados aos grupos controle. No teste de rota-rod não foram detectadas diferenças entre animais controle e animais HI. Resultados morfológicos demonstraram uma diminuição na densidade de espinhos dendríticos no hipocampo de animais HI, com recuperação pelo EA. A densidade de espinhos dendríticos do hemisfério esquerdo (contralateral à oclusão arterial) obteve os melhores resultados, indicando uma recuperação total do dano hipóxico-isquêmico pelo EA. Os dados dos espinhos dendríticos do hemisfério direito indicaram uma recuperação parcial pela estimulação ambiental nos animais HI. Concluindo, o enriquecimento ambiental foi efetivo na recuperação do déficit comportamental e da densidade de espinhos dendríticos nos neurônios hipocampais conseqüente à hipóxia-isquemia neonatal em ratos. / Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is the main mortality cause in perinatal period and, in survivors, the incidence of neurological disabilities is elevated. The immature brain, highly susceptible to hypoxic-ischemic insult, is responsive to environmental stimuli, as environmental enrichment (EE). The aim of this study was to investigate behavioral performance in the open field apparatus, objects recognition, inhibitory avoidance and in the Rota-rod apparatus, and dendritic spines density in the hippocampus, using the Golgi technique, in rats submitted to the HI and exposed to EE (1h/day, 6 days/week, 9 weeks). Seven-days old rats were submitted to the HI procedure and divided in 4 groups: control in standard conditions (CTSE), control in enriched environment (CTEE), HI in standard conditions (HISE) and HI in enriched environment (HIEE). Behavioral and morphological parameters were evaluated after 9 weeks of environmental stimulation. Data indicated that object-recognition memory was impaired in HI adult rats and recovered after stimulation by the EE; in the inhibitory avoidance task was demonstrated aversive memory impairment in HI animals, independent of the environment. Interestingly, in the open field task, significant more crossing responses were identified in HI groups, in the first minute, comparing to control groups. No differences between control and HI adult animals were detected in the rota-rod test. Morphological results demonstrated a decreased spines density in the hippocampus of the HI animals, with recovery by the EE. Dendritic spines density from left hemisphere (contralateral to arterial occlusion) obtained the better results, indicating a total recovery effect of the EE on HI damage. Data of dendritic spines from right hemisphere indicated a partial recovery by the environmental stimulation on HI animals. Concluding, environmental enrichment was effective in recovery behavioral impairment and dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons, consequent to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats.

Amphibians are declining worldwide in response to pressures that are too numerous, difficult and rapid to ameliorate in the wild before some taxa become extinct. Ex situ conservation, whereby animals are maintained in captivity until threats in the wild have been resolved, is the only means of saving up to five hundred amphibian species. Amongst political, financial and practical hurdles, the most fundamental problem for these programmes is lack of knowledge about how to maintain species successfully in captivity. Captive populations have failed to survive or reproduce and, furthermore, captive husbandry may produce animals unsuitable for reintroduction through intra or inter-generational changes. These problems entirely undermine initiatives and if ex situ programs are to succeed, evidence based captive husbandry is needed to support captive breeding programs. In this thesis, I quantify our ignorance of amphibian requirements in captivity. Furthermore, I present investigations into fundamental areas ofamphibian husbandry, about which we currently know very little. I investigate the relationship between amphibians and Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and examine the relationship between UVB provision and calcium provision and evaluate routes of dietary calcium supplementation. I also present data on the effects of enrichment and rearing environment on the growth, fitness, behaviour and dermal bacterial communities of captive amphibians. These results, from a range of areas of amphibian husbandry, together demonstrate the power of the captive environment to influence the phenotype and therefore the fitness of amphibians, even within single generations. Additionally, I provide some of the first data addressing key areas of amphibian husbandry that until now have been led mostly or entirely by anecdote and hearsay.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-07-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:06:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 moreira_vb_me_botfmvz.pdf: 461554 bytes, checksum: 6b9b40a6681f13e6d93e2f4cfdf3061b (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / No Brasil, os biotérios de produção precisam atender elevada demanda de animais, com padrões genéticos e sanitários definidos e, por outro lado, existe a necessidade de considerar a crescente preocupação de setores da sociedade e dos órgãos reguladores, que trazem à discussão o tema do bem-estar dos animais de laboratório, em condição de cativeiro, mesmo que não estejam submetidos à experimentação. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar três idades de acasalamento (28, 45 e 60 dias) para camundongos da linhagem BALB/c, alojados em gaiolas enriquecidas ou não e suas influencias no desempenho produtivo. O experimento teve a duração de 310 dias, do primeiro acasalamento até o desmame da última ninhada. Usou-se 60 casais de camundongos da linhagem BALB/c, de padrão sanitário controlado, criados e mantidos em ambiente padronizado. Eles foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial 3 x 2 (três idades de acasalamento e alojamento com ou sem enriquecimento ambiental). Como forma de enriquecimento da gaiola foram utilizados tubos de papelão (com aproximadamente 10 cm de comprimento e 4 cm de diâmetro), previamente embalados e autoclavados. Foram analisadas características relacionadas à fertilidade, idade ao primeiro parto, intervalo entre partos, número de nascidos e desmamados totais e médio por ninhada, mortalidade pré-desmame e peso da ninhada ao desmame. Não houve efeito da interação enriquecimento x idade de acasalamento sobre as características estudadas. Tanto o enriquecimento, quanto a idade de acasalamento, influenciaram a mortalidade pré-desmame. Nas gaiolas enriquecidas a mortalidade pré-desmame foi mais baixa (P=0,01) que nas não enriquecidas (0,80 e 1,87 respectivamente). O acasalamento aos 28 dias resultou em mortalidade mais baixa (P = 0,01) comparado ao acasalamento aos 60 dias, enquanto o acasalamento... / In Brazil, the centers for production of laboratory animals need to meet a high demand for rodents with defined genetic and health status and, on the other hand, there is the need to consider the growing concern of the society and of the regulatory agencies regarding captive laboratory animals welfare, even though they are not under research protocols in those centers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three breeding ages (28, 45 and 60 days) on mice from the BALB/c strain, housed in enriched or non-enriched cages and their influence on the productive performance. The experiment lasted 310 days, from the first mating to weaning of the last litter. Sixty mouse couples from the BALB/c strain, with controlled health status, raised and kept under standardized environment were used. They were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (three breeding ages and cage with or without enrichment). Card paper tubes, approximately 10 cm long and with a diameter of 4 cm, were previously packed and autoclaved and used as cage enrichments. Traits related to fertility, age at first parturition, parturition interval, number born and weaned (total and litter average), pre-weaning mortality rate and litter weight at weaning were analyzed along the entire reproduction period. The breeding age x cage enrichment interaction did not affect any of traits under study, but each of these effects separately affected pre-weaning mortality. In the enriched cages, pre-weaning mortality was lower (P=0.01) than in non-enriched cages (0.80 vs. 1.87 deaths, respectively). Breeding at 28 days resulted in lower mortality (P= 0.01) compared to breeding at 60 days, whereas at 45 days an intermediary value was found (0.60, 2.25 and 1.16 deaths, respectively). No other effects of the treatments were detected (P>0.05) on the traits under study... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Ovinos são modelo animal para diversas pesquisas biomédicas, além de serem estudados nas pesquisas zootécnicas e veterinárias. Em algumas circunstâncias experimentais as ovelhas necessitam ser alojadas sozinhas, sem contato social com coespecíficos. Como são altamente sociais, os ovinos ficam estressados com mudanças no seu ambiente social, especialmente com a separação do rebanho. Isso desencadeia uma série de respostas endócrinas e comportamentais, comprometendo o bem-estar do animal e possivelmente os resultados da pesquisa que está sendo realizada. Uma forma de minimizar esses efeitos é prover um ambiente mais estimulante, através de enriquecimento ambiental. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a influência do enriquecimento ambiental com espelhos, para ovinos mantidos isolados em ambiente novo, após estresse agudo causado pelo transporte. Vinte e quatro ovelhas foram divididas em quatro grupos: Grupo Espelho, no qual as ovelhas foram mantidas em isolamento social num ambiente enriquecido com um painel de espelho; Grupo OvCo e OvDes, no qual as ovelhas ficaram acompanhadas, respectivamente, de uma ovelha do mesmo rebanho e de um rebanho diferente; Grupo Isolado, no qual as ovelhas foram mantidas em isolamento social e sem enriquecimento ambiental. Cada ovelha foi transportada da propriedade de origem até o local do experimento, sempre no mesmo horário, onde permaneciam até o dia seguinte. Foram realizadas seis coletas de sangue para dosagem de cortisol: basal, na chegada ao local do experimento e duas, quatro, seis e 24 horas após a chegada. O comportamento dos animais foi registrado durante as primeiras 6 horas de permanência no local do experimento, através de uma microcâmera. Nas dosagens de cortisol não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos. Houve diferença estatística no momento da chegada, logo após o transporte, em todos os grupos. Observa-se uma tendência do declínio do cortisol nas primeiras duas horas ser mais acentuado no grupo OvCo, menos acentuado no grupo Isolado e os outros dois grupos apresentando valores intermediários. A análise comportamental não evidenciou diferença estatística nos parâmetros número de balidos, número de passos, tempo de interação com o enriquecimento ambiental, tempo de permanência deitada e tempo gasto se alimentando. A latência para iniciar a alimentação foi significativa (P<0,05), sendo maior no grupo OvCo em relação ao OvDes e ao Espelho. O benefício do uso de espelhos como ferramenta de EA para a espécie ovina não ficou evidente no presente estudo para as condições que o mesmo foi executado. / Sheep are animal model for several biomedical research, in addition to being studied in agricultural and veterinary research. In some experimental conditions the sheep need to be housed alone, without social contact with conspecifics. Sheep, being highly social animals, are stressed by changes in their social environment, especially by the separation from the flock. As consequence, a series of endocrine and behavioral responses is triggered, compromising the welfare of the animal and possibly the research results. One way to minimize these effects is to provide a more stimulating environment, through environmental enrichment. This study aimed to verify the influence of environmental enrichment with mirrors for sheep kept isolated in the new environment, following acute stress caused by transportation. Twenty-four sheep were divided into four groups: Mirror Group, in which the sheep were kept in social isolation in an environment enriched with a panel mirror, OvCo and OvDes Groups, where the sheep were accompanied, respectively, by a sheep from the same flock and from a different flock, and the Isolated Group, in which the sheep were kept in social isolation, without environmental enrichment. Each sheep were transported from the farm to the location of the experiment, always at the same time, where they remained until the following day. Serum cortisol analysis were performed at six different time points: baseline, on arrival at the experiment site, and two, four, six and 24 hours after arrival. Animal behavior was recorded during the first 6 hours at the place of the experiment with a camera. Cortisol levels were not statistically different among groups. We observed an increase in cortisol levels at arrival time in all groups. There is a trend towards a faster reduction in cortisol levels in OvCo group, while the reduction seems to be slower in the Isolated sheep, and the other two groups having intermediate values. Behavioral analysis showed no statistical difference in the number of bleatings, number of steps, time of interaction with environmental enrichment, lying, and eating. The latency to start feeding was significant (P <0.05), being higher in group OvCo in relation to OvDes and the Mirror groups. The benefit of using mirrors as a tool of environmental enrichment for the sheep was not evident in this study for the conditions that it was developed.

A hipóxia-isquemia (HI) é a principal causa de mortalidade no período perinatal e, nos sobreviventes, a incidência de seqüelas neurológicas é elevada. O encéfalo imaturo, altamente susceptível ao insulto hipóxico-isquêmico, é vulnerável a estímulos ambientais tais como o enriquecimento ambiental (EA). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o desempenho comportamental no teste do campo-aberto, reconhecimento de objetos, esquiva-inibitória e no rota-rod, bem como a densidade de espinhos dendríticos no hipocampo, utilizando o método de Golgi, em ratos submetidos à HI e expostos ao EA (1h/dia, 6 dias/semana, 9 semanas). Ratos de 7 dias de idade foram submetidos ao procedimento de HI e divididos em 4 grupos experimentais: controle mantido em ambiente padrão (CTAP), controle em ambiente enriquecido (CTAE), HI em ambiente padrão (HIAP) e HI em ambiente enriquecido (HIAE). Parâmetros comportamentais e morfológicos foram avaliados após 9 semanas de estimulação ambiental. Os dados indicaram que a memória de reconhecimento de objetos foi prejudicada em ratos HI adultos e recuperada após a estimulação pelo ambiente enriquecido; no teste de esquiva-inibitória os animais apresentaramum prejuízo na memória aversiva em animais HI, independentemente do ambiente. Surpreendentemente, no teste do campo-aberto, um maior número de crossings foi identificado nos grupos HI no primeiro minuto quando comparados aos grupos controle. No teste de rota-rod não foram detectadas diferenças entre animais controle e animais HI. Resultados morfológicos demonstraram uma diminuição na densidade de espinhos dendríticos no hipocampo de animais HI, com recuperação pelo EA. A densidade de espinhos dendríticos do hemisfério esquerdo (contralateral à oclusão arterial) obteve os melhores resultados, indicando uma recuperação total do dano hipóxico-isquêmico pelo EA. Os dados dos espinhos dendríticos do hemisfério direito indicaram uma recuperação parcial pela estimulação ambiental nos animais HI. Concluindo, o enriquecimento ambiental foi efetivo na recuperação do déficit comportamental e da densidade de espinhos dendríticos nos neurônios hipocampais conseqüente à hipóxia-isquemia neonatal em ratos. / Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is the main mortality cause in perinatal period and, in survivors, the incidence of neurological disabilities is elevated. The immature brain, highly susceptible to hypoxic-ischemic insult, is responsive to environmental stimuli, as environmental enrichment (EE). The aim of this study was to investigate behavioral performance in the open field apparatus, objects recognition, inhibitory avoidance and in the Rota-rod apparatus, and dendritic spines density in the hippocampus, using the Golgi technique, in rats submitted to the HI and exposed to EE (1h/day, 6 days/week, 9 weeks). Seven-days old rats were submitted to the HI procedure and divided in 4 groups: control in standard conditions (CTSE), control in enriched environment (CTEE), HI in standard conditions (HISE) and HI in enriched environment (HIEE). Behavioral and morphological parameters were evaluated after 9 weeks of environmental stimulation. Data indicated that object-recognition memory was impaired in HI adult rats and recovered after stimulation by the EE; in the inhibitory avoidance task was demonstrated aversive memory impairment in HI animals, independent of the environment. Interestingly, in the open field task, significant more crossing responses were identified in HI groups, in the first minute, comparing to control groups. No differences between control and HI adult animals were detected in the rota-rod test. Morphological results demonstrated a decreased spines density in the hippocampus of the HI animals, with recovery by the EE. Dendritic spines density from left hemisphere (contralateral to arterial occlusion) obtained the better results, indicating a total recovery effect of the EE on HI damage. Data of dendritic spines from right hemisphere indicated a partial recovery by the environmental stimulation on HI animals. Concluding, environmental enrichment was effective in recovery behavioral impairment and dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons, consequent to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats.

Master of Science / Department of Psychological Sciences / Mary Cain / Research has demonstrated that an enriched rearing environment improves learning in many tasks. However, growing evidence suggests that an enriched environment may not provide the same benefits during a fear conditioning paradigm. In fact, it appears that an isolated rearing environment may facilitate acquisition of fear to an aversive stimulus. The neural mechanisms responsible for this disparity in fear learning among differentially reared animals are currently unknown. The NR2B subunit of the NMDA receptor has been shown to be involved in the acquisition of fear and influenced by differential rearing, making it a prime candidate to begin investigating these underlying neural mechanisms. Therefore, this study assessed the expression of the NR2B subunit in brain regions important for the acquisition of fear (amygdala and hippocampus) among differentially reared rats. Rats were reared in an enriched, an isolated, or a standard condition for 30 days. They received four tone-footshock pairings, after which their brains were removed and expression of the NR2B subunit was quantified in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), central nucleus of the amygdala (ACe), and the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Analyses found that the isolated rats began to acquire fear to the aversive stimulus faster than the enriched and standard housed rats. However, the isolated rats showed the least amount of NR2B expression in the BLA while there were no rearing differences in expression within the ACe or the CA3. The results from this study provide further insight to the importance of the rearing environment in learning and memory, especially the learning of fear, and its central neural basis.

Submitted by HELEN COLBACHINI (hcolbachini@gmail.com) on 2018-04-18T00:26:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Helen Colbachini_Dissertação Zoologia.pdf: 2645399 bytes, checksum: 2048a35ec7b7829866e0808d2a32a21a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Aparecida Puerta null (dripuerta@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-04-18T14:22:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 colbachini_h_me_rcla.pdf: 2470317 bytes, checksum: c173d0ab9c5bac9898e58bb4a42e3e4a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-18T14:22:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 colbachini_h_me_rcla.pdf: 2470317 bytes, checksum: c173d0ab9c5bac9898e58bb4a42e3e4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O cação-lixa, Ginglymostoma cirratum, é um dos tubarões mais exibidos em Aquários no mundo, porém a taxa de insucesso reprodutivo desta espécie ainda é alta. Considerando a provável mediação olfativa para a sua reprodução e o potencial de enriquecimentos ambientais afetarem positivamente a reprodução de animais sob cuidados humanos, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar se a utilização de enriquecimento olfativo geraria efeitos na exibição de comportamentos reprodutivos de cação-lixa, bem como se esse efeito seria diferencial de acordo com o sexo. Este trabalho também propôs avaliar a proximidade física como um indicativo de comportamento proceptivo de fêmeas. O estudo foi dividido em três fases (controle – sem enriquecimento; enriquecimento a curto prazo – recém aplicado; enriquecimento a longo prazo – após incorporado na rotina de manejo) e foi realizado em duas instituições com manejos distintos. O enriquecimento utilizado foi manjericão comercial (Ocimum basilicum), inicialmente apresentado na forma de bloco de gelo e, para o estudo a longo prazo, apresentado na forma de extrato. As observações comportamentais ocorreram através da amostragem focal com registro instantâneo, totalizando 120 horas de observação por animal, divididas em dois momentos (ativo e inativo). Os resultados indicam maior atividade relacionada ao período noturno e às sessões de alimentação; maior frequência de ocorrência de comportamentos reprodutivos no período inativo, no sexo masculino e nas fases com enriquecimento ambiental; maior riqueza comportamental em machos e na fase de enriquecimento a longo prazo. A análise de proximidade mostrou-se eficiente como indicativa de comportamento sócio-sexual, assim como o comportamento “movimento corporal”. É importante atentar que os efeitos são diferenciados para os sexos, sendo essencial o acompanhamento próximo e a criação de cronogramas para evitar uma super-estimulação ou uma habituação ao enriquecimento. Apesar disso, o fato da maior frequência de comportamentos reprodutivos ter ocorrido no período inativo facilita este acompanhamento, visto que se refere ao período de funcionamento de instituições zoológico (dia). Por fim, com a definição dos comportamentos proceptivos faz-se possível determinar quais fêmeas estão receptivas e assim delinear programas reprodutivos mais eficientes. Esses resultados destacam a importância de possuir um manejo que estimule constantemente os sentidos dos elasmobrânquios, especialmente em instituições que desejem realizar programas de reprodução. / Nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, is one of the most exhibited sharks in Aquariums in the world, however, the reproductive failure rate of this species continues high. Since there probably is an olfactory mediation for its reproduction and environmental enrichments have a potential positive effect on the reproduction of captive animals, the present study aimed to evaluate whether the use of olfactory enrichment would generate effects in the exhibition of reproductive behaviors of nurse sharks, as well as if this effect would be differential according to sex. This study also proposed to evaluate physical proximity as an indicative of proceptive female behavior. The study was divided in three phases (control – without enrichment, shortterm enrichment – recently applied, long-term enrichment – after being incorporated into the management routine) and was performed in two institutions with distinct husbandry. The enrichment used was commercial basil (Ocimum basilicum), which was initially prepared as an ice block and, for the long-term phase, presented as an extract. The behavioral observations were performed through focal sampling with instantaneous recording, totaling 120 hours of observation per animal, divided into two moments (active and inactive). Results show greater activity related to nocturnal period and feeding sessions; greater frequency of occurrence of reproductive behaviors in the inactive period, with males and during the long-term enriched phase. The proximity analysis was efficient as indicative of socio-sexual behavior, as well as the “body movement” behavior. It is important to note that the enrichment effects are differentiated for the sexes and therefore, close monitoring and scheduling are essential to avoid over-stimulation or habituation to the enrichment. Nevertheless, the fact that the greater frequency of reproductive behavior occurred during the inactive period facilitates this monitoring, since it refers to the operating hours of zoological institutions (daytime). Finally, with the definition of proceptive behavior, it is possible to determine which females are receptive and thus, to delineate more efficient breeding programs. These results highlight the importance of having a management that constantly stimulates the senses of elasmobranchs, especially in institutions that aims to carry out breeding programs.