Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 freiriaoliveira_ah_dr_arafo.pdf: 2515742 bytes, checksum: 4422a86bb9655e970b69042b1ddd71bf (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / É de extrema importância para o funcionamento do organismo a manutenção da osmolaridade e volume dos líquidos corporais. O sistema nervoso central (SNC) tem um papel fundamental para esta manuntenção. O núcleo do trato solitário (NTS) é o sítio primário das aferências cardiovasculares e de osmorreceptores periféricos e se projeta à areas prosencefálicas envolvidas com a regulação cardiovascular e do equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico. Desta forma, o NTS pode fazer a ligação entre as aferências viscerais e o SNC e participar dos ajustes necessários a regulação da osmolaridade e da volemia. A maior porção dos neurônios do grupamento catelocaminérgicos A2 do bulbo está localizada na porção comissural no NTS (NTScom). Assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram: a) estudar os efeitos na pressão arterial, na ingestão de água e na excreção renal subsequentes a administração de NaCl 2 M, estímulo osmótico agudo, em ratos com lesão seletiva dos neurônios A2 do NTScom; b) estudar os efeitos na expressão da proteína c-FOS subsequente a administração de NaCl 2 M, em ratos com lesão seletiva dos neurônios A2 do NTScom, c) estudar alterações na expressão de RNAm no NTS após a administração de NaCl 2 M, d) estudar os efeitos na pressão arterial subsequentes a hemorragia hipotensiva, em ratos com lesão seletiva dos neurônios A2 do NTScom. Ratos Holtzman (280-320 g) ou ratos Sprague-Dawley (230-280 g) foram utilizados neste estudo. Para a lesão seletiva dos neurônios A2 do NTScom ou lesão fictícia (LF), os animais foram submetidos a uma craniotomia parcial e a superfície dorsal do bulbo foi exposta. A lesão seletiva dos neurônios noradredérgicos foi realizada por meio da injeção no... / The central nervous system has an important role controlling the mechanisms involved in the regulation of body fluid osmolality. The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is the primary site of cardiovascular and peripheral osmoreceptors afferents and projects to prosencephalic areas involved in hydroelectrolytic balance and cardiovascular regulation. The great part of the catecholaminergic neurons of the A2 group is located in the commissural part of the NTS (NTScom). Thus, the aims of this study were: a) to verify the effects in the arterial pressure, water intake and renal excretion observed after intragastric (ig) 2 M NaCl in rats with lesion of the A2 neurons of the NTScom, b) to verify the effects in the c-Fos expression after ig 2 M NaCl in rats with lesion of the A2 neurons of the NTScom, c) to study changes in gene expression on NTS after ig 2 M NaCl, d) to study the effects in arterial pressure after hypotensive hemorrhage in rats with lesion of the A2 neurons of the NTScom.Male Holtzman rats (280-320 g) or Sprague-Dawley (250-280 g) were used. For the A2 lesion of the NTScom, a partial craniotomy of the occipital bone was performed, and the dorsal surface of the brainstem was exposed. The lesion was performed by the injection of the toxine anti-dopamine-β-hydroxylase-saporin into the NTScom to destroy A2 neurons in this region. Sham lesioned rats anti-IgG-saporin was injected into the NTScom. We observed that in A2 lesioned rats, ig 2 M NaCl induced a vasopressin dependent-pressor response, for at least 60 min. The water intake induced by sodium overload was also incremented in A2 lesioned rats, however the natriuresis and dieresis after 2 M NaCl were similar in both groups. After 2 M NaCl... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 8, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Michael J. Petris. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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This study has examined the expression and distribution of the type-1, type-2 and type-3 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtypes in vascular smooth muscle in order to establish the roles of these subtypes. Immunoblotting of portal vein and aorta from neonatal (2-5 day old) and developed (6 week old) rat revealed comparatively greater expression of type-2 and type-3 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R in the neonatal rat, compared to developed, and expression of type-1 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R was decreased in neonatal rat compared to developed. In addition, there was a reorganisation of the internal calcium stores and altered intracellular InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R distribution observed between neonatal and developed rat. In permeabilised portal vein from developed rat, application of 100μM InsP<SUB>3</SUB> induced contractions of 54±7% of maximal activated contraction, whereas the permeabilised portal vein from neonatal rat, InsP<SUB>3</SUB> failed to induce contractility, indicating the type-1 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R, but not type-2 and type-3 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtypes are involved in excitation-contraction coupling. InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtype expression was also investigated in primary cultures of developed aortic cells. When seeded at subconfluent density these cells modulate to a "synthetic" phenotype believed to be similar to that found in vascular injury. InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtype expression is regulated during cell differentiation, and also in some vascular disease states. The type-2 and type-3 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtypes may be involved in proliferating vascular smooth muscle, whereas the role of the type-1 InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R subtype is in excitation-contraction coupling in developed VSM. Therefore InsP<SUB>3</SUB>R expression may be a means of regulating the phenotypic properties of the vascular smooth muscle cell <I>in vivo</I>.

Obesity is a complex disorder which has become a growing health concern. Twin studies have demonstrated a strong genetic component to the development of obesity and genome wide association studies have identified several genetic loci associated with it. However, most of these loci are still poorly understood in a functional context. Interestingly, many of the hormones and neurobiological messengers responsible for regulating feeding behaviour and metabolism are also linked to controlling aggression, but it is still not understood how they interact to maintain metabolic homeostasis. In this thesis, the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was employed to dissect the molecular mechanisms of the genetic cascades regulating aggressive behaviour and metabolic homeostasis. In paper I and II, the role of transcription factor AP-2 (TfAP-2) and Tiwaz Twz, Drosophila homologues of two human obesity-linked genes were investigated in aggression and feeding behaviour. Paper I demonstrated that TfAP-2 and Twz genetically interact in octopaminergic neurons to modulate male aggression by controlling the expression of genes necessary for octopamine (fly analogue of noradrenaline) production and secretion. Moreover, it was revealed that octopamine in turn regulates aggression through the Drosophila cholecystokinin (CCK) satiation hormone homologue Drosulfakinin (Dsk). Paper II revealed that TfAP-2 and Twz also initiate feeding through regulation of octopamine poduction and secretion. Octopamine then induces Dsk expression leading to inhibition of feeding. Paper III established that the activity of the small GTPase Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (Rac2) is required in Drosophila for the proper regulation of metabolic homeostasis, as well as overt behaviours. Rac2 mutants were starvation susceptible, had less lipids and exhibited disrupted feeding behaviour. Moreover, they displayed aberrant aggression and courtship behaviour towards conspecifics. Paper IV studied Protein kinase D (PKD), the homologue of a third obesity-linked gene PRKD1, and another kinase Stretchin-Mlck (Strn-Mlck). Reducing PKD transcript levels in the insulin producing cells led to flies with increased starvation susceptibility, decreased levels of lipids and diminished insulin signalling compared to controls. Reduced Strn-Mlck expression resulted in a starvation phenotype and slight reduction in insulin signalling and lipid content. These findings imply a function for PKD and Strn-Mlck in insulin release.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on July 18, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 192-217).