La pratique régulière d’une activité physique (AP) est un important message de santé publique tant pour ces bénéfices cardiovasculaires que cérébraux. Par ailleurs, la rééducation par le mouvement et notamment l’exercice sur tapis roulant est de plus en plus utilisée pour accélérer la récupération après un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC). Il est admis que l’AP impacte positivement le fonctionnement cérébral via l’augmentation des taux de BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) dans le cerveau et que son bénéfice cardiovasculaire est à relier à une modification du phénotype endothélial. Dans un premier temps, nous avons mis au point le dosage par Western blotting du proBDNF et du BDNF mature (BDNFm) ainsi que les techniques immunohistochimiques permettant de localiser le BDNF à l’étage cellulaire. Dans un second temps, nous avons comparé l’effet d’une AP (tapis roulant, 30min/j, 18m/min, 7 jours consécutifs) sur le métabolisme et la localisation du BDNF chez des rats sains versus soumis à une ischémie cérébrale focale. Dans un dernier temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’expression du BDNF cardiovasculaire chez des rats normo- ou hypertendus, sédentaires ou soumis au modèle d’AP précédent. Les principaux résultats montrent que 1) l’AP augmente les taux de proBDNF et de BDNFm aussi bien dans le cerveau (neurones et cellules endothéliales) que dans le système cardiovasculaire (endothélium vasculaire et cardiaque), 2) l’ischémie cérébrale n’entrave pas les effets cérébraux de l’AP sur le BDNFm, 3) l’expression endothéliale (cœur, aorte, artère coronaire) du BDNF est moindre en cas d’hypertension, 4) la synthèse et la sécrétion de BDNF par des cellules endothéliales en culture augmentent lorsque les cellules sont soumises à des contraintes de cisaillement, 5) le BDNF exerce un effet vasodilatateur sur le modèle d’aorte isolée. En conclusion, notre travail montre qu’il est possible de sélectionner, chez des rats sains, des protocoles d’AP capables d’augmenter la neuroplasticité dépendante du BDNF chez des rats ischémiés. Il identifie également le BDNF d’origine endothéliale comme un marqueur potentiel de la fonction endothéliale et un acteur jusque-là ignoré des changements neuroplastiques induits par l’AP. / The regular practice of physical activity is an important message for public health as it has both cardiovascular and brain benefits. Furthermore, rehabilitation programs involving movement especially the treadmill exercise are being used increasingly to accelerate post stroke recovery. It is recognised that the physical activity has a positive impact on brain function through increased levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in the brain and that its cardiovascular benefit is connected to a change in endothelial phenotype. As a first step, we developped the dosage by Western blotting of proBDNF and mature BDNF (mBDNF) and the immunohistochemical techniques in order to localise BDNF in the cell floor. As a second step, we compared the effect of physical activity (treadmill exercise, 30min/d, 18m/min, 7 consecutive days) on the metabolism and localisation of BDNF in healthy rats versus rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia. As a final step, we looked into the expression of cardiovascular BDNF in normotensive or hypertensive rats, sedentary or subjected to the same physical activity. The main results show that 1) physical activity increases the levels of proBDNF and mBDNF in both brain (neurons and endothelial cells) and cardiovascular system (heart and vascular endothelium), 2) cerebral ischemia does not change the cerebral effects of physical activity on mBDNF, 3) endothelial expression (heart, aorta, coronary artery) of BDNF is reduced in the presence of hypertension, 4) the synthesis and secretion of BDNF by endothelial cells in culture increase when the cells are subjected to shear stress, 5) BDNF has a vasodilatator effect on the isolated aorta model. In conclusion, our work shows that it is possible to select, in healthy rats, protocols of physical activity that are able to increase the BDNF-dependent neuroplasticity in ischemic rats. It also identifies endothelial BDNF as a potential marker of endothelial function as well as a potential contributor of physical activity-induced neuroplasticity.

L’ischémie reperfusion pulmonaire et sa traduction clinique la dysfonction primaire du greffon sont responsables d’une morbi-mortalité importante en transplantation pulmonaire aussi bien à court terme qu’à long terme. Nous avons voulu faire la démonstration de la pertinence des microparticules comme marqueur de l’ischémie reperfusion pulmonaire. Nous avons reproduit et validé la stabilité d’un modèle de perfusion ventilation ex vivo de poumon de rat aussi bien en conditions normales (pas d’ischémie pulmonaire avant reperfusion) qu’en conditions extrêmes (1 h d’ischémie chaude avant reperfusion pulmonaire). Nous avons étudié la génération de microparticules par des poumons soumis à des conditions variables d’ischémie froide et d’ischémie chaude. Les poumons soumis à de fortes conditions d’ischémie froide (20h) produisent un pic précoce de microparticules d’origine épithéliale alvéolaire, leucocytaire et endothéliale. Nous en concluons que le modèle de perfusion ventilation ex vivo de poumons de rats est un modèle pertinent pour l’étude des réactions d’ischémie reperfusion. Les microparticules apparaissent comme un marqueur précoce des lésions d’ischémie reperfusion pulmonaires dans ce modèle. / Lung ischemia reperfusion and its clinical expression as primary graft dysfunction are provider of immediate and long term morbidity and mortality for patients. We aimed at demonstrating the usefulness and relevance of microparticles as biomarkers for lung ischemia reperfusion injury. We first reproduced an ex vivo rat lung perfusion and ventilation experimental model. Stability of the model was validated for normal conditions (no ischemia before reperfusion) as well as for extreme conditions (1 hour warm ischemia before reperfusion). The generation of microparticles was studied in that model for variable conditions of cold ischemia and for warm ischemia. Lung submitted to strong ischemic injury (20hours cold ischemia) generate an early pike of microparticles originated from leukocyes, endothelial cells, and epithelial alveolar cells. We may conclude the ex vivo model of rat lung perfusion and ventilation is relevant for the study of lung ischemia reperfusion injury. Microparticles are relevant markers of rat lung ischemia reperfusion injury in our model.

The present study aimed at investigating the neuropsychological sequelae of transient ischaemic attacks. Transient ischaemic attacks are defined as those neurological disorders in which there is complete resolution of neurological symptoms within twenty·four hours. Transient ischaemic attacks may or may not reveal evidence of brain infarcts on imaging studies. In the present study, the neuropsychological sequelae of transient ischaemic attacks in the carotid circulation were investigated since, within the perspective of cognitive neuropsychology, it was assumed that localized changes in cognitive functions could be demonstrated.Since several psychological, medical and neurological factors are known to influence scores·on neuropsychological tests, regression analyses were performed to determine which factors contributed significantly to the variance of scores on neuropsychological tests in the transient ischaemic attack and control groups. Two transient ischaemic attack groups, each comprising forty left and forty right hemisphere involvement patients, were then compared with each other and with a control group of forty general medical patients. Stenosis of the carotid artery formed a significant predictor of test scores in the combined transient ischaemic attack group. When the groups were·analyzed independently, in the left transient ischaemic attack group stenosis predicted performance on the same tests reaching significance for the combined group, and for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Perseverative Score). In the right transient ischaemic attack group, stenosis significantly predicted performance on Digits Forward, Backward and Total, the PASAT (2.4 seconds) and Trails B. On the other hand, education formed a significant predictor of performance on Digits Forward, Digits Backward and Digits Total and the PASAT (all levels) in the control group. Multivariate comparisons revealed that the left and right transient ischaemic attack groups performed worse than the controls on tests of attention, concentration and conceptual flexibi1ity. The left transient ischaemic attack group performed worse than the right transient ischaemic attack group on all tests of attention and concentration, but there was a significantly better performance of the former group on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Trial 1), Block Designs and Verbal Fluency. The findings on the PASAT that left transient ischaemic attack patients performed significantly worse than the right hemisphere group ·were considered to be relatively unreported previously in the literature on transient ischaemic attacks. The findings obtained are discussed from a neurocognitive perspective of neuropsychological functioning in transient ischaemic attacks. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-06T23:44:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006 / Objetivos: estudar os aspectos morfológicos e funcionais do rim de ratos relacionados com a isquemia e reperfusão de musculatura esquelética e o uso da pentoxifilina. Métodos: Ratos Wistar EPM-I (n=60) foram submetidos à isquemia do membro posterior pelo clampeamento da artéria ilíaca comum esquerda por um período de seis horas e observados por quatro (OA) ou vinte e quatro horas (OB) após a reperfusão. Outro grupo, GS(n=6), foi submetido a anestesia e procedimentos operatórios sem a obstrução arterial. A pentoxifilina (PTX ¬4Omg.Kg-1) não foi aplicada (OAI e OB1) ou foi aplicada no início da reperfusão (0A2 e GB2) ou no início da isquemia e início da reperfusão (OA3 e OB3). A eutanásia ocorreu ao término do período de reperfusão correspondente em cada grupo de animais, quando foram coletadas amostras de sangue para análise bioquímica da creatinofosfoquinase, uréia, creatinina, sódio e potássio séricos. Na seqüência foi realizada a nefrectomia esquerda para estudo histológico das alterações morfológicas dos nefrons e túbulos renais, assim como a imuno-histoquímica para apoptose pela expressão da caspase-3. Foram aplicados os testes de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis (p≤ 0,05). Resultados: Ocorreu aumento significativo da uréia (90,5±30,96 mg.dL-1), creatinina (2,28≤0,54 mg.dL-1) e potássio (16± 3,66 mmohiL-¬1) no grupo B3 onde o mesângio também mostrou-se significativamente espessado (0,97± 0,42). Houve diminuição do número de túbulos renais comprometidos (0,70±0,14) no grupo B2. A expressão de caspase-3 foi maior nos grupos B2 (16,35±1,65 por cento) e B3 (15,57±2,54 por cento) que em GS (9,8±1,98 por cento). Conclusão: A isquemia e reperfusão de músculo esquelético de ratos produzem lesões à distância em tecido renal e a pentoxifilina tem algum efeito protetor sobre estas lesões na fase precoce de observação (até quatro horas). Na fase tardia (até vinte e quatro horas) esta proteção não se faz evidente e até exerce papel antagônico, agravando as lesões quando aplicada nos períodos de isquemia e reperfusão e dependente da dose usada. / Objectives: to study morphologic and functional aspects of the kidney of rats related with the ischemia and reperfusion of skeletal musculature and pentoxifylline. Methods: Wistar EPM-1 rats (n=60) were submitted to the ischemia of the posterior limb by clamping the left common iliac artery for a period of six hours and observed by four (GA) or twenty-four hours (GB) after the reperfusion. Another group, GS(n=6), was submitted to the anesthesia and surgical procedures without the arterial obstruction. The pentoxifylline (PTX - 40mg.Kg-1) it was not applied (GA1 and GB1) or it was applied in the beginning of the reperfusion (GA2 and GB2) or in the beginning of the ischemia and in the beginning of the reperfusion (GA3 and GB3). The euthanasia was done at the end of the period of corresponding reperfusion in each group of animals, when samples of blood were collected for biochemistry analysis of the creatinofosfoquinase, urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium. In the sequence the left nefrectomy was accomplished for histological study of the morphologic alterations of the nefrons and renal tubules, as well as the imuno-histochemistry test for apoptose by the expression of the caspase-3. They were applied the tests of Mann-Whitney and KruskalWallis (p≤ 0,05). Results: it were significant increase of the urea (90,5 ± 30,96 mg.dL-1), creatinine (2,28 ± 0,54 mg.dL-1) and potassium (16 ± 3,66 mmol.dL-1) in the group B3 where the mesangium was also shown significantly thickened (0,97 ± 0,42). There was decrease of the number of renal tubules injured (0,70 ± 0,14) in the group B2. The caspase-3 expression was larger in the groups B2 (16,35 ± 1,65%) and B3 (15,57 ± 2,54%) that in GS (9,8 ± 1,98%). Conclusions: the ischemia and reperfusion of skeletal muscle of rats produce long distance lesions in renal tissue and the pentoxifylline has some protecting effect on these lesions in the precocious phase of observation (up to four hours). In the late phase (up to twenty-four hours) this protection is not made evident and until it exercises antagonistic dosedependent effects, worsening the lesions when applied in the ischemia and reperfusion periods. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Myelinated axons are crucial for rapid information transmission within the central nervous system (CNS). Myelin injury is a common feature of white matter (WM) pathology in a number of disease states, including ischemic stroke. Myelin disruption can lead to a complete failure in saltatory action potential conduction, resulting in devastating neurological deficits. However, the fundamental mechanism of ischemic myelin injury is controversial. Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is now recognised as a crucial event in the development of ischemic WM pathology. This thesis investigates the potential mechanisms of glutamate release in central WM and examines the hypothesis that NMDA receptor over-activation mediates ischemic myelin damage. Using glutamate biosensor microelectrodes and FM-dye imaging, I show that axonal depolarisation in the adult corpus callosum evokes rapid vesicular docking in axons, capable of elevating extracellular glutamate concentration. My findings show that vesicular fusion occurs under the myelin sheath in myelinated axons, which supports the existence of a novel synapse between the axon and overlaying myelin. Simulation of ischemia triggered an early and robust rise in optic nerve extracellular glutamate levels. Unexpectedly, a significant component of ischemic glutamate release also originated from axonal vesicular fusion. Together, these findings show that the axon-myelin synapse represents a significant site of excitotoxic injury during ischemia. Resolving prior conflicting results, I show that NMDA receptor antagonists prevent myelin degradation and improve functional recovery when applied for sufficient time to penetrate the sheath. Finally, I identify a fluorescent myelin stain (QNZ-46) which is a negative allosteric modulator of NR2C/D-containing NMDA receptors. QNZ-46 selectively accumulates in myelinated WM regions of the CNS following systemic administration, and is retained following wash-out. As a result, QNZ-46 provides persistent protection during ischemia by preserving myelin structure and improving functional recovery.

Le muscle strié squelettique subit de graves lésions d’ischémie-reperfusion (IR) au cours de la progression de l’artériopathie oblitérante des membres inférieurs et lors d’interventions chirurgicales qui nécessitent l’interruption transitoire du flux sanguin dans les artères des membres. Dans ce contexte, nos objectifs étaient de mettre à profit deux modèles expérimentaux d’IR des membres inférieurs par clampage aortique et garrotage unilatéral pour : ° tester l’efficacité d’une alternative médicamenteuse au postconditionnement ischémique par l’utilisation de la cyclosporine A (CsA). En se liant à la cyclophiline D, la CsA empêche l’ouverture du pore de transition mitochondrial (mPTP) à un niveau très distal de la cascade d’évènements qui conduit à la nécrose après IR. ° déterminer de quelle façon deux comorbidités fréquemment retrouvées chez des patients souffrant d’atteinte artérielle (le diabète et l’âge) influencent l’effet de la cyclosporine. Avec les protocoles de conditionnement et aux doses que nous avons utilisées, la cyclosporine a des effets différents sur les conséquences musculaires de l’ischémie-reperfusion des membres inférieurs, dépendant de la pathologie sous-jacente des animaux étudiés. Il semble intéressant d’étudier l’effet dose-réponse de la cyclosporine A pour déterminer l’intervalle thérapeutique optimal, celui-ci pouvant être différent chez l’animal sain et pathologique. D’autre part, étant donné l’importance considérable du stress oxydant chez les animaux diabétiques et sénescents, la co-administration de cyclosporine et d’un antioxydant au moment de la reperfusion pourrait rétablir une protection. / Peripheral arterial disease and many surgical procedures (requiring vascular clamping or tourniquet application) induce severe skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injuries. As a result, using experimental hind limb ischemia-reperfusion models, our goals were: ° To test a pharmacologic substitute to ischemic postconditioning by using cyclosporine A, that acts on a very downstream step of IR injury cascade by binding to cyclophilin D and inhibiting mitochondrial transition pore opening. We wondered if cyclosporine could alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and reduce ROS production in skeletal muscles submitted to IR. ° To determine how diabetes and senescence would influence cyclosporine A protective effects. In conclusion, the protective effects of pharmacologic postconditioning with cyclosporine A seem to critically depend on the model under study. A variable and narrow dose-effect relationship is likely and makes it necessary to perform a dose finding study in every pathologic model. Considering the narrow relationships between mitochondrial protection and oxidative stress, combing cyclosporine A postconditioning with antioxidant therapy may restore a more robust protective effect but this hypothesis has to be validated.

La pénurie d'organes a amené les équipes de transplantation à élargir l'acceptation des greffons à des organes provenant de donneurs marginaux.Le recours aux greffons marginaux impose de réduire les lésions induites durant l'IR, et doit conduire à une prise en charge optimisée de façon à limiter le risque de PNF et de RRF.C'est face à cette situation, que la question de la perfusion d'organe et de l'utilisation des machines de perfusion s'est posée et a justifié la réalisation de ce travail.Un modèle d'autotransplantation chez le porc a été choisi car il permet d'évaluer les effets de l'IR sur le rein.Les reins ont subi une ischémie contrôlée. La conservation des reins a été randomisée soit en incubation statique dans IGL-1 ou Belzer MPS soit sur machine de perfusion.Nous avons utilisé comme paramètre d'étude : la survie des animaux, différents dosages biologiques, une analyse histologique et une évaluation immunologique par RTqPCR des certains gènes impliqués dans le mécanisme lésionnel d'IR.Nos résultats montrent au total :-Que la machine de perfusion RM3 diminue le risque de RRF et PNF post greffe.-La supériorité de l'IGL-1 sur le Belzer MPS ; il existe un effet propre de la solution IGL-1 pour moduler les mécanismes inflammatoires et immunologiques liés aux lésions d'IR.-Que la reprise de fonction et la PNF dépendent du liquide utilisé et qu'il existe un effet d'addition entre l'IGL-1 et la machine de perfusion. / Organ shortage has led transplant teams to re-evaluate their acceptance criteria and to increase their use of marginal donor organs (ECD and DDAC). For this reason, it is necessary to reduce the lesions due to IR. By optimizing organ conservation, the risk of PNF and RRF can be limited, and organ survival increased. The question of organ perfusion and the use of perfusion machines arose in this context, leading to the work we present here.We chose to evaluate the effects of IR on a porcine auto-graft model, that being the gold standard for the study of IR lesions.The kidneys were subject to hot ischemia for 60 minutes, and then to cold ischemia for 22 hours, during which they were randomly conserved either through static incubation in IGL-1 or Belzer MPS or on a perfusion machine.We studied the animal survival rate, various bioassays, histological analysis and immune reactions though RTqPCR of certain genes involved in IR lesion mechanisms.Our results show:-That the RM3 perfusion machine decreases the RRF and PNF post-graft risk and thus the perfusion machine conservation is better than static conservation.-IGL-1 superiority over Belzer MPS; IGL-1 solution independently modulates inflammatory and immunological mechanisms linked to IR lesions.-That function recovery and PNF depend on the liquid used where there is an additive effect between the use of IGL-1 and the use of a perfusion machine.

Introdução: A lesão de isquemia e reperfusão (I/R) intestinal pode causar danos celular e tecidual local e em órgãos a distância. Alguns fatores podem estar envolvidos nesses processos, tais como: a geração de espécies reativas de oxigênio, mediadores inflamatórios, óxido nítrico (NO) e estresse do retículo endoplasmático (RE). Devido ao envolvimento do estresse oxidativo nas lesões de I/R intestinal, algumas opções terapêuticas com antioxidantes estão sendo estudadas e testadas nas lesões de I/R intestinal. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito local e sistêmico da glutamina no intestino e fígado de animais submetidos à I/R intestinal. Métodos: Foram utilizados 20 ratos wistar machos divididos em quatro grupos: Sham operated (SO), Glutamina+Sham operated (G+SO), Isquemia e reperfusão intestinal (I/R); Glutamina+Isquemia e reperfusão intestinal (G+I/R). Os animais foram anestesiados e, após, realizada a laparotomia mediana e identificação da artéria mesentérica superior. A artéria foi clampeada por 30 e após esse tempo, os animais foram mantidos por mais 15 minutos em reperfusão intestinal. A glutamina foi administrada por via intraperitoneal, na dose de 25 mg/Kg diluída em 1 mL de solução fisiológica. O tratamento foi realizado uma vez ao dia, durante 48 horas antes da indução da isquemia. Foram realizadas análises séricas para a função de integridade hepática através das enzimas aspartato aminotransferase (AST), alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e fosfatase alcalina (FA) e danos ao DNA pelo ensaio cometa. Realizamos a análise histológica dos tecidos através da coloração de Hematoxilina-Eosina e imunohistoquímica para avaliar a quantidade de células marcadas com os anticorpos monoclonais IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α e NF-B no intestino e fígado. O homogeneizado do intestino e fígado foram utilizados para a avaliação dos níveis de lipoperoxidação (LPO) através das substâncias que reagem ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), avaliação da atividade das enzimas antioxidantes catalase (CAT), superóxido dismutase (SOD) e glutationa peroxidase (GPx), determinação dos níveis de glutationa (GSH), avaliação dos metabólitos do óxido nítrico (nitritos/nitratos) e para as análises moleculares das proteínas iNOS, NF-B, Nrf2, Keap1, SOD, NQO1, HSP70, GRP78 e ATF-6 por Western Blot. Resultados: O pré-tratamento com glutamina reduziu os níveis de LPO, óxido nítrico, danos ao DNA, bem como as enzimas de integridade hepática. Observamos que a glutamina foi eficaz na preservação da arquitetura tecidual do intestino e fígado dos animais submetidos a I/R intestinal, reduzindo parâmetros como infiltrado inflamatório, perda das vilosidades intestinais e necrose. Constatou-se que a glutamina ativou a via do Nrf2 e as enzimas antioxidantes, reduziu o dano celular, e inibiu o estresse do RE, além de reduzir os mediadores do processo inflamatório. Conclusão: Neste estudo, sugerimos que o pré-tratamento com a glutamina desempenhou um papel protetor tanto no intestino como no fígado dos animais submetidos a I/R intestinal, demonstrado pelas análises estudadas, possivelmente pela sua ação antioxidante e anti-inflamatória. / Background: Injury by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) can cause local and cellular damage to tissues and organs at distance. Some factors may be involved in those processes, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species, inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Due to the involvement of oxidative stress in intestinal I/R lesions, some therapeutic options with antioxidants are being studied and tested in order to reduce these damages. Objective: To evaluate the local and systemic effect of glutamine in the intestine and liver of animals submitted to intestinal I/R. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Sham operated (SO), Glutamine+Sham operated (G+SO), Intestinal Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R); Glutamine+intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (G+I/R). The animals were anesthetized and after we performed the median laparotomy and identification of the superior mesenteric artery. The artery was clamped for 30 minutes and after that the animals were maintained for another 15 minutes in intestinal reperfusion. Glutamine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 25 mg/kg diluted in 1 ml of saline solution. Treatment was performed once daily for 48 hours prior to induction of ischemia. Serum samples for hepatic integrity were collected, and the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (FA) were accessed. DNA damage was evaluated by the comet assay. We performed the histological analysis of the tissues through the staining of Hematoxylin-Eosin and immunohistochemistry, in order to evaluate the amount of cells labeled with the monoclonal antibodies IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-B in the intestine and liver. The intestinal and liver homogenates were used to evaluate the levels of lipoperoxidation (LPO) through thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), evaluation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), determination of glutathione levels (GSH) and nitric oxide (nitrites/nitrates), and for the molecular analyzes of the iNOS, NF-B, Nrf2, Keap1, SOD, NQO1, HSP70, GRP78 and ATF-6 proteins we performed Western blot analysis. Results: Pretreatment with glutamine reduced levels of LPO, nitric oxide, DNA damage, as well as liver integrity enzymes. We observed that glutamine was effective in preserving the intestinal and liver tissue architecture of animals submitted to intestinal I/R, reducing parameters such as inflammatory infiltrate, loss of intestinal villi and necrosis. It was found that glutamine activated the Nrf2 pathway and antioxidant enzymes, reduced cell damage, and inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress in addition to reducing mediators of the inflammatory process. Conclusion: In this study, we suggest that pretreatment with glutamine played a protective role in both intestine and liver of animals submitted to intestinal I/R, demonstrated by the present analyzes, possibly for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

A hipóxia-isquemia neonatal (HI) faz parte da etiologia de diversas patologias neurológicas e é causa de graves sequelas. Os mecanismos patofisiológicos dessa lesão começam com o insulto imediato após a HI e se estendem por dias ou semanas, pelo aumento da liberação de espécies reativas de oxigênio associada a redução da defesas anti-oxidantes e reação glial, sendo a lesão secundária parte crucial no processo que culmina no dano final. A acetilcolina (ACh) é um neurotransmissor do sistema nervoso central (SNC) que parece ter uma importante ação neuroprotetora após a HI. A acetilcolinaesterase (AChE) é responsável pela degradação da ACh, inibidores dessa enzima vêm sendo utilizados para o tratamento de danos neurológicos. Sua ação positiva sobre a HI foi demonstrada em estudos realizados em nosso laboratório, onde a administração do extrato de Huperzia quadrifariata (inibidor de AChE) reduziu os déficits cognitivos e histológicos causados por essa lesão Para avaliar os efeitos das administrações pré e pós-hipóxia de galantamina, inibidor da AChE, no modelo de HI perinatal, ratos Wistar no 7º dia de vida pós-natal (DPN7) foram submetidos à combinação da oclusão unilateral da artéria carótida direita e exposição a uma atmosfera hipóxica (8% de O2) durante 60 minutos. Foram aplicadas injeções intraperitoniais de salina para os grupos Sham e HI+Salina (HIS) e de galantamina nos grupos HI+Galantamina 5 mg/kg pré-hipóxia (HIG5-Pré), HI+Galantamina 10 mg/kg pré-hipóxia (HIG10-Pré), HI+Galantamina 5 mg/kg pós-hipóxia (HIG5-Pós) e HI+Galantamina 10 mg/kg pós-hipóxia (HIG10-Pós). Os grupos Pré receberam galantamina imediatamente antes da hipóxia e os grupos Pós nos intervalos de 1, 24, 48 e 72 horas após a cirurgia. No DPN45 foi feita a análise do volume das estruturas encefálicas que demonstrou a redução do volume do hipocampo do grupo HIS em relação ao Sham e uma prevenção desse efeito no grupo HIG10-Pré, mas não nos demais grupos. Análises bioquímicas foram feitas no hipocampo ipsilesional 24 horas após a lesão e revelaram: através da citometria de fluxo uma redução na sobrevivência de neurônios no grupo HIS em relação ao Sham que foi prevenida no grupo HIG10-Pré; através de ELISA uma hipertrofia dos astrócitos no grupo HIS que foi revertida no grupo HIG10-Pré e um aumento na atividade da enzima anti-oxidante catalase. O tratamento pré-hipóxia com galantamina foi capaz de prevenir os déficits histológicos, aumentar a sobrevivência celular, reduzir a reação astrocitária e aumentar a atividade anti-oxidante em ratos submetidos à HI. / Neonatal hypoxia ischemia (HI) has a role in etiology of several neurological pathologies and causes severe sequelae. The pathophysiological mechanisms of this lesion start immediately after HI and last for days or weeks, with the secondary injury being a crucial part the process that culminates in the final damage. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that seems to have an important neuroprotective action after HI. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) degradates ACh and inhibitors of this enzyme have been used to treat neurological damage. Its positive action on HI has been demonstrated in studies performed in our laboratory, where the administration of the alkaloid extract of Huperzia quadrifariata (An inhibitor of AChE) reduced the cognitive and histological deficits caused by this lesion. To evaluate the effects of the pre and post-hypoxia administrations of galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, in the model oh perinatal HI, Wistar rats in the post-natal day 7 (PND7) were subjected to a combination of unilateral occlusion of the right charotid artery and of exposure to a hypoxic exposure (8% O2) for 60 minutes. Intraperitoneal injections of saline in the groups Sham anf HI+Saline (HIS) and of galantamine in the groups HI+Galantamine 5 mg/kg pre-hypoxia (HIG5-Pre), HI+Galantamine 10 mg/kg pre-hypoxia (HIG10-Pre), HI+Galantamine 5 mg/kg post-hypoxia (HIG5-Post) and HI+Galantamine 10 mg/kg post-hypoxia (HIG5-Post). The Pre groups received galantamine immediately before hypoxia and the Post groups in the intervals of 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours after HI. On PND45 the analysis of the volume of brain structures showed a reduction of the volume of the ipsilesional hippocampus in the HIS group when compared to the sham and a prevention of this effect in the HIG10-Pre, but not in any other group. Biochemical analysis was performed in the ipsilesional hippocampus 24 hours after the lesion and revealed: a reduction of the number of surviving neurons in the HIS group when compared to the Sham that was prevented in the HIG10-Pre; a hypertrophy of the astrocytes in the HIS group that was prevented in the HIG10-Pre group and an increase in the activity of the anti-oxidant enzyme catalase in the HIG10-Pre group. The treatment with galantamine was able to prevent the histological deficits, increase the survival of neurons, reduce astrocytic reaction and increase the anti-oxidant activity in rats submitted to HI.

Stroke is a leading cause of neurological disability, often resulting in long-term motor impairments due to damage to the striatum and/or motor cortex. While both humans and animals show spontaneous recovery following stroke, little is known about how the injury location affects recovery and what causes recovery to plateau. This information is essential in order to improve current rehabilitation practice and develop new therapies to enhance recovery. In this thesis, we used endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, to produce focal infarcts in the forelimb motor cortex (FMC), the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) or both the FMC and DLS in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In the first experiment, the spontaneous recovery profile of animals was followed over an 8-week period using multiple behavioural tasks assessing motor function and limb preference to identify how recovery varies depending on injury location. Infarct volumes were measured to determine the association between injury and behavioural outcome. All three groups had significant functional impairments on the Montoya staircase, beam traversal, and cylinder tests following stroke, with the combined group having the largest and most persistent impairments. Importantly, spontaneous recovery was not simply dependent on lesion volume but on the lesion location and the behavioural test employed. In the second experiment, we focused on a potential cellular mechanism thought to underlie post-stroke plasticity and functional recovery. In a separate cohort of animals, we assessed how plasticity-limiting perineuronal nets (PNNs) and associated parvalbumin-positive (PV) GABAergic interneurons change following similar ET-1 strokes as in the prior experiment. A significant reduction in the density of PNNs was observed in the perilesional cortex of animals that received a cortical-only or combined stroke but not a striatal-only injury. Although there were no significant differences in the density of PV interneurons between sham and stroked groups, a significant negative correlation existed between cortical infarct volume and the density of PV interneurons in the perilesional cortex. Taken together these results demonstrate that lesion location influences motor recovery and neuroplastic changes following stroke. This supports the idea that a “one size fits all” approach for stroke rehabilitation may not be effective and treatment needs to be individualized to the patient.