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During development of the nervous system, formation of specific connections between nerve cells depends on the stability of growing axons to reach appropriate target cells and form synapses. In culture, hippocampal neurons form numerous synapses by developing axonal and dendritic extensions. To elucidate principles of neuronal signaling and network establishment, creation of neuronal networks in which connectivity and pathways can be experimentally controlled is of great interest. In the present study we used a microcontact printing technique to control and study neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons in vitro. My preliminary results show that hippocampal neurons follow the microcontact printed pattern of poly-D-lysine (PDL). In doing so, neurons retain their morphology with normal subcellular distribution of various cell adhesion and synaptic molecules. However, the distribution of various axonal or dendrite components is altered. Hence we have developed a system in which isolated axons and dendrites align with inputs from very few neurons. With this technique we intend to study axon-dendrite communications on a spatially restricted and defined substrate.

Endocannabinoids are products of phospholipid-derived arachidonic acid that regulate hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. We hypothesize that differences in the quality and quantity of maternal dietary fat will modulate the neonatal phospholipid arachidonic acid content of the brain affecting the stress response via differences in endocannabinoid concentration of stress-activated brain areas. Dams were fed a 5% (C) or 300.10 fat diet rich in either n-6 (C, HF) or n-3 (HFF) fat during the perinatal period. PND4-5 HFF milk displays a reduced n-6/n-3 ratio compared to C and HF milk. PND10 hypothalamic and hippocampal PL AA levels are reduced in HFF pups relative to C and HF offspring; and predict endocannabinoid levels in a region-specific manner. In all pups pre-treated with an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist (AM251) or an inhibitor of the endocannabinoid degradative enzyme (URB597), basal and stress-induced ACTH secretion dose-dependently increased. Moreover, HFF pups exhibited a tendency towards reduced AM251 sensitivity under stressful conditions. These data suggest that the nature of perinatal dietary fat can differentially influence neonatal brain arachidonic acid levels and their endocannabinoid derivatives; and endocannabinoid signaling may be altered between diet groups since pups exhibit differences in sensitivity to endocannabinoid receptor blockade.

Environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of schizophrenia. For example, epidemiological evidence has linked infections during pregnancy with increased incidence of schizophrenia in the adult offspring. At the same time mutation to DISC1, a protein involved in neurone migration and synaptic plasticity, is an important genetic risk for the disorder. Accordingly, the aim of this project was to determine if these environmental and genetic influences converge along a common pathogenic pathway leading to schizophrenia. Using a model of prenatal infection by bacterial endotoxin in rodents, we demonstrated a 50% reduction in DISC1 protein expression in the hippocampus and cortex of juvenile offspring. In addition, we found a significant induction of prostaglandins (final mediators of the inflammatory process) in the fetal brain while many cytokines remained unaltered. Taken together our results identify prostaglandins as potential mediators of the teratogenic effects of prenatal infection and show that prenatal infection itself can affect systems related to genetic risk factors for schizophrenia, in this case DISC1.

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No description available.

Le projet porte sur l’étude de l’effet de l’eugénol, composant principal du clou de girofle, sur la douleur neuropathique. L’objectif principal du projet était de déterminer la contribution du système nerveux central dans l’effet analgésique de l’eugénol. Lors d’une étude préliminaire, la pénétrabilité de l’eugénol a été évaluée dans le système nerveux central du rat. Des échantillons de sang, de cerveau et de moelle épinière ont été prélevés et les concentrations d’eugénol dans ces différents tissus ont été analysées à l’aide d’un spectromètre de masse. Les résultats ont montré que l’eugénol pénètre bien le système nerveux central avec une distribution plus importante dans la moelle épinière. Après l’induction de la douleur neuropathique à des rats Sprague-Dawley par le modèle de ligatures du nerf sciatique, des injections intrathécales d’eugénol furent réalisées afin d’évaluer l’effet central de l’eugénol. La plus forte dose d’eugénol a atténué l’allodynie secondaire après 15min, 2h et 4h et a aussi amélioré l’hyperalgésie thermique après 2h et 4h. Ces résultats confirment l’hypothèse que l’eugénol atténue les deux aspects de la douleur neuropathique que sont l’allodynie et l’hyperalgésie. Les injections au niveau lombaire permettent de penser que l’eugénol, un agoniste/antagoniste des récepteurs vanilloïdes pourrait diminuer la douleur neuropathique en agissant notamment au niveau des récepteurs vanilloïdes situés dans la corne dorsale de la moelle épinière. / The project is based on the study of the effects of eugenol, the main component of clove oil, on neuropathic pain. The main objective was to determine the central effect of eugenol. In a preliminary study we evaluated the penetrability of eugenol in the central nervous system of rats. Blood, brain and spinal cord samples were collected and concentrations were determined by mass spectrometry. Brain-toplasma and spinal cord-to-plasma ratios suggest that eugenol penetrates the central nervous system of rats relatively well, with a preferential distribution in the spinal cord. Following the induction of neuropathic pain in male Sprague-Dawley rats using the sciatic nerve ligation model, intrathecal injections of eugenol were done to evaluate the central effect of eugenol. Treatment with the high dose of eugenol significantly decreased secondary mechanical allodynia measured by the Von Frey test after 15min, 2h and 4h and improved thermal hyperalgesia measured by the Hargreaves device after 2h and 4h. Results support the hypothesis that eugenol may alleviate neuropathic pain, both allodynia and hyperalgesia. Eugenol, a vanilloid agonist/antagonist may therefore reduce neuropathic pain by acting on vanilloid receptors at the level of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

A lesão de isquemia e reperfusão (IR) é um evento que pode elevar o risco de morte após o transplante pulmonar, por ativar o sistema imune inato a induzir a inflamação. Em situação de isquemia, a oferta de oxigênio se encontra abaixo das necessidades metabólicas, resultando na depleção das reservas celulares de ATP e no aumento da produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) e nitrogênio (ERNs). Adicionalmente, a IR desencadeia um processo inflamatório intenso, caracterizado principalmente pela presença de neutrófilos e macrófagos ativados, os quais liberam inúmeros mediadores inflamatórios, perpetuando a inflamação. Nossa hipótese inicial era que a suplementação com creatina (Cr) poderia atenuar a lesão de IR pelo aumento dos níveis de fosfocreatina (PCr) nas células, o que facilitaria a formação de adenosina trifosfato (ATP), promovendo a manutenção dos níveis de Ca2+ intracelular, desestimulando assim a formação de EROs e, consequentemente, diminuindo o processo inflamatório. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o papel da suplementação com creatina na atenuação da lesão de IR em ratos submetidos ao transplante pulmonar, segundo aspectos inflamatórios, estruturais e funcionais do tecido pulmonar. Foram utilizados 64 ratos machos da raça Sprague Dawley distribuídos em quatro grupos: A90, controle/água + 90 minutos de isquemia; Cr90, creatina + 90 minutos de isquemia; A180, controle/água + 180 minutos de isquemia; Cr180, creatina + 180 minutos de isquemia. Os animais doadores receberam creatina (0,5g/kg/dia) diariamente durante cinco dias antes do transplante pulmonar. Os animais do grupo controle receberam apenas o veículo. Após a extração, os pulmões permaneceram em isquemia fria por 90 ou 180 minutos sendo, a seguir, implantados e reperfundidos por 120 minutos. Ao final da reperfusão, foram coletados os dados de mecânica respiratória, além de amostras de ar exalado, sangue arterial e periférico, lavado broncoalveolar e tecido pulmonar. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: resistência das vias aéreas, resistência e elastância do tecido pulmonar, óxido nítrico exalado, pressão parcial de oxigênio e de dióxido de carbono, creatinina sérica, células inflamatórias, índice de edema, PCNA, Caspase-3, TLR 4 e 7, IL1-beta, IL6, TNF-alfa, IL10 e CINC1. Os animais tratados com creatina apresentaram melhora da mecânica pulmonar, dos níveis de creatinina sérica, da gasometria arterial, além da diminuição da fração exalada de óxido nítrico e da inflamação verificada no sangue periférico, no lavado broncoalveolar e no parênquima pulmonar. Estes animais também apresentaram diminuição da proliferação e da apoptose de células inflamatórias, de TLR4, dos níveis de IL6 e CINC1, além de aumento de IL10. Concluímos que o prétratamento com creatina tem efeito protetor na lesão de IR após transplante pulmonar unilateral em ratos / Ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is an event that can increase the risk of death after lung transplantation (LTx) by activating the innate immune system to induce inflammation. In ischemia events, oxygen supply is below metabolic requirements, resulting in depletion of ATP cellular reserves and increased production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). In addition, IRI triggers an intense inflammatory process characterized mainly by the presence of activated neutrophils and macrophages, which release innumerable inflammatory mediators, perpetuating the inflammation. Our initial hypothesis was that creatine supplementation (Cr) could attenuate IRI by increasing phosphocreatine (PCr) levels in cells, which would facilitate the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), promoting the maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ levels, thus discouraging the formation of ROS and, consequently, decreasing the inflammatory process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Cr supplementation in the attenuation of IRI in rats underwent to LTx in according to inflammatory, structural and functional aspects of the lung tissue. Sixty Sprague Dawley male rats were distributed into four groups: A90, control / water + 90 minutes of ischemia; Cr90, creatine + 90 minutes of ischemia; A180, control / water + 180 minutes of ischemia; Cr180, creatine + 180 minutes of ischemia. Donor animals received creatine (0.5g/kg/day) daily for five days prior to LTx. Animals in the control group received only the vehicle. The donor`s lung remained in cold ischemia for 90 or 180 minutes and then, were implanted and reperfused during 120 minutes. After reperfusion, respiratory mechanics data were performed and collected samples of exhaled air, arterial and peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pulmonary tissue. The parameters evaluated were: airway resistance, resistance and elastance of the pulmonary tissue, exhaled nitric oxide, partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, serum creatinine, inflammatory cells, edema index, PCNA, Caspase-3, TLR 4 and 7, IL1-beta, IL6, TNF-alpha, IL10, and CINC1. The animals treated with Cr showed an improvement in pulmonary mechanics, serum creatinine levels, and arterial blood gases. In addition, there was a decrease in the exhaled fraction of nitric oxide and in the inflammation in the peripheral blood, BALF, and pulmonary parenchyma in creatine-treated animals. These rats also had a decrease in the proliferation and apoptosis of inflammatory cells, TLR4, IL6, and CINC1. Moreover, there was an increase in the IL10 levels after Cr treatment. We conclude that pre-treatment with Cr has a protective effect on IRI after LTx in rats

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome sistêmica, cuja uma das possíveis evoluções se caracteriza pela perda de massa magra e intolerância aos esforços, quadro conhecido como caquexia cardíaca (CC). Estudos realizados usando homens e ratos demonstram que na associação da IC com hipogonadismo há um pior quadro clínico e desenvolvimento de CC, levando a um mal prognóstico e aumento da mortalidade. Para o sexo feminino, tanto no período pré ou pós-menopausa, não é conhecida a associação de possível deficiência de hormônios sexuais, tampouco seu impacto no prognóstico, mortalidade e desenvolvimento de CC em pacientes com IC. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre o possível desenvolvimento de CC em ratas. 2) Avaliar o efeito da IC sobre a produção de hormônios sexuais: Testosterona total, estradiol, FSH. MÉTODOS: Ratas da linhagem Sprague Dawley, com 60 dias de vida, foram divididas de acordo com os procedimentos cirúrgicos: Ratas intactas (INT) ou com ooforectomia (OVX), ratas com cirurgia fictícia (SHAM) do infarto do miocárdio (IM) ou cirurgia IM. A combinação destes procedimentos originou quatro grupos experimentais: INT+SHAM, INT+IM, OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM. Trinta dias após a OVX, amostras de sangue foram coletadas, para a dosagem hormonal e os animais foram submetidos à cirurgia de indução ao IM ou SHAM. Após oitos semanas, as ratas passaram pela avaliação ecocardiográfica. A partir desta, estabeleceu-se um corte de Fração de Ejeção (FE) <= 50% para definir o desenvolvimento de disfunção cardíaca a partir da realização do IM, constituindo dessa forma, os grupos INT+IM e OVX+IM. Com quatro semanas adicionais (totalizando 12 semanas após a indução do IM), houve a consolidação do quadro crônico de IC; então as ratas foram submetidas à avaliação hemodinâmica, da capacidade funcional e a nova coleta de sangue para dosagem hormonal. Após a eutanásia, os tecidos foram coletados para as análises morfológicas e histológicas. RESULTADOS: As ratas dos grupos OVX (OVX+SHAM e OVX+IM) não apresentaram ciclos ovarianos, demonstraram hipertrofia dos úteros e aumento do peso corporal final quando comparadas aos grupos INT (INT+SHAM e INT+IM), além de alterações na morfologia das glândulas adrenais - caracterizando o quadro de privação de hormônios ovarianos. As ratas dos grupos IM (INT+IM e OVX+IM) não tiveram alterações hemodinâmicas, contudo demonstraram reduzida capacidade funcional e piora nas variáveis ecocardiográficas (FE, FS, DSVE, TCIV) quando comparadas aos grupos SHAM (INT+SHAM e OVX+SHAM); as avaliações histológicas apontam valores de área infartada entorno de 40% e hipertrofia de septo nos grupos IM. Os animais não caracterizaram quadro de CC - caracterizada por diminuição do peso corporal, diminuição da densidade capilar na musculatura e atrofia das fibras musculares (m. sóleo) - após12 semanas de disfunção cardíaca / Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a systemic disease, which one of the possible progress is characterized by lean mass loss and intolerance to efforts, this framework is known as cardiac cachexia (CC). Studies in men and rats have shown that when HF is associated with hypogonadism it has a worse clinical condition and CC evolution, leading to a poor prognosis and increased mortality. For females, both in the pre menopause period than in the post menopause it is not known how the association of sex hormones deficiency with HF can impact the prognosis and mortality of female patients, as well as the development of CC. The objectives of this study were: 1) Evaluate the effect of HF on the possible CC development in female rats. 2) Evaluate the effect of HF on the production of sex hormones: Total testosterone, estradiol, FSH. METHODS: Female rats (Sprague Dawley strain, 60 days old) were divided according to the surgical procedures: intact rats (INT) or ovariectomy (OVX) rats with sham surgery (SHAM) of myocardial infarction (MI) or MI surgery. The combination of these procedures led to four groups: INT + SHAM, INT + MI, OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI. 30 days after OVX, blood samples were collected for hormone dosage and the animals have been underwent to surgery to the MI induction or SHAM. After eight weeks, the rats have gone through echocardiographic evaluation. From this procedure, it was established a cutting Ejection Fraction (EF) <= 50% to define the development of cardiac dysfunction from the realization of MI, constituting INT + IM and IM + OVX groups. With four additional weeks (totaling 12 weeks after MI induction), there was the consolidation of HF\'s chronic condition; female rats were subjected to evaluation of functional and hemodynamic capacity and a new blood collection for hormonal dosage. After euthanasia, tissues were collected for morphological and histological analyzes. RESULTS: The rats of the OVX groups (OVX + SHAM and OVX + MI) showed no ovarian cycles, demonstrated uterus\' hypertrophy and an increase in final body weight when compared to INT groups (INT + SHAM and INT + MI), changes in morphology of the adrenal glands - evidencing the situation of ovarian hormones deprivation. The rats of the MI group (INT + MI and OVX + MI) had no hemodynamic changes, but showed reduced functional capacity and deterioration of echocardiographic variables (EF, FS, LVSD, IVCT) when compared to SHAM groups (INT + SHAM and OVX + SHAM ); the histological evaluations indicate infarcted area values around 40% and septal hypertrophy at MI groups. The animals did not characterize CC - characterized by decreased body weight, decreased capillary density in the muscle and muscle fiber atrophy (m. soleus) - even after 12 weeks of cardiac dysfunction