Das dopaminerge und das serotonerge Transmissionssystem sind zwei wichtige Transmissionssysteme, die in eine Vielzahl von Krankheiten des ZNS involviert sind. Es ist gut bekannt, daß eine enge Interaktion zwischen beiden Systemen stattfindet. Krankheiten des ZNS, die sich auf umschriebene Veränderungen zurückführen lassen, haben durch die Interaktionen von Transmissionssystemem weitreichende Folgen auf verschiedene Bereiche des Gehirns. Neuere Therapien machen sich diese Interaktionen zunutze, um in das Krankheitsgeschehen einzugreifen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Reaktion des dopaminergen Systems auf eine genetische Veränderung im serotonergen System untersucht. Die untersuchten transgenen Tiere besaßen ein Gensequenz, die für eine Antisense-m-RNA gegen die m-RNA der TPH kodierte. Die TPH katalysiert den geschwindigkeitsbestimmenden Schritt der Serotoninbiosynthese. Zur Charakterisierung des dopaminergen Systems wurden die Freisetzung und die hochaffine Wiederaufnahme durch den DAT als Parameter ausgewählt. Die Freisetzung aus Synaptosomenpräparationen war bei den transgenen Tieren signifikant gegenüber den nicht-transgenen Tieren erniedrigt. Bei der hochaffinen Wiederaufnahme ließen sich keine Unterschiede zwischen transgenen und nicht-transgenen Tieren feststellen. Die beobachtete Erniedrigung der Freisetzung bestätigt die Erkenntnisse einer Vielzahl von Studien, die einen stimulatorischen Einfluss von Serotonin auf das dopaminerge System beschreiben. / The dopaminergic and the serotonergic transmission systems are two important systems that are involved in a great number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. It has long been known that a close interaction exists between them. Due to the interactions of transmission systems diseases of the CNS located on a identifiable spot have far-reaching consequences on other systems. Newer therapies take advantage of these interactions in order to interfere with the pathologic process. This study was performed to investigate how the dopaminergic system reacts to a alteration in the serotonergic system. The observed transgenic animals carried the gene for an antisense-construct against the m-RNA of tryptophahydroxylase (TPH). TPH catalyzes the rate limiting step in serotonin biosynthesis. In order to characterize the dopaminergic system 2 parameters were chosen: dopamine release and dopamine high affinity reuptake. The following results were obtained: Release of dopamine from synaptosomal preparations was decreased significantly in comparison to non-transgenic control animals. No difference concerning high affinity dopamine reuptake measured by continuous potential amperometry was noted. The findings concerning release of dopamine are in line with studies describing a facilitatory effect of serotonin on the dopaminergic system.

No description available.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-04-20T13:30:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Daiany Priscilla Bueno da Silva - 2015.pdf: 1122736 bytes, checksum: fc98524b1ad5d0e3a0cb2e1cc87bc933 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-04-20T13:32:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Daiany Priscilla Bueno da Silva - 2015.pdf: 1122736 bytes, checksum: fc98524b1ad5d0e3a0cb2e1cc87bc933 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-20T13:32:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Daiany Priscilla Bueno da Silva - 2015.pdf: 1122736 bytes, checksum: fc98524b1ad5d0e3a0cb2e1cc87bc933 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-25 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The piperazines derivatives are an important class of chemical compounds with a broad spectrum of biological activities such as anti-infectious activity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-nociceptive, anti-hypertensive, anxiolytic and vasorelaxant and are attractive candidates for development of new analgesics and anti-inflammatories drugs. The aim of this study was evaluate the effects of piperazine compound LQFM-008 (4-[(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl]1-piperazine carboxylic acid ethyl ester) in acute tests of nociception and inflammation and characterize that the mechanisms are involved in the antinociceptive effect. For this study were used male mice weighing between 25 and 35g. In the formalin test, the treatments with LQFM-008 at doses of 48 and 96 μmol/kg (p.o.) reduced the licking time at both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of this test. The anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed, since LQFM-008 at doses of 48 and 96 μmol/kg (p.o.) reduced the formation of paw edema induced by carrageenan at all hours of the test and LQFM-008 in pleurisy test at dose of 96 μmol/kg (p.o.) also reduced leukocyte migration and protein exudation. In the tail-flick and the hot plate tests, the treatment with LQFM-008 at doses of 48 and 96 μmol/kg (p.o.) increased the latency to thermal stimulus, suggesting the involvement of central mechanisms in the antinociceptive effect LQFM-008. The pre-treatment of animals with naloxone (7.5 μmol/kg s.c.) reversed the antinociceptive effect of LQFM-008 only in the first phase of the formalin test, however, the pre-treatment with NAN-190 (1.3 μmol/kg i.p.) and PCPA (500 μmol/kg i.p.) reversed the antinociceptive effect of LQFM-008 in both phases of the test. Thus, the piperazine derivative LQFM-008 exhibit antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in acute test and the antinociceptive effect is resulting from a central action with involvement of opioid receptors and the serotonin pathway. / Os derivados piperazínicos constituem uma importante classe de compostos químicos com largo espectro de atividades biológicas, tais como atividade anti-infecciosa, anti-cancerígena, antinociceptiva, anti-hipertensiva, vasorrelaxante e ansiolítica, tornando-se candidatos atrativos para desenvolvimento de novos fármacos analgésicos e anti-inflamatórios. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do composto piperazínico LQFM-008 (4-((1-fenil-1H-pirazol-4-il) metil) piperazina-1-carboxilato) em testes agudos de nocicepção e inflamação, buscando caracterizar quais os mecanismos de ação estariam envolvidos no efeito antinociceptivo. Para este estudo foram utilizados camundongos machos, pesando entre 25 e 35g. No teste da formalina os tratamentos com LQFM-008 nas doses de 48 e 96 μmol/kg (v.o.) reduziram o tempo de reatividade à dor tanto na fase neurogênica quanto na fase inflamatória do teste. A atividade anti-inflamatória foi confirmada, uma vez que LQFM-008 nas doses de 48 e 96 μmol/kg (v.o.) reduziu a formação do edema de pata induzido por carragenina em todas as horas deste teste e no teste de pleurisia LQFM-008 na dose de 96 μmol/kg também reduziu a migração de leucócitos e a exsudação proteica. Nos testes de flexão de cauda e da placa quente, o tratamento com LQFM-008 48 e 96 μmol/kg (v.o.) aumentou a latência ao estímulo térmico, sugerindo o envolvimento de mecanismos centrais no efeito antinociceptivo de LQFM-008. O pré-tratamento dos animais com naloxona (7,5 μmol/kg s.c.) reverteu o efeito antinociceptivo de LQFM-008 apenas na primeira fase do teste da formalina, no entanto, os pré-tratamentos com NAN-190 (1,3 μmol/kg i.p.) e PCPA (500 μmol/kg i.p.) reverteram o efeito antinociceptivo de LQFM-008 em ambas as fases do teste. Assim o derivado piperazínico LQFM-008 apresenta atividade antinoceptiva e anti-inflamatória em testes agudos, sendo efeito antinociceptivo decorrente de uma ação central com envolvimento dos receptores opióides e da via serotoninérgica.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-14T19:34:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Veronica Cristina Lopes Menezes.pdf: 1388664 bytes, checksum: eb95b2be98ffd5f3a96140f14377f8f2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-14T19:34:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Veronica Cristina Lopes Menezes.pdf: 1388664 bytes, checksum: eb95b2be98ffd5f3a96140f14377f8f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-30 / CAPES / The distribution of estrogen receptors in brain structures that are envolved in the hidroelectrolyte balance such as the lamina terminalis (LT), subfornical organ (SFO) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) demonstrated that estradiol can modulate important responses in body fluids. In the literature experimental data support that estrogen can increase the triptofan-hydroxilase type 2 , the main enzyme for the serotonin synthesis. The primary question here is whether or not differences in the baseline or stimulated intake are a function of different levels of circulating gonadal hormones in female ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar intact rats (~230 g) were previously aclimated in metabolic cages during 5 days and ad libitum access to water and hypertonic saline (1.8%) bottles and food. Room temperature was maintained at 22?2 ?C with 12:12 h light-dark cycle (lights off at 19:00). Rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injections of a mixture of ketamine (75 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg) and then bilaterally ovariohysterectomized. There were four experimental groups: OVX (replaced with corn oil), 2,5 ?g/kg (E2 2,5), 10,0 ?g/kg (E2 10,0) and 40,0 ?g/kg (E2 40,0), daily during seven days, s.c. After 24 h of the surgery the hormonal replacement initiated (estradiol cypionate, EC, Pfizer, Animal Health). We did three experimental protocols: baseline evaluations, sodium depletion and fluid replacement. The estrogen replacement exibitted a dose dependent effect in the following parameters under basal conditions: daily body weight, daily urinary volume and daily food intake. After sodium depletion there were no difference in the urinary volume after 2 and 24 hours of the experiment. But after fluid reposition we observed a dose dependent effect in the ingestive behaviour of water and hypertonic saline intake in sodium depleted and control animals. Our data support that estradiol can alter the natriorexigenic and dipsogenic responses especially after sodium depletion depending of the estrogenic status. / A distribui??o de receptores estrog?nicos em estruturas centrais envolvidas na regula??o da homeostase hidroeletrol?tica como o ?rg?o vasculoso da l?mina terminal, n?cleo subfornicial, n?cleo dorsal da rafe indica que o estradiol pode atuar nessas estruturas em resposta a altera??es nos fluidos corporais. Nosso objetivo foi verificar se a reposi??o hormonal pode influenciar de maneira concentra??o-dependente o status hidroeletrol?tico e neuroend?crino de ratas castradas com reposi??o hormonal em diferentes doses de forma comparativa. Ratas Wistar (~230 g) foram previamente adaptadas, por 5 dias, em gaiolas metab?licas, com acesso ad libitum aos bebedouros volum?tricos de ?gua e salina hipert?nica e ao alimento, sendo mantidas sob ciclo claro-escuro de 12 horas em sala com temperatura controlada em 22??2 ?C. Ao final da adapta??o, as ratas previamente anestesiadas com cetamina (75 mg/kg) e xilazina (5 mg/kg) foram submetidas ? cirurgia de ovariectomia bilateral. Os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos: OVX, reposi??o com ?leo de milho), repostos com ?leo de milho cipionato de estradiol (E2) 2,5 ?g/kg (E2 2,5), 10,0 ?g/kg (E2 10,0) e 40 ?g/kg (E2 40,0). O tratamento de reposi??o foi feito pela via subcut?nea, diariamente durante 7 dias tendo sido iniciado no dia seguinte ? cirurgia. Foram realizados tr?s protocolos experimentais: avalia??o sob condi??es basais, deple??o de ?ons s?dio e reapresenta??o de fluidos. Neste estudo o estradiol apresentou efeito dose dependente nos seguintes par?metros sob condi??es basais: peso corporal di?rio, volume urin?rio di?rio, ingest?o de alimento di?rio. Ap?s deple??o de s?dio n?o houve diferen?a em rela??o ao volume urin?rio de 2 e de 24 horas ap?s o experimento. No entanto ap?s a reapresenta??o dos fluidos houve efeito dose-dependente no comportamento ingestivo de ?gua e de salina hipert?nica tanto nos animais depletados de s?dio quanto nos animais controles.Os dados suportam que o estradiol modula o comportamento ingestivo dos animais sob condi??es basais e ap?s a deple??o de s?dio.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Depression is a psychiatric disorder associated with a negative impact on quality of life. Monoaminergic system has been involved in this disease and in the action of antidepressants. This study aimed to investigate the potential antidepressant-like of 7-fluoro-1,3-diphenylisoquinoline-1-amine (FDPI) and the possible involvement of monoaminergic system. Results showed that FDPI (1, 10 and 20 mg/kg, intragastric (i.g.)) reduced the immobility time, increased swimming time, but did not alter climbing time of mice in the modified forced swimming test (FST). These effects were similar to those of paroxetine (8 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which was used as positive control. Pretreatments with p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA, an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, 100 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 4 consecutive days), N-[1]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY 100635, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection (s.c.)) and ondansetron (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) reversed the antidepressant-like effect of FDPI at the dose 1 mg/kg in FST, this did not occurs with ritanserin (a 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, i.p.). Antagonist related with dopaminergic system, as haloperidol (a D2 receptor antagonist, 0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) and SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist, 0.05 mg/kg, s.c.) were able to reverse the antidepressant-like effect of FDPI at the dose 1 mg/kg in FST, this did not occurs with sulpiride (a D2 and D3 receptors antagonist, 50 mg/kg, i.p.). FDPI, at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg, inhibited monoamine oxidase-B activity in prefrontal cortex of mice. These results suggest that FDPI produced an antidepressant-like action in the FST in mice, possibly by an involvement of the monoaminergic system. Additional studies are necessary in order to propose FDPI as a drug for depression treatment. / A depressão é uma doença psiquiátrica associada com um impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. O sistema monoaminérgico parece estar envolvido nessa doença e na ação dos antidepressivos. Esse estudo teve como objetivo investigar o potencial do tipo antidepressivo do 7-flúor- 1,3 difenilisoquinolina-1-amino (FDPI) e o possível envolvimento do sistema monoaminérgico. Os resultados mostraram que o FDPI (1, 10 e 20 mg/kg, intragástrico (i.g.)) reduziu o tempo de imobilidade, aumentou o tempo de nado, mas não alterou o tempo de escalada dos camundongos durante o teste do nado forçado (TNF) modificado. Esses efeitos foram similares aos da paroxetina (8 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), um inibidor seletivo da recaptação de serotonina, o qual foi usado como controle positivo. Os pré-tratamentos com p-clorofenilalanina (pCPA, um inibidor da síntese de serotonina (5-HT), 100 mg/kg, i.p., uma vez por dia, por 4 dias consecutivos), N-{2-[4-(2-metoxifenil)-1-piperazinil]etil}-N-(2-piridinil) ciclohexanocarboxamida (WAY 100635, um antagonista dos receptores 5-HT1A, 0,1 mg/kg, subcutâneo (s.c.)) e ondansetrona (um antagonista dos receptores 5-HT3, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) conseguiram reverter o efeito do tipo antidepressivo do FDPI na dose de 1 mg/kg no TNF, o que não aconteceu com a ritanserina (um antagonista do receptores 5-HT2A/2C, 1 mg/kg, i.p.). Antagonistas relacionados com o sistema dopaminérgico, como haloperidol (um antagonista do receptor D2, 0,2 mg/kg, i.p.), e SCH23390 (um antagonista do receptor D1, 0,05 mg/kg, s.c.) foram capazes de reverter o efeito do tipo antidepressivo do FDPI na dose de 1 mg/kg no TNF, o que não aconteceu com o sulpiride (um antagonista dos receptores D2 e D3, 50mg/kg, i.p.). O composto FDPI nas doses de 10 e 20 mg/kg inibiu a atividade da monoamino oxidase B em córtex pré-frontal de camundongos. Estes resultados sugerem que o FDPI apresentou uma ação do tipo antidepressiva no TNF em camundongos, possivelmente por um envolvimento do sistema monoaminérgico. Mais estudos se fazem necessários antes que se possa propor o FDPI como uma droga para o tratamento da depressão.

<p> Although historically treated as separate systems, there is considerable interaction between the immune system and brain. It has become increasingly clear that immunebrain communication is important to both health and disease. An immunogenic challenge given during the first postnatal week in rodents impacts the developing central nervous system (CNS) leading to long-term behavioural and molecular alterations reflective of enhanced stress-reactivity. Anxiety and depression are stress-related pathologies with a proposed neurodevelopmental origin suggesting that perturbation to neonatal immunebrain signalling may contribute to psychopathology. The current body of work examined the long-term impact of an early immune challenge on behavioural and molecular phenotypes associated with anxiety and depression. Mice were administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on postnatal days three and five. The emergence of anxietyrelated behaviour was characterized along the developmental trajectory of LPS-mice concurrent with changes to serotonergic neurocircuitry. Adult depressive-related behaviour was assessed in the forced swim test (FST) along with hippocampal neurogenesis as revealed by immunoreactivity for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and doublecortin (DCX). The results demonstrated a sex-specific alteration in both the temporal emergence and phenotypic variant of anxiety-related behaviours displayed by LPS-mice. This was accompanied by changes to CNS serotonergic-related gene expression that coincided with a critical developmental time window essential to the establishment of emotionality. Adult LPS-mice exhibited hyperactivity during the FST that was accompanied by increased doublecortin immunoreactivity in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, reflecting enhanced immature neuronal differentiation. The current results demonstrate that an early immune challenge impacts the developing CNS leading to enhanced emotional-reactivity. Altered serotonergic neurocircuitry and adult hippocampal neurogenesis may underlie behavioural abnormalities. The current body of work demonstrates a preeminent role for early-life immune disturbance in psychopathology and advances understanding of how immune-brain signalling impacts the developing CNS and confers risk for later disease. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In the present study 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 1A receptor knockout mice (KO), mice overexpressing the 5-HT1A receptor (OE), and wild-type (WT) mice were used to investigate the influence of 5-HT1A receptor on the development of the serotonergic system in the brain, from the embryonic day 12.5 to the postnatal day 15.5. Neither the absence nor the overexpression of 5-HT1A receptor influenced the development and differentiation of serotonergic neurons in the raphe area of the mouse brain. However, a delay in the initial development of the serotonergic projections to the mesencephalic tegmentum, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus was observed in both transgenic mice lines. The brain levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were significantly higher in both transgenic mice lines during the late embryonic and early postnatal periods as compared to WT mice. An increase in the turnover of 5-HT was not observed before the early postnatal period. Both the absence and the overexpression of 5-HT1A receptor delayed the development of the dopaminergic system of the mesencephalic tegmentum in the early embryonic period. In OE mice the postnatal development of the noradrenergic system appeared to be exaggerated. The immunoreactivity for the neurotrophic protein S100ß was higher in the cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus of OE mice as compare to WT and KO mice. The expression of synaptic proteins, such as synapatobrevin and synaptotagmin was reduced in KO and OE mice during the early embryonic period. This reduction may be linked to the delayed development of the serotonergic projections and the dopaminergic system. In addition, no influence of 5-HT1A receptor mutations on the myelination of the brain was observed. Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die 5-Hydroxytryptamin (5-HT)1A Rezeptor Knockout (KO), überexprimierenden (ÜE) Mäuse und die Wild-Typ (WT) Mäuse, in den Entwicklungsperioden vom embryonalen Tag 12,5 bis postnatalen Tag 15,5 untersucht, um weitere Informationen über den Einfluss vom 5-HT1A Rezeptor auf die Entwicklung des serotonergen Systems im Gehirn zu erhalten. Sowohl das Fehlen des 5-HT1A Rezeptors als auch dessen Überexpression hatten zwar keinen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung und Differenzierung der serotonergen Neurone in den Raphe Regionen, verzögerte aber die erste Entwicklung der serotonergen Innervierungen im mesencephalen Tegmentum, Hypothalamus und cerebralen Cortex. In den späten embryonalen und insbesondere frühpostnatalen Perioden waren die 5-HT- und 5-HIAA-Spiegel bei KO und ÜE Mäusen im Vergleich zu WT Mäusen signifikant erhöht. Eine Erhöhung des 5-HT Turnovers wurde erst in der frühpostnatalen Periode beobachtet. Auch die Entwicklung des dopaminergen Systems im Mesencephalon war in der frühen embryonalen Periode sowohl bei KO als auch bei ÜE Mäusen verlangsamt. Die Überexpression des 5-HT1A Rezeptors begünstigte möglicherweise die postnatale Entwicklung des noradrenergen Systems. Bei ÜE Mäusen war die Immunreaktivität des neurotrophen Proteins S100? im cerebralen Cortex, Hippocampus und Striatum stärker als bei WT und KO Mäusen. Die Expression der synaptischen Proteine wie Synaptobrevin und Synaptotagmin war sowohl bei KO als auch bei ÜE Mäusen in der frühen embryonalen Periode verzögert. Dies könnte mit der verzögerten Entwicklung der serotonergen Projektionen und des dopaminergen Systems in Zusammenhang stehen. Darüber hinaus hatten transgene Veränderungen am 5-HT1A Rezeptor keinen Einfluss auf die Myelinisierung im Gehirn der Maus. Schlagwörter: serotonerges System, Entwicklung des Gehirns, 5-HT1A Rezeptor, transgene Mäuse, dopaminerges System, noradrenerges System, S100ß, Synaptisches Protein, Myelinisierung / In the present study 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 1A receptor knockout mice (KO), mice overexpressing the 5-HT1A receptor (OE), and wild-type (WT) mice were used to investigate the influence of 5-HT1A receptor on the development of the serotonergic system in the brain, from the embryonic day 12.5 to the postnatal day 15.5. Neither the absence nor the overexpression of 5-HT1A receptor influenced the development and differentiation of serotonergic neurons in the raphe area of the mouse brain. However, a delay in the initial development of the serotonergic projections to the mesencephalic tegmentum, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus was observed in both transgenic mice lines. The brain levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were significantly higher in both transgenic mice lines during the late embryonic and early postnatal periods as compared to WT mice. An increase in the turnover of 5-HT was not observed before the early postnatal period. Both the absence and the overexpression of 5-HT1A receptor delayed the development of the dopaminergic system of the mesencephalic tegmentum in the early embryonic period. In OE mice the postnatal development of the noradrenergic system appeared to be exaggerated. The immunoreactivity for the neurotrophic protein S100ß was higher in the cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus of OE mice as compare to WT and KO mice. The expression of synaptic proteins, such as synapatobrevin and synaptotagmin was reduced in KO and OE mice during the early embryonic period. This reduction may be linked to the delayed development of the serotonergic projections and the dopaminergic system. In addition, no influence of 5-HT1A receptor mutations on the myelination of the brain was observed.

Bases: A antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doces tem sido largamente estudada. Contudo, a investigação dos neurotransmissores envolvidos nesse processo antinociceptivo ainda carece de mais estudos, pois é de extrema importância entender o envolvimento desses neurotransmissores no sistema neural que controla este tipo de antinocicepção. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é clarificar o envolvimento dos sistemas opióide e serotoninérgico na antinocicepção induzida por substância doce. Método: O presente trabalho foi realizado em modelo animal (Rattus norvegicus, Rodentia, Muridae), objetivando investigar se a ingestão crônica de solução de sacarose é seguida de antinocicepção. A latência de retirada de cauda após a aplicação de estímulo nocivo térmico foi medida antes e após esse tratamento no teste de retirada de cauda (provavelmente um reflexo espinal). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os valores de linha basal dos diferentes grupos e foi calculado um índice de analgesia da latência de retirada de cauda antes e depois do tratamento. O envolvimento de opióides endógenos e de serotonina neste processo antinociceptivo foi pesquisado com fármacos antagonistas específicos e não-específicos dos receptores opióides e serotoninérgicos. Resultados: O efeito analgésico da ingestão de sacarose depende da concentração da solução de sacarose e do tempo de duração do consumo da mesma. Naltrexona e metisergida diminuíram a antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doce (após 14 dias de ingestão da sacarose). Estes efeitos foram corroborados pela administração periférica de naloxonazina e cetanserina. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem o envolvimento de opióides endógenos e serotonina no processo antinociceptivo atualmente estudado. Tudo apontando para a participação de receptores opióides µ1 e serotoninérgicos 5-HT2 na regulação central da antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doces. / Rationale: Sweet substance-induced antinociception has been widely studied, and the investigation of the neurotransmitters involved in the antinociceptive process is an important way for understanding the involvement of neural system controlling this kind of antinociception. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the involvement of opioid and serotonergic system in the sweet substance-induces antinociception. Methods: the present work was made in animal model (Rattus norvegicus, Rodentia, Muridae); with the aim of investigating if the chronic intake of sweet substance, such as sucrose, is followed by antinociception. Their tail withdrawal latencies in the tail-flick test (probably a spinal reflex) were measured before and immediately after this treatment. As there was not statistic significant differences between baseline values of different groups, an analgesia index was calculated from the withdrawal latencies before and after treatment. The involvement of endogenous opioid and serotonin in the antinociceptive process was investigated with specific and non-specific pharmacological antagonism on opioid and serotonergic receptors. Results: The analgesic effect of sucrose intake depends on the concentration of sucrose solution and on the time during which the solution is consumed. Naltrexone and methysergide decreased the sweet substance-induced antinociception (post 14 days of sucrose intake). These effects were corroborated by peripheral administration of naloxonazina and ketanserin. Conclusions: The present results suggest the involvement of endogenous opioids and serotonin in the antinociceptive process presently studied. µ1-opioid and 5-HT2 serotonergic receptors may be involved in the central regulation of the sweet substance-produced antinociception.

Developmental biology adresses how cells are organised into functional structures and eventually into a whole organism. It is crucial to understand the molecular basis for processes in development, by studying the expression and function of relevant genes and their relationship to each other. A gene function can be studied be creating loss-of-function situations, in which the change in developmental processes is examined in the absense of a functional gene product, or in gain-of-function studies, where a gene product is either intrinsically overproduced or ectopically upregulated. One approach for a loss-of-function situation is the creation of specific mutants in single genes, and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has proven to be an excellent model organism for this purpose. In this thesis, I report on two forward genetic screens performed to find new mutants affecting brain development, in particular mutants defective in development and function of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), an organiser region that patterns the adjacent brain regions of the midbrain and the hindbrain. In the first screen, I could identify 10 specific mutants based on morphology and the analysis of the expression patterns of lim1 and fgf8, genes functioning as early neuronal markers and as a patterning gene, respectively. Three of these mutants lacked an MHB, and by complementation studies, I identified these mutants as being defective in the spg locus. The second screen produced 35 new mutants by screening morphologically and with antibodies against acetylated Tubulin, which marks all axonal scaffolds, and anti-Opsin, which is a marker for photoreceptors in the pineal gland. According to their phenotype, I distributed the mutant lines into 4 phenotypic subgroups, of which the brain morphology group with 18 mutant lines was studied most intensively. In the last part of my thesis, I characterise one of these brain morphology mutants, broken heart. This mutant is defective in axonal outgrowth and locomotion, and shows a striking reduction of serotonergic neurons in the epiphysis and in the raphe nuclei in the hindbrain, structures involved in serotonin and melatonin production. Studies in other model organisms suggested a role of factors from the floor plate and the MHB in induction of the serotonergic neurons in the hindbrain, and using broken heart, I show that Fgf molecules such as Fgf4 and Fgf8 can restore partially the loss of serotonergic neurons in the mutant. I conclude that forward genetic screens are an invaluable tool to generate a pool of mutations in specific genes, which can be used to dissect complex processes in development such as brain development.

Bases: A antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doces tem sido largamente estudada. Contudo, a investigação dos neurotransmissores envolvidos nesse processo antinociceptivo ainda carece de mais estudos, pois é de extrema importância entender o envolvimento desses neurotransmissores no sistema neural que controla este tipo de antinocicepção. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é clarificar o envolvimento dos sistemas opióide e serotoninérgico na antinocicepção induzida por substância doce. Método: O presente trabalho foi realizado em modelo animal (Rattus norvegicus, Rodentia, Muridae), objetivando investigar se a ingestão crônica de solução de sacarose é seguida de antinocicepção. A latência de retirada de cauda após a aplicação de estímulo nocivo térmico foi medida antes e após esse tratamento no teste de retirada de cauda (provavelmente um reflexo espinal). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os valores de linha basal dos diferentes grupos e foi calculado um índice de analgesia da latência de retirada de cauda antes e depois do tratamento. O envolvimento de opióides endógenos e de serotonina neste processo antinociceptivo foi pesquisado com fármacos antagonistas específicos e não-específicos dos receptores opióides e serotoninérgicos. Resultados: O efeito analgésico da ingestão de sacarose depende da concentração da solução de sacarose e do tempo de duração do consumo da mesma. Naltrexona e metisergida diminuíram a antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doce (após 14 dias de ingestão da sacarose). Estes efeitos foram corroborados pela administração periférica de naloxonazina e cetanserina. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem o envolvimento de opióides endógenos e serotonina no processo antinociceptivo atualmente estudado. Tudo apontando para a participação de receptores opióides µ1 e serotoninérgicos 5-HT2 na regulação central da antinocicepção induzida por substâncias doces. / Rationale: Sweet substance-induced antinociception has been widely studied, and the investigation of the neurotransmitters involved in the antinociceptive process is an important way for understanding the involvement of neural system controlling this kind of antinociception. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the involvement of opioid and serotonergic system in the sweet substance-induces antinociception. Methods: the present work was made in animal model (Rattus norvegicus, Rodentia, Muridae); with the aim of investigating if the chronic intake of sweet substance, such as sucrose, is followed by antinociception. Their tail withdrawal latencies in the tail-flick test (probably a spinal reflex) were measured before and immediately after this treatment. As there was not statistic significant differences between baseline values of different groups, an analgesia index was calculated from the withdrawal latencies before and after treatment. The involvement of endogenous opioid and serotonin in the antinociceptive process was investigated with specific and non-specific pharmacological antagonism on opioid and serotonergic receptors. Results: The analgesic effect of sucrose intake depends on the concentration of sucrose solution and on the time during which the solution is consumed. Naltrexone and methysergide decreased the sweet substance-induced antinociception (post 14 days of sucrose intake). These effects were corroborated by peripheral administration of naloxonazina and ketanserin. Conclusions: The present results suggest the involvement of endogenous opioids and serotonin in the antinociceptive process presently studied. µ1-opioid and 5-HT2 serotonergic receptors may be involved in the central regulation of the sweet substance-produced antinociception.