The development of the animal after birth is marked by complex changes. Certain periods are particularly important and have been defined as "critical periods" (Krecek, 1971). Two processes are important to the survival of the animals during these times. The process of "adaptation" involves the maturation of specific physiological systems according to the needs of the neonatal animal, and is dictated by the external environment. The process of "tolerance" renders the neonate relatively unresponsive to a stressor as compared to the adult and protects the animals from over-responding the depleting vital resources until it is physiologically mature. An example of tolerance is the resistance to anoxia of immature neonates. The newborn pig has a high rate of mortality. The number of pigs born 114 days after conception represent only about 55% of the original ova released. Besides having a large number of embryo losses during the gestation period, 13-25% of the live born piglets die before weaning as shown in Table I. The low viability of the neonatal piglets is undoubtedly related to their inability to maintain homeostasis during stress. The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is a major coordinator of homeostasis. Therefore, a study of the development of the sympathetic nervous system could provide some clues to explain the high mortality rate of the newborn pigs. Since the coordinating ability of the sympathetic nervous system is not only dependent on the maturity of the system, but also on the development of the effector organs and their responsiveness to activation, it is logical to examine their relative development.

It is possible that interruption of nociceptive input from intervertebral discs can be modulated through bilateral L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) blockade. In order to test this hypothesis, we prospectively collected data from patients with low-lumbar pain, accurately diagnosed as discogenic using provocation discography. Methods Twelve patients were recruited with a mean (SD) symptom duration of 13.7 (8.2) years. Bilateral DRG blocks of L1 and L2 were performed using methylprednisolone 80 mg, clonidine 75 µg and 0.5% bupivacaine 4 ml in each patient. Results Analysis of Brief Pain Inventories showed no significant change in pain scores. Conclusion We conclude that blocks of this nociceptive pathway in humans using bilateral DRG blocks has no therapeutic value.

Autonomic nervous system activity is related to body weight regulation. Based on the MONA LISA hypothesis it has been suggested that most obese subjects and animals have low sympathetic nervous system activity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in autonomic nervous system activity between lines of chickens selected for either high (HWS) or low body weight (LWS). In Exp. 1, various pharmacological agents were injected intravenously, and the changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of both HWS and LWS chickens were compared. The results showed that the HWS birds had a greater increase in BP and HR than the LWS following injection of atropine, a muscarinic receptor blocker, and LWS birds had a greater decrease in BP and HR to propranolol, a beta- adrenergic receptor blocker than the HWS birds. These results suggested that HWS chickens have higher parasympathetic tone, whereas LWS chickens have a higher sympathetic nervous system tone regulating the cardiovascular system. HWS and LWS chickens displayed a similar response in BP and HR following injection of the ganglion blocker tetraethylammonium chloride. These results suggest that there is no significant difference in the central autonomic nervous system in the cardiovascular regulation between HWS and LWS together. Since there does not appear to be any differences in the activity of the autonomic nervous system activity at the level of the central nervous system, these findings imply that the difference in response to atropine and propranolol could be caused by differences in adrenal activity. The ratio of heart rate and blood pressure after the injection of phenylephrine showed significant difference between these two lines of birds, but not when phenylephrine was injected following atropine. This result indicated that HWS are more dependent on the parasympathetic nervous system to regulate the baroreceptor reflex. The percentage of adrenal and sympathetic impact on the regulation of heart rate showed that LWS females required greater adrenal activity than the other birds. In Exp. 2, the body weight and food intake responses of HWS and LWS chickens to ip injections of reserpine were compared. Reserpine caused a transitory decrease in food intake and body weight in both lines of birds. However HWS chickens recovered more slowly from the depression caused by reserpine than the LWS chickens. This could be due to lower sympathetic nervous system activity. In conclusion, it appears that HWS may have lower sympathetic activity than LWS. Combining the results of both experiments, it appears that the HWS birds have lower sympathetic and higher parasympathetic activity. Furthermore central nervous system autonomic activity in BP and HR regulation is not different between HWS and LWS, but the activity of the adrenal gland may be different between these two lines of birds. / Master of Science

The sympathetic nervous system plays a key role in the regulation of cardiovascular and ventilatory responses during exercise. The regulation of the heart and peripheral circulation by the autonomic nervous system is accomplished by control centers that receive input from mechanical and chemical receptors through the body. Therefore, the changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity allow for rapid responses. <p><p>Exercise is associated with increases of ventilation, heart rate and blood pressure. Ventilation increases adaptedly to increased oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) and eventually to limit metabolic acidosis occurring above the ventilatory threshold. Cardiac output increases to meet the contracting muscles’ requirement for flow. The increase in cardiac output occurs through increases in both heart rate and stroke volume and is regulated by feed-forward mechanisms: central command and exercise pressor reflex. <p><p>Skeletal muscle contraction elicits a reflex increase in sympathetic outflow which causes vasoconstriction contributing to the exercise induced rise in blood pressure. This reflex is triggered by stimulation of metabo- and chemoreceptors. Although the precise stimulus is not known, adrenergic receptor signaling is involved in the cardiovascular and respiratory alterations in response to exercise. <p><p>This thesis has been devoted to a better understanding of the functional aspects of sympathetic nervous system activation during dynamic and resistive exercise, with use of β blocker and β2 stimulant interventions The hypotheses were: 1) that β blocker interventions would decrease aerobic exercise capacity by a limitation of maximal cardiac output, but more so the ventilatory responses to exercise because of a decreased chemosensitivity, thereby decreasing dyspnea, and 2) β2 stimulant interventions would slightly increase aerobic exercise capacity by an increase in maximal cardiac output, but also the ventilatory responses because of an increased chemosensitivity, with possible decrease of the ventilatory reserve at exercise and increased dyspnea. Both interventions could affect maximal muscle strength through central effects.<p><p>Ventilatory responses to hyperoxic hypercapnia (central chemoreflex) and to isocapnic hypoxia (peripheral chemoreflex) were confronted to measurements of ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) during standard cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Resting 5 measurements of muscle sympathetic nervous activity (MSNA) were obtained in different conditions with and without pharmacological interventions. Muscle metaboreflex and muscle stength measurements were also considered. Drugs with β blocker or β2 stimulant properties were administered in range of doses used in clinical practice for the teatment of cardiovascular or rerspiratory conditions. The results show that β blockade with bisoprolol slightly reduced maximal exercise capacity as assessed by a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) or maximal workload (Wmax), with a decreased maximal heart rate, without significant effect on ventilation (VE) or MSNA responses to hypercapnia, hyperoxia or to isometric muscle contraction or ischemia. Both VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2 slopes were decreased during CPET, which was attributable to β blockade-related hemodynamic changes. On the other hand, stimulation of β2 receptors with salbutamol did not affect exercise capacity as assessed by VO2max or Wmax in spite of increased peripheral chemosensitivity with increased VE/VCO2 slopes and early lactic acidosis. MSNA burst frequency, muscle metaboreflex and maximal isokinetic muscle strength were not affected by salbutamol. <p><p>Thus, aerobic exercise capacity in healthy subjects is sensitive to sympathetic nervous system modulation by β blocker or β2 stimulant interventions with drugs at doses prescribed in clinical practice. B blocker intervention has a slight limitation of aerobic exercise capacity and a hemodynamic decrease in ventilation, while β2 stimulant intervention has no change in exercise capacity with associated increased ventilatory responses because of increased chemosensitivity, partly related to early lactic acidosis. None of the studied phamacologic interventions affected MSNA or muscle strength measurements. <p><p>We hope that these results might be useful for the understanding of the effects of revalidation to exercise of patients treated with β blocker or β2 stimulant drugs, document the limited ergogenic properties and also side effects of the intake of these substances in healthy exercising subjects.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences de la motricité / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

O sistema nervoso simpático (SNS) inerva a maioria dos órgãos linfoides e durante situações de estresse, por meio da liberação da noradrenalina de seus ramos eferentes, emitem sinais capazes de modular as repostas imunes. Nossa hipótese foi de que esta via poderia alterar a função de células dendríticas (DCs) derivadas de monócitos humanos, uma vez que receptores adrenérgicos já foram demonstrados em DCs murinas e pelo fato de que as estas células são chave na iniciação de respostas imunes adaptativas, bem como indutoras de tolerância. Desta forma, DCs diferenciadas a partir de monócitos sanguíneos provenientes de doadores saudáveis tratadas com ligantes adrenérgicos foram analisadas quanto a expressão de marcadores de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica em ensaio de reação mista de linfócitos, expressão gênica de marcadores de diferenciação e ativação, bem como produção de citocinas. Os resultados revelaram que as DCs apresentam transcritos apenas para o adrenoceptor &#946;2, e esta expressão é similar à de macrófagos, mas inferior a de linfócitos. A análise dos marcadores fenotípicos de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica e produção de citocinas não mostraram alterações nas células tratadas com agonistas adrenérgicos. No entanto, o tratamento com ligantes adrenérgicos foi capaz de alterar a expressão dos genes CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 e CCL5 em DCs e macrófagos estimulados com LPS ou TNF-&#945;. Embora os efeitos dos ligantes adrenérgicos não tenham sido fortemente evidenciados nos testes realizados, os resultados sugerem que pequenas alterações podem ser provocadas pela ligação das catecolaminas em DCs, sugerindo que estas possam ser moduladas pelo SNS, modificando as respostas imunes / The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) innervates most of the lymphoid organs and during stress situations, by releasing norepinephrine from its efferent branches, emit signals capable of modulating immune responses. Our hypothesis was that this pathway could alter the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs), since adrenergic receptors have already been demonstrated in murine DCs, and by the fact that these cells are key in initiating adaptive immune responses as well as tolerance inducers. Thus, differentiated DCs from blood monocytes from healthy donors treated with adrenergic ligands were analyzed for expression of membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay, gene expression of differentiation and activation markers and cytokine production. The results revealed that DCs present transcripts only for the &#946;2 adrenoceptor, and this expression is similar to that observed in macrophages, but lower than what it is found in lymphocytes. The analysis of phenotypic membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation and cytokine production did not revealed any changes in the cells treated with adrenergic agonists. However, treatment with the adrenergic ligands was able to alter the expression of CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 and CCL5 genes in DCs and macrophages stimulated with LPS or TNF-&#945;. Although the effects of adrenergic ligands have not been strongly demonstrated in the tests performed, the results suggest that small changes can be caused by the binding of catecholamines in DCs, suggesting that they can be modulated by the SNS, modifying immune responses.

C75, um inibidor sintético da ácido graxo sintase, causa anorexia e perda de peso em roedores, mas os mecanismos envolvidos com esses efeitos ainda não são totalmente conhecidos. A hipótese testada nesse trabalho foi que o tecido adiposo marrom (TAM), um órgão com importante função no controle da termogênese, poderia estar envolvido nos efeitos mediados pelos inibidores da ácido graxo sintase. Para isso, ratos Wistar foram submetidos ao implante de cânula no ventrículo lateral direito seguido, ou não, pela desnervação simpática cirúrgica do TAM. Sete dias após, C75 (150 g/7,5 L), cerulenina, um inibidor natural da ácido graxo sintase, (150 g/7,5 L) ou RPMI (veículo) foi administrado nos animais com privação alimentar de 24 horas. Foi demonstrado que uma única injeção intracerebroventricular de C75 reduziu a ingestão alimentar no primeiro dia e induziu perda de peso por dois dias. Além disso, as análises de telemetria mostraram que o C75 promoveu um rápido aumento na temperatura corporal interna, maior taxa de estoque de calor de 30 minutos a 6 horas da administração, e um aumento na dissipação de calor por 4 horas. A desnervação do TAM atenuou os efeitos do C75 sobre a regulação térmica bem como seu efeito sobre o peso corporal e a ingestão alimentar. Em paralelo, o C75 induziu aumento na temperatura do TAM (até 8 horas após a injeção), no conteúdo de noradrenalina e na atividade da citocromo c oxidase mitocondrial e da expressão do RNAm da UCP-1 no tecido. Todos esses efeitos foram abolidos com a desnervação simpática do TAM. Tal como o C75, a cerulenina, também induziu um aumento na temperatura corporal interna e do TAM, o qual também foi abolido pela desnervação do TAM. A atividade locomotora espontânea não foi alterada por nenhum inibidor da ácido graxo sintase. A imunohistoquímica para c-Fos revelou que o C75 aumentou o número de células imunorreativas a c-Fos na área pré-óptica, núcleo paraventricular, dorsomedial do hipotálamo, ventromedial do hipotálamo, locus coeruleus e rafe pálida, regiões que estão envolvidas com a regulação central da temperatura. Estes dados sugerem um papel do TAM no aumento da temperatura corporal evocado pelos inibidores da ácido graxo sintase e provêm novos mecanismos para explicar a hipofagia e o aumento do gasto energético observados com a administração desses compostos. / C75, a synthetic inhibitor of fatty acid synthase, causes anorexia and weight loss in rodents, but the underlying mechanisms are not totally known. Thus, the hypothesis tested in this work was that brown adipose tissue (BAT), an organ with important role for control of thermogenesis, could be involved in the anti-obesity effects of fatty acid synthase inhibitors. To address this issue, Wistar rats were submitted to cannula implant into right lateral ventricle and following, or not, by surgical sympathetic denervation of BAT. Seven days later, C75 (150g/7.5L), cerulenin, a natural fatty acid synthase inhibitor, (150 g/7.5 L) or RPMI (vehicle) was administered in 24h-fasted animals. It was demonstrated that a single intracerebroventricular injection of C75 decreased the food intake on the first day, and induced weight loss for two days. Furthermore, telemetry analyzes shown that the C75 induced a rapid increase in core body temperature, a higher heat storage rate from 30 minutes until 6 hours of injection, and an increase in heat dissipation for 4 hours. The BAT denervation attenuated the thermoregulatory effects of C75 as well as its effect on body weight and food intake. In parallel, C75 induced an increase in BAT temperature (up to 8 hours of the injection), higher content of norepinephrine, and an increase in the activity of cytochrome c oxidase and mRNA expression of UCP-1 in the tissue. All these effects were abolished by sympathetic denervation. Like C75, the central administration of cerulenin also induced an increase in the BAT and core body temperature, which was also abolished by BAT denervation. The spontaneous locomotor activity was not altered by any fatty acid synthase inhibitor. The immunohistochemistry for c-Fos revealed that the C75 increased numbers of Fos-immunoreactive cells in preoptica area, paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, ventromedial hypothalamus, locus coeruleus and raphe pallidus, regions which are involved in the central thermoregulation. These data implicate a role for BAT in the fatty acid synthase inhibitors-evoked increase in body temperature and provide new mechanisms to explain hypophagia and increased energy expenditure observed with the administration of these compounds.

INTRODUÇÃO: O infarto agudo do miocárdio está associado à hiperativação simpática e diminuição do fluxo sanguíneo muscular (FSM). Por outro lado, tem sido documentado que o treinamento físico promove importantes adaptações autonômicas e vasculares no indivíduo. O objetivo deste estudo foi testar a hipótese de que o treinamento físico diminuiria a atividade nervosa simpática muscular (ANSM) e aumentaria o FSM em repouso e durante o exercício físico em pacientes com Síndrome Isquêmica Miocárdica Instável (SIMI). MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo, 63 pacientes internados na Unidade Clínica de Coronariopatia Aguda diagnosticados com SIMI. Um mês após o evento isquêmico, 51 pacientes continuaram o seguimento e foram alocados, consecutivamente, em 2 grupos: treinamento físico (SIMI-TF, n=25, 54±1 anos), e sedentário (SIMI-Sed, n=26, 52±2 anos). Ao final do estudo, 14 pacientes do grupo SIMI-TF e 20 pacientes do grupo SIMI-Sed finalizaram o protocolo experimental. Esses pacientes foram comparados a um grupo controle saudável (n=13, 49±1anos). A ANSM foi medida pela técnica de microneurografia. O FSM foi avaliado por pletismografia de oclusão venosa, a pressão arterial (PA) foi medida pelo método oscilométrico indireto e a frequência cardíaca pelo eletrocardiograma. Todas as avaliações foram realizadas no basal, durante a fase de internação hospitalar e, no basal e durante 3 minutos de exercício físico de preensão de mãos (30% da contração voluntária máxima) no período de seguimento do estudo (1º., 3º.e 7º. mês após o evento isquêmico). O treinamento físico foi realizado em cicloergômetro, 3 vezes por semana, durante 6 meses. RESULTADOS: Durante a fase de internação hospitalar, a ANSM basal foi significativamente maior (65±2 vs. 32±2 disparos/100batimentos, p<0,001) e a condutância vascular no antebraço (CVA= FSM/PAmédia) foi significativamente menor (1,91±0,1 vs. 2,99±0,38 unidades, p<0,001) no grupo SIMI em relação ao grupo Controle. Comportamento semelhante foi observado 1 mês após o evento isquêmico, a ANSM continuou aumentada (64±3 vs. 62±4 vs. 32±2 disparos/100batimentos, p<0,001, respectivamente) e a CVA diminuída (1,73±0,1 vs. 1,72±0,1 vs. 2,99±0,4 unidades, p<0,001, respectivamente) nos grupos SIMI-Sed e SIMI-TF em relação ao grupo Controle. Durante o exercício de preensão de mãos, os níveis de ANSM foram maiores (71±4 e 69±4 vs. 43±3 disparos/100batimentos, p<0,001, respectivamente) e a CVA foi menor (1,60±0,1 e 1,59±0,2 vs. 3,53±0,47 unidades, p<0,001, respectivamente), nos grupos SIMI-Sed e SIMI-TF em relação ao grupo Controle. Após o treinamento físico, a ANSM basal diminuiu no grupo SIMITF (62±4 vs. 40±3 disparos/100batimentos, p=0,02), atingindo níveis semelhantes ao grupo Controle (40±3 vs. 32±2 disparos/100batimentos, p=0,24, respectivamente). Durante o exercício físico, a ANSM diminuiu no grupo SIMI-TF (72±5 vs. 60±5 disparos/100batimentos, p<0,001). Porém, a CVA não foi significativamente modificada tanto no basal como durante o exercício no grupo SIMI-TF. Nenhuma alteração significativa foi observada na ANSM e CVA do grupo SIMI-Sed, tanto em repouso como durante o exercício. CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com SIMI, o treinamento físico normalizou a ANSM basal e diminuiu seus níveis durante o exercício, porém, não modificou o FSM. Como a ativação simpática está relacionada com pior prognóstico, nossos resultados ressaltam a importância clínica do treinamento físico em pacientes após SIMI / Introduction: The myocardial infarction is associated with sympathetic hiperactivation and reduced forearm blood flow (FBF). On the other hand, the exercise training leads to important autonomic and vascular adaptations. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that exercise training would decrease the muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and would increase the FBF at rest and during exercise in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Sixty-three patients admitted to the coronary intensive care unit with ACS were studied. One month after ischemic event, 51 patients continued the follow-up study and were allocated consecutively in two groups: exercise training (ACS-ET, n=25, 54±1 years) and sedentary (ACSSed, n=26, 52±2 years). At the end of the study, 14 patients in the group ACS-ET and 20 patients in the group ACS-Sed concluded the experimental protocol. These patients were compared to a control group of healthy subjects (n=13, 49±1 years). The MSNA was measured by microneurography technique. The FBF was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, the blood pressure (BP) was measured by indirect oscillometric method and the heart rate was measured by electrocardiogram. All measurements were done at rest condition during inpatient phase and at rest condition and during 3 minutes of handgrip exercise (30% of maximum voluntary contraction) during outpatient follow-up (1st, 3rd and 7th months after the ischemic event). The exercise training was performed on a cycle ergometer 3 times per week for 6 months. RESULTS: During inpatient phase, the MSNA at rest was significantly higher (65±2 vs. 32±2 bursts/100heart beats, p<0.001) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC=FBF/mean BP) was significantly lower (1.91±0.1 vs. 2.99±0.38 units, p<0.001) in ACS group when compared to control group. One month after the ischemic event, the MSNA remained significantly higher (64±3 vs. 62±4 vs. 32±2 bursts/100 heart beats, p<0,001) and the FVC continue significantly lower (1.73±0.1 vs. 1.72±0.1 vs. 2.99±0.4 units, p<0,001) in the ACS-Sed and ACS-ET groups when compared to the control group. During handgrip exercise, the MSNA levels were significantly higher (71±4 and 69±4 vs. 43±3 bursts/100heart beats, p <0.001, respectively) and FVC levels were significantly lower (1.60±0.1 and 1.59± 0.2 vs. 3.53 ± 0.47 units, p <0.001, respectively) in the ACS-Sed and ACS-ET groups when compared to the control group, respectively. After exercise training, the MSNA at rest decreased significantly in the group ACS-ET (62±4 vs. 40±3 bursts/100 heart beats, p=0.02), reaching similar levels to those found in the control group (40±3. vs. 32±2 burts/100 heart beats, p= 0.24, respectively). During handgrip exercise the MSNA decreased significantly in ACS-ET group (72±5 vs. 60±5 bursts/100 heart beats, p <0.001). However, the FVC was not significantly changed at rest and during exercise in ACS-ET group. No significant change was observed in MSNA and FVC in ACS-Sed group at rest and during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ACS, the exercise training normalized the MSNA at rest and decreased their levels during exercise, but no change was observed in the FVC. Since sympathetic activation is related to poor prognosis, our results highlight the clinical importance of ET in patients with ACS

Dados da literatura mostram que a inervação simpática possui papel apenas na síntese e secreção das proteínas da saliva. Neste trabalho mostramos que após o tratamento crônico com reserpina, uma droga simpatolítica, houve alteração na síntese de diferentes proteínas em glândulas submandibulares e parótidas relacionadas com vários processos biológicos e a posterior administração de agonistas de adrenoceptores reverteu esses efeitos. Além disso, na glândula parótida, a estimulação da inervação simpática é importante para o processo de exocitose das proteínas secretadas. Esses resultados sugerem que a inervação simpática possui um importante papel para a funcionalidade das glândulas salivares de camundongos, isto é, mantendo estas glândulas em constante estado de ativação, regulando a síntese de diferentes proteínas dessas glândulas ou promovendo a exocitose de proteínas da saliva. Além disso, os resultados mostram que a inervação simpática atua de maneira diferente nas glândulas submandibulares e parótidas de camundongos. / Data in literature show that sympathetic outflow has a role only in stimulating synthesis and secretion of the saliva proteins in mammals. We show that after chronic treatment with reserpine, a sympatholytic drug, there were changes in the synthesis of different proteins in submandibular and parotid glands associated with various biological processes and subsequent administration of adrenoceptor agonists reversed these effects. Furthermore, in the parotid gland, stimulation of the sympathetic outflow is important to the process of exocytosis of secretory proteins. These results suggest that sympathetic outflow plays an important role for the functionality of the mouse salivary glands, namely, keeping these glands in a constant activated stage, regulating the synthesis of different proteins in these glands or promoting the exocytosis of saliva proteins. Furthermore, these results show that the sympathetic outflow acts differently in the mouse.

Apesar de não alterar a pressão de normotensos, o treinamento físico (T) promove importantes ajustes periféricos e adapatações centrais do controle cardiovascular mediados pelo vago e simpático. Neste trabalho investigamos os efeitos do T (55% da capacidade máxima) sobre a inervação simpática vascular para os territórios muscular esquelético (locomotor e não locomotor) e renal e adrenais, através de imunohistoquimica e Western Blot para Tirosina-Hidroxilase (TH). T aumentou a capacidade física (+0,07±0,06 Km/h) e reduziu a FC (de 327±7 para 308±10 bpm), sem alterar a PA (126mmHg) e a estrutura de arteriolas dos diferentes territórios. T também determinou redução na imunoreatividade para TH nos músculos locomotores (-48%, p<0,05), sem alterações nos não locomotores e rins. A noradrenalina na artéria femoral (HPLC) encontrava-se reduzida após T. Nenhuma alteração foi detectada nas catecolaminas adrenais.Os dados indicam, que o T não altera as catecolaminas plasmáticas, mas reduz a atividade simpática vascular em normotensos, sendo este efeito tecido-específico. / Exercise training (T) does not reduce pressure in normotensive, but causes peripheral and central adjustments on cardiovascular system, mediated by autonomic nervous system. In this study we investigated whether T (55% maximal exercise capacity) is able to change vascular sympathetic drive to skeletal muscle (locomotor, non-locomotor), kidney and adrenals, using immunohistochemistry and western blot for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). T improved performance (+0,07±0,06 Km/h) and reduced resting HR (from 327±7 to 308±10 bpm) without changing MAP (126mmHg) and arterioles wall/ lumen ratio in any tissue. T caused 48% decrease on TH-immunoreactivity of exercised muscles arterioles, without changes on non-exercised tissues. Norepinephrine concentration on femoral arteries was reduced after T. There was no change on adrenal. TH content. Decreased sympathetic drive to skeletal muscles arterioles (without changes on plasma cathecolamines) is a beneficial, tissue-specific effect in normotensive individuals.

A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome clínica de alta incidência e mau prognóstico, caracterizada por fadiga, dispnéia e grande limitação aos esforços físicos. Essas alterações não estão apenas limitadas ao comprometimento cardíaco, mas em parte, são decorrentes também de alterações morfo-funcionais da musculatura esquelética. Para a dissertação foram utilizados camundongos com deleção dos genes para os receptores ?2A e ?2C adrenérgicos (KO) que desenvolvem cardiomiopatia induzida por hiperatividade simpática, associada à sinais clínicos de IC e 50% de mortalidade aos sete meses de idade. Foi objetivo desse estudo realizar a caracterização fenotípica do músculo esquelético por meio de avaliações funcionais e morfológicas em camundongos KO previamente ao desenvolvimento da IC (três meses de idade), e ao longo de sua progressão (cinco e sete meses de idade). Somente na faixa etária de sete meses de idades foi constatado o estabelecimento da miopatia muscular esquelética. Nessa fase, observou-se rarefação vascular, atrofia muscular, aumento na porcentagem de fibras glicolíticas e redução na atividade máxima da enzima citrato sintase, que em conjunto, contribuem para a antecipação da fadiga observada nesse modelo, e como conseqüência, para a redução da tolerância aos esforços. Os resultados sugerem que os camundongos KO apresentam alterações morfo-funcionais da musculatura esquelética semelhantes às observadas nos demais modelos de IC e em indivíduos portadores dessa síndrome. Portanto, sendo um ótimo modelo experimental para estudos de futuras estratégias terapêuticas que visem minimizar as alterações na musculatura esquelética decorrentes da IC / Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with high incidence and bad prognostic, characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, and increased intolerance to exercise. These changes are not only related to the cardiovascular tissue, but are at least in part, consequence of morphofunctional alterations in skeletal muscles. To the present study it was used mice lacking both ?2A/?2C AR subtypes (KO) which develop cardiomyopathy induced by sympathetic hyperactivity, associated to clinical signals of HF and 50% of mortality at seven months of age. The aim of the present study was characterize the phenotype of skeletal muscle by functional and morphological evaluations in KO before (three months of age) and during the HF progression (five and seven months of age). Skeletal muscle alterations due HF were observed only at seven months of age. The alterations were characterized by vascular rarefaction, muscular atrophy, increase in glycolitic fibers percentage and reduction of maximal activity of citrate synthase and contributed with early fatigue observed in this model, and consequently, exercise intolerance. The results of present study suggest that KO mice present morphofunctional changes in skeletal muscles in a similarly to others models of HF and in patients that have this syndrome. Therefore, consisting in an excellent experimental model to future studies related to therapeutic strategies to minimize the skeletal muscle changes due HF