N^6,O^2' -Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bt_2cAMP) was investigated for its effects on various tissue culture cells infected with temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant, LA31 and Bratislava 77 (B77), a wild-type Rous sarcoma virus. Specifically, known parameters of transformation were investigated and a possible site of action has been tenably proposed. The drug Bt_2cAMP was found to have little effect on the transformation related properties of primary chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with either virus or normal rat kidney fibroblasts (NRK) infected with the wild-type B77-RSV. However, significant inhibition of the transforming properties in NRK infected with the ts mutant LA31 (LA31-NRK) were reported at the permissive temperature 33 degrees centigrade (33 C).

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by at least six weeks of lower urinary tract symptoms and unpleasant sensations (pain, pressure and discomfort) thought to be related to the urinary bladder and not meeting exclusion criteria. While the etiology is not known, BPS/IC may involve a "vicious circle" of uroepithelial dysfunction, inflammation and peripheral and central sensitization. We propose that the urinary bladder inflammatory insult partly mediates voiding dysfunction and visceral neurogenic pain characteristic of BPS/IC. Several studies from our laboratory have already demonstrated the role(s) of cytokines and their downstream targets in the functional alterations in micturition reflex pathways following chemically (cyclophosphamide, CYP)-induced cystitis. More recently, the pleiotropic protein, TGF-β, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CYP-induced cystitis. TGF-β is activated locally at the initial site of injury by protease-dependent or protease-independent mechanisms to initiate a proinflammatory milieu. Depending on its contextual cues, TGF-β may then aid in resolving the primary immune response and support tissue repair. Though TGF-β is necessary to maintain normal immunological function, its aberrant expression and activation may have detrimental effects on responding tissues and cell types. A sustained increase in peripheral TGF-β reactivity, such as what may be observed in chronic inflammatory bladder conditions, may influence bladder afferent excitability to amplify nociceptive transmission and CNS input. The subsequent sensitization of peripheral afferent nociceptors at the level of the DRG or urothelium may promote spinal cord "wind-up" and cascade into visceral hyperalgesia and allodynia. In the first aim of this dissertation we investigated the functional profile of TGF-β isoforms and receptor (TβR) variants in the normal and inflamed (CYP-induced cystitis) urinary bladder with qRT-PCR, ELISA, IHC and in vivo cystometry. Our studies determined (i) the involvement of TGF-β in lower urinary tract neuroplasticity following urinary bladder inflammation, (ii) a functional role for TGF-β signaling in the afferent limb of the micturition reflex and (iii) urinary bladder TβR-1 as a viable target to reduce voiding frequency with cystitis. In the second aim of this dissertation we investigated the sensory components of the urinary bladder that may underlie the pathophysiology of aberrant TGF-β activation with bladder-pelvic nerve electrophysiology and luciferin-luciferase assays for ATP measurement. Our studies determined that TGF-β1 increased bladder afferent nerve excitability by stimulating ATP release from the urothelium via vesicular exocytosis mechanisms with minimal contribution from pannexin-1 channels. Furthermore, blocking aberrant TGF-β signaling in CYP-induced cystitis with TβR-1 inhibition decreased afferent nerve excitability with an equivalent decrease in ATP release. Taken together, these results establish a causal link between an inflammatory mediator, TGF-β, and intrinsic signaling mechanisms of the urothelium that may contribute to the altered sensory processing of bladder filling to facilitate increased voiding frequency. The distinct interactions of multiple mediators underscore the challenges for single target therapies and support the development of combinatory therapeutics for bladder dysfunction. Ultimately, these studies have increased our understanding of functional disorders and visceral pain and have the potential to improve the health of those suffering from inflammation-associated bladder syndromes.

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis, a dynamic and coordinated multistep process which requires more than 150 trans-acting factors, has been intensely studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This evolutionarily conserved process involves numerous cleavages of pre-rRNA, modification of nucleotides, and concomitant assembly of the ribosomal proteins onto the rRNA. Considerable information is available about the importance of conserved pre-rRNA cleavage events in ribosome biogenesis; however, very little is known about the exact role of modified nucleotides, which cluster within the functionally important regions of the ribosome. One conserved group of modifications is the dimethylation of two adjacent adenosines at the 3´ end of the small subunit rRNA which is ubiquitously carried out by the Dim1/KsgA methyltransferase family. Although dimethylation and KsgA are dispensable for survival in bacteria, the eukaryotic enzyme Dim1 is essential because of its requirement in the early pre-rRNA processing events. Similarly, few other members of the family have also evolved to carryout a second unrelated function in the cell. Almost all of the information about Dim1 was obtained from in vivo experiments in yeast, and has been determined that it is an indispensable part of a RNA-protein complex carrying out the pre-rRNA processing. Sequence analysis clearly shows that eukaryotic and archaeal enzymes have an extra insert in their C-terminal domain which is absent in bacterial enzymes and a better understanding of Dim1's function is only possible by its structural characterization which is the aim of this study. After several attempts, the yeast Dim1p was expressed under mild conditions in E. coli and purified in soluble form. Dim1p was able to methylate bacterial 30S subunits both in vivo and in vitro, indicating its ability to recognize bacterial substrate. Supporting our hypothesis, neither the bacterial nor archaeal orthologs were able to complement the processing function of Dim1p in yeast, tested using the plasmid shuffling technique. Our results suggest that the C-terminal insert of Dim1p, along with some structural features of the N-terminal domain, is important for its function in pre-rRNA processing. Further studies are required to understand the complex interactions between proteins and RNA involved in the ribosome biogenesis.

Cell damage represents a major pathomechanism in many diseases of high clinical interest, such as myocardial infarction (MI), where it plays an important role in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Considerable progress has been made towards identifying physiological and pharmacological agents that play a key role in myocardial preconditioning against I/R injury and also elucidating the molecular changes leading to such protection.Second messengers in cellular signaling pathways, such as cGMP have been well implicated as key players in ischemic and pharmacological preconditioning (PC) of the heart. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) is an enzyme that specifically hydrolyzes cGMP thereby decreasing its tissue concentration. Sildenafil is a potent selective inhibitor of PDE-5 and therefore allows the accumulation of cGMP in several tissues shown to express PDE-5, including pulmonary and coronary arteries. We initially hypothesized that vasodilation induced by sildenafil may release several endogenous mediators including adenosine, bradykinin or nitric oxide (NO), that may trigger a signaling cascade leading to protection against I/R injury. Our results show that sildenafil, at a clinically relevant dose, induced powerful acute and delayed cardioprotection against I/R injury in an in vivo rabbit model via opening of mitoKATP channels. The acute cardioprotective effect of sildenafil was dependent on activation of protein kinase C in rabbits. Moreover, we observed that sildenafil induced delayed PC by NO produced through activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the mouse heart. The expression of iNOS/eNOS was regulated by ERK phosphorylation and the delayed protection against I/R was blocked by PD98059, a selective ERK inhibitor. Furthermore, sildenafil-induced delayed protection was abolished in the intact heart as well as adult myocytes derived from adenosine A1 receptor knock-out mice suggesting an essential role of A1 receptor in protection. Taken together, these studies suggest that sildenafil is a powerful tool to reduce I/R injury in the animal models. Future clinical studies with relatively safe and effective PDE-5 inhibitors may have an enourmous impact on the use of these compounds in reducing I/R injury in the heart and other organs.

Mammalian neurons exhibit extreme sensitivity to oxygen deprivation and undergo rapid and irreversible degeneration when oxygen supply is curtailed. Though several neuroprotective pathways are activated during oxygen deprivation, their analyses are masked by the complex series of pathological events which are triggered simultaneously. Such events can be analyzed in the anoxia tolerant fresh water turtle, which can inherently survive the conditions of oxygen deprivation and post-anoxic reoxygenation without brain damage. It is likely in such a model that modulation of a particular molecular pathway is adaptive rather than pathological. The major objective behind this study was to analyze the intracellular signaling pathways mediating the protective effects of adenosine, a potential neuromodulator, and its effect on cell survival by influencing the key prosurvival proteins that prevent apoptosis. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that adenosine acts as a neuroprotective metabolite and its action can be duplicated or abrogated using specific agonist and antagonists. Stimulating the adenosine receptors using selective A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) activated the presumed prosurvival ERK and P13-K/AKT cascade promoting cell survival, and suppression of the receptor using the selective antagonist DPCPX (8- cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine) activated the prodeath JNK and P38 pathways. The complex regulation of the MAPK's/AKT signaling cascades was also analyzed using their specific inhibitors. The inhibiton of the ERK and AKT pathway increased cell death, indicating a prosurvival role, whereas inhibiton of the JNK and p38 pathway increased cell survival in this model. In vitro studies have also shown a high Bcl-2/BAX ratio during anoxia and reoxygenation, indicating a strong resistance to cell death via apoptosis. / Silencing of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene using specific siRNA upregulated levels of prodeath BAX, thus altering the Bcl-2/BAX ratio and elevating cleaved Caspase-3 levels leading to increased cell death. Another promising neuroprotective target which we analyzed was Neuroglobin, which was induced during oxygen crisis and silencing this gene indicated that its plays a major role in modulation of ROS. This study strongly emphasizes the advantages of an alternate animal model in elucidating neuroprotective mechanisms and revealing novel therapeutic targets which could eventually help clinicians to design new stroke therapies based on naturally tolerant organisms. / by Gauri Nayak. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Esta tese está organizada basicamente em quatro capítulos. O Capítulo I aborda as linhas gerais do presente trabalho, onde o sistema nervoso é caracterizado por um mosaico de redes neurais altamente organizadas, as quais promovem o controle e a manutenção das atividades vitais do corpo humano. Redes neurais geneticamente enfraquecidas podem predispor os indivíduos a desenvolver diversas patologias. Moléculas neuromodulatórias podem atuar fortalecendo estas redes, colaborando com o controle destas doenças. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é estudar a ação de duas moléculas neuromodulatórias endógenas, a adenosina e a co-chaperona BAG-2, sobre redes neurais específicas associadas à hipertensão essencial e à doença de Azheimer, contribuindo, assim, para o melhor entendimento, controle e prevenção destas patologias. O Capítulo II analisa os possíveis efeitos da adenosina sobre o controle neural da pressão arterial associado à patologia da hipertensão essencial, especificamente no núcleo do trato solitário (NTS) de ratos normotensos (WKY) e espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR). O primeiro artigo científico do presente trabalho (Capítulo II) demonstra que os receptores A1 de adenosina, além de estarem distribuídos de forma heterogênea dentro do NTS estão aumentados em ratos hipertensos quando comparados a ratos normotensos. Esta diferença parece preceder o desenvolvimento da hipertensão nestes animais. O segundo artigo científico (Capítulo II) descreve que os receptores A1 de adenosina são capazes de aumentar tanto o número como a afinidade dos receptores alfa2-adrenérgicos dentro de núcleos específicos do NTS. Esta ação modulatória é diferenciada em ratos hipertensos quando comparados a ratos normotensos, sugerindo uma importante alteração associada à hipertensão nestes animais. No terceiro artigo científico (Capítulo II) foi observado que a ação modulatória desencadeada pelos receptores A1 de adenosina sobre os receptores alfa2-adrenérgicos é dependente de fosfolipase C (PLC) e parece, também, ser diferenciada em ratos hipertensos quando comparados a ratos normotensos. Neste contexto, os resultados destes três trabalhos sugerem que a ativação dos receptores A1 de adenosina, em certas condições, poderia estar sensibilizando sistemas hipotensores dentro de subnúcleos específicos do NTS através dos receptores alfa2-adrenérgicos utilizando fosfolipase C como mensageiro intracelular. Este mecanismo poderia estar associado ao desenvolvimento da hipertensão essencial. O Capítulo III analisa os possíveis efeitos da co-chaperona BAG-2 sobre a proteína Tau. Agregados desta proteína são uma das características histopatológicas marcantes encontradas no encéfalo de pacientes com mal de Alzheimer. Foi demonstrado no presente trabalho um elegante mecanismo de degradação da proteína Tau fosforilada, uma isoforma considerada tóxica para o ambiente intracelular, através da co-chaperona BAG-2. Esta molécula tem a capacidade de inibir a atividade da chaperona CHIP, uma ligase de ubiquitina, impossibilitando a ubiquitinação e conseqüente degradação da proteína Tau pela via proteossomo ubiquitina-dependente. Foi observado que a proteína BAG-2 se associa fisicamente à proteína Tau, alterando a via de degradação ubiquitina-dependente para uma via não muito usual, ubiquitina-independente. A supressão da proteína BAG-2 leva a um aumento nos níveis de Tau em neurônios e sua superexpressão, uma diminuição. Foi observado, também, que a supressão da proteína BAG-2 pode levar a formação de agregados filamentosos, sugerindo que o efeito modulatório da proteína BAG-2 poderia estar relacionado com a remoção dos agregados intracelulares encontrados em pacientes com a doença de Alzheimer. Concluindo, BAG-2 poderia ser um importante alvo farmacológico para o tratamento desta patologia. Por fim, o capítulo IV encerra o presente trabalho com considerações finais importantes para o estudo, prevenção e controle de patologias multifatoriais como a hipertensão essencial e a doença de Alzheimer. Este estudo sugere que a adenosina e a co-chaperona BAG-2 poderiam ser alvos farmacológicos interessantes, que em conjunto com outras subtâncias, poderiam colaborar com o fortalecimento de redes neurais geneticamente enfraquecidas as quais predispõem os indivíduos a desenvolver tais patologias / Adenosine has been shown to modulate cardiovascular control at the levels of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). This study shows the distribution and density of adenosine A1 receptor within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats from birth to adulthood (1,15,30 and 90 day-old). [3H]DPCPX was used as a ligant for in vitro autoradiography. The NTS shows heterogeneous distribution of adenosine A1 receptor in dorsomedial/dorsolateral, subpostremal and medial/intermediate subnuclei. Adenosine A1 receptor decrease in dorsomedial/dorsolateral according to rostral-caudal levels of 15, 30 and 90 day-old WKY and SHR rats. On the other hand, those receptors increase in subpostremal according to rostral-caudal levels of 30 and 90 days old WKY, and of 15, 30 and 90 day-old SHR. Furthermore, adenosine A1 receptors are increased in SHR as compared with WKY in dorsomedial/dorsolateral of 30 and 90 day-old rats and in subpostremal of 15, 30 and 90 day-old rats. Surprisingly, even in 15 days old SHR rats when hypertension is not yet apparent, [3H]DPCPX values were increased. Finally, adenosine A1 receptors increase from 1 to 30 day-old rats. Medial/intermediate did not show any changes in adenosine A1 receptors according rostral-caudal levels, age or strain. In summary, our result highlights the importance of A1 adenosine system regarding the neural control of blood pressure and the development of hypertension. Adenosine is known to modulate neuronal activity within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). The modulatory effect of adenosine A1 receptors on alpha2-adrenoceptors was evaluated by quantitative radioautography within NTS subnuclei and by neuronal culture using normotensive (WKY) and hypertensive (SHR) rats. Radioautography was used to perform saturation experiment in order to obtain alpha2-adrenoceptors binding parameters (Bmax, KD) in the presence of 3 concentrations of CPA, an adenosine A1 receptor agonist. Neuronal culture was performed to confirm radioautoraphic results. [3H]RX821002, an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, was used as a ligand for both approaches. Dorsomedial/dorsolateral subnucleus of WKY showed an increase in Bmax values (21%) induced by 10nM of CPA. However, subpostremal subnucleus showed a decrease in KD, values (24%) induced by 10nM of CPA. SHR showed the same pattern of changes within the same nuclei as compared with WKY; however the modulatory effect of CPA was induced by 1nM (increased Bmax, 17%; decreased KD, 26%). Cell culture confirmed these results, since 10-[5M and 10[-7M of CPA promoted an increase in [[3[H]RX821002 binding of WKY (53%) and SHR cells (48%), respectively. DPCPX, an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, was used to block the modulatory effect promoted by CPA on alpha2-adrenoceptors binding. In conclusion, our study show, for the first time, a specific cross talk between adenosine A1 receptors increasing the binding of alpha2-adrenoceptors within the NTS, which might be important to understand the complex autonomic response induced by adenosine within the NTS. In addition, changes in the interaction between receptors might be relevant to understand the development of hypertension. Adenosine acts at many sites to modulate neuronal activity. The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is known as a major brain site in cardiovascular control. Previous studies from our group have shown the adenosine A1 receptors increase the binding of alpha2-adrenoceptors within the NTS, suggesting the important role of adenosine in cardiovascular control. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the intracellular signaling responsible for such process using brainstem cell culture of Wistar (WR) rats by means of binding assay. 8 different concentration of CPA (10[-4 to 10[-11), an A1 adenosine agonist, were used to modulate [[3[H]RX821002 binding, an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist. DPCPX, an A1 adenosine antagonist, was used to block the modulatory effect of CPA on [3VH]RX821002 binding. 10-5M of CPA promote an increase in [[3H]RX821002 binding. The intracellular cascade involved in such modulatory process were evaluated using different intracellular signaling molecules inhibitors and two queletors [SQ22536, an adenylyl cyclase (AC) inhibitor, U-73122, an phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, Xestospongin C, an IP3 receptor inhibitor, Ro318220, an protein kinase calcium dependent (PKC), BAPTA, an intracellular calcium quelator, EGTA, an extracelular calcium quelator]. U-73122, Xestospongin C, Ro3326 and BAPTA were capable to inhibit the effect promoted by adenosine A1 receptor on [3H]RX821002 binding suggesting a modulation PLC, PKC, IP3 and Ca2+ dependent pathway. In conclusion, our study show, for the first time, that adenosine A1 receptor modulates the alpha2-adrenoceptors through a non-canonical phospholipase C dependent pathway. This result might be important to understand the adenosine role within the NTS in cardiovascular control. Tau inclusions are a prominent feature of many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer\'s disease. Their presence suggests a failure in Tau degradation. The components of a Tau protein triage system consisting of CHIP/Hsc70 and other chaperones and co-chaperones have begun to emerge. However, the site of triage and the master regulatory elements have not yet been described. We have discovered an elegant mechanism of Tau degradation involving the co-chaperone BAG-2. BAG-2 binds to CHIP inhibiting its activity as an ubiquitine ligase preventing Tau ubiquitination. Tau bound to the microtubule and recruits BAG-2 where it clears Tau through an ubiquitin-independent proteossoma 20S dependent pathway. BAG-2 acts on Tau at precisely the site where it undergoes phosphorylation-dependent binding to the microtubule, more importantly, where it becomes vulnerable to misfolding and aggregation. Under conditions of proteasomal 26S blockade, Tau undergoes caspase mediated degradation. BAG-2 represents a critical point in clearing Tau that is prone to assembling into filaments. The suppression of BAG-2 leads to increased phosphorilated tau in neurons and its over-expression decreases phosphorilated tau.

While coffee culture has long since been positively associated with intellectual and working life, the health and safety of its primary stimulant, caffeine, has recently fallen under scrutiny by the FDA. This medical anthropology thesis provides a biocultural synthesis of caffeine culture, health effects, and biological variation in adverse effects related to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Supporting evidence for variation in responses to caffeine was found through surveying 100 participants, investigating caffeine consumption levels, perceptions and health beliefs, adverse effects experienced, and medical encounters. Increased rates of adverse effects were found for students, pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drug users, and for participants reporting negative or ambivalent perceptions of caffeine, intolerance, or sensitivity to caffeine. Variation in rates of adverse effects suggests biocultural interactions account not only for patterns in pharmacological data, but are also clinically significant in constructing risk of caffeine intoxication. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Submitted by PPG Biologia Celular e Molecular (bcm@pucrs.br) on 2018-05-24T14:27:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FABIANO_PERES_MENEZES_TES.pdf: 24793474 bytes, checksum: 8b7fdf3efa2bb4839dd339d485cee522 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2018-06-11T14:26:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 FABIANO_PERES_MENEZES_TES.pdf: 24793474 bytes, checksum: 8b7fdf3efa2bb4839dd339d485cee522 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-11T14:31:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FABIANO_PERES_MENEZES_TES.pdf: 24793474 bytes, checksum: 8b7fdf3efa2bb4839dd339d485cee522 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-16 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Epilepsy is the most serious neurological condition in the world. It is characterized by recurrent seizures from synchronous neuronal discharges. Disturbances in neuronal signaling in the early stages of development may lead to increased susceptibility to seizures in adulthood, as well as seizures in the early stages of development may lead to alterations in neurotransmission systems. Adenosinergic signaling is known to act as an endogenous anticonvulsant through its neuromodulatory function. Disturbances in adenosinergic signaling in early stages of development lead to changes in the susceptibility to seizures conditionally at the stage of development in which the disturbance occurs, and time of exposure to the disturbing agent. In the four chapters of this thesis, it was discussed about factors that influence the susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure under different aspects using zebrafish. In the first chapter, it was analyzed the influence of temperature on zebrafish sensitivity to PTZ as well as the ability of the MK-801 antagonist to reverse the effects of hyperthermia on susceptibility to PTZ-induced seizures. In addition, it was verifyed possible differences in the susceptibility to seizures according to gender or weight. In the second chapter, it was used transient molecular blockade through the morpholine technique to block the translation of the transcripts corresponding to the adenosinergic A1 and A2A receptors at the beginning of embryogenesis. The animals that underwent transient blockade were evaluated for survival rate and morphology, at 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) and locomotor activity and susceptibility to seizures caused by PTZ at 7 dpf and in adulthood. In the third chapter, it was used the morpholine technique to block the translation of the transcripts corresponding to the enzyme ecto-5'-nucleotidase and concentrative nucleoside transporters type 2 (CNT2) at the beginning of embryogenesis. The animals that underwent transient blockade were evaluated for survival rate and morphology at 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) and locomotor activity and susceptibility to seizures caused by PTZ at 7 dpf and in adulthood. In the fourth chapter, it was performed microinjection of the 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), antagonist of A1 receptor; ZM241385, A2A antagonist; caffeine, non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist; dipyridamole, equilibrative nucleoside transporter blocker (ENT) and Adenosine 5 '- (?, ?-methylene) diphosphate (AMPCP), ecto-5'-nucleotidase enzyme inhibitor, in zebrafish eggs (1 hour post -fertilization). The animals exposed to these drugs were evaluated for survival rate, morphology and locomotor activity at 7 dpf and susceptibility to seizures caused by PTZ at 7 dpf and in adulthood. These results indicated that hyperthermia increases the susceptibility of zebrafish to PTZ-induced seizures and that this effect is prevented by the administration of MK-801. In addition, there was no difference in susceptibility to PTZ dependent on gender or body mass. These results indicated that disturbances in adenosinergic signaling through blockade via morpholine or in the higher doses of the drugs mentioned above, caused a decrease in the survival rate and high rates of morphological changes. None of the approaches caused alterations in the locomotor activity in the initial phase of development, whereas in the adult phase, there were occasional changes. At 7dpf, none of the targets blocked by morpholine caused alterations in the susceptibility to seizures caused by PTZ, whereas among the targets blocked by drugs there was alteration mainly in animals microinjected with DPCPX, Caffeine and Dipyridamole. However, in the adult phase all the targets blocked by morpholine triggered in greater susceptibility to seizures, while those blocked by drugs showed changes in specific doses and seizure stage. These results corroborate a series of studies that report the importance of adenosinergic signaling in the early stages of development as well as the deleterious effects of both exogenous and endogenous perturbations in this signaling pathway. / A epilepsia ? a condi??o neurol?gica grave de maior incid?ncia no mundo. ? caracterizada por crises convulsivas recorrentes, provenientes de descargas neuronais sincr?nicas. Dist?rbios na sinaliza??o neuronal na fase inicial do desenvolvimento podem acarretar em aumento na suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas na fase adulta, assim como crises convulsivas na fase inicial do desenvolvimento podem acarretar em altera??es nos sistemas de neurotransmiss?o. A sinaliza??o adenosin?rgica reconhecidamente ? capaz de agir como um anticonvulsivante end?geno, atrav?s de sua fun??o neuromoduladora. Perturba??es na sinaliza??o adenosin?rgica em fases inicias do desenvolvimento acarretam em altera??es na suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas de forma condicional ao est?gio de desenvolvimento em que a perturba??o ocorre e tempo de exposi??o ao agente perturbador. Nos quatro cap?tulos integrantes dessa tese foram abordados, sob diferentes aspectos, fatores que influenciam a susceptibilidade a crise convulsiva provocada pela exposi??o ao pentilenotetrazol (PTZ) utilizando peixe-zebra. No primeiro cap?tulo, foi analisada a influ?ncia da temperatura na sensibilidade do peixe-zebra ao PTZ, bem como a capacidade do antagonista MK-801 de reverter os efeitos provocados pela hipertermia na suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas induzidas por PTZ. Al?m de serem verificadas as poss?veis diferen?as na suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas em fun??o do g?nero ou peso. No segundo cap?tulo, foi descrito o uso do bloqueio molecular transit?rio atrav?s da t?cnica de morfolinos para bloquear a tradu??o dos transcritos correspondentes aos receptores adenosin?rgicos A1 e A2A no inicio da embriog?nese. Os animais que sofreram o bloqueio transit?rio foram avaliados quanto a taxa de sobreviv?ncia e morfologia at? os 7 dias p?s-fertiliza??o (dpf) e atividade locomotora e suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas provocadas por PTZ aos 7 dpf e na fase adulta. No terceiro cap?tulo, foi descrito o uso da t?cnica de morfolinos para bloquear a tradu??o dos transcritos correspondentes a enzima ecto-5?-nucleotidase (e5?nt) e transportadores concentrativos de nucleos?deo tipo 2 (CNT2) no inicio da embriog?nese. Os animais que sofreram o bloqueio transit?rio foram avaliados quanto a taxa de sobreviv?ncia e morfologia aos 7 dpf e atividade locomotora e suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas provocadas por PTZ aos 7dpf e na fase adulta. No quarto cap?tulo, foi abordado o efeito da microinje??o de 8-Ciclopentil-1,3-dipropilxantina (DPCPX), antagonista do receptor A1; ZM241385 antagonista do receptor A2A; cafe?na, antagonista n?o-seletivo dos receptores de adenosina; dipiridamol, bloqueador do transportador equilibrativo de nucleos?deo (ENT) e Adenosina 5?-(?,?-metileno)difosfato (AMPCP), inibidor da enzima ecto-5?-nucleotidase, nos ovos do peixe-zebra (1 hora p?s-fertiliza??o). Os animais expostos a estes f?rmacos foram avaliados quanto a taxa de sobreviv?ncia, morfologia, atividade locomotora aos 7 dpf e suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas provocadas por PTZ aos 7dpf e na fase adulta. Nossos resultados apontam que a hipertermia aumenta a suscetibilidade do peixe-zebra a crises convulsivas provocadas por PTZ e que esse efeito ? prevenido pela administra??o de MK-801. Al?m disso, n?o houve diferen?a na suscetibilidade do PTZ dependente de g?nero ou massa corporal. Nossos resultados indicam que perturba??es na sinaliza??o adenosin?rgica atrav?s de bloqueio via morfolinos ou nas doses mais altas dos f?rmacos acima citados, provocaram diminui??o na taxa de sobreviv?ncia e altas taxas de altera??es morfol?gicas. Nenhuma das abordagens provocou altera??es na atividade locomotora na fase inicial do desenvolvimento, enquanto que na fase adulta foram verificadas altera??es pontuais. Aos 7dpf nenhum dos alvos bloqueados por morfolinos provocou altera??o na suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas provocadas por PTZ, enquanto que entre os alvos bloqueados por f?rmacos houve altera??o principalmente em animais microinjetados com DPCPX, Cafe?na e Dipiridamol. J? na fase adulta todos os alvos bloqueados por morfolinos desencadearam em maior suscetibilidade a crises convulsivas enquanto os bloqueados por f?rmacos exibiram altera??es em doses e est?gio de convuls?o espec?ficos. Esses resultados corroboram com uma s?rie de estudos que reportam a import?ncia da sinaliza??o adenosin?rgica na fase inicial do desenvolvimento, bem como os efeitos delet?rios provenientes de perturba??es tanto ex?genas quanto end?genas nessa via de sinaliza??o.

INTRODUÇÃO: Exercícios físicos são utilizados como terapia nãofarmacológica para o tratamento da hipertensão arterial e o treinamento físico (TF) por natação é reconhecido por produzir remodelamento cardíaco em animais experimentais. Entretanto, a ação vasodilatadora da adenosina (ado) resultante do exercício físico como prevenção e tratamento da hipertensão é pouco explorada. OBJETIVO: Avaliar remodelamento cardíaco e papel da adenosina na distribuição do fluxo sanguíneo para o miocárdio após treinamento físico em SHR. MÉTODO: 28 SHR machos babies e adultos foram submetidos ao TF aeróbio de natação, durante 10 semanas (5x/sem - 1h/dia). Foram utilizados protocolos de microesferas coloridas para avaliar fluxo sanguíneo, técnicas de morfologia para avaliar hipertrofia cardíaca e análises bioquímicas para verificar atividade de enzimas envolvidas na formação de adenosina. RESULTADOS: TF por natação atenuou a evolução da HA em SHR babies (S: 145±2; T: 140±2 mmHg), promoveu bradicardia de repouso em SHR adultos (S: 340±4; T: 321±6 bpm) e desenvolveu HC nos dois grupos (TB: 12%; TA: 10%). Na condição basal, o TF aumentou o FS coronário em SHR babies (S: 4745±2145; T: 6970±2374 mi/coração) e maior resposta vasodilatadora à infusão de adenosina foi observada (S: 18946±6685; T: 25045±7031 mi/coração). Nesse grupo o TF promoveu maior atividade da enzima 5-nucleotidase, levando à maior formação de adenosina (S: 0.45±0.09; T: 1.01±0.05). CONCLUSÃO: O TF de natação, além de desenvolver HC e apresentar maior hidrólise de AMP, promoveu aumento no FS coronário, sendo mostrado que desempenha um importante papel na regulação da hipertensão / ABSTRACT: Exercise training (ET) has been used as non-pharmacological therapy for hypertension treatment and the swimming physical training is recognized for yield cardiac remodeling in experiments. However, little is known on the effects of adenosine (Ado) resulting from ET as hypertension prevention and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardiac remodeling and the role of adenosine in cardiac blood flow distribution (BF) to the myocardium after aerobic ET on SHR. METHODS: 28 male SHR, babies and adults, were submitted to swimming training protocol during 10 weeks (5 times a week 1 h a day). Colored micro spheres protocols were used to evaluate blood flow, morphological techniques were used to evaluate cardiac hypertrophy and biochemical analysis were performed to verify enzyme activity in the adenosine formation. RESULTS: ET attenuated the evolution of hypertension in babies SHR group (S: 145±2; T: 140±2 mmHg), HR was lower in adults SHR (S: 340±4; T: 321±6 bpm) and CH increased in both groups (TB: 12%; TA: 10%). At basal condition, BF was increased in trained babies (S: 4745±2145; T: 6970±2374 mi/heart) and higher vasodilatation response were observed due to adenosine infusion (S: 18946±6685; T: 25045±7031 mi/heart). In this group, the ET promoted a higher 5- nucleotidase enzyme activity leading to a higher adenosine formation (S: 0.45±0.09; T: 1.01±0.05). CONCLUSION: The swimming training developed CH as well as increased adenosine formation, leading to higher coronary blood flow, being demonstrated its important role in hypertension regulation

Lau Chui Pik. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-122). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Importance of sinoatrial node in heart functions --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- The importance of Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) --- p.5 / "ATP as a neurotransmitter, cotransmitter and neuromodulator" --- p.5 / Role of ATP in the heart --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Importance of delayed rectifier potassium channels (Ik) in the heart --- p.9 / Delayed rectifier potassium channel --- p.10 / Properties of Ik channels in the sinoatrial nodal (SAN)cells --- p.11 / Importance of Ik on heart function --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Drug/hormone/neurotransmitter modulation of Ik --- p.15 / Drugs modulations of Ik --- p.15 / Hormones/neurotransmitters modulations of Ik --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Problems encountered in using extracellular ATP on experiments --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6 --- Classification of P2-purinergic receptors --- p.24 / Major nucleotide receptors --- p.24 / p2X receptors --- p.26 / p2Y receptors --- p.28 / 1.7Objectives of the experiment --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- --- Materials & Methods --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Solutions --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Enzymes --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Drugs --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Isolation of guinea pig SAN cells --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Identification of SAN region --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Obtaining of single SAN cells --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Preparation of micro-pipettes --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- The Patch Clamp Technique --- p.40 / Recording configurations --- p.41 / Electrical recordings --- p.44 / Formation of gigaseal on cell membrane and the development of whole-cell configuration --- p.45 / The changing of bathing solution and addition of drugs --- p.46 / The voltage clamp protocol --- p.47 / Data acquisition and analysis --- p.48 / Statistics --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- --- Results --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- The modulatory effect of different concentrations of [ATP]0 on IKs in guinea pig SAN cells --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Characterization of IKs currents --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Stimulatory effect of extracellular A TP on IKs current --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Current-Voltage relationship of ATP on IKs current --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Percentage increase of IKs current in the presence of different [ATP] o --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2 --- Investigation on whether the enhancement effect on IKs is due to ATP or its metabolite adenosine --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effect of 100 μMATP-γS and adenosine on IKs --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Percentage increase of IKs in the presence of adenosine and ATP-γS --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3 --- Investigation on whether or not G-protein signalling pathway involved in ATP-mediated response on SAN IKs --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effects of GTP-γS alone on IKs --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Effect of 100 μM ATP in the presence of GTP-yS on IKs --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- --- Discussion --- p.86 / Chapter 4.1 --- The modulatory effect of different concentrations of [ATP]0 on IKs in guinea pig SAN cells --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2 --- Investigation on whether the enhancement effect on IKs is due to ATP or its metabolite adenosine --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3 --- Investigation on whether or not G-protein signalling pathway involved in ATP-mediated response on SAN IKs --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4 --- Limitations of this study --- p.102 / Chapter 4.5 --- Future studies --- p.102 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- --- References --- p.104