Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to acquire knowledge about whether tactile touch as a complementary method can (i) promote comfort and (ii) reduce stress reactions during care in an intensive care unit (ICU) Method: In Paper I, five nurses with a touch therapist training were interviewed about their experiences of preparation before giving tactile touch in an ICU. To analyse the meaning of preparation as a phenomenon, Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological approach was used. In Paper II and III a randomised controlled trial was set up to investigate the effects of a five-day tactile touch intervention on patients’ oxytocin levels in arterial blood (II), on patients’ blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose level, and on patients’ levels of anxiety, sedation and alertness (III). Forty-four patients were randomised to either an intervention group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 23). Data were analysed with non-parametric statistics. In Paper IV, six patients who had received the tactile touch intervention were interviewed to illuminate the experience of receiving tactile touch during intensive care. To gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and to illuminate the meaning, Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutical method, developed by Lindseth and Norberg, was used. Findings: The nurses need four constituents (inner balance, unconditional respect for the patients’ integrity, a relationship with the patient characterized by reciprocal trust and a supportive environment) to be prepared and go through the transition from nurse to touch therapist (I). In the intervention study, no significant differences were shown for oxytocin levels between intervention and control group over time or within each day (II). There were significantly lower levels of anxiety for patients in the intervention group. There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups for blood pressure, heart rate, the use of drugs, levels of sedation or blood glucose levels (III). The significance of receiving tactile touch during intensive care was described as the creation of an imagined room along with the touch therapist. In this imagined room, the patients enjoyed tactile touch and gained hope for the future (IV). Conclusion: Nurses needed internal and external balance to be prepared for providing tactile touch. Patients did not notice the surroundings as much as the nurses did. Patients enjoyed the tactile touch and experienced comfort. The impact on stress parameters were limited, except for levels of anxiety which declined significantly. The results gave some evidence for the benefit of tactile touch given to patients in intensive care.

Chez les mammifères, l'attachement pour la mère, est caractérisé par un effet sécurisant de la présence de cette figure qui permet au jeune d'explorer son environnement. Plusieurs études ont suggéré qu’un attachement pouvait se développer pour des substituts maternels tels qu’un congénère ou un objet. Cette thèse sur l'agneau montre, au travers de l'évaluation des caractéristiques de l'attachement, l'absence d'un tel lien en absence de figure maternelle pour un congénère de même âge ou un objet. L'altération de l'attachement chez ces individus est associée à une modification de l'axe corticotrope (HPA) et du système ocytocinergique : les agneaux élevés en absence de figure maternelle montrent un stress accru à 24 heures de vie, traduit au niveau central par une réduction du nombre de neurones contenant de la corticolibérine et une augmentation de ceux contenant l'ocytocine à 21 jours. Cette étude suggère un rôle apaisant de la figure maternelle pouvant faciliter la mise en place de l'attachement et influençant le développement de l'axe HPA. Ce travail suggère par ailleurs l'implication de l'ocytocine dans l'adaptation du jeune à un contexte social stressant. / In mammals, attachment to the mother is characterized by a secure effect of the presence of such figure which allows the young to explore its environment. Several studies have suggested that attachment bond could develop for mother surrogates such as peers or objects. This thesis shows through the evaluation of attachment key features in lambs, the absence of attachment in motherless lambs for a same-aged peer or an object. The alteration of attachment in these individuals is associated with a modification of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis and the oxytocinergic system: peer- and object-reared lambs show physiological sign of stress 24h after birth, reflected at the central level by a decrease of the number of neurons containing corticoliberin and increase of those containing oxytocin at 21 days of age. This study suggests a soothing effect of the mother figure that could facilitate the establishment of attachment and influence the development of the HPA axis. This work also suggests the involvement of oxytocin in the young to cope with stressful early social context.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação de análogo sintético da prostaglandina F2 (PGF2 ) associado à carbetocina ou ocitocina sobre a eficiência na indução ao parto em suínos. Foram analisados o tempo entre aplicação e início do trabalho de parto, duração do parto e percentual de natimortalidade. A indução do parto foi realizada aos 113 dias de gestação através da aplicação do análogo da PGF2 (cloprostenol sódico) via submucosa vulvar (SMV). As ocitocinas foram aplicadas 24 horas após a indução, pela via intramuscular (IM). O experimento 1 contou com 284 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina; T4- solução salina 0,9% (NaCl) via SMV. O experimento 2 contou com 276 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 0,05 mg de carbetocina; T4- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos no número de leitões nascidos totais, nascidos vivos e percentual de partos com intervenção obstétrica manual. A sincronização dos partos é maior quando induzidos com cloprostenol comparado ao grupo não induzido. A utilização de cloprostenol associado à carbetocina resulta em menor duração do parto. / The present study aimed the analysis of a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2 (PGF2 ) associated to carbetocyn or oxytocin on the efficiency of farrowing induction in swine. The following variables were assessed: time between injections and start of farrowing, farrowing length and stillbirth percentage. Farrowing induction was performed at 113 days of gestation using injection of PGF2 analogue (sodium cloprostenol) by vulvar sub mucosal route (SMV). The oxytocins were used 24 hours after induction, by intra-muscular route (IM). Experiment 1 used 284 females in 4 treatments: T1-sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin; T4- saline solution by SMV route. Experiment 2 used 276 females in 4 treatments: T1- sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 0.05 mg of carbetocyn; T4- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin. There was no difference between treatments regarding number of total born piglets per farrowing, born alive and percentage of farrowing using manual obstetrical intervention. Farrowing synchronization was higher when induced with cloprostenol when compared to the noninduced group. The use of cloprostenol associated with carbetocyn resulted in a diminished farrowing length.

Submitted by Lilian Soares Pereira Carvalho (lilianpereiracarvalho@gmail.com) on 2016-10-14T12:42:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lilian_Carvalho.pdf: 1044443 bytes, checksum: 9e76130086e4bde5beb6377bb35a1fab (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamela Beltran Tonsa (pamela.tonsa@fgv.br) on 2016-10-14T12:43:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lilian_Carvalho.pdf: 1044443 bytes, checksum: 9e76130086e4bde5beb6377bb35a1fab (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-14T12:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Lilian_Carvalho.pdf: 1044443 bytes, checksum: 9e76130086e4bde5beb6377bb35a1fab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-02 / This dissertation is a set of three studies focusing on the implications of evolutionary psychology (EP) to consumer behavior research. EP derives from the Darwinian theory of evolution and posits that just as our bodies are subject to natural and sexual selection, also our minds are adapted to their environment and, as such, we can investigate the biological basis of our behaviors. The first study is a theoretical article, focusing on the effects of hormone oxytocin (OXT) on consumer behavior. OXT has been shown to have effects on maternal care, attachment, relationships, and trust. This hormone is the focus of studies in behavioral economics, psychology and neurology, with obvious implications for consumer behavior. Previous studies on OXT have shown that oxytocin is related to our social life, i.e. related to situations with family and friends, as well as increasing our attention to the social cues in our faces (as eye gaze and smiles). Research on OXT and other hormones opens a new era of interdisciplinary studies on consumer behavior, in which researchers can incorporate psychometric measures (answered by research subjects) to biological features, as OXT, endorsing and validating findings that go beyond responses to questionnaires. It is thus possible to investigate the biological basis of consumer behavior regarding the effects of OXT on measures such as brand trust, and others. The second article is an experimental study, double-blinded, that checks the effects of OXT on brand trust. The results show that OXT is context-dependent, and it shows its most prominent results when the brand relates to social situations (friends and family). Three experiments were conducted comparing known and unknown brands, the country of origin effect and social and status brands. Known and unknown brands improved their brand trust measures when respondents were under the effect of OXT compared to placebo. Furthermore, social brands had the most pronounced effects of OXT when compared to status brands. Thus, this is first study to show positive effects of OXT on brand trust. The final study is an investigation of the post-modern epistemology to the positivist paradigm in the sex vs. gender subject. Various researchers posit that gender is as a new paradigm for our generation, in which every individual can choose his set of male and female characteristics. But when comparing the effect of biological sex vs. gender (using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory) in retaliatory behaviors in a consumer setting, only sex was able to explain the differences in behavior, not gender. Although post-modernists affirm that our biology only affects our gender as far as our genitals are concerned, differences in retaliatory behaviors are better explained by sex, not gender, corroborating the positivist epistemology. / Essa tese é um conjunto de três estudos tendo como pano de fundo teórico a psicologia evolucionista. Esta deriva da teoria da evolução darwiniana e postula que, assim como nossos corpos foram sujeitos à seleção natural e sexual, também nossas mentes são adaptações ao ambiente e por isso podemos investigar as bases biológicas de nossos comportamentos. O primeiro artigo, teórico, foca no hormônio oxitocina, cujos efeitos vão do cuidado materno até a confiança. Esse hormônio é objeto de estudo da economia comportamental, da psicologia e da neurologia, com implicações óbvias para o comportamento do consumidor. Estudos prévios comprovam que a oxitocina é um hormônio relacionado à nossa vida social, i.e. relacionado a situações com família e amigos, além de aumentar nossa atenção às “pistas” sociais em nossas faces (como olhares ou sorrisos). A pesquisa com oxitocina, e outros hormônios abre uma nova era de estudos interdisciplinares no comportamento do consumidor, na qual os pesquisadores podem aliar medidas psicométricas respondidas pelos sujeitos de pesquisa, mas adicionando o elemento biológico, referendando e validando achados que vão além de respostas a questionários. É possível, assim, investigar as bases biológicas do comportamento do consumidor. O segundo artigo é um estudo experimental, duplo-cego, que verifica os efeitos da oxitocina na confiança da marca. Os resultados mostram que a oxitocina tem efeito dependente do contexto, sendo seus resultados mais proeminentes quando as marcas se valem de apelos que relembrem família e amigos. Foram realizados três experimentos, comparando marcas conhecidas e desconhecidas, efeito do país de origem e marcas sociais e de status. Marcas conhecidas e desconhecidas tiveram a confiança aumentada quando os respondentes estavam sob o efeito da oxitocina, quando comparado com o placebo. Além disso, marcas sociais tiveram efeitos mais pronunciados da oxitocina, quando comparados com marcas de status. Assim, fica pela primeira vez registrado o efeito da oxitocina na confiança da marca. O último estudo é uma investigação sobre a epistemologia relativista comparando-a ao paradigma positivista na questão sexo vs. gênero. Muito se fala do gênero como novo paradigma para nossa geração, na qual cada indivíduo poderá escolher seu conjunto de características femininas e masculinas. Mas, ao comparar o efeito do sexo biológico vs. o gênero (usando o inventário sexual de Bem), somente o sexo foi capaz de explicar as diferenças de sexo, não o gênero. Apesar de relativistas culturais afirmarem que a biologia do sexo só influencia a genitália dos seres humanos, o comportamento de retaliação em comportamento do consumo é explicado pelo sexo, e não pelo gênero dos indivíduos, corroborando a epistemologia positivista.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação de análogo sintético da prostaglandina F2 (PGF2 ) associado à carbetocina ou ocitocina sobre a eficiência na indução ao parto em suínos. Foram analisados o tempo entre aplicação e início do trabalho de parto, duração do parto e percentual de natimortalidade. A indução do parto foi realizada aos 113 dias de gestação através da aplicação do análogo da PGF2 (cloprostenol sódico) via submucosa vulvar (SMV). As ocitocinas foram aplicadas 24 horas após a indução, pela via intramuscular (IM). O experimento 1 contou com 284 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina; T4- solução salina 0,9% (NaCl) via SMV. O experimento 2 contou com 276 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 0,05 mg de carbetocina; T4- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos no número de leitões nascidos totais, nascidos vivos e percentual de partos com intervenção obstétrica manual. A sincronização dos partos é maior quando induzidos com cloprostenol comparado ao grupo não induzido. A utilização de cloprostenol associado à carbetocina resulta em menor duração do parto. / The present study aimed the analysis of a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2 (PGF2 ) associated to carbetocyn or oxytocin on the efficiency of farrowing induction in swine. The following variables were assessed: time between injections and start of farrowing, farrowing length and stillbirth percentage. Farrowing induction was performed at 113 days of gestation using injection of PGF2 analogue (sodium cloprostenol) by vulvar sub mucosal route (SMV). The oxytocins were used 24 hours after induction, by intra-muscular route (IM). Experiment 1 used 284 females in 4 treatments: T1-sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin; T4- saline solution by SMV route. Experiment 2 used 276 females in 4 treatments: T1- sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 0.05 mg of carbetocyn; T4- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin. There was no difference between treatments regarding number of total born piglets per farrowing, born alive and percentage of farrowing using manual obstetrical intervention. Farrowing synchronization was higher when induced with cloprostenol when compared to the noninduced group. The use of cloprostenol associated with carbetocyn resulted in a diminished farrowing length.

La sociabilité de l’homme est un phénomène complexe. Les théories dominantes essayant d'expliquer les mécanismes neurobiologiques de cette sociabilité ont largement impliqué l'ocytocine (OXT), un neuropeptide qui facilite de nombreuses fonctions et comportements sociaux. L'hypothalamus, parmi ses nombreuses fonctions, synthétise et sécrète l’OXT via son noyau supraoptique (SON) et le noyau paraventriculaire (PVN), faisant de lui un candidat intéressant pour comprendre les bases neurales de cette sociabilité. Dans cette thèse, qui combine trois études en imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM), nous avons examiné 1) les différences anatomiques au sein de l'hypothalamus entre des participants contrôles et des patients autistes; 2) l’activité de l'hypothalamus, et plus spécifiquement des sous-régions hypothalamiques incluant le SON et le PVN, en réponse à des visages portant différents niveaux de sociabilité; 3) les connections fonctionnelles que ces sous-régions hypothalamiques entretiennent avec d'autres réseaux cérébraux. Nos résultats révèlent une spécificité, tant dans leur activité fonctionnelle que dans leurs connections anatomiques, des deux sous-régions hypothalamiques (SON et PVN) en fonction du niveaux de sociabilité. Ce travail de thèse fournit donc non seulement de nouvelles méthodes pour explorer les petites sous-régions hypothalamiques mais confirme également le rôle de l’hypothalamus dans la sociabilité et ses anomalies, apportant ainsi un nouvel éclairage sur l’origine des dysfonctionnements sociaux dans l’autisme et d'autres pathologies. / Human sociality is a complex phenomenon. Prevailing theories attempting to explain the neurobiological mechanisms of human sociality have implicated neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), which facilitates numerous social functions and behaviors. The hypothalamus, among its many functions, also synthesizes and secretes OXT via its supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), making them viable candidates to understand the underpinnings of various social processes. This thesis combines three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies investigating 1) anatomical difference of the hypothalamus between neurotypics and patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); 2) functional MRI of the hypothalamus, specifically in hypothalamic subregions containing SON and PVN in response to faces of individuals with varying social significance; 3) functional connectivity of these hypothalamic subregions to other brain networks. Results revealed differential activity of hypothalamic subregions in response to various faces and distinctive patterns of connectivity to other brain areas that are involved in social cognition, as well as anatomical abnormalities of the hypothalamus in ASD. Altogether, the work in this thesis provides novel methods of measuring small hypothalamic subregions and supporting evidence of hypothalamic involvement in social functions that may also shed some light on social dysfunctions in ASD and other pathologies.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-06-01T12:02:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2264156 bytes, checksum: 5b49c1e05e29597d5088269704f06468 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T12:02:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2264156 bytes, checksum: 5b49c1e05e29597d5088269704f06468 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The central Ang II (ANG II) induces neuroendocrine, behavioral and cardiovascular responses. Knowing that AT1 and AT2 receptors for ANG II are located in neurons and glial cells in the lamina terminalis (LT), our hypothesis is that neuroendocrine, behavioral and cardiorespiratory responses induced by central ANG II are mediated by glia of lamina terminalis. Our aim was to evaluate the participation of the glia of lamina terminalis in the release of plasma vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT), water and sodium (1.5%) intake and cardiorespiratory responses induced by ANG II into lateral ventricle (LV). We used Wistar rats [(260-280g) Ceua/Cbiotec 133/2015]. We perform microinjections of ANG II diluted in sterile saline solution (0.9% saline) with final concentration of 25 ou 50 ng/0.5 μl and of Fluorocitrate [(FCt) inhibitor of glial activity] with final concentration of 21 ou 41 μg/0.5 μl or sterile saline 0.9% (500nl) into VL of the unanesthetized rats. Plasma was collected for analysis of AVP and OT concentration by radioimmunoassay. The analysis of the water and sodium (1.5%) intake were done after adaptation of animals to the metabolic cage. In another group of animals, the femoral artery was catheterizedfor the records of baseline blood pressure (BP, mmHg) and heart rate (HR, bpm). For the record the respiratory rate (cpm) the animals were placed in a plethysmographic chamber. The results showed that ANG II into VL promoted an increase in the AVP [2.3 ± 0.4 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1 pg/ml, p=0.039 (n=6)] and OT [3.9 ± 0.8 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 pg/ml, p=0.025 (n=6)] compared to the control saline (0.9%). FCt into VL increased plasma OT (2.6 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 pg/ml, p=0.024 (n=6)], but did not change the plasma AVP (0.99 ± 0.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1 pg/ml, p=0.78 (n=6)]. Prior microinjection of FCt attenuated ANG II-induced AVP (1.3 ± 0.2 vs 2.3 ± 0.4 pg/ml, p=0.05 (n=6)], but no OT (2.9 ± 0.4 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 pg/ml, p=0.31 (n=5-6).] The plasma release ANG II increased the cumulative water (5.3 ± 1.6 vs. 1.2 ± 0,4 ml/4 h, p=0.02 (n=4-6)] and sodium (1.5 %) intake [16 ± 1.1 vs. 2.5 ± 0.7 ml/4 h, p=0.0001 (n=5-6)]. The FCt did not change the cumulative water [1.3 ± 0.3 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4 ml/4 h, p=0.79 (n=5-6)], but decreased sodium (1.5 %) intake [0.83 ± 0.3 vs. 2.5 ± 0.7 ml/4 h, p=0.04 (n=6)]. Prior microinjection of FCt decrease the sodium intake [2.7 ± 0.3 vs. 16 ± 1.1 ml/4 h, p=0.0001 (n=5-7)], but did not change the water intake induced by ANG II [8 ± 2.4 vs. 5.3 ± 1.6 ml/4 h, p=0.44 (n=4-7)]. ANG II into VL promoted increase in baseline MAP [137.8 ± 4.9 vs. 115.1 ± 3.5 mmHg, p=0.002 (n=7)]. The pressor response promoted by ANG II was significantly reduced after 5 minutes by prior microinjection of FCt [Δ12.6 ± 2.1 vs. Δ22.6 ± 1.9 mmHg, p=0.004 (n=7)]. Did not change by ANG II [311.7 ± 37.9 vs. 352.4 ± 15 bpm, p=0.10 (n=7)] or FCt [310.4 ± 16.7 vs. 341.3 ± 14 bpm, p=0.18 (n=7)] in HR (bpm) baseline. The ANG II did not changes in respiratory rate (FR) [109.6 ± 5.9 vs. 105.9 ± 4.6 cpm, p=0.63 (n=6)], tidal volume (VC) [8.6 ± 0.7 vs. 7.8 ± 0.7 mL.Kg-1, p=0.43 (n=6)] or expiratory volume in the first minute (VM) [950.7 ± 98.2 vs. 873.5 ± 86.7 mL.Kg-1.min-1, p=0.57 (n=6)]. The microinjection of FCt promoted significant decrease in basal FR [77.7 ± 3.8 vs. 105.9 ± 4.6 cpm, p=0.002 (n=6)], but did not change in VC [9.7 ± 0.6 vs. 7.8 ± 0.7 mL.Kg-1, p=0.66 (n=6)] and VC [827.2 ± 57.3 vs. 873.5 ± 86.7 mL.Kg- 1.min-1, p=0.66 (n=6)]. Our results suggest that the hypothalamic glial cells: 1) participate of plasma OT release and sodium intake; 2) modulate ANG II-induced AVP plasma release, sodium intake and pressor response; 3) furthermore, modulate the basal respiratory rate in unanesthetized rats. / A Angiotensina II (ANG II) intracerebroventricular (icv) induz respostas neuroendócrinas, comportamentais e cardiovasculares. Sabendo que receptores AT1 e AT2 para ANG II estão localizados em neurônios e células da glia da lâmina terminal (LT), nossa hipótese é que as respostas neuroendócrinas, comportamentais e cardiorespiratórias induzidas pela ANG II central são mediadas, em parte, pela glia da lâmina terminal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a participação da glia da lâmina terminal na liberação de Vasopressina (AVP) e Ocitocina (OT) plasmáticas, ingestão de água e sódio (1,5 %) e nas respostas cardio-respiratórias induzidas pela microinjeção de ANG II no ventrículo lateral (VL) de ratos não anestesiados. Utilizamos ratos Wistar [(260-280g) Ceua/Cbiotec nº133/2015]. Realizamos microinjeções de ANG II diluída em solução fisiológica estéril (salina 0,9%) com concentração final de 25 e 50 ng/0.5 μl e Fluorocitrato [(FCt) um inibidor da atividade da glia] diluído com concentração final de 21 ou 41 μg/0.5 μl, ou de salina estéril 0,9% (500 nL) no VL de ratos não anestesiados. O plasma foi coletado para análise da concentração AVP e OT plasmáticas, pela técnica de radioimunoensaio. A análise da ingestão de água e sódio (1,5%) foi feita após a adaptação dos animais à gaiola metabólica. Em outro grupo de animais, a artéria femoral foi cateterizada para os registros da pressão arterial (PA, mmHg) e frequência cardíaca (FC, bpm) basais. Para o registro da frequência respiratória (cpm) os animais foram colocados em uma câmera pletismográfica. Os resultados mostraram que a ANG II no VL promoveu aumento na concentração de AVP [2,3 ± 0,4 vs. 1,3 ± 0,1 pg/ml, p=0,039 (n=6)] e OT plasmáticas [3,9 ± 0,8 vs. 1,4 ± 0,2 pg/ml, p=0,025 (n=6)] comparada ao controle salina 0,9%. O FCt microinjetado no VL promoveu aumento na liberação de OT plasmática (2,6 ± 0,4 vs. 1,4 ± 0,2 pg/ml, p=0,024 (n=6)], mas não alterou a concentração plasmática de AVP (0,99 ± 0,1 vs. 1,3 ± 0,1 pg/ml, p=0,78 (n=6)]. A prévia microinjeção de FCt atenuou a resposta à ANG II de aumento na concentração de AVP (1,3 ± 0,2 vs 2,3 ± 0,4 pg/ml, p=0,05 (n=6)], mas não de OT plasmática (2,9 ± 0,4 vs. 3,9 ± 0,8 pg/ml, p=0,31 (n=5-6)]. A ANG II no VL promoveu aumento na ingestão cumulativa de água (5,3 ± 1,6 vs. 1,2 ± 0,4 ml/4 h, p=0,02 (n=4-6)] e de sódio (1,5 %) [16 ± 1,1 vs. 2,5 ± 0,7 ml/4 h, p=0,0001 (n=5-6)]. O FCt não promoveu alterações na ingestão cumulativa de água [1,3 ± 0,3 vs. 1,2 ± 0,4 ml/4 h, p=0,79 (n=5-6)], mas reduziu a ingestão cumulativa de sódio (1,5%)[0,83 ± 0,3 vs. 2,5 ±0,7 ml/4 h, p=0,04 (n=6)]. A prévia microinjeção de FCt inibiu a resposta de ingestão de sódio (1,5%) [2,7 ± 0,3 vs. 16 ± 1,1 ml/4 h, p=0,0001 (n=5-7)], mas não alterou a ingestão de água induzida pela ANG II no VL [8 ± 2,4 vs. 5,3 ± 1,6 ml/4 h, p=0,44 (n=4- 7)]. A ANG II no VL promoveu aumento na PAM basal dos ratos [137,8 ± 4,9 vs. 115,1 ± 3,5 mmHg, p=0,002 (n=7)]. A resposta pressora promovida pela ANG II foi significativamente reduzida pela prévia microinjeção do FCt no VL após 5 minutos [Δ12,6 ± 2,1 vs. Δ22,6 ± 1,9 mmHg, p=0,004 (n=7)]. Não foram observadas alterações promovidas pela ANG II [311,7 ± 37,9 vs. 352,4 ± 15 bpm, p=0,10 (n=7)] ou FCt [310,4 ± 16,7 vs. 341,3 ± 14 bpm, p=0,18 (n=7)] na FC basal (bpm) dos animais. A microinjeção de ANG II não promoveu alterações significativas na frequência respiratória basal {FR [109,6 ± 5,9 vs. 105,9 ± 4,6 cpm, p=0,63 (n=6)]}, no volume corrente {VC [8,6 ± 0,7 vs. 7,8 ± 0,7 mL.Kg-1, p=0,43 (n=6)]} ou no volume/min. {VM [950,7 ± 98,2 vs. 873,5 ± 86,7 mL.Kg-1.min-1, p=0,57 (n=6)]}. A microinjeção de FCt promoveu diminuição significativa na frequência respiratória basal {FR [77,7 ± 3,8 vs. 105,9 ± 4,6 cpm, p=0,002 (n=6)]}, sem alterações significativas no VC [9,7 ± 0,6 vs. 7,8 ± 0,7 mL.Kg-1, p=0,66 (n=6)] e no VM basais [827,2 ± 57,3 vs. 873,5 ± 86,7 mL.Kg1.min1, p=0,66 (n=6)]. Nossos resultados sugerem que as células da glia hipotalâmicas: a) participam da modulação tônica da liberação de OT plasmática e da ingestão de sódio; b) modulam a resposta angiotensinérgica central para a liberação de vasopressina plasmática, indução da ingestão de sódio e de resposta pressora. c) além disso, participam da modulação da frequência respiratória basal em ratos não anestesiados.

Le lait est produit par les cellules épithéliales mammaires (CEM). La quantité de lait produit est déterminée par le nombre de CEM et leur activité métabolique. Le nombre de CEM dépend de l’équilibre entre la prolifération cellulaire et l’apoptose. Le processus d’exfoliation, défini comme le décrochage des CEM de l’épithélium mammaire et leur évacuation dans le lait, a été proposé comme participant aussi à la régulation du nombre de CEM. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient d’identifier les mécanismes biologiques impliqués dans la régulation de ce processus et d’étudier son rôle dans la régulation du nombre de CEM et son influence sur la production laitière. Nos résultats montrent qu’une partie des CEM est exfoliée entre deux traites consécutives.Cependant, la majorité des CEM sont exfoliées au moment de la traite suite à la contraction des cellules myoépithéliales et à la perte d’intégrité de l’épithélium induites par la décharge d’ocytocine. Le cortisol, au contraire, participerait à la restauration de l’intégrité de l’épithélium mammaire après la fin de la traite et limiterait l’exfoliation. Nous avons montré que les variations du taux d’exfoliation étaient opposées aux variations de production laitière dans le cas d’une restriction alimentaire et après la fin d’un traitement à l’hormone de croissance mais pas dans le cas d’un changement de fourrage, de l’inhibition de la prolactine et pendant un traitement à l’hormone de croissance. Le processus d’exfoliation des CEM participe donc à la régulation de la production laitière mais pas de façon systématique. / Milk is synthesized by mammary epithelial cells (MEC). Milk yield is determined by the number of MEC in the mammary gland and the metabolic activity of these cells. It is well known that MEC number depends on the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. The MEC exfoliation process, defined as the shedding of MEC from the mammary epithelium into milk, is another process that might participate in the regulation of MEC number in the udder and thus in milk yield variations. The aims of this thesis were to identify the mechanisms that regulate the exfoliation process and to study the potential role of this process in regulating the number of MEC and milk yield.Our results showed that some MEC are exfoliated between milkings. Most of the MEC are, however, exfoliated during milking as a consequence of the myoepithelial cell contraction and the disruption of mammary epithelium integrity, both of which are caused by milking-induced oxytocin release. Cortisol may play a role in limiting MEC exfoliation by restoring mammary epithelium integrity after milking. We showed that the exfoliation process participates in regulating milk yield during feed restriction and after a treatment with bovine growth hormone but did not participate in regulating milk yield when forage in the ration was changed, when prolactin secretion was inhibited, or during a treatment with bovine growth hormone. These results suggest that the MEC exfoliation process likely participates in regulating milk yield but not systematically.

abstract: The current study examined the unique influence of emotional childhood abuse on positive and negative aspects of different types of social relationships (e.g., family, spouse/partner, and friends) in midlife and whether genetic variations of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) moderated these associations. Genetic variations in OXTR are measured by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have been the most substantially studied prospects for explaining individual differences in socio-behavioral phenotypes. Specifically, an SNP, rs53576, involving a guanine (G) to adenine (A) substitution located in the third intron of the OXTR has been associated with fundamental aspects of social processes and behaviors. Compared to A carriers, individuals homozygous for the G allele have enhanced social competencies and tend to elicit more positive responses from social partners, consequently increasing the overall quality of social relationships across the lifespan. However, the G allele of the OXTR has also been associated with greater social sensitivity. In the current study, conducted among a sample of 614 adults in midlife, it was shown that emotional childhood abuse was significantly associated with having less supportive and more strained relationships in midlife. Regarding supportive family relationships, the effect of emotional childhood abuse was moderated by the OXTR rs53576 polymorphism. Specifically, under conditions of more emotional abuse in childhood, individuals homozygous for the G allele had more supportive family relationships in midlife compared to A carriers. Overall, the findings suggest that genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 may be an important candidate in understanding the development of social relationship functioning within the context of negative early life experiences. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2018

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação de análogo sintético da prostaglandina F2 (PGF2 ) associado à carbetocina ou ocitocina sobre a eficiência na indução ao parto em suínos. Foram analisados o tempo entre aplicação e início do trabalho de parto, duração do parto e percentual de natimortalidade. A indução do parto foi realizada aos 113 dias de gestação através da aplicação do análogo da PGF2 (cloprostenol sódico) via submucosa vulvar (SMV). As ocitocinas foram aplicadas 24 horas após a indução, pela via intramuscular (IM). O experimento 1 contou com 284 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina; T4- solução salina 0,9% (NaCl) via SMV. O experimento 2 contou com 276 fêmeas em 4 tratamentos: T1- cloprostenol sódico; T2- cloprostenol sódico e 0,10 mg de carbetocina; T3- cloprostenol sódico e 0,05 mg de carbetocina; T4- cloprostenol sódico e 10 UI de ocitocina. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos no número de leitões nascidos totais, nascidos vivos e percentual de partos com intervenção obstétrica manual. A sincronização dos partos é maior quando induzidos com cloprostenol comparado ao grupo não induzido. A utilização de cloprostenol associado à carbetocina resulta em menor duração do parto. / The present study aimed the analysis of a synthetic analogue of prostaglandin F2 (PGF2 ) associated to carbetocyn or oxytocin on the efficiency of farrowing induction in swine. The following variables were assessed: time between injections and start of farrowing, farrowing length and stillbirth percentage. Farrowing induction was performed at 113 days of gestation using injection of PGF2 analogue (sodium cloprostenol) by vulvar sub mucosal route (SMV). The oxytocins were used 24 hours after induction, by intra-muscular route (IM). Experiment 1 used 284 females in 4 treatments: T1-sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin; T4- saline solution by SMV route. Experiment 2 used 276 females in 4 treatments: T1- sodium cloprostenol; T2- sodium cloprostenol and 0.10 mg of carbetocyn; T3- sodium cloprostenol and 0.05 mg of carbetocyn; T4- sodium cloprostenol and 10 UI of oxytocin. There was no difference between treatments regarding number of total born piglets per farrowing, born alive and percentage of farrowing using manual obstetrical intervention. Farrowing synchronization was higher when induced with cloprostenol when compared to the noninduced group. The use of cloprostenol associated with carbetocyn resulted in a diminished farrowing length.