Evidências epidemiológicas tem sugerido que a desnutrição intra-uterina pode ter papel importante no desenvolvimento de hipertensão arterial na fase adulta. No presente trabalho, foi estudada a influência da desnutrição intra-uterina na reatividade vascular e na pressão arterial de animais Wistar e SHR (ambos os sexos). Para tanto, ratas prenhes foram submetidas à restrição alimentar equivalente a 50% da dieta normal, durante toda a gestação. Curvas concentração-efeito à noradrenalina (NA), acetilcolina (ACh) e ao nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS) foram realizadas em anéis de aorta de ratos Wistar e SHR nutridos e desnutridos (ambos os sexos). A desnutrição intra-uterina elevou a pressão arterial em animais Wistar, machos e fêmeas, até níveis considerados de hipertensão. Além disso, acarretou alterações da reatividade à NA e à ACh, mas não ao NPS. Em animais SHR, de ambos os sexos, os efeitos deletérios da desnutrição intra-uterina foram capazes de exacerbar a hipertensão e a disfunção endotelial já existentes nesses animais. / Epidemiological studies suggest that intrauterine undernutrition can play an important role in the development of arterial hypertension in adulthood (FERRARI et al., 2000). Furthermore, maternal malnutrition during organ developmental stage impairs fetal growth and is believed to alter permanently the metabolism and physiology of the developing tissues. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of intrauterine undernutrition in the arterial blood and vascular reactivity pressure of male and female normotensive (Wistar) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats offspring. Female pregnant rats (Wistar and SHR) were fed either normal or 50% of the normal intake diets, during the whole gestational period. Arterial blood pressure and the norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) dose-response curves in isolated aortic rings of their offspring (male and female – when they reached adulthood) were determined. In Wistar rats, the intrauterine undernutrition induced an increase in the arterial blood pressure, leading to hypertension. Dietary restriction during pregnancy of Wistar rats altered the vascular reactivity to NE and ACh, whereas the response to SNP remained unaltered in the offspring. In the SHR offspring (male and female) the intrauterine undernutrition exacerbates the already existing hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. In summary, this study has shown that intrauterine undernutrition increased the arterial blood pressure and altered the vascular reactivity of male and female normotensive and SHR offspring.

Evidências epidemiológicas tem sugerido que a desnutrição intra-uterina pode ter papel importante no desenvolvimento de hipertensão arterial na fase adulta. No presente trabalho, foi estudada a influência da desnutrição intra-uterina na reatividade vascular e na pressão arterial de animais Wistar e SHR (ambos os sexos). Para tanto, ratas prenhes foram submetidas à restrição alimentar equivalente a 50% da dieta normal, durante toda a gestação. Curvas concentração-efeito à noradrenalina (NA), acetilcolina (ACh) e ao nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS) foram realizadas em anéis de aorta de ratos Wistar e SHR nutridos e desnutridos (ambos os sexos). A desnutrição intra-uterina elevou a pressão arterial em animais Wistar, machos e fêmeas, até níveis considerados de hipertensão. Além disso, acarretou alterações da reatividade à NA e à ACh, mas não ao NPS. Em animais SHR, de ambos os sexos, os efeitos deletérios da desnutrição intra-uterina foram capazes de exacerbar a hipertensão e a disfunção endotelial já existentes nesses animais. / Epidemiological studies suggest that intrauterine undernutrition can play an important role in the development of arterial hypertension in adulthood (FERRARI et al., 2000). Furthermore, maternal malnutrition during organ developmental stage impairs fetal growth and is believed to alter permanently the metabolism and physiology of the developing tissues. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of intrauterine undernutrition in the arterial blood and vascular reactivity pressure of male and female normotensive (Wistar) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats offspring. Female pregnant rats (Wistar and SHR) were fed either normal or 50% of the normal intake diets, during the whole gestational period. Arterial blood pressure and the norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) dose-response curves in isolated aortic rings of their offspring (male and female – when they reached adulthood) were determined. In Wistar rats, the intrauterine undernutrition induced an increase in the arterial blood pressure, leading to hypertension. Dietary restriction during pregnancy of Wistar rats altered the vascular reactivity to NE and ACh, whereas the response to SNP remained unaltered in the offspring. In the SHR offspring (male and female) the intrauterine undernutrition exacerbates the already existing hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. In summary, this study has shown that intrauterine undernutrition increased the arterial blood pressure and altered the vascular reactivity of male and female normotensive and SHR offspring.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Undernäring förekommer hos uppemot 30 % av äldre personer på särskilda boenden (SÄBO). Det är ett av distriktssköterskans ansvarsområden att upprätthålla en god nutritionsvård. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka förekomst av undernäring bland äldre personer (65 år och äldre) på särskilt boende samt relationer mellan undernäring och fallrisk, risk för trycksår respektive nedsatt munhälsa. Vidare var syftet att undersöka vilka preventiva åtgärder distriktssköterskan erbjöd för att förbygga alternativt behandla undernäring hos äldre personer. Metod: Studien hade en kvantitativ ansats. Antalet studiedeltagare var 436 personer som bodde på SÄBO. Gruppjämförelser gjordes mellan tre oberoende grupper (ej risk för undernäring, risk för undernäring och undernärd) avseende fallrisk, risk för trycksår samt nedsatt munhälsa. Vidare gjordes logistisk regressionsanalys för att undersöka relationen mellan risk för undernäring/undernärd och fallrisk, risk för trycksår samt nedsatt munhälsa. Deskriptiv statistik användes för att beskriva preventiva och behandlande åtgärder. Resultat: Undernäring relaterar starkt till risk för trycksår. Relation kunde inte påvisas mellan undernäring och fallrisk samt munhälsa. Preventiva åtgärder användes i låg utsträckning. Slutsats: Nutritionsomvårdnad är ett komplext område vilket kräver att distriktssköterskan arbetar i ett multidisciplinärt team med riskbedömningar, utredningar, åtgärder och uppföljningar. Nutritionsåtgärder bör erbjudas i högre utsträckning till personer med risk för undernäring eller som är undernärda. / Background: Undernutrition occurs in up to 30 % of older people in special accommodation (SA). It is one of the district nurse's responsibility areas to maintain good nutritional care. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the prevalence of undernutrition among older people (65 years and older) in special accommodation and relationships between undernutrition and fall risk, risk of pressure ulcers and impaired oral health. A further aim was to investigate the preventive measures district nurse’s offered to prevent alternatively treat undernutrition in older people. Method: The study had a quantitative approach. The number of study participants was 436 people who lived in SA. Group comparisons were made between three independent groups (not at risk of undernutrition, risk of undernutrition and undernourished) regarding fall risk, risk of pressure ulcers and impaired oral health. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between risk of undernutrition/undernourished and fall risk, risk of pressure ulcers and impaired oral health. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the preventive and treatment measures. Results: Undernutrition relate strongly to the risk of pressure ulcers. No relationship was detected between undernutrition and risk of falling and impaired oral health. Preventive measures was used to a low extent. Conclusion: Nutritional care is a complex area that requires that the district nurse work in a multidisciplinary team with risk assessments, investigations, actions and follow up. Nutritional measures should be offered to a greater extent to persons at risk of undernutrition or with manifest undernutrition.

L'anémie de l'enfant reste un problème d'importance pour la santé mondiale, malgré les décennies de recherche visant à comprendre son étiologie et à développer des interventions efficaces pour réduire sa prévalence et ses conséquences. Bien que les facteurs de risque individuels de l'anémie soient connus, y compris les facteurs liés à la malnutrition et à la morbidité, l'interaction entre lesdits facteurs est moins documentée dans des contextes où les enfants sont fréquemment exposés à plusieurs facteurs en même temps. Cette étude vise à documenter les efforts de lutte contre l'anémie du programme MICAH qui a été mis en oeuvre au Ghana, au Malawi et en Tanzanie. Ensuite, en utilisant les données relatives à la fois au processus et à l'évaluation colligées au cours du programme, elle vise à mieux comprendre les facteurs de risque d'anémie chez les jeunes enfants dans ces contextes et à comprendre comment les relations entre ces facteurs peuvent avoir changé au fil du temps lors de l'intervention. Spécifiquement, cette étude vérifie s‘il y a des preuves d'une réduction de la vulnérabilité des enfants aux facteurs de risque associés à l'anémie dans chaque contexte. Un examen de la documentation a été réalisé afin de caractériser le contexte du programme et des interventions, leur l'intensité et étendue. Les données transversales sur la nutrition et l'état de santé des enfants âgés de 24 à 59 mois (N = 2405) obtenues en 2000 et 2004 à partir des enquêtes d'évaluation du programme MICAH au Ghana, au Malawi et en Tanzanie, ont été utilisées pour décrire la prévalence de l'anémie. Les modèles polynomiaux de régression logistique et linéaire ont été utilisés pour estimer les risques d'anémie légère et d'anémie modérée / sévère et les niveaux d‘hémoglobine associés à des groupes de variables. Les estimations du risque attribuable à une population (RAP) ont aussi été calculées. Une anémie (Hb <110 g/L) a touché au moins 60% des enfants dans les trois pays; l'anémie modérée / sévère (<100 g/L) constituait la majorité des cas. Une forte diminution de l'anémie a été observée entre 2000 et 2004 au Ghana, mais seulement une légère baisse au Malawi et en Tanzanie. Le risque d'anémie modérée / sévère était associé au retard de croissance chez les enfants du Ghana (OR 2,68, IC 95% 1,70-4,23) et du Malawi (OR 1,71; 1,29-2,27) mais pas de la Tanzanie (OR 1,29; 0,87- 1,92). Le paludisme et les maladies récentes étaient associées à une hémoglobine plus basse. Une atténuation de cette association en 2004 a été observée seulement au Malawi pour le paludisme et au Ghana pour les maladies récentes. Le risque d'anémie modérée / sévère était 44% moindre chez les enfants âgés de 48 à 59 mois comparativement aux enfants de 24 à 35 mois dans les trois pays et cela n'a pas changé entre 2000 et 2004. Les RAP estimés ont montré qu‘environ un cinquième des cas d‘anémie modérée à sévère était attribuable au retard de croissance au Ghana et Malawi, mais pas en Tanzanie. Des RAP moindres et dépendants des contextes ont été trouvés pour le paludisme et les maladies récentes. Dans ces zones d‘intervention intégrées de santé et de nutrition la relation de certains facteurs de risque à l'anémie se modifia avec le temps. Le retard de croissance est resté toutefois un facteur de risque indépendant et non mitigé de l'anémie. Une réduction efficace des causes de la malnutrition chronique est nécessaire afin de réduire la vulnérabilité des enfants et de garantir un impact maximum des programmes de lutte contre l'anémie. Une mitigation de l'impact du paludisme peut par contre être visée dans les régions endémiques. / Childhood anaemia remains a problem of global health importance, despite decades of research to understand its aetiology and develop effective interventions to reduce its prevalence and consequences. While the individual risk factors for anaemia in young children are known, including factors related to undernutrition and morbidity, much less is known about the interaction amongst these in contexts where children are frequently exposed to several at the same time. This study seeks to document the anaemia control efforts of the Micronutrient and Health (MICAH) program implemented in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania and use both process and evaluation data collected during the program to better understand the risk factors for anaemia in young children in these contexts and how these risk relationships may have changed over time during the intervention. Specifically, this study tests whether there is evidence of a reduction in child vulnerability to the risk factors associated with anaemia in each context. A review of program documentation was conducted to characterize the program contexts and interventions, including estimates of intensity and reach. Cross-sectional data on the nutrition and health status of children 24-59 mo (N=2405) obtained in 2000 and 2004 from community-based program evaluation surveys in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania, were used to describe the prevalence of anaemia. Multinomial logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate the risk of mild and moderate/severe anaemia and low haemoglobin, respectively, associated with groups of variables. Population attributable risk (PAR) estimates were also calculated. Anaemia (haemoglobin <110 g/L) affected at least 60% of children in all three countries; moderate/severe anaemia (<100 g/L) accounted for the majority of cases. A large decrease in anaemia was observed between 2000 and 2004 in Ghana, but only a small decrease in Malawi and Tanzania. The risk of moderate/severe anaemia was associated with stunting in children from Ghana (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.70, 4.23) and Malawi (OR 1.71; 1.29, 2.27) but not Tanzania (OR 1.29; 0.87, 1.92). Malaria and recent illness was associated with lower Hb overall; attenuation of this association in 2004 was observed only in Malawi for malaria and Ghana for illness. Children 48-59 mo were at least 44% less likely than those 24-35 mo to have moderate/severe anaemia in all three countries and this did not change between 2000 and 2004. PAR estimates showed that roughly one fifth of moderate/severe anaemia cases were attributable to stunting in Ghana and Malawi but not Tanzania. Lower and context-variable PAR estimates were found for malaria and recent illness. Integrated health and nutrition interventions altered the relationship of some but not all risk factors for anaemia. Stunting remained an independent and non-buffered risk factor for anaemia. Effectively reducing the causes of chronic undernutrition is required in order to reduce child vulnerability and ensure maximum impact of anaemia control programs. Some buffering of malaria impact may be achieved in endemic settings.

D. Tech. (Food Service Management, Department of Hospitality, Tourism and PR Management, Faculty of Human Sciences)|, Vaal University of Technology| / Background South Africa is one of the developing countries faced with the co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition, often experienced within the same household. On the one hand, hunger, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are linked to poverty and household food insecurity. Simultaneously, South Africans are exposed to ‘nutrition in transition’, where overweight and chronic diseases of lifestyle, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are on the rise as part of the overnutrition profile. Sound nutrition is important throughout the lifecycle to combat under- and overnutrition and nutrition-related diseases. In urban areas, the grandmother or another senior female family member is often responsible for caring for the children in the household during the day. This includes physical, emotional and nutritional care. It is therefore essential for the caregiver to have good nutrition knowledge, to provide not only in her own needs, but also in those of the children. A nutrition education programme is one strategy for improving the nutrition knowledge of caregivers of children. Objective The primary objective in this study was to develop, tailor, implement and evaluate a nutrition education programme (NEP) for Sesotho-speaking females and caregivers of children in the Boipatong Township in the Vaal Region of South Africa and to test its impact in the short and longer term. Nutrition knowledge regarding four South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) was empirically tested before and after the intervention and then compared to a control group. In addition, dietary intake was assessed to detect any changes after the intervention in the medium term. Methodology In this both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were applied. Two frameworks, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Framework of Malnutrition (2004) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Framework for Nutrition Education (1997), gave structure to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the research project. This study’s nutrition education programme was based on a socio-ecological model to guide behavioural change in terms of healthy food choices. In the preparation phase, a situational analysis was performed by means of a cross-sectional analytical design using descriptive statistics. Socio-demographic and self-reported health information was obtained. Nutrition knowledge, based on the South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), was measured, and dietary intake was assessed and compared with the estimated average requirements (EARs) for their age categories. Phase two, the formulation phase, used an experimental design. The acceptability and understanding of the existing national nutrition education (NE) material for individuals with low living standards (LSM) was investigated in this phase of the nutrition education programme (NEP). A culturally tailored booklet was developed in English, translated into Sesotho, pilot tested and implemented as part of the nutrition education programme. Lesson plans were developed and pilot tested. A non-randomised control trial was used in the implementation and evaluation phases. The effect of the nutrition education programme on nutrition knowledge was quantitatively measured in a pre- and post-test design at each discussion session in the short term, using paired t-tests in the experimental group of caregivers. The evaluation phase tested the impact of the nutrition education in the longer term. Nutrition knowledge was measured quantitatively in a before-after intervention test design by means of a self-completed structured questionnaire, based on the four South African FDBGs included in the programme. A control group who was not subjected to any intervention was used to complete the same questionnaire before and after the intervention in the same time period as the experimental group. In the experimental group, dietary intake was assessed before and after the intervention to detect changes in dietary intake. No dietary intake was measured in the control group, as changes could be attributed to influences beyond the control of this study. Two randomly selected focus groups of the experimental group were run to provide deeper insight into their perceptions regarding the acceptability and understanding of the NEP and NE material. Results The situational analysis of the preparation phase revealed a poor community that displayed typical patterns of nutrition in transition, at risk of malnutrition. The median age of the sample of caregivers was 44 years (IQR 32-62). Income and consumption poverty was confirmed by 80.5 percent of households spending R300 or less on food, with 75 percent of households having between four and seven people living in the dwelling. Dietary results were indicative of food poverty and poor food choices, possibly due to monetary constraints. A low energy intake (median 5323 kJ/day; IQR 3369-7949), was observed. Only 13.9 percent reached the estimated energy requirement (EER) of 7855 kJ per day for their age category. The overall mean average requirements of the diet was 0.7 but the possiblity of micronutrient deficiencies could not be excluded with a MAR of 0.6 for vitamins and minerals respectively. The median nutrition knowledge was 50 percent (IQR 42-54%) The lowest score was obtained for the FBDG ‘Enjoy a variety of food’ (33.4%; 95% CI 1.1), followed by the FBDG on animal protein (40.3%; 95% CI 1.0). It was decided to augment these two FBDGs with the plant protein FBDG (54.3%; 95% CI 1.8). Despited a relatively good knowledge measured in the caregivers, none of the plant protein food items appeared in the top 20 food items most frequently consumed. The formulation phase included the testing of existing nutrition education material. Messages were well understood (60.5%). However, caregivers found the images contained in the pamphlets and the design of the pamphlets confusing. A definite need was identified for new, culturally acceptable NE material in the caregivers’ home language, Sesotho (74%). During the implementation phase the lectures were presented and the change in the short-term nutrition knowledge of the FBDGs was measured at every session by means of a pre-post-test design. The median age of the caregivers was 63 years (52-78). A significant change in nutrition knowledge was found for each FBDG in terms of the mean number of questions answered correctly by the participants between the results of each pre- and post-test. In the evaluation phase, the impact of the NEP was measured in the Boipatong experimental group and compared, regarding nutrition knowledge, to a control group in the longer term (three months after completion of the intervention). Median nutrition knowledge before the intervention was 49 percent (IQR 46-57) compared to 70 percent (IQR 68-73) after the intervention – an increase of 21 percent. In contrast, the control group showed an increase of only five percent. The results showed that the eating habits of many of the caregivers still fell substantially short of internationally recognised standards (estimated energy requirement (EER) and estimated average requirement (EAR)), and this could contribute to undernutrition as well as to an increased risk of diet-related chronic disease. A median kilojoule intake of 4788 kJ (IQR 3415-6596) per day before and 4651 kJ (IQR 3369-6664) per day after the intervention was registered. Carbohydrate foods remained an important source of energy. Calcium presented a major concern, as none of the participants reached the EAR despite a slight increase in the intake of milk (volume and frequency) after the intervention, as validated by the top 20 food lists and as measured by a nutrient average requirement (NAR) of 0.1 to 0.7 before and after the intervention respectively. The mean average requirements (MAR) remained relatively stable, at 0.7 (median) before the intervention and 0.6 after the intervention. The NEP thus had an insignificant positive effect on dietary intake, except for calcium, iodine and vitamin C intake, which showed significant increases. No relationships could be found between the MAR as an indicator of dietary quality and nutrition knowledge. However, this does not mean that an NEP is not a suitable strategy. Changes in food choices and dietary intake should be measured in the longer term, since lifestyle changes are challenging to adopt when people, especially those in deprived communities, do not have the financial means to make healthy food choices. Conclusion When planning nutrition education strategies to improve the health status of communities in deprived areas, one is faced with the difficulty of households with a low socio-economic status and poor dietary intake, which increases the risk of food and nutrition insecurity. The nutrition education programme, developed, tailored and implemented as an intervention strategy to address an identified need of caregivers, was effective in improving nutrition knowledge. Four of the South African dietary guidelines were used in the nutrition education programme tailored to the specific profile that emerged from the situational analysis and the development of supportive nutrition education material. Lesson plans and the Sesotho and English booklets are available for use in other nutrition education programmes. The study contributed to the understanding of food choices of the urban community of Boipatong as well as of the nutrient inadequacies observed. Nutrition knowledge alone is not enough to bring about changes in food choices when the means to do so are lacking. Poverty and nutrition are closely linked and thus difficult to separate.

Foi descrita a presença do receptor P2X2 no sistema nervoso entérico e foi constatado que a desnutrição afeta os neurônios mioentéricos. Este projeto analisou os neurônios dos plexos mioentérico (PM) e submucoso (PS) imunorreativos ao receptor P2X2(ir), calbindina (Calb-ir), calretinina (Calr-ir), colina acetil transferase (ChAT-ir) e ao óxido nítrico sintase (NOS-ir) do íleo de ratos submetidos à desnutrição protéica pré e pós-natal e a renutrição pós-natal. Foram utilizados íleos de animais nutridos (N42), desnutridos (D42) e renutridos (RN42). Os resultados do PM e PS demonstraram 100% de neurônios Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAt-ir e NOS-ir expressavam o receptor P2X2-ir nos grupos. As densidades neuronais do PM e PS demonstraram aumento de 30% e 25% respectivamente, dos neurônios receptor P2X2-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir no grupo D42 e, recuperação no grupo RN42, os neurônios Calb-ir aumentaram 60% no PS. O perfil neuronal do PM mostrou diminuição de 26% nos neurônios receptor P2X2-ir e Calr-ir no grupo D42 e, no PS houve diminuição nos neurônios receptor P2X2-ir. Concluiu que a desnutrição afetou os neurônios entéricos e houve recuperação na renutrição, isto pode influenciar as funções do trato gastrintestinal. / It is showed the expression of the P2X2 receptor in the enteric nervous system; it was observed that undernutrition affect the myenteric neurons. This project analyzed the ileum myenteric (MN) and submucous (SN) neurons immunoreactive to P2X2 receptor, calbindin (Calb-ir), calretinin (Calr-ir), coline acetil transferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide sintase (NOS) of the animals submitted to pre- and postnatal protein deprivation and postnatal refeeding. Ileum was used from nourished (N42), undernourished (D42) and Refeeding (RN42) animals. The results showed 100% coexpression myenteric and submucous Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAt-ir e NOS-ir neurons with P2X2-ir receptor. The myenteric and submucos neuronal density showed increase of the 30% and 25% respectively, of the P2X2-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir neurons of the D42 group, the Calb-ir neurons increase 60% in the SN. It was observed in the MN neuronal profile decrease of the 26% of the P2X2-ir and Calr-ir in the RN42 group and recover in the RN42, there was decrease of the P2X2-ir receptor neurons in the submucous plexus. The conclusion demonstrated that undernutrition affects the enteric neurons and there was recuperation in the refeeding, this can influence the gastrointestinal functions.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito do trauma sub-aquático e da estimulação tátil, a longo prazo, no comportamento exploratório de animais submetidos à desnutrição protéica precoce, no teste do labirinto em cruz elevado (LCE). Sabe-se que a desnutrição protéica precoce, além de provocar redução no peso corporal e cerebral, produz alterações estruturais, neuroquímicas e funcionais no Sistema Nervoso Central, levando a alterações no comportamento. Utilizou-se ratos machos provenientes de ninhadas controle (16% de proteína) ou desnutridas (6% de proteína), após o desmame. Os animais receberam ou não estimulação tátil – do nascimento aos 70 dias de idade. No 71º dia, os animais de cada grupo foi submetida ao trauma sub-aquático por 60 segundos, e testada por 5 minutos no LCE. A desnutrição protéica reduziu o peso corporal tanto das ratas-mães quanto dos filhotes. Quando testados no LCE, os animais desnutridos apresentaram-se menos ansiosos e/ou mais impulsivos. A estimulação tátil recuperou parte do peso dos filhotes desnutridos, porém apresentou caráter ansiogênico. O trauma sub-aquático diminuiu a exploração dos braços abertos nos grupos desnutridos. Os dados sugerem que os efeitos da dieta dependem da interação com outros fatores ambientais como a estimulação tátil e o trauma sub-aquático. / Early protein malnutrition, besides reducing body and brain weights, causes structural, neurochemical and functional changes in Central Nervous System, leading to behavioral alterations. The principal aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction of sub-aquatic trauma and chronic tactile stimulation on the exploratory behavior of malnourished rats, in the elevated plus-maze test (EPM). For this purpose, we used male rats fed by lactating female rats, receiving either 6% (malnourished) or 16% (well-nourished) protein diets. After weaning (21 days), the animals continued to receive the same diets as in the lactating period until 49 days of age, when they all started to receive a regular lab chow diet – period of nutritional recovery for the malnourished rats. Control and malnourished animals were divided in two groups: the first one received tactile stimulation from birth to 70 days of age, while the other group was not stimulated. On day 71st, half of the animals of each group was submitted to the sub-aquatic trauma for 60 seconds and tested for 5 minutes in the EPM, while the others were kept in their cages before the test. Protein malnutrition reduced the body weight of the dams as well as of the pups. When tested in EPM, malnourished animals showed less anxiety and/or more impulsiveness. Tactile stimulation recovered part of the weight of the malnourished animals, although it presented an anxiogenic profile. Sub-aquatic trauma decreased the open arms exploration. These data suggest that the effects of the diet are dependent on the interaction between tactile stimulation and sub-aquatic trauma.

Este projeto, analisou a distribuição dos neurônios nos plexos mioentérico (PM) e submucoso (PS) imunorreativos aos receptores P2X2 (ir) e P2X7 (ir), calbindina (Calb-ir), calretinina (Calr-ir), colina acetil transferase (ChAT-ir) e ao óxido nítrico sintase (NOS-ir) do colo distal de ratos submetidos à desnutrição a renutrição protéica. Utilizaram-se colos distais de ratos nutridos (N42), desnutridos (D42) e renutridos (RN42). Os resultados do plexo PM, demonstraram que 100% dos neurônios Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir, expressavam os receptores P2X2-ir e P2X7-ir nos três grupos. A densidade neuronal no PM, demonstrou um aumento de 20% a 97% dos neurônios receptores P2X2-7-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir e no PS foi de 29% a 75%, ambos D42 e recuperação no RN42. O perfil neuronal P2X7-ir, Calb-ir, Calr-ir e ChAT-ir do PM demonstrou diminuição de 28% a 40% e no PS os neurônios P2X2-7-ir, Calb-ir e ChAT-ir de 19% a 47% no D42. Concluí-se que, a desnutrição afeta os neurônios entéricos havendo recuperação na renutrição, podendo influenciar nas funções gastrintestinais. / The aim of the work was to analyze the distal colon myenteric (MN) and submucous (SN) neurons immunoreactive for P2X2-7 receptors, calbindin (Calb-ir), calretinin (Calr-ir), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) of the animals submitted to undernutrition and refeeding proteic. Distal colon was used from nourished (N42), undernourished (D42) and refeeding (RN42) rats. The results have shown 100% coexpression of the myenteric and submucous Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAt-ir e NOS-ir neurons with P2X2-7-ir receptors. The MN density have shown increase of the 20% and 97% of the P2X2-7-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir neurons of the D42 group, and the SN have been increased 29% a 75% in the D42 group. In the MN neuronal profile have shown decrease P2X7-ir, Calb-ir, Calr-ir and ChAT-ir neurons of the 28% to 40% and in the PS P2X2-7-ir, Calb-ir and ChAT-ir of the 19% a 47% neurons in the D42 group. I concluded that, the undernutrition affects the enteric neurons and there was recuperation in the refeeding, this can influence the gastrintestinal functions.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar qualitativa e quantitativamente, através de técnicas histológicas e histoquímicas, o córtex cerebral de ratos submetidos a uma subnutrição protéica e posterior recuperação precoce e tardia. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar submetidos às seguintes dietas nutricionais: dieta padrão - normoprotéica - \"AIN-93G\", contendo 20% de proteína (caseína) e dieta hipoprotéica - \"AIN-93G\", contendo 5% desta mesma proteína, durante os períodos experimentais de 42 e 60 dias. Os grupos experimentais foram formados por animais que desde o acasalamento até a eutanásia foram submetidos à dieta normoprotéica (grupos nutridos N42 e N60) e à dieta hipoprotéica (grupos subnutridos S42 e S60). O grupo renutrido precoce (Rp42) foi constituído por animais subnutridos que, a partir do 22º dia passaram a receber a dieta normoprotéica até 42 dias de idade; animais subnutridos que a partir do 43º dia receberam a dieta normoprotéica até 60 dias de idade, constituíram o grupo renutrido tardio (Rt60). Uma vez formado os grupos experimentais no momento do desmame (21 dias) todos os animais foram alojados e assistidos em gaiolas metabólicas. Características comportamentais e físicas foram avaliadas, bem como os seguintes aspectos morfométricos: pesos corporais e encefálicos; comprimento naso-anal, circunferência abdominal, índice de Lee (que avalia o grau de adiposidade) e as dimensões encefálicas. Para as avaliações quantitativas estruturais foram empregadas técnicas histológicas (H.E. e violeta Cresil) e histoquímica (&beta;-Nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide phosphate - NADPH) para neurônios nitrérgicos. Foram avaliados parâmetros como: número de neurônios, densidade neuronal, área neuronal e o perfil da área dos neurônios corticais e nas camadas corticais. Em linhas gerais, para os parâmetros aqui avaliados, desde o nascimento até o sacrifício inerente a cada grupo experimental (42 e 60 dias), os animais dos grupos subnutridos (S42 e S60) apresentaram valores menores do que os respectivos grupos controle (N42 e N60), exceto no índice de Lee, significativamente maior do que nos animais nutridos. Os grupos renutridos, independentemente se precoce (Rp42) ou tardio (Rt60) conseguem alguma recuperação em alguns parâmetros avaliados como peso encefálico, dimensões encefálicas e espessura cortical; porém outros como o peso corporal, e a área neuronal foram gravemente afetados. Todavia quando se observa a razão peso encefálico/peso corporal, os animais dos grupos subnutridos relativamente aos animais controles nutridos, apesar do peso corporal menor apresentam uma razão maior do que os respectivos controles, sugerindo ser o encéfalo menos afetado pela subnutrição do que o peso corporal. A subnutrição promoveu acentuada diminuição na área dos neurônios corticais e nitrérgicos, não recuperada com a renutrição, independentemente se precoce ou tardia. Portanto, conforme o proposto e com a metodologia utilizada no presente estudo pesquisa, os resultados permitem concluir que frente às condições de subnutrição, o organismo pode sofrer alterações irreparáveis dependendo do momento da vida em que ocorre, e que a renutrição pode promover recuperação ou mesmo adaptações em alguns parâmetros, preferencialmente se ocorrer em fases mais precoces. / The objective of this study was to evaluate qualitative and quantitatively, through histological and histochemical techniques, the cerebral cortex of rats subjected to protein undernutrition subsequent to early and late recovery. Were used Wistar rats fed with standard (normal) diet-\"AIN-93G\" containing 20% of protein (casein), and hypoproteic diet- \"AIN-93G\" containing 5% of casein during experimental periods of 42 and 60 days. The experimental groups were performed by animals fed with normal diet from mating to euthanasia (nourished groups N42 and N60), and to hypoproteic diet (undernourished groups S42 and S60). The early re-nourished group (Rp42) was composed by undernourished animals fed with normal diet from 22nd day, whereas late re-nourished group (Rt60) was composed by undernourished animals fed with normal diet from 43rd to 60 days of age. Once established the experimental groups at weaning (21 days), all animals were housed and assisted in metabolic cages. Physical and behavioral characteristics were examined, as well as, morphometric aspects: body and brain weight; naso-anal length, abdominal circumference, Lee index (evaluation of fat deposit), and brain measures. For quantitative evaluation, histologic techniques (H.E. and Violet Cresyl), and Histochemistry (&beta;-Nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide phosphate - NADPH) for nitrergic neurons were performed. The number of neurons, neuronal density, neuronal area and profile of cortical neurons in cortical layers area were analyzed. Animals from S42 and S60 groups shown lower average compared to respective controls (N42 and N60), except in the Lee index, that was significantly higher than in nourished animals. Were observed that re-nourished groups either early (Rp42) or late (Rt60) have recovered in some parameters evaluated such as brain weight, brain measures and cortical thickness; however other parameters like body mass, and neuronal area was highly affected. Relatively to the proportion brain weight/body mass, animals from undernourished group although exhibit low body mass, shown higher proportion than respective control nourished, thus suggesting that brain is less affected by undernutrition than body mass. The undernutrition promoted great decreasing of cortical and nitrergic neurons area; the area was not recovered by early and/or late re-nourishment. In the view of the objectives and methodology used in the present study, we can be conclude that in under-nutrition conditions the body can go through irreversible changes depending on period of occurrence; additionally, re-nourishment can promote recovery or adaptations in some parameters preferentially if occur in early phases.