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INTRODUCTION: Technological advances have helped to lower the rate of infantile mortality and to raise the survival rate of preterm infants. Thus, studies need to be conducted in this segment of the population, while prematurity continues to be one of the risk factors for neuro-sensory-motor disorders. There is evidence to show that these children present visual and visuoperceptual disorders. With regard to visual problems, the literature suggests the hypothesis that the gestational age at the moment of birth exerts an influence on the child's visual behaviour. Bearing this evidence in mind, doubts are raised as to whether such alterations can be detected in periods that are appropriate for the development of vision. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional follow-up study of preterm infants in the first month of life who had their visuomotor behaviour evaluated at the chronological and corrected age. All of them were evaluated by applying the method for assessing the visual behaviour of infants, which is based on tests from the Bayley scales of infant development, as an instrument for investigating visuomotor behaviour. RESULTS: Most of the preterm infants presented a response, with a higher frequency in the eye contact tests, smiling as a social response, horizontal and vertical visual tracking, and increased mobility of the upper limbs on seeing the object at the corrected age. CONCLUSIONS: The responses obtained in this study allow us to confirm the importance of taking into account the corrected age when measuring the parameters involved in the development of visuomotor behaviour.

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The aim of the present study was to observe how the exposition of pregnant rats to an electromagnetic field (EMF), with frequency of 60 Hz, and a magnetic field of 3 microT for 2 hours per day and/or using the so-called Regional Basic Diet (RBD), influenced the somatic maturation in their offspring. Four groups were formed: Group A (casein), B (casein and EMF), C (RBD) and D (RBD and EMF). The diet manipulation occurred during pregnancy. The somatic maturation indexes--assessed daily between 12:00 AM and 2:00 PM--were: Eye Opening (EO), Auricle Opening (AO), Auditory Canal Opening (ACO), Low Incisor Eruption (LIE), and Upper Incisor Eruption (UIE). The association between EMF and deficient diet caused a delay in all Somatic Maturation Indexes (SMI) and the RBD caused delay only in the AO. Furthermore, the EMF caused delay in AO, ACO, LIE. In relation to the body weight, the EMF associated with the deficient diet caused change in the twenty-first day of life. The RBD, during pregnancy, caused lower body weight in the offspring in the first and third day of life. The body weight of the offspring whose mothers were fed casein and exposed to the EMF during pregnancy was lower in the third and sixth day of life. In conclusion, the EMF associated with under-nutrition caused delay in all SMI. In relation to the body weight, the EMF associated with under-nutrition caused a decrease in the body weight at the sixth day of life.

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The aim of the present study was to observe how the exposition of pregnant rats to an electromagnetic field (EMF), with frequency of 60 Hz, and a magnetic field of 3 µT for 2 hours per day and/or using the so-called Regional Basic Diet (RBD), influenced the somatic maturation in their offspring. Four groups were formed: Group A (casein), B (casein and EMF), C (RBD) and D (RBD and EMF). The diet manipulation occurred during pregnancy. The somatic maturation indexes - assessed daily between 12:00 AM and 2:00 PM - were: Eye Opening (EO), Auricle Opening (AO), Auditory Canal Opening (ACO), Low Incisor Eruption (LIE), and Upper Incisor Eruption (UIE). The association between EMF and deficient diet caused a delay in all Somatic Maturation Indexes (SMI) and the RBD caused delay only in the AO. Furthermore, the EMF caused delay in AO, ACO, LIE. In relation to the body weight, the EMF associated with the deficient diet caused change in the twenty-first day of life. The RBD, during pregnancy, caused lower body weight in the offspring in the first and third day of life. The body weight of the offspring whose mothers were fed casein and exposed to the EMF during pregnancy was lower in the third and sixth day of life. In conclusion, the EMF associated with under-nutrition caused delay in all SMI. In relation to the body weight, the EMF associated with under-nutrition caused a decrease in the body weight at the sixth day of life.

O objetivo deste estudo foi observar a influência do campo eletromagnético (CEM), com freqüência de 60Hz, campo magnético de 3 µT, durante 2 horas por dia, associado ou não à dieta básica regional (DBR) no desenvolvimento somático da prole. Quatro grupos foram formados: Grupo A (caseína), B (caseína e CEM), C (DBR) e D (DBR e CEM). A manipulação dietética ocorreu durante a prenhez. Os índices de maturação somática - Abertura dos Olhos (AO), Abertura do Pavilhão Auditivo (APA), Abertura do Conduto Auditivo (ACA), Erupção do Incisivo Inferior (EII), e Erupção do Incisivo Superior (EIS) - foram avaliados diariamente entre 12 e 14 horas. A associação entre o CEM e a dieta deficiente causou retardo em todos os índices de maturação somática (IMS) e a DBR causou retardo somente na APA. O CEM causou retardo na APA, ACA, EII. Em relação ao peso corporal, o CEM associado à dieta deficiente causou mudanças no 21º dia de vida. A DBR, durante a prenhez, causou diminuição do peso corporal dos filhotes no 1º e no 3º dia de vida. O peso corporal dos filhotes, cujas mães foram alimentadas pela caseína e expostas ao CEM, durante a prenhez, apresentaram uma diminuição no 3º e 6º dia de vida. Conclusão: o CEM, associado com a desnutrição, causou retardo em todos os IMS. Em relação ao peso corporal, o CEM, associado à desnutrição, causou uma diminuição no peso corporal no 6º dia de vida.

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This study investigated the somatic maturation and ontogeny of reflexes in neonate rats treated with sertraline (Sert) during the suckling period. The animals were divided into four groups; three that received daily doses of Sert (5, 10 or 15 mg/kg s.c.; groups Sert5, Sert10, and Sert15, respectively), and a fourth group that received distilled water (Dw) (1 ml/kg/b.w.). Growth indicators (body weight, axis of the head and tail length) were measured daily, from the 1st to the 21st postnatal day. The reflexes (righting, free-fall righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance, auditory startle response, vibrissa placing and palm grasp) and physical-feature maturation (ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, irruption of the lower incisors and eye opening) were recorded each day of the animal's life. All groups were compared to the Dw group. The body weight gain was reduced in all the Sert groups. Moreover, a delay in the growth of the body length was observed in all the Sert groups. Higher Sert doses reduced the speed of growth in the tail length. The medio-lateral head axis reduced in Sert15 and Sert5 doses. Otherwise, Sert10 had a temporary acceleration in this growth, but the growth of the anteroposterior head axis had a delay in all the Sert groups. The highest doses induced a delay in physical-feature maturation. The palm grasp reflex (disappearance) was retarded in Sert10; cliff avoidance advanced in Sert10; negative-geotaxis and free-fall righting retarded in Sert15. The findings suggest that altered serotonergic system activity induced by sertraline early in life could play a role in the retardation of the somatic growth ontogeny as well as a delay in the maturation of some reflexes.

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We investigated the somatic maturation of neonate rats treated during the suckling period with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Groups with 6 male neonates were randomly assigned to different treatments 24 h after birth. Each litter was suckled by one of the dams until the 21st postnatal day. Body weight, head axis and tail length were measured daily from the 1st to the 21st postnatal day. Time of ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, incisor eruption, and eye opening was determined. Pups received 5 mg (Cit5), 10 mg (Cit10) or 20 mg/kg (Cit20) citalopram sc, or saline (0.9 percent NaCl, w/v, sc). Compared to saline, body weight was lower (24.04 percent, P < 0.01) for Cit10 from the 10th to the 21st day and for Cit20 from the 6th to the 21st day (38.19 percent, P < 0.01). Tail length was reduced in the Cit20 group (15.48 percent, P < 0.001) from the 8th to the 21st day. A reduction in mediolateral head axis (10.53 percent, P < 0.05) was observed from the 11th to the 21st day in Cit10 and from the 6th to the 21st day in Cit20 (13.16 percent, P < 0.001). A reduction in anteroposterior head axis was also observed in the Cit20 group (5.28 percent, P < 0.05) from the 13th to the 21stday. Conversely, this axis showed accelerated growth from the 12th to the 21stday in the Cit5 group (13.05 percent, P < 0.05). Auditory conduit opening was delayed in the Cit5 and Cit20 groups and incisor eruption was delayed in all citalopram groups. These findings show that citalopram injected during suckling to rats induces body alterations and suggest that the activity of the serotoninergic system participates in growth mechanisms.

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We investigated the somatic maturation of neonate rats treated during the suckling period with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Groups with 6 male neonates were randomly assigned to different treatments 24 h after birth. Each litter was suckled by one of the dams until the 21st postnatal day. Body weight, head axis and tail length were measured daily from the 1st to the 21st postnatal day. Time of ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, incisor eruption, and eye opening was determined. Pups received 5 mg (Cit5), 10 mg (Cit10) or 20 mg/kg (Cit20) citalopram sc, or saline (0.9% NaCl, w/v, sc). Compared to saline, body weight was lower (24.04%, P < 0.01) for Cit10 from the 10th to the 21st day and for Cit20 from the 6th to the 21st day (38.19%, P < 0.01). Tail length was reduced in the Cit20 group (15.48%, P < 0.001) from the 8th to the 21st day. A reduction in mediolateral head axis (10.53%, P < 0.05) was observed from the 11th to the 21st day in Cit10 and from the 6th to the 21st day in Cit20 (13.16%, P < 0.001). A reduction in anteroposterior head axis was also observed in the Cit20 group (5.28%, P < 0.05) from the 13th to the 21st day. Conversely, this axis showed accelerated growth from the 12th to the 21st day in the Cit5 group (13.05%, P < 0.05). Auditory conduit opening was delayed in the Cit5 and Cit20 groups and incisor eruption was delayed in all citalopram groups. These findings show that citalopram injected during suckling to rats induces body alterations and suggest that the activity of the serotoninergic system participates in growth mechanisms.

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Malnutrition effect during the suckling period on aggressive behavior was investigated in adult rats treated and not treated with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Sixty-four Wistar male rats were allocated in two groups, according to their mothers' diet during lactation. The well-nourished group was fed by mothers receiving a 23% protein diet; the malnourished one by mothers receiving a 8% protein diet. Following weaning, all rats received the 23% protein diet. On the 90th day after birth, each nutritional group was divided into two subgroups, one receiving a single daily injection of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and the other of a saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for 14 days. Treatment with Fluoxetine reduced aggressive response in well-nourished but not in malnourished rats. These findings suggest that the serotoninergic system was affected by malnutrition during the critical period of brain development, and persisted even after a long period of nutritional recovery.

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The effect of early postnatal malnutrition upon food intake and its modulation by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram, was investigated in adult rats. Sixty four Wistar rats were allocated to two groups, according to their mother's diet during lactation. Mothers receiving a 23% protein diet fed the well-nourished group; mothers receiving 8% protein diet fed the malnourished. After weaning, all rats received the 23% protein diet ad libitum. On the 120th day after birth, each nutritional group was divided in two subgroups (each one, n = 16) which received a single daily injection of citalopram (10 mg/kg) or saline (0.9% NaCl) for 14 days. Chronic treatment with citalopram decreased both the food intake and weight gain in the well-nourished rats, but not in the malnourished ones. These data are consistent with findings concerning the nutritional manipulation of the nervous system during its higher vulnerable phase, suggesting that early malnutrition alters the effect of treatment of SSRI in adult rats, and that malnutrition during the critical period of brain development affects the serotoninergic system.

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Most studies suggest that serotonin exerts an inhibitory control on the aggression process. According to experimental evidence, this amine also influences growth and development of the nervous tissue including serotoninergic neurons. Thus, the possibility exists that increased serotonin availability in young animals facilitates a long-lasting effect on aggressive responses. The present study aimed to investigate the aggressive behavior of adult rats (90-120 days) treated from the 1st to the 19th postnatal day with citalopram (CIT), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (20 mg/kg, s.c., every 3 days). Aggressive behavior was induced by placing a pair of rats (matched by weight) in a box (20 x 20 x 20 cm), and submitting them to a 20-min session of electric footshocks (five 1.6-mA - 2-s current pulses, separated by a 4-min intershock interval). When compared to the control group (rats treated for the same period with equivalent volumes of saline solution), the CIT group presented a 41.4% reduction in the duration of aggressive response. The results indicate that the repeated administration of CIT early in life reduces the aggressive behavior in adulthood and suggest that the increased brain serotoninergic activity could play a role in this effect.

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Most studies suggest that serotonin exerts an inhibitory control on the aggression process. According to experimental evidence, this amine also influences growth and development of the nervous tissue including serotoninergic neurons. Thus, the possibility exists that increased serotonin availability in young animals facilitates a long-lasting effect on aggressive responses. The present study aimed to investigate the aggressive behavior of adult rats (90-120 days) treated from the 1st to the 19th postnatal day with citalopram (CIT), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (20 mg/kg, sc, every 3 days). Aggressive behavior was induced by placing a pair of rats (matched by weight) in a box (20 x 20 x 20 cm), and submitting them to a 20-min session of electric footshocks (five 1.6-mA - 2-s current pulses, separated by a 4-min intershock interval). When compared to the control group (rats treated for the same period with equivalent volumes of saline solution), the CIT group presented a 41.4 percent reduction in the duration of aggressive response. The results indicate that the repeated administration of CIT early in life reduces the aggressive behavior in adulthood and suggest that the increased brain serotoninergic activity could play a role in this effect

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A patogênese da doença alcoolica cardíaca não é completamente conhecida. Segundo uma das hipóteses, as lesões miocárdicas resultariam de alterações na parede dos vasos. Para avaliar possíveis alterações vaculares parietais, foi realizado estudo morfométrico de arteíolas miocárdica em doze alcoolistas crônicos (nove homens e três mulheres, com idade variando de 24 a 45 anos) e em oito controles (três homens e cinco mulheres, com idade variando entre 20 e 39 anos). Cortes histólogicos de seções transversais, longitudinais e oblíquas da parede livre do ventrículo esuerdo foram analisados em sistema semi-automático de análise de imagem. Não se obseervaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na espessura da parede articular entre os dois grupos. É possível, portanto, que alteraçõess vasculares, pelo nenos no que se refere a rede arteriolar miocárdica, não contribuam significativamente para a doença alcoólica cardíaca

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The effects of a Regional Basic Diet (RBD) on life expectancy and growth were studied in 23 Sprague-Dawley rats from mothers fed RBD since fecundation. These animals were compared with 20 rats from mothers fed the balanced control diet (22% protein). At weaning, the animals were fed their mothers diet and the weight was recorded every week until death. Sex related differences were not detected among RBD-fed animals; the growth curve was similar for both sexes. The critical points of acceleration and deceleration of the growth rate were not defined for these rats. Survival for RBD-groups decreased until 75 d of age and was unchanged between 75 and 450 d of life. From the 459 th d to the 589 th d of life deaths occurred successively. Controls survived until the 860 th d of life. Data point out the need for improving the basic food pattern of the region to prevent, among other things, a low life expectancy for the northeastern population.

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We investigated the effect of a single ip injection of d-fenfluramine (d-fen; 5-10 mg/kg), a serotonin reuptake blocker, on cortical spreading depression (SD) in 17 male Wistar rats (300-360 g body weight). SD was elicited at the right frontal cortex by 1-min application of 2% KCl at 20-min intervals. SD propagation was monitored (electrocorticogram and DC-recording) at 2 points on the right parietal surface for 3 h. After a "baseline" recording period (1 h), d-fen was injected and the recording session was continued for 2 h. When compared to the predrug SD velocities (t = 0 min) the values measured after d-fen decreased significantly at t = 20 min (3.44 +/- 0.63 vs 2.66 +/- 0.51 mm/min; N = 17, P < 0.001), at t = 40 min (3.32 +/- 0.58 vs 2.53 +/- 0.52 mm/min; N = 14, P < 0.001), at t = 60 min (3.68 +/- 0.63 vs 2.92 +/- 0.72 mm/min; N = 11, P < 0.001) and at t = 80 min (3.57 +/- 0.61 vs 3.03 +/- 0.83 mm/min; N = 12, P < 0.05) but not at t = 100 min (3.47 +/- 0.72 vs 3.31 +/- 0.88 mm/min; N = 12) nor at t = 120 min (3.44 +/- 0.67 vs 3.37 +/- 0.76 mm/min; N = 11). Furthermore, in 19 of 48 KCl stimulations (40%) performed after d-fen in 8 rats (47%), SD velocity could not be evaluated since the phenomenon, after reaching the recording electrode nearest the stimulating point, interrupted the propagation before the second recording electrode was reached.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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We investigated the effect of a single ip injection of ed-fenfluramine (d-fen; 5-10 mg/kg), a serotinin reuptake blocker, on cortical spreading depression (SD) in 17 male Wistar rats (300-360 g body weight). SD was elicited at the right frontal cortex by 1-min application of 2 percent KCl at 20-min intervals. SD propagation was monitored (electrocorticogram and DC-recording) at 2 points on the right parietal surface for 3 h. After a "baseline" recording period (1 h), d-fen was injected and the recording session was continued for 2 h. When compared to the predrug SD velocities (t = 0 min) the values measured after d-fen decreased significantly at t = 20 min (3.44 + or - 0.63 vs 2.66 + or - 0.51 mm/min; N = 17, P<0.001), at t = 40 min (3.32 + or - 0.58 vs 2.53 + or - 0.52 mm/min; N = 14, P<0.001), att=60 min (3.68 + or - 0.63 vs 2.92 + or - 0.72 mm/min; N = 11, P<0.001) and at t = 80 min (3.57 + or - 0.61 vs 3.03 + or - 0.83 mm/min; N = 12, P<0.05) but not at t = 100 min (3.47 + or - 0.72 vs 3.31 + or - 0.88 mm/min; N = 12) nor at t = 120 min (3.44 + or - 0.67 vs 3.37 + or - 0.76 mm/min; N = 11). Furthermore, in 19 of 48 KCl stimulations (40 percent) performed ...

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The effect of treatment with naloxone early in life on pain responsiveness was studied in Wistar rats. Litters of six rats were divided equally into groups of 3 pups receiving daily naloxone (50 mg/kg, sc) and 3 pups receiving saline from the 3rd to 18th day of life. On days 30, 50, 70 and 90, one group of animals previously injected during suckling with naloxone (N = 21) and another with saline (N = 21) were submitted to the hot-plate test to measure the latency to paw licking. Other groups of rats also treated during suckling with naloxone (N = 13) and saline (N = 14) were assessed for the antinociceptive effect of morphine (10 mg/kg,sc). The naloxone group displayed a lower latency than the saline group in all test sessions and a diminished analgesic response to morphine. The results indicate that the use of naloxone (an antagonist opioid) during suckling, the brain growth spurt period, facilitates a long-lasting increased pain responsiveness and alters antialgesic mechanisms. In this respect, the opioid and non-opioid effects of naloxone on the ontogeny of neural systems should be taken into account.

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The effect of treatment with naloxone early in life on pain responsiveness was studied in Wistar rats. Litters of six rats were divided equally into groups of 3 pups receiving daily naloxone (50 mg/kg, sc) and 3 pups receiving saline from the 3rd to 18th day of life. On days 30, 50, 70 and 90, one group of animals previously injected during suckling with naloxone (N = 21) and another with saline (N = 21) were submitted to the hot-plate test to measure the latency to paw licking. Other groups of rats also treated during suckling with naloxone (N = 13) and saline (N = 14) were assessed for the antinociceptive effect of morphine (10 mg/kg,sc). The naloxone group displayed a lower latency than the saline group in all test sessions and a diminished analgesic response to morphine. The results indicate that the use of naloxone (an antagonist opioid) during suckling, the brain growth spurt period, facilitates a long-lasting increased pain responsiveness and alters antialgesic mechanisms. In this respect, the opioid and non-opioid effects of naloxone on the ontogeny of neural systems should be taken into account

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The propagation of cortical spreading depression (SD) and the incidence of "spontaneous" SD were enhanced in rats after rapid-eye-movement sleep deprivation (REMD) as compared to control animals. Pseudo-deprived rats were similar to controls, suggesting that the facilitatory effect on SD is due to REMD rather than to the stress accompanying deprivation. In control rats, apomorphine (0.5 to 8 mg/kg) failed to reproduce the effects of REMD and also failed to enhance the REMD effects in deprived rats, suggesting that the dopaminergic system does not play an important role in propagation of cortical SD

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The propagation of cortical spreading depression (SD) and the incidence of "spontaneous" SD were enhanced in rats after rapid-eye-movement sleep deprivation (REMD) as compared to control animals. Pseudo-deprived rats were similar to controls, suggesting that the facilitatory effect on SD is due to REMD rather than to the stress accompanying deprivation. In control rats, apomorphine (0.5 to 8 mg/kg) failed to reproduce the effects of REMD and also failed to enhance the REMD effects in deprived rats, suggesting that the dopaminergic system does not play an important role in propagation of cortical SD.

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1. Rats were fed the "basic regional diet" (BRD) utilized by some human populations in northeastern Brazil, which contains only 7.8% protein (mainly from beans), to produce a form of malnutrition. The effects of chronic malnutrition on nerve impulse conduction velocity was studied in the sciatic nerve of young (121-143 days) and old (420-540 days) rats. 2. BRD rats presented a 50% reduction in sciatic nerve conduction velocity compared to controls fed a diet containing 22% casein. 3. Rats chronically fed a commercially available diet (CD group) containing an intermediate level of protein (14%) presented conduction velocities intermediate between values obtained from control and BRD rats (62% to 76% of the control values). 4. The conduction velocities of animals belonging to the same nutritional group were independent of sex, body weight or age. 5. Nutritional restriction imposed only in adult life by increasing the number of rats per cage in the casein group did not have any effect on the conduction velocity of nerve impulses. 6. The severity of the effects observed in the malnourished rats may be related to the quantity and quality of protein in the diet. In this respect, the present data agree with those reported in the literature on human and animal experiments. 7. The present results justify the use of the foods ingested by malnourished human populations for the development of experimental animal models of malnutrition.

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