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Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion that triggers pain chronification and central sensitization and it can develop in a different manner, dependent of age. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating NP. Then, we aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS and BDNF levels in neuropathic pain rats in development, with 30 days old in the beginning of experiments. Eight-five male Wistar rats were subjected to chronic constriction injury. After establishment of NP, bimodal tDCS was applied to the rats for eight consecutive days, for 20 minutes each session. Subsequently, nociceptive behavior was assessed at baseline, 14 days after surgery, 1 day and 7 days after the end of tDCS. The rats were sacrificed 8 days after the last session of tDCS. An increase in the nociceptive threshold was observed in rats in development 1 day after the end of tDCS (short-term effect), but this effect was not maintained 7 days after the end of tDCS (long-term effect). Furthermore, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were analyzed in the frontal cortex, spinal cord and serum using ELISA assays. The neuropathic pain model showed an effect of BDNF in the spinal cord of rats in development. There were no effects of BNDF levels of pain or tDCS in the frontal cortex or serum. In conclusion, tDCS is an effective technique to relieve nociceptive behavior at a short-term effect in neuropathic pain rats in development, and BDNF levels were not altered at long-term effect.
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INTRODUCTION: Given that chronic inflammatory pain is highly prevalent worldwide, it is important to study new techniques to treat or relieve this type of pain. The present study evaluated the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in rats submitted to a chronic inflammatory model by nociceptive response, biomarker levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-10), and by histological parameters. METHODS: Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were used in this study and randomized by weight into 6 major groups: total control, control + sham-tDCS, control + active tDCS, total CFA, CFA + sham-tDCS, and CFA + active tDCS. After inflammatory pain was established, the animals were submitted to the treatment protocol for 8 consecutive days, according to the experimental group. The nociceptive tests (von Frey and hot plate) were assessed, and euthanasia by decapitation occurred at day 8 after the end of tDCS treatment, and the blood serum and central nervous structures were collected for BDNF and IL measurements. All experiments and procedures were approved by the Institutional Committee for Animal Care and Use (UFPel #4538). RESULTS: The tDCS treatment showed a complete reversal of the mechanical allodynia induced by the pain model 24 h and 8 days after the last tDCS session, and there was partial reversal of the thermal hyperalgesia at all time points. Serum BDNF levels were decreased in CFA + sham-tDCS and CFA + tDCS groups compared to the control + tDCS group. The control group submitted to tDCS exhibited an increase in serum IL-6 levels in relation to the other groups. In addition, there was a significant decrease in IL-10 striatum levels in control + tDCS, CFA, and CFA + sham-tDCS groups in relation to the control group, with a partial tDCS effect on the CFA pain model. Local histology demonstrated tDCS effects in decreasing lymphocytic infiltration and neovascularization and tissue regeneration in animals exposed to CFA. CONCLUSION: tDCS was able to reverse the mechanical allodynia and decrease thermal hyperalgesia and local inflammation in a chronic inflammatory pain model, with a modest effect on striatum IL-10 levels. As such, we suggest that analgesic tDCS mechanisms may be related to tissue repair by modulating the local inflammatory process.
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Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua , Animais , Masculino , Ratos , Anti-Inflamatórios , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo , Hiperalgesia/terapia , Inflamação/terapia , Interleucina-10 , Dor , Ratos Wistar , Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua/métodosRESUMO
Astrocytes play an important role in the central nervous system function and may contribute to brain plasticity response during static magnetic fields (SMF) brain therapy. However, most studies evaluate SMF stimulation in brain plasticity while few studies evaluate the consequences of SMF at the cellular level. Thus, we here evaluate the effects of SMF at 305 mT (medium-intensity) in a primary culture of healthy/normal cortical astrocytes obtained from neonatal (1 to 2-day-old) Wistar rats. After reaching confluence, cells were daily subjected to SMF stimulation for 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, and 40 min during 7 consecutive days. Oxidative stress parameters, cell cycle, cell viability, and mitochondrial function were analyzed. The antioxidant capacity was reduced in groups stimulated for 5 and 40 min. Although no difference was observed in the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase or the total thiol content, lipid peroxidation was increased in all stimulated groups. The cell cycle was changed after 40 min of SMF stimulation while 15, 30, and 40 min led cells to death by necrosis. Mitochondrial function was reduced after SMF stimulation, although imaging analysis did not reveal substantial changes in the mitochondrial network. Results mainly revealed that SMF compromised healthy astrocytes' oxidative status and viability. This finding reveals how important is to understand the SMF stimulation at the cellular level since this therapeutic approach has been largely used against neurological and psychiatric diseases.
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Astrócitos , Sobrevivência CelularRESUMO
Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of depression and mania, and oxidative stress has been associated with the observed neurochemical changes in this disease. We evaluated the effects of gallic acid on hyperlocomotion, acetylcholinesterase activity, and oxidative stress in an animal model of ketamine-induced mania. Rats were pretreated orally with vehicle, gallic acid (50 or 100 mg/kg), or lithium (45 mg/kg twice a day) for 14 days. Between days 8 and 14, the animals also received ketamine (25 mg/kg) or saline daily. On the 15th day, hyperlocomotion was assessed, following which the animals were euthanized, and brains were collected. Results showed that ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion and caused oxidative damage by increasing reactive oxygen species levels, lipid peroxidation, and nitrite levels, and decreasing the total thiol content and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in the brain. Pretreatment with gallic acid and lithium prevented hyperlocomotion and brain oxidative damage. Further, ketamine increased the acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus and striatum, whereas gallic acid and lithium ameliorated this alteration. Thus, gallic acid may provide effective protection against manic-like behavior by reducing oxidative stress and preventing cholinergic signaling dysfunction in the brain regions involved in emotion regulation.
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Córtex Cerebral/efeitos dos fármacos , Corpo Estriado/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácido Gálico/uso terapêutico , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Lítio/uso terapêutico , Mania/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Corpo Estriado/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ácido Gálico/farmacologia , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Lítio/farmacologia , Masculino , Mania/metabolismo , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismoRESUMO
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of Eugenia uniflora fruit extract on behavioral parameters, oxidative stress markers, and acetylcholinesterase activity in an animal model of depression, which was induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Mice were divided into six groups as follows: control/vehicle (water), control/fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), control/extract (200 mg/kg), CUS/vehicle, CUS/fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), and CUS/extract (200 mg/kg). Animals of the CUS group were exposed to a series of stressors for a period of 21 days. Vehicle, fluoxetine, and hydroalcoholic extract were administered daily by gavage. Results showed that E. uniflora treatment: (a) prevented the depressant-like effect induced by CUS; (b) regulated the activity of acetylcholinesterase; (c) reduced oxidative damage to lipids and reactive oxygen species production, in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus; and (d) prevented the reduction of glutathione peroxidase in the hippocampus of animals subjected to CUS protocol. Taken together, our findings suggested that E. uniflora extract exerts a neuroprotective effect by preventing oxidative damage and decreasing CUS-induced acetylcholinesterase activity, thus, ameliorating depressive-type behavior. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: E. uniflora fruit extract revealed an antidepressant-like effect and prevented the oxidative damage as well as cholinergic alterations caused by chronic stress in mice. Therefore, we believe that the results obtained in this study can be used to develop an alternative therapy for the management of depressive disorders.
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Autism is a neuropathology characterized by behavioral disorders. Considering that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of this disease, we evaluated the effects of quercetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, in an experimental model of autism induced by valproic acid (VPA). Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into four groups (control, quercetin, VPA, and VPA+quercetin). Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the animals from gestational days 6.5 to 18.5, and VPA (800 mg/kg) was administered orally in a single dosage on gestational day 12.5. Behavioral tests such as open field, social interaction, and tail flick nociceptive assays were performed on pups between 30 and 40 days old, after which the animals were euthanized. Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum were collected for evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. The pups exposed to VPA during the gestational period showed reduced weight gain, increased latency in the open field and tail flick tests, reduced time of social interaction, accompanied by changes in oxidative stress parameters mainly in the hippocampus and striatum. Prenatal treatment with quercetin prevented the behavioral changes and damage caused by oxidative stress, possibly due to its antioxidant action. Our findings demonstrated that quercetin has neuroprotective effects in an animal model of autism, suggesting that this natural molecule could be an important therapeutic agent for treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
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Transtorno Autístico/prevenção & controle , Transtorno Autístico/psicologia , Química Encefálica , Sintase do Porfobilinogênio/metabolismo , Quercetina/uso terapêutico , Animais , Anticonvulsivantes , Transtorno Autístico/induzido quimicamente , Feminino , Atividade Motora , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/uso terapêutico , Estresse Oxidativo , Medição da Dor , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Interação Social , Ácido Valproico , Aumento de PesoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Eugenia uniflora fruit (red type) extract on metabolic status, as well as on neurochemical and behavioral parameters in an animal model of metabolic syndrome induced by a highly palatable diet (HPD). Rats were treated for 150days and divided into 4 experimental groups: standard chow (SC) and water orally, SC and E. uniflora extract (200mg/kg daily, p.o), HPD and water orally, HPD and extract. Our data showed that HPD caused glucose intolerance, increased visceral fat, weight gain, as well as serum glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol; however, E. uniflora prevented these alterations. The extract decreased lipid peroxidation and prevented the reduction of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum of animals submitted to HPD. We observed a HPD-induced reduction of thiol content in these cerebral structures. The extract prevented increased acetylcholinesterase activity in the prefrontal cortex caused by HPD and the increase in immobility time observed in the forced swim test. Regarding chemical composition, LC/MS analysis showed the presence of nine anthocyanins as the major compounds. In conclusion, E. uniflora extract showed benefits against metabolic alterations caused by HPD, as well as exhibited antioxidant and antidepressant-like effects.
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Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Depressão/prevenção & controle , Eugenia/química , Frutas/química , Síndrome Metabólica/prevenção & controle , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Adiposidade/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antidepressivos/isolamento & purificação , Antidepressivos/normas , Antioxidantes/isolamento & purificação , Antioxidantes/normas , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Biomarcadores/sangue , Glicemia/efeitos dos fármacos , Glicemia/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Catalase/metabolismo , Depressão/sangue , Depressão/fisiopatologia , Depressão/psicologia , Dieta Hiperlipídica , Sacarose Alimentar , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Dislipidemias/sangue , Dislipidemias/induzido quimicamente , Dislipidemias/prevenção & controle , Proteínas Ligadas por GPI/metabolismo , Intolerância à Glucose/sangue , Intolerância à Glucose/induzido quimicamente , Intolerância à Glucose/prevenção & controle , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólica/sangue , Síndrome Metabólica/fisiopatologia , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Obesidade/sangue , Obesidade/induzido quimicamente , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Extratos Vegetais/normas , Plantas Medicinais , Ratos Wistar , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Fatores de Tempo , Aumento de Peso/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Rosmarinic acid is commonly found in species of the Boraginaceae and the subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae). It has a number of interesting biological activities, for example, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the i.p. administration of caffeic and rosmarinic acid (5 and 10 mg/kg) on anti-inflammatory and nociceptive response using carrageenan-induced pleurisy model and tail-flick assay in rats. The analysis of cells in the pleural exudates revealed a reduction of 66% of the number of leukocytes that migrated to the pleural cavity in the animals treated with 5 mg/kg caffeic acid, and of 92.9% for the animals treated with 10 mg/kg in comparison with the control group. These exudates showed a balanced distribution of polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) cells, differently from the control group, in which PMN cells were predominant. The analysis to tail-flick latency was increased in the group treated with 10 mg/kg caffeic acid characterizing a nociceptive response. While there was no difference between control group and animals treated with rosmarinic.
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OBJECTIVES: Free radicals may damage lipids, proteins and DNA, which may lead to critical diseases in the aging. This work evaluated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and DNA damage by comet assay (SCGE) in older adults that do exercises regularly. DESIGN AND METHODS: 110 females, aged 66.3+/-8 years were divided into sedentary (n=54), walking (n=36) and muscle building (n=20) groups. Levels of MDA, GPx and SCGE were measured in venous blood before and after exercise. RESULTS: MDA levels were higher (P<0.005) and GPx levels were lower (P<0.005) in active groups than in sedentary group. SCGE index after physical activity was greater than at baseline (muscle building: P=0.004; walking: P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise reduces the diseases risk, but may promote the production of free radicals. It remains unclear whether cell adaptations responsible for health benefits are associated with such events. However we may suggest the existence of a different biochemical pattern for older adults that do exercise regularly.
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Dano ao DNA , Exercício Físico , Estresse Oxidativo , Idoso , Ensaio Cometa , Feminino , Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Humanos , Malondialdeído/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
O malondialdeído (MDA) é um importante biomarcador utilizado na avaliação do estresse oxidativo. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma metodologia para a quantificação plasmática de MDA, através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção por arranjo de diodos (CLAE-DAD), após processo de derivatização com 2,4-dinitrofenilhidrazina (DNPH), avaliando as principais variáveis pré-analíticas. A curva de calibração em plasma (0 a 40 µM) apresentou elevada linearidade (r²=0,998). Os principais parâmetros de validação foram: recuperação absoluta: 78 por cento; limite de detecção: 0,11 µM e limite de quantificação: 0,38 µM. Os valores de MDA determinados em indivíduos adultos saudáveis (n=38) foram 3,31 ± 0,38 µM (média ± DP). Estudos de estabilidade do padrão de MDA, reagente derivatizante e MDA plasmáticos, indicaram que a solução padrão pode ser armazenada a -20 e 4 ºC.
Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an important biomarker for the evaluation of oxidative stress status. The aim of this study was to develop a method for plasma MDA quantification by high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), following derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), evaluating the main preanalytical variables. The calibration curve in plasma (0 to 40 µM) presented high linearity (r² = 0.998). Main validation parameters were: recovery: 78 percent; LOD: 0.11 µM and LOQ: 0.38 µM. The MDA values obtained in healthy volunteers (n=38) were 3.31 ± 0.38 µM (mean ± SD). Stability studies of MDA standard solution and derivatizing reagent and plasma MDA indicated that the standard solution can be stored at -20 and 4 ºC, remaining stable for at least 30 days.
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Biomarcadores Farmacológicos/análise , Malondialdeído/análise , Estresse Oxidativo , Cromatografia Líquida/métodosRESUMO
Neurochemical gender-specific effects have been observed following chronic stress. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of chronic variable stress on free radical production (evaluated by DCF test), lipoperoxidation (evaluated by TBARS levels), and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) in three distinct structures of brain: hippocampus, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus of female rats, and to evaluate whether the replacement with estradiol in female rats exerts neuroprotection against oxidative stress. Results demonstrate that chronic stress had a structure-specific effect upon lipid peroxidation, since TBARS increased in hypothalamus homogenates of stressed animals, without alterations in the other structures analyzed. Estradiol replacement was able to counteract this effect. In hippocampus, estradiol induced a significant increase in TAR. No differences in DCF levels were observed. In conclusion, the hypothalamus is more susceptible to oxidative stress in female rats submitted to chronic variable stress, and this effect is prevented by estradiol treatment.