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Background: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) leads to memory and learning impairments associated with degeneration and gliosis in the hippocampus. Treatment with physical exercise carries different therapeutic benefits for each sex. We investigated the effects of acrobatic training on astrocyte remodeling in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus and spatial memory impairment in male and female rats at different stages of the two-vessel occlusion (2VO) model. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups of males and females: 2VO acrobatic, 2VO sedentary, sham acrobatic, and sham sedentary. The acrobatic training was performed for 4 weeks prior to the 2VO procedure. Brain samples were collected for morphological and biochemical analysis at 3 and 7 days after 2VO. The dorsal hippocampi were removed and prepared for Western blot quantification of Akt, p-Akt, COX IV, cleaved caspase-3, PARP, and GFAP. GFAP immunofluorescence was performed on slices of the hippocampus to count astrocytes and apply the Sholl's circle technique. The Morris water maze was run after 45 days of 2VO. Results: Acutely, the trained female rats showed increased PARP expression, and the 2VO-trained rats of both sexes presented increased GFAP levels in Western blot. Training, mainly in males, induced an increase in the number of astrocytes in the CA1 subfield. The 2VO rats presented branched astrocytes, while acrobatic training prevented branching. However, the 2VO-induced spatial memory impairment was partially prevented by the acrobatic training. Conclusion: Acrobatic training restricted the astrocytic remodeling caused by 2VO in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus. The improvement in spatial memory was associated with more organized glial scarring in the trained rats and better cell viability observed in females.
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The congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) has been characterized as a set of several brain changes, such as reduced brain volume and subcortical calcifications, in addition to cognitive deficits. Microcephaly is one of the possible complications found in newborns exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy, although it is an impacting clinical sign. This study aimed to investigate the consequences of a model of congenital ZIKV infection by evaluating the histopathology, blood-brain barrier, and neuroinflammation in pup rats 24 h after birth, and neurodevelopment of the offspring. Pregnant rats were inoculated subcutaneously with ZIKV-BR at the dose 1 × 107 plaque-forming unit (PFU mL-1) of ZIKV isolated in Brazil (ZIKV-BR) on gestational day 18 (G18). A set of pups, 24 h after birth, was euthanized. The brain was collected and later evaluated for the histopathology of brain structures through histological analysis. Additionally, analyses of the blood-brain barrier were conducted using western blotting, and neuroinflammation was assessed using ELISA. Another set of animals was evaluated on postnatal days 3, 6, 9, and 12 for neurodevelopment by observing the developmental milestones. Our results revealed hippocampal atrophy in ZIKV animals, in addition to changes in the blood-brain barrier structure and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression increase. Regarding neurodevelopment, a delay in important reflexes during the neonatal period in ZIKV animals was observed. These findings advance the understanding of the pathophysiology of CZS and contribute to enhancing the rat model of CZS.
Assuntos
Microcefalia , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez , Infecção por Zika virus , Zika virus , Gravidez , Humanos , Feminino , Ratos , Animais , Infecção por Zika virus/complicações , Infecção por Zika virus/diagnóstico , Zika virus/fisiologia , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/patologia , Barreira Hematoencefálica/patologia , Doenças Neuroinflamatórias , Microcefalia/etiologia , Microcefalia/patologia , Atrofia/patologia , Hipocampo/patologiaRESUMO
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus associated with several neurodevelopmental outcomes after in utero infection. Here, we studied a congenital ZIKV infection model with immunocompetent Wistar rats, able to predict disabilities and that could pave the way for proposing new effective therapies. We identified neurodevelopmental milestones disabilities in congenital ZIKV animals. Also, on 22nd postnatal day (PND), blood-brain barrier (BBB) proteins disturbances were detected in the hippocampus with immunocontent reduction of ß_Catenin, Occludin and Conexin-43. Besides, oxidative stress imbalance on hippocampus and cortex were identified, without neuronal reduction in these structures. In conclusion, even without pups' microcephaly-like phenotype, congenital ZIKV infection resulted in neurobehavioral dysfunction associated with BBB and oxidative stress disturbances in young rats. Therefore, our findings highlighted the multiple impact of the congenital ZIKV infection on the neurodevelopment, which reinforces the continuity of studies to understand the spectrum of this impairment and to provide support to future treatment development for patients affected by congenital ZIKV.
Assuntos
Doenças Transmissíveis , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez , Infecção por Zika virus , Zika virus , Humanos , Gravidez , Feminino , Ratos , Animais , Zika virus/fisiologia , Barreira Hematoencefálica , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Promising evidence points to gestational physical exercise as the key to preventing various disorders that affect the offspring neurodevelopment, but there are no studies showing the impact of resistance exercise on offspring health. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether resistance exercise during pregnancy is able to prevent or to alleviate the possible deleterious effects on offspring, caused by early life-stress (ELS). Pregnant rats performed resistance exercise throughout the gestational period:they climbed a sloping ladder with a weight attached to their tail, 3 times a week. Male and female pups, on the day of birth (P0), were divided into 4 experimental groups: 1) rats of sedentary mothers (SED group); 2) rats of exercised mothers (EXE group); 3) rats of sedentary mothers and submitted to maternal separation (ELS group) and 4) rats of exercised mothers and submitted to MS (EXE + ELS group). From P1 to P10, pups from groups 3 and 4 were separated from their mothers for 3 h/day. Maternal behavior was assessed. From P30, behavioral tests were performed and on P38 the animals were euthanized and prefrontal cortex samples were collected. Oxidative stress and tissue damage analysis by Nissl staining were performed. Our results demonstrate that male rats are more susceptible to ELS than females, showing impulsive and hyperactive behavior similar to that seen in children with ADHD. This behavior was attenuated by the gestational resistance exercise. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that resistance exercise performed during pregnancy seems to be safe for the pregnancy and offspring's neurodevelopment and are effective in preventing ELS-induced damage only in male rats. Interestingly, resistance exercise during pregnancy improved maternal care and it is reasonable to propose that this finding may be related to the protective role on the animals neurodevelopment, observed in our study.
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Experiências Adversas da Infância , Treinamento Resistido , Gravidez , Humanos , Ratos , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Ratos Wistar , Privação Materna , MãesRESUMO
Perinatal asphyxia is a peripartum event that can cause permanent sequelae to the newborns, affecting the brain development. Recently, it has been demonstrated that epigenetics mechanisms play an important role in this injury and that folic acid (FA) supplementation during pregnancy can affect these epigenetics modifications as well as gene expression. We have identified both positive and negative effects of FA treatment in rats submitted to a model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Considering that FA supplementation is already used in pregnant women and that HI occurs in the peripartum period, this study was designated to evaluate how gestational FA supplementation and neonatal HI affect: apoptosis (caspase-3) and expression of synaptic proteins (synapsin and PSD-95) and the methylation of histone H3 lysine (K) 4 and 27 in the rat hippocampus. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided according to the diets: standard (SD), supplemented with 2 mg/kg of FA or with 20 mg/kg of FA. HI procedure was performed at the 7th PND. Protein expression and H3 methylation were evaluated at the 60th PND in the rats' hippocampus. Neonatal HI increased caspase-3 expression decreased synapsin expression and reduced H3K4me2, -me3 and H3K27me2, -me3 in the ipsilateral hippocampus. FA only prevented the augment in caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, neonatal HI caused lasting effects on caspase-3-mediated cell death (prevented by the FA) and synaptic proteins in the rats' hippocampus. This is the first study to show that histone modifications may contribute to these pathological findings in the hippocampus of HI animals.
Assuntos
Caspase 3/metabolismo , Ácido Fólico/administração & dosagem , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Histonas/metabolismo , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Sinapsinas/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Metilação de DNA , Feminino , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Masculino , Gravidez , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) can lead to cognitive impairments and motor dysfunction. Acrobatic exercises (AE) were proposing as therapeutic option to manage HI motor deficits, however, the cognitive effects after this treatment are still poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of AE protocol on memory impairments and brain plasticity markers after Rice-Vannucci HI rodent model. Wistar rats on the 7th postnatal day (PND) were submitted to HI model and after weaning (PND22) were trained for 5 weeks with AE protocol, then subsequently submitted to cognitive tests. Our results showed recovery in novel object recognition (NOR) memory, but not, spatial Morris Water Maze (WM) memory after AE treatment in HI rats. BDNF and synaptophysin neuroplasticity markers indicate plastic alterations in the hippocampus and striatum, with maintenance of synaptophysin despite the reduction of total volume tissue, besides, hippocampal HI-induced ipsilateral BDNF increased, and striatum contralateral BDNF decreased were noted. Nevertheless, the exercise promoted functional recovery and seems to be a promising strategy for HI treatment, however, future studies identifying neuroplastic pathway for this improvement are needed.
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Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/psicologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/reabilitação , Transtornos da Memória/psicologia , Transtornos da Memória/reabilitação , Condicionamento Físico Animal/psicologia , Reconhecimento Psicológico , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Atrofia , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/anatomia & histologia , Aprendizagem em Labirinto , Destreza Motora , Neostriado/anatomia & histologia , Desempenho Psicomotor , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Memória Espacial , Sinaptofisina/metabolismoRESUMO
There are evidences about the involvement of systemic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), on functional exercise effects. Although aerobic exercise can impact circulating extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs) cargo, other exercise modalities were not studied. Taken that BDNF and anti-inflammatory effects have been related to functional outcomes, and BDNF and IL-1ß have been detected in circulating EVPs, our aim was to evaluate circulating total EVPs profile from adult and aged Wistar rats submitted to exercise modalities, namely aerobic, acrobatic, resistance or combined for 20 min, 3 times a week, during 12 weeks. A modality- and age-dependent effect on total EVPs cargo was observed; aerobic exercise induced an augment in BDNF and IL-1ß in EVPs from aged rats, while acrobatic and combined exercise modalities reduced IL-1ß content in EVPs from adult ones. Besides, all exercise modalities attenuated aging-induced CD63 changes in circulating total EVPs; this finding can be involved with reduced mortality rate and improved memory performance previously observed. Changes on EVPs profile, such as increased CD63 levels can be related, at least in part, to an exercise-induced healthier global status. Additionally, aerobic exercise-induced effects on BDNF and IL-1ß levels might indicate additional benefits in aged individuals.
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Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo , Vesículas Extracelulares , Envelhecimento , Animais , Cognição , Interleucina-1beta , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Methylphenidate (MPH) is a stimulant drug mainly prescribed to treat cognitive impairments in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We demonstrated that neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) induced attentional deficits in rats and MPH administration reversed these deficits. However, MPH effects on memory deficits after the HI procedure have not been evaluated yet. AIMS: We aimed to analyze learning and memory performance of young hypoxic-ischemic rats after MPH administration and associate their performance with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=11-13/group): control saline (CTS), control MPH (CTMPH), HI saline (HIS) and HIMPH. The HI procedure was conducted at post-natal day (PND) 7 and memory tasks between PND 30 and 45. MPH administration (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) occurred 30 min prior to each behavioral session and daily, for 15 days, for the BDNF assay (n=5-7/group). RESULTS: As expected, hypoxic-ischemic animals demonstrated learning and memory deficits in the novel-object recognition (NOR) and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks. However, MPH treatment did not improve learning and memory deficits of these animals in the MWM-and even disrupted the animals' performance in the NOR task. Increased BDNF levels were found in the hippocampus of HIMPH animals, which seem to have been insufficient to improve memory deficits observed in this group. CONCLUSIONS: The MPH treatment was not able to improve memory deficits resulting from the HI procedure considering a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Further studies investigating different MPH doses would be necessary to determine a dose-response relationship in this model.
Assuntos
Estimulantes do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos da Memória/tratamento farmacológico , Metilfenidato/farmacologia , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/efeitos dos fármacos , Transtornos da Memória/patologia , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphisms of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and perinatal complications associated with poor oxygenation are risk factors for attentional problems in childhood and may show interactive effects. METHODS: We created a novel expression-based polygenic risk score (ePRS) reflecting variations in the function of the DAT1 gene network (ePRS-DAT1) in the prefrontal cortex and explored the effects of its interaction with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic-associated conditions on cognitive flexibility and brain gray matter density in healthy children from two birth cohorts-MAVAN from Canada (n = 139 boys and girls) and GUSTO from Singapore (n = 312 boys and girls). RESULTS: A history of exposure to several perinatal hypoxic-ischemic-associated conditions was associated with impaired cognitive flexibility only in the high-ePRS group, suggesting that variation in the prefrontal cortex expression of genes involved in dopamine reuptake is associated with differences in this behavior. Interestingly, this result was observed in both ethnically distinct birth cohorts. Additionally, parallel independent component analysis (MAVAN cohort, n = 40 children) demonstrated relationships between single nucleotide polymorphism-based ePRS and gray matter density in areas involved in executive (cortical regions) and integrative (bilateral thalamus and putamen) functions, and these relationships differ in children from high and low exposure to hypoxic-ischemic-associated conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that the impact of conditions associated with hypoxia-ischemia on brain development and executive functions is moderated by genotypes associated with dopamine signaling in the prefrontal cortex. We discuss the potential impact of innovative genomic and environmental measures for the identification of children at high risk for impaired executive functions.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/patologia , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/genética , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Substância Cinzenta/patologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/genética , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/patologia , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Herança Multifatorial , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo ÚnicoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluated motor function and morphological aspects of the components involved in motor control (sensorimotor cortex, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, neuromuscular junctions and skeletal muscle) in male Wistar rats exposed to a model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and the possible influence of different physical exercise protocols - treadmill and acrobatic. Male Wistar rats at the 7th post-natal day (PND) were submitted to the HIE model and from the 22nd until 60th PND the exercise protocols (treadmill or acrobatic training) were running. After the training, the animals were evaluated in Open Field, Ladder Rung Walking and Rotarod tasks and after samples of the motor control components were collected. Our results evidenced that the acrobatic training reversed the hyperactivity and anxiety, caused locomotion improvement and decreased brain atrophy in HIE animals. We did not find morphological differences on sensorimotor cortex, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, neuromuscular junctions and skeletal muscle in the animals submitted to HIE model. These intriguing data support the statement of the Rice-Vannucci model does not seem to reproduce, in structures involved in control function, the damage found in humans that suffer HIE. Regarding the protocols of exercise, we proposed that the acrobatic exercise could be a good therapeutic option especially in children affected by neonatal HIE and can be responsible for good results in cognitive and motor aspects.
Assuntos
Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Hipóxia/fisiopatologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Isquemia/fisiopatologia , Locomoção/fisiologia , Masculino , Condicionamento Físico Animal/métodos , Gravidez , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Córtex Sensório-Motor/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compromises the quality of life of individuals including adaptation to the social environment. ADHD aetiology includes perinatal conditions such as hypoxic-ischaemic events; preclinical studies have demonstrated attentional deficits and impulsive-hyperactive outcomes after neonatal hypoxic and/or ischaemic intervention, but data are missing to understand this relationship. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate executive function (EF) and impulsivity, and tissue integrity and dopaminergic function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats submitted to hypoxia-ischaemia (HI). METHODS: At postnatal day (PND) 7, male Wistar rats were divided into control (n = 10) and HI groups (n = 11) and the HI procedure was conducted. At PND60, the animals were tested in the attentional set-shifting (ASS) task to EF and in the tolerance to delay of reward for assessment of impulsivity. After, morphological analysis and the dopaminergic system were evaluated in the PFC. RESULTS: Animals subjected to HI had impairments in EF evidenced by a behavioural inflexibility that was correlated to PFC atrophy. Moreover, HI animals presented reduced D2 receptors in the ipsilateral side of ischaemia in the PFC. CONCLUSIONS: Animals submitted to HI presented impaired EF associated with tissue atrophy and dopaminergic disturbance in the PFC.
Assuntos
Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/fisiopatologia , Função Executiva , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Comportamento Impulsivo , Córtex Pré-Frontal/fisiopatologia , Animais , Atrofia , Atenção , Comportamento Animal , Dopamina/metabolismo , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , RecompensaRESUMO
In the present study, we investigate the effect of severe hyperhomocysteinemia on biochemical (creatine kinase activity), behavioral (memory tests), and histological assessments (hippocampal volume). A possible neuroprotective role of creatine on hyperhomocysteinemia effects was also evaluated. Severe hyperhomocysteinemia was induced in neonate rats (starting at 6 days of age) by treatment with homocysteine (0.3-0.6 µmol/g body weight) for 23 days. Creatine (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered concomitantly with homocysteine. Controls received saline in the same volumes. Twelve hours after the last injection, the rats were submitted to behavioral tests [(recognition task (NOR)] and inhibitory avoidance (IA)]. Following behavioral assessment, the animals were perfused and decapitated, the brain removed for subsequent morphological analysis of the hippocampus. Another group of animals was used to test creatine kinase activity in hippocampus. The results showed that rats treated with homocysteine decreased (44%) the exploration of the novel object in NOR. In the IA task, homocysteine-treated animals presented decreased latencies to step down the platform in short- (32%) and long-term (18%) testings (3 h and 7 days, respectively), evidencing aversive memory impairment. Hippocampal volume was not altered by homocysteine administration. Hyperhomocysteinemia decreased (45%) creatine kinase activity, and creatine was able to prevent such effect probably by creatine kinase/phosphocreatine/creatine homeostasis, which serves as energy circuit within of the cell. This finding may be associated, at least in part, with memory improvement, suggesting that creatine might represent an effective adjuvant to protect against the effects of high homocysteine plasma levels.
Assuntos
Creatina Quinase/efeitos dos fármacos , Creatina/farmacologia , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hiper-Homocisteinemia/tratamento farmacológico , Memória/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Feminino , Homeostase/efeitos dos fármacos , Hiper-Homocisteinemia/induzido quimicamente , Masculino , Transtornos da Memória/prevenção & controle , Neuroproteção/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosforilação , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Our previous results demonstrated improved cognition in adolescent rats housed in environmental enrichment (EE) that underwent neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of early EE on neurobehavioral development and brain damage in rats submitted to neonatal HI. Wistar rats were submitted to the HI procedure on the 7th postnatal day (PND) and housed in an enriched environment (8th-20th PND). The maturation of physical characteristics and the neurological reflexes were evaluated and the volume of striatum, corpus callosum and neocortex was measured. Data analysis demonstrated a clear effect of EE on neurobehavioral development; also, daily performance was improved in enriched rats on righting, negative geotaxis and cliff aversion reflex. HI caused a transient motor deficit on gait latency. Brain atrophy was found in HI animals and this damage was partially prevented by the EE. In conclusion, early EE stimulated neurobehavioral development in neonate rats and also protects the neocortex and the corpus callosum from atrophy following HI. These findings reinforce the potential of EE as a strategy for rehabilitation following neonatal HI and provide scientific support to the use of this therapeutic strategy in the treatment of neonatal brain injuries in humans.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Meio Ambiente , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/reabilitação , Reflexo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Encéfalo/patologia , Corpo Caloso/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Corpo Caloso/patologia , Corpo Estriado/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Corpo Estriado/patologia , Feminino , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/patologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Neocórtex/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Neocórtex/patologia , Tamanho do Órgão , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Despite continuous improvement in neonatology there is no clinically effective treatment for perinatal hypoxia ischemia (HI). Therefore, development of a new therapeutic intervention to minimize the resulting neurological consequences is urgently needed. The immature brain is highly responsive to environmental stimuli, such as environmental enrichment but a more effective paradigm is enriched rehabilitation (ER), which combines environmental enrichment with daily reach training. Another neurorestorative strategy to promote tissue repair and functional recovery is cyclosporine A (CsA). However, potential benefits of CsA after neonatal HI have yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a combinational therapy of CsA and ER in attempts to promote cognitive and motor recovery in a rat model of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury. Seven-day old rats were submitted to the HI procedure and divided into 4 groups: CsA+Rehabilitation; CsA+NoRehabilitation; Vehicle+Rehabilitation; Vehicle+NoRehabilitation. Behavioural parameters were evaluated pre (experiment 1) and post 4 weeks of combinational therapy (experiment 2). Results of experiment 1 demonstrated reduced open field activity of HI animals and increased foot faults relative to shams in the ladder rung walking test. In experiment 2, we showed that ER facilitated acquisition of a staircase skilled-reaching task, increased number of zone crosses in open-field exploration and enhanced coordinated limb use during locomotion on the ladder rung task. There were no evident deficits in novel object recognition testing. Delayed administration of CsA, had no effect on functional recovery after neonatal HI. There was a significant reduction of cortical and hemispherical volume and hippocampal area, ipsilateral to arterial occlusion in HI animals; combinational therapy had no effect on these morphological measurements. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that ER, but not CsA was the main contributor to enhanced recovery of motor ability after neonatal HI.
Assuntos
Meio Ambiente , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/reabilitação , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica/fisiologia , Fatores Etários , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Infarto Encefálico/tratamento farmacológico , Infarto Encefálico/etiologia , Infarto Encefálico/reabilitação , Transtornos Cognitivos/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos Cognitivos/etiologia , Transtornos Cognitivos/reabilitação , Ciclosporina/uso terapêutico , Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Comportamento Exploratório/fisiologia , Comportamento Alimentar/efeitos dos fármacos , Comportamento Alimentar/fisiologia , Feminino , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/tratamento farmacológico , Imunossupressores/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Gravidez , Desempenho Psicomotor/efeitos dos fármacos , Desempenho Psicomotor/fisiologia , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Reconhecimento Psicológico/efeitos dos fármacos , Reconhecimento Psicológico/fisiologia , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Recent findings have demonstrated a dual effect of the folic acid (FA) supplementation on the nervous system of rats. We found that FA treatment prevented memory impairment and Na(+), K(+)- ATPase inhibition in the striatum and cortex in adult rats that suffered neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). However, spatial memory deficit has been associated with FA supplementation. In the present study we investigated the role of FA supplementation on spatial memory and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in the hippocampus, as well as on morphologic alterations in adolescent rats submitted to neonatal HI. Wistar rats of both sexes at postnatal day (PND) 7 were submitted to Levine-Rice HI procedure. Intraperitoneal doses of FA were administered immediately before HI and repeated daily until the maximum PND 40. Hippocampal volume and striatum area were estimated and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in the hippocampus was measured at PND 31. Also, the performance of the animals in the water maze was assessed and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity measured again at PND 52. Interestingly, HI and FA resulted in spatial memory deficits in the Morris water maze and the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity was impaired at PND 31 in HI rats which received FA. Additionally, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in adulthood showed a decrease after HI and a recovery in supplemented animals. Hippocampal and striatal atrophy were partially reversed by FA. To conclude, the present results support the hypothesis that FA supplementation during development contributes to memory deficits caused by HI and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase failure in adolescent rats, although, in adulthood, FA has been effective in reversing enzymatic activity in the hippocampus.
Assuntos
Ácido Fólico/toxicidade , Hipocampo/enzimologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/enzimologia , Transtornos da Memória/induzido quimicamente , Transtornos da Memória/enzimologia , ATPase Trocadora de Sódio-Potássio/metabolismo , Fatores Etários , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Feminino , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipocampo/patologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/patologia , Masculino , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/efeitos dos fármacos , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/fisiologia , Transtornos da Memória/patologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , ATPase Trocadora de Sódio-Potássio/antagonistas & inibidoresRESUMO
Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is the main cause of mortality in the perinatal period and morbidity, in survivors, which is characterized by neurological disabilities. The immature brain is highly susceptible to hypoxic-ischemic insult and is responsive to environmental stimuli, such as environmental enrichment (EE). Previous results indicate that EE recovered memory deficits in adult rats without reversing hippocampal atrophy related to HI. The aim of this study was to investigate behavioral performance in the open field and rota-rod apparatuses, in object recognition and inhibitory avoidance tasks, as well as dendritic spine density in the hippocampus, in rats undergoing HI and exposed to EE. Seven-day old male rats were submitted to the HI procedure and divided into 4 groups: control maintained in standard environment (CTSE), controls submitted to EE (CTEE), HI in standard environment (HISE) and HI in EE (HIEE). Behavioral and morphological parameters were evaluated 9 weeks after the environmental stimulation. Results indicate impairment in the object recognition task after HI that was recovered by enrichment; however the aversive memory impairment in the inhibitory avoidance task shown by hypoxic-ischemic rats was independent of the environment condition. Hypoxic-ischemic groups showed more crossing responses during the first minute in the open field, when compared to controls, but no differences were found between experimental groups in the rota-rod test. Dendritic spine density in the CA1 subfield of the right hippocampus (ipsilateral to the artery occlusion) was decreased after the HI insult, and increased in enriched controls; interestingly enriched HI rats did not differ from CTSE. In conclusion, EE was effective in recovering declarative memory impairment in object recognition and preserved hippocampal dendritic spine density loss after neonatal HI injury.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Espinhas Dendríticas/patologia , Meio Ambiente , Hipocampo/patologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica , Análise de Variância , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/fisiologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Comportamento Exploratório/fisiologia , Hipocampo/ultraestrutura , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/enfermagem , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/patologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Inibição Psicológica , Masculino , Desempenho Psicomotor/fisiologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Reconhecimento Psicológico/fisiologia , Teste de Desempenho do Rota-Rod , Coloração pela PrataRESUMO
Folic acid plays an important role in neuroplasticity and acts as a neuroprotective agent, as observed in experimental brain ischemia studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of folic acid on locomotor activity, aversive memory and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in the frontal cortex and striatum in animals subjected to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Wistar rats of both sexes at postnatal day 7 underwent HI procedure and were treated with intraperitoneal injections of folic acid (0.011 µmol/g body weight) once a day, until the 30th postnatal day. Starting on the day after, behavioral assessment was run in the open field and in the inhibitory avoidance task. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation 24 h after testing and striatum and frontal cortex were dissected out for Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity analysis. Results show anxiogenic effect in the open field and an impairment of aversive memory in the inhibitory avoidance test in HI rats; folic acid treatment prevented both behavioral effects. A decreased Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in striatum, both ipsilateral and contralateral to ischemia, was identified after HI; a total recovery was observed in animals treated with folic acid. A partial recovery of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was yet seen in frontal cortex of HI animals receiving folic acid supplementation. Presented results support that folic acid treatment prevents memory deficit and anxiety-like behavior, as well as prevents Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibition in the striatum and frontal cortex caused by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.
Assuntos
Ácido Fólico/uso terapêutico , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Ansiedade/tratamento farmacológico , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Lobo Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Transtornos da Memória/etiologia , Transtornos da Memória/fisiopatologia , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , ATPase Trocadora de Sódio-Potássio/antagonistas & inibidores , ATPase Trocadora de Sódio-Potássio/metabolismoRESUMO
Environmental enrichment recovers memory deficits without affecting atrophy of the hippocampus adult rats submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The present study was designed to investigate whether the modulation of brain oxidative status and/or BDNF content, as assessed in adulthood, are involved with the functional neuroprotection caused by environmental enrichment in animals receiving neonatal HI. Male Wistar rats, in the 7th postnatal day, were submitted to the Levine-Rice model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia, comprising permanent occlusion of the right common carotid artery and a 90 min period of hypoxia (8% O(2)-92% N(2)). Starting 2 weeks after the HI event, animals were stimulated by the enriched environment (1 h/day for 9 weeks). Rats were sacrificed approximately 24 h after the end of enrichment period and some oxidative stress parameters, specifically the free radical levels, macromolecules damage and superoxide dismutase activity, in hippocampus and frontal cortex samples were determined. BDNF levels were also measured in the same encephalic structures. Indexes of macromolecules damage, TBARS levels and total cellular thiols, as well as free radical levels were unchanged in both studied structures. An increased SOD activity in the right hippocampus of HI group maintained in standard environment was found, this effect was reversed in HI enriched group. Moreover, BDNF levels were increased only in the hippocampus of non-stimulated HI group. These results suggest that the environmental enrichment protocol bearing cognitive protection is not associated to increases in BDNF expression nor SOD activity in hippocampus of the rats, as assessed in adulthood, submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.
Assuntos
Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Citoproteção/fisiologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/terapia , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Animais , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Metabolismo Energético/fisiologia , Meio Ambiente , Radicais Livres/metabolismo , Lobo Frontal/metabolismo , Lobo Frontal/fisiopatologia , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/fisiopatologia , Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Degeneração Neural/etiologia , Degeneração Neural/fisiopatologia , Degeneração Neural/terapia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Compostos de Sulfidrila/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase-1 , Substâncias Reativas com Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismo , TempoRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of fear sensitization in rats previously treated with an inhibitor of the NO syntheses and submitted to Trial1/Trial2 plus-maze (PM) procedure. Male Wistar rats received a systemic treatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-Arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME; 5, 10 or 50 mg kg(-1)) and were submitted to PM Trial1. In the following day the animals were re-exposed to the PM with no drug administration (Trial2). Some standards spatial-temporal measures, such as the percentage of entries (% Open arm entries) and time spent (% Open arm time) in the open arms and risk assessment frequency were recorded and used to estimate the animal level of fear sensitization in PM Trial2. The results showed that animals receiving L-NAME (50 mg kg(-1)) displayed increased % Open arm entries and % Open arm time in Trial2 in relation to the group receiving 0.9% saline, which is compatible with impaired fear/anxiety acquisition during Trial1/Trial2 PM procedure. In addition, rats treated with L-NAME (50 mg kg(-1)) exhibited low level of risk assessment in Trial2 in relation to the group treated with 0.9% saline, which indicates low level of fear/anxiety during PM re-exposure. The number of entries into the enclosed arms was not changed by any L-NAME treatment, which suggests no bias of the drug treatments on animal locomotor activity. The data suggest that NO synthesis may mediate the fear sensitization process in the PM.
Assuntos
Nível de Alerta/efeitos dos fármacos , Medo/efeitos dos fármacos , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/efeitos dos fármacos , NG-Nitroarginina Metil Éster/farmacologia , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/antagonistas & inibidores , Animais , Aprendizagem por Associação/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Masculino , Rememoração Mental/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Tempo de Reação/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Our previous results indicated that stimulation by daily environmental enrichment (EE) recovered memory deficits without affecting hippocampus damage in adult male rats submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The present study investigated whether early continuous housing in an enriched environment would be effective in preventing spatial and recognition memory both in adolescent and adult female and male rats, as well as the possible benefits of continuous EE in alleviating hippocampal and striatal atrophy consequent to the neonatal HI. Wistar rats in the 7th PND were submitted to the HI and, in the day after, were housed in an enriched environment (8th-30th PND). Subsequently, performance of animals in the novel-object recognition and in two water maze tasks was assessed; in adulthood, animals' behavior was reassessed in the water maze. Rats were sacrificed and both hippocampal volume and striatal area were estimated following the completion of behavioral study. Post-HI cognitive deficits in the object recognition test were completely recovered by the EE. However, memory impairment in the water maze was only partially prevented by EE; this effect was observed especially in female rats on the working memory protocol. As for the morphological assessment, there was no enrichment effect over the loss of hippocampus volume and striatum area. In conclusion, present data indicate that early housing in EE caused performance recovery in object recognition and a partial improvement in the working memory spatial task in adolescent females after neonatal HI; however no effects of enrichment were revealed in adult animal's performance or in the extension of tissue atrophy of hippocampus and striatum consequent to HI.