Medial prefrontal cortex endocannabinoid system modulates baroreflex activity through CB1 receptors

Ferreira-Junior NC, Fedoce AG, Alves FHF, Correa FMA, Resstel LBM. Medial prefrontal cortex endocannabinoid system modulates baroreflex activity through CB1 receptors. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 302: R876-R885, 2012. First published December 28, 2011; doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00330.2011.-Neural reflex mechanisms, such as the baroreflex, are involved in the regulation of cardiovascular system activity. Previous results from our group (Resstel LB, Correa FM. Medial prefrontal cortex NMDA receptors and nitric oxide modulate the parasympathetic component of the baroreflex. Eur J Neurosci 23: 481-488, 2006) have shown that glutamatergic synapses in the ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) modulate baroreflex activity. Moreover, glutamatergic neurotransmission in the vMPFC can be modulated by the endocannabinoids system (eCBs), particularly the endocannabinoid anandamide, through presynaptic CB1 receptor activation. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated eCBs receptors that are present in the vMPFC, and more specifically whether CB1 receptors modulate baroreflex activity. We found that bilateral microinjection of the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (100 or 300 pmol/200 nl) into the vMPFC increased baroreflex activity in unanesthetized rats. Moreover, bilateral microinjection of either the anandamide transporter inhibitor AM404 (100 pmol/200 nl) or the inhibitor of the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase that degrades anandamide, URB597 (100 pmol/200 nl), into the MPFC decreased baroreflex activity. Finally, pretreatment of the vMPFC with an ineffective dose of AM251 (10 pmol/200 nl) was able to block baroreflex effects of both AM404 and URB597. Taken together, our results support the view that the eCBs in the vMPFC is involved in the modulation of baroreflex activity through the activation of CB1 receptors, which modulate local glutamate release.

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE AND RHIZOBIUM IN ROOTING AND NUTRITION OF ANGICO-VERMELHO SEEDLINGS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) and rhizobium on rooting, growth and nutrition of seedlings of angico-red (Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan) propagated by minicutting. Six progenies were used, of which were prepared cuttings with a pair of complete leaves. It was used a 55 cm(3)container filled with commercial substrate Bioplant (R). Four treatments were tested: 8 kg m-3 of superphosphate (SS) added to substrate; 4 kg m-3 SS added to substrate; 4 kg m-3 SS added to substrate and adition of a suspension solution containing rhizobium; 4 kg m-3 SS and suspension solution containing rhizobium plus 5 g of soil contaminated by AMF spores. There was no interaction among treatments for survival rate of cuttings and roots observed at bottom of the container, evaluated in the greenhouse exit (30 days) and the shade house exit (40 days), probably because the root system was still in formation. There were differences among the progeny for survival rate of the shoots, the percentage of cuttings with roots observed at bottom of the container, height, stem diameter and shoot dry weight. The evaluations of the growth characteristics of the cuttings in, particularly with respect to survival at full sun (140 days), demonstrate the efficiency of rhizobium and AMF on seedling production of this species. We conclude that the symbiotic association with rhizobium and / or FMA favors the production of seedlings of A. macrocarpa by minicutting.

Influence of treatment with and without extractions on the growth pattern of dolichofacial patients

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to compare, by means of lateral cephalograms, the facial growth pattern changes due to the treatment with and without extractions of four first premolars in dolichofacial individuals. METHODS: Groups 1 and 2 were constituted of 23 dolichofacial patients each, with Class II malocclusion, division 1 and initial age average of 12.36 and 12.29 years, respectively. Patients from Group 1 were treated without extractions and Group 2 was treated with extraction of the four first premolars, given that both used occipital headgear. Groups were compatibilized according to age, treatment period, gender and malocclusion severity. The t test was applied for intergroups comparison. RESULTS: Most variables (SN.PP, SN.Ocl and FMA) did not present statistically significant difference between groups. CONCLUSION: Although the treatment with extractions tend to reduce the mandibular plane angle (SN.GoGn) and the facial axis (NS.Gn), the analyzed treatment protocols did not affect in a clinically relevant way the facial growth pattern.