Differential alterations in the activity of matrix metalloproteinases within the nervous tissue of dogs in distinct manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Water balance and locomotor performance in three species of neotropical toads that differ in geographical distribution

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Locomotor performance of closely related Tropidurus species: relationships with physiological parameters and ecological divergence

Tropidurid lizards have colonized a variety of Brazilian open environments without remarkable morphological variation, despite ecological and structural differences among habitats used. This study focuses on two Tropidurus sister-species that, despite systematic proximity and similar morphology, exhibit great ecological divergence and a third ecologically generalist congeneric species providing an outgroup comparison. We quantified jumping capacity and sprint speed of each species on sand and rock to test whether ecological divergence was also accompanied by differences in locomotor performance. Relevant physiological traits possibly associated with locomotor performance metabolic scopes and fiber type composition, power output and activity of the enzymes citrate synthase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase of the iliofibularis muscle - were also compared among the three Tropidurus species. We found that the two sister-species exhibited remarkable differences in jumping performance, while Tropidurus oreadicus, the more distantly related species, exhibited intermediate values. Tropidurus psamonastes, a species endemic to sand dunes, exhibited high absolute sprint speeds on sand, jumped rarely and possessed a high proportion of glycolytic fibers and low activity of citrate synthase. The sister-species Tropidurus itambere, endemic to rocky outcrops, performed a large number of jumps and achieved lower absolute sprint speed than T. psamonastes. This study provides evidence of rapid divergence of locomotor parameters between sister-species that use different substrates, which is only partially explained by variation in physiological parameters of the iliofibularis muscle.

Effect of ion reduction of sodium, calcium and potassium on spontaneous contraction of the esophagus of Pomacea lineata SPIX, 1827 (Mollusca-Gastropoda-Prosobranchia)

The invertebrate's musculature still presents many elusive points, especially in molluscs that generally present smooth and cracked fibers with peculiar characteristics. It was found that the molluscs reactions to the ion variation in the bathing are not very clear, mainly in view of the isolated reduction or equivalent of the ions. Suspended in bath, the isolated esophagus of the P. lineata exhibited spontaneous activity. This rhythmic activity was sensitive to the ion variation of the perfusion liquid, evidenced by alterations in the spontaneous contractions. The equivalent reduction of the ion reduced the spontaneous activity, evidenced by the amplitude reduction of the response, besides maintaning an organ contraction, primarily in the reductions below 50%. When the isolated reductions of the Na, Ca or K ion were performed, occurred interference in the spontaneous contractions of the organs, principally in amplitude of the response and maintenance of the contracture in reductions of 50 and 25% of the ion.

Spontaneous eye blink analysis in the normal individual

Purpose: Spontaneous eye blink activity in the primary eye position and its relationship to age and gender were assessed using digital image processing techniques to quantify blink opening and closing time. Methods: One hundred-and-eighty healthy volunteers (90 males and 90 females), divided into the age groups 0-3, 4-12, 13-20, 21-40, 41-60 and ≥60 years old, were evaluated prospectively. They were videotaped digitally in a standard setting and the images were transferred to a personal computer (Macintosh 400) and processed with the iMovie software. Blink opening and closing time were measured at 30 frames/second. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The closing time was significantly longer than the opening time for all ages and both genders. Elderly individuals (≥41 years old) and women had significantly longer closing times. Conclusion: Image processing techniques made possible the observation of differences in spontaneous eye blink opening and closing time in relation to age and gender. Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis LLC.

Citrus aurantium L. essential oil exhibits anxiolytic-like activity mediated by 5-HT1A-receptors and reduces cholesterol after repeated oral treatment

Background: The current treatments for anxiety disorders and depression have multiple adverse effects in addition to a delayed onset of action, which has prompted efforts to find new substances with potential activity in these disorders. Citrus aurantium was chosen based on ethnopharmacological data because traditional medicine refers to the Citrus genus as useful in diminishing the symptoms of anxiety or insomnia, and C. aurantium has more recently been proposed as an adjuvant for antidepressants. In the present work, we investigated the biological activity underlying the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of C. aurantium essential oil (EO), the putative mechanism of the anxiolytic-like effect, and the neurochemical changes in specific brain structures of mice after acute treatment. We also monitored the mice for possible signs of toxicity after a 14-day treatment.Methods: The anxiolytic-like activity of the EO was investigated in a light/dark box, and the antidepressant activity was investigated in a forced swim test. Flumazenil, a competitive antagonist of benzodiazepine binding, and the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 were used in the experimental procedures to determine the mechanism of action of the EO. To exclude false positive results due to motor impairment, the mice were submitted to the rotarod test.Results: The data suggest that the anxiolytic-like activity observed in the light/dark box procedure after acute (5 mg/kg) or 14-day repeated (1 mg/kg/day) dosing was mediated by the serotonergic system (5-HT1A receptors). Acute treatment with the EO showed no activity in the forced swim test, which is sensitive to antidepressants. A neurochemical evaluation showed no alterations in neurotransmitter levels in the cortex, the striatum, the pons, and the hypothalamus. Furthermore, no locomotor impairment or signs of toxicity or biochemical changes, except a reduction in cholesterol levels, were observed after treatment with the EO.Conclusion: This work contributes to a better understanding of the biological activity of C. aurantium EO by characterizing the mechanism of action underlying its anxiolytic-like activity. © 2013 Costa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Comportamento locomotor na doença de Parkinson: tarefas de subir e descer degraus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The Role of Cytokines in the Functional Activity of Phagocytes in Blood and Colostrum of Diabetic Mothers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Positive effects of auditory cue in locomotor pattern of people with Parkinson's disease (off and on medication)

Gait disorders are identified in people with Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of auditory cues and medication on kinematic, kinetic and EMG parameters, during different gait phases of people with PD and healthy elderly. Thirty subjects distributed in two groups (Group 1, PD patients off and on medication; Group 2, healthy elderly) participated in this study and were instructed to walk in two experimental conditions: non-cued and cued. Therefore, kinematic, kinetic and electromyography analyses were utilized to investigate the locomotor pattern. Changes in locomotor pattern (greater muscular activity) with auditory cue were observed for PD patients. Regarding the medication, locomotor parameter improvement was observed after levodopa intake in association with the auditory cue. These results confirm the hypothesis about the external cues therapy that could be used as a complement to drug therapy to achieve improvement in the locomotor pattern of PD patients.

Comportamento locomotor, quadro clínico, incidência de quedas e nível de atividade física em pacientes com doença de Parkinson: um estudo longitudinal de dois anos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)