Delimitação dos grupamentos serotoninérgicos/núcleos da rafe do mocó (kerodon rupestris): citoarquitetura e imunoistoquímica para serotonina

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a substance found in many tissues of the body, including as a neurotransmitter in the nervous system, in which may exert varied post-synaptic actions. Inside the neuro-axis, the location of 5-HT neurons is almost restricted to the raphe nuclei of the brainstem, such that 5-HT-immunoreactivity can be considered a marker of the raphe nuclei. The raphe nuclei are located in the brainstem, at or near the midline. The serotonergic groups were originally alphanumerically classified as B1 to B9 towards caudorrostral in rats and can be divided into upper and lower groups. In this study the distribution of serotonergic neurons was studied using immunohistochemistry in the brain of the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a species of rodent endemic to Northeastern Brazil. The cytoarchitectonic location of serotonergic neurons was established in series of adjacent coronal and sagittal sections stained by the Nissl method and immunohistochemistry for 5-HT. Thus, we defined the raphe rostral linear, caudal linear, dorsal, median, and paramedian pontine raphe nuclei, and B9 cluster, constituting the rostral group, and the interpositus, magnus, obscure and palidus, constituting the caudal part of the group, comparable to which has been described for other mammalian species

Análise imunoistoquímica da distribuição de Serotonina, transportador de serotonina e receptores de serotonina no hipotálamo do sagui (callithrix jacchus)

The hypothalamus is a diencephalic portion located around the third ventricle below the hypothalamic sulcus, limited by the optic chiasm, and by the mammillary bodies, acting as a center that integrates behavioral and homeostatic functions. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in limited sites in the midbrain and brain stem, but is distributed throughout the central nervous system and has many functions, acting through specific receptors that are also distributed throughout the nervous system. Using immunohistochemical techniques, the aim of this study was to delineate the hypothalamic nuclei of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and study the distribution of serotonin transporter and serotonin receptors in the hypothalamus of this species. We used the Nissl method to determine the cytoarchitecture of the hypothalamic nuclei, and immunohistochemistry to reveal the presence of NeuN as a method to determine the contours of the hypothalamic nuclei. As a result, we found serotonin containing fibers and terminals throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the hypothalamus, more concentrated in some nuclei, and even absent in some. Like serotonin, serotonin transporter was observed between pre-optic area and tuberal region of the hypothalamus, in densities and distribution similar to serotonin. The 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors were found with minor differences among itselves regarding the disposition and intensity of staining.

Variações horárias na entrada e saída dos golfinhos-rotadores e sua relação com fatores ambientais, na Baía dos Golfinhos em Fernando de Noronha PE

The dolphins are found in all world s marine environments, except for poles. On Brazil, the major concentration of this animals is on Fernando de Noronha Islands, wich have a tropical climate with two well-defined rainfall seasons: dry and rainy season. The Baía dos Golfinhos, wich is the most crowded piece of dolphins on the archipelago. These research looks for to characterize the circadian rhythms of the spinner dolphin behavior, Stenella longirostris, on the Baía dos Golfinhos occupation, at the Fernando de Noronha islands, Brazil s northeast, according to the fluctuations of environment that they all are inserted. The research was realized daily between 1991 January and 2009 December, with observations from a fixed point up to Mirante dos Golfinhos, located on Baía dos Golfinhos. The data was examined with the PASW Statistics 18 program, up to nonparametric tests, being analyzed on the incoming and out coming time of the spinner dolphins and the relationship with moon phases, the wind incidence, and the rainfall season, the dolphins were inserted. The spinner dolphins diurnal rhythms are influenced by moon phases, the spinner dolphins arrival at Baía dos Golfinhos earlier when it s full moon because of the high luminosity at night cause a bigger food efficiency for these animals. The outgoing time of spinner dolphins didn t show statistic difference between moon phases, despite follows the same pattern for the incoming time. When the spinner dolphins are submitted to bigger wind incidence conditions around the archipelago, the dolphins come early to the Baía dos Golfinhos, since that one is protected from wind that reaches Fernando de Noronha, the spinner dolphins tends to arrive later and leave earlier of the bay because the rain may cause adverse conditions for your rest.

Disfunção sexual feminina e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais em mulheres obesas atendidas no ambulatório de cirurgia bariátrica do hospital universitário Onofre Lopes em Natal/RN

A disfunção sexual corresponde a alterações em uma ou mais fases da resposta sexual humana e apresenta maior prevalência na população feminina. Ademais, a participação de alguns fatores como obesidade e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais na disfunção sexual feminina (DSF) permanece incerta. O presente estudo deteve-se na análise da ocorrência de DSF numa população de mulheres portadoras de obesidade, cadastradas no Ambulatório de Cirurgia Bariátrica do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, no município de Natal, RN. O estudo foi realizado em uma amostra composta por trinta e uma mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 50 anos, com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) > 30 Kg/m2. A todas as pacientes foi aplicado um questionário composto por uma seção com dados socio-econômicos, e outra abordando a saúde sexual feminina, sendo esta última correspondente ao Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), para diagnóstico de DSF. A partir dessa caracterização, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos CD (pacientes com disfunção, n= 9) e SD (sem disfunção, n= 22). Para a análise do efeito da obesidade na DSF, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos 1 (6 pacientes com IMC grau I e II: entre 30 e 40 Kg/m2) e 2 (25 com IMC grau III: acima de 40). Para o estudo da participação dos hormônios esteroidais foram determinadas as concentrações séricas de cortisol, estradiol e dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) pelo método de quimiluminescência. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada usando os testes ANOVA, MANOVA (Pillai), além de análise de Cluster. Para identificar as diferenças entre os domínios do FSFI, foi usado o teste T de Student. A significância considerada para todos os testes foi para p< 0,01. Das pacientes estudadas, 25,8% apresentaram DSF de acordo com o escore total do FSFI. A análise estatística posterior evidenciou que as diferenças ocorreram para os domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. Não foi encontrada relação da presença de DSF com os diferentes graus de obesidade ou com os níveis hormonais dos esteróides cortisol, estradiol ou DHEA. Contudo, foi encontrado aumento significativo nos níveis séricos de estradiol para o grupo 1, que corresponde ao de menor índice de IMC. Estes resultados mostram que a prevalência de DSF não diferiu entre os graus I,II e III de obesidade das pacientes deste estudo mas, quando presente, a disfunção ocorre nos domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. A maior concentração de estradiol encontrada nas pacientes de menor índice de IMC sugere uma possível relação entre as duas variáveis que precisa ser investigada em estudos futuros.

Padrão de distribuição e caracterização morfológica de fibras serotonérgicas nos núcleos da linha Média/ intralaminares do tálamo do mocó (Kerodon rupestris)

The midline/intralaminar nuclei form a remarkable group of nuclei of the medial and dorsal thalamus. The midline nuclei, in rats, comprises the paratenial nuclei (PT), paraventricular (PV), intermediodorsal (IMD), reuniens (Re) and rhomboid (Rh). The intralaminar nuclei comprises the central medial (CM), paracentral (PC), central lateral (CL) and parafascicular (PF). Such nuclei have dense serotonergic innervation originating from the brainstem, especially from the so-called ascending activation system. These nuclei, in turn, send projections to various cortical and subcortical areas, specifically to limbic areas, which suggests the important role of this neurotransmitter in the limbic circuitry. The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution pattern and morphology of serotonin fibers in the nuclei of the midline and intralaminar thalamic of rocky cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a tipical rodent from brazilizan northeast. To reach this aim we used four rock cavies adults. Following the transcardially perfusion with paraformaldehyde and brain microtomy steps was performed immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5-HT), Nissl technique and subsequent achievement and image analysis to characterize the cytoarchitecture of these nuclei and the serotonergic fibers visualized. An analysis was made of Relative Optical Density (ROD) to semi-quantify the concentration of serotonin fibers in the areas of interest. Thus, we observed a cytoarchitectonic arrangement of these nuclei similar to that found in rats. In case of fibers distribution, those immunoreactive to 5-HT were presented in a higher concentration according as ROD in the midline nuclei relative to intralaminar; Re being the core which has a higher pixel value followed by the PV , Rh, IMD and PT. In intralaminar CL showed higher pixels, followed by nuclei CM, PC and PF. The serotonergic fibers were classified as number of varicosities and axon diameter, therefore find three types of fibers distributed through this nuclear complex: fibers rugous, granular and semi-granular. In PV fibers predominated rugous; in PT fibers predominated granular; IMD, CL and PF fibers were represented by semi-granular and Re, Rh, PC and CM fibers showed granular and semi-granular. Morphological characterization of serotonergic fibers and differences in density between the nuclei may suggest different patterns of synaptic organization of this neurotransmitter beyond confirming his large repertoire functional

Ecologia alimentar e comportamento de forrageamento de Ameivula aff. ocellifera (Squamata: Teiidae) em área de caatinga do nordeste do Brasil

This study investigated the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the feeding ecology and foraging behavior of the whiptail lizard Ameivula aff. ocellifera, a new species widely distributed in the Brazilian Caatinga, and that is in process of description. In attendance to the objectives, the Dissertation was structured in two chapters, which correspond to scientific articles, one already published and the other to be submitted for publication. In Chapter 1 were analyzed the general diet composition, the relationship between lizard size and prey size, and the occurrence of sexual and ontogenetic differences in the diet. Chapter 2 contemplates a seasonal analysis of diet composition during two rainy seasons interspersed with a dry season, and the quantitative analysis of foraging behavior during two distinct periods. The diet composition was determined through stomach analysis of lizards (N = 111) collected monthly by active search, between September 2008 and August 2010, in the Estação Ecológica do Seridó (ESEC Seridó), state of Rio Grande do Norte. Foraging behavior was investigated during a rainy and a dry month of 2012 also in ESEC Seridó, by determining percent of time moving (PTM), number of movements per minute (MPM) and prey capture rate by the lizards (N = 28) during foraging. The main prey category in the diet of Ameivula aff. ocellifera was Insect larvae, followed by Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Araneae. Termites (Isoptera) were important only in numeric terms, having negligible volumetric contribution (<2%) and low frequency of occurrence, an uncommon feature among whiptail lizards. Males and females did not differ neither in diet composition nor in foraging behavior. Adults and juveniles ingested similar prey types, but differed in prey size. Maximum and minimum prey sizes were positively correlated with lizard body size, suggesting that in this population individuals experience an ontogenetic change in diet, eating larger prey items while growing, and at the same time excluding smaller ones. The diet showed significant seasonal differences; during the two rainy seasons (2009 and 2010), the predominant prey in diet were Insect larvae, Coleoptera and Orthoptera, while in the dry season the predominant prey were Insect larvae, Hemiptera, Araneae and Orthoptera. The degree of mobility of consumed prey during the rainy seasons was lower, mainly due to a greater consumption of larvae (highly sedentary prey) during these periods. Population niche breadth was higher in the dry season, confirming the theoretical prediction that when food is scarce, the diets tend to be more generalized. Considering the entire sample, Ameivula aff. ocellifera showed 61,0 ± 15,0% PTM, 2,03 ± 0,30 MPM, and captured 0,13 ± 0,14 per minute. Foraging mode was similar to that found for other whiptail lizards regarding PTM, but MPM was relatively superior. Seasonal differences were verified for PTM, which was significantly higher in the rainy season (66,4 ± 12,1) than in the dry season (51,5 ± 15,6). It is possible that this difference represents a behavioral adjustment in response to seasonal variation in the abundance and types of prey available in the environment in each season

Investigação da influência do cochilo na aprendizagem escolar

There is a known positive effect of nocturnal sleep for brain plasticity and the consolidation of declarative and procedural memories, as well as for the facilitation of insight in problem solving. However, a possible pro-mnemonic effect of daytime naps after learning is yet to be properly characterized. The goal of this project was to evaluate the influence of daytime naps on learning among elementary and middleschool students, measuring the one-day (acute), and semester-long (chronic) effects of post-learning naps on performance. In the Acute Day-Nap condition, the elementary students were exposed to a class and then randomly divided into three groups: Nap (N), Game-based English Class (GBEC) and Traditional English Class (TEC). There were 2 multiple-choice follow-up tests to evaluate students performance in the short and long runs. In the short run, the N group outperformed the other two groups; and such tendency was maintained in the long run. In the chronic condition, the middle-school students were randomly separated into two groups: Nap (N) and Class (C) and were observed during one academic term. The N group had increased school performance in relation to the C group. In the statistical analyses, independent t-tests were applied considering the scores significant when p<0,05, expressed in terms of average ± average standard error. Results can be interpreted as an indication that a single daytime nap opportunity is not enough to ensure learning benefits. Therefore, more research is needed in order to advocate in favor of a daytime nap as a pedagogical means of promoting enhanced school performance

Reflexões sobre a formação clínica fenomenológico-existencial na era da técnica

Phenomenology is the focus of this study for its critique of the limits of positivist science, which guides most of the fields of study including Psychology. The clinical formation process in Psychology courses is especially difficult for students-interns who adopt phenomenology as their clinical framework. Such difficulty is due to the incompatibility between theory provided in Psychology courses a science traditionally based on paradigms of scientism , and the theoretical-methodological proposal adopted by the aforementioned approach. As a backdrop for our study, we carefully examined the thought of philosopher Martin Heidegger, especially the Era of Technique. This contemporary technicism society was studied so that we could understand the socio-cultural status where this formation lies. Thus, we questioned if this panorama upon which Clinical Psychology rests favors the development of a phenomenological attitude and a special look at the meanings of existence, as defined in phenomenological clinical practice. Knowing such limits, our research aimed at understanding the experience of formation of clinical psychologists who take part in internships in the field of phenomenology-existentialism. Such study was, then, a phenomenological-hermeneutic research based on Heideggerian ontology and used a semi-structured interview as access tool. Six students of the UFRN higher-degree Psychology course who were doing their supervised internship in clinical psychology and the referred approach took part in this research. The research revealed that the phenomenological-existential formation phase opens a door to discoveries on the part of the intern that transcend the dimension of the other, for they show a self disclosure while a person in the word. Despite the initial discomforts caused by the course curriculum itself and by the freedom for clinical practice, so characteristic of phenomenology, the narratives demonstrate that such difficulties may start a process of search for new meanings, which show a search for sharpening their practices and for a path in balance with the existence of the other

Influência da prática de yoga sobre os sintomas da menopausa

Yoga has been studied and practiced for over three thousand years and nowadays it is widely adopted as a mean to assist the health of individuals. Additionally, numerous benefits to the health rehabilitation and quality of life of elderly individuals has been attributed to this set of techniques. In women, the aging process is characterized by the interruption on ovarian follicular activity (menopause) characterized by a number of neuroendocrine and physiologic changes. Those changes are frequently accompanied by uncomfortable and occasionally debilitating symptoms. Although there is profuse clinical information about menopause, studies on the potential therapeutic application of yoga during the climacteric period are scarce. The objective of this research was to investigate the psychophysiological effects of 12 weeks of yoga practice in 88 postmenopausal women. The volunteers were divided into a control group (no intervention), exercise group and yoga group. Instruments were applied for the evaluation of climacteric syndrome, stress, depression, quality of life, and anxiety. In addition, the determination of hormonal levels of FSH, LH, estradiol, cortisol and progesterone, and biochemical levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, urea, creatinine, AST and ALT were conducted. Our results showed that the yoga group had significantly lower scores after the regular practice of yoga for menopausal symptoms. Besides, those changes were accompanied by a statistical significant improvement in the stress levels, decrease in depression scores, and higher scores in quality of life when compared with the control group and the exercise group. As well, the regular practice of yoga promoted the maintenance of cortisol levels compared to control group after 12 weeks. Regarding the biochemical parameters yoga practitioners presented lower levels of LDL in the blood. These results are supported by previous studies which found that regular practice of yoga improves quality of life of subjects, Thus, herein we propose that yoga can be a non-pharmacological alternative to management of menopausal symptoms and stress in postmenopausal women

Correlato eletroencefalográfico do estado vibracional

O estado vibracional (EV) é descrito como uma sensação de vibração intensa por todo o corpo, em que o sujeito se mantém num estado de relaxamento psicofisiológico que pode ser gerado de forma espontânea ou autoinduzida. Pessoas que aplicam esta técnica relatam alterações do estado mental e emocional, tais como: relaxamento, disposição, limpidez de pensamento, equilíbrio emocional, melhoria do raciocínio, bemestar, entre outros. Estas são, entretanto observações subjetivas, sendo a mensuração deste fenômeno uma lacuna e um desafio para a ciência. O objetivo desta pesquisa é explorar sistematicamente o estado vibracional no âmbito da neurociência. Desta forma, medidas eletroencefalográficas (EEG) foram utilizadas para observar se a sensação subjetiva de EV é acompanhada por mudanças na atividade elétrica cerebral. Além disso, para avaliar se o EV provoca algum efeito positivo em funções cognitivas como atenção e memória, foi utilizado um teste de reconhecimento de palavras antes e depois da aplicação da técnica de EV. Foram também aplicados questionários de dados gerais socioeconômicos e de saúde, do perfil de estados de humor, de qualidade do sono, além de inventários psicológicos. O foco inicial do trabalho foi a análise estatística dos dados de EEG, ficando as outras análises para uma etapa posterior. Dois grupos de voluntários foram analisados, o primeiro formado por 14 sujeitos que praticam a técnica de EV há pelo menos 10 anos (Grupo Experiente - GEXP), e o segundo formado por 11 sujeitos que nunca haviam realizado a técnica (Grupo Controle - GCONT). O GCONT obteve instruções sobre a técnica de EV antes dos experimentos. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas dos registros eletroencefalográficos, para comparar os grupos, em quatro condições: Basal, Relaxamento, Não-EV (período em que o sujeito está engajado na tarefa, mas ainda não percebe o EV) e EV (período em que o sujeito percebe o EV). Uma vez que os sujeitos do GCONT relataram não ter conseguido atingir a condição de EV propriamente, a comparação entre grupos foi feita apenas nas três condições, Basal, Relaxamento e Não-EV. Para isso, foi usado o teste de Mann-Whitney U com um limiar estatístico de p<0,05. De forma geral, o GEXP apresentou maior potência na banda de frequência alfa 2 (9,5-11,0 Hz) em todas as condições. Durante o período Não-EV, o GEXP também apresentou uma maior potência na banda de frequência alfa 3 (11,5-13,0 Hz) na região temporal esquerda, e gama 1 (30,5-55,0 Hz) e gama 2 (65,0-80,0 Hz) em regiões central, parietal e temporal esquerda, mas menor potência na banda de frequência teta 1 (3,5 - 5,0 Hz), em regiões centro-parietais. Para a análise estatística intragrupo, entre as condições, utilizou-se o teste estatístico Wilcoxon pareado. Observaram-se diferenças significativas (p<0,005), principalmente em regiões centrais, em teta 1 (3,5-5,0 Hz), sendo maior no Relaxamento, quando comparado com as condições Basal e Não-EV, no GCONT, e com o Não-EV e EV, no GEXP. No GEXP, a potência de gama 1 (30,5-55,0 Hz) e gama 2 (65,0-80,0 Hz) foi difusamente maior durante o EV, se comparado às outras três condições. Para o GCONT, apenas a condição Basal apresentou maior potência de gama 1 (30,5-55,0 Hz) e gama 2 (65,0- 80,0 Hz), se comparado com o Relaxamento. O aumento de teta 1 no Relaxamento, principalmente no GCONT, pode estar associado a uma maior sonolência deste grupo durante esta condição. Já o aumento de alfa 2 durante o Não-EV e o EV, pode estar associado com processos de atenção e cognição (DOLPPERMAYR et al., 2002; FELL et al., 2010; KLIMESCH et al., 1999; RAY E COLE, 1985). Por outro lado, o aumento da potência de gama em sujeitos experientes na técnica de EV encontrado aqui e em trabalhos anteriores, em meditadores experientes (FELL et al., 2010; LEHMANN et al., 2001; LUTZ et al., 2004), poderia estar associado a alterações nos processos mentais e cognitivos destes praticantes, tais como atenção, memória operacional, aprendizagem e percepção consciente embora, análises adicionais devam ser realizadas para excluir a possibilidade de interferência de artefatos musculares nos dados de EEG. Estes resultados suscitam a hipótese de que no engajamento da tarefa do EV e durante o EV, os sujeitos do GEXP conseguem manter-se em um estado de alerta, porém com maior nível de relaxamento e concentração. Uma inspeção mais detalhada dos dados, além de outros experimentos com diferentes protocolos, um maior número de sujeitos e pesquisas longitudinais são necessários para que testar esta hipótese

Mudanças endógenas e suprafisiológicas nos níveis de estrógeno: efeitos sobre a amnésia induzida pela escopolamina em ratas intactas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Amor como medida de satisfação marital

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Criar o próprio jogo didático ou apenas jogar? Efeitos de diferentes estratégias de ensino na motivação e aprendizado de ciências

The use of games as educational tools is common, however the effectiveness of games with educational purposes is still poorly known. In this study we evaluated three different low-cost teaching strategies make and play your own board game, just play an educational science game and make a poster to be exposed in the school regarding: (1) science learning; (2) use of deep learning strategies (DLS); and (3) intrinsic motivation. We tested the hypothesis that, in these three parameters evaluated, scores would be higher in the group that made and play their own game, followed respectively by the group that just played a game and the group that made a poster. The research involved 214 fifth-grade students from six elementary schools in Natal/RN. A group of students made and played their own science board game (N = 68), a second group played a science game (N = 75), and a third group made a poster to be exposed at school (N = 71). Our hypothesis was partly empirically supported, since there was no significant difference in science learning and in the use of DLS between the group that made their own game and the group that just played the game; however, both groups had significantly higher scores in science learning and in use of DLS than the group that made the poster. There was no significant difference in the scores of intrinsic motivation among the three experimental groups. Our results indicate that activities related to non-digital games can provide a favorable context for learning in the school environment. We conclude that the use of games for educational purposes (both making a game and just playing a game) is an efficient and viable alternative to teach science in Brazilian public school

Estampa temporal na memória de reconhecimento em estudantes universitários

Several studies have shown that there is a circadian modulation of explicit memory. This modulation can occur independently in each one of the mnemonic processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of time of training on short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM), using a recognition task. Moreover, a possible circadian modulation in retrieving was investigated when this process matched the acquisition hour (time stamp). The chronotype variable was also considered. Fifty-seven undergraduate students aging between 18 and 25 years (21,72 ± 2,14; 28 ♂) participated in this study. In the training phase (acquisition) the subjects heard a ten word list. Following this, they answered a recognition test to evaluate STM and one week later they answered a recognition test to evaluate LTM. In each chronotype, the subjects were divided in groups according to the training hour, part of them in the morning and the other in the afternoon. One week later some of the subjects in each group underwent LTM testing in the morning and others in the afternoon. When the subjects performances were analyzed together, independently of the chronotypes, a training hour effect was found in the LTM. The subjects trained in the afternoon had better performance. No time of day effect was found in the STM and in retrieving from the LTM. However, the morning types who were trained and tested in the same hour had a better performance in the LTM when compared to morning types trained and tested in different hours. This effect did not occur when the other chronotypes were analyzed. The circadian modulation seems to occur at least in two different ways. First, there is a circadian modulation in the acquisition/consolidation processes, with a better performance occuring in the afternoon. Secondly, there is a modulation in the retrieval mnemonic process, called time stamp phenomenon. This phenomenon, that occurred in the morning types, is showed for the first time in humans

Nervos: rede de discursos e práticas de cuidado na atenção básica no município de Natal/RN

The Primary Health Care and one of its main strategies, the Family Health Strategy (ESF), are framed as the gateway to the Public Health System (SUS). Thus, most of the incident and prevalent health problems in the population attended should be solved at this level of care, including psychological suffering, and the so-called complaint of nerves. Nerves and nervous denote a complexity that is not always well comprehended by health workers, in such a way that the care to this kind of problem is usually inadequate. In this line of thought, the general objective of this study is to analyze the network of discourses and the care to the psychological suffering, expressed as nerves, in SUS daily Primary Health Care. Besides and more specifically, it aims at identifying the principles and guidelines of the Primary Health Care in mental health; to investigate health workers positioning before psychological suffering and complaints of nerves, and also analyze different actions and practices of care carried out in different Health Units towards complaints like nerves. Institutional Ethnography was the theoreticalmethodological perspective adopted for the work. This approach seeks to understand and analyze the institutional relationships in a particular context considering sociostructural influences and power relations, as well as daily discourses and practices. Based on interviews with health professionals, informal conversations and observations in six Health Units with ESF teams from different sanitary districts in Natal/RN, it was possible to check that the index of complaint of nerves is high. The referral to psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as the prescription of psychotropic drugs appear as the most common intervention at this level of care. In general, the participants complain that they have poor specialized knowledge about the theme of mental health. They face the problem of bad work conditions and the lack of institutional support, which make actions of illnesses prevention and health promotion even more difficult. Besides, there are different ongoing practices such as meetings for hypertensive and aged people, walk, visit, round-table discussions and community therapy. However, not all of these actions are aimed at the care of psychological suffering. It is observed that the Matrix Support, which is a methodological strategy of supervision and follow up forcases of mental health, hasn t been totally implemented in the municipal system, although it is a tool that has been used by psychologists in some Health Units in the city. It was also verified that the health care practices to the problem of nerves strongly depend on the professional s commitment with the PSF guidelines and on mental health policies, in addition to continued support, when available, from other professional who works as matrix supporter