Efeitos da manipulação neonatal sobre a concentração plasmática de hormônios da reprodução e a densidade de receptores de angiotensina II no sistema nervoso central de ratas adultas

A manipulação neonatal é um modelo experimental utilizado para avaliar o modo pelo qual interferências precoces na vida do animal podem alterar funções neuroendócrinas e comportamentos na vida adulta. O procedimento de manipulação neonatal, além de alterar a atividade do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal (eixo HPA) em ratos machos e fêmeas, pode causar profundas mudanças na função reprodutiva de ratas adultas. De fato, há evidências de que a manipulação neonatal diminui a atividade do eixo HPA através da redução da síntese e secreção de hormônios que são liberados quando os animais são expostos ao estresse na vida adulta e, além disso, induz à presença de ciclos anovulatórios e diminui a receptividade sexual de ratas. Considerando essas alterações induzidas pela manipulação neonatal que são relacionadas à função reprodutiva de ratas, essa tese teve por objetivo estudar as possíveis causas da alteração no comportamento sexual e ovulação induzidas pela manipulação neonatal. Para isto, além de estudar o perfil hormonal desses animais, o que incluiu os esteróides gonadais, as gonadotrofinas e a prolactina (PRL) em diferentes fases e horários do ciclo estral, o conteúdo do hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas (LHRH) em algumas regiões do sistema nervoso central (SNC) e na eminência mediana (EM); foi avaliada a possível participação do sistema angiotensinérgico central, através da análise da densidade dos receptores de angiotensina II (Ang II) pela técnica de auto-radiografia, na mediação dos efeitos da manipulação neonatal sobre a função do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-gônada (eixo HPG) e do eixo HPA. O presente estudo confirmou dados obtidos em nosso laboratório sobre a redução do comportamento sexual e da ovulação em ratas manipuladas no período neonatal. Na tarde do proestro, período no qual ocorrem os eventos necessários para a ovulação na próxima fase do ciclo estral, os resultados mostram que os animais do grupo manipulado têm redução significativa da concentração plasmática de estradiol, de gonadotrofinas e de PRL, assim como um aumento no conteúdo de LHRH na área pré-óptica medial (APOM). A manipulação neonatal também reduziu a concentração plasmática de progesterona analisada após o coito que pode ser decorrente da reduzida estimulação vaginocervical recebida por essas ratas, já que houve uma redução significativa da freqüência de intromissão realizada pelo macho sobre as ratas do grupo manipulado. A densidade de receptores de Ang II na APOM e no núcleo paraventricular do hipotálamo (PVN) também foi alterada pela manipulação neonatal, pois houve redução significativa na densidade desses receptores nessas duas regiões. Em conclusão, a manipulação neonatal reduz profundamente a atividade do eixo HPG e essa alteração é causada por modificações nas concentrações de estradiol no plasma que, por sua vez, pode alterar a secreção de LHRH, de gonadotrofinas e de PRL, comprometendo dessa maneira a ovulação e a receptividade sexual. Contribuindo para os efeitos deletérios da manipulação neonatal sobre a função reprodutiva em ratas, este procedimento pode alterar a implantação do blastocisto devido à redução da secreção de progesterona observada após o coito no grupo manipulado. Alguns dos efeitos da manipulação neonatal parecem ser mediados pelo sistema angiotensinérgico central, como o aumento do conteúdo de LHRH na APOM e a diminuída resposta do eixo HPA observada em animais manipulados submetidos a situações estressantes na vida adulta.

Motivação: um enfoque neurofisiológico

Não esquecendo toda uma conotação SOCial que está implicante ligada à motivação, o presente trabalho visa estudar em bases neurofisiológicas. Sabemos que a motivação ainda não possui seu constructo solidificado. Possui uma variabilidade de entretenimento da escola psicológica para escolas psicológicas, de pesquisador para pesquisador, de cultura para cultura, de tempo para tempo.... Este trabalho não tem um fim reducionista em apenas ver a motivação com bases neurofisiológicas. Seu objetivo é clarificar, se possível, um campo discutível. Podemos ver apesar dos vários modos de encarar a motivação como processo social, seu modo de se dar, fisiologicamente, poderá ser mais delimitado. Qualquer que seja a conceituação dada a motivação, ela possui um mecanismo fisiológico interno, inegável. Será neste campo que dedicar-me-ei. O que se dá no sistema nervoso quando um ser vivo é motivado? Será que o mecanismo fisiológico da motivação difere de ser para ser? Ou será diferente apenas de espécie para espécie? Iniciaremos nosso trabalho vendo as diferentes visões de motivação e como os cientistas a encaram. Verificamos que a preocupação dada desde muito em estabelecer um ponto de partida mais operacional para p desenvolvimento da fisiologia em cases científicas. Para isto, muito contribuíram FUNVESTEIN, CANNON, SHERRINGTON, MAGNUN e MORUZZI, SECHENOV, LASHLEY e outros. Entretanto, inicialmente esta preocupação era maior pelas manifestações viscerais e somáticas do comportamento. Só com o desenvolvimento das pesquisas sobre Hipotálamo e o Sistema Límbico foi que se conseguiu, realmente, em campo melhor para as pesquisas sobre motivação. Não podemos esquecer as contribuições de SKINNER e PAVLON sobre recompensa, as de BANDURA com a variável – Modelação do Comportamento, de BUTTLER e NISSEN com a descrição do comportamento da curiosidade exploratória, as de HEBB sobre os efeitos da estimulação sensorial restrita, as de JAMES OLDS sobre a estimulação elétrica. Estudaremos as interpretações teóricas recentes com CANON, LASHLEY, BEACH, MORGAN, LORENS, DEUTSCH, LINDSLEY, GROSSMAN. Teceremos considerações anatômicas, histológicas, fisiológicas, conexões e funções no estudo do Sistema Límbico e seus componentes. Nossa maior preocupação serpa em tentar explicar os mecanismos motivacionais na sua relação com o Sistema Nervoso. Estudaremos motivações sexual, de forma, de sede, de dor, maternal e paternal, de defesa, de ataque ou dominação e como elas estão relacionadas no sistema nervoso. Para tal apresentamos experiências realizadas sobre estimulação sensorial, motivação e emoção, e as experiências de OLDS sobre fatores motivacionais obtidos através de estimulações ou ablações de determinadas áreas do Sistema Límbico. Espero que, através desta dissertação, tenha podido contribuir um pouco para o estudo de tão vasto campo.

Papel da proteína de reparo XPC na regulação das proteínas de reparo APE1, OGG1 e PARP-1 em células humanas e de camundongos

studies using UV as a source of DNA damage. However, even though unrepaired UV-induced DNA damages are related to mutagenesis, cell death and tumorigenesis, they do not explain phenotypes such as neurodegeneration and internal tumors observed in patients with syndromes like Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne Syndrome (CS) that are associated with NER deficiency. Recent evidences point to a role of NER in the repair of 8-oxodG, a typical substrate of Base Excision Repair (BER). Since deficiencies in BER result in genomic instability, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, it was investigated in this research the impact of XPC deficiency on BER functions in human cells. It was analyzed both the expression and the cellular localization of APE1, OGG1 e PARP-1, the mainly BER enzymes, in different NER-deficient human fibroblasts. The endogenous levels of these enzymes are reduced in XPC deficient cells. Surprisingly, XP-C fibroblasts were more resistant to oxidative agents than the other NER deficient fibroblasts, despite presenting the highest of 8-oxodG. Furthermore, subtle changes in the nuclear and mitochondrial localization of APE1 were detected in XP-C fibroblasts. To confirm the impact of XPC deficiency in the regulation of APE1 and OGG1 expression and activity, we constructed a XPC-complemented cell line. Although the XPC complementation was only partial, we found that XPC-complemented cells presented increased levels of OGG1 than XPC-deficient cells. The extracts from XPC-complemented cells also presented an elevated OGG1 enzimatic activity. However, it was not observed changes in APE1 expression and activity in the XPCcomplemented cells. In addition, we found that full-length APE1 (37 kDa) and OGG1- α are in the mitochondria of XPC-deficient fibroblasts and XPC-complemented fibroblasts before and after induction of oxidative stress. On the other hand, the expression of APE1 and PARP-1 are not altered in brain and liver of XPC knockout mice. However, XPC deficiency changed the APE1 localization in hypoccampus and hypothalamus. We also observed a physical interaction between XPC and APE1 proteins in human cells. In conclusion, the data suggest that XPC protein has a role in the regulation of OGG1 expression and activity in human cells and is involved mainly in the regulation of APE1 localization in mice. Aditionally, the response of NER deficient cells under oxidative stress may not be only associated to the NER deficiency per se, but it may include the new functions of NER enzymes in regulation of expression and cell localization of BER proteins

Serotoninergic receptors in the anteroventral preoptic region modulate the hypoxic ventilatory response

Hypothalamus is a site of integration of the hypoxic and thermal stimuli on breathing and there is evidence that serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the anteroventral preoptic region (AVPO) mediate hypoxic hypothermia. Once 5-HT is involved in the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), we investigated the participation of the 5-HT receptors (5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT7) in the AVPO in the HVR. To this end, pulmonary ventilation (V-E) of rats was measured before and after intra-AVPO microinjection of methysergide (a 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor antagonist), WAY-100635 (a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist) and SB-269970 (a 5-HT7 receptor antagonist), followed by 60 min of hypoxia exposure (7% O-2). Intra-AVPO microinjection of vehicles or 5-HT antagonists did not change VE during normoxic conditions. Exposure of rats to 7% O-2 evoked typical hypoxia-induced hyperpnea after vehicle microinjection, which was not affected by methysergide. WAY-100635 and SB-269970 treatment caused an increased HVR, due to a higher tidal volume. Therefore, the current data provide the evidence that 5-HT acting on 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors in the AVPO exert an inhibitory modulation on the HVR. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anapyrexia during hypoxia

Reducing body temperature has been found to improve survival not only due to hypoxia (the main focus of this review) but also to ischemia, shock, and many other types of insults. Under these conditions, there is a reduced oxygen delivery to the brain. To compensate the hypoxia, a regulated hypothermia (anapyrexia-Glossary of terms for Thermal Physiology, Commission for Thermal Physiology, 2001) takes place, which has been reported as a beneficial response since the drop in body temperature causes a reduced oxygen demand. The objective of the present article is to review the current knowledge of the mechanisms of hypoxia-induced anapyrexia, focusing on its neurochemical control mainly at the preoptic region of the anterior hypothalamus. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dietary L-tryptophan alters aggression in juvenile matrinxa Brycon amazonicus

This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with -tryptophan (L-TRP), a serotonin precursor, on the aggressiveness of juvenile matrinx . Fish were kept in individual aquaria for 7 days receiving the diets: D1 (control: 0.47% of TRP), D2 (0.94% of TRP), D3 (1.88% of TRP), and D4 (3.76% of TRP). After this, they were grouped with an intruder fish to establish a resident-intruder relationship during periods of 20 min. Blood cortisol, glucose, chloride, sodium and calcium; hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count and volume; liver glycogen and lipids were measured. Territoriality had significant effect on the aggressiveness of matrinx (the residents were more aggressive than intruders, < 0.001) and tryptophan significantly affected their behavior. Fish fed with the D2 diet presented a longer latency until the first attack ( = 0.0069) and bit the intruder fewer times ( = 0.0136) during the period of observation, compared to the control group. The frequency of bites and chases after the first attack was not affected by the dietary supplementation of TRP. Physiological variables were not significantly affected by the diet, except for a moderate increase in cortisol level in fish fed with D2 diet after the fight, indicating slight activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis. The results show that juvenile matrinx have aggressive and territorial behavior and that a diet containing 9.4 g TRP kg(-1) alter their aggressiveness, without affecting the stress-related physiological parameters.

Repeated predictable or unpredictable stress: effects on cocaine-induced locomotion and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity

Stressful experiences appear to have a strong influence on susceptibility to drug taking behavior. Cross-sensitization between stress and drug-induced locomotor response has been found. Locomotor response to novelty or cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity in the nucleus accumbens and basal corticosterone levels were evaluated in male adult rats exposed to acute and chronic predictable or unpredictable stress. Rats exposed to a 14-day predictable stress showed increased locomotor response to novelty and to cocaine, whereas rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress demonstrated increased cyclic AMP-dependent PKA activity in the nucleus accumbens. Both predictable and unpredictable stress increased basal corticosterone plasma levels. These experiments demonstrated that stress-induced early cocaine sensitization depends on the stress regime and is apparently dissociated from stress-induced changes in cyclic AMP-dependent PKA activity and corticosterone levels. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Fos-like immunoreactivity in central nervous system of mice simultaneously exposed to the elevated plus-maze and nociception

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

Estudo comportamental, hormonal e histopatológico de animais com perda de peso progressina (SEP) e da variável peso associada a uma nova classificação ontogenética em Callithrix jacchus

The use of non-human primates in scientific research has contributed significantly to the biomedical area and, in the case of Callithrix jacchus, has provided important evidence on physiological mechanisms that help explain its biology, making the species a valuable experimental model in different pathologies. However, raising non-human primates in captivity for long periods of time is accompanied by behavioral disorders and chronic diseases, as well as progressive weight loss in most of the animals. The Primatology Center of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) has housed a colony of C. jacchus for nearly 30 years and during this period these animals have been weighed systematically to detect possible alterations in their clinical conditions. This procedure has generated a volume of data on the weight of animals at different age ranges. These data are of great importance in the study of this variable from different perspectives. Accordingly, this paper presents three studies using weight data collected over 15 years (1985-2000) as a way of verifying the health status and development of the animals. The first study produced the first article, which describes the histopathological findings of animals with probable diagnosis of permanent wasting marmoset syndrome (WMS). All the animals were carriers of trematode parasites (Platynosomum spp) and had obstruction in the hepatobiliary system; it is suggested that this agent is one of the etiological factors of the syndrome. In the second article, the analysis focused on comparing environmental profile and cortisol levels between the animals with normal weight curve evolution and those with WMS. We observed a marked decrease in locomotion, increased use of lower cage extracts and hypocortisolemia. The latter is likely associated to an adaptation of the mechanisms that make up the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis, as observed in other mammals under conditions of chronic malnutrition. Finally, in the third study, the animals with weight alterations were excluded from the sample and, using computational tools (K-means and SOM) in a non-supervised way, we suggest found new ontogenetic development classes for C. jacchus. These were redimensioned from five to eight classes: infant I, infant II, infant III, juvenile I, juvenile II, sub-adult, young adult and elderly adult, in order to provide a more suitable classification for more detailed studies that require better control over the animal development

Influência de fatores individuais e sociais sobre as respostas endócrina e comportamental de callithrix jacchus a desafios ambientais físicos e sociais

Regarding the growing number of human beings with physical and mental pathologies associated to different stressor agents, attempts are being made to validate animal models with a close phylogenetic resemblance to man, to study stress response. Callithrix jacchus has been widely used in biomedical research, including on stress, but there is scarce information in the literature about how individual and social factors modulate stressor response in this species. This study uses 4 approaches to investigate the response of male and female adult C. jacchus, under situations of stress, and in the first we show evidence of the importance of this animal as an experimental model in research involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. And we investigate if sex and baseline cortisol levels modulate the behavioral and hormonal response to separation. In two additional approaches investigate if type of social support (co-specific parent or non-parent) and social rank interfere in behavioral and hormonal when the animal are exposure to a new environment, paired with a co-specific (F2), exposure of the animal to a new environment, isolated (F3) or during reunion (F4). Finally, we also investigated the androgen levels in the males, with a focus on the challenge hypothesis, referring to environmental responsiveness and male-male exposure to relatives and non-relatives of C. jacchus. It was observed that: (1) the baseline cortisol of the animal is predictive of cortisol reactivity at separation; (2) males and females do not show dimorphism in the response of cortisol to stressors, although the females have higher baseline levels of this hormone and exhibit higher frequencies of anxiety-related behaviors; (3) only social support provided by relatives proved to be effective in buffering the cortisol response. In behavioral terms this response was dimorphic, showing that only the male dyads displayed an attenuated response to stress; (4) the males showed differences in cortisol levels as a function of social rank and study phases, whereas in the females no such alterations were observed. The males with indefinite dominance hierarchy (IDH) had reduced cortisol in F2 and F4, while the IDH females showed an increase in F3 and F4; (5) the males of relative and non-relative dyads did not exhibit variations in androgen levels as a function of a new environment. These results, taken together, (a) corroborate the use of C. jacchus as a good animal model for stress-related studies, given that they exhibit similar behavioral and physiological alterations to those of human beings in response to stressor agents; (b) point to the importance of considering individual and social modulating factors during experiments with stressors; (c) provide more reliable comparison parameters in studies where these primates are used as animal models, and (d) show that androgens vary as a function of genetic proximity (relative or non-relative) when the animals are faced with physical and social environmental challenges, thus providing important information for studying the challenge hypothesis in this species

Expressão de fos após pulso de escuro no núcleo pré- geniculado do tálamo do sagui (Callithrix jacchus)

The pregeniculate nucleus (PGN) of the primate s thalamus is an agglomerate neuronal having a cap shaped located dorsomedially to the main relay visual information to the cerebral cortex, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (GLD). Several cytoarchitectonic, neurochemical and retinal projections studies have pointed PGN as a structure homologous to intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of rodents. The IGL receives retinal terminals and appears to be involved in the integration of photic and non-photic information relaying them, through geniculo-hypothalamic tract (TGH), to the main circadian oscillator in mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Thus, the IGL participates in the control of the biological rhythm by modulating the activity of the SCN. Pharmacological and IGL injury studies conclude that it is critical in the processing of non-photic information which is transmitted to the SCN. Other studies have found that especially neurons immunoreactive to neuropeptide Y (NPY) respond to this type of stimulation, determined by its colocation with the FOS protein. Has not been determined if the PGN responds, expressing the FOS protein, to the non-photic stimulus nor the neurochemical nature of these cells. Thus, we apply a dark pulse in the specifics circadian phases and analyze the pattern of expression of FOS protein in PGN of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). We found that in all animals analyzed the FOS expression was higher in the experimental than in the control group. There was a higher expression of FOS when the dark pulse was applied during the subjective day between the groups. Still, a subregion of the PGN, known by immunoreactive to NPY, had a greater number of FOS-positive cells in relation to his other just close dorsal region. Our data corroborate the theory that the PGN and IGL are homologous structures that were anatomically modified during the evolutionary process, but kept its main neurochemical and functional characteristics. However, injury and hodological studies are still needed for a more accurate conclusion

Efeitos da senescência no núcleo supraquiasmático do sagui (Callithrix Jacchus): plasticidade morfológica e neuroquímica

The circadian timing system (CTS) is responsible for the generation and synchronization and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus has been described as the major circadian pacemaker in many mammalian species. The internal temporal organization managed by SCN is disturbed with aging bringing many pathological disorders that range from loss of complex cognitive performance to simple physiological functions. Therefore, our aim was perform a comparative study of the morphological aspects and neurochemical composition in the SCN of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) adults and older using immunohistochemical techniques. We found morphometric and neurochemical changes in th SCN o folder animals in comparison to adults, among these a possible decreased in retinal projection to the SCN of older animals, found through a decline in CTB immunostaining, which can occur due atrophy and/or decreasing of fibers from the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT). The Klüver-Barrera histological technique strongly suggests a decrease in those fibers from RHT. Also, by means of a morphometric study, it is found a atrophy and numerical decline of neurons in SCN of aged animals, investigated by Nissl technique, and immunostaining with NeuN and calbindin. Relative optical density (ROD) analysis were used to evaluate the expression of some neurochemical components in SCN, such as GFAP expression, which was increased in older, result that indirectly reinforces that morphological changes occurs due the aging; the vasoactive intestinal polipeptide (VIP) showed no expression alteration in SCN of older animals; the serotonin (5-HT) was descreased in the dorsomedial portion of the SCN, and neurpeptide Y (NPY) apparently also decrease due to the increase of age. Many of these modifications were seen in other animals, such as rodents, human primates and non-human primates. These data about marmoset comes to add new information of the effect of aging on structures responsibles for the circadian rhytmicity, and that some behavioral changes controlled by th SCN, and founded in aged animals, may be caused by these morphological and neurochemical changes. Although some results have been quantitatively negative, qualitatively all analysis show significant change comparing adult and older animals, perhaps due to a low sampling number. In conclusion, the marmoset presents several morphological and neurochemical changes in the SCN of aged animals compared to adults, which may result in behavioral changes that favor pathology aging related

O trato retino-hipotalâmico no mocó (Kerodon rupestris): Um estudo de traçado anterógrado com a subunidade b da toxina colérica

The light, besides the vision stimuli, controls other process completely independent of image formation, such as the synchronization of the organismic circadian rhythms to the enviromental light/dark cycle. In mammals, this adjust occurs through the retinohypothalamic tract, a direct retinal projection to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, considered to be the major circadian pacemaker. Early studies have identified only the suprachiasmatic nucleus as a retinal target in the hypothalamus. However, using more sensitive neuroanatomic tracers, other retinorecipient hypothalamic regions outside to suprachiasmatic nucleus were pointed in a great number of mammalian species. In this study, the retinohypothalamic tract was shown in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), an endemic rodent of the semiarid region of the Brazilian Northeast, using unilateral intravitreal injections of cholera toxin subunit b as a neuronal tracer. The results reveal that in the rock cavy, besides the suprachiasmatic nucleus, several hypothalamic regions receive direct retinal projection, such as the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, medial and lateral preoptic areas, the supraoptic nucleus and bordering areas, anterior, lateral and rectrochiasmatic hypothalamic areas, and the subparaventricular zone. The results are discussed by comparing with those of the literature, into a functional context

A Zona Incerta no sagüi (Callithrix jacchus): Análise Citoarquitetônica, Neuroquímica e Projeção Retiniana

The retinal projections in mammals usually reach, classically, three major functional systems: the primary visual system, the accessory optic system, and the circadian timing system. But the retinal projections also reach areas classically considered non-visual, one of which groups the neurons of the zona incerta (ZI), target this study. The primary visual system includes thalamic lateral geniculate complex is formed by the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, intergeniculate leaflet and the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and other Components. The accessory optic system is composed of the small nuclei: nuclei terminal dorsal, lateral, medial and the interstitial nucleus of the superior posterior fasciculus. These nuclei are involved in visuo-motor activities. The circadian timing system is comprised of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, that act as master circadian pacemaker, entraining pathways and efferents pathways to the efectors, and the intergeniculate leaflet, that seems to act as a modulator of the pacemaker. The retinal projections too reach classically considered non-visual areas, including the zona incerta. This region is localized in the ventral thalamus and has been implicated in various functional properties including nociceptive and somatosensory processing, motor response, sociosexual behaviour, feeding and drinking, in symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, arousal and attention. It also displays connection with several areas of central nervous system. The aim of this study was characterize the retinal projection in the zona incerta of Callithrix jacchus (sagüi), a primate of the New World through the anterograde axonal transport of the cholera toxin subunit b and analyze the citoarchicteture using Nissl and NeuN, and neurochemical substances such as serotonin, GABA, VIP, VP, GFAP and binding-calcium proteins. The zona incerta showed a different division of the literature in citoarquitetura, both by means of Nissl as neurochemical by NeuN, with a subdivision ventrolateral and dorsomedial. The neurochemical to the other substances corroborate with this subdivision. The GFAP was almost completely negative for the zona incerta, result non evidenced in previous studies yet. The 16 retinal projection in sagüi, unlike other primates and rodents, reached the caudal portion only. This work helps to make further studies are conducted based on this subdivision and the localization of the neurochemical substances associated with possible behaviors that the zona incerta is involved

Avaliação do cortisol, dehidroepiandrosterona sulfato e dos perfis lipídico e imunológico e suas correlações com a sensibilidade dolorosa, depressão e funcionalidade em mulheres com fibromialgia na pós-menopausa

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a non-inflammatory rheumatic syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain with palpable tender points, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Patients with FM have hormonal changes that are directly correlated with symptoms of the syndrome. The neuroendocrine regulation may be impaired, with abnormalities in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with various hormones showing changes in their levels. In women in fertile period, various gonadal hormones are associated with symptoms of the syndrome, but studies focusing only a population of women in post-menopausal period who do not use hormone replacement are rare. We developed an analytical cross sectional study to assess the plasma levels of cortisol and dehidroepiandrosterona sulfate (DHEA-S) with quimioluminescence method in a group of 17 women with FM and 19 healthy women in post-menopause who do not use hormone replacement and observe the correlation with the symptoms of pain through algometry, depression and physical functional capacity measured from the Beck Depression Index (BDI) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Three blood samples were collected in the morning (between 8:00 9:30) with an interval of 24 hours for the measurements of hormonal levels and biochemical profile. There were no immunological or lipid changes in patients with FM. Comparing the two groups, there is no difference in levels of cortisol and a tangential effect for DHEA-S (p=0,094) with the lowest levels in the FM. DHEA-S also correlated with pain threshold (r=0,7) and tolerance (r=0,65) in group FM. We found the presence of depressive state and low physical functional capacity in FM. It was also evident that women in post-menopausal period, DHEA-S should influence the symptoms of increased sensitivity to pain, but not the presence of depressive status and low physical functional