Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Present Exacerbated Focal Stroke Behavioral Outcomes.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in a model of permanent ischemic stroke (focal ischemia due to thermocoagulation of pial vessels) on sensorimotor function (cylinder test and patch removal test), behavioral tasks (novelty habituation memory open field task) and cerebral infarct size in adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) for 42 days after the occurrence of a stroke. We observed that the stroke caused asymmetry in the front paws and delayed adhesive removal. These effects were spontaneously reduced in WKY rats, but not in SHR. Short- and long-term novelty habituation memories were abolished by stroke in WYK and SHR. On the 3rd day after stroke, the size of the focal cerebral infarct was the same in WKY and SHR. However, on the 7th day, the infarct size decreased in WKY rats, but not SHR. These results suggested that SAH impairment of sensorimotor recovery in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia could be related to augmented focal cerebral infarct size. Moreover, the behavioral tasks used in this study were unaffected by Systemic Arterial Hypertension. Our results highlight the need for animal models of comorbidities in stroke research.

Scientific production and most researched diseases in the Biological Sciences postgraduate programs in Brazil / Produção científica e doenças mais pesquisadas nos programas de pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas no Brasil

This macro-level scientometrics study aimed to analyze the similarities and differences in the scientific communication patterns of the Brazilian postgraduate programs (BPPs) belonging to the Biological Sciences II field (BS2), as defined by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Also, it was identified the most researched diseases and it was discussed their relationship with the needs of Brazilian public health considering the burden of disease (Disability-Adjusted Life Year - DALY, Brazil) estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Thus, the scientific production of the BS2's sub-areas Biophysics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Morphology was evaluated from 2013 to 2016, through considering the citation impact, Impact Factor (Journal Citation Reports), and scientific collaboration. Data collected included formal information provided to CAPES by all BPPs through the Plataforma Sucupira as well as metadata from Web of Science documents. In addition, were employed the standardized Medical Subject Headings (PubMed) for the analysis of researched diseases. We concluded that the patterns of scientific communication in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Morphology were predominantly different. Thus, there is a need to consider specificities among the five sub-areas in the evaluation process performed by CAPES. Different approaches are revealed by identifying the most frequently researched diseases and explaining the contributions of each sub-area for Brazilian public health.

Este estudo cientométrico de nível macro teve como objetivo analisar as semelhanças e as diferenças nos padrões de comunicação científica dos programas de pós-graduação brasileiros (PPGs) da área de Ciências Biológicas II, avaliados pela Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Além disso, foram identificadas as doenças mais pesquisadas e foi discutido sua relação com as necessidades de saúde pública brasileira, considerando a carga de doenças (Disability-Adjusted Life Year - DALY, Brasil) estimada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Assim, a produção científica das subáreas Biofísica, Bioquímica, Farmacologia, Fisiologia e Morfologia da área de Ciências Biológicas II foi avaliada de 2013 a 2016, considerando o impacto de citações, o Fator de Impacto (Journal Citation Reports) e a colaboração científica. Os dados coletados incluíram informações declaradas à CAPES por todos os PPGs por meio da Plataforma Sucupira, bem como metadados de documentos da Web of Science. Além disso, foram utilizados os cabeçalhos de Medical Subject Headings (PubMed) para a análise das doenças pesquisadas. Concluímos que os padrões de comunicação científica entre as subáreas Biofísica, Bioquímica, Farmacologia, Fisiologia e Morfologia foram predominantemente diferentes. Assim, é necessário considerar as especificidades entre as cinco subáreas no processo de avaliação realizado pela CAPES. Diferentes abordagens são reveladas a partir da identificação das doenças mais pesquisadas e da explicação das contribuições de cada subárea para a saúde pública brasileira.

Genistein attenuates amyloid-beta-induced cognitive impairment in rats by modulation of hippocampal synaptotoxicity and hyperphosphorylation of Tau.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aß) peptide, which induces synaptic dysfunction, alteration of intracellular signaling pathways, hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein, and cognitive impairment. Genistein, one of the major isoflavones present in soy and soy products, has been shown to modulate some of the pathogenic events associated with the neurodegeneration process. However, its underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the ability of genistein to protect against Aß1-42-induced cognitive impairment in rats and to elucidate some of the possible mechanisms involved in its neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus. Male Wistar rats received bilateral intracerebroventricular infusions of Aß1-42 (2 nmol) and genistein 10 mg/kg orally for 10 days. The Aß-infused animals showed significant impairment of memory, which was accompanied by the following neurochemical alterations in the hippocampus: decreased levels of the synaptic proteins synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), hyperphosphorylation of Tau with increased activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and inactivation of ERK. Treatment with genistein improved Aß-induced cognitive impairment by attenuation of synaptotoxicity, hyperphosphorylation of Tau, and inactivation of ERK. Furthermore, treatment with this soy isoflavone did not cause systemic toxicity. These findings provide further evidence of the neuroprotective effect of genistein in an in vivo model of Aß toxicity and, importantly, extend the current knowledge concerning the mechanisms associated with the neuroprotective effects of this compound in the hippocampus.

Protective effect of maternal exercise against amyloid-ß neurotoxicity in the male rat offspring's cerebellum.

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) states that intrauterine maternal environment influences postnatal life by programming offspring's metabolism. Intrauterine milieu induced by exercise during pregnancy promotes long-lasting benefits to the offspring's health and seems to offer some resistance against chronic diseases in adult life. Alzheimer's disease is a public health concern with limited treatment options. In the present study, we assessed the potential of maternal exercise during pregnancy in long-term programming of young adult male rat offspring's cerebellar metabolism in conferring neuroprotection against amyloid-ß (Aß) neurotoxicity. Female Wistar rats were submitted to a swimming protocol 1 week prior mating and throughout pregnancy (five sessions/a week lasting 30 min). Aß oligomers were infused bilaterally in the brain ventricles of 60-day-old male offspring. Fourteen days after surgery, we measured parameters related to redox state, mitochondrial function, and the immunocontent of proteins related to synaptic function. We found that maternal exercise during pregnancy attenuated several parameters in the offspring's male rat cerebellum, such as the reactive species rise, the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase immunocontent and tau phosphorylation induced by Aß oligomers, increased mitochondrial fission indicated by dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), and protein oxidation identified by carbonylation. Strikingly, we find that maternal exercise promotes changes in the rat offspring's cerebellum that are still evident in young adult life. These favorable neurochemical changes in offspring's cerebellum induced by maternal exercise may contribute to a protective phenotype against Aß-induced neurotoxicity in young adult male rat offspring.