Repeated cannabidiol treatment affects neuroplasticity and endocannabinoid signaling in the prefrontal cortex of the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of depression.

Delayed therapeutic responses and limited efficacy are the main challenges of existing antidepressant drugs, thereby incentivizing the search for new potential treatments. Cannabidiol (CBD), non-psychotomimetic component of cannabis, has shown promising antidepressant effects in different rodent models, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of repeated CBD treatment on behavior, neuroplasticity markers and lipidomic profile in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL), a genetic animal model of depression, and their control counterparts Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. Male FSL animals were treated with CBD (10 mg/kg; i.p.) or vehicle (7 days) followed by Open Field Test (OFT) and the Forced Swimming Test (FST). The PFC was analyzed by a) western blotting to assess markers of synaptic plasticity and cannabinoid signaling in synaptosome and cytosolic fractions; b) mass spectrometry-based lipidomics to investigate endocannabinoid levels (eCB). CBD attenuated the increased immobility observed in FSL, compared to FRL in FST, without changing the locomotor behavior in the OFT. In synaptosomes, CBD increased ERK1, mGluR5, and Synaptophysin, but failed to reverse the reduced CB1 and CB2 levels in FSL rats. In the cytosolic fraction, CBD increased ERK2 and decreased mGluR5 expression in FSL rats. Surprisingly, there were no significant changes in eCB levels in response to CBD treatment. These findings suggest that CBD effects in FSL animals are associated with changes in synaptic plasticity markers involving mGluR5, ERK1, ERK2, and synaptophysin signaling in the PFC, without increasing the levels of endocannabinoids in this brain region.

Fluoxetine acts concomitantly on dorsal and ventral hippocampus to Trk-dependently modulate the extinction of fear memory.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampus can be divided along its longitudinal axis into dorsal and ventral parts, which play different roles in modulating the behavioral responses to stress. However, it is not clear whether the hippocampal subregions could also differently modulate the effect of antidepressant drugs. Since fluoxetine (FLX) effect on extinction of aversive memory is well known to depend on hippocampal BDNF levels, we hypothesized that the hippocampal subregions might play different roles in fluoxetine efficacy in decreasing fear response. METHOD: Wistar rats were fear-cued conditioned and treated chronically with FLX to subsequently investigate their extinction memory. BDNF levels were assessed separately in the dorsal (dHC) and ventral (vHC) hippocampus in animals chronically treated with FLX. An independent group received K252a (a functional Trk blocker) infusion into the dHC or vHC to assay its interaction with FLX treatment along the fear response. Next, BDNF was directly infused into either the dHC or vHC to the behavior be compared with those induced by chronic FLX treatment. Finally, FLX effect on c-Fos expression was evaluated also considering the dHC and vHC apart, along with subareas of amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: BDNF levels were increased in the vHC after acute FLX, and in the dHC after chronic FLX treatment. FLX effect on fear response was blocked by K252a administration into either dHC or vHC, after the extinction protocol. BDNF administration into the dHC increased fear response, however its administration into the vHC induced an opposite effect. Besides, a negative correlation between the fear response and c-Fos expression in the dHC CA3/CA1 and vHC CA1/DG was observed after chronic FLX treatment. CONCLUSION: Both dHC and vHC are essential for the Trk-dependent effect of FLX on extinction memory, although a discrepancy in the fear response was observed with the infusion of BDNF into the dHC or vHC.

Tecnologia móvel para a gestão da saúde de idosos: revisão da literatura / Mobile technology for mananging health of elderly: a literature review

Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar como a telefonia móvel tem sido utilizada no gerenciamento da saúde de idosos. MÉTODO: Realizada revisão sistemática da literatura nas bases de dados PubMed, Cinhal e BVS. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados sete estudos desenvolvidos especificamente com a população idosa, os quais abordavam a adesão ao tratamento através do uso da tecnologia em doenças comuns na velhice, tais como insuficiência cardíaca, Parkinson, Alzheimer e doenças reumatológicas. Os achados apontam este recurso como viável, tendo aumentado a adesão ao tratamento e com boa aceitação pelos usuários. A investigação sobre a temática é recente e, apesar dos bons resultados, poucas pesquisas tem sido desenvolvidas com o foco nesta população.

This study aims to identify how the mobile phone has been used in managing the health of the elderly. METHOD: Conducted systematic review of the literature in the databases PubMed, Cinhal and BVS. RESULTS: We found seven studies specifically developed with the elderly population, which addressed the compliance through the use of technology in common diseases in old age, such as heart failure, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and rheumatologic diseases. The findings point to this as viable resource, increasing adherence to treatment, with good acceptance by users. Research on the subject is recent and, despite the good results, little research has been developed with the focus on this population.