Gestational protein restriction alters early amygdala neurochemistry in male offspring.

BACKGROUND: Gestational protein intake restriction-induced long-lasting harmful outcomes in the offspring's organs and systems. However, few studies have focused on this event's impact on the brain's structures and neurochemical compounds. AIM: The present study investigated the effects on the amygdala neurochemical composition and neuronal structure in gestational protein-restricted male rats' offspring. METHODS: Dams were maintained on isocaloric standard rodent laboratory chow with regular protein [NP, 17%] or low protein content [LP, 6%]. Total cells were quantified using the Isotropic fractionator method, Neuronal 3D reconstruction, and dendritic tree analysis using the Golgi-Cox technique. Western blot and high-performance liquid chromatography performed neurochemical studies. RESULTS: The gestational low-protein feeding offspring showed a significant decrease in birth weight up to day 14, associated with unaltered brain weight in youth or adult progenies. The amygdala cell numbers were unchanged, and the dendrites length and dendritic ramifications 3D analysis in LP compared to age-matched NP progeny. However, the current study shows reduced amygdala content of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine in LP progeny. These offspring observed a significant reduction in the amygdala glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptor protein levels. Also corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) amygdala protein content was reduced in 7 and 14-day-old LP rats. CONCLUSION: The observed amygdala neurochemical changes may represent adaptation during embryonic development in response to elevated fetal exposure to maternal corticosteroid levels. In this way, gestational malnutrition stress can alter the amygdala's neurochemical content and may contribute to known behavioral changes induced by gestational protein restriction.

Influência do exercício isotônico pré-dialítico / The influence of the isotonic exercise before hemodialysis

Introdução: Uma das funções da terapia renal substitutiva é a remoção da uréia acumulada nos pacientes portadores de insuficiência renal dialítica. Parte desta uréia encontra-se no compartimento muscular, reduzindo a capacidade dialítica de remoção deste soluto. A atividade física pode ser um fator importante que possa contribuir para melhora do fluxo sanguíneo muscular e conseqüente otimização da depuração deste soluto.Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar, utilizando-se o índice de depuração da uréia por sessão dehemodálise (Kt/V) como parâmetro de eficácia dialítica, os resultados de um programa de exercícios isotônicos pré-dialíticos na qualidade de diálise. Metodologia: Foram analisados dados de quinze pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) de ambos os sexos, submetidos à hemodiálise três vezes por semana. Um protocolo de exercícios isotônicos de baixa intensidade precedidos por alongamentos foi aplicado por um mês, imediatamente antes da sessão de hemodiálise. Após a hemodiálise, a concentração plasmática de uréia foi mensurada, o Kt/V determinado e comparado com o do mês anterior obtido com as mesmas condições de hemodiálise quanto à duração, filtro e acesso vascular, sem a aplicação do programa de exercícios. Teste t de Student, com significância de 5%, foi utilizado para análise dos dados. Resultados: Comparando o Kt/V do mês sem exercício (1,4 ± 0,33) com os obtidos após a aplicação do programa de exercícios (1,3 ± 0.3), os valores não foram estatisticamente significativos (p > 0,05). Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que, na amostra analisada, o programa de exercícios na intensidade, duração e freqüência executados, não resultou na melhora da eficiência dialítica.

Introduction: One of the functions of the substitutive renal therapy is to remove accumulated urea inindividuals with dialytic renal failure. Part of this urea is found in the muscular compartment reducing the dialytic capacity to remove this solute. Physical activity can be an important contributing factor to improvethe muscle blood flow and consequently the optimization of this solute depuration . The aim of this studywas to analyze the results of a program of a pre-dialytic isotonic exercise, using the standard procedure of measure (Kt/V), as a parameter of the dialysis efficacy. Methodology: Data from fifteen (15) patients from both sexes with chronic renal failure (CRF) who had undergone hemodialysis three times a week were analyzed. A protocol of low intensity isotonic exercises preceded by stretching was applied during a month, immediately before hemodialysis sessions. After hemodialysis, a urea plasmatic concentration was measured; std Kt/Vwas determined and compared with the previous month obtained through the same conditions of hemodialysis according to the length, filter and vascular access, without the exercise program. Student´s t test with 5% of significance was used for data analysis. Results: Comparing the std Kt/V during the month without exercise(1.4 ± 0.33) with the Kt/V obtained after the exercise program (1.3 ± 0.3), the values were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this analyzed sample have suggested that this program ofexercise carried out in the intensity, length and frequency has not resulted improvement of the dialysis efficacy