Assessment of children in the autistic spectrum disorder that carry the Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism.

INTRODUCTION: A polymorphism in the type 2 deiodinase (Thr92Ala-DIO2) gene has been associated with behavioral and cognitive dysfunction as well as neurodegeneration and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To test whether the minor allele (Ala92) frequency (MAF) is increased in children in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and whether carriers of the minor allele exhibit more severe symptoms and/or worse adaptive behavior. STUDY DESIGN: ASD children were evaluated at baseline and yearly throughout the study by psychologists using the following tools: autism behavior checklist, Vineland Adaptative Behaviour Scales II, non-verbal intelligence test SON-R 21/2-7, SON-R 6-40, Weschler scale for intelligence, and autism treatment evaluation checklist. SETTINGS: Academic outpatient mental health facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: ASD boys and girls younger than 18 years of age. 132 consecutive ASD children, mostly boys (~ 80%); ~ 50% was classified as verbal. Exclusion criteria were coexistence of sensory and/or physical impairment, or any associated genetic syndromes. RESULTS: Median follow-up was for an uninterrupted period of 937 days (139-1375 days), which did not vary significantly among the genotypes. The MAF was 47% in ASD patients vs. 51% in a local reference population with similar ethnic background; the clinical severity and progression were not affected by the minor allele. Carriers of the minor allele exhibited higher adaptive behavior in the domains "daily living skills" and "communication", which correlated positively with the dose of the minor allele. CONCLUSION: The MAF is not different in ASD children, but carriers of the Thr92Ala-DIO2 polymorphism exhibited higher adaptive behavior.

Detection of East/Central/South African genotype Chikungunya virus during an outbreak in a southeastern state of Brazil.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that was first identified in Brazil in 2014. It causes a febrile illness characterised by severe arthralgia and rash. Our group investigated a suspected CHIKV outbreak in Governador Valadares, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and from 25 acute-phase patients, 10 had qRT-PCR positive sera samples and had E1 partial sequence amplified and Sanger sequenced. Samples were identified as East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype by phylogenetic analysis and clustered with CHIKV sequences isolated in the neighbour state of Bahia. Our findings confirm previous predictions that ECSA genotype would spread through northeast and southeast of Brazil.

Cytogenetic description of Ancistrus abilhoai (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Iguaçu River basin, southern Brazil.

The Iguaçu River basin is a tributary to the upper Paraná River in southern Brazil, and is considered an important aquatic ecoregion that, although having few species of fish, 51-71% of these are apparently endemic. Ancistrus abilhoai is one of three recently described species for this basin and is currently considered endemic to the basin. In this study, we present the chromosomal structure of two populations of Ancistrus abilhoai one collected in the Iguaçu River, in Paraná State, and another collected in the Timbó River, a tributary of the Iguaçu River, in the State of Santa Catarina. Karyotype analyzes were performed in 11 specimens from the Iguaçu River (four females and seven males) and 12 specimens (all males) from Timbó River, revealing 2n = 48 chromosomes with a karyotype formula of 22m + 14sm + 6st + 6a in both populations. Analysis of active nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA probes revealed the submetacentric pair 13 bearing marks at terminal positions on the short arms. Considered as plesiomorphic chromosomal markers in Loricariidae, asynteny 18S and 5S rDNA, and small amounts of heterochromatin were observed. In this study, the first chromosomal data of A. abilhoai are presented with comments on karyotypic characteristics of the genus.

Karyotype structure of Hypostomus cf. plecostomus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Tapajós River basin, Southern Amazon: occurrence of sex chromosomes (ZZ/ZW) and their evolutionary implications.

Hypostomus is a group of fish with numerical and struc-tural karyotypic variability. Among them, only six species, three of which belong to the Amazon basin, show a sex chromosome. In this study, we present the karyotype structure of Hypostomus cf. plecos-tomus from the Teles Pires river basin in the municipality of Alta Flo-resta, MT. The species has 2n = 68 and the karyotype formula 14m+ 24sm+ 14st+ 16a [fundamental number (FN) = 120] in males and 15m+ 24sm+14st+15a (FN = 121) in females and sex chromosomes ZZ/ZW. Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were identified in two pairs of chromosomes at different positions: short arm of the pair 21and long arm of the pair 27, matching the signals displayed by 18S FISH and indicating multiple NORs. Analysis of band C detected few blocks of constitutive heterochromatin in the pericentromeric regions of most chromosomes and the telomeric regions of some pairs, includ-ing the nucleolar pair 21. However, large blocks on the long arm of the nucleolar pair 27 still stood out. GC-rich heterochromatin (CMA3) was visualized only coincidently with nucleolar sites. Mapping of 5S rDNA sites with FISH revealed markings in eight chromosomes, demonstrat-ing synteny between the 18S and 5S sites. The data obtained for H. cf. plecostomus are important for taxonomic studies of this Amazon com-plex "H. plecostomus group". The occurrence of sex chromosomes in Amazon species of Hypostomus suggests an evolutionary event that is independent of other species in the group.

Synthesis and evaluation of rifabutin analogs against Mycobacterium avium and H(37)Rv, MDR and NRP Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Clinical utility of rifabutin 1 (RBT), a potent antibiotic used in multidrug regimens for tuberculosis (TB) as well as for infections caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), has been hampered due to dose-limiting toxicity. RBT analogs 2-11 were synthesized and evaluated against M. avium 1581 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis susceptible and resistant strains in vitro. A selection of candidates were also assayed against non-replicating persistent (NRP) M. tuberculosis. Subsequent in vivo studies with the best preclinical candidate drugs 5 and 8, in a model of progressive pulmonary tuberculosis of Balb/C mice infected either with H(37)Rv drug-sensible strain or with multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates, resistant to all primary antibiotics including rifampicin, were performed. The results disclosed here suggest that 5 and 8 have potential for clinical application.

The laboratory as a tool to qualify tuberculosis diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis, clinical samples underwent culture, species identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST). METHODS: A total of 554 samples from 269 patients were tested for smear microscopy using Kinyoun stain. Culture was performed in Ogawa-Kudoh medium and species identification was performed using the IS6110 amplified region. DST for rifampicin, isoniazid (INH) and streptomycin were carried out using the Resazurin assay. RESULTS: Cultures augmented the number of cases diagnosed by 22.1%, IS6110 amplification identified all Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains thus isolated and DST detected three strains resistant to INH and one multidrug-resistant strain. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous use of different techniques enhanced culture yield, species identification and detection of drug resistance even in a laboratory with limited facilities.

Street children and their relationship with the police.

BACKGROUND: This paper explores and analyses the experiences of school-age street children. It specifically addresses the relationship of the street children who live on the streets of São Paulo (a large Brazilian metropolis), in relation to their experiences, with the policemen. METHODS: The paper is a secondary analysis of date previously collected in 1999. The data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews, with 14 school-age children frequenting two city public refuges, with their legal guardians' consent. The text from transcribed interviews was organized according to the validity norms of 'thematic analysis', a technique of contents analysis method. The decomposing and reconstructing process of that analysis gave rise to thematic categories (among which 'the police category') that represented the reconstruction of the difficulties faced by the children in their development. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The children portrayed the police as an enemy, a fearful figure and one of the most agonizing street experiences. Rarely did the police have a positive image to them. According to the children, police violence occurs in three forms: through systematic police persecution in an effort to remove the children from the streets against their will; actions that had the deliberate intent to humiliate them with verbal or physical aggression; and through alleged sexual abuse, revealed by the children in a veiled manner. The authority that is supposedly intended to protect them is portrayed as one of the most feared social agents. CONCLUSION: The reported hostile behaviour of the policemen shows the state of vulnerability of those children living on the street. This situation must be focused like a health problem because it causes injury to development of children. Nurses can help them through organizing assistance to children in situation of personal and social risk in the school nursing and health institution.

Adrenergic receptor ß3 is involved in the memory consolidation process in mice.

Attention and emotion have a positive impact on memory formation, which is related to the activation of the noradrenergic system in the brain. The hippocampus and amygdala are fundamental structures in memory acquisition, which is modulated by noradrenaline through the noradrenergic receptors. Pharmacological studies suggest that memory acquisition depends on the action of both the ß3 (ß3-AR) and ß2 (ß2-AR) receptor subtypes. However, the use of animal models with specific knockout for the ß3-AR receptor only (ß3-ARKO) allows researchers to more accurately assess its role in memory formation processes. In the present study, we evaluated short- and long-term memory acquisition capacity in ß3-ARKO mice and wild-type mice at approximately 60 days of age. The animals were submitted to the open field test, the elevated plus maze, object recognition, and social preference. The results showed that the absence of the ß3-AR receptor caused no impairment in locomotion and did not cause anxious behavior, but it caused significant impairment of short- and long-term memory compared to wild-type animals. We also evaluated the expression of genes involved in memory consolidation. The mRNA levels for GLUT3, a glucose transporter expressed in the central nervous system, were significantly reduced in the amygdala, but not in the hippocampus of the ß3-ARKO animals. Our results showed that ß3-AR was involved in the process of acquisition of declarative memory, and its action may be due to the facilitation of glucose absorption in the amygdala.

The type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase is essential for adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.

Type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) is a selenoenzyme, the product of the recently cloned cAMP-dependent Dio2 gene, which increases 10- to 50-fold during cold stress only in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here we report that despite a normal plasma 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) concentration, cold-exposed mice with targeted disruption of the Dio2 gene (Dio2(-/-)) become hypothermic due to impaired BAT thermogenesis and survive by compensatory shivering with consequent acute weight loss. This occurs despite normal basal mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) concentration. In Dio2(-/-) brown adipocytes, the acute norepinephrine-, CL316,243-, or forskolin-induced increases in lipolysis, UCP1 mRNA, and O(2) consumption are all reduced due to impaired cAMP generation. These hypothyroid-like abnormalities are completely reversed by a single injection of T3 14 hours earlier. Recent studies suggest that UCP1 is primarily dependent on thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR beta) while the normal sympathetic response of brown adipocytes requires TR alpha. Intracellularly generated T3 may be required to saturate the TR alpha, which has an approximately fourfold lower T3-binding affinity than does TR beta. Thus, D2 is an essential component in the thyroid-sympathetic synergism required for thermal homeostasis in small mammals.

Thyroid hormone--sympathetic interaction and adaptive thermogenesis are thyroid hormone receptor isoform--specific.

In newborns and small mammals, cold-induced adaptive (or nonshivering) thermogenesis is produced primarily in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Heat production is stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system, but it has an absolute requirement for thyroid hormone. We used the thyroid hormone receptor-beta--selective (TR-beta--selective) ligand, GC-1, to determine by a pharmacological approach whether adaptive thermogenesis was TR isoform--specific. Hypothyroid mice were treated for 10 days with varying doses of T3 or GC-1. The level of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), the key thermogenic protein in BAT, was restored by either T3 or GC-1 treatment. However, whereas interscapular BAT in T3-treated mice showed a 3.0 degrees C elevation upon infusion of norepinephrine, indicating normal thermogenesis, the temperature did not increase (<0.5 degrees C) in GC-1--treated mice. When exposed to cold (4 degrees C), GC-1--treated mice also failed to maintain core body temperature and had reduced stimulation of BAT UCP1 mRNA, indicating impaired adrenergic responsiveness. Brown adipocytes isolated from hypothyroid mice replaced with T3, but not from those replaced with GC-1, had normal cAMP production in response to adrenergic stimulation in vitro. We conclude that two distinct thyroid-dependent pathways, stimulation of UCP1 and augmentation of adrenergic responsiveness, are mediated by different TR isoforms in the same tissue.

Combined treatment with caffeic and ferulic acid from Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) protects against metabolic syndrome in mice.

Fractionation of the EtOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) led to isolation of caffeic and ferulic acids, which were identified from spectroscopic and spectrometric evidence. These compounds exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to be effective in the prevention/treatment of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated whether the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids exhibits a more significant beneficial effect in a mouse model with metabolic syndrome. The combination treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids was tested for 60 days in C57 mice kept on a high-fat (40%) diet. The data obtained indicated that treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids prevented gain in body weight induced by the high-fat diet and improved hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The expression of a number of metabolically relevant genes was affected in the liver of these animals, showing that caffeic and ferulic acid treatment results in increased cholesterol uptake and reduced hepatic triglyceride synthesis in the liver, which is a likely explanation for the prevention of hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids displayed major positive effects towards prevention of multiple aspects of the metabolic syndrome and liver steatosis in an obese mouse model.

Effect of the subdose of human chorionic gonadotropin applied in the Hou Hai acupoint on ovulation induction in mares / [Efeito da subdose de gonadotrofina coriônica humana aplicada no acuponto Hou Hai sobre a indução da ovulação em éguas]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an hCG sub dose applied at the Hou Hai acupoint on corpus luteum (CL) quality and ovulation induction in mares. Fifteen crossbred mares were distributed in randomized blocks and used in three periods with each period employed as the blocking factor in three treatments: T1 = 1500 IU of hCG via intravenous (IV); T2 = 450 IU of hCG applied at the false acupoint (IV); and T3 = 450 IU of hCG applied at the Hou Hai acupoint. Mean diameter of the CL, serum concentration of progesterone (P4), vascularization of the pre-ovulatory follicle and CL were evaluated. Females administered 450 IU of hCG at the Hou Hai acupoint exhibited greater ovulation rates (33.33%) 48h after induction; The minimum number of colored pixel (NCP) of the pre-ovulatory follicle of control females was superior (40.33) to that of mares administered 450 IU of hCG IV at the false acupoint (36.84) and similar to that of those administered hCG at the Hou Hai acupoint (39.31). Further, moderately positive correlations were found between the CL diameter and the P4 concentration on D8 (P<0.05). IV administration of 450 IU of hCG or at the Hou Hai acupoint was efficient at inducing ovulation and ensuring the quality of CL in mares.(AU)

O objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos de uma subdose de hCG aplicada no acuponto Hou Hai na qualidade do corpo lúteo (CL) e na indução da ovulação em éguas. Quinze éguas mestiças foram distribuídas em blocos ao acaso, sendo o período utilizado como fator de blocagem, em: T1 = 1500 UI de hCG por via intravenosa (IV); T2 = 450 UI de hCG aplicado no falso acuponto (IV) e T3 = 450 UI de hCG aplicada no acuponto Hou Hai. Avaliou-se diâmetro médio do CL, concentração sérica de progesterona (P4), vascularização do folículo pré-ovulatório e do CL. As fêmeas que receberam 450 UI de hCG no acuponto Hou Hai apresentaram maiores taxas de ovulação (33,33%) 48h após a indução. O número de pixels coloridos (NPC) mínimo do folículo pré-ovulatório das fêmeas do grupo controle foi superior (40,33) ao das éguas que receberam 450 UI de hCG IV no falso acuponto (36,84) e semelhante ao das éguas que receberam hCG no acuponto Hou Hai (39,31); correlações moderadamente positivas foram encontradas entre o diâmetro do CL e a concentração de P4, ambos no D8 (P <0,05). A administração IV de 450 UI de hCG ou no acuponto Hou Hai foi eficiente na indução da ovulação e na garantia da qualidade do CL nas éguas.(AU)

Development of compensatory thermogenesis in response to overfeeding in hypothyroid rats.

Intact or surgically thyroidectomized (Tx) adult male Wistar rats, weighing 150-200 g, were fed a standard chow diet (approximately 1.8 Cal/g) or a high calorie (approximately 3.8 Cal/g) diet (cafeteria diet) for up to 30 days. Daily energy intake was about 5-fold higher in the rats fed the cafeteria diet regardless of their thyroid status. The cafeteria diet caused the retroperitoneal white fat pad to increase by approximately 2-fold, the volume of isolated white adipocytes to increase by 2-fold, and the total body fat to increase by a factor of approximately 3, again regardless of thyroid status. It also increased basal metabolic rate by about 20% in intact rats and by about 50% in Tx rats. The brown fat thermal response to norepinephrine (NE) infusion was approximately 2-fold increased in the intact rats fed the cafeteria diet. However, in the Tx rats, the brown fat thermal response to NE was blunted regardless of the dietary regimen adopted. In both intact and Tx rats, the cafeteria diet increased total brown fat mitochondria, uncoupling protein percentage, and total brown fat uncoupling protein by about 3-, 2-, and 5-fold, respectively. Serum leptin levels also increased approximately 4-fold in intact rats fed the cafeteria diet. However, in Tx rats, leptin levels did not change significantly during overfeeding. In conclusion, hypothyroidism caused the brown fat to become unresponsive to NE, even after 1 month on the cafeteria diet. However, these rats were able to increase basal metabolic rate and, as assessed by several different parameters, did not gain fat beyond that observed in intact controls kept on a similar overfeeding schedule.

Nifedipine prevents renal injury in rats with chronic nitric oxide inhibition.

Chronic nitric oxide inhibition promotes hypertension, renal dysfunction, and renal injury by unclear mechanisms. We examined the effects in this model of concomitant treatment with the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. Six adult male Munich-Wistar rats received 0.025% nifedipine in chow. Six untreated rats served as controls. Fifteen days later, renal function was evaluated in anesthetized rats before and after a bolus injection of the nitric oxide inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester at 3 mg/kg IV. Renal vasoconstriction and systemic hypertension induced by the inhibitor were similar in untreated and nifedipine-treated rats. In a second protocol, eight rats received the nitric oxide inhibitor in their drinking water at 2.6 mmol/L. Eight additional rats also received nifedipine as above. At day 15, rats given the nitric oxide inhibitor exhibited systemic hypertension and renal vasoconstriction. Simultaneous nifedipine lowered blood pressure slightly without ameliorating renal hemodynamics. Tail-cuff pressure rose continuously in rats receiving the nitric oxide blocker, reaching 171 +/- 7 mm Hg at 30 days, but remained at 143 +/- 3 mm Hg in rats also given nifedipine. At this stage, rats treated with the nitric oxide inhibitor exhibited extremely variable plasma renin activity, tuft collapse in 10.1 +/- 2.2% of the glomeruli, and renal interstitial fibrosis. Simultaneous nifedipine treatment normalized the dispersion of plasma renin levels, while preventing renal morphological abnormalities. These results suggest that in the chronic nitric oxide inhibition model, sustained operation of voltage-sensitive calcium channels is not essential for renal vasoconstriction but contributes to systemic hypertension and plays a pivotal role in the development of renal structural injury.

Chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. A new model of arterial hypertension.

Recent studies have indicated that acute inhibition of nitric oxide biosynthesis in the rat promotes arterial hypertension and renal vasoconstriction. We evaluated the renal and systemic effects of 4-6 weeks of nitric oxide blockade in Munich-Wistar rats receiving the nitric oxide inhibitor nitro-L-arginine orally. Age-matched untreated rats were used as controls. In an additional seven rats, nitric oxide blockade was carried out in conjunction with oral administration of the novel angiotensin II antagonist losartan potassium. Tail-cuff pressure rose progressively in nitro-L-arginine-treated rats, reaching 164 +/- 6 mm Hg at 4-6 weeks, compared with 108 +/- 3 mm Hg in controls. In rats concomitantly receiving losartan, tail-cuff pressure reached 125 +/- 6 mm Hg, still elevated compared with rats receiving losartan alone (98 +/- 3 mm Hg). Nitro-L-arginine-treated rats presented marked renal vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion, as well as a 30% fall in glomerular filtration rate and a 39% increase in filtration fraction. Treatment with Losartan normalized glomerular filtration rate, but not filtration fraction or renal vascular resistance. Plasma renin activity was elevated after nitro-L-arginine treatment. Renal histological examination revealed widespread arteriolar narrowing, focal arteriolar obliteration, and segmental fibrinoid necrosis in the glomeruli. In a separate group of rats, nitro-L-arginine administered for 1 week induced hypertension that was partially reversed by acute L-arginine, but not D-arginine or L-glycine, infusions. We conclude that chronic nitric oxide blockade may constitute a new model of severe arterial hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Genetic structure of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C epidemic strains in south Brazil.

In the present study we report the results of an analysis, based on serotyping, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE), and ribotyping of N. meningitidis serogroup C strains isolated from patients with meningococcal disease (MD) in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC) States, Brazil, as the Center of Epidemiology Control of Ministry of Health detected an increasing of MD cases due to this serogroup in the last two years (1992-1993). We have demonstrated that the MD due to N.meningitidis serogroup C strains in RS and SC States occurring in the last 4 years were caused mainly by one clone of strains (ET 40), with isolates indistinguishable by serogroup, serotype, subtype and even by ribotyping. One small number of cases that were not due to an ET 40 strains, represent closely related clones that probably are new lineages generated from the ET 40 clone referred as ET 11A complex. We have also analyzed N.meningitidis serogroup C strains isolated in the greater São Paulo in 1976 as representative of the first post epidemic year in that region. The ribotyping method, as well as MEE, could provide useful information about the clonal characteristics of those isolates and also of strains isolated in south Brazil. The strains from 1976 have more similarity with the actual endemic than epidemic strains, by the ribotyping, sulfonamide sensitivity, and MEE results. In conclusion, serotyping with monoclonal antibodies (C:2b:P1.3), MEE (ET 11 and ET 11A complex), and ribotyping by using ClaI restriction enzyme (Rb2), were useful to characterize these epidemic strains of N.meningitidis related to the increased incidence of MD in different States of south Brazil. It is mostly probable that these N.meningitidis serogroup C strains have poor or no genetic correlation with 1971-1975 epidemic serogroup C strains. The genetic similarity of members of the ET 11 and ET 11A complex were confirmed by the ribotyping method by using three restriction endonucleases.

[Sexuality according to Michel Foucault: a contribution to nursing]. / A sexualidade segundo Michel Foucault: uma contribuição para a enfermagem.

The author develops a reflexion about Foucault conception in relation to the "sexuality dispositive" that has been presented in the book "Microfísica do Poder". She tries to rescue, through this classic literature, a historic and social point of view in the practice of nursing, without missing the actual concepts that deppreciate the affection of the personal relations to overvalue the masculine virility, converting the pleasure a consumer goods and a goal in itself.

[The feelings and reactions of the nursing student facing situations related to children's sexuality]. / Sentimentos e reações do aluno de enfermagem ante algumas situações relacionadas à sexualidade infantil.

This work is an investigation which the author intends to obtain subsidies ons preparation of nursing students on children' sexuality to give nursing care to children and adolescents. The motivation to obtain these date came from absence of participation of students when talking about this topic in class-room. This fact did not make possible to identify feelings and reactions of students to some situations relative to topic.

[1st São Paulo meeting of teachers of Pediatric Nursing]. / Relato do I Encontro Paulista de Docentes de Enfermagem Pediátrica.

The authors report the "I Encontro Paulista de Docentes de Enfermagem Pediátrica". They show components of the pediatrics nursing curriculum and the results of the discussions accomplished in this event.

Adrenergic receptor ß3 is involved in the memory consolidation process in mice

Attention and emotion have a positive impact on memory formation, which is related to the activation of the noradrenergic system in the brain. The hippocampus and amygdala are fundamental structures in memory acquisition, which is modulated by noradrenaline through the noradrenergic receptors. Pharmacological studies suggest that memory acquisition depends on the action of both the β3 (β3-AR) and β2 (β2-AR) receptor subtypes. However, the use of animal models with specific knockout for the β3-AR receptor only (β3-ARKO) allows researchers to more accurately assess its role in memory formation processes. In the present study, we evaluated short- and long-term memory acquisition capacity in β3-ARKO mice and wild-type mice at approximately 60 days of age. The animals were submitted to the open field test, the elevated plus maze, object recognition, and social preference. The results showed that the absence of the β3-AR receptor caused no impairment in locomotion and did not cause anxious behavior, but it caused significant impairment of short- and long-term memory compared to wild-type animals. We also evaluated the expression of genes involved in memory consolidation. The mRNA levels for GLUT3, a glucose transporter expressed in the central nervous system, were significantly reduced in the amygdala, but not in the hippocampus of the β3-ARKO animals. Our results showed that β3-AR was involved in the process of acquisition of declarative memory, and its action may be due to the facilitation of glucose absorption in the amygdala.