RESUMEN
Neuroinflammation is a predisposing factor for the development of cognitive impairment and dementia. Among the new molecules that are currently being studied, ellagic acid (EA) has stood out for its neuroprotective properties. The present study investigated the effects of ellagic acid in the object recognition test, oxidative stress, cholinergic neurotransmission, glial cell expression, and phosphorylated Tau protein expression. For this, 32 male Wistar rats received an intraperitoneal (IP) application of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) at a dose of 250 µg/kg or 0.9% saline solution (SAL) for 8 days. Two hours after the IP injections, the animals received 100 mg/kg of EA or SAL via intragastric gavage. Behavioral parameters (open field test and object recognition) were performed on days 5, 6, and 7 of the experimental periods. The results showed that the treatment with EA in the LPS group was able to inhibit cognitive impairment, modulate the immune system response by significantly reducing glial cell expression, attenuating phosphorylated Tau and oxidative damage with consequent improvement in the antioxidant system, as well as preventing the increase of acetylcholinesterase activity. Thus, the neuroprotective effects of EA and its therapeutic potential in cognitive disorders secondary to neuroinflammation were demonstrated.
Asunto(s)
Disfunción Cognitiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Ácido Elágico/uso terapéutico , Inflamación/tratamiento farmacológico , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/uso terapéutico , Acetilcolinesterasa/metabolismo , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Corteza Cerebral/efectos de los fármacos , Disfunción Cognitiva/inducido químicamente , Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Inflamación/inducido químicamente , Lipopolisacáridos , Masculino , Prueba de Campo Abierto/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Fosforilación/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas Wistar , Proteínas tau/química , Proteínas tau/metabolismoRESUMEN
Rangelia vitalii is a protozoan of the Babesiidae family that parasitizes domestic and wild dogs in South American countries. The main laboratory findings in blood samples from animals infected by R. vitalii are anemia and thrombocytopenia. The aim of this study was to detect IgM and IgG immunoglobulins on the surface of red blood cells and platelets, as well as to determine the percentage of reticulated platelets and reticulocytes in dogs naturally infected by R. vitalii. Blood samples from twenty dogs seen at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) were divided into two groups: the diseased group consisted of blood samples from 10 animals with the diagnosis of rangeliosis, and the healthy group (control) consisted of samples from 10 healthy animals. All diseased dogs showed normocytic normochromic anemia but showed no differences (pâ¯>â¯0.05) in reticulocyte counts compared to healthy dogs. Moreover, IgM and IgG immunoglobulins were detected on the surface of the plasma membrane of red blood cells from both groups, but the amounts did not differ between groups (pâ¯>â¯0.05). Thrombocytopenia in infected animals was classified as severe. The percentage of reticulated platelets was higher (pâ¯<â¯0.001) in diseased dogs than in healthy animals. Diseased animals showed more IgM immunoglobulins bound to the surface of platelets than did the healthy group (pâ¯<â¯0.001). However, the amount of IgG bound to the surface of platelets was not different between groups. In conclusion, we showed that R. vitalii caused immune-mediated thrombocytopenia since IgM immunoglobulins were found on the surface of platelets of diseased dogs. We suggest that the binding of immunoglobulins on platelet surfaces contributes to early destruction of these cells and, consequently, alterations in hemostasis. An increase in reticulated platelets was noted in response to thrombocytopenia, indicating active thrombopoiesis.
Asunto(s)
Plaquetas/química , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Eritrocitos/química , Piroplasmida/aislamiento & purificación , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos B/sangre , Animales , Enfermedades de los Perros/sangre , Perros , Femenino , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina M/sangre , Masculino , Trombocitopenia/sangre , Trombocitopenia/parasitología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/sangre , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/parasitología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinariaRESUMEN
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different protocols (P1, P2, and P3) of boldenone undecylenate (BU) and stanozolol (ST) on markers of liver and kidney function and variables of oxidative stress in these organs. For this, 54 male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six animals each. Each animal received intramuscularly 5.0 mg kg-1 of BU or ST once a week for 4 weeks (P1); 2.5 mg kg-1 of BU or ST once a week for 8 weeks (P2); and 1.25 mg kg-1 of BU or ST once a week for 12 weeks (P3). For each protocol, a control group was used, and they received 0.1 ml of olive oil intramuscularly. Blood and fragments of liver and kidney were collected for alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, albumin, creatinine, cholesterol, total protein, triglycerides, urea, reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, total thiols, and glutathione evaluation. The results show that the BU in doses of 5 (day 30) and 2.5 mg kg-1 (day 60) changes the ALT seric activity, possibly showing a hepatotoxic effect. High doses of BU may lead to increased levels of cholesterol (protocol P1) possibly due to inhibition of the normal steroid biosynthesis process. All protocols used caused changes in the redox balance of the organs studied (except in the liver, protocol P2), which indicates that these drugs might be harmful even at low doses.
Asunto(s)
Riñón/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Congéneres de la Testosterona/efectos adversos , Congéneres de la Testosterona/farmacología , Animales , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Riñón/patología , Hígado/patología , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical parameters of iron metabolism in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. To this end, 20 rats (Wistar) were intraperitoneally inoculated with blood containing trypomastigotes 10(6) (Group T) and 12 animals were used as negative control (Group C) and received saline (0.2 mL) through same route. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture on day 5 (C5, T5) and 30 (C30, T30) post-inoculation (pi) to perform complete blood count and determination of serum iron, transferrin, ferritin, total and latent iron fixation capacity, transferrin saturation and prohepcidin concentration. Also, bone marrow samples were collected, to perform Pearls staining reaction. Levels of iron, total and latent iron binding capacity and prohepcidin concentration were lower (P<0.05) in infected rats (T5 and T30 groups) compared to controls. On the other hand, levels of transferrin and ferritin were higher when compared to controls (P<0.05). The transferrin saturation increased on day 5 pi, but decreased on day 30 pi. The Pearls reaction showed a higher accumulation of iron in the bone marrow of infected animals in day 5 pi (P<0.01). Infection with T. evansi in rats caused anemia and changes in iron metabolism associated to the peaks of parasitemia. These results suggest that changes in iron metabolism may be related to the host immune response to infection and anemic status of infected animals.