Egg White Hydrolysate Mitigates Cadmium-induced Neurological Disorders and Oxidative Damage.

We aimed to investigate whether the consumption of Egg White Hydrolysate (EWH) acts on nervous system disorders induced by exposure to Cadmium (Cd) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into (a) Control (Ct): H2O by gavage for 28 days + H2O (i.p. - 15th - 28th day); (b) Cadmium (Cd): H2O by gavage + CdCl2 - 1 mg/kg/day (i.p. - 15th - 28th day); (c) EWH 14d: EWH 1 g/kg/day by gavage for 14 days + H2O (i.p.- 15th - 28th day); (d) Cd + EWH cotreatment (Cd + EWHco): CdCl2 + EWH for 14 days; (e) EWH 28d: EWH for 28 days; (f) EWHpre + Cd: EWH (1st - 28th day) + CdCl2 (15th - 28th day). At the beginning and the end of treatment, neuromotor performance (Neurological Deficit Scale); motor function (Rota-Rod test); ability to move and explore (Open Field test); thermal sensitivity (Hot Plate test); and state of anxiety (Elevated Maze test) were tested. The antioxidant status in the cerebral cortex and the striatum were biochemically analyzed. Cd induces anxiety, and neuromotor, and thermal sensitivity deficits. EWH consumption prevented anxiety, neuromotor deficits, and alterations in thermal sensitivity, avoiding neuromotor deficits both when the administration was performed before or during Cd exposure. Both modes of administration reduced the levels of reactive species, and the lipid peroxidation increased by Cd and improved the striatum's antioxidant capacity. Pretreatment proved to be beneficial in preventing the reduction of SOD activity in the cortex. EWH could be used as a functional food with antioxidant properties capable of preventing neurological damage induced by Cd.

Acute physical exercise enhances memory persistence in female rats.

Memory is a complex cognitive process with distinct stages, such as acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in memory consolidation and retrieval. Physical exercise (PE) has been shown to enhance memory and cognitive functions, but the available research is mainly developed with males. So, there is limited knowledge about acute PE's effects on females' memory. This study aimed to investigate the impact of acute PE on memory in female rats and explore potential sex differences in PE memory modulation. Forty-two female Wistar rats were subjected to a novel object recognition (NOR) task, with half of them undergoing a single session of 30 min of PE after the learning session (memory acquisition). Behavioral assessments showed that acute PE improved memory persistence in female rats, with increased discrimination of novel objects. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated noradrenaline levels in the hippocampus following acute PE and NOR training. Notably, the positive effects of acute PE on female rats' memory were similar to those previously observed in male rats. These findings suggest that acute PE can enhance memory in female rats and underscore the importance of considering sex differences in cognitive research. PE may offer a non-invasive strategy to promote cognitive health in both males and females.

Starting maternal exercise, unlike reducing the intensity of exercise during pregnancy, prevents memory deficits in female offspring subject to maternal deprivation.

Maternal deprivation (MD) leads to long-lasting memory deficits. Conversely, maternal exercise could potently modify the offspring's cellular machinery. Here, we tested whether starting to run or reducing the intensity of running during pregnancy can protect prepubertal female offspring against MD-induced memory deficits. Female rats were divided into different groups submitted or not to MD: one started to run before pregnancy and reduced the intensity during the pregnancy (PGE); another started to run at the beginning of pregnancy (GE); and, finally, a control group (CT) was not submitted to exercise. All the rats but those of the CT ran on a treadmill until the delivery day (PND 0). Subsequently, MD was performed from PND 1 to 10. We assessed object recognition (OR) and spatial memory (SM) of female offspring after weaning (PND22, pre-pubertal stage). MD caused OR memory deficit; GE female offspring did not present this deficit, but PGE did. Both PGE and GE alone enhanced offspring spatial learning, but their combination with MD impaired it. MD promoted hippocampal lipid peroxidation increase, which both PGE and GE prevented. Total antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus was higher in both MD-exercised groups compared to all others. Although the antioxidant effects of exercise were similar in both MD exercise groups, we observed better results in the memory tests in the GE group than in the PGE group. These results suggest that starting to exercise during pregnancy is better than reducing the exercise intensity during pregnancy to prevent MD-induced memory deficits in female offspring.

Student assessment of online tools to foster engagement during the COVID-19 quarantine.

As a result of the installation of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19) pandemic, online education has become an important teaching alternative, and new challenges about how to teach were found. Here we report our experience in offering an online course to review Human Physiology. We proposed synchronous and asynchronous activities using different online tools to address topics considered key to understanding the different systems of human physiology. The students considered important the use of this type of methodology, which uses different online tools to help understand the Human Physiology contents. The students highlighted the use of the Lt platform, Zoom, Mentimeter, and YouTube as the preferred online tools to use in physiology learning.