L-tryptophan administration and increase in cerebral serotonin levels: Systematic review.

The amino acid tryptophan (2-Amino-3-(lH-indol-3-yl)-propanoic acid; Trp) is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) that performs various brain functions. The administration of Trp is used in experimental studies to manipulate the serotonergic system, however the dose of Trp required to raise brain 5-HT levels is controversial. The aim of this study was to systemically review the effect of the administration of different doses of Trp on cerebral 5-HT levels. Two independent authors conducted a systematic review in the electronic databases. Twenty-five studies were included in the present review. Trp was administered orally, intraperitoneally or subcutaneous in adult animals. The brain 5-HT levels elevated after Trp administration in different intensities, dependent of the brain region evaluated and the time of administration. Further studies are needed to assess the dose-response of Trp administration to brain 5-HT levels.

Maternal and post-weaning exposure to a high fat diet promotes visceral obesity and hepatic steatosis in adult rats / La exposición en el periodo perinatal y el postdestete a una dieta alta en grasas promueve la obesidad visceral y la esteatosis hepática en ratas adultas

Aim: considering the frequent consumption of fatrich diets by women of reproductive age, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal consumption of a high-fat diet during the perinatal and/ or post-weaning period on the liver parameters and lipid metabolism of young rats. Methods: Wistar female rats were fed a high-fat (H) or control (C) diet during pregnancy and lactation. The offspring were allocated to four groups: Control Control (CC, n = 11), offspring fed a control diet after weaning; Control High-fat (CH, n = 10), offspring fed a high-fat diet after weaning; High-fat High-fat (HH, n = 10), offspring of mothers H fed a high-fat diet after weaning; and High-fat Control (HC, n = 9), offspring of mothers H fed with control diet after weaning. Results and discussion: the food intake did not differ among the groups, however, the relative weight of the adipose tissue was higher in animals from the HC, HH and CH groups (p ≤ 0.005). Liver steatosis was found in the CH and HH animals, which also exhibited hypercholesterolemia (p ≤ 0.05). The levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were higher in the HH group, and the LDL level was higher in the CH group compared to the CC. The consumption of an obesogenic diet during critical periods of development may contribute to the occurrence of visceral obesity, liver steatosis and hypercholesterolemia in adult rats, even in the absence of changes in dietary intake (AU)

Objetivo: teniendo en cuenta el consumo frecuente de dietas ricas en grasas por las mujeres en edad reproductiva, el objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar los efectos del consumo materno de una dieta alta en grasas durante el período perinatal y/o post-destete en el hígado y el metabolismo de los lípidos en ratas jóvenes. Métodos: ratas hembra Wistar fueron alimentadas durante el embarazo y la lactancia con un alto contenido de grasa (H) o de control (C). La descendencia se asignó a cuatro grupos: Control (CC, n = 11), descendencia alimentada con una dieta de control después del destete; Control de dieta alta en grasa (CH, n = 10), crías alimentadas con una dieta alta en grasas después del destete; Alta en grasas de alta en grasa (HH, n = 10), hijos de madres H alimentados con una dieta alta en grasas después del destete; y Control de alta en grasa (HC, n = 9), hijos de madres H alimentados con dieta de control tras el destete. Resultados y discusión: la ingesta de alimentos no difirió entre los grupos; sin embargo, el peso relativo del tejido adiposo fue mayor en los animales de los grupos HC, HH y CH (p ≤ 0,005). La esteatosis hepática se encontró en los CH y HH, que también presentaban hipercolesterolemia (p ≤ 0,05). Los niveles de las enzimas hepáticas alanina aminotransferasa (ALT) y gamma-glutamil transpeptidasa (GGT) fueron mayores en el grupo de HH, y el nivel de LDL fue mayor en el grupo CH en comparación con el CC. El consumo de la dieta propició la obesidad durante los períodos críticos del desarrollo y puede contribuir a la aparición de obesidad visceral, esteatosis hepática e hipercolesterolemia en ratas adultas, incluso en ausencia de cambios en la ingesta dietética (AU)

Depressäo: repercussões no sistema serotoninérgico / Depression: Repercussions in the serotoninergic system

Os autores indicam os problemas encontrados no estudo científico da depressão. Eles descrevem as principais alterações do sistema serotoninérgico na depressão humana e nos modelos experimentais de depressão, relatados na literatura. Concluem que o distúrbio do sistema de neurotransmissão serotoninérgico com certeza não é o único envolvido na depressão, mas é seguramente muito importante nessa patologia

Tratamento com inibidor de recaptura de serotonina, no período neonatal, reduz agressividade intraespecífica em ratos adultos / Neonatal treatment with selectiv serotonin reuptake inihibitor reduces intraespecific aggression in rats

A maioria dos estudos sugerem que serotonina (5_HT) inibe agressão em ratos. O tratamento com inibidor de recaptura de serotonina aumenta sua disponibilidade sináptica no cérebro. Entretanto as consequências deste tratamento durante o período pós-natal sobre as respostas agressivas na vida adulta não são claras. No presente trabalho, os autores investigaram o comportamento agressivo de ratos adultos tratados com citalopram, um potente inibidor de recaptura de serotonina, durante o aleitamento. Os resultados indicaram que a administração repetida de citolopram no início da vida diminuiu o ganho de peso no período pós-natal e reduz o comportamento agressivo de ratos adultos