Methylation of BDNF gene in association with episodic memory in women.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene regulation plays an important role in long-term memory formation, and the DNA methylation (DNAm) level of BDNF promoters has been associated with episodic memory deficits. Our aim was to explore the association between DNAm levels in BDNF promoter IV with verbal learning and memory performance in healthy women. We conducted a cross-sectional study by recruiting 53 individuals. Episodic memory was assessed by using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Clinical interviews, RAVLT, and blood sample collection were assessed in all participants. DNAm was measured on DNA from whole peripheral blood using pyrosequencing. According to generalized linear model (GzLM) analyses, cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG) site 5 showed significant associations between learning capacity (LC, p < 0.035), that is, every 1% of DNA methylation at CpG site 5 results in a 0.068 reduction in verbal learning performance. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to show that BDNF DNAm plays an important role in episodic memory.

Food and nutritional insecurity is associated with depressive symptoms mediated by NR3C1 gene promoter 1F methylation.

The aim of this study was to investigate socioeconomic stressors predictive of depressive symptoms and possible epigenetic changes in the glucocorticoid receptor - NR3C1-1F - an encoding gene involved in depressive symptoms. A total of 321 adult volunteers from southeastern Brazil were recruited to evaluate depressive symptoms, socio-demographic and economic factors, including food and nutritional security (FNS) or insecurity (FNiS) status, and NR3C1-1F region methylation by pyrosequencing. Depressive symptom determinants were investigated using a Poisson regression model with robust variance. Mann-Whitney tests and structural mediation equation models were used to evaluate the relationship between NR3C1 DNA methylation, FNiS, and depressive symptoms. Multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance adjusted for sex and FNiS and NR3C1-1F region methylation predicted risk factors for depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that NR3C1-1F region methylation mediated the relationship between FNiS exposure and depressive symptoms as an outcome, and depressive volunteers and FNiS individuals exhibited a significant increase in NR3C1 methylation when compared to healthy individuals and FNS volunteers, respectively. Therefore, we suggest that stress caused by FNiS may lead to depressive symptoms and that NR3C1-1F DNA methylation can act as a mediator of both FNiS and depressive symptoms.

Amphibians of Serra das Torres Natural Monument: a reservoir of biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil / Anfíbios do Monumento Natural Serra das Torres: um reservatório da biodiversidade da Mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil

Abstract The Brazilian Atlantic Forest holds a major part of the country's amphibian species richness and high rates of endemism. In this study, we conducted surveys using the Rapid Assessment (RA) method to sample the amphibian fauna of the Serra das Torres Natural Monument (MONAST), an Atlantic Forest remnant in southeastern Brazil. We sampled actively with a 6-10-person team to collect standard samples from 09:00 to 12:00 hours for the daytime period, and from 18:00 to 22:00 hours for the crepuscular/nighttime period, with a total of approximately 1,320 hours of sampling effort. We supplemented these data with 720 hours of passive sampling, using pitfall traps with drift fences (30 bucket-days). We recorded 54 amphibian species (two gymnophionans and 52 anurans), and the species richness estimated by the Bootstrap method indicates that a slightly larger number of species (n = 60) may occur in the study area. The most speciose family was Hylidae (n = 21), followed by Brachycephalidae (n = 8). Overall, 25% of the species (n = 13) were recorded only once (singletons) and 15% (n = 8) only twice (doubletons). Most amphibians recorded in this study (71%, n = 37 species) were restricted to the Atlantic Forest biome, two species (Euparkerella robusta and Luetkenotyphlus fredi) are endemic to the Espírito Santo state, and one of them, the leaf litter species E. robusta, is endemic to the MONAST. Euparkerella robusta is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and is classified as Critically Endangered in the Espírito Santo State red list, while L. fredi has yet to be evaluated due to its recent description. Thoropa lutzi is currently listed as Endangered (EN) by both the IUCN and in the State list. Nine species are listed as Data Deficient (DD) and populations of 13 species are considered to be declining by the IUCN. We extend the geographical distribution of two anuran species (Hylodes babax and Phasmahyla lisbella) and fill an important gap in the distribution of Siphonops hardyi. Amphibians associated with the forest floor represented 42% of the species richness from MONAST, and 43% of these species inhabit the leaf litter exclusively. Our study revealed that Serra das Torres preserves a considerable diversity of Atlantic Forest amphibians, which reinforces the need for the conservation of this forest remnant.

Resumo A Mata Atlântica brasileira guarda importante porção da riqueza de anfíbios e altas taxas de endemismos. Neste estudo, nós realizamos pesquisas usando o Método de Avaliação Rápida (RA) com o objetivo de inventariar a fauna de anfíbios de um remanescente da Mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil, o Monumento Natural Serra das Torres (MONAST). Amostramos ativamente com uma equipe de 6 a 10 pessoas para coletar amostras padronizadas entre 09:00 e 12:00 horas durante o peíodo diurno e entre 18:00 e 22:00 duranto período crepuscular/noturno, totalizando aproximadamente 1320 horas de esforço amostral. Complementamos estes dados com 720 horas de amostragem passiva usando armadilhas de queda com cercas-guia (30 dias de balde). Registramos 54 espécies de anfíbios (dois gimnofionos e 52 anuros) e a riqueza de espécies estimada pelo Bootstrap indicou um número relativamente maior de espécies (n = 60). A família mais especiosa foi Hylidae (n = 21), seguida por Brachycephalidae (n = 8). No geral, 25% das espécies (n = 13) foram registradas apenas uma vez - singletons e 15% (n = 8) apenas duas vezes (doubletons). A maioria dos anfíbios registrados neste estudo (71%, n = 37 espécies) esteve restrita ao bioma Mata Atlântica, duas espécies (Euparkerella robusta e Luetkenotyphlus fredi) são endêmicas do estado do Espírito Santo, sendo uma delas, a espécie de serapilheira E. robusta, endêmica do MONAST. Euparkerella robusta está atualmente listada como Vulnerável pela IUCN e classificada como Criticamente Ameaçada na lista vermelha do estado do Espírito Santo, enquanto L. fredi ainda não foi avaliada devido a sua descrição ser muito recente. Thoropa lutzi está atualmente listada como Ameaçada (EN) pela IUCN e na lista estadual. Nove espécies estão listadas como Deficiente de Dados (DD) e as populações de 13 espécies são consideradas em declínio pela IUCN. Estendemos a distribuição geográfica de duas espécies de anuros (Hylodes babax e Phasmahyla lisbella) e preenchemos uma importante lacuna na distribuição de Siphonops hardyi. Os anfíbios associados ao chão da floresta representaram 42% das espécies do MONAST e 43% destas espécies habitavam exclusivamente a serapilheira. Nosso estudo revelou que a Serra das Torres preserva diversidade considerável de anfíbios da Mata Atlântica, o que reforça a necessidade de conservação desse remanescente florestal.

Reptiles of the Serra das Torres Natural Monument: using the Rapid Assessment method to fill a knowledge gap in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil / Répteis do Monumento Natural Serra das Torres: usando o método de avaliação rápida para preencher uma lacuna de conhecimento na mata atlântica do sudeste do Brasil

Abstract: Data on the composition of local reptile assemblages in several Brazilian ecosystems can still be considered relatively restricted in scope in most cases. In this study, we conducted surveys in the Serra das Torres Natural Monument, located in the municipalities of Atílio Vivacqua, Muqui, and Mimoso do Sul, using the Rapid Assessments method (RAP) during 30 days in the rainy season of 2018. We sampled actively for approximately 1320 hours with a 6-10 person crew, supplemented by 720 hours of passive sampling (30 bucket-days) using pitfall traps with drift fences. We recorded 34 reptile species during our sampling method (2 amphisbaenid, 11 lizards, and 21 snakes) and an occasional encounter, after the end of sampling, that added a chelonian species to the list, Hydromedusa maximiliani, totaling 35 reptile species. The Dipsadidae was the family with the greatest snake species richness and, the Gymnophtalmidae had the greatest lizard species richness. The species richness recorded in the Serra das Torres Natural Monument (Ntotal = 35) represents ca. 27% of all reptile species found in the state of Espírito Santo (N = 130). The most abundant lizard species was Leposoma scincoides followed by Ecpleopus gaudichaudii and, the most abundant snake species was Bothrops jararaca being markedly higher than that recorded in similar studies. Twenty-seven percent of the reptile species recorded in our study are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and 30% (N = 10) have been recorded less than five times previously in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Our study reinforces the need for the conservation of the Serra das Torres Natural Monument because of its importance as a reservoir of a considerable portion of the reptile biodiversity of Espírito Santo state, and of the Atlantic Forest biome as a whole.

Resumo: O conhecimento das assembleias de répteis para muitos ecossistemas no Brasil pode ser considerado ainda relativamente restrito. Neste estudo, nós realizamos amostragens no Monumento Natural Serra das Torres, localizado nos municípios de Atílio Vivacqua, Muqui e Mimoso do Sul, no estado do Espírito Santo, utilizando o método de avaliação rápida (RAP) durante 30 dias na estação chuvosa de 2018. Amostramos cerca de 1320 horas de busca ativa durante os períodos diurno e noturno, com uma equipe de 6 a 10 pessoas, suplementada por 720 horas de amostragem com armadilhas de queda com cercas guia (30 dias-balde). Registramos 34 espécies de répteis squamatas durante as amostragens (2 anfisbenídeo, 11 lagartos e 21 serpentes) e um encontro ocasional posterior que acrescentou uma espécie de quelônio à lista, Hydromedusa maximiliani, totalizando 35 espécies de répteis. Dipsadidae foi a família com a maior riqueza de serpentes, e Gymnophtalmidae foi a família com maior riqueza de lagartos. A riqueza de espécies que registramos no Monumento Natural Serra das Torres (Ntotal = 35) representa ca. 27% de todas as espécies de répteis encontradas no estado do Espírito Santo (N = 130). A espécie de lagarto mais abundante foi Leposoma scincoides seguido por Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, enquanto a espécie mais abundante de serpente foi a Bothrops jararaca, sendo marcadamente maior do aquela registradas em estudos similares. Vinte e sete por cento das espécies de registradas em nosso estudo são endêmicas da Mata Atlântica e trinta por cento das espécies (N = 10) tinham menos de cinco indivíduos registrados anteriormente no estado do Espírito Santo. Nosso estudo reforça a necessidade de conservação do Monumento Natural Serra das Torres devido à sua importância como reservatório de uma considerável parcela da biodiversidade de répteis do estado do Espírito Santo, bem como do bioma Mata Atlântica.