Coconut oil supplementation during development reduces brain excitability in adult rats nourished and overnourished in lactation.

INTRODUCTION: Coconut oil has been considered as a therapeutic alternative in several pathologies, but there is limited information regarding its effects on brain functioning. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed whether early virgin coconut oil (VCO) supplementation interferes with electrical activity of the adult rat brain and its lipid peroxidation. Moreover, it investigated whether the putative effect on brain electrophysiology could be affected by overnutrition occurring during lactation, and/or by environmental enrichment (EE). Electrophysiology was measured through cortical spreading depression (CSD), a phenomenon related to brain excitability. METHODS: Wistar rats were suckled in litters of either nine or three pups, forming nourished (N) or overnourished (ON) groups, respectively. Between the 7th and 30th days of life, half of the animals in each group received VCO (10 mg kg-1 d-1; by gavage). The other half received an equivalent amount of vehicle (V, 0.009% cremophor). On day 36, animals from both groups were subjected to EE for 4 weeks. At 105 ± 15 days of life, each animal was subjected to CSD recordings and lipid peroxidation analyses. RESULTS: Overnutrition during lactation enhanced body and brain weights. VCO decelerated the CSD propagation velocity (control - 3.57 ± 0.23 mm min-1versus VCO - 3.27 ± 0.18 mm min-1; p < 0.001), regardless of whether subjected to overnourishment or EE exposure. Neither VCO nor EE modified the cerebral lipid peroxidation (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: VCO supplementation impaired the spreading of CSD, indicating reduction of brain excitability. VCO effects occurred regardless of the nutritional state during lactation.

Environmental enrichment reduces brain excitability in adult rats overnourished during lactation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze whether exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) during the juvenile phase of life interferes with the electrical activity of the adult rat brain. In addition, the present research also investigated whether this putative effect on brain electrical activity could be affected by prior overnutrition during lactation. Electrophysiology was measured through cortical spreading depression (CSD), a phenomenon related to brain excitability. METHODS: Wistar rats were suckled in litters of either nine or three pups, forming the nourished (N) or overnourished (ON) groups, respectively. At 36 days old, half of the animals from each nutritional condition were exposed to EE. The other half was kept in the standard environment (SE). At 90-120 days of life, each animal was anesthetized for CSD recordings. RESULTS: Overnutrition during lactation caused increases (p < 0.05) in body and brain weights. The EE decelerated CSD propagation velocity regardless of nutritional state during lactation (p < 0.001). The CSD deceleration in the N-EE group was 23.8% and in the ON-EE group was 15% in comparison with the N-SE and ON-SE groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that EE exposure in the juvenile phase of the rat's life reduced brain excitability, and this effect was observed even if animals were overnourished during lactation. An EE could be considered an adjuvant therapeutic resource to modulate brain excitability.

Environmental enrichment reduces brain excitability in adult rats overnourished during lactation / Enriquecimento ambiental reduz excitabilidade cerebral em ratos adultos hipernutridos durante a lactação

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to analyze whether exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) during the juvenile phase of life interferes with the electrical activity of the adult rat brain. In addition, the present research also investigated whether this putative effect on brain electrical activity could be affected by prior overnutrition during lactation. Electrophysiology was measured through cortical spreading depression (CSD), a phenomenon related to brain excitability. Methods: Wistar rats were suckled in litters of either nine or three pups, forming the nourished (N) or overnourished (ON) groups, respectively. At 36 days old, half of the animals from each nutritional condition were exposed to EE. The other half was kept in the standard environment (SE). At 90-120 days of life, each animal was anesthetized for CSD recordings. Results: Overnutrition during lactation caused increases (p < 0.05) in body and brain weights. The EE decelerated CSD propagation velocity regardless of nutritional state during lactation (p < 0.001). The CSD deceleration in the N-EE group was 23.8% and in the ON-EE group was 15% in comparison with the N-SE and ON-SE groups, respectively. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that EE exposure in the juvenile phase of the rat's life reduced brain excitability, and this effect was observed even if animals were overnourished during lactation. An EE could be considered an adjuvant therapeutic resource to modulate brain excitability.

RESUMO Objetivo: Este estudo analisou se a exposição ao ambiente enriquecido durante a fase juvenil da vida interferiria na atividade elétrica do cérebro de ratos adultos. Além disso, a presente pesquisa também investigou se esse provável efeito na atividade elétrica cerebral poderia ser afetado pela hipernutrição durante a lactação. A eletrofisiologia foi medida através da depressão alastrante cortical, um fenômeno relacionado à excitabilidade cerebral. Métodos: Ratos Wistar foram amamentados em ninhadas de nove ou três filhotes, formando os grupos nutridos ou hipernutridos, respectivamente. Aos 36 dias, metade dos animais de cada condição nutricional foram expostos ao ambiente enriquecido. A outra metade foi mantida na condição de ambiente padrão. Aos 90-120 dias de vida, foram obtidos os registros da depressão alastrante cortical. Resultados: A hipernutrição durante a lactação causou incrementos (p < 0,05) nos pesos corporal e cerebral.O Ambiente Enriquecido desacelerou a velocidade de propagação da depressão alastrante cortical independentemente do estado nutricional durante a lactação (p < 0,001). A desaceleração da depressão alastrante cortical no grupo nutrido/ambiente enriquecido foi de 23,8% e no grupo hipernutrido/ambiente enriquecido foi de 15% em comparação com os grupos nutrido/ambiente padrão e hipernutrido/ambiente padrão, respectivamente. Conclusão: Nossos dados demonstram que a exposição ao ambiente enriquecido na fase juvenil da vida do rato reduz a excitabilidade cerebral, e esse efeito pode ser observado mesmo se os animais estiverem hipernutridos durante a lactação. O ambiente enriquecido pode ser considerado um recurso terapêutico adjuvante para modular a excitabilidade cerebral.

Can coconut oil and treadmill exercise during the critical period of brain development ameliorate stress-related effects on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats?

OBJECTIVE: Virgin coconut oil (CO) and treadmill exercise have been reported to improve memory performance in young rats. CO has also been associated with antistress properties in young, stressed mice. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate whether CO and treadmill exercise could synergistically ameliorate the effects of chronic stress on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats. METHODS: The rats received CO and were exercised (Ex) from the 15th to the 45th day of life. The animals were supplemented with CO (10 mL kg-1 day-1) or a vehicle (V, distilled water and 0.009% Cremophor) via oral gavage. The Ex animals were placed for 30 min day-1 on a treadmill, with the speed gradually increasing from the first week to the last. From the 46th to the 54th postnatal day, with the exception of the 51st and the 52nd day, all rats were subjected to restraint stress. Afterwards, all rats underwent the open-field test to evaluate locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior. To evaluate episodic-like memory, all animals underwent tests to recognize object identity and special location. Lastly, lipid profile and murinometric parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: A two-way ANOVA test followed by a Tukey test demonstrated that the CO&Ex group explored more of the unprotected central area of the OFT (27.04 ± 4.03 s, p < 0.01), when compared to the control group (15.36 ± 2.54 s). CO&Ex spent more time exploring the novel location of the object (71.62 ± 3.04%, p < 0.01), when compared to the control group (58.62 ± 2.48%). DISCUSSION: CO and exercise during lactation can ameliorate the effects of stress on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats.

Excesso de peso e obesidade em portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Overweight and obesity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objetivo: Definir o perfil epidemiológico do excesso de peso/obesidade e caracterizar as principais alterações antropométricas em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) atendidos ambulatorialmente. Método: Estudo transversal, tipo série de casos, realizado no Ambulatório de Pneumologia do Hospital das Clínicas/UFPE. Foram coletados dados socioeconômicos, culturais e comportamentais. Para avaliação nutricional, foram coletados dados de peso, altura, índice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferências da cintura (CC), braço (CB) e quadril (CQ), e obtidas a relação cintura-estatura (RCEst) e a relação cintura-quadril (RCQ). Resultados: Foram obtidos 54 pacientes elegíveis com o seguinte perfil: faixa etária maior de 60 anos (68,5%), não brancos (75,9%), sexo masculino (68,5%), residentes no interior do estado (83,4%), casados/união estável (51,8%), baixa escolaridade (64,8%), sem ocupação (75,9%), renda ≤ 1 salário mínimo (66,6%), tabagistas (11,1%), ex-tabagistas (81,5%), sedentá- rios (66,7%), sobrepeso/obesidade (50%), CC elevada (57,41%), RCQ elevada (51,86%), RCEst elevada (83,34%) e 38,8% na faixa da desnutrição em relação à CB. Conclusão: O excesso de peso/obesidade é bastante prevalente em pacientes com DPOC atendidos ambulatorialmente. Foi observado que, de forma paradoxal, o excesso de peso foi acompanhado de redução da massa magra, característica típica da afecção.

Objective: To define the epidemiological profile of overweight/obesity and characterize the major anthropometric changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients. Methods: Study of case series cross-sectional performed in Nutrition Outpatient/ Pulmonology Clinic of Clinical Hospital at Federal University of Pernambuco. Patients were evaluated by collecting socio-economic, cultural and behavioral data. For nutritional assessment, it was collected weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), arm circumference (AC) and hip circumference (HC), and it was calculated the waist-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Results: It was obtained 54 eligible patients with the following profile: age higher than 60 years (68.5%), non-white (75.9%), male (68.5%), living within the state (83.4%), married/ stable union (51.8%), low education (64.8%), unemployed (75.9%), income ≤ 1 minimum wage (66.6%), smokers (11.1%), ex-smokers (81.5%), sedentary (66.7%), overweight/obesity (50%), high WC (57.41%), high WHR (51.86%), WHtR (83.34%) and 38.8% of malnutrition regarding to AB. Conclusion: Overweight/obesity is highly prevalent in patients with COPD outpatients. It was observed that, paradoxically, excess weight was accompanied by reduced lean body mass, a typical characteristic of the disease.