Publications by authors named "Ana Gutierrez-Rodriguez"

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important cause of long-term disability in extremely preterm infants, with no current treatment. This study assessed the potential neuroprotective effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in an IVH model using immature rats. IVH was induced in 1-day-old (P1) Wistar rats by left periventricular injection of Clostridial collagenase.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We aimed to characterize a preclinical model of intraventricular hemorrhage-induced brain damage (IVH-BD) in extremely low birth weight newborns (ELBWN), to identify potential therapeutic targets based on its pathophysiology.

Methods: IVH was induced in 1-day-old (P1) Wistar rats by left periventricular injection of clostridium collagenase (PVCC). At P6, P14, and P45 IVH-BD (area of damage, motor and cognitive deficits, Lactate/N-acetylaspartate ratio), white matter injury (WMI: ipsilateral hemisphere and corpus callosum atrophy, oligodendroglial population and myelin basic protein signal reduction), blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction (occludin and Mfsd2a expression, Gadolinium leakage) and inflammation (TNFα, TLR4, NFkB, and MMP9 expression; immune cell infiltration), excitotoxicity (Glutamate/N-acetylaspartate), and oxidative stress (protein nitrosylation) were assessed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Thyroid hormone status in hypothyroidism (HT) downregulates key elements in Ca handling within the heart, reducing contractility, impairing the basal energetic balance, and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Mitochondrial Ca transport is reduced in HT, and tolerance to reperfusion damage has been documented, but the precise mechanism is not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to determine the stoichiometry and activity of the mitochondrial Ca uniporter or uniplex in an HT model and the relevance to the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP) during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Preclinical work shows cannabidiol as a promising drug to manage neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (NHIBD). The molecular mechanism is not well defined but the beneficial effects of this phytocannabinoid are blocked by antagonists of both cannabinoid CB (CBR) and serotonin 5-HT (5-HT1AR) receptors that, in addition, may form heteromers in a heterologous expression system. Using bioluminescence energy transfer, we have shown a direct interaction of the two receptors that leads to a particular signaling in a heterologous system.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Hypothermia, the gold standard after a hypoxic-ischemic insult, is not beneficial in all treated newborns. Cannabidiol is neuroprotective in animal models of newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This study compared the relative efficacies of cannabidiol and hypothermia in newborn hypoxic-ischemic piglets and assessed whether addition of cannabidiol augments hypothermic neuroprotection.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The endocannabinoid system exerts a crucial neuromodulatory role in many brain areas that is essential for proper regulation of neuronal activity. The role of cannabinoid signalling controlling neuronal activity in the adult brain is also evident when considering its contribution to adult brain insults or neurodegenerative diseases. In the context of brain genetic or acquired encephalopathies administration of cannabinoid-based molecules has demonstrated to exert symptomatic relief and hence, they are proposed as new potential therapeutic compounds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Astroglial type-1 cannabinoid (CB ) receptors are involved in synaptic transmission, plasticity and behavior by interfering with the so-called tripartite synapse formed by pre- and post-synaptic neuronal elements and surrounding astrocyte processes. However, little is known concerning the subcellular distribution of astroglial CB receptors. In particular, brain CB receptors are mostly localized at cells' plasmalemma, but recent evidence indicates their functional presence in mitochondrial membranes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Type 1 cannabinoid (CB ) receptors are widely distributed in the brain. Their physiological roles depend on their distribution pattern, which differs remarkably among cell types. Hence, subcellular compartments with little but functionally relevant CB receptors can be overlooked, fostering an incomplete mapping.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) modulates numerous neurobehavioral processes and is therefore explored as a target for the treatment of several mental and neurological diseases. However, previous studies have investigated CB1 by targeting it globally, regardless of its two main neuronal localizations on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. In the context of cocaine addiction this lack of selectivity is critical since glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal transmission is involved in different aspects of the disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This study explored whether the cachectic state assessed by bioimpedance vector analysis provides additional prognostic information about mortality from all causes.

Methods: We included 519 consecutive patients with stable chronic heart failure (mean age 62.5 ± 16.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF