Effect of a neuroprotective exercise protocol on oxidative state and BDNF levels in the rat hippocampus.

Daily moderate intensity exercise (2 weeks of 20 min/day of treadmill training), which reduces damage to hippocampal slices from rats submitted to in vitro ischemia, did not modify oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus nor the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in different brain regions. The aim was to investigate whether the modulation of hippocampal oxidative status and/or brain BDNF content is involved in exercise-induced neuroprotection. Wistar rats were submitted to daily exercise in the treadmill and were sacrificed approximately 16 h after the last treadmill running.

Exercise intensity influences cell injury in rat hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation.

We evaluated the effects of two levels of daily forced exercise intensity (moderate and high) in the treadmill over cell susceptibility to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in hippocampal slices from Wistar rats. Moderate exercise decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release after OGD, while a significant increase in LDH release was observed in the high intensity group submitted to OGD. Our data corroborate the hypothesis that higher training intensity exacerbates brain damage, while a moderate intensity reduces the injury caused by in vitro ischemia.

Total antioxidant capacity is impaired in different structures from aged rat brain.

Our data support a disproportion between free radicals levels and scavenging systems activity in different cerebral regions of the aging rat. We investigated the total reactive antioxidant potential and reactivity levels, which represent the total antioxidant capacity, in different cerebral regions of the aging rat (cortex, striatum, hippocampus and the cerebellum). In addition, we have determined several oxidative stress parameters, specifically the free radicals levels, the macromolecules damage (lipid peroxidation and carbonyl content), as well as the antioxidant enzymes activities in different cerebral areas from young (2 months-old), mature adult (6 months-old) and old (24 months-old) male Wistar rats.

Aging affects oxidative state in hippocampus, hypothalamus and adrenal glands of Wistar rats.

The aging process is associated with cognitive impairment and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as well as with oxidative stress. We determined some parameters of oxidative stress in homogenates of hippocampus, hypothalamus and adrenal glands from male 2-, 6- and 24-months-old Wistar rats. A significant age-dependent increase in the generation of free radicals was observed in hippocampus, hypothalamus and adrenal glands, as well as on lipid peroxidation in hippocampus and hypothalamus.

Age-related susceptibility to oxygen and glucose deprivation damage in rat hippocampal slices.

Aging is an important risk factor for stroke. We evaluated the effects of aging on cell susceptibility to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in slices of the hippocampus from Wistar rats aged 2, 11 and 24 months. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released to the incubation media and free radical content were markedly increased in the 24-month group submitted to OGD.

Hippocampal antioxidant system in neonates from methylmercury-intoxicated rats.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known environmental pollutant toxic to the nervous tissue, particularly during development. We recently described transitory hippocampal changes in neonate rats prenatally exposed to MeHg. In this study, we evaluate oxidative stress in the hippocampus on the 1st and 30th postnatal days.

Neuroprotective effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae) on oxygen and glucose deprivation induced damage in rat hippocampal slices.

Alcoholic infusions of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (PO, Olacaceae) are used in traditional medicine by patients presenting age associated symptoms and those recovering from stroke. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective properties of PO ethanol extract (POEE) using hippocampal slices from Wistar rats exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD, followed by reoxygenation). Mitochondrial activity, an index of cell viability, was assessed by the MTT assay; in addition, the free radicals content was estimated by the use of dichlorofluorescein diacetate as probe.

S100B content and SOD activity in amniotic fluid of pregnancies with Down syndrome.

Objectives: We measured S100B levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity retrospectively in amniotic fluid samples from pregnancies with normal and Down syndrome (DS) fetuses.

Design And Methods: Samples from 26 normal and 71 Down syndrome fetuses were studied. S100B protein levels were determined using LIA-mat Sangtec kit, and SOD activity was measured with the RANSOD kit.

Ptychopetalum olacoides, a traditional Amazonian "nerve tonic", possesses anticholinesterase activity.

The cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) has provided the rationale for the current pharmacotherapy of this disease, in an attempt to downgrade the cognitive decline caused by cholinergic deficits. Nevertheless, the search for potent and long-acting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors that exert minimal side effects to AD patients is still an ongoing effort. Amazonian communities use traditional remedies prepared with Ptychopetalum olacoides (PO, Olacaceae) roots for treating various central nervous system conditions, including those associated with aging.