Publications by authors named "Diorginis S Ferreira"

Background And Aims: It has been demonstrated that maternal low protein during development induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the heart. Moderate-intensity exercise in early life, conversely, increases the overall cardiac health. Thus, we hypothesize that moderate-intensity exercise performed during young age could ameliorate the deleterious effect of maternal protein deprivation on cardiac bioenergetics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Maternal protein deficiency during the critical development period of the progeny disturbs mitochondrial metabolism in the brainstem, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in the first-generation (F1) offspring, but is unknown if this effect persists in the second-generation (F2) offspring. The study tested whether mitochondrial health and oxidative balance will be restored in F2 rats. Male and female rats were divided into six groups according to the diet fed to their mothers throughout gestation and lactation periods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is a strong correlation between inadequate gestational and postpartum nutrition and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The present study investigated the effects of a maternal low-protein diet and neonatal overfeeding on the oxidative balance and morphology of the renal cortex of male Wistar rats. Two independent protocols were used.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Previous studies showed that moderate exercise in adult rats enhances neutrophil function, although no studies were performed in juvenile rats. We evaluated the effects of moderate exercise on the neutrophil function in juvenile rats. Viability and neutrophils function were evaluated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: It is well known that in the aging process a variety of physiological functions such as cardiac physiology and energy metabolism decline. Imbalance in production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may induce oxidative stress. Research shows that oxidative stress is an important factor in the aging process.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Studies in humans and animal models have established a close relationship between early environment insult and subsequent risk of development of non-communicable diseases, including the cardiovascular. Whereas experimental evidences highlight the early undernutrition and the late cardiovascular disease relation, the central mechanisms linking the two remain unknown. Owing to the oxidative balance influence in several pathologies, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of maternal undernutrition (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Recent investigations have focused on the mitochondrion as a direct drug target in the treatment of metabolic diseases (obesity, metabolic syndrome). Relatively few studies, however, have explicitly investigated whether drug therapies aimed at changing behavior by altering central nervous system (CNS) function affect mitochondrial bioenergetics, and none has explored their effect during early neonatal development. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of chronic treatment of newborn male rats with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine on the mitochondrial bioenergetics of the hypothalamus and skeletal muscle during the critical nursing period of development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Protein restriction during perinatal and early postnatal development is associated with a greater incidence of disease in the adult, such arterial hypertension. The aim in the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal low-protein diet on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, antioxidant levels (enzymatic and nonenzymatic), and oxidative stress levels on the heart of the adult offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats received either 17% casein (normal protein, NP) or 8% casein (low protein, LP) throughout pregnancy and lactation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF