Cardiac sympathetic drive is increased in cafeteria diet-fed rats independent of impairment in peripheral baroreflex and chemoreflex functions.

Background And Aims: Consumption of a high caloric diet induces autonomic imbalance, which can lead to cardiovascular disease. Impaired arterial baroreflex control is suggested to play an important role in cardiovascular autonomic imbalance, often seen in obesity. We previously demonstrated that cafeteria diets increase the sympathetic drive to white and brown adipose tissue.

Brazilian actions to promote physiology learning and teaching in secondary and high schools.

Members of the Education Committee of the Brazilian Society of Physiology have developed multiple outreach models to improve the appreciation of science and physiology at the precollege level. The members of this committee act in concert with important Brazilian governmental strategies to promote training of undergraduate students in the teaching environment of secondary and high schools. One of these governmental strategies, the Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência, a Brazilian public policy of teaching enhancement implemented by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) since 2007, represents a well-articulated public policy that can promote the partnership between University and Schools (7).

Behavioral, Ventilatory and Thermoregulatory Responses to Hypercapnia and Hypoxia in the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) Strain.

Introduction: We investigated the behavioral, respiratory, and thermoregulatory responses elicited by acute exposure to both hypercapnic and hypoxic environments in Wistar audiogenic rats (WARs). The WAR strain represents a genetic animal model of epilepsy.

Methods: Behavioral analyses were performed using neuroethological methods, and flowcharts were constructed to illustrate behavioral findings.

Behavioral and cardiorespiratory responses to bilateral microinjections of oxytocin into the central nucleus of amygdala of Wistar rats, an experimental model of compulsion.

Introduction: The central nucleus of amygdala plays an important role mediating fear and anxiety responses. It is known that oxytocin microinjections into the central nucleus of amygdala induce hypergrooming, an experimental model of compulsive behavior. We evaluated the behavioral and cardiorespiratory responses of conscious rats microinjected with oxytocin into the central nucleus of amygdala.