High-fat diet changes the behavioural and hormonal responses to water deprivation in male Wistar rats.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What is the effect of an obesogenic diet on the control of hydromineral balance in rats? What is the main finding and its importance? The results showed that, when dehydrated, rats fed a high-fat diet drink less water than their control-diet-fed counterparts. Changes in aquaporin-7 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α expression in the white adipose tissue might be involved.

Abstract: High-fat diet (HFD) increases fat accumulation, glycaemia and blood triglycerides and is used as a model to study obesity.

Serca2a and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger are involved in left ventricular function following cardiac remodelling of female rats treated with anabolic androgenic steroid.

Unlabelled: Anabolic-androgenic steroids are misused, including by women, but little is known about the cardiovascular effects of these drugs on women.

Aim: To evaluated the effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) and resistive physical exercise on cardiac contractility in young female rats.

Main Methods: Female Wistar rats were separated into 4 groups: C (untrained animals); E (animals were submitted to resistance exercise by jumping in water 5 times per week); ND (animals were treated with ND, 20mg/kg/week for 4weeks); and NDE (trained and treated).

Hypothalamic orexin's role in exacerbated cutaneous vasodilation responses to an anxiogenic stimulus in a surgical menopause model.

Distressing symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep disturbances affect over 70% of women approaching menopause for an average of 4-7 years, and recent large cohort studies have shown that anxiety and stress are strongly associated with more severe and persistent hot flashes and can induce hot flashes. Although high estrogen doses alleviate symptoms, extended use increases health risks, and current non-hormonal therapies are marginally better than placebo. The lack of effective non-hormonal treatments is largely due to the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie menopausal symptoms.

Nandrolone decanoate induces cardiac and renal remodeling in female rats, without modification in physiological parameters: The role of ANP system.

Unlabelled: Anabolic-androgenic steroids are misused, including women, but little is known about the cardiovascular effects of these drugs on females.

Aim: Evaluated the effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND), physical exercise and estrogen deficiency on female rats.

Main Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups: S and OVX: (SHAM: sham surgery; OVX: ovariectomy, vehicle), SE and OVXE (resistance exercise 5 times a week, vehicle), SD and OVXD (treated with ND, 20 mg/kg/week for 4 weeks); SDE and OVXDE.

Comparative effects of estrogen, raloxifene and tamoxifen on endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats.

Aim: Endothelial dysfunction is considered a premature indication of atherosclerosis and vessel damage and is present in the postmenopausal period. This study compares the influence of estrogen, raloxifene and tamoxifen on factors that affect endothelial function in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Main Methods: The rats were divided into: SHAM; OVX; OVX+estrogen (0.

Endothelial relaxation mechanisms and oxidative stress are restored by atorvastatin therapy in ovariectomized rats.

The studies on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in females with estrogen deficiency are not conclusive. Thus, non-estrogen therapies, such as atorvastatin (ATO), could be new strategies to substitute or complement HRT. This study evaluated the effects of ATO on mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) function from ovariectomized (OVX) female rats.

Tibolone has anti-inflammatory effects in estrogen-deficient female rats on the natriuretic peptide system and TNF-alpha.

Cardiovascular and immune system abnormalities have been reported in females with estrogen deficiency. To control these disorders in post-menopausal women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used. Tibolone has been used as a HRT, but the effects of tibolone on the natriuretic peptide system have not been determined.