Cardiovascular and Renal Effects Induced by Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment in Two-Kidney-One-Clip Hypertensive Rats.

α-Lipoic acid (LA) is an antioxidant of endogenous production, also obtained exogenously. Oxidative stress is closely associated with hypertension, which causes kidney injury and endothelial dysfunction. Here, we evaluated the cardiovascular and renal effects of LA in the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) hypertension model.

Social isolation and post-weaning environmental enrichment effects on rat emotional behavior and serotonergic system.

Social isolation (SI) is related to adverse neurobehavioral effects and neurochemical changes when it occurs early in development. On the other hand, environmental enrichment (EE) is associated with a reduction in anxiety-like and depression-like behavior, as well as an increase in serotonin (5-HT) levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in rodents. This study systematically reviewed the effects of SI and EE on emotional behavior and serotonergic system components in rats after weaning.

Effects of maternal high-fat diet on the hypothalamic components related to food intake and energy expenditure in mice offspring.

Maternal exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation has been related to changes in the hypothalamic circuits involved in the regulation of food intake. Furthermore, maternal HFD during the critical period of development can alter the offspring's metabolic programming with long-term repercussions. This study systematically reviewed the effects of HFD consumption during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and/or lactation.

Effects of flavonols on emotional behavior and compounds of the serotonergic system: A preclinical systematic review.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that regulates multiple psychophysiological functions. An imbalance of 5-HT in the brain can modulate emotional behavior such as depression and anxiety. Substances, such as flavonols, naturally found in some plants and foods have beneficial effects on psychiatric disorders, have been studied.

Maternal exposure to high-fat diet modifies anxiety-like/depression-like behaviors and compounds of Serotonergic System in offspring: A preclinical systematic review.

Maternal nutrition affects offspring physiology and behavior including susceptibility to mental health-related states. Perinatal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption has been associated with lower levels of serotonin as well as the development of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in offspring. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of maternal HFD during pregnancy and/or lactation on these behaviors and on some aspects of the serotonergic system.

Onset and duration of symptoms of loss of smell/taste in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.

Objective: The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to investigate the time of onset and duration of symptoms of loss of smell and taste in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Methods: Two independent authors performed a systematic review of the Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, Lilacs and Web of Science electronic databases. The time of onset and duration of symptoms were considered primary outcomes.

Exposure to Citalopram Mitigates Maternal Stress Effects on Fetal Brain Development.

Human epidemiological and animal-model studies suggest that separate exposure to stress or serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy increases risks for neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Yet, little is known about the combined effects of maternal stress and SSRIs with regard to brain development . We found that the placenta is highly permeable to the commonly prescribed SSRI (±)-citalopram (CIT) in humans and mice, allowing rapid exposure of the fetal brain to this drug.

Neonatal fluoxetine exposure modulates serotonergic neurotransmission and disturb inhibitory action of serotonin on food intake.

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) acts as an important regulator of the critical neurodevelopmental processes and thus alterations in 5-HT signaling early promotes permanent structural and functional changes in brain. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as fluoxetine and citalopram, blocking serotonin transporter (SERT) at the presynaptic neuron, which regulates extracellular 5-HT levels. Evidence suggests that the exposure to SSRIs in the neurodevelopmental period may alters 5-HT signaling sensitivity on food intake control.

Peripheral and Central Glucocorticoid Signaling Contributes to Positive Energy Balance in Rats.

The obesity epidemic has been the target of several studies to understand its etiology. The pathophysiological processes that take to obesity generally relate to the rupture of energy balance. This imbalance can result from environmental and/or endogenous events.

Effects of maternal low-protein diet on parameters of locomotor activity in a rat model of cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy have feeding difficulties that can contribute to undernutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early undernutrition on locomotor activity and the expression of the myofibrillar protein MuRF-1 in an experimental model of cerebral palsy (CP). In order to achieve this aim, pregnant rats were divided into two groups according to the diet provided: Normal Protein (NP, n=9) and Low Protein (LP, n=12) groups.

Neonatal serotonin reuptake inhibition reduces hypercaloric diet effects on fat mass and hypothalamic gene expression in adult rats.

Background: Serotonin (5-HT) is involved in nervous system ontogenesis, and is important for neurotransmission and behavior modulation after the developmental stage. Alterations in 5-HT levels during the early period of life may signal to feeding behavior and hypothalamic genic expression changes in adulthood.

Objectives: Investigate the effects of hypercaloric diet in adult rats submitted to neonatal serotonin reuptake inhibition on food intake, fat pad mass, plasmatic triglycerides/cholesterol and gene expression of hypothalamic peptides (POMC, NPY) and serotonin receptors (5-HT1B, 5-HT2C).

[Effect of physical training on the bone tissue and the calcium serum concentration in ovariectomized mice].

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate possible morphometric alterations in bone tissue and the calcium serum concentration in ovariectomized mice subjected to physical training.

Methods: Fifty female mice, aged 90 days, divided into 5 groups (n=10): control (C), pseudo-operated sedentary (POS), pseudo-operated trained (POT), ovariectomized sedentary (OVS) and ovariectomized trained (OVT). Groups OVS and OVT were subjected to an ovariectomy, and groups POS and POT were subjected to a pseudo-surgery.