Neuritogenesis and protective effects activated by Angiotensin 1-7 in astrocytes-neuron interaction.

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) has been studied for its effects on various neurological disorders. The identification of functional receptors for Ang-(1-7) and Ang II peptides in astrocytes highlights the physiological modulation and the important role of these cells in the central nervous system. The present study aims to understand the role of RAS peptides, particularly Ang-(1-7) and Ang II, in the secretion of trophic factors by astrocytes and their effects on hippocampal neurons.

Curcumin Prevents Renal Damage of l-NAME Induced Hypertension in by Reducing MMP-2 and MMP-9.

In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin administration would interfere with the main renal features of l-NAME-induced hypertension model. For this purpose, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to evaluate renal indicators of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression/activity. Hypertension was induced by l-NAME (70 mg/kg/day), and Wistar rats from both control and hypertensive groups were treated with curcumin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day; gavage) or vehicle for 14 days.

Acute rimonabant treatment prevents anhedonia and memory loss in rats submitted to mild restraint stress.

Stress-related disorders are becoming increasingly common and are often associated with cognitive impairments. Within this context, the endocannabinoid (ECB) system, particularly the type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor, seems to play a decisive role in restoring body homeostasis. There is consistent evidence in the literature that disrupted CB1-mediated neurotransmission can ultimately contribute to stress-related diseases.

Protective Effects of Kefir Against Unpredictable Chronic Stress Alterations in Mice Central Nervous System, Heart, and Kidney.

Kefir is a probiotic mixture with anxiolytic and antioxidant properties. Chronic stress can lead to anxiety disorders and increase oxidative damage in organs such as the heart and kidney. In this study, we examined whether kefir ameliorates the anxiety-like behavior of mice submitted to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and corticosterone levels and whether kefir modifies the oxidative parameters in the heart and kidney of mice.

Nicotine exposure through breastfeeding affects brain-derived neurotrophic factor and synaptic proteins levels in the brain of stressed adult female mice.

Nicotine has been used during pregnancy and lactation as a tobacco harm reduction strategy. However, it is unclear whether nicotine exposure during a critical development period negatively impacts stress responses in adulthood. This study investigated how nicotine, administered via breastfeeding, affects the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptic proteins levels, and anxiety-like behavior in adult female mice subjected to stress.

No effect of prior Dengue virus 1 infection in mouse dams on long-term behavioral profiles in offspring infected with Zika virus during gestation.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus structurally and antigenically related to Dengue virus (DENV). Zika virus has been associated with congenital anomalies and most ZIKV outbreaks have occurred in endemic areas of DENV. The present study investigated the effects of prior DENV serotype 1 (DENV1) immunity in immunocompetent female Swiss mice on gestational ZIKV infection in offspring.

Effects of endogenous HS production inhibition on the homeostatic responses induced by acute high-salt diet consumption.

The gaseous modulator hydrogen sulfide (HS) is synthesized, among other routes, by the action of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and importantly participates in body fluid homeostasis. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the participation of HS in behavioral, renal and neuroendocrine homeostatic responses triggered by the acute consumption of a high Na diet. After habituation, adult male Wistar rats were randomly distributed and maintained for seven days on a control [CD (0.

Effects of Hyperosmolality on Hypothalamic Astrocytic Area, mRNA Expression and Glutamate Balance In Vitro.

During prolonged dehydration, body fluid homeostasis is challenged by extracellular fluid (ECF) hyperosmolality, which induce important functional changes in the hypothalamus, in parallel with other effector responses, such as the activation of the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, in the present study we investigated the role of sodium-driven ECF hyperosmolality on glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity and protein expression, membrane capacitance, mRNA expression of RAS components and glutamate balance in cultured hypothalamic astrocytes. Our data show that hypothalamic astrocytes respond to increased hyperosmolality with a similar decrease in GFAP expression and membrane capacitance, indicative of reduced cellular area.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduces alloxan-induced kidney damage by decreasing nox4, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and metalloproteinase-2.

We examined the effect of the NFκB inhibitor pyrrolidine-1-carbodithioic acid (PDTC) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity, and oxidative and inflammatory kidney damage in alloxan-induced diabetes. Two weeks after diabetes induction (alloxan-130 mg/kg), control and diabetic rats received PDTC (100 mg/kg) or vehicle for 8 weeks. Body weight, glycemia, urea, and creatinine were measured.

Contribution of Chinese and French ear acupuncture for the management of chronic back pain: A randomised controlled trial.

Aims And Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Chinese and French ear acupuncture in people with chronic back pain.

Background: Chronic back pain is a common public health problem worldwide. An intervention for this condition is ear acupuncture.

Adrenalectomy impairs insulin-induced hypophagia and related hypothalamic changes.

Adrenalectomy (ADX) induces hypophagia and glucocorticoids counter-regulate the peripheral metabolic effects of insulin. This study evaluated the effects of ADX on ICV (lateral ventricle) injection of insulin-induced changes on food intake, mRNA expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides (insulin receptor (InsR), proopiomelanocortin, cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (Cart), agouti-related protein, neuropeptide Y (Npy) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), corticotrophin-releasing factor in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus) and hypothalamic protein content of insulin signaling-related molecules (insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1, protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) and T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP)) Compared with sham animals, ADX increased the hypothalamic content of pJNK/JNK, PTP1B and TCPTP, as well as decreased mRNA expression of InsR, and corticosterone (B) treatment reversed these effects. Insulin central injection enhanced hypothalamic content of pAKT/AKT and Cart mRNA expression, decreased Npy mRNA expression and food intake only in sham rats, without effects in ADX and ADX + B rats.

Effects of auricular acupuncture on chronic pain in people with back musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of auricular acupuncture on pain intensity, its impact on daily activities, the relief provided by the intervention, and the pain threshold in people with back musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial carried out with people randomly allocated into three groups: treatment, placebo, and control. Evaluations were performed using the Brief Pain Inventory and a digital algometer before (initial) and after (final) the treatment and after a 15-day follow-up period.

Action of ear acupuncture in people with chronic pain in the spinal column: a randomized clinical trial1.

Objectives: to assess the action of ear acupuncture on disability and tissue temperature in people with chronic pain in the spinal column.

Method: a clinical trial with a sample of 110 people, randomized into three groups: Treatment, Placebo and Control. The assessment instruments were the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and a thermographic camera, administered before the first treatment session, one week after and 15 days after (follow-up) the fifth session of ear acupuncture.

Glial Cells Are Involved in ANG-II-Induced Vasopressin Release and Sodium Intake in Awake Rats.

It is known that circulating angiotensin II (ANG-II) acts on the circumventricular organs (CVOs), which partially lack a normal blood-brain barrier, to stimulate pressor responses, vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OT) secretion, as well as sodium and water intake. Although ANG-II type 1 receptors (AT1) are expressed in neurons and astrocytes, the involvement of CVOs glial cells in the neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and behavioral responses induced by central ANG II remains to be further elucidated. To address this question, we performed a set of experiments combining studies in primary hypothalamic astrocyte cells (HACc) and intracerebroventricular (icv) microinjections into the lateral ventricle of awake rats.

Glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in a CLP-induced ARDS-like rat model treated with dexamethasone and metyrapone.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to improve or prevent lung injury. The mechanisms underlying the effects of GCs involve inadequate GC-receptor (GR)-mediated downregulation of pro-inflammatory factors despite elevated levels of cortisol. Within this context, knowledge of the transcriptional pattern of the GR gene in response to variations in physiological parameters may shed light on this issue.

Increased exposure to sodium during pregnancy and lactation changes basal and induced behavioral and neuroendocrine responses in adult male offspring.

Excessive sodium (Na) intake in modern society has been associated with several chronic disorders such as hypertension. Several studies suggest that early life events can program physiological systems and lead to functional changes in adulthood. Therefore, we investigated behavioral and neuroendocrine responses under basal conditions and after 48 h of water deprivation in adult (60-day-old Wistar rats) male, Wistar rats originating from dams were offered only water or 0.

Chronic treatment with fluoxetine modulates vascular adrenergic responses by inhibition of pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms.

Fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has other effects in addition to blocking serotonin reuptake, including changes in the vasomotor tone. Whereas many studies focused on the acute effects of fluoxetine in the vasculature, its chronic effects are still limited. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic fluoxetine treatment modulates adrenergic vascular responses by interfering with post- and pre-synaptic mechanisms.

Functional and structural changes in internal pudendal arteries underlie erectile dysfunction induced by androgen deprivation.

Androgen deficiency is strongly associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Inadequate penile arterial blood flow is one of the major causes of ED. The blood flow to the corpus cavernosum is mainly derived from the internal pudendal arteries (IPAs); however, no study has evaluated the effects of androgen deprivation on IPA's function.

The type-1 cannabinoid receptor modulates the hydroelectrolytic balance independently of the energy homeostasis during salt load.

Hydroelectrolytic imbalances, such as saline load (SL), trigger behavioral and neuroendocrine responses, such as thirst, hypophagia, vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) release and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation. To investigate the participation of the type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) in these homeostatic mechanisms,male adult Wistar rats were subjected to SL (0.3MNaCl) for four days.

Type 1 cannabinoid receptor modulates water deprivation-induced homeostatic responses.

The present study investigated the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) as a potential candidate to mediate the homeostatic responses triggered by 24 h of water deprivation, which constitutes primarily a hydroelectrolytic challenge and also significantly impacts energy homeostasis. The present results demonstrated for the first time that CB1R mRNA expression is increased in the hypothalamus of water-deprived (WD) rats. Furthermore, the administration of ACEA, a CB1R selective agonist, potentiated WD-induced dipsogenic effect, whereas AM251, a CB1R antagonist, attenuated not only water but also salt intake in response to WD.

Corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor 2 mediates the enhanced activation of satiety-related responses through oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus after adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy (ADX)-induced hypophagia is associated with increased activation of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) after refeeding. CRF2- and OT-receptor antagonists abolish the hypophagia and the augmented activation of the nucleus of the solitary tract neurons induced by feeding after ADX. In addition, OT-receptor antagonist reversed CRF-induced anorexia.

Neuroendocrine Regulation of Hydromineral Homeostasis.

Since the crucial evolutionary change from an aqueous to a terrestrial environment, all living organisms address the primordial task of equilibrating the ingestion/production of water and electrolytes (primarily sodium) with their excretion. In mammals, the final route for the excretion of these elements is mainly through the kidneys, which can eliminate concentrated or diluted urine according to the requirements. Despite their primary role in homeostasis, the kidneys are not able to recover water and solutes lost through other systems.

Gaseous modulators in the control of the hypothalamic neurohypophyseal system.

Nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are gaseous molecules produced by the brain. Within the hypothalamus, gaseous molecules have been highlighted as autocrine and paracrine factors regulating endocrine function. Therefore, in the present review, we briefly discuss the main findings linking NO, CO, and H2S to the control of body fluid homeostasis at the hypothalamic level, with particular emphasis on the regulation of neurohypophyseal system output.

Cardiovascular alterations at different stages of hypertension development during ethanol consumption: time-course of vascular and autonomic changes.

The aim of the present work was to establish a time-course correlation between vascular and autonomic changes that contribute to the development of hypertension during ethanol ingestion in rats. For this, male Wistar rats were subjected to the intake of increasing ethanol concentrations in their drinking water during four weeks. Ethanol effects were investigated at the end of each week.

The endocannabinoid system and the neuroendocrine control of hydromineral balance.

Endocannabinoids (ECBs) are ubiquitous lipophilic agents, and this characteristic is consistent with the wide range of homeostatic functions attributed to the ECB system. There is an increasing number of studies showing that the ECB system affects neurotransmission within the hypothalamic neurohypophyseal system. We provide an overview of the primary roles of ECBs in the modulation of neuroendocrine function and, specifically, in the control of hydromineral homeostasis.