PHEROMONES FROM MALE DOMESTIC MICE INFLUENCES THE SEXUAL FUNCTION AND GONADAL STEROIDS LEVELS OF FEMALE LABORATORY RATS

It is well established that the behavior of different mammalians, including rodents, may undergo profound changes in the presence of individuals of other species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if the presence of pheromones from male mice could influence the reproductive parameters of female rats. Twenty Swiss (SW) male mice and 16 Long Evans (LE) female Rats were housed in separate rooms, with communication in the ceiling in its entire length. A continuous flow of air was planned to pass through the room of the mice before the room of the rats and finally be exchanged with the external environment. During 45 days, vaginal smears were collected. Relative weights of reproductive organs, estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone levels were also measured. The total duration of the estrous cycle and relative organ weight remained unchanged. On the other hand, the proestrus and estrus phases, as well as the estradiol levels were increased, while the diestrus phase was significantly reduced. The results have shown that maintaining LE female rats in the presence of pheromones from male SW mice can significantly change the sexual function and gonadal steroid levels

Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Derived from<i>Tropaeolum majus</i>L. in Rat Preimplantation Embryos: Evidence for the Dehydroepiandrosterone and Estradiol Role

Although several studies have shown the inhibitory effects ofTropaeolum majusextracts (HETM) on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, no studies have been carried out during the beginning of pregnancy, when humoral and hormonal imbalance may affect zygote and early embryo transport. This study investigates whether HETM can affect embryonic development when administered during the one-cell-blastocyst period. Pregnant Wistar rats received orally the HETM (3, 30, and 300 mg/kg/day) from the 1st to the 7th gestational day. Rats were killed on the 8th day of pregnancy and the following parameters were evaluated: clinical symptoms of toxicity (including organ weights), number of corpora lutea, implants per group, preimplantation losses ratio, and the serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estradiol, and progesterone. No clinical symptoms of maternal toxicity were evidenced. On the 8th day of pregnancy, the levels of DHEA and estradiol were increased and significant preimplantation losses were observed at all doses used. The present study reveals that the HETM can raise levels of DHEA and estradiol and induce difficulty in the embryo implantation in the early stages of pregnancy. The data contributes significantly to the safety aspects of using this natural product when trying to get pregnant or during pregnancy.</jats:p

Roles of Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandins in the Sustained Antihypertensive Effects of Acanthospermum hispidum

Although Acanthospermum hispidum is used in Brazilian folk medicine as an antihypertensive, no study evaluated its effects on a renovascular hypertension and ovariectomy model. So, this study investigated the mechanisms involved in the antihypertensive effects of an ethanol-soluble fraction obtained from A. hispidum (ESAH) using two-kidney-one-clip hypertension in ovariectomized rats (2K1C plus OVT). ESAH was orally administered at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, daily, for 28 days, after 5 weeks of surgery. Enalapril (15 mg/kg) and hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs. Diuretic activity was evaluated on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Serum creatinine, urea, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, nitrosamine, nitrite, aldosterone, vasopressin levels, and ACE activity were measured. The vascular reactivity and the role of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PG) in the vasodilator response of ESAH on the mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) were also investigated. ESAH treatment induced an important saluretic and antihypertensive response, therefore recovering vascular reactivity in 2K1C plus OVT-rats. This effect was associated with a reduction of oxidative and nitrosative stress with a possible increase in the NO bioavailability. Additionally, a NO and PG-dependent vasodilator effect was observed on the MEV

Tecnologias de informação e comunicação no levantamento de notificações de doenças e agravos de Campo Grande-MS

INTRODUÇÃO: As Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC´s) são meios de conectividade e difusão de informação e comunicação que estão presentes no cotidiano da sociedade. Segundo SCHMEIL (2013) na saúde uma infraestrutura de TIC pode ser abordada em três grupos, na capacidade de processar, armazenar e comunicar. Este resumo se refere às inovações tecnológicas de informação e comunicação no levantamento de doenças de notificação de doenças e agravos, que estão sendo implementadas no Centro de Informações Estratégicas de Vigilância em Saúde de Campo Grande (CIEVS-CG), por meio do Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para Saúde (PET-Saúde). OBJETIVOS: O objetivo do trabalho é discorrer sobre o desenvolvimento de melhorias no sistema de comunicação entre os setores administrativos que envolvem os trabalhos dos CIEVS, que serão continuadas após o término do programa. METODOLOGIA: Pesquisa de campo qualitativa com o uso de questionário a fim de compreender o domínio da tecnologia, os dificultadores do serviço e as principais sugestões dos servidores quanto aos formulários de notificação. Posteriormente foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica a respeito dos meios de tecnologia e comunicação dentro da saúde pública e sua aplicabilidade, todos os artigos em português e no contexto brasileiro. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: O CIEVS é um centro estratégico e articulado de funcionamento 24 horas em todos os dias do ano, que monitora e investiga potenciais emergências em saúde pública. Uma das ferramentas utilizadas para a captura de dados e informações das unidades de saúde são os “links” - formulários online- pelos quais se faz o monitoramento da saúde pública de Campo Grande – MS. Os formulários são uma das estratégias do CIEVS-CG para monitorar e analisar possíveis surtos e epidemias em Campo Grande, seja de doenças imunopreveníveis, arboviroses, síndromes respiratórias ou possível desenvolvimento de novos surtos em saúde pública, onde são elaborados através da plataforma do Google e disponibilizados por meio de listas de transmissão via Whatsapp e também na biografia do Instagram. Sem os mesmos, seria muito moroso realizar a análise dos dados e disponibilizar a resposta em tempo hábil para os agravos ocorridos. Entretanto, notou-se redução de notificações em algumas unidades e até mesmo formulários preenchidos incorretamente, trazendo empecilhos para proceder com a análise fidedigna dos dados e elaboração de respostas ágeis e corretas. Diante disso e através da realização de uma pesquisa qualitativa nas unidades de pronto atendimento e centros regionais de saúde, foram coletados dados referentes às dificuldades para notificação e, assim, pode-se observar com amplitude o motivo da baixa das notificações por parte das unidades. Após análise dos dados coletados, tendo em vista as sugestões por parte dos entrevistados de melhoria nos formulários e a necessidade de treinamentos rápidos e eficazes para todas as equipes das unidades de saúde, foram elaboradas algumas hipóteses de como seriam feitas tais modificações. Quanto à parte de reformulação dos links, coube à equipe do CIEVS efetivá-las, e depois da conclusão das mudanças, a equipe do PET-Saúde ficou encarregada de estruturar estratégias para a capacitação dos profissionais de saúde quanto ao correto preenchimento dos formulários de notificação. Em uma era digital e com diversas ferramentas disponíveis para a produção de conteúdos online, foi escolhida a criação de vídeos educativos que pudessem estar acessíveis para todos de acordo com o que as TIC’s preconizam. Utilizando das plataformas Animaker 2.0 e Clipchamp, foram desenvolvidos os vídeos com o uso de avatares - figuras gráficas que têm características humanas e possibilitam a interação do virtual com o mundo real - e o preenchimento guiado com exemplos práticos da rotina de atendimentos nos formulários de notificação. A aplicabilidade das TICs na vigilância epidemiológica está relacionada aos benefícios de: 1) melhor qualidade das informações disponibilizadas - uma vez que a informação é passada do mesmo modo a todos dentro do público alvo, evitando a perda de detalhes importantes no meio do processo da comunicação, conhecidos como ruídos; 2) análise da monitorização dos dados repassados e das tendências de produção que são mais bem aceitas e geram maiores efeitos; 3) viabilizam o repasse em tempo real de documentos e orientações, dando continuidade às melhorias visadas e aos poucos abranger mais os profissionais de saúde do município de Campo Grande nesta estratégia adotada. O domínio das tecnologias e o conhecimento de cada formulário por parte dos responsáveis de cada unidade é de suma importância para a aceitação e aplicação das ideias dentro de uma unidade de saúde. Com o levantamento desses dados há a possibilidade de elaborar materiais que permitam prevenir o aumento e desenvolvimento de doenças, assim, há melhor comunicação entre as unidades, o CIEVS municipal e o CIEVS estadual, a secretaria de saúde e demais secretarias e profissionais responsáveis pela elaboração e execução de estratégias para controle e gestão da saúde pública. CONCLUSÕES: Após o conhecimento e aplicação dos métodos escolhidos, foi possível observar o aumento das notificações de doenças e agravos em Campo Grande - MS, vale ressaltar que foram diversas as estratégias da equipe do PET-Saúde junto ao CIEVS-CG na busca de ampliar a colheita de informações sobre os agravos ocorridos e assim repassar às coordenadorias e secretarias destinadas a solucionar e/ou elaborar as demandas da saúde pública do município. A boa articulação das TIC's aos formulários de notificação de doenças e agravos permite a resolutividade de situações cotidianas - como a violência - e até de endemias e possíveis pandemias, como foi vivenciado nos últimos anos, certamente superadas, dentre outros fatores, pela rápida comunicação entre os profissionais de saúde e as gerências técnicas, possibilitada por meio da tecnologia de comunicação implementada

Changes in complement responses in Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) under crowding stress, plus viral and bacterial challenges

7 páginas, 8 figurasGilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were subjected to either experimental infection with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida or Nodavirus after a period of 2 weeks of crowding in which fish were subjected to a 5-fold increase in density (10e50 kg/m3). Samples were obtained before the crowding period (0 h or control) and at 24 h and 72 h after crowding from both groups of infected fish. The Complement haemolytic activity and the expression of the C3 gene were evaluated in blood and liver samples respectively. The bacteriolytic and lysozyme activities were also assessed. The results showed that Complement haemolytic activity was reduced at 72 h with both bacteria and virus in high density Gilthead seabream, and a similar increase was observed at low density. Bacteriolytic activity under both bacterial and viral challenges for both species was increased at 24 h, under low density. At high density, the bacterial challenge did not induce significant changes. C3 mRNA abundance was substantially increased after pathogen treatments in low density groups at 24 h but no significant changes were detected at high densities. These results support the idea of the suppressor effect of stressors on the immune system since a reduction of Complement activity under virus and high density, or lack of response in C3 expression under high density were observed.This work was supported by the UE program Imaquanim, Immunity of Aquatic Animals (UE, 6th framework program) and BFU200923/06/05-07354. IM, RT, NR, SM and LT are members of the XRAq (Generalitat de Catalunya).Peer reviewe

PHEROMONES FROM MALE DOMESTIC MICE INFLUENCES THE SEXUAL FUNCTION AND GONADAL STEROIDS LEVELS OF FEMALE LABORATORY RATS

It is well established that the behavior of different mammalians, including rodents, may undergo profound changes in the presence of individuals of other species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if the presence of pheromones from male mice could influence the reproductive parameters of female rats. Twenty Swiss (SW) male mice and 16 Long Evans (LE) female Rats were housed in separate rooms, with communication in the ceiling in its entire length. A continuous flow of air was planned to pass through the room of the mice before the room of the rats and finally be exchanged with the external environment. During 45 days, vaginal smears were collected. Relative weights of reproductive organs, estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone levels were also measured. The total duration of the estrous cycle and relative organ weight remained unchanged. On the other hand, the proestrus and estrus phases, as well as the estradiol levels were increased, while the diestrus phase was significantly reduced. The results have shown that maintaining LE female rats in the presence of pheromones from male SW mice can significantly change the sexual function and gonadal steroid levels.</jats:p

Prolonged Administration of Rudgea viburnoides (Cham.) Benth. Prevents Impairment of Redox Status, Renal Dysfunction, and Cardiovascular Damage in 2K1C-Hypertensive Rats by Inhibiting ACE Activity and NO-GMPC Pathway Activation

Rudgea viburnoides is widely found in the Brazilian Cerrado, and commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effects of prolonged administration of the aqueous extract from R. viburnoides leaves (AERV) on impaired redox status, renal dysfunction, and cardiovascular damage in 2K1C hypertensive rats, as well as its chemical composition by LC-DAD-MS. Renal hypertension (two kidney, one-clip model) was surgically induced in male Wistar rats and AERV (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally five weeks after surgery for 28 days. Renal function was assessed and urinary electrolytes, pH, and density were measured. Electrocardiography, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Cardiac and mesenteric vascular beds were isolated for cardiac morphometry and evaluation of vascular reactivity, and aortic rings were also isolated for measurement of cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels, and the redox status was assessed. Prolonged treatment with AERV preserved urine excretion and electrolyte levels (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Cl−), reversed electrocardiographic changes, left ventricular hypertrophy and changes in vascular reactivity induced by hypertension, and reduced blood pressure and heart rate. This effect was associated with a positive modulation of tissue redox state, activation of the NO/cGMP pathway, and inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme. Glycosylated iridoids, chlorogenic acids, glycosylated triterpenes, O-glycosylated flavonols, and triterpenoid saponins were annotated. AERV showed no acute toxicity in female Wistar rats. Therefore, AERV treatment reduced the progression of cardiorenal disease in 2K1C hypertensive rats, which can be involved with an important attenuation of oxidative stress, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and activation of the NO/cGMP pathway

Prolonged Administration of Rudgea viburnoides (Cham.) Benth. Prevents Impairment of Redox Status, Renal Dysfunction, and Cardiovascular Damage in 2K1C-Hypertensive Rats by Inhibiting ACE Activity and NO-GMPC Pathway Activation

Rudgea viburnoides is widely found in the Brazilian Cerrado, and commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effects of prolonged administration of the aqueous extract from R. viburnoides leaves (AERV) on impaired redox status, renal dysfunction, and cardiovascular damage in 2K1C hypertensive rats, as well as its chemical composition by LC-DAD-MS. Renal hypertension (two kidney, one-clip model) was surgically induced in male Wistar rats and AERV (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally five weeks after surgery for 28 days. Renal function was assessed and urinary electrolytes, pH, and density were measured. Electrocardiography, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Cardiac and mesenteric vascular beds were isolated for cardiac morphometry and evaluation of vascular reactivity, and aortic rings were also isolated for measurement of cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels, and the redox status was assessed. Prolonged treatment with AERV preserved urine excretion and electrolyte levels (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Cl−), reversed electrocardiographic changes, left ventricular hypertrophy and changes in vascular reactivity induced by hypertension, and reduced blood pressure and heart rate. This effect was associated with a positive modulation of tissue redox state, activation of the NO/cGMP pathway, and inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme. Glycosylated iridoids, chlorogenic acids, glycosylated triterpenes, O-glycosylated flavonols, and triterpenoid saponins were annotated. AERV showed no acute toxicity in female Wistar rats. Therefore, AERV treatment reduced the progression of cardiorenal disease in 2K1C hypertensive rats, which can be involved with an important attenuation of oxidative stress, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and activation of the NO/cGMP pathway.</jats:p