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Francisco EDS, Mendes-da-Silva RF, de Castro CBL, Soares GDSF, Guedes RCA. Taurine/Pilocarpine Interaction in the Malnourished Rat Brain: A Behavioral, Electrophysiological, and Immunohistochemical Analysis. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:981. [PMID: 31619952 PMCID: PMC6759493 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective role of taurine on anxiety-like behavior, brain electrical activity and glial cell immunoreactivity in well-nourished and malnourished rats that were treated with a subconvulsing dose of pilocarpine. Newborn Wistar rats were subjected to normal or unfavorable lactation conditions, represented by the suckling of litters with 9 or 15 pups, resulting in well-nourished and malnourished animals, respectively. Each nutritional group was split into five subgroups that were treated from postnatal day (PND) 35 to 55 with 300 mg/kg/day of taurine + 45 mg/kg/day of pilocarpine (group T + P), taurine only (group T), pilocarpine only (group P), vehicle control (group V), or not treated control (group naïve; Nv). At PND56-58, the groups were subjected to the elevated plus-maze behavioral tests. Glycemia was measured on PND59. Between PND60 and PND65, the cortical spreading depression (CSD) was recorded in the cerebral cortex, and the levels of malondialdehyde and microglial and astrocyte immunoreactivity were evaluated in the cortex and hippocampus. Our data indicate that treatment with taurine and pilocarpine resulted in anxiolytic-like and anxiogenic behavior, respectively, and that nutritional deficiency modulated these effects. Both treatments decelerated CSD propagation and modulated GFAP- and Iba1-containing glial cells. Pilocarpine reduced body weight and glycemia, and administration of taurine was not able to attenuate the effects of pilocarpine. The molecular mechanisms underlying taurine action on behavioral and electrophysiological parameters in the normal and altered brain remain to be further explored.
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Guedes RCA, Abadie-Guedes R. Brain Aging and Electrophysiological Signaling: Revisiting the Spreading Depression Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:136. [PMID: 31231207 PMCID: PMC6567796 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of worldwide improvement in health care, the aging portion of the human population has increased, now representing a higher proportion of the total population. This fact raises great concern regarding how to age while maintaining good brain function. Very often, alterations in brain electrophysiological signaling are associated with age-dependent functional disorders of the brain. Therefore, animal models suitable for the study of age-related changes in electrical activity of the brain can be very useful. Herein, we review changes in brain electrophysiological features as a function of age by analyzing studies in the rat brain on the phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD). Alterations in the brain’s capability to generate and propagate CSD may be related to differences in the propensity to develop certain neurological diseases, such as epilepsy, stroke, and migraine, which can biunivocally interact with the aging process. In this review, we revisit ours and others’ previous studies on electrophysiological features of the CSD phenomenon, such as its velocity of propagation and amplitude and duration of its slow negative DC shift, as a function of the animal age, as well as the interaction between age and other factors, such as ethanol consumption, physical exercise, and nutritional status. In addition, we discuss one relatively new feature through which CSD modulates brain signaling: the ability to potentiate the brain’s spontaneous electrical activity. We conclude that the CSD model might importantly contribute to a better understanding of the aging/brain signaling relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricardo Abadie-Guedes
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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Francisco EDS, Guedes RCA. Sub-Convulsing Dose Administration of Pilocarpine Reduces Glycemia, Increases Anxiety-Like Behavior and Decelerates Cortical Spreading Depression in Rats Suckled on Various Litter Sizes. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:897. [PMID: 30559645 PMCID: PMC6287009 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy and malnutrition constitute two worldwide health problems affecting behavior and brain function. The cholinergic agonist pilocarpine (300-380 mg/kg; single administration) reproduces the human type of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rodents has been associated with glycemia, learning and memory and anxiety disturbances. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a neural response that has been linked to brain excitability disorders and its diseases, and has been shown to be antagonized by acute pilocarpine. This study aimed to further investigate the effect of chronic pilocarpine at a sub-convulsing dose on weight gain, blood glucose levels, anxiety-like behavior and CSD. In addition, we tested whether unfavorable lactation-induced malnutrition could modulate the pilocarpine effects. Wistar rats were suckled under normal size and large size litters (litters with 9 and 15 pups; groups L9 and L15, respectively). From postnatal days (PND) 35-55, these young animals received a daily intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine (45 mg/kg/day), or vehicle (saline), or no treatment (naïve). On PND58, the animals were behaviorally tested in an open field apparatus. This was immediately followed by 6 h fasting and blood glucose measurement. At PND60-65, CSD was recorded, and its parameters (velocity of propagation, amplitude, and duration) were calculated. Compared to the control groups, pilocarpine-treated animals presented with reduced weight gain and lower glycemia, increased anxiety-like behavior and decelerated CSD propagation. CSD velocity was higher (p < 0.001) in the L15 groups in comparison to the corresponding groups in the L9 condition. The results demonstrate an influence of chronic (21-day) administration of a sub-convulsing, very low dose (45 mg/kg) of pilocarpine on CSD propagation, anxiety-like behavior, glycemia and body weight. Furthermore, data reinforce the hypothesis of a relationship between CSD and brain excitability. The lactation condition seems to differentially modulate these effects.
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Medeiros KAAL, Dos Santos JR, Melo TCDS, de Souza MF, Santos LDG, de Gois AM, Cintra RR, Lins LCRF, Ribeiro AM, Marchioro M. Depressant effect of geraniol on the central nervous system of rats: Behavior and ECoG power spectra. Biomed J 2018; 41:298-305. [PMID: 30580793 PMCID: PMC6306311 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Geraniol is a monoterpene alcohol that is derived from the essential oils of aromatic plants, with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This study characterized the effect of geraniol on behavior and brainwave patterns in rats. Male rats were submitted to administration of geraniol (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). The hole board (HB) and open field (OF) tests were performed to evaluate anxiety and motor behavior, respectively. In addition, barbiturate-induced sleeping time (BIST) was used to analyze sedative effect. Finally, electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings were used to characterize brain-wave patterns. The results showed that geraniol treatment in rats decreased the distance traveled, rearing numbers and lead to increase in immobility time in HB and OF tests. In BIST test, geraniol treatment increased sleep duration but not sleep latency in the animals. Furthermore, geraniol-treated animals demonstrated an increase in the percentage of delta waves in the total spectrum power. Taken together, our results suggested that geraniol exerted a depressant effect on the central nervous system of rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katty Anne A L Medeiros
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - José R Dos Santos
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil.
| | - Thaís Cristina de S Melo
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Marina F de Souza
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Luciano de G Santos
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Auderlan M de Gois
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Rachel R Cintra
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Lívia Cristina R F Lins
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | | | - Murilo Marchioro
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
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Mendes-da-Silva RF, Francisco EDS, Araújo Guedes RC. Pilocarpine/ascorbic acid interaction in the immature brain: Electrophysiological and oxidative effects in well-nourished and malnourished rats. Brain Res Bull 2018; 142:414-421. [PMID: 30232044 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AA) administration has been associated with neuroprotection against oxidative stress, although at high doses it can facilitate oxidation and acts like a proconvulsing drug. The pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model has been widely studied. However, less is known about the effects of sub-convulsive doses of pilocarpine on brain activity in immature animals under normal or deficient nutritional conditions. Herein, we investigated the effects of chronic pilocarpine administration in a sub-convulsive dose, with or without AA, on the excitability-related phenomenon denominated as cortical spreading depression (CSD) and levels of lipid peroxidation-induced malondialdehyde in well-nourished and malnourished rats. At postnatal days 7-28, rats received no gavage treatment (naïve group), saline (vehicle group), 45 mg/kg/d of pilocarpine and/or 120 mg/kg/d of AA. CSD propagation and malondialdehyde levels were analyzed at 34-40 days. The pilocarpine group presented with lower CSD velocities, while AA groups exhibited higher CSD velocities and augmented malondialdehyde levels compared with controls. The co-administration of AA partially antagonized the pilocarpine CSD effects, but did not revert it to control levels. Malnutrition increased CSD amplitude and velocity in comparison to the well-nourished condition. The electrocorticogram (ECoG) amplitude increased after CSD (ECoG potentiation) when compared with the baseline amplitude before CSD. However, no intergroup difference was observed in this CSD-related ECoG potentiation. The results support the hypothesis of a pilocarpine/ascorbic acid interaction in the immature rat brain and might help further the understanding of this interaction on neuronal electrical activity and oxidative stress.
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Klass A, Sánchez-Porras R, Santos E. Systematic review of the pharmacological agents that have been tested against spreading depolarizations. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2018; 38:1149-1179. [PMID: 29673289 PMCID: PMC6434447 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x18771440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Spreading depolarization (SD) occurs alongside brain injuries and it can lead to neuronal damage. Therefore, pharmacological modulation of SD can constitute a therapeutic approach to reduce its detrimental effects and to improve the clinical outcome of patients. The major objective of this article was to produce a systematic review of all the drugs that have been tested against SD. Of the substances that have been examined, most have been shown to modulate certain SD characteristics. Only a few have succeeded in significantly inhibiting SD. We present a variety of strategies that have been proposed to overcome the notorious harmfulness and pharmacoresistance of SD. Information on clinically used anesthetic, sedative, hypnotic agents, anti-migraine drugs, anticonvulsants and various other substances have been compiled and reviewed with respect to the efficacy against SD, in order to answer the question of whether a drug at safe doses could be of therapeutic use against SD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Klass
- Neurosurgery Department, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Edgar Santos
- Neurosurgery Department, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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E Silva-Gondim MB, de Souza TKM, Rodrigues MCA, Guedes RCA. Suckling in litters with different sizes, and early and late swimming exercise differentially modulates anxiety-like behavior, memory and electrocorticogram potentiation after spreading depression in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2017; 22:464-473. [PMID: 29183255 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1407472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Analyze the hypothesis that swimming exercise, in rats suckled under distinct litter sizes, alters behavioral parameters suggestive of anxiety and recognition memory, and the electrocorticogram potentiation that occurs after the excitability-related phenomenon that is known as cortical spreading depression (CSD). METHODS Male Wistar rats were suckled in litters with six or 12 pups (L6 and L12 groups). Animals swam at postnatal days (P) 8-23, or P60-P75 (early-exercised or late-exercised groups, respectively), or remained no-exercised. Behavioral tests (open field - OF and object recognition - OR) were conducted between P77 and P80. Between P90 and P120, ECoG was recorded for 2 hours. After this 'baseline' recording, CSD was elicited every 30 minutes over the course of 2 hours. RESULTS Early swimming enhanced the number of entries and the percentage of time in the OF-center (P < 0.05). In animals that swam later, this effect occurred in the L6 group only. Compared to the corresponding sedentary groups, OR-test showed a better memory in the L6 early exercised rats, and a worse memory in all other groups (P < 0.05). In comparison to baseline values, ECoG amplitudes after CSD increased 14-43% for all groups (P < 0.05). In the L6 condition, early swimming and late swimming, respectively, reduced and enhanced the magnitude of the post-CSD ECoG potentiation in comparison with the corresponding L6 no-exercised groups (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION Our data suggest a differential effect of early- and late-exercise on the behavioral and electrophysiological parameters, suggesting an interaction between the age of exercise and the nutritional status during lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Barros E Silva-Gondim
- a Laboratory of Nutrition Physiology, Departamento de Nutrição , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , CEP 50670-901 Recife , PE , Brazil
| | - Thays Kallyne Marinho de Souza
- a Laboratory of Nutrition Physiology, Departamento de Nutrição , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , CEP 50670-901 Recife , PE , Brazil.,b Colegiado de Nutrição , Universidade de Pernambuco , CEP 56328-903 Petrolina , Pernambuco , Brazil
| | | | - Rubem Carlos Araújo Guedes
- a Laboratory of Nutrition Physiology, Departamento de Nutrição , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , CEP 50670-901 Recife , PE , Brazil
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Marinho de Souza TK, E Silva-Gondim MB, Rodrigues MCA, Guedes RCA. The facilitating effect of unfavorable lactation on the potentiation of electrocorticogram after spreading depression in awake and anesthetized adult rats. Nutr Neurosci 2016; 21:16-24. [PMID: 27442245 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2016.1210878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a brain excitability-related phenomenon that can be affected by unfavorable conditions of lactation and by anesthetic agents. We have previously demonstrated that after CSD the electrocorticogram (ECoG) amplitude increases significantly (ECoG potentiation). Here, we investigated this potentiation in awake and anesthetized adult rats that were previously suckled among different lactation conditions. METHODS Newborn rats were suckled in litters with 6 pups or 12 pups (L6 or L12 condition, respectively). At adulthood, we evaluated the ECoG potentiation after CSD at two cortical points (one point near, and another remote to the CSD-eliciting site). The amplitude of the ECoG waves was averaged with the support of an algorithm implemented in Matlab™ software. In both L6 and L12 condition, awake animals were compared with anesthetized groups that received either tribromoethanol- or urethane + chloralose-anesthesia. RESULTS L12 rats presented significantly lower body- and brain weights than L6 rats (P < 0.01), indicating a nutritional deficiency. The anesthetized L6 groups presented with ECoG potentiation (P < 0.05) only in the near cortical recording point (28.0% and 32.6% increase for the tribromoethanol and urethane + chloralose groups, respectively), whereas the L12 groups displayed ECoG potentiation in both near (67.0% and 55.0%) and remote points (37.0% and 20.0%), in comparison with the baseline values (before CSD). DISCUSSION The results suggest a facilitating effect of unfavorable lactation on the potentiation of ECoG after spreading depression in anesthetized adult rats. The potential implications for the human neurological health remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rubem Carlos Araújo Guedes
- a Department of Nutrition , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , BR-50670901 , Recife - Pernambuco , Brazil
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