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Alves CJ, Couto M, Sousa DM, Magalhães A, Neto E, Leitão L, Conceição F, Monteiro AC, Ribeiro-da-Silva M, Lamghari M. Nociceptive mechanisms driving pain in a post-traumatic osteoarthritis mouse model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15271. [PMID: 32943744 PMCID: PMC7499425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72227-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In osteoarthritis (OA), pain is the dominant clinical symptom, yet the therapeutic approaches remain inadequate. The knowledge of the nociceptive mechanisms in OA, which will allow to develop effective therapies for OA pain, is of utmost need. In this study, we investigated the nociceptive mechanisms involved in post-traumatic OA pain, using the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model. Our results revealed the development of peripheral pain sensitization, reflected by augmented mechanical allodynia. Along with the development of pain behaviour, we observed an increase in the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in both the sensory nerve fibers of the periosteum and the dorsal root ganglia. Interestingly, we also observed that other nociceptive mechanisms commonly described in non-traumatic OA phenotypes, such as infiltration of the synovium by immune cells, neuropathic mechanisms and also central sensitization were not present. Overall, our results suggest that CGRP in the sensory nervous system is underlying the peripheral sensitization observed after traumatic knee injury in the DMM model, highlighting the CGRP as a putative therapeutic target to treat pain in post-traumatic OA. Moreover, our findings suggest that the nociceptive mechanisms involved in driving pain in post-traumatic OA are considerably different from those in non-traumatic OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Alves
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - M Couto
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - D M Sousa
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A Magalhães
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - E Neto
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - L Leitão
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade de Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - F Conceição
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade de Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A C Monteiro
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M Ribeiro-da-Silva
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - M Lamghari
- Neuro-Skeletal Circuits Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade de Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Crusciol CAC, Campos MD, Martello JM, Alves CJ, Nascimento CAC, Pereira JCDR, Cantarella H. Organomineral Fertilizer as Source of P and K for Sugarcane. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5398. [PMID: 32214188 PMCID: PMC7096467 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) crop has high social, economic and environmental importance for several regions throughout the world. However, the increasing demand for efficiency and optimization of agricultural resources generates uncertainties regarding high mineral fertilizer consumption. Thereby, organomineral fertilizers are to reduce the conventional sources consumption. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the agronomic and economic sugarcane performancies and the residual effect of P and K under mineral and organomineral fertilization. Growth and technological parameters, leaf and soil nutrients concentration in surface and subsurface layers were analyzed from sugarcane planting (plant cane) until the first ratoon. Agronomic and economic sugarcane efficiency were evaluated. At the first ratoon, resin-extractable P provided by mineral and organomineral fertilizers were, respectively, 15 and 11 mg kg−1 in the 0.0–0.2 m, and 28 and 31 mg kg−1 in 0.2–0.4 m layer. However, exchangeable K in the 0.0–0.2 m layer was 1.88 and 1.58 mmolc kg−1 for mineral and organomineral fertilizers, respectively. The yield gains over the control reached with mineral and organomineral fertilizers were, respectively, 10.99 and 17 Mg ha−1 at the lowest fertilizer rate; and 29.25 and 61.3 Mg ha−1 at the highest fertilizer rate. Agronomic and economic organomineral fertilizer efficiencies are more pronounced in plant cane. Summing two harvests, the organomineral is 7% more profitable than mineral fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Sciences, Dep. of Crop Science, Lageado Experimental Farm, P.O. Box: 237, Zip Code: 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Murilo de Campos
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Sciences, Dep. of Crop Science, Lageado Experimental Farm, P.O. Box: 237, Zip Code: 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Cleiton José Alves
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Sciences, Dep. of Crop Science, Lageado Experimental Farm, P.O. Box: 237, Zip Code: 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Antonio Costa Nascimento
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Sciences, Dep. of Crop Science, Lageado Experimental Farm, P.O. Box: 237, Zip Code: 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Júlio Cesar Dos Reis Pereira
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Sciences, Dep. of Crop Science, Lageado Experimental Farm, P.O. Box: 237, Zip Code: 18610-034, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heitor Cantarella
- Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), Soils and Environmental Resources Center, Av. Barão de Itapura 1481, Zip Code: 13020-902, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Nogueira LM, Teixeira Filho MCM, Megda MM, Galindo FS, Buzetti S, Alves CJ. Nutritional assessment and yield of corn as a function of boron rates and zinc fertilization. SCA 2019. [DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n6p2545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Brazilian Cerrado soils are commonly deficient in boron (B) and zinc (Zn). It is still debated whether B and Zn interaction has a synergistic or antagonistic effect on the absorption thereof. Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of boron rates (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kg ha?1, as boric acid), with or without zinc fertilization (2 kg ha?1 Zn, as zinc sulfate), on corn nutritional status and grain yield. We also assessed the residual effect of such fertilization on the fall corn crop grown on an Oxisol in a no-tillage system. A synergistic effect between B and Zn was observed on corn nutritional status when applied to the soil at rates of up to 2 kg ha?1, with higher soil contents resulting from the interaction between these micronutrients. Zinc fertilization and increasing boron rates had no significant influence on corn grain yield in both spring/summer and fall crops, grown on a boron-deficient, clayey soil of Cerrado biome.
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Galindo FS, Teixeira Filho MCM, Buzetti S, Rodrigues WL, Santini JMK, Alves CJ. Nitrogen fertilisation efficiency and wheat grain yield affected by nitrogen doses and sources associated with Azospirillum brasilense. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09064710.2019.1628293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Shintate Galindo
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Salatiér Buzetti
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil
| | - Willian Lima Rodrigues
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil
| | - José Mateus Kondo Santini
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, College of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil
| | - Cleiton José Alves
- Department of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu-SP, Brazil
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Galindo FS, Teixeira Filho MCM, Tarsitano MAA, Buzetti S, Santini JMK, Ludkiewicz MGZ, Alves CJ. Technical and economic feasibility of irrigated wheat as a function of nitrogen doses, sources, and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. SCA 2018. [DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n1p51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Azospirillum brasilense is a bacterium known for its biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in wheat crops. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research defining how much mineral N should be applied to maximize the efficiency of BNF and attain high, economically sustainable yields. Moreover, it would be interesting to investigate whether adding urea with N- (n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) urease inhibitor might increase BNF in grasses. The objective was to study the effect of inoculation with A. brasilense, associated with varying doses and sources of N, and economically evaluating the yield of irrigated wheat. The experiment was conducted in Selvíria - MS in crop years 2014 and 2015 in Oxisol soil type that was not-tilled. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications, in a 2 × 5 × 2 factorial scheme, where 2 N sources (urea and Super N - urea with urease inhibitor enzyme), 5 nitrogen fertilization doses in top-dressing (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1), were applied to wheat crops with or without the inoculation of A. brasilense. Our results showed that the supply of N through Super N was not economically superior to the use of conventional urea; therefore, we recommend the use of urea because of the ease of acquisition. The application of 140 kg ha-1 of N combined with inoculation with A. brasilense showed higher grain yield. However, the 50 kg ha-1 dose of urea in the absence of inoculation provided greater economic viability in wheat cultivation, but was not sufficient to ensure high profitability with grain productivity.
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Galindo FS, Teixeira Filho MCM, Buzetti S, Santini JMK, Alves CJ, Ludkiewicz MGZ. Wheat yield in the Cerrado as affected by nitrogen fertilization and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. Pesq agropec bras 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-204x2017000900012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense, associated with N rates and sources, in soil of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna), on the grain yield of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum). The experiment was carried out under a no-tillage system in a Typic Haplustox. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replicates, in a 2x5x2 factorial arrangement: two N sources (urea and urea with NBPT urease inhibitor); five N rates applied as topdressing (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1); and with or without seed inoculation with A.brasilense. The increase in the N rates positively affected spike length, number of spikelets and of grains per spike, number of spikes per meter, N accumulation in the straw, leaf chlorophyll content, and grain yield of irrigated wheat, regardless of the use of NBPT urease inhibitor with conventional urea. Singly, inoculation with A.brasilense does not affect production components and grain yield, despite the increase in N content in wheat straw. The inoculation with A.brasilense, associated with the application of 140 kg ha-1 N, provides the highest grain yield of irrigated wheat cropped after corn in low-altitude Cerrado.
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Galindo FS, Teixeira Filho MCM, Tarsitano MAA, Buzetti S, Santini JMK, Ludkiewicz MGZ, Alves CJ, Arf O. Economic analysis of corn inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense associated with nitrogen sources and doses. SCA 2017. [DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n4p1749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Azospirillum brasilense is a bacterium known for its biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in corn crops. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research defining how much mineral N should be applied to maximize the efficiency of BNF and attain high, economically sustainable yields. Moreover, it would be interesting to investigate whether adding urea with NBPT urease inhibitor might increase BNF in grasses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense associated with N sources and doses in a Cerrado biome soil by evaluating the grain yield of irrigated corn in economic terms. The experiment was conducted in Selvíria, MS, Brazil under a no-till system on a Latossolo Vermelho distrófico (Oxisol). The experiment was set up as a randomized block design with four replications in a 2 × 5 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of two sources of N (urea and urea with NBPT urease enzyme inhibitor) and five N doses applied as top-dressing (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1), with and without the inoculation of seeds with A. brasilense. Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense makes corn growth much more profitable, irrespective of the dose and source of N. Addition of 200 kg ha-1 N in the form of conventional urea coupled with inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense increases grain yield; however, the highest economic return is obtained with N applied at 100 kg ha-1 with conventional urea and inoculation.
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Alencastre IS, Sousa DM, Alves CJ, Leitão L, Neto E, Aguiar P, Lamghari M. The blood-tendon barrier: identification and characterisation of a novel tissue barrier in tendon blood vessels. Eur Cell Mater 2016; 31:355-81. [PMID: 27232664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, nanobiotechnology research has emerged as a revolutionising new approach to the 21st century pharmaceutical challenges, offering valuable gains in a vast set of biomedical applications. In the field of bone tissue engineering, a broad range of nanotechnology-based delivery systems have been researched and the most recent developments in high-throughput technology and in silico approaches are creating very high expectations. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the emergent nanotechnology-based materials, processing techniques and research strategies for the delivery of pharmaceutics to bone including the materials general characteristics and the available drug delivery systems to distribute agents systemically or locally. Complementary to what was stated above, it also reviews the latest high-throughput processing techniques and the existent in silico tools (mathematical and computational models) used to help on the design of delivery systems.
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Galindo FS, Teixeira Filho MCM, Buzetti S, Santini JMK, Alves CJ, Nogueira LM, Ludkiewicz MGZ, Andreotti M, Bellotte JLM. Corn Yield and Foliar Diagnosis Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization and Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. Rev Bras Ciênc Solo 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/18069657rbcs20150364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Alves CJ, Magalhães A, Melo P, de Sousa L, Tavares MA, Monteiro PRR, Summavielle T. Long-term effects of chronic cocaine exposure throughout adolescence on anxiety and stress responsivity in a Wistar rat model. Neuroscience 2014; 277:343-55. [PMID: 25047999 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents display increased vulnerability to engage in drug experimentation. This is often considered a risk factor for later drug abuse. In this scenario, the permanent effects of cocaine exposure during adolescence on anxiety levels and stress responsivity, which may result in behavioral phenotypes prone to addiction, are now starting to be unveiled. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-lasting effects of chronic cocaine administration during adolescence, on anxiety-like behavior and on stress response. Adolescent male Wistar rats were daily administered 45-mg cocaine/kg of body weight in three equal intraperitoneal doses with 1-h interval, from postnatal day (PND) 35 to 50. The effects of cocaine administration on anxiety levels, assessed in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), and on social stress response, assessed in the resident-intruder paradigm (R/I), were evaluated 10 days after withdrawal, when rats were reaching the adulthood. The underlying dopaminergic activity, and the corticosterone and testosterone levels were determined. Our results showed that cocaine induced long-lasting alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals (HPA) axis function and in testosterone levels. Such alterations resulted in significant and enduring changes in behavioral responses to environmental challenges, such as the EPM and R/I, including the evaluation of potential threats that may lead to high-risk behavior and low-benefit choices. This was further supported by an altered dopaminergic function in the amygdala and hippocampus. The present findings provide new insights into how the use of cocaine during adolescent development may modulate emotional behavior later in life. Compromised ability to recognize and deal with potential threats is an important risk factor to perpetuate compulsive drug seeking and relapse susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Alves
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - A Magalhães
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade de Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - P Melo
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ESTSP - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito, 322, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - L de Sousa
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade de Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - M A Tavares
- FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - P R R Monteiro
- ESTSP - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito, 322, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - T Summavielle
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ESTSP - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito, 322, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
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Alves E, Binienda Z, Carvalho F, Alves CJ, Fernandes E, de Lourdes Bastos M, Tavares MA, Summavielle T. Acetyl-L-carnitine provides effective in vivo neuroprotection over 3,4-methylenedioximethamphetamine-induced mitochondrial neurotoxicity in the adolescent rat brain. Neuroscience 2008; 158:514-23. [PMID: 19015003 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2008] [Revised: 10/21/2008] [Accepted: 10/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioximethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a worldwide abused stimulant drug, with persistent neurotoxic effects and high prevalence among adolescents. The massive release of 5-HT from pre-synaptic storage vesicles induced by MDMA followed by monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) metabolism, significantly increases oxidative stress at the mitochondrial level. l-Carnitine and its ester, acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), facilitate the transport of long chain free fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane enhancing neuronal anti-oxidative defense. Here, we show the potential of ALC against the neurotoxic effects of MDMA exposure. Adolescent male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: control saline solution, isovolumetric to the MDMA solution, administered i.p.; MDMA (4x10 mg/kg MDMA, i.p.); ALC/MDMA (100 mg/kg 30 min of ALC prior to MDMA, i.p.) and ALC (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats were killed 2 weeks after exposure and brains were analyzed for lipid peroxidation, carbonyl formation, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion and altered expression of the DNA-encoded subunits of the mitochondrial complexes I (NADH dehydrogenase, NDII) and IV (cytochrome c oxidase, COXI) from the respiratory chain. Levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were also assessed. The present work is the first to successfully demonstrate that pretreatment with ALC exerts effective neuroprotection against the MDMA-induced neurotoxicity at the mitochondrial level, reducing carbonyl formation, decreasing mtDNA deletion, improving the expression of the respiratory chain components and preventing the decrease of 5-HT levels in several regions of the rat brain. These results indicate potential benefits of ALC application in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Alves
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroprotection Laboratory, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
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Alves CJ, Franco GPP, Coelho MSD, Gallina MS, Santos PB, Andraus M, Souza SP. Comparison between the SAPS 3 and APACHE II score in a general intensive care unit in Brazil. Crit Care 2007. [PMCID: PMC3301219 DOI: 10.1186/cc5879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Azevedo SS, Batista CSA, Vasconcellos SA, Aguiar DM, Ragozo AMA, Rodrigues AAR, Alves CJ, Gennari SM. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs from the state of Paraíba, Northeast region of Brazil. Res Vet Sci 2004; 79:51-6. [PMID: 15894024 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2004.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2004] [Revised: 09/20/2004] [Accepted: 10/13/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and to investigate the risk factors related to antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum in dogs of the city of Campina Grande, state of Paraiba, Northeast region of Brazil. For this purpose, 286 blood samples were collected from dogs during the rabies vaccination campaign, in September 2003, and on this occasion questionnaires addressing epidemiological aspects of the infections were given to each dog owner. The sera were analyzed for anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody tests. Of the total of 286 dogs, 129 were positive for T. gondii (titer16) with a prevalence value of 45.1% (95% CI=39.24-51.07%). For N. caninum, 24 dogs were positive (titer50), with a prevalence value of 8.4% (95% CI=5.45-12.23%). Antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum were found simultaneously in 14 dogs (4.9%; 95% CI=2.7-8.08%). For T. gondii infection, the risk factors associated with seroprevalence was the age of the animals, with dogs older than one year presenting higher values of odds ratio, and co-habitation of cats in the household. For N. caninum infection, dogs that have street contact had higher odds of seropositivity than dogs that remained exclusively in a domestic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Azevedo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Malheiros W, Alves C, Franco G. Crit Care 2003; 7:P70. [DOI: 10.1186/cc2266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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