ACUTE PHYSICAL EXERCISE PREVENTS MEMORY AMNESIA CAUSED BY PROTEIN SYNTHESIS INHIBITION IN RATS' HIPPOCAMPUS

The benefits of physical exercise (PE) on memory consolidation have been well-documented in both healthy and memory-impaired animals. However, the underlying mechanisms through which PE exerts these effects are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of hippocampal protein synthesis in memory modulation by acute PE in rats. After novel object recognition (NOR) training, rats were subjected to a 30-minute moderate-intensity acute PE on the treadmill, while control animals did not undergo any procedures. Using anisomycin (ANI) and rapamycin (RAPA), compounds that inhibit protein synthesis through different mechanisms, we manipulated protein synthesis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus to examine its contribution to memory consolidation. Memory was assessed on days 1, 7, and 14 post-training. Our results showed that inhibiting protein synthesis by ANI or RAPA impaired NOR memory consolidation in control animals. However, acute PE prevented this impairment without affecting memory persistence. We also evaluated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels after acute PE at 0.5h, 2h, and 12h afterward and found no differences in levels compared to animals that did not engage in acute PE or were only habituated to the treadmill. Therefore, our findings suggest that acute PE could serve as a non-pharmacological intervention to enhance memory consolidation and prevent memory loss in conditions associated with hippocampal protein synthesis inhibition. This mechanism appears not to depend on BDNF synthesis in the early hours after exercise.

<em>Momordica charantia</em> extract modulates inflammatory response in human lymphocytes via suppression of TNF-α

Introducción: Momordica charantia L. es ampliamente utilizada para consumo y medicina tradicional debido a sus actividades biológicas. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre los efectos del melón amargo en las células sanas. Por lo tanto, nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los efectos del extracto de Momordica charantia en linfocitos humanos aislados, especialmente en aspectos inflamatorios, citotóxicos, genotóxicos y mutagénicos. Método: Para ello se preparó un extracto hidroetanólico con frutos y semillas y se procedió a la identificación y cuantificación fitoquímica. Los linfocitos humanos purificados se expusieron a 12,5, 25 y 50 µg/mL de extracto de Momordica charantia durante 24 horas y después de este período. Resultados: Los datos mostraron que el extracto de Momordica charantia no indujo citotoxicidad, alteraciones en la frecuencia de micronúcleos, ni actividad de interleucina-6, interleucina-10 ciclooxigenasa-2 y producción de óxido nítrico; sin embargo, causó daño en el ADN y una disminución de TNF-α en las condiciones experimentales y células aplicadas. Conclusiones: Nuestros datos proponen un proceso antiinflamatorio generado por Momordica charantia mediado por la reducción de TNF-α.