Papel del receptor del ácido lisofosfatídico LPA1 en la neurogénesis hipocampal adulta y la memoria espacial en situaciones de estrés crónico

Este estudio muestra que los ratones carentes del receptor del ácido lisofosfatídico LPA1 (LPA1-nulos) presentan déficit de memoria espacial. Además, el efecto del estrés crónico sobre la neurogénesis hipocampal adulta y la memoria espacial es más severo en los LPA1-nulos que en animales normales, demostrándose que la ausencia del receptor agrava las consecuencias del estrés. La modulación de la señalización mediada por el LPA1 podría intervenir en la patología asociada al estrés y al hipocampo

How Healthy Is It to Fortify Cocoa-Based Products with Cocoa Flavanols? A Comprehensive Review.

Background: Cocoa’s healthy benefits may be attributed to the potent antioxidant activity of cocoa polyphenols, mainly flavanols, which have been characterised as existing in a high concentration in cocoa. However, the phenolic composition of cocoa and cocoa-derived products is highly variable, and manufacturing processes might significantly reduce their phenolic content. For that reason, the full characterisation of cocoa and cocoa-derived products before evaluating their bioactivity is crucial. The aim of this review is to analyse the available evidence on the effect of flavanol-fortified cocoa-derived products on human health. (2) Methods: Forty-eight clinical trials focused on the health effect of consuming flavanol-fortified drinks, bars and chocolate have been reviewed, with a total of 1523 subjects. (3) Results: Although studies differ widely in methodology, dosage, duration, and target population, beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa consumption have been observed at doses ranging from 45.3 mg/d to 1078 mg/d, especially on cardiovascular health and cognitive function. (4) Conclusions: Considering the high consumption and acceptability of cocoa and cocoa-derived products, the fortification of cocoa products as well as other highly consumed foods with cocoa flavanols could be an effective strategy for health promotion.Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Perfil neuropsicológico de paciente con trastorno por uso de sustancias.

Aunque los Trastornos por Uso de Sustancias (TUS) no se han considerado un componente esencial en la etiología de la demencia durante mucho tiempo, el DSM-5 ha introducido recientemente el trastorno neurocognitivo leve y mayor inducido por sustancias, y la OMS ha incluido la demencia alcohólica como una de las consecuencias del consumo problemático de alcohol. Sin embargo, este conocimiento no ha tenido impacto en la práctica clínica y la neuropsicología aún no forma parte del tratamiento de las adicciones. Por lo tanto, la detección y el seguimiento del deterioro cognitivo en pacientes con TUS sigue siendo un gran desafío clínico, sobre todo cuando se requiere un diagnóstico precoz. El objetivo del presente estudio fue estudiar el efecto del consumo crónico de sustancias sobre el rendimiento cognitivo y su correlación con variables relacionadas con el consumo de sustancias (inicio del consumo, desarrollo de la dependencia, abstinencia, años del trastorno, número de recaídas). Participaron 61 pacientes con TUS reclutados de Proyecto Hombre-Málaga en tratamiento y se compararon con 38 controles sanos. Los participantes fueron evaluados mediante la entrevista PRISM, MoCA, D2-R, TESEN, TAVEC, ROCF, Dígitos, anillas, Stroop y M-WCST. Los resultados se analizaron mediante los programas estadísticos SPSS versión 25.0 y GraphPad Prism 8. Un valor p<0.05 fue considerado como estadísticamente significativo. Cuando fueron comparados con los sujetos controles, los pacientes TUS mostraron amplias alteraciones cognitivas en dominios como la atención, la memoria y el aprendizaje y las funciones ejecutivas. Además, estas disfunciones cognitivas se correlacionaron con variables relacionadas con el consumo de sustancias. La detección temprana del deterioro cognitivo en los dispositivos de tratamiento de adicciones es fundamental ya que el grado de disfunción cognitiva se ha considerado como un predictor fiable de una menor adherencia al tratamiento y un mayor riesgo de recaída.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Exploring the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds in different cocoa powders

Cocoa, the main derivative of the seeds of Theobroma cacao L., has been recognized to have several effects on human health including antioxidant and neuro- and cardio-protective effects, among others. These effects have been attributed mainly to its bioactive compounds. In this context, the aim of this work is to evaluate the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds (i.e., phenolic compounds, procyanidins and methylxanthines) and the antioxidant activity of seven different cocoas (alkalized and non-alkalized) from different origins (Peru, Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic, and West Africa). It represents the first stage of a larger project aiming to find high polyphenol cocoa-based nutritional strategies and related biomarkers that may potentiate brain plasticity and cognitive function. Cocoa powders were extracted by ultrasound-assisted technology, and the total phenolic content (TPC) was measured by Folin–Ciocalteu. Methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine) and procyanidin contents were determined by HPLC-FLD-DAD, and the antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. Non-alkalized cocoas showed higher phenolic and procyanidin contents and higher antioxidant activity compared to the alkalized ones. A strongly significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the TPC, especially with the total procyanidin content, but not with methylxanthines was found. In conclusion, the non-alkalized cocoas, especially the one from Peru, were the best candidates in terms of bioactive compounds. The cocoa from Peru had a TPC of 57.4 ± 14.4 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g d.w., 28,575.06 ± 62.37 µg of catechin equivalents/g d.w., and 39.15 ± 2.12 mg/g of methylxanthines. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate its effect on brain plasticity and cognitive function.This study was funded by Grant PID2020-114374RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (to C.R.-P. and E.C-O.) and Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación—Proyect P21_00777. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Educación superior y emociones, bases epistemológicas de Maturana

I Plan Propio de Investigación, Transferencia y Divulgación Científica; Plan Propio Integral de Docencia de la Universidad de Málaga.Introducción. Las emociones serán entendidas como las disposiciones corporales que especifican el dominio de acción en que ese mueve el organismo. Son el fundamento de muchos aspectos de la vida y la educación es parte de esta influencia. La educación es un proceso para toda la vida y con cambios graduales de transformación. Es progresiva, pues la educación primaria y secundaria incidirá en la educación superior del sujeto. Es en la educación superior donde se da valor a lo que el estudiante pudo aprender a aceptar y respetar al otro en esos espacios de convivencia primarios. Objetivos. El objetivo de este trabajo es reflexionar sobre la obra de Humberto Maturana y relacionar sus postulados a la educación superior. Método La metodología utilizada ha sido de carácter cualitativa derivada de dos obras sobre educación y emociones. Resultados. Los resultados de este estudio nos dicen que es en la educación superior donde damos valor o no al aprendizaje de valores, al respeto por el otro, a la legitimación del otro, a la reflexión metódica, a desincentivar la competitividad y a colaborar en procesos de aprendizajes sin subordinación. Conclusión. Hay mucho por hacer. La competitividad se mantiene en muchos entornos, los espacios reflexivos aún son insuficientes, también el aprender a escuchar al otro y enseñar a escuchar, las relaciones de poder se mantienen rígidas durante años, y esto nos lleva a fomentar relaciones de subordinación. Lo importante es la confianza en los estudiantes y el profesorado. Lo emocional es la clave, y con qué emoción vivo la relación dentro del aula, ¿de poder o de mutuo respeto? Promover a los estudiantes al cambio o crear contextos de cambios y mirar la diferencia como un valor y no como un problema.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Temozolomide treatment inhibits spontaneous motivation for exploring a complex object in mice: a potential role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in ‘curiosity’.

Intrinsic exploratory biases are an innate motivation for exploring certain types of stimuli or environments over others, and they may be associated with cognitive, emotional, and even personality-like traits. However, their neurobiological basis has been scarcely investigated. Considering the involvement of the hippocampus in novelty recognition and in spatial and pattern separation tasks, this work researched the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in intrinsic exploratory bias for a perceptually complex object in mice. Spontaneous object preference tasks revealed that both male and female C57BL/6J mice showed a consistent unconditioned preference for exploring “complex”—irregular—objects over simpler ones. Furthermore, increasing objects’ complexity resulted in an augmented time of object exploration. In a different experiment, male mice received either vehicle or the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) for 4 weeks, a pharmacological treatment that reduced AHN as evidenced by immunohistochemistry. After assessment in a behavioral test battery, the TMZ-treated mice did not show any alterations in general exploratory and anxiety-like responses. However, when tested in the spontaneous object preference task, the TMZ-treated mice did not display enhanced exploration of the complex object, as evidenced both by a reduced exploration time—specifically for the complex object—and a lack of preference for the complex object over the simple one. This study supports a novel role of AHN in intrinsic exploratory bias for perceptual complexity. Moreover, the spontaneous complex object preference task as a rodent model of “curiosity” is discussed.This study was funded by Grant PID2020-114374RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (to C.R.-P. and E.C.-O.). Author P.R. holds a “Miguel Servet I” research contract from the National System of Health, EU-ERDF-ISCIII (CP19/00068). Authors M.C.M.-P. and S.G.-R. hold predoctoral grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU17/00276 to M.C.M.-P. and FPU18/00941 to S.G.-R.). The authors acknowledge the IBIMA's common research support structure—ECAI—of animal experimentation and behavior (“Centro de Experimentación y Conducta Animal”; University of Malaga) for maintenance of the mice and the ECAI of Image for the use of the microscope. We are especially thankful to María Visitación Jacinto Hernández and Vanesa Jiménez Gálvez for their valuable contribution to the behavioral experiments and to Lourdes Sánchez Salido and Ana Mar Gálvez Callejón for their technical support. Open access funding provided by University of Málaga CBUA

Reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis modifies brain functional connectivity and enhances cocaine-seeking in mice

Recently, adult hippocampal neurogenesis has been proposed as a putative neuroplastic mechanism involved in those behavioural processes. In this work, we studied the effect of the inhibition of adult hippocampal neurogenesis using the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), in cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) behaviour. In a first experiment, we investigated both CPP acquisition/expression and the functional brain circuits underlying CPP expression in control and neurogenesis-reduced conditions by analysing c-Fos immunoreactivity (c-Fos IR) in hippocampal and extrahippocampal addiction-related areas. A second experiment was designed to study the involvement of adult-born neurons in the extinction and cocaine-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking in the CPP model. We performed two independent studies where adult hippocampal neurogenesis was inhibited either before or after the CPP was acquired. Our results showed that TMZ treatment had no effect on the acquisition of the cocaine-induced CPP, but c-Fos IR associated to the test trial (CPP expression) revealed an increased activity in some of the analysed brain areas in the CPP-TMZ mice. Correlational and multivariate analysis revealed that, under normal conditions, the hippocampus showed widespread functional connectivity with other brain areas and strongly contributed to the functional brain network associated with CPP expression. However, mice with reduced neurogenesis showed an alternative brain circuit. The results of the second experiment revealed that mice acquiring the cocaine-induced CPP under neurogenesis-reduced conditions were delayed in extinguishing their drug seeking behaviour. However, when neurogenesis was inhibited after CPP acquisition, extinction was not affected but an enhanced long-term CPP retention was found, suggesting that the role of the adult-born neurons may differ depending on whether they are generated before or after drug-contextual associations are established. Importantly, cocaine-induced reinstatement of CPP behaviour was increased in the TMZ mice, regardless of the time of neurogenesis inhibition.Universidad de Málaga. Andalucía Tech, Campus de Excelencia Internacional. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PSI2013-44901-P to L.J.S.; Subprograma RETICS Red de Trastornos Adictivos RD12/0028/0001, to F.R.F.). Author E.C-O. holds a ‘Sara Borrell’ research contract from the Spanish Carlos III Health Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiviness (grant number CD12/00455). Author D.L.G-M. holds a ‘FPU’ grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (grant number FPU13/04819)

Sex-Specific Variations in Spatial Reference Memory Acquisition: Insights from a Comprehensive Behavioral Test Battery in C57BL/6JRj Mice.

Sex differences in declarative memory are described in humans, revealing a female or a male advantage depending on the task. Specifically, spatial memory (i.e., spatial navigation) is typically most efficient in men. This sexual dimorphism has been replicated in male rats but not clearly in mice. In this study, sex differences in spatial memory were assessed in thirty-six C57BL/6 J mice (Janvier Labs; i.e., C57BL/6JRj mice), a widely used mouse substrain. Both male and female mice (12 weeks-old) were subjected to standard behavioral paradigms: the elevated plus maze, the open field test, the novel object and place tests, the forced swimming test, and the water maze test for spatial navigation. Across assessment, no sex differences were found in measures of locomotor activity, emotional and behavioral responses, and object and place recognition memories. In the water maze, male mice were faster in learning the platform location in the reference memory training and used more spatial strategies during the first training days. However, both sexes reached a similar asymptotic performance and performed similarly in the probe trial for long-term memory consolidation. No sex differences were found in the cued training, platform inversion sessions, or spatial working memory sessions. Hippocampal expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor was similar in both sexes, either in basal conditions or after performing the behavioral training battery. Importantly, female mice were not more variable than males in any measure analyzed. This outcome encourages the investigation of sex differences in animal models and the usefulness of including female mice in behavioral research.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga/CBUA. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Spain Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Málaga, Spain Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Spain Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Spain Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos 'José Mataix', Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spai

¿Podemos realizar una actividad de discusión grupal en un entorno virtual?

I Plan Propio de Investigación, Transferencia y Divulgación Científica; Plan Propio Integral de Docencia de la Universidad de Málaga.Introducción. La adaptación de la docencia universitaria a los entornos virtuales, debido a la pandemia de la COVID-19, puede resultar más compleja en el caso de actividades que requieren una interacción dinámica entre el alumnado. Objetivos. En este trabajo desemaos evaluar y analizar una experiencia de discusión grupal realizada en un aula virtual (plataforma Microsoft Teams) para una asignatura del Grado en Psicología, explicando la metodología seguida para su desarrollo. Método. Valoramos que, en términos generales, la actividad logró fomentar la participación del alumnado y fortalecer el aprendizaje de los contenidos del tema. Reflexionamos sobre algunos aspectos que han contribuido al éxito de la actividad, como el hecho de emplear la herramienta de chat, la cual resultó la vía de comunicación y participación preferida por los/las estudiantes. Así mismo, consideramos que el tener que cumplimentar un cuestionario de evaluación al término de la sesión, es un potente incentivo para la participación, fomentando la necesidad del alumnado de aclarar sus dudas y llegar a conclusiones certeras por medio de la discusión y debate con sus iguales. Resultados. Aunque la participación se incrementó notablemente durante esta actividad -en comparación con la participación en sesiones de clase magistral-, no participaron el total de estudiantes asistentes. Conclusión. En futuras experiencias, puede resultar adecuado incluir la cantidad y contenido de las participaciones como aspectos evaluables. No obstante, en ese caso habría que valorar si el forzar la participación conllevaría que las aportaciones fuesen menos reflexivas y significativas.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A behavioral test battery only reveals Sex-Specific Differences in Spatial Reference Memory Acquisition in C57BL/6JRj Mice

Sex disparities in declarative and spatial memory exist in humans, favoring either gender depending on the task. This trend is observed in rats but less so in mice. In our study with C57BL/6JRj mice, we conducted various tests and found no gender differences in locomotion, emotions, or object recognition. However, in the water maze task, males learned faster but both genders reached similar long-term memory levels. Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression showed no significant gender variability in free-cycling female mice. This emphasizes the need to consider sex-based differences in animal models and include female mice in behavioral research.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech