Acute stress-induced antinociception is cGMP-dependent but heme oxygenase-independent

Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO), which is produced by the enzyme heme oxygenase (HO), participates as a neuromodulator in physiological processes such as thermoregulation and nociception by stimulating the formation of 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In particular, the acute physical restraint-induced fever of rats can be blocked by inhibiting the enzyme HO. A previous study reported that the HO-CO-cGMP pathway plays a key phasic antinociceptive role in modulating noninflammatory acute pain. Thus, this study evaluated the involvement of the HO-CO-cGMP pathway in antinociception induced by acute stress in male Wistar rats (250-300 g; n=8/group) using the analgesia index (AI) in the tail flick test. The results showed that antinociception induced by acute stress was not dependent on the HO-CO-cGMP pathway, as neither treatment with the HO inhibitor ZnDBPG nor heme-lysinate altered the AI. However, antinociception was dependent on cGMP activity because pretreatment with the guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3-a] quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ) blocked the increase in the AI induced by acute stress

Activation of locus coeruleus heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide pathway promoted an anxiolytic-like effect in rats

The heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide pathway has been shown to play an important role in many physiological processes and is capable of altering nociception modulation in the nervous system by stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). In the central nervous system, the locus coeruleus (LC) is known to be a region that expresses the heme oxygenase enzyme (HO), which catalyzes the metabolism of heme to carbon monoxide (CO). Additionally, several lines of evidence have suggested that the LC can be involved in the modulation of emotional states such as fear and anxiety. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the activation of the heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide pathway in the LC in the modulation of anxiety by using the elevated plus maze test (EPM) and light-dark box test (LDB) in rats. Experiments were performed on adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g (n=182). The results showed that the intra-LC microinjection of heme-lysinate (600 nmol), a substrate for the enzyme HO, increased the number of entries into the open arms and the percentage of time spent in open arms in the elevated plus maze test, indicating a decrease in anxiety. Additionally, in the LDB test, intra-LC administration of heme-lysinate promoted an increase on time spent in the light compartment of the box. The intracerebroventricular microinjection of guanylate cyclase, an sGC inhibitor followed by the intra-LC microinjection of the heme-lysinate blocked the anxiolytic-like reaction on the EPM test and LDB test. It can therefore be concluded that CO in the LC produced by the HO pathway and acting via cGMP plays an anxiolytic-like role in the LC of rats

Johanson-Blizzard syndrome: the importance of differential diagnostic in pediatrics

Objective: to promote a clinical entity that could be part of differential diagnosis of most disorders that affect the pediatric age group. Description: we describe a Brazilian girl affected by Johanson-blizzard syndrome and review the literature. Comments: Johanson-Blizzard syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by hypoplastic alae nasi, scalp defect, deafness and pancreatic insufficiency with malabsorption. Looking at the major signs, this disorder should be considered as differential diagnosis in several pediatric diseases.Objetivo: colaborar para a divulgação de uma entidade clínica que pode fazer parte do diagnóstico diferencial de vários quadros que acometem essa faixa etária pediátrica. Descrição: descrevemos uma criança brasileira afetada por esta condição e revemos a literatura. Comentários: a síndrome de Johanson Blizzard é uma condição autossômica recessiva, caracterizada por hipoplasia de asa nasal, agenesia de couro cabeludo, deficiência auditiva e insuficiência pancreática exócrina com má absorção. Observando os principais sinais, esta condição clínica deve ser considerada como diagnóstico diferencial em algumas doenças pediátricas. Conclusão: a litotripsia extracorpórea demonstrou ser uma forma eficiente de tratamento de cálculos piélicos, caliciais, ureterais e vesicais em crianças. Cálculos coraliformes não tiveram bons resultados quando tratados por meio de litotripsia extracorpórea. Os resultados deste método foram influenciados pela localização e tamanho dos cálculos.43343

Produção e predação de frutos em Aniba rosaeodora Ducke var. amazonica Ducke (Lauraceae) em sistema de plantio sob floresta de terra firme na Amazônia Central Harvesting and fruit predation of a Aniba rosaeodora Ducke var. amazonica Ducke (Lauraceae) ex situ tree population in a central Amazonian upland forest

O pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora) vem sendo usado desde o século passado para extração de linalol, produto usado como fixador de perfumes. Por causa do extrativismo houve redução drástica em suas populações naturais. Somando a este fato, esta espécie possui padrão irregular de frutificação e, quando frutifica, os seus frutos são consumidos por animais. Estes aspectos foram estudados utilizando uma população de plantio sob sombra parcial de floresta primária. A produtividade das árvores variou de 40 a 1.600 frutos (n = 21 árvores). No geral, cerca de 42,5% foram removidos por frugívoros (6.770 frutos, n = 10 árvores). Dos frutos não removidos, 0,5% foram predados por vertebrados, 81,5% continham larvas de insetos, variando de 36-96% entre indivíduos. Uma espécie de Coleoptera ataca os frutos em estádio imaturo, enquanto outra (Heilipus sp.) e uma espécie de Lepidoptera atacam os frutos em estádio final de desenvolvimento. Os resultados projetam perda de 59,5% dos frutos (54,5% por insetos) passíveis de coleta. Considerando a importância econômica do pau-rosa faz-se necessário aumentar a disponibilidade de sementes para planos de manejo da espécie. Para se atingir tais objetivos são necessárias algumas medidas: 1) coleta prematura de frutos para maturação em laboratório; 2) utilização de métodos de controle de insetos adultos (em plantios) e larvas (em frutos atacados); e 3) estudos de seleção genética para identificar plantas com maior resistência natural a pragas e doenças.<br>The rosewood tree (Aniba rosaeodora) has been exploited for linalol, a product used as a fixative by the perfume industry. As a result, its population has decreased to the point that it is at risk of extinction in some Amazonian areas. In addition, the species has an irregular phenological pattern and its fruits are a food source for animals. This study focused on the use an ex situ population planted under partial forest shade. The fruit set varied from 40-1600 fruits (n = 21 trees). Overall, 42.5% of fruits (6,770, n = 10 trees) were removed by frugivores. Of the remaining fruits, 0.5% were predated by vertebrates, 81.5% were attacked by insect larvae. Of fruit attacked by insects, 38% were still capable of germination. One Coleoptera (Curculionidae) attacks the fruits during this intermediate phase of development, and another one (Heilipus sp.) and one Lepidoptera attack during the final phase of maturation. This results in a loss of 59.5% (54.5% by insects) of the fruit set not removed. Therefore, it is necessary to increase fruit/seed availability as part of species management. To achieve this, three considerations need to be taken into account: 1) premature fruits should be collected for laboratory maturation; 2) insect control on adult trees (in plantations) and larva control on attacked fruits are recommended; and 3) genetic studies should be an alternative to identify plants with greater natural resistance to predators and diseases