Eduardo Vignoto Fernandes

Efeitos comportamentais e imunológicos da fluoxetina em ratos submetidos ao nado forçado

Evidencias sugerem que a depressao envolve alteracoes imunologicas. No presente trabalho, os efeitos comportamentais e imunomoduladores de um antidepressivo, a fluoxetina, sao avaliados num modelo animal de depressao, o nado forcado. Nesse modelo, o comportamento de flutuar e usado como indice de desespero comportamental. Ratos foram tratados por 12 dias com fluoxetina ( 10mg/kg ) tres vezes ao dia ou com salina; e, nos mesmos dias, foram submetidos a sessoes de nado forcado. Adicionalmente, a resposta imune humoral a uma imunoestimulacao foi avaliada. Os animais tratados com fluoxetina apresentaram menor producao total de anticorpos e queda de massa corporal, alem d e passarem mais tempo flutua ndo. Os resultados sugerem que o desespero comportamental e a producao de anticorpos sao simultaneamente atenuados pela fluoxetina.

Evaluation of the Humoral Immune Response of Wistar Rats Submitted to Forced Swimming and Treated with Fluoxetine

The term stress was introduced into the biomedical field by Hans Selye (1936) in reference to a General Adaptation Syndrome which would consist of all non-specific systemic reactions that occur during an intense and chronic exposure to a stressor (e.g., pressure at work and poor diet). This syndrome would be different from the specific adaptive reactions (such as muscle hypertrophy caused by exercise performed on a regular basis) and immune responses (Selye, 1936).

Low Doses of Ochratoxin-A Decrease IgY and IgA Production in Broiler Chicks

The mycotoxin, ochratoxin-A (OTA), produced by some fungi, and is a natural contaminant of many foods and animal feeds worldwide. Due to its toxic effects, the recommended maximum daily intake of OTA for poultry feeds is 0.1 mg OTA/kg (ECR2006/575/EC); this dose does not induce changes in hepatic/renal parameters, but decreases thymus size and serum globulin concentrations. Accordingly, in this study, we assessed quantitatively the total circulating IgY and IgA serum levels, in chicks consuming a 0.1 mg OTA/kg diet (limit) and higher doses (0.3–1.1 mg OTA/kg diet) for 14 or 21 days. We also evaluated other immunological parameters (thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen weights and leukocyte profiles) at day 21. Decreased IgY serum levels were observed in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05). In the low-dose group, IgA levels were decreased on day 21, but not on day 14. The size of the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius was decreased in all OTA-treated groups (p < 0.05), whereas reduced spleen size and altered leukocyte profiles were detected only in the high-dose group (p < 0.05). We concluded that chronic exposure to OTA, even at the recommended highest dose, affected IgY and IgA production in chicks.

MODERATE INTENSITY PHYSICAL EXERCISE: PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Rev Bras Med Esporte – Vol. 24, No 5 – Set/Out, 2018 ABSTRACT The literature presents several instances of interaction between the nervous system (NS) and the immune system (IS). These interactions are promoted by several molecules, such as cytokines and hormones, with modulating action for both the NS and IS. In this sense, the two systems may influence each other: changes in behavior may be accompanied by alterations in the IS (e.g., immunosuppression) and immunological disorders, such as infections, may modulate behavior (e.g., anxiety and depression). Considering that chronic stress, in addition to affecting behavior, also modulates the IS and that there is evidence that moderate intensity physical exercise (PE) protects physical and mental health, the objective of this review is to explore the influence of moderate-intensity PE on behavior and immunity. Level of Evidence V; Expert opinion.

Effects of inoculation route and dose on production and avidity of IgY antibodies

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of route of inoculation and dose on production and avidity of IgY antibodies in chickens. The animals were inoculated with 20 µg of human IgG by intramuscular, intradermal, or subcutaneous routes, or with 2, 20, or 200 µg of human IgG via IM to evaluate the effect of dose. All routes led to significant levels of specific antibodies after the fifth inoculation. There was a significant difference in the levels of antibodies produced with 2 and 200 µg of antigen after the third and seventh inoculation. It was observed that there is no influence of route of inoculation or dose on the avidity of the antibodies produced. Furthermore, the index of avidity is influenced directly by the number of inoculations. These results are important to help future studies where antibody production of IgY from laying hens is necessary.

Effects of maternal exposure to extract of Trichilia catigua on antibody production in the offspring of Wistar rats

Abstract It was evaluated the effects of maternal treatment with the Trichilia catigua (ExTc) crude extract on the antibodies’ production by their offspring. Female rats received ExTc or saline from the first day of pregnancy until the twenty-first day after the birth of the pups, when the pups were weaned. All pups were inoculated with two doses of 50 μg of IgY diluted in aluminium hydroxide/PBS on days 26 and 40 of life. Antibody levels were analysed by ELISA. Our results show an increase in levels of IgG1 and IgG2a anti-IgY in female offspring of mothers treated with ExTc compared to female offspring of untreated mothers. Furthermore, ExTc treatment suppressed the production of IgG2a anti-IgY antibodies in males. The data show that maternal exposure to ExTc can modulate the production of antibodies in the offspring.