58 research outputs found
Biological interactions in depression: Insights from preclinical studies
Full text linkMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is considered a major global health burden, being the single largest contributor to global disability and suicides. Because of its complex multifactorial nature and the variety of symptoms observed in this disorder, still around 50% of MDD patients show no or incomplete response to pharmacological therapies. In this regard, studying the molecular interactions and risk factors of MDD is a key step to improve our knowledge of the etiology and the differences in the treatment response between patients. This thesis aimed to investigate the contribution of several underlying biological processes on the development of depressive behavior in animal models, such as steroidal hormone and monoamine signaling and neuroinflammation. We found that PET imaging is a useful tool to study the effects of sex hormones in the brain in a menopausal animal model, but that chronic stress was not a strong risk factor for developing depressive symptoms in this model. In addition, we showed in a stress model of depression that repeated social defeat induced neuroinflammation, but that this effect was not counteracted by the fast antidepressant ketamine or caffeine. In this animal model, we also showed that social stress caused delayed changes in dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission when depressive symptoms had already resolved. Finally, we observed that antidepressant therapy during pregnancy had a detrimental effect on cognition in the offspring. In conclusion, this thesis provides insight in different interactions between systems and risk factors, contributing to the general knowledge of MDD
Data CTE project.xlsx
No full textData concerning the following project/manuscript: Rodrigo Moraga-Amaro, Oscar Moreno, Jordi Llop, Marion Bankstahl, Jens P. Bankstahl Biomarkers for prediction of chronic traumatic encephalopathy-like pathology following repeated mild traumatic brain injury in rats are sex- and age-dependent Introduction. Repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI) pose a high risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Since this neurodegenerative disease is diagnosed only post-mortem, new biomarkers for early detection are needed. Although age at injury and biological sex are important factors in many brain pathologies, little is known about their relevance for rmTBI-induced CTE-like consequences. Hence, this study explored how biological sex and age at time of impact affect progression and changes in biomarker candidates after experimental rmTBI. Methods. Rats of both sexes, aged 7-weeks (adolescent) or 14-weeks (adult), were subjected to three mTBI at 5-day intervals. Neurological, behavioural and cognitive impairments, as well as changes in potential plasma and brain biomarkers, were assessed up to 12-weeks post-injury. The generalized estimating equation model was used to compare sexes and age groups. Results. RmTBI induced ongoing neurological impairment. While no depressive-like behaviour was observed, long-term, age-specific changes in anxiety were observed after rmTBI. A short-term increase in plasma p-tau was found after rmTBI only in male and adolescent rats. Plasma neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were elevated in adolescent animals at both 2-weeks and 12-weeks post-rmTBI. An increase in brain neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) was detected 12-weeks after rmTBI. Correlation analyses suggested NSE as a prospective biomarker for anhedonia-like behaviour, and brain NFT as an indicator of neurological impairment. Discussion. We found that behavioural outcomes and biomarker changes following rmTBI in rats were both age- and sex-dependent. This information will help to develop translatable diagnostics to guide CTE treatment in clinical settings. Data were acquired at MHH by Rodrigo Moraga-Amaro et al
The Key Role of the Amygdala in Stress
Full text linkSeveral data highlighted that stress exposure is strongly associated with several psychiatric disorders. The amygdala, an area of the brain that contributes to emotional processing, has a pivotal role in psychiatric disorders and it has been demonstrated to be highly responsive to stressful events. Here we will review evidences indicating how the amygdala changes its functionality following exposure to stress and how this contributes to the onset of anxiety disorders
Dopamine receptor D3 deficiency results in chronic depression and anxiety
No full textFunding Information: Thanks to Rocio Bustos Cancino for useful comments, to Daniela Elgueta and Raul Díaz Galarce for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from FONDECYT N°1130724 (JS) and N°1130271 (RP), from CONICYT N° PFB16 (RP), from Universidad Andrés Bello UNAB DI-603-14/N (JS) and from Universidad San Sebastián USS 2011-0001-R (RP).The present study assesses the role of D3R in depression. Here we hypothesized that D3R mediates the antidepressant effects of DA. Thus, genetic deficiency of D3R in D3R knockout (D3RKO) mice would yield animals with chronic depressive symptoms. Whereas D3R deficient mice did not show significant alterations in locomotion when tested in the openfield, these animals showed anxiety-like symptoms measured as a significant increase in thigmotaxis at the openfield and a significantly lower time spent in the lit compartment at the light/dark exploration test. D3RKO animals also showed depressive-like symptoms as measured by increased immobility time in the Porsolt forced swim test and the tail suspension test, as well as anhedonia measured in the non-motor dependent sucrose test. In conclusion, D3R deficiency results in anxiety-like and depressive-like symptoms that cannot be attributed to motor dysfunction
Synthetic Biology-Guided Metabolic Engineering
No full textThis eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
Synthetic Biology-Guided Metabolic Engineering
No full textThis eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
Impactos conceituais do Movimento decolonial nas artes contemporâneas de Belo Horizonte – MG
Full text linkO presente artigo objetiva discutir possíveis impactos do giro decolonial nas artes contemporâneas no Brasil e como esse tema vem sendo abordado no Sistema das artes da capital mineira. O giro decolonial, de forma resumida, pode ser definido como um movimento teórico-epistemológico que tem por mote central discutir a continuidade dos processos coloniais nas mentalidades das culturas outrora colonizadas. Sendo assim, o giro decolonial problematiza a continuidade do pensamento eurocêntrico no cotidiano das relações das nações subalternizadas por meio de vários mecanismos de dominação durante os processos colonizatórios. A pesquisa que deu origem a este artigo teve por intuito estabelecer uma investigação sobre a produção de arte contemporânea no Brasil e na capital mineira com vistas a indagar a seguinte hipótese: denúncias de comportamentos estruturantes da nossa sociedade, tais como o eurocentrismo, o machismo, o racismo, o sexismo e o elitismo são temas onipresentes nas produções artísticas, nas galerias, residências e premiações no mundo artístico atual? Essa interrogação pode ser respondida de forma afirmativa. Para respondermos tal questão, além de fazer uma revisão bibliográfica minuciosa sobre esse tema, pesquisando catálogos de exposições dos últimos anos, galerias, editais de residências como o Bolsa Pampulha, bem como os próprios artistas e seus discursos acerca de seus trabalhos. Nesse sentido, verificamos a presença de conceitos e ideias de pensadores que se identificam com esse movimento, tais como lugar de fala, vulnerabilidade, espaços de poder, privilégio, micropolíticas, nos textos expográficos, nos discursos dos e das artistas, mas também em seus trabalhos plásticos. Em suma, com base no autor José Jorge de Carvalho (2018), referência importante acerca da decolonialidade, interpreto esse movimento de crítica dos e das artistas acerca dos espaços de arte, e a consequente abertura desses locais a trabalhos que abordam os processos de descolonização das artes, como parte de uma “segunda onda de ações afirmativas” que vem transformando nossa sociedade.This article aims to discuss possible impacts of the decolonial turn on contemporary arts in Brazil and how this theme has been addressed in the Arts System of the capital of Minas Gerais. The decolonial turn, in short, can be defined as a theoretical-epistemological movement whose central motto is to discuss the continuity of colonial processes in the mentalities of formerly colonized cultures. Thus, the decolonial turn problematizes the continuity of Eurocentric thinking in the daily relations of subaltern nations through various mechanisms of domination during colonization processes. The research that gave rise to this article aimed to establish an investigation into the production of contemporary art in Brazil and in the capital of Minas Gerais, with a view to investigating the following hypothesis: denunciations of structuring behaviors in our society, such as Eurocentrism, machismo, Are racism, sexism and elitism omnipresent themes in artistic productions, galleries, residencies and awards in the current artistic world? This question can be answered in the affirmative. In order to answer this question, in addition to carrying out a thorough bibliographical review on this topic, we are researching exhibition catalogs from recent years, galleries, public notices for residencies such as Bolsa Pampulha, as well as the artists themselves and their speeches about their work. In this sense, we are verifying the presence of concepts from thinkers who identify with this movement, such as a place of speech, vulnerability, spaces of power, privilege, micropolitics, in the presentation texts of the respective works, in the discourses of the artists, but also in his plastic works. In short, based on the author José Jorge de Carvalho (2018), an important reference on decoloniality, I interpret this critical movement by artists about art spaces, and the consequent opening of these places to works that address decolonization processes of the arts, as part of a second wave of affirmative action that has been transforming our society
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