Moderate intensity physical exercise: psychoneuroimmunological aspects / Exercício físico de intensidade moderada: aspectos psiconeuroimunológicos / Ejercicio físico de intensidad moderada: aspectos psiconeuroinmunológicos

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.

A literatura apresenta diversas instâncias de interação entre o sistema nervoso (SN) e o sistema imunológico (SI). Essas interações são promovidas por diversas moléculas, como citocinas e hormônios com ação moduladora tanto para o SN quanto o SI. Nesse sentido, os dois sistemas podem ter influência mútua: as alterações do comportamento podem ser acompanhadas por alterações do SI (por exemplo, imunossupressão), e distúrbios imunológicos como infecções, podem modular o comportamento (por exemplo, ansiedade e depressão). Considerando que o estresse crônico, além de afetar o comportamento, modula o SI e que há evidências de que o exercício físico (EF) de intensidade moderada ajuda a proteger a saúde física e mental, o objetivo da presente revisão é explorar a influência do EF de intensidade moderada sobre o comportamento e a imunidade. Nível de Evidência V; Opinião do especialista.

La literatura presenta diversas instancias de interacción entre el sistema nervioso (SN) y el sistema inmune (SI). Estas interacciones son promovidas por diversas moléculas, como citosinas y hormonas, con acción moduladora tanto para el SN como para el SI. En este sentido, los dos sistemas pueden influenciarse mutuamente: los cambios en el comportamiento pueden ser acompañados por alteraciones en el SI (inmunosupresión) y los disturbios inmunológicos, como infecciones, pueden modular el comportamiento (ej. ansiedad y depresión). Considerando que el estrés crónico, además de impactar el comportamiento, también modula el SI y que hay evidencias de que el ejercicio físico (EF) de intensidad moderada es un protector para la salud física y mental, el objetivo de la presente revisión es explotar la influencia del EF de intensidad moderada en el comportamiento y la inmunidad. Nivel de Evidencia V; Opinión del especialista.

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Modulate the Recognition of Facial Emotion / Síntomas de ansiedad y depresión modulan el reconocimiento de emociones

Abstract Previous studies have shown that depression and anxiety are associated to changes in the recognition of facial expression. In the present research, a non-clinical sample was evaluated with respect to trait and state anxiety and depression symptoms. In the experimental task, participants evaluated facial expressions of happiness, anger, sadness, and fear, presented at four intensities (25, 50, 75, and 100%), as well as the neutral face. Results showed that the trait anxiety was associated with a better recognition of anger, fear, and happiness. For depression, we only found differences between groups for emotional attribution to neutral faces, in which participants scoring high in depression were more likely to attribute fear to neutral faces. Findings indicate an improvement of the recognition of happiness, anger, and fear in trait anxiety, whereas symptoms of depression and state anxiety were associated to changes in the evaluation of neutral faces in non-clinical individuals.

Resumen Estudios han demostrado que la depresión y la ansiedad están asociados a cambios en el reconocimiento de la expresión facial. En la presente investigación, una muestra no clínica ha sido evaluada con respecto a la ansiedad rasgo y estado y los síntomas de depresión. En la tarea experimental, los participantes evaluaran expresiones faciales de alegría, ira, tristeza y miedo, presentadas en cuatro intensidades (25, 50, 75 y 100%), y el rostro neutro. Los resultados mostraron que la ansiedad rasgo se asoció con un mejor reconocimiento de la ira, miedo y alegría. Para la depresión, sólo se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos para la atribución emocional a rostros neutros, en el que los participantes que puntuaran alto en depresión eran más propensos a atribuir miedo a rostros neutros. Los resultados indican una mejora del reconocimiento de la alegría, ira y miedo en la ansiedad rasgo, mientras que los síntomas de depresión y ansiedad estado están asociados a cambios en la evaluación de rostros neutros en individuos no clínicos.

Efeitos comportamentais e imunológicos da fluoxetina em ratos submetidos ao nado forçado / Behavioral and Immunological Effects of Fluoxetine in Rats Submitted to Forced Swimming

No presente trabalho, os efeitos comportamentais e imunomoduladores da fluoxetina foram avaliados num modelo animal de depressão, o nado forçado. Nesse, o comportamento de flutuar é sensível a antidepressivos e é usado como índice de desespero comportamental. Foram utilizados dois grupos experimentais, sendo um grupo controle tratado com salina e outro grupo teste tratado com a fluoxetina, ambos administrados por via intra-peritoneal. Os animais foram tratados três vezes ao dia por 12 dias. Adicionalmente, a resposta imune humoral a uma imunoestimulação (hemácias de carneiro) foi avaliada. A fluoxetina provocou aumento no tempo em flutuação, queda na massa corporal e menor produção total de anticorpos. Os resultados indicam uma modulação simultânea do comportamento e do sistema imunológico pela fluoxetina.

In the present study, behavioral and immunomodulatory effects of fluoxetine were evaluated with the forced swim test, an animal model of depression. In this model, floating behavior is responsive to antidepressants and is used as a behavioral index of despair. During 12 days, three times a day, two groups were treated intraperitoneally with saline or fluoxetine. Additionally, the humoral immune response to immunostimulation (sheep red blood cells) was evaluated. The animals treated with fluoxetine floated longer, showed decreases in body mass and had lower total production of antibodies. The results indicate simultaneous modulation of behavior and antibody production by fluoxetine.

Cues to the usefulness of grooming behavior in the evaluation of anxiety in the elevated plus-maze

Grooming behavior has been reported to be a response to novelty and other stressors. However, studies that sought to identify anxiety-related measures in the elevated plus-maze have not found grooming as a reliable index. Grooming has been implied with dearousal after a stressful experience. In the present work, a detailed investigation of this behavior was performed in a test with a longer duration (i.e., 10 min) than the usual duration in the elevated plus-maze. The level of anxiety was manipulated prior to the test by confining male rats to environments known to differ in the degree of aversive stimulation, including a familiar cage, a closed arm of the elevated plus-maze, and an open arm (i.e., the most aversive arm) of the elevated plus-maze. Grooming behavior was classified into three constituent elements: rostral grooming, head grooming, and body grooming. The groups were compared with regard to conventional measures of the elevated plus-maze and grooming behavior. Prior confinement to an open arm led to a delayed effect of decreased open-arm exploration undetectable during the first half of the test compared with rats previously confined to a closed arm. Prior confinement to an open arm also increased the total duration of grooming during the second half of the test. These increases were found to be partially attributable to increases in the rostral element of grooming. The percentage of interrupted bouts was also found to discriminate the group previously confined to an open arm. These results indicate that prolongation of the session can reveal effects that are otherwise undetectable and that under such conditions some grooming measures can be useful in the evaluation of anxiety-like behavior.

Ansiedad y mied:: su valor adaptativoy maladaptacioess / Fear and nxiety:: adaptive value and maladaptations

The set of answers emitted by the organisms in response to a real or potential danger is called the Anxiety State. This state, of evolutionary importance, appears when a strong danger or risk is detected, and in response to ambiguous threat stimuli that could be of innate or learned nature. A low level of anxiety is beneficial for the animals as a fundamental resource of protection of the individual against physical and social dangers. The neural basis responsible by such states would be the oldest cerebral areas, preserved in many species, that are crucial for the control of the emotions, and whosemalfunctions lead to mood disorders. Many experimental models have been developed to help the study of behaviors and neural basis of the anxiety state, providing tools that collaborate not only to the therapeutics of pathologies, but also to the better understanding of the world of the emotions.

El conjunto de respuestas emitidas por diferentes especies frente a un peligro real o potencial se conoce como Estado de Ansiedad. Este estado, de importancia evolutiva para las especies, aparece cuando se detecta un peligro o amenaza o ante la presencia de estímulos ambiguos, innatos o aprendidos, que indican una amenaza. Así, un determinado nivel de ansiedad es benéfico para los animales, siendo un recurso fundamental de protección contra peligros físicos y sociales. Los substratos neurales responsables por tales estados, corresponden a áreas cerebrales antiguas, preservadas en muchas especies y críticas para el control de las emociones que al sufrir alteraciones en su funcionamiento producen disturbios del comportamiento. Diversos modelos experimentales se han desarrollado para estudiar los componentes conductuales y sustratos neurales implicados en el estado de ansiedad y su utilización ya está suministrando herramientas para complementar la comprensión de diversas patologías y conocimiento del mundo de las emociones.