Glutathione depletion: Starting point of brain metabolic stress, neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in rats.

Glutathione provides protection from oxidative stress-induced damage through the reduction of reactive oxygen species for the maintenance of oxidant homeostasis. Our purpose was to test the effects of depleting tissue GSH by buthionine sulfoximine on brain oxidative metabolism and cognitive performance in rats. Glutathione depletion induced a compensatory response on antioxidant enzymes and increase of cell damage indicators in all the examined cerebral areas at 24h. The effect of GSH depletion on spatial memory recorded at 24h post-surgery showed significant differences between experimental groups for the escape latency to the platform and percentage of total swim distance spending in the target quadrant. The acquisition of a new spatial condition 24h after GSH depletion revealed differences between experimental groups for latencies, swim distance, swim distance in the target quadrant and percentage of total swim distance spending in the target quadrant. The ability of BSO treated group to maintain a restraining behavior was significantly smaller compared with control group. We founded significant correlation among variables of the behavioral studies and oxidative stress indicators. In conclusion, our model shows how increased ROS production by transitory glutathione depletion constitutes the primary cause to neuronal metabolic stress with alterations in synaptic signaling and cognitive deficits.

Non-Clinical Models for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Therapeutic Approach and Drug Validation in Animal Models.

In 2016, 19.8% of the Cuban population was aged 60 or over. As a result, age-associated degenerative diseases and other diseases have become priority targets from a prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. As a result, the Cuban biomedical scientific community has addressed its basic, preclinical and epidemiological research in order to rise up to the challenge. A firm step in this direction has been the international congress "State of the art in non-clinical models for neurodegenerative diseases" which has brought together preclinical and clinical researchers, technicians and regulatory staff members from different countries to review the state of the art in neurodegenerations, find unifying ideas, objectives and collaborations or partnership. The objective is to expose the perspectives of new biotechnological products from Cuba and other countries from the diagnostic, therapeutic and neuroprotective point of view. It is crucial, therefore, that the irreplaceable role of laboratory animals in achieving these objectives is understood but they must be used in rational, adequate and ethical manner. We expose the current development trends in this field, being of common interest to the work directed to the search for potential drugs, diagnostic tools and the promotion of changes in lifestyle as a preventive projection.