Effects of chronic caloric restriction on kidney and heart redox status and antioxidant enzyme activities in Wistar rats.

Caloric restriction (CR) has been associated with health benefits and these effects have been attributed, in part, to modulation of oxidative status by CR; however, data are still controversial. Here, we investigate the effects of seventeen weeks of chronic CR on parameters of oxidative damage/ modification of proteins and on antioxidant enzyme activities in cardiac and kidney tissues. Our results demonstrate that CR induced an increase in protein carbonylation in the heart without changing the content of sulfhydryl groups or the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT). Moreover, CR caused an increase in CAT activity in kidney, without changing other parameters. Protein carbonylation has been associated with oxidative damage and functional impairment; however, we cannot exclude the possibility that, under our conditions, this alteration indicates a different functional meaning in the heart tissue. In addition, we reinforce the idea that CR can increase CAT activity in the kidney.

Olfactory and respiratory lamina propria transplantation after spinal cord transection in rats: effects on functional recovery and axonal regeneration.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has very poor clinical prospects, resulting in irreversible loss of function below the injury site. Although applied in clinical trials, olfactory ensheathing cells transplantation (OEC) derived from lamina propria (OLP) is still a controversial repair strategy. The present study explored the efficacy of OLP or respiratory lamina propria (RLP) transplantation and the optimum period after SCI for application of this potential therapy. Adult male rats were submitted to spinal cord transection and underwent acute, 2-week or 4-week post-injury transplantation with pieces of OLP (containing OECs) or RLP (without OECs). After grafting, animals with OLP and RLP showed discrete and similar hindlimb motor improvement, with comparable spinal cord tissue sparing and sprouting in the lesion area. Acute transplantation of OLP and RLP seems to foster limited supraspinal axonal regeneration as shown by the presence of neurons stained by retrograde tracing in the brainstem nuclei. A larger number of 5-HT positive fibers were found in the cranial stump of the OLP and RLP groups compared to the lesion and caudal regions. Calcitonin gene-related peptide fibers were present in considerable numbers at the SCI site in both types of transplantation. Our results failed to verify differences between acute, 2-week and 4-week delayed transplantation of OLP and RLP, suggesting that the limited functional and axon reparative effects observed could not be exclusively related to OECs. A greater understanding of the effects of these tissue grafts is necessary to strengthen the rationale for application of this treatment in humans.

The effects of treadmill training on young and mature rats after traumatic peripheral nerve lesion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of a treadmill training program on regeneration in young (3-month-old) and mature (13-month-old) rats with sciatic nerve crush using functional, electrophysiological, and morphometric analyses. When compared to both the young and mature untrained injury groups, those groups that underwent a treadmill training showed improved sensorimotor function evaluated by narrow beam test (p<0.04 and p<0.001, respectively), while muscle action potential amplitude was only greater in the young group (p<0.02). The treadmill training program was able to reduce myelinated fiber density in the young group (p<0.001), which appeared to increase after nerve injury (poly-innervation), but decreased with training, which means that the innervation became more functional. The data indicate that treadmill training is able to promote functional, electrophysiological and morphological recovery in young animals. However, in mature animals, improvement was only seen in terms of functional recovery.

Efeitos do ultrassom terapêutico em modelo experimental de ciatalgia / Therapeutic ultrasound effects in a sciatica experimental model

A ciática possui grande prevalência geral e seu tratamento tende a resolver as causas de compressão nervosa. A fisioterapia objetiva reduzir os sintomas causados pela compressão. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia do ultrassom terapêutico sobre a dor, em animais submetidos a modelo experimental de ciatalgia. Foram usados 18 ratos neste estudo, divididos em três grupos: GS (n = 4), submetido a modelo de ciatalgia e tratados com ultrassom desligado; GUP (n = 7), submetido à ciatalgia e tratados com ultrassom pulsado 2W/cm² (SATP; 0,4 - SATA); e grupo GUC (n = 7), submetido à ciática e ultrassom contínuo (0,4W/cm²). O nervo ciático do membro posterior direito foi exposto à compressão com fio categute em quatro pontos. No 3º dia pós-operatório (PO), iniciou-se tratamento indireto por quatro dias. No 9º dia PO, o tratamento direto começou sobre a área do procedimento cirúrgico, por cinco dias consecutivos. O tempo de elevação da pata, durante a marcha, foi avaliado antes e após a ciatalgia, no 3º, 6º, 9º e 13º PO. Os resultados demonstraram que a aplicação do ultrassom reduziu a dor com ambos os tratamentos efetivos e tendeu a ser mais eficaz na forma pulsada.

The sciatica possesses great general population prevalence, and its treatment tends to solve the nervous compression causes. Physiotherapy aims to reduce the symptoms caused by compression. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound on pain in animals subjected to sciatica experimental model. Eighteen rats were used and they were divided in 3 groups: group SG (n=4) submitted to the sciatica and treated with the ultrasound off, group PUG (n=7) submitted to the sciatica and treated with pulsed ultrasound 2 W/cm² (SATP; 0,4 - SATA) and group CUG (n=7) submitted to the sciatica and treated with continuous ultrasound (0,4 W/cm²). The sciatic nerve of the posterior right limb was exposed to the compression with Catgut wire in 4 points. In the 3rd postoperative day, the indirect treatment was started (right inferior limb) for four days. In the 9th postoperative day, the direct treatment begins on the surgical procedure area for 5 serial days. The paw elevation time, during the march, of the animal was verified before and after the sciatica, at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 13th postoperative day. The results demonstrated that the application of the therapeutic ultrasound reduced the pain with both treatments in PUG and CUG, and it has tended larger effectiveness in the pulsed form.

Aplicação do laser 808nm na dor articular crônica de ratos Wistar / Aplication of 808nm laser in chronic joint pain in Wistar rats

Durante o processo inflamatório, alguns tipos de células predominam e estão envolvidos com a produção de dor. O laser de baixa potência mostra-se útil no controle de mediadores inflamatórios, mas a ampla divergência nos parâmetros dosimétricos, conduz a variações nos resultados positivos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o uso do laser 808nm, na dor articular crônica e edema de ratos Wistar submetidos a sinovite. Foram utilizados 10 ratos Wistar, divididos em dois grupos: GC - indução de sinovite em joelho direito e tratamento placebo; GT - indução de sinovite e irradiado com laser 10J/cm². Para a produção de sinovite foram injetados 100µl de formalina a 5 por cento, no espaço articular tibiofemoral direito. A avaliação da dor ocorreu pelo tempo de elevação da pata (TEP). No 10º dia após a indução de sinovite, iniciou-se o tratamento com laser sobre a face articular medial do joelho, procedimento mantido no decorrer de 10 dias. Os resultados mostraram que o laser apresentou efeitos analgésicos, visto que, para o grupo tratado, houve redução significativa nos valores de TEP, indicando redução da dor, quando comparados os valores pós-tratamento com os pré-tratamento, o que não ocorreu para o grupo que recebeu tratamento placebo; para o edema, o laser também mostrou redução significativa do mesmo. Concluiu-se que o laser 808nm, com 10J/cm², é eficaz na redução da dor articular crônica e edema, em animais submetidos a sinovite experimental.

During the inflammatory process some kinds of cells are predominant and are involved with pain production. Low power laser seems to be useful in the control of inflammatory mediators, but wide divergence in the dosemetric parameters leads to variations in its positive results. The aim of this study was to assess the use of the 808nm laser in the chronic joint pain and edema of Wistar rats submitted to synovitis. Sample was composed of 10 Wistar rats divided in two groups: CG - synovitis induction on right knee and placebo treatment; TG - synovitis induction and irradiated with 10J/cm² laser. 100µl of 5 percent phormaline were injected in the right tibiofemoral joint space. Pain assessment occurred by the time of paw elevation (TPE). On the 10th day after synovitis induction, laser treatment began on the knee medial joint surface and this procedure was kept for 10 days. The outcomes showed that laser presented analgesic effects, since significant reduction of the TPE values was observed for the treated group, hence indicating pain reduction when compared with the pre-treatment values; the same situation did not occur to the group which received the placebo treatment. Concerning edema, laser has also shown significant reduction. It can be concluded that laser 808nm with 10J/cm² is efficient in reduction of chronic joint pain and edema in animals submitted to experimental synovitis.

Ultra-som terapêutico contínuo térmico em modelo experimental de ciatalgia / Continuous thermic therapeutic ultrasound in sciatica experimental model

O ultra-som é um recurso fisioterapêutico que pode atuar na redução dos sintomas da ciatalgia. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a eficácia do ultra-som terapêutico, no modo contínuo, em duas diferentes densidades de potência (0,5W/cm2 e 1 W/cm2), na redução do quadro álgico em ratos submetidos a modelo experimental de ciatalgia. Foram utilizados 20 ratos, divididos em 3 grupos: G1 (n=6) submetido à ciatalgia e a tratamento placebo; G2 (n=7) submetido à ciatalgia e tratado com ultra-som com 0,5 W/cm2; e G3 (n=7) submetido à ciatalgia e tratado com ultra-som com 1 W/cm2. A ciatalgia foi provocada por lesão cirúrgica de compressão do nervo no membro posterior direito de todos os animais. O tratamento na região do procedimento cirúrgico, iniciado no 3º dia pós-operatório, consistiu em 10 sessões diárias de 5 minutos. Verificou-se a dor pelo do tempo de elevação da pata (TEP) durante a marcha, medido pré-cirurgia e em mais cinco momentos. Os resultados mostram aumentos no TEP em todos os grupos após a lesão; e, naqueles tratados com ultra-som terapêutico, houve diminuição significativa da TEP, restaurando-se os valores iniciais, sendo mais precoce e intensa em G2. Conclui-se que a entrega na forma continua do ultra-som terapêutico foi eficaz na redução da dor ciática...

Therapeutic ultrasound is a physical therapy resource for relieving sciaticpain. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of continuous therapeutic ultrasound in two different power densities (0,5 W/cm² and 1 W/cm²), on reducing pain in rats submitted to a sciatica experimental model. Twenty rats were used, divided into 3 groups: G1 (n=6) submitted to sciatica and placebo treatment; G2 (n=7) submitted to sciatica and treated with 0.5 W/cm² ultrasound; and G3 (n=7), submitted to sciatica and treated with 1 W/cm² ultrasound. Sciatica was provoked by surgical nerve compression on the right posterior limb of all animals. Treatment on the surgical procedure region consisted in ten daily 5-minute sessions, starting on the 3rd postoperative day. Pain was inferred by the time of paw elevation (TPE) during gait, measured before the surgery and on five further moments. Results showed TPE increase in all groups after surgery; but in both groups actually treated with ultrasound a significant TEP decrease was noticed, practically reaching initial values, the decrease being more precocious and intense in G2. Continuous ultrasound such as was delivered was hence effective in reducing sciatic pain...

Uso do laser, 670 nm, no quadro álgico de ratos submetidos à modelo experimental de ciatalgia / Use of laser, 670 nm, in painful episodes of rats submitted to experimental model of sciatica

A ciatalgia deve-se a compressão do nervo isquiático em algum ponto de seu trajeto, e seu tratamento consiste em solucionar a causa da compressão nervosa, seja por tratamento cirúrgico ou conservador. Alguns recursos fisioterapêuticos atuam basicamente na redução dos sintomas ocasionados por este distúrbio. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a eficácia do laser 670 nm, em duas diferentes densidades de energia, na redução do quadro álgico, em ratos submetidos a modelo experimental de ciatalgia. Foram utilizados 18 ratos, divididos em 3 grupos: G1 (n=6) submetidos à ciatalgia e simulado o tratamento (grupo placebo), G2 (n=6) submetido à ciatalgia e tratados com laser 2 J/cm², G3 (n=6) submetidos à ciatalgia e irradiados com laser 4 J/cm². O nervo isquiático do membro posterior direito dos animais foi exposto e compressão com fio catgut em 4 pontos ao redor do nervo foi realizada. No 3° dia pós-operatório, iniciou-se o tratamento com laser na região do procedimento cirúrgico do membro posterior direito durante 10 dias consecutivos. Verificou-se por meio da marcha, o tempo em que o membro permanecia no ar nos períodos: anterior à ciatalgia, pré e pós-tratamento. Os resultados demonstraram que o laser não foi eficaz na redução do quadro álgico, porém com 4 J/cm² houve efeito positivo, sem restabelecimento completo da funcionalidade.

Sciatica is caused by the sciatic nerve compression in some point of its course, and its treatment consists of solving the nervous compression cause, either by surgical or conservative treatment. Some physiotherapeutic resources act basically in the reduction of the symptoms caused by this disturbance. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of the laser 670 nm, in two different energy densities, in the pain reduction, in rats submitted to a sciatica experimental model. Eighteen rats, divided in 3 groups were used: G1 (n=6) submitted to sciatica and simulated treatment (placebo group), G2 (n=6) submitted to sciatica and treated with laser 2 J/cm², G3 (n=6) submitted to sciatica and irradiated with laser 4 J/cm². The hamstring nerve of the animals' right hind limb was exposed and compression with catgut thread in 4 points of the nerve was performed. On the 3rd post-operation day, the treatment was begun with laser in the surgical procedure area of the right hind limb for 10 days. The time during which the limb remained on the air was verified through gait in the following periods: previous to the sciatica, before and after treatment. The results have demonstrated that the laser was not effective in the pain reduction; however, with 4 J/cm² there was positive effect, without complete functionality reestablishment.

Influência do alongamento passivo em três repetições de 30 segundos a cada 48 horas em músculo sóleo imobilizado de ratos / Influence of passive stretching in three 30-second sets at every 48 hours in immobilized soleum muscle of rats

O músculo esquelético tem a propriedade de adaptar-se a diferentes estímulos, alterando o número de sarcômeros em série, de acordo com o comprimento a que está submetido. Este trabalho tem como objetivo comparar as adaptações de peso e comprimento do músculo sóleo de ratos, além de estimativa do total de sarcômeros em série, quando submetidos a alongamento intermitente durante imobilização em plantiflexão. Foram utilizados 24 ratos (Wistar) machos de 14 ± 2 semanas de idade, divididos em 4 grupos: C (n = 6) - controle; A (n = 6) - músculo sóleo esquerdo (MSE) alongado; I - (n = 6) MSE imobilizado; IA (n = 6) MSE imobilizado e alongado. O protocolo utilizado foi 3 séries de alongamento com duração de 30s a cada 48h; e período total de imobilização de 21 dias. Foram comparadas as variações observadas entre os músculos sóleus direito (MSD) e o MSE com relação a peso muscular, comprimento muscular e estimativa do número de sarcômeros em série (ENSS), através da contagem em 300mm. Nas variáveis analisadas ao comparar o MSD (controle) e o MSE (submetido a alongamento e/ou imobilização) foram observados: peso muscular: C = -1,59 por cento, (p = 0,67); A = +5,41 por cento (p = 0,05); I = -41,48 por cento (p = 0,01); IA = -32,46 por cento (p = 0,01); comprimento muscular: C = -2,63 por cento (p = 0,43); A = +7,54 por cento (p = 0,07); I = -12,74 por cento (p = 0,01); IA = -10,42 por cento (p = 0,11); ENSS: C = -3,81 por cento (p = 0,09); A = + 2,73 por cento (p = 0,56); I = -12,20 por cento (p = 0,01); IA = -12,21 por cento (p = 0,21). Conclui-se que o alongamento durante a imobilização preservou o comprimento muscular e a quantidade de sarcômeros em série, mas não evitou a perda do peso muscular.

The skeletal muscle has the property to adapt to different stimuli, alternating the number of sarcomeres in series, according to the length to which it is submitted to. This investigation has the aim to compare weight and length adaptations of the soleus muscle in rats, besides the total estimate of the sarcomeres in series, when submitted to intermittent stretching during immobilization in plantarflexion. Twenty-four 14 ± 2 weeks old Wistar male rats were used. They were divided in 4 groups, namely: C (n = 6) - control; A (n = 6) - stretched left soleus muscle (LSM); I (n = 6) - immobilized left soleus muscle; IA (n = 6) - immobilized and stretched LSM. The used protocol was of 3 stretching sets with 30 s duration at every 48 h, and total immobilization period of 21 days. The variations observed were compared between right soleus muscle (RSM) and LSM concerning muscular weight, muscular length and estimate of number of sarcomeres in series (ENSS), through counting in 300 mm. In the analyzed variables, when RSM (control) and LSM were compared (submitted to stretching and/or immobilization) the following were observed: muscular weight: C = -1.59 percent (p = 0.67); A = +5.41 percent (p = 0.05); I = -41.48 percent (p = 0.01); IA = -32.46 percent (p = 0.01); muscular length: C = -2.63 percent (p = 0.43); A = +7.54 percent (p = 0.07); I = -12.74 percent (p = 0.01); IA = -10.42 percent (p = 0.11); ENSS: C = -3.81 percent (p = 0.09); A = +2.73 percent (p = 0.56); I = -12.20 percent (p = 0.01); IA = -12.21 percent (p = 0.21). It is concluded that stretching during immobilization has preserved muscular length and the amount of sarcomeres in series; however, it did not prevent muscular weight loss.