Preterm rat survival is enhanced by gestational environmental enrichment.

Throughout the last decade, the estimated global human preterm birth rate was 10.6 %, with higher rates in Asia, South America, and Africa. Preterm individuals, even in adulthood, are more likely to develop cardiorespiratory, renal, and metabolic disorders. On the other hand, when experimental animals are housed in an enriched environment during gestation, the development of the progeny in utero is accelerated, compared to standard housing conditions. By terminating gestation one and a half days before parturition, we investigated whether environmental enrichment restricted to gestation may have an impact on progeny survival. Our results demonstrate that the gestational enriched environment tripled the rat´s offspring survival, which was associated with decreased expression of anxiety-like behaviors in the pregnant mother. Sex of the offspring was not a factor in determining survival. We discuss the effect of increased secretion of various trophic factors and hormones induced by the enriched environment on progeny survival.

[Interleukin-1ß, seizures and neuronal cell death]. / Interleucina-1ß, crisis convulsivas y muerte neuronal.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting almost 1% of the world population. Experimental human and animal studies suggest that inflammation mediators, like cytokines, participate in the physiopathology of epilepsy. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) could influence susceptibility for seizures, as well as neuronal death caused by seizures, although some findings are contradictory. This document reviews the current knowledge establishing a connection between IL-1ß, seizures and neuronal death.

Interleucina-1ß, crisis convulsivas y muerte neuronal / Interleukin-1ß, seizures and neuronal cell death

La epilepsia es un trastorno neurológico que afecta aproximadamente al 1% de la población mundial. Estudios realizados en humanos y animales de experimentación sugieren que mediadores de inflamación, como las citocinas, participan en la fisiopatología de la epilepsia; entre ellos, la interleucina-1beta (IL-1ß) podría participar en la susceptibilidad para generar crisis convulsivas así como en la muerte neuronal causada por las convulsiones, aunque algunos hallazgos son contradictorios. En este documento se revisa el conocimiento actual que establece una relación entre la IL-1ß, las crisis convulsivas y la muerte neuronal.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting almost 1% of the world population. Experimental human and animal studies suggest that inflammation mediators, like cytokines, participate in the physiopathology of epilepsy. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) could influence susceptibility for seizures, as well as neuronal death caused by seizures, although some findings are contradictory. This document reviews the current knowledge establishing a connection between IL-1ß, seizures and neuronal death.