No abstract

BackgroundEarly revascularization of ischemic organs is key to improving outcomes, yet consequent reperfusion injury may be harmful. Reperfusion injury is largely attributed to excess mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sulfide inhibits mitochondria and reduces ROS production. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM), a copper chelator, releases sulfide in a controlled and novel manner, and may offer potential therapeutic utility.Methods and findingsIn vitro, ATTM releases sulfide in a time-, pH-, temperature-, and thiol-dependent manner. Controlled sulfide release from ATTM reduces metabolism (measured as oxygen consumption) both in vivo in awake rats and ex vivo in skeletal muscle tissue, with a superior safety profile compared to standard sulfide generators. Given intravenously at reperfusion/resuscitation to rats, ATTM significantly reduced infarct size following either myocardial or cerebral ischemia, and conferred survival benefit following severe hemorrhage. Mechanistic studies (in vitro anoxia/reoxygenation) demonstrated a mitochondrial site of action (decreased MitoSOX fluorescence), where the majority of damaging ROS is produced.ConclusionsThe inorganic thiometallate ATTM represents a new class of sulfide-releasing drugs. Our findings provide impetus for further investigation of this compound as a novel adjunct therapy for reperfusion injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes impairment of fine motor functions in humans and nonhuman mammals that often persists for months after the injury occurs. Neuroprotective strategies for prevention of the sequelae of TBI and understanding the molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways are related to the glutamatergic system. It has been suggested that cellular damage subsequent to TBI is mediated by the excitatory neurotransmitters, glutamate and aspartate, through the excessive activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Thus, preconditioning with a low dose of NMDA was used as a strategy for protection against locomotor deficits observed after TBI in mice. Male adult mice CF-1 were preconditioned with NMDA (75 mg/kg) 24 hr before the TBI induction. Under anesthesia with O(2)/N(2)O (33%: 66%) inhalation, the animals were subjected to the experimental model of trauma that occurs by the impact of a 25 g weight on the skull. Sensorimotor gating was evaluated at 1.5, 6, or 24 hr after TBI induction by using footprint and rotarod tests. Cellular damage also was assessed 24 hr after occurrence of cortical trauma. Mice preconditioned with NMDA were protected against all motor deficits revealed by footprint tests, but not those observed in rotarod tasks. Although mice showed motor deficits after TBI, no cellular damage was observed. These data corroborate the hypothesis that glutamatergic excitotoxicity, especially via NMDA receptors, contributes to severity of trauma. They also point to a putative neuroprotective mechanism induced by a sublethal dose of NMDA to improve motor behavioral deficits after TBI.

Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in normal behavior and are implicated in several brain neurodegenerative conditions, psychiatric and inflammatory diseases as well. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that sepsis lead to an imbalance in acetylation of histones and that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can reverse this condition. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a microinjection of sodium butyrate (SB, HDACi) into cerebral ventricle on aversive memory in rats submitted to the sepsis. Rats were given a single intraventricular injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) or SB and immediately after the stereotaxic surgery and the drug infusion, the animals were subjected to cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). The animals were killed twenty four hours or ten days after sepsis induction and the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cortex were obtained to the determination of histone deacetylase activity. In a separate cohort of animals 10 days after sepsis induction, it was performed the inhibitory avoidance task. SB administration was able to reverse the impairment in aversive memory and inhibited the HDAC activity in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus 10 days after CLP. These support a role for an epigenetic mechanism in the long-term cognitive impairments observed in sepsis survivors animals.

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units. Treatment with antibiotics reduces mortality and morbidity, but neonatal sepsis remains a serious life-threatening condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate cognitive impairment in adult mice submitted to sepsis in the neonatal period. To this aim, 2-day-old male C57BL/6 mice were submitted to sepsis by injection of 25 μg of LPS. Sixty days after, the learning and memory were evaluated. It was observed that the mice submitted to neonatal sepsis presented impairment of habituation, aversive, and object recognition memories, and had an increase of immobility time in forced swimming test in adulthood. In conclusion, this study shows that the neonatal sepsis causes long-term brain alterations. These alterations can persist to adulthood in an animal model due to a vulnerability of the developing brain.

Central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction secondary to sepsis is characterized by long-term cognitive impairment. It was observed that oxidative damage, energetic metabolism impairment, and cytokine level alteration seen in early times in an animal model of sepsis may persist for up to 10 days and might be associated with cognitive damage. In order to understand these mechanisms, at least in part, we evaluated the effects of sepsis on cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), oxidative parameters, and energetic metabolism in the brain of rats at both 30 and 60 days after sepsis induction by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). To this aim, male Wistar rats underwent CLP with "basic support" or were sham-operated. Both 30 and 60 days after surgery, the CSF was collected and the animals were killed by decapitation. Then, the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex were collected. Thirty days after surgery, an increase of IL-6 level in the CSF; an increase in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) in prefrontal cortex and a decrease in hippocampus, striatum, and cortex; a decrease of carbonyl protein formation only in prefrontal cortex and an increase in striatum; and an increase in the complex IV activity only in hippocampus were observed. Sixty days after sepsis, an increase of TNF-α level in the CSF; a decrease of TBARS only in hippocampus; an increase of carbonyl protein formation in striatum; and a decrease of complex I activity in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum were observed. These findings may contribute to understanding the role of late cognitive impairment. Further studies may address how these findings interact during sepsis development and contribute to CNS dysfunction.

This study showed increased activity of Krebs cycle enzymes in cortex, quadriceps, and diaphragm in mdx mice.

Activation of adenosine receptors modifies the action of classic neurotransmitters (i.e. dopamine, glutamate and acetylcholine) and other neuromodulators, like vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide S (NPS). Similarly to adenosine, NPS is involved in the regulation of stimulus and response to fear and arousal. Thus, the present study investigates the effects of NPS on locomotor activity in mice treated with or without α,β-methylene adenosine 5'-diphosphate (AOPCP), the inhibitor of ecto-5'-nucleotidase. Additionally, we evaluate the activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in brain slices of mice treated with or without NPS. Male adult CF-1 mice received i.c.v. NPS as 0.1 nmol injection with or without pre-treatment with 1 nmol α,β-methylene adenosine 5'-diphosphate (AOPCP), the selective inhibitor of ecto-5'-nucleotidase, to evaluate locomotor activity. In another set of experiments, mice received i.c.v. infusion of 0.1 nmol NPS to assay enzymatic activity in brain slices. The results demonstrated that the pre-treatment with AOPCP, which was inactive per se, prevented NPS-induced hyperlocomotion in mice. The dose of 0.1 nmol NPS was efficient to induce hyperlocomotion in animals during the observation period in the activity cage. Regarding enzymatic activity, i.c.v. NPS injection did not induce any significant alterations in ATP and AMP hydrolysis in striatum and hippocampus brain slices of mice. The present study shows that the hyperlocomotor effect of NPS depends on the ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity.