QoL and functional capacity in RA were affected in adults and the elderly. How-ever, the results showed no significant difference between groups, with the exception of the 6MWT.

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Under these experimental conditions, the testicular function parameters showed that radiation produced marked damage that was not reversed by treatments. However, gonadal restructuring and recovery of spermatogenesis in treated animals may to reflect attenuation of radiation-induced damages and potential start of recovery.

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This study evaluated the repercussions of paternal exposure to radiation on reproduction and offspring in rats, as well as whether treatment with the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists telmisartan and losartan has a mitigating effect. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control, radiation, telmisartan, losartan, radiation + telmisartan, and radiation + losartan. A single 5 Gy dose of radiation was administered directly into the scrotum, followed by treatment with telmisartan (12 mg/kg/d) or losartan (34 mg/kg/2 times per day) for 60 days in the groups receiving these medications. The reproductive ability of the test animals was assessed before and after exposure to radiation via fertility tests. The resulting offspring were analyzed for the presence of external and internal anomalies. Ionizing radiation significantly affected the rates of fertility, pre- and postimplantation losses, and implantation. Telmisartan and losartan did not significantly prevent this radiation-induced damage. The frequency of fetal anomalies was similar in offspring produced before and after paternal radiation exposure. Moreover, irradiated rats that received treatments and were able to generate offspring did not produce fetuses with morphological changes; this may represent a possible radioprotective effect AT1 antagonists have on offspring development, although few fetuses survived and were evaluated for malformations. Although the study findings indicate that these medications have a positive effect, further studies with longer treatment periods (extending beyond 1 rat spermatogenic cycle) are needed to determine whether these drugs significantly improve reproductive rates after paternal exposure to radiation, which may also reflect an increase in the number of viable fetuses.

SUMMARY:Radiotherapy is a source of human exposure to ionizing radiation. This pure energy causes deleterious effects on tissues, which result from oxidative stress, a phenomenon in which there is the participation of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS). The male genital organs are extremely radiosensitive and the action of radiation in the testes can significantly affect spermatogenesis. In search of potential radioprotective for male genital system, this study investigated whether the AT 1 receptor antagonists minimize radiationinduced damage to reproductive tissues, by decreasing oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: 0 Gray (Gy) (control), 5 Gy (single dose in the scrotal area), telmisartan, losartan, 5Gy+telmisartan and 5Gy+losartan. The treatment started the day after irradiation with losartan 34 mg/kg (two times/day) and telmisartan 12 mg/kg (one time/day) during 60 days. For ultrastructural analysis, the testis fragments were fixed in 2 % glutaraldehyde and 4 % paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.3. The material was postfixed for 2 h in 1 % osmium tetroxide. For collagen evaluation, the sections were stained with Picrosirius-red method. Serum testosterone was determined. The date showed the deleterious effects of gamma radiation on testicular ultrastructure. Rich accumulation of collagen fibers in the interstitium was observed in the irradiated groups, especially the irradiated and nontreated testes. No significant difference was detected in serum testosterone concentration among the studied experimental groups. Treatments with telmisartan and losartan influenced the onset of attenuation on ultrastructural damages arising from ionizing radiation. Although the data strongly suggest that AT 1 receptor antagonists may promote radioprotection to the testes, further studies with a longer duration of treatment are required for these potentially positive effects to be maximized and, therefore, to better characterize radioprotection to reproductive parameters.

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Implementação de um programa de mestrado acadêmico voltado ao processo do envelhecimento Implementation of an academic master's program oriented to the aging process