OBJECTIVE: evaluated the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in schizophrenia-like behavior in young animals exposed to MIA. METHODS: To this aim, on the 15th gestational day, the females received an injection of lipopolysaccharides. When the animals completed 7, 14 and 45 postnatal days, they were killed and the whole brain was dissected for biochemical analysis. Animals with 45 postnatal days were submitted to behavioral tests of locomotor activity, social interaction and stereotyped movements. RESULTS: It was observed that the animals presented schizophrenia-like behavior at 45 postnatal days associated to the increased of NLRP3 inflammasome expression and IL-1β levels on 7, 14 and 45 postnatal days. CONCLUSION: This study show that MIA may be associated with a schizophrenia-like behavior. This behavior can be induced to a neuroinflamatory profile in brain. These evidences may base future studies on the relationship between neuroinflammation and psychiatric disorders.

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Statins are inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, thereby inhibiting cell synthesis of cholesterol and isoprenoids. Moreover, several studies have been evaluating pleiotropic effects of statins, mainly because they present neuroprotective effects in various pathological conditions. However, knowledge about behavioral effects of statins per se is relatively scarce. Considering these facts, we aimed to analyze behavioral responses of atorvastatin or simvastatin-treated mice in the open field test, elevated plus maze and object location test. Atorvastatin treatment for 7 consecutive days at 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg (v.o.) or simvastatin 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg enhanced cognitive performance in object location test when compared to control group (saline-treated mice). Simvastatin effects on mice performance in the object location test was abolished by post-training infusion of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. Atorvastatin and simvastatin did not change the behavioral response in open field and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests in any of the used doses. These data demonstrate the positive effects of both statins in cognitive processes in mice, without any alteration in locomotor parameters in the open field test or anxiolytic-like behavior in EPM. In conclusion, we demonstrate that atorvastatin and simvastatin per se improve the cognitive performance in a rodent model of spatial memory and this effect is related to beta-adrenergic receptors modulation.

Objetivo: Investigar as implicações na saúde mental em decorrência de surtos e de pandemias, com enfoque na COVID-19. Revisão bibliográfica: A presença atual da COVID-19, em adição de outras pandemias/epidemias anteriores ou outros eventos de acometimento global, é uma importante causa de impactos negativos para a saúde mental da população, desencadeando ou agravando sintomas de ansiedade, depressão, estresse, medo, e até alguns transtornos, como transtorno de estresse pós traumático (TEPT), entre outros. Estes sintomas são frequentemente relatados por trabalhadores de serviços essenciais - profissionais da área da saúde, porteiros, caixas de supermercado etc - indivíduos acometidos pela doença e seus familiares. Além disso, a instituição de medidas de isolamento como forma de prevenção às doenças em tempos de pandemia impacta diretamente na saúde mental da população como um todo. Pouco tem sido relatado, contudo, sobre o assunto. Considerações finais: A literatura é clara no que se refere aos impactos na saúde mental de toda a população durante uma pandemia, sendo capaz de repercutir na qualidade de vida tanto individualmente quanto coletivamente.

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The neonatal immune system is still immature, which makes it more susceptible to the infectious agents. Neonatal immune activation is associated with increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, causing an inflammatory cascade in the CNS and altering behavioral and neurochemical parameters. One of the hypotheses that has been studied is that neuroinflammation may be involved in neurodegenerative processes, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluate visuospatial memory, cytokines levels, and the expression of tau and GSK-3β proteins in hippocampus and cortex of animals exposed to neonatal endotoxemia. C57BL/6 mice aging two days received a single injection of subcutaneous lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At 60,120, and 180 days of age, visual-spatial memory was evaluated and the hippocampus and cortex were dissected to evaluate the cytokines levels and expression of tau and GSK-3β proteins. The animals exposed to LPS in the neonatal period present with visuospatial memory impairment at 120 and 180 days of age. Here there was an increase of TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the hippocampus and cortex only at 60 days of age. Here there was an increase in the expression of GSK-3β in hippocampus of the animals at 60, 120, and 180 days of age. In the cortex, this increase occurred in the 120 and 180 days of age. Tau protein expression was high in hippocampus and cortex at 120 days of age and in hippocampus at 180 days of age. The data observed show that neonatal immune activation may be associated with visuospatial memory impairment, neuroinflammation, and increased expression of GSK-3β and Tau proteins in the long term.

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