Deficient neuroscience teaching in the basic science curriculum, is this the origin of the neurophobia?

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship among BDNF serum as well as hippocampal level, Amygdala and hippocampus histo-pathological changes and the occurrence of anxious and exploratory behavior in Sprague Dawley TMT-treated rats. Method: First, TMT (8 mg/kg) was injected intra-peritoneally (i.p) to all rats. The test groups received 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg of lithium chloride (LiCl) respectively and the sham group received saline for 14 days. The elevated plus maze, dark-light box and open field tests were conducted in order to investigate the anxiety symptoms and exploratory behaviors. Then, the BDNF serum and hippocampal levels were measured using ELISA procedure. This was to study the correlation between the anxiety symptoms with the neurotrophin levels and histopathological changes and neuronal density in different hippocampus subdivisions, including CA1, CA2, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) and the amygdala in both hemispheres. Results: Findings indicated an increase in anxiety behaviors and a decrease in exploratory ones. In addition, the BDNF hippocampal and serum levels were decreased in the TMT-treated rats. Also, an increase in necrotic areas and a decrease in neuronal density in different regions of the hippocampus and amygdala in both hemispheres were seen after Trimethyltin intoxication. Conclusion: LiCl, having sufficient neuroprotective effects, could be used as a solution to manage the anxiety symptoms and exploratory behaviors comorbidity with hippocampal degeneration after TMT intoxication.

Pesquisa e reflexão aliada ao ensino na graduação: ferramentas alternativas para trabalhar a anatomia e fisiologia humana

“…Os conceitos desenvolvidos na sequência das aulas foram relativos ao sistema nervoso. O sistema nervoso é o sistema cuja compreensão é menor, devido a deficiências no seu ensino, quando comparado aos demais sistemas corporais (Moreno-Zambrano et al, 2015). Também foi o sistema mais desafiador nessa jornada, pois é um sistema muito complexo e com pouco tempo disponível para trabalhá-lo na graduação.…”