DigitalUM :: Browsing by Subject "Brain"

Browsing by Subject "Brain"

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Age-related changes in mitochondrial membrane composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) heart and brain
(Elsevier, 2012-05-22) Almaida Pagán, Pedro Francisco; Costa, J. de; Mendiola, P; Tocher, D R; Fisiología; Institute of Aquaculture, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Membrane composition, particularly of mitochondria, could be a critical factor by determining the propaga-tion of reactions involved in mitochondrial function during periods of high oxidative stress such as rapid growth and aging. Considering that phospholipids not only contribute to the structural and physical properties of biological membranes, but also participate actively in cell signaling and apoptosis, changes affecting either class or fatty acid compositions could affect phospholipid properties and, thus, alter mitochondrial function and cell viability. In the present study, heart and brain mitochondrial membrane phospholipid compositions were analyzed in rainbow trout during the four first years of life, a period characterized by rapid growth and a sustained high metabolic rate. Specifically, farmed fish of three ages (1-, 2- and 4-years) were studied, and phospholipid class compositions of heart and brain mitochondria, and fatty acid compositions of individual phospholipid classes were determined. Rainbow trout heart and brain mitochon- dria showed different phospholipid compositions (class and fatty acid), likely related to tissue-specific functions. Furthermore, changes in phospholipid class and fatty acid compositions with age were also tissue-dependent. Heart mitochondria had lower proportions of cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol, and higher levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) with age. Heart mitochondrial membranes became more unsaturated with age, with a significative increase of peroxidation index in CL, PS and sphingomyelin (SM). Therefore, heart mitochondria became more susceptible to oxidative damage with age. In contrast, brain mitochondrial PC and PS content decreased in 4-year-old animals while there was an increase in the proportion of SM. The three main phospholipid classes in brain (PC, PE and PS) showed decreased n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and peroxidation index, which indicate a different response of brain mitochondrial lipids to rapid growth and maturation.
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Assessment of mercury exposure and maternal-foetal transfer in Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) from southeastern Iberian Peninsula
(Springer, 2016-12-27) Espín, Silvia ; Aroca, Bárbara ; José Francisco Calvo; Antonio Juan García-Fernández; Lisón Gil, Fulgencio; Calvo Sendín, José F.; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Ecología e Hidrología
Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic and widely distributed metal that is bioaccumulated in insectivorous mammals and may cause adverse effects on the reproductive system. Bats are considered excellent Hg bioindicators due to their wide distribution, life span, trophic position, metabolic rate and food intake. However, few studies have analysed Hg residues in bats, and to the best of our knowledge, no studies have been made in the Iberian Peninsula. The main aim of this study was to undertake the first ever assessment of Hg exposure in Schreiber’s bent-winged bats inhabiting a natural cave in the southeast of Spain. The findings suggest that Schreiber’s bent-winged bats in the sampling area are chronically exposed to low levels of Hg. The Hg concentrations found in different tissues (fur, kidney, liver, muscle and brain) were below the threshold levels associated with toxic effects in mammals. Non-gestating females showed Hg concentrations in the brain and muscle that doubled those found in gestating females. This could be due to Hg mobilization from the mother to the foetus in gestating females, although other factors could contribute to explain this result such as variations in hunting areas and the insect-prey consumed and/or different energetic needs and average food consumption during the breeding season. Hg levels were 1.7 times higher, although not significant, in foetus’ brains than in the maternal brains, and Hg concentration in foetus’ brain was significantly correlated with levels in the corresponding mothers’ kidney. These results suggest that there could be an active mother-to-foetus transfer of Hg in bats, which would be of special relevance in a scenario of higher Hg exposure than that found in this study. However, further research is needed to support this view due to the limited number of samples analysed. Given the scarce ecotoxicological data available for bats and their protected status, we encourage further opportunistic studies using carcasses found in the field, the validation of non-destructive samples such as fur and guano for Hg monitoring, and new modelling approaches that will increase the data needed for proper ecological risk assessment in bat populations.
Open Access
Brain CYP1A in seabream Sparus aurata exposed to Benzo(a)pyrene
(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2009) Ortiz-Delgado, J.B.; Segner, H.; Sarasquete, C.
This study compares basal and induced expression of cytochrome P4501A-CYP1A in the brain of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata. Larval or adult seabream were exposed to benzo(a)pyrene -B(a)P- and the CYP1A response was assessed by analyzing CYP1A mRNA (RT-PCR), CYP1A protein (expression levels: ELISA, western blotting; cellular localization: immunohistochemistry), and CYP1A catalytic activity (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase-EROD). In the brain of adult S. aurata, CYP1A immunostaining was generally detected in the vasculature. It was present in the neuronal fibers and glial cells of the olfactory bulbs and the ventral telencephalon. ELISA and RT-PCR analyses confirmed CYP1A expression in the brains of non-exposed seabream. B(a)P exposure led to increased CYP1A staining mainly in neuronal fibers and glial cells of the olfactory bulbs, but also in the vascular endothelia. EROD activity, however, could not be detected in the brain of adult seabream, neither in control nor in exposed fish. In the developing brain of S. aurata larvae, immunohistochemical staining detected CYP1A protein exclusively in endothelia of the olfactory placode and in retina. Staining intensity of CYP1A slightly increases with larval development, especially in vascular brain endothelia. Exposing the larvae to 0.3 or 0.5 μg B(a)P/L from hatching until 15 days post hatching (dph) did not result in enhanced CYP1A immunostaining in the brain. In samples of whole seabream larvae, both from controls and BaP treatments, neither CYP1A mRNA, protein nor catalytic activity were detectable. The results demonstrate that CYP1A is expressed already and inducible in the larval brain, but that the regional and cellular expression differs partly between larval and adult brain. This may have implications for the toxicity of CYP1A-inducing xenobiotics on early and mature life stages of seabream.
Open Access
CoExp: A Web Tool for the Exploitation of Co-expression Networks
(Frontiers Media SA, 2021-02-24) García-Ruiz, Sonia ; Cisterna, Alejandro; Jurado-Ruiz, Federico; Reynolds, Regina H. ; NABEC (North American Brain Expression Consortium); Cookson, Mark R.; Hardy, John ; Ryten, Mina; Gil Martínez, Ana Luisa; Botía Blaya, Juan Antonio; Ingeniería de la Información y las Comunicaciones
Gene co-expression networks are a powerful type of analysis to construct gene groupings based on transcriptomic profiling. Co-expression networks make it possible to discover modules of genes whose mRNA levels are highly correlated across samples. Subsequent annotation of modules often reveals biological functions and/or evidence of cellular specificity for cell types implicated in the tissue being studied. There are multiple ways to perform such analyses with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) amongst one of the most widely used R packages. While managing a few network models can be done manually, it is often more advantageous to study a wider set of models derived from multiple independently generated transcriptomic data sets (e.g., multiple networks built from many transcriptomic sources). However, there is no software tool available that allows this to be easily achieved. Furthermore, the visual nature of co-expression networks in combination with the coding skills required to explore networks, makes the construction of a web-based platform for their management highly desirable. Here, we present the CoExp Web application, a user-friendly online tool that allows the exploitation of the full collection of 109 co-expression networks provided by the CoExpNets suite of R packages. We describe the usage of CoExp, including its contents and the functionality available through the family of CoExpNets packages. All the tools presented, including the web front- and back-ends are available for the research community so any research group can build its own suite of networks and make them accessible through their own CoExp Web application. Therefore, this paper is of interest to both researchers wishing to annotate their genes of interest across different brain network models and specialists interested in the creation of GCNs looking for a tool to appropriately manage, use, publish, and share their networks in a consistent and productive manner.
Open Access
Cortisol and finfish welfare
(Springer, 2012) Ellis, Tim; Yavuzcan, Hijran; López Olmeda, José Fernando; Spedicato, Maria Teresa; Tort, Lluis; Overli, Oyvind; Martins, Catarina; Fisiología
Previous reviews of stress, and the stress hormone cortisol, in fish have focussed on physiology, due to interest in impacts on aquaculture production. Here, we discuss cortisol in relation to fish welfare. Cortisol is a readily measured component of the primary (neuroendocrine) stress response and is relevant to fish welfare as it affects physiological and brain functions and modifies behaviour. However, we argue that cortisol has little value if welfare is viewed purely from a functional (or behavioural) perspective—the cortisol response itself is a natural, adaptive response and is not predictive of coping as downstream impacts on function and behaviour are dose-, time- and context-dependent and not predictable. Nevertheless, we argue that welfare should be considered in terms of mental health and feelings, and that stress in relation to welfare should be viewed as psychological, rather than physiological. We contend that cortisol can be used (with caution) as a tractable indicator of how fish perceive (and feel about) their environment, psychological stress and feelings in fish. Cortisol responses are directly triggered by the brain and fish studies do indicate cortisol responses to psychological stressors, i.e., those with no direct physicochemical action. We discuss the practicalities of using cortisol to ask the fish themselves how they feel about husbandry practices and the culture environment. Single time point measurements of cortisol are of little value in assessing the stress level of fish as studies need to account for diurnal and seasonal variations, and environmental and genetic factors. Areas in need of greater clarity for the use of cortisol as an indicator of fish feelings are the separation of (physiological) stress from (psychological) distress, the separation of chronic stress from acclimation, and the interactions between feelings, cortisol, mood and behaviour.
Open Access
Dataset used for Report of "Proteomic changes induced by hepcidin 1 injection in brain and skin of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)"
(2025) Laura García-Navarro; Serna Duque, John Alberto; Marín Parra, Claudia; M. Ángeles Esteban; Biología Celular e Histología; M. Ángeles Esteban
The present study investigated the effects of hepcidin 1 (Hamp1) on the proteome of brain and skin of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Hepcidin 1, a host defense peptide with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions, was inyected intraperitoneally at a dose of 25 μM. Proteomic analyses of brain and skin samples were performed using HPLC-MS/MS at 4 and 10 days post-injection. Data processing and analysis revealed significant alterations in protein expression profiles in both tissues. In the brain, hepcidin 1 injection upregulated proteins involved in DNA repair, myelin sheath structure, and extracellular matrix remodeling at 4 days, while at 10 days, changes were observed in proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum calcium channels, Golgi apparatus glycosylation, and cytoskeletal dynamics. Skin samples exhibited increased expression of proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum stress response, cell adhesion, and vesicular trafficking at 4 days. At 10 days, skin proteome alterations indicated a metabolic shift towards enhanced glycolysis, oxidative stress adaptation, and cytoskeletal remodeling. These findings suggest that hepcidin 1 induces tissue-specific and time-dependent proteomic changes in gilthead seabream, potentially modulating immune responses, energy metabolism, and cellular adaptation processes. Further research is needed to elucidate the functional implications of these proteomic alterations and their potential applications in aquaculture health management.
Open Access
Effect of repeated use of social media before training sessions on countermovement jumping and internal training load in high-level volleyball players
(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de publicaciones, 2024) Freitas Junior, Carlos; Berriel, Guilherme; Faro, Heloiana; Peyré Tartaruga, Leonardo; Fortes, Leonardo
To verify the effect of repeated use of social media on smartphones immediately before countermovement jump (CMJ) and internal training load (ITL) training sessions in young male high-level volleyball athletes. 18 young international-level athletes participated in a randomized crossover study for a total of two weeks. The athletes are from the Brazilian under-19 team and were randomized into two experimental conditions, social media (SMA) and control (CON). SMA used social media for 30 minutes before training sessions for a week, while CON watched emotionally neutral videos. During this period, the ITL was analyzed using the session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) method. The CMJ was analyzed before, between, and after the two-week training. In the second week, the athletes reversed the experimental conditions. The CMJ was decreased after the training week (p =0.04), but with no difference between the experimental conditions (p = 0.51). The ITL was not different between the experimental conditions after the analyzed training week (p = 0.95). Repeated use of social media on smartphones immediately before training sessions for a week was not enough to harm the CMJ, nor did it increase the ITL in young international-level volleyball athletes.
Open Access
Histopathological characterization of photochemical damage in nervous tissue
(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1994) Van Reempts, J.; Borgers, M.
This paper discusses histological and ultrastructural changes produced by dye-sensitized photoreactions in the central and peripheral nervous system. Particular attention has been given to morphological outcome in experimental models which reproduce widespread clinical pathologies, e.g. stroke, spinal cord injury and peripheral neuropathy. Evaluation of structural alterations may not only help to characterize the evolution of these disease processes but also allow us to study possibilities of therapeutic intervention.
Open Access
Microglial reaction in focal cerebral ischaemia induced by intra-carotid homologous clot injection
(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2001) Ng, Y.-K.; Ling, E.-A.
This study examined the microglial reaction in a simulated thrombo-embolus ischaemia in rats given an intracarotid injection of a suspension of homologous blood clot. All rats including the controls receiving vehicle injection were perfused at 5 hours, and 1, 3 and 7 days post-operation. The brains were removed and processed for immunohistochemistry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies: OX-42, OX-18 and OX-6 for labeling of microglia. In rats given saline injection OX42 immunoreactive microglial cells were observed to be distributed quite evenly throughout the whole brain. When injection of clot suspension was given, microglial cells responded vigorously, particularly in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Microglial reaction was also detected in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex, caudate as well as septal nuclei. The majority of the detected reactive microglial cells were hypertrophied showing thick or stout processes. Some rod-like and amoeboid microglia were also observed. Rarely did the reactive microglia express OX-6 immunoreactivity. All microglial cells were unreactive for OX-18. The actual mechanisms leading to the microglial activation as well as functions of reactive microglia in focal cerebral ischaemia remain speculative. In the absence of direct evidence, it could only be suggested that they may act as sensor cells for detection of subtle alterations in the microenvironment, probably in response to focal ischaemia and/or leakage of serumderived factors induced by thrombo-embolus stroke.
Open Access
Role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of viral infections of the nervous system
(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2005) Valyi-Nagy, T.; Dermody, T.S.
Oxidative stress, primarily due to increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), is a feature of many viral infections. ROS and RNS modulate the permissiveness of cells to viral replication, regulate host inflammatory and immune responses, and cause oxidative damage to both host tissue and progeny virus. The lipid-rich nervous system is particularly susceptible to lipid peroxidation, an autocatalytic process that damages lipid-containing structures and yields reactive by-products, which can covalently modify and damage cellular macromolecules. Oxidative injury is a component of acute encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 and reovirus, neurodegenerative disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus and murine leukemia virus, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis caused by measles virus. The extent to which oxidative damage plays a beneficial role for the host by limiting viral replication is largely unknown. An enhanced understanding of the role of oxidative damage in viral infections of the nervous system may lead to therapeutic strategies to reduce tissue damage during viral infection without impeding the host antiviral response.
Open Access
Traumatic brain injury: Estimate of the age of the injury based on neuroinflammation, endothelial activation markers and adhesion molecules
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2021) dell'Aquila, Massimiliano; Maiese, Aniello; De Matteis, Alessandra; Viola, Rocco Valerio; Arcangeli, Mauro; La Russa, Raffaele; Fineschi, Vittorio
Studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are applicable not only in the clinical context, but also in the forensic field. Over time, the literature has accumulated scientific evidence supporting the use of specific histopathological tests in dating traumatic brain injuries. In primary damage, cell death occurs by necrosis/apoptosis. In secondary injury, the underlying mechanisms are inflammation and ischemia. The inflammatory response of the central nervous system (CNS) follows the common steps of the innate response. In head injury, the blood brain barrier (BBB) undergoes both functional damage and, subsequently, finer structural changes. Scientific evidence has shown modifications of the junctional-endothelial system that favors the extravasation of immunocompetent cells. The histological evaluation of the subdural hematoma, of the cerebral contusions, of the diffuse axonal damage can certainly bring useful elements, with limitations, to the chronological evaluation of the lesions. Many markers have been used to better define the dating of the head injury. Several authors also analyzed the usefulness of secondary damage markers in brain tissue. The progress achieved with immunohistochemistry is significant compared to the use of routine staining. With immunohistochemistry it is possible to identify much narrower and more precise time intervals and, above all, with greater probative reliability. Recently attention has been paid to the modification of structural proteins and miRNAs. Future research is already started and entrusted to multidisciplinary teams that know how to combine their specific skills in search of a reproducible standard of known and sufficient accuracy
Open Access
Utilidad de las proteínas de fase aguda en el líquido cefalorraquídeo canino para el diagnóstico de la me-ningoencefalomielitis de origen desconocido
(Universidad de Murcia. Servicio de publicaciones, 2024) Verdú Serrano, María Elena; Muñoz Prieto, Alberto; Mateo Pampliega, Isidro; García Martínez, Juan Diego
El sistema inmunitario facilita la defensa de los seres vivos, que se desencadena a través de la respuesta de fase aguda, generándose las proteínas de fase aguda. Estas proteínas, medidas en suero, resultan de utilidad. El uso de biomarcadores para el diagnóstico precoz de enfermedades inflamatorias del sistema nervioso central (SNC), está en auge en medicina humana. En el caso de las meningoencefalomielitis de origen desconocido (MOD), no hay estudios con una información relevante que sea capaz de solventar el gran inconveniente de no poder obtener un diagnóstico definitivo, que no sea de manera postmortem. La medición de proteínas de fase aguda, como la proteína C reactiva (CRP) y la haptoglobina en el líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) podría ayudar a solventar este problema. El objetivo de esta investigación es valorar si estas proteínas se pueden detectar en el LCR, mediante un analizador bioquímico automatizado y estudiar la existencia de alteraciones DOI: 10.6018/analesvet.562071 en animales con MOD. Para ello, los animales incluidos en el estudio se dividieron en un grupo control, com-puesto por perros sin MOD y un grupo problema, subdividido en perros con MOD y perros con MOD tratados con corticoides. Para la medición de estos parámetros se utilizó el analizador Olympus AU600®. Para realizar el estudio comparativo entre grupos se aplicó la prueba no paramétrica de Kruskal-Wallis, seguido del test de Dunn para comparaciones múltiples. La CRP no mostró variaciones estadísticamente significativas, mientras que la haptoglobina no se pudo detectar en el LCR, por lo que se debería valorar su medición con técnicas más sensibles que permitan su cuantificación.

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