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Biomedical subjects

R Machado-Vieira

Publications and source records attributed to R Machado-Vieira.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Dose-related effects of propericiazine in rats.

We evaluated the effects of the neuroleptic agent propericiazine on animal models of anxiety and memory. Adult male Wistar rats (250 to 350 g) received intraperitoneal injections of propericiazine (0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), saline, or diazepam vehicle (20% propylene glycol and 80% saline) 30 min prior to the experimental procedure. Animals (10-15 for each task) were tested for step-down inhibitory avoidance (0.3-mA footshock) and habituation to an open-field for memory assessment, and submitted to the elevated plus-maze to evaluate the effects of propericiazine in a model of anxiety. Animals treated with 0.075 mg/kg propericiazine showed a reduction in anxiety measures (P<0.05) similar to that observed in those treated with diazepam. Propericiazine at the doses of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg had no significant anxiolytic effects (P>0.05) in the elevated plus-maze model of anxiety. Memory was not affected by propericiazine in any of the tests, but was impaired by diazepam. The results indicate a dose-related, inverse U-shaped effect of propericiazine in an anxiety model, but not on memory tasks, perhaps reflecting involvement of the dopaminergic system in the mechanisms of anxiety.

Animals↗

Elevated serum S100B protein in drug-free bipolar patients during first manic episode: a pilot study.

S100B protein is a calcium-binding protein mostly derived from glial cells, which exerts trophic or toxic effects on neural cells depending on its concentration. Since serum S100B levels has been tested as a potential marker in neuropsychiatric disorders, and structural abnormalities on glial cells have been recently associated with bipolar disorder patients, we conducted this preliminary study to examine if S100B serum levels are altered during first manic episode. We quantitated S100B in serum of 40 subjects (20 unmedicated patients during manic episode and 20 healthy matched controls). The mean+/-S.D. values for S100B for bipolar subjects were 0.065+/-0.068 microg/l and 0.018+/-0.029 microg/l for healthy controls. Increased levels of S100B in bipolar mania was statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, Z=-2.45, P=0.01). These preliminary findings suggest that mania may increase the levels of S100B in serum of bipolar disorder patients, which could be related to adaptative neural mechanisms in bipolar mania.

Adult↗

Purinergic dysfunction in mania: an integrative model.

The purinergic system, which includes the anticonvulsant and antikindling neuromodulator adenosine and the neurotransmitter ATP, modulates second messenger systems, neurotransmitters, energy metabolism and different behaviors, such as sleep, motor activity, cognition, memory, aggressive behavior and social interaction. At the same time, mania is characterized by similar behavioral changes and a molecular basis to explain the pathological activation observed during manic episodes has been also associated with second messenger systems dysfunction and kindling. This hypothesis put forward an integrative model of neuronal communication, associating a reduced adenosinergic activity, mostly at A1 receptors, with the complex network of changes on neurotransmitters pathways related to manic behavior.

Adenosine↗