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This contribution deals with a topic of intercultural management as a source of competitive advantages whose significance together with the development of the international trade becomes more important. Firms that expand into foreign markets must adapt themselves to different cultures to be able to communicate effectively with the local background and to achieve the best possible results. This entry is based on the methodology of action research and includes the analysis of the intercultural context of the company Skanska Property CZ

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?Can Na+ depletion mobilize Na+ from the skin reservoir in ovariectomized rats? Does oestrogen replacement change the amount and the dynamics of skin Na+ storage? Is the reduced salt appetite after Na+ depletion in ovariectomized rats with oestrogen replacement related to changes in the skin Na+?What is the main finding and its importance?This work demonstrated that acute body Na+ depletion induced by frusemide mobilized the osmotically inactive skin Na+ reservoir to become osmotically active. Oestrogen treatment decreased the induced Na+ intake in ovariectomized rats but did not modulate the inactive Na+ reservoir in control conditions or its mobilization induced by Na+ depletion. Oestradiol, which is an important hormone for water and electrolyte balance, also has a role in the inhibition of induced Na+ appetite. Sodium can be stored in the skin in osmotically active or inactive forms, and this skin Na+ reservoir may be involved in the control of body Na+ levels during physiopathological challenges. In this study, we investigated whether the effect of sodium depletion by frusemide can mobilize Na+ from the skin reservoir and whether oestradiol replacement changes or mobilizes the Na+ reserves in the skin. Ovariectomized Wistar rats were treated with vehicle or oestradiol for 7 days to evaluate the effects of oestrogen on the hydroelectrolyte balance, intake responses and skin Na+ and water content in basal conditions. Furthermore, the effects of oestrogen were evaluated after 24 h frusemide‐induced whole‐body Na+ depletion. Oestradiol‐replaced rats exhibited reduced water intake without any significant changes in salt intake, Na+ excretion or water and Na+ skin content in basal conditions. After sodium depletion, both vehicle‐ and oestradiol‐treated rats exhibited an increase in the osmotically active skin Na+, which was associated with a decrease of the inactive skin Na+ reservoir. Oestrogen decreased the hypertonic saline intake induced by Na+ depletion, but it was not associated with any significant changes in the skin Na+ reservoir. Thus, sodium depletion is able to change the inactive–active skin Na+ reservoir balance. However, the oestrogenic modulation of sodium appetite after Na+ depletion is probably not related to the action of this hormone in the skin Na+ reservoir balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies demonstrate the significant role of central β‐endorphin and its receptor, the μ‐opioid receptor (MOR), in sodium intake regulation. The present study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between chronic high‐NaCl intake and brain endogenous MOR functioning. We examined whether short‐term (4 days) obligatory salt intake (2% NaCl solution) in rats induces changes in MOR mRNA expression, G‐protein activity and MOR binding capacity in brain regions involved in salt intake regulation. Plasma osmolality and electrolyte concentrations after sodium overload and the initial and final body weight of the animals were also examined. After 4 days of obligatory hypertonic sodium chloride intake, there was clearly no difference in MOR mRNA expression and G‐protein activity in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). In the brainstem, MOR binding capacity also remained unaltered, although the maximal efficacy of MOR G‐protein significantly increased. Finally, no significant alterations were observed in plasma osmolality and electrolyte concentrations. Interestingly, animals that received sodium gained significantly less weight than control animals. In conclusion, we found no significant alterations in the MnPO and brainstem in the number of available cell surface MORs or de novo syntheses of MOR after hypertonic sodium intake. The increased MOR G‐protein activity following acute sodium overconsumption may participate in the maintenance of normal blood pressure levels and/or in enhancing sodium taste aversion and sodium overload‐induced anorexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical and basic findings indicate that angiotensin II (ANG II) differentially modulates hydroelectrolyte and cardiovascular responses in male and female. But are only the activational and organizational hormonal effects to blame for such differences? Males and females not only differ in their sex (males are born with testes and females with ovaries) but also carry different sex chromosome complements and are thus influenced throughout life by different genomes. In this review, we discuss our recent studies in order to evaluate whether sex chromosome complement is in part responsible for gender differences previously observed in ANG II bradycardic-baroreflex response and sodium depletion-induced sodium appetite and neural activity. To test the hypothesis that XX or XY contributes to the dimorphic ANG II bradycardic-baroreflex response, we used the four core genotype mouse model, in which the effects of gonadal sex (testes or ovaries) and sex chromosome complement (XX or XY) are dissociated. The results indicate that ANG II bradycardic-baroreflex sexual dimorphic response may be ascribed to differences in sex chromosomes, indicating an XX-sex chromosome complement facilitatory bradycardic-baroreflex control of heart rate. Furthermore, we evaluated whether genetic differences within the sex chromosome complement may differentially modulate the known sexually dimorphic sodium appetite as well as basal or induced brain activity due to physiological stimulation of the renin–angiotensin system by furosemide and low-sodium treatment. Our studies demonstrate an organizational hormonal effect on sexually dimorphic induced sodium intake in mice, while at the brain level (subfornical organ and area postrema) we showed a sex chromosome complement effect in sodium-depleted mice, suggesting a sex chromosome gene participation in the modulation of neural pathways underlying regulatory response to renin–angiotensin stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrays of Co(100−x)Cu(x) (0 ≤x≤ 27) nanowires with 45 nm of diameter and 18 μm in length have been potentiostatically electrodeposited into the hexagonally self-assembled nanopores of anodic alumina membranes. The structural characterization of Co–Cu nanowires confirms the coexistence of both hcp and fcc crystalline phases, with textures that are strongly affected by the fractional content of Cu. Parallel magnetic studies of the room temperature magnetization process by First Order Reversal Curve (FORC) analysis and the angular dependence of coercivity confirm the presence of two coexisting ferromagnetic phases on intermediate Cu content nanowires, ascribed to a softer magnetic phase for pure Co and a harder magnetic one for the Co–Cu composition alloy, respectively. The temperature dependence of coercivity and remanence reveal a reorientation of the effective magnetic anisotropy with the addition of Cu to the Co–Cu alloy nanowires, being enhanced by the coexistence of the two ferromagnetic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study on the structural and magnetic properties of highly ordered hexagonal arrays of Co nanoholes, nanowires, nanopillars and nanotubes, with tuned pore/wire/tube diameters, is here presented. The magnetic interactions and their dependence on the geometric features of the arrays were studied using first-order reversal curves (FORCs). For all nanostructures we observe an increase of the magnetostatic interactions with the templates’ pore diameter, with the higher (smaller) values found for the nanowire (nanohole) arrays. For the smallest diameters studied (35 nm), all types of arrays could be considered as almost isolated nanostructures, where local interactions prevail. In particular, both nanotube and nanohole arrays exhibit considerable local magnetostatic interactions coming from the stray fields within each void or empty core. On the other hand, the coercivity is found to decrease with diameter for the elongated nanostructures, while it increases with the pore diameter for the nanohole arrays. This behavior is associated with the magnetization reversal mechanisms present in each array. This work highlights a versatile route to tailor the size, geometrical arrangement and magnetostatic interactions of ordered arrays and demonstrates their importance for the tuning of the magnetic behavior of nanometric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the magnetic and structural properties of an individual 40 nm diameter magnetic nanowire, prepared by electrodeposition into anodic alumina templates. The high- resolution transmission electron microscopy and the X-ray diffraction reveal the monocrystalline hcp structure along the whole 10 im nanowire length with the c-axis almost perpendicular to the nanowire axis. This observation allows the understanding of magnetic properties of the nanowire. The magnetic state observed by magnetic force microscopy and modelled by micromagnetic simulations is interpreted as consisting of tilted vortices with alternating chiralities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetization reversal in ordered arrays of Co nanowires with tailored hcp-phase texture, controlled by pH synthesis and nanowires length, has been investigated. The angular dependence of coercivity has been experimentally determined for different crystal textures, and the corresponding magnetization reversal mode is interpreted by analytical modelling. The results show that reversal takes place by propagation of a transverse-like domain wall mode. The fitting of experimental and calculated data allows us the quantitative evaluation of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant strength whose magnetization easy direction evolves from parallel to the wires toward in-plane orientation with the change of hcp-phase texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ordered arrays of CoxNi1-x nanowires (0 < x < 1) were fabricated by a template-assisted method using electrodeposition into anodic aluminum oxide membranes. Tuning of the Co-alloy composition by changing the Ni content enables control of the effective anisotropy axis, which is determined by the balance between the hep and fee magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropies. We report on the nanowires' structural and magnetic properties (e.g., hysteresis curves and their parameters as well as first-order reversal curve analysis), paying particular attention to their angular dependence. It is confirmed that the crystal phase of nanowires with length 2.5 &mgr;m and diameter 35 nm shifts from hep to fee as the Ni content increases. That results in a significant modification of the magnetization process and, accordingly, of the magnetic properties of the array. Analytical calculations of the angular dependence of the coercivity allow us to confirm that the magnetization reversal is mostly ascribed to the propagation of a transverse domain wall. Fitting of the experiment to these calculations indicates the presence of a transverse crystalline anisotropy (ascribed to the hep phase) in Co wires, while this changes to an axial anisotropy (fee phase) as the Ni content increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Indolone-N-oxides are characterized by the presence of a highly reactive pharmacophore, the nitrone moiety (C=N(+)-O(-)), which undergoes oxidation-reduction reactions. The aims of the present study were to: (i) evaluate the in vitro activity of the parent compound, designated as compound 1, against 34 fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum; (ii) compare the activity of compound 1 with that of chloroquine and dihydroartemisinin to assess the potential for cross-resistance; (iii) investigate drug interactions of indolone-N-oxides with standard antimalarials; and (iv) determine the stage-dependent activity of indolone-N-oxides.Methods: In vitro antimalarial activity was evaluated against clinical isolates collected from Cameroonian patients by the [(3)H]hypoxanthine incorporation assay. In vitro interactions between compound 1 or another analogue, compound 4, and established antimalarial drugs were assessed by the fixed ratio method. Stage specificity was evaluated by light microscopy using highly synchronized P. falciparum cultures.Results: The geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of compound 1 was 48.6 nM. Its activity did not differ between the chloroquine-susceptible and the chloroquine-resistant isolates. There was no correlation between chloroquine and compound 1 responses (r = 0.015; P > 0.05), but the in vitro responses of compound 1 and dihydroartemisinin were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.444; P < 0.05). No significant in vitro interaction was observed between indolone-N-oxide derivatives and established antimalarial drugs (artemisinin and its derivatives, chloroquine, amodiaquine, quinine and mefloquine). Compound 1 and compound 4, as well as artesunate, inhibited parasite maturation at the ring stage.Conclusions: These findings suggest that other indolone-N-oxide derivatives with more potent activity than the parent compound may hold promise as antimalarials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Inequitable access to healthcare has a profound impact on the health of marginalised groups that typically suffer an excess burden of infectious disease morbidity and mortality. The Yanomami are traditionally semi-nomadic people living in widely dispersed communities in Amazonian Venezuela and Brazil. Only communities living in the vicinity of a health post have relatively constant access to healthcare. To monitor the improvement in the development of Yanomami healthcare a cross-sectional survey of 183 individuals was conducted to investigate malaria and anaemia prevalence in communities with constant and intermittent access to healthcare. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Malaria was diagnosed by microscopy and haemoglobin concentration by HemoCue. Prevalence of malaria, anaemia, splenomegaly, fever and diarrhoea were all significantly higher in communities with intermittent access to healthcare (anaemia 80.8% vs. 53.6%, P <0.001; malaria 18.2% vs. 6.0%, P =0.013; splenomegaly 85.4% vs.12.5%, P <0.001; fever 50.5% vs. 28.6%, P =0.003; diarrhoea 30.3% vs.10.7% P =0.001). Haemoglobin level (10.0g/dl vs. 11.5g/dl) was significantly associated with access to healthcare when controlling for age, sex, malaria and splenomegaly (P =0.01). These findings indicate a heavy burden of anaemia in both areas and the need for interventions against anaemia and malaria, along with more frequent medical visits to remote areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: To improve practical, accurate diagnosis of malaria in the Amazon rainforest of Venezuela, two rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) (OptiMAL-IT® and FalciVax®) and a laboratory light microscope, used in the field with a battery-operated head lamp as an external light source, were evaluated against the standard laboratory microscope procedure for malaria detection. One hundred and thirty-six Yanomami patients were studied for the presence of malaria parasites. Thirty-three patients (24%) were positive for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae). Twenty-one (64%) of the positive patients had <100 parasites/μl. Both RDTs showed poor sensitivity (24.2% for OptiMAL-IT® and 36.4% for FalciVax®) but good specificity (99% both for OptiMAL-IT® and FalciVax®). Field and laboratory microscopy showed sensitivities of 94% and 91%, respectively. The κ coefficient was 0.90, indicating a high agreement between field and laboratory microscopy. We conclude that (i) adequate slide reading cannot be substituted by either of the two RDTs in the Venezuelan Amazon and (ii) the use of a light source such as that described above makes slide reading more feasible than hitherto in remote areas without electricity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ordered hexagonal arrays of Co nanowires were prepared using anodic aluminum oxide templates, varying the nanowire length in a controlled way. The measured coercivity values were shown to decrease with the increase in the nanowire aspect ratio, in contrast to the behavior expected from the shape anisotropy. The measurements were interpreted considering the change in the preferred crystalline structure, from fcc cubic to hcp hexagonal in small and high aspect ratio nanowires, respectively. The experimental evolution of coercivity with nanowires length is interpreted considering micromagnetic simulations taking into account the change in their crystalline structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co, Co(1-x)Pdx, and Co(1-y)Niy nanowire arrays have been prepared by electrochemical template-assisted growth. Hcp, fcc or both phases are detected in Co nanowires depending on their length (300 nm to 40 μm) and on the content of Pd (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) and Ni (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.8). Their magnetic behavior has been studied under longitudinal and perpendicular applied fields. The effective magnetic anisotropy is mostly determined by the balance between the shape and the crystalline terms, the latter depending on the fractional volume of hcp phase with strong perpendicular anisotropy and fcc phase with weaker longitudinal anisotropy. The temperature dependence of remanence and coercivity and the eventual observation of compensation temperature is interpreted as due to the different temperature dependence of shape and hcp crystalline anisotropy. Optimum longitudinal magnetic anisotropy is achieved in low Pd-content CoPd nanowires and in short Co nanowires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The clinical manifestations of cerebral malaria (CM) are well correlated with underlying major pathophysiological events occurring during an acute malaria infection, the most important of which, is the adherence of parasitized erythrocytes to endothelial cells ultimately leading to sequestration and obstruction of brain capillaries. The consequent reduction in blood flow, leads to cerebral hypoxia, localized inflammation and release of neurotoxic molecules and inflammatory cytokines by the endothelium. The pharmacological regulation of these immunopathological processes by immunomodulatory molecules may potentially benefit the management of this severe complication. Adjunctive therapy of CM patients with an appropriate immunomodulatory compound possessing even moderate anti-malarial activity with the capacity to down regulate excess production of proinflammatory cytokines and expression of adhesion molecules, could potentially reverse cytoadherence, improve survival and prevent neurological sequelae. Current major drug discovery programmes are mainly focused on novel parasite targets and mechanisms of action. However, the discovery of compounds targeting the host remains a largely unexplored but attractive area of drug discovery research for the treatment of CM. This review discusses the properties of the plant immune-modifier curcumin and its potential as an adjunctive therapy for the management of this complication.

En este artículo se estudia el comportamiento de la tasa de crecimiento del PIB colombiano entre 1982-2008 a partir de un modelo SETAR (Self-Exciting Threshold Autoregressive), empleando la metodología propuesta por Tsay (1989) y Tong (1990) para la detección de no linealidades relacionadas con la existencia de regímenes cambiantes. Adicionalmente, se comparan los pronósticos generados con los obtenidos en un modelo autorregresivo lineal para diferentes horizontes de predicción, empleando funciones de pérdida simétricas. Los resultados muestran evidencia empírica de que existe no linealidad de umbral en la serie asociada a las altas o bajas tasas de crecimiento registradas por su rezago anual (permaneciendo más tiempo en el régimen de tasas de crecimiento más elevadas) y que el desempeño de los pronósticos del modelo SETAR parece no mejorar con respecto al modelo base.

Co-Pd multilayers obtained by Pd capping of pre-deposited Co nanoparticles on amorphous alumina are systematically studied by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, SQUID-based magnetometry, and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The films are formed by CoPd alloyed nanoparticles self-organized across the layers, with the interspace between the nanoparticles filled by the non-alloyed Pd metal. The nanoparticles show atomic arrangements compatible with short-range chemical order of L10 strucure type. The collective magnetic behavior is that of ferromagnetically coupled particles with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, irrespective of the amount of deposited Pd. For increasing temperature three magnetic phases are identified: hard ferromagnetic with strong coercive field, soft-ferromagnetic as in an amorphous asperomagnet, and superparamagnetic. Increasing the amount of Pd in the system leads to both magnetic hardness increment and higher transition temperatures. Magnetic total moments of 1.77(4) μB and 0.45(4) μB are found at Co and Pd sites, respectively, where the orbital moment of Co, 0.40(2) μB, is high, while that of Pd is negligible. The effective magnetic anisotropy is the largest in the capping metal series (Pd, Pt, W, Cu, Ag, Au), which is attributed to the interparticle interaction between de nanoparticles, in addition to the intraparticle anisotropy arising from hybridization between the 3d-4d bands associated to the Co and Pd chemical arrangement in a L10 structure type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, we investigated the degree to which β-endorphin plays a role in the alpha 2-adrenergic/imidazoline receptor agonist attenuation of salt appetite. In order to evaluate whether the inhibitory action of clonidine (an α2-adrenergic/imidazoline receptor agonist) on induced sodium intake is mediated by the β-endorphinergic system, we used a β-endorphin deficient mouse line. β-endorphin knockout (βend−/−), heterozygous (βend+/−) and wild-type (βend+/+) mice were submitted to acute sodium depletion by a combined treatment of furosemide and low sodium diet and, 20h later, were administered with clonidine (0.5mg/kg). An hour later, the animals were subjected to a two-bottle choice test (water/2% NaCl). The results indicate that clonidine administration during the first stage of the test exerts an equivalent inhibition on sodium intake regardless of the genotype; however, in the final stage of the test, a reversal of the inhibitory response on induced sodium appetite becomes evident in the mice lacking β-endorphin. Moreover no differences in dipsogenic response were observed between the genotypes. Considering these results and the fact that plasma half-life of clonidine at the dose administered is approximately 3h, it is possible to speculate that the inhibitory effect of clonidine on sodium appetite may be independent of β-endorphin modulation during the first stage; however, the long-lasting inhibitory effect of clonidine may be mediated by the β-endorphinergic system. This evidence supports the existence of adrenergic and β-endorphinergic system interaction in the osmoregulatory response to achieve sodium balance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Central opioid and oxytocinergic systems have been involved in the regulatory control of sodium appetite. In addition, previous studies support the existence of a functional interaction between opioid peptides and oxytocinergic pathways, and suggest that β-endorphin neurons would modulate the activity of central oxytocinergic pathways, its pituitary secretion and sodium appetite. To investigate the role of this opioid peptide in the control of oxytocin (OT) synthesis and sodium appetite regulation we used mice with gene dosage-dependent variations in brain β-endorphin content, expressing either 100%, 50%, or 0% of normal β-endorphin content.Our results show that β-endorphin knockout (KO) and heterozygous (HT) mutant mice consume approximately a 50% less 2% NaCl solution compared with wild type mice (WT), after furosemide and low sodium diet treatment. These data suggest that β-endorphin may facilitate induced sodium appetite, giving new evidence about the role of β-endorphin on sodium appetite behavior. Our data also indicate that OT mRNA levels evaluated by in situ hybridization significantly increased within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of WT animals after induced sodium ingestion, giving support to former evidence indicating an inhibitory role for central OT in the control of sodium appetite. Moreover, β-endorphin mutated mice have similar higher levels of OT mRNA expression after the different conditions analyzed: basal, control or experimental, compared with WT mice. Both control HT and KO mice showed higher OT mRNA expression levels than control WT group and these levels did not change after induced sodium intake. Taken together, our data suggest that the reduced sodium ingestion observed in β-endorphin deficient mice could be due to a higher expression of the OT gene. This conclusion would support the hypothesis that OT inhibits sodium intake and provides new evidence about β-endorphin modulation of OT synthesis and sodium appetite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using a random block design with factorial arrangement (3x3) with five replications, the yields and quality of three Megathyrsus maximus cultivars (Common, Tanzania and Tobiata) and three regrowth ages (21, 42 and 63 days) were studied in the Empalme area, Ecuador. The yields of total dry matter, biomass, leaves and stems were determined, as well as the plant height, length and width of leaves, the contents of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose (Cel), hemicellulose (Hcel), cellular content (CC), P, Ca, ash, OM, DMD, OMD, ME, FNE and relations leaf-stem, NDF-N and ADF-N. Analysis of variance was performed according to experimental design. There was significant interaction (P <0.0001) between the varieties and the regrowth age for all the studied indicators. The highest DM and biomass yields were obtained in Tanzania at 63 days of regrowth (4.18 and 12 t/ha, respectively). The CP and CC decreased with the maturity of the plant and the best values were obtained in Tanzania at 21 days of regrowth (12.56 and 64.40%, respectively), while the components of the cell wall increased with age and Tanzania showed the best values. The results of this research showed the variability of the studied indicators determined by regrowth age and varieties, although the response patterns were similar for the varieties but with specific values for each of them. The best balance of the indicators was showed by Tanzania and the Common and Tobiata are not ruled out. Future studies of its use in the milk and beef production are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to analyze how prenatal binge-like ethanol exposure to a moderate dose (2.0 g/kg; group Pre-EtOH) during gestational days (GD) 17–20 affects hydroelectrolyte regulatory responses. This type of exposure has been observed to increase ethanol consumption during adolescence (postnatal day 30–32). In this study we analyzed basal brain neural activity and basal-induced sodium appetite (SA) and renal response stimulated by sodium depletion (SD) as well as voluntary ethanol consumption as a function of vehicle or ethanol during late pregnancy. In adolescent offspring, SD was induced by furosemide and a low-sodium diet treatment (FURO + LSD). Other animals were analyzed in terms of immunohistochemical detection of Fra-like (Fra-LI-ir) protein and serotonin (5HT) and/or vasopressin (AVP). The Pre-EtOH group exhibited heightened voluntary ethanol intake and a reduction in sodium and water intake induced by SD relative to controls. Basal Na and K concentrations in urine were also reduced in Pre-EtOH animals while the induced renal response after FURO treatment was similar across prenatal treatments. However, the correlation between urine volume and water intake induced by FURO significantly varied across these treatments. At the brain level of analysis, the number of basal Fra-LI-ir was significantly increased in AVP magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and in 5HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in Pre-EtOH pups. In the experimental group, we also observed a significant increase in Fra-LI along the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and in the central extended amygdala nuclei. In summary, moderate Pre-EtOH exposure produces long-lasting changes in brain organization, affecting basal activity of central extended amygdala nuclei, AVP neurons and the inhibitory areas of SA such as the NTS and the 5HT-DRN. These changes possibly modulate the above described variations in basal-induced drinking behaviors and renal regulatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous results from our laboratory showed that angiotensin II AT 1 receptors (AT 1 -R) are involved in the neuroadaptative changes induced by amphetamine. The aim of the present work was to study functional and neurochemical responses to angiotensin II (ANG II) mediated by AT 1 -R activation in animals previously exposed to amphetamine. For this purpose male Wistar rats (250–320 g) were treated with amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal) or saline for 5 days and implanted with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannulae. Seven days after the last amphetamine administration the animals received ANG II (400 pmol) i.c.v. One group was tested in a free choice paradigm for sodium (2% NaCl) and water intake and sacrificed for Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) determinations. In a second group of rats, urine and plasma samples were collected for electrolytes and plasma renin activity determination and then they were sacrificed for Fos-IR determination in Oxytocinergic neurons (Fos-OT-IR). Results: Repeated amphetamine exposure (a) prevented the increase in sodium intake and Fos-IR cells in caudate-putamen and accumbens nucleus induced by ANG II i.c.v. (b) potentiated urinary sodium excretion and Fos-OT-IR in hypothalamus and (c) increased the inhibitory response in plasma renin activity, in response to ANG II i.c.v. Our results indicate a possible functional desensitisation of AT 1 -R in response to ANG II, induced by repeated amphetamine exposure. This functional AT 1 -R desensitisation allows to unmask the effects of ANG II i.c.v. mediated by oxytocin. We conclude that the long lasting changes in brain AT 1 -R functionality should be considered among the psychostimulant-induced neuroadaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to an altered osmotic environment during a pre/postnatal period can differentially program the fluid intake and excretion pattern profile in a way that persists until adulthood. However, knowledge about the programing effects on the underlying brain neurochemical circuits of thirst and hydroelectrolyte balance, and its relation with behavioral outputs, is limited. We evaluated whether early voluntary intake of hypertonic NaCl solution may program adult offspring fluid balance, plasma vasopressin, neural activity, and brain vasopressin and angiotensinergic receptor type 1a (AT1a)-receptor gene expression. The manipulation (M) period covered dams from 1 week before conception until offspring turned 1-month-old. The experimental groups were (i) Free access to hypertonic NaCl solution (0.45 M NaCl), food (0.18% NaCl) and water [M-Na]; and (ii) Free access to food and water only [M-Ctrol]. Male offspring (2-month-old) were subjected to iv infusion (0.15 ml/min) of hypertonic (1.5 M NaCl), isotonic (0.15 M NaCl) or sham infusion during 20 min. Cumulative water intake (140 min) and drinking latency to the first lick were recorded from the start of the infusion. Our results indicate that, after systemic sodium overload, the M-Na group had increased water intake, and diminished neuronal activity (Fos-immunoreactivity) in the subfornical organ (SFO) and nucleus of the solitary tract. They also showed reduced relative vasopressin (AVP)-mRNA and AT1a-mRNA expression at the supraoptic nucleus and SFO, respectively. The data indicate that the availability of a rich source of sodium during the pre/postnatal period induces a long-term effect on drinking, neural activity, and brain gene expression implicated in the control of hydroelectrolyte balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to analyze the participation of inhibitory and stimulatory signals in the temporal dissociation between sodium depletion (SD) induced by peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the appearance of sodium appetite (SA), particularly 2 h after PD, when the rats are hypovolemic/natremic but SA is not evident. We investigated the effects of bilateral injections of the serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonist, methysergide, into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) on hypertonic NaCl and water intake 2 h vs. 24 h after PD. We also studied plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (ALDO) concentration 2 h vs. 24 h after PD. Additionally, we combined the analysis of brain Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) with the detection of double immunoreactivity in 5HT and oxytocinergic (OT) cells 2 h after PD. Bilateral LPBN injections of methysergide (4 μg/200 nl at each site) increased NaCl intake when tested 2 h after PD compared to controls. We found a significant increase in PRA and ALDO concentration after PD but no differences between 2 and 24 h after PD. We also found for the first time a significant increase 2 h after PD in the number of Fos-ir neurons in the brainstem nuclei that have been shown to be involved in the inhibition of SA. In summary, the results show that 5HT-mechanisms in the LPBN modulate sodium intake during the delay of SA when the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is increased. In addition, the activation of brainstem areas previously associated with the satiety phase of SA is in part responsible for the temporal dissociation between SD and behavioral arousal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Osmoregulatory mechanisms can be vulnerable to electrolyte and/or endocrine environmental changes during the perinatal period, differentially programming the developing offspring and affecting them even in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether availability of hypertonic sodium solution during the perinatal period may induce a differential programming in adult offspring osmoregulatory mechanisms. With this aim, we studied water and sodium intake after Furosemide–sodium depletion in adult offspring exposed to hypertonic sodium solution from 1week before mating until postnatal day 28 of the offspring, used as a perinatal manipulation model [PM-Na group]. In these animals, we also identified the cell population groups in brain nuclei activated by Furosemide–sodium depletion treatment, analyzing the spatial patterns of Fos and Fos–vasopressin immunoreactivity. In sodium depleted rats, sodium and water intake were significantly lower in the PM-Na group vs. animals without access to hypertonic sodium solution [PM-Ctrol group]. Interestingly, when comparing the volumes consumed of both solutions in each PM group, our data show the expected significant differences between both solutions ingested in the PM-Ctrol group, which makes an isotonic cocktail; however, in the PM-Na group there were no significant differences in the volumes of both solutions consumed after Furosemide–sodium depletion, and therefore the sodium concentration of total fluid ingested by this group was significantly higher than that in the PM-Ctrol group. With regard to brain Fos immunoreactivity, we observed that Furosemide–sodium depletion in the PM-Na group induced a higher number of activated cells in the subfornical organ, ventral subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus and vasopressinergic neurons of the supraoptic nucleus than in the PM-Ctrol animals. Moreover, along the brainstem, we found a decreased number of sodium depletion-activated cells within the nucleus of the solitary tract of the PM-Na group. Our data indicate that early sodium availability induces a long-term effect on fluid drinking and on the cell activity of brain nuclei involved in the control of hydromineral balance. These results also suggest that availability of a rich source of sodium during the perinatal period may provoke a larger anticipatory response in the offspring, activating the vasopressinergic system and reducing thirst after water and sodium depletion, as a result of central osmosensitive mechanism alterations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study was performed to examine the role of the endogenous β-endorphinergic system on blood pressure regulation, sympathetic and brain activity during body sodium overload. β-Endorphin knockout (βend−/−), heterozygous (βend+/−) and wild-type (βend+/+) mice were submitted for two weeks to either a normal- or a high-sodium diet (NSD and HSD, respectively), and systolic blood pressure (SBP), urinary catecholamines (as an index of sympathetic nervous system activity), and the brain pattern of Fos-like immunoreactivity (as a marker of neuronal activation) were evaluated in each group. HSD caused a significant increase in SBP in βend−/− mutant mice compared with βend+/+ mice kept in the same experimental conditions (P<0.01), but no statistical differences were observed between βend+/− and βend+/+ on a HSD. Moreover, when animals from the three genetic lines were fed with a NSD no changes in SBP were evidenced. With regard to brain activity, βend−/− mice maintained on a HSD showed a significant increase in Fos-like immunoreactive neurons in the median preoptic nucleus (P<0.01) compared with βend+/− and βend+/+ animals. Additionally, βend−/− mice had higher levels of urinary epinephrine excretion (P<0.05) on a HSD in comparison to βend+/+ and βend+/− animals in the same experimental conditions. No differences, however, were registered in norepinephrine and dopamine urinary excretion in animals from the three genetic lines after two weeks on either a HSD or a NSD. In summary, our results indicate that the β-endorphinergic system may play a part in the compensatory response to sodium overload, since the absence of β-endorphin causes an increase in systolic blood pressure, and increases median preoptic nucleus neural activity and urinary epinephrine excretion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]