Search

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate glucose metabolism (GM) by improving the translocation of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle and pancreatic beta cells in vitro. ROS triggered by exercise promotes GM regulation. Antioxidant supplementation could block these beneficial effects, altering these processes during exercise. However, there is limited evidence in humans on whether antioxidant intake affects GM. Therefore, we investigate the effect that a high dose of antioxidants (HDA) has on GM. Methods: Two trials: 60 minutes before an endurance exercise bout (EEX) and 60 minutes before an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), ten healthy and physically active male subjects (age, 25.3 ± 4.2; HOMA-IR, 1.3 ± 0.43; VO2max, 50.6 ± 8.12 mL•kg-1•min-1) consumed a high dose of antioxidants (HDA, 1000 mg of Vitamin C, 600 IU of Vitamin E, and 600 mg of α-lipoic acid) or placebo (2000 mg of talc) before each trial. Trials were 7 days apart and consisted of 1) 60 minutes of endurance exercise at 60 % of Vo2max and 2) 60 minutes of OGTT (75 g). Measurements of gas exchange and capillary blood samples were collected every 15 minutes during both trials. Results: Ingestion of antioxidants (AOC) by the participants in the trial showed higher resting blood glucose than the placebo (AOC, 95.5 ± 7.6; placebo, 87.4 ± 6.4 mg/dl-1; P = 0.03). During endurance exercise (EEX), AOC modified carbohydrate oxidation (CHOox) with respect to time (time, P < 0.001; group, P = 0.11; time x group interaction, P = 0.03), showed no changes in lactate or glucose concentration. During OGTT, AOC trial showed a decrease in blood glucose concentrations with respect to time (time, P = 0.001; group, P = 0.17; time x group interaction, P = 0.06), without changes in blood lactate or CHOox. Conclusion: An acute dose of antioxidants increases the glycemic level at rest and (CHOox) during EEX in healthy subjects.

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for acute coronary thrombosis. In fact, both active/first-hand smoke and passive/second-hand smoke exposure are known to increase the risk of coronary thrombosis. Although recently a new risk has been identified and termed third-hand smoke (THS), which is the residual tobacco smoke contaminant that remains after a cigarette is extinguished, it remains to be determined whether it can also enhance the risk of thrombogenesis, much like first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke. Therefore, the present studies investigated the impact of THS exposure in the context of platelet biology and related disease states. It was found that THS-exposed mice exhibited an enhanced platelet aggregation and secretion responses as well as enhanced integrin GPIIb-IIIa activation. Furthermore, it was found that THS exposure shortens the tail bleeding time and the occlusion time in a model of thrombosis. Thus, our data demonstrate for the first time (at least in mice) that THS exposure increases the risk of thrombosis-based disease states, which is attributed, at least in part, to their hyperactive platelets.

Chronic tobacco use leads to nicotine addiction that is characterized by exaggerated urges to use the drug despite the accompanying negative health and socioeconomic burdens. Interestingly, nicotine users are found to be leaner than the general population. Review of the existing literature revealed that nicotine affects energy homeostasis and food consumption via altering the activity of neurons containing orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides in the brain. Hypothalamus is one of the critical brain areas that regulates energy balance via the action of these neuropeptides. The equilibrium between these two groups of peptides can be shifted by nicotine leading to decreased food intake and weight loss. The aim of this article is to review the existing literature on the effect of nicotine on food intake and energy homeostasis and report on the changes that nicotine brings about in the level of these peptides and their receptors that may explain changes in food intake and body weight induced by nicotine. Furthermore, we review the effect of nicotine on the hedonic aspect of food intake. Finally, we discuss the involvement of different subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the regulatory action of nicotine on food intake and energy homeostasis.

In efforts to define new targets for antithrombotic purposes, there is interest in utilizing antibodies targeting ligand binding domains of platelet receptors. To this end, we have recently shown that an antibody (designated C-EL2Ab), which targets the C-terminus of the 2nd extracellular loop (C-EL2) of the thromboxane A(2) receptor (TPR), selectively blocks TPR-mediated platelet aggregation, under both in vitro and ex vivo experimental conditions. In the current studies we sought to determine whether C-EL2Ab exhibits in vivo antithrombotic activity, by employing a carotid artery injury thrombosis model. It was found that mice treated with C-EL2Ab, exhibited a significant increase in time for occlusion, when compared to controls such as normal rabbit IgG, or an antibody which targets a region separate from the ligand binding site (i.e., EL1). We next examined the effect of C-EL2Ab on hemostasis, and found no increase in tail bleeding times in C-EL2Ab treated mice, compared to the aforementioned controls. Collectively, these results clearly demonstrate that C-EL2Ab has anti-platelet/anti-thrombotic effects, and is devoid of increased bleeding risk. Moreover, the identification of a functionally active TPR sequence should significantly aid molecular modeling study predictions for organic derivatives which possess in vivo activity.

While blood platelets express several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that play pivotal roles in their activation, several diseases, for example thrombotic disorders, may develop if these receptors are inappropriately activated. Thus, these receptors have been the subject of investigations to design therapeutic interventions for managing multiple thrombosis-based disease states. One such GPCR, the thromboxane A(2) receptor (TPR), remains resistant to such interventions. The present review provides a critical examination of the binding, structural biology, and signaling of TPRs. The review also provides a rationale for using principles of "drug rediscovery" as an alternative/viable approach for the therapeutic targeting of TPRs. To this end, it is noteworthy that many US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs have been found to selectively (and nonselectively) block TPR-mediated functional responses, for example platelet aggregation, as described in this review. Therefore, while none of the antagonists, thus far developed for targeting TPRs, have made it into clinical use, this peculiar receptor can be antagonized by a large number of drugs used for indications unrelated to thrombosis.

Objective— Platelet hyperactivity is associated with vascular disease and contributes to the genesis of thrombotic disorders. ADP plays an important role in platelet activation and activates platelets through 2 G-protein–coupled receptors, the Gq-coupled P2Y 1 receptor (P2Y 1 R), and the Gi-coupled P2Y 12 receptor. Although the involvement of the P2Y 1 R in thrombogenesis is well established, there are no antagonists that are currently available for clinical use. Approach and Results— Our goal is to determine whether a novel antibody targeting the ligand-binding domain, ie, second extracellular loop (EL2) of the P2Y 1 R (EL2Ab) could inhibit platelet function and protect against thrombogenesis. Our results revealed that the EL2Ab does indeed inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EL2Ab was found to inhibit integrin GPIIb-IIIa activation, dense and α granule secretion, and phosphatidylserine exposure. These inhibitory effects translated into protection against thrombus formation, as evident by a prolonged time for occlusion in a FeCl 3 -induced thrombosis model, but this was accompanied by a prolonged tail bleeding time. We also observed a dose-dependent displacement of the radiolabeled P2Y 1 R antagonist [ 3 H]MRS2500 from its ligand-binding site by EL2Ab. Conclusions— Collectively, our findings demonstrate that EL2Ab binds to and exhibits P2Y 1 R-dependent function-blocking activity in the context of platelets. These results add further evidence for a role of the P2Y 1 R in thrombosis and validate the concept that targeting it is a relevant alternative or complement to current antiplatelet strategies.

Insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in cell cultures and in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat. However, the ability of insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase to phosphorylate Shc has not been previously demonstrated. In the present study, we investigated insulin-induced IR tyrosine kinase activity towards Shc. Insulin receptor was immunoprecipitated from liver extracts, before and after a very low dose of insulin into the portal vein, and incubated with immunopurified Shc from liver of untreated rats. The kinase assay was performed in vitro in the presence of exogenous ATP and the phosphorylation level was quantified by immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody. The results demonstrate that Shc interacted with insulin receptor after infusion of insulin, and, more important, there was insulin receptor kinase activity towards immunopurified Shc. The description of this pathway in animal tissue may have an important role in insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward mitogenic transduction pathways.

There is considerable interest in defining new agents or targets for antithrombotic purposes. The 5-HT2A receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed on many cell types, and a known therapeutic target for many disease states. This serotonin receptor is also known to regulate platelet function. Thus, in our FDA-approved drug repurposing efforts, we investigated the antiplatelet activity of cyproheptadine and pizotifen, two antidepressant 5-HT2A Receptor antagonists. Our results revealed that cyproheptadine and pizotifen reversed serotonin-enhanced ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo. And the inhibitory effects of these two agents were found to be similar to that of EMD 281014, a 5-HT2A Receptor antagonist under development. In separate experiments, our studies revealed that these 5-HT2A receptor antagonists have the capacity to reduce serotonin-enhanced ADP-induced elevation in intracellular calcium levels and tyrosine phosphorylation. Using flow cytometry, we also observed that cyproheptadine, pizotifen, and EMD 281014 inhibited serotonin-enhanced ADP-induced phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, P-selectin expression, and glycoprotein IIb-IIIa activation. Furthermore, using a carotid artery thrombosis model, these agents prolonged the time for thrombotic occlusion in mice in vivo. Finally, the tail-bleeding time was investigated to assess the effect of cyproheptadine and pizotifen on hemostasis. Our findings indicated prolonged bleeding time in both cyproheptadine- and pizotifen-treated mice. Notably, the increases in occlusion and bleeding times associated with these two agents were comparable to that of EMD 281014, and to clopidogrel, a commonly used antiplatelet drug, again, in a fashion comparable to clopidogrel and EMD 281014. Collectively, our data indicate that the antidepressant 5-HT2A antagonists, cyproheptadine and pizotifen do exert antiplatelet and thromboprotective effects, but similar to clopidogrel and EMD 281014, their use may interfere with normal hemostasis.

The prohormone convertases, PC1/3 and PC2 are thought to be responsible for the activation of many prohormones through processing including the endogenous opioid peptides. We propose that maintenance of hormonal homeostasis can be achieved, in part, via alterations in levels of these enzymes that control the ratio of active hormone to prohormone. In order to test the hypothesis that exogenous opioids regulate the endogenous opioid system and the enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis, we studied the effect of short-term morphine or naltrexone treatment on pituitary PC1/3 and PC2 as well as on the level of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor gene for the biosynthesis of the endogenous opioid peptide, beta-endorphin. Using ribonuclease protection assays, we observed that morphine down-regulated and naltrexone up-regulated rat pituitary PC1/3 and PC2 mRNA. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis confirmed that the protein levels changed in parallel with the changes in mRNA levels and were accompanied by changes in the levels of phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response element binding protein. We propose that the alterations of the prohormone processing system may be a compensatory mechanism in response to an exogenous opioid ligand whereby the organism tries to restore its homeostatic hormonal milieu following exposure to the opioid, possibly by regulating the levels of multiple endogenous opioid peptides and other neuropeptides in concert.

In efforts to define new targets for antithrombotic purposes, there is interest in utilizing antibodies targeting ligand binding domains of platelet receptors. To this end, we have recently shown that an antibody (designated C-EL2Ab), which targets the C-terminus of the 2nd extracellular loop (C-EL2) of the thromboxane A(2) receptor (TPR), selectively blocks TPR-mediated platelet aggregation, under both in vitro and ex vivo experimental conditions. In the current studies we sought to determine whether C-EL2Ab exhibits in vivo antithrombotic activity, by employing a carotid artery injury thrombosis model. It was found that mice treated with C-EL2Ab, exhibited a significant increase in time for occlusion, when compared to controls such as normal rabbit IgG, or an antibody which targets a region separate from the ligand binding site (i.e., EL1). We next examined the effect of C-EL2Ab on hemostasis, and found no increase in tail bleeding times in C-EL2Ab treated mice, compared to the aforementioned controls. Collectively, these results clearly demonstrate that C-EL2Ab has anti-platelet/anti-thrombotic effects, and is devoid of increased bleeding risk. Moreover, the identification of a functionally active TPR sequence should significantly aid molecular modeling study predictions for organic derivatives which possess in vivo activity.

Although changes in the intracellular levels of calcium (Ca(2+)) are a central step in platelet activation, the underlying mechanism of Ca(2+) entry is still unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that TRPC6, a member of the canonical transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) family is expressed in platelets in a significant amount, and is predominantly found on the plasma membrane. Based on these considerations, we hypothesized that TRPC6 plays a critical role in platelet function. To characterize the role of TRPC6 in platelet function in vivo, we employed a genetic approach, subjecting TRPC6 knockout mice to the tail bleeding time test and a carotid artery injury thrombosis model. We found that TRPC6-deficient animals displayed a prolonged bleeding time, and an increased time for occlusion of the injured carotid artery, compared to their wild-type littermates. Taken together, our data demonstrate for the first time, that TRPC6 deletion in mice results in defects in hemostasis and protection against thrombogenesis, suggesting a vital role in platelet function. Furthermore, TRPC6 may define a new therapeutic target for managing multiple thrombosis-based disorders.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential in vivo antiplatelet and thromboprotective properties of the antihypertensive drug losartan in mice.Aggregometry studies were performed on platelets obtained from mice administered losartan for 5 days, via tail vein to examine the ex vivo effects (dose dependence) of this agent and to select an appropriate dose for the in vivo studies. Next, the tail bleeding time test and the time for occlusion in a carotid artery injury thrombosis model (ferric chloride) were also performed to assess the in vivo effects of losartan treatment.These data indicate that the antihypertensive agent losartan exerts dose-dependent inhibition of the thromboxane receptor-mediated (U46619/agonist)-induced platelet aggregation (ex vivo), whereas it produced no detectable effects on aggregation triggered by adenosine diphosphate or the thrombin receptor activating peptide 4. Findings from the in vivo analysis revealed that tail bleeding time of losartan-treated mice was not different from vehicle-treated mice. On the other hand, in the carotid artery injury thrombosis model, it was found that the losartan-treated mice had significantly longer time for occlusion in comparison with those treated with vehicle control.These findings provide evidence that administration of the antihypertensive drug losartan into live mice produces thromboxane A(2) receptor-specific antiplatelet effects. Furthermore, interestingly, this antiplatelet activity appears to translate into thromboprotective properties, without resulting in a bleeding phenotype. Consequently, aside from its potential use as an antithrombotic agent, losartan's chemistry may provide a "blueprint" for designing or repurposing novel derivatives which may have the potential to serve as an antiplatelet and thromboprotective agents but are deprived of the usually concomitant bleeding adverse effects.

Antiplatelet therapy has been documented to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease after acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and in chronic atrial fibrillation patients, amongst other risk factors. Conventional management of thrombosis-based disorders includes the use of heparin, oral anticoagulants, and the preferred antiplatelet agent aspirin. Interestingly, aspirin was not intended to be used as an antiplatelet agent; rather, after being repurposed, it has become one of the most widely prescribed antithrombotic drugs. To this end, there have been several milestones in the development of antiplatelet agents in the last few decades, such as adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors. However, given some of the limitations of these therapies, aspirin continues to play a major role in the management of thrombotic and cardiovascular disorders and is expected to do so for years to come.

There is considerable interest in discovering novel antiplatelet approaches with an enhanced safety profile. To this end, in our efforts to define new targets for antithrombotic activity, we investigated the utility of antibodies which recognize the ligand binding domains of the platelet thromboxane A 2 receptor (TPR). We hypothesized that an antibody (abbreviated as C-EL2Ab), which interacts with the C-terminus of the second extracellular loop (C-EL2; i.e., ligand binding domain) of TPR exhibits antagonistic activity. Our findings demonstrate that C-EL2Ab did indeed inhibit TPR-mediated platelet aggregation. However, it was devoid of any apparent effects on aggregation triggered by ADP or the thrombin receptor activating peptides 1 or 4. Furthermore, results from radiolabeled ligand binding studies indicate that C-EL2Ab competitively displaced the classical TPR antagonist [ 3 H]SQ29,548 from its binding sites. On the other hand, control experiments indicated that normal rabbit IgG and an antibody which targets a TPR domain separate from those involved in ligand recognition, failed to inhibit aggregation in response to TPR activation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that C-EL2 of TPR plays a critical role in platelet activation, and establish C-EL2Ab as a function blocking antibody. Furthermore, our data suggest a potential for the therapeutic application of C-EL2Ab, which may serve either as an alternative to, or a complement for current treatments. Finally, the identification of a functionally active TPR sequence should aid molecular modeling study predictions for organic derivatives which possess in vivo activity.

Orientador: Mario Jose Adballa Saad Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resumo: A insulina inicia seus efeitos metabólicos e promotores de crescimento através da ligação à subunidade a do seu receptor. Esta ligação promove a fosforilação em tirosina da subunidade _, e dá inicio a uma cascada de eventos intracelulares, mediante a fosforilação de vários substratos endógenos. Entre os primeiros substratos ativados estão o substrato 1 do receptor de insulina, e uma nova proteína, possuidora .do domínio SH2, cuja estrutura lembra àquela do colágeno (Src homology), denominada Shc. No presente estudo, determinamos a capacidade do receptor de insulina ativado de induzir a fosforilação em tirosina da proteína Shc, assim como a associação Shc-Grb2 em figado, músculo e tecido adiposo de ratos nonnais e ratos submetidos a cinco situações experimentais de resistência à insulina i.e., jejum prolongado, tratamento crônico com dexametasona, envelhecimento, tratamento agudo com adrenalina e diabetes induzida por estreptozotocina. Os resultados demonstraram que após infusão de concentrações fisiológicas de insulina em ratos nonnais, a Shc é substrato do receptor de insulina, cujo pico ,Ae fosforilação acontece 5 minutos após a infusão de insulina nos três tecidos estudados, e se associa à Grb2. Ratos em jejum, uma situação aguda de resistência à insulina que cursa com baixos níveis de glicose e insulina plasmáticas, apresentaram significativa diminuição do grau de fosforilação da Shc induzi da por insulina em figado (50%) e gordura (62%), em relação aos seus controles. Por outro lado, a infusão de insulina em ratos portadores de diabetes mellitus induzida por estreptozotocina, estado caracterizado por apresentar elevados níveis de glicose sanguínea associados a baixas concentrações de insulina plasmática, levou a um significativo incremento do grau de fosforilação da. Shc em figado (175%), músculo (180%) e gordura (133%), em relação aos controles (100%). Embora ambos os modelos experimentais apresentaram baixos níveis de insulina plasmática, as características de fosforilação da Shc foram opostas. Este resultado sugere que em modelos agudos de resistência à insulina, a concentração plasmática de glicose circulante é o principal parâmetro que determina a indução da fosforilação da proteína Shc nos tecidos estudados. Não foi observada variação nos níveis de fosforilação em tirosina em figado, músculo ou gordura de ratos tratados agudamente com adrenalina após estímulo com insulina, embora um aumento estatisticamente significativo nos níveis basais de associação Shc/Grb2 foi evidenciada nos três tecidos estudados nestes anImais. Em animais portadores de hiperinsulinemia crônica (ratos velhos ou tratados com dexametasona), houve um aumento da fosforilação em tirosina da Shc induzida por insulina nos tecidos hepático (64% e 58%) e muscular (81 % e 64%) de ratos com 20 meses ou tratados com glicocorticoides, respectivamente. Em ratos velhos, incremento foi evidenciado também em tecido adiposo (76% acima do controle). Estes resultados sugerem que, em situações crônicas de resistência à insulina, a hiperinsulinemia pode ser um dos fatores responsáveis do aumento de fosforilação da Shc observada nestes animais. Para todos os tecidos e modelos experimentais estudados, esta regulação demonstrou ser independente dos níveis protéicos da proteína Shc, que permaneceram inalterados, mas o grau de fosforilação em tirosina parece detenninar a capacidade de associação da Shc com a proteína adaptadora Grb2. Nossos resultados demonstram que, em tecidos animais, a Shc é susceptível de ser tirosino-fosforilada pela insulina através do seu receptor. Esta fosforilação é tempo- e dose- dependente, e sua intensidade determina as capacidade. De associação da Shc com a proteína adaptadora Grb2. Tanto o grau de fosforilação da Shc quanto a associação Shc/Grb2, apresentam regulação diferenciada, dependente do modelo de resistência à insulina e do tecido analisado, mas parece que os níveis de insulina podem contribuir para essa regulação. A fosforilação da Shc induzida pela insulina nos modelos descritos, apresentou características diferentes daquelas exibidas pelo substrato-l do receptor de insulina, observadas em estudos prévios realizados em ratos sujeitos a idênticas condições experimentais, sugerindo uma dissociação no padrão de comportamento destas duas proteínas, após serem ativadas pela insulina Abstract: Shc is a novel type of tyrosine-phosphory lated protein activated in response to a wide variety of polypeptide ligands. In this report, we used immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting to examine the effect of insulin on Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Shc/Grb2 association in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat. Following an infusion of insulin, Shc was tyrosine phosphorylated in the liver, skeletal musc1e and adipose tissue in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, which peaked 5 min after exposure to the hormone and, except in the case of adipose tissue, retumed to basal values after 15 mino There was coimmunoprecipitation of Shc and the insulin receptor after stimulation with insulin. Receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward Shc was also observed. Following an infusion ofinsulin, Shc was found to associate with Grb2. Insulin-induced Shc phosphorylation and Shc/Grb2 association were also investigated in five animal models of insulin resistance (72-h starvatation, chronic dexamethasone treatment, aging, acute epinephrine treatment and STZ induced diabetes mellitus). There were no differences in Shc protein expression between tissues from control and insulin resistant animaIs. In all the tissues and animal models studied, the Shc/Grb2 association were directly correlated with the levels of Shc phosphorylation reached after insulin infusion. In fasted hypoinsulinemic rats th_re was a d_crease in insulin-induced Shc phosphorylation in liver and adipose tissue. However, a significant increase _n Shc phosphorylation was observed in liver, musc1_ and fat from STZ-treated rats, another insulin-resistant state wh.ich cóúrses with low insulin levels, but high plasmatic glucose concentrations. Other insulin-resistant states which courses with hyperglicemic levels like dexamethasone-treated rats and aging, showed similar results to those observed in diabetic rats. Liver and musc1e of hypercortisolemic rats showed a significant increase in insulin-induced Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, so as liver, musc1e and adipose tissue of 20 months-old rats. Interestingly, acute stimulus with epinhephrine, a normoglicemic condition, did not display changes in insulin-induced Shc tyrosil phosphorylation nor Shc/Grb2 association in the three tissues studied. These results indicate that Shc tyrosil phosphorylation and Shc/Grb2 association are regulated in the different type af insulin resistance and that this regulation seems to be related to the plasmatic glucose and insulin levels found in these animals Doutorado Fisiologia Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Shc protein have the same binding site at the insulin receptor and compete in their association with the phosphorylated receptor. The present study demonstrates that a decrease in the level of muscle insulin receptor phosphorylation induced by chronic growth hormone (GH) treatment or acute epinephrine infusion is accompanied by a reduction in the level of IRS-1 phosphorylation and in the association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In contrast, no change is observed in insulin-stimulated Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, or in the association of this substrate with Grb2. These data suggest that a reduction in insulin receptor phosphorylation may affect post-receptor processes differentially by preserving the phosphorylation of some substrates and pathways, but not of others.

Orientador: Luiz Roberto G. Britto Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resumo: A utilização de marcadores celulares para mapeamento das regiões cerebrais tem resultado em importantes avanços no estudo da organização morfofuncional do sistema nervoso. No presente trabalho, foram empregadas duas técnicas de marcação, a histoquímica para NADPH-diaforase, que revela neurônios que contêm óxido nítrico (NO) e a técnica imuno-histoquímica para proteínas ligantes de cálcio (CaBPs), com o propósito de se determinar a eventual colocalização neuronal dessas substâncias no cérebro de camundongos, já que ambas parecem estar envolvidas em processos fisio-patológicos semelhantes. A metodologia foi efetuada em cortes frontais do cérebro de 14 camundongos C57BL/6) previamente anestesiados e perfundidos com salina e 4% paraformaldeído. A imuno-histoquímica para as CaBPS(calbindina, parvalbumina e calretinina) foi baseada na técnica de avidina-biotina-peroxidase (ABC) e imuno-fluorescência. Em seguida, os cortes foram processados pela técnica histoquímica para NADPH-diaforase, utilizando nitrobluetetrazolium como cromógeno. Neuropeptídeo Y, cuja co-Iocalização com NADPH-diaforasetem sido amplamente demonstrada, serviu como controle positivo, que mostrou a validade das técnicas utilizadas. Nossos resultados demonstraram, a nível de cortex, caudado-putamen, vias visuais subcorticais, amígdala e hipocampo, hipotálamo, bulbo olfatório e cerebelo, sub-populações de neurônios independentes para a reação de diaforase e CaBPS.Essesresultados indicam que, apesar de as CaBPse o NO estarem envolvidos em processos neuronais fisio-patológicos similares, eles estão presentes em diferentes sistemas neuronais nesses animais Abstract: Both nitric oxide (NO) and calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) seem to be involved in some neuropathologicalprocesses. In this study, we sought to investigate if NO and CaBPs are colocalizated in neurons of the mouse brain. Fourteen C57BL/6J mice were deeply anesthetized and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde and their brains were processed for NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry to detect NO and also subjected to immunohistochemistrywith antibodies against calbindin-28kD, parvalbumin and calretinin. Both fluorescence and peroxidase methods were employed. Colocalization of neuropeptide Y (NPY) with NOS was performed as intensity of staining control. NADPH-diaphorase neurons were seen in several brain regions, which include the cerebral cortex, basal amygdala, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, cerebellum and subcortical visual pathways. CaBPs were also distributed in many brain regions, some of wich contained NADPH-diaphorase. However, no double-labeled cells were seen in the mouse brain, when considering diaphorasepositivity and either one of the CaBPstested. These data suggest that despite the fact that NO and CaBPs appear to be involved in similar neuropathologies, they are present in different neuronal populations in the mouse brain and thus might participate in different neural processes Mestrado Fisiologia Mestre em Ciências Biológicas