Melatonin is a hormone provided by the mother to the fetus during development, acting as an antioxidant in crucial cellular processes of the nervous system. The use of Valproic Acid (VPA) during pregnancy serves as a model for studying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We assessed whether the absence of maternal melatonin during intrauterine development results in damages similar to autism in offspring, as observed in animals exposed to VPA. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: pinealectomized (PTX) or pinealectomized supplemented with melatonin (MEL), a surgical procedure without pineal gland removal (SHAM), VPA injection on the 13th day of gestation (VPA – ASD positive model), and saline injection as a VPA control (SAL). Two days after birth and at the fourth week of life, the offspring were sacrificed, and their neonatal brain were collected and analyzed for GSH content, H2O2 production, lipid peroxidation, and Na,K-ATPase activity and its isoforms. Our model showed that VPA exposure increased oxidative parameters and decreased Na,K-ATPase total activity and isoforms. Experimental results showed differences between groups only after stratifying the data by gender. We observed gender differences in oxidative stress levels, with males exhibiting higher basal levels than females. PTX male groups presented opposite patterns compared to female in GSH, H2O2 and lipid peroxidation levels. Na,K-ATPase showed no differences, but stratified data indicated a tendency of activity decrease only in PTX male group, and same pattern only in isoform ?1. In summary, this study shows that oxidative stress may play a crucial role in the etiology of ASD and highlight the importance of maternal melatonin in preventing neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Additionally, it points to possible gender differences that will be investigated in future studies.
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the 8th Annual Meeting of the Cardiotonic Steroids and Na Pump, in collaboration with the Brazilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutic Society (SBFTE) and the Brazilian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SBBq). The event is scheduled to take place at the Federal University of São João del Rei (UFSJ) from August 20th to 23rd, 2024.
The Na pump meeting stands as one of Brazil's most enduring scientific gatherings. Over the past decade, it has been hosted by various Brazilian institutions, serving as a pivotal platform for scientific discussions that contribute significantly to the advancement of fundamental knowledge in Na, K-ATPase biochemistry, molecular biology, and related fields. Additionally, it serves as a forum for dialogues on scientific education and training, generating consensus that can influence public policies for the betterment of society.
For this year's meeting, the organizing committee has curated an engaging interdisciplinary program, featuring lectures by esteemed foreign scientists. These sessions will delve into the latest advancements and current challenges across a broad spectrum of research topics in Biochemistry and the Molecular Na pump signaling cascade.
We eagerly anticipate your participation in this exciting scientific event and hope to see you soon in Minas Gerais!
Best regards,
Scientific Committee
Comissão Organizadora
Dr Leandro Augusto Barbosa
Dr Vanessa Faria Cortes
Sílvia Ramos Silva
Marina Vieira
Anna Karolina de Oliveira Alfenas Gadelha - Mídias Sociais e Papelaria
Jessica Alves Faria - Coffee Break e Gráfica
Lucas Antônio Lisboa Ribeiro - Apresentação/Cerimonial
Poliana Amorim Santos - Abertura/ Encerramento/ parte recreativa
?Ana Gabriela Finamore dos Santo-Midias Sociais e Suporte Técnico.
Thiago Malverde de Oliveira - Divulgação (SJDR) e suporte
Maurício Gustavo Oliveira - Credenciamento
Ítalo Leonardo Diogo - Contato com a pós-graduação e Controle de Frequência
Julia Lopes Granato - Midias sociais e controle de frequência
Comissão Científica
Dr. Gustavo Blanco – Kansas University Medical Center, USA
Dr. John Hamlyn – University of Maryland, USA
Dr. Rúben Gerardo Contreras Patiño – CINVESTAV, Mexico
Dra. Vanessa Faria Cortes - Federal University of São João del-Rei, Brazil
Dr Carlos Frederico Leite Fontes - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dr Cristoforo Scavone - University of Sao Paulo
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