Abstract Drugs used in the treatment of depression can cross the placenta giving rise to questions regarding the effects these drugs exert on the fetus. Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae, is a natural product used to treat depression. However, information about its toxicity and the occurrence of alterations in the central nervous system development of the offspring is scarce. This work assessed the behavior of adult male rats born from mothers treated with Hypericum extract during gestation and analyzed the fluorescence of the extract in different organs of mothers and fetuses. Male pups were divided into three treated groups, corresponding to the administration of the Hypericum extract to mothers at the dose levels of 36 mg/kg, 72 mg/kg and 144 mg/kg, and one control group in which the mothers received distilled water. At 90 days of age, the offspring underwent the following tests: rotarod, pentobarbital-induced sleep time, elevated plus maze, hole-board and forced swimming test. The observed fluorescence indicated the presence of the extract in all tissues analyzed. The obtained results suggest lasting changes in the performances displayed in the CNS, depression and anxiety tests, indicating that the use of Hypericum during gestation could interfere with the behavioral development of the offspring reducing anxiety and depression when they become adults. We suggest that these alterations are associated with the reprogramming of the brain regions related to changes in emotional reactivity.

Evaluate the effect of the extract of Ginkgo biloba L., Ginkgoaceae (EGb) in the Bcl-2 expression by osteoblasts in the femoral trabecular bone of Wistar rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Rats were divided into five groups: osteoporosis; EGb1 (28 mg/kg); EGb2 (56 mg/kg); alendronate (0.2 mg/animal) and control. The treatments were conducted for 20 or 30 days. The Bcl-2 expression by osteoblasts cells was evaluated in the femoral trabecular bone. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis-induced group (Student's t-test). The other groups were analyzed by ANOVA test followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). The percentage of Bcl-2 expression was reduced, when the control group (17.95 ± 3.45 20 days; 21.11 ± 3.43 30 days) was compared with the osteoporosis group (10.64 ± 3.30 20 days; 9.72 ± 2.84 30 days). Nevertheless, this percentage increased in the EGb2 group (18.58 ± 3.41 20 days; 16.51 ± 1.80 30 days) when compared to the osteoporosis group. The EGb increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, suggesting a decrease in osteoblast apoptosis.

Gestational depression is detrimental to the health of the mother and the offspring and contributes to the appearance of depressive and anxiety symptoms during the postnatal period. Traditional antidepressants have undesirable side effects when utilised during gestation, but Hypericum perforatum has been characterised as an efficient and safe antidepressant that prevents the recurrence of symptoms. This study verified the effects of Hypericum perforatumon the behaviour of Wistar rats that were treated during gestation and evaluated 10 and 60 days post-treatment. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into four groups of ten animals each: one control group that received distilled water and three treatment groups that were treated orally with 36, 72 or 144 mg/kg Hypericum perforatumextract. At 10 and 60 days after parturition and post-treatment, the rats were submitted to the holeboard, the tail suspension, and the forced swim tests. The animals treated with 144 mg/kg Hypericum perforatumexhibited greater head-dipping activity in the hole-board test and reduced immobility in the tail suspension and forced swim tests, suggesting less anxiety and depression 10 and 60 days post-treatment.The results indicated that treating rats with Hypericum perforatumduring the gestational period decreased depressive behaviour and anxiety 10 and 60 days post-treatment.

This work evaluates the diet and the reproductive cycle of Tropidurus torquatus in relation to seasonality in a rock outcrop formations in a remaining area of Atlantic Rainforest. The data indicate that the lizards feed mainly on arthropods and plant material. The female reproductive activity varies between seasons, while males contain spermatozoids throughout the year. The minimum body size at maturity of the individuals was larger when compared to other population of the same species studied by other authors. The data obtained in the present study confirm previous observations about the different patterns in diet composition and reproductive cycles of each population of this species in different latitude and occurrence areas, and provide the first study about this theme for T. torquatus in rock outcrops in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais state.

En este estudio se evalúa la dieta y el ciclo reproductivo de Tropidurus torquatus en relación con la estacionalidad en en un afloramiento rocoso de la Mata Atlántica. Los datos recogidos indican que los lagartos se alimentan principalmente de artrópodos y materia vegetal. La actividad reproductiva de las hembras varía entre temporadas, mientras que los machos contenía esperma durante todo el año. El tamaño mínimo de ejemplares reproductivamente activos fue mayor en comparación a la encontrada por otros autores para esta especie en otras localidades. Los datos obtenidos en este estudio confirman observaciones previas sobre los diferentes patrones en composición de dieta y ciclos reproductivos de cada población de esta especie en diferentes latitudes y áreas de ocurrencia, y proporcionan el primer estudio sobre este tema para T. torquatus en un afloramiento rocoso de la Mata Atlántica del estado de Minas Gerais.

Este trabalho investigou os efeitos do tratamento por vinte dias com extrato de Ginkgo biloba (EGb) na osteoporose induzida por glicocorticóides. Foram utilizadas 36 ratas divididas em seis grupos (n=6): Controle, osteoporose, controle positivo, EGb1 (14 mg EGb/mg/kg/dia), EGb2 (28 mg EGb/kg/dia) e EGb3 (56 mg EGb/kg/dia). Os tratamentos foram realizados por vinte dias, após a indução da osteoporose. Após a eutanásia foram removidos o fêmur e a mandíbula de todos os animais. A mandíbula esquerda foi radiografada digitalmente para avaliação da cortical e do suporte ósseo periodontal (SOP). A análise histomorfométrica foi realizada no fêmur e mandíbula direitos. O grupo controle foi comparado ao grupo osteoporose (Teste t de Student) e os demais grupos foram submetidos a ANOVA, seguido do teste post-hoc de Dunnett. Houve redução significava do SOP mesial, percentual ósseo alveolar (POA) mandibular, percentual ósseo trabecular (POT) do fêmur no grupo osteoporose. Houve aumento do SOP mesial no grupo controle positivo, EGb2 e EGb3. O POA da mandíbula e o POT do fêmur aumentaram nos grupos EGb2 e EGb3. O EGb nas doses de 28 mg/kg e 56 mg/kg recuperou de forma significativa o SOP mesial, o POA da mandíbula e o POT do fêmur.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a 20 day treatment with extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) in glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. 36 rats were divided into six groups (n=6): control, osteoporosis, positive control, EGb1 (14 mg EGb/kg/day), EGb2 (28 mg EGb/kg/day) and EGb3 (56 mg EGb/kg/day). Treatments were conducted for twenty days, after osteoporosis was induced. Following euthanasia the femur and mandible of all animals were removed. The left mandible was radiographed to evaluate the cortical and the periodontal bone support (PBS). The histomorphometric analysis was performed on the right mandible and the right femur. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis group (Student's t-test). The other groups were analyzed through ANOVA test followed by Dunnett post-hoc test. There was a significantly reduction in the mesial PBS, in the percentage of the alveolar bone (PAB) of the mandible and percentage of the trabecular bone (PTB) of the femur in the osteoporosis group. There was an increase in the mesial PBS in the positive control group, EGb2 and EGb3. The PAB of the mandible and the PTB of the femur increased in the EGb2 and EGb3 groups. The EGb in the 28 mg/kg and 56 mg/kg doses were effective to increase the mesial PBS, the PAB of the mandible and the PTB of the femur.