scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Author

Fernanda Klein Marcondes

Bio: Fernanda Klein Marcondes is an academic researcher from State University of Campinas. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chronic stress & Nandrolone. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 80 publications receiving 2697 citations.


Papers
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim of the present work was to provide researchers with some helpful considerations about the determination of the rat estrous cycle phases in a fast and practical way.
Abstract: The short length of the estrous cycle of rats makes them ideal for investigation of changes occurring during the reproductive cycle. The estrous cycle lasts four days and is characterized as: proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus, which may be determined according to the cell types observed in the vaginal smear. Since the collection of vaginal secretion and the use of stained material generally takes some time, the aim of the present work was to provide researchers with some helpful considerations about the determination of the rat estrous cycle phases in a fast and practical way. Vaginal secretion of thirty female rats was collected every morning during a month and unstained native material was observed using the microscope without the aid of the condenser lens. Using the 10 x objective lens, it was easier to analyze the proportion among the three cellular types, which are present in the vaginal smear. Using the 40 x objective lens, it is easier to recognize each one of these cellular types. The collection of vaginal lavage from the animals, the observation of the material, in the microscope, and the determination of the estrous cycle phase of all the thirty female rats took 15-20 minutes.

1,322 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Since the time spent in the open arms of the plus-maze is inversely related to anxiety, it is concluded that the anxiety levels of female rats were lower in proestrus than during diestrus, and the levels of estradiol modulate this response.

432 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stress-induced hyperalgesia may result from changes in the serotoninergic and opioid systems, which can explain, at least in part, the important link between stress and orofacial pain.

140 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 2002
TL;DR: The results suggest that a stressful situation can be a predisposing factor for the increase of VSCs in the mouth air, but the mechanism cannot be simply explained by reduction of the salivary flow.
Abstract: The relationship between stress, salivary flow rate and oral volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSCs) is not clearly established. Two stressful situations were studied: psychological stress caused by a biochemistry examination (Study I) and psychophysiological stress caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (Study II). Seventy-one undergraduate dental students took part in Study I and VSCs were measured 1 wk before the examination, on the day of examination and 1 wk after. In Study II, 50 women were selected (23 with and 27 without PMS) and the measurements were made during non-menstrual, premenstrual and menstrual stages. Unstimulated salivary flow was determined in the subjects of both studies. On the day of the biochemistry examination, VSCs significantly increased and salivary flow decreased compared with baseline values. Women with PMS showed higher VSC concentrations during the premenstrual stage than those without PMS (P < 0.05), but the salivary flow was not statistically different. A change in VSCs was observed during different stages of the menstrual cycle for the groups of women, but the salivary flow did not change. The results suggest that a stressful situation can be a predisposing factor for the increase of VSCs in the mouth air, but the mechanism cannot be simply explained by reduction of the salivary flow.

72 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jul 2005
TL;DR: Training and AAS effects on glycogen supercompensation are tissue-dependent and the effects of association between them were only observed in the cardiac muscle, emphasizing the necessity of more studies to confirm greater effects of AAS than those promoted by physical exercise.
Abstract: To increase tissue glycogen content many athletes use anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). However, the literature concerning the effects of androgens on glycogen metabolism is conflicting. This study aimed to determine the influence of training and AAS on body weight (bw), triglycerides, glucose, tissue glycogen and transaminases levels. Male Wistar rats, randomized into four groups (sedentary vehicle (SV), sedentary AAS (SA), trained vehicle (TV) and trained AAS (TA)), were treated with nadrolone (5 mg/Kg, 2x/week, i.m.) or vehicle. Trained rats performed jumps into water (4 sets, 10 repetitions, 30 sec rest) carrying a 50-70% body wt-load strapped to the chest (5 days/week,6 weeks). Two days after the last session, the animals were killed (bifatorial ANOVA+Tukey test; P SV:0.13+/-0.01=TV:0.13+/-0.01=SA:0.14+/-0.01 mg/100 mg). In the soleus AAS increased glycogen (SA:0.53+/-0.03 vs. SV:0.43+/-0.01 and TA:0.58+/-0.02 vs. TV:0.48+/-0.01 mg/100 mg). Exercise training and AAS had no effect on blood glucose and transaminases levels. Training and AAS effects on glycogen supercompensation are tissue-dependent and the effects of association between them were only observed in the cardiac muscle. These data emphasize the necessity of more studies to confirm greater effects of AAS than those promoted by physical exercise.

65 citations


Cited by
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The elevated plus maze is a widely used behavioral assay for rodents and it has been validated to assess the anti-anxiety effects of pharmacological agents and steroid hormones, and to define brain regions and mechanisms underlying anxiety-related behavior.
Abstract: The elevated plus maze is a widely used behavioral assay for rodents and it has been validated to assess the anti-anxiety effects of pharmacological agents and steroid hormones, and to define brain regions and mechanisms underlying anxiety-related behavior. Briefly, rats or mice are placed at the junction of the four arms of the maze, facing an open arm, and entries/duration in each arm are recorded by a video-tracking system and observer simultaneously for 5 min. Other ethological parameters (i.e., rears, head dips and stretched-attend postures) can also be observed. An increase in open arm activity (duration and/or entries) reflects anti-anxiety behavior. In our laboratory, rats or mice are exposed to the plus maze on one occasion; thus, results can be obtained in 5 min per rodent.

2,221 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim of the present work was to provide researchers with some helpful considerations about the determination of the rat estrous cycle phases in a fast and practical way.
Abstract: The short length of the estrous cycle of rats makes them ideal for investigation of changes occurring during the reproductive cycle. The estrous cycle lasts four days and is characterized as: proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus, which may be determined according to the cell types observed in the vaginal smear. Since the collection of vaginal secretion and the use of stained material generally takes some time, the aim of the present work was to provide researchers with some helpful considerations about the determination of the rat estrous cycle phases in a fast and practical way. Vaginal secretion of thirty female rats was collected every morning during a month and unstained native material was observed using the microscope without the aid of the condenser lens. Using the 10 x objective lens, it was easier to analyze the proportion among the three cellular types, which are present in the vaginal smear. Using the 40 x objective lens, it is easier to recognize each one of these cellular types. The collection of vaginal lavage from the animals, the observation of the material, in the microscope, and the determination of the estrous cycle phase of all the thirty female rats took 15-20 minutes.

1,322 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the use of the EPM as a post-hoc test to evaluate emotionality in genetically modified rodents and identify and control of major sources of variability in this test.

894 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim of this unit is to provide guidelines for quickly and accurately determining estrous cycle phases in mice.
Abstract: The short reproductive cycle length observed in rodents, called the estrous cycle, makes them an ideal animal model for investigation of changes that occur during the reproductive cycle Most of the data in the literature about the estrous cycle is obtained from rats because they are easily manipulated and they exhibit a clear and well-defined estrous cycle However, the increased number of experiments using knockout mice requires identification of their estrous cycle as well, since (in)fertility issues may arise In mice, like rats, the identification of the stage of estrous cycle is based on the proportion of cell types observed in the vaginal secretion The aim of this unit is to provide guidelines for quickly and accurately determining estrous cycle phases in mice

660 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In future studies, combined investigations of a particular compound with regard to human matrices such as breath, urine, saliva and cell culture investigations will lead to novel scientific progress in the field.
Abstract: Breath analysis is a young field of research with its roots in antiquity. Antoine Lavoisier discovered carbon dioxide in exhaled breath during the period 1777-1783, Wilhelm (Vilem) Petters discovered acetone in breath in 1857 and Johannes Muller reported the first quantitative measurements of acetone in 1898. A recent review reported 1765 volatile compounds appearing in exhaled breath, skin emanations, urine, saliva, human breast milk, blood and feces. For a large number of compounds, real-time analysis of exhaled breath or skin emanations has been performed, e.g., during exertion of effort on a stationary bicycle or during sleep. Volatile compounds in exhaled breath, which record historical exposure, are called the 'exposome'. Changes in biogenic volatile organic compound concentrations can be used to mirror metabolic or (patho)physiological processes in the whole body or blood concentrations of drugs (e.g. propofol) in clinical settings-even during artificial ventilation or during surgery. Also compounds released by bacterial strains like Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Streptococcus pneumonia could be very interesting. Methyl methacrylate (CAS 80-62-6), for example, was observed in the headspace of Streptococcus pneumonia in concentrations up to 1420 ppb. Fecal volatiles have been implicated in differentiating certain infectious bowel diseases such as Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Cholera. They have also been used to differentiate other non-infectious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, alterations in urine volatiles have been used to detect urinary tract infections, bladder, prostate and other cancers. Peroxidation of lipids and other biomolecules by reactive oxygen species produce volatile compounds like ethane and 1-pentane. Noninvasive detection and therapeutic monitoring of oxidative stress would be highly desirable in autoimmunological, neurological, inflammatory diseases and cancer, but also during surgery and in intensive care units. The investigation of cell cultures opens up new possibilities for elucidation of the biochemical background of volatile compounds. In future studies, combined investigations of a particular compound with regard to human matrices such as breath, urine, saliva and cell culture investigations will lead to novel scientific progress in the field.

549 citations