Characteristics of Muscle Fibers in Rats with Limb Movements during Sleep after Spinal Cord Injury

Esteves, Andrea Maculano; Squarcini, Camila Fabiana Rossi; Lancellotti, Carmen Lúcia Penteado; Tufik, Sérgio; Mello, Marco Túlio de

doi:10.1159/000334102

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“…An animal model of RLS might help in understanding the etiopathogenesis of the syndrome, and secondary forms of RLS can be a model to replicate in animals the RLS symptoms. However, to develop an animal model of RLS, several key components of the animal phenotype (behavior) of the syndrome must be defined and several studies have been performed to demonstrate an animal model that exhibits those characteristics [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] . Thus, due to the increased propensity of developing RLS during pregnancy, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior and locomotor activity of rats during pregnancy in order to verify if part of these animals exhibit some RLS-like features.…”

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confidence: 99%

Changes in motor behavior during pregnancy in rats: the basis for a possible animal model of restless legs syndrome

Mariano¹,

Esteves²,

Frank³

et al. 2014

Rev. Bras. Ginecol. Obstet.

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PURPOSE: Pregnant women have a 2-3 fold higher probability of developing restless legs syndrome (RLS -sleep-related movement disorders) than general population. This study aims to evaluate the behavior and locomotion of rats during pregnancy in order to verify if part of these animals exhibit some RLS-like features. METHODS: We used 14 female 80-day-old Wistar rats that weighed between 200 and 250 g. The rats were distributed into control (CTRL) and pregnant (PN) groups. After a baseline evaluation of their behavior and locomotor activity in an open-field environment, the PN group was inducted into pregnancy, and their behavior and locomotor activity were evaluated on days 3, 10 and 19 of pregnancy and in the post-lactation period in parallel with the CTRL group. The serum iron and transferrin levels in the CTRL and PN groups were analyzed in blood collected after euthanasia by decapitation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the total ambulation, grooming events, fecal boli or urine pools between the CTRL and PN groups. However, the PN group exhibited fewer rearing events, increased grooming time and reduced immobilization time than the CTRL group (ANOVA, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pregnant rats show behavioral and locomotor alterations similar to those observed in animal models of RLS, demonstrating to be a possible animal model of this sleep disorder. ResumoOBJETIVO: Mulheres grávidas apresentam de duas a trêz vezes maior probabilidade de desenvolver a Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas (SPI -distúrbio do movimento relacionado ao sono) do que a população geral. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o comportamento e a locomoção de ratas durante a gravidez, a fim de verificar se esses animais apresentam algumas características SPI-like. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizadas 14 fêmeas Wistar de 80 dias de idade, pesando entre 200 e 250 g. Os ratos foram distribuídos em grupos controle (CTRL) e prenhes (PN). Após uma avaliação inicial do comportamento e da atividade locomotora em um ambiente de campo aberto, o grupo PN foi introduzido a prenhez, e sua atividade e comportamento locomotor foram avaliados nos dias 3, 10 e 19 de prenhez e no período pós-lactação em paralelo ao grupo CTRL. Os níveis de ferro e transferrina séricos nos grupos CTRL e PN foram analisados em sangue coletado após eutanásia por decapitação. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas na deambulação total, nos eventos de grooming, bolos fecais e urina entre os grupos CTRL e PN. No entanto, o grupo PN apresentou menos eventos de rearing, aumento no tempo de duração de grooming e redução no tempo de imobilização em relação ao grupo CTRL (ANOVA, p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Esses resultados sugerem que ratas prenhes apresentam alterações comportamentais e locomotoras semelhantes às observadas em modelos animais de SPI, demonstrando ser um possível modelo animal desse distúrbio do sono.

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