Effect of glucocorticoids on function and cardiac morphology in rats

• Grant number: 11/04699-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Medeiros
• Grantee: Fabiana de Salvi Guimarães
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are drugs used to treat various pathologies, for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, many are also side effects caused by its use, being the heart of an organ strongly influenced, however, the mechanisms responsible for these changes is still unclear. In fact, studies have shown that GC excess induces hypertension and atherosclerosis. Some authors relate the continuous and excessive use of GCs with increased incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure. Other studies also indicate that the use of GC is associated with increased septal and left ventricular wall. In this same context, other experimental data demonstrate that the use of synthetic GCs may cause cardiac hypertrophy in healthy mice of different stages of development, and the cause remains unknown. Some hypotheses point to different stimuli, such as changes in cardiac phenotype involving myosin heavy chain, increased protein synthesis, decreased protein catabolism or both. Given the widespread use of GCs in clinical medicine, its potential effects on cardiovascular diseases and doubts about its effects on cardiac structure and function, this study aims to investigate the morphology and cardiac function as well as the expression of proteins involved in the intracellular Ca2+ pathway signaling and in the pathways of calcineurin and CaMKII, which may be involved in pathologic hypertrophy in the hearts of rats treated with dexamethasone. This work will enable a better understanding of cardiac changes caused by the use of dexamethasone, which will assist in developing strategies that can be adopted for these changes do not occur, or which are of lesser magnitude. Among these strategies, physical training, known for its beneficial effects on cardiac structure and function, this may be an interesting tool. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GUIMARAES, FABIANA DE SALVI; ALMEIDA MONTEIRO DE MORAES, WILSON MAX; MARCHESI BOZI, LUIS HENRIQUE; SOUZA, PAMELA R.; ANTONIO, EDNEI LUIZ; BOCALINI, DANILO SALES; FERREIRA TUCCI, PAULO JOSE; RIBEIRO, DANIEL ARAKI; BRUM, PATRICIA CHAKUR; MEDEIROS, ALESSANDRA. Dexamethasone-induced cardiac deterioration is associated with both calcium handling abnormalities and calcineurin signaling pathway activation. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, v. 424, n. 1-2, p. 87-98, JAN 2017. (11/04699-3)