Name: INGRIDY REINHOLZ GRAFITES SCHEREIDER
Publication date: 29/04/2020
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| MAYLLA RONACHER SIMÕES | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ALESSANDRA SIMAO PADILHA | Internal Examiner * |
| BRUNA FERNANDES AZEVEDO | External Examiner * |
| MAYLLA RONACHER SIMÕES | Advisor * |
Summary: The exposure to toxic metal, such as mercury has been shown to be positively associate with some chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system leading to a significant health risk. However, the effects of metals in female rats is poorly investigate. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether chronic mercury exposure alters the blood pressure and the vascular function of thoracic aorta of Wistar female rats. For this, ten-week-old female Wistar were divided into two groups: Control group (vehicle, i.m.) and the Mercury group (1st dose of 4.6g/kg, subsequent doses of 0.07g/kg, i.m.). The results showed that mercury treatment did not modified systolic blood pressure (SBP), but there was an increase in aorta vascular reactivity from Mercury group. This increase is due to the reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability associated with the increase in reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion, through uncoupling eNOS. Furthermore, a higher participation of cyclooxygenase-2 pathway through imbalance of the prostanoids, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin 2 (PGI2) was observed, but any alteration of the estrogen receptors in the vascular reactivity in mercury exposure. Together, these results demonstrate that chronic exposure to mercury induces endothelial dysfunction and consequently increases aortic vascular reactivity, indicating a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and helping to clarify the mechanisms by which this metal acts in the vascular system of female rats.
