Dados do Trabalho

Título

EFFECT OF EXERCISE AND PRAMIPEXOL ON GENE EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME IN SHR RATS

Introdução

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a sleep-related movement disorder characterized by an uncontrollable desire to move the body (legs) to relieve uncomfortable sensations. Changes in dopaminergic transmission, as well as variations in PTPRD (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type Delta) gene expression may be associated with RLS. Its treatment may be pharmacological or non-pharmacological.

Objetivo

This study aims to characterize PTPRD gene expression in SHR (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats) animals; to compare PTPRD, dopamine transporter (DAT), tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme (TH) and dopaminergic receptor (DA-2) gene expression between Wistar-Kyoto and SHR rats (control), and to verify the influence of pramipexole (PPX) and physical exercise (PE) treatment on gene expression of these proteins in SHR animals.

Métodos

The rats were distributed in 5 groups: 1) Standard control (Wistar-Kyoto); 2) Control - CTRL (SHR); 3) SHR PE; 4) SHR PE + PPX; 5) SHR PPX. The tratament of control group and PE group consisted of saline vehicle. PE + PPX and PPX groups received a dose of 0.125 mg / kg. The PE was performed on a treadmill, with 5 sessions per week lasting 1h (moderate intensity). The intervention lasted 4 weeks. Gene expression analyzes were performed on the striatum by qPCR. Data were analyzed by Statistica software. The effect size was calculated using the Hedges g formula.

Resultados

The results of the PTPRD gene characterization, although not significant, showed that SHR CTRL animals demonstrated to express lower levels of transcript of this gene compared to Wistar-Kyoto group. Regarding the comparison of the other genes between the SHR CTRL and Wistar-Kyoto groups, it was observed that the SHR CTRL animals showed a significantly lower reduction (p = 0.05) in the DAT gene expression. In addition, it was observed that the SHR PE + PPX group showed a tendency (p = 0.07; g = 0.75) of higher TH gene expression compared to the SHR PPX group. Although not statistically significant, the SHR PE + PPX (g = 0.25) and SHR PPX (g = 0.25) groups showed increased PTPRD gene expression, while the SHR PPX (g = 0.5) group showed increased levels of DAT gene expression.

Conclusões

It is suggested that reduced levels of PTPRD gene transcripts in SHR animals may be associated with RLS. In addition, PE in combination with PPX, as well as PPX alone, suggest to increase levels of SPI-related protein gene expression.

Palavras-chave

Dopamine; PTPRD; Non-pharmacological treatment; Pharmacological treatment.