Cognitive-behavioral study associated with neuroinflammation and hypertension

SEBASTÁN GARCÍA MENÉNDEZ; VIRNA MARGARITA MARTÍN GIMENÉZ; FERES MOCAYAR; LUCIANA MAZZEI; NATALIA PRADO; EMILIANO DIEZ; WALTER MANUCHA

San Juan

Congreso; XLI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2023

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Hypertension is a chronic disease that can lead to vascular and neurological damage. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model is a valuable tool for studying the effects of hypertension on the brain. Neuroinflammation plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and could contribute to behavioral alterations observed in patients. To highlight, treatment with anandamide (AEA), an endocannabinoid, could reduce the damage caused by hypertension. These studies treated SHR rats with nano-formulated AEA for four weeks, and they found that AEA reduced systolic blood pressure and inflammatory markers. These findings suggest that AEA could potentially treat hypertension and its neurological consequences. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosage and route of administration of AEA for treating hypertension. To investigate the links between hypertension, neuroinflammation, and behavioral changes, SHR and normotensive (WKY) rats were used (CICUAL 137/2018). The experimental groups were treated with nano-formulated AEA for four weeks (N=10). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and behavioral changes were evaluated using the Plus Maze and Open Field Test. The peripheral blood and cerebral cortex were analyzed for inflammatory and oxidative markers. The results revealed significant differences in SBP between SHR and WKY rats and a significant reduction in SBP in SHR rats treated with AEA (p