Marta Cristina Cunha-Rodrigues

Dr. Marta Cristina Cunha-Rodrigues

Department of Pharmacology and Psychobiology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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17 March 2021 in Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
DPD. Pereira-Figueiredo
D. Pereira-Figueiredo
ANA. A. Nascimento
A. A. Nascimento
MCMarta Cristina Cunha-Rodrigues
Marta Cristina Cunha-Rodrigues
RBRafael Brito
Rafael Brito
KCKarin Da Costa Calaza
Karin Da Costa Calaza

11 September 2026 in Neuroglia
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ACAlan Pereira da Costa
Alan Pereira da Costa
AMAmanda Sotero Martins
Amanda Sotero Martins
LMLetícia Viana Mendes
Letícia Viana Mendes
Ana Clara da Silva LopesAna Clara da Silva Lopes
Ana Clara da Silva Lopes
KMKethely Lima Marques
Kethely Lima Marques
Penha Cristina BarradasPenha Cristina Barradas
Penha Cristina Barradas
Background/objectives: Perinatal hypoxia–ischemia (HI) is a major cause of brain injury and is associated with long-term neurological impairments, including white matter injury, astrogliosis, microgliosis, and hypomyelination. Maternal exercise has emerged as a potential non-pharmacological strategy to improve fetal development and increase resilience to prenatal insults. This study investigated whether maternal exercise during pregnancy protects against neuroglial alterations in the corpus callosum of offspring subjected to prenatal HI. Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were assigned to sedentary or exercise groups. The exercise protocol consisted of daily swimming sessions with progressive durations (3–30 min/day) over 10 days. Blood glucose levels and oxidative stress markers (GSH, TBARS, and DPPH) were evaluated to characterize the physiological effects of the protocol. Prenatal HI was induced on gestational day 18 by transient occlusion of the uterine arteries for 45 min, whereas sham-operated dams underwent identical surgical procedures without arterial occlusion. Offspring were euthanized on postnatal days (P) 16 and 23, and brain sections were processed for immunohistochemistry using antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP). Images were quantitatively analyzed using Image-Pro Plus, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: The exercise protocol did not show oxidative stress, hypoglycemia, or exhaustion. Female offspring from HI group exhibited astrogliosis at P16, which persisted until P23; however, maternal exercise prevented this response at P23. No changes in MBP immunoreactivity were detected in females. Male offspring did not develop astrogliosis but displayed hypomyelination at P23, which was prevented by maternal exercise. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that maternal exercise during pregnancy attenuates sex-dependent neuroglial alterations induced by prenatal HI, supporting its potential as a preventive strategy to reduce white matter injury and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.