B.Sc. in Physical Engineering, M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Basic Biomedical Sciences from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. With research focuses on renal and integrative physiology in pathological processes such as metabolic syndrome in animal models as well as the application of multivariate statistical techniques and experimental design.
EDUCATION
B.Sc. in Physical Engineering, M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Basic Biomedical Sciences from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Physiology, Molecular Biology, Nephrology, Statistics and Probability
6
Scopus Publications
26
Scholar Citations
3
Scholar h-index
2
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Melatonin Prevents Tumor Growth: The Role of Genes Controlling the Circadian Clock, the Cell Cycle, and Angiogenesis Skarleth Cardenas‐Romero, Nadia Saderi, Oscar Daniel Ramirez‐Plascencia, Adrián Baez‐Ruiz, Omar Flores‐Sandoval, Carolina Escobar Briones, Roberto C. Salgado‐Delgado Journal of Pineal Research, 2025 Recent evidence highlights the protective role of melatonin in a variety of pathological conditions, including multiple types of cancer. Epidemiological studies increasingly suggest that exposure to light at night suppresses melatonin synthesis in night‐shift and rotating‐shift workers, potentially elevating their risk of cancer development. Experimental data further indicate that melatonin can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, including glioblastoma‐like stem cells. In the present study, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the expression of genes involved in regulating the circadian rhythm, cell cycle progression, and angiogenesis in rats exposed to constant light, a model of circadian disruption. Our findings demonstrate that melatonin administration significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced the vascularization associated with circadian rhythm disturbance. Molecular analysis revealed that melatonin altered the circadian expression of several genes affecting tumor biology, including p53, TNF‐α, Per2, VEGF‐A, PDGF‐C, and Ang, which are involved in circadian rhythms, cell cycle, and angiogenesis regulation. These results strengthen the existing hypothesis that circadian disruption contributes to tumor progression and suggest that melatonin exerts anticancer effects by modulating circadian gene expression and angiogenesis. Our findings provide further insight into the mechanism by which melatonin may exert oncostatic effects and highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent in cancers associated with circadian rhythm disruption.
Visceral fat sympathectomy ameliorates systemic and local stress response related to chronic sleep restriction Lucia E Azuara-Alvarez, Mauricio Díaz-Muñoz, Adrián Báez Ruiz, Nadia Saderi, Oscar Daniel Ramírez-Plascencia, Skarleth Cárdenas-Romero, Omar Flores-Sandoval, Roberto Salgado-Delgado Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2023 Disturbance of sleep homeostasis encompasses health issues, including metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes, and augmented stress vulnerability. Sleep and stress interact bidirectionally to influence the central nervous system and metabolism. Murine models demonstrate that decreased sleep time is associated with an increased systemic stress response, characterized by endocrinal imbalance, including the elevated activity of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, augmented insulin, and reduced adiponectin, affecting peripheral organs physiology, mainly the white adipose tissue (WAT). Within peripheral organs, a local stress response can also be activated by promoting the formation of corticosterone. This local amplifying glucocorticoid signaling is favored through the activation of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1). In WAT, 11β-HSD1 activity is upregulated by the sympathetic nervous system, suggesting a link between sleep loss, augmented stress response, and a potential WAT metabolic disturbance. To gain more understanding about this relationship, metabolic and stress responses of WAT-sympathectomized rats were analyzed to identify the contribution of the autonomic nervous system to stress response-related metabolic disorders during chronic sleep restriction. Male Wistar rats under sleep restriction were allowed just 6 h of daily sleep over eight weeks. Results showed that rats under sleep restriction presented higher serum corticosterone, increased adipose tissue 11β-HSD1 activity, weight loss, decreased visceral fat, augmented adiponectin, lower leptin levels, glucose tolerance impairment, and mildly decreased daily body temperature. In contrast, sympathectomized rats under sleep restriction exhibited decreased stress response (lower serum corticosterone and 11β-HSD1 activity). In addition, they maintained weight loss, explained by a reduced visceral fat pad, leptin, and adiponectin, improved glucose management, and persisting decline in body temperature. These results suggest autonomic nervous system is partially responsible for the WAT-exacerbated stress response and its metabolic and physiological disturbances.
Leptin and adiponectin regulate the activity of nuclei involved in sleep-wake cycle in male rats Oscar Daniel Ramírez-Plascencia, Nadia Saderi, Skarleth Cárdenas-Romero, Fabio García-García, Carolina Peña-Escudero, Omar Flores-Sandoval, Lucia Azuara-Álvarez, Adrián Báez-Ruiz, Roberto Salgado-Delgado Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022 Epidemiological and experimental evidence recognize a relationship between sleep-wake cycles and adiposity levels, but the mechanisms that link both are not entirely understood. Adipose tissue secretes adiponectin and leptin hormones, mainly involved as indicators of adiposity levels and recently associated to sleep. To understand how two of the main adipose tissue hormones could influence sleep-wake regulation, we evaluated in male rats, the effect of direct administration of adiponectin or leptin in the ventrolateral preoptic nuclei (VLPO), a major area for sleep promotion. The presence of adiponectin (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) and leptin receptors in VLPO were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Adiponectin administration increased wakefulness during the rest phase, reduced delta power, and activated wake-promoting neurons, such as the locus coeruleus (LC), tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) and hypocretin/orexin neurons (OX) within the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and perifornical area (PeF). Conversely, leptin promoted REM and NREM sleep, including increase of delta power during NREM sleep, and induced c-Fos expression in VLPO and melanin concentrating hormone expressing neurons (MCH). In addition, a reduction in wake-promoting neurons activity was found in the TMN, lateral hypothalamus (LH) and perifornical area (PeF), including in the OX neurons. Moreover, leptin administration reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the LC. Our data suggest that adiponectin and leptin act as hormonal mediators between the status of body energy and the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.
Temporal dysregulation of hypothalamic integrative and metabolic nuclei in rats fed during the rest phase Oscar D. Ramirez-Plascencia, Nadia Saderi, Skarleth Cárdenas Romero, Omar Flores Sandoval, Adrián Báez-Ruiz, Herick Martínez Barajas, Roberto Salgado-Delgado Chronobiology International, 2022 Temporal coordination of organisms according to the daytime allows a better performance of physiological processes. However, modern lifestyle habits, such as food intake during the rest phase, promote internal desynchronization and compromise homeostasis and health. The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) synchronizes body physiology and behavior with the environmental light–dark cycle by transmitting time information to several integrative hypothalamic nuclei, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and median preoptic area (MnPO). The SCN receives metabolic information mainly via Neuropeptide Y (NPY) inputs from the intergeniculate nucleus of the thalamus (IGL). Nowadays, there is no evidence of the response of the PVN, DMH and MnPO when the animals are subjected to internal desynchronization by restricting food access to the rest phase of the day. To explore this issue, we compared the circadian activity of the SCN, PVN, DMH and MnPO. In addition, we analyzed the daily activity of the satiety centers of the brainstem, the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) and area postrema (AP), which send metabolic information to the SCN, directly or via the thalamic intergeniculate leaflet (IGL). For that, male Wistar rats were assigned to three meal protocols: fed during the rest phase (Day Fed); fed during the active phase (Night Fed); free access to food (ad libitum). After 21 d, the daily activity patterns of these nuclei were analyzed by c-Fos immunohistochemistry, as well as NPY immunohistochemistry, in the SCN. The results show that eating during the rest period produces a phase advance in the activity of the SCN, changes the daily activity pattern in the MnPO, NTS and AP and flattens the c-Fos rhythm in the PVN and DMH. Altogether, these results validate previous observations of circadian dysregulation that occurs within the central nervous system when meals are consumed during the rest phase, a behavior that is involved in the metabolic alterations described in the literature.
Additional evidence that the rat renal interstitium contracts in vivo Manuel Rodríguez-Martínez, Juan Francisco López-Rodríguez, Omar Flores-Sandoval, Miriam Zarahí Calvo-Turrubiartes, María Eugenia Sánchez-Briones, Ana Sonia Silva-Ramírez, Vianney Guerreo-Ojeda Plos One, 2019 We recently provided highly suggestive preliminary evidence that the renal interstitium contracts reactively in vivo. We demonstrated that renal medullary direct interstitial volume expansion (rmDIVE = 100 μl bolus infusion of 0.9% saline (SS)/30 s) brought about a biphasic renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) response which was abolished when dibutyryl-cAMP was concomitant and interstitially infused. To assess more deeply the feasibility of the concept that the renal interstitium contracts in vivo, two experimental series (S1, S2) were performed in hydropenic rats subjected to acute left renal-denervation, hormonal clamping, and control of renal arterial pressure. In S1, RIHP and renal outer medullary blood flow (RoMBF) were continuously measured before and after a sudden micro-bolus (5μl) injection, into the renal medullary interstitium, of SS containing α-trinositol (α-TNS, anti-inflammatory drug) to either two doses 2 or 4 mM (SS + 2 α-TNS and SS + 4 α-TNS groups). No overall differences between groups in either ΔRIHP or %ΔRoMBF time courses were found; however, in the SS + 2 α-TNS group the data were less scattered and the ΔRIHP time course tended to peak faster and then persisted there, so that, this α-TNS dose was selected for S2. In S2, RIHP and RoMBF were similarly measured in rats randomly assigned to three groups: the CTR group (sham time-control), SS group (SS alone), and SS + α-TNS group. The micro-bolus injection of SS alone (SS group) was unable to increase ΔRIHP. The group with no micro-bolus injection (CTR group) experienced a decrease in ΔRIHP. The micro-bolus injection of SS + 2 α-TNS was accompanied by a differential increase in ΔRIHP (vs. CTR and SS groups). These responses were not associated with differential changes among groups in %ΔRoMBF or hemodilution parameters. These results provide additional evidence that the renal interstitium contracts in vivo.
Highly suggestive preliminary evidence that the renal interstitium contracts in vivo Omar Flores-Sandoval, María Eugenia Sánchez-Briones, Juan F. López-Rodríguez, Miriam Z. Calvo-Turrubiartes, Lilia Llamazares-Azuara, Manuel Rodríguez-Martínez Physiological Reports, 2017 To learn more about controlling renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP), we assessed its response to renal medullary direct interstitial volume expansion (rmDIVE = 100 μL bolus infusion/30 sec). Three experimental series (S) were performed in hydropenic, anesthetized, right‐nephrectomized, acute left renal‐denervated and renal perfusion pressure‐controlled rats randomly assigned to groups in each S. S1: Rats without hormonal clamp were contrasted before and after rmDIVE induced via 0.9% saline solution bolus (SS group) or 2% albumin in SS bolus (2% ALB + SS group). Subcapsular ΔRIHP rose slowly, progressively and similarly in both groups by ~3 mmHg. S2: Rats under hormonal clamp were contrasted before and after sham rmDIVE (time CTR group) and real rmDIVE induced via either SS bolus (SS group) or SS bolus containing the subcutaneous tissue fibroblast relaxant dibutyryl‐cAMP (SS + db‐cAMP group). ΔRIHP showed time, group, and time*group interaction effects with a biphasic response (early: ~1 mmHg; late: ~4 mmHg) in the SS group that was absent in the SS + db‐cAMP group. S3: Two groups of rats (SS and SS + db‐cAMP) under hormonal clamp were contrasted as in S2, producing similar ΔRIHP results to those of S2 but showing a slow, progressive, and indistinct decrease in renal outer medullary blood flow in both groups. These results provide highly suggestive preliminary evidence that the renal interstitium is capable of contracting reactively in vivo in response to rmDIVE with SS and demonstrate that such a response is abolished when db‐cAMP is interstitially and concomitantly infused.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Melatonin prevents tumor growth: the role of genes controlling the circadian Clock, the cell Cycle, and angiogenesis S Cardenas‐Romero, N Saderi, OD Ramirez‐Plascencia, A Baez‐Ruiz, ... Journal of Pineal Research 77 (4), e70064 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 10
Visceral fat sympathectomy ameliorates systemic and local stress response related to chronic sleep restriction LE Azuara-Alvarez, M Díaz-Muñoz, A Báez Ruiz, N Saderi, ... Experimental Biology and Medicine 248 (23), 2381-2392 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
La denervación bilateral renal es insuficiente para prevenir la hipertensión y las complicaciones renales en un modelo murino de dieta alta en grasa O Flores Sandoval Facultad de Medicina , 2023 2023.0
Leptin and adiponectin regulate the activity of nuclei involved in sleep-wake cycle in male rats OD Ramírez-Plascencia, N Saderi, S Cárdenas-Romero, F García-García, ... Frontiers in Neuroscience 16, 907508 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 10
Temporal dysregulation of hypothalamic integrative and metabolic nuclei in rats fed during the rest phase OD Ramirez-Plascencia, N Saderi, S Cardenas Romero, ... Chronobiology International 39 (3), 374-385 , 2022 2022.0
Efecto de la literatura sobre el cerebro y sus beneficios en la salud S Cárdenas-Romero, O Flores-Sandoval, ÓD Ramírez-Plascencia Revista CienciaUANL 25 (111), 8-14 , 2022 2022.0
Renal Interstitial Injection of a‐Trinositol Increases Renal Interstitial Hydrostatic Pressure (RIHP) but Does Not Modify its Low Frequency Oscillatory Pattern M Rodríguez-Martínez, JF López-Rodriguez, O Flores-Sandoval, ... The FASEB Journal 34 (S1), 1-1 , 2020 2020.0
Additional evidence that the rat renal interstitium contracts in vivo M Rodríguez-Martínez, JF López-Rodríguez, O Flores-Sandoval, ... Plos one 14 (11), e0225640 , 2019 2019.0
Bilateral renal denervation does not prevent the kidney damage caused by a high fat diet in rats O Flores-Sandoval, S Cárdenas-Romero, R Salgado-Delgado, N Saderi The FASEB Journal 33 (S1), 569.5-569.5 , 2019 2019.0
Highly suggestive preliminary evidence that the renal interstitium contracts in vivo O Flores‐Sandoval, ME Sánchez‐Briones, JF López‐Rodríguez, ... Physiological Reports 5 (12), e13328 , 2017 2017.0 Citations: 3
Direct Evidence that in Rat the Renal Interstitium Contracts in vivo M Rodríguez‐Martínez, JF López‐Rodríguez, O Flores‐Sandoval, ... The FASEB Journal 31, 701.4-701.4 , 2017 2017.0
Effect of db‐cAMP on Renal Interstitial Hydrostatic Pressure (RIHP) Response to Renal Medullary Direct Interstitial Volume Expansion (DIVE) in rats O Flores‐Sandoval, JF López‐Rodríguez, ME Sánchez‐Briones, ... The FASEB Journal 30, 739.9-739.9 , 2016 2016.0
Dr. Luis Antonio Cervantes Aguileraa Dra. Marisela González Guzmánb Dr. Omar Flores Sandovalc Dr. Heliodoro Morales Villalobosa BLB Bernald, LAC Aguilera
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Melatonin prevents tumor growth: the role of genes controlling the circadian Clock, the cell Cycle, and angiogenesis S Cardenas‐Romero, N Saderi, OD Ramirez‐Plascencia, A Baez‐Ruiz, ... Journal of Pineal Research 77 (4), e70064 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 10
Leptin and adiponectin regulate the activity of nuclei involved in sleep-wake cycle in male rats OD Ramírez-Plascencia, N Saderi, S Cárdenas-Romero, F García-García, ... Frontiers in Neuroscience 16, 907508 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 10
Visceral fat sympathectomy ameliorates systemic and local stress response related to chronic sleep restriction LE Azuara-Alvarez, M Díaz-Muñoz, A Báez Ruiz, N Saderi, ... Experimental Biology and Medicine 248 (23), 2381-2392 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
Highly suggestive preliminary evidence that the renal interstitium contracts in vivo O Flores‐Sandoval, ME Sánchez‐Briones, JF López‐Rodríguez, ... Physiological Reports 5 (12), e13328 , 2017 2017.0 Citations: 3
La denervación bilateral renal es insuficiente para prevenir la hipertensión y las complicaciones renales en un modelo murino de dieta alta en grasa O Flores Sandoval Facultad de Medicina , 2023 2023.0
Temporal dysregulation of hypothalamic integrative and metabolic nuclei in rats fed during the rest phase OD Ramirez-Plascencia, N Saderi, S Cardenas Romero, ... Chronobiology International 39 (3), 374-385 , 2022 2022.0
Efecto de la literatura sobre el cerebro y sus beneficios en la salud S Cárdenas-Romero, O Flores-Sandoval, ÓD Ramírez-Plascencia Revista CienciaUANL 25 (111), 8-14 , 2022 2022.0
Renal Interstitial Injection of a‐Trinositol Increases Renal Interstitial Hydrostatic Pressure (RIHP) but Does Not Modify its Low Frequency Oscillatory Pattern M Rodríguez-Martínez, JF López-Rodriguez, O Flores-Sandoval, ... The FASEB Journal 34 (S1), 1-1 , 2020 2020.0
Additional evidence that the rat renal interstitium contracts in vivo M Rodríguez-Martínez, JF López-Rodríguez, O Flores-Sandoval, ... Plos one 14 (11), e0225640 , 2019 2019.0
Bilateral renal denervation does not prevent the kidney damage caused by a high fat diet in rats O Flores-Sandoval, S Cárdenas-Romero, R Salgado-Delgado, N Saderi The FASEB Journal 33 (S1), 569.5-569.5 , 2019 2019.0
Direct Evidence that in Rat the Renal Interstitium Contracts in vivo M Rodríguez‐Martínez, JF López‐Rodríguez, O Flores‐Sandoval, ... The FASEB Journal 31, 701.4-701.4 , 2017 2017.0
Effect of db‐cAMP on Renal Interstitial Hydrostatic Pressure (RIHP) Response to Renal Medullary Direct Interstitial Volume Expansion (DIVE) in rats O Flores‐Sandoval, JF López‐Rodríguez, ME Sánchez‐Briones, ... The FASEB Journal 30, 739.9-739.9 , 2016 2016.0
Dr. Luis Antonio Cervantes Aguileraa Dra. Marisela González Guzmánb Dr. Omar Flores Sandovalc Dr. Heliodoro Morales Villalobosa BLB Bernald, LAC Aguilera
