2.1. Study Design
This experimental study was conducted at the Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Monitoring Laboratory of the René Rachou Institute/Fiocruz-MG. Animals were weighed daily, maintained under controlled temperature (22.7 ± 1.2 °C), 12h/12h light/dark cycle, with filtered water and food ad libitum. The study was approved by the Animal Use Committee of FIOCRUZ (protocol P-23/14-6, LW-19/15).