Control of Emotion and Wakefulness by Neurotensinergic Neurons in the Parabrachial Nucleus / 神经科学通报·英文版

The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) integrates interoceptive and exteroceptive information to control various behavioral and physiological processes including breathing, emotion, and sleep/wake regulation through the neural circuits that connect to the forebrain and the brainstem. However, the precise identity and function of distinct PBN subpopulations are still largely unknown. Here, we leveraged molecular characterization, retrograde tracing, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and electrocortical recording approaches to identify a small subpopulation of neurotensin-expressing neurons in the PBN that largely project to the emotional control regions in the forebrain, rather than the medulla. Their activation induces freezing and anxiety-like behaviors, which in turn result in tachypnea. In addition, optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations of these neurons revealed their function in promoting wakefulness and maintaining sleep architecture. We propose that these neurons comprise a PBN subpopulation with specific gene expression, connectivity, and function, which play essential roles in behavioral and physiological regulation.

A study on the association of postprandial hypotension with insulin and neurotensin in very old adults / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the association of postprandial hypotension(PPH)with insulin and neurotensin(NT)in very old adults.Methods:In this retrospective study, 22 people with PPH and 21 without non-PPH, aged ≥80, were enrolled from patients hospitalized at the First Division of the Health Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 2015 and October 2021.The levels of blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin and NT at fasting and 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after a meal were monitored.Changes in values of each parameter before and after a meal were compared between the two groups, and the correlation of the maximum decrease in postprandial blood pressure with the maximum increase in blood glucose, insulin and neurotensin was analyzed.Results:The maximum decrease in postprandial systolic blood pressure(SBP)in the PPH group was significantly higher than that in the non-PPH group[(35.5±13.2)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs.(16.0±8.6)mmHg, t=4.135, P<0.01)]. The maximum increase in postprandial insulin was significantly higher than that in the non-PPH group[(20.9±4.2)mU/L vs.(12.1±4.1)mU/L, t=3.949, P<0.01)]. There was no statistically significant difference between the PPH and non-PPH groups in the maximum increase in postprandial blood glucose[(3.6±1.8)mmol/L vs.(2.5±0.5)mmol/L, t=1.912, P>0.05)]or NT[65.7(22.0, 110.1)ng/L vs.112.2(47.2, 270.2)ng/L, Z=1.817, P>0.05)]. There was a significant positive correlation between the maximum decrease in postprandial systolic blood pressure and the maximum increase in insulin( r=0.907, P<0.05). There was no correlation between the maximum decrease in postprandial systolic blood pressure and the maximum increase in blood glucose( r=0.016, P>0.05). There was no correlation between the maximum decrease in postprandial systolic blood pressure and the maximum increase in NT( r=0.396, P>0.05). Conclusions:The PPH is related to abnormal increases in postprandial insulin secretion.

Effect of breast conserving surgery on neurotensin and its receptor 1 in patients with breast cancer / 国际外科学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of breast conserving surgery on neurotensin (NTS) and its receptor 1(NTR1) in patients with breast cancer.Methods From May 2012 to May 2015,200 patients with breast cancer,aged 44.7 years(range,32-56 years),were treated at Tiantan Hospital,Capital Medical University.All patients were divided into control group (n =100) and observation group (n =100).The patients in the control group were treated with radical operation and the patients in the observation group were treated with breastconserving surgery.The positive rate of NTS and NTR1 before and 1 week after operation,WHOQOL-100 (It includes four aspects:physiological state,psychological state,environmental condition and social function) 1 d before surgery,3 months and 6 months after surgery,and the incidence of postoperative complications 1 week after surgery were compared between the two groups.Measurement data with normal distribution were described as mean± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and analyzed by the t test.Count data were analyzed by chi-square test.Results The positive rate of NTS (17.00％) in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (36.00％) (t =9.267,P =0.002),The positive rate of NTR1 (19.00％) was significantly lower than that in the control group (33.00％) (t =5.094,P =0.024).The physiological status,psychological state,environmental condition and social function of 3 months after surgery of the observation group were (62.57 ± 5.73),(63.48 ±5.91),(68.73 ±6.32),(64.06 ±5.94) scores,respectively,and the control group were (53.47 ±5.38),(55.62 ±5.54),(60.38 ±6.14),(55.86 ±5.66) scores,respectively,showing statistically significant differences between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The physiological status,psychological state,environmental condition and social function of 6 months after surgery were (73.74 ±t 6.19),(76.27 ± 6.32),(78.85 ±6.77),(73.53 ±6.58) scores in the observation group,and (64.18 ±5.67),(67.38 ±6.02),(69.64 ± 6.43),(63.28 ± 6.17) scores in the control group,showing statistically significant differences between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group (6.00％) was significantly lower than that in the control group (18.00％) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Breast conserving surgery can reduce the expression level of NTS and NTR1 in breast cancer patients,It is related to reducing the incidence of postoperative complications and improving the quality of life of patients.

Time-effect relationship and molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture for repair of gastric mucosal lesion / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To dynamically observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on repair of gastric mucosal lesion in rats with gastric ulcer, and to explore the time-effect relationship and molecular mechanism of EA for gastric ulcer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 72 SD rats were randomly assigned to a normal group, a model group, a acupoint group and a sham acupoint group, and each group were further divided into a 1-day subgroup, a 4-day subgroup and a 7-day subgroup, 6 rats in each subgroup. The rat model of gastric ulcer was established by using intragastric administration of ethyl alcohol. The rats in the acupoint group were treated with EA at"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Liangmen"(ST 21); the rats in the sham acupoint group were treated with EA at points 5 mm next to"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Liangmen"(ST 21); the EA was given 30 min per treatment, once a day. The rats in the normal group and model group were treated with immobilization for 30 min per day, and no EA was given. PR-PCR method was applied to test the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and substance P (SP); Western blot method was applied to test the expression of neurotensin (NT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 1-day treatment, the ulcer index in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (<0.01), and the expression of PCNA, SP and NT was decreased (<0.01, <0.05); compared with the model group and sham acupoint group, the ulcer index was decreased in the acupoint group (both <0.05), and the expression of PCNA and SP was up-regulated (all <0.05) while that of NT was up-regulated (both <0.01). After 4-day treatment, the ulcer index in the model group was reduced but still higher than that in the normal group (<0.05), and the expression of PCNA, SP and NT was up-regulated and higher than that in the normal group (all <0.01); the ulcer index in the acupoint group was similar to that in the normal group (>0.05), and the expression of PCNA and SP was lower than that in the model group (<0.01, <0.05), and the expression of NT was not significantly different from that in the model group (>0.05). After 7-day treatment, the differences of indexes above were not significant among the four groups (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at acupoints of stomach meridian has two-way regulation on PCNA and SP and improve the expression of NT in different pathological state of gastric ulcer, which could further improve the repair of gastric ulcer.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of combined acupuncture for stress gastric mucosal injury after traumatic brain injury / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of combined acupuncture combined with omeprazole on patients with craniocerebral trauma complicated with stress gastric mucosal injury. Methods Patients with stress gastric mucosal injury after cerebral trauma admitted to neurology of Brain Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University from June 2016 to July 2017 were enrolled, with the inclusion criteria within 24 hours after injury at admission, and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) less than 12. Patients were divided into omeprazole group, acupuncture group and acupuncture plus omeprazole combined treatment group according to random number table method. All patients in the three groups were given symptomatic treatment in time after admission. After diagnosis, omeprazole group was injected intravenously omeprazole, 40 mg each time, one dose in 12 hours for 7 days; acupuncture group was acupunctured at bilateral Zusanli point and Zhongwan point, 20 minutes for needle retention, once a day for 7 days;combined treatment group was given acupuncture and omeprazole at the same time. The GCS score and the occult stool test were performed at admission and treatment of 7 days; the pH of gastric juice, the levels of serum neurotensin (NT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured at admission and treatment 1, 3, 5, 7 days. At the same time, 10 healthy persons were selected as the control. Results Finally, 90 patients were selected, 30 in each group. GCS score at 7 days after treatment in omeprazole group, acupuncture group and combined treatment group were significantly higher than those at admission, but there was no statistical difference among the groups (9.46±2.81, 10.26±2.24, 10.52±2.50, F = 2.010, P = 0.141). For treatment of 7 days, the incidence of occult stool in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in the omeprazole group and acupuncture group (13.3% vs. 36.7%, 40.0%, both P < 0.05). The pH value of gastric excretion was increased gradually after treatment in the three groups. The pH value of gastric excretion in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the omeprazole group and acupuncture group at 5 days of treatment (4.58±0.53 vs. 4.20±0.52, 4.28±0.43, both P < 0.05). The levels of serum NT in the three groups were both bi-directional: the level of NT at admission was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group, then decreased significantly, and the treatment of 3 days was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group and then rise gradually. The level of NT at treatment 5 days in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of the omeprazole group and the acupuncture group (ng/L: 45.88±8.03 vs. 36.15±11.54, 37.32±7.79, both P < 0.05), and had returned to normal level on the 7th day after treatment (ng/L: 56.88 ±12.54). The level of serum ET-1 in the three groups showed a bimodal change: the level of ET-1 at admission was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group. The treatment of 1 day to the normal range was gradually increased, and the peak of 5 days appeared again and then decreased slowly. The level of ET-1 at treatment of 7 days in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that of the omeprazole group and acupuncture group (ng/L: 53.25±7.60 vs. 63.74±9.05, 65.50±12.73, both P <0.05), and had been restored to normal. Conclusion Combined acupuncture at points of Zusanli and Zhongwan for the treatment of stress gastric mucosal injury after traumatic brain injury, can reduce gastric acid secretion, promote the level of NT in serum, reduce the secretion of ET-1 level, help to repair the gastric mucosa, and the effect of combined with omeprazole is more significant.

Impact of motilin, neurotensin and nitric oxide synthase on sphincter of Oddi dysfunction / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To investigate the impact of motilin(MTL), neurotensin(NT)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS)on Oddi sphincter(SO)motion after cholecystectomy. Methods Oddi sphincter manometry(SOM)was performed on both Guinea pig model group(cholecystectomy)and control group (laparotomy)12 weeks after operation. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction(SOD)group was determined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and area under curve(AUC). Protein expression of MTL, NT and NOS in SO was also detected through integral optical density method. Meanwhile,the contents of MTL and NT in patients′ plasma of both SOD group(SO pressure> 40 mmHg)and control group were compared. Results AUC of 0.75 and SO pressure of more than 29.8 mmHg was determined as the standard of SOD group.MTL and NT contents(193.16±29.2 pg/mL and 104.57±19.52 pg/mL,respectively)of the model group(n=10)in plasma were significant higher than those of control group(n=11)(154.24 ± 27.69 pg/mL and 79.65±11.24 pg/mL,respectively),and same trend of MTL and NT protein expression in SO was detected(3 556.71±455.80 and 6 321.74±203.54 of the model group;3 075.92±350.06 and 5 843.57±344.00 of the control group).While NOS protein expression in model group was lower than that of the control group(2 954.21± 173.54 VS 3 314.91± 246.67, P<0.05). In clinical research, the plasma contents of MTL(350.98 ± 24.31 pg/mL VS 319.56 ± 23.54 pg/mL)and NT(102.39 ± 19.56 pg/mL VS 80.45±12.35 pg/mL)in SOD group(n=15)were higher than those of the control group(n=15)(P<0.05). Conclusion MTL and NT contents in plasma and protein expression of MTL, NT and NOS in SO may be related to SOD. MTL and NT examinations may assist diagnosing SOD after cholecystectomy.

Neurotensin Changes Propulsive Activity into a Segmental Motor Pattern in the Rat Colon

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neurotensin is a gut-brain peptide with both inhibitory and excitatory actions on the colonic musculature; our objective was to understand the implications of this for motor patterns occurring in the intact colon of the rat. METHODS: The effects of neurotensin with concentrations ranging from 0.1-100 nM were studied in the intact rat colon in vitro, by investigating spatio-temporal maps created from video recordings of colonic motility before and after neurotensin. RESULTS: Low concentration of neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibited propagating long distance contractions and rhythmic propagating motor complexes; in its place a slow propagating rhythmic segmental motor pattern developed. The neurotensin receptor 1 antagonist SR-48692 prevented the development of the segmental motor pattern. Higher concentrations of neurotensin (10 nM and 100 nM) were capable of restoring long distance contraction activity and inhibiting the segmental activity. The slow propagating segmental contraction showed a rhythmic contraction—relaxation cycle at the slow wave frequency originating from the interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the myenteric plexus pacemaker. High concentrations given without prior additions of low concentrations did not evoke the segmental motor pattern. These actions occurred when neurotensin was given in the bath solution or intraluminally. The segmental motor pattern evoked by neurotensin was inhibited by the neural conduction blocker lidocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotensin (0.1-1 nM) inhibits the dominant propulsive motor patterns of the colon and a distinct motor pattern of rhythmic slow propagating segmental contractions develops. This motor pattern has the hallmarks of haustral boundary contractions.

How Leptin Controls the Drive to Eat

A complex set of brain based systems modulate feeding to maintain constant body weight. The adipose derived-hormone, leptin, plays a crucial role in this control by acting on diverse leptin receptor (LepRb)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus and brainstem to modify behavior and metabolism. In addition to controlling energy expenditure and satiety, leptin controls motivation and the reward value of food by regulating two interconnected systems: hypocretin (HCRT) neurons and the mesolimbic dopamine (MLDA) system. Modest/acute decreases in leptin levels, as associated with mild caloric restriction, increase MLDA activity and overall food-seeking behavior; in contrast, severe starvation or complete leptin deficiency blunt MLDA activity, along with motivation and associated behaviors. Lateral hypothalamic (LHA) LepRb neurons project to dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area, where neurotensin (NT) release augments MLDA function; these LepRb(NT) cells also innervate HCRT neurons to control Hcrt expression and inhibit HCRT neurons. Ablation of LepRb in these cells abrogates the control of HCRT cells by leptin and decreases activity and MLDA function. We propose that this neural pathway regulates the MLDA, activity, and motivation in response to leptin and nutritional status.

The Expression of Neurotensin in Animal Model of Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer / 天津医药

Objective To study the different expressions of neurotensin (NT) at gene and protein level in orthotopic model of prostate cancer . Methods The animal models of androgen dependent prostate cancer(ADPC,castrated for 3 days) and androgen independent prostate cancer(AIPC) were established by planting tumor tissue or undergoing surgical castra-tion. Affymetrix microarray technology was carried out to compare the gene expressions of NT. The result was verified by qRT-PCR. HE staining was used to observe the change of pathology. ELSIA and immunohistochemistry technology were fi-nally performed to detect protein expression of prostate-specific antigen(PSA) and NT in three different groups of prostate cancer tumor tissues. Results The expression of NT was 5.10 times higher in AIPC group than that in ADPC group. The ex-pression of NT was 0.33 times lower in castrated 3-day group than that in ADPC group. Results of RT-PCR and qRT-PCR showed that the expression levels of NT gene were 1.41 and 7.27 times respectively higher in AIPC group than that in ADPC group,but the expression levels of NT gene were 0.78 and 0.46 times respectively lower in castrated 3-day group than that in ADPC group (P<0.05). HE results showed that nuclear atypia and tumor structure in three groups. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA results showed that the values of PSA and NT were (0.48±0.03) and (0.031±0.008)μg/L in ADPC group;(0.17± 0.03) and (0.021±0.004)μg/L in castrated 3-day group,and (0.87±0.02) and (0.042±0.010)μg/L in AIPC group. There were significantly lower expressions of NT and PSA in castrated 3-day group that those of ADPC group (P<0.01). Conclusion In the transition from ADPC to AIPC, the over-expression of NT suggested that NT may be associated with prostate cancer progression. NT may be used as a new therapeutic target and specific diagnostic method of AIPC.

Binding chemistry and molecular heterogeneity of neurotensin binding protein(s)/receptor in adult chicken tissues.

The study focuses on the importance of Tyr11 amino acid (AA) and subsequent stereochemistry involved in the binding process of neurotensin (NT) with its receptor (NTR)/binding protein(s) as well as the size heterogeneity. Using the binding of 125I-NT with several chicken tissues, it is identified that one of the crucial factors behind all high affinity (Kd ~10 pM) interactions is due to phenolic-OH (Φ-OH) at the para (p) position of Tyr11 within RRPYIL-CO2H (NT8-13) sequence. Replacing the p-OH only in Tyr11 by substituting with p-Cl, p-F and p-NH2 results in significant change of the binding affinity (Kd); p-OH ≈ p-NH2 (~10 pM), p-Cl (~100 pM), p-F (~120 pM). Interestingly, p-NH2 equals to p-OH displaying the highest affinity. Experiments conducted by binding several of the 125I-azido–NT analogs having azido group attached at different positions within the NT molecule have further confirmed the necessity of RRPYIL sequence for high affinity ligand-receptor interaction. The role of Tryp11 in place of Tyr11 in addition to the results above establishes a significant possibility of H–bonding occurring between p-OH of NT and NTR inside the docking space. Photo labeling of the liver tissue by substituted 125I-Y3-azido-NT analogs shows several specifically labeled bands with considerable range of molecular weight (Mr ~90-30 kDa) variations. These results indicate the existence of molecular heterogeneity concerning the sizes of NTR or else any NT binding proteins in the avian tissues. Further, the study has revealed that besides liver, several other chicken tissues also express similar specific high affinity binding (Kd ~20 pM) with varying capacities (Bmax). The order for Bmax is: liver (1.2 pMol/mg) gall bladder (1.03 pMol/mg) > spleen (0.43 pMol/mg) > brain (0.3 pMol/mg) > colon lung (0.15 pMol/mg). In all cases, the binding was reduced by GTPgS (ED50 ~ 0.05 nM), NEM (ED50 ~ 0.50 mM) and NaCl (ED50 ~30 mM), indicating the existence of NTR identical to the mammalian type-1.

Construction of pRluc-hNTSR1-pcDNA3.1 eukaryotic expression vectors and its expression in isolated cells / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To construct expression vectors that Renilla reniformis (Rluc) fused with neurotensin type 1 receptor (NTSR1),and to investigate the interaction between NTSR1 and other receptors,as well as intercellular signal transduction mechanism mediated by neurotensinl-R.Methods The human NTSR1 gene was amplified by PCR using the plasmid pcDNA3.1-hNTSR1 as template.The PCR product was digested,ligased with the plasmid pRluc and then be transformed into the competent cell Top10.The construct was identified by DNA sequencing.The recombinant plasmid was transiently transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 ( HEK293 )cells,and the expression of pRluc-hNTSR1-pcDNA3.1 was detected by confocal microscopy and Western blot.Results The fragment of 1257 bp was amplified by PCR,and the DNA sequences were identical with the gene in GenBank ( NM_002531 ).Western blot showed a band about 90kDa.Confocal microscopy showed that NTSR1 was expressed on the plasma membrane.Conclusion The pRluc-hNTSR1-pcDNA3.1 eukaryotic expression vector is successfully constructed,and the expression vector can be used to investigate the interaction between NTSR1 and other receptors,as well as intercellular signal transduction mechanism mediated by neurotensinl-R,which will provide new target for drug development.

Actualización de la fisiología gástrica / Update gastric physiology

La fisiología gástrica constituye una compleja y dinámica interacción entre estructuras anatómicas, sus secreciones, el ambiente circundante y los factores exígenos aportados por el individuo. Este trabajo pretende hacer una breve revisión actualizada sobre fisiología de la secreción y la motilidad gástricas. Se expondrá la función de las principales células de la mucosa gástrica, sus secreciones y aquellas sustancias, hormonas y neurotransmisores que las estimulan, modulan o inhiben, haciendo especial énfasis en los mecanismos de prducción del acido gástrico. Además, se tratar  específicamente el tema de la mortalidad gástrica con idéntica metodología...

The Effect of Autonomic Nerve System on Neurotensin Induced Motility in Isolated, Vascularly Perfused Rat Colon

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although neurotensin (NT) stimulates colon motility and the passage of intestinal contents, the associated mechanism of action remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of NT on colon motility using isolated rat colon. METHODS: Intraluminal pressure was measured at both the proximal and distal portions of the isolated colon. An isolated rat colon was perfused with Krebs solution via the superior mesenteric artery. After stabilization, NT was administered in concentrations of 14, 28, 138 and 276 pM. After pretreatment with phentolamine, propranolol, hexamethonium, atropine or tetrodotoxin, NT was administered at a concentration of 276 pM, and then the intraluminal pressure was monitored. RESULTS: NT significantly increased colon motility at concentrations of 14, 28, 138, and 276 in the proximal colon (25.1+/-6.5%, 175.4+/-117.0%, 240.8+/-115.1% and 252.3+/-110.6%, respectively) and in the distal colon (35.6+/-11.8%, 97.5+/-35.1%, 132.7+/-36.7% and 212.1+/-75.2%, respectively). The stimulant effect of NT was more potent in the proximal colon, in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). The stimulant effect of NT was significantly inhibited by atropine at both the proximal and distal colon and by tetrodotoxin at the proximal colon, but not by tetrodotoxin at the distal colon and not by propranolol, phentolamine, or hexamethonium at both the proximal and distal colon. CONCLUSIONS: NT increased colon motility at both the proximal and distal portions of the rat colon. The effects were more prominent at the proximal portion. The results of this study suggest that the stimulant action of NT may be mediated by local cholinergic muscarinic receptors.

The changes of plasma neuropeptide Y and neurotensin levels in patients with heart failure / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To observe the changes of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neurotensin (NT) levels in patients with heart failure and investigate their clinical significance. Methods The levels of plasma NPY, NT of 76 patients with heart failure and 28 normal controls were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The color echocardiogram was used to evaluate the cardiac structure, function and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results The level of plasma NPY in patients with heart failure [(159.7 ± 56.3) ng/L] was higher than that in normal controls [(120.8 ± 51.9) ng/L] (P < 0.05), the level of plasma NT [(69.5 ± 29.6) ng/L] was significantly lower than that in normal controls [(99.1 ± 19.3) ng/L] (P < 0.01). Following the severity of heart failure, the level of plasma NPY increased, and the level of plasma NT decreased. The level of LVEF had negative correlative relationship with the level of plasma NPY (γ = -0.31, P < 0.05) and positive correlative relationship with the level of plasma NT (γ = 0.28, P < 0.05). The level of plasma NPY and NT in patients with heart failure had negative correlative relationship (γ = -0.26, P < 0.05). Conclusions The levels of plasma NPY, NT in patients with heart failure are unbalanced. This unbalance may participate in the damage of cardiac function.

Clinical significance of changes and ratio imbalance of neuropeptide Y and neurotensin in patients with essential hypertension / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective To study the effects of changes of neuropeptide Y(NPY) and neurotensin(NT) concentrations in plasma and their ratio imbalance on the incidence of essential hypertension (EH). Methods NPY and NT in plasma in 176 patients with EH were measured with radioimmunoassay(RIA). Results NPY in the EH patients was higher than that in the normal subjects (P

Changes of plasma neuropeptide Y and neurotensin levels and damages of cardiac function in patients with essential hypertension / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To observe the changes of plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY) and neurotensin(NT) levels in patients with essential hypertension and the relationship between those changes and damage of cardiac function. Methods Eighty patients of essential hypertension and 28 normal controls were chosen. The cardiac function was divided into 3 classes on the standard of New York Heart Association(NYHA). The plasma NPY,NT concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results The level of NPY in hypertension patients was higher than that of the normal controls(P

Relationship between gastric emptying and neurotensin in functional dyspepsia patients / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To study the relationship between gastric emptying dysfunction and neurotensin(NT) in functional dyspepsia(FD) patients. Methods Gastric emptying function in 54 FD patients was measured with solid radioopaque markers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the results, one of which with delayed gastric emptying and the other with normal gastric emptying. Seventeen healthy volunteers served as normal control group. The NT levels in plasma (fasting and postprandial) and the mucosa of gastric antrum and descending portion of duodenum were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). Results The NT levels in fasting and postprandial plasma and the mucosa of gastric antrum and descending portion of duodenum in FD group with delayed gastric emptying were significantly higher than those in FD group with normal gastric emptying and in normal control group. The three groups did not differ significantly in incremental extent of plasma NT after test meal. The NT levels in fasting and postprandial plasma and the mucosa of gastric antrum and descending portion of duodenum in FD group with normal gastric emptying did not differ statistically from those in normal control group. Conclusion Gastric emptying dysfunction is closely related to NT, which can inhibit gastrointestinal motility and delay gastric emptying. Thus, NT is important in the pathogenesis of FD.

Neurotensin enhances gastric motility in antral circular muscle strip of guinea-pig

Many reports suggest that neurotensin (NT) in the gastrointestinal tract may play a possible role as a neurotransmitter, a circulating hormone, or a modulator of motor activity. NT exerts various actions in the intestine; it produces contractile and relaxant responses in intestinal smooth muscle. This study was designed to investigate the effect of NT on motility of antral circular muscle strips in guinea-pig stomach. To assess the role of Ca2+ influx in underlying mechanism, slow waves were simultaneously recorded with spontaneous contractions using conventional intracellular mircoelectrode technique. At the concentration of 10-7 M, where NT showed maximum response, NT enhanced the magnitude (863 +/- 198%, mean +/- SEM, n = 13) and the frequency (154 +/- 10.3%, n = 11) of spontaneous contractions. NT evoked a slight hyperpolarization of membrane potential, tall and steep slow waves with abortive spikes (278 +/- 50%, n = 4). These effects were not affected by atropine (2 micrometer), guanethidine (2 micrometer) and tetrodotoxin (0.2 micrometer). NT-induced contractile responses were abolished in Ca2+-free solution and reduced greatly to near abolition by 10 micrometer of verapamil or 0.2 mM of CdCl2. Verapamil attenuated the effects of NT on frequency and amplitude of the slow waves. Taken together, these results indicate that NT enhances contractility in guinea-pig gastric antral circular muscle and Ca2+ influx through the voltage-operated Ca2+ channel appears to play an important role in the NT-induced contractile mechanism.

An Association Study of Neurotensin Receptor Gene's Polymorphism with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Neurotensin (NT), of which functions are evoked by its interaction with neurotensin receptors (NTR), coexists with mesolimbic dopamine and regulates endogenous dopamine release. Recent studies have shown that NT with NTR exerts neuroleptic-like activity within the central nervous system and may play an important role in the pathogenesis and in the treatment of schizophrenia. We have examined the genetic association between schizophrenia and tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region of the NTR gene to investigate the possible contribution of the NTR gene to the schizophrenia susceptibility. METHODS: Among 23 alleles identified, the subjects were 120 patients (male 91, female 29) with schizophrenia and 106 normal healthy controls (male 84, female 22). They were unrelated native Korean. PANSS was used to determine positive or negative subgroup in the schizophrenic patients.Using polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism (CCTT and CTTT) in the 3'-flanking region of NTR gene was observed. For a comparison of NTR gene's allelic frequencies between patients with schizophrenia and normal healthy controls, chi-square test and Bonferroni's correction was performed. RESULTS: The frequency of A10 allele (base pair size=399) was significantly higher in normal healthy controls than schizophrenia (x2=16.4902, df=1, p<.000). In the comparison between schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms and normal controls, the frequency of A10 allele was significantly higher in normal healthy control subjects than patients with schizophrenia (x2=21.33, df=1, p<0.001). In the case of male, the frequency of A10 allele of schizophrenia was significantly higher than normal controls (x2=13.71, df=1, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NTR gene was negatively associated with schizophrenia. NTR gene's tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism may provide some protective function against schizophrenia.

Effect of the different intravenous anesthetics on the levels of four neuropeptides in patients with hypertension during induction / 中华麻醉学杂志

95mmHg) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups of 20 each : thiopental group, etomidate group and propofol group. All patients were prmedicated with intramuscular phenobarbital 0. 1g and atropine 0.5mg. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 4mg?kg-1 or etomidate 0.3mg?kg-1 or propofol 2mg?kg-1, midazolam 0.1mg?kg-1, fentanyl 5?g?kg-1 and vecuronium 0.1mg?kg-1 and maintained with isoflurane inhalation and intermittent boluses of fentanyl and vecuronium. Blood samples were taken before anesthesia(To), 2min after induction(T1) and 2 and 10 min after tracheal intubation (T2, T3) for determination of plasma levels of endothelin(ET), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neurotensin (NT). Results The three groups were compared with regard to age, sex and weight. BP significantly decreased after induction with thiopental or propofol but increased significantly after intubation in thiopental group and etomidate group. ET and NPY decreased but CGRP and NT increased significantly after induction in thiopental and propofol group. The plasma levels of all four neuropeptides increased significantly after tracheal intubation in thiopental and etomidata group but remained unchanged in propofol group. Conclusions Propofol is the intravenous anesthetic of choice for induction of anesthesia in patients with hypertension.