Restoration of Cdk5, TrkB and Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Protein Receptor Proteins after Chronic Methylphenidate Treatment in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats, a Model for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE: Synaptic vesicle mobilization and neurite outgrowth regulation molecules were examined in modulation of effects of methylphenidate (MPH) in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHRs), a model for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: We compared the changes in the protein expression level of Cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and molecular substrates of Cdk5; tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), syntaxin 1A (STX1A) and synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25). Comparisons were made in prefrontal cortex of vehicle (distilled water i.p. for 7 days)-treated SHRs, vehicle-treated Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKYs) and MPH (2 mg/kg i.p. for 7 days) treated SHRs. RESULTS: The Cdk5 level of vehicle-treated SHRs was significantly decreased compared to the Cdk5 level of vehicle-treated WKY rats, but was restored to the expression level of vehicle-treated WKYs in MPH-treated SHR. The ratio of p25/p35 was significantly decreased in MPH-treated SHR compared to vehicle-treated SHR. Moreover, TrkB, STX1A and SNAP25 of vehicle-treated SHRs were significantly decreased compared to vehicle-treated WKY rats, but were restored to the expression level of vehicle-treated WKYs in MPH-treated SHR. CONCLUSION: The results show that Cdk5, TrkB, STX1A, and SNAP25 were involved in the modulation of MPH effects in prefrontal cortex of SHRs and play important role in treatment of ADHD.

Effect of Rhodiola Sachalinensis Administration and Endurance Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity and Expression of Proteins Related with Glucose Transport in Skeletal Muscle of Obese Zucker Rat

Peripheral insulin resistance in obese/type II diabetes animals results from an impairment of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. Insulin stimulate the translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular location to the plasma membrane. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) is implicated in mediation of fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicle with the plasma membrane. Present study investigated regulatory effects of Rhodiola sachalinensis administration and exercise training on the expression of GLUT4 protein and SNAREs protein in skeletal muscles of obese Zucker rats. Experimental animals were randomly assigned into one of five groups ; lean control (LN), obese control (OB), exercise-treated (EXE), Rhodiola sachalinensis-treated (Rho), combine of Rho & EXE (Rho-EXE). All animals of exercise training (EXE, Rho-EXE) performed treadmill running for 8 weeks, and animals of Rho groups (Rho, Rho-EXE) were dosed daily by gastric gavage during the same period. After experiment, blood were taken for analyses of glucose, insulin, and lipids levels. Mitochondrial oxidative enzyme (citrate synthase, CS ; beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, beta-HAD) activity were analysed. Skeletal muscles were dissected out for analyses of proteins (GLUT4, VAMP2, syntaxin4, SNAP23). Results are as follows. Exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration significantly reduced body weight and improved blood lipids (TG, FFA), and increased insulin sensitivity. Endurance exercise significantly increased the activity of mitochondrial enzymes and the expression of GLUT4 protein, however, administration of Rhodiola sachalinensis did not affect them. The effect of exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration on the expression of SNARE proteins was unclear. Our study suggested that improvement insulin sensitivity by exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration in obese Zucker rats is independent of expression of SNARE proteins.

Alteration of Immunoreactivity for SNARE Proteins in the Rat Hippocampus after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE) proteins, composed of two presynaptic membrane proteins [synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) and syntaxin] and a presynaptic vesicular protein [vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) ], serve as a core of exocytotic fusion machinery, which can be affected by ischemia. Synaptic protein in core region, striatum and cortex has been shown to alter after focal ischemia, however, little is known in hippocampus. Hippocampus is remote from ischemic core, but it is one of the most vulnerable regions. Using immunohistochemistry, the present study was undertaken to investigate the alteration of expression of SNAP-25, syntaxin, and VAMP in the hippocampus of rats which were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h and allowed to reperfuse. At 2 weeks of reperfusion, the SNAP-25 and syntaxin immunoreactivity was increased in the stratum oriens of the CA1 and the stratum lucidum of the CA3 in the ipsilateral hippocampus. However, VAMP immunoreactivity didn't show significant change. These results demonstrate that the level of the presynatpic plasma membrane proteins (SNAP-25 and syntaxin) in the rat hippocampus is more sensitively affected by focal ischemia than that of the synaptic vesicle protein (VAMP).