Perinatal exposure to a high-fat diet alters proopiomelanocortin, neuropeptide Y and dopaminergic receptors gene expression and the food preference in offspring adult rats / Exposição perinatal a uma dieta hiperlipídica altera a expressão gênica de proopiomelanocortina, neuropepitídeo Y e receptores dopaminérgicos e a preferência alimentar em ratos adultos descendentes

Exposure to the hight-fat diet may alter the control of food intake promoting hyperphagia and obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of this diet on dopamine receptors (drd1 and drd2), proopiomelanocortin (pomc), neuropeptideY (npy) genes expression, and preference food in adult rats. Wistar female rats were fed a hight-fat or control diet during pregnancy and lactation. The offspring were allocated into groups: Lactation – Control (C) and High-fat (H). Post- weaning – Control Control (CC), offspring of mothers C, fed a control diet after weaning; Control Hight-fat (CH), offspring of mothers C, fed a hight-fat diet after weaning; Hight-fat Control (HC), offspring of mothers H, fed with control diet after weaning; and Hight-fat Hight-fat (HH), offspring of mothers H, fed a H diet after weaning. The groups CH and HH presented greater expression of drd1 in comparison to the CC. The drd2 of CH and HC presented higher gene expression than did CC. HH presented higher pomc expression in comparison to the other groups. HC also presented greater expression in comparison to CH. The npy of HH presented greater expression in relation to CH and HC. HH and HC have had a higher preference for a high-fat diet at 102º life’s day. The high-fat diet altered the gene expression of the drd1, drd2, pomc and npy, and influencing the food preference for high-fat diet.

A exposição à dieta hiperlipídica pode alterar o controle da ingestão de alimentos, promovendo hiperfagia e obesidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos dessa dieta sobre a expressão gênica dos receptores de dopamina (drd1 e drd2), da proopiomelanocortina (pomc) e neuropeptídeo Y (npy), e preferência alimentar em ratos adultos. Ratas Wistar foram alimentadas com uma dieta hiperlipídica ou controle durante a gestação e lactação. Os descendentes foram alocados em grupos: Lactação – Controle (C) e Hiperlipídica (H). Pós-desmame – Controle Controle (CC), descendentes das genitoras do grupo controle e alimentados com dieta controle após o desmame; Controle Hiperlipídica (CH), descendentes das genitoras do grupo controle e alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica após o desmame; Hiperlipídica Controle (HC), descendentes das genitoras do grupo hiperlipídica e alimentados com dieta controle após o desmame; Hiperlipídica Hiperlipídica (HH), descendentes das genitoras do grupo hiperlipídica e alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica após o desmame. Os grupos CH e HH apresentaram maior expressão de drd1 em comparação ao CC. O drd2 de CH e HC apresentou maior expressão gênica que o CC. HH apresentou maior expressão de pomc em comparação com os outros grupos. O HC também apresentou maior expressão de pomc em comparação ao CH. O npy do HH apresentou maior expressão em relação ao CH e HC. HH e HC tiveram uma preferência maior por uma dieta rica em gordura no 102º dia de vida. A dieta hiperlipídica alterou a expressão gênica dos drd1, drd2, pomc e npy e influenciou na preferência alimentar pela dieta hiperlipídica.

One-pot synthesis of graphene-chitosan nanocomposite modified carbon paste electrode for selective determination of dopamine

Background A simple, rapid, low-cost and environmentally friendly method was developed to determine dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic (AA) and uric acid (UA) based on a novel technique to prepare a graphene-chitosan (GR-CS) nanocomposite and modify it on the surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE). For our design, CS acts as a media to disperse and stabilize GR, and then GR plays a key role to selective and sensitive determination of DA. Results Under physiological conditions, the linear range for dopamine was determined from 1 × 10- 4 to 2 × 10- 7 mol/L with a good correlation coefficient of 0.9961 in the presence of 1000-fold interference of AA and UA. The detection limit was estimated to be 9.82 × 10- 8 mol/L (S/N = 3). In order to study the stability and reproducibility, GR/CS/CPE underwent successive measurements in 10 times and then tested once a d for 30 d. The result exhibited 98.25% and 91.62% activities compared with the original peak current after 10-time measurements and 30-d storage. Conclusion The GR/CS/CPE has wide linear concentration range, low detection limit, and good reproducibility and stability, which suggests that our investigations provide a promising alternative for clinic DA determination.

Alteration of brain monoamines & EEG wave pattern in rat model of Alzheimer's disease & protection by Moringa oleifera.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The monoaminergic systems which exert a modulatory role in memory processing, are disturbed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Moringa oleifera (MO) has been shown to exert its effect in CNS by altering the brain monoamines. The present study aims to see whether chronic oral treatment of ethanolic extract of MO leaves can alter the brain monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) in distinct areas of brain in rat model of AD caused by intracerebroverticle (ICV) infusion of colchicine and hence can provide protection against monoaminergic deficits associated with AD. METHODS: Rats were given ICV infusion of colchicine (15 microg/5microl) and MO leaf alcoholic extract was given in various doses. The effective dose was standardized by radial arm maze (RAM) training. From the selected dose of 250 mg/kg body weight, the biochemical estimations and EEG studies were performed. RESULTS: Stereotaxic ICV infusion of colchicine significantly impaired the RAM performance together with decrease in norepinephrine (NE) level in cerebral cortex (CC), hippocampus (HC) and caudate nucleus (CN). Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) levels were decreased in CC, HC and CN. The EEG studies showed a decrease in beta and alpha waves and increase in biphasic spike wave pattern in experimental Alzheimer rat model. Treatment with MO extract markedly increased the number of correct choices in a RAM task with variable alteration of brain monoamines. The EEG studies showed an increase in beta waves and a decrease in spike wave discharges. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our results showed that brain monoamines were altered discreetly in different brain areas after colchicine infusion in brain. After treatment with MO, leaf extract the monoamine levels of brain regions were restored to near control levels. Our findings indicated that MO might have a role in providing protection against AD in rat model by altering brain menoamine levels and electrical activity.

Comparative neurochemical changes associated with chronic administration of typical and atypical neuroleptics: implications in tardive dyskinesia.

An important goal of current neuroleptic research is to develop antipsychotic compounds with the low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. The therapeutic success and less side-effect of atypical anti-psychotics such as clozapine and risperidone has focused the attention on the role of receptor systems other than dopaminergic system in the pathophysiology of neuroleptics-associated extrapyramidal side effects. The present study compares the effect of chronic administration of typical and atypical antipsychotics on neurochemical profile in rat forebrain. The study was planned to study changes in extracellular levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in forebrain region of brain and tried to correlate them with hyperkinetic motor activities (vacuous chewing movements (VCM's), tongue protrusions and facial jerking) in rats, hall mark of chronic extrapyramidal side-effect of neuroleptic therapy tardive dyskinesia. Chronic administration of haloperidol (1 mg/kg) and chlorpromazine (5 mg/kg) resulted in significant increase in orofacial hyperkinetic movements where as clozapine and risperidone showed less significant increase in orofacial hyperkinetic movements as compared to control. There were also significant decrease in the extracellular levels of neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in fore-brain as measured by HPLC/ED after chronic administration of haloperidol and chlorpromazine. Chronic administration of atypical neuroleptics clozapine and risperidone resulted in the decrease in extracellular concentration of dopamine and norepinephrine but the effect was less significant as compared to typical drugs. However, treatment with atypical neuroleptics resulted in 3 fold increase in serotonin levels as compared to forebrain of control rats. Typical and atypical neuroleptics showed varying effects on neurotransmitters, especially serotonin which may account for the difference in their profile of side effects (Tardive dyskinesia).

Dopamine transporter density by [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 SPECT and neurocognitive performance - a preliminary pilot study

Introducción: los déficits cognitivos están relacionados con el deterioro funcional y con la baja calidad de vida en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). El sistema dopaminérgico de los ganglios basales es importante para el funcionamiento cognitivo y motor. Radiomarcadores de transportador de Dopamina (TAD) han sido utilizados para calcular la pérdida neuronal dopaminérgica en humanos. Objetivos: estudiar la relación entre el deterioro cognitivo y la pérdida neuronal dopaminérgica estriatal en pacientes con EP. Métodos: quince pacientes fueron escaneados con [99mTc]-TRODAT-1 y SPECT. El estriado (STR) y el lóbulo occipital (BKG) fueron definidos como regiones de interés (RIs) para la obtención del potencial de ligación (PL = [STR - BKG] / BKG). Exámenes neurocognitivos fueron aplicados, incluyendo el Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Ravens Progressive Matrices, Digit Span y Tavis 3. Resultados: El PL fue correlacionado negativamente con los exámenes de RAVLT 4 y 5, que evalúan el aprendizaje verbal. El PL también fue correlacionado negativamente con el artículo de aprendizaje de WCST y los artículos de Tavis 3, el error de acción y el número de aciertos. Conclusiones: este estudio indica que la pérdida de TAD estriatal está asociada con un desempeño mas pobre en tareas de flexibilidad cognitiva y aprendizaje verbal. Estos resultados están de acuerdo con un estudio previo con participantes sanos que encontró una relación entre la densidad de TAD del caudado y el desempeño en tareas de aprendizaje verbal. La segmentación del caudado/putamen en una muestra mayor está en desarrollo y podrá proveer más información sobre déficits cognitivos y pérdida de TAD estriatal.

Altered dopamine levels induced by the parasite Profilicollis antarcticus on its intermediate host, the crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus

A serotonergic pathway is apparently involved in parasite-host interactions. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory showed increased rates in oxygen consumption and alterations in body posture in the crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus parasitized by the acanthocephalan, Profilicollis antarcticus. Such changes may be related to the functions described for biogenic amines in crustaceans. During the infective stage the acanthocephalans live freely in the hemocelomic cavity, suggesting that the possible alteration induced by biogenic amines may be related to their neurohormonal function in crustaceans. To test whether the presence of P. antarcticus produced neurohormonal changes in its intermediate host, H. crenulatus, we analyzed serotonin and dopamine levels in the host using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Two groups of 11 female crabs were studied; one group was artificially inoculated with two cystacanths while the other was used as the control. Our results show a dramatic increase in hemolymph dopamine, but not serotonin in H. crenulatus parasitized by the acanthocephalan P. antarcticus. Our results, along with those reported by Maynard (1996), suggest a parasite-specific strategy involved in the behavior alteration caused by the acanthocephalans on their intermediate host. The use of a biogenic amine as a mechanism of interaction by the parasites gives them an endless number of alternative potential actions on their intermediate hosts.

Preparation of micro-biosensor and its application in monitoring in vivo change of dopamine / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The self-made high sensitivity and selectivity micro-biosensor was applied to monitor the change of dopamine in cerebral nucleus in rats in vivo. The micro-biosensor was prepared and used to detect dopamine level in vitro and monitor the dynamic change of dopamine in different cerebral nucleus in vivo. The results showed the lowest concentration of dopamine that could be detected by the biosensor was 32.5 nmol/L. Its positive peak was significantly different from that of AA, 5-HTP and E. The biosensor could keep working for monitoring the dopamine concentration in the cerebral tissue for more than 10 h. It was concluded that the microsensor has high sensitivity and selectivity to dopamine and can be used to dynamically monitor the change of dopamine in vivo.

Genetic, biochemical, and characterization of neurological mutant 3, a new mouse model for Parkinson's disease

We have identified a new mutant mouse that we have named new mouse neurological mutant 3 (NM3); it may be a useful model to understand the underlying molecular and genetic basis of Parkinson's disease (PD). A mouse carrying the NM3 mutation arose spontaneously in an RIIIS/J breeding colony and was identified as having a movement disorder. Upon neurological examination of these mice, their movement was found to be slow and abnormal, with characteristic choreaform and bradykinetic-type movements, typical of PD. The importance of the gene mutation in NM3 in the molecular pathway involved in this pathology is underscored by the fact that these mice do not survive past weaning age if they are homozygous for the genetic mutation. We localized the gene mutation by positional cloning and genetic mapping to mouse chromosome 2 in an area that corresponds to human chromosome 2q24-31, which does not contain any known genes associated with PD. However, there was a significant decrease of 15-20 in the levels of dopamine, and its principal metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, in the midbrain of affected mice. Low concentrations of these substances are associated with PD in human patients, making these mutant mice candidates for studies of this disease

Níveis dos neurotransmissores estriatais durante o estado epiléptico / Striatal monoamines levels during status epilepticus

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar os níveis dos neurotransmissores estriatais de ratas adultas durante o estado epiléptico induzido pela pilocarpina. Ratas wistar foram tratadas com uma única dose de pilocarpina (400 mg/kg por via subcutânea (S.C.); P400) e os controles receberam salina. A concentração dos neurotransmissores foi determinada através do HPLC eletroquímico, no corpo estriado de ratas que no período de observação de 1 hora desencadearam estado epiléptico e que sobreviveram à fase aguda do quadro convulsivo. Foi observada redução nos níveis de dopamina, serotonina, ácido diidroxifenilacético e aumento na concentração do ácido 5-hidroxiindolacético. Nenhuma alteração foi observada no 4-hidroxi-3-metoxi-fenilacético. Os resultados sugerem que a ativação do sistema colinérgico pode interagir com os sistemas dopaminérgico e serotonérgico nos mecanismos referentes à fase aguda do processo convulsivo no corpo estriado de ratos desenvolvidos.

Role of dopamine in the modulation of adrenal gland responses in the osmotically stressed pigeons, Columba livia.

Salt loading on pigeons (C. livia) had stimulatory effects on brain amines (dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine), corticosterone, norepinephrine and epinephrine contents of adrenal gland. Conjoint administration of dopamine with hypertonic saline restored the brain amines and corticosterone of adrenal gland, but had no effect on catecholamine (CAM) contents of adrenal medulla. The excessive release of CAM in the plasma indicates sympathetic stimulation after both the treatments.

Subordination induced decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine levels in the frontal cortex--a study using worker-parasite relationship in rats as a model.

Competition for a limited resource appears to be an important factor in natural selection. Such competition when elicited experimentally, leads to the establishment of dominant-subordinate (D-S) relationship between the competitors. The present study was carried out to analyse the effect of D-S relationship on the levels of monoamines, namely, dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in various brain regions. The model of D-S relationship selected for this work was a modified worker-parasite paradigm in adult male Wistar rats. The levels of monoamines were estimated in the frontal cortex, the entorhinal cortex, the hippocampus and the septum of the two competitors and a non-competitor control, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Levels of DA and 5-HT, but not NE, were found to be lower (P < 0.05) only in the frontal cortex of the subordinate as compared to that of the dominant or the control. These findings are comparable with similar neurochemical changes reported to be caused by some of the known stressors.

Validez y reproductividad de una escala para evaluar la depresión en pacientes esquizofrénicos / Validity and reproductibility of a scale for the evaluation of depression in schizophrenic patients

Los síntomas depresivos en los pacientes con esquizofrenia han sido reconocidos y descritos reiteradamente, aunque se ignora el significado que tienen en el tratamiento y el pronóstico de esta enfermedad. Los síntomas que se presentan en un episodio depresivo mayor no son exclusivos de la depresión y, además pueden confundirse con los síntomas negativos de la esquizofrenia, vg. la apatía, la anhedonia y la abulia, o con los efectos parkinsónicos de los antipsicóticos, como la aquinesia. Durante los últimos años se le ha dado mucha importancia al estudio y al manejo de la depresión en la esquizofrenia; sin embargo se carece de un instrumento clinimétrico apropiado. Addington y cols. desarrollaron una escala para evaluar los síntomas depresivos en los pacientes esquizofrénicos. El comportamiento de dicho instrumento en su versión en inglés es satisfactorio, lo que hace recomendable traducir el instrumento y evaluarlo en su versión en español. Estudiamos a 103 pacientes en dos centros hospitalarios de tercer nivel. Todos tenían el diagnóstico de esquizofrenia según los criterios del DSM-III-R y estaban bajo tratamiento con antipsicóticos. Los pacientes fueron evaluados con la Escala de Calgary para Depresión en la Esquizofrenia, el Inventario para Depresión de Beck (IDB) y la Escala de DiMascio para Efectos Extrapiramidales. El 50 por ciento de los pacientes se evaluó, además, con la Escala para Síntomas Positivos y Negativos de la Esquizofrenia (PANSS) y al 50 por ciento restante se les aplicó la Escala de Calgary en dos días diferentes de la misma semana por diferente entrevistador. Se observó una correlación significativa (R=0.72, p < 0.0001) entre las puntuaciones totales de la Escala de Calgary y las del IDB. No hubo correlación significativa entre las puntuaciones y la subescala de Síntomas Negativos del PANSS. La correlación entre las puntuaciones de la Escala de Calgary en el Subgrupo al que se le aplicó en dos ocasiones fue bastante buena (r=0.80, p < 0.001). Nuestros resultados indican que la Escala de Calgary y para Evaluar la Depresión en la Esquizofrenia tiene una validez concurrente satisfactoria y su reproductibilidad es buena. El contar con este instrumento facilitará el estudiio de la relación entre los síntomas depresivos y la esquizofrenia

Changes in the level of biogenic amines in experimentally infected and DEC treated proxy host mice.

The levels of biogenic amines, viz., epinephrine, histamine and dopamine were significantly altered in the blood and brain of the proxy host mice which were infected with the mf of Setaria digitata, a filarial parasite. When DEC, the drug of choice was administered to the infected mice, serotonine level was enhanced while the histamine level was decreased. The results were similar in normal mice which were given DEC.

Investigaciones de los neurotransmisores 5-hidroxitriptamina, noradrenalina y dopamina, en mucosa gastroduodenal: correlación clínica e histológica / Determination of the neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, and dopamine in gastroduodenal mucosa: clinical and histologic correlation

Se estudiaron las concentraciones (pg/mg de tejido de los neurotransmisores (NT) 5-Hidroxitriptamina (5HT), Noradrenalina (NA) y Dopamina (DA) en mucosa del fundus gástrico (F), antro (A) y bulbo duodenal (D) de 21 paciente con mucosa normal y con diversos grados de inflamación crónica. Se correlacionaron las concentraciones de los NT entre sí, en conjuntos en cada región y con parámetros clínicos, de motilidad indirectos e histológicos. Los valores promedios hallados en cada región fueron para 5HT: F=940+/-457, en A=787+/-407 y en D=601+/-272; para NA en F=217+/-138, en A=228+/-126 y en D=245+/-118; y para DA en F=50+/-32, en A=46+/-31 y en D=53+/-45. Se observó que a mayores infiltrados inflamatorios en bulbo duodenal se encontraron mayores concentraciones de DA (r=0,94). Ningún otro parámetro tuvo relación significativa con las variaciones de los NT. Se pudo establecer que las variaciones de las concentraciones de los NT de la mucosa del antro gástrico están más asociadas a las del bulbo duodenal que a las del fundus gástrico

Brain monoamines during footshock-induced aggression in paired rats.

Regional brain monoamine concentrations were investigated following footshock induced fighting behaviour in paired rats, by a spectrophotofluorometric method. The dopamine (DA) levels of the diencephalon-midbrain (DM), and that of the caudate nucleus (CN), were significantly augmented as compared to unshocked but paired rats, the increase being substantially more in DM. Noradrenaline (NA) concentrations of both DM and pons-medulla (PM) increased to almost similar extents, though the data remained statistically insignificant in comparison to controls. The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) of both DM and PM, however, recorded a decrease, which was statistically significant in the latter brain area. The biochemical data are consonant with the reported facilitatory effect of central DA, and the inhibitory role of central 5HT, in experimental aggression. The observed changes in NA levels, for which a role in experimental aggression remains equivocal, may be due to the stress of footshock kept minimal due to the coping factor of fighting in response to the shock.

HPLC determination of norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytyramine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat brain using sodium dodecyl sulphate as ion-pair

1. A simple HPLC method using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and elelctrochemical detection for the determination of norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytyramine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain regions is described. 2. the tissue extraction procedure involved only two stepes: protein precipitation with perchloriac acid and pH adjustment to near 3.0. When used in combination with methanol as ion-pair in the mobile phase, sodium dodecyl sulgate effectively separated NE (6.6 min), epinephrine (EPI), 7.9 min), DA (14.3 min) and 5-HT (29.5 min) and the high methanol concentration used prevente the overlapping of the metabolites and monoamines in their chromatographic peaks. 3. the method was sensitive (40 to 70 pg of monoamine can be quantified) and reproducible and the values obtained for cortex, hippocampus, striatum and substantia nigra were consoant with most literature data

Efectos del tratamiento electroconvulsivo sobre el contenido en monoamimas en tejido cerebral de ratas tratadas con reserpina / Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on the monoamine contents in the brain tissue of rats under reserpine treatment

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos en cuanto a los niveles de noradrenalina (NA), dopamina (DA) y 5-hidroxitriptamina (5HT) en cuatro porciones de cerebro de ratas tratadas con tratamiento electroconvulsivo y con reserpina. Se utilizó este fármaco debido a su efecto inhibitorio en la recaptura de las monoaminas (MA), lo cual conlleva a una depleción de las vesículas monoaminérgicas. Observamos disminución en los niveles de las tres MA en diferentes porciones del cerebro de las ratas que recibieron el tratamiento electroconvulsivo sólo y la reserpina, comparándolas con sus controles

Niveles de dopamina cerebral en el climaterio de la rata / Brain dopamine lewels in the climateric of rats

Parece existir una relación inversa entre la concentración cerebral de dopamina (DA) y la progesterona circulante, en vista de lo cual cobría esperar un aumento de la DA en aquellas condiciones en que la progesterona descendiera. Por esta razón se consideró conveniente estudiar un modelo fisiológico, como es el climaterio, donde se encuentran niveles sostenidos bajos de progesterona. Se estudiaron 75 ratas hembras Sprague Dowley cuyos pesos variaron entre 220 y 225 g. Cuarentra y nueve animales eran adultos jóvenes que presentaban ciclo estral normal y 26 eran climatéricos en diestro contínuo. En las ratas jóvenes la concentración cerebral de DA fue en promedio de 10.59 umol/g con un error estándar de 1.23 umol/g (1 623 mas menos 188 ng/g) y en las climatéricas de 18.95 ñ 2.85 umol/g (2 903 ñ 437 ng/g) (p 0.01). La noradrenalina cerebral fue muy similar en ambos grupos 3.71 ñ 0.28 umol/g (627 ñ 48 ng/g y 3.88 ñ 0.57 umol/g (657 ñ 96 ng/g respectivamente (p 0.5). La concentración de adrenalina en las ratas jóvenes fue de 0.55 ñ 0.05 umolg/g (101 ñ 10 ng/g) y en las climatéricas de 0.37 ñ 0.03 umol/g (68 ñ 5 ng/g) (p 0.05)