Effect Of Ethanolic Seed Extract Of Citrus Lanatus (watermelon) On Immunoreactivity Of Hippocampal Neurofilament Of Adult Wistar Rats

Neurofilaments are major protein constituents of the brain, and play important roles in trafficking of molecules between neurons. An experimental study on thetotal protein content and immunoreactivity of neurofilament protein was undertaken on the hippocampus of adult rats treated with the seed extract of Citrulluslanatus, Omega H3 and soybean oil. Twenty (20) adult wistar rats of average weights 150g were used. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 rats per group. Group A served as control, groups B and C received 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of Citrullus lanatus ethanolic seed extracts orally respectively, while groups D and E received 300 mg/kg of Omega H3 and 5ml/kgof Soybean oil for two weeks respectively. Total serum protein was estimated biochemically and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20 group comparison were made by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The hippocampus was dissected, fixed, processed and stained for neurofilament by the avidin–biotin immunoperoxidase method. The result revealed total serum protein levels increased significantly in treated groups while immunoreactivity to neurofilament increased in all treated groups compared to the control. In conclusion, ethanolic seed extract of Citrullus lanatus has similar effects as Omega H3 and Soya bean oil which justify it use as supplement.

Neurochemistry of striatum in chorea-acanthocytosis / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate the striatum neurochemistry in chorea-acanthocytosis(ChAc).Methods The brain samples of autopsy from 4 ChAc patients , 2 Huntington disease patients and 4 normal controls were collected.Immunostainings of enkephalin, substance P, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and Calbindin-D28k were carried out.Softwares were used to perform image and statistical analyses.Results In ChAc patients , the stainings of enkephalin , substance P and GAD were decreased , while the staining of Calbindin-D28k was increased.In comparison with normal controls , the staining of encephalin in the external segment of globus pallidus (16%(4%) vs 20%(1%),Mann-Whitney U test,Z=-2.337, P=0.029) and the stainings of substance P (12%(3%) vs 22%(1%),Mann-Whitney U test,Z=-2.352, P=0.029 ) and GAD in the internal segment of globus pallidus ( 25% ( 11%) vs 33%( 4%) , Mann-Whitney U test, Z =-2.323, P =0.029 ) were decreased in ChAc patients.Conclusions In ChAc patients, the decrease of substance P was more obvious than encephalin.The increase of Calbindin-D28k may be a protective compensation for the neuron damage.

Synchronous Detection of Rat Neural Spike Firing and Neurochemical Signals Based on Dual-mode Recording Instrument / 分析化学

A dual-mode recording system used for synchronous detection of neuroeletrical and neurochemical signals was developed, and a dual-mode synchronous detection experiment was carried out using the instrument. The device comprised 64-channel neuroelectricity recording module with voltage resolution of 0. 3 μV and 4-channel neurochemistry recording module with current resolution of 1 pA. The software had many basic features, including Spike separation and sort, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, etc. In particular, the software could observe and analyze the dual-mode neural signals synchronously. The performance of the system was demonstrated in the single mode detection experiments. In neuroeletrical experiments, 64-channel simulate neural signals were detected and the signal to noise ratio ( S/N) of Spike recorded from cortex of Sprague-Dawley ( SD ) rat was 6. In the K3 [ Fe ( CN )6 ] and ascorbic acid measurement experiments, the current response of K3 [ Fe ( CN)6 ] in the range of 0. 1-10 mmol/L was obtained by cyclic voltammetry, with a correlation coefficient of 0. 9889, and the current response of ascorbic acid ( concentration:10-800 μmol/L) by chronoamperometry increased linearly with a correlation coefficient of 0. 9841. Based on the rat model of global cerebral ischemia, a dual-mode detection experiment was carried out. In the experiment, the neuroelectrical and neurochemical signals were synchronously recorded in the SD rat primary visual cortex. According to the experimental results, we got the conclusion that the concentration of ascorbic acid negatively related to the Spike firing in the SD rat primary visual cortex.

Association of interleukin-10 levels with age of onset and duration of illness in patients with major depressive disorder

Objective: To investigate peripheral levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) and evaluate the relationship between IL-10, age of disease onset, and duration of illness. Methods: Case-control study nested in a population-based cohort of 231 individuals (age 18-24 years) living in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Participants were screened for psychopathology using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Serum IL-10 was measured using commercially available immunoassay kits. Results: Peripheral levels of IL-10 were not significantly different in individuals with MDD or BD as compared to controls. However, higher IL-10 levels were found in MDD patients with a later disease onset as compared with controls or early-onset patients. In addition, IL-10 levels correlated negatively with illness duration in the MDD group. In the BD group, age of onset and duration of illness did not correlate with IL-10 levels. Conclusion: Higher levels of IL-10 are correlated with late onset of MDD symptoms. Moreover, levels of this cytokine might decrease with disease progression, suggesting that an anti-inflammatory balance may be involved in the onset of depressive symptoms and disease progression in susceptible individuals.

The state of art of biological processes in paternal care / Processos biológicos na paternidade: estado de arte

This review of the state of art aimed to present the most recent data on neuronal, neurochemical, hormonal and genetic bases of paternal care using MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases (1970-2013). An integrated model of biological substrates that assist men in the transition to fatherhood is presented. Guided by a genetic background, hypothalamic-midbrain-limbic-paralimbic-cortical circuits were found to be activated in fathers when infant stimuli are presented. A set of specific neuropeptides and steroid hormones are produced and seem to be related to brain activation, potentiating the paternal phenotype. Together, genetic, brain and hormonal processes suggest the existence of biological bases of paternal care in humans, activated and enhanced by infant stimuli and responsive to variations in the father-infant relationship. (AU)

A presente revisão teve por objectivo apresentar o estado de arte dos dados mais recentes sobre as bases neuronais, neuroquímicas, hormonais e genéticas da paternidade, com recurso às bases de dados MEDLINE e PsycInfo (1970-2013). É apresentado um modelo de integração conceptual dos substratos biológicos que assistem os homens na transição para a parentalidade. Guiado por um background genético, circuitos neuronais hipotalámicos-mesencefálicos-límbicos-paralímbicos-corticais surgem ativados em pais quando lhes são apresentados estímulos infantís. Um conjunto de neuropéptidos e hormonas esteróides são também produzidos e relacionam-se com a activação neuronal, potenciando o fenótipo paternal. No seu conjunto, processos genéticos, neuronais e hormonais sugerem a existência de uma base biológica do comportamento paternal em humanos, activada e potenciada por estímulos infantís e responsiva a variações na relação pai-filho. (AU)

Sedative antidepressants and insomnia / Antidepressivos sedativos e insônia

OBJECTIVE: The present review addresses the relationship between sleep and depression and how serotonergic transmission is implicated in both conditions. METHOD: Literature searches were performed in the PubMed and MedLine databases up to March 2010. The terms searched were "insomnia", "depression", "sedative antidepressants" and "serotonin". In order to pinpoint the sedative antidepressants most used to treat insomnia, 34 ISI articles, mainly reviews and placebo-controlled clinical trials, were selected from 317 articles found in our primary search. RESULTS: Sleep problems may appear months before the diagnosis of clinical depression and persist after the resolution of depression. Treatment of insomnia symptoms may improve this comorbid disease. Some antidepressant drugs can also result in insomnia or daytime sleepiness. Serotonin (5-HT) demonstrates a complex pattern with respect to sleep and wakefulness that is related to the array of 5-HT receptor subtypes involved in different physiological functions. It is now believed that 5HT2 receptor stimulation is subjacent to insomnia and changes in sleep organization related to the use of some antidepressants. CONCLUSION: Some drugs commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression may worsen insomnia and impair full recovery from depression. 5-HT2 receptor antagonists are promising drugs for treatment strategies since they can improve comorbid insomnia and depression.

OBJETIVO: Esta atualização aborda a relação entre sono e depressão e como a transmissão serotoninérgica está envolvida em ambas condições. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma busca na literatura no PubMed e MedLine até março de 2010 com os termos "insônia", "depressão", "antidepressivos sedativos" e "serotonina". A fim de contemplar os antidepressivos sedativos mais utilizados no tratamento da insônia, 34 artigos ISI, principalmente revisões e estudos clínicos placebo-controlados, foram selecionados entre 317 artigos encontrados na busca inicial. RESULTADOS: Alterações de sono podem aparecer meses antes do diagnóstico clínico de depressão e persistir após a resolução da depressão. O tratamento dos sintomas de insônia pode melhorar essa doença associada. Alguns antidepressivos também podem levar à insônia ou sonolência diurna. A serotonina (5-HT) demonstra um padrão complexo no que diz respeito ao sono e vigília, o que está relacionado com a variedade de subtipos do receptor 5-HT envolvidos em diferentes funções fisiológicas. Acredita-se, atualmente, que a estimulação do receptor 5-HT2 esteja envolvida nas alterações da organização do sono e insônia relacionada a alguns antidepressivos. CONCLUSÃO: Alguns medicamentos normalmente prescritos para o tratamento de depressão podem piorar a insônia e dificultar a completa recuperação da depressão. Os antagonistas do receptor 5-HT2 são drogas promissoras para o tratamento, pois podem melhorar a insônia e depressão associadas.

Redistribuição da cocaína e sua influência na neuroquímica post mortem / Cocaine redistribution and their implication in post mortem neurochemistry

A interpretação dos achados laboratoriais no estabelecimento da causa mortis consiste na integração dos conhecimentos sobre a toxicocinética e toxicodinâmica do agente, conhecimentos de sua redistribuição post mortem (RPM) e achados necroscópicos que possibilitem o nexo causal entre o toxicante e o efeito letal. Neste sentido, é importante considerar que somente as concentrações de cocaína (COC) e seus metabólitos podem não ser determinantes na interpretação da causa de morte, podendo ser útil o cotejamento com outros parâmetros, como os níveis de neurotrasmissores que representem o mecanismo de ação do fármaco. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a RPM da COC e seu metabólito benzoilecgonina (BE) em três segmentos do tecido encefálico (TE), no humor vítreo (HV) e sangue (SG), bem como determinar as concentrações de catecolaminas e indolaminas no encéfalo para avaliar a aplicação da neuroquímica post mortem (NPM) na toxicologia forense. No estudo de RPM foram quantificados os níveis de COC e BE em três segmentos do TE (córtex frontal, núcleos da base e cerebelo), no HV e no SG através de método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC) acoplada ao detector de arranjo de diodos. Os estudos de neuroquímica foram realizados empregando-se HPLC acoplada ao detector eletroquímico. Os resultados indicaram que as concentrações médias de COC foram maiores no TE, seguido por SG e HV (3,09, 2,92 e 1,71 µg/mL, respectivamente), enquanto para BE foram maiores em SG, seguido por HV e TE (6,12, 1,39 e 0,87 µg/mL, respectivamente). As concentrações de COC se apresentaram distribuídas uniformemente nos três segmentos de TE e apresentaram alta correlação com o HV. Adicionalmente, a média de concentrações de dopamina total foi maior no grupo de indivíduos com amostras positivas para COC, sendo verificado diferença significativa entre este grupo e o de indivíduos com amostras negativas para o fármaco de interesse. Os resultados demostraram que o estudo...

In case of intoxication, the interpretation of analytical results to assess the cause and process of death requires knowledge about toxicokinetics, toxicodynamic, postmortem redistribution, and autopsy elements. Cocaine-related deaths occur mainly after prolonged drugs use and the presence of cocaine (COC) in fluids or tissues does not prove that death was due to COC consumption, and the interpretation of postmortem concentrations is even more complicated than attempts at making such correlations in the living. The objectives of this study were to investigate the post mortem redistribution (PMR) of COC and its metabolite benzoylecgonine (BE) in three segments of brain (frontal cortex, base nucleous, and cerebellum), vitreous humor, and blood. In additional, catecholamines and indolamines were quantified in brain in order to evaluate the usefulness of post mortem neurochemistry (PMN) in forensic toxicology. In PMR studies were quantified the COC and BE levels in three brain (BR) segments, in vitreous humor (VH), and blood (BL) by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection, and for neurochemistry studies the neurotransmitters were quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection. A homogenous distribution of COC and BE within frontal cortex, base nucleous, and cerebellum was found. The COC media concentrations were 3.09, 2.92 e 1.71µg/mL in BR, BL and VH, respectively, and the BE media concentrations were 6.12, 1.39 e 0.87 µg/mL in BL, VH, and BR, respectively. The COC concentrations in VH show high correlation with brain. The media total dopamine concentration was significant higher in COC positive group. These findings suggest that the studies of PMR and PMN by neurotransmitters levels may be useful to assess the cause and process of death.

Evidências da acupuntura no tratamento da cefaleia / Evidences of acupuncture to treat headache

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os mecanismos fisiológicos da terapia por acupuntura por muito tempo permaneceram envolta de véus de mistério, sendo até mesmo considerada como efeito placebo. Atualmente é uma das mais promissoras linhas de pesquisa no âmbito da dor aguda e crônica, sendo desvendados seus mecanismos neurofisiológicos através de pesquisas de ótimo nível em diversos centros do mundo. A cefaleia é uma condição comum nas clínicas de dor e acomete mais de 10% dos pacientes que sofrem de dores crônicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar as substâncias neuroquímicas liberadas que favorecem a analgesia durante a acupuntura e mostrar as evidências dessa terapia no tratamento da cefaleia.CONTEÚDO: A acupuntura foi criada no seio da tradição chinesa, recebendo influências da religião como da filosofia. Nos anos 1970 esse método foi proposto para pesquisa e se mostra como uma das linhas de pesquisas mais fascinante da ciência moderna, mostrando uma eficácia favorável no tratamento da cefaleia. CONCLUSÃO: A acupuntura favorece a liberação de diversos mediadores que promovem a modulação da dor e esse mecanismo pode justificar a sua eficácia no tratamento da cefaleia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acupuncture therapy mechanisms have remained for a long time involved in mystery veils being even considered placebo effect. Currently it is one of the most promising lines of research in the of acute and chronic pain and its neurophysiological mechanisms were unveiled through optimal level research in several worldwide centers. Headache is a common condition in pain clinics and affects more than 10% of chronic pain patients. This study aimed at reviewing neurochemical substances released during acupuncture that favors analgesia and at showing evidences of the effectiveness of such therapy.CONTENTS: Acupuncture was created by the Chinese tradition, being influenced by religion and philosophy. In the 1970s this method was proposed for research and is one of the most fascinating research lines of modern science, showing a favorable effectiveness for treating headache.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture favors the release of several mediators promoting pain modulation and this mechanism may justify its effectiveness for treating headache.

Establishment and neurochemical studies of animal models with anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To establish animal models with anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve and evaluate the safety of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve at molecular level.Methods Location of the ulnar nerve of elbow in 5 rats were found similar to human being by anatomy.Twenty healthy adult SD rats,weighting about 250 g,were performed the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve in the right forelimbs and the left forelimbs was considered as control group.The bilateral flexor carpi ulnaris muscles were weighed and the slice of cervical spinal cord(C_6-T_1)level were prepared 1 month after the operation.Nissl staining,NADPH-d histochemical staining,IB4 staining and ChAT-immunohistochemical staining were employed to observe the spinal cord(C_6-T_1)level at molecular level;electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure of ChAT-positive neurons.Statistical analysis was paired T test.Results The flexor carpi ulnaris muscles in the model group(92.3±9.13mg)and control group(93.2±7.29 mg)were not significantly different(P>0.05).After anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve in rats,no significant differences in cell number and morphology in the cervical spinal cord(C_6-T_1)were found between the model group and the control group(P>0.05).No changes between the 2 groups were noted in the fine structure of anterior horn motor neurons and the expression of nenrotransmitters(P>0.05).Conclusion Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve can be safely done in the animal models(rats).

Bases neuroanatmmicas, neurobiológicas y del apendizaje de la conducta de adicccióna la cocaína / Neuroanatomic, neurobiologic and learning-related bases of cocaine addictive behavior.

Drug addiction is one of the major problems in modern societies. Behaviours such as cocaine consumption and seeking have risen up as a major subject not solely in health and pharmacological sciences but in behavioural neuroscience as well. Therefore, in the course of several decades a huge body of knowledge has been rendered by Neurosciences addressing the most important variables involved in addiction-acquisition as well as maintenance and relapse of drug-seeking behaviour. The breakthroughs point to neural circuits like the mesocortical-mesolimbic dopaminergic system and the role of neurotransmitter, mainly glutamate and dopamine, in the development of addictive behaviours. The analysis of addiction has been improved by the contribution of techniques from the Psychology of learning in spite of reinforcement mechanisms triggered by drugs. The present review will aim at the state of art of the field highlighting the important contribution of both neurochemical and neuroanatomical studies alongside with behavioural mechanisms.

El consumo de drogas es uno de los principales problemas de salud pública al que se enfrentan las sociedades actuales. Durante varias décadas se ha generado un amplio grupo de trabajos científicos, desde la perspectiva de las neurociencias, que han logrado esclarecer variables importantes implicadas en el proceso de adicción y en los de mantenimiento y recaída. Se ha encontrado la implicación directa de circuitos neurales como el mesolímbico-mesocortical o la participación activa de sistemas de neurotransmisores como los dopaminérgicos y los glutamatérgicos. Además, se han esclarecido los sustratos conductuales de la adicción mediante técnicas procedentes de la Psicología del Aprendizaje, lo cual ha sido de gran utilidad a la hora de evaluar los componentes de este comportamiento complejo. En este artículo se hará una revisión de estos hallazgos destacando la importancia del estudio conjunto de las bases neuroquímicas y neuroanatómicas junto con los procesos conductuales.

The neurochemical properties of an immortalized glomus cell line from the carotid body of rat / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective Embryonic stem cells (ES) are potentially useful for treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, ES cells contain a mixed population of neurons, and selective enrichment of dopaminergic components remains difficult. Here, we report that a dopaminergic clonal cell line developed from carotid body. Methods Glomus cells of the rat carotid body were conditionally immortalized by retroviral transfer of the SV40 T antigen and Cre/lox P elements. The oncogene was subsequently removed adenoviral delivery of the Cre recombinase. Results Cloned glomus cells expressed high levels of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and selectively released dopamine in culture. Remarkably, they expressed little dopamine transporter DAT, and were resistant to dopamine- and MPTP-mediated neurotoxicity. Conclusion Immortalized glomus cell line might provide an alternative way to the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Efeitos da atividade da fosfolipase A2 nos receptores dopaminérgicos: implicações para a esquizofrenia / Effects of phospholipase A2 on dopamine receptors: implications to schizophrenia

Um aumento da atividade da PLA2 e alterações do sistema dopaminérgico tem sido descrito em esquizofrenia. No presente estudo, foram investigados os efeitos da atividade da PLA2 sobre os receptores D1 e D2 em cérebro post mortem de 10 sujeitos. Foi encontrado que a PLA2GVI é responsável por 85% do total de atividade da PLA2 no cérebro. A estimulação da PLA2GVI (por EDTA) aumentou a afinidade de D1 em estriado e em CPF e diminuiu a afinidade de D2 em estriado. A inibição da PLA2GVI (por BEL) diminuiu a afinidade de D1 em estriado, e em CPF e CT. A estimulação da PLA2GVI resultou em aumento na densidade de D1 em CPF e CT, e de D2 em estriado. Uma elevação da PLA2 em esquizofrenia poderia contribuir para a biologia da doença através de alterações na neurotransmissão dopaminérgica.

Increased PLA2 activity and dopaminergic alterations have been described in schizophrenia. In the present study it was investigated the effects of PLA2 activity on D1 and D2 receptors in post mortem brain of 10 subjects. It was found that PLA2GVI corresponds to 85% of all PLA2 activity in the brain. The stimulation of PLA2GVI (by EDTA) increased D1 affinity in striatum and in PFC, and decreased D2 affinity in striatum. Conversely, the inhibition of PLA2GVI (using BEL) decreased D1 affinity in striatum, PFC and TC. The stimulation of PLA2GVI increased D1 density in PFC and TC, as well as the D2 density in striatum. The increased PLA2 activity in schizophrenia may contribute to the biology of the disease through alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission.

The experimental study on changes in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at early stage of diffuse axonal injury in rats / 解放军医学杂志

s Objective To observe the changes in neurochemical metabolites at early stage of DAI in rats with MRS technique. Methods DAI was induced by a self-made rotating injury device in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=16). MRS was used to evaluate the changes in neurochemical metabolites before-trauma, 2 hours and 3 hours after the trauma. The data were analyzed by statistical analysis system. Results MRS demonstrated that contents of both NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr of corpus callosum were decreased obviously 3 hours posttrauma, and differences between those before trauma and those after trauma were statistically significant. The content of NAA/Cr of the brain stem was declined at 2 hours also with significant difference compared with that before trauma. There was no significant difference in values between 2 and 3 hours. The content of Cho/Cr of the brain stem was significantly decreased 3 hours after the trauma. Conclusions MRS technique has a high sensitivity in diagnosing microscopic pathology following DAI and functional defect of neuron and axon, as shown by significant decrease in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr at early stage (i.e. 2-3 hours) after trauma.