ABSTRACT
Understanding the mechanisms responsible for nonmotor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) is crucial in the search for new therapeutic approaches. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the time course of behavioral, neurochemical, and microglial responses after a retrograde partial lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway induced by bilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). The results showed that 6-OHDA was able to produce both anhedonic and anxiety behaviors; however, an increase of microglial density in some brain areas (substantia nigra, hippocampus and striatum) and deficits in locomotor activity was observed only one week after the lesion. Striatal levels of dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were reduced by approximately 60% at all times tested. Conversely, increased levels of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite were also noted in the striatum only at the first week. These data extend our previous findings and suggest that the retrograde and partial damage of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra can induce effects resembling premotor symptoms of PD, two and three weeks after injury.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal , Microglia/metabolism , Oxidopamine , Parkinson Disease/metabolism , Parkinson Disease/psychology , Acetylglucosaminidase/metabolism , Animals , Anxiety/chemically induced , Anxiety/psychology , Biogenic Monoamines/metabolism , Corpus Striatum/metabolism , Depression/chemically induced , Depression/psychology , Disease Models, Animal , Food Preferences , Hippocampus/metabolism , Immunity, Innate , Male , Maze Learning , Motor Activity , Rats, Wistar , Substantia Nigra/metabolism , Sucrose/administration & dosageABSTRACT
AIMS: To date, suggestions that endothelin-1 (ET-1) causes nociception and pruritus are based on results in preclinical models in which responses to pruritic and nociceptive stimuli cannot be distinguished. This study reexamines these sensory effects of ET-1 in the new mouse cheek model, in which pruritogens and algogens evoke distinct behavioral responses. MAIN METHODS: Mice received intradermal (i.d.) injections of test substances into the left cheek and bouts of hind limb scratches or forepaw wipes, directed to the injection site, were considered indicative of pruritus and nociception, respectively. KEY FINDINGS: Histamine and capsaicin selectively evoked scratching and wipes, respectively, whereas ET-1 (3-60 pmol) promoted dose-dependent bouts of both behaviors. While scratching and wipe responses to ET-1 (30 pmol) were potentiated by BQ-788 (an ET(B) receptor antagonist) and reduced by co-injection of BQ-788 plus BQ-123 (an ET(A) receptor antagonist), BQ-123 alone inhibited scratching responses only. CTOP (µ-opioid receptor selective antagonist) only augmented scratching responses to ET-1, whereas DAMGO (µ-opioid receptor selective agonist) reduced both behaviors. Loratadine (histamine H(1) receptor antagonist) marginally reduced scratching, but markedly suppressed wipes. SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that ET-1 evokes pruritic and nociceptive behaviors in the mouse cheek model. Both responses to ET-1 appear to be mediated via ET(A) receptors and subjected to limitation by simultaneous ET(B) receptor activation. Local endogenous opioids acting on µ-opioid receptors selectively modulate the pruritic response to ET-1, whereas histamine, possibly derived from mast cells and acting on H(1) receptors, contributes importantly to the nociceptive effect of ET-1 in this model.
Subject(s)
Endothelin-1/metabolism , Pain/physiopathology , Pruritus/physiopathology , Receptor, Endothelin A/metabolism , Animals , Behavior, Animal , Capsaicin/administration & dosage , Cheek , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists , Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists , Endothelin-1/administration & dosage , Histamine/administration & dosage , Injections, Intradermal , Male , Mice , Pain/etiology , Pruritus/etiology , Receptor, Endothelin A/agonists , Receptor, Endothelin B/agonists , Receptor, Endothelin B/metabolism , Receptors, Histamine H1/drug effects , Receptors, Histamine H1/metabolism , Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists , Receptors, Opioid, mu/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolismABSTRACT
Although neutrophils are strongly implicated in eliminating pathogens, excessive recruitment may cause tissue damage. Therefore, reducing cell influx during an inflammatory process may be a potential target for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). As CXCR2 is involved in neutrophil migration, this study aimed to evaluate whether the systemic therapeutic treatment with selective CXCR2 antagonist SB225002 ameliorates experimental colitis, which was induced in mice by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). After colitis establishment (24 h), mice were treated with SB225002. At later time-points, up to 72 h, mice were monitored for body weight loss and overall mortality. At the time of sacrifice, colonic tissues were scored for macro- and microscopic damage, and cytokine levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and protein expression were analyzed. TNBS administration induced macro- and microscopic damage in colon tissue, leading in most cases to animal death. Curative treatment with SB225002 significantly reduced all of the parameters analyzed, leading to an improvement of inflammatory signs. SB225002 reduced neutrophil influx, MPO activity, IL-1beta, MIP-2, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) levels and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, inducible NO synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins into the colon tissue. Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased significantly in the colons of animals treated with SB225002. Additionally, curative treatment with mouse anti-KC significantly reduced MPO activity and colonic damage. These results taken together demonstrate that a selective blockade of CXCR2 consistently reduced TNBS-induced colitis, suggesting that the use of SB225002 is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of IBD and other related inflammatory disorders.
Subject(s)
Colitis/drug therapy , Phenylurea Compounds/therapeutic use , Receptors, Interleukin-8B/antagonists & inhibitors , Acute Disease , Animals , Colitis/chemically induced , Disease Models, Animal , Interleukin-1/physiology , Interleukin-10/physiology , Male , Methacrylates/toxicity , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
This study analyzed bradykinin (BK)-evoked contractile responses in the mouse colon under normal and inflammatory conditions. BK and the preferential B(2) receptor agonists Hyp(3)-BK, Lys-BK, Met-Lys-BK and Tyr(8)-BK produced a marked and concentration-related contraction of the normal mouse colon, whereas the selective B(1) receptor agonist des-Arg(9)-BK had no effect. BK-induced contraction was concentration-dependently antagonized (in a non-competitive manner) by both B(2) receptor antagonists Hoe 140 and FR173657, but not the B(1) receptor antagonist des-Arg(9)-[Leu(8)]-BK. Analysis of the possible mechanisms implicated in the contractile responses of BK in the mouse colon revealed the involvement of the neural release of acetylcholine, the activation of L- and N-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and the release of neuropeptides, prostanoids and leukotrienes. The contraction induced by BK was markedly increased in preparations obtained from TNBS-treated mice. The up-regulation of B(2) receptors following the induction of colitis was confirmed with binding studies using [(3)H]-BK, which revealed a marked increase in B(2) receptor densities, without alterations of affinity. We provide convincing evidence on the relevance of B(2) receptors in the mouse colon under normal conditions, as well as under an inflammatory profile of colitis. Selective B(2) receptor antagonists might well represent rational therapeutic options for treating inflammatory bowel diseases.
