Nucleus incertus ablation disrupted conspecific recognition and modified immediate early gene expression patterns in 'social brain' circuits of rats.

Social interaction involves neural activity in prefrontal cortex, septum, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Notably, these areas all receive projections from the nucleus incertus (NI) in the pontine tegmentum. Therefore, we investigated the effect of excitotoxic lesions of NI neurons in adult male, Wistar rats on performance in a social discrimination test, and associated changes in immediate-early gene protein levels. NI was lesioned with quinolinic acid, and after recovery, rats underwent two trials in the 3-chamber test. In the first trial, NI-lesioned and sham-lesioned rats spent longer exploring a conspecific than an inanimate object. By contrast, in the second trial, NI-lesioned rats visited the familiar and novel conspecific chambers equally, whereas sham-lesioned rats spent longer engaging with the novel rat. Quantification of Fos- and Egr-1-immunoreactivity (IR) levels in brain areas implicated in social behaviour, revealed that social encounter and NI lesion produced complex, differential changes. For example, Egr-1-IR was broadly decreased in several amygdala nuclei in NI-lesioned rats relative to sham, but Fos-IR levels were unaltered. In hippocampus, NI-lesioned rats displayed decreased Fos-IR in CA2 and CA3, while Egr-1-IR was increased in the polymorphic dentate gyrus, CA1, CA2 and subiculum of NI-lesioned rats, relative to sham. Social encounter-related Egr-1-IR was also decreased in septum and anterior and lateral hypothalamus of NI-lesioned rats. Overall, these data suggest NI networks can modulate the activity of sensory, emotional and executive brain areas involved in social recognition, with a likely involvement of neuronal Egr-1 activation in amygdala, septum and hypothalamus, and Erg-1 inhibition in hippocampus.

[A new agent in the mechanisms underlying addiction and ingestion of alcohol: the nucleus incertus and the neuropeptide relaxin-3]. / Un nuevo agente en los mecanismos de la adiccion al alcohol y la ingesta: el nucleo incertus y el neuropeptido relaxina-3.

Alcohol intake is facilitated by its relationship with eating behavior and both processes are highly influenced by situations of stress and anxiety. The dysregulation of these processes can reach pathological situations such as anorexia, bulimia or obesity. The neurobiological elements which underlie this control are not completely clarified. The nucleus incertus (NI) in the pontine tegmentum is a common element in the food intake and alcoholism. NI is characterized by using the neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3) as transmitter and its receptor RXFP3. In the present review, we will analyze the participation of the NI-RLN3-RXFP3 system in these behaviors under conditions of anxiety or stress in animal models. The activation of NI has a positive effect on intake (orexigenic) and generates a wide response in the amygdala modulating anxiety states. The activity of RLN3-RXFP3 in the amygdala could affect alcohol addiction since the application of the RXFP3 antagonist in extended amygdala attenuates the relapse to alcohol induced by stress. The neuroanatomical data indicate that the NI-RLN3-RXFP3 system acts on the feeding behavior and alcohol intake by means of projections parallel to the canonical mesolimbic pathways. Thus, data in animal models indicate that the NI-RLN3-RXFP3 system should be taken into account as a target in the future treatment of disorders of eating and alcohol addictive behaviors.

TITLE: Un nuevo agente en los mecanismos de la adiccion al alcohol y la ingesta: el nucleo incertus y el neuropeptido relaxina-3.La ingesta de alcohol esta facilitada por la relacion con la conducta alimentaria, y ambas conductas estan altamente influidas por situaciones de estres y ansiedad. La desregulacion de estos procesos puede llegar a situaciones patologicas, como la anorexia, la bulimia o la obesidad. Los elementos neurobiologicos que subyacen a este control no estan completamente esclarecidos. El nucleo incertus (NI) en el tegmento pontino constituye un elemento comun a la ingesta y a la adiccion al alcohol. Las neuronas del NI utilizan como señalizacion el neuropeptido relaxina-3 (RLN3) y su receptor RXFP3. En esta revision se analiza la participacion del sistema NI-RLN3-RXFP3 en estas conductas bajo condiciones de ansiedad o estres en modelos animales. La activacion del NI tiene un efecto positivo sobre la ingesta (orexigeno) y desarrolla una respuesta amplia en la amigdala, donde se modulan los estados de ansiedad. La actividad de RLN3-RXFP3 en la amigdala podria afectar a la adiccion al alcohol, ya que la aplicacion del antagonista de RXFP3 en la amigdala extendida atenua la recaida al alcohol inducida por el estres. Los datos neuroanatomicos indican que el sistema NI-RLN3-RXFP3 actua sobre la conducta de ingesta y adiccion al alcohol mediante proyecciones paralelas a las vias canonicas mesolimbicas. Con ello, los datos en modelos animales indican que el sistema NI-RLN3-RXFP3 deberia tenerse en cuenta como diana en el tratamiento futuro de trastornos de las conductas alimentarias y adictivas.

[Protein quality of three strains of Mexican mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)]. / Calidad proteínica de tres cepas mexicanas de setas (Pleurotus ostreatus).

The protein quality of fruits bodies of three Pleurotus ostreatus Mexican strains (INIREB-8, CDBB-H-896 and CDBB-H-897) was evaluated. The protein concentration (Nx4.38) ranged from 17.26 to 19.97 g/100 g dry weight; chemical scores were between 74 and 93% with available lysine as a first limiting amino acid in either INIREB-8 and CDBB-H-896 strains or leucine in CDBB-H-897 strain. The nutritional evaluation revealed 67.75 to 68.38% in vitro digestibility. Relative protein values were from 100.06-107.85%, which were lower than soybean meal and whole egg but larger than those of rice, maize, beans, fava beans and pasta, no differences were found between these values and those of skim milk powder, casein plus methionine and albumin. In accordance with the last results we concluded that due to their essential amino acids content, mushroom proteins are a good complement of cereals; furthermore, it is highly recommended to include Pleurotus in the daily diet.

[Chemical composition of three Mexican strains of mushrooms (Pleurotus ostratus)]. / Composición química de tres cepas mexicanas de setas (Pleurotus ostreatus).

The chemical composition of three Mexican strains of Pleurotus ostreatus (INIREB-8, CDBB-H-896 and CDBB-H-897), were determined. The mushrooms were cultivated on wheat straw in a greenhouse (22-28 degrees C temperature and 80 +/- 5% of relative humidity). Fruits bodies of P. ostreatus contained (all values are expressed in g/100 g dry wt.), protein (N x 6.25): 24.64 +/- 0.21-28.50 +/- 0.26; lipids: 1.10 +/- 0.16-1.85 +/- 0.22; mineral matter: 7.66 +/- 0.23-8.79 +/- 0.25; dietary fibre: 32.14 +/- 0.14-36.81 +/- 0.40; and available carbohydrates: 26.33 +/- 1.04-30.46 +/- 0.21. They contain vitamins (mg/100 g dry wt): riboflavin: 3.31-3.7, thiamin: 1.92-1.96, niacin: 35.98-36.56 and ascorbic acid: 28-35. The main fatty acid was linoleic (0.70-1.19 g/100 g dry wt), it was also reported a low calcium and phosphorus content. Concluding the Pleurotus ostreatus could be a source of some of the complex B vitamins, dietary fiber, protein and linoleic acid.

[Occult thyroid carcinoma: presentation of 2 new cases]. / Carcinomas ocultos de tiroides: presentación de dos nuevos casos.

We report two cases of occult neoplastic of Thyroids. Normal clinics analysis and eco. The diagnosis was made by punction-aspiration and confirmed by pathological study after surgery we leave reviewed the literature about this pathology and we emphasize the importance of the thyroids in the research of hidden neoplasias.