Gradation of the Stress Response in Rainbow Trout Exposed to Stressors of Different Severity: The Role of Brain Serotonergic and Dopaminergic Systems

After an intense acute stressor, fish develop a metabolic and behavioural response that usually lasts for several hours. Brain monoaminergic systems, particularly the serotonergic system, appear to play a key role in the central regulation of the stress response. However, the influence of stressor severity on brain monoaminergic systems and on the induced stress responses is yet poorly understood. We hypothesise that serotonergic system could have a direct role in the integration of sensory information during stressor exposure and in the organisation of the subsequent integrated stress response. According to our hypothesis, a low stressor intensity would induce a low response of brain serotonergic system and therefore stress responses of low magnitude and duration. To test this hypothesis, we exposed fish to handling disturbance for 5 s, 15 s or 3 min. We sampled fish at 0 (controls), 3, 15, 45 and 240 min after the start of the stress protocol. Brain levels of serotonin, dopamine and their respective main oxidative metabolites were quantified, along with plasma levels of stress markers (catecholamines, cortisol, glucose and lactate). Regarding stress markers, the 5‐s and 15‐s stress protocols induced similar and relatively low elevations in all parameters assessed. As expected, the 3‐min protocol induced responses of a higher intensity and duration in all plasma parameters. Interestingly, the alterations of brain monoaminergic systems did not follow the same trend. The three stress protocols induced increases in the serotonergic activity in all brain regions analysed (hypothalamus, telencephalon and medulla oblongata), independently of the duration of the handling disturbance, whereas the effects on the dopaminergic system were minor and brain region‐dependent. These data suggest that the brain serotonergic system, although likely involved in the recognition of the stressor stimuli, is not the only actor determining the magnitude and duration of the acute stress response in trout.     

Evidence for the Involvement of Dopamine in Stress‐Induced Suppression of Reproduction in the Cichlid Fish Oreochromis mossambicus

In the present study, we examined whether stress‐induced suppression of reproduction is mediated through the catecholaminergic neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in the female cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus. In the first experiment, application of antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; a marker for DA) in brain sections revealed the presence of intensely stained TH immunoreactive cells in the preoptic area (POA) and nucleus preopticus (NPO) during the previtellogenic phase. These cells showed weak immunoreactivity during the vitellogenic and prespawning phases concomitant with darkly stained luteinising hormone (LH) immunoreactive content in the proximal pars distalis (PPD) of the pituitary gland and fully ripened follicles (stage V) in the ovary of control fish. However, in fish exposed to aquacultural stressors, TH secreting cells remained intensely stained in POA and NPO regions during the prespawning phase, indicating increased synthetic and secretory activity, which was reflected by a significantly higher DA content compared to controls. Increased DA activity as a result of stress was associated with a decrease in the LH immunoreactive content in the PPD and an absence of stage V follicles in the ovary. In the second experiment, administration of DA caused effects similar to those in stressed fish, whereas DA receptor antagonist domperidone (DOM) treatment significantly increased the LH content in the PPD and the number of stage V follicles in unstressed fish. On the other hand, treatment of stressed fish with DOM resulted in dark accumulations of LH immunoreactive content in the PPD accompanied by the presence of stage V follicles in the ovary. Taken together, these results suggest an additional pathway for the inhibitory effects of stress through dopaminergic neurones along the reproductive axis.     

A newly identified mouse hypothalamic area having bidirectional neural connections with the lateral septum: the perifornical area of the anterior hypothalamus rich in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans

While previous studies and brain atlases divide the hypothalamus into many nuclei and areas, uncharacterised regions remain. Here, we report a new region in the mouse anterior hypothalamus (AH), a triangular‐shaped perifornical area of the anterior hypothalamus (PeFAH) between the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and fornix, that abundantly expresses chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). The PeFAH strongly stained with markers for chondroitin sulfate/CSPGs such as Wisteria floribunda agglutinin and antibodies against aggrecan and chondroitin 6 sulfate. Nissl‐stained sections of the PeFAH clearly distinguished it as a region of comparatively low density compared to neighboring regions, the paraventricular nucleus and central division of the anterior hypothalamic area. Immunohistochemical and DNA microarray analyses suggested that PeFAH contains sparsely distributed calretinin‐positive neurons and a compact cluster of enkephalinergic neurons. Neuronal tract tracing revealed that both enkephalin‐ and calretinin‐positive neurons project to the lateral septum (LS), while the PeFAH receives input from calbindin‐positive LS neurons. These results suggest bidirectional connections between the PeFAH and LS. Considering neuronal subtype and projection, part of PeFAH that includes a cluster of enkephalinergic neurons is similar to the rat perifornical nucleus and guinea pig magnocellular dorsal nucleus. Finally, we examined c‐Fos expression after several types of stimuli and found that PeFAH neuronal activity was increased by psychological but not homeostatic stressors. These findings suggest that the PeFAH is a source of enkephalin peptides in the LS and indicate that bidirectional neural connections between these regions may participate in controlling responses to psychological stressors.     

Resting state functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in veterans with and without post‐traumatic stress disorder

Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that is associated with structural and functional alterations in several brain areas, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we examine resting state functional connectivity of ACC subdivisions in PTSD, using a seed‐based approach. Resting state magnetic resonance images were obtained from male veterans with (n = 31) and without (n = 25) PTSD, and healthy male civilian controls (n = 25). Veterans with and without PTSD (combat controls) had reduced functional connectivity compared to healthy controls between the caudal ACC and the precentral gyrus, and between the perigenual ACC and the superior medial gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. Combat controls had increased connectivity between the rostral ACC and precentral/middle frontal gyrus compared to PTSD patients and healthy civilian controls. The resting state functional connectivity differences in the perigenual ACC network reported here indicate that veterans differ from healthy controls, potentially due to military training, deployment, and/or trauma exposure. In addition, specific alterations in the combat controls may potentially be related to resilience. These results underline the importance of distinguishing trauma‐exposed (combat) controls from healthy civilian controls when studying PTSD. Hum Brain Mapp, 36:99–109, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

两种硫辛酸对映体对胚胎体外发育的影响

目的：探讨(R)-硫辛酸和(S)-硫辛酸对胚胎体外发育的影响。方法解冻复苏卵裂期胚胎,分别在含不同浓度(R)-硫辛酸和(S)-硫辛酸的GⅡ培养基微滴中培养,观察各组的桑胚率、致密化率、囊胚率和优质囊胚率。结果硫辛酸可提高胚胎体外发育率,(R)-硫辛酸浓度10×10-9 mol/m3组桑胚率、致密化率、囊胚率和优质囊胚率分别达到了59.2%,55.1%,49.0%和54.2%,均高于其他浓度组（P<0.01）。(R)-硫辛酸浓度10×10-9 mol/m3组的桑胚率、致密化率和优质胚胎率均高于(S)-硫辛酸10×10-9 mol/m3组（P<0.05）。结论硫辛酸对胚胎体外发育具有促进作用,特别是对桑胚率和囊胚率具有显著的影响。(R)-硫辛酸10×10-9 mol/m3组的效果最好。     

二炮某部军人心理应激水平与心理弹性、认知偏向和积极情绪的关系

目的 探讨军事心理应激水平与军人心理弹性、认知偏向及积极情绪的关系.方法 采用军事心理应激自评问卷(PSET)、心理弹性量表(CD-RISC)中文版正负性情绪量表(PANAS-C)和正负性认知偏向量表(APNIS)对536名二炮某部官兵进行抽样调查.结果 ①心理应激总分与负性情绪、负性认知偏向呈显著正相关(r值分别为0.44、0.41,P＜0.01);与正性情绪、心理弹性和正性认知偏向均呈显著负相关(r值分别为-0.29、-0.30、-0.27,P＜0.01).②心理应激高分组与低分组在心理弹性、正负性情绪、正负性认知偏向上均存在显著差异(P＜0.01).③负性情绪、负性认知偏向、正性认知偏向和积极情绪可有效预测军事心理应激水平,总解释率为36％.④积极情绪在正性认知偏向对心理应激水平的影响中起部分中介作用,在心理弹性与心理应激水平之间起完全中介作用.结论 军人心理应激水平与其心理弹性、正负性情绪和认知偏向密切相关.积极的情绪、合理的认知以及心理弹性的增加都有助于缓减军人心理应激症状,促进心理健康.     

低剂量纳米银暴露致小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7的应激反应

目的：探讨纳米银(AgNPs)对小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7毒性效应的影响,为AgNPs生物安全性的研究提供依据。方法将不同浓度的AgNPs(0、6.25、12.5、25、50、60、80μg/ml)和RAW264.7共同培养,8、24 h后采用甲基噻唑基四唑比色法(MTT)测定各组细胞的活力,选取2.5、5μg/ml两个无明显细胞毒性的浓度进行后续研究,检测应激相关基因和蛋白表达的变化;采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测细胞培养液中炎症因子TNF-α和IL-6的表达。结果用2.5、5μg/ml的AgNPs处理细胞,24 h后相差显微镜下可见AgNPs进入细胞内,且5μg/ml组的细胞形态有明显改变;8、24 h后ELISA结果显示,IL-6无明显变化,在5μg/ml的24 h处理组TNF-α表达有显著升高,内质网应激相关的基因和蛋白在5μg/ml的24 h处理组表达明显上调。结论 RAW264.7细胞暴露于低剂量的AgNPs后表现出明显的应激反应,并且与暴露剂量和作用时间呈正相关。低剂量AgNPs能够干扰细胞的正常生理功能,长期暴露可能产生不可逆的损伤,应引起高度关注。     

3‐Keto‐1,5‐bisphosphonates Alleviate Serum‐Oxidative Stress in the High‐fat Diet Induced Obesity in Rats

Obesity has become a leading global health problem owing to its strong association with a high incidence of oxidative stress. Many epidemiologic studies showed that an antioxidant supplementation decreases the state of oxidative stress. In the present work, a HFD ‐induced rat obesity and oxidative stress were used to investigate the link between fat deposition and serum‐oxidative stress markers. We also studied the effect of a chronic administration of 3‐keto‐1,5‐bisphosphonates 1 (a & b) (40 μg/kg/8 weeks/i.p.). Exposure of rats to HFD during 16 weeks induced fat deposition, weight gain and metabolic disruption characterized by an increase in cholesterol, triglyceride and glycemia levels, and a decrease in ionizable calcium and free iron concentrations. HFD also induced serum‐oxidative stress status vocalized by an increase in ROS ( H ₂ O ₂ ), MDA and PC levels, with a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity ( CAT , GP x , SOD ). Importantly, 3‐keto‐1,5‐bisphosphonates corrected all the deleterious effects of HFD treatment in vivo, but it failed to inhibit lipases in vitro and in vivo. These studies suggest that 3‐keto‐1,5‐bisphosphonates 1 could be considered as safe antioxidant agents that should also find other potential biological applications.     

Cationic Albumin‐Conjugated Chelating Agent as a Novel Brain Drug Delivery System in Neurodegeneration

The critical role of metal ions and in particular iron in oxidative stress and protein aggregation offers chelation therapy as a sensible pharmaceutical strategy in oxidative stress‐induced neuronal damages. In this research, we conjugated an iron‐chelating agent, deferasirox, to cationized human serum albumin molecules in order to develop a novel brain delivery system for the management of neurodegenerative disorders due to the significant role of oxidative stress‐induced neuronal injury in such diseases. Cationized albumin is known to be able to transport to brain tissue via adsorptive‐mediated transcytosis. The developed structures were molecularly characterized, and their conjugation ratio was determined. PC12 cell line was utilized to evaluate the neuroprotective features of these newly developed molecules in the presence of hydrogen peroxide neuronal damage and to identify the mechanisms behind the observed neuronal protection including apoptotic and autophagic pathways. Furthermore, a rat model of Alzheimer's disease was utilized to evaluate the impact of conjugated structures in vivo. Data analysis revealed that the conjugated species were able to hinder apoptotic cell death while enhancing autophagic process. The developed conjugated species were also able to attenuate amyloid beta‐induced learning deficits when administered peripherally.     

Pretreatment with Lycopene Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in cell-based therapy to promote revascularization after peripheral or myocardial ischemia. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the senescence and apoptosis of MSCs, causing defective neovascularization. Here, we examined the effect of the natural antioxidant lycopene on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in MSCs. Although H₂O₂ (200 μM) increased intracellular ROS levels in human MSCs, lycopene (10 μM) pretreatment suppressed H₂O₂-induced ROS generation and increased survival. H₂O₂-induced ROS increased the levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and p53, which were inhibited by lycopene pretreatment. Furthermore, lycopene pretreatment decreased the expression of cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and caspase-3 and increased the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), which were induced by H₂O₂ treatment. Moreover, lycopene significantly increased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression and decreased cellular ROS levels via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Our findings show that lycopene pretreatment prevents ischemic injury by suppressing apoptosis-associated signal pathway and enhancing anti-oxidant protein, suggesting that lycopene could be developed as a beneficial broad-spectrum agent for the successful MSC transplantation in ischemic diseases.