Prenatal undernutrition increases the febrile response to lipopolysaccharides in adulthood in male rats

It has been reported that prenatal undernutrition affects the development of the peripheral immune system. In this study, the effects of prenatal undernutrition on the febrile response and hypothalamic innate immune system were evaluated in male rats. Pregnant rats were divided into normally nourished (NN) and undernourished groups (UN). The febrile and anorectic responses to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were evaluated in the offspring of NN and UN dams. The hypothalamic expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were also evaluated. The UN rats exhibited significantly lighter body weights than the NN rats at birth; however, their mean body weight was the same as that of the NN rats by postnatal day 10. In adulthood, the UN rats exhibited significantly stronger febrile responses than the NN rats, and the anorectic responses of the UN rats also tended to be stronger than those of the NN rats. On the other hand, no differences in hypothalamic interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, TLR4, or NPY mRNA expression were detected between the NN and UN rats. These results suggest that prenatal undernutrition has long-lasting effects on the febrile response to LPS. However, the precise mechanism underlying these effects and their pathophysiological significance remain unclear.     

Morphine exposure prevents up-regulation of MR and GR binding sites in the brain of adult male and female rats due to prenatal stress

Our previous work demonstrated that the hormone response to stress and the negative feedback inhibition to these hormones are sex-dependently altered by prenatal morphine exposure in adult rats. An alteration in the glucocorticoid negative feedback inhibition is mediated by glucocorticoid receptors (GR) that are distributed throughout the brain, and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) localized mainly in the hippocampus and involved in a tonic influence of brain functions. Therefore, the present study examined the binding characteristics of MR and GR in young adult male and female rats exposed prenatally (E11-E18) to morphine (10 mg/kg/2 x /day), saline or no treatment at all (controls). At 60-90 days of age, animals were adrenalectomized (ADX) 24 h prior to decapitation. The hippocampus and hypothalamus were dissected for saturation binding assays. The data demonstrate that prenatal stress due to maternal saline injections up-regulates MR and GR binding in the hippocampus of adult male rats and this effect is prevented by prenatal morphine exposure. There is no effect of prenatal morphine exposure on GR binding in the hypothalamus of males. In female rats, prenatal morphine exposure does not affect the binding of MR and GR in the hippocampus or GR in the hypothalamus relative to controls; however, they are affected by ovarian hormone fluctuation. Moreover, prenatal stress decreases MR binding in the hippocampus of diestrous females and GR binding in the hypothalamus of estrous females. Both decreases are prevented by prenatal morphine exposure. Thus, the present study demonstrates that: (1) prenatal stress due to maternal saline injections alters MR and GR binding of adult male and female rats and is prevented by prenatal morphine exposure; (2) the MR and GR binding in adult female rats are affected by ovarian hormone fluctuations.     

Comparing histological data from different brains: Sources of error and strategies for minimizing them

The recent development of brain atlases with computer graphics templates, and of huge databases of neurohistochemical data on the internet, has forced a systematic re-examination of errors associated with comparing histological features between adjacent sections of the same brain, between brains treated in the same way, and between brains from groups treated in different ways. The long-term goal is to compare as accurately as possible a broad array of data from experimental brains within the framework of reference atlases. Main sources of error, each of which ideally should be measured and minimized, include intrinsic biological variation, linear and nonlinear distortion of histological sections, plane of section differences between each brain, section alignment problems, and sampling errors. These variables are discussed, along with approaches to error estimation and minimization in terms of a specific example—the distribution of neuroendocrine neurons in the rat paraventricular nucleus. Based on the strategy developed here, the main conclusion is that the best long-term solution is a high-resolution 3D computer graphics model of the brain that can be sliced in any plane and used as the framework for quantitative neuroanatomy, databases, knowledge management systems, and structure–function modeling. However, any approach to the automatic annotation of neuroanatomical data—relating its spatial distribution to a reference atlas—should deal systematically with these sources of error, which reduce localization reliability.     

Neuroendocrine factors regulating blood glucose, plasma FFA and insulin in the development of obesity

A number of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the hypothalamus play a role in the control of food intake, metabolism, and body weight. Particularly, noradrenergic mechanisms in several areas of the hypothalamus are involved. Control of peripheral metabolism by the hypothalamus is achieved via autonomic modulation of the function of hepatocytes, adipocytes, and the endocrine cells in the islets of Langerhans. The autonomic control mechanisms ultimately lead to an appropriate shaping of blood glucose, plasma FFA, and insulin profiles to guarantee an adequate flow of nutrients under different physiological situations. Peripheral insulin and glucose can penetrate into the brain where they might affect the function of those brain structures involved in control of food intake, metabolism, and body weight.     

电针镇痛的累积效应与大鼠下丘脑、海马蛋白激酶A表达变化的观察

目的:观察电针(EA)"足三里"-"阳陵泉"镇痛的累积效应,及大鼠下丘脑和海马细胞蛋白激酶A(PKA)活性的变化。方法:Wistar雌鼠68只,随机分为正常对照组、慢性压迫损伤(CCI)组、CCI+EA 2天(d)组、CCI+EA 2周(w)组、去卵巢(OVX)+CCI组、OVX+CCI+EA 2 d组、OVX+CCI+EA 2 w组。Morris水迷宫法检查OVX+D-半乳糖皮下注射动物的学习记忆能力。结扎坐骨神经造成CCI慢性痛模型,电针双侧"足三里"-"阳陵泉"穴(2/15 Hz,1~2 mA,1次/d)。用辐射热照射大鼠双侧足底引起的缩腿反应潜伏期(PWL)的差值作为痛敏分数(HS)判断动物的痛反应;用免疫组化法检测下丘脑和海马组织PKA的活性。结果:CCI术后,与正常组比较,各组HS都明显升高。在单纯CCI动物上,与CCI组比,CCI术后第18天CCI+EA 2 d、CCI+EA 2 w的HS显著减小(P<0.05);CCI+EA 2 w组的HS显著低于CCI+EA 2 d组(P<0.05)。在记忆损害的动物上,OVX+CCI+EA 2 w和OVX+CCI+EA 2 d组HS明显低于OVX+CCI组(P<0.05);而两EA组间HS差异没有显著性意义(P>0.05)。CCI+EA 2 w组下丘脑室旁核(PVN)、弓状核(ARC)和视上核(SON)区PKA的灰度值均明显低于正常对照组(P<0.05),PVN和ARC区也显著低于CCI+EA 2 d组(P<0.05);OVX+CCI+EA 2 w组PVN和SON区的PKA灰度值亦均明显低于OVX+CCI组(P<0.05)。说明EA 2 w可上调PKA的表达,且具有累积性作用。OVX+CCI+EA 2 w组ARC和SON区PKA的灰度值均显著高于CCI+EA 2 w组(P<0.05),提示EA上调PKA表达的累积效应在记忆功能减退的动物上明显减弱。海马PKA的表达与SON等下丘脑核团PKA的表达趋势类似。结论:电针镇痛有累积作用,其累积效应可能与下丘脑、海马细胞PKA的表达上调有关,并且与动物神经记忆有密切关系。     

下丘脑弓状核注射神经降压素的镇痛效应及机制探讨

采用微量注射法,对37只大鼠进行了实验观察.结果如下:①下丘脑弓状核(ARC)注射神经降压素(NT)可使甩尾反应潜伏期(TFL)或痛阈显著升高.对照组注射生理盐水,TFL无明显变化.②ARC先注射纳洛酮,再注射NT,TFL变化值与单纯注射NT组相比明显下降.③ARC注射β-内啡肽(β-End)抗血清,再注射NT,TFL显著下降.④ARC注射生理盐水不影响注射NT的镇痛效应.上述结果表明,大鼠ARC注射NT可产生明显的镇痛效应,该效应可被ARC预先注射纳洛酮或β-内啡肽抗血清翻转,提示NT在ARC的镇痛作用,部分是由β-End介导的.     

Localization of basic FGF-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neuroendocrine axis

We examined the localization of basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF) in the adult rat brain by immunohistochemical and Western blotting analysis using a specific antibody against a synthetic basic FGF fragment (N-terminal 12 residues). The antibody did not cross-react with acidic FGF. Basic FGF-like immunoreactivity was located exclusively in the neuronal elements and had very heterogenous distribution. Immunoreactive cell bodies were observed in the paraventricular, supraoptic and circular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Numerous immunoreactive neuronal processes originating from these basic FGF-positive cells extended lateroventrally and then caudally to the internal layer of the median eminence. In addition, the neurohypophysis contained a significant number of basic FGF-like immunoreactive fibers. Western-blotting analysis revealed that the hypothalamus and the hypophysis contained a main band of basic FGF immunoreactive with an apparent molecular weight of 17 kDa. These results show that the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neuroendocrine pathway contains basic FGF.     

High postovariectomy LH levels are not due to decreased opioid inhibition of GnRH

It has been proposed that endogenous opioid peptide (EOP) inhibition of hypothalamic GnRH secretion mediates and is dependent upon gonadal steroid feedback of LH secretion, although considerable conflicting data have been reported. Accordingly, a well-characterized replacement regimen was used to approximate physiological stimulation by estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in adult rats 10 days after ovariectomy (OVX), followed by in vitro incubation of the isolated median eminence to evaluate the role of E2 and P4 in modifying GnRH release in response to the opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone (NAL). Basal (control) GnRH release from median eminences of OVX, OVX + E2, and OVX + E2 + P4 rats was similar, and NAL treatment elicited a comparable increase in GnRH release under all three gonadal steroid conditions. Thus, EOP suppression of median eminence GnRH secretion does not appear to mediate or be dependent upon negative feedback regulation of LH secretion by physiological concentrations of gonadal steroids.     

Post-translational processing of thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor in rat brain: identification of 3 novel peptides derived from pro TRH

The sequence of rat hypothalamic pro-thyrotropin releasing hormone, deduced by sequencing of cDNA, in addition to 5 TRH progenitor genitor sequences contains leader, trailer and 4 intervening sequences separated by paired basic amino acid sequences. We have developed radioimmunoassays to synthetic peptides corresponding to portions of these cryptic proTRH sequences and have used these assays to identify and partially characterize proTRH peptides, distinct from TRH, in extracts of rat brain. Two of these peptides correspond closely in size to one intervening sequence and the car☐y-terminal sequence of proTRH. Three other peptides correspond to the intact amino-terminal leader sequence and two peptides formed by a further cleavage of the leader sequence at an internal paired basic amino acid sequence.     

Control of feeding and sexual behaviors by neuropeptide Y: physiological implications

Recent evidence suggests that a variety of hypothalamic neuropeptides may mediate interneuronal communication to coordinate diverse neuroendocrine and behavioral functions. In this work, we describe the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on feeding and sexual behaviors. We observed that central administration of bolus NPY stimulated a robust, dose-related feeding response in satiated male and female rats. Continuous NPY receptor activation also evoked dose-related, intermittent feeding in a manner normally observed during nocturnal feeding. It appears that the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus may be the primary site of NPY action because the anticipated reciprocal changes in NPY concentrations, in response to food deprivation followed by ad libitum food intake, occurred only in this site. Additional findings revealed that NPY-induced feeding may follow either substantial reduction or complete restraint of an inhibitory influence on feeding mediated by alpha 2-adrenoreceptor systems in satiated rats. Further, NPY was found to suppress male and female sexual behaviors. The suppressive effects on sexual behavior were apparent prior to or at the time of the onset of feeding after NPY administration. These observations may provide a neurochemical basis for clinical and animal studies on disorders of feeding associated with diminished reproductive functions.