Expression of neuromedins S and U and their receptors in the hypothalamus and endocrine glands of the rat

Neuromedin S (NMS) and neuromedin U (NMU) are regulatory peptides that share the C-terminal amino-acid sequence and act via common G protein-coupled receptors called NMUR1 and NMUR2. Semiquantitative real time-PCR showed that in the rat hypothalamus and testis NMS gene expression was markedly higher than that of the NMU gene, while the reverse occurred in the anterior pituitary and thyroid gland. Low expression of both genes was detected in the thymus, adrenal gland and ovary, whereas in the pancreatic islets only the expression of NMU mRNA was detected. In the rat hypothalamus the expression of the NMUR2 gene was strikingly higher than that of the NMUR1 gene; in contrast, in the testis and ovary the very low expression of NMUR2 contrasted with the relatively high expression of the NMUR1 gene. In the other glands examined only expression of the NMUR1 gene was found. The marked differences in the level of expression of NMU, NMS and their receptors in the hypothalamus and endocrine glands of the rat suggest that in this species such neuromedins may play different roles in the functional regulation of neuroendocrine axes.     

Chronic intermittent hypoxia modulates nNOS mRNA and protein expression in the rat hypothalamus

Exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) as observed in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) elicits a sustained elevation of sympathetic activity and arterial blood pressure. Our overall hypothesis is that intermittent hypoxia might increase sympathetic activity, in part by altering neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in the hypothalamus, where nitric oxide is sympathoinhibitory. In this study, we begin investigation of this hypothesis by testing the more specific hypothesis that the CIH alters nNOS expression in regions of the hypothalamus associated with cardiovascular regulation. To test the effect of CIH on NOS expression we subjected male Sprague-Dawley rats to cyclic intermittent hypoxia for 8h/day, for 35 days. Experimental rats showed an increase in systemic blood pressure. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed on hypothalamic sections, respectively. The CIH rats displayed significantly lower levels of both nNOS mRNA and protein in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) with different changes in the subareas of the PVN. There was a decreased level of nNOS mRNA and protein in the subfornical organ and the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus of the CIH rats, but no significant change in the supraoptic nucleus or the lateral hypothalamic area. This work suggests that examination of central regulation of sympathetic activity may help elucidate the mechanisms of hypertension after CIH.     

大鼠发情周期下丘脑中食欲素及其受体的变化

目的 观察大鼠发情周期各期下丘脑中食欲素及其受体(OX1R、OX2R)表达的变化,探讨食欲素对发情周期的可能调节作用.方法 通过竞争性逆转录多聚酶链式反应 (competitive RT-PCR)方法检测大鼠下丘脑中食欲素前体(Prepro-Orexin)、食欲素-A、OXIR和OX2R在发情周期各期的表达.结果 发情前期的OX1R mRNA表达水平明显高于发情后期,而prepro-OX和OX2R mRNA的表达各期间没有明显的不同.结论 食欲素可能通过结合OX1R调节促性腺激素释放激素和/或黄体生成素的分泌而参与排卵的发生.     

妊娠、分娩以及泌乳期大鼠下丘脑中食欲素及其受体表达的变化

目的 观察大鼠下丘脑中食欲素(Orexin)及其受体(OX1R、OX2R)在妊娠、分娩以及泌乳期表达的变化,以探讨Orexin与生殖功能之间的关系.方法 通过竞争性逆转录多聚酶链式反应(Competitive RT-PCR)和免疫组织化学方法测定大鼠下丘脑中Orexin前体(Prepro-OX)、Orexin-A、OX1R和OX2R在妊娠、分娩以及泌乳期的表达.结果 Orexin-A和OX1R阳性神经元主要分别存在于大鼠下丘脑外侧区(LHA)以及妊娠和泌乳期大鼠的下丘脑室旁核 (PVN)和视上核(SON).泌乳第1d的Prepro-Orexin mRNA和OX1R的表达水平明显高于妊娠后期和泌乳期.OX2R的表达在生殖各时期之间没有明显改变.结论 Orexin可能参与大鼠泌乳早期的生殖功能调节,下丘脑的PVN及SON可能是其重要的作用部位.     

Long-term alterations in body weight do not affect the expression of melanocortin receptor-3 and -4 mRNA in the ovine hypothalamus

The pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides and the melanocortin receptors are implicated in various functions within the CNS including the regulation of food intake. In the present study, we used in situ hybridization, with specific 35S-labelled ovine riboprobes to map the expression of melanocortin receptor-3 (MC3-R) and -4 (MC4-R) mRNA in the diencephalon and brainstem of normal female sheep. Furthermore, we examined the effect of long-term alterations in energy balance on the distribution and expression of MC3-R and MC4-R mRNA in food-restricted and ad libitum-fed ovariectomized female sheep. The distribution of melanocortin receptors generally resembled that of the rat. A high number of MC3-R-labelled cells were seen in the ventral division of the lateral septum and the medial preoptic area. In the hypothalamus, a moderate number of MC3-R-labelled cells was observed in the lateral hypothalamic area while other nuclear groups had low to intermediate numbers of MC3-R-labelled cells. The distribution of MC4-R mRNA was generally similar to that of MC3-R mRNA in the septal/preoptic and hypothalamic regions, with a high number of labelled cells present in the intermediate division of the lateral septum. Within the hypothalamus, no MC4-R mRNA expression was observed in the arcuate nucleus. There was more widespread distribution of moderate to low numbers of MC4-R mRNA-expressing cells in the brainstem compared to that of MC3-R mRNA. Unlike findings in the rat, only a low number of cells expressed melanocortin receptor mRNA in the ovine hypothalamic nuclei associated with feeding behavior. The number of melanocortin receptor-labelled cells and the level of expression (silver grains/cell) in the hypothalamic feeding centers was similar in food-restricted and ad libitum-fed animals.These findings suggest that long-term alterations in metabolic status do not change the melanocortin receptor mRNA distribution and/or expression in the sheep hypothalamus.     

大鼠应激时下丘脑、垂体前叶、肾上腺的血管紧张素原基因的表达

采用原位杂交技术及放免分析法观察了35只SD大鼠应激时下丘脑、垂体前叶、肾上腺组织中血管紧张素原（ANG）mRNA的表达及血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）含量变化。结果表明：下丘脑、垂体前叶、肾上腺髓质ANG mRNA表达均显著增强（n=5,P＜0.001,P＜0.05),以下丘脑最为明显。下丘脑、垂体前叶ANG mRNA表达增高率超过了AngⅡ含量的增高率（P＜0.05),而肾上腺皮质ANG mRNA表达仅在急性应激时有明显改变（P＜0.05)。结果提示：应激时局部组织肾素-血管紧张素系（RAS）被显著激活,以住测得的局部组织AngⅡ的增高主要是局部RAS激活的结果,本研究进一步支持了局部RAS参与了应激反应的观点。     

高原急性缺氧对大鼠食欲及其下丘脑GLP-1 mRNA表达的影响

 目的： 探讨高原急性缺氧对大鼠食欲及其下丘脑胰升血糖素样肽-1 mRNA表达的影响。方法: 雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为平原对照组、3 000 m 缺氧组、4 000 m 缺氧组、5 000 m 缺氧组和 6 000 m 缺氧组，各缺氧组设置缺氧后1、2、3 d 3个时点。观察缺氧环境下大鼠食欲的变化；采用RT-PCR方法检测大鼠下丘脑中GLP-1 mRNA的表达。 结果: ① 高原急性缺氧后，大鼠食欲减退。②对照组和缺氧组大鼠下丘脑中均存在GLP-1 mRNA的表达。高原急性缺氧后，下丘脑GLP-1 mRNA表达增加，并随着海拔高度的上升和缺氧时间的延长逐渐增加 (P<0.05, P<0.01)。结论: 高原急性缺氧后下丘脑GLP-1 mRNA表达增加，可能是大鼠食欲减退的重要原因之一。     

雄性大鼠下丘脑雄激素受体蛋白及其mRNA表达的探讨

为了观察雄激素受体 ( AR)蛋白及其 m RNA在大鼠下丘脑的表达 ,本研究采用免疫组织化学和原位杂交方法观察了成年 ( 3月龄 )雄性大鼠下丘脑 AR阳性神经元的存在及其表达。结果显示 ,雄激素受体阳性神经元广泛分布于下丘脑诸核 ,尤其是弓状核、腹内侧核、背内侧核、室周核、室旁核 ,阳性神经元多为小细胞。同时在基因水平证实部分下丘脑神经元能合成 AR,提示雄激素可能作用于以上区域。     

Chronic food restriction differentially affects NPY mRNA level in neurons of the hypothalamus and in neurons that innervate liver

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found in neurons of the brain and in the neurons that innervate abdominal organs including liver. Major biological function of hypothalamic NPY is regulation of appetite and body weight homeostasis. In the periphery, biological function of NPY varies, depending on the organ/tissue. Increased hypothalamic NPY mRNA level in response to chronic caloric restriction is a well documented phenomenon. The effect of food restriction on NPY mRNA level in neurons that innervate liver has not been published so far. To evaluate how chronic food restriction affects liver (and other abdominal organs) NPY mRNA level, we compared NPY mRNA abundance in liver, kidney cortex, perirenal white adipose tissue and in hypothalamus of rats maintained on chronic restricted diet. Data presented in this paper indicate that chronic food restriction: (a) caused the increase of NPY mRNA level in the hypothalamus, (b) caused the decrease of NPY mRNA level in the liver, and (c) was without effect on NPY mRNA level in kidney cortex and perirenal white adipose tissues. Moreover, rats maintained on restricted diet displayed lower serum NPY, leptin and insulin concentrations and higher serum corticosterone concentration. Together, these data suggest that hypothalamus and liver (and other abdominal organs) NPY gene expression is differentially regulated by caloric restriction. It seems that liver NPY gene expression in contrast to the hypothalamus NPY gene expression is not suppressed by leptin.     

Immunofluorescent identification of neuropeptide B-containing nerve fibers and terminals in the rat hypothalamus

Neuropeptide B (NPB) and the structurally related neuropeptide W (NPW) have recently been identified as the endogenous ligands of the orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR7 and GPR8. Whereas NPW is a high-affinity ligand for both GPR7 and GPR8, NPB activates only GPR7 in sub-nanomolar concentrations. GPR7 is highly conserved in both human and rodent orthologs while GPR8 has not been found in rodents. GPR7 mRNA is expressed in discrete regions of the hypothalamus suggesting a role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine axes. In the present study, we have generated and extensively characterized antibodies that exert selective specificity for NPB. In dot-blot assays, these antibodies detected NPB but not NPW. Immunofluorescent staining of rat brain sections revealed moderately dense plexus of NPB-immunoreactive fibers and terminals in discrete areas of the hypothalamus. Neuronal somata were only seen in colchicine-treated rats. This immunostaining was completely abolished by preincubation of the antibodies with NPB but not with NPW. NPB-immunoreactivity was enriched in many regions within the hypothalamus which also contained high levels of GPR7 mRNA including the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, supraoptic retrochiasmatic nucleus, and in the area ventral to the zona incerta. Together, NPB and its receptor GPR7 exist in close proximity in the rat hypothalamus and are, hence, ideally positioned to modulate neuroendocrine functions.     

Thyroid hormone affects the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids in the rat hypothalamus.

We have attempted to elucidate the effect of thyroid hormone on phospholipase C-linked inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in the rat hypothalamus. Hypothalamic slices of each animal, euthyroid control, hypothyroid, and thyroxine (T4)-supplemented hypothyroid rats were labeled with [3H]myoinositol in the presence of 5 mM LiCl, and then incubated for 60 min in KHG buffer containing either vehicle or 1 mM ouabain, a Na-K ATPase inhibitor. Hypothyroidism caused a significant increase in both basal and ouabain-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphate ([3H]IP) in hypothalamic slices, whereas supplement with T4 to hypothyroid rats resulted in a complete restoration of hypothalamic [3H]IP formation to the value of euthyroid control. The present results indicate that thyroid hormone affects phospholipase C-linked inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in the hypothalamus, suggesting that negative feedback action of thyroid hormone may occur at a post-receptor site in the hypothalamus.     

Immobilization stress induces interleukin-1 beta mRNA in the rat hypothalamus

Immobilization stress induced interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA in the rat hypothalamus. IL-1 beta mRNA was induced at 30 min after the start of immobilization, reached a maximum at 60 min and then was still detected with a decreased level at 120 min. However, 240 min after the start of the immobilization, IL-1 beta mRNA became hardly detectable despite the continuance of immobilization. Distinct expression of IL-1 beta mRNA was not detected in any other brain region examined at 30 and 60 min after the start of immobilization. These results demonstrate that the immobilization stress induces the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA solely in the hypothalamus and suggest that IL-1 beta is involved in the response to stress there.     

Identification and localization of procalcitonin-like immunoreactivity in the rat hypothalamus

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a 116-amino acid polypeptide physiologically produced, as the precursor protein of calcitonin (CT), in the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland, but physiological functions and other major sources of PCT remains unclear. The distribution of PCT-like immunoreactivity (PCT-LI) in the rat hypothalamus was examined by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody raised against the mid-region of human PCT (60-77-amino acid fragment). This antibody cross-reacts well with rat PCT and immature CT, but it cross-react poorly with free mature CT. Abundant expression of PCT-LI was found in zones at the interface between brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) such as the ependymal layer and ventral glia limitans (VGL). Double labeling of PCT and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) identified this population of small cells as astrocytes, possibly tanycytes, a type of specialized glial cell that interacts in neuroendocrine functional dynamics. The fibers of these cells extend to circumventricular organs (CVOs) and to astrocytes located inside the parenchyma of key autonomic regulatory hypothalamic areas, with highest densities in the supraoptic nucleus (SO), arcuate nucleus (Arc), area postrema (AP), median eminence (ME), medial preoptic nucleus, tuber cinereum, and accessory neurosecretory nuclei. No strongly labeled cells were found in the paraventricular nucleus. The wide distribution of PCT-LI in the hypothalamus, in close correspondence with previous mapping of CT receptors in the rat brain, suggests that PCT may influence a multitude of biological activities associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.     

Methamphetamine-induced expression of interleukin-1 beta mRNA in the rat hypothalamus

The effect of methamphetamine on the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA in the rat brain was investigated with Northern blot analysis. Methamphetamine (2-15 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a marked induction of IL-1 beta mRNA in the hypothalamus among the 8 brain regions examined, in a dose-dependent manner. The level of IL-1 beta mRNA reached a maximum at 1 h and rapidly declined within 2 h after the injection of 15 mg/kg. These results provide the first evidence that methamphetamine induces the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA in the hypothalamus, which may be partly involved in the production of central actions of this drug.     

Fetal undernutrition induces overexpression of CRH mRNA and CRH protein in hypothalamus and increases CRH and corticosterone in plasma during postnatal life in the rat

Prenatal undernutrition induces a variety of cardiovascular alterations in mammals when adults, including hypertension and hypercortisolism, which are thought to be caused by decreased glucocorticoid feedback control of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis programmed during fetal life. Hypothalamic CRH seems to be involved in blood pressure elevation of spontaneously hypertensive rats and in primary hypertension of humans, but the influence of prenatal undernutrition on CRH expression has deserved little attention. Here, we studied the expression of both CRH mRNA and CRH protein in the hypothalamus of neonatal and juvenile offspring of rats undernourished during fetal life, as well as the plasma levels of CRH and corticosterone. Prenatal undernutrition of pups was induced by submitting pregnant rats to diet restriction (10 g daily of 21% protein standard laboratory diet). Pups born from dams with free access to the standard laboratory diet served as controls. At day 2 of postnatal age, undernourished pups showed lower body and brain weights, but higher plasma CRH and corticosterone than normal pups. At day 40 of age, brain weight was significantly decreased in the undernourished rats, while plasma corticosterone, plasma CRH and systolic pressure were significantly increased in these animals. At days 2 and 40 of postnatal age, increased CRH mRNA expression and CRH concentration were found in the hypothalamus of undernourished rats. Results indicate that, in the rat, prenatal undernutrition led to fetal programming of CRH overexpression, a neuropeptide serving as activating signal to the HPA axis and/or to extrahypothalamic brain regions concerned with cardiovascular regulation.     

Osmotic stress increases cullin-5 (cul-5) mRNA in the rat cerebral cortex,hypothalamus and kidney

Cullin-5 (cul-5), a member of the cullin gene family, may have a role in proteolysis and cell cycle regulation. Our recent study demonstrated that cul-5 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system and many peripheral organs. The present study used quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction to measure changes in cul-5 mRNA expression as a consequence of osmotic stress in vivo. Cul-5 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the rat cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and kidney following 48 h of water deprivation. Water deprivation for a shorter time period (24 h) or rehydration (24 h access to water following 48 h of water deprivation) also elevated kidney cul-5 mRNA levels. Water deprivation did not significantly alter cul-5 mRNA levels in the brainstem, cerebellum, hippocampus, lung or liver. Since cul-5 appears to be linked to proteosome-mediated protein degradation, it may have a role in protein regulation under conditions of osmotic stress.