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.     

Orthogonal solid-phase synthesis of a monobiotinylated analog of Neuropeptide Y

Analogs of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) were synthesized with conventional Boc/benzyl protective group strategy. Instead of Asn⁷ in the native scquence, Boc-Lys(Alloc)-OH was incorporated. At the end of the synthesis the Alloc group was selectively removed by palladium-catalyzed hydrostannolysis and biotin coupled to the e-amino group of Lys⁷. After cleavage and characterization with plasma desorption mass spectrometry the N^e-7-biotinyl-[Lys⁷]-NPY and the nonbiotinylated analog [Lys⁷]-NPY were investigated as ligands to the NPY receptor from rat cerebral cortex. Both analogs were found to be high affinity ligands to the NPY receptor and bound with essentially the same affinity as unmodified NPY.     

皮肤病患者焦虑水平评估及对策

目的正确评估皮肤疾病患者的焦虑水平，为制定有针对性的护理对策提供依据。方法对136例皮肤病患者采用状态-特质量表（STAI-FormY）进行心理状态评估。结果133例患者状态焦虑阳性47例，总阳性率35％，其中神经性皮炎阳性数23例，阳性率59％（23／39），天疤疮阳性数7例，阳性率58％（7／12），慢性荨麻疹阳性数8例，阳性率53％（8／15），湿疹阳性数2例，阳性率20％（2／10），带状疱疹阳性数5例，阳性率14％（5／36），过敏性紫癜阳性数2例，阳性率12％（2／16）。患者总体状态与特质焦虑评分相关性分析显示两者之间关系密切，呈直线正相关关系（r=0．81，P〈0．001）。结论住院皮肤疾病患者存在较多的焦虑状态，通过量表评估患者的焦虑程度，能较准确的找出焦虑者。     

HFE codon 63/282 (H63D/C282Y) dimorphism in German patients with genetic hemochromatosis

Abstract: Genetic hemochromatosis (GH) is closely associated with genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. Recently, a candidate gene for GH, with structural similarities to MHC class I genes, designated HLA-H and presently named HFE, has been cloned. The HFE gene is localized telomeric to the MHC and several reports have indicated that the HFE gene is mutated in GH patients. In the present study we have analyzed the relationship of HFE gene variants and disease manifestation in GH patients and family members. Fifty-seven patients with GH, 73 family members and 153 healthy blood donors were studied for the amino acid dimorphism at codon 63 (His63Asp=H63D) and codon 282 (Cys282Tyr= C282Y) of the HFE gene. The codon 63 and 282 dimorphism were defined by PCR amplification of genomic DNA samples and restriction enzyme digestion using RsaI/SnaBI for C282Y and Bcll/Mbo 1 for H63D. Ferritin, transferrin serum levels and total iron-binding capacity were determined prior to therapeutic intervention. The Tyr-282 substitution occurred in 53 (93%) of patients compared with 8 (5.2%) of controls (OR=169, P >0.0001). Fifty-one (90%) patients were Tyr-282 homozygous. In contrast, the Asp-63 substitution was present in 5 (8.8%) of the patients compared with 34 (22%) of controls (OR=0.39, P =NS) with none of the patients being homozygous. In Tyr-282 homozygous GH patients serum ferritin levels, transferrin saturation, liver iron and liver iron index were elevated significantly compared to Tyr-282-negative patients, whereas no difference was observed between Tyr/Cys-282 heterozygous and Tyr-282-negative patients.     

聚合酶链反应在鼠疫菌检测中的应用 研究

本文采用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）技术，通过扩增鼠疫菌９．５ｋｂ质粒ｐｌａ基础上一个４７８ｂｌ片段，用于鼠疫菌检测，被试的４５株鼠疫菌扩增产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析均呈现单一ＤＮＡ带，其分子量大小与预期结果符合。而假结核菌和一株缺６ＭＤ质粒鼠疫菌未见扩增带，洽部实验可在４ｈ内完成。本法具有快速、特异、敏感等优点，可用于不同生态型鼠疫菌的快速诊断和流行病学研究．     

大豆皂甙和神经肽Y在下丘脑后核引起的心血管效应中的关系

微量注射大豆皂甙（Ｔｓ）到下丘脑后核（ＰＨＮ）能引起平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）升高，心率加快，其效应与向ＰＨＮ内注入神经肽Ｙ（ＮＰＹ）相似。分别注入不能引起血压、心率发生明显变化的微量Ｔｓ、ＮＰＹ，如果合并注入ＰＨＮ则可引起血压、心率的显著变化，表明二者互有加强作用。Ａｔｒｏｐｉｎｅ可以对抗Ｔｓ、ＮＰＹ或Ｔｓ＋ＮＰＹ同时注入ＰＨＮ的升压效应，提示ＮＰＹ是通过激活脑内Ｍ受体而实现升压效应的，而Ｔｓ的心血管效应又可能是经过脑内ＮＰＹ介导和加强的。     

Neonatal exposure to estradiol prevents the expression of ovarian hormone-induced luteinizing hormone and prolactin surges in adulthood but not antecedent changes in neuropeptide Y or adrenergic transmitter activity: Implications for sexual differentiation of gonadotropin secretion

Sex differences in adult patterns of mating behavior and gonadotropin secretion in rats are determined in part by the presence or absence of gonadal steroids during a perinatal critical period. For example, male rats and female rats exposed neonatally to androgen do not exhibit LH surge patterns when treated appropriately with ovarian hormones in adulthood, and there is evidence that this may be due to a failure of ovarian hormones to activate the hypothalamic neuronal systems that stimulate LH secretion in such animals. Because considerable evidence suggests that estradiol formed centrally from testosterone is responsible for the permanent defeminization of mating behavior and gonadotropin secretion, the present studies compared normal females with normal males and with females treated neonatally with estradiol on the ability of ovarian hormones to induce several important neurochemical changes antecedent to the LH surge, including changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY) and LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) concentrations in the median eminence, as well as changes in turnover rates for catecholamine transmitters in the medial basal hypothalamus and medial preoptic area. Normal ovariectomized female rats responded to sequential treatment with estradiol followed by progesterone with afternoon LH and prolactin (PRL) surges, and with sequential accumulation followed by decline in concentrations of LHRH and NPY in the median eminence prior to the LH surge. In addition, administration of progesterone increased the turnover rates of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) in the arcuate-median eminence region of normal females. Gonadectomized male rats receiving the same ovarian hormone treatment failed to exhibit LH or PRL surges and displayed none of the changes in neurotransmitter turnover or peptide concentrations characteristically seen in the normal female. Unexpectedly however, when females that were treated with estradiol benzoate on days 1–3 postpartum were ovariectomized and treated with ovarian hormones in adulthood, they showed the same accumulation/decline in median eminence NPY concentrations and the same activation of NE and EPI turnover in the arcuate-median eminence region as normal females, even though they showed no LH or PRL surges or changes in median eminence LHRH concentrations. These results suggest that estradiol may not mediate all of the defeminizing actions of androgen exerted during the early neonatal period, and particularly those actions that result in a lack of responsiveness in central noradrenergic, adrenergic and NPY systems in adulthood. However, an action of neonatal estradiol may result in uncoupling of the LHRH neurosecretory system from normal excitatory neurochemical influences.     

慢性神经病理性痛大鼠背根神经节P2Y2受体mRNA的表达

目的评价背根神经节（DRG）P2Y2受体mRNA的表达在大鼠慢性神经病理性痛中的作用。方法SPF级大鼠24只,体重150～200g,雌雄不拘,随机分为2组：假手术组（S组）和慢性神经痛组（N组）,每组12只。N组结扎左侧坐骨神经建立大鼠慢性压迫性损伤（CCI）模型,S组只暴露,不结扎左侧坐骨神经。2组分别于CCI前1d、CCI后1、4、7、10、14 d进行行为学观察,测定大鼠双后肢热痛阈和机械痛阈,并分别于CCI后7、14 d各取6只大鼠断颈处死,取双侧L（4-6）背根神经节,RT-PCR法测定P2Y2受体mRNA的表达。结果两组CCI后4 d热痛阈、机械痛阈明显降低（P〈0.05）,持续至CCI后14 d;N组左侧DRG P2Y2受体mRNA表达较右侧明显下调,CCI后14 d较CCI后7 d下调（P〈0.05）;与S组右侧比较,N组DRG P2Y2受体mRNA表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论背根神经节P2Y2受体mRNA的表达下调参与了大鼠慢性神经病理性痛的形成。     

Increased feeding and neuropeptide Y (NPY) but not NPY mRNA levels in the hypothalamus of the rat following central administration of the serotonin synthesis inhibitorp-chlorophenylalanine

Neurons containing serotonin (5-HT), a potent anorexic agent, come into contact with neuropeptide Y-ergic neurons, that project from the arcuate nucleus (ARC) to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). NPY powerfully stimulates feeding and induces obesity when injected repeatedly into the PVN. We hypothesize that 5-HT tonically inhibits the ARC-PVN neurons and that balance between the two systems determines feeding and energy homeostasis. This study aimed to determine whether central injection of the 5-HT synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), which increases feeding, increased hypothalamic NPY and NPY mRNA levels. pCPA (10 mg/kg in 3 μl) was administered into the third ventricle either as a single injection (n = 8) or daily for 7 days (n = 8). Control rats received a similar injection of saline. pCPA significantly increased food intake compared with controls after both single and repeated injections (P < 0.05). NPY levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in microdissected hypothalamic extracts. NPY levels in the acutely treated group were significantly increased in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN; by 41%,P = 0.01), anterior hypothalamic area (AHA; by 34%,P < 0.01) and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA; by 41%,P < 0.02). In the 7-day-treated group, NPY levels were also increased in the same areas, i.e. PVN (by 24%,P < 0.01), AHA (by 30%,P < 0.01) and LHA (by 38%,P = 0.01). There were no significant changes in the ARC or any other region or in hypothalamic NPY mRNA levels. pCPA administration increased NPY levels in several regions notably the PVN. This is a major site of NPY release, where NPY injection induces feeding. We suggest that the hyperphagia induced by pCPA is mediated by increased NPY levels and secretion in the PVN. This is further evidence for interactions between NPY and 5-HT in the control of energy homeostasis.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Neuropeptide Y in Nerves of the Male Genital Tract of the Photoperiodically Responsive Djungarian Hamster, Phodopus Sungoras/Immunhistochemische Lokalisation von Neuropeptid Y in Nerven der männlichen Genitalorgane des photoperiodisch sensiblen Djungarischen Zwerghamsters, Phodopus sungorus

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in nerves of the male genital tract of Phodopus sungorus at long (LD 16:8) und short (LD 8:16) photoperiods. No immunoreactive nerve fibres could be demonstrated in the testis, caput and corpus epididymidis and the ventral prostate gland. Dense networks of NPY-containing nerve fibers were demonstrated in the smooth muscle layer of the sperm-transporting duct, beginning in the cauda epididymidis with increasing density towards the distal part of the ductus deferens, and in the smooth muscle layer of the seminal vesicles. At short photoperiods, the density of the NPY-containing nerve plexus decreased only in the smooth muscle layer of the ductus deferens. A "trophic" influence of the large smooth muscle cells of the ductus deferens on their nerves not only in regard to their noradrenaline, but also on their NPY content is discussed.