Long-term effects on feeding and body weight after stimulation of forebrain or hindbrain CRH receptors with urocortin

Research on the contribution of CRH receptor stimulation to energy homeostasis has focused on forebrain substrates. In this study, we explored the effects of caudal brainstem administration of the CRH receptor agonist, urocortin, on food intake and body weight, and on plasma glucose and corticosterone (CORT) in non-deprived rats. Urocortin (0, 0.3, 1, 3 microg) delivered, respectively, to the fourth and lateral ventricles yielded substantial suppression of food intake measured 2, 4 and 24 h later. A significant but more modest anorexia was observed between 24 and 48 h after injection. Intake responses did not differ between the injection sites, but body weight loss measured 24 h after lateral-i.c.v. injection was substantially greater than that after fourth-i.c.v. injection. Fourth-i.c.v. urocortin administration (3 microg) produced substantial elevations in plasma glucose and CORT that were not distinguishable in magnitude and duration from responses to lateral-i.c.v. delivery. Unilateral microinjection of urocortin into the dorsal vagal complex significantly reduced 24-h food intake at a dose (0.1 microg) that was subthreshold for the response to ventricular administration, suggesting that fourth-i.c.v. effects are mediated in part by stimulation of CRH receptors in this region of the caudal brainstem. The results indicate that similar effects can be obtained from stimulation of anatomically disparate populations of CRH receptors, and that interactions between forebrain and hindbrain structures should be considered in the evaluation of CRH contributions to food intake and body weight control.     

清瘟败毒胶囊的吸湿性研究及数据分析

目的：本实验研究清瘟败毒胶囊及其相应空胶囊的吸湿性，回归分析得到吸湿曲线方程，推测出清瘟败毒胶囊和空胶囊的临界相对湿度（CRH）。方法：测定清瘟败毒胶囊和空胶囊在四种不同相对湿度（RH）下的吸湿量，整理出清瘟败毒胶囊和空胶囊在不同RH下的吸湿曲线以及它们的CRH。结果与结论：清瘟败毒胶囊和空胶囊的CRH分别为66％和65％。     

外源性褪黑素对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠行为学及血清相关激素含量的影响

目的通过观察不同剂量的外源性褪黑素对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠行为学及血清中5-HT、CRH、ACTH、CORT含量的影响,探讨外源性褪黑素对抑郁症的治疗作用。方法 48只SD大鼠随机分为4组:空白对照组、模型对照组、褪黑素高剂量组、褪黑素低剂量组,每组12只。采用慢性轻度不可预见性应激和孤养方法复制慢性应激抑郁模型,灌胃给予治疗组不同剂量(5.0、10.0 mg·kg-1)的褪黑素加以干预,以体重、糖水试验、旷野试验观察实验前后大鼠行为学的改变。应用酶联免疫吸附法对大鼠血清中5-HT、CRH、ACTH、CORT的含量进行检测。结果从第7天开始,模型组、褪黑素低量组、褪黑素高剂量组的体重增长趋势开始降低,从第14天开始,模型对照组大鼠体重有下降趋势;从第14天开始褪黑素低剂量组、褪黑素高剂量组的糖水摄入量增长趋势降低,模型对照组的糖水摄入量呈下降趋势;第21天,与模型对照组相比,褪黑素低剂量和褪黑素高剂量组大鼠的水平和垂直运动次数都有显著性增多。与空白对照组相比,模型对照组血清5-HT的含量降低、血清CRH、ACTH、CORT含量升高,与模型对照组相比,褪黑素低剂量组和褪黑素高剂量组的血清5-HT含量均显著升高,血清CRH、CORT、ACTH含量均显著降低。结论外源性褪黑素对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠抑郁行为有改善作用,也可以提高慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠血清中5-HT的含量,降低慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠血清中CRH、ACTH、CORT的含量,但它们之间的具体量效关系有待进一步研究。     

养正胶囊制备工艺研究

目的研究养正胶囊适宜辅料及制备工艺。方法以颗粒的休止角、粒度、堆密度以及颗粒的吸湿性曲线和颗粒的CRH为考察指标,筛选出合适的辅料及最佳制备工艺。结果颗粒的CRH为62.5%,颗粒质量适合生产。结论该工艺切实可行,适于工业化大生产。     

Hypothalamic insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in an animal model of depression and their effect on corticotropin-releasing hormone promoter gene activity in a hypothalamic cell line

Background

In depression, excessive glucocorticoid action may cause maladaptive brain changes, including in the pathways controlling energy metabolism. Insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), besides regulation of glucose homeostasis, also possess neurotrophic properties. Current study was aimed at investigating the influence of prenatal stress (PS) on insulin, GLP-1 and their receptor (IR and GLP-1R) levels in the hypothalamus. GLP-1 and GLP-1R were assayed also in the hippocampus and frontal cortex – brain regions mainly affected in depression. The second objective was to determine the influence of exendin-4 and insulin on CRH promoter gene activity in in vitro conditions.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-immunoreactive (IR) axon varicosities target a subset of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-IR neurons in the human hypothalamus

It is a general consensus that stress is one of the major factors that suppresses growth. Previous studies revealed that the catecholaminergic and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems, involved in the activation of stress-related neuronal circuits, influence growth hormone (GH)-release via modulating growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion. Indeed, catecholaminergic and NPY-immunoreactive (IR) axon varicosities abut on the surface of the GHRH neurons forming contacts. These juxtapositions appear to be real synapses and may represent the morphological substrate of the impact of stress on growth. In addition to catecholamines and NPY, there is a vast amount of evidence that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a major stress hormone, also influences GH secretion. Whether this modulatory effect is direct, or indirect, via the hypothalamic GHRH system, has not been elucidated yet.In the present study, we examined the possibility that CRH influences GH secretion via modulating the GHRH release by direct synaptic mechanisms. Since the verification of these synapses by electron microscopy is problematic in human due to the long post mortem time, in order to reveal the putative CRH-GHRH juxtapositions, light microscopic double label immunohistochemistry was utilized. In the infundibular nucleus, a subset (6%) of the GHRH perikarya received abutting CRH fiber varicosities forming multiple contacts while passing by. No gaps appeared between the contacting elements. The morphology of these CRH-GHRH juxtapositions suggests that, among other neurotransmitters/neuromodulators, CRH influences growth by modulating the hypothalamic GHRH secretion via direct synaptic mechanisms.     

Central administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone alters downstream movement in an artificial stream in juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

We evaluated the effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) on spatial distribution and downstream movement in an artificial stream in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) during the period when the fish were able to tolerate seawater. An intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of CRH (500 ng) to hatchery fish significantly increased the proportion of fish that were distributed downstream of a mid-stream release site. A second group of hatchery fish were given ICV injections of saline (control) or CRH (500 ng) and released near the top of the stream. The time taken to enter a trap at the lower end of the stream was recorded. In all cases the groups given CRH had a higher proportion of fish that did not enter the trap within 60 min of release. However, in those fish that did enter the trap, treatment with CRH increased the speed of downstream movement to this point relative to control fish. Wild sub-yearling Chinook salmon were captured during their downstream migration to the estuary and given ICV injections of saline or CRH (500 ng) either 2, 3, or 7 days after transport from the river. As with hatchery fish, a significantly higher proportion of wild fish that were administered CRH did not enter the trap at the lower end of the stream. The mean time of passage for control fish decreased on each successive day (day 2 > day 3 > day 7). In contrast, the mean passage time of the wild fish that were given CRH was relatively constant through time, and was only significantly faster than control fish on day 2. The current study provides evidence that CRH alters the downstream movement of juvenile Chinook in a simulated stream environment, and produces behavioral effects similar to those of juvenile salmonids that are stressed during their downstream migration.     

The effects of water immersion and restraint stress on the expressions of apelin,apelin receptor (APJR) and apoptosis rate in the rat heart

Apelin has been identified as an endogenous ligand of the orphan G-protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJR). These receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and periphery and play a role in the regulation of fluid and glucose homeostasis, feeding behavior, vessel formation, cell proliferation and immunity. We aimed to investigate whether water immersion and restraint stress have effects on apelin and APJR expression and apoptosis in heart tissue of male Wistar rats. The cardiac tissues were obtained from control, water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) and apelin antagonist (F13A) + WIRS groups of rats and embedded in paraffin wax. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to localize apelin, APJR and TUNEL immunopositive cells. H-SCORE was used for semi-quantitative determinations. Apelin protein levels were determined by Western blot in the cardiac tissues and plasma corticosteroid levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Apelin immunolocalization was found especially in endothelial cells and mast cells and faintly in cardiomyocytes, APJR immunostaining was shown in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, and TUNEL reaction was observed in endothelial cells and in some fibroblasts. Apelin expression was significantly increased in the WIRS and F13A + WIRS groups compared to the control group. The APJR reaction was similar in all groups. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the F13A + WIRS group than that of the control group. Our study showed that WIRS for 6 h increased plasma corticosterone levels and cardiac apelin expression in rats. The increased levels of apelin inhibited stress-induced apoptosis in heart. These results may be important for the therapeutic approach to a variety of stress-related heart disease.     

Sex differences in circadian timing systems: Implications for disease

Virtually every eukaryotic cell has an endogenous circadian clock and a biological sex. These cell-based clocks have been conceptualized as oscillators whose phase can be reset by internal signals such as hormones, and external cues such as light. The present review highlights the inter-relationship between circadian clocks and sex differences. In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves as a master clock synchronizing the phase of clocks throughout the body. Gonadal steroid receptors are expressed in almost every site that receives direct SCN input. Here we review sex differences in the circadian timing system in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG), the hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary (HPA) axis, and sleep–arousal systems. We also point to ways in which disruption of circadian rhythms within these systems differs in the sexes and is associated with dysfunction and disease. Understanding sex differentiated circadian timing systems can lead to improved treatment strategies for these conditions.