Effects of interferon-gamma on the central nervous system

Pleotropic cytokine IFN-gamma is synthesized not only by activated immunocompetent cells but also by elements of CNS (endothelial cells of brain, glial cells, neurons). Primary structure of neuronal and immune IFN-gamma are similar. The molecular identity of this cytokine receptors on neuronal and immune cells is found. These facts testify of interrelation of two physiological systems. The central effects of IFN-gamma are realized in modulation both immune and controle-regulation processes. One of important immunomodulation properties of IFN-gamma is its ability to induce expression of antigenes of MHC class II on neuronal cells, which is characteristic only for this cytokine. The participation of IFN-gamma in immune reactions of CNS also is carried out at the expense of amplification under its influence of superoxide production, NO and prostaglandine synthesis, expression in astrocytes and microglial cells of ICAM adgesive molecule. Control-regulation function of cytokine is realized at level of cell elements of brain, nerve/endocrine system. Auto/parakrine activity of neuronal IFN-gamma is directed on maintenance homeostasis in CNS. It participates in regulation of processes connected to the daily allowance biorhythmes, it is revealed in work of "internal clocks". The cytokine participation in immunogenesis processes [symbol: see text] and control-regulation reactions has a number of common mechanisms. IFN-gamma is immunomodulator and from an other hand it is neuromodulator.     

雌激素在中枢神经系统中的作用

雌激素对中枢神经系统神经元有多种作用（包括电生理、神经营养和代谢等的作用）。近年来,随着对雌激素作用基因组机制和非基因组机制的研究,人们逐渐加深了其在神经功能方面作用 的认识。目前发现,雌激素在调节下丘脑ＧnRH神经元功能活动、诱导和维持海马树状棘突,以及保护神经元等诸多方面都发挥着重要作用。流行病学提示,雌激素可以预防绝经妇女患早老性痴呆病（Alzheimer‘sDisease,AD)对神经功能有保护作用,由此可见,雌激素除调节生殖功能活动外,对中枢神经系统还有着更为广泛的作用。     

Pyridine alkaloids with activity in the central nervous system

This review discusses all pyridine alkaloids with CNS activity, their therapeutic potential, and the interesting array of sources whence they originate.     

胰岛素对中枢神经系统疾病的影响

越来越多的实验证据和临床资料表明,胰岛素在中枢神经系统中发挥重要作用。多种动物脑内有高水平的胰岛素,而且神经元和胶质细胞上均存在胰岛素受体和胰岛素第二信使系统。很多神经性疾病的发病机制都和胰岛素水平或胰岛素敏感性有关。同样,胰岛素样生长因子对神经元功能也有一定的调节作用。胰岛素和包括胰岛素样生长因子在内的多种神经营养因子,在治疗神经退行性疾病方面被人类寄予了厚望。     

Angiotensin II increases MAO activity in rat central nervous system

The effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) and bilateral nephrectomy on monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity were studied in rat hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. ANG II increased MAO activity in both central nervous system (CNS) regions. The fall of circulating ANG II caused by 48 h bilateral nephrectomy decreased the activity of the enzyme in the mentioned areas. The results showed that ANG II stimulates catecholamine metabolism in the CNS.     

Disinhibition and its role in central nervous system activity]

The review concerning neuronal mechanisms of disinhibition and its participation in activities of the spinal cord, cerebellum, reticulo-thalamo-cortical system, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex is presented.     

Sildenafil acts on the central nervous system increasing sympathetic activity.

Sildenafil induces vasodilation and is used for treating erectile dysfunction. Although its influence on resting heart function appears to be minimal, recent studies suggest that sildenafil can increase sympathetic activity. We therefore tested whether sildenafil injected into the central nervous system alters the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system in conscious rats. The effect of sildenafil citrate injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle was evaluated in conscious rats by means of the recording of lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA), spectral analysis of systolic arterial pressure and heart rate variability, spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, and baroreflex control of LSNA. Intracerebroventricular (ICV, 100 microg /5 microl) administration of sildenafil caused remarkable tachycardia without significant change in basal arterial pressure and was associated with a conspicuous increase (47 +/- 14%) in LSNA. Spectral analysis demonstrated that systolic arterial pressure oscillations in the low frequency (LF) range were increased (from 6.3 +/- 1.5 to 12.8 +/- 3.8 mmHg(2)), whereas the high frequency (HF) range was not affected by ICV administration of sildenafil. Sildenafil increased pulse interval oscillations at LF and decreased them at HF. The LF-HF ratio increased from 0.04 +/- 0.01 to 0.17 +/- 0.06. Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity measured by the sequence method and the baroreflex relationship between mean arterial pressure and LSNA were not affected by ICV administration of sildenafil. In conclusion, sildenafil elicited an increase in sympathetic nerve activity that is not baroreflex mediated, suggesting that this drug is able to elicit an autonomic imbalance of central origin. This finding may have implications for understanding the cardiovascular outcomes associated with the clinical use of this drug.     

Increased XRALDH2 activity has a posteriorizing effect on the central nervous system of Xenopus embryos

Retinoic acid (RA) metabolizing enzymes play important roles in RA signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis. We have previously reported on a RA degrading enzyme, XCYP26, which appears to be critical for the anteroposterior patterning of the central nervous system (EMBO J. 17 (1998) 7361). Here, we report on the sequence, expression and function of its counterpart, XRALDH2, a RA generating enzyme in Xenopus. During gastrulation and neurulation, XRALDH2 and XCYP26 show non-overlapping, complementary expression domains. Upon misexpression, XRALDH2 is found to reduce the forebrain territory and to posteriorize the molecular identity of midbrain and individual hindbrain rhombomeres in Xenopus embryos. Furthermore, ectopic XRALDH2, in combination with its substrate, all-trans-retinal (ATR), can mimic the RA phenotype to result in microcephalic embryos. Taken together, our data support the notion that XRALDH2 plays an important role in RA homeostasis by the creation of a critical RA concentration gradient along the anteroposterior axis of early embryos, which is essential for proper patterning of the central nervous system in Xenopus.     

Effects of electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones on the central nervous system

With the increasing use of mobile communication, concerns have been expressed about the possible interactions of electromagnetic radiation with the human organism and, in particular, the brain. The effects on neuronal electrical activity, energy metabolism, genomic responses, neurotransmitter balance, blood-brain barrier permeability, cognitive function, sleep, and various brain diseases including brain tumors are reviewed. Most of the reported effects are small as long as the radiation intensity remains in the nonthermal range, and none of the research reviewed gives an indication of the mechanisms involved at this range. However, health risks may evolve from indirect consequences of mobile telephony, such as the sharply increased incidence rate of traffic accidents caused by telephony during driving, and possibly also by stress reactions which annoyed bystanders may experience when cellular phones are used in public places. These indirect health effects presumably outweigh the direct biological perturbations and should be investigated in more detail in the future.     

Spontaneous electrical activity recorded from the aphid central nervous system

Whilst many classes of insecticides target the insect central nervous system (CNS), their effects in the CNS of pest aphids have not been demonstrated. In this report, we describe an electrophysiological method for recording spontaneous neuronal activity from the giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus). Using extracellular recording electrodes and two analysis methods (threshold and template search), spontaneous spike activity was shown to exhibit sensitivity to the neuroexcitatory insecticide imidacloprid. This method allows changes in the frequency of action-potentials to be monitored during direct bath exposure to chemical agents, enabling a means of assessing and comparing neurotoxic effects of insecticides in a previously inaccessible superfamily of pest insects.