Inhibition of insulin hyperphagia by gamma aminobutyric acid antagonists in rats

The effects of GABA antagonists, picrotoxin and bicuculline were studied on hyperphagia caused by insulin in free feeding rats. It was found that peripheral administration of GABA antagonists inhibited this hyperphagia. These agents were administered in the VMH and LH through stereotaxically implanted cannulae. It was found that the food intake was inhibited when injected into the VMH, but not in the LH. These findings suggest that LH plays a relatively passive role as compared to VMH, where GABA appears to be an important neurotransmitter.     

Changes in succinate dehydrogenase activity of rats after intraventricular injections of GABA, muscimol and picrotoxin

Effects of intraventricular injections of GABA, and a GABA agonist, muscimol and an antagonist, picrotoxin on succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme activity in plasma and a few hypothalamic nuclei of brain of rats have been investigated using biochemical, histochemical and cytophotometric techniques. Results show that SDH decreased by GABA and muscimol treatment, and increased after picrotoxin injection. From the above findings, it is apparent that GABA, muscimol and picrotoxin influence SDH activity of plasma and hypothalamic nuclei.     

尼氟灭酸对γ-氨基丁酸激活DRG神经元电流的作用

目的:观察尼氟灭酸(NFA)对大鼠背根神经节(DRG)神经元γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)激活电流的调制作用。方法:在新鲜分离的大鼠DRG神经元,应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录NFA和GABA激活电流。结果:部分DRG神经元(21/48,43.75%)外加NFA(0.1～100μmol/L)能引起浓度依赖性的外向电流,而大多数DRG神经元(150/159,94.32%)外加GABA(0.1～100μmol/L)则引起明显的浓度依赖性的内相电流。NFA-(100μmol/L)和GABA-(100μmol/L)激活电流的幅值分别是(0.27±0.06)nA(n=12)和(1.29±0.72)nA(n=53)。然而,预使用NFA(0.1～100μmol/L)能明显的抑制GABAA受体介导的内向电流。NFA的这一抑制作用也具有明显的浓度依赖性。但NFA没有改变GABA激活内向电流的EC50(大约30μmol/L)和翻转电位(大约-10mV)(P>0.05)。结论:预加NFA对GABA激活电流的峰值有明显的浓度依赖性的抑制作用。     

Protective effect of l-ascorbic acid on nickel induced pulmonary nitrosative stress in male albino rats

Nickel sulfate stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) and increases serum nitric oxide concentration by overproduction of reactive nitrogen species due to nitrosative stress. The present study was undertaken to assess possible protective role of l-ascorbic acid as an antioxidant against nickel induced pulmonary nitrosative stress in male albino rats. We studied the effect of the simultaneous treatment with l-ascorbic acid (50 mg/100 g b. wt.; orally) and nickel sulfate (2.0 mg/100 g b. wt.; i.p.) on nitric oxide synthesis by quantitative evaluation of serum i-NOS activities, serum and lung nitric oxide, l-ascorbic acid and protein concentrations of Wister strain male albino rats. We have further studied histopathological changes in lung tissue after nickel sulfate treatment along with simultaneous exposure of l-ascorbic acid. Nickel sulfate treatment significantly increased the serum i-NOS activity, serum and pulmonary nitric oxide concentration and decreased body weight, pulmonary somatic index, serum and lung l-ascorbic acid and protein concentration as compared to their respective controls. Histopathological changes induced by nickel sulfate showed loss of normal alveolar architecture, inflammation of bronchioles, infiltration of inflammatory cells and patchy congestion of alveolar blood vessels. The simultaneous administration of l-ascorbic acid and nickel sulfate significantly improved all the above biochemical parameters along with histopathology of lung tissues of rats receiving nickel sulfate alone. The study clearly showed a protective role of l-ascorbic acid against nickel induced nitrosative stress in lung tissues.     

Correlation of myosin light chain phosphorylation and gamma aminobutyric acid receptors in Ascaris suum muscle

Four different muscle relaxants were compared as to their effects on tonic Ascaris suum muscle to: physiological activity, intracellular response to regulatory light chain phosphorylation, and receptor pharmacology. Perfusion of Ascaris suum muscle with each relaxant, gamma-aminobutyric acid, avermectin, piperazine and chlorpromazine resulted in a dose-dependent loss of muscle tone. Comparison of intracellular effects indicated that gamma-aminobutyric acid and avermectin perfusion initiated an increase in the levels of dephosphorylated regulatory light chain while piperazine increased first site phosphorylation and chlorpromazine increased second site phosphorylation. Receptor pharmacology studies were used to compare the actions of gamma-aminobutyric acid and piperazine. It was found that bicuculline-methiodide and picrotoxin inhibited the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid in a dose-dependent manner, but these drugs had no effect on muscle relaxation stimulated with piperazine.     

谷氨酸棒杆菌S9114摇瓶发酵产γ-氨基丁酸的研究

为实现谷氨酸棒杆菌工业化生产γ-氨基丁酸(GABA),对L-谷氨酸工业生产菌S9114进行代谢途径改造。通过构建一株工程菌株S9114/p JYW-4-gad B1-gad B2,将来源于短乳杆菌Lb85菌株的谷氨酸脱羧酶编码基因gad B1和gad B2进行共表达,实现发酵72 h后发酵液中GABA含量达到32.8 g/L,GABA糖酸转化率达到47.3%。通过敲除该菌株的谷丙转氨酶编码基因ala T,使工程菌株S9114Δala T/p JYW-4-gad B1-gad B2发酵液中L-丙氨酸浓度降低5.5%,进一步降低了发酵副产物的含量。研究结果为利用谷氨酸棒杆菌实现工业化生产γ-氨基丁酸提供了有价值的参考。     

Effects of plumieride, an iridoid on spermatogenesis in male albino rats.

Oral feeding of male rats with plumieride (15 mg/rat/day) for the period of 60 days did not cause any significant change in the body weight of treated rats. However, the weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were significantly reduced when compared to control values. The production of step-19 spermatids was reduced by 87.26% in plumieride treated rats. The population of preleptotene and pachytene spermatocytes were decreased by 64.26% and 55.13% respectively. Spermatogonia and sertoli cell population was also affected. Plumieride treatment resulted in an arrest of spermatogenesis without any systemic side effect. Sperm motility as well as sperm density was reduced significantly. The number of mature Leydig cells was decreased and complete suppression of fertility was observed. A significant fall in the protein and sialic acid contents of the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate as well as glycogen content of testes was also noticed. Fructose in seminal vesicle was lowered whereas testicular cholesterol was elevated. There was no significant change in RBC and WBC count, haemoglobin, haematocrit and sugar in the whole blood and total protein, cholesterol, phospholipid and triglycerides in the serum. Conclusion: Plumieride administration arrests spermatogenesis in male rats without noticeable side effects. For the clinical use more experiments should be carried out in a phased programme.     

Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid and muscimol on corticosterone secretion in rats.

The effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid-receptor agonists, GABA and muscimol on the pituitary-adrenocortical activity, measured indirectly through corticosterone secretion, and the receptors involved were investigated in conscious rats. GABA given ip induced a dual effect, in lower dose (10 mg/kg) it significantly decreased the resting serum corticosterone levels while in higher doses (100-500 mg/kg) it considerably raised that level. Muscimol (0.5 mg/kg ip) also increased the corticosterone concentration. Both GABA and muscimol given intracerebroventricularly (icv) induced a significant, dose-related increase in serum corticosterone levels. Bicuculline, a GABAA-receptor antagonist, totally abolished the corticosterone response to GABA but did not influence the response to muscimol. Pretreatment with atropine did not affect the corticosterone response to GABA but significantly diminished the response to muscimol. These results suggest that GABA moderately inhibits the pituitary-adrenal axis at the pituitary level but significantly stimulates it at the hypothalamic level. The stimulatory effect of GABA, but not muscimol, is mediated by hypothalamic GABAA-receptors, and in the effect of muscimol hypothalamic cholinergic, muscarinic receptors are involved to a significant extent.     

侧脑室注射Orexin-1受体拮抗剂对大鼠心血管效应的影响

目的:用侧脑室微量注射和免疫组化方法研究食欲素-1受体(OX1R)拮抗剂SB408124对麻醉大鼠的心血管效应及其作用机制。方法:雄性SD大鼠,侧脑室微量注射SB408124,及甲硝阿托品、六甲溴铵静脉注射预处理后侧脑室注射SB408124,观测动脉血压(MAP)和心率(HR)的变化。然后,用免疫组化方法检测侧脑室注射SB408124对大鼠脑延髓头端腹外侧区(RVLM)内酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)阳性神经元的影响。结果:侧脑室注射SB408124可显著降低麻醉大鼠的MAP和HR,但是HR变化不如MAP变化明显。应用六甲溴铵可完全阻断SB408124的心血管效应,但甲硝阿托品不能阻断SB408124的心血管效应。侧脑室注射SB408124可使鼠脑延髓头端腹外侧区内酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元的数量显著降低。结论:侧脑室注射OX1R拮抗剂SB408124可显著降低麻醉大鼠的MAP和HR,其作用主要是通过抑制交感神经系统的活性而实现的。     

Localisation of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like immunoreactivity in the echinoderm Asterias rubens

Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is believed to be the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, a function that has been extended to a number of invertebrate systems. We have used a specific antiserum raised against GABA to demonstrate GABA-like immunoreactivity in the radial nerve cord (RNC), tube feet and the digestive system of the asteroid Asterias rubens. In the RNC, immunoreactivity was restricted to ectoneural fibres and cell bodies while in the tube feet fibres were revealed in the basal nerve ring and longitudinal nerve. In the gut, extensive labelling was apparent in the basi-epithelial plexus as well as in mucosal perikarya.     

Biochemical and immunological changes on oral glutamate feeding in male albino rats

 High altitude stress leads to lipid peroxidation and free radical formation which results in cell membrane damage in organs and tissues, and associated mountain diseases. This paper discusses the changes in biochemical parameters and antibody response on feeding glutamate to male albino Sprague Dawley rats under hypoxic stress. Exposure of rats to simulated hypoxia at 7576 m, for 6 h daily for 5 consecutive days, in an animal decompression chamber at 32±2° C resulted in an increase in plasma malondialdehyde level with a concomitant decrease in blood glutathione (reduced) level. Supplementation of glutamate orally at an optimal dose (27 mg/kg body weight) in male albino rats under hypoxia enhanced glutathione level and decreased malondialdehyde concentration significantly. Glutamate feeding improved total plasma protein and glucose levels under hypoxia. The activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and the urea level remained elevated on glutamate supplementation under hypoxia. Glutamate supplementation increased the humoral response against sheep red blood cells (antibody titre). These results indicate a possible utility of glutamate in the amelioration of hypoxia-induced oxidative stress. Received: 23 March 1998 / Accepted: 19 October 1998     

Qualitative and quantitative changes in monoamine oxidase activity after acute third ventricle treatment of GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin in rat

The effect of acute IIIrd ventricle injection of GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin on the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) has been investigated in serum and a few hypothalamic nuclei of the rat brain using biochemical, histochemical, and cytophotometric techniques. Biochemical estimation demonstrated a significant reduction in MAO enzyme activity after GABA and muscimol injection, whereas picrotoxin produced pronounced increase in the enzyme activity. Histochemical and cytophotometric studies confirmed the biochemical findings. Even in brain, GABA and muscimol inhibited and picrotoxin stimulated the MAO activity. From the above findings, it may be concluded that GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin regulate the MAO activity, possible mechanisms for which are being discussed.