Effect of brain acid extract products in inbred mice on 3H-diazepam reception

The influence of brain acid extract products, isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography on H3-diazepam binding was investigated in synaptosomal membranes of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Fractions with stimulatory and inhibitory activity were isolated. Quantitative and qualitative differences in the effects and structure of ACTH-immunoreactive peptide fractions under study were established.     

Neuropeptide cycloprolylglycine increases the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in neuronal cells

It was shown for the first time that the endogenous cyclic dipeptide cycloprolylglycine (CPG) at concentrations of 10^–7 and 10^–3 M and piracetam at a concentration of 10^–3 M increased the content of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the culture of neuronal cells in normal state and under conditions of glutamate and 6-oxydopamine neurotoxicity. This may indicate the possible involvement of BDNF in the mechanism of action of neuropeptide CPG and piracetam.     

Effect of psychotropic preparations on the behavior of inbred mice under emotional stress]

The effect of phenazepam and sydnocarb in doses of 0.05, 0.07 and 0.1 mg/kg or 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg, respectively, on the behaviour of C57BL/6, CBA and BALB/c mice, was studied in the "open field" test. Interlinear difference in the reaction of inbred animals to emotional stress and its phenazepam or sydnocarb correction were established.     

Repeated oral administration of capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours with prolonged stress-response in rats

This study was conducted to examine the psycho-emotional effects of repeated oral exposure to capsaicin, the principal active component of chili peppers. Each rat received 1 mL of 0.02% capsaicin into its oral cavity daily, and was subjected to behavioural tests following 10 daily administrations of capsaicin. Stereotypy counts and rostral grooming were significantly increased, and caudal grooming decreased, in capsaicin-treated rats during the ambulatory activity test. In elevated plus maze test, not only the time spent in open arms but also the percent arm entry into open arms was reduced in capsaicin-treated rats compared with control rats. In forced swim test, although swimming duration was decreased, struggling increased in the capsaicin group, immobility duration did not differ between the groups. Repeated oral capsaicin did not affect the basal levels of plasma corticosterone; however, the stress-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone was prolonged in capsaicin treated rats. Oral capsaicin exposure significantly increased c-Fos expression not only in the nucleus tractus of solitarius but also in the paraventricular nucleus. Results suggest that repeated oral exposure to capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours in rats, and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role in its pathophysiology.     

Effect of weight loss and exercise on angiogenic factors in the circulation and in adipose tissue in obese subjects

Background:

Vascular growth is a prerequisite for adipose tissue (AT) development and expansion. Some AT cytokines and hormones have effects on vascular development, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF‐A), angiopoietin (ANG‐1), ANG‐2 and angiopoietin‐like protein‐4 (ANGPTL‐4).

Methods:

In this study, the independent and combined effects of diet‐induced weight loss and exercise on AT gene expression and proteins levels of those angiogenic factors were investigated. Seventy‐nine obese males and females were randomized to: 1. Exercise‐only (EXO; 12‐weeks exercise without diet‐restriction), 2. Hypocaloric diet (DIO; 8‐weeks very low energy diet (VLED) + 4‐weeks weight maintenance diet) and 3. Hypocaloric diet and exercise (DEX; 8‐weeks VLED + 4‐weeks weight maintenance diet combined with exercise throughout the 12 weeks). Blood samples and fat biopsies were taken before and after the intervention.

Results:

Weight loss was 3.5 kg in the EXO group and 12.3 kg in the DIO and DEX groups. VEGF‐A protein was non‐significantly reduced in the weight loss groups. ANG‐1 protein levels were significantly reduced 22‐25% after all three interventions (P < 0.01). The ANG‐1/ANG‐2 ratio was also decreased in all three groups (P < 0.05) by 27‐38%. ANGPTL‐4 was increased in the EXO group (15%, P < 0.05) and 9% (P < 0.05) in the DIO group. VEGF‐A, ANG‐1, and ANGPTL‐4 were all expressed in human AT, but only ANGPTL‐4 was influenced by the interventions.

Conclusions:

Our data show that serum VEGF‐A, ANG‐1, ANG‐2, and ANGPTL‐4 levels are influenced by weight changes, indicating the involvement of these factors in the obese state. Moreover, it was found that weight loss generally was associated with a reduced angiogenic activity in the circulation.     

Dependence of anxiolytic effects of the dipeptide TSPO ligand GD-23 on neurosteroid biosynthesis

The elevated plus maze test showed that GD-23 (N-carbobenzoxy-L-tryptophanyl-L-isoleucine amide), an original dipeptide ligand of TSPO, exerted anxiolytic effect when injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. This effect was completely blocked by the selective neurosteroid synthesis inhibitors, enzymes trilostane and finasteride. The same inhibitors do not prevent the anxiolytic effects of the benzodiazepine tranquillizer diazepam. The results of the study indicate the selective neurosteroidogenic mechanism of the anxiolytic action of GD-23.     

Effect of chronic treatment with Rosiglitazone on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in rats: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis> studies

Background  

The present study was designed to examine the effect of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone - thiazolidinedione used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for its insulin sensitizing effects - on the Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in normal adult rats.     

cDNA macroarray analysis of gene expression changes in rat brain after a single administration of a 2-aminoadamantane derivative

The Atlas Rat cDNA Expression Array (BD Biosciences, United States) has been used to analyze changes in the expression of 588 genes in rat brain cells in response to a single administration of Ladasten, a 2-aminoadamantane derivative that has psychostimulating and anxiolytic effects. The analysis of hybridization on macroarrays, confirmed by the results of real-time quantitative RT-PCR, has demonstrated that Ladasten alters the expression of 12 genes in the rat brain. The GAT3 and CARBH genes are presumed to be pharmacologically important targets of Ladasten. The changes in their activity explain the mechanisms of the anxiolytic and mood-stabilizing effects of the drug. Ladasten has been shown to induce the genes whose products are involved in various signal pathways (APC, Rb, PKCIP, and PMCA), as well as the genes of cytoskeletal proteins (Tub1 and actin), synaptic proteins (SynIA&IB and PLP), and enzymes (Gapdh and NSE). The proteins encoded by these genes are presumably involved in compensatory and/or neuroplastic adaptation to the effects of Ladasten.__________Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2005, pp. 276–285.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vakhitova, Yamidanov, Vakhitov, Seredenin.     

First detection, isolation and molecular characterization of infectious salmon anaemia virus associated with clinical disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Chile

Background  

Several forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) segregate in more than 100 breeds of dog with each PRA segregating in one or a few breeds. This breed specificity may be accounted for by founder effects and genetic drift, which have reduced the genetic heterogeneity of each breed, thereby facilitating the identification of causal mutations. We report here a new form of PRA segregating in the Border Collie breed. The clinical signs, including the loss of night vision and a progressive loss of day vision, resulting in complete blindness, occur at the age of three to four years and may be detected earlier through systematic ocular fundus examination and electroretinography (ERG).