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2.
J Mol Neurosci ; 74(1): 25, 2024 Feb 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38386221

RESUMO

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a neuropeptide that was first isolated and identified from the porcine hypothalamus. Studies have described an anti-obesity effect of GALP. We previously found that intracerebroventricular administration of GALP in mice resulted in an increase in respiratory exchange rate 12 to 16 h later. GALP may also affect glucose metabolism, but the detailed mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of GALP on glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver. Nine-week-old male C57BL / 6 J mice were administered a single intracerebroventricular dose of saline or GALP and dissected 16 h later. There were no significant between-group differences in body weight and blood glucose levels. With regard to gene and protein expression, G6Pase associated with hepatic gluconeogenesis was significantly reduced in the GALP group. In addition, the hepatokines selenoprotein P and fetuin-A, which induce insulin resistance in the liver, were significantly decreased in the GALP group. These results suggest that intracerebroventricular administration of GALP decreases the expression of key hepatokines, thereby enhancing glucose metabolism.


Assuntos
Peptídeo Semelhante a Galanina , Masculino , Animais , Camundongos , Suínos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Peptídeo Semelhante a Galanina/farmacologia , Fígado , Peso Corporal , Glucose
3.
eNeuro ; 10(10)2023 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37890993

RESUMO

Functional neural circuits in the cerebral cortex are established through specific neural connections between excitatory and various inhibitory cell types. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic partner recognition remain unclear. In this study, we examined the impact of clustered protocadherin-γ (cPcdhγ) gene deletion in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) cells on intralaminar and translaminar neural circuits formed between PV+ and pyramidal (Pyr) cells in the primary visual cortex (V1) of male and female mice. First, we used whole-cell recordings and laser-scan photostimulation with caged glutamate to map excitatory inputs from layer 2/3 to layer 6. We found that cPcdhγ-deficient PV+ cells in layer 2/3 received normal translaminar inputs from Pyr cells through layers 2/3-6. Second, to further elucidate the effect on PV+-Pyr microcircuits within intralaminar layer 2/3, we conducted multiple whole-cell recordings. While the overall connection probability of PV+-Pyr cells remained largely unchanged, the connectivity of PV+-Pyr was significantly different between control and PV+-specific cPcdhγ-conditional knock-out (PV-cKO) mice. In control mice, the number of reciprocally connected PV+ cells was significantly higher than PV+ cells connected one way to Pyr cells, a difference that was not significant in PV-cKO mice. Interestingly, the proportion of highly reciprocally connected PV+ cells to Pyr cells with large unitary IPSC (uIPSC) amplitudes was reduced in PV-cKO mice. Conversely, the proportion of middle reciprocally connected PV+ cells to Pyr cells with large uIPSC amplitudes increased compared with control mice. This study demonstrated that cPcdhγ in PV+ cells modulates their reciprocity with Pyr cells in the cortex.


Assuntos
Parvalbuminas , Protocaderinas , Camundongos , Feminino , Masculino , Animais , Parvalbuminas/metabolismo , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Inibidores , Células Piramidais/fisiologia , Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Interneurônios/metabolismo
4.
Nutr Res ; 118: 128-136, 2023 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37660501

RESUMO

Many studies have investigated the beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as their potential for lowering lipid levels and reducing diabetes risk. However, few studies have specifically examined docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid with limited availability in its pure form. We hypothesized that DPA would have lipid-lowering effects and improve insulin resistance in KK/Ta mice. To test our hypothesis, 7-week-old KK/Ta mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce obesity before being divided into 3 groups and fed an experimental diet for 10 weeks. The experimental diets were: LSO, using lard and safflower oil as fat sources; SO, in which lard in the LSO diet was replaced with safflower oil; and DPA, in which lard in the LSO diet was replaced with DPA oil. After 10 weeks, plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly decreased in the DPA group, but not in the SO group. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 gene expressions involved in fatty acid synthesis in the liver were significantly lower in the DPA group compared with the LSO group. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly decreased in both the SO group and the DPA group compared with the LSO group, whereas plasma insulin concentrations were significantly decreased in the DPA group alone. These results indicate that DPA has plasma lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic effects, possibly from suppression of fatty acid synthesis in the liver.


Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus , Ácidos Graxos Ômega-3 , Animais , Camundongos , Glicemia/metabolismo , Óleo de Cártamo , Ácidos Graxos Insaturados/metabolismo , Ácidos Graxos Ômega-3/farmacologia , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológico , Obesidade/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos
5.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(38): e2301003120, 2023 09 19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37695902

RESUMO

Clustered protocadherin (Pcdh) functions as a cell recognition molecule through the homophilic interaction in the central nervous system. However, its interactions have not yet been visualized in neurons. We previously reported PcdhγB2-Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes to be applicable only to cell lines. Herein, we designed γB2-FRET probes by fusing FRET donor and acceptor fluorescent proteins to a single γB2 molecule and succeeded in visualizing γB2 homophilic interaction in cultured hippocampal neurons. The γB2-FRET probe localized in the soma and neurites, and FRET signals, which were observed at contact sites between neurites, eliminated by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) addition. Live imaging revealed that the FRET-negative γB2 signals rapidly moved along neurites and soma, whereas the FRET-positive signals remained in place. We observed that the γB2 proteins at synapses rarely interact homophilically. The γB2-FRET probe might allow us to elucidate the function of the homophilic interaction and the cell recognition mechanism.


Assuntos
Neurônios , Protocaderinas , Neuritos , Corpo Celular , Comunicação Celular
6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(5)2023 Feb 26.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36902003

RESUMO

Sweat plays a critical role in human body, including thermoregulation and the maintenance of the skin environment and health. Hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are caused by abnormalities in sweat secretion, resulting in severe skin conditions (pruritus and erythema). Bioactive peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) was isolated and identified to activate adenylate cyclase in pituitary cells. Recently, it was reported that PACAP increases sweat secretion via PAC1R in mice and promotes the translocation of AQP5 to the cell membrane through increasing intracellular [Ca2+] via PAC1R in NCL-SG3 cells. However, intracellular signaling mechanisms by PACAP are poorly clarified. Here, we used PAC1R knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice to observe changes in AQP5 localization and gene expression in sweat glands by PACAP treatment. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PACAP promoted the translocation of AQP5 to the lumen side in the eccrine gland via PAC1R. Furthermore, PACAP up-regulated the expression of genes (Ptgs2, Kcnn2, Cacna1s) involved in sweat secretion in WT mice. Moreover, PACAP treatment was found to down-regulate the Chrna1 gene expression in PAC1R KO mice. These genes were found to be involved in multiple pathways related to sweating. Our data provide a solid basis for future research initiatives in order to develop new therapies to treat sweating disorders.


Assuntos
Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase , Suor , Camundongos , Humanos , Animais , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/metabolismo , Suor/metabolismo , Sudorese , Receptores de Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/metabolismo , Hipófise/metabolismo
7.
iScience ; 26(1): 105766, 2023 Jan 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36582829

RESUMO

Clustered protocadherin is a family of cell-surface recognition molecules implicated in neuronal connectivity that has a diverse isoform repertoire and homophilic binding specificity. Mice have 58 isoforms, encoded by Pcdhα, ß, and γ gene clusters, and mutant mice lacking all isoforms died after birth, displaying massive neuronal apoptosis and synapse loss. The current hypothesis is that the three specific γC-type isoforms, especially γC4, are essential for the phenotype, raising the question about the necessity of isoform diversity. We generated TC mutant mice that expressed the three γC-type isoforms but lacked all the other 55 isoforms. The TC mutants died immediately after birth, showing massive neuronal death, and γC3 or γC4 expression did not prevent apoptosis. Restoring the α- and ß-clusters with the three γC alleles rescued the phenotype, suggesting that along with the three γC-type isoforms, other isoforms are also required for the survival of neurons and individual mice.

8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(2)2022 Jan 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35054857

RESUMO

Dry eye disease (DED) is caused by a reduction in the volume or quality of tears. The prevalence of DED is estimated to be 100 million in the developed world. As aging is a risk factor for DED, the prevalence of DED is expected to grow at a rapid pace in aging populations, thus creating an increased need for new therapies. This review summarizes DED medications currently in clinical use. Most current medications for DED focus on stimulating tear secretion, mucin secretion, or suppressing inflammation, rather than simply replenishing the ocular surface with moisture to improve symptoms. We recently reported that the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) induces tear secretion and suppresses corneal injury caused by a reduction in tears. Moreover, it has been reported that a PACAP in water and a 0.9% saline solution at +4 °C showed high stability and achieved 80-90% effectiveness after 2 weeks of treatment. These results reveal PACAP as a candidate DED medication. Further research on the clinical applications of PACAP in DED is necessary.


Assuntos
Síndromes do Olho Seco/tratamento farmacológico , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/uso terapêutico , Animais , Síndromes do Olho Seco/patologia , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Soluções Oftálmicas/farmacologia , Soluções Oftálmicas/uso terapêutico , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Lágrimas/efeitos dos fármacos
9.
Peptides ; 146: 170647, 2021 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34562532

RESUMO

The process of sweating plays an important role in the human body, including thermoregulation and maintenance of the environment and health of the skin. It is known that the conditions of hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are caused by abnormalities in sweat secretion and can result in severe skin conditions such as pruritus and erythema, which significantly reduce the patient's quality of life. However, there are many aspects of the signaling mechanisms in the process of sweating that have not been clarified, and no effective therapies or therapeutic agents have yet been discovered. Previously, it was reported that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promotes sweating, but details of the underlying mechanism has not been clarified. We used immortalized human eccrine gland cells (NCL-SG3 cell) to investigate how sweat secretion is induced by PACAP. Intracellular Ca2+ levels were increased in these cells following their exposure to physiological concentrations of PACAP. Intracellular Ca2+ was not elevated when cells were concomitantly treated with PA-8, a specific PAC1-R antagonist, suggesting that PAC1-R is involved in the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels in response to PACAP treatment. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry experiments showed that aquaporin-5 was translocated from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane by PACAP. These results suggest that PACAP acts on eccrine sweat glands to promote sweat secretion by translocation of aquaporin-5 to the cell membrane in response to increased levels of intracellular Ca2+. These findings also provide a solid basis for future research initiatives to develop new therapies to treat sweating disorders.


Assuntos
Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/farmacologia , Glândulas Sudoríparas/efeitos dos fármacos , Aquaporina 5/metabolismo , Cálcio/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Transformada , Humanos , Transporte Proteico , Receptores de Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/metabolismo , Glândulas Sudoríparas/citologia , Glândulas Sudoríparas/metabolismo
10.
Neural Plast ; 2021: 2522454, 2021.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34422037

RESUMO

The present research investigates the molecular mechanism of neurite outgrowth (protrusion elongation) under pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) 38 treatments using a rat adrenal-derived pheochromocytoma cell line-PC12. This study specifically looks into the regulation of PACAP38-induced collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) previously identified in a mouse brain ischemia model and which could be recovered by PACAP38 treatment. Previously, DNA microarray analysis revealed that PACAP 38-mediated neuroprotection involved not only CRMP2 but also pathways related to glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) and other signaling components. Thus, to clarify whether CRMP2 acts directly on PACAP38 or through GSK-3ß as part of the mechanism of PACAP38-induced neurite outgrowth, we observed neurite outgrowth in the presence of GSK-3ß inhibitors and activators. PC12 cells were treated with PACAP38 being added to the cell culture medium at concentrations of 10-7 M, 10-8 M, and 10-9 M. Post PACAP38 treatment, immunostaining was used to confirm protrusion elongation of the PC12 cells, while RT-PCR, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with Western blotting, and inhibition experiments were performed to confirm the expression of the PACAP gene, its receptors, and downstream signaling components. Our data show that neurite protrusion elongation by PACAP38 (10-7 M) in PC12 cells is mediated through the PAC1-R receptor as demonstrated by its suppression by a specific inhibitor PA-8. Inhibitor experiments suggested that PACAP38-triggered neurite protrusion follows a GSK-3ß-regulated pathway, where the AKT and cAMP/ERK pathways are involved and where the inhibition of Rho/Roc could enhance neurite protrusion under PACAP38 stimulation. Although we could not yet confirm the exact role and position of CRMP2 in PACAP38-mediated PC12 cell elongation, it appears that its phosphorylation and dephosphorylation have a correlation with the neurite protrusion elongation through the interplay of CDK5, which needs to be investigated further.


Assuntos
Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/metabolismo , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Crescimento Neuronal/efeitos dos fármacos , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/farmacologia , Animais , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 beta/metabolismo , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/genética , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Neuritos/efeitos dos fármacos , Neuritos/metabolismo , Células PC12 , Ratos , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos
11.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol ; 319(5): L786-L793, 2020 11 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32877227

RESUMO

Bronchomotor tone is regulated by contraction and relaxation of airway smooth muscle (ASM). A weakened ASM relaxation might be a cause of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a characteristic feature of bronchial asthma. Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is known as a mediator that causes ASM relaxation. To date, whether or not the PACAP responsiveness is changed in asthmatic ASM is unknown. The current study examined the hypothesis that relaxation induced by PACAP is reduced in bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) of allergic asthma. The ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized mice were repeatedly challenged with aerosolized OA to induce asthmatic reaction. Twenty-four hours after the last antigen challenge, the main bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) tissues were isolated. Tension study showed a BSM hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine in the OA-challenged mice. Both quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses revealed a significant decrease in PAC1 receptor expression in BSMs of the diseased mice. Accordingly, in the antigen-challenged group, the PACAP-induced PAC1 receptor-mediated BSM relaxation was significantly attenuated, whereas the relaxation induced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was not changed. These findings suggest that the relaxation induced by PACAP is impaired in BSMs of experimental asthma due to a downregulation of its binding partner PAC1 receptor. Impaired BSM responsiveness to PACAP might contribute to the AHR in asthma.


Assuntos
Asma/metabolismo , Brônquios/metabolismo , Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/metabolismo , Tensoativos/metabolismo , Animais , Hiper-Reatividade Brônquica/metabolismo , Camundongos , Relaxamento Muscular/efeitos dos fármacos , Relaxamento Muscular/fisiologia , Hipersensibilidade Respiratória/metabolismo , Peptídeo Intestinal Vasoativo/metabolismo
12.
Plant Signal Behav ; 14(10): e1644594, 2019.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31342859

RESUMO

The present research examines the possibility of finding bio-molecular compounds from the double cherry blossom (termed as 'Gosen-Sakura' of Gosen-city, Niigata-prefecture, Japan) leaves, which have been long used in the preparation of the traditional Japanese sweet (wagashi) - 'sakura-mochi'. Based on its indicated anti-microbial properties historically, our study provides a new low temperature vacuum extraction method for extracting 'near natural form of water soluble leaf (cell) extracts from the Gosen-Sakura, and demonstrates the presence of some 'novel' compound(s) with anti-tumor cell lines proliferation inhibitory affects through the MTT assay. To our knowledge, no reports exist on the sakura tree 'leaf (cell) extracts' inhibiting tumor cell line growth. We further examined and compared the effects of known compounds with anti-tumor activity, coumarin and benzyl alcohol with Gosen-Sakura leaf extract; results lead us to hypothesize that the Gosen-Sakura leaf extract contains substance(s) other than the above two known compounds, with antitumor effect. Additionally, we speculate on the underlying mechanism of action of the Gosen-Sakura leaf extract by targeting cell division at the point of DNA synthesis and causing apoptosis. In conclusion, we present scientific evidence on the presence of certain 'novel' biomolecule(s), with anti-tumor activity, in the Gosen-Sakura leaf which has been long used in Japanese sweet - the 'sakura-mochi'.


Assuntos
Temperatura Baixa , Flores/química , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta/química , Prunus/química , Vácuo , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia
13.
J Mol Neurosci ; 68(3): 420-426, 2019 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29931503

RESUMO

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/glucagon/secretin family of peptides. PACAP and its three receptor subtypes are expressed in neural tissues and in the eye, including the retina, cornea, and lacrimal gland. PACAP is known to exert pleiotropic effects on the central nervous system and in eye tissues where it plays important roles in protecting against dry eye. This review provides an overview of current knowledge regarding dry eye symptoms in aged animals and humans and the protective effects, mechanisms of action. In addition, we also refer to the development of a new preventive/therapeutic method by PACAP of dry eye patients.


Assuntos
Síndromes do Olho Seco/tratamento farmacológico , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/uso terapêutico , Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/uso terapêutico , Animais , Síndromes do Olho Seco/etiologia , Humanos
14.
Curr Pharm Des ; 24(33): 3926-3933, 2018.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30398112

RESUMO

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is composed of 60 amino acid residues and its sequence is highly homologous across species. GALP is produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and has diverse physiological effects such as the regulation of feeding, energy metabolism, and reproductive behavior. GALP-containing neurons express leptin receptors and these neurons form networks in the hypothalamus that contain various peptides that regulate feeding behavior. Recent studies have revealed that GALP has a central anti-obesity action in addition to its role in food intake regulation. Furthermore, we have found that the respiratory quotient declines shortly after administration of GALP into the lateral ventricle. This suggests that lipid metabolism is accelerated by GALP administration, and identifies a new physiological action for this peptide. In this review article, we summarize our recent research focusing on the mechanism whereby GALP regulates feeding and energy metabolism. We concentrate on the mechanism of regulation of lipid metabolism in peripheral tissues via the autonomic nervous system and outline the effectiveness of the nasal administration of GALP and basic research towards its clinical application.


Assuntos
Fármacos Antiobesidade/uso terapêutico , Metabolismo Energético , Comportamento Alimentar , Peptídeo Semelhante a Galanina/uso terapêutico , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Fármacos Antiobesidade/administração & dosagem , Fármacos Antiobesidade/metabolismo , Peptídeo Semelhante a Galanina/administração & dosagem , Peptídeo Semelhante a Galanina/metabolismo , Humanos , Obesidade/metabolismo
15.
Int J Mol Sci ; 19(10)2018 Oct 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30301147

RESUMO

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is one of the key lipid mediators of allergic airway inflammation, including bronchial asthma. However, the role of PGD2 in the pathogenesis of asthma is not fully understood. In the present study, the effect of PGD2 on smooth muscle contractility of the airways was determined to elucidate its role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In isolated bronchial smooth muscles (BSMs) of naive mice, application of PGD2 (10-9⁻10-5 M) had no effect on the baseline tension. However, when the tissues were precontracted partially with 30 mM K⁺ (in the presence of 10-6 M atropine), PGD2 markedly augmented the contraction induced by the high K⁺ depolarization. The PGD2-induced augmentation of contraction was significantly inhibited both by 10-6 M laropiprant (a selective DP1 antagonist) and 10-7 M Y-27632 (a Rho-kinase inhibitor), indicating that a DP1 receptor-mediated activation of Rho-kinase is involved in the PGD2-induced BSM hyperresponsiveness. Indeed, the GTP-RhoA pull-down assay revealed an increase in active form of RhoA in the PGD2-treated mouse BSMs. On the other hand, in the high K⁺-depolarized cultured human BSM cells, PGD2 caused no further increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. These findings suggest that PGD2 causes RhoA/Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of BSM contraction to augment its contractility. Increased PGD2 level in the airways might be a cause of the AHR in asthma.


Assuntos
Brônquios/metabolismo , Cálcio/metabolismo , Citosol/metabolismo , Contração Muscular/efeitos dos fármacos , Músculo Liso/efeitos dos fármacos , Prostaglandina D2/farmacologia , Animais , Atropina/farmacologia , Hiper-Reatividade Brônquica/metabolismo , Humanos , Indóis/farmacologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Potássio/farmacologia , Cultura Primária de Células , Receptores de Prostaglandina/efeitos dos fármacos
16.
Biomed Res ; 39(4): 215-222, 2018.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30101841

RESUMO

Previous studies have shown that dissolved substances in some natural hot springs have analgesic/anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions. However, the mechanisms underlying how such dissolved substances exert these actions are not fully understood. In the present study on mice, we examined the analgesic/anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of a mineral cream containing natural hot spring ingredients. The anti-nociceptive effects of the mineral cream were assessed by using the von Frey test. Application of the mineral cream to the hind paw of mice produced a significant anti-nociceptive effect compared to control. The anti-nociceptive effects of the mineral cream were also assessed following the injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paws of mice after pre-treatment for one or four weeks with the mineral cream. Histological experiments with light microscopy showed that the mineral cream did not reduce inflammation caused by the CFA treatment. In addition, the mineral cream did not inhibit oxidative stress as evidenced by increased levels of oxidative metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP). These results suggest that the mineral cream does not exert a protective effect against inflammation, and that the constituents of the mineral cream may produce their anti-nociceptive effects transdermally via different mechanisms including the nervous system.


Assuntos
Analgésicos/farmacologia , Balneologia , Minerais/farmacologia , Creme para a Pele/farmacologia , Analgésicos/farmacocinética , Animais , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos ICR , Minerais/farmacocinética , Creme para a Pele/farmacocinética
17.
J Headache Pain ; 19(1): 28, 2018 Apr 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29619773

RESUMO

Pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/glucagon/secretin family. PACAP shows particularly high homology (~ 68%) to VIP. Because of the high homology of the amino acid sequences of PACAP and VIP, these peptides share three class B-G-protein coupled receptors: the PAC1-Receptor (PAC1-R), the VPAC1-Receptor (VPAC1-R) and VPAC2-Receptor (VPAC2-R). These receptors have high homology to each other, and their high homology is utilized for these discoveries. This review provides mainly an overview of the history of the discovery of PACAP and its three receptors.


Assuntos
Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/fisiologia , Receptores de Polipeptídeo Hipofisário Ativador de Adenilato Ciclase/fisiologia , Animais , Humanos
18.
Sci Rep ; 7(1): 15908, 2017 Nov 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29162883

RESUMO

Serotonergic axons extend diffuse projections throughout various brain areas, and serotonergic system disruption causes neuropsychiatric diseases. Loss of the cytoplasmic region of protocadherin-α (Pcdh-α) family proteins, products of the diverse clustered Pcdh genes, causes unbalanced distributions (densification and sparsification) of serotonergic axons in various target regions. However, which Pcdh-α member(s) are responsible for the phenotype is unknown. Here we demonstrated that Pcdh-αC2 (αC2), a Pcdh-α isoform, was highly expressed in serotonergic neurons, and was required for normal diffusion in single-axon-level analyses of serotonergic axons. The loss of αC2 from serotonergic neurons, but not from their target brain regions, led to unbalanced distributions of serotonergic axons. Our results suggest that αC2 expressed in serotonergic neurons is required for serotonergic axon diffusion in various brain areas. The αC2 extracellular domain displays homophilic binding activity, suggesting that its homophilic interaction between serotonergic axons regulates axonal density via αC2's cytoplasmic domain.


Assuntos
Axônios/metabolismo , Caderinas/metabolismo , Serotonina/metabolismo , Animais , Caderinas/genética , Difusão , Éxons/genética , Camundongos Knockout , Bulbo Olfatório/metabolismo , Especificidade de Órgãos , Deleção de Sequência , Neurônios Serotoninérgicos/metabolismo , Telencéfalo/metabolismo
19.
Diabetes ; 66(9): 2372-2386, 2017 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28673934

RESUMO

The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates glucose and energy metabolism in mammals. Optogenetic stimulation of VMH neurons that express steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) induces hyperglycemia. However, leptin acting via the VMH stimulates whole-body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity in some peripheral tissues, and this effect of leptin appears to be mediated by SF1 neurons. We examined the effects of activation of SF1 neurons with DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) technology. Activation of SF1 neurons by an intraperitoneal injection of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), a specific hM3Dq ligand, reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure in mice expressing hM3Dq in SF1 neurons. It also increased whole-body glucose utilization and glucose uptake in red-type skeletal muscle, heart, and interscapular brown adipose tissue, as well as glucose production and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver, thereby maintaining blood glucose levels. During hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, such activation of SF1 neurons increased insulin-induced glucose uptake in the same peripheral tissues and tended to enhance insulin-induced suppression of glucose production by suppressing gluconeogenic gene expression and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver. DREADD technology is thus an important tool for studies of the role of the brain in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues.


Assuntos
Resistência à Insulina/fisiologia , Insulina/metabolismo , Neurônios/classificação , Fatores de Processamento de RNA/metabolismo , Núcleo Hipotalâmico Ventromedial/citologia , Animais , Clozapina/análogos & derivados , Clozapina/farmacologia , Insulina/genética , Integrases/genética , Integrases/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Neurônios/metabolismo
20.
Front Mol Neurosci ; 10: 114, 2017.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28484370

RESUMO

Neuronal identity is generated by the cell-surface expression of clustered protocadherin (Pcdh) isoforms. In mice, 58 isoforms from three gene clusters, Pcdhα, Pcdhß, and Pcdhγ, are differentially expressed in neurons. Since cis-heteromeric Pcdh oligomers on the cell surface interact homophilically with that in other neurons in trans, it has been thought that the Pcdh isoform repertoire determines the binding specificity of synapses. We previously described the cooperative functions of isoforms from all three Pcdh gene clusters in neuronal survival and synapse formation in the spinal cord. However, the neuronal loss and the following neonatal lethality prevented an analysis of the postnatal development and characteristics of the clustered-Pcdh-null (Δαßγ) neural circuits. Here, we used two methods, one to generate the chimeric mice that have transplanted Δαßγ neurons into mouse embryos, and the other to generate double mutant mice harboring null alleles of both the Pcdh gene and the proapoptotic gene Bax to prevent neuronal loss. First, our results showed that the surviving chimeric mice that had a high contribution of Δαßγ cells exhibited paralysis and died in the postnatal period. An analysis of neuronal survival in postnatally developing brain regions of chimeric mice clarified that many Δαßγ neurons in the forebrain were spared from apoptosis, unlike those in the reticular formation of the brainstem. Second, in Δαßγ/Bax null double mutants, the central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion failed to create a left-right alternating pattern even in the absence of neurodegeneraton. Third, calcium imaging of cultured hippocampal neurons showed that the network activity of Δαßγ neurons tended to be more synchronized and lost the variability in the number of simultaneously active neurons observed in the control network. Lastly, a comparative analysis for trans-homophilic interactions of the exogenously introduced single Pcdh-γA3 isoforms between the control and the Δαßγ neurons suggested that the isoform-specific trans-homophilic interactions require a complete match of the expressed isoform repertoire at the contacting sites between interactive neurons. These results suggested that combinations of clustered Pcdh isoforms are required for building appropriate neural circuits.

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