Characteristic fingerprint spectrum of neurotransmitter norepinephrine with broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.

The neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) was investigated by broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the air-plasma system range from 0.5 to 18.2 THz. NE has a unique absorption spectrum in the THz band, which can be used as a characteristic fingerprint for molecular detection and identification. The temperature-dependent THz spectra of NE were recorded in the range from 83 to 293 K, and a blue-shift of the absorption peaks was observed as the temperature decreased. A solid-state density functional theory (DFT) calculation was implemented to better understand the low-frequency vibrational property of NE, and the calculated results agree well with the THz experimental observations. This result suggests that the broadband THz system can obtain more abundant spectral signals of NE and each THz resonance peak has its own specific vibrational mode, which corresponds to a specific structure and interaction. Even with the adjacent absorption peaks, the vibrational behaviors are different. The deformation of the aromatic ring and the flexibility of the side chain directly affect the NE molecular conformation, which may be closely associated with the receptor binding preference for the neurotransmitter. The conformational diversity of NE may help to understand the biological function of the neurotransmitter in the nervous system.

Effects of hypomagnetic field on noradrenergic activities in the brainstem of golden hamster.

Previous studies found that elimination of the geomagnetic field (GMF) interferes with the normal brain functions, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The present study examined the effects of long-term exposures to a near-zero magnetic environment on the noradrenergic activities in the brainstem of golden hamsters. Both the content of norepinephrine (NE) and the density of NE-immunopositive neurons in the tissue decreased significantly after the treatment, and the effects could be progressive with time. These variations may substantially contribute to behavioral and mood disorders reported in other studies when animals are shielded from the GMF.

Skeletal muscle HSP72 and norepinephrine response to static magnetic field in rat.

The present work was undertaken in order to investigate the noradrenergic system and skeletal muscle heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) response to static magnetic field (MF) in male rats. At thermoneutrality (25 degrees C), the exposition of rats 1 hour/day for 5 consecutive days to MF of 128 mT (m tesla) induced an increase in norepinephrine content in gastrocnemius muscle (+25%, p < 0.05) but had no effect at 67 mT (+1%, p > 0.05), indicating a stimulatory effect of sub-acute MF exposure on the noradrenergic system activity. Moreover, exposed rats to MF displayed a non-significant increase of HSP72 levels in gastrocnemius muscles (+29%, p > 0.05). The results indicate that noradrenergic systems in rat's gastrocnemius muscles are affected by MF exposure. Interestingly, sub-acute exposure insufficiency increased HSP72 levels in gastrocnemius muscles.

"Uncaging" using optical fibers to deliver UV light directly to the sample.

Photolysis or "uncaging" of caged compounds represents a significant tool in cell biology and chemistry. It provides a means for quantitative control of compound delivery with temporal and spatial resolution while observing their consequences for cellular signaling. We discuss the use of ultraviolet-transmitting optical fibers to directly deliver UV energy to the sample, combined with a nitrogen pulsed laser as a source of UV light. In this approach the size of the photolysis area is regulated by the exit aperture of the fiber tip which is controlled by pulling the optical fibers to desirable diameters. A diode (red) laser that is also coupled to the optical fiber aids the location of UV energy delivery through the fiber. We used this method to quantitatively uncage norepinephrine and calcium. The major advantage of this photolysis approach is its independence of microscope objectives and traditional optical pathways. Because the optical pathway of the microscope needs no modification to accommodate this photolysis system, integration with other experimental methods, such as electrochemistry, electrophysiology, confocal microscopy, and wide-field epifluorescence microscopy, is relatively simple.

Radiation effects on dopamine and norepinephrine.

PURPOSE: Radiation sterilization is becoming increasingly popular for the sterilization of many pharmaceutical products. We have investigated the gamma radiation induced effects on dopamine and norepinephrine by ESR spectroscopy. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Equations to describe the evolution of the ESR curves versus doses and time of storage are presented. Linear regression is, for dopamine hydrochloride, applicable for doses ranging from 10 to 25 kGy. Since the radiation dose selected must always be based upon the bioburden of the products and the degree of sterility required, doses in the range 10-25 kGy could be investigated and linear regression would appear to be the least expensive route to follow and gives good results. The comportment of noradrenaline bitartrate is more complex and the use of linear regression would appear more hazardous especially for low doses. For doses higher than 25 kGy, a more general equation is required. Power function using only 2 parameters could give good results but must be validated. Decay kinetics for radicals versus storage were considered. Non-homogeneous kinetics with time dependent rate constant and bi-exponential function appeared valid to reproduce the decay of radicals for, respectively, dopamine and norepinephrine. CONCLUSIONS: It is worth noting that, at present, ESR is the only technique which proved to be suitable for identification and quantification purposes in irradiated pharmaceuticals. Moreover, other features such as sensitivity, precision, ease and non-destructive readout make ESR superior to other proposed analytical techniques.

Acutely exacerbated hypertension and increased inflammatory signs due to radiation treatment for metastatic pheochromocytoma.

Hypertension and norepinephrine hypersecretion in a 59-year-old woman suffering from malignant pheochromocytoma with multiple metastases were appropriately controlled with alpha- and beta- blockers, and alpha-methyltyrosine (alpha-MT), a catecholamine-synthesis inhibitor. Metastasized vertebrae were treated with external radiation to relieve pain, but this treatment had to be interrupted at a total dose of 20 Gy because the patient suffered acutely exacerbated hypertension (200/110 mmHg), tachycardia (160 beats/min) and a low-grade fever. Simultaneously her serum levels of LDH, potassium, urea nitrogen, creatinine, white blood cell count, CRP and norepinephrine were significantly increased, suggesting that this episode was due to radiation-induced tissue destruction and the leakage of catecholamines and possibly interleukin-6, a cytokine mediating inflammation which is reportedly present in pheochromocytoma. The marked hypertension was controlled by continuous i.v. administration of phentolamine and propranolol. Although radiation therapy effectively relieves pain due to neoplasmic metastasis to the bone, physicians should be aware that life-threatening complications such as the above occur in malignant pheochromocytoma. Sufficient pretreatment with adrenergic blocking agents and/or alpha-MT and careful monitoring of the patient's general condition during radiation therapy, even at a low dose, are highly recommended.

Catecholamine changes in patients with depression under the action of high-intensity light. / Zminy katekholaminiv u khvorykh z depresiieiu pid diieiu svitla pidvyshchenoï intensyvnosti.

Preponderance in depression of the melancholy affect was characterized by a drop in the level of norepinephrine (NE) and rise in epinephrine (E). Exposure to light was associated with fall in E, with no change recordable in NE. In anxious depression, following light therapy, high levels of excretion of both catecholamines tended to return to normal. Ligh was found to cause opposite changes in the quantitative measures depending upon the initial value for the E:NE ratio (above or below control).

[The action of high-intensity light on catecholamine excretion in depressive patients]. / Deistvie sveta povyshennoi intensivnosti na ékskretsiiu katekholaminov u bol'nykh depressiei.

The action of bright light (2600-2800 lux) on the catecholamine (CA) excretion was analyzed in patients with anxious (11) and melancholic (12) depressions resultant from manic-depressive psychosis and schizophrenia. The melancholic depressed patients were characterized by decreased noradrenaline (NA) and increased adrenaline (A) levels; in anxious depression NA and A were increased. The light therapy resulted in decrease of A level but NA level remained invariable in melancholic depression. Meanwhile the tendency to normalization of excretion of both CA was observed in anxious patients after light therapy. The contrary alterations in A/NA ratio as well as its considerable individual fluctuations were observed after light therapy. The A/NA ratio after light therapy depended mainly upon the initial A/NA ratio (the higher or lower ratio compared to control value).

Changes in cardiac performance and sympathetic stimulation during and after fractionated radiotherapy in a rat model.

The consequences of fractionated irradiation on the number of cardiac alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, myocardial norepinephrine concentration and in vitro assessed heart function were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were locally irradiated on the thorax with a total dose of 50 Gy, in 5 weeks, using two different fractionation schemes (5 x 2.0 Gy/week and 3 x 3.3 Gy/week). Functional and biochemical assays were performed during treatment and at 6 months after initiation of treatment. During fractionated irradiation, the numbers of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors tended to rise. During this period, myocardial norepinephrine concentration remained fairly constant and no decrease in cardiac output was observed. At 6 months, a significant increase of the numbers of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors was observed in the 3.3 Gy/fraction group compared to age-matched controls, p = 0.012 and p = 0.02, respectively. At this time point, the myocardial norepinephrine concentration had decreased below control levels (p = 0.008 for the 3.3. Gy/fraction schedule, and p = 0.03 for the 2.0 Gy/fraction schedule). At 6 months, the cardiac output declined to 61% (p = 0.009) and 69% (p = 0.04) of control values for the 3.3 and 2.0 Gy/fraction schedules, respectively. The present data clearly show development of late cardiac sequelae caused by fractionated thorax irradiation with a total dose of 50 Gy. Moreover, this study lends support to the importance of fraction size with regard to the severity of the radiation-induced cardiac damage.

[The action of radioprotectors of natural origin (MIGI-K and carnosine) on the catecholamine level in irradiated rats]. / Issledovanie deistviia radioprotektorov prirodnogo proiskhozhdeniia (MIGI-K i karnozina) na uroven' katekholaminov u obluchennykh krys.

The influence of natural radioprotectors (MIGI-K and carnosin) on the dynamics of catecholamines level in adrenal glands of irradiated rats was shown. Carnosin and MIGI-K take part in developing of organism radioresistance. Carnosin action is due to mobilisation of endogenous radioprotective agents (catecholamines) while MIGI-K influences on the restoring of their level.

[The modification of the effect of microwave radiation on the biochemical processes in anaphylactic shock by using exposure to a weak and perturbed geomagnetic field]. / Modifikatsiia vliianiia mikrovolnovogo izlucheniia na biokhimicheskie protsessy pri anafilakticheskom shoke s pomoshch'iu vozdeistviia oslablennogo i iskazhennogo geomagnitnogo polia.

Repeated exposure of guinea pigs to microwave radiation (1 mW/cm2) caused in some animals inhibition of anaphylactic response accompanied by increasing the content of histamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine in the blood. This increase was more pronounced in irradiated guinea pigs died from anaphylactic shock than in nonirradiated animals. The long-term stay in the perturbed and weak geometric field reduced the effect induced by microwave radiation.

[The combined action of ionizing radiation and a heat load on the content of biogenic amines in the blood of guinea pigs with anaphylactic shock]. / Kombinirovannoe deistvie ioniziruiushchego izlucheniia i teplovoi nagruzki na soderzhanie biogennykh aminov v krovi morskikh svinok pri anafilaticheskom shoke.

The anaphylactic shock and alterations in the epinephrine and norepinephrine content of the blood were inhibited in guinea pigs which were repeatedly kept at high temperature (50 degrees C). Preirradiation with a dose of 1 Gy prevented this effect.

Regional changes in central noradrenaline levels after X-irradiation at birth

La inyección neonatal de nerutóxicos a roedores produce cambios permanentes en los niveles centrales de noradrenalina (NA). Estos cambios se asocian a una hiperinervación del tallo encefálico (BS) y cerebelo (CE) y a una hipoinvervación de la corteza cerebral (CO) y médula espinal (SC). El sistema nervioso central en desarrollo de los mamíferos es sensible a los rayos-X. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar los efectos de una dosis de radiación-X en ratas neonatas sobre los niveles centrales de NA, evaluados post-nacimiento. La cabeza de los animales fue expuesta a 200, 500 ó 700 rad (SC no irradiada) en las 24 h luego del nacimiento. Fueron sacrificados a los 30, 90, 185 ó 390 días de edad y se separon las siguientes regiones: BS, CO, CE, SC y el "resto del encéfalo" (RB). La NA se aisló por adsorción en columnas de alúnina y se determinó por métodos fluorométrico. A los 30 días, la NA del BS se incrementó luego de 200 (173 % del control), 500 (205.9%) y 700 rad (188.2%), retornando a los valores del control alrededor del día 90. Luego de 500 rad se produjo un aumento persistente en la concentración de NA tanto en CE como en RB, inclusive evaluada al día 390: 220% y 170.3%, respectivamente. Asimismo, 700 rad determinaron un incremento permanente en la concentración de NA del CE: 186.7%, determinada en el día 390. Una atrofia persistente del CE fue inducida tanto por 500 (78.4% del control) como por 700 rad (39.1%), pesado en el día 390. Las dos dois mayores produjeron una... (AU)

Regional changes in central noradrenaline levels after X-irradiation at birth

La inyección neonatal de nerutóxicos a roedores produce cambios permanentes en los niveles centrales de noradrenalina (NA). Estos cambios se asocian a una hiperinervación del tallo encefálico (BS) y cerebelo (CE) y a una hipoinvervación de la corteza cerebral (CO) y médula espinal (SC). El sistema nervioso central en desarrollo de los mamíferos es sensible a los rayos-X. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar los efectos de una dosis de radiación-X en ratas neonatas sobre los niveles centrales de NA, evaluados post-nacimiento. La cabeza de los animales fue expuesta a 200, 500 ó 700 rad (SC no irradiada) en las 24 h luego del nacimiento. Fueron sacrificados a los 30, 90, 185 ó 390 días de edad y se separon las siguientes regiones: BS, CO, CE, SC y el "resto del encéfalo" (RB). La NA se aisló por adsorción en columnas de alúnina y se determinó por métodos fluorométrico. A los 30 días, la NA del BS se incrementó luego de 200 (173 % del control), 500 (205.9%) y 700 rad (188.2%), retornando a los valores del control alrededor del día 90. Luego de 500 rad se produjo un aumento persistente en la concentración de NA tanto en CE como en RB, inclusive evaluada al día 390: 220% y 170.3%, respectivamente. Asimismo, 700 rad determinaron un incremento permanente en la concentración de NA del CE: 186.7%, determinada en el día 390. Una atrofia persistente del CE fue inducida tanto por 500 (78.4% del control) como por 700 rad (39.1%), pesado en el día 390. Las dos dois mayores produjeron una...

[Catecholamine content and acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain of rats exposed to lasers]. / Soderzhanie katekholaminov i aktivnost' atsetilkholinésterazy v golovnom mozge krys pri lazernom vozdeistvii.

The catecholamine content was quantitated and acetylcholinesterase activity determined in rat brain locally exposed to laser radiation. It was shown that the adrenaline/noradrenaline ratio changed in the tissues under study and the cholinergic system was involved in the abscopal effect of laser radiation.

[Levels of catecholamines in the hypothalamus, hypophysis and in the adrenal in sheep after whole-body exposure to gamma rays]. / Hladiny katecholových amínov v hypotalame, hypofýze a v nadoblickách oviec po celotelovej expozícii gama-ziarenia.

The changes were studied in the levels of catecholamines and L-DOPA in the control system of reproduction cycle (hypothalamus, hypophysis) and in adrenal glands of sheep after all-body irradiation with 60Co at the total dose of 6.7 Gy for seven days. The power input per hour of irradiation source was 0.039 Gy. The catecholamines (noradrenaline, dopamine and adrenaline) and L-DOPA were determined, after having been isolated from the tissues, by the method of spectral fluorimetry. After all-body exposition to gamma-radiation noradrenaline dropped in hypothalamus in comparison with the control group of sheep, most significantly in the rostral (by 74.2%) and caudal part (by 40%). A similar drop like in the case of noradrenaline was also observed in dopamine, the concentrations of which decreased in rostral hypothalamus by 72%, in medial hypothalamus by 94% and in caudal hypothalamus by 60%. Adrenaline shows a drop in hypothalamus, most significant in caudal region (by 62%). In relation with that the level of a precursor for the synthesis of catecholamines and L-DOPA has been changed which achieved, in the studied regions of hypothalamus in sheep, significantly lower levels than were determined in the control group of sheep. As regards the hypophysis, after irradiation no significant changes in the levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline were recorded, however, dopamine and L-DOPA dropped significantly (P less than 0.01). The exposition to gamma-radiation also causes a decrease in the concentrations of catecholamines and L-DOPA in the adrenal glands of sheep, most significant in noradrenaline (by 61%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effect of acetylcholine and histamine on electrolyte and catecholamine content of vessel walls exposed to x-rays and cystamine]. / Vliianie atsetilkholina i gistamina na soderzhanie élektrolitov i katekholaminov v stenke sosudov v usloviiakh rentgenooblucheniia i deistviia tsistamina.

Experiments on adult rats have shown that a single rectal x-ray irradiation is accompanied by a decrease in the content of adrenaline, noradrenaline and potassium and by a increase in sodium and calcium concentration in vascular tissue. The degree of these shifts depends on the time elapsed after exposure to x-rays. X-Ray injury produces specific changes in the biochemical response of the vascular wall to different doses of acetylcholine and histamine during varying times of x-ray-induced pathology. Pretreatment (before irradiation) with radioprotectors (cistamine) lowers the damaging effect of radiation and promotes the normalization of the vascular tissue response to the administration of mediator agents.

Alteration in adenylate cyclase response to aminergic stimulation following neonatal x-irradiation.

X-irradiation of the rat neonatal hippocampus produces severe alterations in the architectonic features of the mature hippocampus. The most prominent alterations is a marked depletion of the granule cells of the dentate gyrus, with a subsequent realignment of CA 4 cells. The present data also show that norepinephrine (NE), dopamine and histamine stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity is severely attenuated in the hippocampi of irradiated animals. This failure suggests that the NE fibers of irradiated subjects, although normal in content of NE, are not functional in some of their NE-effector actions.