Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), has been id entified in the rat and human gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin has been proposed to play a role in gastric acid secretion. Nitric oxide (NO) was shown as a mediator in the mechanism of ghrelin action on gastric acid secretory function. However, there is a little knowledge about this topic. We have investigated the role of ghrelin in gastric acid secretion and the role of NO as a mediator. Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The pyloric sphincter was ligated through a small midline incision. By the time, saline (0.5 ml, iv) was injected to the control group, ghrelin (20 μg/kg, iv) was injected to the first experimental group, ghrelin (20 μg/kg, iv) +L-NAME (70 mg/kg, sc) was injected to the second group and L-NAME (70 mg/kg, sc) was administered to the third group. The rats were killed 3 h after pylorus ligation; gastric acid secretion, mucus content and plasma nitrite levels were measured. Exogenous ghrelin administration increased gastric acid output, mucus content and total plasma nitrite levels, while these effects of ghrelin were inhibited by applying L-NAME. We can conclude that ghrelin participates in the regulation of gastric acid secretion through NO as a mediator., H. M. Bilgin, C. Tumer, H. Diken, M. Kelle, A. Sermet., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Mammalian P2X receptors contain 10 conserved cysteine residues in their ectodomains, which form five disulfide bonds (SS1-5). Here, we analyzed the relevance of these disulfide pairs in rat P2X4 receptor function by replacing one or both cysteines with alanine or threonine, expressing receptors in HEK293 cells and studying their responsiveness to ATP in the absence and presence of ivermectin, an allostenic modulator of these channels. Response to ATP was not altered when both cysteines forming the SS3 bond (C132-C159) were replaced with threonines. Replacem ent of SS1 (C116-C165), SS2 (C126-C149) and SS4 (C217-C227), but not SS5 (C261-C270), cysteine pairs with threonines resulted in de creased sensitivity to ATP and faster deactivation times. The maximum current amplitude was reduced in SS2, SS4 and SS5 double mutants and could be partially rescued by ivermectin in SS2 and SS5 double mutants. This response pattern was also observed in numerous single residue mutants, but receptor function was not affected when the 217 cysteine was replaced with threonine or arginine or when the 261 cysteine was replaced with alanine. These results suggest that the SS1, SS2 and SS4 bonds contribute substantially to the structure of the ligand binding pocket, while the SS5 bond located towards the transmembrane domain contributes to receptor gating., M. B. Rokic, V. Tvrdoňová, V. Vávra, M. Jindřichová, T. Obšil, S. S. Stojilkovic, H. Zemková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Enhanced production of superoxide radicals by nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in the brain and/or kidney of salt hypertensive Dahl rats has been proposed to participate in the pathogenesis of this form of experimental hypertension. Most information was obtained in young Dahl saltsensitive (DS) rats subjected to high salt intake prior to sexual maturation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether salt hypertension induced in adult DS rats is also accompanied with a more pronounced oxidative stress in the brain or kidney as compared to Dahl salt-resistant (DR) controls. NADPH oxidase activity as well as the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (oxidative index), which indicate a degree of lipid peroxidation, were evaluated in two brain regions (containing either hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus or rostral ventrolateral medulla) as well as in renal medulla and cortex. High salt intake induced hypertension in DS rats but did not modify blood pressure in DR rats. DS and DR rats did not differ in NADPH oxidase-dependent production of ROS, TBARS content or oxidative index in either part of the brain. In addition, high-salt diet did not change significantly any of these brain parameters. In contrast, the enhanced NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production (without significant signs of increased lipid peroxidation) was detected in the renal medulla of salt hypertensive DS rats. Our findings suggest that there are no signs of enhanced oxidative stress in the brain of adult Dahl rats with salt hypertension induced in adulthood., M. Vokurková, H. Rauchová, L. Řezáčová, I. Vaněčková, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Recently, we derived “humanized” spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-CRP) in which transgenic expression of human CRP induces inflammation, oxidative stress, several features of metabolic syndrome and target organ injury. In addition, we found that rosuvastatin treatment of SHR-CRP transgenic rats can protect against pro-inflammatory effects of human CRP and also reduce cardiac inflammation and oxidative damage. In the current study, we tested the effects of rosuvastatin (5 mg/kg) on kidney injury in SHR-CRP males versus untreated SHR-CRP and SHR controls. All rats were fed a high sucrose diet. In SHR-CRP transgenic rats, treatment with rosuvastatin for 10 weeks, compared to untreated transgenic rats and SHR controls, was associated with significantly reduced systemic inflammation which was accompanied with activation of antioxidative enzymes in the kidney, lower renal fat accumulation, and with amelioration of histopathological changes in the kidney. These findings provide evidence that, in the presence of high CRP levels, rosuvastatin exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and renoprotective effects., J. Šilhavý, V. Zídek, V. Landa, M. Šimáková, P. Mlejnek, O. Oliyarnyk, H. Malínská, L. Kazdová, M. Mancini, M. Pravenec., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To date, a single report has appeared on the use of salivary cortisol for adrenal function testing with a low dose ACTH, although 1 μg has become preferred as a more physiological stimulus than the commonly used 250 μg ACTH test. Our present study was aimed to obtain physiological data on changes of free salivary cortisol after 1 μg ACTH stimulation. This approach was compared with the common method based on the changes of total serum cortisol. Intravenous, low-dose ACTH test was performed in 15 healthy women (aged 22-40 years) with normal body weight, not using hormonal contraceptives, in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Blood and saliva for determination of cortisol were collected before ACTH administration and 30 and 60 min after ACTH administration. Basal concentration of salivary cortisol (mean ± S.E.M., 15.9±1.96 nmol/l) increased after 1 μg ACTH to 29.1±2.01 nmol/l after 30 min, and to 27.4±2.15 nmol/l after 60 min. The differences between basal and stimulated values were highly significant (p<0.0001). The values of salivary cortisol displayed very little interindividual variability (p<0.04) in contrast to total serum cortisol values (p<0.0001) A comparison of areas under the curve (AUC) related to initial values indicated significantly higher AUC values for salivary cortisol than for total serum cortisol (1.89±0.88 vs. 1.22±0.19, p<0.01). Correlation analysis of serum and salivary cortisol levels showed a borderline relationship between basal levels (r=0.5183, p=0.0525); correlations after stimulation were not significant. Low-dose ACTH administration appeared as a sufficient stimulus for increasing salivary cortisol to a range considered as a normal adrenal functional reserve., K. Šimůnková, R. Hampl, M. Hill, J. Doucha, L. Stárka, K. Vondra., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The present study was undertaken to provide more information on the incidence of satellite nucleoli in developmental stages of the megakaryocytic lineage. Satellite nucleoli representing solitary silver stained nucleolus organizer regions (AgNORs) present in nuclei in addition to other nucleolar types were observed in all stages of megakaryocytic development. However, the incidence of satellite nucleoli was more frequent in mature megakaryocytes than in less differentiated immature megakaryoblasts and naked megakaryocytic nuclei representing the terminal stages of megakaryocytic development after loss of the cytoplasm transformed to thrombocytes. There is a possibility that the increased incidence of satellite nucleoli in mature megakaryocytes might be due to the loss of AgNORs from active nucleoli characteristic for immature cells. The decreased incidence of satellite nucleoli in naked megakaryocytic nuclei might reflect their disintegration in the terminal stages of the megakaryocytic development., J. Janoutová, Z. Likovský, K.Smetana., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Given the potential clinical benefit of inhibiting Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) activity dur ing myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R), pharmacological approaches have been pursued to both inhibit and clarify the importance of this exchanger. SEA0400 was reported to have a potent NCX selectivity. Thus, we examined the effect of SEA0400 on NCX currents and I/R induced intracellular Ca2+ overload in mouse ventricular myocytes using patch clamp techniques and fluorescence measurements. Ischemia significantly inhibited inward and outward NCX current (from -0.04±0.01nA to 0 nA at -100 mV; from 0.23±0.08 nA to 0.11±0.03 nA at +50 mV, n=7). Subsequent reperfusion not only restored the current rapidly but enhanced the current amplitude obviously, especially the outward currents (from 0.23±0.08 nA to 0.49±0.12 nA at +50 mV, n=7). [Ca2+]i, expressed as the ratio of Fura-2 fluorescence intensity, increased to 138±7 % (P<0.01) during ischemia and to 210±11 % (P<0.01) after reperfusion. The change of NCX current and the increase of [Ca 2+]i during I/R can be blocked by SEA0400 in a dose-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 31 nM and 28 nM for the inward and outward NCX current, respectively. The results suggested that SEA0400 is a potent NCX inhibitor, which can protect mouse cardiac myocytes from Ca2+ overload during I/R injuries., J. Wang, Z. Zhang, Y. Hu, X. Hou, Q. Cui, Y. Zang, C. Wang., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The laboratory rat, a non-photoperiodic rodent, exhibits seasonal fluctuations of melatonin. Melatonin has been found to be readily transferred from the maternal to the fetal circulation. No data exist on the possible influence of maternal pineal gland upon seasonal variations of the offspring. The aim of the present study was to asses the influence of the maternal melatonin rhythm on the offspring postnatal development of the reproductive hormones LH, FSH and prolactin. Male offspring from control, pinealectomized (PIN-X) and PIN-X + melatonin (PIN-X+MEL) mother Wistar rats were studied at 21, 31, and 60 days of age. Seasonal age-dependent variations were found for all hormones studied in control offspring but PIN-X offspring showed a tendency to have reduced duration or altered seasonal variations. Maternal melatonin treatment to PIN-X mothers partially restored the effect of pinealectomy. The chronological study of LH, FSH, and prolactin in PIN-X offspring also showed an altered pattern as compared to control-offspring. Melatonin treatment to the mothers partially restored the developmental pattern of reproductive hormones. Results of this study indicate that maternal pineal gland of the laboratory rat is involved in the seasonal postnatal development variations of reproductive hormones of the offspring., N. Vásquez, E. Díaz, C. Fernández, V. Jiménez, A. Esquifino, B. Díaz., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is an ubiquitary monoamine acting as one of the neurotransmitters at synapses of nerve cells. Serotonin acts through several receptor types and subtypes. The profusion of 5-HT receptors should eventually allow a better understanding of the different and complex processes in which serotonin is involved. Its role is expected in the etiology of several diseases, including depre ssion, schizophreni a, anxiety and panic disorders, migraine, hypert ension, pulmonary hypertension, eating disorders, vomiting and irritable bowel syndromes. In the past 20 years, seven distinct families of 5-HT receptors have been identified and various subpo pulations have been described for several of them. Increasing number of 5-HT receptors has made it difficult to unravel the role of 5-HT receptor subpopulations due to the lack of suitable selective agents. The present review describes the different populations and nomenclature of recently discovered 5-HT receptors and their pharmacological relevance. and M. Pytliak ... [et al.].
Neurotransmitter substrate of spatial cognition belongs to current topics in behavioral neuroscience. The present study examined the effects of serotonin depletion with p-chlorophenylalanine on learning of rats in active place avoidance, a spatial task requiring allothetic mapping and cognitive coordination and highly dependent upon hippocampus. Serotonin depletion transiently increased locomotor activity in response to footshocks, but it did not change the avoidance efficiency measured by three spatial parameters. These results suggest that serotonin neurotransmission is not crucial for cognitive coordination and allothetic learning, i.e. the processes, which are crucial for active place avoidance performance., T. Petrásek, A. Stuchlík., and Obsahuje seznam literatury