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Glucokinase and Glucokinase Regulatory Proteins are Functionally Coexpressed before Birth in the Rat BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Our previous description of functional glucokinase (GK) isoforms and their interactions with glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP) in adult rat and human brains suggested that both participate in glucose sensing in the central nervous system. To determine whether both proteins are coexpressed and active before birth or during early post-natal life, we characterised these molecules in the brains of foetal and post-natal pup rats. We found GK and GKRP mRNAs that were similar to those previously reported in the adult rat brain. Likewise, GK and GKRP gene expression gave rise to proteins of 52 and 69 kDa, respectively. Immunoh...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - November 19, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: I. Roncero, C. Sanz, E. Álvarez, P. Vázquez, P.A. Barrio, E. Blázquez Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Signalling Pathway Alterations in Pituitary Adenomas: Involvement of Gsα, cAMP and Mitogen-Activated Protein KinasesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Despite extensive research on sporadic pituitary adenomas, it is not yet possible to assign one protein alteration to one specific type of pituitary adenomas. Nevertheless, alterations of the cAMP pathway appear to be molecular hallmarks of most growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas. However, these alterations do not confer specific phenotypes to patients carrying these alterations. In this review, we summarise the literature regarding signalling alterations observed in GH-secreting adenomas. We focus on Gs[alpha] alterations and their possible cross-talk with the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 pathway. In t...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 22, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. Pertuit, A. Barlier, A. Enjalbert, C. Gérard Tags: Review Article Source Type: journals

Daily Rhythms of Spike Coding in the Rat Supraoptic NucleusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Novel measures of coding based on interspike intervals were used to characterise the rhythms of single unit activity in the supraoptic nucleus during the day/night cycle in urethane-anaesthetised rats in vivo. Both continuously firing and phasic cells showed significant (P < 0.001) diurnal rhythms of spike frequency and in the irregularity of firing, as quantified by the log interval entropy (ENT). Comparison of rhythms in log interval ENT showed that the amplitude of the rhythms was greater for the continuously firing cells than for the phasic cells (P = 0.002). Rhythms persisted after hypertonic stimulation or pinealecto...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: G. S. Bhumbra, S. Lombardelli, J. A. Gonzalez, K. S. Parsy, R. E. J. Dyball Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Sex Differences in the Expression of Sex Steroid Receptor mRNA in the Quail BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In Japanese quail, males will readily exhibit the full sequence of male-typical sexual behaviors but females never show this response, even after ovariectomy and treatment with male-typical concentrations of exogenous testosterone. Testosterone aromatisation plays a key-limiting role in the activation of this behavior but the higher aromatase activity in the brain of males compared to females is not sufficient to explain the behavioural sex difference. The cellular and molecular bases of this prominent sex difference in the functional consequences of testosterone have not been identified so far. We hypothesised that the di...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: C. Voigt, G. F. Ball, J. Balthazart Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Possible Involvement of Microglia Containing Cyclooxygenase-1 in the Accumulation of Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone in the Preoptic Area in Female RatsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Prostaglandins (PGs), especially PGE2, are involved in the hypothalamic control of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release, acting at least in part on the terminal of GnRH axons in the median eminence. The present study aimed: (i) to clarify the role of PG(s) in regulating GnRH cell function at the level of the perikarya in the preoptic area; (ii) to determine the cyclooxygenase (COX) isozyme responsible for producing PG(s) that regulates GnRH perikarya; and (iii) to identify cell types that contain the responsible COX isozyme in female rats. A surge of luteinising hormone (LH) secretion was induced by oestrogen and...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: S. Adachi, H. Fujioka, C. Kakehashi, T. Matsuwaki, M. Nishihara, T. Akema Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Leptin: Back and ForwardEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The discovery of leptin resulted in a gear change in obesity research. Exploiting its therapeutic potential has proved to be a long game, although encouraging progress is now being made with leptin monotherapy in conditions of relative deficiency, and with combination therapy against common obesity. Leptin's role in early brain development constitutes an exciting area for mechanistic study with potential therapeutic implications. (Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology)
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 14, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Julian Mercer Tags: Neuroendocrinology Briefing Source Type: journals

Oestradiol and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Reduce Cell Loss after Global Ischaemia in Middle-Aged Female RatsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Whereas the ability of oestradiol and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 to afford neuroprotection against ischaemia-induced neuronal death in young female and male rodents is well established, the impact of IGF-1 in middle-aged animals is largely unknown. The present study assessed the efficacy of oestradiol and IGF-1 with respect to reducing neuronal death after transient global ischaemia in middle-aged female rats after 8 weeks of hormone withdrawal. Rats were ovariohysterectomised and implanted 8 weeks later with an osmotic mini-pump delivering IGF-1 or saline into the lateral ventricle. Some rats also received physiol...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 14, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. L. Traub, M. De Butte-Smith, R. S. Zukin, A. M. Etgen Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Genistein Induces Phosphorylation of cAMP Response Element-binding Protein in Neonatal Hypothalamus In VivoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We investigated the effect of the phytoestrogen, genistein and 17[beta]-oestradiol on cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in the neonatal female rat hypothalamus in vivo using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Although CREB expression was insensitive to the compounds we tested, administration of genistein and 17[beta]-oestradiol induced rapid CREB phosphorylation (< 15 min) in the hypothalamus and its level remained elevated at 4 h. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis showed that genistein and 17[beta]-oestradiol had no effect on CREB phosphorylation in the magnocellular subdivi...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 14, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. Sárvári, É. M. Szegő, K. Barabás, A. Jávor, S Tóth, Z. Kovács, I. M. Ábrahám Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Kisspeptin/Gpr54-Independent Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Activity in Kiss1 and Gpr54 Mutant MiceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The kisspeptin/Gpr54 signalling pathway plays a critical role in reproduction by stimulating the secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), yet mice carrying mutations in Kiss1 (which encodes kisspeptin) or Gpr54 exhibit partial sexual maturation. For example, a proportion of female Kiss1[minus]/[minus] and Gpr54[minus]/[minus] mice exhibit vaginal oestrus, and some male Kiss1[minus]/[minus] and Gpr54[minus]/[minus] mice exhibit spermatogenesis. To characterise this partial sexual maturation, we examined the vaginal cytology of female Kiss1[minus]/[minus] and Gpr54[minus]/[minus] mice over time. Almost all mutant...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 14, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Y. M. Chan, S. Broder-Fingert, K. M. Wong, S. B. Seminara Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Photic and Nonphotic Seasonal Cues Differentially Engage Hypothalamic Kisspeptin and RFamide-Related Peptide mRNA Expression in Siberian HamstersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Seasonally breeding animals use a combination of photic (i.e. day length) and nonphotic (e.g. food availability, temperature) cues to regulate their reproduction. How these environmental cues are integrated is not understood. To assess the potential role of two candidate neuropeptides, kisspeptin and RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP), we monitored regional changes in their gene expression in a seasonally breeding mammal exposed to moderate changes in photoperiod and food availability. Adult male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were housed under a long (16 h light/day; 16 L) or intermediate (13.5 L) photoperiod and fed...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 14, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. J. Paul, L. M. Pyter, D. A. Freeman, J. Galang, B. J. Prendergast Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

An Interaction of Oxytocin Receptors with Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Hypothalamic AstrocytesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hypothalamic astrocytes play a critical role in the regulation and support of many different neuroendocrine events, and are affected by oestradiol. Both nuclear and membrane oestrogen receptors (ERs) are expressed in astrocytes. Upon oestradiol activation, membrane-associated ER signals through the type 1a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1a) to induce an increase of free cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Because the expression of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) is modulated by oestradiol, we tested whether oestradiol also influences oxytocin signalling. Oxytocin at 1, 10, and 100 nm induced a [Ca2+]i flux measur...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: J. Kuo, O. R. Hariri, P. Micevych Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Gene Expression Profiles of Intracellular and Membrane Progesterone Receptor Isoforms in the Mediobasal Hypothalamus During Pro-OestrusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Progesterone action is mediated by its binding to specific receptors. Two progesterone receptor (PR) isoforms (PRA and PRB), three membrane progesterone receptor (mPR) subtypes (mPR[alpha], mPR[beta] and mPR[gamma]) and at least one progesterone membrane-binding protein [PR membrane component 1 (PRmc1)] have been identified in reproductive tissues and brain of various species. In the present study, we examined gene expression patterns for PR isoforms, mPR subtypes and PRmc1 in the rat mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) during pro-oestrus. The mRNA level for each receptor subtype was quantified by a real-time reverse transcripta...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: B. Liu, L. A. Arbogast Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Palatable High-Energy Diet Decreases the Expression of Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor Messenger RNA in Specific Brain Regions in the RatEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In laboratory rodents, a palatable high-energy diet (PHED) is usually consumed in a higher quantity than a standard laboratory diet, leading to the development of an obese phenotype. The central effects of PHED are not fully understood. Nonetheless, the long-term consumption of PHED can decrease cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) protein density in particular brain regions. However, little is known about the diet-dependent regulation of the brain expression of CB1R mRNA. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the long-term consumption of PHED and short-term (12 h) food deprivation on the brain expression of ...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - October 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: E. Timofeeva, E.-D. Baraboi, A.-M. Poulin, D. Richard Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Studies of the Localisation of Kisspeptin Within the Pituitary of the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) and the Effect of Kisspeptin on the Release of Non-Gonadotropic Pituitary HormonesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Kisspeptin neurones in the arcuate nucleus play a pivotal role in the regulation of hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in higher primates. To examine whether kisspeptin also influences the function of the primate pituitary directly, two experiments were performed in adult male rhesus monkeys. First, the distribution of kisspeptin-containing cells in the pituitary was described using fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Second, the secretion of non-gonadotrophin adenohypophysial hormones [growth hormone (GH), prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)] and cortisol in response to i.v. kisspepti...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - September 15, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: S. Ramaswamy, R. B. Gibbs, T. M. Plant Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Physiological Models of Leptin ResistanceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In common forms of obesity, animals and humans become leptin resistant associated with impaired regulation of energy homeostasis. Over the last decade, significant advances in delineating the underlying mechanisms have been achieved. As well as the obvious scientific progress obtained by novel transgenic animals, natural and physiological models of leptin resistance such as the Siberian hamster (Phodoups sungorus), the field vole (Microtus agrestis) or the rat during pregnancy have also provided invaluable insight into the dynamic long-term control of energy homeostasis. Seasonal (in the hamster) and pregnancy-induced lept...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. Tups Tags: Young Investigator Perspective Source Type: journals

Dopamine Agonist Signalling in the Hypothalamus of Female Rats is Independent of Calcium-Dependent KinasesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We report that, in contrast to progesterone-initiated signalling, there was no recruitment of calcium by SKF in the hypothalamus, as shown by the absence of changes in CaMKII activities in the VMN and POA. Furthermore, SKF-treatment resulted in a rapid increase in calcium-independent basal PKC activity in the VMN but not the POA. These rapid changes were not the result of changes in PKC protein levels or phosphorylation status. These data indicate that progesterone- and SKF-recruit distinct signalling molecules within the same regions of the brain to activate region-specific signal transduction pathways. (Source: Journal o...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: B. Balasubramanian, S. K. Mani Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Expression of Circadian Neuropeptides in the Hypothalamus of Adult Mice is Affected by Postnatal Light ExperienceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus are the principal pacemaker in mammals, controlling daily, circadian rhythms in physiology and behaviour. Environmental light during development has long-term effects on circadian behaviour, but it is still unclear what the relevant adaptations within the brain are. In the present study, we examined the manifestation of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity, and the expression of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the SCN of adult mice reared under different light environments during the suckling period, and synchronised to light/dark...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: L. Smith, M. M. Canal Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Central Endogenous Vasopressin Induced by Central Salt-Loading Participates in Body Fluid Homeostasis through Modulatory Effects on Neurones of the Paraventricular Nucleus in Conscious RatsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined whether central endogenous AVP is also involved in the control of body fluid homeostasis. To explore this possibility, we examined neuronal activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), periventricular parts of the PVN and limbic brain areas, as well as AVP mRNA expression in the PVN and the peripheral secretion of AVP after central salt-loading in rats that had been pretreated i.c.v. with the AVP V1 receptor antagonist OPC-21268. Neuronal activity in the PVN evaluated in terms of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI), especially in the parvocellular subdivisions, was suppressed. On the other han...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: K. Kato, H. Kannan, H. Ohta, T. Kemuriyama, S. Maruyama, M. Tandai-Hiruma, Y. Sato, M. Nakazato, T. Nishimori, Y. Ishida, T. Onaka, Y. Nishida Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Ghrelin Potentiates Miniature Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents in Supraoptic Magnocellular NeuronesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the effect of ghrelin on the excitatory synaptic inputs to the magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in in vitro rat and mouse brain slice preparations. The application of ghrelin (10[minus]7[sim]10[minus]6 m) caused a significant increase in the frequency of the miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in a dose-related manner without affecting the amplitude. The increased frequency of the spontaneous EPSCs persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin (1 [mu]M). Des-n-octanoyl ghrelin (10[minus]6 m) did not have a significant e...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: T. Yokoyama, T. Saito, T. Ohbuchi, H. Suzuki, H. Otsubo, T. Okamoto, H. Fujihara, T. Nagatomo, Y. Ueta Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

An Association Between Stress-Induced Disruption of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Disordered Glucose Metabolism in an Animal Model of Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Retrospective clinical reports suggesting that traumatic stress populations display an increased propensity for glucose metabolism disorders were examined in a controlled prospective animal model. Stress-induced behavioural and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response patterns were correlated to central and peripheral parameters of glucose metabolism and signalling, and to body measurements in Sprague[ndash]Dawley rats exposed to predator scent stress. Forty days post-exposure, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, body weight and white adipose tissue mass, systemic corticosterone...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: H. Cohen, N. Kozlovsky, N. Savion, M. A. Matar, U. Loewenthal, N. Loewenthal, J. Zohar, Z. Kaplan Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Endogenous Nociceptin / Orphanin FQ System Involvement in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responses: Relevance to Models of InflammationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide and its receptor (NOP) function in the neuromodulation of anxiety, stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. We investigated the endogenous NOP system using the selective NOP antagonist, UFP-101, during the HPA axis response to bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although i.c.v. N/OFQ (1 [mu]g/rat) had no significant effect on LPS-induced (250 [mu]g/rat i.p) plasma corticosterone release at 30 or 60 min post-i.c.v. injection, i.c.v. UFP-101 (1 [mu]g/rat)/LPS significantly attenuated plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone and corticosterone at the 30-min ti...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 31, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: J. D. Leggett, K. L. Dawe, D. S. Jessop, A. J. Fulford Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

A Glucocorticoid Sensitive Biphasic Rhythm of Testosterone SecretionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis have revealed a reciprocal relationship between these two endocrine pathways. In rats, for example, disruption of the HPT axis alters the circadian secretion of corticosterone. Stress, on the other hand, can have varying effects on testosterone secretion in both rats and humans. Furthermore, in contrast to humans, where several pulses of testosterone secretion can be detected across the 24-h period with the largest in the morning, rats appear to exhibit a diurnal rhythm of testosterone secretion. In the present stu...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 21, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: E. Waite, Y. Kershaw, F. Spiga, S. L. Lightman Tags: Research Communication Source Type: journals

On the Central Mechanism Underlying Ghrelin's Chronic Pro-Obesity Effects in Rats: New Insights from Studies Exploiting a Potent Ghrelin Receptor AntagonistEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the present study, we explore the central nervous system mechanism underlying the chronic central effects of ghrelin with respect to increasing body weight and body fat. Specifically, using a recently developed ghrelin receptor antagonist, GHS-R1A (JMV2959), we investigate the role of GHS-R1A in mediating the effects of ghrelin on energy balance and on hypothalamic gene expression. As expected, in adult male rats, chronic central treatment with ghrelin for 14 days, when compared to vehicle-treated control rats, resulted in an increased body weight, lean mass and fat mass (assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry), dissecte...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 19, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: N. Salomé, C. Hansson, M. Taube, L. Gustafsson-Ericson, E. Egecioglu, L. Karlsson-Lindahl, J. A. Fehrentz, J. Martinez, D. Perrissoud, S. L. Dickson Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Generator Activity in the Hypothalamus of the GoatEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Pulsatile release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is indispensable to maintain normal gonadotrophin secretion. The pulsatile secretion of GnRH is associated with synchronised electrical activity in the mediobasal hypothalamus (i.e. multiple unit activity; MUA), which is considered to reflect the rhythmic oscillations in the activity of the neuronal network that drives pulsatile GnRH secretion. However, the cellular source of this ultradian rhythm in GnRH activity is unknown. Direct input from kisspeptin neurones in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) to GnRH cell bodies in the medial preoptic area or their terminals in the...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 11, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: S. Ohkura, K. Takase, S. Matsuyama, K. Mogi, T. Ichimaru, Y. Wakabayashi, Y. Uenoyama, Y. Mori, R. A. Steiner, H. Tsukamura, K.-I. Maeda, H. Okamura Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

The Expression of Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels in Pituicytes and the Up-Regulation of L-Type Ca2+ Channels During Water DeprivationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The primary components of the neurohypophysis are the neuroendocrine terminals that release vasopressin and oxytocin, and pituicytes, which are astrocytes that normally surround and envelop these terminals. Pituicytes regulate neurohormone release by secreting the inhibitory modulator taurine in an osmotically-regulated fashion and undergo a marked structural reorganisation in response to dehydration as well as during lactation and parturition. Because of these unique functions, and the possibility that Ca2+ influx could regulate their activity, we tested for the expression of voltage-gated Ca2+ channel [alpha]1 subunits i...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: D. Wang, B. Yan, W. R. A. K. J. S. Rajapaksha, T. E. Fisher Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Chronic Stress Alters Glucocorticoid Receptor and Mineralocorticoid Receptor mRNA Expression in the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Although the glucocorticoid response to acute short-term stress is an adaptive physiological mechanism that aids in the response to and survival of noxious stimuli, chronic stress is associated with a negative impact on health. In wild-caught European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), chronic stress alters the responsiveness of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as measured by the acute corticosterone response. In the present study, we investigated potential underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms by comparing glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA expression in the brains of chronically and nonchronic...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. Dickens, L. M. Romero, N. E. Cyr, I. C. Dunn, S. L. Meddle Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Noradrenaline Involvement in the Negative-Feedback Effects of Ovarian Steroids on Luteinising Hormone SecretionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Noradrenaline has been shown to modulate the ovarian-steroid feedback on luteinising-hormone (LH) release. However, despite the high amount of evidence accumulated over many years, the role of noradrenaline in LH regulation is still not clearly understood. The present study aimed to further investigate the involvement of noradrenaline in the negative-feedback effect of oestradiol and progesterone on basal LH secretion. In experiment 1, ovariectomised (OVX) rats received a single injection of oil, oestradiol, or progesterone at 09.00[ndash]10.00 h and were decapitated 30 or 60 min later. Levels of noradrenaline and its meta...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - August 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: C. V. V. Helena, R. E. Szawka, J. A. Anselmo-Franci Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Nurturing Nature: Social Experiences and the BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
How does 'nurture' change the brain? Recent evidence suggests that maternal care may shape the infant brain by turning genes 'on' or 'off' during development. Some of the genes affected are important for maternal and social behaviour leading to long-term changes in the nurturing behaviour of offspring. These studies provide new insights into the inheritance of behaviour and the interactions between genes and the social environment across the lifespan. (Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology)
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Frances A. Champagne Tags: Neuroendocrinology Briefing Source Type: journals

Neuropeptide W has Cell Phenotype-Specific Effects on the Excitability of Different Subpopulations of Paraventricular Nucleus NeuronesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The administration of the neuropeptide W (NPW) and neuropeptide B (NPB) in rodents has been shown to influence the activity of a variety of autonomic and neuroendocrine systems. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a major autonomic and neuroendocrine integration site in the hypothalamus, and neurones within this nucleus express the receptor for these ligands, NPB/W receptor 1 (NPBWR1). In the present study, we used whole cell patch clamp recordings coupled with single-cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to examine the effects of neuropeptide W-23 (NPW-23) on the excitability of identified PVN neurones. Ox...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: C. J. Price, W. K. Samson, A. V. Ferguson Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Combined 17β-Oestradiol and Progesterone Treatment Prevents Neuronal Cell Injury in Cortical but not Midbrain Neurones or Neuroblastoma CellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Oestrogens are powerful endogenous and exogenous neuroprotective hormones in animal models of brain injury, including focal cerebral ischaemia. This protective effect has been demonstrated under a variety of different treatments and injury paradigms, such as in vivo and in vitro stroke conditions. Neuroprotection in the central nervous system by progesterone is less defined. In the present study, cultured cortical and midbrain mouse neurones and human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were exposed to combined glucose-serum deprivation (CGSD), which is regarded as a reliable model mimicking the effects of ischaemia in vitro. Ce...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: L. Lorenz, J. Dang, M. Misiak, A. Tameh Abolfazl, C. Beyer, M. Kipp Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Glucocorticoid Dependency of Surgical Stress-Induced FosB/ΔFosB Expression in the Paraventricular and Supraoptic Nuclei of the Rat HypothalamusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
FosB is a member of the Fos family transcription factors. To determine whether FosB expression is regulated by glucocorticoids (GCs) in the hypothalamus, rats underwent sham adrenalectomy (sham-ADX) or bilateral ADX, and FosB/[Delta]FosB ([Delta]FosB, a truncated splice variant of FosB)-immunoreactivity (ir) was determined in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON). In the parvocellular division of the PVN (paPVN) and SON, FosB/[Delta]FosB-immunoreactivity (ir) increased significantly following sham-ADX compared to naive rats, which was suppressed with either corticosterone (CORT) or dexamethasone (D...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 20, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: G. Das, K. Uchida, K. Kageyama, Y. Iwasaki, T. Suda, K. Itoi Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Distribution of Kisspeptin Neurones in the Adult Female Mouse BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Kisspeptin-GPR54 signalling is essential for normal reproductive functioning. However, the distribution of kisspeptin neuronal cell bodies and their projections is not well established. The present study aimed to provide a detailed account of kisspeptin neuroanatomy in the mouse brain. Using a polyclonal rabbit antibody AC566, directed towards the final ten C-terminal amino acids of murine kisspeptin, three populations of kisspeptin-expressing cell bodies were identified in the adult female mouse brain. One exists as a dense periventricular continuum of cells within the rostral part of the third ventricle, another is found...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 15, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: J. Clarkson, X. d'Anglemont de Tassigny, W. H. Colledge, A. Caraty, A. E. Herbison Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Abnormalities in Response to Deletion of 11β-HSD1 is Strain-DependentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Inter-individual differences in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity underlie differential vulnerability to neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders, although the basis of this variation is poorly understood. 11[beta]-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11[beta]-HSD1) has previously been shown to influence HPA axis activity. 129/MF1 mice null for 11[beta]-HSD1 (129/MF1 HSD1[minus]/[minus]) have greatly increased adrenal gland size and altered HPA activity, consistent with reduced glucocorticoid negative feedback. On this background, concentrations of plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (AC...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: R. N. Carter, J. M. Paterson, U. Tworowska, D. J. Stenvers, J. J. Mullins, J. R. Seckl, M. C. Holmes Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Huntington's Disease Does Not Appear to Increase the Risk of Diabetes MellitusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal, dominantly inherited, neurodegenerative disorder characterised by neurological, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. HD has been associated with diabetes mellitus, which is, to some extent, supported by studies in transgenic HD mice. In transgenic mice, the severity of the diabetic phenotype appears to correlate with the length of a polyglutamine expansion in the protein huntingtin. In the present study, we investigated the association between diabetes mellitus and HD by performing an oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) to evaluate the glucose-tolerance status and OGTT-related insul...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - July 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: T. W. Boesgaard, T. T. Nielsen, K. Josefsen, T. Hansen, T. Jørgensen, O. Pedersen, A. Nørremølle, J. E. Nielsen, L. Hasholt Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Daytime Gating in the Syrian Hamster Pineal GlandEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Melatonin synthesis in rodents is tightly regulated at the transcriptional level by stimulatory and inhibitory transcription factors. Among them, phosphorylated cAMP-related element binding protein (pCREB) and inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), a strong inhibitor of cAMP-related element-driven genes, have an antagonistic action in activating/inhibiting the transcription of the Aa-nat gene, which is an important enzyme in melatonin synthesis. In the Syrian hamster, a rodent displaying a seasonal control of reproduction, melatonin synthesis is strongly gated to the second part of the night. Indeed, exogenous adrenergic s...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 21, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. Salingre, P. Klosen, P. Pévet, V. Simonneaux Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

The Anorectic Effect of Neuropeptide AF is Associated with Satiety-Related Hypothalamic NucleiEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Neuropeptide AF (NPAF), a member of the RFamide family, is encoded by the same gene as neuropeptide FF (NPFF), which causes short-term anorexia. However, reports on the role of NPAF on appetite-related process are lacking. Thus, i.c.v. injections of 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 nmol NPAF were administered to chicks to observe its effect on food and water intake. Chicks treated with 8.0 and 16.0 nmol i.c.v. NPAF decreased both their food and water intake. Additionally, all doses of NPAF injected caused a similar reduction in whole blood glucose concentration 180 min after injection. In a second experiment, chicks that received i.c.v. ...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 16, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M. A. Cline, B. A. Newmyer, M. L. Smith Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Ghrelin and Dopamine: New Insights on the Peripheral Regulation of AppetiteEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A review is provided of current evidence supporting the actions of the stomach-derived peptide ghrelin on ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine cells to increase food intake and other appetitive behaviours. Ghrelin is a 28 amino-acid peptide that was first identified as an endogenous ligand to growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R). In addition to the hypothalamus and brain stem, GHS-R message and protein are distributed throughout the brain, with high expression being detected in regions associated with goal directed behaviour. Of these, the VTA shows relatively high levels of mRNA transcript and protein. Interesti...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 11, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Alfonso Abizaid Tags: Young Investigator Perspective Source Type: journals

Central Adiponectin Functions to Inhibit Arginine Vasopressin Release in Conscious RatsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The adipocyte-derived hormone adiponectin plays an important role in modulating energy homeostasis through peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. Several studies have reported that adiponectin exists in cerebrospinal fluid and that adiponectin receptors are expressed in the hypothalamus, including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which plays a key role in controlling pituitary hormone secretion. Furthermore, it has been reported that magnocellular arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurones within the PVN express adiponectin receptors. These findings suggest a central role of adiponectin in the modulation of neuroend...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 11, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Shintaro Iwama, Yoshihisa Sugimura, Takashi Murase, Maiko Hiroi, Motomitsu Goto, Masayuki Hayashi, Hiroshi Arima, Yutaka Oiso Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

GPR30 Differentially Regulates Short Latency Responses of Luteinising Hormone and Prolactin Secretion to OestradiolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Rapid, nongenomic actions of 17[beta]-oestradiol (E2) on hypothalamic neurones that may be relevant to reproductive function were described decades ago. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor, GPR30, was recently shown to bind oestrogens and to trigger rapid signalling in vitro, and is expressed in several rat and human brain regions, including the hypothalamus. We used two complementary approaches to investigate the role of GPR30 in hypothalamic responses to E2 that are relevant to reproductive physiology. Serial blood sampling after the acute administration of the selective GPR30 agonist G1 was used to assess the role of ...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 11, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: D. Lebesgue, A. Reyna-Neyra, X. Huang, A. M. Etgen Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Progesterone Increases Dopamine Neurone Number in Differentiating Mouse Embryonic Stem CellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Progesterone participates in the regulation of several functions in mammals, including brain differentiation and dopaminergic transmission, but the role of progesterone in dopaminergic cell differentiation is unknown. We investigated the effects of progesterone on dopaminergic differentiation of embryonic stem cells using a five-stage protocol. Cells were incubated with different progesterone concentrations during the proliferation (stage 4) or differentiation (stage 5) phases. Progesterone added at 1, 10 and 100 nm during stage 4 increased the number of dopamine neurones at stage 5 by 72%, 80% and 62%, respectively, compa...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: N. F. Díaz, N. E. Díaz-Martínez, I. Velasco, I. Camacho-Arroyo Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Hypothalamic Vasopressin and Oxytocin mRNA Expression in Relation to Depressive State in Alzheimer's Disease: A Difference With Major Depressive DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of this study was to determine, for the first time, the relationship between AVP and OXT gene expression and depressive state in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Post-mortem brain tissue was obtained from six control subjects, and from a prospectively studied cohort of 23 AD patients, using the DSM-IIIR and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia to determine depression diagnosis and severity. The amount of AVP and OXT mRNA was determined by in situ hybridisation. AD patients did not differ from controls with respect to the amount of AVP or OXT mRNA in the PVN or SON. Also, no differences were found between dep...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: G. Meynen, U. A. Unmehopa, M. A. Hofman, D. F. Swaab, W. J. G. Hoogendijk Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Peripheral Lipopolysaccharide Administration Induces Cytokine mRNA Expression in the Viscera and Brain of Fever-Refractory Mice Lacking Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the expression of interleukin (IL)-1[beta], IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) [alpha] in mice lacking microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), which neither produce prostaglandin E2, nor mount a febrile response upon immune challenge. Intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection resulted in a strongly induced expression of all three cytokines in the brain and viscera, similar to wild-type animals. Several brain regions additionally showed modest induction of receptors for these cytokines in both genotypes. Telemetric recordings of body temperature showed that the mPGES-1 deficient mice remaine...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: C. Nilsberth, N. Hamzic, M. Norell, A. Blomqvist Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Leptin Modulates Spike Coding in the Rat Suprachiasmatic NucleusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The mammalian circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), contains receptors to the adipose tissue hormone leptin. In the present study, the effects of leptin on the electrophysiological activity of the SCN cells were characterised in vitro in rat brain slices. During extracellular recording, application of 20 nm leptin (n = 36) decreased mean spike frequency (Wilcoxon signed rank test, z = [minus]3.390, P < 0.001) and increased the irregularity of firing measured by the entropy of the log interspike interval distribution (Student's paired t-test, t = 2.377, P = 0.023), but had no consistent effect on spike pat...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. N. Inyushkin, G. S. Bhumbra, R. E. J. Dyball Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Adiponectin Regulate Growth Hormone Secretion Via Adiponectin Receptor Mediated Ca2+ Signalling in Rat Somatotrophs In VitroEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This report characterise the expression and interaction of adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) and adiponectin, respectively, in regulating the activity of GH secreting cells. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the GH3 cell line, rat anterior pituitary gland and isolated somatotroph cells from transgenic GFP expressing mice confirmed the expression of both AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in GH secretory cells. Because GH cells expressed both receptors, it is likely that the measured increase in GH secretion, observed in primary cultured rat pituitary cells after 30 min of incubation with full-length murine adiponect...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: F. J. Steyn, F. Boehme, E. Vargas, K. Wang, H. C. Parkington, J. R. Rao, C. Chen Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Projections of RFamide-related Peptide-3 Neurones in the Ovine Hypothalamus, with Special Reference to Regions Regulating Energy Balance and ReproductionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) is a neuropeptide produced in cells of the paraventricular nucleus and dorsomedial nucleus of the ovine hypothalamus. In the present study, we show that these cells project to cells in regions of the hypothalamus involved in energy balance and reproduction. A retrograde tracer (FluoroGold) was injected into either the arcuate nucleus, the lateral hypothalamic area or the ventromedial nucleus. The distribution and number of retrogradely-labelled RFRP-3 neurones was determined. RFRP-3 neurones projected to the lateral hypothalamic area and, to a lesser degree, to the ventromedial nucleus an...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Y. Qi, B. J. Oldfield, I. J. Clarke Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Neonatal Lipopolysaccharide Exposure Delays Puberty and Alters Hypothalamic Kiss1 and Kiss1r mRNA Expression in the Female RatEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Immunological challenge experienced in early life can have long-term programming effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that permanently influence the stress response. Similarly, neonatal exposure to immunological stress enhances stress-induced suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis in adulthood, but may also affect earlier development, including the timing of puberty. To investigate the timing of the critical window for this programming of the HPG axis, neonatal female rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 [mu]g/kg i.p.) or saline on postnatal days 3 + 5, 7 + 9, or 14 + 16 a...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - June 3, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. M. I. Knox, X. F. Li, J. S. Kinsey-Jones, E. S. Wilkinson, X. Q. Wu, Y.S. Cheng, S. R. Milligan, S. L. Lightman, K. T. O'Byrne Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Brain Sex Differences and the Organisation of Juvenile Social Play BehaviourEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Juvenile social play behaviour is one of the earliest forms of non-mother directed social behaviour in rodents. Juvenile social play behaviour is sexually dimorphic, with males exhibiting higher levels compared to females, making it a useful model to study both social development and sexual differentiation of the brain. As with most sexually dimorphic behaviour, juvenile play behaviour is organised by neonatal steroid hormone exposure. The developmental organisation of juvenile play behaviour also appears to be influenced by the early maternal environment. This review will focus briefly on why and how rats play, some brain...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - May 19, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. P. Auger, K. M. Olesen Tags: Review Article Source Type: journals

Glial Cells: Indispensable Partners of Hypothalamic Magnocellular NeuronesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system is comprised of magnocellular neurones that synthesise the neuropeptides oxytocin or vasopressin. As neurohormones, these peptides intervene in the regulation of vital functions such as parturition, lactation, osmotic and cardiovascular regulation. The release of these peptides in the general circulation depends on the electrical activity of their parent neurones, which in turn is regulated by the activity of their afferent inputs conveying distinct information. Thus, in view of the diversity of information governing the activity of magnocellular neurones, it is crucial that the syst...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - May 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: A. Panatier Tags: Young Investigator Perspectives Source Type: journals

The Anti-Dopaminergic Agent, Haloperidol, Antagonises the Feminising Effect of Neonatal Serotonin on Sexually Dimorphic Hypothalamic Nuclei and Tyrosine Hydroxylase Immunoreactive NeuronesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There is a transient fall in hypothalamic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) activity in the second week post partum in male but not female rats. When this fall is masked by administration of the 5-HT2 agonist ([ndash]) 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl]-2-aminopropane hydrochloride [([ndash])DOI], over days 8[ndash]16 post partum, males are feminised in adulthood. To investigate whether the effect of 5-HT is mediated by dopamine and whether testosterone exerts its masculinising effect by reducing 5-HT and dopamine activity, male pups were treated with ([ndash])DOI alone or together with the dopamine antagonist, haloperidol, o...
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - May 6, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: C. A. Wilson, C. L. Dakin, J. A. Rico, A. Golmohamad, Y. Ahmad-Jauhari, D. C. Davies Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals

Impaired Nocturnal Melatonin in Acute Phase of Ischaemic Stroke: Cross-Sectional Matched Case–Control AnalysisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, a novel melatonin cut-off of 51.5 pg/ml may be associated with the presence of ischaemic stroke. As a single marker (84% sensitivity, 74% specificity), it is hypothesised that modelling performance was independent of age, gender and cortisol. These new results, including the suggested hypothesis, might be further tested in follow-up (cohort), longitudinal studies and be applied to explore melatonin disturbances as targets in high-risk pre-stroke and post-stroke patients. (Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology)
Source: Journal of Neuroendocrinology - April 28, 2009 Category: Endocrinology Authors: P. A. Atanassova, D. D. Terzieva, B. D. Dimitrov Tags: Original Articles Source Type: journals