AIMS Morphine signaling via the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is coupled to redox-dependent zinc release from endogenous stores. Thus, MOR activation stimulates the complex formed by RGSZ2 (a regulator of G protein signaling) and neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to produce NO, and to recruit PKCγ and Raf-1 in a zinc-dependent manner. Accordingly, we investigated whether redox regulation of zinc me...

The manipulation of the enteric microbiota with specific prebiotics and probiotics, has been shown to reduce the host's inflammatory response, alter brain chemistry, and modulate anxiety behaviour in both rodents and humans. However, the neuro-immune and behavioural effects of prebiotics on sickness behaviour have not been explored. Here, adult male CD1 mice were fed with a specific mix of non-...

During brain development, serotonin (5HT) provides essential neurotrophic signals, and in earlier work, we found that developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) elicits short-term changes in 5HT systems. In the present study, we evaluated the effects in adulthood after CPF exposures from the neural tube stage [gestational days (GD) 9-12] and the late gestational period (GD17-20) through postn...

Recent data has suggested that the 5-HT1A receptor is involved in cognitive processing. A novel 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 4-cyano-N[(2R)-[4-(2,3-dihydrobenzo [1,4] dioxin-5-yl) piperazin1-yl] propyl]-N-pyridin-2-yl-benzamide hydrochloride (lecozotan), which has been characterized in multiple in vitro and in vivo pharmacologic assays as a drug to treat cognitive dysfunction, is reported. In vi...

BACKGROUND Besides the well-known effects of ghrelin on adiposity and food intake regulation, the ghrelin system has been shown to regulate aspects of behavior including anxiety and stress. However, the effect of virus-mediated overexpression of the ghrelin receptor in the amygdala has not previously been addressed directly. METHODS First, we examined the acute effect of peripheral ghrelin ad...

The concept that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) function as oligomers has been widely accepted, however, different methodologies often used to study the phenomenon of GPCR interactions do not allow, as yet, for any generalization as to whether di- or oligomers are formed constitutively or are ligand-promoted. Here, we report on the use of three independent biophysical approaches based on t...

OBJECTIVES Studies indicate that major deficiency in the levels of monoaminergic transmitters is a reason for severe depression. On the other hand, it is shown that Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) may improve neuropsychological injuries by regulation of the monoamine transporter action. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the involvement of monoaminergic systems in antidepressant-l...

Cell-to-cell interactions and synaptic integration may occur within taste buds prior to signals being exported from these peripheral sensory organs to the CNS (Roper, 1992; Kaya et al., 2004). In principle, these interactions could include chemical and electrical synapses between taste cells and synapses from taste cells to sensory afferent fibers. Knowing which transmitters are released at syn...