The central nervous system (CNS) mechanism(s) for the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) by various stimuli is unknown. In this study, the role of CNS catecholamines in effecting ADH release was examined in conscious rats 10-14 d after the cerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). This dose of 6-OHDA caused a 67% depletion of brain tissue norepinephrine and only 3% depletio...

Changes in dietary macronutrient composition and/or central nervous system neuronal activity can underlie obesity and disturbed fuel homeostasis. We examined whether switching rats from a diet with high carbohydrate content (HC; i.e., regular chow) to diets with either high fat (HF) or high fat/high protein content at the expense of carbohydrates (LC-HF-HP) causes differential effects on body w...

Neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT4/5) play an important role in the regulation of nervous system development and adult nervous system plasticity, maintenance of structural integrity, and mediation of defensive responses after CNS injuries. NGF, probably the most widely studied neurotro...

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic enzyme secretion in vivo. Recent studies have shown that CGRP exerts its inhibitory action at a central vagal site. The present study investigates the mechanism responsible for the central action of CGRP. Rats were fitted with lateral cerebroventricular cannulas, using stereotaxic instruments, 4 days before pancreatic se...

BACKGROUND Kisspeptin and its G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 54 are essential for activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. In the rat, the kisspeptin neurons critical for gonadotropin secretion are located in the hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei. As the ARC is known to be the site of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generat...

Background and objectives: Hesperetin (Hst), aglycone form of hesperidin, is reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. On the other hand, the latest nanoparticle technology can help to improve the bioavailability of Hst, which is affected by the final particle size and stability. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, character...

Leptin regulates energy homeostasis and body weight by balancing energy intake and expenditure. It was recently reported that leptin, released into the gut lumen during the cephalic phase of gastric secretion, is capable of initiating intestinal nutrient absorption. Vagal afferent neurons also express receptors for both CCK and leptin, which are believed to interact in controlling food intake. ...

Experiments carried out in our laboratory in the last 20 years show that the blood-brain barrier plays a crucial role in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration [1,2]. Using various animal models of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in rats and mice, we found that the blood-brain and the blood-spinal cord barriers became leaky to various sized tracers ranging from 12 Å (Lanthanum ion) to 8...

Objective(s): Systemic and intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of insulin possess analgesic effects. The raphe magnus nucleus (RMN) is part of the endogenous analgesia system. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ICV injection of insulin on the levels of monoamines and their related metabolites in the RMN during the formalin test in non...

Ciobica Alin »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« University Dept. of Biology B dul Carol I, 11 700506, Iasi, Romania Tel :0040751218264; Fax 0040232201472 e-mail: alin.ciobicaauaic.ro Summary: It has already been demonstrated that a complete brain renin–angiotensin system (RAS) exists distinctly separate from the peripheral system and is implicated in complex functions such as memory, emotional responses and...