The effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cocaine-seeking are brain region-specific. Infusion of BDNF into subcortical structures, like the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, enhances cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization and cocaine-seeking. Conversely, repeated administration of BDNF antiserum into the nucleus accumbens during chronic cocaine self-administration...

Introduction: RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) is believed to act as an inhibitor of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. The aim of the present study was to compare the expression pattern of RFRP neurons in the dorsomedial nucleus of hypothalamus (DMH) at different phases of the rat estrous cycle. Methods: The phases of the estrous cycle were determined in 16 adult female Sprague-...

Background Chronic stress induces male reproductive dysfunction; however, the involved mechanisms are not clear. It has been suggested that the gonadotrophin-inhibitory hormone, known as RF-amide related peptide (RFRP) in mammalian species, may mediate this inhibitory effect of stress. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of chronic stress and glucocorticoids receptor an...

In this study, we examined the topography of projections from facial afferents to the trigeminal brainstem nuclear complex (TBNC) in naked mole-rats using the neuronal tracer CTB-HRP. Tracer injections were made in a ventral to dorsal sequence that included the tooth pulp and dental ligament, ventral buccal pad, vibrissae, and the forehead. Labeled terminals were identified throughout the rostr...

Like galanin, the 60-amino-acid peptide, galanin-like peptide (GALP), has orexigenic actions, demonstrated by an acute increase in feeding after central injection in rodents. However, in contrast to galanin, GALP causes a prolonged rise in core body temperature and a reduction in body weight over 24 h. In an attempt to identify potential explanations for the observed differences between GALP an...

Leptin is proposed to control food intake at least in part by regulating hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY), a stimulator of food intake, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), an inhibitor of food intake. Ob/ob mice are leptin-deficient and would thus be expected to exhibit alterations in hypothalamic NPY and CRH. We therefore measured concentrations of NPY and CRH in discrete regions of th...

Gene expression for agouti-related protein (AGRP), an endogenous antagonist of melanocortin receptors, has been localized to the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, where it colocalizes with neuropeptide Y (NPY). Having reported that the NPY innervation of hypophysiotropic TRH neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) originates primarily from NPY-producing neurons in the arcuate nucl...

Background RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) inhibits gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in rats. This study evaluates the effects of litter size and suckling intensity on RFRP mRNA expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) of rats. MaterialsAndMethods A total of 32 pregnant and 4 non-lactating ovariectomized (control group) Sprague-Dawl...

Feeding schedules that restrict food access to a predictable daytime meal induce in rodents food-anticipatory behaviors, changes in physiological rhythms and shifts in the rhythm of clock gene expression in the brain and periphery. However, little is known about the effects of nighttime restricted feeding. Previously, we showed that daytime restricted access to a highly palatable complete meal ...