Previous studies employing systemic administration of the dopamine agonist apomorphine have shown that the dose response curves for apomorphine's effects on penile reflexes and seminal emission differ, suggesting that experimentally separable populations of dopamine receptors regulate these two responses. The present experiments examined the locations of central nervous system DA receptors medi...

The recently discovered dendritic cell nuclear protein-1 is the product of a novel candidate gene for major depression. The A allele encodes full-length dendritic cell nuclear protein-1, while the T allele encodes a premature termination of translation at codon number 117 on chromosome 5. In the present study we investigate whether the two forms of dendritic cell nuclear protein-1 might act on ...

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...

We hypothesized that brain regions showing neuronal activation after refeeding comprise major nodes in a satiety network, and tested this hypothesis with two sets of experiments. Detailed c-Fos mapping comparing fasted and refed rats was performed to identify candidate nodes of the satiety network. In addition to well-known feeding-related brain regions such as the arcuate, dorsomedial, and par...

Long term use of sugars can induce excess caloric intake and/or obesity. To evaluate the effects of sugar intake on different regions of the hypothalamus (the brain’s control center for energy homeostasis) we first developed and then evaluated a microscope-assisted dissection method. Because of the small size of the paraventricular nucleus, we validated the samples by measuring several hormones...

Aldosterone stimulates the sympathetic nervous system by binding to a select population of brain mineralocorticoid receptors (MR). These MR have an equal affinity for corticosterone that is present in substantially higher concentrations, but are held in reserve for aldosterone by activity of the enzyme 11 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11 -HSD-2), which converts corticosterone to an inac...

Oxidative stress in the brain is implicated in increased sympathetic drive, inflammatory status, and vascular dysfunctions, associated with development and establishment of hypertension. However, little is known about the mechanism of this impaired brain-vascular communication. Here, we tested the hypothesis that increased oxidative stress in the brain cardioregulatory areas, such as the parave...

Background Oxytocin may be a possible treatment for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including cocaine addiction. Little is known about the site-specific effects of oxytocin on various drug addiction-related brain regions. Furthermore, sexually dimorphic effects of oxytocin on neural function in the addiction circuit have not been established. Here, we studied Fos expression following cocai...

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is recruited by the organism in response to real or perceived threats to homeostasis ("stress"). Regulation of this neuroendocrine system is accomplished by modulation of secretory tone in hypophysiotrophic neurons of the medial parvocellular paraventricular nucleus. Excitation of these neurons is mediated by several sources: direct (and perha...

BNST Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis CCK Cholecystokinin cGMP Cyclic guanosine monophosphate DCN Dorsal central autonomic nucleus fMRI Functional magnetic resonance imaging IML Intermediolateral cell column LCTF Lateral central tegmental field LSt cells Lumbar spinothalamic cells MEA Medial amygdala MPOA Medial preoptic area NO Nitric oxide nPGi Nucleus paragigantocellularis NPY Neuropeptid...