We examined the expression of regulated endocrine-specific protein of 18-kD (RESP18) in selected peptidergic and catecholaminergic neurons of adult rat brain. In the hypothalamic paraventricular, supraoptic, and accessory nuclei, RESP18 mRNA was highly expressed in neurons immunostained for oxytocin and vasopressin. RESP18 mRNA was also highly expressed in paraventricular nucleus neurons immuno...

The initial cephalic phase of insulin secretion is mediated through the vagus nerve and not due to glycemic stimulation pancreatic ?-cells. Recently, IL-1? was shown stimulate postprandial secretion. Here, we describe that this incretin-like effect involves neuronal transmission. Further found release by originating from long-lived CX3CR1+ myeloid cells. Moreover, activated induce regulated act...

Orexins, also called hypocretins, are newly discovered hypothalamic peptides that are thought to be involved in various physiological functions. In spite of the fact that orexin receptors, especially orexin receptor 2, are abundant in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the effects of orexins on PVN neurons remain unknown. Using a whole cell patch-clamp recording technique, we inves...

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) comprise part of the cyclic metabolic pathway to produce nitric oxide (NO). ASS is one of the arginine synthesis enzymes which synthesizes argininosuccinate from aspartate and citrulline, and NOS forms NO and citrulline from arginine. This study examines the localization of ASS and NOS in the cat hypothalamus using nicotinamide ...

Angiotensin II (Ang II), acting via angiotensin type 1 receptors in the brain, activates the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure (HF). We reported recently that Ang II stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) to upregulate brain angiotensin type 1 receptors in HF rats. In this study we tested the hypothesis that Ang II-activated MAPK signaling pathways contribute to sympatheti...

Inflammation is associated with increased sympathetic drive in cardiovascular diseases. Blood-borne proinflammatory cytokines, markers of inflammation, induce cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) activity in perivascular macrophages of the blood-brain barrier. COX-2 generates prostaglandin E(2), which may enter the brain and increase sympathetic nerve activity. We examined the contribution of this mechanis...

The ventrolateral medulla (VLM) modulates autonomic functions, motor reactions and pain responses. The lateralmost part of the caudal VLM (VLMlat) was recently shown to be the VLM area responsible for pain modulation. In the present study, the brain sources of VLMlat afferent fibers were determined by tract-tracing techniques. Following injection of cholera toxin subunit B into the VLMlat, retr...

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) expresses multiple neuropeptides and plays an essential role in several physiological processes. Among the brain areas directly projecting to PVN are deep structures closely related instinctive behavior. Moreover, neurons can project abundant axons downstream regions key components of stress response. Accordingly, malfunction is implicated stress-r...

The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a midline nucleus with strong connections to cortical and subcortical brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus and receives strong projections from brain stem nuclei. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is mediated and modulated by complex cortical and subcortical networks that are yet to be fully identified in ...