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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 67-72 PubMed PMID: 20150874 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Cell Proliferation:drug effects, Chick Embryo:metabolism, Down-Regulation:drug effects, Embryonic Development:drug effects, Ganglia, Spinal:drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental:drug effects, Gene .   

OBJECTIVE: Protein Isl-1 RNA interference and over expression in early chicken embryo dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were used to investigate the function of Isl-1 in DRG cell proliferation.

METHODS: Isl-1 targeted shRNA expression vector and Isl-1 over-expression vector were transfected into chicken embryo DRG by in ovo electroporation. Then, the DRG proliferation rate was detected by BrdU immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: The rate of DRG cell proliferation increased after Isl-1 knock-down and decreased after Isl-1 over-expression.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that Isl-1 negatively modulates DRG cell proliferation....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 117-121 PubMed PMID: 20150873 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Autistic Disorder:urine, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Bufotenin:analysis, Case-Control Studies, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Female, Humans, Male, Mass Spectrometry, Research Design, Schizophrenia:urine, Up-Regulation, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that the endogeneous psychotomimetic molecule bufotenine (N-N-dimethyl-5-idroxytryptamine) may play a role in the pathogenesis of severe mental disorders. The potential association of bufotenine with the clinical features of autism and schizophrenia is not entirely understood. In this study, we measured urinary levels of bufotenine in subjects with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects free of psychiatric symptoms. We also sought to assess whether urine concentrations of this molecule may be associated with the clinical characteristics of psychiatric patients.

DESIGN: Urine bufotenine levels were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) assay in young adults with severe ASD (n=15), patients with schizophrenia (n=15), and healthy control subjects (n=18). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale was used to measure adaptive behaviors in ASD individuals. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used for patients with schizophrenia.

RESULTS: Urine bufotenine levels were significantly higher in ASD subjects (3.30 +/- 0.49 microg/L, p<0.05) and patients with schizophrenia (4.39 +/- 0.43 microg/L, p<0.001) compared with controls (1.53 +/- 0.30 microg/L). Among patients with ASD, there was a significant positive correlation between urine bufotenine and hyperactivity scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (r=0.479, p<0.05). No other associations were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that elevated urine levels of the endogeneous psychotomimetic molecule bufotenine may play a role in ASD and schizophrenia, and can be correlated with hyperactivity scores in autism....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 11-18 PubMed PMID: 20150871 Citation  Keywords:  Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators:biosynthesis, Catechol O-Methyltransferase:genetics, Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6:genetics, Enzymes:genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Health, Humans, Mental Disorders:genetics, Metabolic Networks and Pathways:genetics.   

: Endogenous morphine has been detected in human tissues from the vascular, immune and nervous systems. The genes/enzymes (CYP2D6, COMT and PNMT) that are involved in the biosynthesis of morphine have variations that affect their functionality. Some of these variations are the result of single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNA sequences. This review highlights some of the functional differences in the critical enzymes required for the biosynthesis of morphine that may affect human health. These variations have been shown to change the way animals react to stressors, perceive pain and behave. The presence of morphine signaling in almost all organ systems suggests that it is most likely playing a role in maintaining the health and promoting the normal functioning of these physiological systems....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 87-91 PubMed PMID: 20150870 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antidiuretic Agents:administration & dosage, Ascorbic Acid:administration & dosage, Central Nervous System:drug effects, Consciousness, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Injections, Intraventricular, Male, Natriuresi.   

OBJECTIVE: Ascorbic acid represents one of the most important antioxidants and neuromodulators, and plays an important role in the cerebral system. In the present study, we investigated the central effect of ascorbic acid on fluid regulation and electrolyte homeostasis.

METHODS: Male Wistar rats were implanted with stainless steel cannulas into the lateral ventricle, and sodiun excretion and urinary volume were measured after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of ascorbic acid (200 or 600 nmol/rat). In another set of experiments, vasopressin and oxytocin plasma levels were evaluated 10, 20 and 30 minutes after ascorbic acid i.c.v. injection.

RESULTS: The administration of ascorbic acid to conscious rats resulted in a significant decrease in urinary volume and an increase in the renal excretion of sodium, with a concomitant increase in the plasma levels of vasopressin and oxytocin.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ascorbic acid may play a significant role in the central regulation of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis....

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Clinical Trial 2010; 31(1): 92-96 PubMed PMID: 20150866 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Biological Clocks:physiology, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Eyeglasses, Female, Humans, Light, Lighting:adverse effects, Male, Melatonin:metabolism, Population, Radio Waves, Schools, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm:etiology, Students, Time Fa.   

OBJECTIVE: Circadian timing affects sleep onset. Delayed sleep onset can reduce sleep duration in adolescents required to awake early for a fixed school schedule. The absence of short-wavelength ("blue") morning light, which helps entrain the circadian system, can hypothetically delay sleep onset and decrease sleep duration in adolescents. The goal of this study was to investigate whether removal of short-wavelength light during the morning hours delayed the onset of melatonin in young adults.

METHODS: Dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was measured in eleven 8th-grade students before and after wearing orange glasses, which removed short-wavelength light, for a five-day school week.

RESULTS: DLMO was significantly delayed (30 minutes) after the five-day intervention, demonstrating that short-wavelength light exposure during the day can be important for advancing circadian rhythms in students.

CONCLUSIONS: Lack of short-wavelength light in the morning has been shown to delay the circadian clock in controlled laboratory conditions. The results presented here are the first to show, outside laboratory conditions, that removal of short-wavelength light in the morning hours can delay DLMO in 8th-grade students. These field data, consistent with results from controlled laboratory studies, are directly relevant to lighting practice in schools....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 137-146 PubMed PMID: 20150865 Citation  Keywords:  Acetylcysteine:pharmacology, Ambroxol:pharmacology, Animals, Antioxidants:pharmacology, Antithyroid Agents:administration & dosage, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Free Radical Scavengers:pharmacology, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Lipid Peroxidation:drug ef.   

OBJECTIVE: A possible role of antioxidants in thyreotoxicosis was investigated. We examined the parameters of lipid peroxidation (LPO): conjugated dienes (CD), malondialdehyde (MDA), Schiff bases (SB) in lung homogenates of male Wistar rats.

METHODS: Two control groups were created: Group 1 - intact animals and Group 2 - animals injected with 0,9% NaCl. In Experiment I, the animals received L-thyroxin (LT4) i.p. (Groups 3-7). After one week the rats received additionally: Group 4 - melatonin (MEL); Group 5 - propylthiouracil (PTU); Group 6 - Ambroxol (AMB); Group 7 - N-acetylocysteine (NAC). In Experiment II, the animals received only antioxidants.

RESULTS: In Experiment I, we noticed a significantly higher MDA and SB level in Group 2, compared to that in Group 1. Moreover, we observed a significantly higher MDA and SB level in Group 3, vs. that in Group 1, but SB level was lower in Group 3 than in Group 2. Melatonin, PTU and NAC reduced CD; PTU, AMB diminished MDA and MEL, AMB lowered SB levels as compared to Group 3. In Experiment II, we observed significantly higher MDA and SB level in Group 2, vs. that in Group 1. Melatonin, AMB and NAC decreased MDA and SB level, when compared to Group 2 but PTU elevated MDA and SB level vs. that in Group 1.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) L-T4 suppresses LPO, 2) MEL, AMB and NAC protect against LPO, 3) PTU is an antioxidant in thyreotoxicosis, however, when administered alone, it enhances LPO, 4) stress accelerate LPO....

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Clinical Trial 2010; 31(1): 161-167 PubMed PMID: 20150864 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Brain Mapping:methods, Cerebral Cortex:metabolism, Cystine:analogs & derivatives, Estrogen Replacement Therapy, Female, Humans, Hypothyroidism:diagnosis, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Prognosis, Severity of Illness Index, Technetium:chemistry, Th.   

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to correlate hypothyroid-related symptomatology with regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during hypothyroidism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine thyroidectomized patients underwent neuropsychological testing and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of their brains with technetium-99m (Tc-99m) ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD), a lipophilic cerebral blood flow radiotracer, while hypothyroid, and again following thyroid hormone replacement. Neuropsychological test scores and TSH levels while hypothyroid were correlated with rCBF in hypothyroid-affected areas of the brain.

RESULTS: Correlations were found during hypothyroidism between the noted parameters and ECD radiotracer accumulation in the following respective regions, all of which demonstrated hypothyroid-related cerebral blood flow (CBF) aberrations: TSH and left middle occipital gyrus; psychomotor performance speed and left precentral gyrus; and depression and right middle frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, right insula, and left thalamus.

CONCLUSIONS: Severity of psychomotor impairment and depression, and TSH level during hypothyroidism appeared to correlate with CBF to brain regions associated with motor activity, mood and vision, respectively; and previously shown to manifest significantly altered rCBF during hypothyroidism....

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Journal Article 2001; 22(1): 53-73 PubMed PMID: 11393163 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Glands:physiology, Animals, Biological Clocks, Blood Pressure:physiology, Chronobiology Disorders:physiopathology, Chronobiology Phenomena, Chronotherapy, Circadian Rhythm:physiology, Drug Administration Schedule, Genomics, Homeostasis, Humans, Pi.   

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