Anti-hyperprolactinemic effect of Ficus pumila Linn extract in rats

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperprolactinemic effect of Ficus pumila Linn. extract (FPLE) in rats. Methods: Hyperprolactinemic rats were generated by subcutaneous injection of metoclopramide dihydrochloride (50 mg/kg). A high dose (800 mg/kg), moderate dose (400 mg/kg), or low dose (200 mg/kg) of FPLE was administered into the stomach of hyperprolactinemic rats for 30 days, after which serum sex hormones and pituitary prolactin-positive cell number and mRNA expression were measured. Results: FPLE had a significant effect on measures of hyperprolactinemia. Compared with hyperprolactinemic rats without FPLE treatment, hyperprolactinemic rats that received a high dose of FPLE showed altered serum estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels (p < 0.05), as well as decreased pituitary prolactin-positive cell number (p < 0.05) and mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: FPLE can potentially be used as an anti-hyperprolactinemia treatment but further studies are required to ascertain its suitability.

The administration of exogenous prostaglandin may improve ovulation in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

Based on the reports of unsuccessful ovulation in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) by fish farmers and researchers undertaking artificial reproduction programs, we evaluated the use of prostaglandin F (PGF) to improve pacu ovulation. This study was conducted during two spawning seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011) with two samplings in the first season and one sampling in the second season. A total of 45 females was sampled in this study. The control group was injected with carp pituitary extract (crude extract, 6 mg/kg), and the treatment group received PGF (2 mL per fish in the 2009/2010 season and 5 mL per fish in the 2010/2011 season) in addition to the crude extract. In both seasons, 100% (N = 4, 2009/2010 first sampling; N = 5, 2009/2010 second sampling; and N = 3, 2010/2011) of the PGF-treated fish spawned. In contrast, 53.0% (N = 9) and 83.3% (N = 10) of the control fish spawned in the first and second samplings of the 2009/2010 season, respectively, and only 25.0% (N = 1) spawned in the 2010/2011 season. Fecundity, fertility, and hatching rates did not differ (P > 0.05) between the treated and control fish. Based on oocyte volume frequency analysis, ovaries of the control fish had more (P < 0.05) vitellogenic oocytes with germinal vesicle breakdown that remained unovulated after spawning, whereas more (P < 0.05) of previtellogenic oocytes were present in the ovaries of the PGF-treated fish. In conclusion, administration of exogenous prostaglandin may improve the outcome of hormonally induced spawning in tropical migratory fish. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biological indicators of stress in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) after capture

Os efeitos da captura (perseguição, contenção em puçá e exposição aérea) no perfil sanguíneo do cortisol, glicose, cloreto, sódio, potássio, cálcio e na osmolaridade, hematócrito, hemoglobina, número de células vermelhas (CV) e volume corpuscular médio (VCM) foram investigados no pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). Um total de 132 peixes (49,7 ± 11,7 g) foi submetido à captura com 3 ou 5 minutos de exposição aérea. Nove peixes de cada tratamento foram amostrados 5, 15, 30, 60 minutos e 24 horas depois e outros nove peixes foram amostrados antes da captura e considerados controle. A captura resultou em aumento do cortisol e glicose no sangue 30 e 5 minutos depois da captura, respectivamente, independente do tempo de exposição aérea. Ambos os indicadores recuperaram os valores controle em 24 horas. Nos dois grupos de peixes, o cloreto plasmático diminuiu 60 minutos após captura e não recuperou os valores controle, enquanto o sódio sérico aumentou entre 15 e 30 minutos recuperando a condição controle em 24 horas. Não houve alteração significativa nos valores de potássio, cálcio, osmolaridade ou no hematócrito, hemoglobina, CV e VCM como consequência da captura. Os estressores sequenciais aplicados no pacu durante a captura ativaram o eixo cérebro-pituitária-interrenal (respostas do cortisol e glicose), mas a ativação do eixo cérebro-sistema simpático-células cromafins foi aparentemente moderada (respostas iônicas e hematológicas).

Utilização de probiótico na dieta de reprodutoras de matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus)

This study aimed to analyze of using a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) in the diet of breeding matrinxa (Brycon amazonicus) taking into account the number of oocytes, fertilization rate, hatching and final biomass. The experiment was carried out from March to November 2008. Fifty animals with mean weight 2.35 +/- 0.31 kg and mean length 53.00 +/- 1.96 cm. Two treatments were used T(1) = control group and T(2) = 10 g probiotic kg(-1) food. The induced breeding was carried out with crude extract of carp pituitary. The result showed that the number of oocytes released, fertilization rate and hatching rates were 5%, 34% and 36% higher than control group. The final total biomass of the control group was 3.6% higher compared to animals treated with probiotic. Concluded that is viable to include Bacillus subtilis in diet of matrinxa for optimizing reproductive indicators.

Effect of Prunella vulgaris L extract on hyperprolactinemia in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperprolactinemic activity of Prunella vulgaris L. extract (PVE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Rats were given intraperitoneal (i. p.) metoclopramide (MCP, 150 mg/kg daily) for 10 days to prepare hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) model. Bromocriptine was used as positive control drug. High (5.6 g/kg), medium (2.8 g/kg) and low (1.4 g/kg) doses of PVE were administered to hyperPRL rats. The effect of PVE on serum prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PGN), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were investigated in the rats. MMQ cells derived from rat pituitary adenoma cells and GH3 cells from rat pituitary lactotropictumoral cells were used for in vitro experiments. The effect of PVE on PRL secretion were studied in MMQ cells and GH3 cells respectively. Results: Compared with the control group (446.21 ± 32.43 pg/mL), high (219.23 ± 10.62 pg/mL) and medium (245.47 ± 13.52 pg/mL) reduced PRL level of hyperPRL rats significantly (p 0.05). In MMQ cells, treatment with 5 mg/mL PVE or 10 mg/mL PVE) significantly suppressed PRL secretion and synthesis at 24h compared with controls (p < 0.01). Consistent with D2- action, PVE did not affect PRL in rat pituitary lactotropic tumor-derived GH3 cells that lack the D2 receptor expression, compared with controls. Conclusion: PVE showed anti-hyperPRL activity and can potentially be used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemi, but further studies are required to ascertain this

Neurobehavioral burden of multiple sclerosis with nanotheranostics

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating neurological disorder affecting people worldwide; women are affected more than men. MS results in serious neurological deficits along with behavioral compromise, the mechanisms of which still remain unclear. Behavioral disturbances such as depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, psychosis, euphoria, sleep disturbances, and fatigue affect the quality of life in MS patients. Among these, depression and psychosis are more common than any other neurological disorders. In addition, depression is associated with other comorbidities. Although anxiety is often misdiagnosed in MS patients, it can induce suicidal ideation if it coexists with depression. An interrelation between sleep abnormalities and fatigue is also reported among MS patients. In addition, therapeutics for MS is always a challenge because of the presence of the blood-brain barrier, adding to the lack of detailed understanding of the disease pathology. In this review, we tried to summarize various behavioral pathologies and their association with MS, followed by its conventional treatment and nanotheranostics.

Fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder: emerging epidemiological associations and shared pathophysiology

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent disorder defined by the presence of chronic widespread pain in association with fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive dysfunction. Recent studies indicate that bipolar spectrum disorders frequently co-occur in individuals with FM. Furthermore, shared pathophysiological mechanisms anticipate remarkable phenomenological similarities between FM and BD. A comprehensive search of the English literature was carried out in the Pubmed/MEDLINE database through May 10th, 2015 to identify unique references pertaining to the epidemiology and shared pathophysiology between FM and bipolar disorder (BD). Overlapping neural circuits may underpin parallel clinical manifestations of both disorders. Fibromyalgia and BD are both characterized by functional abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, higher levels of inflammatory mediators, oxidative and nitrosative stress as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. An over-activation of the kynurenine pathway in both illnesses drives tryptophan away from the production of serotonin and melatonin, leading to affective symptoms, circadian rhythm disturbances and abnormalities in pain processing. In addition, both disorders are associated with impaired neuroplasticity (e.g., altered brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling). The recognition of the symptomatic and pathophysiological overlapping between FM and bipolar spectrum disorders has relevant etiological, clinical and therapeutic implications that deserve future research consideration.

α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone promotes muscle glucose uptake via melanocortin 5 receptors

OBJECTIVE: Central melanocortin pathways are well-established regulators of energy balance. However, scant data exist about the role of systemic melanocortin peptides. We set out to determine if peripheral α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) plays a role in glucose homeostasis and tested the hypothesis that the pituitary is able to sense a physiological increase in circulating glucose and responds by secreting α-MSH.

METHODS: We established glucose-stimulated α-MSH secretion using humans, non-human primates, and mouse models. Continuous α-MSH infusions were performed during glucose tolerance tests and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps to evaluate the systemic effect of α-MSH in glucose regulation. Complementary ex vivo and in vitro techniques were employed to delineate the direct action of α-MSH via the melanocortin 5 receptor (MC5R)-PKA axis in skeletal muscles. Combined treatment of non-selective/selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor and α-MSH was adopted to restore glucose tolerance in obese mice.

RESULTS: Here we demonstrate that pituitary secretion of α-MSH is increased by glucose. Peripheral α-MSH increases temperature in skeletal muscles, acts directly on soleus and gastrocnemius muscles to significantly increase glucose uptake, and enhances whole-body glucose clearance via the activation of muscle MC5R and protein kinase A. These actions are absent in obese mice, accompanied by a blunting of α-MSH-induced cAMP levels in skeletal muscles of obese mice. Both selective and non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibition restores α-MSH induced skeletal muscle glucose uptake and improves glucose disposal in obese mice.

CONCLUSION: These data describe a novel endocrine circuit that modulates glucose homeostasis by pituitary α-MSH, which increases muscle glucose uptake and thermogenesis through the activation of a MC5R-PKA-pathway, which is disrupted in obesity.

Chronic inflammation inhibits GH secretion and alters the serum insulin-like growth factor system in rats

Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats is associated with growth failure, hypermetabolism and accelerated protein breakdown. The aim of this work was to study the effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis on GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Arthritis was induced by an intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant and rats were killed 18 and 22 days later. IGF-I and GH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Pituitary GH mRNA was analyzed by northern blot and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) by western blot. Arthritic rats showed a decrease in both serum and hepatic concentrations of IGF-I. On the contrary, arthritis increased the circulating IGFBPs. The serum concentration of IGF-I in the arthritic rats was negatively correlated with the body weight loss observed in these animals. Arthritis decreased the serum concentration of GH and this decrease seems to be due to an inhibition of GH synthesis, since pituitary GH mRNA content was decreased in arthritic rats (p<0.01). These data suggest that the decrease in body weight gain in arthritic rats may be, at least in part, secondary to the decrease in GH and IGF-I secretion. Furthermore, the increased serum IGFBPs may also be involved in the disease process.

The effect of working on-call on stress physiology and sleep: a systematic review

On-call work is becoming an increasingly common work pattern, yet the human impacts of this type of work are not well established. Given the likelihood of calls to occur outside regular work hours, it is important to consider the potential impact of working on-call on stress physiology and sleep. The aims of this review were to collate and evaluate evidence on the effects of working on-call from home on stress physiology and sleep. A systematic search of Ebsco Host, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and ScienceDirect was conducted. Search terms included: on-call, on call, standby, sleep, cortisol, heart rate, adrenaline, noradrenaline, nor-adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine, nor-epinephrine, salivary alpha amylase and alpha amylase. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, with only one study investigating the effect of working on-call from home on stress physiology. All eight studies investigated the effect of working on-call from home on sleep. Working on-call from home appears to adversely affect sleep quantity, and in most cases, sleep quality. However, studies did not differentiate between night's on-call from home with and without calls. Data examining the effect of working on-call from home on stress physiology were not sufficient to draw meaningful conclusions.

Perinatal maternal depression and cortisol function in pregnancy and the postpartum period : a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression has a significant impact on both mother and child. However, the influence of hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period remains unclear. This article provides a systematic review of studies examining the effects of maternal cortisol function on perinatal depression. METHOD: A systematic search was conducted of six electronic databases for published research on the relationship between cortisol and perinatal depression. The databases included; MEDLINE complete, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Science Direct and EBSCO, for the years 1960 to May 2015. Risk of bias was assessed and data extraction verified by two investigators. RESULTS: In total, 47 studies met criteria and studies showed considerable variation in terms of methodology including sample size, cortisol assays, cortisol substrates, sampling processes and outcome measures. Those studies identified as higher quality found that the cortisol awakening response is positively associated with momentary mood states but is blunted in cases of major maternal depression. Furthermore, results indicate that hypercortisolemia is linked to transient depressive states while hypocortisolemia is related to chronic postpartum depression. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Future research should aim to improve the accuracy of cortisol measurement over time, obtain multiple cortisol samples in a day and utilise diagnostic measures of depression. Future studies should also consider both antenatal and postnatal depression and the differential impact of atypical versus melancholic depression on cortisol levels, as this can help to further clarify the relationship between perinatal depression and maternal cortisol function across pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Caractérisation du potentiel de champ locale dans le cortex préfrontal médian du rat durant le stress et la prise alimentaire

Le stress joue un rôle important dans le maintien de la qualité de vie quotidienne. Une exposition à une situation stressante peut causer divers désordres neuropsychiatriques du cerveau qui sont associés avec des problèmes liés au sommeil, à la dépression, à des problèmes digestifs et à des troubles de l’alimentation. Les traitements de ces troubles liés au stress sont très coûteux à travers le monde. De nos jours, des considérations importantes ont été soulevées afin de trouver des moyens appropriés pour la prévention plutôt que de dépenser ultérieurement plus de budget sur les traitements. De cette façon, l’étude et l’expérimentation sur les animaux des troubles liés au stress sont l’un des moyens les plus fiables pour atteindre une compréhension plus profonde des problèmes liés au stress. Ce projet visait à révéler la modulation des potentiels de champ locaux (LFP) lors de la consommation de sucrose dans deux conditions englobant la condition de contrôle non-stressante et celle stressante d’un choc électrique aiguë à la patte dans le cortex préfrontal médian (CPFm) du cerveau de rat. Le CPFm est une structure importante dans la réponse au stress et à l’anxiété par l’interaction avec l’axe hypothalamique-pituitaire surrénale (HPA). Les résultats de ce projet ont révélé que la plupart des coups de langue se sont produits dans les 15 premières minutes de l’accès à une solution de sucrose autant pour la condition contrôle non-stressante que pour la condition stressante. En outre, le stress aigu d’un choc à la patte affecte de manière significative la consommation horaire de sucrose en diminuant le volume de la consommation. Les résultats ont également révélé une présence importante du rythme thêta dans le CPFm pendant la condition de base et pendant l’ingestion de sucrose dans les deux conditions. De plus, les résultats ont montré une diminution de puissance des bandes delta et thêta lors des initiations de léchage du sucrose. Ce projet conduit à des informations détaillées sur les propriétés électrophysiologiques du cortex infra-limbique (IL) du CPFm en réponse à l’exposition à des conditions de stress et de l’apport d’une solution de sucrose. Ce projet permet également de mieux comprendre les mécanismes neurophysiologiques des neurones du CPFm en réponse à l’exposition à une condition stressante suivie d’apport de sucrose. Ce projet a également permis de confirmer les effets anorexigènes du stress et suggèrent également que la synchronisation neuronale dans le cortex IL peut jouer un rôle dans le comportement de léchage et sa désynchronisation pendant le léchage après une exposition à des conditions stressantes.