Role of the Brain Dopaminergic and Opioid System in the Regulation of “Child’s” (Maternal Bonding) Behavior of Newborn Albino Rats

The possible role of four recognized hypothalamic constituents in activation and maturation of the hypophysial-reproductive organ complex of immature female albino rats was investigated. Normal and hypophysectomized rats and rats with bilateral destruction of an area extending from the ventromedial nucleus to mammillary body were studied. Animals were injected either with 70 milliunits of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), 70 milluniits of oxytocin, 25 µg of serotonin, or 2 µg of epinephrine every 5th day, from age 20 through 45 days, via a cannula permanently implanted in the 3rd ventricle of the brain. No response to ADH was observed. Oxytocin accelerated vaginal canalization and caused premature reproductive organ growth in normal recipients. Whereas lesioned untreated controls remained sexually retarded, vaginal opening and reproductive organ growth equivalent to 50-day-old sham-operated controls were induced in lesioned animals by oxytocin administration. Serotonin prevented maturation in normal controls, but was ineffective in lesioned animals. Hypophysectomized rats were unresponsive to any agent injected. The results imply that oxytocin may directly activate the hypophysis of immature female rats. Serotonin, on the other hand, inhibits the hypophysial-gonadal axis of these animals, but its effects probably are relayed via the hypothalamus.

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The brain opioid theory of social attachment: a review of the evidence

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/000579511x596624 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 148 (9-10) ◽

pp. 985-1025 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

A.J. Machin ◽

R.I.M Dunbar

Keyword(s):

Nonhuman Primates ◽

Social Bonds ◽

Opioid System ◽

Endogenous Opioid System ◽

Endogenous Opioid ◽

Important Conclusion ◽

Human Relationships ◽

Unique Nature ◽

The Brain

AbstractThe psychology of close human relationships is increasingly well understood and our understanding of the neurobiology of the onset of pairbonding behaviour in a range of species has benefited from the use of rodent-based models. However, the human literature has suffered from a lack of focus upon the unique nature of primate social bonds and has so far failed to adequately identify the neurobiological and behavioural mechanisms which maintain these complex, diverse and enduring social networks. One neurobiological mechanism that has been overlooked is the endogenous opioid system. Though less explicitly researched than the more familiar oxytocin/vasopressin system, there is considerable evidence that the opioids play a fundamental role in sociality, especially in the primates. This review summarises our current understanding of the evidence for the role of this system in prosocial behaviour in non-primate mammals, nonhuman primates and humans. An important conclusion is that the opioid system may play a more central role in sociality in primates (including humans) than in other mammalian taxa.

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Studies on Kernicterus

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.23.5.913 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 913-913

Keyword(s):

Unconjugated Bilirubin ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Newborn Rats ◽

Toxic Agent ◽

Congenital Deficiency ◽

Pathologic Anatomy ◽

Body Compartments ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Brain

This paper presents interesting material on three topics related to kernicterus; a study of the manifestations and pathologic anatomy of kernicterus in rats with a congenital deficiency of the enzyme for conjugating bilirubin with glucuronic acid in the liver (Gunn's strain of rats); studies of the role of sulfonamides in development of kernicterus in humans and in newborn rats; and a consideration of the various theories of the pathogenesis of kernicterus. In the first study, the pathologic anatomy of kernicterus that developes in the Gunn strain of rats is shown to be similar to that which occurs in humans. Pathologic and biochemical studies indicated that the bilirubin in the brain cells appears to be the unconjugated form, and the earliest pathologic changes are associated with the presence of bilirubin in the cells. It is concluded that the pathologic changes of kernicterus are initiated by bilirubin as a toxic agent and that the bilirubin is not present merely as a consequence of proceeding damage to the cells. In an effort to elucidate the relationship of administration of sulfonamides to an increased incidence of kernicterus in premature infants, studies were undertaken in newborn albino rats. The sulfonamide under consideration, Gantrism® (sulfisoxazole), was shown not to be toxic in itself for newborn rats. It did not produce evidence of hemolysis or damage to the liver or pancreas. When bilirubin or trypan blue was injected into newborn rats which had been treated with Gantrisin®, all the tissues except brain were stained. It was concluded that Gantrisin® does not alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier. It had been previously observed that sulfonamide treatment produced a decrease in the bilirubinemia in the Gunn strain of rat, and an increased occurrence of icterus in all tissues. Thus, it is suggested that the drug induces a shift of bilirubin from the vascular bed into other body compartments without altering capillary permeability. In the third part of this paper, the present knowledge of the pathogenesis of kernicterus and the various theories concerning its development are reviewed. The authors propose that unconjugated bilirubin is itself the toxic agent producing nerve-cell necrosis. They envisage kernicterus as being the result of a presence of a diffusable form of unconjugated bilirubin in plasma and a shift of this compound from the circulating blood to the brain and other tissues. The increase in the unconjugated bilirubin is due to deficient activity of glucuronyl transferase in the liver, and the formation of the diffusable compound is possibly related to failure of adequate protein-binding of bilirubin.

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ROLE OF MICHELIA CHAMPACA IN MEMORY ENHANCEMENT AND ACUTE NOISE STRESSED MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i2.22605 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

Malathi S. ◽

Vidyashree . ◽

Ravindran Rajan

Keyword(s):

Acute Stress ◽

Corticosterone Level ◽

Acetylcholinesterase Activity ◽

Plasma Corticosterone ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Memory Enhancement ◽

Wistar Albino Rats ◽

The Brain ◽

Michelia Champaca

Objective: To identify the memory enhancing role of Michelia champaca in acute noise stressed animals. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Animals were exposed to noise for 4 h before testing for memory. Thereafter, the plasma corticosterone level and acetylcholinesterase activity were estimated in the discrete regions of the brain, and the memory related behavior were assessed by eight arm radial maze.Results: Our results showed that Michelia champaca enhances the memory activity and decreases the corticosterone concentrations in acute noise stress animals treated with M. champaca. Moreover, it also decreased brain acetylcholinesterase activity when compared with the acute stress group (p<0.05). Furthermore, behavioral tests indicate that working memory, is enhanced by acute stress and decreases the error levels in all the parameters studied in the behavior aspects when compared to control animals.Conclusion: These findings suggest that Michelia champaca enhances the memory in albino rats and might be useful therapeutically for cognitive related dysfunctions. This could be due to the presence of memory boosting compounds and its antistressor and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, thereby reduces the levels of serum corticosterone and inhibition of cholinesterase enzyme significantly.

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Toxic Effects of Food azo dye Tartrazine on the Brain of Young Male Albino Rats: Role of Oxidative Stress

Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine ◽

10.21608/zjfm.2020.44386.1064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 0-0

Author(s):

Nema allah hosieny ◽

mona eldemerdash ◽

Samah Ahmed ◽

Mohammad Zayed

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Azo Dye ◽

Young Male ◽

Toxic Effects ◽

Albino Rats ◽

The Brain

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The Role of Mitochondria in the Genesis of Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in the Brains of Aging Mice

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100115481 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

pp. 372-373

Author(s):

J.E. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Present Report ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Dorsal Column ◽

Neuroaxonal Dystrophy ◽

Nucleus Gracilis ◽

Dystrophic Axons ◽

The Brain ◽

Nucleus Cuneatus

Although neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) has been examined by light and electron microscopy for years, the nature of the components in the dystrophic axons is not well understood. The present report examines nucleus gracilis and cuneatus (the dorsal column nuclei) in the brain stem of aging mice.Mice (C57BL/6J) were sacrificed by aldehyde perfusion at ages ranging from 3 months to 23 months. Several brain areas and parts of other organs were processed for electron microscopy.At 3 months of age, very little evidence of NAD can be discerned by light microscopy. At the EM level, a few axons are found to contain dystrophic material. By 23 months of age, the entire nucleus gracilis is filled with dystrophic axons. Much less NAD is seen in nucleus cuneatus by comparison. The most recurrent pattern of NAD is an enlarged profile, in the center of which is a mass of reticulated material (reticulated portion; or RP).

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