scholarly journals Neuroimmune and Mu-Opioid Receptor Alterations in the Mesocorticolimbic System in a Sex-Dependent Inflammatory Pain-Induced Alcohol Relapse-Like Rat Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Cuitavi ◽  
Jesús David Lorente ◽  
Yolanda Campos-Jurado ◽  
Ana Polache ◽  
Lucía Hipólito

Evidence concerning the role of alcohol-induced neuroinflammation in alcohol intake and relapse has increased in the last few years. It is also proven that mu-opioid receptors (MORs) mediate the reinforcing properties of alcohol and, interestingly, previous research suggests that neuroinflammation and MORs could be related. Our objective is to study neuroinflammatory states and microglial activation, together with adaptations on MOR expression in the mesocorticolimbic system (MCLS) during the abstinence and relapse phases. To do so, we have used a sex-dependent rat model of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced alcohol deprivation effect (ADE). Firstly, our results confirm that only CFA-treated female rats, the only experimental group that showed relapse-like behavior, exhibited specific alterations in the expression of phosphorylated NFκB, iNOS, and COX2 in the PFC and VTA. More interestingly, the analysis of the IBA1 expression revealed a decrease of the microglial activation in PFC during abstinence and an increase of its expression in the relapse phase, together with an augmentation of this activation in the NAc in both phases that only occur in female CFA-treated rats. Additionally, the expression of IL1β also evidenced these dynamic changes through these two phases following similar expression patterns in both areas. Furthermore, the expression of the cytokine IL10 showed a different profile than that of IL1β, indicating anti-inflammatory processes occurring only during abstinence in the PFC of CFA-female rats but neither during the reintroduction phase in PFC nor in the NAc. These data indicate a downregulation of microglial activation and pro-inflammatory processes during abstinence in the PFC, whereas an upregulation can be observed in the NAc during abstinence that is maintained during the reintroduction phase only in CFA-female rats. Secondly, our data reveal a correlation between the alterations observed in IL1β, IBA1 levels, and MOR levels in the PFC and NAc of CFA-treated female rats. Although premature, our data suggest that neuroinflammatory processes, together with neural adaptations involving MOR, might play an important role in alcohol relapse in female rats, so further investigations are warranted.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Chen ◽  
Qiao Liao ◽  
Ke Lu ◽  
Jinxia Zhou ◽  
Cao Huang ◽  
...  

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disorder clinically characterized by motor system dysfunction, with intraneuronal accumulation of the TAR DNAbinding protein 43 (TDP-43) being a pathological hallmark. Riluzole is a primarily prescribed medicine for ALS patients, while its therapeutical efficacy appears limited. TDP-43 transgenic mice are existing animal models for mechanistic/translational research into ALS. Methods: We developed a transgenic rat model of ALS expressing a mutant human TDP-43 transgene (TDP-43M337V) and evaluated the therapeutic effect of Riluzole on this model. Relative to control, rats with TDP-43M337V expression promoted by the neurofilament heavy subunit (NEF) gene or specifically in motor neurons promoted by the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene showed progressive worsening of mobility and grip strength, along with loss of motor neurons, microglial activation, and intraneuronal accumulation of TDP-43 and ubiquitin aggregations in the spinal cord. Results: Compared to vehicle control, intragastric administration of Riluzole (30 mg/kg/d) did not mitigate the behavioral deficits nor alter the neuropathologies in the transgenics. Conclusion: These findings indicate that transgenic rats recapitulate the basic neurological and neuropathological characteristics of human ALS, while Riluzole treatment can not halt the development of the behavioral and histopathological phenotypes in this new transgenic rodent model of ALS.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1294
Author(s):  
Samuel Álvarez-Almazán ◽  
Gabriel Navarrete-Vázquez ◽  
Itzia Irene Padilla-Martínez ◽  
José Correa-Basurto ◽  
Diana Alemán-González-Duhart ◽  
...  

By activating PPAR-γ, thiazolidinediones normalize glucose levels in animal models of type 2 diabetes and in patients with this pathology. The aim of the present study was to analyze 219 new derivatives in silico and select the best for synthesis, to be evaluated for acute oral toxicity in female rats and for control of diabetes-related parameters in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The best compound was chosen based on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological parameters obtained in silico and binding orientation observed by docking simulations on PPAR-γ. Compound 1G was synthesized by a quick and easy Knoevenagel condensation. Acute oral toxicity was found at a dose greater than 2000 mg/Kg. Compound 1G apparently produces therapeutic effects similar to those of pioglitazone, decreasing glycaemia and triglyceride levels in diabetic animals, without liver damage. Moreover, it did not cause a significant weight gain and tended to reduce polydipsia and polyphagia, while diminishing systemic inflammation related to TNF-α and IL-6. It lowered the level of endogenous antioxidant molecules such as reduced glutathione and glutathione reductase. In conclusion, 1G may be a candidate for further testing as an euglycemic agent capable of preventing the complications of diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3762
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Kedziora ◽  
Kristin Kräker ◽  
Lajos Markó ◽  
Julia Binder ◽  
Meryam Sugulle ◽  
...  

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by the onset of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) and presence of proteinuria (>300 mg/L/24 h urine) or other maternal organ dysfunctions. During human PE, renal injuries have been observed. Some studies suggest that women with PE diagnosis have an increased risk to develop renal diseases later in life. However, in human studies PE as a single cause of this development cannot be investigated. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of PE on postpartum renal damage in an established transgenic PE rat model. Female rats harboring the human-angiotensinogen gene develop a preeclamptic phenotype after mating with male rats harboring the human-renin gene, but are normotensive before and after pregnancy. During pregnancy PE rats developed mild tubular and glomerular changes assessed by histologic analysis, increased gene expression of renal damage markers such as kidney injury marker 1 and connective-tissue growth factor, and albuminuria compared to female wild-type rats (WT). However, four weeks postpartum, most PE-related renal pathologies were absent, including albuminuria and elevated biomarker expression. Only mild enlargement of the glomerular tuft could be detected. Overall, the glomerular and tubular function were affected during pregnancy in the transgenic PE rat. However, almost all these pathologies observed during PE recovered postpartum.


2002 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. A22
Author(s):  
Barbara Fellner ◽  
Karola Trescher ◽  
Severin Semsroth ◽  
Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber ◽  
Wolfgang Schmidt ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. e0130803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Stuqui ◽  
Marina de Paula-Silva ◽  
Carla Patrícia Carlos ◽  
Anwar Ullah ◽  
Raghuvir Krishnaswamy Arni ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (1) ◽  
pp. R12-R21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hershel Raff ◽  
Brian Hoeynck ◽  
Mack Jablonski ◽  
Cole Leonovicz ◽  
Jonathan M. Phillips ◽  
...  

Care of premature infants often requires parental and caregiver separation, particularly during hypoxic and hypothermic episodes. We have established a neonatal rat model of human prematurity involving maternal-neonatal separation and hypoxia with spontaneous hypothermia prevented by external heat. Adults previously exposed to these neonatal stressors show a sex difference in the insulin and glucose response to arginine stimulation suggesting a state of insulin resistance. The current study used this cohort of adult rats to evaluate insulin resistance [homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], plasma adipokines (reflecting insulin resistance states), and testosterone. The major findings were that daily maternal-neonatal separation led to an increase in body weight and HOMA-IR in adult male and female rats and increased plasma leptin in adult male rats only; neither prior neonatal hypoxia (without or with body temperature control) nor neonatal hypothermia altered subsequent adult HOMA-IR or plasma adiponectin. Adult male-female differences in plasma leptin were lost with prior exposure to neonatal hypoxia or hypothermia; male-female differences in resistin were lost in the adults that were exposed to hypoxia and spontaneous hypothermia as neonates. Exposure of neonates to daily hypoxia without spontaneous hypothermia led to a decrease in plasma testosterone in adult male rats. We conclude that neonatal stressors result in subsequent adult sex-dependent increases in insulin resistance and adipokines and that our rat model of prematurity with hypoxia without hypothermia alters adult testosterone dynamics.


Author(s):  
Quratulain Mehdi

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common systemic inflammatory diseases characterized by progressive damage to the joints. There is rising evidence that Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System signaling is also involved in the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis and its blockers possess anti-arthritic properties. Telmisartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker and PPAR-? agonist and its anti-arthritic effects were evaluated. Aims & Objectives: This experimental study was designed to evaluate the anti-arthritic efficacy of telmisartan in pristane induced rat model of arthritis in adult female rats. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from July 2020 to August 2020. Material & Methods: Twenty four (24) adult non-pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats were divided in three groups (n=8) designated as Group A (normal control), Group B (arthritic control) and Group C (telmisartan group) & maintained on standard diet and water adlibitum. Rheumatoid arthritis was induced in each rat of Groups B &C by a single intradermal injection of 0.5ml pristane at the base of its tail on day 0 and the disease developed in two weeks. All 3 groups were given distilled water 2.5 ml/kg from 2-4 weeks and Group C was additionally given dissolved telmisartan orally at 2 mg/kg/day. Anti-arthritic efficacy was determined by assessing arthrogram score and total leukocyte count on day 0, 14 and 28 along with histological examination done at the end of the study. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Results: Healthy rats in group A maintained a unremarkable arthogram & histogram score & TLC count of 6675±350/?l during the entire study period. Telmisartan administration in Group C for two weeks after pristane induction resulted in significant reduction in arthrogram score (AS) 9.5±3.66, total leukocyte count (TLC) 7350±550/?l and histological score (HS) to 6.88±1.24 as compared to (AS) 14.50±2.07, WBC 10150±350/?L & (HS) 10.75±2.05 in Group B, left untreated with pristane alone. The intergroup comparison showed significant p value < 0.05 respectively. Conclusion: Anti-arthritic effect was shown by telmisartan as it was able to ameliorate the changes induced by pristane.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Xu ◽  
Miao-Miao Wang ◽  
Zhi-ling Sun ◽  
Dan-ping Zhou ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
...  

Objective To examine the possible impact of moxibustion on the serum proteome of the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. Materials and Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this experiment. The CIA animal model was prepared by injection of type II bovine collagen in Freund's adjuvant on the first and seventh day. The 36 rats were randomly divided into two groups: the untreated CIA group (control), and the CIA plus treatment with moxibustion (CIA+moxi) group. Moxibustion was administered daily at ST36 and BL23 for 7, 14 or 21 days (n=12 rats each). Arthritis score was used to assess the severity of arthritis. At the end of each 7 day treatment, blood samples from the control group and the CIA+moxi group were collected. After removal of high abundance proteins from serum samples, two-dimensional gel combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight MS/MS (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) techniques were performed to examine serum protein expression patterns of the CIA rat model with and without moxibustion treatment. In addition, the relevant proteins were further analysed with the use of bioinformatics analysis. Results Moxibustion significantly decreased arthritis severity in the rats in the CIA+moxi group, when compared with the rats in the CIA group 35 days after the first immunisation (p=0.001). Seventeen protein spots which changed >1.33 or <0.77 at p<0.05 using Bonferonni correction for multiple testing were found to be common to all three comparisons, and these proteins were used for classification of functions using the Gene Ontology method. Consequently, with the use of the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, the top canonical pathways and a predicted proteomic network related to the moxibustion effect of CIA were established. Conclusions Using the proteomics technique, we have identified novel candidate proteins that may be involved in the mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effects of moxibustion in rats with CIA. Our findings suggest that immune responses and metabolic processes may be involved in mediating the effects of moxibustion. Moreover, periodxiredoxin I (PRDX1) and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) may be potential targets.


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