The role of neurochemical factors in the chronic mercury intoxication development

The search of pathogenetic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of mercury intoxication is an actual problem. The aim of the investigation was to study the dynamics of changes in neurochemical parameters in workers in contact with mercury and in persons in the early and distant period of intoxication. A prospective cohort examination included 69 men, exposed to mercury vapors in the workplace (1) and 36 patients in the distant (2) and 18 – in initial period of chronic mercury intoxication (3). Serotonin, histamine, catecholamines and their metabolites were determined in blood plasma. The maximum number of indicators that changed in the dynamics of the survey was registered in the group 2. Dopamine level increased by a maximum value - 284%, noradrenaline - 124%. Only the noradrenaline content changed in 3.2 times in patients in the group 3 and in 1.4 times in experienced workers without pathology. This changes in experienced workers was partially offset by its transition to inactive metabolite normetanephrine. The increase of noradrenaline concentration was not accompanied by increase of its metabolite level in the group 3. But the increase of the dopamine, serotonin and histamine joined in the distant period of chronic mercury intoxication.

Brain Cortical and Hippocampal Dopamine: A New Mechanistic Approach for Eurycoma longifolia Well-Known Aphrodisiac Activity and Its Chemical Characterization

Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Fam.: Simaroubaceae), known as Tongkat Ali (TA), has been known as a symbol of virility and sexual power for men. Metabolic profiling of the aqueous extract of E. longifolia (AEEL) using UPLC-MS/MS in both positive and negative modes allowed the identification of seventeen metabolites. The identified compounds were classified into four groups: quassinoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, and biphenylneolignans. AEEL is considered safe with oral LD50 cut-off >5000 mg/kg. Oral administration of 50, 100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg of AEEL for 10 consecutive days to Sprague-Dawley male rats caused significant reductions in mounting, intromission, and ejaculation latencies and increased penile erection index. AEEL increased total body weight and relative weights of seminal vesicles and prostate. Total and free serum testosterone and brain cortical and hippocampal dopamine content was significantly elevated in treated groups with no significant effects on serotonin or noradrenaline content.

Response Surface Modelling of Noradrenaline Production in Hairy Root Culture of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is an annual plant as one of the natural sources for noradrenaline hormone. In this research, hairy root culture of purslane was established by using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain ATCC 15834. In the following, Box-Behnken model of response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize B5 medium for the growth of P. oleracea L. hairy root line. According to the results, modelling and optimization conditions, including sucrose, CaCl2.H2O, H2PO4 and NO3-/NH4+ concentrations on maximum dry weight (0.155 g) and noradrenaline content (0.36 mg.g-1 DW) was predicted. These optimal conditions predicted by RSM were confirmed the enhancement of noradrenaline production as an application potential for production by hairy root cultures.