Early-life nicotine or cotinine exposure produces long-lasting sleep alterations and downregulation of hippocampal corticosteroid receptors in adult mice

Early-life exposure to environmental toxins like tobacco can permanently re-program body structure and function. Here, we investigated the long-term effects on mouse adult sleep phenotype exerted by early-life exposure to nicotine or to its principal metabolite, cotinine. Moreover, we investigated whether these effects occurred together with a reprogramming of the activity of the hippocampus, a key structure to coordinate the hormonal stress response. Adult male mice born from dams subjected to nicotine (NIC), cotinine (COT) or vehicle (CTRL) treatment in drinking water were implanted with electrodes for sleep recordings. NIC and COT mice spent significantly more time awake than CTRL mice at the transition between the rest (light) and the activity (dark) period. NIC and COT mice showed hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) downregulation compared to CTRL mice, and NIC mice also showed hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptor downregulation. Hippocampal GR expression significantly and inversely correlated with the amount of wakefulness at the light-to-dark transition, while no changes in DNA methylation were found. We demonstrated that early-life exposure to nicotine (and cotinine) concomitantly entails long-lasting reprogramming of hippocampal activity and sleep phenotype suggesting that the adult sleep phenotype may be modulated by events that occurred during that critical period of life.

EVALUATION OF THE CORTICOSTEROID RECEPTORS’ LEVEL IN THE KIDNEYS OF RATS AFTER SYSTEMIC ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION

Background: With disturbance of the systemic blood supply, the body experiences hypoxia and stress. Under stress of any etiology, there is a non-specific rearrangement of physiological and biochemical processes. These processes occur under the influence of corticosteroid hormones. Aim: To determine the level of corticosteroid receptors in the kidneys of rats at different times after systemic ischemia-reperfusion. Methods: The study included 80 male white rats. All the animals were divided into 2 groups. A model of systemic ischemia-reperfusion was created in the main group (n=70). Further, on 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and for 35 days, we determined the level of gluco - and mineralocorticoid receptors in the kidneys. Results: In the animals of the main group, we observed a short-term period (during the first 3 days) of a decrease in the content of both glucorticoid (p<0.05) and mineralocorticoid (p<0.01) receptors. The dynamics of recovery of the level of corticosteroid receptors was 3 times faster than that of mineralocorticoid receptors. Conclusions: The dynamics of corticosteroid receptors’ level in the kidneys of rats after ischemia caused by an arrest of systemic circulation show the recovery time after ischemia-reperfusion injury, which ensures the stability of an individual to hypoxia.

Features of the dynamics of corticosteroid receptors in the myocardium of animals with different resistance to hypoxia in the post resuscitation period

Aim. To characterize the peculiarities of the dynamics of the level of corticosteroid receptors in the myocardium of animals with different resistance to hypoxia in the post-resuscitation period. Methods. Experimental studies were carried out on male non-inbred white rats, divided into 2 groups by hypoxia resistance. A 5-minute arrest of the systemic circulation was modeled under ether anesthesia with intrathoracic clamping of the cardiovascular cluster with subsequent resuscitation. The observation period was 35 days. The content of corticosterone and aldosterone was determined in the blood plasma, the concentration of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in myocard homogenates was determined as well. Results. On days 1 to 3 of the post-resuscitation period in rats highly resistant to hypoxia, the dynamics of plasma corticosterone concentration and the content of corticosteroid receptors was unidirectional. Starting from the 5th day, against the background of a statistically significant decrease in the level of plasma corticosterone, a gradual increase in the density of corticosteroid receptors, mostly glucocorticoid, was observed, most pronounced on the 14th day and remaining until the end of the observation. In animals with low resistance to hypoxia, the dynamics of corticosteroid receptors was characterized by a predominance of mineralocorticoid content in almost all periods of observation. On days 13 of post-resuscitation period on the background of high concentrations of corticosteroid hormones, the minimum content of glucocorticoid receptors was noted. A decrease in the mineralocorticoid receptor level was recorded only on the first day, and in all subsequent periods of the experiment, the control indicators were significantly higher by 1.41.6 times. Strengthened mineralocorticoid signaling in the myocardium, characteristic of animals with low resistance to hypoxia, may be associated with the development of hypertrophy and fibrosis, inflammation, impaired electrical function. An increase in glucocorticoid receptors, characteristic of animals with a high resistance to hypoxia, has an adaptive effect, limiting the inflammatory response, the potential mechanism may be associated with increased expression of type 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Conclusion. The identified features can have a significant influence on the course of the post-resuscitation period and determine the long-term forecast.

Effect of free radical oxidation on content of corticosteroid receptors in the lungs of animals with different sensitivity to hypoxia in the postresuscitation period

Цель исследования - изучение особенностей динамики показателей свободнорадикального окисления и уровня кортикостероидных рецепторов в легких у животных с разной чувствительностью к гипоксии в постреанимационном периоде. Методика. Эксперимент выполнен на самцах беспородных белых крыс, разделенных по устойчивости к гипоксии на 2 группы: неустойчивые и высокоустойчивые. Остановку системного кровообращения продолжительностью 5 мин моделировали под общим эфирным наркозом (через 1 нед после тестирования на устойчивость к гипоксии) интраторакальным пережатием сосудистого пучка сердца с последующей реанимацией. Через 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 и 35 сут животных под эфирным наркозом декапитировали. В плазме крови определяли содержание кортикостерона и альдостерона, в гомогенатах легких - концентрацию глюкокортикоидных и минералокортикоидных рецепторов, уровни продуктов, реагирующих с тиобарбитуровой кислотой, карбонилированных белков, железозависимое образование битирозина, активность супероксиддисмутазы, каталазы, содержание восстановленного глутатиона. Результаты. Установлено, что для неустойчивых к гипоксии животных характерна высокая интенсивность свободнорадикального окисления, проявляющаяся развитием карбонильного стресса на фоне снижения активности ключевых антиоксидантов и сопряженная с выраженными изменениями динамики кортикостероидных рецепторов: в первые 3 сут постреанимационного периода наблюдалось снижение уровня кортикостероидных рецепторов, а к концу 35-суточного мониторинга значительное нарастание концентрации минералокортикоидных рецепторов. Высокую степень устойчивости к гипоксии отличает относительно низкая интенсивность свободнорадикального окисления, характеризующаяся только усилением липопероксидации за счет адекватной емкости и сохранности водорастворимых антиоксидантных систем, экранирующих белки. В раннем восстановительном периоде это сопровождается сохранением уровня кортикостероидных рецепторов, в позднем - существенным ростом концентрации глюкокортикоидных рецепторов. Заключение. Увеличение содержания глюкокортикоидных рецепторов у высокоустойчивых к гипоксии животных в позднем восстановительном периоде (14-е - 35-е сут) играет важную роль, предположительно путем модулирования течения воспалительного процесса, ограничения неконтролируемых иммунных реакции и повреждение тканей. Следствием значительного нарастания концентрации минералокортикоидных рецепторов у животных с низкой устойчивостью к гипоксии может быть усиление сосудистого ремоделирования и развитие фиброза в легких. Aim. The aim of the study was to characterize changes in free radical oxidation and corticosteroid receptor density in the lungs of animals with different sensitivity to hypoxia in the postresuscitation period. Methods. Experiments were performed on mongrel male white rats divided into two groups based on their hypoxia resistance, non-resistant and highly resistant. One week after testing the rats for resistance to hypoxia, a 5-min arrest of systemic circulation was modeled under ether anesthesia by intrathoracic compression of the vascular bundle of the heart with subsequent resuscitation. The follow-up period was 35 days. At 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 35 days, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation under ether anesthesia, and blood and tissue samples were collected. Concentrations of corticosterone and aldosterone were measured in plasma; concentrations of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and carbonylated proteins, iron-dependent formation of dityrosine, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and concentration of reduced glutathione were measured in lung homogenates. Results. Hypoxia non-resistant rats had a high intensity of free radical oxidation as evident from the development of carbonyl stress associated with decreased activities of key antioxidants and pronounced changes in the dynamics of corticosteroid receptors. A reduced level of corticosteroid receptors was observed in the first three days of resuscitation period and followed by a significant increase in mineralocorticoid receptors at the end of 35-day monitoring. High resistance to hypoxia was characterized by a relatively low intensity of free radical oxidation, evident only from increased lipid peroxidation, due to an adequate capacity and preservation of water-soluble antioxidants. During the early recovery period, high resistance to hypoxia was associated with preserved level of corticosteroid receptors whereas during late recovery, the high hypoxia resistance was associated with a significant increase in the concentration of glucocorticoid receptors. Conclusion. The increased density of glucocorticoid receptors in hypoxia high-resistant animals during the late recovery period (days 14-35) plays an important role, presumably by modulating the inflammatory process and restricting uncontrolled immune responses and tissue damage. The significant increase in mineralocorticoid receptors in hypoxia low-resistance animals may result in stimulation of vascular remodeling and development of pulmonary fibrosis.