Corticosteroid effects on cholinergic enzymes in ethanol-treated fetal brain cell cultures

In the presence of ethanol, corticosterone and dexamethasone inhibit choline acetyltransferase and acetyl-cholinesterase activities in cultured fetal brain cells of the rat. These results suggest that corticosteroids may have an important influence on the activity of cholinergic enzymes in the fetal brain may antagonize the effects of ethanol in this setting.     

Effect of diabetes on the enzymes of the cholinergic system of the rat brain

Summary Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined in several brain regions of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats exhibited significant increase in ChAT activity (p<0.05) in all brain regions studied except for the cortex and the midbrain. Meanwhile, the diabetes condition was associated with significant increase (p<0.05) in AChE activity of the bulbus olfactorius, medulla oblongata and cerebellum. These data suggest that uncontrolled diabetes is associated with significant alterations in the brain cholinergic systems.To whom requests of reprints should be addressed.This work was supported by grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NSG 2183 and NAG-2-411), a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH Grant RR0811) and a grant from the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (NIH Grant RR03020).     

Altered brain cholinergic enzymes activity in the genetically obese rat

Summary Genetically obese male Zucker rats (fa/fa) and their lean littermates (Fa/-) were used in this experiment. Fourteen-week-old obese and lean littermates were sacrificed and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes were assayed in specific brain regions. The assays of these enzymes indicate that obese animals and a significantly lower ChAT activity in the cerebellum, pons, and cerebral cortex and a significant increase in ChAT activity in the thalamus and hypothalamus. Meanwhile, the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain, thalamus and hypothalamus of the obese animals showed significantly higher AChE activity than their lean littermates. It was concluded from this study that obesity may be associated with changes in the enzymes of the brain cholinergic system.This work was supported by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NAG 2-411), a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH RR 0811), and a grant from the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (NIH Grant RR 03020).     

Aldose metabolism in developing human fetal brain and liver

Summary Aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activities were studied in human foetal brain and liver at different periods of gestation. Aldose reductase activity in liver disappears after 16 weeks of gestation whereas sorbitol dehydrogenase keeps on increasing in liver as well as in brain. In utero, some glucose metabolism may be mediated through an active sorbitol pathway in human fetuses.Acknowledgments. These studies were supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research.     

The effects of beta-endorphin on arginine-8-vasopressin and oxytocin levels in rat brain areas

Summary Measurements were made of the effects of intracerebroventricular treatment with beta-endorphin (BE; 100 ng) on the arginine-8-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin contents of rat hypothalamic and limbic brain areas (hippocampus, amygdala and septum). The hormone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The administration of BE resulted in a significant reduction of the AVP level in the amygdala in a naloxone-reversible manner. Naloxone (Nal) administered subcutaneously significantly increased the AVP content in the septum. The results revealed that BE and Nal had regionally specific effects on the activity of the vasopressinergic system but not on that of the oxytocinergic system in the brain.     

The effects of acute and chronic morphine on regional distribution of cardiac output in brain

Summary Both acute and chronic administration of morphine resulted in an increase in the percent cardiac output received by brain. However, various brain regions were affected differently by the drug treatments. The greatest increases in percent cardiac output received after chronic administration of morphine occurred in pons and cerebellum, while the greatest increases after acute administration occurred in cortex and midbrain. The changes found are in contrast with earlier studies which suggest that morphine has no effect on cerebral blood flow.     

Autotaxin (NPP-2) in the brain: cell type-specific expression and regulation during development and after neurotrauma

Autotaxin is a secreted cell motility-stimulating exo-phosphodiesterase with lysophospholipase D activity that generates bioactive lysophosphatidic acid. Lysophosphatidic acid has been implicated in various neural cell functions such as neurite remodeling, demyelination, survival and inhibition of axon growth. Here, we report on the in vivo expression of autotaxin in the brain during development and following neurotrauma. We found that autotaxin is expressed in the proliferating subventricular and choroid plexus epithelium during embryonic development. After birth, autotaxin is mainly found in white matter areas in the central nervous system. In the adult brain, autotaxin is solely expressed in leptomeningeal cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Following neurotrauma, autotaxin is strongly up-regulated in reactive astrocytes adjacent to the lesion. The present study revealed the cellular distribution of autotaxin in the developing and lesioned brain and implies a function of autotaxin in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and brain injuries. Received 18 September 2006; received after revision 30 October 2006; accepted 4 December 2006