Repeated Amphetamine Exposure Blunted Angiotensin II-Induced Responses Mediated by AT Receptors.

Background: Angiotensin II, is critical in regulating the sympathetic and neuroendocrine systems through angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT-R). Angiotensin II intracerebral administration increases water and sodium intake, as well as renal sodium excretion. Previously, our group has shown that AT-R is involved in behavioral and neurochemical sensitization induced by amphetamine.

Angiotensin II involvement in the development and persistence of amphetamine-induced sensitization: Striatal dopamine reuptake implications.

Amphetamine (AMPH) exposure induces behavioural and neurochemical sensitization observed in rodents as hyperlocomotion and increased dopamine release in response to a subsequent dose. Brain Angiotensin II modulates dopaminergic neurotransmission through its AT receptors (AT-R), positively regulating striatal dopamine synthesis and release. This work aims to evaluate the AT-R role in the development and maintenance of AMPH-induced sensitization.

Schizophrenia-like endurable behavioral and neuroadaptive changes induced by ketamine administration involve Angiotensin II AT receptor.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease affecting 1% worldwide population, of which 30% are refractory to the available treatments: thus, searching for new pharmacological targets is imperative. The acute and repeated ketamine administration are validated preclinical models that recreate the behavioral and neurochemical features of this pathology, including the parvalbumin-expressing interneurons dysfunction. Angiotensin II, through AT receptors (AT-R), modulates the dopaminergic and GABAergic neurotransmission.

Prenatal Amphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Alteration in a Gender- and Estrogen-Dependent Manner.

Prenatal exposure to amphetamine induces changes in dopamine receptors in mesolimbic areas and alters locomotor response to amphetamine during adulthood. Sex differences have been reported in amphetamine-induced brain activity and stress sensitivity. We evaluated the effects of prenatal amphetamine exposure on locomotor activity, dopamine receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression in nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen in response to amphetamine challenge in adult female and male rats.

Lack of Cdk5 activity is involved on Dopamine Transporter expression and function: Evidences from an animal model of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most diagnosed psychiatric disorders nowadays. The core symptoms of the condition include hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattention. The main pharmacological treatment consists of psychostimulant drugs affecting Dopamine Transporter (DAT) function.

Amphetamine Induces Oxidative Stress, Glial Activation and Transient Angiogenesis in Prefrontal Cortex via AT-R.

Amphetamine (AMPH) alters neurons, glia and microvessels, which affects neurovascular unit coupling, leading to disruption in brain functions such as attention and working memory. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in these alterations. The angiotensin type I receptors (AT-R) mediate deleterious effects, such as oxidative/inflammatory responses, endothelial dysfunction, neuronal oxidative damage, alterations that overlap with those observed from AMPH exposure.

AT -R is involved in the development of long-lasting, region-dependent and oxidative stress-independent astrocyte morphological alterations induced by Ketamine.

Astrocytes play an essential role in the genesis, maturation and regulation of the neurovascular unit. Multiple evidence support that astrocyte reactivity has a close relationship to neurovascular unit dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, providing a suitable scenario for the development of mental disorders. Ketamine has been proposed as a single-use antidepressant treatment in major depression, and its antidepressant effects have been associated with anti-inflammatory properties.

Angiotensin II modulates amphetamine-induced glial and brain vascular responses, and attention deficit via angiotensin type 1 receptor: Evidence from brain regional sensitivity to amphetamine.

Amphetamine-induced neuroadaptations involve vascular damage, neuroinflammation, a hypo-functioning prefrontal cortex (PFC), and cognitive alterations. Brain angiotensin II, through angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT -R), mediates oxidative/inflammatory responses, promoting endothelial dysfunction, neuronal oxidative damage and glial reactivity. The present work aims to unmask the role of AT -R in the development of amphetamine-induced changes over glial and vascular components within PFC and hippocampus.

Brain Angiotensin II Involvement in Chronic Mental Disorders.

Background: The functioning of the central nervous system is complex and it implies tight and coordinated interactions among multiple components. Neurotransmitters systems imbalance is a hallmark in the central nervous system (CNS) disorders. These pathologies profoundly impact the social, cultural, and economic perspective worldwide.

Neurovascular unit alteration in somatosensory cortex and enhancement of thermal nociception induced by amphetamine involves central AT receptor activation.

The use of psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (Amph), is associated with inflammatory processes, involving glia and vasculature alterations. Brain Angiotensin II (Ang II), through AT -receptors (AT -R), modulates neurotransmission and plays a crucial role in inflammatory responses in brain vasculature and glia. Our aim for the present work was to evaluate the role of AT -R in long-term alterations induced by repeated exposure to Amph.

Angiotensin II AT receptors mediate neuronal sensitization and sustained blood pressure response induced by a single injection of amphetamine.

A single exposure to amphetamine induces neurochemical sensitization in striatal areas. The neuropeptide angiotensin II, through AT receptors (AT-R) activation, is involved in these responses. However, amphetamine-induced alterations can be extended to extra-striatal areas involved in blood pressure control and their physiological outcomes.

Brain Angiotensin II AT1 receptors are involved in the acute and long-term amphetamine-induced neurocognitive alterations.

Rationale: Angiotensin II, by activation of its brain AT1-receptors, plays an active role as neuromodulator in dopaminergic transmission. These receptors participate in the development of amphetamine-induced behavioral and dopamine release sensitization. Dopamine is involved in cognitive processes and provides connectivity between brain areas related to these processes.

A previous history of repeated amphetamine exposure modifies brain angiotensin II AT1 receptor functionality.

Unlabelled: Previous results from our laboratory showed that angiotensin II AT1 receptors (AT1-R) are involved in the neuroadaptative changes induced by amphetamine. The aim of the present work was to study functional and neurochemical responses to angiotensin II (ANG II) mediated by AT1-R activation in animals previously exposed to amphetamine. For this purpose male Wistar rats (250-320 g) were treated with amphetamine (2.

Involvement of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the neuroadaptive responses induced by amphetamine in a two-injection protocol.

A single or repeated exposure to psychostimulants induces long-lasting neuroadaptative changes. Different neurotransmitter systems are involved in these responses including the neuropeptide angiotensin II. Our study tested the hypothesis that the neuroadaptative changes induced by amphetamine produce alterations in brain RAS components that are involved in the expression of the locomotor sensitization to the psychostimulant drug.

Fear-potentiated behaviour is modulated by central amygdala angiotensin II AT1 receptors stimulation.

Central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is one of the most important regulatory centres for the emotional processes. Among the different neurotransmitter systems present in this nucleus, AT1 receptors have been also found, but their role in the generation and modulation of emotions is not fully understood. The present work evaluated the effect of intra-amygdalar injection of losartan (AT1 receptor antagonist) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in the anxiety state induced by fear-potentiated plus maze in male Wistar rats.

Opioid modulation of prolactin secretion induced by stress during late pregnancy. Role of ovarian steroids.

Background: The opioid system modulates prolactin release during late pregnancy. Its role and the participation of ovarian hormones in this modulation are explored in ether stress-induced prolactin release.

Methods/results: Estrous, 3-day and 19-day pregnant rats were used.

Angiotensin II AT₁ receptors are involved in neuronal activation induced by amphetamine in a two-injection protocol.

It was already found that Ang II AT₁ receptors are involved in the neuroadaptative changes induced by a single exposure to amphetamine, and such changes are related to the development of behavioral and neurochemical sensitization. The induction of the immediately early gene c-fos has been used to define brain activated areas by amphetamine. Our aim was to evaluate the participation of AT₁ receptors in the neuronal activation induced by amphetamine sensitization.

Anxiolytic-like effect of losartan injected into amygdala of the acutely stressed rats.

It has been recognized that the stress-related peptides are involved in anxiety states. Angiotensin II receptor blockade by systemic administration of the AT(1) receptor antagonists has been proposed as a new treatment possibility for anxiety disorders. For better understanding of the related mechanisms, in this study we evaluated effects of bilateral intraamygdaloid injections of 2 (LOS 2) and 4 (LOS 4) μg of losartan (LOS), a selective AT(1) receptor antagonist, on the behavior of the not stressed and acutely stressed rats in an elevated "plus" maze.

Intra-amygdaloid microinjection of neuropeptide glutamic acid-isoleucine induces anxiety-like behavior.

The amygdaloid complex is involved in anxiety or fear responses to stressful stimuli. In this study the effect of neuropeptide-EI on anxiety-like behavior and its influence on adrenocortical function was tested in male Wistar rats that were injected bilaterally in the basolateral amygdala with neuropeptide-EI (1 μg/1 μl) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid and placed on the plus maze. The plasma corticosterone levels were analyzed in controls and plus-maze exposed animals.