A role for the endocannabinoid enzymes monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol lipases in cue-induced cocaine craving following prolonged abstinence.

Following exposure to drugs of abuse, long-term neuroadaptations underlie persistent risk to relapse. Endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with drug-induced neuroadaptations, but the role of lipases that mediate endocannabinoid biosynthesis and metabolism in regulating relapse behaviors following prolonged periods of drug abstinence has not been examined. Here, we investigated how pharmacological manipulation of lipases involved in regulating the expression of the endocannabinoid 2-AG in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influence cocaine relapse via discrete neuroadaptations.

Neuroadaptations in the dorsal hippocampus underlie cocaine seeking during prolonged abstinence.

Relapse vulnerability in substance use disorder is attributed to persistent cue-induced drug seeking that intensifies (or "incubates") during drug abstinence. Incubated cocaine seeking has been observed in both humans with cocaine use disorder and in preclinical relapse models. This persistent relapse vulnerability is mediated by neuroadaptations in brain regions involved in reward and motivation.

Cistanche extracts ameliorates the neurotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide in new mutant DJ-1-transfected neuroblastoma cellular models.

Introduction: DJ-1 mutation is a causative reason for familial Parkinson's disease (PD). Leucine166Proline (L166P) and C106S are two important DJ-1 mutations. In this study, we established hydrogen peroxide (H O ) induced L166P and C106S DJ-1-transfected neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cellular models of PD and investigated the effects of Cistanche extracts and key bioactive compounds, including acteoside, echinacoside, caffeic acid, and Cistanche total glycosides on these two models.

Expression of the DJ-1 protein in the serum of Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.

DJ-1 is one of the important genes found in Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies have shown that the DJ-1 protein levels are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of sporadic PD patients, and the DJ-1 protein levels in the CSF and plasma may serve as biomarkers of PD. However, Japanese scholars previously reported that there was no difference in the levels of the DJ-1 protein in serum between sporadic PD patients and controls.

Role of DJ-1 in Fertilization.

Neither a sperm nor an egg can develop into an individual alone. Only when the sperm and egg bind and fuse, which is known as fertilization, can they acquire the ability of developing into new individuals. DJ-1 was reported to be involved in the process of fertilization.

DJ-1 protein protects dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA/MG-132-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and it cannot be completely cured by current medications. In this study, DJ-1 protein was administrated into medial forebrain bundle of PD model rats those had been microinjected with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or MG-132. We found that DJ-1 protein could reduce apomorphine-induced rotations, inhibit reduction of dopamine contents and tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the striatum, and decrease dopaminergic neuron death in the substantia nigra.

Down-regulation of DJ-1 protein in the ejaculated spermatozoa from Chinese asthenozoospermia patients.

Objective: To determine whether the expression of DJ-1 protein, whose levels in spermatozoa have been reported to be highly correlated with male infertility caused by toxicants, is changed in spermatozoa of Chinese asthenozoospermia patients.

Design: DJ-1 measurement by Western blotting, quantitive ELISA, and isoelectric-focusing electrophoresis (IFE) combined with immunoblotting.

Setting: Academic medical center and research laboratories.

Protocatechuic acid inhibits neurotoxicity induced by MPTP in vivo.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra (SN) with the presence of alpha-synuclein inclusions termed Lewy bodies. The neuroprotective effects of protocatechuic acid (PAc) both in vitro and in vivo have been reported. However, little is known about the effects of PAc on neurotoxicity induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in vivo.

Protocatechuic acid inhibits rat pheochromocytoma cell damage induced by a dopaminergic neurotoxin.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) with the presence of alpha-synuclein inclusions termed Lewy bodies. The aggregation of alpha-synuclein into oligomeric species affects neuronal viability, having a causal role in the development of PD. The neuroprotective effects of protocatechuic acid (PAc) have been reported.