Neuropeptides in the rat claustrum - An immunohistochemical detection.

Neuropeptides are involved in numerous brain activities and are responsible for a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The main purpose of this outline structural qualitative study was to identify the possible immunoreactivity of classical neuropeptides, as well as novel ones such as nesfatin-1, phoenixin (PNX), spexin (SPX), neuromedin U (NMU) and respective receptors within the rat claustrum for the first time. The study shows the novel identification of peptidergic neurotransmission in the rat claustrum which potentially implicates a contribution of this neuropeptide to numerous central neurosecretory mechanisms.

Pharmacomodulation of brain neuromedin U signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Neuromedin U (NMU) belongs to a family of multifunctional neuropeptides that modulate the activity of several neural networks of the brain. Acting via metabotropic receptor NMUR2, NMU plays a role in the regulation of multiple systems, including energy homeostasis, stress responses, circadian rhythms, and endocrine signaling. The involvement of NMU signaling in the central regulation of important neurophysiological processes and its disturbances is a potential target for pharmacological modulation.

Escitalopram alters the hypothalamic OX system but does not affect its up-regulation induced by early-life stress in adult rats.

We hypothesized that there is a relationship between the orexinergic system (OX) alterations and changes elicited by escitalopram or venlafaxine in adult rats subjected to maternal separation (MS). This animal model of childhood adversity induces long-lasting consequences in adult physiology and behavior. Male Wistar rats from the control and MS groups were injected with escitalopram or venlafaxine (10 mg/kg) IP from postnatal day (PND) 69-89.

Spexin-expressing neurons in the magnocellular nuclei of the human hypothalamus.

Neuropeptides are involved in numerous brain activities being responsible for a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The purpose of this concise, structural and qualitative investigation was to map the possible immunoreactivity of the novel neuropeptide spexin (SPX) within the human magnocellular hypothalamus. SPX is a newly identified peptide, a natural ligand for the galanin receptors (GALR) 2/3, with no molecular structure similarities to currently known regulatory factors.

Escitalopram as a modulator of proopiomelanocortin, kisspeptin, Kiss1R and MCHR1 gene expressions in the male rat brain.

Neuropeptides are important, multifunctional regulatory factors of the nervous system, being considered as a novel, atypical sites of antidepressants action. It has already been proven that some of them, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), are able to affect peptidergic pathways in various brain regions. Despite these reports, there is so far no reports regarding the effect of treatment with SSRIs on brain proopiomelanocortin (POMC), kisspeptin, Kiss1R and MCHR1 gene expression.

Longitudinal study on novel neuropeptides phoenixin, spexin and kisspeptin in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa - association with psychiatric symptoms.

Objectives: It is hypothesized that novel neuropeptides such as phoenixin (PNX), spexin (SPX), and kisspeptin (KISS) are involved in the pathogenesis of eating disorders. The study presented here analyzed neuropeptide concentrations during the course of anorexia nervosa (AN) and aimed to correlate those values with anthropometric and psychometric measurements.

Methods: A longitudinal study was carried outin 30 AN adolescent patients and 15 age-matched healthy female controls.

The first identification of nesfatin-1-expressing neurons in the human bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Neuropeptides are involved in various brain activities being able to control a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The purpose of this concise structural investigation was to detect the possible immunoreactivity of the novel multifunctional neuropeptide nesfatin-1 within the human bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). The BNST is involved in the mechanism of fear learning, integration of stress and reward circuits, and pathogenesis of addiction.

The GnRH analogues affect novel neuropeptide SMIM20/phoenixin and GPR173 receptor expressions in the female rat hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

The recently discovered peptide phoenixin (PNX) and its receptor GPR173 are novel factors that exhibit a large spectrum of regulatory activity, especially when considered as a central modulator of GnRH-related hormonal control of reproductive processes. It has been already proven that GnRH agonists and antagonists can modulate peptidergic signalling in the HPG axis. Despite these findings, there is so far no information regarding the influence of treatment with GnRH analogues on SMIM20/phoenixin signalling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Long-term Treatment with Olanzapine Increases the Number of Sox2 and Doublecortin Expressing Cells in the Adult Subventricular Zone.

Background & Objective: Continuously active neurogenic regions in the adult brain are located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Neurogenesis is modulated by many factors such as growth factors, neurotransmitters and hormones. Neuropsychiatric drugs, especially antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics may also affect the origin of neuronal cells.

Effect of long-term treatment with classical neuroleptics on NPQ/spexin, kisspeptin and POMC mRNA expression in the male rat amygdala.

Neuroleptics modulate the expression level of some regulatory neuropeptides in the brain. However, if these therapeutics influence the peptidergic circuits in the amygdala remains unclear. This study specifies the impact profile of the classical antipsychotic drugs on mRNA expression of the spexin/NPQ, kisspeptin-1 and POMC in the rat amygdala.

Escitalopram affects spexin expression in the rat hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum.

Background: Spexin (SPX) is a recently discovered neuropeptide that exhibits a large spectrum of central and peripheral regulatory activity, especially when considered as a potent anorexigenic factor. It has already been proven that antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), can modulate peptidergic signaling in various brain structures. Despite these findings, there is so far no information regarding the influence of treatment with the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram on brain SPX expression.

Extended neuroleptic administration modulates NMDA-R subunit immunoexpression in the rat neocortex and diencephalon.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of extended olanzapine, clozapine and haloperidol administration on NMDA-R subunit immunoexpression in the rat neocortex and diencephalon.

Methods: To explore NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunit protein expression, densytometric analysis of immunohistochemically stained brain slices was performed.

Results: Interestingly, all neuroleptics caused a downregulation of NMDA-R subunit expression in the thalamus but increased the level of NR1 in the hypothalamus.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of the GnRH Analogs in the Form of Solution and Zn-Suspension After Single Subcutaneous Injection in Female Rats.

Background And Objectives: Although many synthetic gonadoliberin analogs have been developed, only a few of them, including buserelin, were introduced into clinical practice. Dalarelin, which differs from buserelin by just one aminoacid in the position 6 (D-Ala), is not widely used so far. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs are used to treat many different illnesses and are available in different forms like solution for injection, nasal spray, microspheres, etc.

Long-term treatment with haloperidol affects neuropeptide S and NPSR mRNA levels in the rat brain.

Objective: The brainstem-derived neuropeptide S (NPS) has a multidirectional regulatory activity, especially as a potent anxiolytic factor. Accumulating data suggests that neuroleptics affect peptidergic signalling in various brain structures. However, there is no information regarding the influence of haloperidol on NPS and NPS receptor (NPSR) expression.

Tuberculosis among the homeless and inmates kept in custody and in penitentiary institutions in the Silesia region.

Introduction: There are more than 10 million prisoners in the world. Tuberculosis incidence is 10-100 times higher in prisoners than in the general population. Inmates have close contact with other prisoners and with prison workers and visitors, so tubercle bacilli may be easily spread.