A Japanese herbal medicine attenuates anxiety-like behavior through GABA receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in a rat model of premenstrual syndrome.

Inochinohaha White (IHW) is a Japanese herbal medicine for treating women with anxiety associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In this study, we examined the effects of IHW on anxiety-like behavior in rats undergoing progesterone withdrawal (PWD), a model for PMS. Female rats were injected daily with progesterone for 21 days.

Stimulation of insulin secretion by acetylenic fatty acids in insulinoma MIN6 cells through FFAR1.

We examined whether the acetylenic fatty acids 6-octadecynoic acid (6-ODA) and 9-octadecynoic acid (9-ODA) perform as ligands for free fatty acid receptors of medium- and long-chain fatty acids FFAR1 and FFAR4, previously called GPR40 and GPR120, respectively. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 was increased through FFAR1 but not through FFAR4 expressed in HEK 293 cells, suggesting that 6-ODA and 9-ODA function as an FFAR1 ligand, but not as an FFAR4 ligand. Activation of ERK in FFAR1-expressing HEK293 cells by 6-ODA and 9-ODA peaked at 10 min after stimulation followed by a slow decrease, similar to ERK activation by rosiglitazone, which peaked at 10 min after stimulation and lasted longer.

Polymerization of Oxidized DJ-1 via Noncovalent and Covalent Binding: Significance of Disulfide Bond Formation.

The reactive cysteine residue at position 106 (Cys106) of DJ-1 is preferentially oxidized under oxidative stress, generating oxidized DJ-1 (oxDJ-1). Oxidation of Cys106 to sulfinic acid changes the biologic action of DJ-1 and increases its cytoprotective properties. The similar activation step is known in peroxiredoxins (Prxs), in which oxidation of reactive Cys to sulfinic acid induces polymerization of Prxs and changes its enzyme characteristic from peroxidase to molecular chaperone.

Highly emissive platinum(II) complexes bearing carbene and cyclometalated ligands.

A series of heteroleptic platinum(II) complexes (1a-3a and 1b-3b) bearing a dicarbene ligand and a cyclometalated bidentate ligand have been prepared. Two of the complexes (1a and 3a) were characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, confirming the square-planar structures. Detailed spectroscopic properties of the complexes have been studied, and two complexes, 3a and 3b bearing a carbene chelate, which has a trimethylene group between the two N-heterocyclic carbene ligating groups, show intense luminescence (quantum yields >50%) in fluid solution at room temperature.