The alteration of serotonergic markers in the amygdala and raphe nuclei of oestrogen receptor β knock-out female mice.

The amygdala and raphe nuclei, which play crucial roles in mood regulation, are influenced by serotonergic neurotransmission. Alterations in this neurotransmission are associated with mood disorders. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative methods this study was designed to evaluate potential alterations in the expression of serotoninergic markers in the amygdala and raphe nuclei of mice with oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) knock out which exhibit increased anxiety as evidenced by reduced locomotion and increased thigmotaxis.

The Co-Expression Pattern of Calcium-Binding Proteins with γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Glutamate Transporters in the Amygdala of the Guinea Pig: Evidence for Glutamatergic Subpopulations.

The amygdala has large populations of neurons utilizing specific calcium-binding proteins such as parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), or calretinin (CR). They are considered specialized subsets of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons; however, many of these cells are devoid of GABA or glutamate decarboxylase. The neurotransmitters used by GABA-immunonegative cells are still unknown, but it is suggested that a part may use glutamate.

Dopaminergic and cholinergic modulation of the amygdala is altered in female mice with oestrogen receptor β deprivation.

The amygdala is modulated by dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, and this modulation is altered in mood disorders. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the presence/absence of quantitative alterations in the expression of main dopaminergic and cholinergic markers in the amygdala of mice with oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) knock-out which exhibit increased anxiety, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative methods. Such alterations could either contribute to increased anxiety or be a compensatory mechanism for reducing anxiety.

GABAergic and Glutamatergic Phenotypes of Neurons Expressing Calcium-Binding Proteins in the Preoptic Area of the Guinea Pig.

The mammalian preoptic area (POA) has large populations of calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) neurons, but phenotypes of these cells are unknown. Therefore, the question is whether neurons expressing CB, CR, and/or PV are GABAergic or glutamatergic. Double-immunofluorescence staining followed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopy was used to determine the coexpression patterns of CB, CR and PV expressing neurons with vesicular GABA transporters (VGAT) as specific markers of GABAergic neurons and vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT 2) as specific markers of glutamatergic neurons.

Expression of Calbindin, a Marker of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Neurons, Is Reduced in the Amygdala of Oestrogen Receptor β-Deficient Female Mice.

Oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) knock-out female mice display increased anxiety and decreased threshold for synaptic plasticity induction in the basolateral amygdala. This may suggest that the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory system is altered. Therefore, the immunoreactivity of main GABAergic markers-i.

The evolutionary trajectories of the individual amygdala nuclei in the common shrew, guinea pig, rabbit, fox and pig: A consequence of embryological fate and mosaic-like evolution.

The amygdala primarily evolved as a danger detector that regulates emotional behaviours and learning. However, it is also engaged in stress responses as well as olfactory/pheromonal and reproductive functions. All of these functions are processed by a set of nuclei which are derived from different telencephalic sources (pallial and subpallial) and have a unique cellular structure and specific connections.

Relative abundance of chemerin mRNA transcript and protein in pituitaries of pigs during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy and associations with LH and FSH secretion during the estrous cycle.

Adipokines such as chemerin affect metabolic status and reproductive function in many species. The hypothesis in the present study was that there were chemerin mRNA transcript and protein in the pituitary of pigs and that relative abundances fluctuate during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Chemerin is thought to modulate luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion during the estrous cycle.

Expression of chemerin receptors CMKLR1, GPR1 and CCRL2 in the porcine pituitary during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy and the effect of chemerin on MAPK/Erk1/2, Akt and AMPK signalling pathways.

Studies on adipokines, substances that are produced in adipose tissue, indicate that they influence both metabolism and reproduction. Chemerin is a novel addition to the adipokine family. It is believed that chemerin receptors are expressed in different structures of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which are crucial for endocrine control of reproductive functions, including the pituitary.

The amygdala of the common shrew, guinea pig, rabbit, fox and pig: five flavours of the mammalian amygdala as a consequence of clade-specific mosaic-like evolution.

The amygdala is a part of neural networks that contribute to the regulation of emotional behaviours and emotional learning, stress response, and olfactory, pheromonal and reproductive functions. All these various functions are processed by the three main functional systems, frontotemporal, autonomic and olfactory, which are derived from different telencephalic sources (claustrum, striatum and olfactory cortex) and are represented, respectively, by the basolateral complex (BLC), the central complex (CC) and corticomedial complex (CMC) of the amygdala. The question arises of how these three functional systems evolved during mammalian phylogeny to fit the amygdala to specific needs of various animals.

Expression of Chemerin and Its Receptors in the Porcine Hypothalamus and Plasma Chemerin Levels during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy.

Chemerin (CHEM) may act as an important link integrating energy homeostasis and reproductive functions of females, and its actions are mediated by three receptors: chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1), and C-C motif chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2). The aim of the current study was to compare the expression of CHEM and its receptor (CHEM system) mRNAs (quantitative real-time PCR) and proteins (Western blotting and fluorescent immunohistochemistry) in the selected areas of the porcine hypothalamus responsible for gonadotropin-releasing hormone production and secretion: the mediobasal hypothalamus, preoptic area and stalk median eminence during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Moreover, plasma CHEM concentrations were determined using ELISA.

Ontogeny of calcium-binding proteins in the cingulate cortex of the guinea pig: The same onset but different developmental patterns.

This paper compared the density of calbindin D28k (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) containing neurons in prenatal, newborn and postnatal periods in the cingulate cortex (CC) of the guinea pig as an animal model. The distribution and co-distribution among calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) was also investigated during the entire ontogeny. The study found that CB-positive neurons exhibited the highest density in the developing CC.

Ontogeny of Neurons Containing Calcium-Binding Proteins in the Preoptic Area of the Guinea Pig: Sexually Dimorphic Development of Calbindin.

This study characterizes for the first time the distribution and coexistence patterns of calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), and parvalbumin (PV) in the female and male guinea pig preoptic area (POA) during brain development, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR techniques. The results show that the prenatal development of the guinea pig POA takes place in elevated levels of CB and CR immunoreactivity with the peak at embryonic day 50 (E50) and generally in newborns both these proteins reach an adult-like pattern of immunoreactivity, contrary to PV which appears later, peaks at postnatal day (PND) 10 (P10), and stabilizes at P20. CB and CR have also overlapping distributions which differed from that of PV, and much higher expressions at mRNA and protein levels.

Calcium-binding proteins expression in the septum and cingulate cortex of the adult guinea pig.

For the first time this study demonstrates the distribution pattern and expression of three neuroanatomical markers: calbindin D28k (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in topographically connected brain regions - the septum (SE) and the cingulate cortex (CC). The co-existence among calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) was also examined. The study was conducted on the adult guinea pig with the use of immunohistochemical and molecular biological techniques.

Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity and its relations with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and neuropeptide Y in the preoptic area of the guinea pig.

The present study examines the distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and its morphological relationships with neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and gonadoliberin (GnRH)-immunoreactive (IR) structures in the preoptic area (POA) of the male guinea pig. Tyrosine hydroxylase was expressed in relatively small population of perikarya and they were mostly observed in the periventricular preoptic nucleus and medial preoptic area. The tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibers were dispersed troughout the whole POA.

Distribution of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) in the pterygopalatine ganglion of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. domestica).

Introduction: Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) act as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Their presence has been found in different taxonomic groups, in particular in mammals. However, only few investigators have studied these neuropeptides in the class Aves (birds).

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and calcium binding proteins immunoreactivity in the subicular complex of the guinea pig.

In this study we present the distribution and colocalization pattern of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins: calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the subicular complex (SC) of the guinea pig. The subiculum (S) and presubiculum (PrS) showed higher CART-immunoreactivity (-IR) than the parasubiculum (PaS) as far as the perikarya and neuropil were concerned. CART- IR cells were mainly observed in the pyramidal layer and occasionally in the molecular layer of the S.

The densities of calbindin and parvalbumin, but not calretinin neurons, are sexually dimorphic in the amygdala of the guinea pig.

In the amygdala, the calcium-binding proteins (calbindin, parvalbumin or calretinin) are useful markers of specific subpopulations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) containing neurons. In the rat and monkey they together mark the vast majority of GABA-containing neurons in this brain region. As GABA involvement in the control of various behaviors in a sex-specific manner and sexual dimorphism of the GABAergic system itself were recently proven, the question is how much dimorphic may be various subpopulations of this system.

Calcium-binding proteins in the laterodorsal thalamic nucleus during development of the guinea pig.

The laterodorsal thalamic nucleus (LD) is often treated as a part of the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) because of its location and similar connectivity. Our previous studies have shown that distribution of three calcium-binding proteins, i.e.

The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the medial geniculate body of the guinea pig.

The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution and colocalization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins (calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin) in each main division of the medial geniculate body (MGB) in the guinea pig. From low to moderate CART immunoreactivity was observed in all divisions of the MGB, although in most of its length only fibers and neuropil were labeled. A small number of CART immunoreactive somata were observed in the caudal segment of the MGB.

Embryonic and postnatal development of calcium-binding proteins immunoreactivity in the anterior thalamus of the guinea pig.

Our recent studies have shown that the distribution of calretinin (CR) in the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) changes significantly during the development of the guinea pig. The present study was designed to reveal the distribution pattern of calcium-binding proteins, i.e.

Distribution and chemical coding pattern of somatostatin immunoreactivity in the dorsal striatum of the guinea pig.

The present study provides a detailed description of somatostatin (SOM) distribution and the colocalization pattern of SOM, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the dorsal striatum (caudate-putamen complex) of the guinea pig. Within the dorsal striatum, SOM is found in a population of medium-sized aspiny interneurons. We found that 97% of all SOM-IR neurons expressed NPY simultaneously, while 98% of all NPY-ergic perikarya was simultaneously SOM-IR.

Distribution and chemical coding pattern of the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactivity in the preoptic area of the pig.

This study provides a detailed description of cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) distribution and the co-localization pattern of CART and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and substance P (SP) in the preoptic area (POA) of the domestic pig. The POA displays a low density of immunoreactive cells and rich immunoreactivity for CART in fibers. CART-immunoreactive (CART-IR) cell bodies were single and faintly stained, and located in the medial preoptic area (MPA) and the periventricular region of the POA.

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the amygdala of the pig.

The distribution and morphology of neurons containing somatostatin (SOM) was investigated in the amygdala (CA) of the pig. The SOM-immunoreactive (SOM-IR) cell bodies and fibres were present in all subdivisions of the porcine CA, however, their number and density varied depending on the nucleus studied. The highest density of SOM-positive somata was observed in the layer III of the cortical nuclei, in the anterior (magnocellular) part of the basomedial nucleus and in the caudal (large-celled) part of the lateral nucleus.

A morphometric study of the amygdala in the guinea pig.

The characteristic features of guinea pig amygdala (CA), as shown by volumetric comparisons of the individual nuclei, are the poor development of the basolateral (BL) and lateral olfactory tract (NLOT) nuclei as well as the strong formation of the lateral (LA) and basomedial (BM) nuclei. The central (CE), cortical (CO) and medial (ME) nuclei also appear to be well represented in this species. All these features are even more pronounced when the total number of neurons in the nuclei referred to was taken into consideration.

The neuronal structure of the red nucleus in newborn guinea pigs.

The preparations, stained according to the Nissl and Klüver-Barrera methods, were used to describe the topography and morphology of the red nucleus (RN) as well as the structure of the rubral perikarya in newborn (P0) guinea pigs. The Golgi impregnated preparations were used to distinguish types of neurons. RN is a uniform cell group and has the length from 740 to 860 microm.