Study of Melipona quadrifasciata brain under operant learning using proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis.

Learning to anticipate events based on the predictive relationship between an action and an outcome (operant conditioning) is a form of associative learning shared by humans and most of other living beings, including invertebrates. Several behavioral studies on the mechanisms of operant conditioning have included Melipona quadrifasciata, a honey bee that is easily manipulated due to lack of sting. In this work, brain proteomes of Melipona bees trained using operant conditioning and untrained (control) bees were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis within pI range of 3-10 and 4-7; in order to find proteins specifically related to this type of associative learning.

Phytochemical characterization of the Vochysia rufa (Vochysiaceae) extract and its effects on oxidative stress in the pancreata of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aqueous extract of macerated Vochysia rufa stem bark has been commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of an extract of V. rufa on the pancreata of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Polyploidy Analysis and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress in Hepatic Tissue of STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with an Aqueous Extract of Vochysia rufa.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and alterations in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. Due to its hypoglycemic effect Vochysia rufa is frequently used in Uberlandia, Brazil, to treat DM. Despite its popularity, there is little information about its effect on hepatic tissue.

Glibenclamide treatment modulates the expression and localization of myosin-IIB in diabetic rat brain.

Background: Myosin-IIB is a non-muscle isoform in the brain with increased expression in the brains of diabetic rats. Chronic hyperglycemia caused by diabetes can impair learning and memory. Oral hypoglycemic agents such as glibenclamide have been used to control hyperglycemia.

Phaseolamin treatment prevents oxidative stress and collagen deposition in the hearts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The development of cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes is often associated with an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant systems. This imbalance can contribute to high cardiac collagen content, which increases cross-linking and the stiffness of the myocardium. In this study, the protective effect of phaseolamin against damage under oxidative stress and collagen deposition in the cardiac tissue in association with diabetes was evaluated.

Neuroprotective effects of Pouteria ramiflora (Mart.) Radlk (Sapotaceae) extract on the brains of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease involving persistent hyperglycemia, which causes an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes and results in damage to various tissues, including the brain. Many societies have traditionally employed medicinal plants to control the hyperglycemia. Pouteria ramiflora, a species occurring in the savanna biome of the Cerrado (Brazil) has been studied because of its possible ability to inhibit carbohydrate digestion.

Myosins Are Differentially Expressed under Oxidative Stress in Chronic Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat Brains.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, which may lead to brain tissue damage due to oxidative stress and also contributes to neuronal death and changes in synaptic transmission. This study evaluated the effect of oxidative stress and the use of antioxidants supplementation on myosins expression levels in the brains of chronic diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes activities, and myosins-IIB and -Va expressions at transcriptional and translational levels were examined after 90 days induction.

Worker honeybee brain proteome.

A large-scale mapping of the worker honeybee brain proteome was achieved by MudPIT. We identified 2742 proteins from forager and nurse honeybee brain samples; 17% of the total proteins were found to be differentially expressed by spectral count sampling statistics and a G-test. Sequences were compared with the EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) catalog set using BLASTX and then categorized into the major KOG categories of most similar sequences.

The streptozotocin-induced rat model of diabetes mellitus evidences significant reduction of myosin-Va expression in the brain.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by increased glucose levels in the blood. Hyperglycemia causes damage to the brain tissue, and induces significant changes in synaptic transmission. In this investigation, we have found a significant alteration in the expression of the molecular motor involved in the synaptic vesicles transport, myosin-Va, and its distribution in rat brains of streptozotocin-induced diabetes model.

Myosins and DYNLL1/LC8 in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) brain.

Honey bees have brain structures with specialized and developed systems of communication that account for memory, learning capacity and behavioral organization with a set of genes homologous to vertebrate genes. Many microtubule- and actin-based molecular motors are involved in axonal/dendritic transport. Myosin-Va is present in the honey bee Apis mellifera nervous system of the larvae and adult castes and subcastes.

Alterations of antioxidant biomarkers and type I collagen deposition in the parotid gland of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background And Objective: Acarbose is a competitive inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glycosidases that slows the breakdown of sucrose and starch, thereby reducing glucose and fructose absorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acarbose treatment on antioxidant parameters and deposition of type I collagen in the parotid glands of diabetic rats.

Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin, and rats were divided into four groups: non-diabetic (NDM), diabetic (DM), diabetic treated with 25mg/kg acarbose (DMA) and non-diabetic treated with acarbose (NDMA).

Overexpression of myosin-IIB in the brain of a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin complex interacts with and regulates various enzymes and target proteins known as calmodulin-binding proteins (CaMBPs). This group of proteins includes molecular motors such as myosins. In this study, we show that non-muscle myosin-IIB is overexpressed in the brains of diabetic rats.

Comparative analysis of two immunohistochemical methods for antigen retrieval in the optical lobe of the honeybee Apis mellifera: myosin-V assay.

The present study compared two heating methods currently used for antigen retrieval (AR) immunostaining: the microwave oven and the steam cooker. Myosin-V, a molecular motor involved in vesicle transport, was used as a neuronal marker in honeybee Apis mellifera brains fixed in formalin. Overall, the steam cooker showed the most satisfactory AR results.

A metallic impregnation technique adapted to study the honeybee Apis mellifera L. brain.

In order to visualize the distribution pattern of the neuronal bodies and neurofibrils in the honeybee brain, we adapted a metallic impregnation technique first described for vertebrate nervous system by Ramón y Cajal. The honeybee brain constitution plays a key role in the development of learning and memory capacities. The general characteristics observed in the honeybee brain, stained by metallic impregnation, revealed its anatomical and morphological constitution in agreement with studies of other insect brains using different techniques.

Characterization and localization of dynein and myosins V and VI in the ovaries of queen bees.

The presence of myosin and dynein in the ovaries of both Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica was investigated in extracts and in histological sections. In the ovary extracts, motor proteins, myosins V, VI and dynein were detected by Western blot. In histological sections, they were detected by immunocytochemistry, using a mouse monoclonal antibody against the intermediary chain of dynein and a rabbit polyclonal antibody against the myosin V head domain.

Identification of major royal jelly proteins in the brain of the honeybee Apis mellifera.

The consumption of royal jelly (RJ) determines the differences between castes and behavioral development in the honeybee Apis mellifera. However, it is not known whether the proteins of RJ are related to these differences, or which proteins are responsible for the changes. To understand the functions of RJ proteins that are present in other tissues of the bee, in addition to hypopharyngeal gland, we used a polyclonal antibody anti-MRJP1 to investigate the presence of this protein in nervous system of honeybee.

Proteomic analysis of honey bee brain upon ontogenetic and behavioral development.

The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a social insect that shows complex and integrated behaviors. Its ability to read and respond to several sets of extrinsic and intrinsic signals is fundamental for the modulation of individual activities and social systems. For instance, A.

Identification of calmodulin-binding proteins in brain of worker honeybees.

Calmodulin is a Ca(+2)-binding protein important in a variety of cell functions. The Ca(+2)/calmodulin complex interacts with and regulates various enzymes and target proteins, known as calmodulin-binding proteins (CaMBPs). In this study, we revealed a comparative identification of the CaMBPs composition in the worker honeybee (Apis mellifera) brain, considering two different honeybee behaviors in the colony.

Localization of myosin-Va in subpopulations of cells in rat endocrine organs.

Myosin-Va is a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-regulated unconventional myosin involved in the transport of vesicles, membranous organelles, and macromolecular complexes composed of proteins and mRNA. The cellular localization of myosin-Va has been described in great detail in several vertebrate cell types, including neurons, melanocytes, lymphocytes, auditory tissues, and a number of cultured cells. Here, we provide an immunohistochemical view of the tissue distribution of myosin-Va in the major endocrine organs.