Dehydroepiandrosterone protects hippocampal neurons against neurotoxin-induced cell death: mechanism of action.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal cortex hormone secreted in large quantities in humans, protects cells of the clonal mouse hippocampal cell line HT-22 against the excitatory amino acid glutamate (5 mM), and amyloid beta-protein (2 microM) toxicity in a dose-dependent manner with optimum protection obtained at 5 microM concentration of DHEA. The protective effects of DHEA appear to be specific in that other related steroids and metabolites of DHEA, such as 5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol, etiocholan-3alpha-ol-17-one, etiocholan-3beta-ol-17-one, testosterone, and 5alpha-androstane-3, 17-dione, offered no protection even at 50 microM concentrations. In addition, using immunocytochemical techniques, we observed that 20 hr of treatment with 5 mM glutamate remarkably increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) nuclear localization in neuronal cells.

Antibacterial and immunostimulating casein-derived substances from milk: casecidin, isracidin peptides.

Apart from immunoglobulin A and G antibodies and plasma cells, milk also contains antibiotic/host protective peptides that are of value not only for maintenance of its nutritional integrity but also for protection of the newborn and, possibly, protection of the lactating mother. Among the first such peptides identified with casecidin; following chymosin digestion of casein at pH 6 or 7, casecidin inhibited in vitro staphylococci, sarcina, Bacillus subtilis, Diplococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Inhibition occurred at high concentrations, in vitro, compared with commercial antibiotics, and thus interest in casecidin languished.

Review of the biology of Quercetin and related bioflavonoids.

The French paradox is a dietary anomaly which has focused attention on the Mediterranean diet. Epidemiological studies revealed that this diet, replete in flavonoid-rich foods (Allium and Brassica vegetables, and red wine), correlated with the increased longevity and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease seen in these populations. The most frequently studied flavonoid, quercetin, has been shown to have biological properties consistent with its sparing effect on the cardiovascular system.

Glucocorticoids enhance the potency of Schwann cell mitogens.

Previous studies have documented that cultured Schwann cells require serum-containing medium to respond maximally to mitogens. We now report that Schwann cells are able to proliferate to a mitogenic response in a serum-free defined medium termed oligodendrocyte defined media (ODM). Glucocorticoids are the essential component of ODM which allow Schwann cell proliferation in the serum-free medium.

Pineal control of aging: effect of melatonin and pineal grafting on aging mice.

Dark-cycle, night administration of the pineal hormone melatonin in drinking water to aging mice (15 months of age) prolongs survival of BALB/c females from 23.8 to 28.1 months and preserves aspects of their youthful state.

Dehydroepiandrosterone prevents dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an endogenous steroid having a wide variety of biological and biochemical effects. In the present study, we have examined the role of DHEA on various rodent models of experimental hypertension. Sprague-Dawley rats were given subcutaneous injections of 1.

Mechanism(s) of cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity of PGB1 oligomers: PGBx has potent anti-phospholipase A2 and anti-oxidant activity.

We postulate that the anti-PLA2 and anti-oxidant activities may account for the broad spectrum protective effects of PGBx that were previously described. These dual properties are demonstrable in vitro, in situ and in vivo, and would have profound effects on stabilization of membrane structure and function, which in turn, would protect organelles, cells, tissues, and organs from inflammation and injury, and possibly alter patterns of aging involving senescence and cell death.

Protection against acute lethal viral infections with the native steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

A significant protective effect of a native adrenal steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), was demonstrated in studies of two lethal viral infection models in mice: systemic coxsackievirus B4 and herpes simplex type 2 encephalitis. The steroid was active either by long-term feeding or by a single subcutaneous injection. A closely related steroid, etiocholanolone, was not protective in these models.

Physicochemical characterization of [3H] DHEA binding in rat liver.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the native clinical steroid and steroid precursor, may have a targeted physiologic role. A high affinity (Kd 2.3nM) and steroid specific [3H] DHEA binding macromolecule in male Sprague-Dawley rat hepatic cytosol suggests that DHEA may have receptor mediated physiologic action.