Honokiol increases ABCA1 expression level by activating retinoid X receptor beta.

ABCA1, a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family, regulates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and reverses cholesterol transport. Its expression is upregulated mainly by the activation of the liver X receptor (LXR), retinoid X receptor (RXR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). To identify natural compounds that can upregulate ABCA1 expression, we developed a reporter assay using U251-MG (human glioma cell line) cells that stably express a human ABCA1 promoter-luciferase and performed a cell-based high-throughput screening of 118 natural compounds.

Maternal enrichment affects prenatal hippocampal proliferation and open-field behaviors in female offspring mice.

The maternal environment is thought to be important for fetal brain development. However, the effects of maternal environment are not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether enrichment of the maternal environment can influence prenatal brain development and postnatal behaviors in mice.

Ghrelin alters postnatal endocrine secretion and behavior in mouse offspring.

Maternal bioactive substances, such as hormones and neuropeptides, are thought to be essential for fetal development. Recently, ghrelin, a gastrointestinal peptide, has been shown to pass through the rat placenta. The ghrelin receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), has been shown to be expressed in the rat fetal central nervous system, and plasma ghrelin levels are related to birth weight in the rodent and human.

Neurotensin type 2 receptor is involved in fear memory in mice.

Neurotensin receptor subtype 2 (Ntsr2) is a levocabastine-sensitive neurotensin receptor expressed diffusely throughout the mouse brain. Previously, we found that Ntsr2-deficient mice have an abnormality in the processing of thermal nociception. In this study, to examine the involvement of Ntsr2 in mouse behavior, we performed a fear-conditioning test in Ntsr2-deficient mice.

beta-Lactotensin, a neurotensin agonist peptide derived from bovine beta-lactoglobulin, enhances memory consolidation in mice.

beta-Lactotensin (His-Ile-Arg-Leu) is an ileum-contracting tetrapeptide isolated from bovine beta-lactoglobulin. We previously reported that a neurotensin agonist beta-lactotensin shows antinociceptive effect through neurotensin NT(2) receptor. We found that centrally or orally administered beta-lactotensin at a dose of 60nmol/mouse or 300-500mg/kg, respectively, increased memory consolidation in the step-through-type inhibitory avoidance test in mice.

Effect of beta-lactotensin on acute stress and fear memory.

beta-Lactotensin (beta-LT) is a bioactive peptide derived from bovine milk beta-lactoglobulin and is a natural ligand for neurotensin receptors. We examined the effect of beta-LT on restraint stress and fear memory in mice. Mice subjected to acute restraint stress exhibited a decreased number of head-dips and increased head-dip latency compared to non-stressed controls in the hole-board test, reflecting increased stress-induced behaviors.

The anorectic effect of neurotensin is mediated via a histamine H1 receptor in mice.

Neurotensin (NT), a tridecapeptide found in the mammalian brain and peripheral tissues, induces a decrease in food intake after central administration. In this investigation, we examine whether the histaminergic system is involved in NT-induced suppression of feeding. Intracerebroventricular injection of NT (0.

Beta-lactotensin and neurotensin rapidly reduce serum cholesterol via NT2 receptor.

Beta-lactotensin, a neurotensin NT2 agonist derived from beta-lactoglobulin, has hypocholesterolemic activity after administration for 2 days at a dose of 30 mg/kg (i.p.) or 100 mg/kg (p.

Antinociception induced by beta-lactotensin, a neurotensin agonist peptide derived from beta-lactoglobulin, is mediated by NT2 and D1 receptors.

In this study, we examined the antinociceptive effect of beta-lactotensin, a neurotensin agonist that has been isolated from the chymotrypsin digest of beta-lactoglobulin as an ileum-contracting peptide. Beta-lactotensin showed naloxone-insensitive antinociceptive activity by the tail-pinch test after i.c.