Effect of sex on chronic stress induced alterations in hindbrain catecholaminergic system and autonomic dysfunction resulting in gastrointestinal dysmotility.

It has been reported that the clinical symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD) exacerbate upon stress while the gender-related factors have been incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the role of sex in chronic heterotypic stress (CHS)-induced autonomic and gastric motor dysfunction. For CHS, the rats were exposed to the combination of different stressors for 7 consecutive days.

The role of hypothalamic Orexin-A in stress-induced gastric dysmotility: An agonistic interplay with corticotropin releasing factor.

Background: Central Orexin-A (OXA) modulates gastrointestinal (GI) functions and stress response. This study aimed to investigate whether OXA and CRF interact at hypothalamic level.

Methods: Solid gastric emptying (GE), fecal output (FO), plasma corticosterone (CORT), and postprandial antro-pyloric motility were assessed in rats that underwent acute restraint stress (ARS) and pretreated with central OX1R and/or CRF receptor antagonists SB-334867 and alpha-helical CRF .

The regulatory role of central neuropeptide-S in locomotion.

Central exogenous Neuropeptide-S (NPS) was demonstrated to increase locomotor activity (LMA) in rodent studies. NPS receptor (NPSR) is produced in locomotion-related brain regions including basal ganglia while NPS mediates dopaminergic neurotransmission suggesting that endogenous brain NPS is involved in the regulation of locomotion. Aim of the study was to elucidate whether antagonism of NPSR impairs locomotion and to determine the neurochemical profile of NPSR-expressing cells in basal ganglia network.

Effect of Ultrasound Therapy on Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors, CD31 and Functional Recovery After Facial Nerve Injury.

Functional recovery is provided by some neurotrophic factors released from the near vicinity of the injury site. Ultrasound treatment is known to increase neurotrophic factor expression. This study was aimed at determining the effect of ultrasound treatment on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptors and new vessel formation after facial nerve injury.

The effect of experimental varicocele on the apelin and APJ expressions in rat testis tissue.

Varicocele, which is one of the causes of infertility in men, can be defined as the expansion of spermatic cord veins. The presence of apelin and apelin receptor (APJ) in many tissues and the effects of apelin have been reported in several studies. There is no study showing apelin and APJ protein expressions in normal and varicocele-induced testicular tissues.