Melanocortin 2 receptor is required for adrenal gland development, steroidogenesis, and neonatal gluconeogenesis.

ACTH (i.e., corticotropin) is the principal regulator of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and stimulates steroidogenesis in the adrenal gland via the specific cell-surface melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R).

Identification of nesfatin-1 as a satiety molecule in the hypothalamus.

The brain hypothalamus contains certain secreted molecules that are important in regulating feeding behaviour. Here we show that nesfatin, corresponding to NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), a secreted protein of unknown function, is expressed in the appetite-control hypothalamic nuclei in rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.

Involvement of corticotropin-releasing hormone- and interleukin (IL)-6-dependent proopiomelanocortin induction in the anterior pituitary during hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation by IL-1alpha.

IL-1alpha/beta and IL-6 are endogenous modulator of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and are thought to play key roles in immune-neuroendocrine interactions during inflammation. Here, we show IL-1alpha induced a normal HPAA activation in IL-1alpha/beta knockout (KO) and IL-6 KO mice at 1 h; however, at 6 h HPAA activation was reduced relative to wild-type mice, indicating a role for endogenous IL-1alpha/beta and IL-6 in prolonged HPAA activation. We found that the induction of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) transcript in the anterior pituitary (AP) at 6 h in response to IL-1alpha was reduced in IL-1alpha/beta KO and IL-6 KO mice, as well as in CRH KO mice, suggesting IL-1alpha/beta, IL-6, and CRH are all required for POMC induction.

CPD photolyase gene from Spinacia oleracea: repair of UV-damaged DNA and expression in plant organs.

The UV-B radiation contained in solar radiation has deleterious effects on plant growth, development and physiology. Specific damage to DNA caused by UV radiation involves the cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and the pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts. CPDs are repaired by CPD photolyase via a UV-A/blue light-dependent mechanism.

Effects of AT1 receptor antagonist and spironolactone on cardiac expression of ET-1 mRNA in SHR-SP/Izm.

Angiotensin II stimulates and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor decreases endothelin-1 expression. Effects of the angiotensin-type 1 antagonist (angiotensin receptor blocker) on tissue expression of endothelin-1 in hypertension remained unknown. We investigated the effects of angiotensin-type 1 antagonist with and without co-administration of the aldosterone receptor antagonist spironolactone on cardiac expression of endothelin-1 mRNA.