Physiological level of norepinephrine increases adenine nucleotides hydrolysis in rat blood serum

Concurrent Assessment of Oxidative Stress and MT-ATP6 Gene Profiling to Facilitate Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Tamil Nadu Population

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability that causes social impairment, debilitated verbal or nonverbal conversation, and restricted/repeated behavior. Recent research reveals that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress might play a pivotal role in ASD condition. The goal of this case-control study was to investigate oxidative stress and related alterations in ASD patients. In addition, the impact of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, particularly MT-ATP6, and its link with oxidative stress in ASD was studied. We found that ASD patient's plasma had lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) and higher catalase (CAT) activity, resulting in lower SOD/CAT ratio. MT-ATP6 mutation analysis revealed that four variations, 8865 G>A, 8684 C>T, 8697 G>A, and 8836 A>G, have a frequency of more than 10% with missense and synonymous (silent) mutations. It was observed that abnormalities in mitochondrial complexes (I, III, V) are more common in ASD, and it may have resulted in MT-ATP6 changes or vice versa. In conclusion, our findings authenticate that oxidative stress and genetics both have an equal and potential role behind ASD and we recommend to conduct more such concurrent research to understand their unique mechanism for better diagnosis and therapeutic for ASD.

Periodontal disease and high doses of inhaled corticosteroids alter NTPDase activity in the blood serum of rats

BACKGROUND

Certain drugs such as glucocorticoids may interfere with the modulation of periodontal disease. In contrast, corticosteroid treatment has been associated with a protective effect with regard to periodontal breakdown, depending on the dose, pathway, and exposure time. Considering the potential relevance of nucleotidases in coordinating the cardiovascular system and inflammation processes, the aim of this study was to investigate the nucleotidase activities in the blood serum of rats with periodontal disease exposed chronically to inhaled corticosteroids.

METHODS

Adult male Wistar rats (n=26) were randomly assigned to one of the following four study groups: a control group that received no intervention; a periodontal disease group that received saline solution; a 'low dose' group that received 30 μg of budesonide daily; and a corresponding 'high dose' group that received 100 μg daily over a 15-day time course. The hydrolysis of ATP, ADP, and AMP were analysed in blood serum.

RESULTS

Periodontal disease diminished the hydrolysis of ATP and enhanced the hydrolysis of ADP. Repeated administration of either a low or high dose in the periodontal disease model of inhaled corticosteroids reversed the observed increase in ADP hydrolysis, and only the repeated administration of low doses of inhaled corticosteroids was able to reverse the decrease in the hydrolysis of ATP induced by periodontal disease.

CONCLUSION

The variables investigated in this study may be involved in the pathophysiology of periodontal disease and may participate in the mechanisms that mediate the development of some of the side effects of inhaled corticosteroids.

Morphine treatment alters nucleotidase activities in rat blood serum

Morphine has been widely used in neonatal pain management. However, this treatment may produce adaptive changes in several physiologic systems. Our laboratory has demonstrated that morphine treatment in neonate rats alters nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) activity and gene expression in central nervous system structures. Considering the relationship between the opioid and purinergic systems, our aim was to verify whether treatment with morphine from postnatal days 8 (P8) through 14 (P14) at a dose of 5 μg per day alters NTPDase and 5′-nucleotidase activities in rat serum over the short, medium, and long terms. After the in vivo assay, the morphine group showed increased hydrolysis of all nucleotides at P30, and a decrease in adenosine 5′-diphosphate hydrolysis at P60. Moreover, we found that nucleotidase activities change with age; adenosine 5′-triphosphate hydrolysis activity was lower at P16, and adenosine 5′-monophosphate hydrolysis activity was higher at P60. These changes are very important because these enzymes are the main regulators of blood nucleotide levels and, consequently, nucleotide signaling. Our findings showed that in vivo morphine treatment alters nucleotide hydrolysis in rat blood serum, suggesting that purine homeostasis can be influenced by opioid treatment during the neonatal period.