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Cicvaric A, Sachernegg HM, Stojanovic T, Symmank D, Smani T, Moeslinger T, Uhrin P, Monje FJ. Podoplanin Gene Disruption in Mice Promotes in vivo Neural Progenitor Cells Proliferation, Selectively Impairs Dentate Gyrus Synaptic Depression and Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 13:561. [PMID: 32009902 PMCID: PMC6974453 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Podoplanin (Pdpn), a brain-tumor-related glycoprotein identified in humans and animals, is endogenously expressed in several organs critical for life support such as kidney, lung, heart and brain. In the brain, Pdpn has been identified in proliferative nestin-positive adult neural progenitor cells and in neurons of the neurogenic hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), a structure associated to anxiety, critical for learning and memory functions and severely damaged in people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The in vivo role of Pdpn in adult neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior remained however unexplored. Using mice with disrupted Pdpn gene as a model organism and applying combined behavioral, molecular biological and electrophysiological assays, we here show that the absence of Pdpn selectively impairs long-term synaptic depression in the neurogenic DG without affecting the CA3-Schaffer's collateral-CA1 synapses. Pdpn deletion also enhanced the proliferative capacity of DG neural progenitor cells and diminished survival of differentiated neuronal cells in vitro. In addition, mice with podoplanin gene disruption showed increased anxiety-like behaviors in experimentally validated behavioral tests as compared to wild type littermate controls. Together, these findings broaden our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms influencing hippocampal synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis in vivo and reveal Pdpn as a novel molecular target for future studies addressing general anxiety disorder and synaptic depression-related memory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cicvaric
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah M. Sachernegg
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dörte Symmank
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tarik Smani
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/University of Seville/CIBERCV, Seville, Spain
| | - Thomas Moeslinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pavel Uhrin
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Zhang X, Zhao F, Wang C, Zhang J, Bai Y, Zhou F, Wang Z, Wu M, Yang W, Guo J, Qi J. AVP(4-8) Improves Cognitive Behaviors and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Neurosci Bull 2019; 36:254-262. [PMID: 31605298 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00434-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory deficits with aging are related to the neurodegeneration in the brain, including a reduction in arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AVP(4-8), different from its precursor AVP, plays memory enhancement roles in the CNS without peripheral side-effects. However, it is not clear whether AVP(4-8) can improve cognitive behaviors and synaptic plasticity in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. Here, we investigated for the first time the neuroprotective effects of AVP(4-8) on memory behaviors and in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) in APP/PS1-AD mice. The results showed that: (1) APP/PS1-AD mice had lower spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze than wild-type (WT) mice, and this was significantly reversed by AVP(4-8); (2) the prolonged escape latency of APP/PS1-AD mice in the Morris water maze was significantly decreased by AVP(4-8), and the decreased swimming time in target quadrant recovered significantly after AVP(4-8) treatment; (3) in vivo hippocampal LTP induced by high-frequency stimulation had a significant deficit in the AD mice, and this was partly rescued by AVP(4-8); (4) AVP(4-8) significantly up-regulated the expression levels of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus of AD mice. These results reveal the beneficial effects of AVP(4-8) in APP/PS1-AD mice, showing that the intranasal administration of AVP(4-8) effectively improved the working memory and long-term spatial memory of APP/PS1-AD mice, which may be associated with the elevation of PSD95 and NGF levels in the brain and the maintenance of hippocampal synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiumin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Fang Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Chenfang Wang
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Zhaojun Wang
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Meina Wu
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Junhong Guo
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
| | - Jinshun Qi
- Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
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Xu Z, Zheng H, Law SL, Dong So D, Han Y, Xue H. Effects of a memory enhancing peptide on cognitive abilities of brain-lesioned mice: additivity with huperzine A and relative potency to tacrine. J Pept Sci 2005; 12:72-8. [PMID: 15942937 DOI: 10.1002/psc.682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementing disorders having cognitive manifestations represent an increasing threat to public health. In the present study, the effects of a memory enhancing NLPR tetra-peptide (MEP), huperzine A (Hup A), or a combination of the two on the cognitive abilities of brain-lesioned mice were evaluated and compared with tacrine in the passive avoidance and Y-water maze tests for the acquisition and retention aspects of cognitive functions. MEP at microg kg(-1) doses, and Hup A or tacrine at mg kg(-1) doses significantly reversed the cognition deficits induced by scopolamine. For acquisition ability, it was observed that mice administered with MEP (4.0 microg kg(-1)) spent less time escaping onto the platform in the water maze than those treated with tacrine (1.5 mg kg(-1)); whereas for memory retention, tacrine-administration resulted in a higher step-through latency in mice at the tested dose regime. In addition, co-administration of MEP (2.0 microg kg(-1)) and Hup A (0.1 mg kg(-1)) exhibited an additive effect resulting in considerable improvements in both acquisition and retention abilities of brain-lesioned mice. The results demonstrated that MEP was highly efficient in the rescue of cognitive abilities of brain-lesioned mice and in particular, the effective doses of MEP were about two orders of magnitude lower than that of tacrine, a therapeutic currently used in the treatment of AD. Moreover, MEP and Hup A were effective at reduced doses when the two were co-administered, providing a rationale for their combined usage in the treatment of cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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Mishima K, Tsukikawa H, Miura I, Inada K, Abe K, Matsumoto Y, Egashira N, Iwasaki K, Fujiwara M. Ameliorative effect of NC-1900, a new AVP4-9 analog, through vasopressin V1A receptor on scopolamine-induced impairments of spatial memory in the eight-arm radial maze. Neuropharmacology 2003; 44:541-52. [PMID: 12646291 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(02)00408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism by which NC-1900, a new pGlu-Asn-Cys(Cys)-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH(2) (AVP(4-9)) analog, improves spatial memory in rats using an eight-arm radial maze was examined. Even at very low doses (0.2 ng/kg for s.c., 1 microg/kg for p.o., 1 fg for i.c.v.) NC-1900 improved scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory. NC-1900 (1 ng/kg, s.c.) also improved impairment of spatial memory induced by pirenzepine, a muscarinic(1) (M(1)) receptor antagonist, and by KN-62, a Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor. [Pmp(1), Tyr(Me)(2)]-Arg(8)-vasopressin, a vasopressin(1A) (V(1A)) receptor antagonist, and nicardipine, L-type Ca2+ blocker, but not OPC-31260, a V(2) antagonist, suppressed the effect of NC-1900 on scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory. A microdialysis study showed that NC-1900 did not affect acetylcholine release in the ventral hippocampus (VH) of intact rats or of scopolamine-treated rats. NC-1900 (1 microM) increased [Ca2+](i) in the VH than in the dorsal hippocampus (DH). Pretreatment with nicardipine (1 microM) and Ca2+ -free conditions inhibited the NC-1900-induced [Ca2+](i) response in the VH. Whereas co-administration of NC-1900 (1 microM) and carbachol (500 microM) increased [Ca2+](i) in the VH. Moreover, nicardipine concentration-dependently inhibited the increase in [Ca2+](i) induced by the co-administration of NC-1900 and carbachol in the VH. These results suggest that NC-1900 activates the V(1A) receptor at the postsynaptic cholinergic nerve, and causes a transient influx of intracellular Ca2+ through L-type Ca2+ channels, to interact with the M(1) receptor. The activation of these Ca2+ -dependent processes induced by NC-1900 may be involved in the positive effect of NC-1900 on scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mishima
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
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Mishima K, Tsukikawa H, Inada K, Fujii M, Iwasaki K, Matsumoto Y, Abe K, Egawa T, Fujiwara M. Ameliorative effect of vasopressin-(4-9) through vasopressin V(1A) receptor on scopolamine-induced impairments of rat spatial memory in the eight-arm radial maze. Eur J Pharmacol 2001; 427:43-52. [PMID: 11553362 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(01)01200-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In order to clarify the mechanism by which pGlu-Asn-Cys(Cys)-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH(2) (vasopressin-(4-9)), a major metabolite C-terminal fragment of [Arg(8)]-vasopressin (vasopressin-(1-9)), improves learning and memory, we used several different drugs such as an acetylcholine receptor antagonist, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor, vasopressin receptor antagonists and L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker to disrupt spatial memory in rats. Moreover, we examined the effect of vasopressin-(4-9) on acetylcholine release in the ventral hippocampus using microdialysis. Vasopressin-(4-9) (10 fg/brain, i.c.v.) improved the impairment of spatial memory in the eight-arm radial maze induced by scopolamine, pirenzepine and Ca(2+)/calmodulin -dependent protein kinase II inhibitor. Pirenzepine, a vasopressin V(1A) receptor antagonist, and L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, but not a vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist, suppressed the effects of vasopressin-(4-9) on scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory. Moreover, vasopressin-(4-9) did not affect acetylcholine release in the ventral hippocampus of intact rats or of scopolamine-treated rats as assessed by microdialysis. These results suggest that vasopressin-(4-9) activates vasopressin V(1A) receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of cholinergic neurons, and induces a transient influx of intracellular Ca(2+) through L-type Ca(2+) channels to interact with muscarinic M(1) receptors. The activation of these processes by vasopressin-(4-9) is critically involved in the positive effect of vasopressin-(4-9) on scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mishima
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
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Shishido Y, Furushiro M, Tanabe S, Shibata S, Hashimoto S, Yokokura T. Effects of prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors and neuropeptides on delayed neuronal death in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 1999; 372:135-42. [PMID: 10395093 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00185-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of the prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors 1-[1-(Benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-prolyl]prolinal (Z-Pro-Prolinal) and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-thioprolyl-thioprolinal-dimethylaceta l (ZTTA) on delayed neuronal death induced by four-vessel-occlusion transient ischemia in rats. We also examined the effects of [pGlu4, Cyt6, ArgS]vasopressin (vasopressin-(4-9)) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the delayed neuronal death. Furthermore, we investigated the role of vasopressin receptors in the effects of vasopressin and prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors. Z-Pro-Prolinal, vasopressin-(4-9) and TRH protected pyramidal cells in the CA1 subfield of the rat hippocampus from delayed neuronal death after 10-min ischemia. The effect of vasopressin-(4-9) was abolished by vasopressin receptor antagonists. The effect of Z-Pro-Prolinal was also abrogated by the antagonists. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors is mediated by neuropeptides such as [Arg8]vasopressin and TRH, and indicate the involvement of vasopressin receptors in the neuroprotective effect of vasopressin-(4-9) and prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Shishido
- Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan.
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Burbach JP, Schoots O, Hernando F. Biochemistry of vasopressin fragments. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 1999; 119:127-36. [PMID: 10074785 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(08)61566-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Vasopressin (VP) undergoes a step-wise aminopeptidase conversion process in the brain, leading to accumulation of several metabolites. Some of these metabolites, in particular [pGlu4,Cyt6]VP 4-9 and 4-8, show behavioral effects comparable to VP, but are more potent and selective than VP. Most data favor the existence of a separate receptor for the VP metabolites distinct of the classical VP and oxytocin receptors, although its identity has remained obscure thus far. The characterization of this receptor is a major challenge to understand how the brain VP system generates and regulates divers central functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Burbach
- Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Du YC, Yan QW, Qiao LY. Function and molecular basis of action of vasopressin 4-8 and its analogues in rat brain. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 1999; 119:163-75. [PMID: 10074788 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(08)61569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
VP 4-8 as a highly potent behavioral-active metabolite of arginine-vasopressin (VP) has been studied in detail at four levels, i.e. ligand level, membrane binding level, intracellular level and nuclear level. The purpose of this chapter is to review and discuss the main results obtained from our recent pharmacological and biochemical investigations which are described as follows: 1, structure-function relationship of VP 4-8 and its analogs; 2, some characters of VP 4-8-specific binding, the distribution of the binding sites in the rat brain and the consequent effect on long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission; 3, a putative receptor-mediated signaling pathway involving second messenger IP3, immediately-early gene c-fos transcription and protein kinase PKC, CaMKII and MAPK; 4, peptide-induced enhancement of some crucial functional proteins such as calmodulin, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF). The physiological significance of the events following VP 4-8 administration and particularly, its possible role in learning and memory processes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Du
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China
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Pan W, Kastin AJ, Banks WA, Zadina JE. Effects of peptides: a cross-listing of peptides and their central actions published in the journal Peptides from 1994 through 1998. Peptides 1999; 20:1127-38. [PMID: 10499432 DOI: 10.1016/s0196-9781(99)00109-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effects of peptides on the central nervous system are presented in two ways so as to provide a cross-listing. In the first table, the peptides are listed alphabetically. In the second table, the central nervous system effects are arranged alphabetically. No longer can there be any doubt that peptides affect the central nervous system, sometimes in several ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Pan
- VA Medical Center and Tulane University School of Medicine, Neuroscience Training Program and Department of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112-1262, USA.
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Herdegen T, Leah JD. Inducible and constitutive transcription factors in the mammalian nervous system: control of gene expression by Jun, Fos and Krox, and CREB/ATF proteins. BRAIN RESEARCH. BRAIN RESEARCH REVIEWS 1998; 28:370-490. [PMID: 9858769 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0173(98)00018-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1054] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews findings up to the end of 1997 about the inducible transcription factors (ITFs) c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1, Fra-2, Krox-20 (Egr-2) and Krox-24 (NGFI-A, Egr-1, Zif268); and the constitutive transcription factors (CTFs) CREB, CREM, ATF-2 and SRF as they pertain to gene expression in the mammalian nervous system. In the first part we consider basic facts about the expression and activity of these transcription factors: the organization of the encoding genes and their promoters, the second messenger cascades converging on their regulatory promoter sites, the control of their transcription, the binding to dimeric partners and to specific DNA sequences, their trans-activation potential, and their posttranslational modifications. In the second part we describe the expression and possible roles of these transcription factors in neural tissue: in the quiescent brain, during pre- and postnatal development, following sensory stimulation, nerve transection (axotomy), neurodegeneration and apoptosis, hypoxia-ischemia, generalized and limbic seizures, long-term potentiation and learning, drug dependence and withdrawal, and following stimulation by neurotransmitters, hormones and neurotrophins. We also describe their expression and possible roles in glial cells. Finally, we discuss the relevance of their expression for nervous system functioning under normal and patho-physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Herdegen
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Kiel, Hospitalstrasse 4, 24105, Kiel,
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Tanaka T, Yamada K, Senzaki K, Narimatsu H, Nishimura K, Kameyama T, Nabeshima T. NC-1900, an active fragment analog of arginine vasopressin, improves learning and memory deficits induced by beta-amyloid protein in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 1998; 352:135-42. [PMID: 9716347 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(98)00344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have reported that the continuous infusion of beta-amyloid protein-(1-40) into the rat cerebral ventricle produces learning and memory deficits accompanied by dysfunction in the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. L-Pyroglutamyl-L-asparaginyl-L-seryl-L-prolyl-L-arginylglycinamide (NC-1900), an active fragment analog of arginine vasopressin in the rat brain, is a stable peptide with a five-fold longer half-life than that of arginine vasopressin-(4-9). In the present study, we examined the effects of NC-1900 on learning and memory deficits in beta-amyloid protein-(1-40)-infused rats. The rats were injected subcutaneously with NC-1900 (0.1 and 1 ng kg(-1)) once a day throughout the period of behavioral examination. In the beta-amyloid protein-infused rats, learning and memory in water maze and passive avoidance tasks were impaired compared with these in the control rats. NC-1900 prevented the learning and memory deficits in beta-amyloid protein-infused rats. Moreover, NC-1900 tended to increase the choline acetyltransferase activity in the frontal cortex of the beta-amyloid protein-infused rats. These results suggested that NC-1900 could be useful for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan
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Vawter MP, De Wied D, Van Ree JM. Vasopressin fragment, AVP-(4-8), improves long-term and short-term memory in the hole board search task. Neuropeptides 1997; 31:489-94. [PMID: 9413027 DOI: 10.1016/s0143-4179(97)90044-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The hole board search task (HBST) measures long-term and short-term memory, operationally defined as reference memory and working memory. The HBST is an open-field spatial learning test. Previously, we have shown that desglycinamide(Arg8) vasopressin (DGAVP) modulated reference memory, working memory, spatial sequence memory, and learning in the HBST in a dose-dependent manner (Vawter MP, Van Ree JM. Effects of des-glycinamide-sup-9-(arginine-sup-8) vasopressin upon spatial memory in the hole-board search task. Psychobiology 1995; 23: 45-51). To examine the potential active site of the DGAVP molecule, the fragment of the vasopressin amino acid sequence, [pGlu4,Cyt6]AVP-(4-8) (AVP-(4-8)), was administered 1 h prior to training in the HBST. Three groups received either 0, 0.3 microgram, or 1 microgram AVP-(4-8). A repeated measures MANOVA showed the AVP-(4-8) pretreatment factor to be significant (P = 0.048) on the reference memory measure, but not the working memory or learning measures. Interactions between peptide x sessions for reference memory (P = 0.015), working memory (P = 0.003) and learning (P = 0.010) indicated differences in improvement over sessions between placebo- and peptide-treated groups. Post hoc comparisons revealed that the AVP-(4-8) fragment in a dose of 0.3 microgram increased reference memory on the fourth, fifth and sixth acquisition sessions compared with placebo or 1 microgram AVP-(4-8) pretreated groups. Working memory and errors were significantly lowered by 0.3 microgram AVP-(4-8) on the first acquisition session when compared with placebo pretreatment. Thus, AVP-(4-8) improves long-term and short-term memory scores in the HBST, similar to previous results with DGAVP. However, AVP-(4-8) appears twice as potent than DGAVP in improving long-term memory scores in the HBST. The data suggest that the memory modulating property of DGAVP is contained within the amino acid sequence of the AVP-(4-8) peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Vawter
- Department of Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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14
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Abstract
In situ hybridization and Northern blot assay were used to evaluate the effects of exogenous AVP(4-8) on the transcription of mRNAs for nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) in the adult rat brain. NGF and BDNF expression was found to be significantly enhanced by AVP(4-8) administration in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but NT-3 expression was not changed. In the same conditions, behavior-active arginine-vasopressin (AVP) showed a small effect and its behavior-inactive homologue, oxytocin did not. Our results suggest that selective regulation of neurotrophin gene expression by the peptides may be responsible for its memory-enhancing function.
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Affiliation(s)
- A W Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China
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