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de Melo Reis RA, Isaac AR, Freitas HR, de Almeida MM, Schuck PF, Ferreira GC, Andrade-da-Costa BLDS, Trevenzoli IH. Quality of Life and a Surveillant Endocannabinoid System. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:747229. [PMID: 34776851 PMCID: PMC8581450 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.747229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important brain modulatory network. ECS regulates brain homeostasis throughout development, from progenitor fate decision to neuro- and gliogenesis, synaptogenesis, brain plasticity and circuit repair, up to learning, memory, fear, protection, and death. It is a major player in the hypothalamic-peripheral system-adipose tissue in the regulation of food intake, energy storage, nutritional status, and adipose tissue mass, consequently affecting obesity. Loss of ECS control might affect mood disorders (anxiety, hyperactivity, psychosis, and depression), lead to drug abuse, and impact neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's, Parkinson, Huntington, Multiple, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and neurodevelopmental (autism spectrum) disorders. Practice of regular physical and/or mind-body mindfulness and meditative activities have been shown to modulate endocannabinoid (eCB) levels, in addition to other players as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). ECS is involved in pain, inflammation, metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions, general immune responses (asthma, allergy, and arthritis) and tumor expansion, both/either in the brain and/or in the periphery. The reason for such a vast impact is the fact that arachidonic acid, a precursor of eCBs, is present in every membrane cell of the body and on demand eCBs synthesis is regulated by electrical activity and calcium shifts. Novel lipid (lipoxins and resolvins) or peptide (hemopressin) players of the ECS also operate as regulators of physiological allostasis. Indeed, the presence of cannabinoid receptors in intracellular organelles as mitochondria or lysosomes, or in nuclear targets as PPARγ might impact energy consumption, metabolism and cell death. To live a better life implies in a vigilant ECS, through healthy diet selection (based on a balanced omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), weekly exercises and meditation therapy, all of which regulating eCBs levels, surrounded by a constructive social network. Cannabidiol, a diet supplement has been a major player with anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antioxidant activities. Cognitive challenges and emotional intelligence might strengthen the ECS, which is built on a variety of synapses that modify human behavior. As therapeutically concerned, the ECS is essential for maintaining homeostasis and cannabinoids are promising tools to control innumerous targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Augusto de Melo Reis
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alinny Rosendo Isaac
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hércules Rezende Freitas
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Macedo de Almeida
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Fernanda Schuck
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Costa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Neuroenergetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Isis Hara Trevenzoli
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Metchi Donfack MF, Atsamo AD, Temdié Guemmogne RJ, Ngouateu Kenfack OB, Dongmo AB, Dimo T. Antihypertensive Effects of the Vitex cienkowskii (Verbenaceae) Stem-Bark Extract on L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2021; 2021:6668919. [PMID: 33747111 PMCID: PMC7954626 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6668919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vitex cienkowskii stem-bark is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. In previous studies, the methanol/methylene chloride stem-bark extract of Vitex cienkowskii (MMVC) showed a preventive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertension and improved blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The present study investigated the curative effects in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (LNHR). Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. The animals were divided into 2 groups: one group of 5 rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg) and another 20 rats receiving L-NAME. At the end of 4 weeks of administration of L-NAME, the animals were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each: one group of hypertensive rats receiving distilled water, another one receiving captopril (25 mg/kg), and two groups of hypertensive rats receiving MMVC at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Body weight, food, and water intake were measured weekly. At the end of the treatment, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded by invasive method. Whole heart, left ventricle, kidneys, and liver were weighed. The effects of plant extract on lipid profile and oxidative stress markers, as well as markers of hepatic and renal functions were assessed spectrophotometrically according to well described protocols. Results show that L-NAME significantly increases the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), atherogenic index, lipid profile, and creatinine and transaminase activities of normotensive rats. MMVC significantly reduced the blood pressure in LNHR. Body weight, food and water intake, left ventricular hypertrophy, antioxidant level, renal and hepatic markers, and lipid profile were improved by the treatment with MMVC. The curative effect of MMVC on L-NAME-induced hypertension is probably related to its antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties. These results confirmed the use of Vitex cienkowskii for the treatment of hypertension in traditional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Flaure Metchi Donfack
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Albert Donatien Atsamo
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Roméo Joël Temdié Guemmogne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Omer Bébé Ngouateu Kenfack
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alain Bertrand Dongmo
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Théophile Dimo
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Hazut N, Rapps K, Weller A, Susswein AJ. Nitric oxide and l-arginine have mixed effects on mammalian feeding in condition of a high motivation to feed. Appetite 2020; 158:105011. [PMID: 33121999 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.105011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Feeding inhibition caused by satiation in rats is partially mediated by the unconventional neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO). Thus, in satiated rats blocking NO production increases feeding, and treatment with the NO precursor l-arginine or with an NO donor reduces feeding beyond that caused by satiation. Do NO and l-arginine also inhibit feeding when feeding motivation is high? When feeding motivation in satiated animals was hedonically increased by offering a highly attractive food, blocking NO production reduced the quantity eaten, rather than increasing it, indicating that hedonic aspects of food are partially mediated by NO. Increasing NO via an NO donor or l-arginine did not further increase the quantity eaten, indicating a ceiling effect. The NO donor, but not l-arginine, also decreased some motivation-dependent parameters of feeding. When feeding motivation was increased by hunger, quantities of food eaten were unaffected by an NO donor, blocker or precursor, with only the blocker of NO production affecting feeding patterning. We also examined effects on feeding of dissolving l-arginine in drinking water over 3 weeks. Chronic l-arginine administration had different effects during the first and in subsequent weeks, increasing feeding at first, but not later. The data indicate that NO has complex, state dependent effects on both the quantity of food eaten, and on patterns of feeding, probably reflecting different sites and mechanisms of action in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Hazut
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel; The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Kayla Rapps
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel; The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Aron Weller
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel; The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Abraham J Susswein
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel; The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel.
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Poole EI, Rust VA, Crosby KM. Nitric Oxide Acts in the Rat Dorsomedial Hypothalamus to Increase High Fat Food Intake and Glutamate Transmission. Neuroscience 2020; 440:277-289. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Poole EI, McGavin JJ, Cochkanoff NL, Crosby KM. Stereotaxic surgery for implantation of guide cannulas for microinjection into the dorsomedial hypothalamus in young rats. MethodsX 2019; 6:1652-1659. [PMID: 31372353 PMCID: PMC6660514 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stereotaxic surgery to implant guide cannulas into the rodent brain is a frequently used technique to deliver drugs to targeted brain regions in awake, freely moving animals. There are limited reports, however, of central injections in young animals, and no information on cannula implantation for drug administration into the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) in young rats. Our protocol describes a simple and successful method for implanting guide cannulas in the brains of young, male Sprague-Dawley rats and outlines newly developed stereotaxic coordinates to accurately target the dorsomedial hypothalamus. Stereotaxic surgical procedure for guide cannula implantation in the DMH in young rats. Development of stereotaxic coordinates of the DMH in young rats. Microinjection of drugs into the young rat brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily I Poole
- Biology Department, Mount Allison University, 63B York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G7, Canada
| | - Jacob J McGavin
- Biology Department, Mount Allison University, 63B York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G7, Canada
| | - Nicholas L Cochkanoff
- Biology Department, Mount Allison University, 63B York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G7, Canada
| | - Karen M Crosby
- Biology Department, Mount Allison University, 63B York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G7, Canada
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