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Kale MB, Chandurkar PA, Taksande BG, Aglawe MM, Rahangdale SR, Upaganlawar AB, Kopalli SR, Umekar MJ, Wankhede NL. Agmatine alleviates ethanol withdrawal-associated cognitive impairment and neurochemical imbalance in rats. Neurosci Lett 2024; 832:137804. [PMID: 38692559 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the role of agmatine in the neurobiology underlying memory impairment during ethanol withdrawal in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 21-day chronic ethanol exposure regimen (2.4 % w/v ethanol for 3 days, 4.8 % w/v for the next 4 days, and 7.2 % w/v for the following 14 days), followed by a withdrawal period. Memory impairment was assessed using the passive avoidance test (PAT) at 24, 48, and 72 h post-withdrawal. The ethanol-withdrawn rats displayed a significant decrease in step-through latency in the PAT, indicative of memory impairment at 72 h post-withdrawal. However, administration of agmatine (40 µg/rat) and its modulators (L-arginine, arcaine, and amino-guanidine) significantly increases the latency time in the ethanol-withdrawn rats, demonstrating the attenuation of memory impairment. Further, pretreatment with imidazoline receptor agonists enhances agmatine's effects, while antagonists block them, implicating imidazoline receptors in agmatine's actions. Neurochemical analysis in ethanol-withdrawn rats reveals dysregulated glutamate and GABA levels, which was attenuated by agmatine and its modulators. By examining the effects of agmatine administration and modulators of endogenous agmatine, the study aimed to shed light on the potential therapeutic implications of agmatinergic signaling in alcohol addiction and related cognitive deficits. Thus, the present findings suggest that agmatine administration and modulation of endogenous agmatine levels hold potential as therapeutic strategies for managing alcohol addiction and associated cognitive deficits. Understanding the neurobiology underlying these effects paves the way for the development of novel interventions targeting agmatinergic signaling in addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur B Kale
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India; SNJB's Shriman Sureshdada Jain College of Pharmacy, Neminagar, Chandwad, Nashik, Maharashtra 423101, India.
| | - Pranali A Chandurkar
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
| | - Brijesh G Taksande
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
| | - Manish M Aglawe
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
| | - Sandip R Rahangdale
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
| | - Aman B Upaganlawar
- SNJB's Shriman Sureshdada Jain College of Pharmacy, Neminagar, Chandwad, Nashik, Maharashtra 423101, India.
| | - Spandana R Kopalli
- Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.
| | - Milind J Umekar
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India.
| | - Nitu L Wankhede
- Division of Neuroscience, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441002, India; SNJB's Shriman Sureshdada Jain College of Pharmacy, Neminagar, Chandwad, Nashik, Maharashtra 423101, India.
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Nestor L, De Bundel D, Vander Heyden Y, Smolders I, Van Eeckhaut A. Unravelling the brain metabolome: A review of liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry strategies for extracellular brain metabolomics. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1712:464479. [PMID: 37952387 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of the brain extracellular metabolome is of interest for numerous subdomains within neuroscience. Not only does it provide information about normal physiological functions, it is even more of interest for biomarker discovery and target discovery in disease. The extracellular analysis of the brain is particularly interesting as it provides information about the release of mediators in the brain extracellular fluid to look at cellular signaling and metabolic pathways through the release, diffusion and re-uptake of neurochemicals. In vivo samples are obtained through microdialysis, cerebral open-flow microperfusion or solid-phase microextraction. The analytes of potential interest are typically low in concentration and can have a wide range of physicochemical properties. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry has proven its usefulness in brain metabolomics. It allows sensitive and specific analysis of low sample volumes, obtained through different approaches. Several strategies for the analysis of the extracellular fluid have been proposed. The most widely used approaches apply sample derivatization, specific stationary phases and/or hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. Miniaturization of these methods allows an even higher sensitivity. The development of chiral metabolomics is indispensable, as it allows to compare the enantiomeric ratio of compounds and provides even more challenges. Some limitations continue to exist for the previously developed methods and the development of new, more sensitive methods remains needed. This review provides an overview of the methods developed for sampling and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the extracellular metabolome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Nestor
- Research group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- Research group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yvan Vander Heyden
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modelling (FABI), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Research group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Eeckhaut
- Research group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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3
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Saha P, Panda S, Holkar A, Vashishth R, Rana SS, Arumugam M, Ashraf GM, Haque S, Ahmad F. Neuroprotection by agmatine: Possible involvement of the gut microbiome? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102056. [PMID: 37673131 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Agmatine, an endogenous polyamine derived from L-arginine, elicits tremendous multimodal neuromodulant properties. Alterations in agmatinergic signalling are closely linked to the pathogeneses of several brain disorders. Importantly, exogenous agmatine has been shown to act as a potent neuroprotectant in varied pathologies, including brain ageing and associated comorbidities. The antioxidant, anxiolytic, analgesic, antidepressant and memory-enhancing activities of agmatine may derive from its ability to regulate several cellular pathways; including cell metabolism, survival and differentiation, nitric oxide signalling, protein translation, oxidative homeostasis and neurotransmitter signalling. This review briefly discusses mammalian metabolism of agmatine and then proceeds to summarize our current understanding of neuromodulation and neuroprotection mediated by agmatine. Further, the emerging exciting bidirectional links between agmatine and the resident gut microbiome and their implications for brain pathophysiology and ageing are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Saha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Subhrajita Panda
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Aayusha Holkar
- Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Rahul Vashishth
- Department of Biosciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Sandeep Singh Rana
- Department of Biosciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Mohanapriya Arumugam
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon; Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India.
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Bernstein HG, Keilhoff G, Laube G, Dobrowolny H, Steiner J. Polyamines and polyamine-metabolizing enzymes in schizophrenia: Current knowledge and concepts of therapy. World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:1177-1190. [PMID: 35070769 PMCID: PMC8717027 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i12.1177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyamines play preeminent roles in a variety of cellular functions in the central nervous system and other organs. A large body of evidence suggests that the polyamine pathway is prominently involved in the etiology and pathology of schizophrenia. Alterations in the expression and activity of polyamine metabolizing enzymes, as well as changes in the levels of the individual polyamines, their precursors and derivatives, have been measured in schizophrenia and animal models of the disease. Additionally, neuroleptic treatment has been shown to influence polyamine concentrations in brain and blood of individuals with schizophrenia. Thus, the polyamine system may appear to be a promising target for neuropharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. However, for a number of practical reasons there is currently only limited hope for a polyamine-based schizophrenia therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Gert Bernstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39116, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
| | - Gerburg Keilhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39116, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
| | - Gregor Laube
- Department of Anatomy, Charite, Berlin D-10117, Germany
| | - Henrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39116, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39116, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
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Effects of sex and estrous cycle on the brain and plasma arginine metabolic profile in rats. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1441-1454. [PMID: 34245369 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03040-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
L-arginine is a versatile amino acid with a number of bioactive metabolites. Increasing evidence implicates altered arginine metabolism in the aging and neurodegenerative processes. The present study, for the first time, determined the effects of sex and estrous cycle on the brain and blood (plasma) arginine metabolic profile in naïve rats. Female rats displayed significantly lower levels of L-arginine in the frontal cortex and three sub-regions of the hippocampus when compared to male rats. Moreover, female rats had significantly higher levels of L-arginine and γ-aminobutyric acid, but lower levels of L-ornithine, agmatine and putrescine, in plasma relative to male rats. The observed sex difference in brain L-arginine appeared to be independent of the enzymes involved in its metabolism, de novo synthesis and blood-to-brain transport (cationic acid transporter 1 protein expression at least), as well as circulating L-arginine. While the estrous cycle did not affect L-arginine and its metabolites in the brain, there were estrous cycle phase-dependent changes in plasma L-arginine. These findings demonstrate the sex difference in brain L-arginine in the estrous cycle-independent manner. Since peripheral blood has been increasingly used to identify biomarkers of brain pathology, the influences of sex and estrous cycle on blood arginine metabolic profile need attention when experimental research involves female rodents.
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Kosonen R, Barua S, Kim JY, Lee JE. Role of agmatine in the application of neural progenitor cell in central nervous system diseases: therapeutic potentials and effects. Anat Cell Biol 2021; 54:143-151. [PMID: 34162764 PMCID: PMC8225474 DOI: 10.5115/acb.21.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Agmatine, the primary decarboxylation product of L-arginine, generated from arginine decarboxylase. Since the discovery of agmatine in the mammalian brain in the 1990s, an increasing number of agmatine-mediated effects have been discovered, demonstrating the benefits of agmatine on ischemic strokes, traumatic brain injury and numerous psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Agmatine also has cellular protective effects and contributes to cell proliferation and differentiation in the central nervous system (CNS). Neural progenitor cells are an important component in the recovery and repair of many neurological disorders due to their ability to differentiate into functional adult neurons. Recent data has revealed that agmatine can regulate and increase proliferation and the fate of progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus. This review aims to summarise and discuss the role of agmatine in the CNS; specifically, the effects and relationship between agmatine and neural progenitor cells and how these ideas can be applied to potential therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Kosonen
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sumit Barua
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Youl Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Eun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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7
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Dixit MP, Rahmatkar SN, Raut P, Umekar MJ, Taksande BG, Kotagale NR. Evidences for agmatine alterations in Aβ 1-42induced memory impairment in mice. Neurosci Lett 2020; 740:135447. [PMID: 33127446 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is an age related progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by decline in cognitive functions, such as memory loss and behavioural abnormalities. The present study sought to assess alterations in agmatine metabolism in the beta-amyloid (Aβ1-42) Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Aβ1-42 injected mice showed impairment of cognitive functioning as evidenced by increased working and reference memory errors in radial arm maze (RAM). This cognitive impairment was associated with a reduction in the agmatine levels and elevation in its degrading enzyme, agmatinase, whereas reduced immunocontent was observed in its synthesizing enzyme arginine decarboxylase expression within hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Chronic agmatine treatment and its endogenous modulation by l-arginine, or arcaine or aminoguanidine prevented the learning and memory impairment induced by single intracranial Aβ1-42 peptide injection. In conclusion, the present study suggests the importance of the endogenous agmatinergic system in β-amyloid induced memory impairment in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura P Dixit
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India
| | - Shubham N Rahmatkar
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India
| | - Prachi Raut
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India
| | - Milind J Umekar
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India
| | - Brijesh G Taksande
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India
| | - Nandkishor R Kotagale
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, New Kamptee, Nagpur (M.S.), 441 002, India; Government College of Pharmacy, Amravati, Maharashtra, 444 604, India.
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8
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Involvement of hippocampal agmatine in β1-42 amyloid induced memory impairment, neuroinflammation and BDNF signaling disruption in mice. Neurotoxicology 2020; 80:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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9
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Altered brain arginine metabolism with age in the APP swe/PSEN1 dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurochem Int 2020; 140:104798. [PMID: 32711019 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-beta (Aβ) cleaved from amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been proposed to play a central and causative role in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic mice display chronic Aβ accumulation and deposition in the brain. L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid with a number of bioactive metabolites, and altered arginine metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis and/or the development of AD. This study systematically investigated how arginine metabolic profiles changed in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampal region and cerebellum of male APP/PS1 mice at 4, 9 and 17 months of age relative to their sex- and age-matched wildtype controls. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated age-related Aβ deposition in the brain. High-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed age-related increases in glutamine, spermidine and spermine in APP/PS1 mice in a region-specific manner. Notably, genotype-related increases in spermine were found in the frontal cortex at the 9-month age point and in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and parahippocampal region at 17 months of age. Given the existing literature indicating the role of polyamines (spermine in particular) in modulating the aggregation and toxicity of Aβ oligomers, increased spermidine and spermine levels in APP/PS1 mice may be a neuroprotective mechanism to combat Aβ toxicity. Future research is required to better understand the functional significance of these changes.
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Adaptation of a continuous, calorimetric kinetic assay to study the agmatinase-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction. Anal Biochem 2020; 595:113618. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Rafi H, Ahmad F, Anis J, Khan R, Rafiq H, Farhan M. Comparative Effectiveness of Agmatine and Choline Treatment in Rats with Cognitive Impairment Induced by AlCl 3 and Forced Swim Stress. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 15:251-264. [PMID: 31622210 DOI: 10.2174/1574884714666191016152143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM Endogenous agmatine has a significant role in learning and memory processes as a neurotransmitter. Various studies described the physiological role of endogenous agmatine in learning and memory of multiple cognitive tasks suggesting elevated levels of agmatine during the learning process in the rat brain. Dietary intake of choline showed correlation with cognitive functions in human subjects and treatment with choline supplements validated the ability to diminish learning and cognitive impairment dementias. METHODS 36 Albino rats were equally divided into three groups previously: a) control-water, b) Test I - AlCl3 (100 mg/Kg body weight), and c) Test II - Forced swim stress (FSS) for 14 days. On the next day of AlCl3 and FSS last administration, animals were allocated into further three groups and received the following treatments: a. water was given orally to the control group, b. Agmatine (100 mg/Kg Body Weight) group, and c. Choline (100 mg/Kg Body Weight) group for the next 14 days. Behaviors were assessed in Light/Dark Box, Open Field, Novel Object Recognition Test (NOR), T Maze Test, and Morris Water Maze Test. RESULTS Animals administered with agmatine demonstrated increased time spent in bright areas of light/dark box and square crossed while improved spatial memory in Morris water maze and T maze test and enhanced discrimination of novel object in NOR were observed in learning and memory paradigms along with choline. CONCLUSION The present study determines that agmatine at the dose of (100 mg/kg body weight) attenuates memory and cognitive impairment in comparison with choline supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Rafi
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Ahmad
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Javaria Anis
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ruba Khan
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hamna Rafiq
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Farhan
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
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Bergin DH, Jing Y, Williams G, Mockett BG, Zhang H, Abraham WC, Liu P. Safety and neurochemical profiles of acute and sub-chronic oral treatment with agmatine sulfate. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12669. [PMID: 31481723 PMCID: PMC6722093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Agmatine (decarboxylated arginine) exerts numerous central nervous system (CNS) dependent pharmacological effects and may potentially modulate altered neurochemistry seen in neurological disorders. In preclinical studies, injection has been the predominant route of systemic administration. However, a significant translational step would be the use of oral agmatine treatment at therapeutic doses and better understanding of L-arginine metabolic profiles in the CNS post-treatment. The present study systematically investigated the tolerability, safety and brain-plasma neurochemistry following daily oral agmatine sulfate treatment (via gavage) to wild-type (WT) mice up to 900 mg/kg for one week (Experiment 1) or WT and APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic (Tg) mice at 300 mg/kg for fifteen weeks (Experiment 2). Agmatine treatment in both experiments was well tolerated with no marked behavioural impairments, and gross necropsy and organ histology revealed no pathological alterations after 15-week dosing. Moreover, oral treatment increased agmatine levels in the hippocampus and plasma of WT mice (Experiment 1), and in 6 brain regions examined (but not plasma) of WT and Tg mice (Experiment 2), at 30 minutes or 24 hours post-treatment respectively. This study provides fundamental pre-clinical evidence that daily oral delivery of agmatine sulfate to both WT and Tg mice is safe and well tolerated. Exogenous agmatine passes through the blood brain barrier and accumulates in the brain to a greater extent in Tg mice. Furthermore exogenous agmatine has differential actions in the brain and periphery, and its effect on brain putrescine appears to be dependent on the time post-treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Bergin
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,School of Pharmacy, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Gail Williams
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Bruce G Mockett
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wickliffe C Abraham
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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13
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The therapeutic and nutraceutical potential of agmatine, and its enhanced production using Aspergillus oryzae. Amino Acids 2019; 52:181-197. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-019-02720-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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14
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Hariharan A, Jing Y, Collie ND, Zhang H, Liu P. Altered neurovascular coupling and brain arginine metabolism in endothelial nitric oxide synthase deficient mice. Nitric Oxide 2019; 87:60-72. [PMID: 30877024 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is a key regulator of cerebral blood flow (CBF) dynamics. Mice with eNOS deficiency (eNOS-/-) display age-related increases in amyloid beta in the brain and memory deficits, implicating eNOS dysfunction in the neuropathogenesis and/or development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study systematically investigated behavioural, CBF and brain arginine metabolic profile changes in male and female wildtype (WT) and eNOS-/- mice at 14 months of age. eNOS-/- mice displayed altered behaviour in the Y-maze and open field tests. A real-time microcirculation imager revealed a significant sex difference in the basal CBF and significantly increased perfusion response to whisker stimulations in the Barrel cortex in both male and female eNOS-/- mice relative to their sex-matched WT controls. The treatment of 7-nitroindazole blocked the increased perfusion response to whisker stimulations in eNOS-/- mice. Neurochemically, the most intriguing changes were markedly reduced glutamine levels in both male and female eNOS-/- mice in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampal region and cerebellum. These findings demonstrate altered behavioural function, neurovascular coupling and brain arginine metabolism (glutamine in particular) under the condition of eNOS deficiency, which further supports the role of eNOS dysfunction in the AD neuropathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Hariharan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
| | - Nicola D Collie
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
| | - Hu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand.
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15
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Vemula P, Jing Y, Zhang H, Hunt JB, Sandusky‑Beltran LA, Lee DC, Liu P. Altered brain arginine metabolism in a mouse model of tauopathy. Amino Acids 2019; 51:513-528. [PMID: 30604097 PMCID: PMC6431576 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-02687-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies consist of intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and aggregated microtubule protein tau, which remains a histopathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia. L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid with a number of bioactive molecules. Its downstream metabolites putrescine, spermidine, and spermine (polyamines) are critically involved in microtubule assembly and stabilization. Recent evidence implicates altered arginine metabolism in the pathogenesis of AD. Using high-performance liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric assays, the present study systematically determined the tissue concentrations of L-arginine and its nine downstream metabolites in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampal region, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum in male PS19 mice-bearing human tau P301S mutation at 4, 8, and 12-14 months of age. As compared to their wild-type littermates, PS19 mice displayed early and/or prolonged increases in L-ornithine and altered polyamine levels with age. There were also genotype- and age-related changes in L-arginine, L-citrulline, glutamine, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid in a region- and/or chemical-specific manner. The results demonstrate altered brain arginine metabolism in PS19 mice with the most striking changes in L-ornithine, polyamines, and glutamate, indicating a shift of L-arginine metabolism to favor the arginase-polyamine pathway. Given the role of polyamines in maintaining microtubule stability, the functional significance of these changes remains to be explored in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Vemula
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jerry B. Hunt
- Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, Florida, USA
| | - Leslie A. Sandusky‑Beltran
- Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel C. Lee
- Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, Florida, USA
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- School of Pharmacy, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand
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16
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Bergin DH, Jing Y, Mockett BG, Zhang H, Abraham WC, Liu P. Altered plasma arginine metabolome precedes behavioural and brain arginine metabolomic profile changes in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:108. [PMID: 29802260 PMCID: PMC5970225 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides play a central role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), recent evidence also implicates altered metabolism of L-arginine in the pathogenesis of AD. The present study systematically investigated how behavioural function and the brain and plasma arginine metabolic profiles changed in a chronic Aβ accumulation model using male APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic (Tg) mice at 7 and 13 months of age. As compared to their wild-type (WT) littermates, Tg mice displayed age-related deficits in spatial water maze tasks and alterations in brain arginine metabolism. Interestingly, the plasma arginine metabolic profile was markedly altered in 7-month Tg mice prior to major behavioural impairment. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that plasma putrescine and spermine significantly differentiated between Tg and WT mice. These results demonstrate the parallel development of altered brain arginine metabolism and behavioural deficits in Tg mice. The altered plasma arginine metabolic profile that preceded the behavioural and brain profile changes suggests that there may be merit in an arginine-centric set of ante-mortem biomarkers for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Bergin
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Y Jing
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - B G Mockett
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - H Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - W C Abraham
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - P Liu
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Brain Research New Zealand and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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17
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Agmatine inhibits nicotine withdrawal induced cognitive deficits in inhibitory avoidance task in rats: Contribution of α 2 -adrenoceptors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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18
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Liu P, Gupta N, Jing Y, Collie ND, Zhang H, Smith PF. Further studies of the effects of aging on arginine metabolites in the rat vestibular nucleus and cerebellum. Neuroscience 2017; 348:273-287. [PMID: 28238850 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Some studies have demonstrated that aging is associated with impaired vestibular reflexes, especially otolithic reflexes, resulting in postural instability. However, the neurochemical basis of these age-related changes is still poorly understood. The l-arginine metabolic system has been implicated in changes in the brain associated with aging. In the current study, we examined the levels of l-arginine and its metabolizing enzymes and downstream metabolites in the vestibular nucleus complex (VNC) and cerebellum (CE) of rats with and without behavioral testing which were young (4months old), middle-aged (12months old) or aged (24months old). We found that aging was associated with lower nitric oxide synthase activity in the CE of animals with testing and increased arginase in the VNC and CE of animals with testing. l-citrulline and l-ornithine were lower in the VNC of aged animals irrespective of testing, while l-arginine and l-citrulline were lower in the CE with and without testing, respectively. In the VNC and CE, aging was associated with lower levels of glutamate in the VNC, irrespective of testing. In the VNC it was associated with higher levels of agmatine and putrescine, irrespective of testing. In the CE, aging was associated with higher levels of putrescine in animals without testing and with higher levels of spermine in animals with testing, and spermidine, irrespective of testing. Multivariate analyses indicated significant predictive relationships between the different variables, and there were correlations between some of the neurochemical variables and behavioral measurements. Cluster analyses revealed that aging altered the relationships between l-arginine and its metabolites. The results of this study demonstrate that there are major changes occurring in l-arginine metabolism in the VNC and CE as a result of age, as well as behavioral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Liu
- Dept. of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; The Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand.
| | - N Gupta
- Dept. of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Y Jing
- Dept. of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - N D Collie
- Dept. of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - H Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - P F Smith
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; The Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand; The Eisdell Moore Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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19
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Knox LT, Jing Y, Bawazier-Edgecombe J, Collie ND, Zhang H, Liu P. Effects of withdrawal from repeated phencyclidine administration on behavioural function and brain arginine metabolism in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2016; 153:45-59. [PMID: 27986516 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Phencyclidine (PCP) induces behavioural changes in humans and laboratory animals that resemble positive and negative symptoms, and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. It has been shown repeated treatment of PCP leading to persistent symptoms even after the drug discontinuation, and there is a growing body of evidence implicating altered arginine metabolism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The present study investigated the effects of withdrawal from repeated daily injection of PCP (2mg/kg) for 12 consecutive days on animals'behavioural performance and arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in male young adult rats. Repeated PCP treatment reduced spontaneous alternations in the Y-maze and exploratory and locomotor activities in the open field under the condition of a washout period of 24h, but not 4days. Interestingly, the PCP treated rats also displayed spatial working memory deficits when tested 8-10days after withdrawal from PCP and showed altered levels of arginase activities and eight out of ten l-arginine metabolites in neurochemical- and region-specific manner. Cluster analyses showed altered relationships among l-arginine and its three main metabolites as a function of withdrawal from repeated PCP treatment in a duration-specific manner. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant neurochemical-behavioural correlations. Collectively, the results suggest both the residual and long-term effects of withdrawal from repeated PCP treatment on behavioural function and brain arginine metabolism. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the influence of the withdrawal duration on animals' behaviour and brain arginine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan T Knox
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jamal Bawazier-Edgecombe
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nicola D Collie
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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20
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Shelkar GP, Gakare SG, Chakraborty S, Dravid SM, Ugale RR. Interactions of nitric oxide with α2 -adrenoceptors within the locus coeruleus underlie the facilitation of inhibitory avoidance memory by agmatine. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:2589-99. [PMID: 27273730 PMCID: PMC4978159 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Agmatine, a putative neurotransmitter, plays a vital role in learning and memory. Although it is considered an endogenous ligand of imidazoline receptors, agmatine exhibits high affinity for α-adrenoceptors, NOS and NMDA receptors. These substrates within the locus coeruleus (LC) are critically involved in learning and memory processes. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The hippocampus and LC of male Wistar rat were stereotaxically cannulated for injection. Effects of agmatine, given i.p. or intra-LC, on acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of inhibitory avoidance (IA) memory were measured. The NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione, non-specific (L-NAME) and specific NOS inhibitors (L-NIL, 7-NI, L-NIO), the α2 -adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine) or the corresponding agonist (clonidine) were injected intra-LC before agmatine. Intra-hippocampal injections of the NMDA antagonist, MK-801 (dizocilpine), were used to modify the memory enhancing effects of agmatine, SNG and yohimbine. Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and eNOS in the LC was assessed immunohistochemically. KEY RESULTS Agmatine (intra-LC or i.p.) facilitated memory retrieval in the IA test. S-nitrosoglutathione potentiated, while L-NAME and L-NIO decreased, these effects of agmatine. L-NIL and 7-NI did not alter the effects of agmatine. Yohimbine potentiated, whereas clonidine attenuated, effects of agmatine within the LC. The effects of agmatine, S-nitrosoglutathione and yohimbine were blocked by intra-hippocampal MK-801. Agmatine increased the population of TH- and eNOS-immunoreactive elements in the LC. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The facilitation of memory retrieval in the IA test by agmatine is probably mediated by interactions between eNOS, NO and noradrenergic pathways in the LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajanan P Shelkar
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Shrimati Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Sukanya G Gakare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Suwarna Chakraborty
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Shrimati Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Rajesh R Ugale
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, Shrimati Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
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21
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Liu P, Jing Y, Collie ND, Dean B, Bilkey DK, Zhang H. Altered brain arginine metabolism in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e871. [PMID: 27529679 PMCID: PMC5022089 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research implicates altered metabolism of l-arginine, a versatile amino acid with a number of bioactive metabolites, in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The present study, for we believe the first time, systematically compared the metabolic profile of l-arginine in the frontal cortex (Brodmann's area 8) obtained post-mortem from schizophrenic individuals and age- and gender-matched non-psychiatric controls (n=20 per group). The enzyme assays revealed no change in total nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, but significantly increased arginase activity in the schizophrenia group. Western blot showed reduced endothelial NOS protein expression and increased arginase II protein level in the disease group. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric assays confirmed significantly reduced levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), but increased agmatine concentration and glutamate/GABA ratio in the schizophrenia cases. Regression analysis indicated positive correlations between arginase activity and the age of disease onset and between l-ornithine level and the duration of illness. Moreover, cluster analyses revealed that l-arginine and its main metabolites l-citrulline, l-ornithine and agmatine formed distinct groups, which were altered in the schizophrenia group. The present study provides further evidence of altered brain arginine metabolism in schizophrenia, which enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and may lead to the future development of novel preventions and/or therapeutics for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Liu
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Lindo Ferguson Building, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand. E-mail:
| | - Y Jing
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - N D Collie
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - B Dean
- The Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - D K Bilkey
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - H Zhang
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand,School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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22
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Sase A, Nawaratna G, Hu S, Wu G, Lubec G. Decreased hippocampal homoarginine and increased nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase levels in rats parallel training in a radial arm maze. Amino Acids 2016; 48:2197-204. [PMID: 27178025 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2251-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
L-homoarginine (hArg) is derived from enzymatic guanidination of lysine. It was demonstrated that hArg is a substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, blocks lysine transport and inhibits the uptake of arginine into synaptosomes and modulates GABA responses ex vivo. As there is limited information on its physiological roles in the brain, the aim of the study was to show whether hippocampal or frontal lobe (FL) hArg is paralleling training in the radial arm maze (RAM) or NO formation. Hippocampi and FL of male Sprague-Dawley rats were taken from trained or yoked in a RAM. Then hArg and metabolites, NO and NO synthase (NOS) were determined by standard methods. The animals learned the task in the RAM showing significant reduction of working memory errors. hArg showed decreased levels in both brain regions of trained animals as compared to yoked animals. Nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) concentrations and NOS activity were significantly increased in hippocampi, F(1,36) = 170.5; P ≤ 0.0001 and FL, F(1,36) = 74.67; P ≤ 0.0001 of trained animals as compared to yoked animals. Levels of hArg were negatively correlated with NOx in hippocampus (r = -0.6355; P = 0.0483) but not in FL and with lysine in the FL (r = -0.6650; P = 0.0358). NOx levels were positively correlated with NOS in both the hippocampus (r = 0.7474; P = 0.0129) and FL (r = 0.9563; P ≤ 0.0001). These novel findings indicate that hArg is linked to NO formation in hippocampus but not in FL and is paralleling spatial memory in the RAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya Sase
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Room 212, Kleberg Bldg., Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gayan Nawaratna
- Departments of Animal Science and Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, 2471 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-2471, USA
| | - Shengdi Hu
- Departments of Animal Science and Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, 2471 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-2471, USA
| | - Guoyao Wu
- Departments of Animal Science and Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, 2471 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-2471, USA.
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Room 212, Kleberg Bldg., Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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23
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Jing Y, Liu P, Leitch B. Region-specific changes in presynaptic agmatine and glutamate levels in the aged rat brain. Neuroscience 2015; 312:10-8. [PMID: 26548412 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
During the normal aging process, the brain undergoes a range of biochemical and structural alterations, which may contribute to deterioration of sensory and cognitive functions. Age-related deficits are associated with altered efficacy of synaptic neurotransmission. Emerging evidence indicates that levels of agmatine, a putative neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, are altered in a region-specific manner during the aging process. The gross tissue content of agmatine in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of aged rat brains is decreased whereas levels in the temporal cortex (TE) are increased. However, it is not known whether these changes in gross tissue levels are also mirrored by changes in agmatine levels at synapses and thus could potentially contribute to altered synaptic function with age. In the present study, agmatine levels in presynaptic terminals in the PFC and TE regions (300 terminals/region) of young (3month; n=3) and aged (24month; n=3) brains of male Sprague-Dawley rats were compared using quantitative post-embedding immunogold electron-microscopy. Presynaptic levels of agmatine were significantly increased in the TE region (60%; p<0.001) of aged rats compared to young rats, however no significant differences were detected in synaptic levels in the PFC region. Double immunogold labeling indicated that agmatine and glutamate were co-localized in the same synaptic terminals, and quantitative analyses revealed significantly reduced glutamate levels in agmatine-immunopositive synaptic terminals in both regions in aged rats compared to young animals. This study, for the first time, demonstrates differential effects of aging on agmatine and glutamate in the presynaptic terminals of PFC and TE. Future research is required to understand the functional significance of these changes and the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Jing
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - P Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - B Leitch
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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24
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A single intracerebroventricular Aβ25–35 infusion leads to prolonged alterations in arginine metabolism in the rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience 2015; 298:367-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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25
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Agmatine attenuates hyperactivity and weight loss associated with activity-based anorexia in female rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2015; 132:136-141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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Effects of acute phencyclidine administration on arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in rats. Neuropharmacology 2014; 81:195-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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27
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Liu P, Fleete MS, Jing Y, Collie ND, Curtis MA, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Abraham WC, Zhang H. Altered arginine metabolism in Alzheimer's disease brains. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 35:1992-2003. [PMID: 24746363 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid with a number of bioactive metabolites. Accumulating evidence suggests the implication of altered arginine metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study systematically compared the metabolic profile of L-arginine in the superior frontal gyrus, hippocampus, and cerebellum from AD (mean age 80 years) and normal (mean age 80 or 60 years) cases. The activity and protein expression of nitric oxide synthase and arginase were altered with AD and age in a region-specific manner. There were also AD- and age-related changes in the tissue concentrations of L-arginine and its downstream metabolites (L-citrulline, L-ornithine, agmatine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamine) in a metabolite- or region-specific manner. These findings demonstrate that arginine metabolism is dramatically altered in diverse regions of AD brains, thus meriting further investigation to understand its role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Michael S Fleete
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nicola D Collie
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Wickliffe C Abraham
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hu Zhang
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Martens-Lobenhoffer J, Bode-Böger SM. Mass spectrometric quantification of L-arginine and its pathway related substances in biofluids: the road to maturity. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2013; 964:89-102. [PMID: 24210895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2013.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The amino acid L-arginine together with its metabolites and related substances is in the center of many biologically important pathways, especially the urea cycle and the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Therefore, the concentrations of these substances in various biological fluids are of great interest as predictive markers for health and disease. Yet, they provide major analytical difficulties as they are very polar in nature and therefore not easily to be separated on standard reversed phase HPLC stationary phases. Furthermore, as endogenous substances, no analyte-free matrix is available, a fact that results in complicated calibration procedures. This review evaluates the analytical literature for the determination of L-arginine, symmetric dimethylarginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, monomethylarginine, L-citrulline, L-ornithine, L-homoarginine, agmatine and dimethylguanidinovaleric acid in biological fluids. Papers are discussed, which were published since 2007 and describe methods applying capillary electrophoresis (CE), gas chromatography (GC), reversed phase HPLC or polar phase HPLC, coupled to mass spectrometric quantification. Nowadays, many carefully developed and validated methods for L-arginine and its related substances are available to the scientific community. The use of stable isotope labeled internal standards enables high precision and accuracy in mass spectrometry-based quantitative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefanie M Bode-Böger
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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Altered arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of maternal immune activation rat offspring. Schizophr Res 2013; 148:151-6. [PMID: 23806581 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Altered arginine metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The present study measured the levels of L-arginine and its downstream metabolites in the sub-regions of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in adult rats that had been exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA; a risk factor for schizophrenia). MIA significantly increased L-arginine, L-ornithine and putrescine levels and decreased agmatine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in a region-specific manner. Correlational analysis revealed a significant neurochemical-behavioural correlation. Cluster analyses showed that L-arginine and its main metabolites formed distinct groups, which changed as a function of MIA. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that MIA leads to altered arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the adult offspring.
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Piletz JE, Aricioglu F, Cheng JT, Fairbanks CA, Gilad VH, Haenisch B, Halaris A, Hong S, Lee JE, Li J, Liu P, Molderings GJ, Rodrigues ALS, Satriano J, Seong GJ, Wilcox G, Wu N, Gilad GM. Agmatine: clinical applications after 100 years in translation. Drug Discov Today 2013; 18:880-93. [PMID: 23769988 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Agmatine (decarboxylated arginine) has been known as a natural product for over 100 years, but its biosynthesis in humans was left unexplored owing to long-standing controversy. Only recently has the demonstration of agmatine biosynthesis in mammals revived research, indicating its exceptional modulatory action at multiple molecular targets, including neurotransmitter systems, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and polyamine metabolism, thus providing bases for broad therapeutic applications. This timely review, a concerted effort by 16 independent research groups, draws attention to the substantial preclinical and initial clinical evidence, and highlights challenges and opportunities, for the use of agmatine in treating a spectrum of complex diseases with unmet therapeutic needs, including diabetes mellitus, neurotrauma and neurodegenerative diseases, opioid addiction, mood disorders, cognitive disorders and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Piletz
- Department of Biology, Mississippi College, Clinton, MS 39058, USA
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Sase A, Dahanayaka S, Höger H, Wu G, Lubec G. Changes of hippocampal beta-alanine and citrulline levels are paralleling early and late phase of retrieval in the Morris Water Maze. Behav Brain Res 2013; 249:104-8. [PMID: 23628211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although a series of amino acids (AA) have been associated with spatial memory formation, there is limited information on concentrations of beta-alanine and citrulline in rodent brains. Given the importance of AA metabolism in cognitive functions it was the aim of the study to determine hippocampal levels of beta-alanine and citrulline in rats during two different phases of memory retrieval in a spatial memory paradigm. Ten rats were used per group and the first group was trained and sacrificed five min, the second six hours following retrieval in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and the third and fourth group were untrained, yoked controls. Hippocampi were taken and free AA were determined using a well-established HPLC protocol. Beta-alanine and citrulline levels were higher in trained rat hippocampi, during both, early and late phase of memory retrieval. Taurine, methionine, cysteine, lysine and ornithine levels were higher in yoked rats at the late phase while tyrosine was higher in yoked rats during the early phase. There were no significant correlations between time spent in the target quadrant and any of the AA levels. Herein, an AA pattern, different between yoked and trained animals at early and late phase of memory retrieval is shown, indicating probable involvement of different AA pathways in animals trained and untrained in the MWM. The results may be useful for the interpretation of previous studies and the design of future experiments to identify amino acids as possible targets for modulating spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya Sase
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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