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Alhajeri MM, Alkhanjari RR, Hodeify R, Khraibi A, Hamdan H. Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and calcium in oocyte maturation and early development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:980219. [PMID: 36211465 PMCID: PMC9537470 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.980219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A primary reason behind the high level of complexity we embody as multicellular organisms is a highly complex intracellular and intercellular communication system. As a result, the activities of multiple cell types and tissues can be modulated resulting in a specific physiological function. One of the key players in this communication process is extracellular signaling molecules that can act in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine fashion to regulate distinct physiological responses. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are signaling molecules that renders long-range communication possible. In normal conditions, neurotransmitters are involved in normal responses such as development and normal physiological aspects; however, the dysregulation of neurotransmitters mediated signaling has been associated with several pathologies such as neurodegenerative, neurological, psychiatric disorders, and other pathologies. One of the interesting topics that is not yet fully explored is the connection between neuronal signaling and physiological changes during oocyte maturation and fertilization. Knowing the importance of Ca2+ signaling in these reproductive processes, our objective in this review is to highlight the link between the neuronal signals and the intracellular changes in calcium during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis. Calcium (Ca2+) is a ubiquitous intracellular mediator involved in various cellular functions such as releasing neurotransmitters from neurons, contraction of muscle cells, fertilization, and cell differentiation and morphogenesis. The multiple roles played by this ion in mediating signals can be primarily explained by its spatiotemporal dynamics that are kept tightly checked by mechanisms that control its entry through plasma membrane and its storage on intracellular stores. Given the large electrochemical gradient of the ion across the plasma membrane and intracellular stores, signals that can modulate Ca2+ entry channels or Ca2+ receptors in the stores will cause Ca2+ to be elevated in the cytosol and consequently activating downstream Ca2+-responsive proteins resulting in specific cellular responses. This review aims to provide an overview of the reported neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that participate in early stages of development and their association with Ca2+ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitha M. Alhajeri
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rayyah R. Alkhanjari
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rawad Hodeify
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Arts and Sciences, American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali Khraibi
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamdan Hamdan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Biotechnology Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Hamdan Hamdan,
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Atta NF, Ahmed YM, Galal A. Electrochemical Determination of Neurotransmitters at Crown Ether Modified Carbon Nanotube Composite: Application for Sub‐nano‐sensing of Serotonin in Human Serum. ELECTROANAL 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201800065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nada F. Atta
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of ScienceCairo University 12613 Giza Egypt
| | - Yousef M. Ahmed
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of ScienceCairo University 12613 Giza Egypt
| | - Ahmed Galal
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of ScienceCairo University 12613 Giza Egypt
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Mitchell NC, Gould GG, Koek W, Daws LC. Ontogeny of SERT Expression and Antidepressant-like Response to Escitalopram in Wild-Type and SERT Mutant Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2016; 358:271-81. [PMID: 27288483 PMCID: PMC6047222 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.233338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a disabling affective disorder for which the majority of patients are not effectively treated. This problem is exacerbated in children and adolescents for whom only two antidepressants are approved, both of which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs). Unfortunately SSRIs are often less effective in juveniles than in adults; however, the mechanism(s) underlying age-dependent responses to SSRIs is unknown. To this end, we compared the antidepressant-like response to the SSRI escitalopram using the tail suspension test and saturation binding of [(3)H]citalopram to the serotonin transporter (SERT), the primary target of SSRIs, in juvenile [postnatal day (P)21], adolescent (P28), and adult (P90) wild-type (SERT+/+) mice. In addition, to model individuals carrying low-expressing SERT variants, we studied mice with reduced SERT expression (SERT+/-) or lacking SERT (SERT-/-). Maximal antidepressant-like effects were less in P21 mice relative to P90 mice. This was especially apparent in SERT+/- mice. However, the potency for escitalopram to produce antidepressant-like effects in SERT+/+ and SERT+/- mice was greater in P21 and P28 mice than in adults. SERT expression increased with age in terminal regions and decreased with age in cell body regions. Binding affinity values did not change as a function of age or genotype. As expected, in SERT-/- mice escitalopram produced no behavioral effects, and there was no specific [(3)H]citalopram binding. These data reveal age- and genotype-dependent shifts in the dose-response for escitalopram to produce antidepressant-like effects, which vary with SERT expression, and may contribute to the limited therapeutic response to SSRIs in juveniles and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C Mitchell
- Departments of Physiology (N.C.M., G.G.G., L.C.D.), Psychiatry (W.K.), and Pharmacology (L.C.D., W.K.), University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Georgianna G Gould
- Departments of Physiology (N.C.M., G.G.G., L.C.D.), Psychiatry (W.K.), and Pharmacology (L.C.D., W.K.), University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Wouter Koek
- Departments of Physiology (N.C.M., G.G.G., L.C.D.), Psychiatry (W.K.), and Pharmacology (L.C.D., W.K.), University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Lynette C Daws
- Departments of Physiology (N.C.M., G.G.G., L.C.D.), Psychiatry (W.K.), and Pharmacology (L.C.D., W.K.), University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
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LI H, WANG X. Simultaneous Determination of Epinephrine and Uric Acid at Poly (Guanine) Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode. ELECTROCHEMISTRY 2015. [DOI: 10.5796/electrochemistry.83.434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hongying LI
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University
| | - Xueliang WANG
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University
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5
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Dong C, Anand KJS. Developmental neurotoxicity of ketamine in pediatric clinical use. Toxicol Lett 2013; 220:53-60. [PMID: 23566897 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine is widely used as an anesthetic, analgesic, and sedative in pediatric clinical practice and it is also listed as an illicit drug by most countries. Recent in vivo and in vitro animal studies have confirmed that ketamine can induce neuronal cell death in the immature brain, resulting from widespread neuronal apoptosis. These effects can disturb normal development further altering the structure and functions of the brain. Our recent studies further indicate that ketamine can alter neurogenesis from neural stem progenitor cells in the developing brain. Taken together, these findings identify a novel complication associated with ketamine use in premature infants, term newborns, and pregnant women. Recent data on the developmental neurotoxicity of ketamine are reviewed with proposed future directions for evaluating the safety of ketamine in these patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoxuan Dong
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, United States.
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Brustein E, Côté S, Ghislain J, Drapeau P. Spontaneous glycine-induced calcium transients in spinal cord progenitors promote neurogenesis. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 73:168-75. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 08/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Côté S, Drapeau P. Regulation of spinal interneuron differentiation by the paracrine action of glycine. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 72:208-14. [PMID: 22234938 PMCID: PMC4005792 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are depolarizing during early development but the purpose is unclear. We tested the effect of altering glycine signaling in zebrafish embryos by overexpressing the potassium-chloride co-transporter type 2 (KCC2) to reverse the chloride gradient or by blocking glycine receptors with strychnine or by selectively knocking down the embryonic glycine receptor (GlyR KD). Using a variety of markers we observed in all three cases a reduction of all types of spinal interneuron populations examined, indicating that glycine modulates their overall differentiation rather than choice of cell fate. Other cell populations (motor, sensory, and glial cells) were unaffected. As glycine appeared to act preceding neural and synaptic development, we examined the bandoneon (beo) mutant in which glycine receptors are functional but not clustered at synapses. Neural populations in beo embryos appeared normal, suggesting a paracrine action of circulating glycine in promoting interneuron differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien Côté
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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Immobilization of DNA on a glassy carbon electrode based on Langmuir–Blodgett technique: application to the detection of epinephrine. J Solid State Electrochem 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10008-011-1627-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Lei H, Poitry-Yamate C, Preitner F, Thorens B, Gruetter R. Neurochemical profile of the mouse hypothalamus using in vivo 1H MRS at 14.1T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2010; 23:578-83. [PMID: 20235335 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamus plays an essential role in the central nervous system of mammals by among others regulating glucose homeostasis, food intake, temperature, and to some extent blood pressure. Assessments of hypothalamic metabolism using, e.g. (1)H MRS in mouse models can provide important insights into its function. To date, direct in vivo (1)H MRS measurements of hypothalamus have not been reported. Here, we report that in vivo single voxel measurements of mouse hypothalamus are feasible using (1)H MRS at 14.1T. Localized (1)H MR spectra from hypothalamus were obtained unilaterally (2-2.2 microL, VOI) and bilaterally (4-4.4 microL) with a quality comparable to that of hippocampus (3-3.5 microL). Using LCModel, a neurochemical profile consisting of 21 metabolites was quantified for both hypothalamus and hippocampus with most of the Cramér-Rao lower bounds within 20%. Relative to the hippocampus, the hypothalamus was characterized by high gamma-aminobutryric acid and myo-inositol, and low taurine concentrations. When studying transgenic mice with no glucose transporter isoform 8 expressed, small metabolic changes were observed, yet glucose homeostasis was well maintained. We conclude that a specific neurochemical profile of mouse hypothalamus can be measured by (1)H MRS which will allow identifying and following metabolic alterations longitudinally in the hypothalamus of genetic modified models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Lei
- Laboratory of Functional and Metabolic Imaging (LIFMET), Institute of the Physics of Biological Systems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Majumder P, Trujillo CA, Lopes CG, Resende RR, Gomes KN, Yuahasi KK, Britto LRG, Ulrich H. New insights into purinergic receptor signaling in neuronal differentiation, neuroprotection, and brain disorders. Purinergic Signal 2007; 3:317-31. [PMID: 18404445 PMCID: PMC2072925 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-007-9074-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2007] [Accepted: 08/09/2007] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ionotropic P2X and metabotropic P2Y purinergic receptors are expressed in the central nervous system and participate in the synaptic process particularly associated with acetylcholine, GABA, and glutamate neurotransmission. As a result of activation, the P2 receptors promote the elevation of free intracellular calcium concentration as the main signaling pathway. Purinergic signaling is present in early stages of embryogenesis and is involved in processes of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The use of new techniques such as knockout animals, in vitro models of neuronal differentiation, antisense oligonucleotides to induce downregulation of purinergic receptor gene expression, and the development of selective inhibitors for purinergic receptor subtypes contribute to the comprehension of the role of purinergic signaling during neurogenesis. In this review, we shall discuss the participation of purinergic receptors in developmental processes and in brain physiology, including neuron-glia interactions and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paromita Majumder
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are essential for normal nervous system development. Disturbances in the expression timetable or intensity of neurotransmitter signalling during critical periods of brain development can lead to permanent damage. Neuroactive drugs and environmental toxins interfere with neurotransmitter signalling and may thereby provide one mechanism underlying neurological abnormalities. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system and mediates neurotransmission across most excitatory synapses. In this article we review the timely expression of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and its receptors during brain development, briefly review glutamate receptor antagonists and present clinical and experimental evidence describing their adverse effects in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Kaindl
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité, University Medical School, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1,13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Martins RAP, Pearson RA. Control of cell proliferation by neurotransmitters in the developing vertebrate retina. Brain Res 2007; 1192:37-60. [PMID: 17597590 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.04.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2007] [Revised: 04/04/2007] [Accepted: 04/20/2007] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In the developing vertebrate retina, precise coordination of retinal progenitor cell proliferation and cell-cycle exit is essential for the formation of a functionally mature retina. Unregulated or disrupted cell proliferation may lead to dysplasia, retinal degeneration or retinoblastoma. Both cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors regulate the proliferation of progenitor cells during CNS development. There is now growing evidence that in the developing vertebrate retina, both slow and fast neurotransmitter systems modulate the proliferation of retinal progenitor cells. Classic neurotransmitters, such as GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), glycine, glutamate, ACh (acetylcholine) and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) are released, via vesicular or non-vesicular mechanisms, into the immature retinal environment. Furthermore, these neurotransmitters signal through functional receptors even before synapses are formed. Recent evidence indicates that the activation of purinergic and muscarinic receptors may regulate the cell-cycle machinery and consequently the expansion of the retinal progenitor pool. Interestingly, GABA and glutamate appear to have opposing roles, inducing retinal progenitor cell-cycle exit. In this review, we present recent findings that begin to elucidate the roles of neurotransmitters as regulators of progenitor cell proliferation at early stages of retinal development. These studies also raise several new questions, including how these neurotransmitters regulate specific cell-cycle pathways and the mechanisms by which retinal progenitor cells integrate the signals from neurotransmitters and other exogenous factors during vertebrate retina development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A P Martins
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, MS323, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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Inverardi F, Beolchi MS, Ortino B, Moroni RF, Regondi MC, Amadeo A, Frassoni C. GABA immunoreactivity in the developing rat thalamus and Otx2 homeoprotein expression in migrating neurons. Brain Res Bull 2007; 73:64-74. [PMID: 17499638 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2006] [Revised: 02/05/2007] [Accepted: 02/06/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the developing rat thalamus by immunohistochemistry, using light, confocal and electron microscopy. We also examined the relationship between the expression of the homeoprotein Otx2, a transcription factor implicated in brain regionalization, and the radial and non-radial migration of early generated thalamic neurons, identified by the neuronal markers calretinin (CR) and GABA. The earliest thalamic neurons generated between embryonic days (E) 13 and 15 include those of the reticular nucleus, entirely composed by GABAergic neurons. GABA immunoreactivity appeared at E14 in immature neurons and processes laterally to the neuroepithelium of the diencephalic vesicle. The embryonic and perinatal periods were characterized by the presence of abundant GABA-immunoreactive fibers, mostly tangentially oriented, and of growth cones. At E15 and E16, GABA was expressed in radially and non-radially oriented neurons in the region of the reticular thalamic migration, between the dorsal and ventral thalamic primordia, and within the dorsal thalamus. At these embryonic stages, some CR- and GABA-immunoreactive migrating-like neurons, located in the migratory stream and in the dorsal thalamus, expressed the homeoprotein Otx2. In the perinatal period, the preponderance of GABAergic neurons was restricted to the reticular nucleus and several GABAergic fibers were still detectable throughout the thalamus. The immunolabeling of fibers progressively decreased and was no longer visible by postnatal day 10, when the adult configuration of GABA immunostaining was achieved. These results reveal the spatio-temporal features of GABA expression in the developing thalamus and suggest a novel role of Otx2 in thalamic cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Inverardi
- Dipartimento di Epilettologia Clinica e Neurofisiologia Sperimentale, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Fischer SG, Ricci LA, Melloni RH. Repeated anabolic/androgenic steroid exposure during adolescence alters phosphate-activated glutaminase and glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) subunit immunoreactivity in Hamster brain: correlation with offensive aggression. Behav Brain Res 2007; 180:77-85. [PMID: 17418431 PMCID: PMC2665926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2007.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2007] [Revised: 02/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/20/2007] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) treated with moderately high doses (5.0mg/kg/day) of anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS) during adolescence (P27-P56) display highly escalated offensive aggression. The current study examined whether adolescent AAS-exposure influenced the immunohistochemical localization of phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG), the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of glutamate, a fast-acting neurotransmitter implicated in the modulation of aggression in various species and models of aggression, as well as glutamate receptor 1 subunit (GluR1). Hamsters were administered AAS during adolescence, scored for offensive aggression using the resident-intruder paradigm, and then examined for changes in PAG and GluR1 immunoreactivity in areas of the brain implicated in aggression control. When compared with sesame oil-treated control animals, aggressive AAS-treated hamsters displayed a significant increase in the number of PAG- and area density of GluR1-containing neurons in several notable aggression regions, although the differential pattern of expression did not appear to overlap across brain regions. Together, these results suggest that altered glutamate synthesis and GluR1 receptor expression in specific aggression areas may be involved in adolescent AAS-induced offensive aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard H. Melloni
- Φ Correspondence to: Richard H. Melloni, Jr., Ph.D., Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, 125 Nightingale Hall, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, Tel. no. (617) 373-3043, FAX no. (617) 373-8714, E-mail:
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Yang Z, Hu G, Chen X, Zhao J, Zhao G. The nano-Au self-assembled glassy carbon electrode for selective determination of epinephrine in the presence of ascorbic acid. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2007; 54:230-5. [PMID: 17158037 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2006.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2006] [Revised: 10/22/2006] [Accepted: 10/23/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles were self-assembled to the modified glassy carbon electrode (GC) with cysteamine (CA) to prepare the nano-Au/CA/GC modified electrode. The electrochemical behavior of epinephrine (EP) on the modified electrode was explored with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Epinephrine gave a pair of redox peaks at E(pa)=0.190 mV and E(pc)=-0.224 mV (versus SCE), respectively. The nano-Au/CA/GC modified electrode shows an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of EP. The modified electrode could be used to determine EP in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). The response of catalytic current with EP concentration shows a linear relation in the range of 1.0 x 10(-7) to 5.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) with the correlation coefficient of 0.998. The detection limit is 4.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1). The modified electrode exhibited a good reproducibility, sensitivity and stability for the determination of EP injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhousheng Yang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, PR China.
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Benítez-Díaz P, Miranda-Contreras L, Peña-Contreras Z, Dávila-Vera D, Mendoza-Briceño RV, Palacios-Prü E. Histotypic mouse parietal cortex cultures: Excitation/inhibition ratio and ultrastructural analysis. J Neurosci Methods 2006; 156:64-70. [PMID: 16621012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2006.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2005] [Revised: 01/23/2006] [Accepted: 02/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Primary cultures of mouse parietal cortex, prepared between postnatal day 3 (P3) and P9, were studied using transmission electron microscopy and HPLC of excitatory (aspartate and glutamate) and inhibitory neurotransmitters (glycine, GABA and taurine) to determine their morphological and functional development. Relations between excitation and inhibition (E/I) were contrasted with ultrastructural features over the time course of in vitro development. After 6 days in vitro, cultured parietal cortex neurons prepared from mice at P3 had immature morphological characteristics, whereas P5 cultures showed a more developed histological structure but still with scarce synapses. The acquirement of histotypic characteristics was seen in P7 cultures, which contained numerous symmetric and asymmetric synaptic contacts. On P9, the cultures showed signs of tissue damage. In terms of neurotransmitter levels and E/I ratios, P7 cultures had relatively low E/I ratio as compared with the rest of the cultures prepared before or after P7. These results demonstrated that the development of inhibitory synaptic transmission, as indicated in the fall of E/I ratio, marked the maturation of cerebral cortical tissue and that the critical period to obtain histotypic cultures of mouse parietal cerebral cortex coincides between P5 and P7. This work provides useful information regarding the balance between excitation and inhibition as an indicative parameter for in vitro nerve cell survival, differentiation and maturation and reinforces the great value of histotypic cultures in the study of central nervous system development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Benítez-Díaz
- Electron Microscopy Center, University of Los Andes, PO Box 163, Mérida 5101-A, Venezuela
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Larvaron P, Bielicki G, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Renou JP. Proton MRS of early post-natal mouse brain modifications in vivo. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2006; 19:180-7. [PMID: 16470692 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
NMR provides a non-invasive tool for the phenotypic characterisation of mouse models. The aim of the present study was to apply reliable in vivo MRS techniques for non-invasive investigations of brain development in normal and transgenic mice, by monitoring metabolite concentrations in different brain regions. The conditions of anaesthesia, immobilisation and respiratory monitoring were optimized to carry out in vivo MRS studies in young mice. All the experiments were performed in normal mice, at 9.4 T, applying a point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence (TR = 2,000 ms; TE = 130 ms). We obtained reproducible in vivo (1)H NMR spectra of wild-type mouse brains as early as post-natal day 5, which allowed us to follow brain maturation variations from post-natal days 5 to 21. The survival rate of animals was between 66 and 90% at post-natal days 5 and 21, respectively. Developmental changes of metabolite concentrations were measured in three brain regions: the thalamus, a region rich in cell bodies, the olfactory bulb, rich in fibre tracts actively myelinated during brain maturation, and the cerebellum. The voxel size varied from 2 to 8 microL according to the size of the brain structure analysed. The absolute concentrations of the total creatine, taurine, total choline, N-acetylaspartate and of the glutamate/glutamine pool were determined from (1)H NMR spectra obtained in the different brain regions at post-natal day 5, 10, 15 and 21. Variations observed during brain development were in accordance with those previously reported in mice using ex vivo MRS studies, and also in rats and humans in vivo. Possibilities of longitudinal MRS analysis in maturing mice brains provide new perspectives to characterise better the tremendous number of transgenic mutant mice generated with the aim of decrypting the complexity of brain development and neurodegenerative diseases but also to follow the impact of environmental and therapeutic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Larvaron
- QuaPA/STIM, INRA Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
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Miranda-Contreras L, Dávila-Ovalles R, Benítez-Díaz P, Peña-Contreras Z, Palacios-Prü E. Effects of prenatal paraquat and mancozeb exposure on amino acid synaptic transmission in developing mouse cerebellar cortex. BRAIN RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 2005; 160:19-27. [PMID: 16198425 DOI: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2005.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2005] [Revised: 07/07/2005] [Accepted: 08/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to analyze the effects of prenatal exposure to the pesticides paraquat (PQ) and mancozeb (MZ) on the development of synaptic transmission in mouse cerebellar cortex. Pregnant NMRI mice were treated with either saline, 10 mg/kg PQ, 30 mg/kg MZ or the combination of PQ + MZ, between gestational days 12 (E12) and E20. Variation in the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters was determined by HPLC, between postnatal day 1 (P1) and P30. Motor coordination was assessed by locomotor activity evaluation of control and experimental pups at P14, P21 and P30. Significant reductions in the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters, aspartate and glutamate, were observed in PQ-, MZ- or combined PQ + MZ-exposed pups, with respect to control, during peak periods of excitatory innervation of Purkinje cells: between P2-P5 and P11-P15. However, at P30, lower aspartate contents, in contrast with increased glutamate levels, were detected in all experimental groups. During the first two postnatal weeks, delays in GABA and glycine ontogenesis were observed in PQ- and PQ + MZ-exposed pups, whereas notable decrements in GABA and glycine levels were seen in PQ + MZ-exposed animals. Decreased taurine contents were detected at P3 and P11 in PQ- and PQ + MZ-exposed mice. Pups in different experimental groups all showed hyperactivity at P14 and then exhibited reduced locomotor activity at P30. Taken together, our results indicate that prenatal exposure to either PQ or MZ or the combination of both could alter the chronology and magnitude of synaptic transmission in developing mouse cerebellar cortex.
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Peng YP, Qiu YH, Chao BB, Wang JJ. Effect of lesions of cerebellar fastigial nuclei on lymphocyte functions of rats. Neurosci Res 2005; 51:275-84. [PMID: 15710491 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2004.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Accepted: 11/30/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum, probably owing to its traditional concept limited to motor control, is less well studied in immunoregulation. To obtain more comprehension and knowledge on cerebellar functions, we investigated effect of cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN), an output nucleus of the spinocerebellum, on lymphocyte functions, and explored central and peripheral pathways involved in the effect. Kainic acid (KA) was microinjected into bilateral FN of rats (0.4 microg KA in 0.4 microl saline for each side) to destroy neurons of the nuclei. On days 8, 16 and 32 following the FN lesions, methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were used to measure proliferation of concanavalin A (Con A)-induced lymphocytes and cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against YAC-1 cells, respectively. Meanwhile, glutamate and monoamine neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), in the hypothalamus and the spleen were determined by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in the plasma were also detected respectively by radioimmunoassay and chemiluminescent immunoassay after the FN lesions. We found that the Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the NK cell cytotoxicity were both significantly enhanced on days 8, 16 and 32 following the effective lesions of the bilateral FN in comparison with those of matching control rats microinjected with saline in their FN. Contents of glutamate and NE, not DA and 5-HT, in the hypothalamus, and concentration of NE, not DA, in the spleen were all remarkably reduced on the 16th day following the FN lesions, when both the T lymphocyte proliferation and the NK cell cytotoxicity were dramatically increased. However, levels of ACTH and cortisol in the plasma had no notable differences between FN lesion rats and FN saline ones when the enhanced T and NK cell functions occurred. These findings reveal that the cerebellar FN participates in the modulation of lymphocyte functions and that the hypothalamus and sympathetic nerves innervating lymphoid organs are involved in this neuroimmunomodulation. Thus, a possible central and peripheral pathway for the spinocerebellum to regulate lymphocyte functions is suggested, i.e. cerebellum-hypothalamus-sympathetic nerves-lymphocytes, while the functional axis of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland may not contribute to mediation of the spinocerebellar immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ping Peng
- Department of Biological Science and Technology and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Mailbox 426, Nanjing University, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing 210093, China
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Luján R, Shigemoto R, López-Bendito G. Glutamate and GABA receptor signalling in the developing brain. Neuroscience 2005; 130:567-80. [PMID: 15590141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the role played by neurotransmitter receptors in the developing brain has advanced in recent years. The major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain, glutamate and GABA, activate both ionotropic (ligand-gated ion channels) and metabotropic (G protein-coupled) receptors, and are generally associated with neuronal communication in the mature brain. However, before the emergence of their role in neurotransmission in adulthood, they also act to influence earlier developmental events, some of which occur prior to synapse formation: such as proliferation, migration, differentiation or survival processes during neural development. To fulfill these actions in the constructing of the nervous system, different types of glutamate and GABA receptors need to be expressed both at the right time and at the right place. The identification by molecular cloning of 16 ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits, eight metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes, 21 ionotropic and two metabotropic GABA receptor subunits, some of which exist in alternatively splice variants, has enriched our appreciation of how molecular diversity leads to functional diversity in the brain. It now appears that many different types of glutamate and GABA receptor subunits have prominent expression in the embryonic and/or postnatal brain, whereas others are mainly present in the adult brain. Although the significance of this differential expression of subunits is not fully understood, it appears that the change in subunit composition is essential for normal development in particular brain regions. This review focuses on emerging information relating to the expression and role of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter receptors during prenatal and postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Luján
- Facultad de Medicina and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Biosanitario, Avda. de Almansa s/n, 02006 Albacete, Spain.
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21
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Linden R, Martins RAP, Silveira MS. Control of programmed cell death by neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the developing mammalian retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2004; 24:457-91. [PMID: 15845345 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2004.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
It has long been known that a barrage of signals from neighboring and connecting cells, as well as components of the extracellular matrix, control cell survival. Given the extensive repertoire of retinal neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neurotrophic factors, and the exhuberant interconnectivity of retinal interneurons, it is likely that various classes of released neuroactive substances may be involved in the control of sensitivity to retinal cell death. The aim of this article is to review evidence that neurotransmitters and neuropeptides control the sensitivity to programmed cell death in the developing retina. Whereas the best understood mechanism of execution of cell death is that of caspase-mediated apoptosis, current evidence shows that not only there are many parallel pathways to apoptotic cell death, but non-apoptotic programs of execution of cell death are also available, and may be triggered either in isolation or combined with apoptosis. The experimental data show that many upstream signaling pathways can modulate cell death, including those dependent on the second messengers cAMP-PKA, calcium and nitric oxide. Evidence for anterograde neurotrophic control is provided by a variety of models of the central nervous system, and the data reviewed here indicate that an early function of certain neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and dopamine, as well as neuropeptides such as pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide is the trophic support of cell populations in the developing retina. This may have implications both regarding the mechanisms of retinal organogenesis, as well as pathological conditions leading to retinal dystrophies and to dysfunctional cellular behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Linden
- Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Instituto de Biofísica da UFRJ, Cidade Universitária, bloco G, Rio de Janeiro 21949-900, Brazil.
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Costa LG, Steardo L, Cuomo V. Structural Effects and Neurofunctional Sequelae of Developmental Exposure to Psychotherapeutic Drugs: Experimental and Clinical Aspects. Pharmacol Rev 2004; 56:103-47. [PMID: 15001664 DOI: 10.1124/pr.56.1.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of psychotherapeutic drugs has enabled management of mental illness and other neurological problems such as epilepsy in the general population, without requiring hospitalization. The success of these drugs in controlling symptoms has led to their widespread use in the vulnerable population of pregnant women as well, where the potential embryotoxicity of the drugs has to be weighed against the potential problems of the maternal neurological state. This review focuses on the developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity of five broad categories of widely available psychotherapeutic drugs: the neuroleptics, the antiepileptics, the antidepressants, the anxiolytics and mood stabilizers, and a newly emerging class of nonprescription drugs, the herbal remedies. A brief review of nervous system development during gestation and following parturition in mammals is provided, with a description of the development of neurochemical pathways that may be involved in the action of the psychotherapeutic agents. A thorough discussion of animal research and human clinical studies is used to determine the risk associated with the use of each drug category. The potential risks to the fetus, as demonstrated in well described neurotoxicity studies in animals, are contrasted with the often negative findings in the still limited human studies. The potential risk fo the human fetus in the continued use of these chemicals without more adequate research is also addressed. The direction of future research using psychotherapeutic drugs should more closely parallel the methodology developed in the animal laboratories, especially since these models have already been used extremely successfully in specific instances in the investigation of neurotoxic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio G Costa
- Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, University of Bari Medical School, Italy
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McFadyen-Leussis MP, Lewis SP, Bond TLY, Carrey N, Brown RE. Prenatal exposure to methylphenidate hydrochloride decreases anxiety and increases exploration in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004; 77:491-500. [PMID: 15006459 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2003.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2003] [Revised: 12/03/2003] [Accepted: 12/05/2003] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The administration of methylphenidate (MPH) to girls and adults has increased in the last decade. Given the similarity of MPH to cocaine and the increasing possibility of embryonic exposure, the gestational effects of this stimulant on development must be considered. We administered MPH (5 mg/kg) or saline to female CD-1 mice at three different periods during pregnancy [embryonic (E) days 8-10, 12-14, and 16-18]. MPH-exposed pups were compared with the saline-treated pups for changes in physical, motor, and behavioral development at postnatal day (PND) 3-11. In adulthood (>60 days of age) these mice were tested in the open field, elevated plus maze, and water maze, and given an acute MPH challenge. We observed limited effects of MPH exposure on early developmental variables. In adulthood, mice exposed to MPH on E8-10 exhibited a general decrease in anxiety-related behaviors and a concomitant increase in exploratory behavior. Prenatal MPH exposure did not alter water maze performance or the response to an acute MPH challenge. Our data provide an initial overview of the possible effects occurring as a result of prenatal exposure to MPH, and strongly suggest that further studies of the in utero and developmental effects of psychostimulants are needed.
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Belachew S, Gallo V. Synaptic and extrasynaptic neurotransmitter receptors in glial precursors' quest for identity. Glia 2004; 48:185-96. [PMID: 15390115 DOI: 10.1002/glia.20077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
It is widely established that neurotransmitter receptors are expressed in non-neuronal cells, and particularly in neural progenitor cells in the postnatal central nervous system. The functional role of these receptors during development is unclear, but it needs to be revisited now that cells previously considered restricted to glial lineages have been shown to generate neurons. The present review integrates recent advances, to shed new light on how neurotransmitter receptors may, alternatively, serve as excitable mediators of neuron-glia and neuron-neuroblast interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibeshih Belachew
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Miranda-Contreras L, Ramírez-Martens LM, Benítez-Diaz PR, Peña-Contreras ZC, Mendoza-Briceño RV, Palacios-Prü EL. Levels of amino acid neurotransmitters during mouse olfactory bulb neurogenesis and in histotypic olfactory bulb cultures. Int J Dev Neurosci 2000; 18:83-91. [PMID: 10708909 DOI: 10.1016/s0736-5748(99)00075-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental changes in the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography during mouse olfactory bulb neurogenesis, from embryonic day (E)13 until the young adult age, between postnatal days (P)30 and P40. During the embryonic period, high levels of glutamate, aspartate and GABA were observed, with the values of GABA about 2-fold higher than those of glutamate and aspartate. At P0, the production of these neurotransmitters experienced birth stress as shown by a significant 2-fold reduction in their levels. During the first two postnatal weeks, a progressive increase in the glutamate content was detected diminishing slightly in the adult stage. The aspartate concentrations showed a maximal value at P3 and then decreased gradually until the second postnatal week; in the young adult age, its concentration was comparable with that of glutamate. The postnatal GABA contents increased progressively from birth to maturity, showing maximal levels at P3, P11 and in the adult. Throughout the studied developmental period, the concentration of glycine remained relatively low. With regard to taurine, very low concentrations were detected during the prenatal period but after birth, the taurine content gradually increased with age, and in the adult animal, its concentration was comparable with those of GABA and glutamate. Our data demonstrate the predominance of GABA and glutamate during olfactory bulb synaptogenesis, however, in the adult animal, both glutamate and aspartate exert the same influence in the excitatory synaptic transmission; in the adult inhibitory synaptic transmission, taurine appears to play an important neuromodulatory or neurotransmitter role as that of GABA. To determine the intrinsic neurotransmitter production, primary histotypic olfactory bulb cultures were prepared from mice at P10. The comparative analysis of in vitro neurotransmitter contents with those in in situ adult animal showed higher levels of endogenously produced glutamate, glycine and GABA in the olfactory bulb than the extrinsic ones coming from olfactory nerve axons and higher olfactory brain centers. On the other hand, most of aspartate and taurine neurotransmitters apparently come from extrinsically located neurons.
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