The Effect of Cryoprotective Additives on the Zeta Potential of Liposomes

The effect of acute restraint stress on regional brain neurotransmitter levels in stress-susceptible pietrain pigs

Concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the DA metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) and the main 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured using HPLC in 16 brain areas of control and immobilized Pietrain pigs. The animals were immobilized for 15, 30 and 60 min in the prone position. Control pigs showed patterns of regional distribution of brain monoamines similar to those described for rats, dogs and Duroc pigs. However, the absolute values of NA and A in the hypothalamus and preoptic area were much higher than those in rats and dogs, but similar to those in Duroc pigs. The concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA were highest in the caudate nucleus, the nucleus accumbens, the olfactory tubercle and the ventral tegmental area. The distributions of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were similar in all examined structures. DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios were higher in the cornu ammonis, the hippocampus posterior and the raphe nuclei than in other structures, which suggests brain structure-related differences in dopamine turnover. The greatest decreases in NA and A content were observed in the hypothalamus, the preoptic area and the olfactory tuberculum during the first 30 min of immobilization stress. 5-HT turnover was increased in the raphe nuclei, while DA turnover was affected in the raphe nuclei, the septum, the substantia nigra and the olfactory tubercle. We suggest that acute immobilization stress caused differences in regional patterns of brain biogenic amines, thereby maintaining adequate transmitter levels during stress in stress-susceptible pigs.

Melatonin increases serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity and decreases dopamine synthesis in light-exposed chick retina: in vivo evidence supporting melatonin-dopamine interaction in retina

The administration of melatonin, either peripherally (0.01-10 mg/kg) or intraocularly (0.001-10 mumol/eye), to light-exposed chicks dose-dependently increased serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in retina but not in pineal gland. The effect of melatonin was slightly but significantly reduced by luzindole (2-benzyl-N-acetyltryptamine), and not affected by two other purported melatonin antagonists, N-acetyltryptamine and N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine (ML-23). The elevation of the enzyme activity induced by melatonin was substantially stronger than that evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-methoxytryptamine. The melatonin-evoked rise in the retinal NAT activity was counteracted by two dopamine D2 receptor agonists, quinpirole and apomorphine, and prevented by the dopamine D2 receptor blocker spiroperidol, and by an inhibitor of dopamine synthesis, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Melatonin (0.1-10 mg/kg i.p.) dose-dependently decreased the levels of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), as well as the DOPAC/dopamine ratio, in chick retina but not in forebrain. The results obtained (1) indicate that melatonin in vivo potently inhibits dopamine synthesis selectively in retina, and (2) suggest that the increase in retinal NAT activity evoked by melatonin in light-exposed chicks is an indirect action of the compound, and results from the disinhibition of the NAT induction process from the dopaminergic (inhibitory) signal. The results provide in vivo evidence supporting the idea (derived on the basis of in vitro findings) that a mutually antagonistic interaction between melatonin and dopamine operates in retinas of living animals.