Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis in rat cerebral cortical slices: interaction with noradrenaline, adrenaline, and forskolin

Characterization of the thermoregulatory response to pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in rodents

Administration of the long form (38 amino acids) of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP38) into the central nervous system causes hyperthermia, suggesting that PACAP38 plays a role in the regulation of deep body temperature (T b). In this study, we investigated the thermoregulatory role of PACAP38 in details. First, we infused PACAP38 intracerebroventricularly to rats and measured their T b and autonomic thermoeffector responses. We found that central PACAP38 infusion caused dose-dependent hyperthermia, which was brought about by increased thermogenesis and tail skin vasoconstriction. Compared to intracerebroventricular administration, systemic (intravenous) infusion of the same dose of PACAP38 caused significantly smaller hyperthermia, indicating a central site of action. We then investigated the thermoregulatory phenotype of mice lacking the Pacap gene (Pacap (-/-)). Freely moving Pacap (-/-) mice had higher locomotor activity throughout the day and elevated deep T b during the light phase. When the Pacap (-/-) mice were loosely restrained, their metabolic rate and T b were lower compared to their wild-type littermates. We conclude that PACAP38 causes hyperthermia via activation of the autonomic cold-defense thermoeffectors through central targets. Pacap (-/-) mice express hyperkinesis, which is presumably a compensatory mechanism, because under restrained conditions, these mice are hypometabolic and hypothermic compared to controls.

Effects of PACAP and VIP on cyclic AMP formation in rat neuronal and astrocyte cultures under normoxic and hypoxic condition

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentration (0.001-1000 nM)-dependently stimulated cyclic AMP production in rat primary neuronal and glial cell (astrocyte) cultures. The actions of both peptides were much more pronounced in astrocytes than in neuronal cultures. Stimulatory effects of PACAP and VIP on cyclic AMP formation were significantly smaller in cell cultures subjected to 24h lasting hypoxic conditions, induced either chemically (100 microM cobalt chloride) or by low 3% oxygen hypoxia, compared to the normoxic condition (95% air and 5% CO(2)). This picture contrasted with the effects of forskolin that were similar under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. It is suggested that hypoxia leads to changes in PACAP- and VIP-driven cyclic AMP-dependent signaling in the rat brain by influencing molecular processes likely occurring at the level of receptor protein or receptor-Gs protein coupling.

Postulated vasoactive neuropeptide autoimmunity in fatigue-related conditions: a brief review and hypothesis

Disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and gulf war syndrome (GWS) are characterised by prolonged fatigue and a range of debilitating symptoms of pain, intellectual and emotional impairment, chemical sensitivities and immunological dysfunction. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) surprisingly may have certain features in common with these conditions. Post-infection sequelae may be possible contributing factors although ongoing infection is unproven. Immunological aberration may prove to be associated with certain vasoactive neuropeptides (VN) in the context of molecular mimicry, inappropriate immunological memory and autoimmunity. Adenylate cyclase-activating VNs including pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) act as hormones, neurotransmitters, neuroregulators, immune modulators and neurotrophic substances. They and their receptors are potentially immunogenic. VNs are widely distributed in the body particularly in the central and peripheral nervous systems and have been identified in the gut, adrenal gland, blood cells, reproductive system, lung, heart and other tissues. They have a vital role in maintaining cardio-respiratory function, thermoregulation, memory, concentration and executive functions such as emotional responses including social cues and appropriate behaviour. They are co-transmitters for a number of neurotransmitters including acetylcholine and gaseous transmitters, are potent immune regulators with primarily anti-inflammatory activity, and have a significant role in protection of the nervous system against toxic assault as well as being important in the maintenance of homeostasis. This paper describes a biologically plausible mechanism for the development of certain fatigue-related syndromes based on loss of immunological tolerance to these VNs or their receptors following infection, other events or de novo resulting in significant pathophysiology possibly mediated via CpG fragments and heat shock (stress) proteins. These conditions extend the public health context of autoimmunity and VN dysregulation and have implications for military medicine where radiological, biological and chemical agents may have a role in pathogenesis. Possible treatment and prevention options are considered.

Is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) an autoimmune disorder of endogenous vasoactive neuropeptides?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a perplexing diagnosis with conflicting laboratory investigation and lack of a biologically plausible aetiology. Investigations into the endogenous vasoactive neuropeptides, including pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are revealing the critical role these substances have in homeostasis including thermo- and cardiovascular regulation. For example, studies in PACAP receptor-deficient mice have revealed sudden neonatal death attributed to respiratory control defects, possibly due to mutations in genes encoding components of PACAP signalling pathways. PACAP and VIP belong to the secretin/glucagon superfamily of hormones and function as vasoactive neuropeptides. They act as hormones, neurotransmitters, immune modulators and neurotrophes. They are readily catalysed to small peptide fragments. They and their binding sites are immunogenic and are known to be associated with a range of autoimmune conditions. Vasoactive neuropeptides have a known role in thermoregulation and deficiency states are associated with higher neonatal death rates in rats. PACAP plays a significant role in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and impairment of functioning has potentially serious consequences. It is postulated PACAP and VIP receptors in brain may become compromised through autoimmune phenomena resulting in cardio-respiratory dysfunction and death. This paper discusses the potential role of certain vasoactive neuropeptides in causing autoimmune responses in susceptible infants predisposing them to SIDS.

Circadian rhythm in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus

It is widely accepted that most suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons express the neurotransmitter GABA and are likely to use this neurotransmitter to regulate excitability within the SCN. To evaluate the possibility that inhibitory synaptic transmission varies with a circadian rhythm within the mouse SCN, we used whole cell patch-clamp recording in an acute brain slice preparation to record GABA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). We found that the sIPSC frequency in the dorsal SCN (dSCN) exhibited a TTX-sensitive daily rhythm that peaked during the late day and early night in mice held in a light:dark cycle. We next evaluated whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was responsible for the observed rhythm in IPSC frequency. Pretreatment of SCN slices with VPAC(1)/VPAC(2)- or VPAC(2)-specific receptor antagonists prevented the increase in sIPSC frequency in the dSCN. The rhythm in sIPSC frequency was absent in VIP/peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI)-deficient mice. Finally, we were able to detect a rhythm in the frequency of inhibitory synaptic transmission in mice held in constant darkness that was also dependent on VIP and the VPAC(2) receptor. Overall, these data demonstrate that there is a circadian rhythm in GABAergic transmission in the dorsal region of the mouse SCN and that the VIP is required for expression of this rhythm.

Regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus

Circadian rhythmicity in mammals is generated by a pair of nuclei in the anterior hypothalamus known as the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), whose neurons express a variety of neuropeptides that are thought to play an important role in the circadian timing system. To evaluate the influence of VIP on inhibitory synaptic transmission between SCN neurons, we used whole cell patch-clamp recording in an acute brain slice preparation of mouse SCN. Baseline spontaneous GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) varied significantly between regions and across phases, with a greater frequency of IPSCs observed in the dorsomedial region during the early night. Bath-applied VIP caused a significant increase in the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC) in a reversible and dose-dependent manner with no effect on the mean amplitude or kinetic parameters. The effect of VIP was widespread throughout the SCN and observed in both ventrolateral (VL) and dorsomedial (DM) regions. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, VIP increased the frequency of miniature IPSCs without affecting the mean magnitude or kinetic parameters. The magnitude of the enhancement by VIP was significantly larger during the day than during the night. Pretreatment with the VIP-PACAP receptor antagonist [Ac-Tyr1, D-Phe2]-GHRF 1-29 or the selective VPAC2 receptor antagonist PG 99-465 completely blocked the VIP-induced enhancement. The effect of VIP appears to be mediated by a cAMP/PKA-dependent mechanism as forskolin mimics, while the PKA antagonist H-89 blocks the observed enhancement of GABA currents. Our data suggest that VIP activates presynaptic VPAC2 receptors to regulate inhibitory synaptic transmission within the SCN and that this effect varies from day to night.

Microvascular basal lamina antigen loss after traumatic brain injury in the rat

The loss of microvascular basal lamina antigen is known to be a consequence of cerebral ischemia, but little information is available on its role in traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of our study was (1) to test the hypothesis that there is damage to the basal lamina of brain microvasculature after TBI, (2) to localize microvascular damage, and (3) to compare this loss with that in ischemia. Rats (n=14) were either sham operated (n=5) or subjected to fluid percussion injury (n=9; TBI=1.5 atm) and killed after 0 (n=5, sham), 12 (n=4), or 24 h (n=5). Collagen-type-IV immunoreactivity and a digital image-processing system were used to localize and quantify the number of stained vascular elements and the total collagen stained area. Western blot was used to compare collagen-type-IV content on the traumatic and nontraumatic brain side. The cortex of animals subjected to TBI and killed after 24 h showed a reduction in the area of stained collagen amounting to 19+/-4% (p<0.009) and a reduction in the total number of microvessels identified by collagen stain (29+/-6%; p<0.02). The Western blot revealed a 31+/-6% (p<0.03) reduction of collagen, compared to the mirror cortical area after 24 h. No significant reduction was found in the group that survived 12 h or in basal ganglia in both groups. TBI causes microvascular basal lamina damage. Whereas TBI affected only cortical areas, cerebral ischemia also induced microvascular basal lamina damage in the basal ganglia. After 24 h, the extent of severe basal lamina damage due to TBI was less severe than in ischemia.