Effects of Galanin treatment on memory and the cholinergic system
Status: Accepted Presentation type: Oral (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Gabriel Barreda, Laura Lombardero, Maria Teresa Giralt, Iv án Manuel, Rafael Rodríguez Source Type: research
Genome editing to explore the effects of allelic variation and epigenetics on gene regulation in health and disease
We have used comparative genomics to identify many of the gene regulatory regions that control the tissue specific expression of a number of different neuropeptide genes. Characterisation of these sequences, and their disease associated allelic variants, were subsequently achieved using a combination of primary cell reporter assays and transgenic mouse analysis. However, our studies have been limited by a lack of a cheap and efficient method of deleting these regulatory sequences from the mouse genome that would allow functional analysis in-vivo. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Alasdair MacKenzie, Elizabeth Hay, Evgeni Ivanov Source Type: research
A role for Galanin N-terminal fragment (1-15) In anxiety and depression in rats
Galanin (GAL) is involved in several functions including mood regulation. The GAL N-terminal fragment (1-15) [GAL(1-15)] also participates at central level and a differential role of GAL(1-15) compared with GAL has been proposed. In this work we have analysed if GAL(1-15) contributes to depression- and anxiety -related behaviours using the forced swimming test, tail suspension test, open field and light/dark test. We tested the involvement of the GAL receptor 2 (GALR2) in GAL(1-15) effects with the GAL receptor antagonist M871 and with an in vivo model of siRNA GALR2 knockdown rats. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Carmelo Mill ón, Antonio Flores-Burguess, Manuel Narváez, Dasiel Borroto-Escuela, Luis Santín, Jose Angel Narváez, Kjell Fuxe, Zaida Díaz-Cabiale Source Type: research
Anticonvulsant effects of a galanin receptor 3 (galr3) antagonist SNAP 37889 in mouse models of seizures
Galanin is widely considered an endogenous anticonvulsant by virtue of its inhibitory effects on excitatory neurotransmission. Although the anticonvulsant activity of galanin is ascribed to the activation of central GalR1 and GalR2 receptors, the role GalR3 in the control of neuronal excitation remains unknown. The distinct localization of GalR3 mRNA in the regions critical for seizure activity suggests the potential modulatory role for GalR3 in neurotransmission. In the absence of selective agonists for GalR3, specific antagonists offer a promising tool to understand the contribution of GalR3 in various physiological and ...
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Saurabh Gagangras, E. Jill Dahle, Kyle Thomson, Luiyin Zhang, Cameron Metcalf, Grzegorz Bulaj, H. Steve White Source Type: research
Galanin protects brain from ischemic injury of mice following ischemic stroke via inhibition of Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis
The neuropeptide galanin (GAL) may play a role in many pathophysiological processes, including neuroprotection. However, the role of GAL in ischemic stroke is still controversial. Here, the mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion was used to explore GAL's effects on ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanisms. A significant decrease of the infarct area and neurological deficits was observed after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of 5 pmol GAL. A similar effect was observed in the in vitro oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model, in which GAL protected neurons in a dose dependent m...
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Yun Li, Tomas Hokfelt, Zhi-Qing David Xu Source Type: research
ICV galanin-like peptide stimulates non-contact erections but not penile reflexes in adult, sexually experienced male rats
Within the central nervous system, galanin-like peptide (GALP) is found only within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of GALP is known to have effects on feeding, and to also significantly increase GnRH-mediated LH secretion. Furthermore ICV GALP is known to stimulate fos production in the mPOA and the PVN and GALP profoundly stimulates male rat sexual behavior. It is not known if GALP ’s effects on sex behavior are due to an increase the motivational or mechanical aspects of sex. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Greg Fraley Source Type: research
Reversible epigenetics and seasonal neuroendocrine plasticity
Epigenetic modification such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, are important molecular events that act to regulate gene transcription. The general assumption is that epigenetic events are permanent. Seasonal rhythms are associated with extensive genomic plasticity in a diverse range of tissues and cellular phenotypes. Using a seasonally breeding species, this presentation will demonstrate light and hormone dependent regulation of DNA methylation in the adult hypothalamus. In Siberian hamsters, a simple change in day length leads to marked variation in the levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 and 3b expression in the...
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: T.J. Stevenson Source Type: research
Gene expression and protein level alterations in the maternal hypothalamus
Epigenetics plays a role in maternal adaptation of the hypothalamus. In particular, histone deacetylase inhibition induced long-lasting changes in maternal behaviour. Here, we investigated mRNA levels in rat dams using microarray and protein level changes in synaptosomes with 2-DIGE-MS followed by RT-PCR and western blot validations, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis showed neuropeptide levels altered during motherhood. Kisspeptin decreased in the maternal preoptic area in agreement with its role in lactational anestrous. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Arp ád Dobolyi Source Type: research
The somatostatin 4 receptor is involved in chronic variable mild stress-induced behavioural and neuroendocrine changes in the mouse
The somatostatin 4 receptor (sst4) is widely expressed in stress-related brain areas and has been shown to play an important role in acute stress-related behaviour. Here, we examined the involvement of sst4 in the behavioural and neuroendocrine alterations evoked by chronic variable mild stress (CVMS). (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: B álint Scheich, Kata Cseko, Éva Borbély, Balázs Gaszner, Zsuzsanna Helyes Source Type: research
Identification of functional non-coding transcribed sequences in Eukaryotes species
The physiological consequences of expansion and contraction of protein coding gene families and nucleotide substitutions within these sequences have long been the primary target of most evolutionary studies. However, protein-coding sequences represent about 1% of the functional sequences of our genome, the other 7% of constrained sequences being comprised of both transcribed and non-transcribed non-coding sequences. Recently tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been annotated across the eukaryotes, and are generally believed to regulate protein-coding gene expression. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Wilfried Haerty, Chris Ponting Source Type: research
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of Ascl1 in adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Adult neurogenesis is regulated by a large number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The transcription factor Ascl1 is expressed by a subset of proliferating stem cells and early intermediate progenitors in the adult hippocampus. We have shown that Ascl1 is essential for stem cells to exit quiescence, divide and generate intermediate precursors during adult neurogenesis. In Ascl1 hypomorph mice, hippocampal stem cells proliferate at a lower rate, suggesting that the level of Ascl1 expression is an important parameter in the regulation of adult neurogenesis. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Noelia Urb án, Debbie van den Berg, Jimena Andersen, François Guillemot Source Type: research
The enemy within; transposable elements driving disease progression
42% of the human genome is composed of sequences that are derived from transposable elements (TE). It is well established that the activity of functional TEs leads to their mobilization via a copy-&-paste mechanism resulting in new TE insertions into genomic DNA which often affects genomic stability and host gene expression. As a consequence, TEs have the potential to cause "de-novo" insertions in both germ cells, during early embryonic development and in somatic cells. Those variants that are somatic can lead to mosaic genomes in the CNS making them difficult to detect. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: John Quinn Source Type: research
Amylin, a novel neuropeptide expressed in the medial preoptic area, has anti-depression-like actions in postpartum mice
Amylin, a neuropeptide previously known as a pancreatic hormone, was found expressed in the preoptic area of mother rats in our previous microarray study. Amylin is not present in the brain before and during pregnancy but it is abundantly expressed in rats and mice immediately after parturition in the medial preoptic area, whose lesion abolishes maternal behaviors. Ovariectomy had no effect on amylin levels suggesting steroid independent mechanisms. Amylin expression was, however, induced in maternally behaving (sensitized) virgin females. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Éva R. Szabó, Melinda Cservenák, Thomas A. Lutz, Árpád Dobolyi Source Type: research
How to improve PACAP efficiency for neuroprotection and neurorepair?
PACAP and its receptors are widely expressed in the brain and peripheral organs where they exert many biological functions. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the use of PACAP as a clinically efficient drug is limited by its poor metabolic stability. Thus stable PACAP analogs such as acetyl-[Ala15, Ala20]PACAP38-propylamide have been developed, which were more potent than PACAP to inhibit food intake but did not enhanced its neuroprotective effect. PACAP acts on 3 different receptors and when injected i.v., it can induce through PAC1 and VPAC2 cardiovascular side effects. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: David Vaudry, Coralie Brifault, Myriam Letourneau, Hubert Vaudry, David Chatenet, Olivier Wurtz, Alain Fournier Source Type: research
Crucial role of PACAP in neural progenitor cells during development and after degeneration
Pituitary adenylatecyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its specific receptor (PAC1-R) are expressed in embryonic and postnatal brain, especially in germinative areas. This localization suggests that PACAP effects on neural progenitor cells (NPCs), however, its role during neural development and adult neurogenesis is not fully understood. (Source: Neuropeptides)
Source: Neuropeptides - October 1, 2017 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Jun Watanabe, Hirokazu Ohtaki, Tomoya Nakamachi, Minako Matsumoto, Shun Sasaki, Norimitsu Murai, Satoru Arata, Seiji Shioda Source Type: research
