Concentrations In Frontal Cortex Research Articles

Polar phenol detection in rat brain: Development and validation of a versatile UHPLC-MS method and application on the brain tissues of Corinthian currant (Vitis vinifera L.,var. Apyrena) fed rats

This study aimed to validate a rapid and selective bioanalytical method, using UHPLC-Orbitrap MS, for the determination of brain polar phenolics and to apply it in rats that orally consumed Corinthian currant for 38 days. Corinthian currant, is a dried vine fruit rich in polar phenolics that potentially penetrate the brain. During method optimization fresh and lyophilized tissues were comparatively studied along with different solid-phase extraction cartridges; satisfactory recoveries (>80%) for almost all analytes were attained using fresh tissues and Oasis® HLB cartridges. Brain regional levels in phenol concentrations were then determined; isoquercetin showed higher concentrations in frontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum (14.0 ± 5.5, 6.6 ± 2.0, and 2.9 ± 1.3 ng/g tissue, respectively); rutin and gallic acid in cerebellum and isorhamnetin, quercetin and rutin in hippocampus of the Corinthian currant supplemented rat group compared to the control. This is the first study investigating polar phenolics’ accumulation in rat brain after Corinthian currant supplementation.

Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with altered brain structure, function, and metabolism in childhood.

Prenatal exposure to air pollution disrupts cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. The brain disturbances associated with prenatal air pollution are largely unknown. In this prospective cohort study, we estimated prenatal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and then assessed their associations with measures of brain anatomy, tissue microstructure, neurometabolites, and blood flow in 332 youth, 6-14 years old. We then assessed how those brain disturbances were associated with measures of intelligence, ADHD and anxiety symptoms, and socialization. Both exposures were associated with thinning of dorsal parietal cortices and thickening of postero-inferior and mesial wall cortices. They were associated with smaller white matter volumes, reduced organization in white matter of the internal capsule and frontal lobe, higher metabolite concentrations in frontal cortex, reduced cortical blood flow, and greater microstructural organization in subcortical gray matter nuclei. Associations were stronger for PM2.5 in boys and PAH in girls. Youth with low exposure accounted for most significant associations of ADHD, anxiety, socialization, and intelligence measures with cortical thickness and white matter volumes, whereas it appears that high exposures generally disrupted these neurotypical brain-behavior associations, likely because strong exposure-related effects increased the variances of these brain measures. The commonality of effects across exposures suggests PM2.5 and PAH disrupt brain development through one or more common molecular pathways, such as inflammation or oxidative stress. Progressively higher exposures were associated with greater disruptions in local volumes, tissue organization, metabolite concentrations, and blood flow throughout cortical and subcortical brain regions and the white matter pathways interconnecting them. Together these affected regions comprise cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits, which support the regulation of thought, emotion, and behavior.

Prof M. Murugappan Poster Award

Background:In schizophrenia, negative symptoms are often resistant to treatment. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been tried as an add-on treatment for negative symptoms. High-Definition tDCS (HD-tDCS), an optimized form of tDCS, ensures focalized neuromodulation and delivery of higher current densities. Anodal tDCS has been found to increase N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA) levels in healthy volunteers and studies have found a relationship between reduced NAA concentration in frontal cortex and severity of negative symptoms.Aim:We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HD-tDCS over left DLPFC for negative symptoms in schizophrenia and associated changes in NAA levels.Methods:36 patients of schizophrenia with negative symptoms, were enrolled for study. Participants in active group received 10 sessions of HD-tDCS at 2mA for 20min twice daily over 5 days. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy was done at baseline, after 2 sessions of HD-tDCS and 6 weeks. Negative symptoms were assessed with SANS and PANSS at baseline, 2 and 6 weeks.Results:Improvement in negative symptoms in active group was statistically significant at 0.05 (p-value) as compared to sham group at 2 weeks. During 6 weeks follow-up, initial reduction in negative symptoms was maintained but no further improvement was noted. There was no significant difference between NAA levels and treatment group over time but there was significant correlation between changes in NAA levels and changes in negative symptoms.Conclusion:HD-tDCS may lead to improvement in negative symptoms and through neuroplastic effects, may alter NAA levels and exert its therapeutic benefits.

Concentration, distribution, and influence of aging on the 18 kDa translocator protein in human brain: Implications for brain imaging studies

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the translocator protein (TSPO) is widely used as a biomarker of microglial activation. However, TSPO protein concentration in human brain has not been optimally quantified nor has its regional distribution been compared to TSPO binding. We determined TSPO protein concentration, change with age, and regional distribution by quantitative immunoblotting in autopsied human brain. Brain TSPO protein concentration (>0.1 ng/µg protein) was higher than those reported by in vitro binding assays by at least 2 to 70 fold. TSPO protein distributed widely in both gray and white matter regions, with distribution in major gray matter areas ranked generally similar to that of PET binding in second-generation radiotracer studies. TSPO protein concentration in frontal cortex was high at birth, declined precipitously during the first three months, and increased modestly during adulthood/senescence (10%/decade; vs. 30% for comparison astrocytic marker GFAP). As expected, TSPO protein levels were significantly increased (+114%) in degenerating putamen in multiple system atrophy, providing further circumstantial support for TSPO as a gliosis marker. Overall, findings show some similarities between TSPO protein and PET binding characteristics in the human brain but also suggest that part of the TSPO protein pool might be less available for radioligand binding.

Breath hold effect on cardiovascular brain pulsations – A multimodal magnetic resonance encephalography study

Ultra-fast functional magnetic resonance encephalography (MREG) enables separate assessment of cardiovascular, respiratory, and vasomotor waves from brain pulsations without temporal aliasing. We examined effects of breath hold- (BH) related changes on cardiovascular brain pulsations using MREG to study the physiological nature of cerebrovascular reactivity. We used alternating 32 s BH and 88 s resting normoventilation (NV) to change brain pulsations during MREG combined with simultaneously measured respiration, continuous non-invasive blood pressure, and cortical near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in healthy volunteers. Changes in classical resting-state network BOLD-like signal and cortical blood oxygenation were reproduced based on MREG and NIRS signals. Cardiovascular pulsation amplitudes of MREG signal from anterior cerebral artery, oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in frontal cortex, and blood pressure decreased after BH. MREG cardiovascular pulse amplitudes in cortical areas and sagittal sinus increased, while cerebrospinal fluid and white matter remained unchanged. Respiratory centers in the brainstem – hypothalamus – thalamus – amygdala network showed strongest increases in cardiovascular pulsation amplitude. The spatial propagation of averaged cardiovascular impulses altered as a function of successive BH runs. The spread of cardiovascular pulse cycles exhibited a decreasing spatial similarity over time. MREG portrayed spatiotemporally accurate respiratory network activity and cardiovascular pulsation dynamics related to BH challenges at an unpreceded high temporal resolution.

P1-1-7. Relationship between gray matter volume of posterior cingulate cortex and frontal activation

Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is one of key nodes of default mode network. Recent studies have suggested that the connectivities between PCC and the other brain regions have important role in working memory performance. Therefore, we hypothesized that the local gray matter volume of PCC can affect the functions of frontal cortex. To address this issue, we acquired T1 weighted images for voxel-based morphometry, and measured time course of frontal oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) during letter verbal fluency task (VFT). Seventeen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the present study. We carried out the regression analysis between the gray matter concentration in PCC and the frontal oxy-Hb level during 0–60 s of VFT. This analysis found a significant cluster where the gray matter concentration is associated with frontal oxy-Hb level, even after adjustment of confounding factors including age and sex. Interestingly, there is no correlation between the gray matter concentration in frontal cortex and the frontal Oxy-Hb. These results suggest that gray matter volume of PCC rather than that of frontal cortex affects the extent of frontal activation during VFT. Our preliminary study may contribute to clarifying a role of PCC in the cognitive process.

The naturally occurring α-tocopherol stereoisomer RRR-α-tocopherol is predominant in the human infant brain.

α-Tocopherol is the principal source of vitamin E, an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function. Infant formula is routinely supplemented with synthetic α-tocopherol, a racaemic mixture of eight stereoisomers with less bioactivity than the natural stereoisomer RRR-α-tocopherol. α-Tocopherol stereoisomer profiles have not been previously reported in the human brain. In the present study, we analysed total α-tocopherol and α-tocopherol stereoisomers in the frontal cortex (FC), hippocampus (HPC) and visual cortex (VC) of infants (n 36) who died of sudden infant death syndrome or other conditions. RRR-α-tocopherol was the predominant stereoisomer in all brain regions (P<0·0001) and samples, despite a large intra-decedent range in total α-tocopherol (5-17 μg/g). Mean RRR-α-tocopherol concentrations in FC, HPC and VC were 10·5, 6·8 and 5·5 μg/g, respectively. In contrast, mean levels of the synthetic stereoisomers were RRS, 1-1·5; RSR, 0·8-1·0; RSS, 0·7-0·9; and Σ2S 0·2-0·3 μg/g. Samples from all but two decedents contained measurable levels of the synthetic stereoisomers, but the intra-decedent variation was large. The ratio of RRR:the sum of the synthetic 2R stereoisomers (RRS+RSR+RSS) averaged 2·5, 2·3 and 2·4 in FC, HPC and VC, respectively, and ranged from 1 to at least 4·7, indicating that infant brain discriminates against synthetic 2R stereoisomers in favour of RRR. These findings reveal that RRR-α-tocopherol is the predominant stereoisomer in infant brain. These data also indicate that the infant brain discriminates against the synthetic 2R stereoisomers, but is unable to do so completely. On the basis of these findings, investigation into the impact of α-tocopherol stereoisomers on neurodevelopment is warranted.

Exploratory Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Compounds Correlated with Lutein Concentration in Frontal Cortex, Hippocampus, and Occipital Cortex of Human Infant Brain.

Lutein is a dietary carotenoid well known for its role as an antioxidant in the macula, and recent reports implicate a role for lutein in cognitive function. Lutein is the dominant carotenoid in both pediatric and geriatric brain tissue. In addition, cognitive function in older adults correlated with macular and postmortem brain lutein concentrations. Furthermore, lutein was found to preferentially accumulate in the infant brain in comparison to other carotenoids that are predominant in diet. While lutein is consistently related to cognitive function, the mechanisms by which lutein may influence cognition are not clear. In an effort to identify potential mechanisms through which lutein might influence neurodevelopment, an exploratory study relating metabolite signatures and lutein was completed. Post-mortem metabolomic analyses were performed on human infant brain tissues in three regions important for learning and memory: the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and occipital cortex. Metabolomic profiles were compared to lutein concentration, and correlations were identified and reported here. A total of 1276 correlations were carried out across all brain regions. Of 427 metabolites analyzed, 257 were metabolites of known identity. Unidentified metabolite correlations (510) were excluded. In addition, moderate correlations with xenobiotic relationships (2) or those driven by single outliers (3) were excluded from further study. Lutein concentrations correlated with lipid pathway metabolites, energy pathway metabolites, brain osmolytes, amino acid neurotransmitters, and the antioxidant homocarnosine. These correlations were often brain region—specific. Revealing relationships between lutein and metabolic pathways may help identify potential candidates on which to complete further analyses and may shed light on important roles of lutein in the human brain during development.

The cytochrome P450 2D-mediated formation of serotonin from 5-methoxytryptamine in the brain in vivo: a microdialysis study.

The cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) mediates synthesis of serotonin from 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), shown in vitro for cDNA-expressed CYP2D-isoforms and liver and brain microsomes. We aimed to demonstrate this synthesis in the brain in vivo. We measured serotonin tissue content in brain regions after 5-MT injection into the raphe nuclei (Model-A), and its extracellular concentration in rat frontal cortex and striatum using an in vivo microdialysis (Model-B) in male Wistar rats. Naïve rats served as control animals. 5-MT injection into the raphe nuclei of PCPA-(tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor)-pretreated rats increased the tissue concentration of serotonin (from 40 to 90% of the control value, respectively, in the striatum), while the CYP2D inhibitor quinine diminished serotonin level in some brain structures of those animals (Model-A). 5-MT given locally through a microdialysis probe markedly increased extracellular serotonin concentration in the frontal cortex and striatum (to 800 and 1000% of the basal level, respectively) and changed dopamine concentration (Model-B). Quinine alone had no effect on serotonin concentration; however, given jointly with 5-MT, it prevented the 5-MT-induced increase in cortical serotonin in naïve rats and in striatal serotonin in PCPA-treated animals. These results indicate that the CYP2D-catalyzed alternative pathway of serotonin synthesis from 5-MT is relevant in the brain in vivo, and set a new target for the action of psychotropics.

Cinnamic aldehyde treatment alleviates chronic unexpected stress-induced depressive-like behaviors via targeting cyclooxygenase-2 in mid-aged rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCOX-2 has been considered as a potent molecular target for prevention and therapy of depression. However, a recent study showed that COX-2 inhibitor does not improve depressive symptoms in persons aged 70 and over. Therefore, whether treatments targeting COX-2 have a clinical efficacy in depression, especially elderly individuals, remains unclear. Cinnamic aldehyde is a major constituent of Cinnamomum cassia, which has exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activities as a COX-2 inhibitor. To investigate the potential antidepressant effect of cinnamic aldehyde in mid-aged rats. Materials and methodsThe depressive-like behaviors were measured after the rats exposed to chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS). Cinnamic aldehyde was administrated by oral gavage to stressed rats (22.5, 45, 90mg/kg, respectively) for 21 days. The mRNA, protein expression and activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were measured in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of stressed animals. ResultsWe found that CUMS procedure not only decreased the sucrose preference, but also elevated the COX-2 activity, mRNA and protein levels, and increased PGE2 concentration in rat brain regions. Treatment with high doses of cinnamic aldehyde (45, 90mg/kg) reversed the behavioral abnormalities, and decreased the COX-2 protein and activity (but not COX-2 mRNA expression) and PGE2 concentration in frontal cortex and hippocampus of stressed rats. ConclusionCinnamic aldehyde exerted antidepressant-like effects in stressed mid-aged rats, and its mechanism of action appears to decrease COX-2 protein and activity. The current findings suggest that targeting COX-2 system might be benefit to the depression, especially elderly individuals and cinnamic aldehyde might be a promising medicine to treat the subjects in the depression.

L-Theanine intake increases threshold for limbic seizures but decreases threshold for generalized seizures

l-Theanine, an ethylamide derivate of glutamate found in abundance in green tea, has been shown to exert beneficial actions in animal models for several neurological disorders. We here investigated for the first time the effect of l-theanine intake on seizure susceptibility using acute pilocarpine and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) mouse models for studying, respectively, limbic seizures or primarily generalized seizures. Moreover, we studied the effect of l-theanine intake on extracellular hippocampal and cortical glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, using in vivo microdialysis. Feeding mice with a 4% l-theanine solution significantly decreased their susceptibility to pilocarpine-induced seizures whereas susceptibility to PTZ-induced seizures was increased. The latter effect was linked to decreased extracellular GABA concentrations in frontal cortex.

Toxicity of MPTP on neurotransmission in three mouse models of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is recognized as the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. PD is mainly characterized by a selective degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Also, it is observed imbalances in some nondopaminergic systems, including the serotonergic system. Serotonergic dysfunction appears to play a role in some parkinsonian symptoms, including motor function, L-dopa-induced dyskinesia, mood, psychosis, and constipation. The fact that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes a parkinsonian syndrome was discovered in 1982 and has been used extensively and successfully in various mammalian species, including monkeys and mice, to produce an experimental model of PD. Three common dosing regimens of the MPTP-induced mice model of PD were compared on dopaminergic neurotransmission and serotonin levels in various brain regions. Results showed that tyrosine hydroxylase activity and dopaminergic transporter density were reduced in striatum and substantia nigra of mice and that this reduction was dependent on the cumulative dose of MPTP injected. Furthermore, for the three protocols, a decrease of dopamine (DA) level was observed in striatum, associated with a significant diminution of DA concentration in frontal cortex only for the chronic treatment. Moreover, a decrease of serotonin level was observed in midbrain and hippocampus of acute and sub-acute intoxicated-mice. In all, the results suggested that dosing regimen should be carefully pre-considered. Furthermore, the acute and sub-acute MPTP protocols represent good models of early, subclinical stages of PD, ideal in the development of neuroprotective strategies.

Combined Deficiency of Iron and (n-3) Fatty Acids in Male Rats Disrupts Brain Monoamine Metabolism and Produces Greater Memory Deficits Than Iron Deficiency or (n-3) Fatty Acid Deficiency Alone1–3

Deficiencies of iron (Fe) (ID) and (n-3) fatty acids (FA) [(n-3)FAD] may impair brain development and function through shared mechanisms. However, little is known about the potential interactions between these 2 common deficiencies. We studied the effects of ID and (n-3)FAD, alone and in combination, on brain monoamine pathways (by measuring monoamines and related gene expression) and spatial working and reference memory (by Morris water maze testing). Using a 2 × 2 design, male rats were fed an ID, (n-3)FAD, ID+(n-3)FAD, or control diet for 5 wk postweaning (postnatal d 21–56) after (n-3)FAD had been induced over 2 generations. The (n-3)FAD and ID diets decreased brain (n-3) FA by 70–76% and Fe by 20–32%, respectively. ID and (n-3)FAD significantly increased dopamine (DA) concentrations in the olfactory bulb (OB) and striatum, with an additive 1- to 2-fold increase in ID+(n-3)FAD rats compared with controls (P < 0.05). ID decreased serotonin (5-HT) levels in OB, with a significant decrease in ID+(n-3)FAD rats. Furthermore, norepinephrine concentrations were increased 2-fold in the frontal cortex (FC) of (n-3)FAD rats (P < 0.05). Dopa decarboxylase was downregulated in the hippocampus of ID and ID+(n-3)FAD rats (fold-change = -1.33; P < 0.05). ID and (n-3)FAD significantly impaired working memory performance and the impairment positively correlated with DA concentrations in FC (r = 0.39; P = 0.026). Reference memory was impaired in the ID+(n-3)FAD rats (P < 0.05) and was negatively associated with 5-HT in FC (r = -0.42; P = 0.018). These results suggest that the combined deficiencies of Fe and (n-3) FA disrupt brain monoamine metabolism and produce greater deficits in reference memory than ID or (n-3)FAD alone.

Recognition Memory and β-amyloid Plaques in Adult Tg2576 Mice are not Modified After Oral Exposure to Aluminum

The role of aluminum (Al) in Alzheimer disease is highly controversial. However, this element has been detected in neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in patients with Alzheimer disease. Its presence in neuritic plaques in hippocampus is especially relevant, as this is an area closely related to spatial learning and memory. In this study, the diet of wild-type and Tg2576 mice (animals overexpressing the human amyloid precursor protein) was supplemented with Al lactate (1 mg/g). General neurotoxic Al effects were evaluated using a functional observational battery and a novel object recognition task. Four experimental groups were used: Control-wild, Al-wild, Control-Tg, and Al-Tg mice. The results show a decreased home-cage activity and an increase in piloerection in all Al-exposed animals, and an increased sensorimotor reactivity in Tg2576 mice given Al. Neither Al treatment nor genotype had any noticeable effect on corticosterone levels and Al concentrations in frontal cortex and cerebellum of the mice. Recognition memory was impaired in Tg2576 mice, whereas β-amyloid plaque depositions were observed in all these animals. However, Al did not alter the recognition memory and β-amyloid plaque loads of Tg2576 mice.

Deposition of Hyperphosphorylated Tau in Cerebellum of PS1 E280A Alzheimer's Disease

Early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) caused by presenilin-1 mutation E280A (PS1-E280A) presents wide clinical and neuropathological variabilities. We characterized clinically and neuropathologically PS1-E280A focusing in cerebellar involvement and compared it with early-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease (EOSAD). Twelve E280A brains and 12 matched EOSAD brains were analyzed for beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) morphology, beta-amyloid subspecies 1-40, 1-42 levels, pTau levels, and expression of stress kinases in frontal cortex and cerebellum. The data were correlated to clinical and genetic findings. We observed higher beta-amyloid load, beta-amyloid 1-42 and pTau concentrations in frontal cortex of PS1-E280A compared with EOSAD. High beta-amyloid load was found in the cerebellum of PS1-E280A and EOSAD patients. In PS1-E280A, beta-amyloid localized to the molecular and Purkinje cell layers, whereas EOSAD showed them in Purkinje and granular cell layers. Surprisingly, 11 out of 12 PS1-E280A patients showed deposition of pTau in the cerebellum. Also, seven out of 12 PS1-E280A patients presented cerebellar ataxia. We conclude that deposition of beta-amyloid in the cerebellum is prominent in early-onset AD irrespective of genetic or sporadic origin. The presence of pTau in cerebellum in PS1-E280A underscores the relevance of cerebellar involvement in AD and might be correlated to clinical phenotype.

Effects of static magnetic field and cadmium on oxidative stress and DNA damage in rat cortex brain and hippocampus

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of co-exposure to static magnetic field (SMF) and cadmium (Cd) on the antioxidant enzymes activity and DNA integrity in rat brain. Sub-chronic exposure to CdCl (CdCl(2), 40 mg/L, per os) for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in antioxidant enzyme activity such as the glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in frontal cortex and hippocampus. Total GSH were decreased in the frontal cortex of the Cd-exposed group. Cd exposure induced an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, the same exposure increased 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-desoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) level in rat brain. Interestingly, the combined effect of SMF (128 mT, 1 hour/day for 30 consecutive days) and CdCl (40 mg/L, per os) decreased the SOD activity and glutathione level in frontal cortex as compared with the Cd group. Moreover, the association between SMF and Cd increased MDA concentration in frontal cortex as compared with Cd-exposed rats. DNA analysis revealed that SMF exposure failed to alter 8-oxodGuo concentration in Cd-exposed rats. Our data showed that Cd exposure altered the antioxidant enzymes activity and induced oxidative DNA lesions in rat brain. The combined effect of SMF and Cd increased oxidative damage in rat brain as compared with Cd-exposed rats.

Higher Soluble Amyloid β Concentration in Frontal Cortex of Young Adults than in Normal Elderly or Alzheimer's Disease

Little is known about the relationship between soluble amyloid beta (Abeta) and age. We have measured soluble and insoluble Abeta by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in post-mortem frontal cortex in normal brains (16-95 years) and AD. Insoluble Abeta increased with age, and was significantly higher in Alzheimer's disease (AD) than age-matched controls. However, levels of soluble Abeta declined with age and were significantly greater in younger adults than older adults with or without AD. In AD, insoluble : soluble Abeta ratio was much higher than in age-matched controls. The high levels of soluble Abeta in young adults included oligomeric species of Abeta(1-42). These observations do not preclude Abeta oligomers as neurotoxic mediators of AD but suggest that if they are, the toxicity may be restricted to certain species (eg, beta-pleated protofibrillar species not detected by our assay) or takes decades to manifest. The dramatically increased insoluble : soluble Abeta in AD points to an altered dynamic equilibrium of Abeta in AD, reflecting both enhanced aggregation and continued overproduction or impaired removal of the soluble peptide in older age, when the concentration of this peptide should be declining.

Mechanistic model for the acute effect of fluvoxamine on 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in rat frontal cortex

A mechanistic model is proposed to predict the time course of the concentrations of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat frontal cortex following acute administration of SSRIs. In the model, SSRIs increase synaptic 5-HT concentrations by reversible blockade of the SERT in a direct concentration-dependent manner, while the 5-HT response is attenuated by negative feedback via 5-HT autoreceptors. In principle, the model allows for the description of oscillatory patterns in the time course of 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in brain extracellular fluid. The model was applied in a pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) investigation on the time course of the microdialysate 5-HT and 5-HIAA response in rat frontal cortex following a 30-min intravenous infusion of 3.7 and 7.3 mg/kg fluvoxamine. Directly after administration of fluvoxamine, concentrations of 5-HT were increased to approximately 450–600% of baseline values while 5-HIAA concentrations were decreased. Thereafter 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations gradually returned to baseline values in 6–10 h, respectively. The PK/PD analysis revealed that inhibition of 5-HT reuptake was directly related to the fluvoxamine concentration in plasma, with 50% inhibition of 5-HT reuptake occurring at a plasma concentration of 1.1 ng/ml (EC 50). The levels of 5-HT at which 50% of the inhibition of the 5-HT response was reached (IC 50) amounted to 272% of baseline. The model was unable to capture the oscillatory patterns in the individual concentration time curves, which appeared to occur randomly. The proposed mechanistic model is the first step in modeling of complex neurotransmission processes. The model constitutes a useful basis for prediction of the time course of median 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in the frontal cortex in behavioral pharmacology studies in vivo.

Glucocorticoid modulation of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 protein in raphe nuclei and 5-hydroxytryptophan concentrations in frontal cortex of C57/Bl6 mice

Considerable attention has focused on regulation of central tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity and protein expression. At the time of these earlier studies, it was thought that there was a single central TPH isoform. However, with the recent identification of TPH2, it becomes important to distinguish between regulatory effects on the protein expression and activity of the two isoforms. We have generated a TPH2-specific polyclonal antiserum (TPH2-6361) to study regulation of TPH2 at the protein level and to examine the distribution of TPH2 expression in rodent and human brain. TPH2 immunoreactivity (IR) was detected throughout the raphe nuclei, in lateral hypothalamic nuclei and in the pineal body of rodent and human brain. In addition, a prominent TPH2-IR fiber network was found in the human median eminence. We recently reported that glucocorticoid treatment of C57/Bl6 mice for 4 days markedly decreased TPH2 messenger RNA levels in the raphe nuclei, whereas TPH1 mRNA was unaffected. The glucocorticoid-elicited inhibition of TPH2 gene expression was blocked by co-administration of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU-486). Using TPH2-6361, we have extended these findings to show a dose-dependent decrease in raphe TPH2 protein levels in response to 4 days of treatment with dexamethasone; this effect was blocked by co-administration of mifepristone. Moreover, the glucocorticoid-elicited inhibition of TPH2 was functionally significant: serotonin synthesis was significantly reduced in the frontal cortex of glucocorticoid-treated mice, an effect that was blocked by mifepristone co-administration. This study provides further evidence for the glucocorticoid regulation of serotonin biosynthesis via inhibition of TPH2 expression, and suggest that elevated glucocorticoid levels may be relevant to the etiology of psychiatric diseases, such as depression, where hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation has been documented.

Caffeine promotes hyperthermia and serotonergic loss following co-administration of the substituted amphetamines, MDMA (“Ecstasy”) and MDA (“Love”)

The present study determined the effect of caffeine co-administration on the core body temperature response and long-term serotonin (5-HT) loss induced by methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; “Ecstasy”) and its metabolite methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA; “Love”) to rats. In group-housed animals, caffeine (10 mg/kg) enhanced the acute toxicity of MDMA (15 mg/kg) and MDA (7.5 mg/kg), resulting in an exaggerated hyperthermic response (+2 °C for 5 h following MDMA and +1.5 °C for 3 h following MDA) when compared to MDMA (+1 °C for 3 h) and MDA (+1 °C for 1 h) alone. Co-administration of caffeine with MDMA or MDA was also associated with increased lethality. To reduce the risk of lethality, doses of MDMA and MDA were reduced in further experiments and the animals were housed individually. To examine the effects of repeated administration, animals received MDMA (10 mg/kg) or MDA (5 mg/kg) with or without caffeine (10 mg/kg) twice daily for 4 consecutive days. MDMA and MDA alone induced hypothermia (fall of 1 to 2 °C) over the 4 treatment days. Co-administration of caffeine with MDMA or MDA resulted in hyperthermia (increase of up to 2.5 °C) following acute administration compared to animals treated with caffeine or MDMA/MDA alone. This hyperthermic response to caffeine and MDMA was not observed with repeated administration, unlike caffeine + MDA, where hyperthermia was obtained over the 4 day treatment period. In addition, 4 weeks after the last treatment, co-administration of caffeine with MDA (but not MDMA) induced a reduction in 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations in frontal cortex (to 61% and 58% of control, respectively), hippocampus (48% and 60%), striatum (79% and 64%) and amygdala (63% and 37%). However, when caffeine (10 mg/kg) and MDMA (2.5 mg/kg) were co-administered four times daily for 2 days to group-housed animals, both hyperthermia and hippocampal 5-HT loss were observed (reduced to 68% of control). Neither MDMA nor MDA alone induced a significant reduction in regional 5-HT or 5-HIAA concentrations following repeated administration. In conclusion, caffeine promotes the acute and long-term toxicity associated with MDMA and MDA. This is a serious drug interaction, which could have important acute and long-term health consequences for recreational drug users.