Significant Increase In Noradrenaline Levels Research Articles

Catecholamine levels in groundwater and stream amphipods and their response to temperature stress

Temperature stress in invertebrates is known to be reflected by changes in catecholamine levels. However, the mechanisms of stress response are not fully understood. Groundwater and surface water amphipods are expected to be differently adapted to temperature elevations due to the different temperature regimes in their habitats and consequently, show a different stress response. No data have been published so far regarding the effects of stress on catecholamine patterns in groundwater invertebrates and accordingly, comparisons with surface water fauna are also missing. In this study, we compared the average catecholamine levels in two taxonomically related amphipod species: Niphargus inopinatus, living in groundwater with constant water temperatures throughout the year, and Gammarus pulex, a surface water stream amphipod frequently exposed to diurnal and seasonal temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, we tracked the immediate changes in whole-animal catecholamine levels in response to heat stress in both species. Pronounced differences in the catecholamine levels of the two species became apparent, with the average dopamine (DA) level of N. inopinatus being almost 1000times higher than that in G. pulex. The noradrenaline (NA) concentrations in N. inopinatus were on average two orders of magnitude higher than in G. pulex, and for adrenaline (A), the difference constituted one order of magnitude. When exposed to short-term heat stress, both species showed a response in terms of catecholamine levels, but the observed patterns were different. In N. inopinatus, temperature stress was reflected by the appearance of adrenaline, while in G. pulex a significant increase in noradrenaline levels occurred in the treatment with the highest temperature elevation.

Galanin in the PVN increases nutrient intake and changes peripheral hormone levels in the rat

In self-selection feeding paradigms, rats display differential patterns of nutrient (protein, carbohydrate or fat) intake. Factors known to influence this selection include brain peptides as well as circadian parameters. In this series of experiments we investigated the role of PVN galanin in nutrient intake during the early and late dark periods in the rat. Rats were allowed to select between three isocaloric diets enriched in protein, carbohydrate or fat. Following a 2-week adaptation period, the animals' 24-h intake was monitored for 4 weeks. Galanin was injected into the PVN and food intake was measured 1, 2 and 24 h post-injection. Galanin significantly increased the 1 h total food intake but it failed to increase the intake of any particular nutrient. Galanin had no effect 2 or 24 h post-injection. Analysis of the data grouped by preference based on the rats 24 h baseline selection patterns over the 4-week period revealed that galanin seem to increase the preferred nutrient. That is, galanin preferentially increased the intake of the carbohydrate- or fat-rich diet in animals with high (over 40% of the total food intake) 24-h baselines in this particular nutrient. Finally, analysis of the plasma hormone levels after paraventricular galanin administration revealed a significant increase in noradrenaline levels, a small reduction in plasma insulin with no effects on adrenaline, glucose or corticosterone. The data revealed that galanin in the PVN influences both food intake and metabolic functioning. PVN galanin significantly increases sympathetic outflow and seems to stimulate the intake of the individual rat's preferred macronutrient.

Acute effect of milnacipran on the relationship between the locus coeruleus noradrenergic and dorsal raphe serotonergic neuronal transmitters

The present studies sought to investigate the effect of milnacipran called the serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) on the interaction of central locus coeruleus noradrenergic and dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic functional activity by utilizing in vivo microdialysis. A single administration of milnacipran (60 mg/kg, s.c.) markedly decreased the levels of NA and its metabolite, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid (HMMA), in the locus coeruleus and the levels of, a metabolite of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Combined administration of yohimbine (2 mg/kg, s.c.),?α 2-adrenoceptor?antagonist, at 2 h after milnacipran (60 mg/kg, s.c.) led to a significant increase in NA levels in the locus coeruleus, although yohimbine alone had no effect on these levels. Under similar experimental condition, 5-HIAA levels in the dorsal raphe nucleus remained unchanged. NAN-190 (1 mg/kg, s.c.), 5-HT 1A receptor partial agonist, alone markedly decreased the levels of 5-HIAA in the dorsal raphe nucleus, although this level was not affected by WAY100635, the selective 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist. WAY100635 recovered the milnacipran-induced decrease of 5-HIAA levels in the dorsal raphe nucleus to control levels. On the other hand, NAN-190 did not affect the milnacipran-induced decrease of 5-HIAA levels. Behavioral signs (locomotion and rearing) were markedly observed following milnacipran alone or combined administration of milnacipran and yohimbine. However, the behavioral signs after coadministration of milnacipran and WAY100635 or NAN-190 were relatively poor. These results may suggest that an increase of NA in the locus coeruleus with the treatment of yohimbine after milnacipran results from negative feedback following the blockade of α 2-adrenoceptors achieved with yohimbine, and that WAY100635 but not NAN-190 recovered milnacipran-induced decrease of 5-HIAA in the dorsal raphe nucleus to control levels by preventing the activation for the presynaptic 5-HT 1A autoreceptor.

Noradrenaline and serotonin levels in the guinea pig hippocampus following unilateral vestibular deafferentation.

Recent evidence indicates that the hippocampus uses input from the vestibular system in order to accomplish its spatial computational functions. At present, there are few data on the neurochemical basis of the interactions between the vestibular system and the hippocampus. The aim of this study was to determine levels of noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5-HT) and the 5-HT metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in the CA1, CA2 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampi, at 10 h following deafferentation of the peripheral vestibular nerve (UVD) in guinea pig, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD). There were no significant differences in NA levels in the ipsilateral or contralateral CA1 following UVD. However, there was a significant increase in NA levels in the contralateral CA2 following UVD, compared to both the sham and intact anesthetic control conditions ( p<0.05). No such change was seen in the ipsilateral CA2. In the contralateral DG, there was a significant increase in NA levels in both the UVD and sham conditions, compared to the intact anesthetic controls ( p<0.05). No significant changes in 5-HT or 5-HIAA levels were seen in the ipsilateral or contralateral CA1, CA2 or DG following UVD. This study provides the first evidence that UVD may cause an increase in NA levels in the CA2 region of the contralateral hippocampus.

The Response to Acoustic Stimulation and the Changes in Brain Amine Levels after Repeated Administration of .BETA.-Phenylethylamine in Rats.

Reverse tolerance to stereotyped behavior was induced after repeated administration of beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) (50 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 10 days) in rats. The reverse tolerance was maintained for at least 4 weeks after the last administration. We studied the effects of acoustic stimulation on locomotor activity 2 days and 4 weeks after withdrawal from PEA and measured the changes in brain monoamine levels 4 weeks after the withdrawal. Locomotor activity during acoustic stimulation was increased in the saline treated group, and this response was unaffected after repeated PEA treatment. Four weeks after withdrawal, significant increases in noradrenaline levels in the cerebral cortex and decreases in 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the hypothalamus were found. The effects of acoustic stimulation on locomotor activity and the changes in brain monoamine levels were different from those of methamphetamine treatment obtained in our previous study. In conclusion, it may be suggested that the response to acoustic stimulation after repeated PEA administration in rats cannot be a model for abnormal responsiveness to environmental stimulation that is observed in chronic paranoid schizophrenics.