1,721,016 research outputs found
Maternal Malnutrition in the Etiopathogenesis of Psychiatric Diseases: Role of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
No full textEvidence from human studies indicates that maternal metabolic state and malnutrition dramatically influence the risk for developing psychiatric complications in later adulthood. In this regard, the central role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and particularly n-3 PUFAs, is emerging considering that epidemiological evidences have established a negative correlation between n-3 PUFA consumption and development of mood disorders. These findings were supported by clinical studies indicating that low content of n-3 PUFAs in diet is linked to an increased susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. PUFAs regulate membrane fluidity and exert their central action by modulating synaptogenesis and neurotrophic factor expression, neurogenesis, and neurotransmission. Moreover, they are precursors of molecules implicated in modulating immune and inflammatory processes in the brain. Importantly, their tissue concentrations are closely related to diet intake, especially to maternal consumption during embryonal life, considering that their synthesis from essential precursors has been shown to be inefficient in mammals. The scope of this review is to highlight the possible mechanisms of PUFA functions in the brain during pre- and post-natal period and to evaluate their role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases
Influence of nitric oxide on cortical dopaminergic system in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease: an in vivo study
No full textSpecial Issue “Potential Neuromodulatory Profile of Phytocompounds in Brain Disorders”
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Emerging role of amyloid beta in stress response: Implication for depression and diabetes
No full textChronic stress is considered a widely accepted risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Indeed, high cortisol levels, and, thus, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis dysregulation, have been indicated as the most frequent alteration in patients affected by depression, as well as by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, depressive state has been pointed as an early manifestation of AD, advocating an overlap between these neuropathological events. We have previously demonstrated that central soluble beta amyloid 1-42 (AÎ2) administration peptide induces a depressive like-behavior in rats, with altered HPA axis activation, reduced cortical serotonin and neurotrophin levels. The crucial role of AÎ2 in stress response is becoming more and more evident, indeed many reports indicate that its release is increased in stressful conditions and stress-based paradigm. Furthermore, it has been reported that stress controls AÎ2 production and/or clearance. Chronic stress is responsible of inducing neuroinflammation processes and reduced serotoninergic tone, both pathophysiological mechanisms proposed in the association of depression with another chronic disease, such as diabetes. Likewise, AD has also been indicated as type 3 diabetes, considering the large body of literature that suggests common biological bases. Thus, the main aim of the present review is to evaluate the most recent literature findings in humans and animal models in regard to the role of AÎ2 in stress response and in relation to the biological substrates and pathological pathways common to AD and comorbid diseases, such as depression and diabetes
The cannabinoid agonist WIN55212,2 decreases L-DOPA-induced PKA activation and dyskinetic behavior in 6-OHDA-treated rats
No full textChronic Levodopa (L-DOPA), the gold standard therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), causes disabling motor complications (dyskinesias) that are associated with changes in the activity of striatal protein kinase A (PKA) and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32). In this study, we showed that systemic administration of the cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2 ameliorated L-DOPA-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in the 6-OHDA rat model of PD and reversed L-DOPA-induced PKA hyperactivity via a CB(1)-mediated mechanism. This effect was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of DARPP-32 at threonine 34, which was partially blocked by CB(1) antagonism. Striatal PKA activity was positively correlated with the severity of L-DOPA-induced axial and limb dyskinesias, suggesting a role for the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in the expression of these motor disturbances. Our results indicate that activation of CB(1) receptors, as well as reduction of striatal PKA hyperactivity, might be an effective strategy for the treatment of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias
Canakinumab in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a novel unexpected weapon for non-healing wounds?
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ESTRUS CYCLE IN FEMALE RATS AFFECTS THE NEUROCHEMICAL AND NEUROBEHAVIOURAL PROFILE OF CARVACROL
No full textEarly Life and Oxidative Stress in Psychiatric Disorders: What can we Learn from Animal Models?
No full textSchizophrenia is a complex pathology characterized by the occurrence of a variety of symptoms classified as positive, negative and cognitive. Although the exact etiopathogenesis of this disorder has not been unraveled yet, many theories have been endorsed during the last years. Among these, the neurochemical theories have been the most suited, considering the dopaminergic and glutamatergic dysfunctions to be mainly responsible for psychotic symptoms. However, the lack of efficacy of the available drugs, namely antipsychotics, toward negative and cognitive symptoms led to hypothesize alternative approaches. In this regard, the neurodevelopmental theory of schizophrenia has emerged, proposing the association between the occurrence of environmental risk factors in early-life and the development of psychosis in late-life. In particular, exposure to early life stressing situations, such as pre- and peri-natal stress, has been suggested as a risk factor to develop psychopathologies in adulthood in people genetically predisposed. A crucial support in favor of this hypothesis came from neurodevelopmental animal models of schizophrenia, such as maternal malnutrition, maternal deprivation, maternal infections as well as post-weaning social isolation rearing. Moreover, data from these models, corroborated by clinical findings, indicate that oxidative and nitrosative stress play a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. In the present work, we reviewed the recent progress in literature regarding data available from animal models linking oxidative and nitrosative stress to psychiatric disorders in order to evaluate novel biomarkers of pathology as well as novel therapeutical targets
Anti-dyskinetic effects of cannabinoids in a rat model of Parkinson's disease: Role of CB(1) and TRPV1 receptors.
No full textLevodopa is the most commonly prescribed drug for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although levodopa improves PD symptoms in the initial stages of the disease, its long-term use is limited by the development of side effects, including abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesias) and psychiatric complications. The endocannabinoid system is emerging as an important modulator of basal ganglia functions and its pharmacologic manipulation represents a promising therapy to alleviate levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Rats with 6-OHDA lesions that are chronically treated with levodopa develop increasingly severe axial, limb, locomotor and oro-facial abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). Administration of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 attenuated levodopa-induced axial, limb and oral AIMs dose-dependently via a CB1-mediated mechanism, whereas it had no effect on locomotive AIMs. By contrast, systemic administration of URB597, a potent FAAH inhibitor, did not affect AIMs scoring despite its ability to increase anandamide concentration throughout the basal ganglia. Unlike WIN, anandamide can also bind and activate transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) receptors, which have been implicated in the modulation of dopamine transmission in the basal ganglia. Interestingly, URB597 significantly decreased all AIMs subtypes only if co-administered with the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine. Our data indicate that pharmacological blockade of TRPV1 receptors unmasks the anti-dyskinetic effects of FAAH inhibitors and that CB1 and TRPV1 receptors play opposite roles in levodopa-induced dyskinesias. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Mice lacking fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH-/-) showed increased serotonergic neurotransmission and reduced emotional reactivity
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