Journal of pharmacological sciences
-
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptors have been classified into V1a, V1b, and V2 subtypes. Recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of AVP in anti-nociception and in morphine-induced anti-nociception. ⋯ Here, we have summarized the role of V1-receptor subtypes in behavioral responses to noxious stimuli and to morphine. In this review, we focus on studies using mice lacking the V1a receptor (V1a(-/-) mice) and the V1b receptor (V1b(-/-) mice).
-
Accumulating evidence indicates a pivotal role for neuroinflammation in ischemic and excitotoxic brain injury. Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) is a CXC chemokine implicated in the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the brain parenchyma. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neuronal injury on CINC-1 production in the organotypic cortico-striatal slice cultures. ⋯ NMDA-induced CINC-1 mRNA expression was significantly inhibited by U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor. These results suggest that NMDA-evoked neuronal injury induced astrocytic CINC-1 production via a MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Manipulation of this signaling pathway may serve as a target for suppressing neuroinflammation and, thereby, treating ischemic brain injury.