Brain research
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The effects of group I metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors on excitatory transmission in the rat dorsal horn, but mostly substantia gelatinosa, neurons were investigated using conventional intracellular recording in slices. The broad spectrum mGlu receptor agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S, 3R-ACPD), the group I mGlu receptor selective agonist (S)-3, 5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), and the selective mGlu subtype 5 agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), all induce long-lasting depression of A primary afferent fibers-mediated monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), and long-lasting potentiation of polysynaptic EPSP, and EPSP in cells receiving C-afferent fiber input. The DHPG potentiation of polysynaptic EPSP was partially or fully reversed by (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine (S-4CPG), the mGlu subtype 1 preferring antagonist. 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine, the potent and selective mGlu subtype 5 antagonist, partially reversed the CHPG potentiation of polysynaptic EPSP. ⋯ Cyclothiazide and (S)-4-CPG, the mGlu receptor subtype 1 preferring antagonists, significantly attenuated the DHPG-induced depolarization. These results demonstrate that the pharmacological activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors induces long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn. These types of long-term synaptic plasticity may play a functional role in the generation of post-injury hypersensitivity (LTP) or antinociception (LTD).
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This study was designed to characterize the role of vasopressin in impaired pial artery dilation to activators of the ATP sensitive K (K(ATP)) and calcium sensitive K (K(ca)) channel following fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) in newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Topical vasopressin was coadministered with the K(ATP) and K(ca) channel agonists cromakalim and NS1619 in a concentration approximating that observed in CSF following FPI. Vasopressin so administered attenuated pial artery dilation to these K(+) channel activators under conditions of equivalent baseline diameter during non injury conditions (13+/-1 and 23+/-1 vs. 4+/-1 and 10+/-2% for cromakalim 10(-8), 10(-6) M before and after vasopressin, respectively). ⋯ Cromakalim and NS1619 induced pial artery dilation was attenuated following FPI and MEAVP preadministration partially prevented such impairment (13+/-1 and 23+/-1, sham control; 2+/-1 and 5+/-1, FPI; and 9+/-1 and 15+/-2%, FPI-MEAVP pretreated for responses to cromakalim 10(-8), 10(-6) M, respectively). These data show that vasopressin blunts K(ATP) and K(ca) channel mediated cerebrovasodilation. These data suggest that vasopressin contributes to impaired K(ATP) and K(ca) channel function after brain injury.
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This work describes a new animal model of neuropathic pain produced by the single intraperitoneal administration of Taxol (32 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. During the course of the experiment, the clinical status of the rats remained satisfactory and motor function was not altered. A number of classical behavioural tests of nociception as well as histological and electrophysiological investigations were performed. ⋯ Degenerative changes were observed in the sciatic nerve, the nerve fibres in the paw subcutaneous tissue and in the lumbar spinal cord. When Taxol or vehicle (a mix of Cremophor and ethanol) were repeatedly injected once a week for 5 weeks, similar nociceptive disorders were observed in addition to a decrease in peripheral nerve conduction velocity. The selective dysfunction of high-diameter myelinated fibres observed after one single administration of Taxol (32 mg/kg) may be attributable to paclitaxel-induced neuropathy, however other mechanisms causing neurochemical dysfunction must also be involved.
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The olfactory neuroepithelium of the mammalian nervous system manifests continuous neurogenesis throughout life. Recent studies suggest that neurotrophic factors and their receptors may play a role in the regulation of development and regeneration in the olfactory system. However, there have been very few in vivo studies investigating the effect of exogenous neurotrophic factors in the olfactory system. ⋯ BDNF at a 10 microg total dose did not show this effect. The effect of NGF applied onto the olfactory epithelium is consistent with the immunohistochemical finding that Trk A was present in the dendrites and axon bundles in normal and axotomized ORNs. These results suggest that NGF may protect the degenerative changes in mature and immature ORNs following axotomy through the binding to the Trk A receptor located on the surface of the olfactory epithelium.
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Urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) may influence brain pathophysiology after injury. We studied disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and changes in the vasculature after a brain stab wound in uPA-deficient, uPA receptor-deficient, and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) deficient mice. ⋯ Our study shows that uPA affects BBB disruption. PA enhances angiogenesis after brain injury.