The influence of hormonal preparations of FSH in a dose of 24 mg (480 IU) on levels of catecholamine (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) and the activity of their degradation enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the hypothalamic regions regulating the reproductive system of sheep (area preoptica, eminentia mediana, corpus mamillare) and pineal gland were investigated in the ocstrous period employing radiochemical methods. The administration of FSH resulted in significant (p<0.001) increases of dopamine levels in the area preoptica and corpus mamillare of the hypothalamus of sheep as compared to control groups with synchronized oestrus. Hormonal stimulation with FSH increased the levels of hypothalamic norepinephrine in the areas studied and these differences were significant in the eminentia mediana (p<0.05) and corpus mamillare (p<0.05). Significant (p<0.001) changes in epinephrine levels were found in the corpus mamillare and area preoptica (p<0.05). Our results indicate that the administration of FSH caused the most pronounced decrease of MAO activity in corpus mamillare (p<0.001). The pineal gland reacted to the hormonal preparation by decreased levels of norepinephrine and dopamine (p<0.001) and by an increase in MAO activity (p<0.01). We suggest that FSH administration affects catecholamine levels and the activity of monoamine oxidase in the studied areas of the brain of sheep by means of a feedback mechanism.
In rabbits and guinea pigs, hypothalamic sites for prostaglandin Ej (PGE2) action were studied by means of in vitro receptor autoradiography. The density of PGE2 binding sites (probably PGE2 receptors) was the highest in the anterior wall of the third ventricle (A3V). This result is consistent in all mammalian species ever studied, suggesting a fundamental role of the A3V in the hypothalamic action of PGE2, such as fever.
Purinergic P2X receptors represent a novel structural type of ligand-gated ion channels activated by extracellular ATP. So far, seven P2X receptors subunits have been found in excitable as well as non-excitable tissues. Little is known about their structure, mechanism of channel opening, localization, and role in the central nervous system. The aim of this work is to summarize recent investigations and describe our contribution to elucidating the structure of the ATP binding site and transmembrane domains of the P2X receptor, we also discuss the expression and physiological roles played by the ATP and P2X receptors in the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus., H. Zemková, A. Balík, M. Jindřichová, V. Vávra., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The effects of blocking ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) muscarinic cholinoceptors on cardiovascular responses were investigated in running rats. Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and fitted with bilateral cannulae into the VMH. After recovering from surgery, the rats were familiarized to running on a treadmill. The animals then had a polyethylene catheter implanted into the left carotid artery to measure blood pressure. Tail skin temperature (Ttail), heart rate, and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure were measured after bilateral injections of 0.2 μl of 5 × 10−9 mol methylatropine or 0.15 M NaCl solution into the hypothalamus. Cholinergic blockade of the VMH reduced time to fatigue by 31% and modified the temporal profile of cardiovascular and Ttail adjustments without altering their maximal responses. Mean arterial pressure peak was achieved earlier in methylatropine-treated rats, which also showed a 2-min delay in induction of tail skin vasodilation, suggesting a higher sympathetic tonus to peripheral vessels. In conclusion, muscarinic cholinoceptors within the VMH are involved in a neuronal pathway that controls exercise-induced cardiovascular adjustments. Furthermore, blocking of cholinergic transmission increases sympathetic outflow during the initial minutes of exercise, and this higher sympathetic activity may be responsible for the decreased performance., S. P. Wanner ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Intracellular recordings show that some hypothalamic neurones are inherently warm sensitive and have branching dendrites that alow synaptic integration of different afferent pathways.
Using brain slices the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on neurones from different locations of the rat hypothalamus was analysed. PGE2 (150 ng), when injected into the perfusion chamber, influences all hypothalamic neurones studied. The pattern of firing rate changes after PGE2 is variable, but the depressive effect predominates - 72 % of neurones decrease their firing rate in long-term experiments. PGE2 also lowers the thermosensitivity of warm sensitive neurones and increases the thermosensitivity of temperature insensitive neurones.
Leptin is produced by white adipose tissue and other cell types and is involved in both short- and long-term appetite control. Here we studied effects of star vation on serum, pituitary and hypothalamic levels of leptin during 72 h period. Each of the starved groups was sacrificed simultaneously with the group of ad libitum fed animals. The progression of the discrete starvation response phases was monitored by testing the blood glucose, free fatty acid, urea and corticosterone levels. Starvation caused biphasic increase in corticosterone and free fatty acid levels, and significant but transient decrease in urea and glucose levels. Starvation also abolished diurnal rhythm of changes in leptin concentrations in serum and hypothalamic and pituitary tissues. Only 6 h starving period was sufficient to lock serum leptin at low levels, whereas 12 h were needed to silence leptin production/secretion in hypothalamus for the whole examined period. In contrast, leptin production by pituitary tissues of starved animals required 24 h to reach minimum, followed by full recovery by the end of starvation period. These resu lts indicate the tissue specific pattern of leptin release and suggest that the locally produced leptin could activate its receptor in pituitary cells independently of serum levels of this hormone., P. Vujovic ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy