Production of carboxyatractyloside and atractyloside by cell suspension cultures of Atractylis gummifera

Cell suspension cultures were grown from explants of Atractylis gummifera in several culture media. The accumulated biomass differed in the various culture media. The presence of carboxyatractyloside and atractyloside was examined in relation to the different culture media, by means of HPLC. Carboxyatractyloside was identified in the biomass produced in only one of the culture media employed, while atractyloside was not present in detectable amounts in any of the biomasses

Effects of interaction of an early experience of reward through maternal contact or its denial with social stress during adolescence on the serotonergic system and the stress responsiveness of adult female rats

Experiences during critical periods, such as the neonatal and adolescence, play a critical role in determining adult stress-coping behavior. Based on the aforementioned we developed an experimental protocol, which included a neonatal experience and a social stress during adolescence. The serotonergic system is known as an important modulator of coping ability and, in general, emotional balance in both normal and pathological states, such as depression and anxiety, for which females are more vulnerable. Thus in the present work we used female rats and determined 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor type 1A (5-HT1A) receptor levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala (AMY). During postnatal days 10-13 (PND 10-13) rat pups were exposed to a T-maze, one arm of which lead to the mother. One group of animals was allowed contact with the mother (rewarded-receiving expected reward (RER)), whereas the other was denied the expected reward (DER). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that in both the PFC and in AMY, adult RER animals had higher basal 5-HT levels. Furthermore, in the AMY of this group of animals, higher levels of 5-HT1A receptors were detected by Western blot analysis. In adulthood rats were exposed to the Forced Swimming Test/Stress (FST/S). RER animals not exposed to the adolescent stress exhibited longer immobility time during both the first and second day of FST. Corticosterone levels following the FST fell faster in the DER animals. Adolescent stress affected the responses to the adult FSS only in the DER animals, which had decreased 5-HT in the AMY and increased immobility time on both days of the FST, compared with the DER, not stressed in adolescence. The phenotype of the DER animals is in line with the "match-mismatch" hypothesis, which states that if two events during critical periods of life "match" in being mildly stressful, their interaction can be adaptive. © 2012 IBRO

Production of carboxyatractyloside and atractyloside by cell suspension cultures of Atractylis gummifera

Cell suspension cultures were grown from explants of Atractylis gummifera in several culture media. The accumulated biomass differed in the various culture media. The presence of carboxyatractyloside and atractyloside was examined in relation to the different culture media, by means of HPLC. Carboxyatractyloside was identified in the biomass produced in only one of the culture media employed, while atractyloside was not present in detectable amounts in any of the biomasses

Effects of neonatal handling on basal and stress-induced monoamine levels in the male and female rat brain

Neonatal handling has pervasive effects on the rat brain leading to increased ability to cope with and adapt to stressful stimuli. We determined the effects of neonatal handling on the dopaminergic and serotonergic system, in the male and female rat brain, under basal conditions before and after puberty and after short- and long-term forced swimming stress. Exposure of animals to neonatal handling resulted in sex-dependent changes in the concentration and turnover of monoamines in the different brain areas. In the prepubertal brain, the effect of neonatal handling was manifested as an increase in dopamine turnover in the females, particularly in the hypothalamus, an increase in serotonin levels and a decrease in its turnover in all three brain regions examined of both males and females. Certain of the handling-induced effects observed in the prepubertal brain were reversed in the postpubertal animals. Thus, in the postpubertal brain, the handling-induced changes in serotonin levels and its turnover observed in both sexes before puberty were abolished. On the other hand, the handling-induced increase in hypothalamic dopamine turnover was maintained. After exposure to short-term stress, the effect of handling was manifested on one hand as decreased striatal dopamine levels in the females, and decreased dopamine turnover in the hypothalamus of both males and females, and on the other, as increased serotonin levels in the hypothalamus. After exposure to long-term stress, handled females had decreased dopamine turnover in the hypothalamus and the striatum, but there was no effect of handling on the serotonergic system. Our results provide some neurobiological evidence supporting the determinant role of the mother-infant relationship in the development of psychopathology. Neonatal handling, which modifies normal mother-pup interactions, results in alterations in brain dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, both of which are involved in the etiopathogenesis of major psychoses. Exposure to either short- or long-term stress in adult life results in sex-dependent changes in brain monoamines, which are affected by handling thus making coping more efficient and rendering the stressful stimulus less noxious. © 2002 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Denial of reward in the neonate shapes sociability and serotonergic activity in the adult rat

Background: Manipulations of the early environment are linked to long-lasting alterations of emotionality and social capabilities. Denial of rewarding mother-pup interactions in early life of rats could serve as model for child neglect. Negative consequences for social competence in later life, accompanied by changes in the serotonergic system would be expected. In contrast, rewarding mother-pup contact should promote adequate social abilities. Methodology/Principal Findings: Male Wistar rats trained in a T-maze during postnatal days 10-13 under denial (DER) or permission (RER) of maternal contact were tested for play behavior in adolescence and for coping with defeat in adulthood. We estimated serotonin (5-HT) levels in the brain under basal conditions and following defeat, as well as serotonin receptor 1A (5-HT1A) and serotonin transporter (SERT) expression. DER rats exhibited increased aggressive-like play behavior in adolescence (i.e. increased nape attacks, p<0.0001) and selected a proactive coping style during defeat in adulthood (higher sum of proactive behaviors: number of attacks, flights, rearings and defensive upright posture; p = 0.011, p<0.05 vs RER, non-handled-NH). In adulthood, they had lower 5-HT levels in both the prefrontal cortex (p<0.05 vs RER) and the amygdala (p<0.05 vs NH), increased 5-HT levels following defeat (PFC p<0.0001) and decreased serotonin turnover (amygdala p = 0.008). The number of 5-HT1A immunopositive cells in the CA1 hippocampal area was increased (p<0.05 DER, vs RER, NH); SERT levels in the amygdala were elevated (p<0.05 vs RER, NH), but were lower in the prefrontal cortex (p<0.05 vs NH). Conclusions/Significance: Denial of expected maternal reward early in life negatively affects sociability and the serotonergic system in a complex manner. We propose that our animal model could contribute to the identification of the neurobiological correlates of early neglect effects on social behavior and coping with challenges, but also in parallel with the effects of a rewarding early-life environment. © 2012 Diamantopoulou et al

Effects of Cannabis and Tobacco on the Enzymes of Alcohol Metabolism in the Rat

The effects of cannabis and tobacco on the enzymes of ethanol metabolism were studied in he Wistar rat. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (A1DH) were measured in the liver and the brain after treatment with an extract of cannabis resin, with an extract of tobacco leaves, or with nicotine. A condensate of cannabis resin extract was collected in a smoking machine, using a tobacco cigarette as the vehicle. Unsmoked or smoked cannabis extracts were dissolved in olive oil and were given i.p. (twice daily, for 7 days). In both cases, a similar dose level was used in terms of starting material (raw cannabis resin), estimated at about 100 mg/kg body weight. Control animals were treated either with olive oil, or with the same amount of smoked condensate obtained from a reference cigarette. Nicotine was dissolved in olive oil and it was given i.p. (10 ug/kg, twice daily for 7 days). An extract of unsmoked tobacco was dissolved in olive oil and was given with the same schedule, at a dose. © 1991, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved

Incorporation of 15N from L‐leucine into isoleucine by rat brain cerebral cortex slices

The fate of leucine nitrogen in the central nervous system was investigated by incubating rat cerebral cortex slices in the presence of 0.5 mM each of L‐[15N]‐leucine, L‐isoleucine, and L‐valine. Analysis of the slices and incubation media for free amino acids by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry revealed that the 15N from leucine is incorporated into isoleucine only. No 15N was detected in valine or any other amino acid. These results suggest that leucine, valine, and their corresponding aminotransferases may be compartmentalized in brain cerebral cortex. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Copyright © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Atividade antibacteriana de extratos de erva mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) Antibacterial activity of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) extracts

Através de testes de diluição, em sistema de tubos múltiplos, determinou-se a intensidade de atividade de inibição bacteriana (IINIB) e intensidade de atividade de inativação bacteriana (IINAB) de extratos hídricos (decocto), etanólicos (alcoolatura e hidroalcoolatura) de cambitos e de folhas de Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.(Aquifoliaceae) sobre as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25.923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 19.433), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 11.076) e Escherichia coli (ATCC 11.229). Todas as formas de extração apresentaram capacidade de inativação e/ou inibição seletivas sobre as bactérias avaliadas, porém os extratos originados por destilação etanólica apresentaram os melhores resultados. Salmonella enteritidis demonstrou maior sensibilidade, seguida por Enterococcus faecalis. Posteriormente, estes dois agentes foram submetidos a testes de suspensão, no mesmo sistema, na presença e ausência de matéria orgânica (soro bovino), sob controle do fator tempo. A presença de matéria orgânica diminuiu, enquanto o tempo de exposição aumentou a sensibilidade de Salmonella enteritidis e de Enterococus faecalis aos diferentes extratos de Ilex testados.<br>Dilution tests in multiple tube system were employed to evaluate the intensity of bacterial inhibition activity (IINIB) and bacterial inactivation activity (IINAB) of aqueous extracts (decoctions) and ethanolic extracts (alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts) from "cambitos" of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae) leaf on the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25.923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 19.433), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 11.076), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 11.229). All extraction procedures presented selective inactivation and/or inhibition capacity on the evaluated bacteria; however, extracts from ethanolic distillation yielded the best results. Salmonella enteritidis had the highest sensitivity, followed by Enterococus faecalis. Later, such agents were subjected to suspension tests, in the same system, in absence or presence of organic matter (bovine serum), under controlled time. Salmonella enteritidis and Enterococus faecalis sensitivity to the different tested Ilex extracts decreased in the presence of organic matter and increased with exposure time