22 research outputs found
A randomized controlled trial of folic acid intervention in pregnancy highlights a putative methylation-regulated control element at ZFP57
Table S1. Pyrosequencing and transcriptional primer sets used in this study. Pyroassay primers are given as bisulfite converted sequence. The same primers were used for both RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. (DOCX 15 kb
Dipyrone in association with atropine inhibits the effect on gastric emptying induced by hypoglycemia in rats
Ivabradine reduces baseline and stress-induced increase of heart rate and blood pressure and modulates neuroendocrine stress response in rats depending on stressor intensity
ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCES HORMONAL STATUS AND HIPPOCAMPAL BRAIN DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR IN A SEX DEPENDENT MANNER
The present study is aimed at testing the hypothesis that an enriched
environment (EE) induces sex-dependent changes in stress hormone release
and in markers of increased brain plasticity. The focus was on
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, plasma levels
of stress hormones, gene expression of glutamate receptor subunits and
concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in selected
brain regions. Rats exposed to EE were housed in groups of 12 in large
cages with various objects, which were frequently changed, for 6 weeks.
Control animals were housed four per cage under standard conditions. In
females the EE-induced rise in hippocampal BDNF, a neurotrophic factor
associated with increased neural plasticity, was more pronounced than in
males. Similar sex-specific changes were observed in BDNF concentrations
in the hypothalamus. EE also significantly attenuated oxytocin and
aldosterone levels only in female but not male rats. Plasma testosterone
positively correlated with hippocampal BDNF in female but not male rats
housed in EE. In male rats housing in EE led to enhanced levels of
testosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), this was not seen
in females. Hippocampal glucocorticoid but not mineralocorticoid
receptor levels decreased in rats housed in EE irrespective of sex.
Housing conditions failed to modify mRNA levels of glutamate receptor
type 1 (Glur1) and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlur5)
subunits of glutamate receptors in the forebrain. Moreover, a negative
association between corticosterone and BDNF was observed in both sexes.
The results demonstrate that the association between hormones and
changes in brain plasticity is sex related. In particular, testosterone
seems to be involved in the regulatory processes related to
neuroplasticity in females. (C) 2009 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
All rights reserved