Actions of appetite regulating peptides on supraoptic nucleus (SON) oxytocin neurones

Oxytocin has established roles in parturition and lactation, but can also be released in response to non-reproductive stimuli, such as hyperosmolarity and stress. As a majority of appetite regulating peptides activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal stress axis, and oxytocin is also a stress hormone in the rat, it was hypothesized that the oxytocin system in the neurohypophysial axis could be a target for appetite-regulating peptides of central and peripheral origin. The effects of central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY; a central orexigenic peptide and a central and peripheral neurotransmitter co-released with noradrenaline; n=5 rats) and systemic administration of secretin (a peripheral gut peptide belonging to the family of brain-gut peptides; n=26) and leptin (a peripheral anorexigenic peptide from adipose tissue; n=23) on the electrical activity of SON oxytocin neurones in vivo were studied in urethane-anaesthetized female rats with extracellular recording. Effects were compared with the excitatory responses to cholecystokinin (CCK; a peripheral anorexigenic gut peptide; n=45). Influences of fasting and pregnancy and effects of these peptides on the activity of SON vasopressin neurones were also studied. Results: (1) All the central and peripheral appetite peptides tested increased the electrical activity of SON oxytocin neurones. (a) NPY: Basal firing rate of 3.5 ± 1.05 (mean ± s.e.m) spikes/s was increased by 1 ± 0.45 spikes/s 1min after NPY (basal vs 0-10min post-NPY: P=0.03, paired t-test; n=5). (b) Secretin: Basal rate of 4.1 ± 0.4 spikes/s was increased by 1.7 ± 0.2 spikes/s 2.5min after secretin (basal vs 0-10min post-secretin: P<0.001, paired t-test; n=26). (c) Leptin: Basal rate of 3.4 ± 0.4 spikes/s was increased by 0.4 ± 0.08 spikes/s 1.5min after leptin (basal vs 0-10min post-leptin: P=0.01, paired t-test; n=23). (d) CCK: Basal rate of 3.6 ± 0.3 spikes/s was increased by 1.1 ± 0.15 spikes/s 1min after CCK (basal vs 0-10min post- CCK: P<0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test; n=45). (2) Secretin induced excitatory responses were greater than to other peptides (P<0.001, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks). (3) Secretin dose-dependently increased SON oxytocin neurone electrical activity and peripheral oxytocin release in anaesthetized rats. (4) Intracerebroventricular infusion and microdialysis studies with benoxathian (α1 adrenergic antagonist) revealed that secretininduced excitation of SON oxytocin and vasopressin neurones involves central excitatory noradrenergic pathways. (5) Fasting for 18h did not alter the excitation of SON oxytocin neurones induced by secretin, CCK and leptin. (6) The pathway leading to excitation of oxytocin neurones by CCK was not influenced by prior leptin administration. (7) SON oxytocin neurones were responsive to leptin during late pregnancy. (8) NPY-induced excitation of oxytocin neurones was intact in anaesthetised late pregnant rats, contrasting with attenuated oxytocin secretory responses observed previously in conscious rats. (9) Systemic NPY excited SON oxytocin neurones. (10) Systemic CCK administration either inhibited (77%) or did not affect (23%) SON vasopressin neurones, while leptin had no significant effect, and responses to secretin were predominantly excitatory (67%). Systemic NPY inhibited vasopressin neurones, but central NPY was ineffective. Conclusion: Appetite peptides target SON oxytocin neurones. Postprandially released secretin and leptin might, like CCK, induce peripheral oxytocin release, so as to regulate water and electrolyte homeostasis, which is inevitably disturbed during feeding. Any central release of oxytocin induced by these peptides, might regulate feeding behaviour and satiety. Oxytocin neurone excitation induced by NPY may be relevant during stress responses

A Study on Influence of Personal Profile Variables on Emotional Intelligence Ofarts and Science College Students

Purpose: To assess the level of emotional intelligence among Arts and Science College students as well as the influence of personal profile traits on emotional intelligence in those students.   Theoretical framework:  Variables like Education, Area of residence, Gender, Age, Family monthly income, Father Educational Qualification influence the Emotional Intelligence of the Students   Design/methodology/Approach:   Purposive sampling, T- test, F- Test   Findings: This research has added to the body of knowledge about emotion-related personality differences among arts and science college students studying in various streams, and how they differ in various ways   Research, Practical  &amp;  Social  Implications: Emotional intelligence should be taught through various workshops, Community-wide awareness programmes should be organized   Originality/Value: Establishing Emotional Intelligence-based results across several streams can aid in achieving a better balance between a student's personality and their academic stream of choice. Academic success and professional advancement are made easier with this balance. Emotional intelligence testing may also aid in the development of self-reflection and increased understanding of one's own personality

Gestational Diabetes Triggers Postpartum Cardiac Hypertrophy via Activation of Calcineurin/NFAT Signaling

Population-based studies identified an association between a prior pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction later in life. It is however unclear whether GDM initiates this phenotype and what are the underlying mechanisms. We addressed these questions by using female rats that express human amylin (HIP rats) as a GDM model and their wild-type (WT) littermates as the normal pregnancy model. Pregnant and two months postpartum HIP females had increased left-ventricular mass and wall thickness compared to non-pregnant HIP females, which indicates the presence of concentric hypertrophy. These parameters were unchanged in WT females during both pregnancy and postpartum periods. Hypertrophic Ca2+-dependent calcineurin/NFAT signaling was stimulated two months after giving birth in HIP females but not in the WT. In contrast, the CaMKII/HDAC hypertrophy pathway was active immediately after giving birth and returned to the baseline by two months postpartum in both WT and HIP females. Myocytes from two months postpartum HIP females exhibited slower Ca2+ transient relaxation and higher diastolic Ca2+ levels, which may explain calcineurin activation. No such effects occurred in the WT. These results suggest that a GDM-complicated pregnancy accelerates the development of pathological cardiac remodeling likely through activation of calcineurin/NFAT signaling

Delineation of Soil Fertility Status and KVK Intervention to Improve the Productivity of Pepper in TSP Villages of Namakkal District under Soil Health Card Mission

Soil is the most important resource needed for agriculture production. The unbalanced fertilizer application associated with more production by high yield varieties affects the soil quality vulnerably. Soils of tribal areas, having multi nutrient deficiencies due to intense cropping especially spices Pepper, coffee, cardamom and banana. Balanced application of plant nutrients is thus the only option to increase soil productivity for maintaining/enhancing the overall soil productivity. Delineation of soil nutrient status is an important practice to plan the nutrient scheduling for pepper crop. Hence 100 soil samples were collected from five adopted villages and tested its properties. Based on the analytical results, soil health cards issued along with fertilizer recommendation. Then 50 farmers were selected, trained all scientific package of practices through trainings. The field experiment was conducted in 50 farmer’s field in an area of 20 ha. Pepper variety Panniyur 1 was the test crop. Application of soil test based integrated nutrient management practice increased the yield attributes and yield of pepper. An average of Rs. 74,220/ha net profit could be obtained by adopting all scientific package of practices in the farm holdings

Distinct Effects of Mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Inhibition and Ca2+ Uniporter Activation on Ca2+ Sparks and Arrhythmogenesis in Diabetic Rats

Background Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the cardiac remodeling triggered by type 2 diabetes (T2D). Mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]m) modulates the oxidative state and cytosolic Ca2+ regulation. Thus, we investigated how T2D affects mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes, the downstream consequences on myocyte function, and the effects of normalizing mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. Methods and Results We compared myocytes/hearts from transgenic rats with late‐onset T2D (rats that develop late‐onset T2D due to heterozygous expression of human amylin in the pancreatic β‐cells [HIP] model) and their nondiabetic wild‐type (WT) littermates. [Ca2+]m was significantly lower in myocytes from diabetic HIP rats compared with WT cells. Ca2+ extrusion through the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (mitoNCX) was elevated in HIP versus WT myocytes, particularly at moderate and high [Ca2+]m, while mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was diminished. Mitochondrial Na+ concentration was comparable in WT and HIP rat myocytes and remained remarkably stable while manipulating mitoNCX activity. Lower [Ca2+]m was associated with oxidative stress, increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak in the form of Ca2+ sparks, and mitochondrial dysfunction in T2D hearts. MitoNCX inhibition with CGP‐37157 reduced oxidative stress, Ca2+ spark frequency, and stress‐induced arrhythmias in HIP rat hearts while having no significant effect in WT rats. In contrast, activation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter with SB‐202190 enhanced spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and had no significant effect on arrhythmias in both WT and HIP rat hearts. Conclusions [Ca2+]m is reduced in myocytes from rats with T2D due to a combination of exacerbated mitochondrial Ca2+ extrusion through mitoNCX and impaired mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Partial mitoNCX inhibition limits sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak and arrhythmias in T2D hearts, whereas mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter activation does not

Effects of Intraosseous Erythropoietin during Hemorrhagic Shock in Swine

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To determine whether erythropoietin given during hemorrhagic shock (<i>HS</i>) ameliorates organ injury while improving resuscitation and survival.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Three series of 24 pigs each were studied. In an initial series, 50% of the blood volume (BV) was removed in 30 minutes and normal saline (threefold the blood removed) started at minute 90 infusing each third in 30, 60, and 150 minutes with shed blood reinfused at minute 330 (<i>HS-50_BV</i>). In a second series, the same <i>HS-50_BV</i> protocol was used but removing an additional 15% of BV from minute 30 to 60 (<i>HS-65_BV</i>). In a final series, blood was removed as in <i>HS-65_BV</i> and intraosseous vasopressin given from minute 30 (0.04 U/kg min⁻¹) until start of shed blood reinfusion at minute 150 (<i>HS-65_BV+VP</i>). Normal saline was reduced to half the blood removed and given from minute 90 to 120 in half of the animals. In each series, animals were randomized 1∶1 to receive erythropoietin (1,200 U/kg) or control solution intraosseously after removing 10% of the BV.</p><p>Results</p><p>In <i>HS-50_BV</i>, O₂ consumption remained near baseline yielding minimal lactate increases, 88% resuscitability, and 60% survival at 72 hours. In <i>HS-65_BV</i>, O₂ consumption was reduced and lactate increased yielding 25% resuscitability. In <i>HS-65_BV+VP</i>, vasopressin promoted hemodynamic stability yielding 92% resuscitability and 83% survival at 72 hours. Erythropoietin did not affect resuscitability or subsequent survival in any of the series but increased interleukin-10, attenuated lactate increases, and ameliorated organ injury based on lesser troponin I, AST, and ALT increases and lesser neurological deficits in the <i>HS-65_BV+VP</i> series.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Erythropoietin given during HS in swine failed to alter resuscitability and 72 hour survival regardless of HS severity and concomitant treatment with fluids and vasopressin but attenuated acute organ injury. The studies also showed the efficacy of vasopressin and restrictive fluid resuscitation for hemodynamic stabilization and survival.</p></div

Hematological Effects of EPO in <i>HS-50_BV</i> and <i>HS-65_BV+VP</i>.

<p>Values are mean ± SD. CTR, control; EPO, erythropoietin. Data was pooled from <i>HS-50_BV</i> and <i>HS-65_BV+VP series</i>. Numbers in bracket indicate pooled sample size. Unpaired <i>t</i>-test was used to compare differences in the pooled hematological data between treatment groups at given time points. *<i>p≤</i>0.05. Paired <i>t</i>-test was used to compare pooled hematological data from <i>HS-50_BV</i> and <i>HS-65_BV+VP series</i> at baseline and post-resuscitation within each treatment group. ^a<i>p≤</i>0.05 and ^c<i>p≤</i>0.001. There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline.</p><p>Hematological Effects of EPO in <i>HS-50_BV</i> and <i>HS-65_BV+VP</i>.</p

Swine model of hemorrhagic shock.

<p>CO, cardiac output; IO, intraosseous; P_ETCO₂, end-tidal PCO₂; ECG, electrocardiogram.</p

Hemodynamic and myocardial effects of EPO (open circles, n = 12) and vehicle control (closed circles, n = 12) in series <i>HS-50_BV</i>.

<p>Numbers in brackets indicate when the number of animals decreased from the preceding time point consequent to death of the animal. BL, baseline; BW, blood withdrawal; HS, hemorrhagic shock; NS, normal saline; BR, blood reinfusion; Ao, aortic pressure; SVRI, systemic vascular resistance index; LVSWI, left ventricular stroke work index; RVWI, right ventricular stroke work index. Values are shown as mean ± SEM. Differences between groups were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA. There were no overall significant treatment effects. However, there were overall statistically significant interactions between treatment and time for Ao mean (<i>p</i> = 0.033), cardiac index (<i>p</i><0.001), LVSWI (<i>p</i> = 0.001), and RVSWI (<i>p</i><0.001). *<i>p</i>≤0.05, †<i>p</i>≤0.01, and ‡<i>p</i>≤0.001 denote statistically significant differences between groups at the specified time points. ^a<i>p</i>≤0.05, ^b<i>p</i>≤0.01, and ^c<i>p</i>≤0.001 denote significant differences <i>vs</i> baseline using the Holm-Sidak test for multiple comparisons showing the differences only when they occurred in one of the two groups.</p