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Immunotoxin lesion of catecholaminergic neurons innervating the medial hypothalamus elevates basal expression of and attenuates glucoprivaation-induced increases in agouti gene related protein (AGRP) mRNA.
Fraley GS, Dinh TT, Ritter S (2001) Immunotoxin lesion of catecholaminergic neurons innervating the medial hypothalamus elevates basal expression of and attenuates glucoprivaation-induced increases in agouti gene related protein (AGRP) mRNA. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 947.2. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Catecholaminergic (CA) innervation of medial hypothalamic structures is necessary for glucoprivation-induced feeding, glucocorticoid secretion and Fos expression in the paraventricular (PVH) and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus. In this experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG)-induced an increase in AGRP mRNA expression (reported recently by Sergeyev et al., 2000) also requires NE/E neurons. CA neurons innervating the medial hypothalamus were lesioned using the toxin, saporin, targeted for selective entry into NE/E neurons by conjugation with a monoclonal antibody against dopamine beta hydroxylase. This toxin (DSAP), or unconjugated saporin (SAP) control solution, was bilaterally microinjected into the PVH. DSAP rats with confirmed 2DG-induced feeding deficits (DSAP 1.7 +/- 0.29 g; SAP 5.1 +/- 0.31 g; p < 0.05) and controls were injected with 2DG (250 mg/kg), or saline and maintained for 2 hrs without food. Hypothalami were harvested and subjected to Northern blot analysis of AGRP mRNA. Blot analysis revealed that 2DG increased mRNA expression in SAP controls (2DG: 1.0 +/- 0.05 RDU; saline: 0.7 +/- 0.02, p< .05), but not in DSAP lesioned rats (2DG: 1.1 +/- 0.04; saline: 1.0 +/- 0.03). In addition, basal AGRP mRNA expression was significantly elevated in DSAP-lesioned rats compared to SAP controls (p < .05). These data suggest that basal AGRP gene expression is controlled by hindbrain CA neurons and that increased AGRP gene expression induced by glucoprivation also requires these neurons.
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Selective immunotoxin lesion of hypothalamically-projecting norepinephrine/epinephrine (NE/E) neurons impairs the glucocorticoid response to glucoprivation.
Ritter S, Dinh TT, Sanders NM, Pedrow C (2001) Selective immunotoxin lesion of hypothalamically-projecting norepinephrine/epinephrine (NE/E) neurons impairs the glucocorticoid response to glucoprivation. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 947.3. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Decreased glucose utilization triggers behavioral and neuroendocrine responses that increase blood glucose concentrations and delivery of glucose to the brain. These include stimulation of food intake and increased secretion of glucagon, adrenal E and glucocorticoids. In previous work utilizing the targeted immunotoxin, DSAP (saporin conjugated to a monoclonal antibody against dopamine β-hydroxylase), we demonstrated that hindbrain NE/E neurons that project to the hypothalamus are necessary for glucoprivic feeding and those that project spinally are necessary for glucoprivic control of adrenal medullary secretion. In the present study, we injected DSAP or control solution into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) to investigate the role of NE/E neurons in glucoprivic control of glucocorticoid secretion. DSAP lesions significantly attenuated the magnitude and duration of the glucocorticoid (cortisol) response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG)-induced glucoprivation, but did not reduce the glucagon response. After 2DG (250 mg/kg), cortisol levels peaked at only 184% of pre-2DG levels in DSAP rats, compared to 440% in controls. Quantitative analysis revealed that DSAP did not destroy CRF-immunoreactive cell bodies in the PVH or terminals in the arcuate/median eminence, but did reduce dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in hypothalamus and in hindbrain NE/E cell groups known to innervate the hypothalamus, including those that innervate CRF neurons in the PVH. Results indicate a critical role for hindbrain NE/E neurons in eliciting multiple controls of glucose homeostasis.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Monoamine modulation of spinal reflex excitability of the lower limb in the rat: Intrathecal infusion (i.t.) of anti-DBH saporin toxin – time course for behavior.
Bose P, Wang DC, Parmer R, Wiley RG, Thompson FJ (2001) Monoamine modulation of spinal reflex excitability of the lower limb in the rat: Intrathecal infusion (i.t.) of anti-DBH saporin toxin – time course for behavior. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 771.3. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Progressive neurophysiological changes in the excitability of ankle extensor stretch reflexes were observed following T8 spinal cord contusion injury. Our previous study indicated that nonspecific monoamine depletion (reserpine, i.p.)contributed to pathologic hyperreflexia. To test a more specific hypothesis, a longitudinal study was performed to evaluate the time course of changes in reflex excitability after i.t. injection of 250ng of anti-DBH saporin toxin (that specifically lesions descending spinal noradrenergic neurons) into the lumbar spinal cord of normal rats. Measures of ankle torque and time-locked EMGs were used to scale stretch reflex excitability across a broad range of stretch velocities (49-612°/sec) before and at weekly intervals following i.t. injection of toxin (n=12) or vehicle (n=6) using instrumentation and protocol previously reported. An elevated pattern of ankle toque was noted in all velocities tested on day 1 and week 1 of toxin treated animals compared with vehicle controls. By week-2, and for the remaining 5 weeks of testing, significant elevation of the ankle torque was only observed in the faster velocities. Significant increases in hindlimb axis and base of support were also observed from footprint analysis. These findings indicate that selective lesion of spinal noradrenergic fibers produced some of the specific changes in the reflex excitability that were observed following midthoracic spinal contusion injury.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Monoamine modulation of spinal reflex excitability of the lower limb in the rat: Intrathecal (i.t.) infusion of anti-DBH saporin toxin – time course for neurophysiology.
Wang DC, Bose P, Parmer R, Wiley RG, Thompson FJ (2001) Monoamine modulation of spinal reflex excitability of the lower limb in the rat: Intrathecal (i.t.) infusion of anti-DBH saporin toxin – time course for neurophysiology. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 771.5. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Progressive neurophysiological changes in the excitability of ankle extensor stretch reflex were identified following T8 spinal cord contusion injury (Thompson et. al., 1992). Previous study suggested that nonspecific monoamine depletion may be a significant contributor to the pathologic hyperreflexia associated with chronic spinal cord injury (Thompson et. al., 1999). To test a more specific hypothesis, a study was performed to evaluate the time course of changes in reflex excitability after i.t. injection of 250ng of anti-DBH saporin toxin to specifically lesion descending spinal noradrenergic neurons into the lumbar spinal cord of normal rats. Measures of H-reflex excitability were obtained prior to and at weekly intervals following toxin injection until a physiological plateau was observed. Significant decreases in rate-depression of H-reflexes were observed by the second week after toxin infusion and were maintained throughout the five weeks of testing. These studies indicate that selective lesioning of noradrenergic fibers produced specific changes in reflex excitability previously observed following midthoracic spinal cord contusion injury in the rat. The results of this study further implicate neurophysiological changes associated with monoamine loss as a contributing factor leading to hyperreflexia derived from chronic spinal cord injury. Correlated behavioral changes are reported in the companion poster, Bose et.al.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Selective immunotoxin lesions of hindbrain norepinephrine/epinephrine (NE/E) neurons impair feeding and corticosterone responses and Fos-immunoreactivity in hypothalamic sites during insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH).
Sanders NM, Dinh TT, Pedrow C, Ritter S (2001) Selective immunotoxin lesions of hindbrain norepinephrine/epinephrine (NE/E) neurons impair feeding and corticosterone responses and Fos-immunoreactivity in hypothalamic sites during insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH). Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 635.21. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Previously,we used the targeted immunotoxin saporin, conjugated to a monoclonal antibody against dopamine Beta-hydroxylase(DSAP),to destroy hypothalamic projecting NE/E neurons. Results showed that NE/E neurons are required for 2-deoxy-D-glucose induced feeding and Fos expression in the hypothalamus. In the present study,we used this same technique to determine if NE/E neurons play a similar role in mediating IIH responses.Rats were injected with DSAP or unconjugated saporin (SAP)into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus(PVH).Insulin reduced blood glucose to similar values in DSAP and SAP rats(15 and 17mg/dl, respectively). Glucagon responses to hypoglycemia were unaffected by DSAP,peaking at 597% and 504% of pre-drug levels after insulin in DSAP and SAP rats,respectively.In contrast,the corticosterone response was severely diminished in DSAP rats,peaking at only 123% of pre-insulin levels, compared to 353% in SAP rats.DSAP injections also abolished the feeding response to IIH.DSAP rats ate 0.9g of food during IIH while the SAP rats at 6.1g of food.DBH-ir was abolished in the A1/C1 overlap and reduced in A2,C2,C3 and A6 sites in DSAP rats. In the SAP rats,IIH induced Fos-ir in hindbrain NE/E neurons the PVH, LH and ARC.In DSAP rats, Fos-ir was reduced or abolished in these hypothalamic sites but was preserved in the adrenal medulla.These findings further support the role of hindbrain NE/E neurons in transmitting information from hindbrain glucoreceptive sites to hypothalamic circuits coordinating feeding and neuroendocrine responses to glucose deficit.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Immunolesioning of brainstem DBH neurons on the mating-induced LH and prolactin surge in the rabbit.
Pau K (2001) Immunolesioning of brainstem DBH neurons on the mating-induced LH and prolactin surge in the rabbit. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 466.7. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Coitus induces a surge release of norepinephrine (NE) that is accompanied by a preovulatory gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, attenuates the GnRH/LH surge, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in brainstem NE areas increases within 30 min after coitus. Here, we determined the coitus-induced LH/prolactin surge after specific lesioning of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) neurons in the brainstem with monoclonal anti-DBH sera conjugated with the ribosomal cytotoxin saporin (DBH-SAP). Female NZW rabbits received 3rd cerebroventricular injection (Day 0) of either DBH-SAP (20 µg, n=4) or SAP (3 µg, n=4). On day 14, the four DBH-SAP females were paired with stud males, but none of them mated. After daily injection of estradiol benzoate (EB, 3 µg) for 3 days, all eight females mated. Blood samples were taken once before, and at 10-min intervals for 4 hours after, coitus. Brainstems were prepared for immunocytochemical detection of DBH and TH. Coitus increased both LH and prolactin release in either DBH-SAP or SAP animals. However, postcoital LH and prolactin levels were 55% lower and 50% higher, respectively, in DBH-SAP rabbits than in SAP animals. The number of DBH neurons was near zero in the A6 and reduced by 80% in the A1 and 70% in the A2 noradrenergic areas in DBH-SAP animals. The number of TH neurons was reduced by 95% and 30% in the A6 and A1 areas, respectively, and did not change in the A2 area. The results suggest that the presence of intact brainstem NE neurons are critical for sexual performance and production of normal LH/prolactin surge after coitus in female rabbits.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
A novel method for localized sympathetic nervous system denervation of peripheral tissue using guanethidine.
Bartness TJ, Demas GE (2001) A novel method for localized sympathetic nervous system denervation of peripheral tissue using guanethidine. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 309.10. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: A simple technique for the functional deactivation of the sympathetic nervous system innervation of peripheral tissues is described using the local application of guanethidine. Multiple unilateral microinjections of guanethidine were made into one inguinal or epididymal white adipose tissue (IWAT and EWAT) pads of hamsters, whereas the contralateral pad received equivolumetric saline vehicle injections. Guanethidine treatment virtually abolished the sympathetic innervation of both EWAT and IWAT, as measured by the absence of significant norepinephrine (NE) tissue content two weeks later and as suggested by the two-fold increase in IWAT mass characteristic of surgically induced WAT denervation. IWAT and EWAT NE content and mass were unaffected in the contralateral control pads. Guanethidine injections into the spleen also lead to a function sympathectomy as indicated by significant depletions of NE content. Because guanethidine treatment did not decrease body mass nor induce ptosis, no chemical-induced malaise or global sympathetic denervation, respectively, was suggested. We compared the effects of local guanethidine treatment on IWAT NE content and pad mass with the local application of the sympathetic neurotoxin, anti-dopamine beta hydroxylase saporin, and with local surgical IWAT denervation. Guanethidine treatment significantly reduced IWAT NE content to a greater degree than for the alternative sympathectomy methods. These results suggest that locally applied, chemical sympathectomy with guanethidine provides an effective, restricted method for denervating WAT and likely other peripheral tissues.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Noradrenergic inputs to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is involved in estrogen receptor α expression in the PVN of 48-h fasted and 2DG-injected female rats.
Estacio MA, Tsukamura H, Reyes BA, Maeda KI (2001) Noradrenergic inputs to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is involved in estrogen receptor α expression in the PVN of 48-h fasted and 2DG-injected female rats. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 409.6. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Involvement of noradrenergic inputs to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the PVN during 48-h fasting and 2DG-induced glucoprivation in female rats was determined by examining the effect of destroying the noradrenergic inputs to the PVN using the saporin-conjugated anti-dopamine-β-hydroxylase (anti-DBH-saporin). Ovariectomized rats were injected bilaterally with anti-DBH-saporin in the PVN. After two weeks, animals were either fasted for 48 hours or injected intravenously with 2DG, then perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Brain sections were processed for ERα and DBH immunocytochemistry. Forty-eight-hour fasting or 2DG injection siginificantly increased the number of ERα-immunoreactive (ERα-ir) cells in the PVN in control animals. Anti-DBH-saporin injection prevented fasting- or 2DG-induced increase in ERα-ir cells in the PVN. The DBH-ir axons in the parvocellular PVN were severely reduced following anti-DBH-saporin injection in both fasted and 2DG injected rats. Among the brainstem noradrenergic cell groups examined, there was a significant decrease in the number of DBH-ir cells in the A2 region of both fasted and 2DG injected rats treated with anti-DBH-saporin. There was no obvious reduction in the number of DBH-ir cells in the A1 and A6 regions in the anti-DBH-saporin-injected fasted- or 2DG-injected rats. The results suggest that the A2 noradrenergic input to the PVN plays a major role in increasing ERα expression in the PVN in response to 48-h fasting or 2DG-induced glucoprivation.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Targeted destruction of A2/C2 catecholamine neurons alters hypothalamic responses to vagal stimulation.
Rinaman L, Wonders CP (2001) Targeted destruction of A2/C2 catecholamine neurons alters hypothalamic responses to vagal stimulation. Neuroscience 2001 Abstracts 131.4. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Central catecholamine (CA) pathways participate in viscerosensory modulation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine function. Different brainstem CA cell groups may relay different types of viscerosensory signals to different classes of hypothalamic effectors. The present study sought to determine the role of dorsal medullary A2/C2 neurons in hypothalamic responses to exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK), which activates gastrointestinal vagal sensory inputs to the caudal brainstem. Saporin toxin conjugated to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase antibody (anti-DbH-sap; 10 ng in 100 nl) or control toxin was microinjected unilaterally or bilaterally into the A2/C2 region of the dorsal vagal complex in adult male rats. After 10-14 days, rats were injected i.p. with CCK (10 ug/kg) and perfused with fixative 1 hr later. Brainstem and forebrain sections were processed for dual immunocytochemical detection of cFos (a marker of neural activation) and DbH (to define the lesion). Additional forebrain sections were processed for cFos and either oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP), or corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) to identify hypothalamic neurons activated by CCK. Anti-DbH-sap destroyed the majority of A2/C2 neurons within the microinjection site(s), with minimal non-specific damage. A2/C2 lesions markedly attenuated CCK-induced activation of OT neurons and, to a lesser extent, attentuated CRF activation. Conversely, CCK-induced cFos expression was significantly increased in AVP neurons. The latter effect was observed only after bilateral lesions. These results indicate that A2/C2 neurons participate in vagal sensory-mediated stimulation of OT neurons and CRF neurons, and inhibition of AVP neurons.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)
Long-term intrathecal catheterization in the rat.
Jasmin L, Ohara PT (2001) Long-term intrathecal catheterization in the rat. J Neurosci Methods 110:81-89. doi: 10.1016/s0165-0270(01)00420-4
Summary: The authors have developed a method that allows repeated administration of drugs with minimal stress to an experimental animal. To test the efficacy of this intrathecal catheter, they injected anti-DBH-SAP (5 µg; Cat. #IT-03,) and investigated the noradrenergic denervation of the spinal cord. All animals treated with anti-DBH-SAP showed extensive loss of spinal noradrenergic ennervation. Even three months after catheter implantation, the elimination of noradrenergic neurons in the spinal cord could be produced. This indicates the intrathecal catheter is an effective tool for the study of multiple-dose drug delivery.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)