2010 Targeting Trends Review

de Carvalho D, Bicego KC, de Castro OW, da Silva GS, Garcia-Cairasco N, Gargaglioni LH (2010) Role of neurokinin-1 expressing neurons in the locus coeruleus on ventilatory and cardiovascular responses to hypercapnia. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 172(1-2):24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2010.04.016

Summary: NK-1 receptors (NK1R) play an important role in cardiorespiratory responses to hypercapnia. In order to paint a clearer picture of the systems involved the authors injected 0.4 µl of 2 µM SP-SAP (Cat. #IT-07) into the locus coeruleus (LC) of rats. Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18) was used as a control. The data suggest that several subpopulations of neurons express NK1R in the LC, and that these subpopulations play different roles in the modulation of cardiorespiratory reponses to hypercapnia.

Related Products: SP-SAP (Cat. #IT-07), Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18)

Sugiura A, Ohtori S, Yamashita M, Yamauchi K, Inoue G, Suzuki M, Norimoto M, Orita S, Eguchi Y, Kuniyoshi K, Ochiai N, Kishida S, Takaso M, Aoki Y, Ishikawa T, Arai G, Miyagi M, Kamoda H, Nakamura J, Takahashi K (2010) Effect of applying p75NTR saporin to a punctured intervertebral disc on calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. J Orthop Sci 15(3):407-413. doi: 10.1007/s00776-010-1469-x

Summary: Lumbar intervertebral discs are suspected to be a source of low back pain, in part because of the innervation of these discs by neurons containing substance P and CGRP receptors. Rats received 2.5 µg of 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01) into the L5/6 vertebral disc after the disc was punctured. While half of the dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the disc were positive for CGRP post-puncture, animals receiving 192-IgG-SAP displayed reduced CGRP expression, indicating a role for the p75 receptor in discogenic pain.

Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)

Schnitzler AC, Mellott TJ, Lopez-Coviella I, Tallini YN, Kotlikoff MI, Follettie MT, Blusztajn JK (2010) BMP9 (bone morphogenetic protein 9) induces NGF as an autocrine/paracrine cholinergic trophic factor in developing basal forebrain neurons. J Neurosci 30(24):8221-8228. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5611-09.2010 PMID: 20554873

Summary: Bone morphogentic protein (BMP) 9 is a cholinergic differentiation factor that increases acetylcholine synthesis and choline acetyltransferase gene expression. The authors investigated whether BMP9 could induce cholinergic trophic factors in murine septal cells. One experiment involved the sorting of E18 septal cells using anti-p75 (Cat. #AB-N01AP, 5µg/2×106 cells). The increased Ngf gene expression in response to BMP9 in p75-positive basal forebrain cholinergic neurons indicates an autocrine/paracrine role for NGF in the development and maintenance of these cells.

Related Products: NGFr (mu p75) Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N01AP)

Potes CS, Turek VF, Cole RL, Vu C, Roland BL, Roth JD, Riediger T, Lutz TA (2010) Noradrenergic neurons of the area postrema mediate amylin’s hypophagic action. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 299(2):R623-631. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00791.2009

Summary: Amylin decreases food intake in rats and is a satiation signal affecting the area postrema (AP). This work investigated the role of noradrenergic neurons in amylin activity. Rats received a total of 50 ng of anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03) into the AP and 25 ng into the lateral parabrachial nucleus. Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18) was used as a control. Rats showing a >50% lesion of noradrenergic neurons were unresponsive to low doses of amylin, suggesting that noradrenergic neurons are part of the amylin pathway.

Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18)

Adachi T, Huxtable AG, Fang X, Funk GD (2010) Substance P modulation of hypoglossal motoneuron excitability during development: changing balance between conductances. J Neurophysiol 104(2):854-872. doi: 10.1152/jn.00016.2010 PMID: 20538779

Summary: This work examined how neuromuscular networks that are immature, but functional, at birth move through development while remaining operational. The authors focused on hypoglossal motoneurons involved in behaviors such as swallowing, suckling, and breathing. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-NK-1 receptor antibody (Cat. #AB-N04). The data show that although NK-1 receptor density decreases as the animal matures, substance P (the NK-1 receptor ligand) remains an important part of these networks.

Related Products: Antibody to NK-1 Receptor (Cat. #AB-N04)

Di Sebastiano AR, Yong-Yow S, Wagner L, Lehman MN, Coolen LM (2010) Orexin mediates initiation of sexual behavior in sexually naive male rats, but is not critical for sexual performance. Horm Behav 58(3):397-404. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.004

Summary: In this work the role of endogenous orexin-A and B in male sexual behavior was investigated. Rats received a total of 400 ng of orexin-SAP (Cat. #IT-20) into the hypothalamus in each hemisphere. Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21) was used as a control. The lesions facilitated initiation of sexual behavior in naïve males, and reduced anxiety-like behaviors. The data suggest that orexin may play a role in arousal and anxiety related to sexual behavior in naïve animals, but is not critical for performance or motivation.

Related Products: Orexin-B-SAP (Cat. #IT-20), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Luo T, Leung LS (2010) Endogenous histamine facilitates long-term potentiation in the hippocampus during walking. J Neurosci 30(23):7845-7852. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1127-10.2010

Summary: The neurotransmitter histamine is involved in several physiological functions, such as sleep-wake activites, circadian rhythms, learning, and memory. This work examines the role of histamine in modulating synaptic plasticity. Rats received 62.5 ng injections of orexin-SAP (Cat. #IT-20) into the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN), followed by assessment of long term potentiation (LTP) during different behavioral states. The data indicate that histaminergic neurons in the TMN facilitate basal-dendritic LTP during walking.

Related Products: Orexin-B-SAP (Cat. #IT-20)

Worlicek M, Knebel K, Linde HJ, Moleda L, Scholmerich J, Straub RH, Wiest R (2010) Splanchnic sympathectomy prevents translocation and spreading of E coli but not S aureus in liver cirrhosis. Gut 59(8):1127-1134. doi: 10.1136/gut.2009.185413

Summary: Advanced cirrhosis activates the sympathetic nervous system. This work investigates the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis – which is mainly caused by translocation of enteric Gram-negative bacteria. Rats received 15 µg intraperitoneal injections of anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03). Lesioned animals displayed increased susceptibility to bacterial translocation and infection with E. coli but not S. aureus. This suggests the SNS plays an important role in the immune response to Gram-negative bacteria.

Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)

Paban V, Farioli F, Romier B, Chambon C, Alescio-Lautier B (2010) Gene expression profile in rat hippocampus with and without memory deficit. Neurobiol Learn Mem 94(1):42-56. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2010.03.005

Summary: This work examined a wide range of gene expression in the rat hippocampus after bilateral injections of 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01) – 37.5 ng per side in the medial septum, and 75 ng per side in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Memory loss following 192-IgG-SAP treatment was marked by gene expression that did not show the same cluster organization as learning processes. Genes showing differential expression were down-regulated, and one cluster associated with tissue remodeling could be identified.

Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)

Hummel M, Cummons T, Lu P, Mark L, Harrison JE, Kennedy JD, Whiteside GT (2010) Pain is a salient “stressor” that is mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor-1 receptors. Neuropharmacology 59(3):160-166. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.05.001

Summary: Given that corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a major role in the response to stress, the authors investigated the role CRF-1 receptors may play in the perception of pain. Both rats and mice received 10µl intrathecal injections of 10 µM CRF-SAP (Cat. #IT-13) following a spinal nerve ligation. Administration of CRF-SAP attenuated tactile hypersensitivity, indicating that CRF-1 receptors are involved in pain perception.

Related Products: CRF-SAP (Cat. #IT-13)