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C Perego

Publications and source records attributed to C Perego.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Interleukin-6 is differently modulated by central opioid receptor subtypes.

The central endogenous opioid system is involved in the modulation of interleukin (IL)-6, an inflammatory cytokine that plays a major role in the acute phase response. The present study evaluates whether specific opioid receptor subtypes are selectively involved in this immunomodulatory action. IL-1 beta was administered either intracerebroventricularly or intraperitoneally at the dose of 400 ng to rats pretreated with the mu-antagonist beta-funaltrexamine, the delta-antagonist naltrindole, or the kappa-antagonist nor-binaltorphimine, each at the doses of 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/rat intracerebroventricularly. Serum IL-6 levels were measured 2 h later. The results show that mu-receptor blockade increases, whereas delta-receptor blockade decreases IL-6 induction, suggesting that the fine tuning exerted by opioids on the immune system may be achieved through a balance of opposing effects. Moreover the three antagonists affect IL-6 induction by central and peripheral IL-1 beta with a similar pattern, indicating that the brain endogenous opioid system plays a general role in the regulation of this cytokine.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Central opiate modulation of peripheral IL-6 in rats.

The effect of opiate agonists and antagonists on the induction of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory cytokine that plays a major role in the acute phase response, was studied. Morphine (10 micrograms, i.c.v. or 15 mg kg-1, i.p.), beta-endorphin (0.5 or 5 micrograms, i.c.v.) and etorphin (10 mg kg-1, i.p.) induced IL-6. Moreover, morphine potentiated the IL-6 response induced by IL-1 beta (400 ng, i.p. or i.c.v.). When injected intraperitoneally, the opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride, antagonized the IL-6 response induced by either i.c.v. or i.p. IL-1 beta. This effect was not seen with naloxone methiodide, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. The data show that central opiates are effective modulators of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Noradrenaline release in hypothalamus and ACTH secretion induced by central interleukin-1beta.

The effect of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta, 10 ng per 5 mu l i.c.v.) on noradrenaline release in the hypothalamus of freely moving rats and on plasma ACTH levels has been studied, respectively by intracerebral microdialysis and radioimmunoassay. IL-1beta induced an early increase in noradrenaline (NA) release in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) followed by a second long-lasting enhancement starting from 80 min, with a maximum at 140 min (187 +/- 14%). Heat-denatured IL-1beta induced only the early increase without any other change at later times. IL-1beta did not significantly affect NA release in the area surrounding the PVN at any time. IL-1beta increased ACTH levels at 2 and 3 h. Indomethacin (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) prevented the noradrenergic and ACTH responses. The NA system in the PVN plays a part in the mechanism controlling the ACTH response induced by IL-1.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1995

Sleep regulation: interactions among cytokines and classical neurotransmitters.

The role of classical neurotransmitters in sleep regulation is amply documented (Hobson and Steriade, 1986). In recent years evidence has been gathered that immunoactive molecules, infectious agents and their components, or cytokines play some part in sleep regulation (Krueger and Obál, 1994; Opp et al., 1992; Moldofsky, 1994). Different cytokines possess hypnogenic properties when injected centrally or systemically to different animal species and their role in physiological sleep regulation is currently under investigation. Little is known of how cytokines and classical neurotransmitters interact and of the relevance of this interaction in sleep induction and maintenance. The present paper (i) reviews data on this topic; (ii) proposes a unitary interpretation whenever possible; and (iii) raises questions that might be addressed by future studies.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

Effect of development of habituation to restraint stress on hypothalamic noradrenaline release and adrenocorticotropin secretion.

The effect of repeated stress has been studied on noradrenaline release in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and on adrenocorticotropin levels. Rats were stressed by 20-min immobilization once a day for 5 days. On day 6 they were exposed to the same stress or to a different one (ether vapors for 2 min). Immobilization and ether stress increased noradrenaline release in naive rats (271 +/- 43 and 197 +/- 9%, respectively) and raised adrenocorticotropin levels, showing activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Repeated daily restraint did not modify basal noradrenaline or adrenocorticotropin levels. The further immobilization session on day 6 did not change noradrenaline levels at any observation time (20-120 min). The adrenocorticotropin response was still present, although significantly reduced. In repeatedly restrained rats, exposure to ether vapors induced a maximal increase in noradrenaline level similar to that observed in naive rats, although prolonged. In these rats the adrenocorticotropin response did not differ from that in acutely stressed rats. These results suggest that habituation may develop to a stressful stimulus leading to suppression of the hypothalamic noradrenergic response and that this phenomenon is stress specific. Moreover, modifications of noradrenaline release in the paraventricular nucleus are not solely responsible for the adrenocorticotropin response during stress, suggesting that other pathways and/or neurotransmitters are involved too.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1995

Cloning of a rabbit renal Na-Pi cotransporter, which is regulated by dietary phosphate.

Previously, we isolated a cDNA (NaPi-1) related to a rabbit renal proximal tubular Na-Pi cotransporter (A. Werner, M.L. Moore, N. Mantei, J. Biber, G. Semenza, and H. Murer. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9608-9612, 1991.). In this study, we isolated an additional (rabbit renal) cDNA (NaPi-6), which induces Na-dependent Pi uptake in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Substrate specificity and kinetic properties corresponded to those known for rabbit renal brush-border membrane (BBM) Na-Pi cotransport. NaPi-6 was cloned by homology using NaPi-2 cDNA, a rat renal BBM Na-Pi cotransporter (S. Magagnin, A. Werner, D. Markovich, V. Sorribas, G. Stange, J. Biber, and H. Murer. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 5979-5983, 1993). NaPi-6 encodes a protein of 642 amino acids, exhibiting at least eight transmembrane domains. NaPi-6 mRNA and protein in kidneys of rabbits fed a low-Pi diet (LPD; 0.11% Pi) for 1 wk were increased by 1.5- and 4-fold, respectively, compared with those of rabbits fed a high-Pi diet (HPD; 1.20% Pi). This effect was correlated with an increase in Na-Pi cotransport of BBM vesicles isolated from animals adapted to LPD (2.5-fold with respect to HPD). In contrast, NaPi-1 mRNA and protein were not altered in response to LPD. Thus rabbit proximal tubular BBMs contain two different Na-Pi cotransport systems: NaPi-1 (type I) and NaPi-6 (type II). Only the type II transport system seems to be under regulatory control in response to low-Pi dietary intake.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Functional characterization of leucine transport induced in Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with mRNA isolated from midguts of lepidopteran larvae (Philosamia cynthia).

The injection of poly(A)+ mRNA prepared from Philosamia cynthia midgut caused time- and dose-dependent increases of leucine transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes, with an increase in leucine uptake 1.5-3 times that of oocytes injected with water. When the NaCl concentration was reduced from 100 to 5 mmol l-1, the difference between mRNA- and water-injected oocytes was greater and a fourfold increase of L-leucine uptake was measured. D-Leucine (10 mmol l-1) completely inhibited the induced uptake of 0.1 mmol l-1 L-leucine. The newly expressed component of L-leucine uptake increased at alkaline pH and was abolished by incubation for 15 min with 15 mmol l-1 phenylglyoxal. The mean Km values, calculated using Na+ activation curves of leucine uptake, were 23.3 +/- 6.1 mmol l-1 in water-injected oocytes and 0.4 +/- 0.2 mmol l-1 for the newly expressed component of leucine uptake in mRNA-injected oocytes. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the increase of L-leucine uptake in mRNA-injected oocytes was due to the expression of a new transport system, which differs from the endogenous ones and shares many features with that found previously in Philosamia cynthia midgut.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Basal and stress-induced release of noradrenaline in hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats at different ages.

Basal and stress-induced noradrenaline (NA) release was studied by intracerebral microdialysis in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at different ages (9 weeks, 6, 18 and 24 months). NA was measured in 20-min dialysate samples by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Microdialysis sampling was done at baseline, during a 20-min immobilization stress and for the next 100 min. Basal NA levels decreased with age, showing a highly significant correlation. Immobilization stress raised NA similarly in the four age groups (respectively 281%, 235%, 243%, 251% of baseline at 9 weeks, 6, 18, 24 months), indicating that the response to stress is maintained at all these ages and is not affected by the development of hypertension or by aging.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1994

Expression of rat ileal Na(+)-sulphate cotransport in Xenopus laevis oocytes: functional characterization.

Small-intestinal sulphate absorption is a Na(+)-dependent process having its highest rate in the ileum; it involves brush-border membrane Na(+)-sulphate cotransport. Injection of rat ileal mRNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes induced Na(+)-dependent sulphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner, with no apparent effect on Na(+)-independent sulphate uptake. For mRNA-induced transport, the apparent Km value for sulphate interaction was 0.6 +/- 0.2 mM and that for sodium interaction was 25 +/- 2 mM (Hill coefficient: 2.3 +/- 0.3). mRNA-induced transport, was inhibited by thiosulphate, but not by phosphate or 4,4,'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS). Using a rat renal Na(+)-sulphate cotransporter cDNA as a probe [NaSi-1; Markovich et al. (1993) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:8073-8077], the highest hybridization signals (2.3 kb and 2.9 kb) were obtained in size fractions showing the highest expression of Na(+)-dependent sulphate transport in oocytes. Hybrid depletion experiments using antisense oligonucleotides (from the NaSi-1 cDNA sequence), provided further evidence that rat small-intestinal (ileal) Na(+)-sulphate cotransport is closely related to rat proximal-tubular brush-border membrane Na(+)-sulphate cotransport.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

cDNA cloning of a rat small-intestinal Na+/SO4(2-) cotransporter.

We have isolated a cDNA (ileal NaSi-1) from rat small intestine by homology screening with a cDNA (renal NaSi-1) encoding rat kidney cortex Na(+)-SO4(2-) cotransport. Ileal NaSi-1 cRNA specifically stimulates Na(+)-dependent SO4(2-) uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner in Xenopus laevis oocytes, with kinetic parameters almost identical to those of the renal NaSi-1. Ileal NaSi-1 cDNA contains 2722 base pairs (bp), almost 500 bp more than the renal NaSi-1 cDNA; however, it encodes a protein of 595 amino acids identical to the renal NaSi-1 protein. Northern blot analysis shows strong signals in rat lower small intestine and kidney cortex (2.9 x 10(3) and 2.3 x 10(3) bases), with the ileal NaSi-1 corresponding to the longer transcript. We conclude that we have identified a rat ileal cDNA that encodes a membrane protein most likely involved in brush-border Na(+)-SO4(2-) cotransport. It differs to the renal NaSi-1 only in the length of the 3' untranslated region, suggesting that the major difference lies in the differential use of polyadenylation signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Potassium activation of Na(+)-dependent leucine transport in brush-border membrane vesicles from rat jejunum.

Na(+)-dependent leucine uptake was greater in potassium loaded brush-border membrane vesicles compared with controls. This effect was not mediated by an electrical potential difference, since it was still present in voltage-clamped conditions. Inhibition experiments indicate the same Na(+)-dependent leucine transport activity in the presence or in the absence of potassium. The affinity of sodium for the cotransporter was identical at 10 or 100 mM potassium. Leucine kinetics at different potassium concentrations showed a maximum 2.4-fold increase in Vmax, while Km was unaffected. The secondary plots of the kinetic results were not linear. This kinetic behavior suggests that K+ acts as a non-essential activator of Na(+)-dependent leucine cotransport. A charge compensation of sodium-leucine influx is most probably a component of the potassium effect in the presence of valinomycin.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Aging prolongs the stress-induced release of noradrenaline in rat hypothalamus.

A stress-induced increase in noradrenaline (NA) release was measured by intracerebral microdialysis in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of freely moving Wistar-Kyoto rats at three different ages (6, 18 and 24 months). NA levels in 20-min dialysate samples were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Microdialysis sampling was done at the baseline during a 20-min immobilization stress and for the next 100 min. Basal NA release was not significantly different in the three age groups. The immobilization stress increased NA levels (247, 197 and 234% of the baseline for the 6-, 18- and 24-month animals, respectively) which was not significantly different in the three groups. In the two younger groups NA returned to the baseline in the first sample after the end of the stress (t = 40 min) whereas in the 24-month group it remained significantly higher for longer (until t = 60 min). Stress-induced release of hypothalamic NA thus appears to be prolonged in old rats.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1993

Lack of glucocorticoids sustains the stress-induced release of noradrenaline in the anterior hypothalamus.

The release of endogenous noradrenaline in the anterior hypothalamus was studied with microdialysis perfusion in freely moving rats that were subjected to immobilization stress. Experiments were carried out in sham-adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized rats that were first given drinking water containing corticosterone for 5 days following surgery and then switched to a corticosterone-free diet the day before stress application. One group of these adrenalectomized animals was injected with dexamethasone. Basal release of noradrenaline collected in 20-min fractions was similar in the three groups of animals and averaged 24 fmol. The recovery of the probe was about 10%. In sham-adrenalectomized rats application of 20-min immobilization stress increased noradrenaline release to 310% of baseline in the sample collected during stress application. A significant increase (+ 175% of baseline) was still observed in the next 20-min sample. Subsequent values were all identical to baseline. In adrenalectomized rats lacking exogenous corticosterone the stress-induced release of noradrenaline was prolonged with noradrenaline levels remaining elevated for 2 h after the onset of stress. The total noradrenaline release during this entire period was about 2.5 times higher in adrenalectomized than in sham-operated rats. However, the maximal increase during the period of immobilization was not significantly affected. Treatment with dexamethasone prevented the prolonged increase in noradrenaline release but did not affect the increase during the period of stress. While glucocorticoids do not appear to affect the increased release of NA in the anterior hypothalamus during the period of stress, they act to limit the duration of this activation after the application of stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1992

Correlation between electroencephalogram isoelectric time and hippocampal norepinephrine levels, measured by microdialysis, during ischemia in rats.

It is suggested that norepinephrine (NE) plays a role during transient forebrain ischemia. NE may have a protective action against neuronal cell death in the hippocampus, or it may be one of the causes of injurious ischemic effects. We used the microdialysis technique to study extracellular NE levels in the rat hippocampus before, during, and after 30 min of transient incomplete forebrain ischemia (induced by four-vessel occlusion) to describe the time course of NE in this condition. There was a maximal increase (fivefold) in extracellular NE after 10 min of reflow only when the electroencephalogram was isoelectric. NE levels returned to baseline 40 min after release of the carotid clamps and remained constant for the next 80 min. Thus there appears to be a transient NE overflow in the hippocampus during ischemia, closely related to the complete loss of brain electrical activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Behavioral and biochemical changes monitored in two inbred strains of mice during exploration of an unfamiliar environment.

Mice of the C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2 (DBA) strains were introduced individually in an unfamiliar environment (a large cage where food, water and sawdust had been removed). Over a 90-min period of observation, both strains presented a time-dependent decrease of locomotion and leaning and an increase of grooming. C57 mice were characterized by more cage cover climbing than DBA mice during the first 15-min stay in the new cage and by a significant decrease of this behavior after 90 min. During the first 60 min in the new environment, the DBA mice were less active than C57 mice, and both strains presented a significant increase of immobility after 90 min of test. After 30 min in the test situation, C57 presented a larger increase of plasma corticosterone levels than DBA mice. The plasma corticosterone levels were back to control values after 60 min of test in mice of the C57 strain and after 90 min in the DBA strain. Finally, both C57 and DBA mice presented a significant increase of homovanillic acid concentrations in the nucleus accumbens, but not in the striatum at 30, 60 and 90 min of testing. These results are discussed in terms of the possible involvement of mesolimbic dopaminergic system in mouse behavioral responses to an unfamiliar environment and of possible habituation to the stressful properties of this experience.

Animals↗