Biomedical subjects

Carola Eva

Publications and source records attributed to Carola Eva.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Evidence of altered neuropeptide Y content and neuropeptide Y1 receptor gene expression in the hypothalamus of pregnant transgenic mice.

Alterations in the density of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive fibers and of NPY1 receptor gene expression in the hypothalamus of Y1R/LacZ transgenic pregnant mice were investigated. In the paraventricular nucleus of mice on the 18th d of pregnancy NPY immunoreactivity was significantly decreased, and NPY1 receptor gene expression, as measured by histochemical staining of beta-galactosidase and in situ hybridization of NPY1 receptor mRNA, was significantly increased compared with those in estrous mice. Conversely, pregnant transgenic mice displayed a significant induction of NPY immunoreactivity and a reduction of NPY1 receptor gene expression in the ventromedial nucleus. A significant increase in Y1R/LacZ transgene expression and NPY1 receptor mRNA, but no changes in NPY immunoreactivity were observed in the arcuate nucleus of mice on the 18th d of pregnancy. These results suggest that the elevated expression of NPY in the ventromedial nucleus may contribute to the state of leptin resistance that occurs during pregnancy.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Decrease of the D4 dopamine receptor messenger RNA expression in lymphocytes from patients with major depression.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of the possible role of dopamine in psychiatric disorders has been limited by the relative inadequacy of tools. A tempting approach to examine alterations of dopaminergic system in major depression is to examine the expression of dopamine receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). METHODS: D4 dopamine receptor (D4DR) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in PBMC from 12 patients with major depressive disorder was examined before and after an 8-week treatment with paroxetine at 20-50 mg/day. Ten healthy subjects were analyzed in parallel. The relative content of D4DR mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). using beta-actin as internal standard. RESULTS: D4DR mRNA levels were significantly decreased in untreated depressed patients as compared to controls. D4DR mRNA expression returned to control levels after paroxetine treatment, when patients achieved a significant improvement of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study suggest the role of PBMC D4DR mRNA expression as a peripheral marker of the central dopaminergic function in major depression.

Actins↗

PubMed2002

Changes in expression of the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor gene in the medial amygdala of transgenic mice during pregnancy and after delivery.

Long-term administration of progesterone or allopregnanolone was previously shown to increase Y1 receptor gene expression in the medial amygdala of Y1R/LacZ transgenic mice, which harbor a construct comprising the murine Y1 receptor gene promoter and a lacZ reporter. We have now investigated the effects of physiological fluctuations in the cerebrocortical concentrations of neuroactive steroids during pregnancy on Y1R/LacZ transgene expression by quantitative histochemical analysis of beta-galactosidase activity. Cerebrocortical concentrations of progesterone and its metabolites allopregnanolone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were increased on day 18 of pregnancy and had returned to control values 2 days after delivery. Transgene expression in the medial amygdala was also increased on day 18 of pregnancy and had returned to control values 2 days after delivery. Similar results were obtained after analysis of Y1R mRNA levels in the medial amygdala of pregnant mice by in situ hybridization. Administration of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride to pregnant mice prevented both the increase in the cerebrocortical concentrations of neuroactive steroids as well as the increase in transgene expression. These data suggest that fluctuations in the brain concentrations of endogenous neuroactive steroids during pregnancy are associated with changes in Y1 receptor gene expression in the medial amygdala, further supporting a functional interaction between the GABAergic and NPY-Y1 receptor systems.

Amygdala↗