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S Gaillet

Publications and source records attributed to S Gaillet.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Transient increase in the high affinity [3H]-L-glutamate uptake activity during in vitro development of hippocampal neurons in culture.

The glial GLAST and GLT-1 glutamate transporters are transiently expressed in hippocampal neurons as shown by immunocytochemistry (Plachez et al., 2000. J. Neurosci. Res., 59, 587-593). In order to test if this transient expression is associated to a transient glutamate uptake activity, [3H]-glutamate uptake was studied during the in vitro development of embryonic hippocampal neurons cultured in a defined (serum free) medium. In these cultures, the ratio of the number of glial cells to the number of neurons increased from 1.7 to 11.3% during the first 10 days of culture, while 77% of the neurons died. The number of neurons then remains stable up to 23 days of culture. The initial glutamate uptake velocity at 20 and 200 microM [3H]-glutamate usually increased about five times between 1 and 10 days in vitro (DIV). Interestingly, at 2 microM [3H]-glutamate, the uptake initial velocity showed a biphasic pattern, with a transient peak between 1 and 6 DIV, the maximum being reached at 2 DIV and a delayed regular increase from 8 to 23 DIV. The concentration-dependent curves were best fitted with two saturable sites high and low affinities, at both 2 and 10 DIV. To pharmacologically characterize the transient increased glutamate uptake activity, four uptake inhibitors, L-threo-3-hydroxy-aspartic acid (THA), L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (L-trans-2,4-PDC), dihydrokainate (DHK), and DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA) were tested. THA, L-trans-2,4-PDC and DL-TBOA inhibited glutamate uptake both at 2 and 10 DIV, while the GLT-1 selective uptake inhibitor DHK neither strongly affected the uptake at 2, nor at 10 DIV. These data indicated that, besides the regular increase in the glial-dependent glutamate uptake activity, a transient high-affinity, DHK insensitive, glutamate transport activity in hippocampal neurons in culture is present. This latter activity could potentially be related to the transient expression of the glial GLAST transporter in neurons.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Opposite regulation by glucocorticoids of the alpha 1B- and alpha 2A-adrenoreceptor mRNA levels in rat cultured anterior hypothalamic slices.

In this study we investigated whether the expression of alpha1B- and alpha2A-adrenoreceptor mRNAs is differently modulated by glucocorticoids in rat cultured anterior hypothalamus slices. Using a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay, the level of the alpha1B-adrenoreceptor mRNA was significantly reduced in slices cultured in steroid free-medium when compared with that measured in standard medium (i.e. containing basal adrenosteroid plasma concentrations). In contrast, the expression of the alpha2A-adrenoreceptor mRNA was markedly increased. Finally, the ratio of alpha1B- versus alpha2A-mRNA levels was about 1.7 and 0.7 in standard and steroid-free medium, respectively. These responses were completely reversed by supplementation with corticosterone. These findings provide the first evidence that in vitro glucocorticoids may regulate, in an opposite manner, the expression of the alpha1B-and alpha2A-adrenoreceptor mRNAs in the hypothalamus. This kind of regulation could be related to steroid-dependent changes in the noradrenergic control of neuroendocrine secretions.

Animals↗

Glucocorticoids provoke a shift from alpha2- to alpha1-adrenoreceptor activities in cultured hypothalamic slices leading to opposite noradrenaline effect on corticotropin-releasing hormone release.

We have shown previously that noradrenaline (NA) stimulated or inhibited the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) according to the availability of adrenal steroids. The aim of the present work was to examine whether the changes in the NA modulation of CRH release from hypothalamic neurons result from a steroid-induced plasticity of the adrenergic transduction pathways. From anterior hypothalamic slices cultured in standard medium (i.e., containing adrenal steroids at a final dilution of 61 +/- 9 ng/ml), (a) the stimulatory effect of NA on CRH release was reversed in a dose-dependent manner by increasing concentrations of the alpha1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin, (b) activation of protein kinase C by acute treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.5 microM, 1 h) mimicked NA stimulation of CRH secretion, and (c) the activation of L-type Ca2+ channels by Bay K 8644 also produce an increased CRH secretion. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of NA on CRH secretion from slices cultured in steroid-free medium was markedly reversed by the alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine, by pretreatment with pertussin toxin, or by the addition of 4-aminopyridine, a K+-channel blocker. Acute treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not change the inhibitory NA effect. Moreover, all these effects were reversed by daily corticosterone supplementation, for as long as they were tested. These results are consistent with a steroid-dependent change in the nature of adrenergic receptors and its associated transduction pathways involved in the regulation of CRH secretion in the hypothalamus.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Biosynthesis of an endogenous cannabinoid precursor in neurons and its control by calcium and cAMP.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in the biogenesis of N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) and N-palmitoylethanolamine is important in view of the possible role of these lipids as endogenous cannabinoid substances. Anandamide (which activates cannabinoid CB1 receptors) and N-palmitoylethanolamine (which activates a CB2-like receptor subtype in mast cells) may both derive from cleavage of precursor phospholipid, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE), catalyzed by Ca(2+)-activated D-type phosphodiesterase activity. We report here that the de novo biosynthesis of NAPE is enhanced in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner when rat cortical neurons are stimulated with the Ca(2+)-ionophore ionomycin or with membrane-depolarizing agents such as veratridine and kainate. This reaction is likely to be mediated by a neuronal N-acyltransferase activity, which catalyzes the transfer of an acyl group from phosphatidylcholine to the ethanolamine moiety of phosphatidylethanolamine. In addition, we show that Ca2+-dependent NAPE biosynthesis is potentiated by agents that increase cAMP levels, including forskolin and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Our results thus indicate that NAPE levels in cortical neurons are controlled by Ca2+ ions and cAMP. Such regulatory effect may participate in maintaining a supply of cannabimimetic N-acylethanolamines during synaptic activity, and prime target neurons for release of these bioactive lipids.

Amides↗

Removal of adrenal steroids from the medium reverses the stimulating effect of catecholamines on corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in organotypic cultures.

An organotypic culture system of anterior hypothalamic slices was developed for studying the secretory responses of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons to corticosteroid-catecholamine interactions. The standard culture medium included 5% horse serum containing 50 micrograms/l cortisol. In 1- to 3-day cultures, the tissue viability was demonstrated by the presence of arginine vasopressin immunolabeled perikarya and axons in the paraventricular nucleus and by sustained tissue concentrations of CRH (around 50 pg/mg protein). However, immunoreactive CRH neurons were not detectable in cultures in the standard medium. Exposure of cultures to high K+ (56 mM) in the medium induced a ten-fold increase in basal CRH release which was completely abolished in a Ca(2+)-free medium containing 2 mM EGTA. Noradrenaline (NA) triggered CRH release in a dose-dependent (1-20 microM) and time-dependent (0.5-6 h) manner. Removal of corticosteroids from the media by charcoal treatment led to (1) the visualization of immunolabelled CRH perikarya and fibers and a 55% rise in CRH content of the paraventricular nucleus tissue and (2) to a five-fold increase in CRH release. Both effects were reversed by supplementation of the culture medium with corticosterone (50 micrograms/l). Under steroid-free conditions, NA (1-10 microM) not only failed to induce CRH release, but strongly inhibited the consistent baseline in CRH release. This was reminiscent of a similar corticosteroid-dependent inversion of the NA effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis described in vivo. Overall, these results are direct evidence of complex corticosteroid-catecholamine interrelationships as major regulatory factors of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Lesions of the afferent catecholaminergic pathways inhibit the temporal activation of the CRH and POMC gene expression and ACTH release induced by human interleukin-1beta in the male rat.

A number of recent studies have suggested that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is a major mediator contributing to the recruitment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis following infectious aggressions. Central catecholamines modulate the response of the HPA axis. To investigate the importance of the afferent catecholaminergic pathways in a pathophysiological situation, we used the intraperitoneal (i.p.) IL-1beta injection (mimicking peripheral infections) and we investigated the effects on the HPA responses to IL-1beta of bilateral neurotoxic (6-OHDA) deletion of the ventral noradrenergic ascending bundle (VNAB-X). The VNAB is an essential stimulating pathway linking the brainstem and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). We determined the time courses of a number of HPA variables up to 240 min after i.p. injection of IL-1beta. We followed: plasma ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations, AP POMC nuclear primary RNA transcripts, AP POMC nuclear intermediate transcript RNA, AP POMC cytoplasmic mRNA, and hypothalamus (HT) CRH cytoplasmic mRNA. Compared to sham-lesioned male rats, VNAB-X animals displayed: (1) a reduced increase in plasma ACTH, and to a lesser extent in CORT throughout the experimental period with a 85% inhibition at the peak (90 min); (2) an increase in AP POMC primary nuclear transcript and in AP POMC nuclear intermediate transcript RNAs which last 60 min, instead of sustained significantly higher levels up to 240 min; (3) a similar, although reduced inhibition in the corresponding POMC cytoplasmic mRNA; (4) an almost complete abolishment of the marked biphasic rise in HT CRH mRNA. In conclusion, activation of the HPA axis by peritoneal IL-1beta challenge involves CRH-producing neurons, and afferent catecholaminergic innervation of the PVN plays a crucial role in the signaling machinery linking the peritoneal aggression to the HPA axis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

[The corticotropic axis response after subcutaneous endotoxin injection is not associated with the increase of plasma interleukin-1 beta].

When injected through an intra-arterial (i. a.) cannula, LPS induced a rapid (15-30 min) and long-lasting (> 300 min) increase in plasma ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) levels. The duration of these responses depended on the LPS dose, and except for very small LPS doses, their amplitudes appeared independent of the dose of endotoxin. ACTH peaks (2,200 pg.ml-1) occurred between 30 and 120 min, whereas CORT always reached maximal levels at 120 min. Plasma Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels were always undetectable during the early phase of corticotropic stimulation, but increased strikingly 120 min after LPS injection. Increasing LPS doses, resulted in enhanced and prolonged IL-1 beta plasma circulating levels (up to 3.0 +/- 0.2 ng.ml-1). By contrast, no sub-cutaneous LPS dose used induced early increases in ACTH and CORT levels, whereas time-course of the hormonal response was evocative of the sustained phase of the corticotropic response to i. a. LPS, with both peaks occurring 120 min post-LPS. Increasing the s. c. LPS bolus 50-fold vs the i. a. dose did not affect the maximal amplitude of the ACTH response, whereas the amplitude of the CORT response, instead, appeared dependent on the LPS dose. On the other hand, even for the largest LPS doses, plasma IL-1 beta levels remained undetectable. Sub-cutaneous injection of LPS therefore appears as a new model for the study of the mechanisms of corticotropic responses to endotoxin without a direct involvement of bloodborne IL-1 beta.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Complex catecholaminergic modulation of the stimulatory effect of interleukin-1 beta on the corticotropic axis.

We recently showed that bilateral neurotoxic microlesions (6-OH-DA) of the ventral noradrenergic ascending bundle (VNAB-X) at stereotaxic coordinates that blocked corticotropic stress responses did not affect the ACTH surge after bilateral intra-paraventricular (i.PVN) injections of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and that lesioning at these stereotaxic coordinates obliterated the dorsal axonal populations of the VNAB (dVNAB-X), but spared the bundle's most ventral axons (vVNAB). The present study compares the effects of IL-1 beta given i.PVN (2 x 5 ng) of intra-arterially (i.a.) (100 ng) on plasma ACTH in rats with bilateral 6-OH-DA microlesions placed in the dVNAB or the vVNAB, or in an intermediary central position (cVNAB-X). Unlike our previous results, in which dVNAB-X did not alter the biphasic ACTH response to i.PVN IL-1 beta, both vVNAB-X and cVNAB-X reduced by 50-75% the early and delayed ACTH surges which are typical of the i.PVN route. On the other hand the swift monophasic ACTH surge usually occurring after an i.a. injection of IL-1 beta was 65% smaller after dVNAB-X, but was doubled after vVNAB-X or cVNAB-X. Hence, the release of ACTH after both i.PVN or i.a. IL-1 beta requires brainstem afferences conveyed to the hypothalamus by the VNAB. However, the VNAB appears to include at least two functionally different subsets of axons, the roles of which in the ACTH response to IL-1 beta depend on the route by which the cytokine is given.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Effects of discrete lesions in the ventral noradrenergic ascending bundle on the corticotropic stress response depend on the site of the lesion and on the plasma levels of adrenal steroids.

Stereotaxic deletion of selected areas of the ventral noradrenergic ascending bundle (VNAB-X) by discrete bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 4 micrograms in 0.2 microliter saline) was used to explore the role of brain catecholamines (CA) and their interaction with corticosteroid feedback in stress responses of the ACTH-corticosterone (CORT) axis. The stereotaxic coordinates used for 6-OHDA lesions and the optimization of postlesion delays were determined by (a) radioautographic labeling of the VNAB axons after tracer injections into the dorsal A2/C2, or the ventral A1/C1 medullary areas, (b) histofluorescence and immunocytochemical location of interrupted CA pathways versus the postlesional scar, and (c) postlesional noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations in whole hypothalami and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) punch samples. Two sites of 6-OHDA lesions were selected; both led to striking falls in PVN concentrations of both CA. The more dorsal lesion (dVNAB-X) was the same as that of our earlier studies and interrupted pathways originating predominantly in the A2/C2 area; the second more ventral lesion (vVNAB-X) interrupted axons stemming preferentially from the A1/C1 area. Both VNAB lesions inhibited the ether stress-induced ACTH and CORT surges in rats with intact adrenals. But the blockade (overall poststress release, amplitude and swiftness of hormonal responses) by dVNAB-X was greater than by vVNAB-X. The basal ACTH level in adrenalectomized rats (ADX) was elevated 20-fold and ether stress induced a 4-fold ACTH surge. As in sham-ADX rats, vVNAB-X in ADX rats induced only moderate inhibition of the ACTH response versus ADX + sham-vVNAB-X controls. On the other hand ADX + dVNAB-X rats showed a greatly amplified ACTH stress response over the ADX-sham dVNAB-X controls. This amplification was reversed by oral CORT supplementation. The data suggest that the CA pathways of the VNAB participating, directly or indirectly, in the poststress corticotropic activation may include subsets of CA axons of different origins, whose functional roles in stress are modulated in opposite directions by the plasma corticosteroid level.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Stress. Neurophysiologic studies].

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis knowingly plays a key role in the physiological response to various stressing situations, owing to its gluconeogenetic function, and also, possibly, to its large range of modulating effects on a series of more specific defense mechanisms including the immune system, the latter effect serving to protect the organism against overactive defense reactions. It has long been accepted that under most aggressive conditions the CNS is an essential part of the mechanism controlling the subsequent acute stimulation of the HPA axis. In this line of research, the HPA axis reacts within a few minutes after a standard ether-stress, with a 6 fold increase over the baseline of CRH41 secretion, and at the periphery with 20-fold and 14-fold increases, respectively, in plasma concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone in unanesthetized free-moving rats. From a series of additional experiments a few selected brain structures emerged as basic components of the CNS control involved in the HPA axis stress responses: 1) The catecholamine (CA) producing neurons of the medulla oblongata (A1/C1 and A2/C2 nuclei) which directly innervate the CRH41-secreting neurons in the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) via the ventral noradrenergic bundle (VNAB), yield the major stimulatory pathway to the stress-induced CRH-ACTH surge. Not only was this surge dramatically obliterated by a neurotoxic deletion of the VNAB, with a local microinfusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) but it was restored by intra-cerebroventricular (icv) microinfusions of adrenaline (AD) or noradrenaline (NA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inhibitory interactions between alpha 2-adrenergic and opoid but not NPY mechanisms controlling the CRF-ACTH axis in the rat.

Following a series of investigations supporting the concept that the brain stem catecholaminergic (CA) system played a major stimulatory role on both basal and stress-triggered states of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, across alpha 1 and beta receptors and also via alpha 2 receptors, the present study was designed to gain a deeper insight into the fine mechanism of functional interactions between the alpha 2 receptors mediated CA system and two peptidergic mechanisms, both shown to take part in the stimulatory control of the HPA axis: beta-endorphin and NPY. All experiments were conducted on rats whose noradrenergic bundles, which directly innervate the CRF neurons and are strongly implicated in the ether stress-induced corticotropic response, had been bilaterally obliterated by an intracerebral (i.c.) injection of 6-OHDA (NAB-X). Results showed that: (1) the blockade of the ether-stress induced ACTH response resulting from NAB-X was entirely reversed by an intraventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of the alpha 2 antagonist idazoxan (10 nmol), which appeared ineffective under basal conditions; (2) the restoration of a normal post-stress ACTH surge by i.c.v. idazoxan was itself blunted by an i.c.v. pretreatment with naloxone (10 nmol), whereas an i.c. pretreatment with an anti-NPY serum appeared ineffective. These data suggest that, in addition to a stimulatory control exerted by postsynaptic alpha 2 receptors directly on CRF neurons, other alpha 2 receptors participate, exclusively under the stress conditions above, in a tonic inhibitory control, indirectly mediated to the HPA axis across a stimulatory opioid, but not NPY regulatory component.

Adrenal Cortex↗

The involvement of noradrenergic ascending pathways in the stress-induced activation of ACTH and corticosterone secretions is dependent on the nature of stressors.

The aim of the present study was to explore in male rats the role of the catecholaminergic innervation of the hypothalamus in corticotropic and adrenal responses to different kinds of stress conditions. For this purpose, 6-hydroxydopamine (3 micrograms in 0.2 microliter saline) was stereotaxically and bilaterally infused at two levels of the main noradrenergic ascending brain stem bundle (NAB-X). The efficiency of catecholaminergic denervation of the hypothalamus was checked by measuring noradrenaline concentrations in paraventricular nuclei punches by HPLC and was confirmed by a 86% fall in noradrenaline levels of NAB-X rats killed after the stress experiments. Seven days after lesioning the NAB, sham operated controls and NAB-X lesioned animals were divided into 4 groups and submitted to 4 different stressors, i.e.: 2 min ether vapors (n = 5), 1 h immobilization (n = 7), i.v. histamine (2 mg/kg; n = 7) or i.v. insuline (10 I.U./kg; n = 8) injections. ACTH and corticosterone were measured in blood samples sequentially taken from a chronic carotid cannula, before stress and at short intervals over the 2 following hours. In comparison to the respective control groups, NAB-X dramatically reduced the ACTH response to ether (-78%) and to restraint (-53%) stress whereas the corticosterone response was affected to a lesser extent. In contrast, NAB-X slightly altered these responses in the histamine-treated group, although, surprisingly, the ACTH response tended to decrease and that of corticosterone to increase. Finally, NAB-X provoked a biphasic response to insuline-induced hypoglycemia, with a very early (5 min) rise in ACTH and corticosterone in comparison to the control group, followed by a trend to low hormonal levels up to 120 min. These results strongly suggest a differential involvement of the hypothalamic noradrenergic innervation upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis according to the nature of stress conditions.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Differences in the immunoreactivity to phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in the central adrenergic neurons of four strains of rats.

Immunocytochemistry was used to compare the immunoreactivity of adrenergic neurons to a well characterized specific immunoserum to phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in different strains of rats commonly used in research studies. In adult animals, marked differences were found in the PNMT-immunoreactivity of neurons between Wistar rats and other strains, resulting in a lower PNMT-immunostaining intensity (i) within neuronal perikarya of the medulla oblongata, and (ii) more strikingly, within nerve fibers and terminals located in various brain regions. This low PNMT-immunoreactivity of nerve fibers was detected both in 14- and 35-day-old Wistar rats. On the other hand, the HPLC measurement of catecholamines, in particular of adrenaline in the hypothalamus and the medulla oblongata, did not show any difference between adult Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. These data suggest that the low PNMT-immunoreactivity observed in central adrenergic neurons of the Wistar rats is related to the poor recognition of the antigen by the PNMT-antibody used. Possibly, these nerve cells mainly display an isoform of the enzyme that is immunologically different from the PNMT contained within the adrenergic neurons of other rat strains.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Differential early time course activation of the brainstem catecholaminergic groups in response to various stresses.

The effects of various stressors (restraint, ether, histamine and insulin-induced hypoglycemia stress) on the early time course activation of the different catecholaminergic (CA) cell groups A1/C1, A2/C2 and locus ceruleus (LC) from the brainstem were studied. The activity of the central noradrenergic neurons was assessed by measuring in tissue punches the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) level, a side metabolite of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline biosynthesis that is thought to reflect the activity of NA cells. Short 5 min restraint stress led to an immediate increase of DOPAC level in the three CA groups. In the A1/C1 and A2/C2 groups the maximal increase, respectively +75 and +50%, was already reached at the end of the application of the stress while for the LC the maximum (+84%) was obtained 15 min after the onset of the stress. Return to baseline level was achieved within 2 h. Continuous immobilization stress did not further alter the DOPAC concentration in the LC and the A1/C1 while a progressive increase up to 85% in the A2/C2 group was seen over 20 min. Following a 2-min exposure to ether, DOPAC was increased in all three structures within 5 min. At this time the maximum was already reached in the A1/C1 and LC, respectively +99 and +43%. After histamine or insulin injection DOPAC level increased in the A1/C1 and A2/C2 in the +25/+50% range but was not significantly affected in the LC. In all the stress situations studied the increase in DOPAC level, particularly in the A1/C1 group always preceded or was concomitant to the increase of plasma corticosterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

[Implication of alpha-2 adrenergic post-synaptic receptors in the central catecholaminergic stimulation of the corticotropic axis in rats].

We have recently assigned a major stimulatory role to the brain catecholamines (CA) via alpha 1 and beta receptors on CRH-ACTH secretion, e.g. in the physiological response to stress. In the present study, we explored the possible participation in this regulation of post-synaptic alpha 2 receptors in free moving rats, one week after CA denervation of the hypothalamus by bilateral neurotoxic lesions of the noradrenergic ascending brain stem bundles (NAB). Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of clonidine (alpha 2 agonist; 1 nmol) induced a 3 fold rise of ACTH release (measured by RIA) above vehicle (PBS) injected controls (p less than 0.001). This stimulatory effect was completely reversed by an i.c.v. pretreatment with the alpha 2 antagonist idazoxan (10 nmol; without action by itself), whereas it was only slightly affected by an i.c.v. pretreatment with a combination of an alpha 1 and beta blocker (prazosin + propranolol; 5/5 nmol; p greater than 0.1). The results strongly suggest the participation of alpha 2 post-synaptic receptors in the central catecholaminergic activation of ACTH secretion.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗