Biomedical subjects

A Gorio

Publications and source records attributed to A Gorio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Alterations of protein mono-ADP-ribosylation and diabetic neuropathy: a novel pharmacological approach.

This study monitored the extranuclear endogenous mono ADP-ribosylation of proteins. At least 10 proteins were ADP-ribosylated in a crude extract from control superior cervical ganglia, and 7 were labeled in control dorsal root ganglia; whereas in the diabetic rat the extent of labeling was reduced. These data suggest that proteins of peripheral ganglia are excessively ADP-ribosylated in vivo. Treatment of diabetic animals with silybin, a flavonoid with ADP-ribosyltransferase inhibitory activity, did not affect hyperglycemia, but prevented the alterations in the extent of mono-ADP-ribosylation of proteins. This effect was associated with the prevention of substance P-like immunoreactivity loss in the sciatic nerve. In the membrane fraction of sciatic nerve Schwann cells, at least 9 proteins were ADP-ribosylated, in diabetic rats the extent of labeling was increased. A comparable increase involving the same proteins was triggered by chronic nerve injury and by corticosteroid treatment. Silybin treatment of diabetic rats prevented such an increase. We propose that the inhibition of excessive protein mono-ADP-ribosylation by silybin prevented the onset of diabetic neuropathy, while the silybin effect on mono-ADP-ribosylation of Schwann cells is likely indirect and secondary to the improvement of diabetic axonopathy.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

PubMed1996

High opioid doses inhibit whereas low doses enhance neuritogenesis in PC12 cells.

Exposure to opiates affects brain development, cell growth as well as in vitro cell differentiation [33,34]. Perinatal treatment with morphine has been reported to impair neuronal plasticity after neonatal lesion with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) [8]. This study has investigated the use of mu, delta and kappa opioid receptor ligands to examine the selective receptor mediated inhibition of PC12 neurite formation. Morphine and D-Ala2,D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) had a comparable inhibitory potency with a maximal effect at 1 mM concentration, while both naltrexone and naltrindole antagonized their effect at only 10 nM. D-Ala2-MePhe4,Gly-ol5-enkephalin (DAMGO) showed only a transient inhibitory effect. The administration of 10 nM guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S) prevented morphine inhibition. It is suggested that opiate inhibition of neuritogenesis may be mediated by a receptor with delta-like characteristics coupled to G proteins. On the other hand, the activation of this receptor with morphine at a very low concentration (1 pM) actually enhanced nerve growth factor (NGF) neurite promoting activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Perinatal exposure to morphine: reactive changes in the brain after 6-hydroxydopamine.

The effects of neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine treatment on the brain of control rats and of rats perinatally exposed to morphine were examined. Noradrenaline levels were increased in the pons-medulla, mesencephalon and caudate of 8-week-old control rats lesioned with neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine; perinatal morphine treatment prevented such an increase. In the caudate, there was a loss of dopamine and an increase of serotonin following the neurotoxic lesion; exposure to perinatal morphine prevented the serotonin increase. Brain expression of synapsin I mRNA was particularly abundant in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, dentate gyrus and olfactory bulb. In perinatal morphine-treated rats, the expression of synapsin I mRNA was significantly reduced; interestingly, the neonatal treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine normalized its expression. Therefore, brain-reactive neurochemical changes triggered by 6-hydroxydopamine were suppressed by perinatal morphine exposure whereas the association of morphine exposure and 6-hydroxydopamine lesion promoted the normal mRNA expression of the synaptic marker synapsin I.

Adrenergic Agents↗

PubMed1996

In situ hybridization study of myelin protein mRNA in rats with an experimental diabetic neuropathy.

Distribution of protein zero (P0) and myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNAs in the sciatic nerve from rats with alloxan-induced diabetes was analyzed at two different time points using in situ hybridization. Some animals of each diabetic group were treated with insulin. Densitometric quantitation of silver clusters revealed that 5 weeks after diabetes induction P0 mRNA only is significantly increased, while at 14 weeks both P0 and MBP mRNA contents are markedly higher than controls. Insulin treatment normalizes glycemia levels and slightly counteracts increased P0 mRNA at both stages of diabetes. An increase in MBP mRNA is observed in chronic diabetic animals only, and is unaltered by the normoglycemic effect of insulin. The increased transcript levels of P0 and MBP suggest that Schwann cells can modulate gene expression of myelin-specific proteins in response to diabetic-induced metabolic derangement. Such a change may represent a higher turnover of myelin proteins as an attempt by the Schwann cells to repair the diabetes-induced nerve damage. The observed pattern of transcript amount is only slightly influenced by insulin treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Exposure to perinatal morphine promotes developmental changes in rat striatum.

This study shows that perinatal exposure to morphine promotes developmental changes (up to 8 months of life) in the striatum by up-regulating concentrations of substance P and met-enkephalin with changes of prometenkephalin A mRNA expression at the day of birth only. Dopamine metabolism (up to 60 days) is also increased as suggested by the reduced concentrations of dopamine and increased content of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression is selectively reduced only in the substantia nigra by perinatal morphine. Serotonin content is reduced only during the early postnatal days and is unaffected thereafter. Supplementation of naltrexone to morphine-exposed rats prevents monoaminergic and neuropeptidergic changes in the striatum, which directly implicates opioid receptors in the developmental changes caused by morphine. The data suggest that perinatal morphine may inhibit met-enkephalin release, causing accumulation of the peptide without corresponding changes in specific mRNA. Dopamine release may also be increased as indicated by a higher metabolism and consequent reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression in the substantia nigra.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

PubMed1995

Perinatal morphine II: changes in cortical plasticity.

We have previously shown that perinatal exposure to morphine impairs reactive plasticity of serotonin (5-HT) neurons following selective neonatal lesion (Gorio et al., J Neurosci Res 34:462-471, 1993). This study shows that morphine inhibits also that the compensatory sprouting of intact axons after partial denervation. Neonatal 6-OHDA injection causes norepinephrine (NE) depletion in the frontal cortex, which triggers a compensatory increase of dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and met-enkephalin content correlated by the increased density of tyrosine hydroxylase- and 5-HT-positive axons. In perinatal morphine-treated rats, no compensatory changes are observed after neonatal 6-OHDA depletion of NE in the frontal cortex.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Perinatal morphine. I: Effects on synapsin and neurotransmitter systems in the brain.

We have previously shown that rat perinatal exposure to morphine causes dopaminergic and met-enkephalin (ME) and substance P (SP) changes in the striatum during the early postnatal period (Tenconi et al.: Int J Dev Neurosci 10: 517 - 526, 1992); in addition it increases the susceptibility to neurotoxic lesions and impairs regenerative capacity of the serotoninergic system (Gorio et al.: J Neurosci Res 34: 462 - 471, 1993). Our study shows that ME and SP levels increase postnatally in several areas of the rat brain, reaching the highest values between 30 and 60 days, after which the peptide content subsides to lower levels. Perinatal exposure to morphine increases such ME and SP levels during the early stages of postnatal life. No effect of morphine on 5-HT and NE is observed, while the dopaminergic system is mainly affected in the mesencephalon. The pre- and postnatal brain expression of synapsin I mRNA is gradually and progressively localized in discrete areas of the brain. In the brain of rats perinatally exposed to morphine, the abundance of synapsin I mRNA expression is markedly reduced. Therefore, perinatal exposure to morphine affects early postnatal synaptic development in the brain as shown by the altered peptidergic and monoaminergic content and by the reduced synapsin I mRNA expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Diabetic neuropathy in the rat: 1. Alcar augments the reduced levels and axoplasmic transport of substance P.

This study examined the sciatic nerve axonal transport of substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI) and its basal content in stomach, sciatic nerve and lumbar spinal cord of 8- and 12-week alloxan-diabetic rats, respectively. One group of diabetic rats received acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) throughout the experimental period. Alloxan treatment caused hyperglycemia and reduced boy growth. Axonal transport of SPLI was studied by measurement of 24-hour accumulation at a ligature on the sciatic nerve. There was a marked reduction (from 50% to 100% according to the nerve segment examined) of anterograde and retrograde accumulation of SPLI in the constricted nerve of 8-week diabetic rats. In the sciatic nerve of ALCAR-treated diabetic rats, the accumulation of SPLI was comparable to control values. In the sciatic nerve, lumbar spinal cord and stomach of 12-week diabetic rats, there is a significant reduction of SPLI content. ALCAR treatment prevented SPLI loss in these tissues. Sciatic nerves showed the typical sorbitol increase and myo-inositol loss that were significantly counteracted by ALCAR. This study suggests that ALCAR treatment prevents diabetes-induced sensory neuropathy by improving altered metabolic pathways such as polyol activity and myo-inositol synthesis, and by preventing the reduction of synthesis and axonal transport of substance P.

Alloxan↗

PubMed1995

Nitric oxide-sensitive protein ADP-ribosylation is altered in rat diabetic neuropathy.

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of proteins was studied in retina crude extract, membrane and cytosolic fractions of control and diabetic rats. ADP-ribosyltransferase activity is present in all cellular fractions, but protein ADP-ribosylation is reduced in diabetic rat retina. At least 6 proteins are labelled in the crude extract fraction and a similar number in the membrane preparation of control animals. In these preparations from diabetic retina, only two bands were labelled, the 85 K and 36 K for the crude extract, and the 97 K and 39 K for membranes. Labelling of 36 K and 39 K proteins was much less than in controls. In the cytosolic preparations of controls, two proteins of 85 K and 39 K are ADP-ribosylated, while in diabetic rat retina cytosol, only the 85 K is labelled. Treatment of diabetic rats with insulin normalized plasma glucose levels and prevented the alterations of the extent of ADP-ribosylation for the 38 K cytosolic, 39 K membrane and 36 K crude extracts proteins, but it failed to affect the other bands. These results suggest a hyperactivity of endogenous ADP-ribosylases in diabetic rat retina, so that the protein sites for ADP-ribosylation are no longer available. Since insulin treatment prevents the onset of neuropathy and of retinal G protein impairment (Abbracchio et al., J Neurosci Res 29:196-220, 1991) in diabetic rats and, in this study, normalizes ADP-ribosylation of 39 K, 38 K and 36 K proteins, we suggest that the abnormal endogenous ADP-ribosylation of these proteins might play a role in the onset of diabetic neuropathy.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1995

Experimental diabetic neuropathy. Inhibition of protein mono-ADP-ribosylation prevents reduction of substance P axonal transport.

The extranuclear endogenous mono-ADP-ribosylation of proteins in cellular fractions from retinas of control and diabetic rats was studied. At least six proteins were ADP-ribosylated in the crude extract, membrane and cytosolic fractions from control preparations, whereas in diabetic rats the number of labeled proteins and the extent of labeling were highly reduced. Treatment of diabetic animals with silybin, a flavonoid with ADP-ribosyltransferase inhibitory activity, did not affect hyperglycemia, but prevented the alterations of the extent of ADP-ribosylation of the 38 K cytosolic, 39 K, 40 K membrane and 39 K, 41 K and 42 K crude extract proteins. These data suggest a hyperactivity of extranuclear endogenous protein mono-ADP-ribosylation in the diabetic rat retina, and that treatment with silybin inhibits such enzyme activity, thus improving the extent of ADP-ribosylation. Sciatic nerve axonal transport of substance P was reduced markedly in diabetic rats, and inhibition of mono-ADP-ribosylation with silybin prevented such a loss in spite of high blood glucose levels. These results suggest that the abnormal endogenous ADP-ribosylation of proteins might play a role in the onset of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its inhibition may represent a novel pharmacological approach to the treatment of diabetes complications.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

PubMed1993

Myelin protein transcripts increase in experimental diabetic neuropathy.

A Northern blot analysis of P0 and MBP myelin protein transcripts in the sciatic nerve from rats with alloxan-induced diabetes at two different time points is described. After 5 weeks of diabetes induction, only P0 mRNA is significantly increased by 39%, while at 14 weeks both P0 and MBP mRNA contents are markedly higher than controls. Insulin treatment normalizes glycemia levels, partially counteracts P0 mRNA increase at both stages of diabetes and delays MBP mRNA increase present only in chronic animals. We suggest that increased transcript levels of P0 and MBP in Schwann cells may represent a higher turnover of myelin sheath specific proteins in diabetic syndrome, as attempt to repair the hyperglycemia-induced nerve damage, which is partially prevented by insulin treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Perinatal morphine treatment inhibits pruning effect and regeneration of serotoninergic pathways following neonatal 5,7-HT lesions.

Lesion of the serotoninergic system in neonate rats is an ideal model for assessing the activity of chemical substances capable of affecting neuronal plasticity and regeneration (Jonsson et al., Dev Brain Res 16: 171-180, 1984). Treatment of newborn rats within 6 hr from birth with the selective neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine causes degeneration of the most distal serotoninergic axons. In our experimental conditions we have observed that after such neurotoxic treatment there is spinal cord denervation, which is particularly remarkable in the lumbar segment. This degenerative event is followed by gradual regeneration of the lesioned axons, with good reinnervation of the entire cord within 8 weeks. The degeneration-regeneration process is correlated with a transient hyperinnervation of the pons-medulla and hypothalamus by the short collaterals (pruning effect), as evidenced by increased serotonin content. Perinatal morphine exposure markedly impairs serotonin regeneration in the spinal cord. In addition, opiate treated rats are more susceptible to lesions, as shown by the neurotoxin induced denervation of the cortex, pons-medulla, and hypothalamus, which does not occur in lesioned controls. Therefore, our observations suggest that perinatal exposure to morphine affects the plasticity and regeneration of the developing serotoninergic system by increasing its susceptibility to neurotoxic lesions and reducing its regenerative capacity.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

PubMed1992

Diabetes-induced alterations of central nervous system G proteins. ADP-ribosylation, immunoreactivity, and gene-expression studies in rat striatum.

Previous studies from our laboratory have suggested that diabetes-associated central nervous system abnormalities are characterized by progressive alterations of neurotransmitters and of transductional Gi/Go proteins. In this study, we have further characterized these abnormalities in the striatum of alloxan-diabetic rats by means of adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation, and Western and Northern blotting techniques. Fourteen weeks after diabetes induction, pertussis-toxin (PTX) catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi/Go proteins was markedly reduced in diabetic animals, as shown by a clear decrease of 32P-ADPribose incorporation into G protein alpha subunits. In agreement with our previous pharmacological studies that showed a reduction of Gi-mediated modulation of adenylate cyclase activity only at this stage of diabetes, no changes in PTX-mediated ADP-ribosylation were observed earlier (5-wk diabetes). Immunoblotting studies performed by using antibodies selectively raised against Gi-2, Go, and Gs proteins did not reveal any differences between control and diabetic animals at any stage of diabetes. Similarly, the mRNAs corresponding to the alpha subunits of Gi-2, Go, and Gs proteins did not show any marked changes in chronic diabetic rats with respect to control animals. It is therefore concluded that diabetes is associated with development of a time-related alteration of cerebral Gi/Go proteins and that this defect is not owing to gross changes in either content of G proteins or mRNA level, but probably reflects modifications of G protein's structure or physiological status affecting the coupling with membrane effector systems and the sensitivity to PTX.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

PubMed1992

Neurochemical changes of long-term adrenalectomy in rat brain: effects on neurotransmitter amino acids.

The levels of five amino acids together with glutamine synthetase activity, were measured in brain regions of rats with bilateral adrenalectomy, performed in newly weaning rats on postnatal day 22 and sacrificed 3 months later. Adrenalectomy caused a general decrease of glutamine concentration in three hippocampal regions (CA1-CA2, CA3, CA4-dentate gyrus), in hypothalamus, striatum and cerebellum. This reduction, which was particularly significant in hippocampus and cerebellum, was paralleled by a decrease of glutamine synthetase activity. Treatment with corticosterone reversed the effect of adrenalectomy. Little or no change was observed in the tissue levels of taurine, aspartic, glutamic or gamma-amino butyric acids.

Adrenalectomy↗

PubMed1992

Perinatal morphine exposure alters peptidergic development in the striatum.

It has been reported that perinatal exposure to opiates affects mRNA synthesis, body growth and brain development in mammals, including humans. We have observed that morphine administration in drinking water during the perinatal period alters peptide development in the striatum of the rat. There is a marked increase in substance P and met-enkephalin content, the latter is maintained even at 30 days postnatally. The transient increase or earlier maturation of substance P content is correlated by a more precocious axon terminal organization as revealed by immunocytochemical staining. The increased metenkephalin content is correlated by a higher abundance of preproenkephalin A mRNA and this correlation is particularly evident at 15 days postnatally. At earlier times both northern blotting and in situ hybridization techniques fail to show any significant difference between control and morphine exposed rats, likely because the peptide content is not very different in the two groups or at least the gap is not as wide as at later times.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Early neurochemical changes in the autonomic neuropathy of the gut in experimental diabetes.

Some neurochemical changes in the gut of rats after five weeks of alloxan-induced diabetes were investigated. It was found that at this stage of diabetes the changes were restricted mainly to the small intestine with a special selectivity for the duodenum. No changes were found in the most part of the large intestine and rectum. The methionine-enkephalin content was markedly reduced throughout the small intestine, while vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was increased in duodenum, ileum and caecum. Substance P content was unaffected, while at later stages of the disease it was significantly reduced in the entire small intestine. Sympathetic noradrenaline and intrinsic serotonin contents were significantly increased in the duodenum and unchanged throughout the rest of the intestine. These data suggest that the small intestine and caecum might be the early target of diabetic autonomic neuropathy, that might involve progressively the rest of the large intestine at later stages as recent results have suggested. It is likely that the gastrointestinal dysfunctions, often present in diabetic patients, might also be due to the combined pre-synaptic alterations, and to the functional imbalance between Gs and Gi/Go transduction proteins recently reported. Insulin therapy, begun seven days after alloxan treatment, reduced drastically the hyperglycaemia, restored normal body growth and prevented all the gut neurochemical changes associated with alloxan-induced diabetes.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Peptide alterations in autonomic diabetic neuropathy prevented by acetyl-L-carnitine.

Autonomic neuropathy and gastrointestinal problems are among the most common complications of diabetes. In this report it is shown that a possible correlation between the two disorders might exist, since diabetes causes a profound alteration of the peptidergic innervation of the gut. It is reported that 14 weeks after diabetes induction with alloxan the levels of substance P and methionine-enkephalin are markedly reduced throughout the intestine, while vasoactive intestinal polypeptide content is dramatically increased. Therefore the enteric innervation of diabetic animals is completely disorganized, with some systems undergoing atrophy and others undergoing hypertrophy. Treatment of diabetic animals with acetyl-L-carnitine prevents the onset of the marked peptide changes described above. The results suggest a potential for acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of autonomic neuropathies.

Acetylcarnitine↗

PubMed1992

Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents substance P loss in the sciatic nerve and lumbar spinal cord of diabetic animals.

Diabetic neuropathy is a disease of peripheral nerves, characterized by axonal atrophy and degeneration that might be preceded by a marked impairment of axonal transport and by a reduced conduction velocity. Sensory nerves are particularly susceptible to diabetes. In the present report it is shown that experimental diabetes in rats causes a significant reduction of the content of the pain-related neuropeptide substance P in sciatic nerve and lumbar spinal cord. Such a loss of substance P is fully prevented by acetyl-L-carnitine treatment. The neuroprotective pharmacological effect is selective and takes place without significant changes of hyperglycaemia and without modifications of the reduced rate of body growth typical of diabetic animals.

Acetylcarnitine↗