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Biomedical subjects

F Obál

Publications and source records attributed to F Obál.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Promotion of sleep by heat in young rats.

The aim of the experiments was to study the effects of a moderate heat load on sleep in young (26-day-old) rats and to determine whether the sleep-promoting effect of heat results from stimulation of the homeostatic sleep process. The changes in sleep-wake activity, electroencephalogram slow wave activity (SWA) during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) and cortical temperature (Tcrt) were determined during and after long (24-h) and short (2.5-h) heat loads (elevation of ambient temperature from 26 degrees C to 32 degrees C), and after total sleep deprivation (SD) combined with a short-term heat load. The heat exposures elicited increases in Tcrt and rectal temperature (2 and 1.7 degrees C respectively). The long-term heat load induced persistent, albeit slight enhancements in NREMS. Rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) increased with a 12-h delay during the 24-h heat load. Heat elicited an immediate large increase in SWA. After this initial increase, SWA declined and tended to fall below the baseline level during the last 12 h of the 24-h heat load. SWA and REMS were significantly suppressed after termination of 24-h heat loading. The increased SWA during the short-term heat load was not followed by subsequent alterations in sleep when the ambient temperature had returned to normal. However, after the combination of SD with the short-term heat load the durations of NREMS and SWA were significantly enhanced compared with those found after SD at 26 degrees C. The results are interpreted as suggesting that heat increases NREMS in the young rat by the same mechanism as is involved in the enhancement of NREMS after SD: a stimulation of sleep drive.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Growth-hormone-releasing hormone mediates the sleep-promoting activity of interleukin-1 in rats.

The involvement of endogenous growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) in the sleep-promoting activity of interleukin-1 (IL1) was studied. The effects on sleep of intracerebroventricular injection of IL1 were tested in rats pretreated with intracerebroventricular antibodies to GHRH (GHRH-ab). One group of rats received two treatments each consisting of two injections, control IgG + physiological saline (IgG + Sal) and on another day GHRH-ab + Sal, whereas another group of rats received IgG + Sal, IgG + IL1 and GHRH-ab + IL1 on separate days with one day off between the various treatments. IgG or GHRH-ab was injected 6 h prior to dark onset; Sal or IL1 was administered at dark onset. Recording of sleep-wake activity and cortical brain temperature (Tcrt) was started with the injection of IgG or GHRH-ab and continued for 18 h. GHRH-ab (GHRH-ab + Sal) suppressed rapid eye movement sleep (REMS), non-REMS (NREMS) and EEG slow-wave activity (SWA) during NREMS throughout the recording period. IL1 treatment (IgG + IL1) enhanced NREMS and SWA, and induced fever for 6 h. Pretreatment with GHRH-ab (GHRH-ab + IL1) abolished the IL1-induced increases in NREMS, attenuated the enhancements in SWA, and suppressed fever for 6 hours after IL1. The results indicate that the sleep-promoting activity of IL1 is mediated at least in part via GHRH. The suppression of the IL1-induced fever by GHRH-ab might be attributed to an inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Increase of prolactin mRNA in the rat hypothalamus after intracerebroventricular injection of VIP or PACAP.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the structurally homologous pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and the pituitary hormone, prolactin (PRL) enhance rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). VIP and PACAP are both inducers of PRL gene expression and release in the pituitary gland. Little is known about PRL regulation in the brain although it is hypothesized that the REMS-promoting activity of i.c.v. administered VIP may be mediated via the activation of cerebral PRL. To test whether VIP or PACAP in fact increase intracerebral mRNA, the peptides (VIP: 30 or 300 pmol; PACAP: 220 pmol) were injected i.c.v. into rats at dark onset. 1 h later, cDNA was synthesized from purified hypothalamic mRNA. Standardized amounts were analysed for PRL using the polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blotting and hybridization. Compared with beta-actin mRNA levels, both VIP and PACAP increased PRL mRNA levels in a dose-dependent fashion though VIP was more effective on a molar basis. The previously reported alternatively spliced PRL mRNA (lacking exon 4) was not detected. The data support the hypothesis that the REMS-promoting activity of central VIP and PACAP might be mediated by cerebral PRL.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Sleep-associated variations in plasma renin activity and blood pressure in the rat.

Plasma renin activity (PRA) was determined in plasma samples obtained approximately at 6-min intervals during consecutive non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) periods in rats chronically implanted with EEG electrodes, a brain thermistor, and an intracardiac catheter. PRA was low in REMS and high in NREMS: this difference was statistically significant. The PRAs in wakefulness and NREMS were not different. Sleep-associated variations in systemic blood pressure (BP) were also recorded in a group of rats implanted with a chronic aortic catheter. During REMS, large oscillations superimposed on a tonic rise in BP were observed, and the end of REMS was followed by an abrupt fall in BP. This is the first demonstration of sleep-associated variations in PRA in a species other than man. The changes in BP in the rat during REMS confirm previous reports and, unlike those in many other species, are similar to those previously described in humans. The rat therefore provides a model for study of the mechanisms of the sleep-related variations in PRA and BP. The changes in PRA may reflect a regulatory response to variations in BP or may result from central mechanisms, e.g. the sleep-associated changes in serotonergic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Involvement of prolactin in the REM sleep-promoting activity of systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

The involvement of pituitary prolactin (PRL) in systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced sleep was studied. Male rats were implanted with electrodes for EEG-recording, with brain thermistors to record cortical temperature (Tcrt) and with chronic intracardial catheters to obtain blood samples and to deliver substances. One group of rats (n = 8) received normal rabbit serum (NS)+physiological saline (SAL) on the baseline day and was injected with NS+VIP on the experimental day. In the other group of rats (n = 6), the baseline day was followed by administration of PRL-antiserum (PRL-AS) + VIP on the experimental day. The sera and VIP or SAL were injected 30 min before and at light onset, respectively. Sleep-wake activity was then recorded for the next 12-h light period. Systemic VIP-stimulated PRL secretion as measured by RIA in serial samples obtained hour 1 postinjection. VIP also elicited selective increases in REM sleep (REMS) in the rats pretreated with NS. Tcrt was not affected by VIP. Administration of PRL-AS blocked the increase in circulating levels of free (non-IgG-bound) PRL and prevented VIP-enhanced REMS. Comparisons of the sleep effects of PRL-AS+VIP with the previously reported changes in sleep after PRL-AS alone indicate that PRL has a major role in the mediation of the REMS-promoting activity of systemic VIP. The results suggest that an increased release of endogenous pituitary PRL modulates REMS.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Functional study of the regeneration of nerve fibers after keratinocyte transplantation].

The functional regeneration of sensory nerves was investigated in 5 patients with skin defects (caused by leg ulcers, a burn or fasciitis necrotisans) after transplantation with a keratinocyte suspension. In this area, first the pain sense and soon after wards the cold and heat sense returned, followed finally by the flare reaction caused by the mustard oil test. No sweat production could be observed during the study, because sweat glands were not found after the keratinocyte transplantation. The reinnervation course is roughly the same for skin defects covered with split skin graft or with a keratinocyte suspension.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Somnogenic activity of muramyl peptide-derived immune adjuvants.

Muramyl peptides (MPs) possess immunostimulatory, pyrogenic and somnogenic activities. The structural requirements of MPs for each of these activities are different though certain MPs, e.g. muramyl dipeptide (NAM-L-ala-D-isogln) possess all three activities. Several MPs are proposed for use as immune adjuvants; somnogenic and pyrogenic activities would be considered adverse side effects of such compounds. We report here that some of the putative adjuvants, GIF101, WG209 and MDP-threonine lack somnogenic and pyrogenic activities. Current results also expand our understanding of the structural requirements for these activities. Major findings are that the addition of the dipeptide L-ala-D-isogln to NAG-NAM-L-ala-D-isogln blocks the activity of the latter compound and that the amino sugar moiety of MPs, NAM, is unnecessary for somnogenic and pyrogenic activity.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1993

Hypothalamic releasing hormones mediating the effects of interleukin-1 on sleep.

There is a substantial literature describing the interactions between the endocrine and immune systems. Although such interactions are less well known within the brain, one major brain function altered during inflammation and infection and by several endocrine hormones is sleep. Pathological disturbances, be they inflammation, infectious disease, and/or sleep deprivation, result in altered hypothalamus-pituitary function and cytokine metabolism. In respect to hormone secretion from the pituitary, cytokines are now recognized to play an important role in modulating the neuroendocrine system. Changes in sleep provide a useful illustration of the interactions between cytokines and the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Evidence linking interleukin-1 (IL-1) to growth hormone releasing hormone and to corticotropin releasing hormone in regard to their effects on sleep is reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Prostaglandins E2 and D2 have little effect on rabbit sleep.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are hypothesized to be involved in sleep regulation; PGE2 and PGD2 are major PGs in the hypothalamus of many species and are proposed to reciprocally promote wakefulness and sleep respectively. PGD2 and PGE2 are also major PGs in rabbit cerebrospinal fluid, yet their effects on rabbit sleep have not heretofore been systematically investigated. We report here that a bolus injection of PGE2 into a lateral cerebral ventricle induces dose-dependent fevers and transient sleep responses in rabbits. PGE2 induces a suppression of sleep of 24 min duration. In contrast, PGD2, across a wide range of doses (0.25-500 nmol) failed to alter sleep; however, at the highest dose it induced fever. We conclude that if PGs are involved in sleep regulation, a chronic stimulation of their production by other sleep factors is necessary.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Antiserum to prolactin decreases rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) in the male rat.

Previous reports suggest that blood-born prolactin (PRL) may selectively promote rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). To study the possible involvement of endogenous PRL in sleep regulation, rats were systemically injected with either antiserum to PRL or normal rabbit serum, and the sleep-wake activity was determined during the subsequent 12-h light cycle. The administration of normal rabbit serum in physiological saline did not alter sleep-wake activity compared to control recordings, whereas the PRL antiserum caused a modest and selective suppression in REMS. Immunoreactive PRL was eliminated from the serial plasma samples obtained between 6 to 11 h after the injection of the antiserum. Brain temperature was not affected by the antiserum. The results indicate that physiological pituitary PRL secretion has a slight REMS-promoting activity in the male rat. It is speculated that an increased release of pituitary PRL or the PRL-like substance previously demonstrated in the brain may significantly stimulate REMS.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Growth hormone-releasing hormone antibodies suppress sleep and prevent enhancement of sleep after sleep deprivation.

Previous reports suggest that the hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) promotes sleep, especially non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). To evaluate the role of endogenous GHRH in sleep regulation, the effects of antibodies to rat GHRH (GHRH-ab) were studied on normal sleep, brain temperature (Tbr), and GH secretion in experiment I and on enhanced sleep after sleep deprivation in experiment II. In experiment I, affinity-purified GHRH-ab (50 and 200 micrograms) raised in goats and a control goat immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparation were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) in rats 1 h before the onset of the light cycle, and sleep-wake activity and Tbr were recorded for the next 12 or 23 h. Both doses of GHRH-ab suppressed NREMS and REMS throughout the light cycle. Sleep durations at night were normal. Electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity, characterized by EEG slow-wave amplitudes, was reduced after GHRH-ab during both the light and the dark cycles. Plasma GH concentrations measured 6-12 h after injection of GHRH-ab (200 micrograms) were diminished. Both the control IgG and GHRH-ab elicited fever. In experiment II, the sleep-wake activity and Tbr of rats were recorded for 24 h in three experimental conditions: base-line with icv injection of IgG, 3-h sleep deprivation with icv IgG injection, and 3-h sleep deprivation with icv GHRH-ab (200 micrograms). After sleep deprivation (+IgG), a prompt increase in EEG slow-wave activity (power density analysis) and late increases in NREMS and REMS durations were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of growth hormone-releasing factor suppresses both sleep and growth hormone secretion in the rat.

To study the possible involvement of hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) in sleep regulation, a competitive GRF-antagonist, the peptide (N-Ac-Tyr1,D-Arg2)-GRF(1-29)-NH2, was intracerebroventricularly injected into rats (0.003, 0.3, and 14 nmol), and the EEG and brain temperature were recorded for 12 h during the light cycle of the day. Growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined from plasma samples taken at 20-min intervals for 3 h after 14 nmol GRF-antagonist. The onset of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) was delayed in response to 0.3 and 14 nmol GRF-antagonist, the duration of NREMS was decreased for one or more hours and after 14 nmol EEG slow wave amplitudes were decreased during NREMS in postinjection hour 1. The high dose of GRF-antagonist also suppressed REMS for 4 h, inhibited GH secretion, and elicited a slight biphasic variation in brain temperature. These findings, together with previous observations indicating a sleep-promoting effect for GRF, support the hypothesis that hypothalamic GRF is involved in sleep regulation and might be responsible for the correlation between NREMS and GH secretion reported in various species.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ruthenium red inhibits tail skin vasodilatation evoked by intracerebroventricular injection of capsaicin in the rat.

The effect of Ruthenium red on the tail skin vasodilatation evoked by an intracerebroventricular injection of capsaicin was studied in the anesthetized rat. Injection of capsaicin into the lateral ventricle resulted in a marked elevation of the tail skin temperature, indicative of peripheral vasodilatation. Ruthenium red, given by intracerebroventricular injection, significantly inhibited this response, which is known to be mediated by central warmth-sensitive neuronal structures. The findings suggest that the sensitivity to Ruthenium red, reportedly characteristic of the capsaicin-sensitive neurons in the peripheral nervous system, is also a trait of the capsaicin-sensitive nerve cells in the central nervous system. This is the first evidence indicating that similar molecular mechanisms, presumably involving changes in cellular calcium metabolism, contribute to the capsaicin-induced activation of neurons in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cholecystokinin promotes sleep and reduces food intake in diabetic rats.

It has been reported that systemic injections of cholecystokinin (CCK) elicit the behavioral characteristics of satiety, including sleep, in rats. CCK is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion, and insulin is hypothesized to be involved in sleep and feeding regulation. The purpose of the current experiments was to study the possible role of endogenous insulin in the food-intake-reducing and hypnogenic effects of intraperitoneally (IP) administered CCK. Normal and streptozotocin (STR)-diabetic rats were injected with isotonic saline or CCK (10 and 50 micrograms/kg) at dark onset, and sleep-wake activity was determined for the next 12 h. There were no significant differences between the baseline sleep-wake activity of normal and diabetic rats. IP injection of CCK elicited a selective increase in nonrapid-eye-movement sleep in both groups during the first postinjection hour. In a separate experiment, the effects of CCK (10 micrograms/kg) on food intake were determined in control and diabetic rats; CCK suppressed the 1-h food intake in both groups. In a third experiment, the effects of CCK treatment (50 micrograms/kg) on plasma insulin levels were determined. In normal rats, CCK elicited a two-fold increase in plasma insulin concentration, whereas diabetic rats had a significantly lower basal insulin level which was not affected by CCK treatment. We conclude that hypnogenic and food-intake-reducing effects of exogenously administered CCK are closely associated; however, pancreatic insulin does not play a significant role in either of these effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin elicits sleep in rabbits.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) reduces food intake and promotes non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) in rats. The purpose of present experiments was to determine if CCK is somnogenic in rabbits; another species in which CCK suppresses feeding. White New Zealand rabbits were treated intracerebroventricularly (ICV; 0.05, 0.5 and 2 micrograms) or intraperitoneally (IP; 2.5, 10 and 40 micrograms/kg) with CCK or saline, and sleep-wake activity and brain temperature (Tbr) were recorded for 6 h. Injections of 10 and 40 micrograms/kg CCK IP elicited a decrease in wakefulness and an increase in NREMS during the first hour postinjection. The hypnogenic effects were accompanied by a decrease in Tbr. After the IP injection of a lower dose (2.5 micrograms/kg) a slight, nonsignificant increase in NREMS during the first hour postinjection was followed by a decrease in NREMS. ICV injections of CCK had relatively small inhibitory effects on sleep. We conclude that circulating, hormone CCK might be a hypnogenic signal with a peripheral site of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Macrophages produce somnogenic and pyrogenic muramyl peptides during digestion of staphylococci.

Muramyl peptides have a variety of biological effects in mammals, including enhancement of the immune response, sleep, and body temperature. Although mammals lack biosynthetic pathways for muramyl peptides, they are found in mammals and are well known as components of bacterial cell walls. This suggests that phagocytic mammalian cells digest bacterial cell walls and produce biologically active muramyl peptides. Staphylococcal cell walls were radioactively labeled during growth of the bacteria. During the digestion of these radiolabeled bacteria, murine bone marrow macrophages produced low-molecular-weight substances that coeluted chromatographically with the radioactive cell wall marker. Further separation of these substances using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography resulted in the isolation of substances with high specific biological activity. Intracerebroventricular injection of rabbits with these substances induced an increase in slow-wave sleep and body temperature and a suppression of rapid-eye-movement sleep. The characteristics of the biological responses and the chromatographic behavior of the active components are consistent with those of muramyl peptides. The ability of macrophages to tailor muramyl peptides from peptidoglycan may provide an amplification step for the immune response. Muramyl peptides released by macrophages may also act as mediators for various facets of the acute phase response elicited by bacterial infections such as fever and sleep.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1991

Sleep in diabetic rats: effects of interleukin 1.

Previous observations indicate that both interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and insulin are involved in sleep regulation. IL-1 beta has been reported to stimulate insulin secretion, suggesting that some of the effects of IL-1 beta are mediated by insulin. The purpose of the current experiments was to study the possible role of endogenous insulin in physiological sleep regulation and in the hypnogenic effects of exogenously administered IL-1 beta. Isotonic saline or IL-1 beta (2.5 ng) was intracerebroventricularly injected into normal and streptozocin-diabetic rats at dark onset, and sleep-wake activity and brain temperature were recorded for 24 h. Blood samples were collected every 20 min during the first hour postinjection for plasma insulin measurement. In diabetic rats, rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM sleep were significantly decreased during the second part of the light period on the baseline day. IL-1 beta elicited a biphasic sleep response in both normal and diabetic rats. This initial increase in non-REM sleep during the first 4 h postinjection was followed by significant sleep suppression in both groups. Brain temperature was not affected in either group. Plasma insulin concentration decreased in response to IL-1 beta in normal rats, whereas insulin was below the level of detection in the diabetic rats. These results indicate that, although sleep is disturbed in diabetic rats, pancreatic insulin might not have a decisive role in the regulation of sleep in rats, and it does not mediate the effects of IL-1 beta on sleep-wake activity.

Animals↗