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Biomedical subjects

L Angelucci

Publications and source records attributed to L Angelucci.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Nerve growth factor binding in aged rat central nervous system: effect of acetyl-L-carnitine.

The nerve growth factor protein (NGF) has been demonstrated to affect neuronal development and maintenance of the differentiated state in certain neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) of mammals. In the CNS, NGF has sparing effects on cholinergic neurons of the rodent basal forebrain (BF) following lesions where it selectively induces choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). NGF also induces ChAT in the areas to which BF provides afferents. In aged rats, there is a reduction in the NGF-binding capacity of sympathetic ganglia. Here, we wish to report that there is a decrease in the NGF-binding capacity of the hippocampus and basal forebrain of aged (26-month-old) rats as compared to 4-month-old controls but no change in NGF binding in cerebellum. In all instances, equilibrium binding dissociation constants did not differ significantly. Treatment of rats with acetyl-L-carnitine, reported to improve cognitive performance of aged rats, ameliorates these age-related deficits.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1988

Regional distribution of ubiquinones and tocopherols in the mouse brain: lowest content of ubiquinols in the substantia nigra.

C57 black mice of 3 months of age were sacrificed, and their brain regionally dissected according to a protocol that strickly control for the death-freezing interval of each region. HPLC measurements of tocopherols and oxidized and reduced ubiquinones demonstrated significant regional variations. The substantia nigra had the lowest content of Q10 and a skewed ratio in favor of its oxidized form. Forebrain cholinergic nuclei had also more oxydized than reduced Q10 and in addition the lowest content of tocopherols. These findings suggest that nuclei that show neuronal depletion with age are the ones prone to oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effect of acetyl-l-carnitine chronic treatment on discrimination models in aged rats.

Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), a natural component of several biological systems, has been found to modify spontaneous and evoked electrocortical activity in young rats and to improve learning ability in old ones. In clinical application it also improves mood and attention in elderly patients. The present study was aimed at ascertaining the effect of a chronic treatment with ALC added to drinking water on two discrimination models in aged rats. In the first model, simple discrimination learning was tested and was found to be significantly improved by treatment. The second model consisted of a differential reinforcement of low rate of responding. The animals receiving treatment performed significantly better as shown by a lower number of nonrewarded responses. Because impaired learning and memory are related to alterations in hippocampal function, these data indicate that ALC is capable of antagonizing the natural age-dependent deterioration process in the hippocampal structure.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1987

The effect of exogenous L-carnitine on biochemical parameters in serum and in heart of the hyperlipidaemic rat.

In previous experiments we have demonstrated that L-carnitine administration is capable of reducing olive oil-induced lipidaemia in the rat. In the present study we determined the effect of L-carnitine on the levels of (acyl)carnitines in heart and serum in addition to its effect on serum levels of lipids and ketone bodies after olive oil gavage feeding. L-carnitine was found to reduce the level of myocardial long-chain acylcarnitine which was increased by the olive oil treatment. It also increased the levels of carnitine and acid soluble acylarnitines in both heart and serum. L-carnitine administration caused a clearcut decrease of olive oil-induced lipidaemia and ketonaemia. These effects of added L-carnitine strongly suggest that the stimulation of the beta-oxidation in the mitochondria (at the expense of extra mitochondrial triglycerceride synthesis) is suboptimal after fat loading.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

L-carnitine effect on plasma lipoproteins of hyperlipidemic fat-loaded rats.

The effect of oral L-carnitine administration to rats fed olive oil has been studied. Carnitine significantly decreased triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid levels. Particularly, the levels of chylomicron and very low density lipoproteins in the blood were lowered. Low density lipoprotein levels were not affected, and high density lipoproteins were found to be decreased by 20%. Because carnitine did not change the composition of chylomicron and very low density lipoproteins fraction or affect the gastrointestinal triglyceride residue (about 1/3 of the original load), an effect of carnitine on hepatic fatty acid handling is most likely. The lowering of plasma free fatty acid levels by carnitine administration is in favor of an effect of carnitine on fatty acid handling. The effect on the liver is illustrated by the study of acetoacetate formation in in vitro perfused livers from previously olive oil loaded +/- carnitine-treated rats. Carnitine pretreatment stimulated ketogenesis. It is speculated that carnitine administration, by promoting beta-oxidation, lowers the production of very low density lipoproteins. This may be accomplished partly by an increase in the hepatic level of fatty acid binding protein, which also has been observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Transient nigral ubiquinone depletion after single MPTP administration in mice.

The administration of a single injection of 30 mg/kg MPTP to mice produces at 1 hr, a transient significant decrease of the reduced ubiquinol Q10 in the substantia nigra that is normalized afterwards. This suggests a transient stress imposed by MPTP (or more likely MPP+) in the mitochondrial respiratory and/or oxidoreducing system, located in close proximity to the NADH system.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1985

The effect of exogenous L-carnitine on fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in the rat.

In rats receiving a fat diet (75% Altromin R and 25% olive oil) ad libitum for 15 hours, an orally administered dose of 500 mg/kg L-carnitine produces: an increase in serum carnitine and acetyl-carnitine levels; a decrease in serum triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels; a normalization of the heart and liver carnitine pattern; a reduction of myocardial neutral lipase (NL) activity, without affecting lipoprotein lipase (LPL) of the heart. Under these experimentally-induced conditions, L-carnitine stimulates the excretion of acyl groups as acyl-carnitines with the urine. Acylcarnitines are practically absent from the urine of control animals.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1983

Perinatal mother-offspring pituitary-adrenal interrelationship in rats: corticosterone in milk may affect adult life.

The pituitary-adrenal interrelationships between the mother and offspring are apparently operating during postnatal life in the rat via the corticosterone present in milk and passing into the suckling. A mother-offspring pituitary-adrenal interrelationship is at play during postnatal life in the rat, by the way of corticosterone present in milk and passing into the suckling. Changes in the milk concentration of glucocorticoid hormone (adrenalectomy or corticosterone administration in the mother) in a physiological or physiopathological range, show some consequences in later life. These consist in apparently permanent changes in binding capacity of the glucocorticoid receptor in the hippocampus, as well as in related adaptive behavioral and endocrine activities. The sensitivity in the offspring to the effects of manipulations of the above interrelationship is, at least in part, sex dependent.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1982

Effects of calcitonin on rat extrapyramidal motor system: behavioral and biochemical data.

The effects of i.v.c. injection of human and salmon calcitonin on biochemical and behavioral parameters related to the extrapyramidal motor system, were investigated in male rats. Calcitonin injection resulted in a potentiation of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and a partial prevention of apomorphine-induced hyperactivity. Moreover calcitonin induced a significant decrease in nigral GAD activity but no change in striatal DA and DOPAC concentration or GAD activity. The results are discussed in view of a primary action of calcitonin on the striatonigral GABAergic pathway mediating the DA-related behavioral messages of striatal origin.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗