UNIPROT:P01189 - FACTA Search

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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The arcuate nucleus surrounds the ventral part of the third ventricle and contains densely packed small neurons with 1-3 dendrites. At least fifteen transmitters and neuropeptides have been found in perikarya of arcuate neurons. Each transmitter and neuropeptide have a characteristic distribution. In many cases distributions overlap (for example, dopamine and somatostatin, dopamine and neurotensin, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin) and alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin seem to have identical distributions but there are also distinctive neuronal populations containing only one of the described transmitters or neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y and alpha-MSH). Studies show extensive colocalization of dopamine and neurotensin and sparse colocalization of dopamine and GABA, neuropeptide Y and FMRF-NH2 and neuropeptide Y and somatostatin. Colocalization does not seem to be the rule in the arcuate, however, it is possible that colocalization may vary with the physiological state or sex of the animal. It also should be noted that our techniques may not be sensitive enough. To study efferent projections as a possible organizing principle within the arcuate, retrograde fluorescent tracing was combined with transmitter and neuropeptide immunohistochemistry. Mainly NPY and alpha-MSH neurons were studied and both peptides are present in projections to the preoptic area as well as to the midbrain periaqueductal gray. Some arcuate neurons were found to have collateral axons to both these areas. The arcuate communicates primarily with the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, limbic system, midbrain periaqueductal gray and autonomic nuclei of the brain stem. In this way, the arcuate may be involved in integrating emotional, sensory, vegetative homeostatic and autonomic functions with endocrine functions.
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PMID:Anatomy and physiology of the neuroendocrine arcuate nucleus. 241 5

We have developed a dissociated primary cell culture of noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus of postnatal (1- to 5-d-old) mice or rats. Slices of the brain stem were made on a Vibratome. Then the region of locus ceruleus, which was identified by observing the slices under a dissecting microscope, was dissected out from the slices. The removed fragments of brain slices were dissociated and cultured up to 3 weeks on a non-neuronal feeder layer, which consisted predominantly of astroglial cells, or on a fibronectin-treated collagen substratum. After 2 weeks of culture, about 70% of total neuronlike cells revealed positive catecholamine histofluorescence, indicating that they were probably noradrenergic neurons. About 98% of large- and medium-sized cultured neurons (soma diameter greater than or equal to 20 microns) was histofluorescence positive. The fluorescence-positive cells had long processes rich in varicosities, and the shape of their soma was either multipolar or fusiform. Electron microscopy using permanganate fixation revealed that the varicosities along their processes had small granular vesicles, which may contain norepinephrine. Physiological properties of these noradrenergic neurons were investigated with intracellular microelectrodes or with the whole-cell version of the patch clamp. We observed that many cells were producing spontaneous firing. Many of these spontaneously firing cells had no obvious contact with neighboring cells. The neurons were depolarized when glutamate was applied by pressure ejection. They also responded to GABA and glycine with either hyperpolarization or depolarization, and these responses were antagonized by picrotoxin and strychnine. Application of substance P generally produced depolarization with an increase in input resistance. The neurons responded with hyperpolarization to somatostatin, beta-endorphin, and enkephalin. This culture system will become a useful tool for elucidating the cellular and molecular properties of the central noradrenergic neurons.
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PMID:Noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus in dissociated cell culture: culture methods, morphology, and electrophysiology. 243 74

Intracellular recordings from primary mechanosensory neurones (dorsal cells) in the lamprey spinal cord were used to test the membrane effects of a variety of putative neuromodulatory agents. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) produced a dose-dependent increase in the duration of mixed Na-Ca or pure Ca action potentials in these cells. L-Glutamate and glycine produced minimal broadening of Ca action potentials. Acetylcholine, noradrenaline, serotonin, met-enkephalin, D-glutamate and dopamine had no effect. The pharmacology of GABA's action appeared to be complex. While the GABAA receptor antagonists, bicuculline, picrotoxin and curare, did not block GABA's effect, both the GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, and the GABAB-receptor agonist, baclofen, occasionally broadened Ca action potentials in these cells. GABA had no effect on the resting potential, passive current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and pure Na action potential of dorsal cells, ruling out an action on passive membrane channels, transmitter-activated channels, or on those voltage-dependent channels activated during the Na action potential. Thus, GABA affected dorsal cells only when a significant Ca current was evident. GABA appeared not to increase the conductance of the Ca channels since its action was accompanied by an increase in input resistance, suggesting an inhibition of Ca-dependent conductance that normally acts to repolarize the membrane during a Ca action potential. An inhibitory effect of GABA on a Ca-dependent Cl conductance was ruled out in experiments where the Cl gradient was altered by removal of extracellular Cl without affecting GABA-induced Ca action potential prolongation. Dorsal cells have a prominent Ca-dependent K conductance (gK(Ca], and it is this conductance that GABA may inhibit. Consistent with this was the observation that the hyperpolarizing after-potential that follows Ca action potentials in dorsal cells, which reflects gK(Ca) in these cells and whose duration is normally increased when the Ca action potential duration increases, was not prolonged when the Ca action potential was broadened by GABA. Further, the failure of GABA to prolong Ba action potentials was consistent with this proposed mechanism of action, since Ba apparently does not activate gK(Ca) in these cells. Forskolin, a specific adenylate cyclase activator, caused broadening of Ca action potentials in lamprey dorsal cells comparable in magnitude to that of GABA. Thus, an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP is a candidate for the intracellular mediator of GABA's effect on these cells.
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PMID:Prolongation of calcium action potentials by gamma-aminobutyric acid in primary sensory neurones of lamprey. 243 26

We have examined the action of GABA on the electrical, secretory and synthetic activities of rat and porcine intermediate lobe (IL) cells in primary culture. Chloride and calcium currents were investigated using patch-clamp techniques. A chloride current activated by 1-100 microM isoguvacine, a specific GABA-A agonist, and antagonised by bicuculline and SR 95103 was recorded at the whole cell and single channel level current. Whole cell calcium currents were investigated and shown to be reduced by 40 microM cadmium, zero external calcium and 10 microM baclofen, a specific GABA-B receptor agonist. Both GABA-B receptor activation and use of calcium deficient medium inhibited peptide release from IL cells. Finally, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA levels were measured using a hybridization technique. Removal of calcium from the culture medium or long-term (48 hr) incubation with 10 microM GABA or muscimol (a mixed GABA-A and GABA-B agonist) significantly reduced POMC mRNA levels.
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PMID:Ionic conductances related to GABA action on secretory and biosynthetic activity of pars intermedia cells. 243 3

To assess the contribution of putative neurotransmitters in mediating changes in adrenal and autonomic function evoked by activation of medullary dorsal horn neurons, microinjections of substance P, bicuculline methiodide, or muscimol were directed at various laminac of trigeminal subnucleus caudalis in the anesthetized cat. Injections of substance P (35.6 pmol) into the superficial layers (lamina I-II) of subnucleus caudalis increased the adrenal secretion of epinephrine (+8.3 +/- 2.3 ng/min, P less than 0.01), arterial pressure (+11 +/- 5.3 mm Hg, P less than 0.01), and heart rate (+19.4 +/- 4.9 beats/min, P less than 0.01) by 1 min, and increased the plasma concentration of adrenocorticotropin (+26 +/- 10 pg/ml, P less than 0.01) by 3 min. Substance P injections into the magnocellular layers (lamina III-IV) or deep magnocellular layers (lamina V-VI) had no significant effects. Microinjections of the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline methiodide (62.4 pmol), into the superficial layers of subnucleus caudalis increased the adrenal secretion of epinephrine (+4.5 +/- 3.2 ng/min, P less than 0.01) by 1 min, whereas injections of the GABAA agonist, muscimol (280 pmol), decreased the secretion (-5.8 +/- 2.8 ng/min, P less than 0.05) by 6 min. Arterial pressure increased after bicuculline (+17.8 +/- 8.2 mm Hg, P less than 0.01) and decreased after muscimol (-6.3 +/- 2.9 mm Hg, P less than 0.01) injections into the superficial layers. Injections of bicuculline or muscimol into the magnocellular layers or into the deep magnocellular layers had no effect on adrenal secretion of catecholamines or on systemic cardiovascular function. Peripheral venous concentrations of adrenocorticotropin were not affected significantly by microinjections of GABAergic agents regardless of the laminar site of injection within subnucleus caudalis. Equivalent volume injections of artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the superficial laminae of subnucleus caudalis had no significant influence on any measured variable. Substance P-evoked changes in the adrenal secretion of epinephrine were not correlated with changes in adrenal venous blood flow, whereas bicuculline- and muscimol-evoked changes in adrenal secretion of catecholamines were positively correlated with changes in adrenal blood flow (P less than 0.01). The results indicate that substance P and GABA contribute significantly to the trigeminal control of adrenal and autonomic function by acting on neurons in the superficial layers of subnucleus caudalis, a brainstem region that processes nociceptive sensory information.
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PMID:Substance P and GABAergic effects on adrenal and autonomic function evoked by microinjections into trigeminal subnucleus caudalis in the cat. 247 6

One subpopulation of amacrine interneurons in the turtle retina was shown to contain met-enkephalin by means of immunocytochemistry, and another was demonstrated to have a high-affinity uptake system for [3H]-dopamine by means of autoradiography. Although the amacrine soma size, density, and distribution of their neurites in IPL substrata was similar in retinas in which met-enkephalin and dopamine were localized, combined light microscope immunocytochemistry-autoradiography demonstrated that these two neurotransmitter systems did not coexist in the same cells. Because the two amacrine cell subtypes ramify in the same IPL substrata, neuronal interaction between them is possible. Release experiments showed that the potassium-induced release of [3H]-dopamine from the superfused turtle retina was reduced by 40% when enkephalin was added to the superfusate. The inhibition of [3H]-dopamine release could be blocked by the addition of naloxone. The addition of enkephalin had no effect of the potassium-induced release of [3H]-GABA from the superfused retina. These findings suggest that an enkephalinergic modulation of the dopaminergic amacrine cell system exists in the turtle retina.
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PMID:Enkephalinergic modulation of the dopamine system in the turtle retina. 248 18

The involvement of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex in the regulation of melanotropin secretion has been investigated using perfused frog neurointermediate lobes. The GABAA agonist 3-amino-1 propane sulfonic acid mimicked the biphasic effect of GABA on alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone secretion: a brief stimulation followed by an inhibition of melanotropin secretion. The GABAA antagonist SR 95531 (10(-4) M) inhibited both stimulation and inhibition of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release induced by GABA (10(-4) M). Since the inhibitory effect of baclofen (10(-4) M) was partially antagonized by SR 95531 (10(-4) M), it appears that the GABAergic control of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release is mainly achieved through activation of GABAA receptors. GABA-induced stimulation of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release was inhibited by tetrodotoxin (10(-5) M), an Na+ -channel blocker, or nifedipine (10(-5) M), a voltage-dependent Ca2+ -channel blocker, suggesting that Na+ and Ca2+ ions are involved in the stimulatory phase of GABA action. Only central-type benzodiazepine binding site agonists such as clonazepam (10(-4) M) modified alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release. In fact, clonazepam (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) led to a dose-dependent potentiation of both GABA-induced stimulation and inhibition of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release. This potentiating effect was antagonized by the GABAA antagonist SR 95531 (10(-4) M) or by the central-type benzodiazepine binding site antagonist flumazenil (10(-4) M), whereas picrotoxin (10(-4) M) abolished only the stimulatory phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Central-type benzodiazepines and the octadecaneuropeptide modulate the effects of GABA on the release of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone from frog neurointermediate lobe in vitro. 255 50

Culturing sympathetic ganglion neurons in vitro may modify phenotypic expression of some neurotransmitters. For dorsal root ganglia (DRG), contradictory results have been reported; most studies have used immature material. We have therefore performed a detailed immunocytochemical analysis of the transmitter content of cultured adult rat DRG neurons. To demonstrate possible modifications of neurotransmitter phenotypes, we have compared the results obtained with the same techniques on neurons cultured for 3 days and on freshly dissociated DRG cells. Also, the transmitter profile of cultured neurons was compared with that known from in situ studies. Out of 22 antigens studied, 20 were detected in cultured DRG neurons. All of them were expressed in small and/or intermediate-sized cells. Large neurons only contained CGRP, VIP, NPY, beta-END, ENK, and GABA. The percentage of immunostained neurons varied for the various antisera: less than 10% of cultured neurons were positive for ENK, beta-LPH, beta-END, DYN, VASO, and OXY; 10-30% for SOM, CCK, CAT, and SP; and greater than 30% for NPY, CRF, GLU, NT, VIP, GABA, GRP, CGRP, 5-HT, and TRH. In the latter two groups of transmitters (except CGRP), the proportion of immunoreactive neurons was by far larger in cultured than in freshly dissociated DRG. The most pronounced (greater than 25%) increase in the proportion of positively stained neurons after culturing was observed for the GRP, CRF, TRH, and 5-HT antisera. Serotonin was the only transmitter identified in cultured but not in freshly dissociated cells. These data indicate, on one hand, that various antigens, for example, CAT, GABA, NT, TRH, NPY, beta-LPH, and beta-END, which up to now have not been described in DRG in situ, can be detected immunocytochemically a few hours after dissociation of adult rat DRG. On the other hand, several transmitters, for example, VIP, NPY, SP, GABA, GLU, NT, GRP, CRF, TRH, and 5-HT, are expressed in a significantly higher proportion of cells in cultured than in freshly dissociated preparations. This might reflect a change in the phenotypic expression of transmitters due to the new environment generated by the culture conditions, a hypothesis that can be tested by measuring specific mRNA levels. Moreover, considering the plasticity and multipotentiality of their transmitter phenotype, cultured adult DRG neurons might represent an interesting material for autografts into the injured central nervous system.
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PMID:Neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity in cultured dissociated adult rat dorsal root ganglia: an immunocytochemical study. 256 40

In the turtle retina the peptides met-enkephalin (metENK), somatostatin (SS), neurotensin (NT), and the indoleamine serotonin (5-HT) modulate ganglion cell (GC) activity. The predominant action of the peptides is excitatory, generally enhancing spontaneous firing and light-evoked activity. In contrast, 5-HT usually inhibits these GC activities. MetENK has both direct synaptic input onto GC and indirect action possibly via a GABA inhibitory interneuron. The metENK actions appear mediated via a mu-opiate receptor; morphine and D-ala-metENK-amide (DALA), a stable analog of metENK, are agonists. Naloxone antagonizes the actions of metENK and its agonists. DALA occasionally inhibits GC. This inhibition is antagonized by picrotoxin, while concurrent excitatory action on GC is enhanced. DALA enhances GC response at high spatial frequencies; naloxone attenuates it. The enhancement by DALA suggests a narrowed receptive-field (RF) center, possibly due to changes in a GABA-mediated inhibitory surround. 5-HT inhibitory actions are also mediated via direct and indirect synaptic pathways. 5-methoxy-dimethyl-tryptamine and methoxy-phenyl-piperazine are agonists of 5-HT action. They are both specific 5-HT1 agonists. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and cyproheptadine, which act on 5-HT2 receptors, antagonize 5-HT actions in this retina. Strychnine enhances GC activity, probably by antagonizing glycine-mediated inhibitory inputs. It does not block the inhibitory action of 5-HT, which suggests that the indirect 5-HT inhibition is not mediated via a glycinergic interneurone. 5-HT suppresses directional selectivity (DS) and attenuates high spatial frequencies in some GC. This may be mediated via inhibition of GABAergic amacrines subserving DS and the RF inhibitory surround.
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PMID:Pharmacological actions of peptides and indoleamines on turtle retinal ganglion cells. 257 68

Acute or chronic cocaine administration exerts multiple behavioral and physiologic effects including stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Pharmacologically, cocaine shares major properties with at least 2 classes of pharmaceuticals. It is a local anesthetic and also a potent psychomotor stimulant. The psychomotor stimulant properties of cocaine are thought to be related to its ability to modify the metabolism and the activity of many neurotransmitter systems, such as acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). We and others have shown that all these neurotransmitters are potent stimulants of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion. The present study was undertaken to examine whether cocaine stimulates hypothalamic CRH secretion and whether or not such an effect is mediated by any of the above neurotransmitters. To accomplish this task, we employed a rat hypothalamic organ culture system, in which CRH secretion form single explanted hypothalami was evaluated by specific radioimmunoassay (iCRH). Cocaine stimulated iCRH secretion in a dose-dependent fashion with peak of activity at 10(-8) M. Isolated or simultaneous pharmacologic blockade of cholinergic (atropine plus hexamethonium), serotonergic (ritanserin), alpha-adrenergic (phentolamine) and/or dopaminergic (compound SCH 23390) receptor subtypes failed to inhibit cocaine-induced iCRH secretion. On the other hand, cocaine-induced iCRH secretion was inhibited by GABA, a potent inhibitor of CRH secretion, dexamethasone, verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, and carbamazepine, an antiepileptic and antidepressive agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Cocaine stimulates rat hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone secretion in vitro. 261 79

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