Kinetic parameters of tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat's preoptic region during sleep deprivation and recovery induced by ambient temperature

Alterations of Cytochrome P450s and UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases in Brain Under Diseases and Their Clinical Significances

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are both greatly important metabolic enzymes in various tissues, including brain. Although expressions of brain CYPs and UGTs and their contributions to drug disposition are much less than liver, both CYPs and UGTs also mediate metabolism of endogenous substances including dopamine and serotonin as well as some drugs such as morphine in brain, demonstrating their important roles in maintenance of brain homeostasis or pharmacological activity of drugs. Some diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are often associated with the alterations of CYPs and UGTs in brain, which may be involved in processes of these diseases via disturbing metabolism of endogenous substances or resisting drugs. This article reviewed the alterations of CYPs and UGTs in brain, the effects on endogenous substances and drugs and their clinical significances. Understanding the roles of CYPs and UGTs in brain provides some new strategies for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.

Specific changes in cerebral second messenger accumulation underline REM sleep inhibition induced by the exposure to low ambient temperature

In the rat the exposure to an ambient temperature (Ta) of -10 degrees C induces an almost total REM sleep deprivation that results in a proportional rebound in the following recovery at normal laboratory Ta when the exposure lasts for 24 h, but in a rebound much lower than expected when the exposure lasts 48 h. The possibility that this may be related to plastic changes in the nervous structures involved in the control of thermoregulation and REM sleep has been investigated by measuring changes in the concentration of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area (PO-AH), the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and, as a control, the cerebral cortex (CC). Second messenger concentration was determined in animals either stimulated by being exposed to hypoxia, a depolarizing condition that induces maximal second messenger accumulation or unstimulated, at the end of a 24-h and a 48-h exposure to -10 degrees C and also between 4 h 15 min and 4 h 30 min into recovery (early recovery). At the end of both exposure conditions, cAMP concentration significantly decreased in PO-AH-VMH, but did not change in CC, whilst changes in IP(3) concentration were similar in all these regions. The low cAMP concentration in PO-AH-VMH was concomitant with a significantly low accumulation in hypoxia. The normal capacity of cAMP accumulation was only restored in the early recovery following 24 h of exposure, but not following 48 h of exposure, suggesting that this may be a biochemical equivalent of the REM sleep inhibition observed during 48 h of exposure and which is carried over to the recovery.

Assessment of the neurologic effects of dietary deficiencies of phenylalanine and tyrosine in cats

OBJECTIVE

To determine the neurologic effects of reduced intake of phenylalanine and tyrosine in black-haired cats.

ANIMALS

53 specific pathogen-free black domestic shorthair cats.

PROCEDURE

Cats were fed purified diets containing various concentrations of phenylalanine and tyrosine for < or = 9 months. Blood samples were obtained every 2 months for evaluation of serum aromatic amino acid concentrations. Cats were monitored for changes in hair color and neurologic or behavioral abnormalities. Three cats with neurologic deficits underwent clinical and electrophysiologic investigation; muscle and nerve biopsy specimens were also obtained from these cats.

RESULTS

After 6 months, neurologic and behavioral abnormalities including vocalization and abnormal posture and gait were observed in cats that had received diets containing < 16 g of total aromatic amino acid/kg of diet. Electrophysiologic data and results of microscopic examination of muscle and nerve biopsy specimens from 3 cats with neurologic signs were consistent with sensory neuropathy with primary axonal degeneration. Changes in hair color were detected in cats from all groups receiving < 16 g of phenylalanine plus tyrosine/kg of diet.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Findings suggested that chronic dietary restriction of phenylalanine and tyrosine in cats may result in a predominantly sensory neuropathy. In cats, the long-term nutritional requirement for phenylalanine and tyrosine appears to be greater for normal neurologic function than that required in short-term growth experiments. Official present-day recommendations for dietary phenylalanine and tyrosine in cats may be insufficient to support normal long-term neurologic function.

Cats require more dietary phenylalanine or tyrosine for melanin deposition in hair than for maximal growth

In 1986, the NRC recommended a dietary concentration of 4.0 g/kg of phenylalanine and 8.5 g/kg of total aromatic amino acids for growing kittens on the basis of maximal growth rate and nitrogen balance. Black hair-coated cats were given purified diets containing the following phenylalanine + tyrosine (Phe + Tyr) concentrations (g/kg diet): 4 + 2, 4 + 4, 4 + 6, 4 + 8, 10 + 0, 10 + 2, 10 + 4, 10 + 6, 10 + 8, 10 + 10, 24 + 0 for at least 6 mo. All other amino acids were present at about twice the requirements. Total melanin and the oxidation product of eumelanin, pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA) were measured in hair. There was a significant linear relationship between the concentrations of tyrosine in plasma and PTCA in hair. The relationship between PTCA concentration in hair and Phe + Tyr in the diet had a point of inflection at approximately 16 g/kg Phe + Tyr. Cats fed diets with <16 g Phe + Tyr developed "red hair." We confirmed the anecdotal reports that the black hair of cats can change from black to reddish brown. An aromatic amino acid concentration > or =18 g/kg is recommended for the prevention of visually discernible red hair in black-coated cats. Dietary concentrations >18 g total aromatic amino acids/kg diet promote a greater ratio of PTCA:total melanin in hair. We are unaware of a secondary nutrient requirement being so much greater than the requirement for growth.

REM sleep deprivation increases the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and norepinephrine transporter mRNA in the locus coeruleus

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of REM sleep deprivation on the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and norepinephrine transporter (NET) mRNA in the locus coeruleus (LC) of rats. The animals were deprived of REM sleep for 1, 3 or 5 days, then killed and changes in the mRNA levels were determined using in situ hybridization. The levels of both TH and NET mRNA increased in animals deprived of REM sleep for 3 days or longer whereas no change in these messages were observed in the LC of control animals. REM sleep deprivation has been used as a mode of treatment for major depression. Others have shown that treatment with tricyclic antidepressants also results in increased levels of TH and NET mRNA in LC. Our results suggest that the antidepressant effect of REM sleep deprivation and tricyclic antidepressants may share similar molecular changes in the norepinephrine system.

Changes in cAMP concentration in the rat preoptic area during synchronized and desynchronized sleep

cAMP concentration was found to be significantly lower during desynchronized sleep than during synchronized sleep in the preoptic area of rats kept at normal laboratory temperature. No significant changes in cerebral cortex cAMP concentration were observed in the same experimental conditions.