Neuroendocrinol Lett
-
Neuroendocrinol Lett · Jan 2011
Estrogen altered facial mechanical pain threshold and trigeminal P2X3 receptor expression.
P2X3 receptors are expressed in trigeminal ganglia (TG) and participate in the transduction of facial pain. However, the mechanisms underlying P2X receptor-mediated nociception at different estrogen levels has not been examined. ⋯ These results indicate that estrogen might modulate the transduction of facial pain by inhibiting P2X3 receptor in TG.
-
Neuroendocrinol Lett · Jan 2011
Awakening responses and diurnal fluctuations of salivary cortisol, DHEA-S and α-amylase in healthy male subjects.
Because the cortisol awakening response (CAR) has received increasing attention as a useful index of adrenocortical activity, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the presence of an awakening response for various salivary biomarkers of adrenocortical activity, including dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), which acts as a cortisol antagonist, and α-amylase, which is a predictor of circulating catecholamine activity. Salivary biological indicators are considered to be valuable markers of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis diurnal activity. ⋯ This correlation confirmed the distinctiveness of the two regulatory systems: salivary cortisol and DHEA-S concentrations reflect the activity of the HPA axis, whereas α-amylase activity is more closely related to sympathetic activity. In addition, the present study emphasizes the potential value of saliva collection (which is both easy and stress-free) in monitoring changes of adrenal function, confirming that multiple sampling (especially within 1 h after awakening) is necessary to reliably characterise biomarker activity when investigating neuroendocrine changes under various conditions.
-
Neuroendocrinol Lett · Jan 2011
Huperzine induces alteration in oxidative balance and antioxidants in a guinea pig model.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder. Symptomatic treatment is available by inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) such as rivastigmine, galantamine and donepezil. As huperzine is a promising compound for AD treatment, our study was aimed at evaluating its pertinent implications in oxidative stress. ⋯ We discuss the potency of huperzine in enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the central nervous system. Huperzine is probably implicated in more processes than cholinesterase inhibition only.