Ihsan Serhatlioglu

Nesfatin-1 increases intracellular calcium concentration by protein kinase C activation in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Nesfatin-1 is a recently identified anorexigenic hypothalamic polypeptide derived from the posttranslational processing of nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2). Several studies have indicated that this neuropeptide may be participated in somatosensory and visceral transmission including pain signals in addition to energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore the possible role of nesfatin-1 in the transmission of peripheral neural signals by investigating the effects of nesfatin-1 on intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca(2+)]i) in cultured neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The effects of nesfatin-1 on [Ca(2+)]i in DRG neurons were investigated by using an in vitro calcium imaging system. DRG neurons were grown in primary culture following enzymatic and mechanical dissociation of ganglia from 1-or 2-day-old neonatal Wistar rats. Using the fura-2-based calcium imaging technique, the effects of nesfatin-1 on [Ca(2+)]i and role of the protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated pathway in nesfatin-1 effect were assessed. Nesfatin-1 elevated [Ca(2+)]i in cultured DRG neurons. The response was prevented by pretreating the cells with pertussis toxin. The protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine chloride suppressed nesfatin-1-induced rise in [Ca(2+)]i. The result shows that nesfatin-1 interacts with a G protein-coupled receptor, leading to an increase of [Ca(2+)]i, which is linked to protein kinase C activation in cultured rat DRG neurons.

Studies on the reproductive effects of chronic treatment with agomelatine in the rat.

Agomelatine is an antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action. It is a melatonergic agonist for MT1 and MT2 receptors and a serotonin (5-HT2C) receptor antagonist. Agomelatine has been suggested not to have adverse effects on sexual functions. However, the effects of chronic agomelatine administration on reproductive functions have not been sufficiently studied in animal models. We mainly aimed to explore the effects of agomelatine on reproductive functions in the male and female rats. For the experimental studies, Sprague Dawley rats were used. The animals started to receive daily oral agomelatine (10mg/kg) on post-natal day 21. Agomelatine advanced vaginal opening in the female rats whereas it delayed puberty onset in the male rats. Agomelatine treatment significantly decreased intromission frequencies, which indicates a facilitator role of this antidepressant on male sexual behavior. In the forced swimming test (FST) used for assessing antidepressant efficacy, agomelatine induced a significant decrease in duration of immobility, and an increase in the swimming time, respectively, which confirms the antidepressant-like activity of agomelatine. The present findings suggest that agomelatine shows a strong antidepressant effect in the male rats without any adverse influences on sexual behavior, and its effects on pubertal maturation seem to show sex-dependent differences.

Agomelatine pretreatment prevents development of hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

The main objective of this study was to investigate potential effectiveness of agomelatine pretreatment in the prevention of diabetes itself and encephalopathy, with a focus on brain tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic mice. Interleukine‐1β (IL‐1β) and TACR1 (NK1), which is a tachykinine receptor, were used for the investigation of inflammation in the brain regions including raphe nucleus, periaqueductal gyrus (PAG), amygdala, and nucleus accumbens. The effects of agomelatine on total antioxidant capacity were also evaluated. In the in vitro part of the study, the effects of agomelatine on cell viability were investigated in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured 72 h after STZ injection to determine the diabetic condition. Agomelatine pretreatment prevented both hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in STZ‐treated mice. When STZ was injected to induce diabetes in mice, neither hyperglycemia nor hypoinsulinemia was developed in agomelatine pretreated mice and 6 weeks after development of diabetes, agomelatine treatment significantly decreased levels of IL‐1β mRNA in raphe nucleus and nucleus accumbens. TACR1 mRNA levels were lower in raphe nucleus, PAG, and amygdala of agomelatine‐treated diabetic mice. The increase in total antioxidant capacity after agomelatine administration may responsible for its beneficial effect in the prevention of diabetes. We showed that agomelatine reversed high glucose–induced cell viability decreases in DRG neurons. Both the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of agomelatine might have contributed to the DRG neuron viability improvement. In conclusion, agomelatine seems to both prevent development of diabetes and reverse the encephalopathic changes caused by diabetes.

EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE IN VIVO ON CATECHOLAMINERGIC NEUROTRANSMITTER CONCENTRATIONS IN BRAIN TISSUES IN RATS

In this study, change of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters acting as chemical messengers, noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) concentrations in the brain of adult male rats exposed to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by mobile phones has been investigated. For this purpose, after application of 1 and 5 hours 900 and 1800 MHz EMF, NA and DA levels in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum and frontal cortex tissues were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector system (HPLC-ED). Compared with the control groups, NA ve DA levels in the experimental groups were determined to be statistically significantly higher. As result, EMF exposure can chance the brain catecholamine levels and it can lead to adverse effects on motor activity, learning, memory, mood and behavioral functions.