Em condições basais a inspiração é um fenômeno ativo enquanto a expiração é um fenômeno passivo. Em condições de desafios metabólicos, como aumento da pressão parcial de CO2 e da [H+] no sangue arterial (hipercapnia/acidose), ocorre aumento da atividade inspiratória, a expiração passa a ser ativa, produzindo aumentos da atividade dos músculos abdominais, e a resistência das vias aéreas superiores reduz. O Locus Coeruleus (LC) contém neurônios noradrenérgicos (NE) que aumentam sua frequência de potenciais de ação quando expostos a elevados níveis de CO2/[H+] e se comunicam com os neurônios respiratórios do tronco encefálico para fazer ajustes compensatórios na ventilação pulmonar durante a hipercapnia/acidose. Utilizando preparações in situ de ratos avaliamos a contribuição dos neurônios NE do LC na geração central das atividades inspiratória e expiratória e no controle da resistência das vias aéreas superiores em condições basais e em resposta a hipercapnia/acidose. Neurônios NE do LC foram seletivamente silenciados de maneira aguda e reversível pela aplicação do peptídeo de inseto alatostatina (Alst) após a transfecção celular utilizando um vetor lentiviral para expressão de receptores de Drosophila para a Alst acoplados a proteína G inibitória (AlstR). Dez a doze dias após, realizamos a abordagem dorsal da preparação in situ de ratos. Os nervos frênico (PN), abdominal (AbN), hipoglosso (HN) e vago cervical (cVN) foram registrados e analisados em diferentes fases do ciclo respiratório. Registros extracelulares single unit dos neurônios do LC também foram realizados. A frequência respiratória (fR), a duração da inspiração (DI) e da expiração (DE), a expiração ativa, a magnitude da modulação respiratória e a frequência de potenciais de ação dos neurônios do LC também foram avaliadas. A inibição seletiva dos neurônios NE do LC usando Alst não provocou alterações significativas na atividade dos motores nervos respiratórios, na fR, DI e DE em normocapnia. A inibição desses neurônios antes e/ou durante à hipercapnia/acidose reduziu significantemente a amplitude do AbN e em alguns momentos, eliminou a expiração ativa, além de reduzir as respostas inspiratórias do PN e HN (amplitude) e a atividade pós-inspiratória (adução da glote) do cVN. Quandoda ausência da expiração ativa após a inibição dos neurônios NE do LC, a DI, DE e a duração da atividade pré-inspiratória do cVN (abdução da glote) e HN (protusão da língua) foram normalizadas. A adição de Alst em preparações in situ de ratos que não expressavam o AsltR durante a hipercapnia/acidose não causou alterações no padrão dos nervos motores respiratórios registrados, na incidência da expiração ativa e na fR, DI e DE. Entre os neurônios do LC registrados, encontramos três populações com diferentes padrões de modulação pela respiração e uma com atividade tônica. A hipercapnia/acidose aumentou a magnitude da modulação respiratória e a frequência de potenciais de ação destas populações neuronais. Esses dados demonstram que os neurônios NE do LC exercem importante papel modulatório excitatório na geração central da inspiração, expiração ativa e no controle da resistência das vias aéreas superiores evocados pela hipercapnia/acidose em preparações in situ de ratos / In basal conditions, inspiration is an active phenomenon while expiration is a passive phenomenon. Under conditions of high metabolic demands, such as increased in partial pressure of CO2 and [H+] in arterial blood (hypercapnia/acidosis), there is an increase in inspiratory activity, expiration becomes active, producing increases in abdominal muscle activity, and the resistance of the upper airways reduces. The Locus Coeruleus (LC) contains noradrenergic (NE) neurons that increase their firing frequency when exposed to elevated CO2/[H+] levels and communicate with respiratory brainstem neurons to make compensatory adjustments in lung ventilation during hypercapnia/acidosis. Using in situ preparations of rats, we evaluated the contribution of LC NE neurons in the central generation of inspiratory and expiratory activities, as well as in the control of upper airway resistance in basal conditions and in response to hypercapnia/acidosis. LC NE neurons were selectively acutely and reversibly silenced by application of the insect allatostatin peptide (Alst) after cellular transfection using a lentiviral vector for expression of Alst Drosophila receptors coupled to inhibitory G protein (AlstR). Ten to twelve days after, we performed the dorsal approach of the in situ preparation of rats. The phrenic (PN), abdominal (AbN), hypoglossal (HN) and cervical vagus (cVN) nerves were recorded and analyzed in different phases of the respiratory cycle. Single unit extracellular records of LC neurons were also performed. Respiratory frequency (fR), duration of inspiration (DI) and expiration (DE), active expiration, the magnitude of respiratory modulation and the firing frequency of LC neurons were also evaluated. Selective inhibition of LC NE neurons using Alst did not produce significant changes in the activity of respiratory motor nerves, fR, DI and DE in normocapnia. Inhibition of these neurons before and/or during hypercapnia/acidosis significantly reduced AbN amplitude and its incidence, as well as the inspiratory responses of PN and HN (amplitude) and post-inspiratory activity (glottal adduction) of the cVN. In the absence of active expiration after the inhibition of LC NE neurons, the DI, DE and the pre-inspiratory activity of cVN (glottal abduction) and HN (tongue protrusion) were normalized. The perfusion of Alst in in situ preparations of rats withoutthe expression of the AsltR during hypercapnia/acidosis did not change the pattern of the recorded respiratory motor nerves, the incidence of active expiration, fR, DI and DE. Among the registered LC neurons, we found three populations with different patterns of respiratory modulation and one with tonic activity. Hypercapnia/acidosis increased the magnitude of the respiratory modulation and their firing frequency. These data demonstrate that LC NE neurons exert an important excitatory modulatory role in the central generation of inspiration, active expiration and in the control of upper airway resistance evoked by hypercapnia/acidosis in in situ preparations of rats

Studies have indicated that approximately 30% of people with heart disease experience major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite strong clinical evidence of a link between the two diseases, the neurobiological processes involved in the relationship are poorly understood. A growing number of studies are revealing similar neuroanatomical and neurochemical abnormalities resulting from both depression and heart disease. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a group of neurons in the pons that synthesize and release norepinephrine, and that is known to play a significant role in depression pathobiology. For example, there is evidence that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is elevated in the LC in depression. In addition, there is evidence that the LC plays a role in cardiovascular autonomic regulation. The hippocampus is another region that exhibits abnormalities in both depression and heart disease. In this study, the levels of TH in the hippocampus and LC were examined in the guinea pig pressure-overload model of heart disease. TH levels were also measured in the pressure-overload model treated with vagal nerve stimulation, a new investigational therapeutic intervention in heart disease. This study found that there were no changes in TH levels in the LC or the hippocampus of the pressure-overload model or in the pressure-overload model treated with vagal nerve stimulation.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a depletion of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The cause of the disease is yet unknown but age, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation are some of the features involved in the degeneration. In addition, substantial cell death of noradrenergic neurons occurs in the locus coeruleus (LC). Noradrenaline has been suggested to protect the dopamine neurons from oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. The main treatment of Parkinson’s disease is Levo-dopa, although severe side effects arise from this therapy. Hence, grafting fetal ventral mesencephalic (VM) tissue into the adult striatum has been evaluated as an alternative treatment for Parkinsons’s disease. However, the survival of the grafted neurons is limited, and the dopamine-denervated striatum does not become fully reinnervated. Therefore, elucidating factors that enhance dopamine nerve fiber formation and/or survival of the grafted neurons is of utmost importance. To investigate dopamine nerve fiber formation and the interactions with glial cells, organotypic VM tissue cultures were utilized. Two morphologically different nerve fiber outgrowths from the tissue slice were observed. Nerve fibers were initially formed in the absence of migrating astrocytes, although thin vimentin-positive astrocytic processes were detected within the same area. A second, persistent nerve fiber outgrowth was observed associated with migrating astrocytes. Hence, both of these nerve fiber outgrowths were to some extent dependent on astrocytes, and appeared as a general feature since this phenomenon was demonstrated in β-tubulin, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and aldehyde dehydrogenase A1 (ALDH1)-positive nerve fibers. Neither oligodendrocytes (NG2-positive cells), nor microglia (Iba-1-positive cells) exerted any effect on these two neuronal growths. Since astrocytes appeared to influence the nerve fiber formation, the role of proteoglycans, i.e. extracellular matrix molecules produced by astrocytes, was investigated. β-xyloside was added to the cultures to inhibit proteoglycan synthesis. The results revealed a hampered astrocytic migration and proliferation, as well as a reduction of the glia-associated TH-positive nerve fiber outgrowth. Interestingly, the number of cultures displaying the non-glia-mediated TH-positive nerve fibers increased after β-xyloside treatment, although the amount of TH-protein was not altered. Thus, proteoglycans produced by astrocytes appeared to be important in affecting the dopamine nerve fiber formation. The noradrenaline neurons in LC have been suggested to protect dopamine neurons from damage. Therefore, the interaction between VM and LC was evaluated. Using the intraocular grafting method, fetal VM and LC were grafted either as single grafts or as VM+LC co-grafts. Additionally, the recipient animals received 2% blueberry-enriched diet. The direct contact of LC promoted graft volume and survival of TH-positive neurons in the VM grafts. The number of dopamine neurons, derived preferably from the A9 (ALDH1/TH-positive) was increased, whereas the dopamine neurons from the A10 (calbindin/TH-positive) were not affected. A dense dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH)-positive innervation was correlated to the improved survival. Blueberry-enriched diet enhanced the number of TH-positive neurons in VM, although the graft size was not altered. The combination of blueberries and the presence of LC did not yield additive effects on the survival of VM grafts. The attachment of VM or the addition of blueberries did not affect the survival of TH-positive neurons in LC grafts. The number of Iba-1-positive microglia was decreased in co-grafted VM compared to single VM transplants. The addition of blueberries reduced the number of Iba-1-positive microglia in single VM transplants. Hence, the direct contact of LC or the addition of blueberries enhanced the survival of VM grafts. Taken together, these data demonstrate novel findings regarding the importance of astrocytes for the nerve fiber formation of dopamine neurons. Further, both the direct attachment of LC or antioxidant-enriched diet promote the survival of fetal VM grafts, while LC is not affected.

Intranuclear rodlets (INRs) are poorly understood intranuclear bodies originally identified within neuronal nuclei on the basis of their unique morphology. Their mechanism of formation, biochemical composition and physiological significance are largely unknown. To gain insight into the molecular regulators of INR formation, mice with a conditional adult β cell-specific knockout of the master regulator of β-cell metabolism, Lkb1 protein kinase (LABKO mice) were studied. The proportion of beta cells containing INRs was significantly reduced in LABKO mice. Further examination ruled out mTOR and Mark2 as downstream effectors of Lkb1 knockout INR phenotype. Instead it identified the mTOR pathway as an independent regulator of INR formation. To investigate INR changes in a pathophysiological context, β cell INRs were examined in two models of human metabolic syndrome: (1) mice maintained on a high-fat diet and (2) leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Significant INR reduction was observed in both models. Taken together, our results support the view that INR formation in pancreatic β cells is a dynamic and regulated process. The substantial depletion of INRs in LABKO and obese diabetic mice suggests their relationship to β cell function and potential involvement in diabetes pathogenesis. The significance of these findings was further underscored by the demonstration of INRs in human endocrine pancreas, suggesting their potential relevance to the development of metabolic syndrome in humans. The existence of biochemically distinct subtypes of INRs has been suggested by previous reports of differential immunological staining of INRs in neurochemically distinct neuronal populations. Here, a novel variant of INR has been identified that is immunoreactive for the 40kDa huntingtin associated protein and ubiquitin; and evidence was provided for the existence of additional INR subtypes sharing ubiquitin immunoreactivity as a common feature. Selective association of these INRs with melanin concentrating hormone and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons of the hypothalamus and the locus coeruleus was described. It was also demonstrated for the first time that biochemically distinct INR subtypes can co-exist within a single nucleus where they engage in non-random spatial interactions. These findings highlight the biochemical diversity and cell type specific expression of these enigmatic intranuclear structures. On the basis of these findings and previous literature a hypothesis is proposed as to the overall functional significance of INRs in the cell nucleus.

Neurons in the Locus coeruleus (LC) play an important role in the central CO2 chemosensitivity. However, the molecular mechanisms for neuronal CO2 chemosensitivity remain unclear. To demonstrate the expression of pH/CO2 sensitive ion channels, we screened the inward rectifier K+ channels (Kir) and transient receptor protein (TRP) channels, as parallel studies in this lab suggested that certain Kir and TRP channels are involved in neuronal responses to high levels of CO2. Our results showed that several members of the Kir and TRP channel families were robustly expressed in the LC neurons at the mRNA level. Of particular interest are TRPC5, Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 channels that are all pH-sensitive. The rich expression of various pH-sensitive Kir and TRP channels suggests that these ion channels are likely to play a role in the chemosensitivity of LC neurons.

No description available.

Intranuclear rodlets (INRs) are poorly understood intranuclear bodies originally identified within neuronal nuclei on the basis of their unique morphology. Their mechanism of formation, biochemical composition and physiological significance are largely unknown. To gain insight into the molecular regulators of INR formation, mice with a conditional adult β cell-specific knockout of the master regulator of β-cell metabolism, Lkb1 protein kinase (LABKO mice) were studied. The proportion of beta cells containing INRs was significantly reduced in LABKO mice. Further examination ruled out mTOR and Mark2 as downstream effectors of Lkb1 knockout INR phenotype. Instead it identified the mTOR pathway as an independent regulator of INR formation. To investigate INR changes in a pathophysiological context, β cell INRs were examined in two models of human metabolic syndrome: (1) mice maintained on a high-fat diet and (2) leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Significant INR reduction was observed in both models. Taken together, our results support the view that INR formation in pancreatic β cells is a dynamic and regulated process. The substantial depletion of INRs in LABKO and obese diabetic mice suggests their relationship to β cell function and potential involvement in diabetes pathogenesis. The significance of these findings was further underscored by the demonstration of INRs in human endocrine pancreas, suggesting their potential relevance to the development of metabolic syndrome in humans. The existence of biochemically distinct subtypes of INRs has been suggested by previous reports of differential immunological staining of INRs in neurochemically distinct neuronal populations. Here, a novel variant of INR has been identified that is immunoreactive for the 40kDa huntingtin associated protein and ubiquitin; and evidence was provided for the existence of additional INR subtypes sharing ubiquitin immunoreactivity as a common feature. Selective association of these INRs with melanin concentrating hormone and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons of the hypothalamus and the locus coeruleus was described. It was also demonstrated for the first time that biochemically distinct INR subtypes can co-exist within a single nucleus where they engage in non-random spatial interactions. These findings highlight the biochemical diversity and cell type specific expression of these enigmatic intranuclear structures. On the basis of these findings and previous literature a hypothesis is proposed as to the overall functional significance of INRs in the cell nucleus.

This paper provides evidence to support the hypothesis that the locus coeruleus – norephinephrine (LC-NE) system is the neurophysiological basis of both the attentional blink (AB) and the event related potential (ERP) component known as the P300. The LC-NE system is thought to provide a brief burst of processing facilitation in response to motivationally salient events. The AB refers to decreased accuracy for reporting the second of two targets (T1 and T2) inserted into a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). The LC-NE account of the AB holds that the AB is the result of a refractory-like period in LC-NE activity. The LC-NE account of the P300 suggests the P300 is the electrophysiological manifestation of the activity of the LC-NE system. I support the three-way link between these different aspects of brain activity by predicting differences in the AB dependent on characteristics of the P300 in response to T1 (T1-P300).

Adaptive decision making depends on multiple processes, including fast and efficient processing of stimulus events for effective responding and slow trial-to-trial learning of action values for optimization of the selection process. I applied the event-related brain potential (ERP) technique to investigate the involvement of two neuromodulatory systems in learning and decision making: The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system and the mesencephalic dopamine system (DA system). I present evidence that the "oddball" N2, a negative deflection in the ERP elicited by task-relevant events that begins approximately 200 ms after onset of the eliciting stimulus and that is sensitive to low-probability events, is a manifestation of cortex-wide noradrenergic modulation recruited to facilitate the processing of unexpected stimuli. Further, Holroyd and Coles (2002) proposed that the impact of DA reinforcement learning signals on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) produces a component of the ERP called the feedback-related negativity (FRN). I present electroencephalographic evidence that both the DA system and the LC-NE system act in concert when learning from rewards that vary in expectedness, but that the DA system is relatively more exercised when subjects are highly engaged/challenged by learning tasks, whereas the impact of the LC-NE system is attenuated by this manipulation. / Graduate

This paper provides evidence to support the hypothesis that the locus coeruleus – norephinephrine (LC-NE) system is the neurophysiological basis of both the attentional blink (AB) and the event related potential (ERP) component known as the P300. The LC-NE system is thought to provide a brief burst of processing facilitation in response to motivationally salient events. The AB refers to decreased accuracy for reporting the second of two targets (T1 and T2) inserted into a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). The LC-NE account of the AB holds that the AB is the result of a refractory-like period in LC-NE activity. The LC-NE account of the P300 suggests the P300 is the electrophysiological manifestation of the activity of the LC-NE system. I support the three-way link between these different aspects of brain activity by predicting differences in the AB dependent on characteristics of the P300 in response to T1 (T1-P300).