0000000000016475
AUTHOR
Lucas Taoro-gonzalez
Differential role of interleukin-1β in neuroinflammation-induced impairment of spatial and nonspatial memory in hyperammonemic rats.
Activated microglia and increased brain IL-1β play a main role in cognitive impairment in much pathology. We studied the role of IL-1β in neuroinflammation-induced impairment of the following different types of learning and memory: novel object recognition (NOR), novel object location (NOL), spatial learning, reference memory (RM), and working memory (WM). All these processes are impaired in hyperammonemic rats. We assessed which of these types of learning and memory are restored by blocking the IL-1 receptor in vivo in hyperammonemic rats and the possible mechanisms involved. Blocking the IL-1 receptor reversed microglial activation in the hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and prefrontal cor…
Chronic hyperammonemia alters extracellular glutamate, glutamine and GABA and membrane expression of their transporters in rat cerebellum. Modulation by extracellular cGMP.
Trafficking of glutamate, glutamine and GABA between astrocytes and neurons is essential to maintain proper neurotransmission. Chronic hyperammonemia alters neurotransmission and cognitive function. The aims of this work were to analyze in cerebellum of rats the effects of chronic hyperammonemia on: a) extracellular glutamate, glutamine and GABA concentrations; b) membrane expression of glutamate, glutamine and GABA transporters; c) how they are modulated by extracellular cGMP. Hyperammonemic rats show increased levels of extracellular glutamate, glutamine, GABA and citrulline in cerebellum in vivo. Hyperammonemic rats show: a) increased membrane expression of the astrocytic glutamine trans…
Sildenafil reduces neuroinflammation and restores spatial learning in rats with hepatic encephalopathy: underlying mechanisms
Background: There are no specific treatments for the neurological alterations of cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Rats with MHE due to portacaval shunt (PCS) show impaired spatial learning. The underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aims of this work were to assess: (a) whether PCS rats show neuroinflammation in hippocampus, (b) whether treatment with sildenafil reduces neuroinflammation and restores spatial learning in PCS rats, and (c) analyze the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Neuroinflammation was assessed by determining inflammatory markers by Western blot. Phosphorylation of MAP-kinase p38 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Membrane expression of GA…
Reducing Peripheral Inflammation with Infliximab Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognition in Rats with Hepatic Encephalopathy
Inflammation contributes to cognitive impairment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the process by which peripheral inflammation results in cognitive impairment remains unclear. In animal models, neuroinflammation and altered neurotransmission mediate cognitive impairment. Taking into account these data, we hypothesized that in rats with HE: (1) peripheral inflammation is a main contributor to neuroinflammation; (2) neuroinflammation in hippocampus impairs spatial learning by altering AMPA and/or NMDA receptors membrane expression; (3) reducing peripheral inflammation with infliximab (anti-TNF-a) would improve spatial learning; (4) this would be associated with reduced n…