Tag Archives:receptor
Role of dopamine in cortico-basal ganglia loop in psychosis
Dopamine plays a major role in the formation of acute psychosis, as indicated by the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. The relationship between acute psychosis and the dopamine system provides insight into the effects of dopamine on brain
Orexin-A regulates dopamine D2 receptor in the mesolimbic circuit
Orexin-A (orx-A) is a neuropeptide expressed exclusively in hypothalamic neurons. Orx-A acts through the activation of type-1 (Orx1R) and -2 (Orx2R) receptors present in the mesolimbic circuit and in other brain areas. These neuropeptides have been implicated
Orexin signaling promotes initial alcohol consumption
Orexins (orexin-A, orx-A and orexin-B, orx-B) are neuropeptides expressed exclusively in hypothalamic neurons of the lateral hypothalamus and perifornical area. They mediate their effects through activation of two G-protein coupled receptors, the orexin-1-receptor (Orx1R) and orexin-2-receptor (Orx2R).
Retroduplication of rhodopsin gene 400 million years ago diversified the photoreception in fishes
Animals utilize light from the environment as important information sources. We can discriminate colors, brightness and shapes of objects by visual system. In addition, animals can detect daily and seasonal changes of the light environment to alter
Receptors talking: solo vs chorus
Multi-cell organisms, including humans, need reliable and timely communication between cells to function. Every cell is surrounded by the plasma membrane made of lipids, which separates it from the environment. Receptors localized on that membrane are proteins
Behind the journey to spawn of European eels: expression and role of adrenergic receptors during silvering
Eels make an astonishing journey to spawn, migrating from Europe to the Sargasso Sea, near Bermuda, and back again. After spawning, larvae are transported by the Gulf Stream to the continental shelf of Europe and North Africa,
Can EBI2 receptor protect brain cells (oligodendrocytes) from dying during disease?
The four major brain-specific cell types in the brain are: (i) neurons, which transmit and process information via electrical signals, (ii) oligodendrocytes, which insulate neuronal axons with fatty sheets called myelin to ensure fast and complete electrical
Estimating effects of new psychoactive substances (NPS) based on in vitro neurotoxicity data
The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is increasing and currently > 600 NPS have been reported. However, limited information on neuropharmacological and toxicological effects of NPS is available, hampering risk characterization. We reviewed the literature on
P2X7 antagonism: a specific tool to decrease inflammatory status in human atherosclerotic vessels?
Atherosclerosis is a dynamic progressive disease of the large arteries characterized by the tendency to accumulate lipids, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix within the sub-endothelial space, and progressing in unpredictable way to different stage.
李Farnesoid X受体和肝X受体gands initiate formation of coated platelets
Platelets play a key role in the prevention of excessive blood loss through the formation of a thrombus at the site of vessel damage. Hyper-reactive platelets lead to unwanted, excessive platelet activation and contribute to atherothrombosis that
A novel PET radiotracer for molecular imaging of the α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast synaptic transmission in the brain. These receptors are homo- or hetero-pentameric combinations of the α and the β subunits which each subtypes
Chemokines, an answer to the gut inflammation?
我们的肠道是一个复杂的器官,不仅消化the food but also acts as an immune organ. The gut is lined by a single layer of specialized cells called as intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) which
L-carnitine attenuates antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia by stimulating pituitary GABA receptors
Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia occurs overall in up to 70% of patients with schizophrenia, depending on the medications used. Hyperprolactinemia may cause sexual dysfunction, amenorrhea, infertility, galactorrhea, and osteoporosis, which in general relates to the degree of prolactin elevation.
The promiscuous mineralocorticoid receptor
Hormones and nerves are the key communication systems in the human body. Nerves are like a fixed-line telephone network, capable of very fast messaging: think of the pianist’s fingers playing the Minute Waltz. Hormones are like radio,
IL-1 Receptor 8: a novel player in immunothrombosis
In addition to be a key component of blood hemostasis and coagulation, platelets have recently been implicated in thrombotic events associated with immune dysfunctions or inflammation. Platelets participate to innate immune responses and inflammation by releasing a
RIC-3’s effect on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the implications in health and disease
Signal transmission – cells sending and receiving signals from other cells – is the basis of physiology. Everything our body does essentially, is a result of this cell-to-cell communication and innumerable diseases are the results of this
Serotonin and sleep regulation: cellular and molecular mechanisms
Serotonin ( 5-HT ) is a neurotransmitter, which plays major roles in several physiological functions including circadian rhythmicity, appetite, thermoregulation, nociception, emotion and cognition. The relationship between 5-HT and sleep was demonstrated by several experiments, including in particular an
Androgen receptor; a tale of two cancers
Prostate cancer and breast cancer share similarities as hormone related cancers with a wide range of heterogeneous settings. Macklin, as early as 1954, provided evidence for a significantly higher frequency of prostate cancer among relatives of breast
Special molecular mechanism makes CD147 an interesting drug target in cancer or autoimmune diseases
T cells are important players of the immune system, recognizing foreign or dangerous agents with their unique receptors. They defend the body from these agents either directly by killing or by recruiting or regulating other immune system
The olfactory system may extract sensory information by summating signals from multiple receptors
We interpret the world around us by means of individual sensory nervous systems, vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and balance/movement. These systems transduce the physical world into neural information in the brain through multi-step processes. Generally, one
