Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that modulates energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here, we examined the effects of acute intravenous (iv) and lateral cerebral ventricular (LCV) injections of adiponectin on the renal sympathetic... more
Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that modulates energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here, we examined the effects of acute intravenous (iv) and lateral cerebral ventricular (LCV) injections of adiponectin on the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and blood pressure (b/p) in urethane-anesthetized rats. Both iv and LCV injections of adiponectin induced dose-dependent suppressions of RSNA and b/p. Moreover, we found that bilateral lesions of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) abolished the effects of iv injection of adiponectin on RSNA and b/p. These findings suggest that adiponectin decreases the RSNA and b/p in a dose-dependent manner and that the SCN is implicated in mechanism of adiponectin actions on RSNA and b/p. These findings also suggest that the hypotensive-action activity of adiponectin is realized, at least partially, via changes in activities of autonomic nerves activity.
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Various lactobacilli have been suggested to exert beneficial effects in humans. In this study, we examined the effects of intraduodenal (ID) administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus delbrueckii LAB4 (LAB4) on activities of efferent... more
Various lactobacilli have been suggested to exert beneficial effects in humans. In this study, we examined the effects of intraduodenal (ID) administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus delbrueckii LAB4 (LAB4) on activities of efferent sympathetic nerves innervating the liver and pancreas. Consequently, it was observed that ID administration of LAB4 significantly reduced either the efferent hepatic sympathetic nerve activity (hepatic-SNA) or pancreatic sympathetic nerve activity (pancreatic-SNA) in urethane-anaesthetised rats. Moreover, the effect of acute and chronic administration of LAB4 (1×109 cells/ml) on hyperglycaemia induced by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) were examined in conscious rats. We found that LAB4 significantly inhibited 2DG-induced hyperglycaemia. These findings suggest that ID administration of heat-killed LAB4 might lower plasma glucose level via changes in the autonomic nervous system in rats.
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We have previously observed that olfactory stimulation with scents of grapefruit and lavender oils have opposing effects on autonomic neurotransmission and physiological phenomena in rats. Since the suppression and facilitation of... more
We have previously observed that olfactory stimulation with scents of grapefruit and lavender oils have opposing effects on autonomic neurotransmission and physiological phenomena in rats. Since the suppression and facilitation of activity of the sympathetic nerves innervating the skeletal muscles decreases and increases the skeletal muscle blood flow (skeletal muscle‐BF), respectively, the effects of olfactory stimulation with scent of a grapefruit essential oil (SGFO) and scent of a lavender essential oil (SLVO) on skeletal muscle sympathetic nerve activity (skeletal muscle‐SNA) and skeletal muscle‐BF were examined. SGFO reduced, and SLVO elevated skeletal muscle‐SNA and skeletal muscle‐BF, respectively. Furthermore, 1) anosmic treatment with ZnSO4 eliminated the changes in skeletal muscle‐SNA due to SGFO and SLVO, 2) diphenhydramine, a histamine H1‐antagonist, eliminated the SGFO‐induced suppression of skeletal muscle‐SNA, and thioperamide, a histamine H3‐antagonist, abolished th...
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Imidazole dipeptides such as carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and anserine (β-alanyl-N-π-methyl-l-histidine) are naturally occurring dipeptides present at high concentrations in the muscles and the brain in vertebrates. In addition to... more
Imidazole dipeptides such as carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and anserine (β-alanyl-N-π-methyl-l-histidine) are naturally occurring dipeptides present at high concentrations in the muscles and the brain in vertebrates. In addition to various functions proposed so far, central and peripheral administration of carnosine have been shown to regulate blood-glucose levels of rats with hyperglycemia induced by 2-deoxy-d-glucose. This effect was likely to be due to regulation of insulin and glucagon secretions by the autonomic nervous system. Carnosine also induces changes in physiological events that are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, e.g. lipolysis and thermogenesis in the white and brown adipose tissues, respectively. The autonomic nervous system is under the control of specific regions in the hypothalamus and the brain stem. The carnosine action on the autonomic nerves is suggested to involve histaminergic neurons located in the tuberomammillary nucleus and the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. These findings indicate that carnosine regulates the blood glucose and other peripheral physiological events by affecting the central regulation of the autonomic nervous system.
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Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that modulates energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here, we examined the effects of acute intravenous (iv) and lateral cerebral ventricular (LCV) injections of adiponectin on the renal sympathetic... more
Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that modulates energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here, we examined the effects of acute intravenous (iv) and lateral cerebral ventricular (LCV) injections of adiponectin on the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and blood pressure (b/p) in urethane-anesthetized rats. Both iv and LCV injections of adiponectin induced dose-dependent suppressions of RSNA and b/p. Moreover, we found that bilateral lesions of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) abolished the effects of iv injection of adiponectin on RSNA and b/p. These findings suggest that adiponectin decreases the RSNA and b/p in a dose-dependent manner and that the SCN is implicated in mechanism of adiponectin actions on RSNA and b/p. These findings also suggest that the hypotensive-action activity of adiponectin is realized, at least partially, via changes in activities of autonomic nerves activity.
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ABSTRACT We previously found that olfactory stimulation of rats with the scent of grapefruit oil (SGFO) elevated the activity of the sympathetic nerves innervating the adrenal glands, kidneys and white adipose tissue, blood pressure and... more
ABSTRACT We previously found that olfactory stimulation of rats with the scent of grapefruit oil (SGFO) elevated the activity of the sympathetic nerves innervating the adrenal glands, kidneys and white adipose tissue, blood pressure and the plasma glycerol level, whereas olfactory stimulation with the scent of lavender oil (SLVO) suppressed these same physiological values. In this study, we examined the effects of olfactory stimulation with SGFO and SLVO on the efferent pancreatic sympathetic nerve activity (pancreatic-SNA) in urethane-anaesthetized rats, hyperglycemia induced by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) in rats and hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats which had been administered oral glucose. Olfactory stimulation with SGFO markedly elevated pancreatic-SNA and significantly increased the plasma glucose level after the 2DG injection, whereas olfactory stimulation with SLVO markedly inhibited pancreatic-SNA and significantly reduced the plasma glucose level after the 2DG injection. Furthermore, olfactory stimulation with SLVO suppressed the increase in the plasma glucose level after oral glucose loading in STZ-diabetic rats. These findings suggest that scent stimulation with SGFO and SLVO may affect the plasma glucose level via changes in the autonomic nervous system in rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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In a recent study, we examined the glycemic and autonomic nervous responses to probiotic strain Lactovacillus johnsonii La1, and presented evidence that intraduodenal (ID) injection of this bacteria affected autonomic nerves and lowered... more
In a recent study, we examined the glycemic and autonomic nervous responses to probiotic strain Lactovacillus johnsonii La1, and presented evidence that intraduodenal (ID) injection of this bacteria affected autonomic nerves and lowered blood pressure (BP) in anesthetized rats. In the study presented here, we examined the feeding, autonomic and cardiovascular effects of the lactobacillus strain Lactobacillus pracasei ST11 (NCC2461) in rats, and found that it suppressed food intake. Moreover, ID injection of NCC2461 suppressed gastric vagal nerve activity (GVNA) and accelerated renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and BP in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the histaminergic H1-receptor antagonist diphenhydramine eliminated the effects of NCC2461 on RSNA and BP. Furthermore, bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy did not affect elevating effects of NCC2461, suggesting that vagal afferents are not involved in the pathway of NCC2461 effects. These evidences thus suggest that N...
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Previously, we found that intraduodenal administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (SBC8803) elevates both the efferent gastric vagal nerve activity (efferent GVNA) and the afferent intestinal vagal nerve activity... more
Previously, we found that intraduodenal administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (SBC8803) elevates both the efferent gastric vagal nerve activity (efferent GVNA) and the afferent intestinal vagal nerve activity (afferent IVNA) in rats. In this study, the effects of vagotomy and serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonists on the above changes due to SBC8803 were examined in rats to clarify the mechanism. It was found that the elevation of efferent GVNA induced by SBC8803 was eliminated by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, and inhibited by intracerebroventricular but not intravenous administration of ketanserin (5-HT2 antagonist), Moreover, both the efferent GVNA and the afferent IVNA elevations were suppressed by intracerebroventricular administration of granisetron (5-HT3 antagonist). Combining this with our previous findings that granisetron can produce the same effects intravenously, these findings suggest the following: 1) the efferent GVNA enhancement requires afferent vag...
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Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) has higher content of chlorophyll than any known other plants, and also has vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other substances. To identify the effect of C. pyrenoidosa on skin condition, we... more
Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) has higher content of chlorophyll than any known other plants, and also has vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other substances. To identify the effect of C. pyrenoidosa on skin condition, we measured cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity (CASNA), cutaneous blood flow and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in rats in three separate trials. We further attempted to determine if C. pyrenoidosa was targeting the histamine H3 receptors by pretreating a separate group with thioperamide, a histamine H3 antagonist, and then observing the CASNA and cutaneous blood flow response to C. pyrenoidosa in a fourth trial. Intraduodenal administration of C. pyrenoidosa caused marked inhibition of CASNA as well as significant elevation of cutaneous blood flow in rats. TEWL, furthermore, significantly decreased on the dorsal skin of conscious hairless rats when their only source of fluids was C. pyrenoidosa suspended in water. However, when animals were p...
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Intestinal administration of various lactobacilli has been reported to affect autonomic neurotransmission, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight in rats, however, the mechanisms of action of the lactobacilli remain to be... more
Intestinal administration of various lactobacilli has been reported to affect autonomic neurotransmission, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body weight in rats, however, the mechanisms of action of the lactobacilli remain to be clarified. Therefore, the effect of the culture supernatant of Lactobacillus pentosus strain S-PT84 on the autonomic nerve activity in urethane-anesthetized rats was investigated. Intraduodenal injection of the low-molecular-weight (LMW) fraction (molecules less than 10,000 Da) of the S-PT84 culture supernatant elevated the brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity and reduced the gastric vagal nerve activity. Moreover, intraoral administration of this LMW fraction increased the body temperature of rats above the interscapular brown adipose tissue. These results suggest that the LMW fraction of the S-PT84 culture supernatant affects the autonomic nerve activity and thermogenesis, and that the change in thermogenesis may be caused by the change in the ...
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l-Carnosine is synthesized in mammalian muscles and brain and affects autonomic neurotransmission and physiological phenomena. To clarify the role of l-carnosine, the effects of intraduodenal administration of l-carnosine on muscle... more
l-Carnosine is synthesized in mammalian muscles and brain and affects autonomic neurotransmission and physiological phenomena. To clarify the role of l-carnosine, the effects of intraduodenal administration of l-carnosine on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (muscle-SNA) and blood flow (BF) were examined. The changes in muscle-SNA and BF were examined using electrophysiological and Doppler flowmeter in urethane-anesthetized rats. The effect of propranolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist, on the increase in muscle BF due to l-carnosine was also examined. Low dose (1μg/300g body weight [bw]) of l-carnosine increased both muscle-SNA and muscle BF, while high dese (100mg/300g bw) of l-carnosine decreased both muscle-SNA and muscle BF. Furthermore, propranolol eliminated the increase in muscle BF caused by a low dose of l-carnosine. These results suggest that l-carnosine has dose-dependent effects on muscle BF via changes in muscle-SNA, and the β-adrenergic receptor is implicated in the increase in muscle BF due to l-carnosine.
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This review summarizes the effects of olfactory stimulation with grapefruit and lavender oils on autonomic nerve activity and physiological function. Olfactory stimulation with the scent of grapefruit oil (GFO) increases the activity of... more
This review summarizes the effects of olfactory stimulation with grapefruit and lavender oils on autonomic nerve activity and physiological function. Olfactory stimulation with the scent of grapefruit oil (GFO) increases the activity of sympathetic nerves that innervate white and brown adipose tissues, the adrenal glands, and the kidneys, decreases the activity of the gastric vagal nerve in rats and mice. This results in an increase in lipolysis, thermogenesis, and blood pressure, and a decrease in food intake. Olfactory stimulation with the scent of lavender oil (LVO) elicits the opposite changes in nerve activity and physiological variables. Olfactory stimulation with scent of limonene, a component of GFO, and linalool, a component of LVO, has similar effects to stimulation with GFO and LVO, respectively. The histamine H1-receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, abolishes all GFO-induced changes in nerve activity and physiological variables, and the hitstamine H3-receptor antagonist,...
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We observed that olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil elevated the activities of sympathetic nerves, and increased the plasma glycerol concentration and blood pressure. In contrast, olfactory stimulation with scent of... more
We observed that olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil elevated the activities of sympathetic nerves, and increased the plasma glycerol concentration and blood pressure. In contrast, olfactory stimulation with scent of lavender oil had opposite effects in rats. These suggest that changes in autonomic activities cause physiological functions via histaminergic H1 and H3 receptor. Moreover, it has been reported that somatic sensory stimulation affected autonomic neurotransmission. To examine effects of skin application of urea-containing cream on cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity (CASNA), blood flow, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The activity of CASNA was determined by electrophysiological method, and cutaneous blood flow was determined using laser flowmeter in urethane-anesthetized rats, TEWL was measured using VapoMeter in the back skin of HWY hairless rats. CASNA was markedly and significantly inhibited by skin application of 10% urea-containing cream, whereas cutaneous blood flow was significantly elevated via histaminergic H3-receptor. In conscious hairless rats, TEWL was significantly decreased 24 h after application of 10% urea-containing cream to the back skin. These findings suggest that skin application of 10% urea-containing cream increases the cutaneous blood flow and water retaining ability, and that histaminergic H3-receptors may mediate these effects.
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Research Interests: Cognitive Science, Electrophysiology, Animal Behavior, Nonparametric Statistics, Drug interactions, and 15 moreAppetite, Blood Pressure, Animals, Lipolysis, Male, Eating, Body Temperature, Glycerol, Odors, Analysis of Variance, Nasal cavity, Body Weight, Nervous System, Neurosciences, and Adrenal glands
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Autonomic Nervous System, Adipose tissue, Blood Glucose, and 15 moreBlood Pressure, Animals, Male, Skin, Body Temperature, Brown Adipose Tissue, Rats, Blood Flow, Wistar Rats, Water soluble polymers, Sympathetic Nervous System, Neurosciences, Hesperidin, Serum lipids, and Sympathetic nerve activity
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Lactobacilli provide several health benefits to mammals, including humans. We previously observed that in rats, intraduodenal injection of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 elevated efferent gastric vagal nerve activity (efferent-GVNA), while... more
Lactobacilli provide several health benefits to mammals, including humans. We previously observed that in rats, intraduodenal injection of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 elevated efferent gastric vagal nerve activity (efferent-GVNA), while Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 suppressed efferent-GVNA, and thereby increased or decreased food intake. To determine the function of Lactobacillus brevis (SBC8803), its effect on food intake was examined by providing food containing heat-killed SBC8803 to mice. We observed that administration of SBC8803 elevated food intake. Because the afferent intestinal vagal nerve (IVN) is hypothesized to be involved in efferent-GVNA changes, we examined the effect of intraduodenal administration of heat-killed SBC8803 on efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVN activity (IVNA) in rats. In this study, we found that intraduodenal administration of heat-killed SBC8803 increased both efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVNA in rats. Moreover, IV administration of the serotonin 3 receptor antagonist granisetron eliminated the effects of SBC8803 on efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVNA. These findings suggest that heat-killed SBC8803 enhances appetite by elevating digestion and absorption abilities via changes in autonomic neurotransmission that might be mediated by the serotonin 3 receptor.
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To evaluate the efficacy of the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (HK-SBC8803) on the standard physiological markers of skin health of cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity (CASNA), cutaneous blood flow and... more
To evaluate the efficacy of the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (HK-SBC8803) on the standard physiological markers of skin health of cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity (CASNA), cutaneous blood flow and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and to determine whether SBC8803 targets serotonin 5-HT3 receptors in rats. A set of three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of SBC8803 on CASNA, cutaneous blood flow and TEWL using Wistar and hairless rats. Two additional experiments further attempted to determine whether HK-SBC8803 was targeting the serotonin 5-HT3 receptors by pretreatment with the 5-HT3 antagonist granisetron. Administration of HK-SBC8803 in the first three experiments caused marked inhibition of CASNA and significant elevation of cutaneous blood flow under urethane anaesthesia as well as significant decrease in TEWL on the dorsal skin of conscious hairless rats. Pretreatment with granisetron decreased the effects of HK-SBC8803 on CASNA and cutaneous blood flow. These findings suggest that HK-SBC8803 reduces CASNA, increases cutaneous blood flow and decreases TEWL and that 5-HT3 receptors may be involved in CASNA and cutaneous blood flow responses. HK-SBC8803 could be a useful substance in the treatment/prevention of skin problems, specifically chapped or dry skin.
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Intestinal administration of various lactobacilli has been reported to affect autonomic neurotransmission, blood pressure, and body weight in rats. In this study, three molecules (peaks A, B, and C) were isolated from Lactobacillus... more
Intestinal administration of various lactobacilli has been reported to affect autonomic neurotransmission, blood pressure, and body weight in rats. In this study, three molecules (peaks A, B, and C) were isolated from Lactobacillus pentosus strain S-PT84 (S-PT 84) culture supernatants. Intraduodenal (ID) injection of these molecules increased or inhibited renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in rats as follows: peak A, 134%; peak B, 40.1%; peak C, 408%. Furthermore, we identified peak C as 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP). ID injection of DDMP increased brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity (BAT-SNA; 118 ± 15.3%), whereas intraoral injection of DDMP increased the body temperature above the interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT-T; 0.72 ± 0.13 °C) in rats. These data suggest that S-PT84 produces molecules that modulate autonomic nerve activity. In addition, DDMP increased BAT-SNA and BAT-T, and these changes in BAT-T may be caused by changes in BAT-SNA.
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In a previous report, evidence was presented that flavangenol supplementation has an anti-ischemic effects in rats. In the study presented here, we examined the autonomic effects of intraduodenal (ID) injection of flavangenol in... more
In a previous report, evidence was presented that flavangenol supplementation has an anti-ischemic effects in rats. In the study presented here, we examined the autonomic effects of intraduodenal (ID) injection of flavangenol in urethane-anesthetized rats and found that it increased sympathetic nerve activity innervating brown adipose tissue (BAT-SNA) in a dose-dependent manner, while it suppressed gastric vagal nerve activity (GVNA). In addition, intra-oral (IO) injection of flavangenol elevated brown adipose tissue temperature (BAT-T). Furthermore, flavangenol drinking for 15 d reduced body weight gain in rats fed a high-fat diet. These results thus suggest that flavangenol supplementation exerts its reducing action on body weight through changes in autonomic neurotransmission.
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Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extracts (ELE) have been shown to exert a hypolipidemic effect in hamsters. Therefore, it was hypothesized that ELE might affect lipid metabolism via changes in autonomic nerve activities and causes changes... more
Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extracts (ELE) have been shown to exert a hypolipidemic effect in hamsters. Therefore, it was hypothesized that ELE might affect lipid metabolism via changes in autonomic nerve activities and causes changes in thermogenesis and body weight. We examined this hypothesis, and found that intraduodenal (ID) injection of ELE elevated epididymal white adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity (WAT-SNA) and interscapular brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity (BAT-SNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats and elevated the plasma concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) (a marker of lipolysis) and body temperature (BT) (a marker of thermogenesis) in conscious rats. Furthermore, it was observed that ID administration of ELE decreased gastric vagal nerve activity (GVNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats, and that ELE given as food reduced food intake, body and abdominal adipose tissue weights and decreased plasma triglyceride level. These findings suggest that ELE stimulates lipolysis and thermogenesis through elevations in WAT-SNA and BAT-SNA, respectively, suppresses appetite by inhibiting the activities of the parasympathetic nerves innervating the gastrointestinal tract, including GVNA, and decreases the amount of abdominal fat and body weight via these changes.