Serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate, which are regulated by glucocorticoids in the central nervous system, are involved in neuroendocrine functions and the development of the brain. The present study investigates the effect of maternal adrenalectomy on the developing serotoninergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. Neurotransmitter levels were measured in four brain areas of both male and female offspring on postnatal days 1, 8, 12 and 22. At postnatal day 1 and 8, the pups of adrenalectomized dams showed higher concentrations of serotonin than controls in all the brain areas studied. Serotonin levels decreased significantly in males at postnatal day 22 in the hippocampus and cortex. During the first 2 weeks of postnatal life, the lack of maternal corticosterone produced an increase in glutamate and a reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations, mainly in males. Further, on postnatal day 1, increased serotonin and glutamate levels and lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric were observed in the hypothalamus of male pups born to adrenalectomized dams. The absence of maternal corticosterone affects the pattern of development of the serotoninergic system, especially in the hippocampus and cortex, and particularly in males. A delay in the maturation of the aminoacidergic systems, mainly of the GABAergic system and in males, was also seen. A sexually dimorphic response to the removal of maternal glucocorticoids was seen in terms of neurotransmitter levels, mainly in the hippocampus and hypothalamus.
Currently available candidate vaccines against schistosomiasis elicit only partial protection. In addition, the type of immune response that could lead to the highest level of protection against schistosomes has not yet been described. Thus, efforts should be made in both the identification of novel proteins essential for the parasite cycle and in the modulation of immune responses against these novel candidates through the combined use of immunomodulatory molecules. Several parasites have 14-3-3 proteins, and these proteins are known to play a key role in parasite biology. In the present work, we report the isolation and characterization of a new 14-3-3 gene from Schistosoma bovis and offer new information regarding the genetic structure of the gene. In addition, we have produced the corresponding recombinant protein. Finally, we describe the immune responses elicited by this protein when combined with 4 different immunomodulators in immunized mice.
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