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Notch and neurotrophins control neuronal shape, but it is not known whether their signaling pathways intersect. Here we report results from hippocampal neuronal cultures that are in support of this possibility. We found that low cell density or blockade of Notch signaling by a soluble Delta-Fc ligand decreased the mRNA levels of the nuclear targets of Notch, the homologues of enhancer-of-split 1 and 5 (Hes1/5). This effect was associated with enhanced sprouting of new dendrites or dendrite branches. In contrast, high cell density or exposure of low-density cultures to NGF increased the Hes1/5 mRNA, reduced the number of primary dendrites and promoted dendrite elongation. The NGF effects on both Hes1/5 expression and dendrite morphology were prevented by p75-antibody (a p75 NTR -blocking antibody) or transfection with enhancer-of-split 6 (Hes6), a condition known to suppress Hes activity. Nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB was identified as a link between p75 NTR and Hes1/5 because it was required for the up-regulation of these two genes. The convergence of the Notch and p75 NTR signaling pathways at the level of Hes1/5 illuminates an unexpected mechanism through which a diffusible factor (NGF) could regulate dendrite growth when cell-cell interaction via Notch is not in action.

We have previously shown that dendrite morphology of cultured hippocampal neurones is controlled by Notch receptor activation or binding of nerve growth factor (NGF) to its low affinity receptor p75 NTR , i.e. processes that up-regulate the expression of the Homologue of enhancer of split 1 and 5. Thus, the increased expression of these genes decreases the number of dendrites, whereas abrogation Neurotrophins have been shown to regulate dendrite morphology in a variety of experimental models (Mcallister et al. 1995(Mcallister et al. , 1997Baker et al. 1998;Jin et al. 2003). As neurotrophins are released in an activity-dependent manner, they may be fundamental in orchestrating the structural modifications that developing and mature neuronal circuits undergo (Whitford et al. 2002). However, the signalling pathways underlying the effects of neurotrophins on dendrite morphology are not fully understood. While most studies in this area have emphasized the importance of the Trk receptors, there is evidence that nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates dendrite morphology by binding to p75 NTR , the common neurotrophin receptor (Salama-Cohen et al. 2005) Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr A. Rodríguez-Tébar, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Avenue. Doctor Arce, 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: rodriguez@cajal.csic.esAbbreviations used: DIV, days in vitro; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; E/I, ratio, ratio of excitatory to inhibitory; GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase; Hes, homologue of enhancer of split; Mash1: mouse achaete scute homologue 1; MAP, microtubule-associated protein; NGF, nerve growth factor; Ngn3, neurogenin 3; p75-Ab, p75 NTR blocking antibody; ROI, region of interest; Syp, synaptophysin; VgluT, vesicular glutamate transporter; VIAAT, vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter.

The developmental regulation of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I), its receptor, and its binding proteins (IGFBPs) was studied in the rat cerebellum. All the components of the IGF‐I system were detectable in the cerebellum at least by embryonic day 19. Levels of IGF‐I receptor and its mRNA were highest at perinatal ages and steadily decrease thereafter, although a partial recovery in IGF‐I receptor mRNA was found in adults. Levels of IGF‐I and its mRNA also peaked at early ages, although immunoreactive IGF‐I showed a second peak during adulthood. Finally, levels of IGFBPs were also highest at early postnatal ages and abruptly decreased thereafter to reach lower adult levels. Since highest levels of the different components of the IGF‐I system were found at periods of active cellular growth and differentiation we also examined possible trophic effects of IGF‐I on developing cerebellar cells in vitro. We found a dose‐dependent effect of IGF‐I on neuron survival together with a specific increase of the two main neurotransmitters used by cerebellar neurons, GABA and glutamate. Analysis of cerebellar cultures by combined in vitro autoradiography and immunocytochemistry with cell‐specific markers indicated that both Purkinje cells (calbindin‐positive) and other neurons (neurofilament‐positive) contain IGF‐I binding sites. These results extend previous observations on a developmental regulation of the IGF‐I system in the cerebellum and reinforce the notion of a physiologically relevant trophic role of IGF‐I in cerebellar development. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Lamb, beef and cow's milk are common causes of cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs. The aim of this study was to identify the proteins responsible for cutaneous adverse reactions to these foods. Ten dogs with allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E to lamb, beef and cow's milk were included in the study. These dogs had been diagnosed with cutaneous adverse food reactions by convincing clinical history and food-elimination diet trials followed by challenge exposure. Sera were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with bovine proteins and SDS-PAGE immunoblots with lamb, beef and cow's milk extracts. All the dogs had specific IgE against bovine IgG, and it was the only protein in the cow's milk extract that bound IgE from the sera studied. In the lamb and beef extracts, the major allergens recognized by the specific IgE of most sera had molecular masses between 51 and 58 kDa, which were identified as phosphoglucomutase and the IgG heavy chain. Other IgE-binding proteins with molecular masses of 27, 31, 33, 37 and 42 kDa were also detected with some sera. Our results indicate that bovine IgG is a major allergen in cow's milk and hence it appears to be a source of cross-reactivity with beef and probably with lamb because of the high homology with ovine immunoglobulins. These results are similar to those found for meat allergy in humans. However, this is the first time that phosphoglucomutase has been identified as an important allergen involved in allergic reactions to lamb and beef.

The propensity to develop neurodegenerative diseases is influenced by diverse factors including genetic background, sex, lifestyle, including dietary habits and being overweight, and age. Indeed, with aging, there is an increased incidence of obesity and neurodegenerative processes, both of which are associated with inflammatory responses, in a sex-specific manner. High fat diet (HFD) commonly leads to obesity and markedly affects metabolism, both peripherally and centrally. Here we analyzed the metabolic and inflammatory responses of middle-aged (11–12 months old) transgenic amyloid precursor protein (TgAPP) mice of both sexes to HFD for 18 weeks (starting at 7–8 months of age). We found clear sex differences with females gaining significantly more weight and fat mass than males, with a larger increase in circulating leptin levels and expression of inflammatory markers in visceral adipose tissue. Glycemia and insulin levels increased in HFD fed mice of both sexes, with TgAPP mice being more affected than wild type (WT) mice. In the hypothalamus, murine amyloid β (Aβ) levels were increased by HFD intake exclusively in males, reaching statistical significance in TgAPP males. On a low fat diet (LFD), TgAPP males had significantly lower mRNA levels of the anorexigenic neuropeptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC) than WT males, with HFD intake decreasing the expression of the orexigenic neuropeptides Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), especially in TgAPP mice. In females, HFD increased POMC mRNA levels but had no effect on AgRP or NPY mRNA levels, and with no effect on genotype. There was no effect of diet or genotype on the hypothalamic inflammatory markers analyzed or the astrogliosis marker glial acidic protein (GFAP); however, levels of the microglial marker Iba-1 increased selectively in male TgAPP mice. In summary, the response to HFD intake was significantly affected by sex, with fewer effects due to genotype. Hypothalamic inflammatory cytokine expression and astrogliosis were little affected by HFD in middle-aged mice, although in TgAPP males, which showed increased Aβ, there was microglial activation. Thus, excess intake of diets high in fat should be avoided because of its possible detrimental consequences.

Sex steroid hormones, such as androgens and estrogens, are known to exert organizational action at perinatal periods and activational effects during adulthood on the brain and peripheral tissues. These organizational effects are essential for the establishment of biological axes responsible for regulating behaviors, such as reproduction, stress, and emotional responses. Estradiol (E2), testosterone, and their metabolites exert their biological action through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, bounding to canonical receptors, such as estrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ, and androgen receptor (AR) or membrane receptors, such as the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), respectively. Expression of ERs and AR was found to be different between males and females both in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggesting a sex-dependent regulation of their expression and function. Therefore, studying the ERs and AR distribution and expression levels is key to understand the central and peripheral role of sex steroids in the establishment of sex-specific behaviors in males and females. We investigated the organizational effects of estrogens and androgens in the pituitary and adrenal glands of adult male and female rats. For this, selective blockade of AR with flutamide or 5α-reductase with finasteride or aromatase with letrozole during the first 5 days of life has been performed in male and female pups and then quantification of ERs and AR expression in both glands has been carried out in adulthood. Data show that inhibition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and E2 production during the first five postnatal days mainly decreases the ER expression in male to female values and AR expression in female to male levels in the pituitary gland and increases AR expression in female to male levels in the adrenal gland. In contrast, blocking the action of androgens differentially modulates the ERs in males and females and decreases AR in both males and females in both glands. Altogether, the results suggest that neonatal modifications of the androgen and estrogen pathways can potentially lead to permanent modifications of the neuroendocrine functions of the pituitary and adrenal glands in the adulthood of both sexes.