Chronic alcoholic liver disease is associated with hepatic insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative and ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage. Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) agonists are insulin sensitizers that have anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant effects. We previously showed that PPAR agonists can restore hepatic insulin responsiveness in chronic ethanol-f...

Accumulating evidence indicates that the serotonin system modulates the behavioral and neurochemical effects of cocaine, but the receptor subtypes mediating these effects remain unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated that pharmacological activation of the serotonin 2C receptor (5-HT(2C)R) attenuates the behavioral and neurochemical effects of cocaine in rodents, but such compounds have not b...

PURPOSE We clarified the effects of an ophthalmic solution of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist on corneal inflammation and wound healing after alkali burn injury in rats. METHODS After alkali exposure, either an ophthalmic solution with 0.1% pioglitazone hydrochloride (the PPARγ group) or vehicle (the vehicle group) was topically applied to the cornea until d...

Background: Cannabinoids (CBs) have been found to regulate the immune system, affect innate and adaptive immune responses, and reduce inflammatory reactions. This study assessed the therapeutic effects of GW-405833 synthetic CB2 agonist on inflammatory factors as well as locomotor activity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods: In this experimental study, 48 adult male ...

α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) agonist treatment may provide a promising therapeutic effect for cerebral injuries. However, it is unclear whether the activation of α7nAchR agonist may reduce cerebral injuries induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A total of 96 male Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=24/group): i) Sham operation group; ii) CPB group; ...

20 Somatostatin-14 (SST) inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion by activating G-protein coupled 21 somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), of which 5 isoforms exist (SSTR1-5). In mice, the effects on 22 pancreatic β-cells are mediated by SSTR5, whereas α-cells express SSTR2. In both cell types, 23 SSTR activation results in membrane hyperpolarisation and suppression of exocytosis. Here we 24 examined ...

background: general concern is that the pregnancy rate is higher with gnrh-agonist as a protocol of pituitary suppression. gnrh-antagonist protocol provides a shorter period of administration and an easy flexible protocol. objective: in this study, the outcomes of gnrh agonist and antagonist in icsi cycles are compared in normo responder patients. materials and methods: in this randomized clini...

G-protein-coupled receptor activation is generally analyzed under equilibrium conditions. However, real-life receptor functions are often dependent on very short, transient stimuli that may not allow the achievement of a steady state. This is particularly true for synaptic receptors such as the α(2A)-adrenergic receptor (α(2A)-AR). Therefore, we developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfe...

Ultraviolet B (UVB; 290~320nm) irradiation-induced lipid peroxidation induces inflammatory responses that lead to skin wrinkle formation and epidermal thickening. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α/γ dual agonists have the potential to be used as anti-wrinkle agents because they inhibit inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation. In this study, we evaluated the function of 2-...

Somatostatin-14 (SST) inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion by activating G protein-coupled somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), of which five isoforms exist (SSTR1-5). In mice, the effects on pancreatic β-cells are mediated by SSTR5, whereas α-cells express SSTR2. In both cell types, SSTR activation results in membrane hyperpolarization and suppression of exocytosis. Here, we examined the mechani...