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Alterations in the kynurenine pathway (KP) neuroactive metabolites are implicated in psychiatric illnesses. Investigating the functional outcomes of an altered kynurenine pathway metabolism in vivo in rodents may help elucidate novel therapeutic approaches. The current protocol combines biochemical and behavioral approaches to investigate the impact of an acute kynurenine challenge in rats.
The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation has been implicated in psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the astrocyte-derived metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA), an antagonist at both N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine (α7nACh) receptors, has been implicated in cognitive processes in health and disease. As KYNA levels are elevated in the brains of patients with schizophrenia, a malfunction at the glutamatergic and cholinergic receptors is believed to be causally related to cognitive dysfunction, a core domain of the psychopathology of the illness. KYNA may play a pathophysiologically significant role in individuals with schizophrenia. It is possible to elevate endogenous KYNA in the rodent brain by treating animals with the direct bioprecursor kynurenine, and preclinical studies in rats have demonstrated that acute elevations in KYNA may impact their learning and memory processes. The current protocol describes this experimental approach in detail and combines a) a biochemical analysis of blood kynurenine levels and brain KYNA formation (using high-performance liquid chromatography), b) behavioral testing to probe the hippocampal-dependent contextual memory (passive avoidance paradigm), and c) an assessment of sleep-wake behavior [telemetric recordings combining electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals] in rats. Taken together, a relationship between elevated KYNA, sleep, and cognition is studied, and this protocol describes in detail an experimental approach to understanding function outcomes of kynurenine elevation and KYNA formation in vivo in rats. Results obtained through variations of this protocol will test the hypothesis that the KP and KYNA serve pivotal roles in modulating sleep and cognition in health and disease states.
The KP is responsible for degrading nearly 95% of the essential amino acid tryptophan1. In the mammalian brain, kynurenine taken into astrocytes is metabolized into the neuroactive small molecule KYNA primarily by the enzyme kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) II2. KYNA acts as an antagonist at NMDA and α7nACh receptors in the brain2,3,4, and also targets signaling receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and the G-protein coupled receptor 35 (GPR35)5,6....
Our experimental protocols were approved by the University of Maryland Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and followed the National Institutes of Health’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
NOTE: Adult male Wistar rats (250–350 g) were used in all experiments. Separate cohorts of animals were used for biochemical analysis, behavioral experiments, and sleep-wake recordings. The animals were housed in a temperature-controlled facility at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. They were kept on a 12/12 h light-dark cycle, with lights on at zeitgeber time (ZT) 0 and lights off at ZT 12. The animals receive....
To validate the use of an intraperitoneal kynurenine injection as a method to elevate the brain KYNA, an HPLC analysis of tissue was performed. Standard curves (Figure 1) were constructed using the associated software and allowed for the quantification of the tissue samples. Representative chromatograms for kynurenine and KYNA are presented in Figure 2. Kynurenine was observed at a retention time of 6 min, and KYNA had a retentio.......
For a reliable assessment of KYNA in the brain after a peripheral kynurenine administration, it is critical to combine and interpret biochemical and functional experiments. Here, we present a detailed protocol that permits new users to establish effective methods for measuring the plasma kynurenine and brain KYNA of rats. The measurement of kynurenine in the plasma confirmed the accurate injection and the measurement of the metabolite KYNA confirms the de novo synthesis in the brain. There are several advantages.......
The authors have nothing to disclose.
The present study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (R01 NS102209) and a donation from the Clare E. Forbes Trust.
....Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Wistar rats | Charles River Laboratories | adult male, 250-350 g | |
L-kynurenine sulfate | Sai Advantium | ||
ReproSil-Pur C18 column (4 x 150 mm) | Dr. Maisch GmbH | ||
EZ Clips | Stoelting Co. | 59022 | |
Mounting materials screws | PlasticsOne | 00-96 X 1/16 | |
Nonabsorbable Sutures | MedRep Express | 699B | CP Medical Monomid Black Nylon Sutures, 4-0, P-3, 18", BOX of 12 |
Absorbable Sutures | Ethicon | J310H | 4-0 Coated Vicryl Violet 1X27'' SH-1 |
Dental Cement | Stoelting Co. | 51458 | |
Drill Bit | Stoelting Co. | 514551 | 0.45 mm |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Alliance HPLC system | |||
E2695 separation module | Waters | 176269503 | |
2475 fluorescence detector | Waters | 186247500 | |
post-column reagent manager | Waters | 725000556 | |
Lenovo computer | Waters | 668000249 | |
Empower software | Waters | 176706100 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Passive avoidance box for rat | |||
Extra tall MDF sound attenuating cubicle | MedAssociates | ENV-018MD | Interior: 22"W x 22"H x 16"D |
Center channel modulator shuttle box chamber | MedAssociates | ENV-010MC | |
Stainless steel grid floor for rat | MedAssociates | ENV-010MB-GF | |
Auto guillotine door | MedAssociates | ENV-010B-S | |
Quick disconnect shuttle grid floor harness for rat | MedAssociates | ENV-010MB-QD | |
Stimulus light, 1" white lens, mounted on modular panel | MedAssociates | ENV-221M | |
Sonalert module with volume control for rat chamber | MedAssociates | ENV-223AM | |
SmartCtrl 8 input/16 output package | MedAssociates | DIG-716P2 | |
8 Channel IR control for shuttle boxes | MedAssociates | ENV-253C | |
Infrared source and dectector array strips | MedAssociates | ENV-256 | |
Tabletop interface cabinet, 120 V 60 Hz | MedAssociates | SG-6080C | |
Dual range constant current aversive stimulation module | MedAssociates | ENV-410B | |
Solid state grid floor scrambler module | MedAssociates | ENV-412 | |
Dual A/B shock control module | MedAssociates | ENV-415 | |
2' 3-Pin mini-molex extension | MedAssociates | SG-216A-2 | |
10' Shock output cable, DB-9 M/F | MedAssociates | SG-219G-10 | |
Shuttle shock control cable 15', 6 | MedAssociates | SG-219SA | |
Small tabletop cabinet and power supply, 120 V 60 Hz | MedAssociates | SG-6080D | |
PCI interface package | MedAssociates | DIG-700P2-R2 | |
Shuttle box avoidance utility package | MedAssociates | SOF-700RA-7 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Sleep-Wake Monitoring Equipment | |||
Ponehmah software | Data Sciences International (DSI) | PNP-P3P-610 | |
MX2 8 Source Acquisition interface | Data Sciences International (DSI) | PNM-P3P-MX204 | |
Dell computer, Optiplex 7020, Windows 7, 64 bit | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 271-0112-013 | |
Dell 19" computer monitor | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 271-0113-001 | |
Receivers for plastic cages, 8x | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 272-6001-001 | |
Cisco RV130 VPN router | Data Sciences International (DSI) | RV130 | |
Matrix 2.0 | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 271-0119-001 | |
Network switch | Data Sciences International (DSI) | SG200-08P | |
Neuroscore software | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 271-0171-CFG | |
Two biopotential channels transmitter, model TL11M2-F40-EET | Data Sciences International (DSI) | 270-0134-001 |
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