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Over the last few years, an increasing interest in the scientific research of natural antioxidant molecules from plants capable to attenuate, or even prevent, stress oxidative-related disorders, such as diabetes, inflammatory, and neurological pathologies has been observed. Serotonin and melatonin are two of these molecules, being widely found in Mediterranean foodstuffs, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. The consumption of foods containing both antioxidants can raise their physiologic concentrations in blood and, consequently, enhance antioxidant defenses, improve mood, and treat sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety. Currently, there exist several analytical methods suitable for the determination of melatonin and serotonin in fruits and edible plants. Among them, the most used include chromatographic techniques and immunological assays. This work aims to present a comprehensive overview of the biosynthesis of these indolamines in nature, the most common techniques used to detect and quantify both compounds in fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and other food sources, as well as to address their health benefits, particularly their antioxidant, neuroprotective, and sleep-promoting effects.

—We studied the dopamine-, serotonin-, and norepinephrinergic systems in various brain structures of BALB/c male mice on days 15, 42, and 64 of postnatal development (PND) in the model of autism spectrum disorder induced by sodium valproate administration (400 mg/kg, s/c) to pregnant females. It was found that the level of both catechol- and indolamines in the brain structures of control 15-day-old mice is considerably lower than in 64-day-old adult animals. Prenatal administration of sodium valproate (SV) caused a decrease in all parameters of monoaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum of mouse offspring aged 15 days but did not lead to neurochemical changes in other studied brain structures. By PND 42, the general pattern of changes in neurotransmitter concentrations did not differ from the developmental dynamics of neurotransmitter system maturation in the control group. The level of DA kept increasing and by PND 64, did not differ from controls. The parameters of serotonergic system changed similarly, with the peak serotonin concentration by PND 42 and a significant decrease by PND 64, whereas the level of 5-HIAA in the striatum increased gradually with maximum differences observed by PND 64. Thus, the data obtained suggest that administration of SV to pregnant females affects the activity of the dopamine- and serotonergic brain systems in the progeny, inducing its decrease in the striatum by PND 15 followed by recovery to control level by PND 64.

The article presents the results of the study on morphological rearrangements of structural changes in the rat pineal gland under the influence of heavy metal salts and correction with L-tocopherol during 30 days. General morphological and statistical research methods were used (histological, morphometric and statistic methods). The protective effect of L-tocopherol caused in the pineal gland a number of compensatory-adaptive processes aimed at neutralizing the stressor’s impact on the organ. The 30- days protective period of L-tocopherol is insufficient to completely neutralize the impact of heavy metals on the organ: the glial response was activated, vascular area increased, vascular wall permeability was impaired, edema was formed and the connective tissue component growth was taking place, indicating dysfunctional reorganization in the gland’s secretory activity. The above morphological changes negatively affected the processes of hormones evacuation into the blood, the course of the general adaptation syndrome and the homeostasis restoration in the organ. У статті представлені результати дослідження морфологічних перебудов структурних змін в епіфізі щурів під впливом солей важких металів та корекції L-токоферолом на протязі 30 днів. Використовувались загальні морфологічні та статистичні методи дослідження (гістологічні, морфометричні та статистичні). Захисна дія L-токоферолу викликала в епіфізі ряд компенсаторно-адаптаційних процесів, спрямованих на нейтралізацію впливу стресора на орган. Але, 30- денного захисного періоду L-токоферолу недостатньо, щоб повністю нейтралізувати вплив важких металів на орган: активувалася гліальна реакція, збільшувалася площа судин, погіршувалася проникність судинної стінки, формувався набряк і зростала сполучнотканинна складова частина залози, що свідчить про дисфункціональну перебудову секреторної діяльності органу. Вищевказані морфологічні зміни негативно вплинули на процеси евакуації гормонів у кров, перебіг загального адаптаційного синдрому та відновлення гомеостазу у органі. The work is a fragment of the research project “Morphofunctional aspects of homeostasis”, state registration No. 0118U006611and a fragment of the research project “Modern views on the morphogenesis of general pathological processes”, state registration No. 0119U100887.

Early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains a challenge to date. New evidence highlights the potential clinical value of circulating trace amines (TAs) in early-stage PD and their involvement in disease progression. A new ultra performance chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to quantify plasmatic TAs, and the catecholamines and indolamines pertaining to the same biochemical pathways. Three groups of subjects were recruited: 21 de novo, drug untreated, PD patients, 27 in treatment PD patients and 10 healthy subjects as controls. Multivariate and univariate data analyses were applied to reveal metabolic changes among the groups in attempt to discover new putative markers for early PD detection and disease progression. Different circulating levels of tyrosine (p = 0.002), tyramine (p 0.75). The findings of this pilot cross-sectional study suggest that biochemical anomalies of the aminergic and indolic neurotransmitters occur in PD patients. Compounds within the TAs family may constitute putative markers for early stage detection and progression of PD.

Indolamines are tryptophan-derived specialized metabolites that belong to the huge and ubiquitous indole alkaloids group. Serotonin and melatonin are the best-characterized members of this family, given their many hormonal and physiological roles in animals. Following their discovery in several plant families, the study of plant indolamines has flourished over the last few decades and their involvement in many important processes has been proposed, including stress responses, growth and development, and reproduction, leading to their classification by some authors as a new category of phytohormones. However, the complex puzzle of the indolamines is far from resolved, particularly the biological roles of tryptamine, the early tryptophan-derived serotonin precursor representing the central hub of downstream plant indolamines and many specialized indole alkaloids. Tryptophan decarboxylase, which catalyzes the synthesis of tryptamine, appears to strictly regulate the flux of carbon and nitrogen from the tryptophan pool into the indolamine pathway. Furthermore, tryptamine accumulates to high levels in the reproductive organs of many plant species, and therefore cannot be classed as a mere intermediate but rather as an end product with potentially important functions in fruits and seeds. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of tryptamine and its close relative serotonin, emphasizing the need for a clear understanding of the functions of, and mutual relations between, these two indolamines and their biosynthesis pathways in plants.

Bipyridinium salts, commonly known as viologens, are &pi, acceptor molecules that strongly interact with &pi, donor compounds, such as porphyrins or amino acids, leading their self-assembling. These properties have promoted us to functionalize polysilicon microparticles with bipyridinium salts for the encapsulation and release of &pi, donor compounds such as catecholamines and indolamines. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of four gemini-type amphiphilic bipyridinium salts (1&middot, 4PF6&ndash, 4&middot, 4PF6), and their immobilization either non-covalently or covalently on polysilicon surfaces and microparticles have been achieved. More importantly, they act as hosts for the subsequent incorporation of &pi, donor neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline or noradrenaline. Ultraviolet-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to detect the formation of the complex in solution. The immobilization of bipyridinium salts and neurotransmitter incorporation on polysilicon surfaces was corroborated by contact angle measurements. The reduction in the bipyridinium moiety and the subsequent release of the neurotransmitter was achieved using ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, as a triggering agent. Quantification of neurotransmitter encapsulated and released from the microparticles was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies of the bipyridinium salt 1&middot, 4PF6, which was selected for the non-covalent functionalization of the microparticles, demonstrated its low toxicity in the mouse fibroblast cell line (3T3/NIH), the human liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and the human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2).

Serotonin (5-HT) is member of a family of indolamine molecules that participate in a wide variety of biological processes. Despite its important role in the regulation of local blood systems, little is known about the physiological function of 5-HT in reproductive organs, its functional implications, and its role in the reproduction of mammals. In the present work, we evaluated the localization and distribution of 5-HT (using histochemical analysis of indolamines) and different components of the serotoninergic system in rat testes. We detected local synthesis and degradation through immunofluorescence and western blot analyses against the TPH1, MAOA, 5-HTT, and VMAT1 serotonin transporters. We also identified the localization and distribution of the 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT3Areceptors. RT-PCR results showed the presence of the Tph1, Maoa, Slc6a4, and Htr3a genes in testes and in the brain stem (Tph1 was used as a negative control). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the presence of 5-HT and the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase in testes homogenatesin vitro. Our observations suggest that TPH1 activity and local 5-HT synthesis befall in rat testes. We propose that 5-HT could participate in the regulation of testosterone synthesis and in the spermatogenesis process via local serotoninergic system. However, more studies are needed before concluding that rat testes, or those of other mammals, contain an active form of tryptophan hydroxylase and produce 5-HT.

The hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activities of Melatonin, an endogenously produced neurohormone and its related indolamines like N-acetyl tryptophan (NAT) and N-acetyl serotonin (NAS) have been investigated using density functional theory. The mechanism involves 4 steps: initial radical addition to position-3 of the indole ring, keto-amine to enol-imine tautomerization, cyclisation, and finally, addition of a second •OH leading to a cyclic end product. Incorporation of an explicit water molecule in tautomerization step leads to a significant reduction in the barrier of this step, so that the subsequent cyclisation step becomes rate-limiting. In agreement with the very high reactivity of •OH, the initial and final addition of •OH to indolamine are found to be barrierless. Radical adduct formed in the initial step was found to be very stable due to the extensive conjugation present in the substrate. Our calculations show that melatonin is the most effective radical scavenger among the three molecules chosen. NAS was found to exhibit antiradical property comparable to that of melatonin. In contrast to the general observation of reduced antioxidant activity of tryptophan, a non-natural derivative of tryptophan used here (NAT) is found to have good radical scavenging activity. This work further implies that non-natural derivatives of indolamines might as well be useful in the detoxification of free radicals as they exhibit almost comparable antioxidant efficiency as that of melatonin.

Neuromolecular imaging (NMI) visually links electrical and chemical brain activity with neurotransmitter release in vivo, in real time and online to identify biomarkers to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). NMI combined with BRODERICK PROBE laurate nanobiosensors image neuromolecules as the molecular transmitter crosses synaptically in the same motor neurons in basal ganglia as striatal motor neurons in basal ganglia direct movement. With NMI, striatal motor neurons function as electrical devices to synchronize instantaneously with the BRODERICK PROBE nanobiosensor to signal functional physiology (non-PD) or dysfunctional pathology (PD). In non-PD, neurons signal monoamines, precursors, and metabolites selectively with and without L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( l -DOPA), while in PD, neurons signal peptides revealing the likely etiology of PD as the BRODERICK PROBE sees inside the PD brain and allows a direct cause and effect in PD per se and then further provides a direct online image inside the non-PD brain. NMI studies were further contrasted with PD versus non-PD responses after administration of the pharmaceutical, indirect agonist, bromocriptine (Parlodel). PD and non-PD animals were videotracked, and images were readily seen on a laptop via a potentiostat using a semiderivative electrical circuit. PD lesions with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) were performed in substantia nigra pars compacta by Charles River surgeons. Administered l -DOPA doses were 50 and 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally; the same experimental paradigm was used to image PD versus non-PD animal models. Results showed that the baseline release of biogenic amine molecules was significantly above detection limits in non-PD animals and further increased dramatically in a linear dose response pattern after l -DOPA administration, whereas the PD model showed distinct pathology for baseline signally in basal ganglia. There were little or no biogenic amines. In fact, peptides and amino acid, l -tryptophan, were signaled instead of biogenic amines; and after l -DOPA, dramatic off-scale peptide and amino acid release was imaged, and the response was nonlinear. Indeed, there was no statistical difference between responses after the low dose in contrast to the higher dose l -DOPA in the PD animal model. Thus, NMI demonstrates for the first time that the actual online absence of the biogenic amine, catecholamine, dopamine, and the periodic absence of the indoleamine, serotonin, are empirical biomarkers for PD. Significant biomarkers present in PD and absent in non-PD animals include peptide neurotransmitters, dynorphin and somatostatin; l -DOPA significantly increased dynorphin, a glutamate toxin, and somatostatin, a protector in PD, but could not enable release of catecholamines or indolamines. It is intriguing that PD animals released the precursor to serotonin, that is, l -tryptophan, to a strikingly similar degree as was seen in signals imaged for the peptide biomarkers in PD, showing that the neurotransmitter biogenic amine, serotonin, as well at l -tryptophan, and the absence of dopamine are live biomarkers for PD, in fact, as critical as are the peptide biomarkers. The data enable cutting-edge and never-before-shown advances in the field of PD and nanobiotechnology specifically for unique diagnostic, surgical, and pharmacotherapeutic relief from debilitating PD.

From early to later stages of Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM), signalling molecules including brain indolamines and protein kinases are altered significantly, and that has been implicated in the Metabolic Disorders (MD) as well as impairment of retinal, renal, neuronal and cardiovascular systems. Considerable attention has been focused to the effects of diabetes on these signalling systems. However, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of these signals are not completely understood in TIDM, but it is likely that hyperglycemia, acidosis, and insulin resistance play significant roles. Insulin maintains normal glycemic levels and it acts by binding to its receptor, so that it activates the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity, resulting in phosphorylation of several substrates. Those substrates provide binding/interaction sites for signalling molecules, including serine/threonine kinases and indolamines. For more than two decades, our research has been focused on the mechanisms of protein kinases, CaM Kinase and Serotonin transporter mediated alterations of indolamines in TIDM. In this review, we have also discussed how discrete areas of brain respond to insulin or some of the pharmacological agents that triggers or restores these signalling molecules, and it may be useful for the treatment of specific region wise changes/disorders of diabetic brain.

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) is a commercially important crop with highly nutritional green fleshy fruits. The post-harvest maturation of the fruits is well characterized, but little is known about the metabolic changes that occur during fruit development. Here we used untargeted metabolomics to characterize the non-volatile metabolite profile of kiwifruits collected at different time points after anthesis, revealing profound metabolic changes before the onset of ripening including the depletion of many classes of phenolic compounds. In contrast, the phytohormone abscisic acid accumulated during development and ripening, along with two indolamines (serotonin and its precursor tryptamine), and these were monitored in greater detail by targeted metabolomics. The role of indolamines in kiwifruit development is completely unknown, so we also characterized the identity of genes encoding tryptophan decarboxylase in A. deliciosa and its close relative A. chinensis to provide insight into the corresponding biological processes. Our results indicate that abscisic acid and indolamines fulfill unrecognized functions in the development and ripening of kiwifruits.

Melatonin and serotonin are important phytochemicals enabling plants to redirect growth in response to environmental stresses. Despite much research on their biosynthetic routes, localization of their biosynthetic enzymes and recent identification of a phytomelatonin receptor, localization of the molecules themselves has to date not been possible. Elucidation of their locations in living tissues can provide an effective tool to facilitate indolamine research across systems including both plants and animals. In this study, we employed a novel technique, quantum dot nanoparticles, to directly visualize melatonin and serotonin in axenic roots. Melatonin was absorbed through epidermal cells, travelled laterally, and accumulated in endodermal and rapidly dividing pericycle cells. Serotonin was absorbed by cells proximal to the crown with rapid polar movement toward the root tip. Thermal stress disrupted localization and dispersed melatonin and serotonin across cells. These data demonstrate the natural movement of melatonin and serotonin in roots directing cell growth and suggest that plants have a mechanism to disperse the indolamines throughout tissues as antioxidants in response to environmental stresses.

As biomarkers, endogenous neurotransmitters play critical roles in the process of neuropsychiatric diseases, and neurotransmitter levels in different brain regions can contribute to neurological disease diagnosis and treatment. Due to the lack of a blank matrix for endogenous neurotransmitters, surrogate-matrix and surrogate-analyte approaches have been used for the determination of neurotransmitters to solve this problem. In this study, we capitalised on the high accuracy, precision, and throughput of UHPLC-MS/MS and developed new methods based on the two approaches. Both approaches satisfied FDA and EMA validation criterias after an appropriate parallelism assessment, and they were used to further quantify the three endogenous neurotransmitters, including dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat brain four regions (cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus) which represent the catecholamines, indolamines, and amino acids, respectively. Comparison of the results in the same rats (n = 10) showed there was no significant difference in DA, 5-HT, or GABA levels between the two approaches (P > 0.05). The concentrations of DA and GABA were highest in striatum and hypothalamus, respectively, and the levels of 5-HT were paralleled in striatum and hippocampus almost 2-fold higher than other regions. This is the first study to compare these two approaches in the determination of endogenous neurotransmitter content in the rat brain, and the surrogate-matrix approach proved to be simple, rapid, and reliable, considering cost, matrix similarity, and practicality.

Ruthenium polypyridine complexes have proved to be useful caging groups for visible-light photodelivery of biomolecules. In most photoreactions, one ligand is expelled upon irradiation, yielding ruthenium mono-aqua complexes and no other photoproduct. In this work we show that a long-lived transient photoproduct is generated when the ruthenium complexes involve indolamines. The spatial conformation of this species is compatible with a cyclic structure that contains both the amine and the normally non-coordinating aromatic ring coordinated to the ruthenium center. Fil: Carrone, Guillermo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Zayat, Leonardo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Slep, Leonardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Etchenique, Roberto Argentino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina

Objective — to determine the phospholipid and neurotransmitter composition of the left (injured) hemisphere cortex in rats in a month after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and impact of fetal neural tissue (FNT) transplantation on these indexes.Methods. Severe TBI was modeled in inbred male adult rats. Transplantation of 18-day-old embryos FNT was performed 2 hours after TBI. Indole- and catecholamines were detected by high performance liquid chromatography; GABA — by condensation with ortho-phthalaldehyde; phospholipid fractions — by thin layer chromatography; Bax gene expression — by polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription.Results. It was found that severe TBI reduced mass of the injured hemisphere and content of dophamine neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, serotonin, redistribution of phospholipids fractions was noted, as well as increase of level of pro-apoptotic Bax gene in the injured hemisphere, indicating destructive processes in the remote period after TBI. FNT transplantation promoted normalization of most parameters investigated.Conclusions. FNT transplantation in experimental animals with severe TBI contributes to the normalization of neurotransmitter and phospholipid composition of the injured hemisphere., Цель исследования — изучение фосфолипидного и нейромедиаторного состава коры левого (травмированного) полушария большого мозга крыс через 1 мес после черепно-мозговой травмы (ЧМТ), а также влияния на эти показатели трансплантации фетальной нервной ткани (ФНТ).Методы. Тяжелую ЧМТ моделировали у самцов беспородных половозрелых крыс. Трансплантацию ФНТ 18-дневных эмбрионов осуществляли через 2 ч после травмы. Содержание индол- и катехоламинов определяли методом высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии; ГАМК — методом конденсации с ортофталевым альдегидом; фракций фосфолипидов — методом тонкослойной хроматографии; уровень экспрессии гена Вах — методом цепной реакции с полимеразой с обратной транскрипцией.Результаты. Установлено, что при тяжелой ЧМТ уменьшаются масса травмированного полушария и содержание нейромедиаторов дофамина, норадреналина, серотонина, отмечено перераспределение фракций фосфолипидов, а также повышение уровня проапоптотического гена Вах в травмированном полушарии, что свидетельствует о деструктивных процессах в отдаленный период после травмы. Трансплантация ФНТ способствовала нормализации большинства исследованных показателей.Выводы. Трансплантация ФНТ экспериментальным животным при тяжелой ЧМТ способствует нормализации нейромедиаторного и фосфолипидного состава травмированного полушария., Мета дослідження — вивчення фосфоліпідного та нейромедіаторного складу кори лівої (травмованої) півкулі великого мозку щурів через 1 міс після черепно-мозкової травми (ЧМТ), а також впливу на ці показники трансплантації фетальної нервової тканини (ФНТ).Методи. Тяжку ЧМТ моделювали у самців безпородних статевозрілих щурів. Трансплантацію ФНТ 18-денних ембріонів здійснювали через 2 год після травми. Вміст індол- та катехоламінів визначали методом високоефективної рідинної хроматографії; ГАМК — методом конденсації з ортофталевим альдегідом; фракцій фосфоліпідів — методом тонкошарової хроматографії; рівня експресії гену Вах — ланцюгової реакції з полімеразою з зворотною транскрипцією.Результати. Встановлено, що за тяжкої ЧМТ зменшуються маса травмованої півкулі та вміст нейромедіаторів дофаміну, норадреналіну, серотоніну, відзначають перерозподіл фракцій фосфоліпідів, а також підвищення рівня проапоптотичного гену Вах у травмованій півкулі, що свідчить про деструктивні процеси у віддаленому періоді після травми. Трансплантація ФНТ сприяла нормалізації більшості досліджених показників.Висновки. Трансплантація ФНТ експериментальним тваринам за тяжкої ЧМТ сприяє нормалізації нейромедіаторного та фосфоліпідного складу травмованої півкулі.

Since its discovery in the past century by Green, Page and Rapport (1948), to the present time, several physiological actions of serotonin has been discovered. Besides physiological functions, several components of serotoninergic system and its participation in some neurological diseases (i.e. depression, schizophrenia) also have been reported. During previous decades, a lot of experimental techniques have allowed us to locate, detect, analyze and describe the serotoninergic system and its role in different organs and tissues; at the time of 60’s and 70’s of century XX, techniques such as histochemistry for indolamines or Falck-Hillarp method, fluorescence microscopy and the realization of measurements of concentrations in tissues or blood using chromatography enabled significant progress in the study of this indolamine