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Angiotensin II and the transcription factor Rel/NF-κB link environmental water shortage with memory improvement
- Source :
- Neuroscience. 115:1079-1087
- Publication Year :
- 2002
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2002.
-
Abstract
- One of the essential requirements even in the most ancient life forms is to be able to preserve body fluid medium. In line with such requirement, animals need to perform different behaviors to cope with water shortages. As angiotensin II (ANGII) is involved on a widespread range of functions in vertebrates, including memory modulation, an integrative role, in response to an environmental water shortage, has been envisioned. Previous work on the semi-terrestrial and brackish-water crab Chasmagnathus granulatus showed that endogenous ANGII enhanced an associative long-term memory and, in addition, that high salinity environment induces both an increase of brain ANGII levels and memory improvement. Here, we show that in the crab Chasmagnathus air exposure transiently increases blood sodium concentration, significantly increases brain ANGII immunoreactivity, and has a facilitatory effect on memory that is abolished by a non-selective ANGII receptor antagonist, saralasin. Furthermore, Rel/NF-κB, a transcription factor activated by ANGII in mammals and during memory consolidation in Chasmagnathus brain, is induced in the crab’s brain by air exposure. Moreover, nuclear brain NF-κB is activated by ANGII, and this effect is reversed by saralasin. Our results constitute the first demonstration in an invertebrate that cognitive functions are modulated by an environmental stimulus through a neuropeptide and give evolutionary support to the role of angiotensins in memory processes. Moreover, these results suggest that angiotensinergic system is preserved across evolution not only in its structure and molecular mechanisms, but also in its capability of coordinating specific adaptative responses.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Brachyura
Neuropeptide
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Biology
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
chemistry.chemical_compound
Memory
Internal medicine
Memory improvement
Renin–angiotensin system
medicine
Animals
Receptors, Angiotensin
Water Deprivation
Chasmagnathus
Air
Angiotensin II
General Neuroscience
Sodium
NF-kappa B
Brain
NF-κB
Environmental Exposure
Water-Electrolyte Balance
biology.organism_classification
Immunohistochemistry
Cell biology
Endocrinology
chemistry
Memory consolidation
Saralasin
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03064522
- Volume :
- 115
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Neuroscience
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c3c17a9be53aee3ecd584b0789c1de07