Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART) Expression Changes in the Stomach Wall Affected by Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulcerations

Abstract

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a peptide suggested to play a role in gastrointestinal tract tissue reaction to pathology. Gastric ulceration is a common disorder affecting huge number of people, and additionally, it contributes to the loss of pig livestock production. Importantly, ulceration as a focal disruption affecting deeper layers of the stomach wall differs from other gastrointestinal pathologies and should be studied individually. The pig’s gastrointestinal tract, due to its many similarities to the human counterpart, provides a valuable experimental model for studying digestive system pathologies. To date, the role of CART in gastric ulceration and the expression of the gene encoding CART in porcine gastrointestinal tube are completely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to verify the changes in the CART expression by Q-PCR (gene encoding CART in the tissue) and double immunofluorescence staining combined with confocal microscopy (CART immunofluorescence in enteric nervous system) in the porcine stomach tissues adjacent to gastric ulcerations. Surprisingly, we found that gastric ulcer caused a significant decrease in the expression of CART-encoding gene and huge reduction in the percentage of CART-immunofluorescent myenteric perikarya and neuronal fibers located within the circular muscle layer. Our results indicate a unique CART-dependent gastric response to ulcer disease.

Plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid and the expression of its receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are altered in patients with cocaine use disorders

“…Over the last decades, cocaine use has increased, representing a public health problem worldwide [ 1 ]. Cocaine is a psychoactive substance that directly damages the Central Nervous System (CNS) [ 2 ], and its use is associated with numerous medical pathologies [ 3 – 6 ]. Approximately 20% of people who start using cocaine will develop a cocaine use disorder (CUD) [ 7 ].…”

Administration of Different Doses of Acrylamide Changed the Chemical Coding of Enteric Neurons in the Jejunum in Gilts

“…CART-positive neurons are widely expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. This peptide regulates food intake, gastric blood flow and motor activity of all segments of the alimentary tract [ 22 ]. All the above mentioned substances play an important role in both the physiology and pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.…”