title: 4-Methlycatechol prevents NGF/p75(NTR)-mediated apoptosis via NGF/TrkA system in pancreatic β cells.
abstract: In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether 4-methylcatechol (4-MC) could serve as an autocrine antiapoptotic agent by increasing nerve growth factor (NGF) in β cells of hyperglycemic rats. Rats were divided into four groups: the first group was given citrate buffer and saline, the second group was administered 4-MC, the third group received streptozotocin (STZ), and the fourth group was given both 4-MC and STZ. 4-MC (10 μg/kg) was administered by daily intraperitoneal injection for 10 days before the animals were rendered hyperglycemic by administration of STZ (75 mg/kg). With 4-MC pretreatment on hyperglycemic rats the following results were noted: (i) Increase in plasma glucose, β cell apoptosis and caspase-8 activation was prevented. (ii) Reduction of NGF+ and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA)+ β cell number was blocked. (iii) p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR))+ β cell number was increased. These data suggest that 4-MC might exert its antiapoptotic actions through NGF/TrkA system which may block NGF/p75(NTR) activation in pancreatic β cells of hyperglycemic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134 Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey. selgez@istanbul.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gezginci-Oktayoglu
authors.forename: Sehnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolkent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002396:Catechols; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; C018599:4-methylcatechol; D013311:Streptozocin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D053181:Caspase 8