Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is found in high concentrations in several regions of the brain including nuclei of the brain stem and in nerve fibers surrounding cerebral vessels, has been proposed to play a role in regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) and systemic vegetative functions. Since CBF is altered during meningitis, we examined whether NPY concentrations changed in various regions of the rabbit brain in response to experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Changes were most pronounced in the medulla, where NPY concentration increased threefold after 48 h of infection. Concomitantly, there was an increase in NPY immunoreactive fibers surrounding small vessels in the dorsolateral medulla, especially in the nucleus tractus solitarius. These results suggest that NPY may play a role in inducing some of the hemodynamic changes seen during pneumococcal meningitis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beal M. F., Mazurek M. F., and Chartha G. K. (1986) Neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity is reduced in cerebral cortex in Alzheimer’s disease.Ann. Neurol. 20, 282–288.
Cairns H. and Russell D. S. (1946) Cerebral arteritis and phlebitis in pneumococcal meningitis.J. Pathol. Bacteriol. 58, 649–665.
Chronwall B. M., DiMaggio D. A., Massari V. J., Pickel V. M., Ruggiero D. A., and O’Donohue T. L. (1985) The anatomy of Neuropeptide-Y-containing neurons in rat brain.Neuroscience 15, 1159–1181.
Dacey R. G. and Sande M. A. (1974) Effect of probenecid on cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of penicillin and cephalosporin derivatives.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 6, 437–441.
Edvinsson L., Emson P., McCulloch J., Tatemoto K., and Uddman R. (1983) NPY: cerebrovascular innervation and vasomotor effects in the cat.Neurosci. Lett. 43, 79–84.
Everitt B. J., Hokfelt T., Terenius L., Tatemoto K., Mutt V., and Goldstein M. (1984) Differential co-existence of Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity with catecholamines in the central nervous system of the rat.Neuroscience 11, 443–462.
Ferriero D. M. and Sagar S. M. (1989) Development of NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the rat retina.Dev. Brain Res. 48, 19–26.
Fuxe K., Agnati L. F., Härfstrand A., Zini I., Tatemoto K., Merlo Pich E., Höckfelt T., Mutt V., and Terenius L. (1983) Central administration of Neuropeptide Y induces hypotension, bradypnea and EEG synchronization in the rat.Acta Physiol. Scand. 118, 189–192.
Gao M., Axley J., Appleton D. B., and Prensky, A. L. (1974) Angiography in the acute and post-treatment ofHaemophilus influenzae meningitis.Radiology 110, 439–444.
Gray T. S. and Morley J. E. (1986) Neuropeptide Y: Anatomical distribution and possible function in mammalian nervous system.Life Sci. 38, 389–401.
Härfstrand A. (1986) Intraventricular administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) induces hypotension, bradycardia and bradypnea in the awake unrestrained male rat. Counterreaction by NPY-induced feeding behavior.Acta Physiol. Scand. 128, 121–123.
Härfstrand A., Fuxe K., Terenius L., and Kalia M. (1987) NPY-immunoreactive perikarya and nerve terminals in the rat medulla oblongata: relationship to cytoarchitecture and catecholaminergic cell groups.J. Comp. Neurol. 260, 20–35.
Hunt S. P., Emson P. C., Gilbert R., Goldstein M., and Kimmel J. R. (1981) Presence of avian pancreatic polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in catecholamine and methionine-enkephalin-containing neurones within the central nervous system.Neurosci. Lett. 21, 125–130.
Jackowski A., Crockard A., and Burrstock G. (1989) Alterations in serotonin and NPY content of cerebrovascular sympathetic nerves following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 9, 271–279.
Konkol R. J., Chapman L., Breese G. R., Collier H. M., Kilts C., Finley C., Vogel R. R., Mailman R. B., and Bendeich E. G. (1987)Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in the rat: Behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical consequences.Ann. Neurol. 21, 353–360.
McIntosh T. and Ferriero D. (1992) Changes in Neuropeptide Y after experimental traumatic brain injury in the rat.J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 12, 697–702.
Mustafa M. M., Ramilo O., Saez-Llorens X., Mertsola J., Maghess R. R., and McCracken G. H. Jr. (1989) Prostaglandin E2 and I2, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor in cerebrospinal fluid of infants and children with bacterial meningitis.Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 8, 921–922.
Paulson O. B., Brodersen P., Hansen E. L., and Kristensen H. S. (1974) Regional cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen, and cerebrospinal fluid acid-base variables in patients with acute meningitis and with acute encephalitis.Acta Med. Scand. 196, 191–198.
Pfister H. W., Koedel U., Haberl R. L., Dirnagl U., Feiden W., Kuckdesche L. G., and Einhaupl K. M. (1990) Microvascular changes during the early phase of experimental bacterial meningitis.J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 10, 914–922.
Schwartz M. N. (1984) Bacterial meningitis-more involved than the meninges.N. Engl. J. Med. 311, 912–914.
Sears M. R., O’Donoghue J. M., Fisher H. K., and Beaty H. N. (1974) Effect of experimental pneumococcal meningitis on respiration and circulation in rabbits.J. Clin. Invest. 54, 18–23.
Smith A. L., Scheifele D., Averill D., and Syriopolou V. (1987) Cerebral blood flow in experimentalHaemophilus influenzae b meningitis.Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 6 (suppl.), 1159.
Suzuki Y., Shibuya M., Ikegaki I., Satoh S., Takayasu M., and Asano T. (1988) Effects of neuropeptide Y on canine cerebral circulation.Eur. J. Pharmacol. 146, 271–277.
Täuber M. G., Khayam-Bashi H., and Sande M. A. (1985) Effects of ampicillin and corticosteroids on brain water content, CSF pressure and CSF lactate in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.J. Infect. Dis. 151, 528–534.
Täuber M. G., Burroughs M., Niemöller U. M., Kuster H., Borschberg U., and Tuomanen E. (1991) Differences of pathophysiology in experimental meningitis caused by three strains ofStreptococcus pneumoniae.J. Infect. Dis. 163, 806–811.
Tureen J. H., Dworkin R. J., Kennedy S. L., Sachdeva M., and Sande M. A. (1990) Loss of cerebrovascular autoregulation in experimental meningitis in rabbits.J. Clin. Invest. 85, 577–581.
Tureen J. H., Täuber M. G., and Sande M. A. (1992) Effect of hydration status on cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid lactic acidosis in rabbits with experimental meningitis.J. Clin. Invest. 89, 947–953.
Uemura Y., Tetsuo S., Okamoto S., Handa H., and Mizuno N. (1987) Changes in NPY immunoreactivity in cerebrovascular nerve fibers after experimentally produced subarachnoid hemorrhage.J. Neurosurg 66, 741–747.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Täuber, M.G., Ferriero, D., Kennedy, S.L. et al. Brain Levels of neuropeptide Y in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology 18, 15–26 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160019
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160019