Mechanism of changes induced in plasma glycerol by scent stimulation with grapefruit and lavender essential oils

Neurosci Lett. 2007 Apr 18;416(3):241-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.12.063. Epub 2007 Feb 24.

Abstract

In a previous study, we found that stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil (SGFO) elevated plasma glycerol levels in rats. However, stimulation with scent of lavender oil (SLVO) triggered a negative effect. To identify the mechanism of these changes during lipolysis, we examined the role of autonomic blockers and bilateral lesions of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the modification of plasma glycerol in rats exposed to SGFO and SLVO. We found that intraperitoneal injection of propranolol hydrochloride and atropine sulfate eliminated the changes in plasma glycerol levels induced by SGFO and SLVO, respectively. Bilateral lesions of the SCN completely abolished the effects of SGFO and SLVO on lipolysis. In addition, we investigated tyrosine phosphorylation of the transmembrane glycoprotein BIT (a brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based activation motifs, a member of the signal-regulator protein family), which was found to be involved in the activation of renal sympathetic nerves and increase in body temperature on cold exposure. SGFO was found to enhance the immunoreactivity of BIT to the 4G10 anti-phosphotyrosine antibody in the SCN, whereas SLVO decreased the immunoreactivity. The changes in BIT phosphorylation resulting from the exposure to SGFO and SLVO were eliminated by the corresponding histamine receptor antagonists, which eliminated the changes in plasma glycerol concentration. The results suggest that SGFO and SLVO affect the autonomic neurotransmission and lipolysis. The SCN and histamine neurons are involved in the lipolytic responses to SGFO and SLVO, and tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT is implicated in the relevant signaling pathways.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Atropine / pharmacology
  • Citrus paradisi*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Glycerol / blood*
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Isothiocyanates / metabolism
  • Lavandula
  • Male
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Olfactory Pathways / drug effects
  • Olfactory Pathways / injuries
  • Olfactory Pathways / physiology*
  • Physical Stimulation / methods
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Plasma / drug effects
  • Plasma / metabolism*
  • Propranolol / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Smell / drug effects*
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / injuries
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Isothiocyanates
  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils
  • Tyrosine
  • Atropine
  • 2-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-1-diethylaminoethyl-5-isothiocyanatobenzimidazole
  • Propranolol
  • Glycerol
  • lavender oil