Neutral ceramidase is a marker for cognitive performance in rats and monkeys
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Neutral ceramidase is a marker for cognitive performance in rats and monkeys Liubov S. Kalinichenko1 · An‑Li Wang2 · Christiane Mühle1 · Laila Abdel‑Hafiz2 · Erich Gulbins3,4 · Johannes Kornhuber1 · André W. C. Oliveira5 · Marilia Barros5,6 · Joseph P. Huston2 · Christian P. Müller1 Received: 7 July 2020 / Revised: 2 September 2020 / Accepted: 4 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Background Ceramides are lipid molecules determining cell integrity and intercellular signaling, and thus, involved in the pathogenesis of several psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, little is known about the role of particular enzymes of the ceramide metabolism in the mechanisms of normal behavioral plasticity. Here, we studied the contribution of neutral ceramidase (NC), one of the main enzymes mediating ceramide degradation, in the mechanisms of learning and memory in rats and non-human primates. Methods Naïve Wistar rats and black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were tested in several tests for short- and long-term memory and then divided into groups with various memory performance. The activities of NC and acid ceramidase (AC) were measured in these animals. Additionally, anxiety and depression-like behavior and brain levels of monoamines were assessed in the rats. Results We observed a predictive role of NC activity in the blood serum for superior performance of long-term object memory tasks in both species. A brain area analysis suggested that high NC activity in the ventral mesencephalon (VM) predicts better short-term memory performance in rats. High NC activity in the VM was also associated with worse long-term object memory, which might be mediated by an enhanced depression-like state and a monoaminergic imbalance. Conclusions Altogether, these data suggest a role for NC in short- and long-term memory of various mammalian species. Serum activity of NC may possess a predictive role in the assessing the performance of certain types of memory. Keywords Neutral ceramidase · Memory · Ceramide · Ventral mesencephalon · Rats · Non-human primates
Introduction Sphingolipids are among the most common lipids of the brain determining the structure of cellular membranes [1]. Besides the maintenance of cellular membranes integrity, sphingolipids, and particularly ceramide, determine the localization and functioning of proteins within the ceramideenriched platforms of the membrane [2–4]. Changes in the Liubov S. Kalinichenko, An-Li Wang, Christiane Mühle and Joseph P. Huston contributed equally to this study. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s43440-020-00159-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Christian P. Müller Christian.Mueller@uk‑erlangen.de Extended author information available on the last page of the article
composition of these platforms directly affect the affinity, signaling and internalization of protein receptors [5, 6] resulting in the development of certain physiolog
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