Aim: Datura stramonium (DS) is a known hallucinogen and depressant of the central nervous system, but it is commonly used in alcoholic beverages to increase intoxication. Pharmacological, physiological and ultra-struc...Aim: Datura stramonium (DS) is a known hallucinogen and depressant of the central nervous system, but it is commonly used in alcoholic beverages to increase intoxication. Pharmacological, physiological and ultra-structural studies have demonstrated the neurotoxicity of this drug inanimals and humans at high doses. The present study investigated the histological patterns of neurodegeneration of frontal cortex (FC) neurons in Wistar rats treated with high doses of DS seed extract. Materials and methods: Ethanolic extract of DS dried seeds was diluted in normal saline and administered to male and female Wistar rats weighing 200 g - 250 g. The animals were first placed in three groups which were further sub-divided into four sub-groups. The treated sub-groups received intraperitoneal administration (i.p.) of 750 mg/kg of diluted DS seed extract once daily in group 1, twice daily (1500 mg/kg/day) in group 2 and thrice daily (2250 mg/kg/day) in group 3. The treatment was carried out for 4 weeks while the control groups received normal saline during the same period. The rats were euthanized and sections of the frontal cortices of the brain were histologically processed from all groups. Silver impregnation stain for degenerating axons and neurons was used to elucidate the pattern of degeneration induced by DS seed extract on the neurons of the FC. Results: The results of intraperitoneal administration of DS extract showed no changes in groups 1 & 2 treated rats while group 3 showed a significant pattern of histological changes like axonal atrophy, vacuolization and neuronal deaths in the frontal cortices neurons compared to the controls. Conclusion: DS may have a specific pattern of neurodegeneration at higher doses of administration. This could provide a useful model in understanding how DS intoxication can affect frontal cortex neurons with an implication of neurological disorders, mental diseases and behavioural deficits.展开更多
AIM: To study glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutamate uptake in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (FC) from rats with prehepatic portal vein hypertension. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into shamoper...AIM: To study glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutamate uptake in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (FC) from rats with prehepatic portal vein hypertension. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into shamoperated group and a portal hypertension (PH) group with a regulated stricture of the portal vein. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation 14 d after portal vein stricture. GS activity was determined in the hippocampus and FC. Specific uptake of radiolabeled L-glutamate was studied using synaptosome-enriched fractions that were freshly prepared from both brain areas. RESULTS: We observed that the activity of GS increased in the hippocampus of PH rats, as compared to control animals, and decreased in the FC. A significant decrease in glutamate uptake was found in both brain areas, and was more marked in the hippocampus. The decrease in glutamate uptake might have been caused by a deficient transport function, signif icantly and persistent increase in this excitatory neurotransmitter activity. CONCLUSION: The presence of moderate ammonia blood levels may add to the toxicity of excitotoxic glutamate in the brain, which causes alterations in brain function. Portal vein stricture that causes portal hypertension modif ies the normal function in some brain regions.展开更多
Stimulation at specific acupoints can activate cortical regions in human subjects.Previous studies have mainly focused on a single brain region.However,the brain is a network and many brain regions participate in the ...Stimulation at specific acupoints can activate cortical regions in human subjects.Previous studies have mainly focused on a single brain region.However,the brain is a network and many brain regions participate in the same task.The study of a single brain region alone cannot clearly explain any brain-related issues.Therefore,for the present study,magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate the Neiguan（PC6） acupoint,and 32-channel electroencephalography data were recorded before and after stimulation.Brain functional networks were constructed based on electroencephalography data to determine the relationship between magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint and cortical excitability.Results indicated that magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint increased connections between cerebral cortex regions.展开更多
目的探讨重复经颅磁刺激(repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,rTMS)治疗对抑郁症患者脑功能的影响。方法选取35例抑郁症患者(major depressive disorder,MDD)作为MDD组,同时选取32例健康志愿者作为健康对照组,rTMS治疗以左...目的探讨重复经颅磁刺激(repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,rTMS)治疗对抑郁症患者脑功能的影响。方法选取35例抑郁症患者(major depressive disorder,MDD)作为MDD组,同时选取32例健康志愿者作为健康对照组,rTMS治疗以左背外侧前额叶为靶点,采集治疗前、后17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression rating scale,HAMD-17)和静息态磁共振功能影像数据,比较HAMD-17总分与度中心性(degree centrality,DC)指标变化。结果(1)治疗后MDD患者HAMD-17总分显著低于治疗前(8.27±4.21 vs 20.93±5.16,P<0.001)。(2)影像学结果显示,与健康对照比较,治疗前抑郁症患者左侧额上回(t=-6.235,P<0.001)和右侧额上回(t=-6.988,P<0.001)DC值显著减少,左侧辅助运动皮层(t=6.173,P<0.001)和右侧辅助运动皮层(t=7.588,P<0.001)DC值显著增加。与治疗前比较,治疗后抑郁症患者左侧额上回(t=5.798,P<0.001)和右侧额上回(t=6.405,P<0.001)DC值显著增加,左侧辅助运动皮层(t=-5.367,P<0.001)和右侧辅助运动皮层(t=-6.462,P<0.001)DC值显著减少。结论连续15 d rTMS治疗快速有效缓解抑郁症状,左侧额上回脑功能增强可能是抑郁症状缓解潜在的神经影像机制。展开更多
文摘Aim: Datura stramonium (DS) is a known hallucinogen and depressant of the central nervous system, but it is commonly used in alcoholic beverages to increase intoxication. Pharmacological, physiological and ultra-structural studies have demonstrated the neurotoxicity of this drug inanimals and humans at high doses. The present study investigated the histological patterns of neurodegeneration of frontal cortex (FC) neurons in Wistar rats treated with high doses of DS seed extract. Materials and methods: Ethanolic extract of DS dried seeds was diluted in normal saline and administered to male and female Wistar rats weighing 200 g - 250 g. The animals were first placed in three groups which were further sub-divided into four sub-groups. The treated sub-groups received intraperitoneal administration (i.p.) of 750 mg/kg of diluted DS seed extract once daily in group 1, twice daily (1500 mg/kg/day) in group 2 and thrice daily (2250 mg/kg/day) in group 3. The treatment was carried out for 4 weeks while the control groups received normal saline during the same period. The rats were euthanized and sections of the frontal cortices of the brain were histologically processed from all groups. Silver impregnation stain for degenerating axons and neurons was used to elucidate the pattern of degeneration induced by DS seed extract on the neurons of the FC. Results: The results of intraperitoneal administration of DS extract showed no changes in groups 1 & 2 treated rats while group 3 showed a significant pattern of histological changes like axonal atrophy, vacuolization and neuronal deaths in the frontal cortices neurons compared to the controls. Conclusion: DS may have a specific pattern of neurodegeneration at higher doses of administration. This could provide a useful model in understanding how DS intoxication can affect frontal cortex neurons with an implication of neurological disorders, mental diseases and behavioural deficits.
基金Supported by Grant B013 from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and PIP 5869 from National Research Council of Argentina
文摘AIM: To study glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutamate uptake in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (FC) from rats with prehepatic portal vein hypertension. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into shamoperated group and a portal hypertension (PH) group with a regulated stricture of the portal vein. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation 14 d after portal vein stricture. GS activity was determined in the hippocampus and FC. Specific uptake of radiolabeled L-glutamate was studied using synaptosome-enriched fractions that were freshly prepared from both brain areas. RESULTS: We observed that the activity of GS increased in the hippocampus of PH rats, as compared to control animals, and decreased in the FC. A significant decrease in glutamate uptake was found in both brain areas, and was more marked in the hippocampus. The decrease in glutamate uptake might have been caused by a deficient transport function, signif icantly and persistent increase in this excitatory neurotransmitter activity. CONCLUSION: The presence of moderate ammonia blood levels may add to the toxicity of excitotoxic glutamate in the brain, which causes alterations in brain function. Portal vein stricture that causes portal hypertension modif ies the normal function in some brain regions.
基金supported by the Outstanding Youth Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Hebei University of Technology,No.2013007the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China,No.20131317120007+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province in China,No.H2013202176the Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31400844,51377045,61571180 and 31300818
文摘Stimulation at specific acupoints can activate cortical regions in human subjects.Previous studies have mainly focused on a single brain region.However,the brain is a network and many brain regions participate in the same task.The study of a single brain region alone cannot clearly explain any brain-related issues.Therefore,for the present study,magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate the Neiguan（PC6） acupoint,and 32-channel electroencephalography data were recorded before and after stimulation.Brain functional networks were constructed based on electroencephalography data to determine the relationship between magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint and cortical excitability.Results indicated that magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint increased connections between cerebral cortex regions.
文摘目的探讨重复经颅磁刺激(repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,rTMS)治疗对抑郁症患者脑功能的影响。方法选取35例抑郁症患者(major depressive disorder,MDD)作为MDD组,同时选取32例健康志愿者作为健康对照组,rTMS治疗以左背外侧前额叶为靶点,采集治疗前、后17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression rating scale,HAMD-17)和静息态磁共振功能影像数据,比较HAMD-17总分与度中心性(degree centrality,DC)指标变化。结果(1)治疗后MDD患者HAMD-17总分显著低于治疗前(8.27±4.21 vs 20.93±5.16,P<0.001)。(2)影像学结果显示,与健康对照比较,治疗前抑郁症患者左侧额上回(t=-6.235,P<0.001)和右侧额上回(t=-6.988,P<0.001)DC值显著减少,左侧辅助运动皮层(t=6.173,P<0.001)和右侧辅助运动皮层(t=7.588,P<0.001)DC值显著增加。与治疗前比较,治疗后抑郁症患者左侧额上回(t=5.798,P<0.001)和右侧额上回(t=6.405,P<0.001)DC值显著增加,左侧辅助运动皮层(t=-5.367,P<0.001)和右侧辅助运动皮层(t=-6.462,P<0.001)DC值显著减少。结论连续15 d rTMS治疗快速有效缓解抑郁症状,左侧额上回脑功能增强可能是抑郁症状缓解潜在的神经影像机制。
