Resilience to structural and molecular changes in excitatory synapses in the hippocampus contributes to cognitive function recovery in Tg2576 mice

Plaques of amyloid-β(Aβ)and neurofibrillary tangles are the main pathological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease(AD).However,some older adult people with AD pathological hallmarks can retain cognitive function.Unraveling the factors that lead to this cognitive resilience to AD offers promising prospects for identifying new therapeutic targets.Our hypothesis focuses on the contribution of resilience to changes in excitatory synapses at the structural and molecular levels,which may underlie healthy cognitive performance in aged AD animals.Utilizing the Morris Water Maze test,we selected resilient(asymptomatic)and cognitively impaired aged Tg2576 mice.While the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed similar levels of Aβ42 in both experimental groups,western blot analysis revealed differences in tau pathology in the pre-synaptic supernatant fraction.To further investigate the density of synapses in the hippocampus of 16-18 month-old Tg2576 mice,we employed stereological and electron microscopic methods.Our findings indicated a decrease in the density of excitatory synapses in the stratum radiatum of the hippocampal CA1 in cognitively impaired Tg2576 mice compared with age-matched resilient Tg2576 and non-transgenic controls.Intriguingly,through quantitative immunoelectron microscopy in the hippocampus of impaired and resilient Tg2576 transgenic AD mice,we uncovered differences in the subcellular localization of glutamate receptors.Specifically,the density of GluA1,GluA2/3,and mGlu5 in spines and dendritic shafts of CA1 pyramidal cells in impaired Tg2576 mice was significantly reduced compared with age-matched resilient Tg2576 and non-transgenic controls.Notably,the density of GluA2/3 in resilient Tg2576 mice was significantly increased in spines but not in dendritic shafts compared with impaired Tg2576 and non-transgenic mice.These subcellular findings strongly support the hypothesis that dendritic spine plasticity and synaptic machinery in the hippocampus play crucial roles in the mechanisms of cognitive resilience in Tg2576 mice.

A Statistical Evaluation of Uncoupling Protein 1 in the Limited Area of Brown Adipose Tissue by Immunoelectron Microscopy

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expressed by the brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the mitochondrial crista acts as a homeostatic thermogenerator of eutherians. The evaluation of UCP1 expression in the BAT offers significant scientific insight, especially in studies targeting limited areas such as the periarterial and pericardial regions of small experimental mammals. However, the negligible amount of this adipose tissue would render the general quantitative evaluation of the protein unreliable because of lipid contamination and low protein concentration. To address this problem, we quantitatively evaluated UCP1 expression in the mitochondrion of the mouse interscapular BAT using immunoelectron microscopy and immunohistochemical studies using a combination of primary and secondary antibodies in scheme A (rabbit anti-UCP1 IgG/gold particle-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG), B (rabbit IgG/gold particle-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG), C (rabbit anti-UCP1 IgG/gold particle-unconjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG), and D (rabbit IgG/gold particle-unconjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG). Scheme A shows the immunopositive reaction of obvious gold particles in the mitochondrial area, whereas other procedures revealed less distinctive reactions. The distinctive gold particle immunoreaction comprised electrical high-density spots with a mean diameter of >5 nm. However, in scheme B, the electrical high-density spots were scattered outside the mitochondrion and were significantly smaller than 4 nm;schemes C and D demonstrated few immunoreactions. Logistic regression analysis between schemes A and B showed that the threshold diameter of the electrical high-density spots measuring >5 nm indicated a true positive immunoreaction to anti-UCP1 antibody specifically in the mitochondrial area. Minor statistical difference was observed in the primary anti-UCP1 antibody between polyclonal IgG and monoclonal antibodies. Therefore, immunoelectron microscopy might be useful for evaluating negligible protein expression in some limited areas, such as UCP1 expression in the BAT of small experimental animals.

Variation of Cyclin B1-like Protein During the Cell Cycle of Physarum polycephalum

Physarum polycephalum L., a naturally synchronized myxomycophyta, was demonstrated to contain a cyclin B1-like protein by Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy. The content and subcellular location of the protein varied during the cell cycle. The cyclin B1-like protein was first detected in the plasmodia of S phase while it did not appear in the nuclei until late G2 phase. The content of the protein in both the plasmodia and nuclei rose gradually onwards, peaked at metaphase and disappeared abruptly at ana-telophase. The protein was found to be distributed in both the cytoplasm and nuclei in late G2 phase and metaphase. In nuclei, the protein was mainly located in the chromosomal and nucleolar areas. The results suggest that the cyclin B1-like protein of P. polycephalum begins to be synthesized at S phase, enters the nuclei at late G2 phase, accumulates in both cytoplasm and nuclei onwards and breaks down at ana-telophase. The results also suggest that the cyclin B1-like protein acts as a cytoplasmic-nuclear protein during certain phases of the cell cycle.

Subcellular distribution of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 in neural stem cells within subventricular zone of adult rats

The subcellular localization of N-methyI-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 in neural stem cells of the subventricular zone of adult rats was detected using electron microscopy, following immunohistochemistry and immunogold-silver double staining. Results confirmed the presence of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone, which is a key neurogenic region in the central nervous system of adult mammals. The expression of N-methyI-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 1 was higher than that of nestin and mainly distributed in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex of neural stem cells.

A PSTAIRE CDK-like protein localizes in nuclei and cytoplasm of Physarum polycephalum and functions in the mitosis

CDKs play key roles in controlling cell cycle progression in all eukaryotes. In plants, multiple CDKs are present,among which the best characterized CDKs are PSTAIRE CDKs. In this study, we carried out Western blot,immunoelectron microscopy and antibody treatment with an anti-PSTAIRE monoclonal antibody to explore the subcellular localization and functions of PSTAIRE CDKs in Physarum polycephalum. The results of Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy showed that in P. polycephalum, a PSTAIRE CDK-like protein was 34 kD in molecular weight and located in both nuclei and cytoplasm. In nuclei, the protein was mainly associated with chromosomes and nucleoli. The expression of the PSTAIRE CDK-like protein in both the plasmodia and nuclei showed little fluctuation through the whole cell cycle. When treated with an anti-PSTAIRE monoclonal antibody at early S phase, the cells were arrested in S phase, and the mitotic onset of P. polycephalum was blocked for about 1 h when treated at early G2 phase.Our data indicated that the PSTAIRE CDK- like protein has a direct bearing on the mitosis.

Morphological characteristics of the striatal neural pathway by biotinylated dextran amine tracing in rats

Using neural pathway tracing and immunohistochemical technique, the striato-direct pathway （BDA3 kDa injected into the rat lateral globus pallidus） and striato-indirect pathway （BDA3 kDa injected into the substantia nigra pars reticulata） neurons were specifically labeled, and then subjected to double-labeled immunohistochemistry for mu-OPIOID Receptor （specifically-labeled striatal patch compartment）, D1, and D2, respectively. The experimental findings showed that there are no statistically significant differences in the soma diameter and the number of primary dendrites between the striato-direct （substantia nigra pars reticularis） and indirect （globus pallidum externum） neurons labeled retrograde by BDA3 kDa. In addition, these two kinds of projection neurons revealed no obvious coexistence. This evidence indicates that as a highly sensitive neural pathway tracer, BDA could yield reliably and exquisitely detailed labeling of target neurons and synaptic structures. The variance of the morphologic structures and the localization of neurons were not statistically significant between the striato-substantia nigra pars reticularis and the globus pallidum externum projection neurons. Mesencephalic and thalamic neurons correlated with striatal neurons in morphology. Especially the latter which make typical excitatory synaptic contacts with striato-direct and -indirect neurons. Thus, this evidence suggests that thalamic neurons may extensively excite striatal neurons.

Double Labeling Immulloelectron Microscopic Study on the Synaptic Connections between Glutamic Acid Neurons and GABA Neurons in the Hippocampus of Rats

Summary: In order to explore the roles of different neurotransmitters in epileptic pathogenesis, the synaptic connections between glutamic acid (Gin) neurons and GABA neurons in normal rat hippocampus were studied by pre-embedding double labeling immunoelectron microscopy. The GABA immunoreaction was first demonstrated by chromogen DAB, then the Gin immunoreaction was demonstrated by molybdic acid-TAB method. After being stabilized by DAB-cobalt chloride. the sections were processed for electron microscopic embedding. Under electron microscope, there were many Gin immunoreaction-positive neurons in the pyramidal layer of hippocampal CA1 area and some GABA immunoreaction-positive neurons with pyramidal or polygonal perikarya in the pyramidal, polymorphic and radiant layer of CA1 area. There were also symmetric dendro-axonic synapses formed by GABA-positive dendrites and Glu-positive a-cons in the polymorphic layer and symmetric axo-dendritic synapses formed by GABA-positive axons and Glu-positive dendrites in the radiant layer. In addition, there were symmetric autoregulatory axo-dendritic synapses be- tween Gin-positive axons and dendrites and autoregulatory axo-axonic synapses (both symmetric and asymmetric) between GABA-positive axons. Above mentioned results, for the first time, showed that there were complex synaptic regulatory relationships between excitatory Glu neurons and inhibitory GABA neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area, thereby, providing ultrastructural evidence for different neurotransmitters participating in epileptic pathogenesis.

THE KINETICS OF CYTOPLASMIC GRANULE SECRETION IN NATURAL KILLER CYTOTOXICITY

Antisetum against purified cytoplasmic granules from rat LCL tumor cells. and protein A-gold immunoelectron microscopy were used to study the secretory events in lysis of YAC-1 tumor cells by rat LCL tumor cells or by isolated LGL from normal rats. After 30 min incubation of effector and target cells together, gold-labeled cytoplasmic granules were often seen concentrated in the area of the LGL adjacent to the bound YAC-1 target. Within 60 min, the granules were observed to move to the cell border near the conjugated site. At this point, the granules were fused with the cell membrane. and subsequently released the gold-labeled contents into the junction between the LGL and the target cell. Gold particles could be seen at the E-T interface, on the LGL surface, or sometimes on the target cell surface. These data provide direct evidence for the hypothesis that under conditions of active cytotoxicity, natural killer cells secrete their cytoplasmic granule contents leading to the deposition of granule material on the target cell surface and the eventual lysis of the cell.

Decreased expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in acute injured lungs in rats

OBJECTIVE: To determine if aquaporin1 (AQP1) and aquaporin5 (AQP5) are expressed in the alveolar capillary membrane in rats. Moreover, to investigate the alteration of AQP1 and AQP5 in acute injured lungs. METHODS: The distribution of AQP1 and AQP5 in alveolar capillary membrane were investigated by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy with affinity-purified antibodies to human AQP1 and AQP5. To study the possibility that alveolar capillary membrane AQP1 and AQP5 undergo altered regulation, we established a rat model using alveolar instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RESULTS: Immunolabelling showed AQP1 was stained primarily in the microvascular endotheli a of normal lungs, while AQP5 was expressed in type I pneumocytes. Immunohisto chemical analysis showed a significant decrease in the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in injured lungs at 4h-48h after LPS instillation. AQP1 protein was resumed partly at 24h after LPS instillation and steroid administration, whereas AQP5 was unchanged. CONCLUSION: The decreased expressions of AQP1 and AQP5 in injured lungs suggest that both of them may play a role in abnormal fluid transportation.

Location of Caspase 3-like Protease in the Development of Sieve Element and Tracheary Element of Stem in Cucurbita moschata

The casepase is considered to regulate the process of programmed cell death in the development of organisms. In this study, caspase 3-like protease was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy during the development of sieve element and tracheary element of stem in Cucurbita moschata Duch. Antibody with brown color （under light microscopy） and gold particles （under transmission electron microscopy） for detecting caspase 3-like protease was mainly displayed in inner phloem, external phloem and xylem in the region close to procambium. From the results it was considered that caspase 3-like protease did exist in vascular elements and played different roles during the development of sieve and tracheary elements, and different types of programmed cell death might be carried out. The caspase 3-like protease mainly participated in making cytoplasmic streaming cease and in degrading P-protein bodies; however, it rarely participated in the function for signal transferring in the developmental sieve element. However, it might induce calcium accumulation for rupturing the tonoplast in the signal of PCD in the developmental tracheary element.