BACKGROUND： The main components of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Nao Yikang have been shown to possibly alleviate neural damage. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of Nao Yikang on expression of choline a...BACKGROUND： The main components of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Nao Yikang have been shown to possibly alleviate neural damage. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of Nao Yikang on expression of choline acetyltransferase （CHAT） and caspase-3 in the rat brains of an experimental Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） model, and to investigate the mechanisms of potential neuroprotective effects. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled experiment was performed at the Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Nantong University between November 2006 and December 2007. MATERIALS： The main active components of Nao Yikang were as follows： prepared polygonum multiflorum, Rhizoma anemarrhenae, and Rhizoma acori tatarinowii. Nao Yikang granules were prepared by Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ibotenic acid （IBO） was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, USA, ChAT goat anti-rat antibody from Chemicon, USA, and cleaved caspase-3 rabbit anti-rat （Asp175） （5A1） antibody from Cell Signaling, USA. METHODS： A total of 60 male, Sprague Dawley rats （2 months old） were randomly assigned to 6 groups： sham-surgery, model, Nao Yikang 1.73, 3.45, 6.90 g/kg per day, and piracetam, with 10 rats in each group. Bilateral infusions of 5 pg IBO into the nucleus basalis of Meynert were performed with Hamilton syringe and stereotaxic apparatus for AD model establishment. For the sham-surgery group, rats received 1 μL saline in the identical stereotaxic position. From the second day, Nao Yikang groups were administrated 1.73, 3.45, and 6.90 g/kg per day Nao Yikang, respectively, while the piracetam group received 0.04 g/mL piracetam, the model group received 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and the sham-surgery group received normal saline. Rats were intragastrically administered 1 mL/100 g daily for 28 consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Following treatment of the various solutions for 28 days, Western blot was utilized to observe ChAT expression in the frontal cortex of AD rats, and immunohistochemistry was applied to quantify caspase-3-positive cells in the frontal cortex. RESULTS： ChAT protein expression significantly decreased in the model group （P 〈 0.01）, however caspase-3 expression was significantly elevated （P 〈 0.01） compared with the sham-surgery group. Compared with the model group, ChAT protein expression increased in the Nao Yikang 1.73 g/kg per day, 3.45 g/kg per day, 6.90 g/kg per day groups, and the piracetam group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01） and the number of caspase-3-positive cells decreased in the Nao Yikang 3.45 g/kg per day and 6.90 g/kg per day groups （P 〈 0.01）. However, there was no change in the number of caspase-3-positive cells in the 3.45 g/kg per day group. CONCLUSION： The traditional Chinese medicine compound Nao Yikang increased ChAT protein expression and suppressed caspase-3 expression in the frontal cortex in a dose-dependent manner.展开更多
We observed dynamic changes in microvessels and a protective effect of estrogen on chronic cerebral ischemia ovariectomized rat models established through permanent occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries at 7, 14 and...We observed dynamic changes in microvessels and a protective effect of estrogen on chronic cerebral ischemia ovariectomized rat models established through permanent occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries at 7, 14 and 21 days. The results revealed that estrogen improved microvasculature in the hippocampus of chronic cerebral ischemic rats, upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, downregulated Bax protein expression, increased choline acetyltransferase expression in hippocampal cholinergic neurons, and suppressed hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. These findings indicate that estrogen can protect hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Cholinergic neuron directly participants in human motion, learning and memory and is a target cell for multiple degenerative diseases of central nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To investigate whether the mito...BACKGROUND： Cholinergic neuron directly participants in human motion, learning and memory and is a target cell for multiple degenerative diseases of central nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To investigate whether the mitotic cell is the radial glial cell expressing choline acetyltransferase （CHAT） in ventricle zone （VZ） of telencephalon and whether cholinergic neuron is derived from radial glial cell in ventricle zone of telencephalon. DESIGN： Observational study. SETTING： Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical College of Jilin University. MATERIALS： Nine healthy Wistar rats included 6 females and 3 male. Male and female rats were mated routinely, and the day when spermatozoa or vaginal plug were found was regarded as embryonic 0 （E0）. Primary monoclonal antibodies ChAT and vimentin were provided respectively by Wuhan Boster Company, and Biogenex Company, USA. METHODS： The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Cell Culture and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Histology and Embryology from march 2002 to January 2003. Firstly, fluorescence-activated cell sorting （FACS） was used to confirm the time of generation of cholinergic neuron; secondly, telencephalons of rats at embryonic 14 days （E14） were performed coronary sections, then immunohistochemistry double staining for vimentin （a protein marker of radial neuroglia cell） and ChAT （a protein marker of cholinergic neuron） were used to test whether ChAT was expressed in the radial neuroglia cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： （1） Fluorescence-activated cell numbers of ChAT in telencephalon; （2） results of immunohistochemistry double staining. RESULTS： It is confirmed using by flow cytometer that embryogenesis time of cholinergic neuron was at E12, and shown the population of cells in VZ of dorsal telencephalon of E14 rat co-expressed vimentin and ChAT through immunohistochemistry double staining. A lot of vimentin-positive cells and ChAT-positive cells respectively were observed in VZ of lateral ganglionic eminence. CONCLUSION： Cholinergic neuron in cerebral cortex is derived from radial glial cells in VZ of dorsal telencephalon; meanwhile, cholinergic neuron of striatum is derived from radial glial cells in VZ of lateral ganglionic eminence.展开更多
BACKGROUND： It is generally accepted that gentamicin can damage the cochlear nerve and acoustic nerve. In recent years, scholars have focused on neuronal changes and neurochemical information in the brainstem primary...BACKGROUND： It is generally accepted that gentamicin can damage the cochlear nerve and acoustic nerve. In recent years, scholars have focused on neuronal changes and neurochemical information in the brainstem primary auditory center. OBJECTIVE： To explore morphological changes of choline acetyltransferase （ChAT）-positive neurons in the paraolivary nucleus （PON） of guinea pigs, and the effect on hearing following gentamicin injection. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized grouping and morphological observational study was performed at Animal Experimental Center of General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January to August 2007. MATERIALS： A total of 48 healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into model （n = 40） and control （n = 8） groups. The model group was divided into five subgroups at five time points of 1 and 3 days, 1, 2, and 3 weeks. METHODS： Guinea pigs in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with gentamicin, and those in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Auditory brainstem-evoked potential was used to record auditory threshold; distribution and morphological changes of ChAT-positive neurons in the PON were observed with immunohistochemistry; section area and gray value of ChAT-positive neurons were measured with Quantimet 570 image-analyzing system. RESULTS： ChAT-positive neurons were diffusedly distributed in the PON. The majority was composed of large, round cells, with positive neurites that could be clearly observed. Following gentamicin injection, the positive neurons displayed an irregular outline, and their neurites began to shorten and disappear. The gray value increased with prolonged gentamicin administration （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, the somatic cross-sectional area was enlarged in the model group at 1 and 3 days after injection （P 〈 0.05）, whereas cell number significantly decreased at ;three weeks after injection （P 〈 0.05）. Starting at 3-4 days, behavioral features and auditory degrees became gradually aggravated with prolonged gentamicin administration （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Gentamicin damaged ChAT-positive neurons in the PON, and long-term gentamicin treatment aggravated hearing impairment.展开更多
A diffusion-reaction, two-compartment model was used to explore the bifurcation and chaotic behavior of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) coupled enzymes system. The effects of hydrogen i...A diffusion-reaction, two-compartment model was used to explore the bifurcation and chaotic behavior of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) coupled enzymes system. The effects of hydrogen ion feed concentrations, choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (ACh) feed concentrations, as bifurcation parameters on the system performance are studied. It is found that hydrogen ions play an important role in creating potential differences through the plasma membranes. Detailed bifurcation analysis over a wide range of parameters is carried out in order to uncover some of the qualitative changes of the system such as hysteresis, multiplicity, Hopf bifurcation, boundary crises bifurcation, periodic transient, and other complex dynamics. Some of the obtained results relate to the phenomena occurring in the physiological experiments like periodic stimulation of neural cells and irregular functioning of acetylcholine receptors. The model depends on real kinetics expressions and parameters obtained from the literature, so the results can be used to direct more systematic research on cholinergic disorder.展开更多
基金Supported by: the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK2004048Social Development and Technology Plan of Nantong City, No. K2008009
文摘BACKGROUND： The main components of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Nao Yikang have been shown to possibly alleviate neural damage. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of Nao Yikang on expression of choline acetyltransferase （CHAT） and caspase-3 in the rat brains of an experimental Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） model, and to investigate the mechanisms of potential neuroprotective effects. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled experiment was performed at the Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Nantong University between November 2006 and December 2007. MATERIALS： The main active components of Nao Yikang were as follows： prepared polygonum multiflorum, Rhizoma anemarrhenae, and Rhizoma acori tatarinowii. Nao Yikang granules were prepared by Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ibotenic acid （IBO） was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, USA, ChAT goat anti-rat antibody from Chemicon, USA, and cleaved caspase-3 rabbit anti-rat （Asp175） （5A1） antibody from Cell Signaling, USA. METHODS： A total of 60 male, Sprague Dawley rats （2 months old） were randomly assigned to 6 groups： sham-surgery, model, Nao Yikang 1.73, 3.45, 6.90 g/kg per day, and piracetam, with 10 rats in each group. Bilateral infusions of 5 pg IBO into the nucleus basalis of Meynert were performed with Hamilton syringe and stereotaxic apparatus for AD model establishment. For the sham-surgery group, rats received 1 μL saline in the identical stereotaxic position. From the second day, Nao Yikang groups were administrated 1.73, 3.45, and 6.90 g/kg per day Nao Yikang, respectively, while the piracetam group received 0.04 g/mL piracetam, the model group received 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and the sham-surgery group received normal saline. Rats were intragastrically administered 1 mL/100 g daily for 28 consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Following treatment of the various solutions for 28 days, Western blot was utilized to observe ChAT expression in the frontal cortex of AD rats, and immunohistochemistry was applied to quantify caspase-3-positive cells in the frontal cortex. RESULTS： ChAT protein expression significantly decreased in the model group （P 〈 0.01）, however caspase-3 expression was significantly elevated （P 〈 0.01） compared with the sham-surgery group. Compared with the model group, ChAT protein expression increased in the Nao Yikang 1.73 g/kg per day, 3.45 g/kg per day, 6.90 g/kg per day groups, and the piracetam group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01） and the number of caspase-3-positive cells decreased in the Nao Yikang 3.45 g/kg per day and 6.90 g/kg per day groups （P 〈 0.01）. However, there was no change in the number of caspase-3-positive cells in the 3.45 g/kg per day group. CONCLUSION： The traditional Chinese medicine compound Nao Yikang increased ChAT protein expression and suppressed caspase-3 expression in the frontal cortex in a dose-dependent manner.
基金a grant by Hebei Provincial Education Ministry,No.Z200632
文摘We observed dynamic changes in microvessels and a protective effect of estrogen on chronic cerebral ischemia ovariectomized rat models established through permanent occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries at 7, 14 and 21 days. The results revealed that estrogen improved microvasculature in the hippocampus of chronic cerebral ischemic rats, upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, downregulated Bax protein expression, increased choline acetyltransferase expression in hippocampal cholinergic neurons, and suppressed hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. These findings indicate that estrogen can protect hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia.
基金the Scientific Research Foundation of the Higher Education Institutions, No. 20030183048
文摘BACKGROUND： Cholinergic neuron directly participants in human motion, learning and memory and is a target cell for multiple degenerative diseases of central nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To investigate whether the mitotic cell is the radial glial cell expressing choline acetyltransferase （CHAT） in ventricle zone （VZ） of telencephalon and whether cholinergic neuron is derived from radial glial cell in ventricle zone of telencephalon. DESIGN： Observational study. SETTING： Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical College of Jilin University. MATERIALS： Nine healthy Wistar rats included 6 females and 3 male. Male and female rats were mated routinely, and the day when spermatozoa or vaginal plug were found was regarded as embryonic 0 （E0）. Primary monoclonal antibodies ChAT and vimentin were provided respectively by Wuhan Boster Company, and Biogenex Company, USA. METHODS： The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Cell Culture and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Histology and Embryology from march 2002 to January 2003. Firstly, fluorescence-activated cell sorting （FACS） was used to confirm the time of generation of cholinergic neuron; secondly, telencephalons of rats at embryonic 14 days （E14） were performed coronary sections, then immunohistochemistry double staining for vimentin （a protein marker of radial neuroglia cell） and ChAT （a protein marker of cholinergic neuron） were used to test whether ChAT was expressed in the radial neuroglia cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： （1） Fluorescence-activated cell numbers of ChAT in telencephalon; （2） results of immunohistochemistry double staining. RESULTS： It is confirmed using by flow cytometer that embryogenesis time of cholinergic neuron was at E12, and shown the population of cells in VZ of dorsal telencephalon of E14 rat co-expressed vimentin and ChAT through immunohistochemistry double staining. A lot of vimentin-positive cells and ChAT-positive cells respectively were observed in VZ of lateral ganglionic eminence. CONCLUSION： Cholinergic neuron in cerebral cortex is derived from radial glial cells in VZ of dorsal telencephalon; meanwhile, cholinergic neuron of striatum is derived from radial glial cells in VZ of lateral ganglionic eminence.
文摘BACKGROUND： It is generally accepted that gentamicin can damage the cochlear nerve and acoustic nerve. In recent years, scholars have focused on neuronal changes and neurochemical information in the brainstem primary auditory center. OBJECTIVE： To explore morphological changes of choline acetyltransferase （ChAT）-positive neurons in the paraolivary nucleus （PON） of guinea pigs, and the effect on hearing following gentamicin injection. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized grouping and morphological observational study was performed at Animal Experimental Center of General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January to August 2007. MATERIALS： A total of 48 healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into model （n = 40） and control （n = 8） groups. The model group was divided into five subgroups at five time points of 1 and 3 days, 1, 2, and 3 weeks. METHODS： Guinea pigs in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with gentamicin, and those in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Auditory brainstem-evoked potential was used to record auditory threshold; distribution and morphological changes of ChAT-positive neurons in the PON were observed with immunohistochemistry; section area and gray value of ChAT-positive neurons were measured with Quantimet 570 image-analyzing system. RESULTS： ChAT-positive neurons were diffusedly distributed in the PON. The majority was composed of large, round cells, with positive neurites that could be clearly observed. Following gentamicin injection, the positive neurons displayed an irregular outline, and their neurites began to shorten and disappear. The gray value increased with prolonged gentamicin administration （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, the somatic cross-sectional area was enlarged in the model group at 1 and 3 days after injection （P 〈 0.05）, whereas cell number significantly decreased at ;three weeks after injection （P 〈 0.05）. Starting at 3-4 days, behavioral features and auditory degrees became gradually aggravated with prolonged gentamicin administration （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Gentamicin damaged ChAT-positive neurons in the PON, and long-term gentamicin treatment aggravated hearing impairment.
文摘A diffusion-reaction, two-compartment model was used to explore the bifurcation and chaotic behavior of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) coupled enzymes system. The effects of hydrogen ion feed concentrations, choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (ACh) feed concentrations, as bifurcation parameters on the system performance are studied. It is found that hydrogen ions play an important role in creating potential differences through the plasma membranes. Detailed bifurcation analysis over a wide range of parameters is carried out in order to uncover some of the qualitative changes of the system such as hysteresis, multiplicity, Hopf bifurcation, boundary crises bifurcation, periodic transient, and other complex dynamics. Some of the obtained results relate to the phenomena occurring in the physiological experiments like periodic stimulation of neural cells and irregular functioning of acetylcholine receptors. The model depends on real kinetics expressions and parameters obtained from the literature, so the results can be used to direct more systematic research on cholinergic disorder.
