Proprotein convertase 1 mRNA and protein expression in ischemic rat cortex after reperfusion

Proprotein convertase 1 （PC1） is a member of the family of proprotein convertases （PCs）, which are the processing enzymes of neuropeptides. Previous studies have addressed PC1 effects with regard to the neuroendocrine system. In this study, the developing changes of PC1 mRNA and PC1 protein in rat cortices after transient focal cerebral ischemia were investigated by fluorescent double labeling （both in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry） using a transient focal cerebral ischemia model in rats. The results were compared with those of sham-operated rat cortices. Both the mRNA and protein levels of PC1 in ischemic cortices decreased gradually at 4, 8, and 16 hours of reperfusion after 100 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion. After 24 hours of reperfusion, enhanced intensities of signals for PC1 protein were observed, while signals for PC1 mRNA remained low. These results suggest that transient focal cerebral ischemia influences PC1 mRNA and protein expression in cortices of ischemic rats. Thus, PC1 is regulated by ischemic stress.

Temporal and spatial distribution of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 during development in the rat cortex and hippocampus

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 （mGluR5） is expressed by neurons in zones of active neurogenesis and is involved in the development of neural stem cells in vivo and in vitro. We examined the expression of mGluR5 in the cortex and hippocampus of rats during various prenatal and postnatal periods using immunohistochemistry. During prenatal development, mGluR5 was pdmadly localized to neuronal somas in the forebrain. During early postnatal periods, the receptor was mainly present on somas in the cortex, mGluR5 immunostaining was visible in apical dendrites and in the neuropil of neurons and persisted throughout postnatal development. During this period, pyramidal neurons were strongly labeled for the receptor. In the hippocampal CA1 region, mGluR5 immunoreactivity was more intense in the stratum oriens, stratum radiatum, and lacunosum moleculare at P0, P5 and P10 relative to P60. mGluR5 expression increased significantly in the molecular layer and decreased significantly in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus at P5, P10 and P60 in comparison with P0. Furthermore, some mGluR5-positive cells were also bromodeoxyuridine- or NeuroD-positive in the dentate gyrus at P14. These results demonstrate that mGluR5 has a differential expression pattern in the cortex and hippocampus during early growth, suggesting a role for this receptor in the control of domain specific brain developmental events.

Distinct proteins in cortex of rats with closed traumatic brain injury detected by a WCX-2 protein chip

BACKGROUND： Mechanical injury can cause the changes of polygene expression spectrum in rat cerebral cortical nerve cells, and then result in the changes of intracellular protein expression. At present, dielectrophoresis is combined with mass spectrum technique to detect the expression of different proteins in rat cortex after brain injury, but the protein chip technique requires further investigation. OBJECTIVE： To analyze the differences of protein expression spectrum in rat cerebral cortex before and after closed traumatic brain injury using WCX-2 protein chip technique. DESIGN： A randomized controlled animal experiment. SETTING： Training Division of the Medical College of Chinese People＇s Armed Police Force. MATERIALS： Seventy-two male SD rats of clean degree, 350 - 450 g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences of Chinese PLA. Urea, trifluoroacetic acid, CHAPS and Tris （Sigma, USA）; WCX-2 （Ciphergen, USA）. Ultra-high speed hypothermia centrifuger （Bechman, USA）; Rotary tissue microtome （Keuca, Germany）; Biochip processor and PBS II-C protein chip reader （Ciphergen, USA）. METHODS： The experiments were carried out in the Institute of Molecular Pathology, Central Laboratory, and Department of Pathology, Medical College of Chinese People＇s Armed Police Force from June 2005 to March 2006. ① Grouping and treatment： The experiments were completed in molecular pathological institute, central laboratory and pathological department. ② The rats were randomly divided into control group （n =12） and brain injury group （n =60）. Marmarou＇s weight-dropping models were duplicated at different time points in the brain injury group. In the control group, the rats were only treated by incising the skin of head top, without fixing the stainless steel hitting backup plate at the vault of skull, and obtain brain cortex for pathological and protein chip research, and they were killed after 24 hours. The rats in the brain injury group were killed at 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after model establishment. ③ Pathological observation： Longitudinal section was made on cerebral cortex, and sections of 5 μm were prepared, then stained with hematoxylin and eosin （HE）. ④Protein chip analysis： 100 mg cerebral cortex was collected from each rat, and the protein content in sample was detected with Bradford method, meanwhile, WCX-2 protein chip was used to analyze the protein spectrum. The data were automatically collected with Ciphergen proteinchip 3.0 software, and the results were analyzed using Biomarker Wizard software to compare the differences of protein spectrum in rat cortex between the groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Results of the pathological observation of cerebral cortex and the protein spectrum analysis. RESULTS：①Pathological changes of cerebral cortex： In the control group, no necrosis and edema was observed. In the brain injury group, injures of different severity occurred at different time points; After 4 hours, focal or scattered red nerve cells could be observed, the size of some cells was increased, cytoplasm was lightly stained, and only nuclear fragments were seen; After 8 hours, the necrotic nerve cells were increased, and the number of nerve cells was reduced, astrocytes （neuronophagia） could be seen in partial cytoplasm; there was small vascular dilatation, and endothelial cell proliferation; interstitial edema, regional rarefaction lightly stained. After 12- 48 hours, the necrotic nerve cells were reduced, and astrocytes proliferated. ② Results of protein spectrum analysis： The WCX-2 experiment found that the expressions of 5 639, 3 212 and 7 536 u proteins in cerebral cortex changed after injury in the brain injury group. The peak intensity of 5 639 u protein in the brain injury group at 8 hours after injury was higher than that in the control group （P 〈 0.05）; The peak intensity of 3 212 u protein in the brain injury group at 48 hours after injury was higher than that in the control group （P 〈 0.05）; The peak intensity of 7 536 u protein at 24 hours after injury was higher than that in the control group （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Brain injury can cause the changes of protein expression spectrum in cerebral cortex, it is suggested that brain injury can induce the expression of protein.

Nerve growth factor downregulates c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 in striate cortex of rats after transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

BACKGROUND： Immediate early gene （lEG） c-jun is a sensitive marker for functional status of nerve cells. Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease, which is a critical regulator of apoptosis. The effect of exogenous nerve growth factor （NGF） on the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of rats with transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （IR） is unclear. OBJECTIVE： To study the protective effect of exogenous NGF on the brain of rats with transient globa cerebral IR and its effecting pathway by observing the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein. DESIGN： Randomized controlled animal trial SETTING： Department of Neural Anatomy, Institute of Brain, China Medical University MATERIALS：Eighteen healthy male SD rats of clean grade, aged 1 to 3 months, with body mass of 250 to 300 g, were involved in this study. NGF was provided by Dalian Svate Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd. c-jun in situ hybridization detection kit, Caspase-3 antibody and SABC kit were purchased from Boster Biotechnology Co.. Ltd. METHODS： This trial was carried out in the Department of Neural Anatomy, Institute of Brain, China Medical University during September 2003 to April 2005. （1） Experimental animals were randomized into three groups with 6 in each： sham-operation group, IR group and NGF group.（2）After the rats were anesthetized, the bilateral common carotid arteries and right external carotid arteries of rats were bluntly dissected and bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes with bulldog clamps. Reperfusion began after buldog clamps were removed. Normal saline of lmL and NGF （1×10^6 U/L） of 1 mL was injected into the common carotid artery of rats via right external carotid arteries in the IR group and NGF group respectively. The injection was conducted within 30 minutes, and then the right external carotid arteries were ligated. In the sham-operation group, occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and administration of drugs were omitted.GAll the rats were executed by decollation at 3 hours after modeling. The animals were fixed with phosphate buffer solution （PBS, 0.1 mol/L） containing 40 g/L polyformaldehyde, their brains were quickly removed. The coronal section tissue mass containing striate cortex about 3 mm before line between two ears was taken and made into successive frozen sections.（4）The expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of global cerebral ischemia rats were detected with in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and microscope image analysis. （5）t test was used for comparing the difference of the measurement data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：Comparison of the expression of lEG c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of brain of rats in each group. RESULTS：All the 18 SD rats were involved in the analysis of results. The c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein positive reaction cells were found brown yellow in the striate cortex of rats, and most of them were in lamellas Ⅱ and Ⅲ, mainly presenting round or oval. The expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in sham-operation group was weak or negative. The average gray value of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in the IR group was significantly lower than that in the sham-operation group （49.52±4.13 vs. 95.48± 5.28; 74.73±4.29 vs. 162.38±9.16,P 〈 0.01）. The average gray value of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in the NGF group was significantly higher than that in the IR group （63.96±4.25 vs.49.52±4.13; 83.98± 4.13 vs. 74.73±4.29, P〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： NGF can protect ischemic neurons by down-regulating the expression of c-jun mRNA and Caspase-3 protein in striate cortex of global cerebral ischemia rats.

Effects of Neonatal Undernutrition on Development of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Pyramidal Cells in the Rat

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of the rat plays a role in the encoding of neuronal signals involved in conflict-induced behavioral adjustment, working memory, planning and executive abilities, attentional control and other cognitive responses. In altricial species, early perinatal undernutrition interferes with the morphofunctional organization of a number of central nervous system (CNS) structures including the prefrontal cortex. The effects of neonatal undernutrition on dendritic arbor density, perikaryon measurements, and the number of spines (detected by rapid-Golgi) of basilar dendritic segments in layer III pyramidal neurons of the dlPFC were examined in male Wistar rats on postnatal (PDs) 12, 20, and 30. In the underfed (U) subjects the distal portions of the dendritic arbors had a consistent hipoplasia, mainly on PD 30, with reduced cross sectional area, perimeter, and spine densities on the basilar dendrites on all days studied. Thus, the alterations of the dlPFC pyramidal neurons may interfere with the plastic synaptic activity and cognitive performance of rats subjected to the stress of early underfeeding. Characterizing these anatomical alterations may help to understand the disrupted cognitive processes associated with neonatal undernutrition.

Expression of c-Fos protein and nitricoxide synthase in neurons of cerebral cortex from fetal rats in hypoxia and protective role of Angelica sinensis

BACKGROUND： Both c-Fos protein and nitricoxide synthase （NOS） have been used as general indexes in relative research about neurons, but it is lack of reports that c-Fos protein and NOS are applied synchronously to study the neurons of hypoxic fetal rats in uterus. OBJECTIVE： To study the effect of hypoxia in uterus on the expression of c-Fos protein and NOS in neurons of cerebral cortex from fetal rats and whether Angelica sinensis has the protective effect on these neurons in hypoxia. DESIGN： Randomized control experiment.SETTING ： Department of Histology and Embryology, Luzhou Medical College.MATERIALS ： Twelve adult female Wistar rats in oestrum and 1 male Wistar rat with bodymass from 220 to 250 g were chosen. Parenteral solution of Angelica sinensis mainly contained angelica sinensis, 10 mL/ampoule, was provided by Department of Agent of the Second Hospital Affiliated to Hubei Medical University （batch number： 01062310）. METHODS ： This experiment was completed in the Department of Histology and Embryology of Luzhou Medical College from September 2003 to June 2004. ①Twelve adult female Wistar rats in oestrum and 1 male Wistar rat were housed in one rearing cage. Vaginal embolus was performed on conceive female rat at 8： 00 am next day. On the 15^th conceiving day, all conceiving rats were divided randomly into three groups： control group, hypoxia group and Angelica group with 4 in each group. Rats in hypoxia group and Angelica group were modeled with hypotonic hypoxia in uterus. Angelica group： Rats were injected with 8 mL/kg Angelica sinensis injection through caudal veins before hypoxia. Hypoxia group： Rats were injected with the same volume of saline. Control group： Rats were not modeled and fed with normal way. ② Twenty embryos of rats were chosen randomly from each group and then routinely embedded in paraffin. Paraffin sections were cut from the brain of embryos to anterior fontanelle. Double-label staining was used to detect the expression of nNOS and c-Fos in neurons of cerebral cortex from embryos of rats. OLYMPUS Bx-50 microscope was used to observe sections and DP12 digit camera was also used under 400 times to detect types of cells. Under microscope, the number of c-Fos, NOS, c-Fos/NOS positive neurons in cerebral cortex from embryos of rats were counted in 2 fields with magnification of 400 in one section per animal. ③ The data in experiments were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance （ANOVA） followed by q test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： ① Results of immunohistochemical double-label staining of c-Fos/NOS from cerebral cortex; ② Comparison of amount immunohistochemical double-label staining of c-Fos/NOS positive cells from cerebral cortex. RESULTS：① The positive NOS cells and c-Fos/NOS cells in the three groups were mainly distributed in cerebral cortex, but positive c-Fos neurons were not observed. ② Positive NOS cells and c-Fos/NOS cells in hypoxia group were more than those in control group （76.55±12.02, 50.45±10.39; 33.35±7.42, 26.35±6.67, P 〈 0.05）, but those in Angelica group were less than those in hypoxia group （51.70±9.82, 35.65±8.37, P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Hypoxia can stimulate the increase of expression of c-Fos protein and NOS in neurons of cerebral cortex. However, Angelica sinensis can decrease this expression so as to play a protective role in cerebral neurons of hypoxic fetal rats.

Effects of melatonin on learning abilities, cholinergic fibers and nitric oxide synthase expression in rat cerebral cortex

BACKGROUND: Melatonin is a kind of hormones derived from pineal gland. Recent researches demonstrate that melatonin is characterized by anti-oxidation, anti-senility and destroying free radicals. While, effect and pathogenesis of pineal gland on learning ability should be further studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pinealectomy on learning abiliy, distribution of cholinesterase and expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in cerebral cortex of rats and probe into the effect of melatonin on learning ability, central cholinergic system and nNOS expression. DESIGN: Randomized grouping design and animal study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, the 187 Hospital of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: A total of 12 male SD rats, of normal learning ability testing with Y-tape maze, of clean grade, weighing 190-210 g, aged 6 weeks, were selected in this study. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital from July 1997 to June 2000. All SD rats were divided into experimental group (n =6, pinealectomy) and control group (n =6, sham operation). Seven days later, rats in both two groups were continuously fed for 33 days. ① Learning ability test: The learning ability of rats was tested by trisection Y-type maze and figured as attempting times. ② Expression of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was detected by enzyme histochemistry and nNOS was measured by SABC method. ③ Quantitative analysis of AchE fibers: AchE fibers density in unit area (surface density) was surveyed with Leica Diaplan microscope and Leica Quantimet 500+ image analytic apparatus and quantitative parameter was set up for AchE fibers covering density (μm2) per 374 693.656 μm2, moreover, the AchE fibers density was measured in Ⅱ-Ⅳ layers of motor and somatosensory cortex (showing three layers per field of vision at one time), in radiative, lacunaria and molecular layers of CA1, CA2 and CA3 areas, and in lamina multiforms of dentate gyrus. Three tissue slices were picked up randomly in the same part of each rat, together six tissue slices for nNOS expression and four near view (× 400) were selected in the parts of right neocortex, medial septal nucleus-diagonal band nucleus (SM-DB), corpus striatus and hippocampus to count nNOS-positive cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Learning ability; distribution and quantitative analysis of AchE fibers; expression of nNOS in various cerebral areas. RESULTS: The twelve rats were all involved in the final analysis. ① Learning ability test: The learning abilities before operation in the experimental group [(14.67±4.97) times] were consistent with those in the control group [(14.33±4.32) times, P > 0.05], the learning abilities in the experimental group at 40 days after pinealectomy [(28.67±2.42) times] were obviously more than those before pinealectomy and those in the control group after operation [(13.83±8.33) times, P < 0.01]. ② Results of AchE-positive fibers density in cerebral cortex of rats: The AChE-positive fibers densities in motor and somatosensory cortex, CA1, CA2 and CA3 areas of hippocampus and in lamina multiforms of dentate gyrus in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the control group [experimental group: (15 244±1 339), (14 764±1 391), (12 991±970), (15 077±1 020), (19 546±1 489), (19 337±1 378) μm2; control group: (21 001±1 021), (17 930±2 225), (17 260±1 342), (18 911±1 048), (24 108±1 671), (22 917±1 909) μm2, P < 0.01]. ③ Expression of nNOS in various cerebral areas: nNOS-positive cells in cerebral cortex of rats of the experimental group were more, furthermore the ones in somatosensory cortex were slightly more in motor cortex and the number (5.90±0.68) was more than that in the control group (3.68±0.39,P < 0.05). The nNOS-positive cells in SM-DB (16.21±2.03) were markedly more than those in the control group (9.32±1.05,P < 0.01). The nNOS-positive cells in hippocampus (4.27±0.75) and in corpus striatus (9.35±2.58) were not different with those in the control group (3.94±0.53, 8.96±2.31, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Decrease of melatonin due to pinealectomy of rats can result in learning disorder, which may be related to trauma of cholinergic neuron in cerebral cortex which were caused by nitric oxide neurotoxicity arose from the overexpression of nNOS in cerebral neocortex and SM-DB.

Effects of nitric oxide on the prefrontal cortex in stressed rats

BACKGROUND： Nitric oxide （NO） exhibits both protective and detrimental effects in the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effect of NO on the prefrontal cortex in neonatal stressed rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the Anatomical Department of Iran University of Medical Sciences from May 2007 to August 2008. MATERIALS; Forty-eight male, Wistar rats were obtained from Pasteur＇s Institute, Tehran, Iran. METHODS： Rat stress models were established by immobilization and randomly received intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL physiological saline, L-arginine （200 mg/kg） as a NO precursor, N（G）-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester （20 mg/kg）, or subcutaneous injection of 7-nitroindazole （25 mg/kg） as a NO synthase inhibitor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： After the rats were treated for 4 weeks, the frontal cortex was harvested for histological observation and NO detection. RESULTS： Subcutaneous administration of N（G）-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or 7-nitroindazole resulted in significantly lower prefrontal cortex thickness and NO production compared with subcutaneous administration of L-arginine （P 〈 0.05）. Prefrontal cortex thickness significantly increased in rats following L-arginine treatment, compared with physiological saline intervention （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： NO exhibited protective effects on the prefrontal cortex of stressed rats.

Expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 in the cerebral cortex of rats after ischemic-hypoxic injury

BACKGROUND： Some researches demonstrate that exogenous bone morphogenetic protein 7 （BMP-7） can protect ischemic cerebral nerve tissue and promote recovery of motor energy function; however, there is lack of direct evidences of endogenous BMP-7 effect. OBJECTIVE： To observe the expression of endogenous BMP-7 in nerve tissue with ischemic-hypoxic injury and investigate the possible effects on damaged nerve tissue. DESIGN： Observational contrast animal study. SETTING： Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, Peking University Health Science Center. MATERIALS： The experiment was carried out in the Nerve Researching Laboratory of Anatomy Department, Peking University Health Science Center from October 2006 to March 2007. A total of 25 adult male SD rats weighing 250 - 300 g and several newborn SD rats were selected from Experimental Animal Center, Peking University Health Science Center. Rabbit-anti-BMP-7 polyclonal antibody was provided by Wuhan Boster Company. METHODS： ① Adult rats were randomly divided into ischemia group （n =10）, sham operation group （n = 10） and normal group （n =5）. Right external-internal carotid artery occlusion was used to infarct middle cerebral artery of adult rats in the ischemia group so as to copy focal cerebral infarction models. Line cork was inserted in crotch of internal and external carotid artery of adult rats in the sham operation group, while adult rats in the normal group were not given any treatments. ② Cerebral cortex of newborn rats was separated to obtain cell suspension. Cells which were cultured for 10 days were divided into control group and hypoxia/reoxygenation group. And then, cells in the hypoxia/reoxygenation group were cultured in hypoxic incubator for 4 hours and given reoxygenation for 24 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Immunohistochemical method was used to measure expression of BMP-7 in cerebral cortex at 24 hours after ischemia/reperfusion culture and in primary hypoxic culture. RESULTS： ① At 24 hours after cerebral ischemia, expression of BMP-7 in cerebral cortex on ischemic side was stronger than that on non-ischemic side in adult rats; meanwhile, numbers of cell expression were increased. However, expression of BMP-7 was not detected in bilateral cerebral cortex of adult rats in both control group and sham operation group. ② After hypoxia of cerebral cortex in primary culture, positive products of BMP-7 were observed in plasma of neuron, but expression of BMP-7 was not found in normal cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION： Endogenous BMP-7 has protective effects on nerve tissue induced by ischemic-hypoxic injury.

Edema and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus and cortex of elderly rats following transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND： Previous studies of cerebral ischemia have used young animals, with an ischemic time greater than 5 minutes （safe time limit）. Despite an increased understanding of neuronal apoptosis, it remains uncertain whether brief cerebral ischemic events of 5 minutes or less damage brain tissue in elderly rodents. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of transient cerebral ischemia （5 minutes）/reperfusion injury on brain cortical and hippocampal edema, aquaporin-4 （AQP-4） expression, and neuronal apoptosis in aged rats, and to compare ischemic sensitivity between cortex and hippocampus. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Qingdao University Medical School from April 2008 to March 2009. MATERIALS： Rabbit anti-AQP-4 polyclonal antibody, TUNEL kit, and SABC immunohistochemistry kit were purchased from Wuhan Boster Bioengineering, China. METHODS： A total of 160 healthy, male, aged 19-21 months, Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups： sham-surgery, and ischemia 1-, 3-, and 5-minute groups, with 40 rats in each group. The global cerebral ischemia model was established using the Pusinelli four-vessel occlusion, and the three cerebral ischemia groups were subdivided into reperfusion 12-hour, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 7-day subgroups, with 8 rats in each subgroup. The sham-surgery group was subjected to exposure of the first cervical bilateral alar foramina and bilateral common carotid arteries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The dry-wet weight assay was used to measure brain water content and histopathology of the cortex and hippocampus was observed following hematoxylin-eosin staining. In addition, cortical and hippocampal AQP-4 expression was detected by streptavidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry, and neuronal apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. RESULTS： There was no significant difference in brain water content or AQP-4 expression in the cortex and hippocampus between ischemia 1- and 3-minute groups and the sham-surgery group or brain water content or AQP-4 expression in the cortex between ischemia 5-minute group and sham-surgery group （P 〉 0.05）. However, brain water content and AQP-4 expression in the hippocampus after 5 minutes of cerebral ischemia were significantly increased compared with the sham-surgery group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. Several TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the cortex and hippocampus of the sham-surgery group and ischemia 1-minute group, as well as in the cortex of the ischemia 3-minute group. In addition, the number of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampus of ischemia 3-minute group and in the cortex and hippocampus of ischemia 5-minute group was significantly increased （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01 ）. Neuronal apoptosis was increased after 12 hours of ischemia/reperfusion, and it reached a peak by 2 days （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Transient cerebral ischemia （5 minutes） resulted in increased hippocampal edema, AQP-4 expression, and neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, cerebral ischemia had a greater effect on neuronal apoptosis than brain edema or AQP-4 expression, and the hippocampus was more sensitive than the cortex.

Histological Patterns of Neurodegeneration of Frontal Cortex Neurons in Datura stramonium Treated Wistar Rats

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.

Study on Long-term Potentiation in Developing Rat Visual Cortex during the Critical Period of Plasticity

Purpose: To study the property of LTP in layers Ⅱ～Ⅳof the rats visual cortex at different postnatal days induced by pairing low-frequency stimulation at layer Ⅳ with post synaptic depolarization in order to explore the synaptic and cellular mechanism of experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex.Methods: Postsynaptic currents (PSCs) of layers Ⅱ～Ⅳ in visual cortex slices of Wistar rats aged P0-29 d were recorded by patch-clamp whole cell recording method. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced by low-frequency stimulation (LFS) at 1Hz for 60～90 s.Each pulse of the LFS paired with depolarization of post-synaptic neurons to -20 mV.100μM APV, a kind of competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, was both applied to some slices to test the property of LTP.Results: 1. The LTP incidence was very low before P10d (5/34), and increased rapidly to the top at P15-24 d (17/28), then decreased sharply to 1/5 at P25-29 d, coinciding well with the critical period of plasticity of rat visual cortex. The LTP incidence of P15-29d (after eye opening, 18/33) was significantly higher than that of P0-14 d (before eye opening, 12/43, P ＜ 0.05). 2. Compared with non-APV applied group (30/76), LTP incidence of APV applied group (4/33) was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ). There were 4 Ⅳ-Ⅳ horizontal synapses. APV application could not block the LTP induction.Conclusions: 1. LTP was a reflection of naturally occurring, experience-dependent plasticity in rat visual cortex. The patterned visual stimuli received after eye opening might be an activation factor of the synaptic plasticity. 2. LTP of visual cortex induced by LFS in layer Ⅳ paired with postsynaptic depolarization was NMDA receptor dependent during the critical period of visual plasticity. However, there were LTP existed in Ⅳ-Ⅳ horizontal synapses which could not be blocked by 100μM APV.

The observation on the levels of VIP in the cerebral cortex of rats with bilateral hemispheric ischemia

The rat vertebral and common carotid arteries were obstructed to cause bilateralhemispheric ischemia.Vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)in the rat cerebral cortex following 10～60min of ischemia was analysed by radioimmunoassay(RIA).The results showed that the levels ofVIP were significantly lower in the ischemic animals than controls(P【0.01).The distribution andmetabolism of VIP in the cerebral cortex and the probable mechanism during ischemia are dis-cussed.

佐剂性关节炎大鼠肾功能损伤及对肾脏有机阴离子转运体3表达的影响

目的研究佐剂性关节炎(AA)对大鼠肾脏功能和肾脏有机阴离子转运体3(OAT3)表达的影响。方法在大鼠右侧后足趾皮内注射弗氏完全佐剂建立AA模型。固定时间点收集大鼠血液和尿液,观察肾损伤指标的动态变化。通过肾脏的HE染色切片观察肾损伤情况。免疫组化和Western blot检测肾皮质OAT3蛋白和炎性因子白介素-6(IL-6)、白介素-1β(IL-1β)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的表达水平。结果与正常组相比,AA大鼠关节炎指数评分、继发性足爪肿胀、关节肿胀数、全身评分均显著增加(P<0.05)。X线检测结果显示,AA模型大鼠足爪骨关节出现软组织水肿以及骨畸形的特征。生化指标显示,AA大鼠的肾损伤指标出现明显异常。免疫组化与Western blot结果显示,AA大鼠肾皮质OAT3的表达水平显著降低,同时炎性因子IL-6、TNF-α和IL-1β的表达水平明显升高(P<0.05)。结论AA大鼠的肾功能损伤可能与肾脏OAT3的表达降低及炎性因子表达升高有关。

杜仲汤对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松症的影响及机制研究

目的探讨杜仲汤对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松症的影响及机制。方法将42只雌性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、阳性药组(戊酸雌二醇,0.09 mg·kg^(-1))、谷胱甘肽组(36 mg·kg^(-1))以及杜仲汤低、中、高剂量组(0.54、1.08、2.16 g·kg^(-1))。去卵巢模型大鼠复制成功后,按照设定剂量灌胃给药,灌胃体积为10 mL·kg^(-1),每日1次,连续给药200 d。采用生化试剂盒检测大鼠血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH)含量;ELISA法检测大鼠血清中抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶(TRACP)、骨保护素(OPG)含量;骨密度仪检测大鼠股骨骨密度;HE染色法观察大鼠胫骨组织病理变化;Western Blot法检测骨组织中骨形态发生蛋白2(BMP-2)、OPG、一型胶原(COL1)蛋白表达水平;RT-PCR法检测骨组织中BMP-2、Runt相关转录因子2(RUNX2)mRNA表达水平。结果与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠体质量增长值显著升高(P<0.01);血清GSH、OPG的水平显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),TRACP水平显著升高(P<0.01);骨密度明显降低(P<0.05);骨小梁结构不完整,出现明显断裂,小梁数稀疏且明显变薄;骨组织中BMP-2、OPG、COL1蛋白表达水平均显著下降(P<0.01),BMP-2、RUNX2mRNA表达水平明显降低(P<0.05)。与模型组比较,杜仲汤低、中、高剂量组大鼠体质量增长值均显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),血清GSH水平显著升高(P<0.01),骨小梁结构明显改善,骨小梁变粗,数量增加,骨组织中BMP-2、RUNX2 mRNA表达水平均显著升高(P<0.01);杜仲汤中剂量组大鼠的血清OPG水平显著升高(P<0.01);杜仲汤低剂量组大鼠的血清TRACP水平显著降低(P<0.01),骨组织中COL1蛋白表达水平明显升高(P<0.05);杜仲汤低、中剂量组大鼠的骨密度显著升高(P<0.01),骨组织中OPG蛋白表达水平明显升高(P<0.01);杜仲汤中、高剂量组大鼠骨组织中BMP-2蛋白表达水平明显升高(P<0.05)。结论杜仲汤能提高去卵巢大鼠的骨密度,保护骨小梁完整性,对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松症有一定防治作用,其机制可能与提高血清GSH、OPG水平,降低TRACP水平,上调BMP-2、OPG、COL1蛋白以及BMP-2、RUNX2mRNA表达,从而促进骨形成有关。

秦皮水煎液干预类风湿性关节炎的作用研究

目的:观察秦皮水提取物对类风湿关节炎(RA)大鼠关节肿胀情况及组织形态、血清TNF-α、IL-1β和RF水平的影响。方法:50只雄性SD大鼠,依据随机数字表按体质量随机分为正常组、模型组、双氯芬酸钠组[3 mg/(kg·bw)]、秦皮高剂量组[1.4 g/(kg·bw)]和秦皮低剂量组[0.7 g/(kg·bw)]。以牛Ⅱ型胶原蛋白诱导建立RA大鼠模型,正常组、模型组灌胃15 mL/(kg·bw)蒸馏水;双氯芬酸钠组、秦皮高剂量组、秦皮低剂量组分别灌胃给予对应的受试药物。分别在实验第28、35、42天测量大鼠关节直径,第42天实验结束后处死大鼠,腹主动脉取血,离心取血清,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定血清中TNF-α、IL-1β、RF水平,取踝关节组织HE染色观察病理变化。结果:与正常组比较,模型组大鼠第35、42天关节直径水平显著升高(P <0.01),血清TNF-α、IL-1β、RF水平显著升高(P <0.01,P <0.05),炎性细胞浸润,骨膜增厚;与模型组比较,双氯芬酸钠组大鼠第42天关节直径水平显著降低,TNF-α、RF水平显著降低(P <0.05,P <0.01),踝关节炎性浸润改善,秦皮高剂量组大鼠第35天关节直径水平显著降低(P <0.01),血清IL-1β水平显著降低(P <0.01),踝关节炎性浸润缓解,秦皮低剂量组第35、42天关节直径水平显著降低(P <0.05),血清TNF-α、IL-1β、RF水平显著降低(P <0.05),踝关节炎性浸润减轻。结论:秦皮水煎液可改善大鼠类风湿关节炎,其作用可能与降低TNF-α、IL-1β、RF水平,改善踝关节病理组织形态有关。

前扣带回皮层中CaMKⅡα^(+)GAD67^(+)神经元在大鼠神经病理性疼痛和焦虑抑郁共病中的作用

目的探讨前扣带回皮层(ACC)中表达钙/钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ(CaMKⅡ)的兴奋性神经元和表达谷氨酸脱羧酶67(GAD67)的抑制性神经元在神经病理性疼痛以及焦虑、抑郁共病中的作用。方法雄性SD大鼠72只,随机分为假手术组(Sham)、神经病理性疼痛组(CCI)、神经病理性疼痛+CaMKⅡα非激活组(CCI+hM4Di^(-))、神经病理性疼痛+CaMKⅡα激活组(CCI+hM4Di^(+))、神经病理性疼痛+GAD67非激活组(CCI+hM3Dq^(-))、神经病理性疼痛+GAD67激活组(CCI+hM3Dq^(+))。通过由专门设计药物技术激活的设计受体(DREADDs)偶联hM3Dq或hM4Di,以细胞类型和时间依赖性的方式调控神经元活性。以机械缩足阈值(PWT)、热缩足潜伏期(PWL)评估疼痛行为,旷场试验、新环境进食抑制试验、强迫游泳试验评估焦虑、抑郁样行为,WesternBlot检测CaMKⅡα和GAD67表达,c-Fos免疫荧光染色检测神经元激活情况。结果与Sham组相比,CCI组大鼠术后表现出机械痛觉过敏和热痛觉超敏反应以及焦虑、抑郁样行为;对侧ACC中CaMKⅡα蛋白表达水平升高,GAD67蛋白表达水平降低;免疫荧光染色显示CaMKⅡα+神经元激活增多,GAD67^(+)神经元激活减少。与CCI+hM4Di^(-)组大鼠相比,CCI+hM4Di^(+)组在术后28 dPWL、PWT升高,焦虑和抑郁样行为改善。与CCI+hM3Dq^(-)组相比,CCI+hM3Dq^(+)组在术后28dPWL、PWT升高,焦虑、抑郁样行为减少。结论抑制ACC中CaMKⅡα+兴奋性神经元或激活GAD67^(+)抑制性神经元能起到减轻NP大鼠疼痛,改善焦虑、抑郁样行为的作用。

虎杖苷对β淀粉样蛋白诱导体外皮质神经元线粒体氧化应激和功能障碍的保护作用

目的探讨虎杖苷对β淀粉样蛋白25~35(Aβ_(25~35))诱导的原代培养大鼠皮质神经元损伤的保护作用及可能的作用机制。方法原代培养SD大鼠皮质神经元,分为对照组、虎杖苷组、Aβ_(25~35)组和联合组(Aβ_(25~35)+虎杖苷)。采用四甲基偶氮唑盐检测皮质神经元活力,2,7-二氯荧光素二乙酸酯探针或红色线粒体超氧化物荧光探针染色检测细胞内和线粒体活性氧水平,线粒体膜通透性转换孔(MPTP)试剂盒检测MPTP开放程度,蛋白免疫印记法检测细胞色素C及线粒体转录因子A(TFAM)表达。另外,测定细胞内电子传递链复合物(包括复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ)活性和三磷酸腺苷(ATP)水平。采用高效液相色谱法测定线粒体中8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OHdG)。结果与对照组比较,Aβ_(25~35)组皮质神经元细胞活力、线粒体荧光强度、线粒体呼吸链酶活性(复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ)、细胞内ATP、线粒体内TFAM表达明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01);与Aβ_(25~35)组比较,虎杖苷组线粒体荧光强度、线粒体呼吸链酶活性(复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ)、细胞内ATP、线粒体内TFAM表达明显增高,皮质神经元暴露3、6、12、24h细胞内和线粒体内活性氧明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),联合组细胞色素C细胞质/线粒体比值、线粒体内8-OHdG水平明显低于Aβ_(25~35)组[3.02±0.28 vs 5.73±0.45,P<0.05;(8.07±1.45)×10^(6)dG vs(16.07±2.29)×10^(6)dG,P<0.05]。结论虎杖苷可有效地保护皮质神经元免受Aβ_(25~35)诱导的损伤,至少部分作用是通过抑制线粒体氧化应激和改善线粒体功能实现。

褪黑素通过PI3K/AKT通路减轻缺氧缺血性脑损伤新生大鼠大脑皮层神经细胞自噬的研究

目的 观察褪黑素(melatonin,Mel)对缺氧缺血性脑损伤(hypoxic-ischemic brain damage,HIBD)新生大鼠大脑皮层神经细胞自噬的影响,并从PI3K/AKT信号通路探讨其机制,为Mel的临床应用提供依据。方法 将7日龄Sprague-Dawley新生大鼠随机分为假手术组、HIBD组及Mel组(各组n=9)。采用经典RiceVannucci法构建新生大鼠HIBD模型。采用苏木精-伊红和尼氏染色法观察新生大鼠大脑皮层神经细胞形态;免疫荧光染色和Western blot法检测自噬相关蛋白微管相关蛋白1轻链3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain3,LC3)及Beclin-1蛋白表达水平;免疫组化和Western blot法检测磷酸化磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase,p-PI3K)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B (phosphorylated protein kinase B,p-AKT)蛋白表达水平;通过Pearson相关性分析探讨Mel组与HIBD组自噬与PI3K通路的相关性。结果 建模后24h,假手术组新生大鼠大脑皮层神经细胞大小形态正常、排列规则,HIBD组神经细胞胞体肿胀、排列不规则,Mel组神经细胞排列较规整、形态相对正常。假手术组尼氏小体形态规整,HIBD组尼氏小体形态异常,Mel组尼氏小体形态尚规整。HIBD组LC3及Beclin-1平均荧光强度较假手术组增加,Mel组较HIBD组减少(P<0.05)。HIBD组p-PI3K^(+)、pAKT^(+)细胞数较假手术组减少,Mel组较HIBD组增加(P<0.05)。HIBD组LC3、Beclin-1蛋白表达水平较假手术组增加,p-PI3K、p-AKT蛋白表达水平较假手术组减少(P<0.05);Mel组LC3、Beclin-1蛋白表达水平较HIBD组减少,p-PI3K、p-AKT蛋白表达水平较HIBD组增加(P<0.05)。相关性分析显示,Mel组与HIBD组损伤侧大脑皮层LC3、Beclin-1蛋白平均荧光强度差值与p-PI3K^(+)、p-AKT^(+)细胞数差值均呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论 Mel可抑制HIBD新生大鼠大脑皮层神经细胞过度自噬,从而减轻HIBD,其机制与PI3K/AKT通路相关。

Intravenous transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes neural regeneration after traumatic brain injury

To investigate the supplement of lost nerve cells in rats with traumatic brain injury by intravenous administration of allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, this study established a Wistar rat model of traumatic brain injury by weight drop impact acceleration method and administered 3 × 106 rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via the lateral tail vein. At 14 days after cell transplantation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into neurons and astrocytes in injured rat cerebral cortex and rat neurological function was improved significantly. These findings suggest that intravenously administered bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can promote nerve cell regeneration in injured cerebral cortex, which supplement the lost nerve cells.