局部亚低温对大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞后神经元凋亡的影响

目的研究局部亚低温对脑缺血后半胱天冬氨酸酶-3（caspase-3）、细胞凋亡诱导因子（AIF）和微管相关蛋白-2（MAP-2）表达的影响。并探讨亚低温脑保护的机制。方法采用改良的Longa法制备永久性大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞（MCAO）模型。低温组于缺血后立即给予贴敷式局部亚低温（33℃）治疗2h。于缺血后2、6、12、24h及3d、1周和2周取脑。进行HE染色，并采用SABC法进行免疫组化染色，检测大鼠脑缺血区caspase-3、AIF和MAP-2的表达。结果脑缺血后2h，脑梗死病灶周围区即出现caspase-3和AIF免疫阳性细胞，24h达高峰。之后开始逐渐减低，但在2周时仍可见少量免疫阳性细胞。caspase-3在缺血中心区和周围区均有表达，而AIF主要表达于脑梗死周围区。与常温组相比，低温组caspase-3和AIF表达显著减低，而MAP-2显著增加。结论亚低温能抑制caspase-3和AIF表达，促进MAP_2表达。并可抑制caspase介导的细胞凋亡，亦可抑制不依赖于caspase的AIF介导的细胞凋亡。     

亚低温对大鼠短暂性全脑缺血后皮质NOS亚型表达及神经元凋亡的影响

目的观察亚低温对大鼠全脑缺血再灌注后皮质3种一氧化氮合酶亚型表达、一氧化氮产生以及神经元凋亡的影响,探讨亚低温的神经保护机制。方法成年雄性SD大鼠,采用双侧颈总动脉阻断闭塞+低血压法制备短暂性全脑缺血动物模型,随机分为常温缺血组、亚低温缺血组和常温假手术对照组;常温时的脑温为36.5℃～37.5℃,肛温为35.9℃～36.9℃;亚低温时控制在32.5℃～33.5℃,相对应肛温为32.2℃～33.1℃;分别于缺血后及亚低温治疗后30min、2h、24h和72h观察短暂缺血对脑组织一氧化氮合酶亚型表达及神经元凋亡的影响,以及亚低温对缺血性脑损伤的保护作用。行神经元尼氏体亚甲蓝染色观察神经元数目及形态学的变化;免疫组化染色检测神经元型、诱导型和内皮型一氧化氮合酶的表达水平;应用硝酸还原酶法检测硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐水平的变化;采用TUNEL染色法并结合电子显微镜观察神经元凋亡的变化。结果常温缺血组大鼠额叶皮质3种一氧化氮合酶亚型表达水平及硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐含量均明显高于常温假手术对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01),出现凋亡神经元;低温缺血组大鼠3种一氧化氮合酶亚型表达水平和硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐含量明显低于常温缺血组(P<0.05或P<0.01),未检测到凋亡神经元。结论脑缺血后一氧化氮参与了神经元的凋亡过程,而亚低温治疗可以     

亚低温对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑皮质神经元凋亡及存活素、脑源性神经营养因子表达的影响

目的观察亚低温干预对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑皮质神经元凋亡及存活累(Survivin)、脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)表达的影响,探讨Survivin、BDNF在亚低温脑保护机制中的作用。方法采用线栓法制备成年雄性SD大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞(MCAO)局灶性脑缺血再灌注改良模型,将90只大鼠随机分为假手术组、常温缺血组和亚低温缺血组,缺血组分别于缺血3h再灌注3h、6h、12h、24h、48h、72h、7d处死,亚低温缺血组于缺血后10min实施全身亚低温持续3h。进行TUNEL染色及免疫组化染色,检测梗死灶周围皮质神经元凋亡数量和Sur-vivin、BDNF的表达水平。结果 (1)亚低温缺血组和常温缺血组于再灌注6h皮质区均出现TUNEL染色阳性细胞,72h达高峰,随后逐渐减少,两组内相邻时间点比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);在相同时间点亚低温缺血组凋亡细胞数明显少于常温缺血组,两组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)亚低温缺血组于再灌注3hSurvivin、BDNF表达有所增加,BDNF于24h达高峰,Survivin于48h达高峰,随后表达逐渐降低,但7d时仍高于假手术组,常温缺血组表达趋势与之相似,两组各时间点Survivin、BDNF表达均高于假手术组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);除再灌注3h Survivin表达在亚低温缺血组与常温缺血组间无明显差异外,其余各时间点亚低温缺血组Sur-vivin、BDNF表达均高于常温缺血组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论亚低温干预可抑制梗死灶周围脑皮质神经细胞凋亡,促进存活素及脑源性神经营养因子的表达,发挥脑保护作用。     

亚低温对大鼠局灶性脑缺血后细胞凋亡及Caspase-3的影响

目的 探讨亚低温对脑缺血损伤的保护作用。方法 用原位末端标记（TUNEL）和原位杂交技术分别观察亚低温组、常温组脑缺血不同时间点神经细胞凋亡的变化及Caspase-3的表达。结果 （1）常温组脑缺血后凋亡神经细胞主要分布于缺血周围区，随着时间的延长凋亡细胞数逐渐增加，至12h达高峰，24h后开始下降，7d时仍高于假手术组；（2）亚低温组脑缺血后，凋亡神经细胞也主要位于缺血周围区，数量相对较少，其变化规律与常温组相似，同一时间点相比较，亚低温组均显著低于常温组；（3）常温组脑缺血2h后，神经细胞Caspase-3开始表达，并随着时间的延长而增强，24h达高峰，其后逐渐下降，至7d略高于假手术组；（4）亚低温组脑缺血后，神经细胞Caspase-3的表达也主要位于缺血周围区，其变化规律与常温组相似，同一时间点相比较，亚低温组均显著低于常温组。结论 脑缺血后，缺血周围区神经细胞的凋亡是一个动态的渐进过程，Caspase-3基因在介导脑缺血损伤神经元凋亡过程中起关键作用。亚低温对短暂性脑缺血后的神经元凋亡有明显的抑制作用，亚低温可能通过Caspase-3途径抵抗脑缺血损伤。     

亚低温对缺血性神经元凋亡、细胞色素C释放的影响

通过大鼠短暂全脑缺血模型来探讨亚低温对大鼠脑缺血后细胞色素c(Cytoehrome c,CytC)释放及缺血性神经元凋亡的影响,揭示亚低温的部分神经保护机制.用原位细胞凋亡检测法(TUNEL染色)检测及电镜观察脑缺血后大鼠脑海马CAi区神经元凋亡发生情况;免疫组织化学法测定脑缺血后大鼠脑海马区神经元中细胞色素C释放情况.结果显示:①低温缺血组海马CAi区凋亡神经元数明显少于常温缺血组(P<0.01);②低温缺血3 h组海马CA1区神经元CytC阳性表达低于常温缺血3 h组(P<0.01).据此认为,全脑缺血后的迟发性神经元死亡很可能经由凋亡途径,而CytC激活、释放是缺血性神经元凋亡的一个关键事件.亚低温可抑制CytC的释放.推测经此途径减少缺血性神经元凋亡而发挥一定的神经保护作用.     

亚低温对缺血性神经元凋亡、细胞色素C释放的影响

通过大鼠短暂全脑缺血模型来探讨亚低温对大鼠脑缺血后细胞色素C(CytochromeC ,CytC)释放及缺血性神经元凋亡的影响 ,揭示亚低温的部分神经保护机制。用原位细胞凋亡检测法 (TUNEL染色 )检测及电镜观察脑缺血后大鼠脑海马CA1区神经元凋亡发生情况 ;免疫组织化学法测定脑缺血后大鼠脑海马区神经元中细胞色素C释放情况。结果显示 :①低温缺血组海马CA1区凋亡神经元数明显少于常温缺血组 (P <0 .0 1) ;②低温缺血3h组海马CA1区神经元CytC阳性表达低于常温缺血 3h组 (P <0 .0 1)。据此认为 ,全脑缺血后的迟发性神经元死亡很可能经由凋亡途径 ,而CytC激活、释放是缺血性神经元凋亡的一个关键事件。亚低温可抑制CytC的释放 ,推测经此途径减少缺血性神经元凋亡而发挥一定的神经保护作用。     

亚低温通过抑制AIF核转位改善大鼠颅脑损伤

目的 探讨亚低温对颅脑损伤（TBI）大鼠脑组织凋亡诱导因子（AIF）核转位的影响。方法 将36只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、TBI组、亚低温组，每组12只。采用控制性皮质撞击建立TBI模型，亚低温组大鼠给予亚低温处理。TBI后24 h，HE染色观察大鼠脑组织病理学变化；免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠脑组AIF的表达部位；免疫印迹法检测损伤脑组织线粒体和细胞核AIF、caspase-3的表达情况。结果 HE染色结果显示，TBI后，损伤侧脑组织可见沿灰白质界面的挫伤和出血，亚低温组挫伤和出血灶明显减轻。免疫印迹法检测结果显示，TBI后，损伤脑组织caspase-3表达量明显增加（P<0.01），细胞核AIF表达量明显增加（P<0.01），而线粒体AIF表达量明显降低（P<0.05）；亚低温组损伤脑组织caspase-3表达量明显下降（P<0.01），细胞核AIF表达量明显下降（P<0.01），而线粒体AIF表达量明显升高（P<0.05）。免疫组织化学染色结果显示，假手术组AIF位于大脑皮质和海马神经元细胞核外；TBI组后，损伤侧皮质及海马区AIF从线粒体转移至细胞核内的阳性细胞数量明显增多（P<0.01）；亚低温组损伤侧皮质及海马区AIF发生核内转移的阳性细胞数量减少（P<0.01）。结论 亚低温可能通过抑制AIF的核转位减轻颅脑损伤后神经细胞凋亡，从而起到神经保护作用。     

亚低温对局灶性脑缺血-再灌注大鼠脑皮质脑源性神经营养因子表达及神经元凋亡的影响

目的 观察局灶性脑缺血-再灌注后亚低温干预对大鼠脑源性神经营养因子表达及神经元凋亡的影响，并探讨脑源性神经营养因子在亚低温脑保护机制中的作用。方法 采用线栓法制备成年雄性SD大鼠左侧大脑中动脉闭塞局灶性脑缺血-再灌注改良模型，缺血时间2h。随机分为常温缺血组和亚低温缺血组。常温时大鼠脑温控制于36．5℃～37．5℃，肛温为35．9℃～36．9℃；亚低温时脑温维持于32．5℃～33．5℃，肛温为32．2℃～33．1℃。两组大鼠分别于脑缺血一再灌注及亚低温干预后2、6、24和72h进行神经功能缺损评分，并同时行三苯基氯化四唑（1TC）染色、HE染色、TUNEL染色、免疫组化染色及免疫组化与TUNEL双重染色，从而评估大鼠神经功能缺损状况；检测脑梗死体积及脑源性神经营养因子表达水平；观察组织病理学变化和神经元凋亡数量。结果 与常温缺血组相比，亚低温缺血组大鼠神经功能缺损评分低（P〈0．01），脑梗死体积小（P〈0．01），缺血灶周围脑皮质中的脑源性神经营养因子表达水平增高（P〈0．01），而且神经元凋亡数量少（P〈0．01）。在脑源性神经营养因子免疫组化染色呈阳性反应的神经元细胞核中，未发现TUNEL染色阳性者。结论 亚低温干预治疗可促进缺血灶周围的脑皮质对脑源性神经营养因子的表达，从而抑制神经元凋亡，减少大鼠脑梗死体积，改善神经功能缺损体征。     

亚低温对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后MMP-9表达和细胞凋亡的影响

目的 通过研究亚低温对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)表达和细胞凋亡的影响,探讨亚低温脑保护的可能机制.方法 将雄性SD大鼠39只分为假手术组、常温缺血组和缺血期亚低温组.制作大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)模型,缺血2h再灌注48h,HE染色观察各组大鼠脑组织形态学改变;采用TTC染色法观察梗死体积;TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡;免疫组化法检测MMP-9表达.结果 亚低温减轻脑缺血组织病理学损伤,明显缩小脑梗死体积(P<0.05).常温下缺血侧脑组织可见大量TUNEL阳性细胞和MMP-9免疫阳性细胞,主要位于皮质缺血半暗带区.亚低温减少脑缺血后TUNEL阳性细胞数目(P<0.05),明显下调MMP-9蛋白表达(P<0.05).结论 亚低温可能通过下调脑缺血再灌注后MMP-9表达,抑制细胞凋亡,从而发挥确实的脑保护作用.     

延迟亚低温治疗对大鼠永久性大脑中动脉阻塞后凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响

目的 研究延迟亚低温治疗对大鼠永久性脑缺血的神经保护作用以及作用机制.方法 线栓法制备永久性大脑中动脉阻塞(pMCAO)模型,随机分为3组,每组10只.亚低温治疗组(HT组)分为HT 2h组和HT 6h组,前者在pMCAO后2h给予亚低温(33±0.5℃)治疗22h,后者在pMCAO后6h给予亚低温(33±0.5℃)治疗18h.缺血对照组(NT组)在pMCAO后放置于室温(25℃).制备pMCAO模型过程中,应用激光多普勒血流监测仪监测局部大脑中动脉供血区脑血流量.持续监测直肠温度.各组大鼠均于pMCAO后24h灌注取脑制备冰冻切片,进行TUNEL染色以及Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3免疫组织化学染色.结果 NT组有3只大鼠死亡,亚低温治疗组无大鼠死亡.与NT组比较,HT组皮层缺血半暗带区域凋亡细胞减少,Bcl-2蛋白表达增多,Bax蛋白表达减少,Bcl-2/Bax比值升高,Caspase-3蛋白表达显著减少(P<0.05).与HT 6h组比较,HT 2h组皮层缺血半暗带区域凋亡细胞减少(P<0.05),但Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3蛋白表达以及Bcl-2/Bax比值均无显著性差异(P>0.05).结论 永久性脑缺血后延迟6h给予亚低温治疗18h仍然可以减少缺血后神经细胞凋亡.延迟亚低温治疗通过抑制Bcl-2基因家族蛋白介导的线粒体依赖性Caspase激活途径,抑制Caspase介导的细胞凋亡途径,从而发挥神经保护的作用.在脑缺血的治疗过程中,要尽早给予亚低温治疗,以保护更多的神经元和更好地促进神经功能的恢复.     

Neuroimaging in epilepsy in tropics

Epilepsy is a major public health problem in many tropical countries. Also, some of the tropical diseases are major contributors to the higher prevalence of epilepsy in these countries. The etiologic factors responsible for epilepsy in these countries are quite different from those in the developed world. This article discusses the etiologic factors and neuroimaging of epilepsy in light of the conditions in these tropical countries.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Sudanophilic lipid accumulation in astrocytes in periventricular leukomalacia in monkeys

Summary Sudanophilic lipid accumulation is a characteristic feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of infants. At least two types of lipid-containing cells have been identified, one being the macrophage, the other the pre-myelin glial cell. A third type of lipid-containing cell has been seen in two monkeys with spontaneous PVL. Electron microscopically this cell appears to be an astrocyte. This probably represents a reaction of the astrocyte to hypoxia and may be the equivalent of the hypertrophic astrocytes found in human infants.Supported in part by NIH grant HDO 8633 and the Regional Primate Research Center Grant RR-00166     

Increase in cathepsin D activity in rat brain in aging

Cathepsin D-like activity in homogenates of five brain areas of 3-month-old and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats was measured. With hemoglobin as substrate at pH 3.2, more than 90% of the activity was inhibited by pepstatin. In each area studied, activity was more than twice as high in the old rat brain: 140-160% higher in the cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and striatum and 90-100% higher in the hippocampus and spinal cord. The greatly increased metabolic capacity in the absence of an increase in protein turnover may have a role in age-related pathological degeneration in the brain.     

Gender in Voice Perception in Autism

Deficits in the perception of social stimuli may contribute to the characteristic impairments in social interaction in high functioning autism (HFA). Although the cortical processing of voice is abnormal in HFA, it is unclear whether this gives rise to impairments in the perception of voice gender. About 20 children with HFA and 20 matched controls were presented with voice fragments that were parametrically morphed in gender. No differences were found in the perception of gender between the two groups of participants, but response times differed significantly. The results suggest that the perception of voice gender is not impaired in HFA, which is consistent with behavioral findings of an unimpaired voice-based identification of age and identity by individuals with autism. The differences in response times suggest that individuals with HFA use different perceptual approaches from those used by typically developing individuals.     

Increase in noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme activity in medulla oblongata in Parkinson's disease

Summary Dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH), the noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, were assayed in 18 areas of brain stem in eight cases of parkinsonian syndromes and of four age- and postmortem delay-matched controls. Dissection was performed by the punch technique and enzyme activities assayed by radiometric methods. No significant change was found for PNMT activity. DBH activity was significantly increased in the A2-C2 area of the medulla oblongata (including the nucleus tractus solitarius) in the cases of Parkinson's disease.The A2-C2 area is known to be implicated in the control of blood pressure in rats. These findings are discussed in relation to orthostatic hypotension and the influence ofl-dopa therapy.Supported by grants from INSERM ATP 657897, ATP 8179113, CRL 79-1-356-6, DGRST (80 E 0882), FRMF, and Sandoz-France France     

Changes in parasympathetic system in medulla oblongata in male pigs in the course of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

Background

Autonomic imbalance constituting a fundamental feature of heart failure (HF) has been assessed mainly at the periphery. Changes in the functioning of autonomic centers in the brain remain unclear. We investigated the molecular elements of parasympathetic system, i.e. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and enzymes metabolizing acetylcholine (acetylcholinesterase, AChE, choline acetyltransferase, ChAT) in medulla oblongata (MO) of male pigs with chronic tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods

The mRNA levels of AChE, ChAT, α7nAChR and X-box binding protein 1 (spliced form, XBP1s) in MO were analyzed using qPCR, AChE and ChAT activities using spectrophotometry, proteasome activity using fluorometry, and the protein level of α7nAChR using Western blotting.

Results

The development of systolic HF was accompanied by an increase in circulating catecholamines, a decrease in the AChE and α7nAChR mRNA in MO, an increase in AChE activity (all p < 0.05), and no change in either the mRNA or activity of ChAT. Both circulating catecholamine levels and AChE activity were inversely related to systolic function of left myocardial ventricle (p < 0.05). The level of α7nAChR protein in MO and its cytoplasmatic fraction were higher in pigs with moderate and severe HF as compared to the other animals (p < 0.01). There was no difference in proteasome activity in MO between diseased and healthy animals, whereas the XBP1s mRNA decreased during HF progression (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Molecular elements of parasympathetic system are changed within the medulla oblongata during the progression of systolic non-ischemic heart failure in male pigs, indicating a functional link between MO and heart in HF.     

Issues in evaluation of cognition in the elderly in developing countries

Background:

Developing regions of the world host the majority of elderly subjects who are at risk for dementia. Reliable epidemiological data from these countries is invaluable in tackling this global problem. Scarcity of such data in literature is largely attributable to problems that are unique to developing communities worldwide.

Objective:

To classify and describe the problems that interfere with the collection of reliable epidemiological data on cognitive impairment in the elderly in developing communities, and to suggest practical solutions for some of them.

Methods:

Inferring from the experiences of a large, ongoing, population-based study on the cognitive impairments in the elderly in South India and from the review of literature.

Conclusion:

A fatalistic attitude regarding aging in the communities, significant heterogeneity in educational abilities and activities of daily living, high illiteracy among rural subjects, and lack of an organized health care system and updated demographic figures are some of the major factors that contribute to technical, namely, methodology-related problems and practical, namely, subject-related problems in such epidemiological studies.     

Suicide in the elderly in Austria

In most countries men and women have the highest suicide rates in age groups over 60 years. We investigated suicide rates for the elderly in Austria, a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world, for the period 1980–1991, using data from the Federal Statistical Division. Suicide rates remained stable over the last decade at a very high level. The mean rate for men was 85.2, for women 28.6/100 000. In men and women rates rise with age. The mean rate of men rises from 51.2 (60–64 years) to 117.3/100 000 (over 85 years); in women there is an increase from 21.4 (60–64 years) to 32.8/100 000 (over 85 years). We did not confirm findings in other countries, where suicide rates have increased in recent years.     

Characteristics of nociceptors in the periodontium--an in vitro study in rats

Recent studies have indicated that nociceptors can be classified into various types according to their physiological properties. These studies have clarified that the frequency distribution of various nociceptor types is different among body sites and animal species. In the present study, we investigated the physiological properties of rat's periodontal nociceptors in an in vitro jaw-nerve preparation. Responses were recorded from functional single filaments in the inferior alveolar nerve. To determine the nociceptor type, calibrated von Frey filaments, heat, and bradykinin (BK) stimuli were used. We found five subtypes of nociceptors in the periodontal ligaments of the lower incisor: Adelta-high threshold mechanonociceptors (Adelta-HTM, n=28), Adelta-mechanoheat nociceptors (Adelta-MH, n=6), Adelta-polymodal nociceptors (Adelta-POLY, n=26), C-high threshold mechanonociceptors (C-HTM, n=3) and C-polymodal nociceptors (C-POLY, n=4). Most nociceptors were Adelta-innervated, while only a small number of C-innervated nociceptors were found. The present results suggest that periodontal nociceptors transmit mainly fast pain, and may thus play a role in rapid detection of injure-related stimuli during mastication.