Decrease of hippocampal choline acetyltransferase activity induced by formalin pain

The involvement of the hippocampal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the response to tonic pain was investigated in rats injected with formalin, either 50 μ1 10% or 50 μ1 0.1%. Hippocampal ChAT activity was found to be reduced both 30 and 60 min after injection of the higher concentration of formalin but only 30 min after the lower one. Results indicate that the decrease in ChAT activity depends upon the presence of the nociceptive input rather than its magnitude. The hippocampal formation is involved in the specific behavioural response to pain, namely licking.     

苯甲酸雌二醇对慢性脑缺血大鼠海马胆碱乙酰转移酶变化及雌激素的影响

目的观察苯甲酸雌二醇对慢性脑缺血大鼠海马神经元胆碱乙酰转移酶的影响,以探讨胆碱乙酰转移酶的变化在慢性脑缺血发病中的作用及雌二醇对此变化的影响。方法采用双侧颈总动脉永久性结扎制备慢性脑缺血模型,30只大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血组和雌二醇治疗组。各组于造模60d后,应用Y迷宫观察其行为学改变,采用免疫组化观测大鼠海马神经元胆碱乙酰转移酶的变化。结果治疗组较缺血组认知障碍明显改善（P〈0.01）,其海马胆碱乙酰转移酶的表达也明显增高（P〈0.01）。结论苯甲酸雌二醇能改善慢性脑缺血大鼠的认知功能可能与其提高海马区胆碱乙酰转移酶水平有关。     

Effects of estrogen replacement on choline acetyltransferase and trkA mRNA expression in the basal forebrain of aged rats

The effects of one week of estrogen replacement on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and trkA mRNA expression are examined in young and aged rodents to determine whether estrogen continues to affect cholinergic neurons in aging brain. Significant increases in ChAT and trkA are observed in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) of both age groups. ChAT expression is also increased in the HDB without changes in trkA expression. Results indicate modulation of ChAT expression by estrogen is retained in the aged rodent brain and suggests the possibility that changes in ChAT expression may be dissociated from concurrent alterations in trkA.     

Distribution of choline acetyltransferase activity in rat spinal cord — Influence of primary afferents?

Summary Choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was measured in various regions of rat spinal cord. In the ventral cord, enzyme activity was 2 to 3 times higher than in dorsal cord. In dorsal spinal cord, there was a gradient in enzyme activity, increasing CAT activity being observed in more caudal segments. In autonomic regions intermediate levels were measured. Bilateral transection of the sciatic nerve reduced CAT activity in the ventral horn of lumbar spinal cord, whereas CAT activity in the dorsal horn remained unchanged. Capsaicin pretreatment had no effect on CAT activity in any spinal cord region. Although a similar distribution of cholinergic neurones and primary afferent endings in rat dorsal spinal cord was described, no conclusive statement as to a possible functional interaction can be given.     

Nerve growth factor levels and choline acetyltransferase activity in the brain of aged rats with spatial memory impairments

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity levels were measured in 7 different brain regions in young (3-month-old) and aged (2-years-old) female Sprague-Dawley rats. Prior to analysis the spatial learning ability of the aged rats was assessed in the Morris' water maze test. In the aged rats a significant, 15–30%, increase in NGF levels was observed in 4 regions (septum, cortex, olfactory bulb and cerebellum), whereas the levels in hippocampus, striatum and the brainstem were similar to those of the young rats. The NGF changes did not correlate with the behavioral performance within the aged group. Minor 15–30%, changes in ChAT activity were observed in striatum, brainstem and cerebellum, but these changes did not correlate with the changes in NGF levels in any region. The results indicate that brain NGF levels are maintained at a normal or supranormal levels in rats with severe learning and memory impairments. Ther results, therefore, do not support the view that the marked atrophy and cell loss in the forebrain cholinergic system that is known to occur in the behaviorally impaired aged rats is caused by a reduced availability of NGF in the cholinergic target areas. The results also indicate that the slightly increased levels of NGF are not sufficient to prevent the age-dependent atrophy of cholinergic neurons, although they might be important for the stimulation of compensatory functional changes in a situation where the system is undergoing progressive degeneration.     

苯甲酸雌二醇对去卵巢大鼠慢性前脑缺血脑保护作用的研究

目的观察苯甲酸雌二醇对去卵巢大鼠慢性前脑缺血脑组织病理形态、学习记忆以及死亡率的影响,探讨雌激素对慢性缺血性脑损害的保护作用。方法50只健康雌性Wistar大鼠,随机分为4组。A组:正常对照组,n=5;B组:假去卵巢缺血组,n=15;C组:去卵巢缺血组n=15;D组:去卵巢缺血苯甲酸雌二醇治疗组。各组按要求制备模型,应用Morris水迷宫筛选并检测记忆功能,坚劳蓝 焦油紫染色、CD31免疫组化染色观察额叶皮质和海马CA1区神经元毛细血管变化。结果A组大鼠额叶皮质和海马CA1区神经元、毛细血管形态正常,学习记忆功能良好,B、C、D组与A组相比上述指标改变明显,差异具有显著性(P<0.05),而且C组改变明显重于B、D组(P<0.05);C组额叶皮质神经元、毛细血管和海马CA1区神经元数量减少,与A、B、D组相比差异具有显著性(P<0.05),B、D组相比上述改变无差异(P>0.05);缺血后各组大鼠急性期死亡率比较,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论雌激素对去卵巢慢性前脑缺血大鼠额叶皮质及海马CA1区病理变化以及学习记忆功能均产生了有益的影响,但未能降低急性期大鼠的死亡率。     

苯甲酸雌二醇对去势(癎)性发作大鼠海马基因表达的影响

目的 分析苯甲酸雌二醇（estradiol benzoate,EB）预处理的去势大鼠经红藻氨酸（kainic acid,KA）诱导痫性发作后海马基因表达的图谱,探讨雌激素对痫性发作大鼠海马的影响.方法 应用含有10 000个基因的cDNA芯片,检测EB干预对KA诱导的去势大鼠痫性发作后海马组织基因表达的影响.应用功能富集分析,筛选有统计学差异的基因功能群.结果 EB逆转了KA致痫后有显著差异表达的基因共392个,其中下调的基因258个（65.82%）,上调的基因134个（34.18%）.经功能富集分析,共筛选出8个主要功能群,其中下调的功能群5个（共21个基因）,主要涉及凋亡、抗凋亡与神经发生、长时程突触传递增强效应等;上调的功能群有3个（共4个基因）,涉及细胞膜受体相关的信号转导等. 结论 EB能逆转KA诱导的去势大鼠痫性发作后海马神经元的基因表达,且可能以促进神经元凋亡为主.     

Immunocytochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase in the carotid body of the cat and rabbit

The carotid body consists of afferent axon terminals in synaptic association with preneural type I cells and enveloping type II cells. The presence of acetylcholine (ACh) in this organ and its pharmacological actions are well established; however, its precise localization remains uncertain. In the present study, choline acetyltransferase was immunocytochemically localized to type I cells of the cat and rabbit. These data, combined with previous demonstrations of cholinergic receptor action, suggest that ACh may be involved in neurotransmitter coupling in the carotid body.