Antiamnesic effect of acyl-prolyl-containing dipeptide (GVS-111) in compression-induced damage to frontal cortex

Antiamnestic effect of acyl-prolyl-containing dipeptide GVS-111 was demonstrated in rats with bilateral compression-induced damage to the frontal cortex. Both intraperitoneal and oral administration of the dipeptide improved retrieval of passive avoidance responses in rats with compression-induced cerebral ischemia compared to untreated controls. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 9, pp. 272–274, September, 2000     

Perivascular Drainage of Amyloid-β Peptides from the Brain and Its Failure in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the commonest dementia. One major characteristic of its pathology is accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) as insoluble deposits in brain parenchyma and in blood vessel walls [cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)]. The distribution of Aβ deposits in the basement membranes of cerebral capillaries and arteries corresponds to the perivascular drainage pathways by which interstitial fluid (ISF) and solutes are eliminated from the brain—effectively the lymphatic drainage of the brain. Theoretical models suggest that vessel pulsations supply the motive force for perivascular drainage of ISF and solutes. As arteries stiffen with age, the amplitude of pulsations is reduced and insoluble Aβ is deposited in ISF drainage pathways as CAA, thus, further impeding the drainage of soluble Aβ. Failure of perivascular drainage of Aβ and deposition of Aβ in the walls of arteries has two major consequences: (i) intracerebral hemorrhage associated with rupture of Aβ-laden arteries in CAA; and (ii) Alzheimer's disease in which failure of elimination of ISF, Aβ and other soluble metabolites from the brain alters homeostasis and the neuronal environment resulting in cognitive decline and dementia. Therapeutic strategies that improve elimination of Aβ and other soluble metabolites from the brain may prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid turnover in immature neurons of the rat cerebral cortex

To test for metabolic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) turnover in differentiating neurons, [methyl-3H]thymidine was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricles of newly born rats, and after 6, 24 and 96 h, neuronal nuclei were prepared from the immature cerebral cortex. Enzymatic treatment converted virtually all of the DNA into soluble deoxynucleosides which were fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of specific activity. The specific activity of thymidine was found to decline rapidly with time. The rate of this loss correlated with the radioactivity initially incorporated into the DNA. This suggested that DNA was being replaced by DNA repair as a consequence of radiation damage, rather than by spontaneous metabolic DNA turnover.     

Effect of ornid on regulation of the cerebral circulation

An investigation by radioisotope, electromagnetic, and resistographic methods showed that Ornid reduces the cerebral blood flow. At the same time it completely inhibits constrictor reactions of the cerebral vessels to stimulation of sympathetic and somatic nerves. Ornid also has a protective action against experimental disturbances of the cerebral circulation of adrenergic nature.Laboratory of Pharmacology of the Nervous System, Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 427–429, May 1979.     

Mast cell tryptase may modulate endothelial cell phenotype in healing myocardial infarcts

Mast cells and macrophages infiltrate healing myocardial infarcts and may play an important role in regulating fibrous tissue deposition and extracellular matrix remodelling. This study examined the time-course of macrophage and mast cell accumulation in healing infarcts and studied the histological characteristics and protease expression profile of mast cells in a canine model of experimental infarction. Although macrophages were more numerous than mast cells in infarct granulation tissue, macrophage density decreased during maturation of the scar, whereas mast cell numbers remained persistently elevated. During the inflammatory phase of infarction, newly recruited leucocytes infiltrated the injured myocardium and appeared to be clustered in close proximity to degranulating cardiac mast cells. During the proliferative phase of healing, mast cells had decreased granular content and were localized close to infarct neovessels. In contrast, macrophages showed no selective localization. Mast cells in healing canine infarcts were alcian blue/safranin-positive cells that expressed both tryptase and chymase. In order to explain the pro-inflammatory and angiogenic actions of tryptase--the major secretory protein of mast cells--its effects on endothelial chemokine expression were examined. Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that play an important role in leucocyte trafficking and angiogenesis and are highly induced in infarcts. Tryptase, a proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2 agonist, induced endothelial expression of the angiogenic chemokines CCL2/MCP-1 and CXCL8/IL-8, but not the angiostatic chemokine CXCL10/IP-10. Endothelial PAR-2 stimulation with the agonist peptide SLIGKV induced a similar chemokine expression profile. Mast cell tryptase may exert its angiogenic effects in part through selective stimulation of angiogenic chemokines.     

Spatial Characteristics of Cisterna Magna in Rats and Novel Technique for Puncture with a Stereotactic Manipulator

The actual size and sites for puncture of the cisterna magna in adult Wistar rats were estimated on acrylic models. We proposed a new method for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid from narcotized rats. This method consists in controlled introduction of a needle into the cisterna magna through the skin and/or dura mater above this structure using a stereotactic micromanipulator. Experiments on rats with focal and global cerebral ischemia showed that this technique ensures single and repeated sampling of at least 50 microl liquor not containing blood admixtures.     

骨髓基质细胞移植促进脑缺血大鼠海马巢蛋白的表达

目的:探讨移植骨髓基质细胞(BMSCs)对永久性局灶性脑缺血大鼠海马巢蛋白表达的影响。方法:制备永久性局灶性脑缺血大鼠模型,分为PBS对照组和治疗组,再将每组动物随机均分为脑缺血后7d和14d亚组。PBS对照组在脑缺血后1d注射PBS,治疗组在脑缺血后第1日移植BMSCs。Zausinger六分法检测神经功能恢复情况;免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠海马的巢蛋白表达。结果:在脑缺血后第7日和第14日两个时相点,治疗组的神经功能评分均较高,与PBS对照组之间存在显著性差异;齿状回的颗粒细胞下层、颗粒细胞层和海马锥体细胞层均有巢蛋白表达,在脑缺血后第14日,治疗组的大鼠患侧海马的巢蛋白阳性细胞较对照组表达高,存在显著性差异。结论:BMSCs可以改善脑缺血大鼠的神经功能;促进海马内神经干细胞或反应性星形胶质细胞增殖可能为其修复缺血脑损伤的机制之一。     

经冠脉移植骨髓单个核细胞对猪梗死心肌的修复作用

目的观察经冠脉移植骨髓单个核细胞的定植、分化和对心功能的影响。方法小型猪冠状动脉前降支结扎90min后再灌注制备心肌梗死模型,分为骨髓细胞移植组(BM-MNCs组,n=6)和对照组(n=5),分别经冠脉移植PKH26标记的骨髓单个核细胞和培养基,术后6周进行病理学检查并行血流动力学和超声心动图检查心功能变化。结果在BM-MNCs组,心肌梗死后6周在缺血心肌内可找到移植细胞,其Ⅷ因子和desmin免疫组化染色均为阳性;血流动力学指标显示左室等容舒张期压力最大变化率和心排量与心肌梗死后90min比较明显改善(P<0.05);超声心动图显示每搏输出量和心排量比对照组明显改善(P<0.05);心肌梗死边缘区的小血管数目明显多于对照组(P<0.05)。结论经冠脉移植骨髓单个核细胞可定植于梗死区心肌,并可分化为肌源性细胞和血管内皮细胞,可促进小血管再生,有改善心功能的潜能。     

NGF对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马CREB表达的上调作用

目的探讨外源性神经生长因子(NGF)对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马CREB和磷酸化的CREB(p-CREB)表达的影响。方法用线栓法阻塞大鼠大脑中动脉制作局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型,应用免疫组织化学、W estern B loting和图像分析方法检测大鼠海马CA1区CREB和磷酸化CREB表达。结果假手术组海马CA1区CREB有明显表达,缺血再灌注组CA1区表达较假手术组减少,NGF组CA1区的CREB表达多于缺血再灌注组(P<0.05)。假手术组海马CA1区p-CREB表达很少,缺血再灌注组p-CREB表达多于假手术组,NGF组p-CREB表达多于缺血再灌注组(P<0.05)。结论NGF上调海马CREB和p-CREB的表达,对缺血神经元起保护作用,CREB和p-CREB参与NGF对缺血神经元的保护作用机制。     

脑动脉DSA形态分析及其意义

目的：探讨脑血管造影各主要动脉的投影规律及其分支的显示率，为脑血管疾病的影像诊断和介入治疗提供重要参考。方法：随机抽取140例全脑血管DSA系列图像，选择其中无脑血管疾病的51例进行观察。分别统计颈内动脉和椎动脉造影时正常脑血管各主要分支的显示率；归纳大脑前动脉A1段、大脑中动脉M1段及大脑后动脉P1段在平面上的投影规律并分析总结了脑动脉的正常解剖学特征及其变异。结果：①脑底动脉变异较大；②颈内动脉照影时OA、AChA、ACoA、PCoA、ACA和MCA的显示率分别为96.1％、92．2％、52．9％、69．6％、100％和100％；③椎动脉造影时PICA、AICA、BA、SCA、PCA和PCoA的显示率分别为66．7％、62．7％、100％、70．6％、80．4％和41．2％。结论：①尽管脑底血管实际解剖关系较为复杂，但造影时反映到平面上可简捷的用“水平、上升、下降”等来描述血管的形态和走行；②虽然是平面图像，通过调整投照体位仍可非常逼真的反映血流的动态变化。