The cholinergic innervation of the rat substantia nigra: a light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical study

Summary Putative cholinergic axons and synaptic endings were demonstrated in the substantia nigra (SN) of the rat by light and electron microscopy on the basis of the localization of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity. The distribution of ChAT immunoreactivity in the SN as demonstrated by light microscopy revealed a modest network of ChAT-immunoreactive beaded axons in the SNc, in comparison to a relatively sparse distribution in the SNr. These axonal profiles were most dense in the middle of the rostral-caudal extent of the SNc and appeared to be concentrated in the middle third of the medial-lateral extent. By electron microscopy, unmyelinated, small diameter (0.25 m) ChAT-immuno-reactive axons were observed interspersed among numerous other non-immunoreactive axons in the SNc. ChAT-immunoreactive synaptic endings were observed in juxtaposition to small caliber (0.5 m) non-immunoreactive dendrites, and contained numerous spheroidal synaptic vesicles and occasional mitochondria. Synaptic contact zones were characterized by an accumulation of synaptic vesicles along the presynaptic membrane, and a prominent postsynaptic densification producing an asymmetrical pre-/postsynaptic membrane profile typical of excitatory synapses. These findings provide direct evidence for a cholinergic innervation of the SN, and suggest that this input may have an excitatory effect on neuronal elements in the SNc.     

A quantitative study of the brainstem cholinergic projections to the ventral part of the oral pontine reticular nucleus (REM sleep induction site) in the cat

The ventral part of the cat oral pontine reticular nucleus (vRPO) is the site in which microinjections of small dose and volume of cholinergic agonists produce long-lasting rapid eye movement sleep with short latency. The present study determined the precise location and proportions of the cholinergic brainstem neuronal population that projects to the vRPO using a double-labeling method that combines the neuronal tracer horseradish peroxidase–wheat germ agglutinin with choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry in cats. Our results show that 88.9% of the double-labeled neurons in the brainstem were located, noticeably bilaterally, in the cholinergic structures of the pontine tegmentum. These neurons occupied not only the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, which have been described to project to other pontine tegmentum structures, but also the locus ceruleus complex principally the locus ceruleus and peri-, and the parabrachial nuclei. Most double-labeled neurons were found in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and locus ceruleus complex and, much less abundantly, in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and the parabrachial nuclei. The proportions of these neurons among all choline acetyltransferase positive neurons within each structure were highest in the locus ceruleus complex, followed in descending order by the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei and then, the parabrachial nuclei. The remaining 11.1% of double-labeled neurons were found bilaterally in other cholinergic brainstem structures: around the oculomotor, facial and masticatory nuclei, the caudal pontine tegmentum and the praepositus hypoglossi nucleus. The disperse origins of the cholinergic neurons projecting to the vRPO, in addition to the abundant noncholinergic afferents to this nucleus may indicate that cholinergic stimulation is not the only or even the most decisive event in the generation of REM sleep.     

乙酰胆碱酯酶阳性神经元在鼠脑的分布和形态特征

本文用乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)再生技术,研究AChE阳性神经元在鼠脑的分布和形态特征。按其染色程度,可见强度、中度和轻度三种染色细胞。强染色细胞多数是较大的多极细胞,主要分布于纹状体、基底前脑、下丘脑、黑质、红核、蓝斑,腹侧被盖区、臂旁核、桥被盖核和脑神经运动核。本文将AChE染色结果和胆碱乙酰转移酶(ChAT)免疫组织化学资料进行了比较,对AChE和胆碱能神经元的关系,以及AChE阳性神经元的性质和意义,进行了讨论。     

Age and neurochemical correlates of radial maze performance in rats

Young adult (8 months) and aged (26 months) female Wister rats were tested in a 12-arm radial maze in which the optimal strategy was to enter all arms without a repetition. In order to determine if possible age-associated alterations in behavior were correlated with defects in cholinergic. GABAergic and adrenergic neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, the activities of choline acetyltransferase (CAT), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were assayed in these regions of all animals after testing in the radial maze. In the maze, the aged rats continued to perform at the chance level after 15 trials, whereas the young rats had virtually mastered the task. The only significant neurochemical age effect was an increase in hippocampal TH. However, analysis of individual differences among rats revealed positive correlations between maze performance and hippocampal CAT in the aged group and cortical GAD in both the young and aged groups.     

Differential distribution of growth associated protein (GAP-43) in the motor nuclei of the adult rat conus medullaris

GAP-43 is normally produced by neurons during developmental growth and axonal regeneration, but it is also expressed in specific regions of the normal adult nervous system. We studied the protein expression of GAP-43 within the conus medullaris portion of the spinal cord in adult male rats. Immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was first performed to identify specific efferent autonomic and motor nuclei in lumbosacral segments of the spinal cord. Adjacent sections were then processed for GAP-43 immunoreactivity (IR). We show GAP-43 IR in the superficial portion of the dorsal horn, the intermediolateral nucleus, and the dorsal commissural tract. We also demonstrate a differential distribution of GAP-43 IR between different motor nuclei of the conus medullaris. Using densitometry, the most prominent GAP-43 IR was detected in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial motor nuclei, which represent the human Onufs nucleus homologue. Confocal microscopy of double immunofluorescent labeling for ChAT and GAP-43 demonstrate GAP-43 IR in the neuropil of the autonomic and motor nuclei, and many of the GAP-43 IR arbors are in close apposition with the efferent cholinergic neurons. We note that the efferent neurons of both the autonomic and somatic nuclei, which are ultimately responsible for the integrated normal control of the lower urinary tract, bowel and sexual functions, are heavily innervated by GAP-43 enriched projections. We speculate that these functionally related neurons retain a physiological GAP-43-associated synaptic plasticity throughout adult life.     

氯霉素乙酰转移酶检测(CAT assay)

本文介绍一种快速方便的外源基因在哺乳动物细胞中瞬间表达检测系统,即氯霉索乙酰转移酶检测系统。该项检测技术不仅对基因的调控顺序(Cis-acting elements)如启动子、增强子等检测提供了有效的工具,而且为真核基因在哺乳动物细胞表达体系中,质粒的构建及筛选提供了行之有效的手段。并介绍了该技术的全过程及其操作要点。     

胞二磷胆碱治疗轻度脑梗塞急性期52例的疗效分析

目的　探讨在轻、中度脑梗塞急性期使用胞二磷胆碱的临床疗效。方法　本文选择轻度脑梗塞急性期5 2例 ,在使用抗凝、溶栓治疗的基础上加用胞二磷胆碱作治疗组 ,另选择 31例不加用胞二磷胆碱作对照组进行临床疗效观察。治疗组使用胞二磷胆碱 0 .5加入 10 %葡萄糖注射液 2 5 0ml,一日一次 ,静滴 ,十天为一疗程 ,连用 1-3个疗程。结果　治疗组有效率为 92 .31% ,其中显效率 36 .5 4% ;对照组 5 4.84% ,显效率 16 .13% ,显著低于治疗组 (P <0 .0 1)。疗程观察以第三个疗程为宜 ,其有效率占治疗组有效率的 5 8.33%。结论　胞二磷胆碱在脑梗塞急性期使用 ,主要是促进脑梗塞可逆性组织损伤的恢复 ,防止脑缺血后改变的加重 ,使脑细胞活化 ,促进脑细胞机能的修复 ,是一种既安全可靠 ,又经济实用的脑细胞活化剂。     

乙酰基二肽-1鲸蜡酯的皮肤抗衰老作用及其机制

乙酰基二肽-1鲸蜡酯（acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester,AD-1）是乙酸和十六烷基醇与精氨酸和酪氨酸组成的人工合成肽,具有一定的抗炎和提高皮肤屏障功能的作用,已被用于敏感肌化妆品中。该成分虽然也被用于抗衰老化妆品中,但缺乏公开的系统科学研究。本研究通过评价AD-1的体外抗氧化和抗糖基化作用、建立UVA反复照射真皮原代成纤维细胞的光老化模型,探讨其在光老化细胞中的抗衰老活性。采用MTT法测定AD-1对细胞活力的影响;RT-qPCR法检测AD-1和UVA对衰老相关p21、p53、MMPs、IL6、Col1、Col3以及自噬相关p62、ATG5、ATG7 mRNA表达的影响;Western blot法检测AD-1和UVA对衰老及自噬相关p16、p21、p53、Col1、LC3B、p62蛋白水平的影响;β-半乳糖苷酶染色和MDC染色评价细胞衰老损伤,并通过荧光探针DCFH-DA检测细胞内活性氧水平。实验结果显示,AD-1干预可以减少UVA诱导的细胞损伤和mRNA表达异常,改善p16、p21、p53、Col1、LC3B、p62蛋白水平异常。结果表明,AD-1具有一定的...     

Activation of the reticulothalamic cholinergic pathway by the major metabolites of aniracetam

The aim of the study was to further investigate the effects of aniracetam, a cognition enhancer, and its metabolites on the brain cholinergic system. We measured choline acetyltransferase activity and acetylcholine release using in vivo brain microdialysis in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The enzyme activity in the pons–midbrain and hippocampus, and basal acetylcholine release in the nucleus reticularis thalami were lower in SHRSP than in age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats, indicating central cholinergic deficits in SHRSP. Repeated treatment of aniracetam (50 mg/kg p.o.×11 for 6 days) preferentially increased the enzyme activity in the thalamus, whereas decreased it in the striatum. Among the metabolites of aniracetam, local perfusion of N-anisoyl-γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 0.1 and/or 1 μM) and p-anisic acid (1 μM) into the nucleus reticularis thalami, dorsal hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of SHRSP produced a significant but delayed increase of acetylcholine release. We failed, however, to find any effect of aniracetam itself. A direct injection of N-anisoyl-GABA (1 nmol) into the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus of SHRSP enhanced the release in the nucleus reticularis thalami. Thus, these data prove that aniracetam can facilitate central cholinergic neurotransmission via both metabolites. Based on its pharmacokinetic profile, N-anisoyl-GABA may contribute to the clinical effects of aniracetam, mainly by acting on the reticulothalamic cholinergic pathway.     

Autoradiography of 14C-choline uptake in endplates and skeletal muscle of mice

Summary The uptake of ¹⁴C-choline into the axonal part of the motor endplate and muscle of mouse diaphragms was investigated by autoradiography. With i. v. doses of 0.1 g/g choline chloride, the uptake into the nerve endings is fast (<2 min) and into muscle slower (>2 min). With higher doses (1.0 g/g) the uptake into muscle tissue is accelerated.The radioactivity in the endplates decreases with a halflife time of 20 min and remains constant in the muscle fibres over 60 min. Denervation by cutting the phrenic nerve reduces the uptake into endplates by 40% within 14 h, but probably induces uptake into regenerating Schwann cells during 30 days. Some compounds with choline-like structure (hemicholinium-3, decamethylen-dicholine, triethyl-choline) reduce the high-affinity uptake of choline into the nerve endings with sublethal doses, whereas tetraethylammonium and N-hydroxyethyl-4-(1-naphthylvinyl)-pyridinium, an inhibitor of cholinacetyltransferase, are less active. Half lethal doses of cocaine, imipramine and reserpine have no significant action on uptake of choline into the endplates. Chlorpromazine slightly diminishes the uptake into endplates. Chlorpromazine and imipramine reduce uptake into the muscle fibres.