Prolonged but not acute fluoxetine administration produces its inhibitory effect on hippocampal seizures in rats

This study assessed the effects of acute as well as long-term administration of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor with anti-depressant properties, on hippocampal (HIP) seizures elicited by electrical stimulation in rats. The fluoxetine effect on HIP seizures was also assessed following long-term treatment with gepirone, a 5-HT_1A receptor agonist. Acute single administration of fluoxetine (1, 10 mg/kg; IP) was found to produce no significant effect on HIP seizure activity. Following daily IP administration of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg per day) or gepirone (10 mg/kg per day) for 21 days, animals were given a 7-day drug-free period and then challenged with an acute dose of 10 mg/kg fluoxetine. These treatment regimens resulted in a significantly increased afterdischarge threshold of HIP seizures in response to acute fluoxetine administration. The inhibitory effect of fluoxetine, however, was not present 4 weeks after long-term treatment with either fluoxetine or gepirone. The present results indicate that long-term treatment with these compounds enhances the antiepileptic effect of subsequent fluoxetine administration on the generation of HIP seizures. This effect is possibly related to the well-demonstrated evidence that fluoxetine and gepirone, on long-term treatment, facilitate net 5-HT neurotransmission through desensitization of presynaptic 5-HT autoreceptors.     

Inhibition of glutamate release in rat hippocampus by kynurenic acid does not protect CA1 cells from forebrain ischemia

We assessed the effect of a broad spectrum glutamatergic receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid (500 mg/kg) on ischemia-induced hippocampal glutamate release and neuronal damage. Kynurenic acid significantly decreased glutamate release during ischemia but had no effect on the hippocampal lesion. Some protection was observed in the cortex and in the striatum. These data suggested that the extracellular accumulation of glutamate during forebrain ischemia does not play a major role in the hippocampus.     

1,3-Dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine attenuates the NMDA response to hypoxia in the rat hippocampus

Excitatory amino acids may cause neuronal damage and death in cerebral hypoxia and ischemia, through the activation of different subtypes of glutamate receptors, in particular of the (NMDA) receptor. In the present work, the effect of hypoxia on the component of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fepsp) mediated by the NMDA receptor was studied in the hippocampal CA1 area of the rat. A period of 15 min of hypoxia induced virtual abolition of the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp and a 94.8 ± 0.7% maximal decrease in the fepsp. A period of 3 min of hypoxia induced a 89.3 ± 12.3% maximal decrease in the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the fepsp and only a 50.8 ± 11.5% maximal decrease in the fepsp. Both periods of hypoxia thus induced a more pronounced depression of the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the fepsp than of the fepsp. We found that 48.5 ± 9.1% decrease (about half of the total decrease) in the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp, and 51.6 ± 19.6% decrease (approximately all decrease) in the fepsp induced by hypoxia (3 min) were reversed in the presence of the selective adenosine A₁ receptor antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) (50 nM), and thus likely to be mediated by endogenous adenosine, through the activation of adenosine A₁ receptors. On the other hand, under the conditions we assumed to be normoxic in our slices, DPCPX (50 nM) induced a much larger increase in the amplitude of the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp compared to the increase in the fepsp, which suggest that endogenous adenosine is inhibiting predominantly the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp under these conditions. Hypoxia markedly decreases the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp in the hippocampal CA₁ area. The contribution of endogenous adenosine to the inhibition of the NMDA receptor-mediated fepsp may be fundamental for its neuroprotective effects.     

人胚额叶皮层和海马干细胞的自主分化研究

目的 研究人胚胎额叶皮层和海马组织神经干细胞的自主分化特性。观察额叶皮层神经干细胞和海马神经干细胞特性的异同。方法 从人胚胎额叶皮层和海马组织分别分离提出神经干细胞，经无血清体外培养、扩增，形成神经球。神经球贴壁进行不加诱导剂的自主分化。采用细胞生长曲线检测神经干细胞的增殖能力。使用5-溴脱氧尿嘧啶核苷（BrdU）标记分裂增生的细胞，观察细胞的分裂增殖情况。免疫细胞化学法鉴定神经干细胞的自主分化能力，比较额叶皮层和海马神经干细胞的分化特点。结果 从人胚胎额叶皮层和海马分离的神经干细胞具有增殖能力，额叶皮层神经干细胞的细胞倍增时间为3．9d，海马神经干细胞的细胞倍增时间为3．2d。细胞贴壁分化后出现Nestin、GFAP、Tuj-1表达阳性的细胞。皮层和海马神经干细胞分化产生的Tuj-1阳性细胞分别是40．7％和19．3％；皮层和海马神经干细胞分化产生的GFAP阳性细胞分别是59．3％和80．7％。结论 分离培养的额叶皮层和海马神经干细胞具有自我更新和增殖能力，可以向神经元、胶质细胞分化。额叶皮层神经干细胞与海马神经干细胞的倍增时问、自主分化特点和分化为神经细胞和胶质细胞的比率各有不同。     

电针“水沟”对脑缺血大鼠海马降钙素基因相关肽、神经肽Y含量的影响

目的:观察电针对局灶性脑缺血大鼠海马降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)、神经肽Y(NPY)含量的影响,探讨电针水沟治疗缺血性脑血管疾病的作用机制。方法:将40只SD大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、模型组、电针组,每组10只。采用线栓法制作大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型。造模成功后即刻开始电针"水沟"穴,连续波,频率2 Hz,强度1 mA,治疗30 min,每天1次,连续治疗5 d。采用放射免疫法检测各组大鼠海马CGRP和NPY含量。结果:造模后大鼠海马CGRP含量明显下降,NPY含量明显升高(P<0.01);电针组CGRP含量较模型组显著升高,NPY含量明显降低(P<0.01)。结论:电针可通过调节海马神经肽含量,达到抗脑缺血损伤的作用。     

β淀粉样肽25-35对原代培养的海马神经元电压门控钙通道电流的影响

目的 探讨β淀粉样肽25-35(Aβ25-35)对海马神经元电压门控的钙通道电流(VGCC)的作用.方法 应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录海马神经元上的VGCC,通过设定不同的钳制电压分别记录高电压激活的钙电流(HVA-ICa)和低电压激活的钙电流(LVA-ICa),并观察Aβ25-35对其的影响.结果 分别对原代培养的海马神经元急性胞外给予2μmol/L和10 μmol/L的凝聚态Aβ25-35,在最大激活电压下加药后ICa幅度分别是加药前的99.80%±0.02%及100.00%±1.58%,差异没有统计学意义.10 μmol/L凝聚态Aβ25-35预孵育24 h可增大ICa,对照组(未给Aβ25-35)为(24.49±4.35)pA/pF,Aβ25-35组(预孵育24 h)为(46.59±7.15)pA/pF,两组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);但Aβ25-35组的膜电容[(14.34±1.74)pF]与对照组[(14.44±0.97)pF]相比差异没有统计学意义.结论 急性给予凝聚态Aβ25-35对VGCC没有影响,24 h预孵育凝聚态Aβ25-35增大了VGCC,而膜电容没有改变,提示凝聚态Aβ25-35可通过对细胞膜上钙通道进行分子调控以增大VGCC.     

重性抑郁症首次发病患者额叶、海马磁共振质子波谱分析及其与认知功能的相关性

目的 探讨重性抑郁症首次发病(以下简称首发)患者生化物质改变与认知功能变化之间的关系.方法 利用质子磁共振波谱分析(1H-MRS)测量21例首发重性抑郁症患者(患者组)双侧额叶和海马N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、谷氨酸复合物(Glx)、胆碱复合物(Cho)、肌酸(Cr)及肌醇(ml)水平,计算NAA/Cr、Glx/Cr、Cho/Cr、ml/Cr,并与21名正常对照者(对照组)作比较.此外,分别对两组进行神经心理学测试及比较.将1H-MRS所测异常生化物质与异常的认知功能测验项目进行相关性分析.结果 患者组左额叶NAA/Cr(1.8±0.6)低于对照组(2.6±1.0),且与修订韦氏成人智力量表手册中的相似分量表得分及威斯康星卡片分类测验分类数呈正相关(r=0.60,r=0.53);右侧额叶NAA/Cr(2.0±0.6)低于对照组(2.9±1.8),且与连线测验时间呈负相关(r=-0.52).上述差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 首发重性抑郁症患者抽象思维能力下降、思维灵活度下降及执行功能障碍与左额叶NAA/Cr降低相关,注意力障碍与右额叶NAA/Cr降低相关.     

神经病理性疼痛老年大鼠海马CA1区突触长时程增强的变化

目的观察神经病理性疼痛老年大鼠海马CA1区突触长时程增强(LTP)的变化。方法老年雄性Wistar大鼠15只,随机均分为三组。模型组,结扎左侧L4/L5脊神经;D-2-氨基-5-磷酸戊酸(AP5)组,侧脑室输注AP5,余同模型组;假手术组,操作同模型组,但不结扎。观察大鼠行为变化,连续3周测定大鼠电痛阈值,1次/周;记录海马CA1区树突层兴奋性突触后膜电位(EPSP)、输入/输出曲线及LTP的变化。结果模型组与AP5组大鼠术后行为异常,术后各时点电痛阈值低于术前值及假手术组相应时点值(P<0.05);三组基础EPSP幅值稳定,最大基础EPSP幅值的50%组间比较差异无统计学意义;模型组LTP高于其他两组(P<0.05)。结论结扎老年大鼠L4/L5脊神经所致的神经病理性疼痛,不干扰海马CA1区突触及锥体细胞兴奋性,但可易化该区突触LTP。     

全凭静脉麻醉老龄大鼠海马tau蛋白磷酸化水平与认知功能的关系

目的 探讨咪唑安定、芬太尼、丙泊酚联用对老龄大鼠认知功能的影响以及这种影响是否与海马tau蛋白磷酸化水平有关.方法 雄性18月龄SD大鼠40只,随机分成全麻组和对照组,每组20只.每组分别于处理后第1和第7天各断头处死10只,HE染色光镜下观察海马神经元结构,免疫组化染色法检测海马tall蛋白Thr231和Ser404位点磷酸化蛋白的表达水平.其中后处死大鼠于处理后第1周行水迷宫实验.结果 处理后第1天,全麻组大鼠寻找平台的时间明显长于对照组(P＜0.01),但第2～7天与对照组比较差异无统计学意义.处理后第1天,全麻组海马tau蛋白Thr231位点的磷酸化水平高于对照组(P＜0.05).第7天,两组Thr231、Ser404位点的磷酸化水平差异无统计学意义.光镜下各组大鼠海马神经元结构未见明显异常.结论 咪唑安定、芬太尼、丙泊酚联用可引起老龄大鼠麻醉后第1天出现短暂的认知功能减退,海马tau蛋白Thr231位点的过度磷酸化可能与其有关.     

Changes in microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) expression during development and after status epilepticus in the immature rat hippocampus

In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal expression patterns of the high-molecular weight (MAP2a and b) and low-molecular weight (MAP2c and d) cytoskeletal microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) isoforms with Western blotting, and the cellular localization of the high-molecular weight MAP2 isoforms with immunocytochemistry in the hippocampi of 1- to 21-day-old rats. Moreover, the temporal profile (from 30 min to 1 week) of MAP2 isoform reactivity to kainic acid-induced status epilepticus was studied in P9 rats. During development, the expression of the high-molecular weight MAP2 isoforms significantly increased, while the low-molecular weight isoforms decreased, the most prominent changes occurring during the second postnatal week. This developmental increase in the high-molecular weight MAP2 expression was also confirmed with immunocytochemistry, which showed increased immunoreactivity, particularly in the molecular layers of the dentate gyrus, and in CA1 and CA3 stratum radiatum. In 9-day-old rats, status epilepticus resulted in a rapid transient increase (about 210%) in the high-molecular weight MAP2 expression, without any effect on the low-molecular weight MAP2. Moreover, disturbed dendritic structure in the CA1 and CA3 stratum radiatum was manifested as formation of varicosities 3h after the kainic acid treatment. The strictly developmentally regulated MAP2 isoform expression suggests different functional roles for these proteins during the postnatal development in the rat hippocampus. Moreover, high-molecular weight MAP2s may play a role in nerve cell survival during cell stress.