Voltage-gated Currents in Rabbit Retinal Astrocytes

The voltage-gated currents of the astrocytes associated with the retinal capillaries of the rabbit retina were studied using whole-cell patch clamp recording. The resting potential of these cells was −70 ± 4.8 mV (mean ± SEM; n = 54), and the input resistance and cell capacitance were 558 ± 3.6 MΩ and 19.5 ± 1.8 pF respectively. Depolarization to potentials positive to −50 mV evoked rapidly activating inward and outward currents. The inward current was transient, eliminated by substitution of choline for Na⁺ in the bathing solution, and reduced by 50% in the presence of 1 μM tetrodotoxin. The time-to-peak of the Na⁺ current was more than twice that for the Na⁺ current found in retinal neurons. The glial Na⁺ current was half-inactivated at −55 mV. A transient component of the outward K⁺ current was blocked by external 4-aminopyridine while a more sustained component was blocked by external tetraethylammonium. At potentials between −150 and −50 mV the membrane behaved Ohmically. Voltage-gated currents in retinal astrocytes recorded in situ appear qualitatively similar to those described for some glial cells in vitro.     

Glial localization of four‐repeat tau in atypical progressive supranuclear palsy

In the present case, a patient in whom limb apraxia and asymmetrical parkinsonism developed suggesting corticobasal degeneration, is reported. Neuropathologic examination revealed numerous tufted astrocytes in the precentral cortex in addition to the characteristic pathologic findings of PSP. Therefore, on the basis of clinicopathologic features, atypical progressive supranuclear palsy was diagnosed. In addition, the brain tissue of the present patient was investigated with an antibody specific for four‐repeat tau (4R‐tau). In the precentral cortex, numerous tau‐positive tufted astrocytes, pretangles, and threads were positive for 4R‐tau. Using a confocal microscopy we demonstrated that tufted astrocytes positive for 4R‐tau were adjacent to astrocytes positive for GFAP. The present findings suggest that accumulation of four‐repeat tau in astrocytes is a degenerative process rather than a reactive process.     

Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor or Related Factors Promote the Differentiation of Neuronal and Astrocytic Precursors within the Developing Murine Spinal Cord

Previously we have shown that leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) potentiates the development of murine spinal cord neurons in vitro , suggesting that it, or related factors, may play an important regulatory role in neuronal development. We have further investigated this role and show here that the generation of neurons in cultures of embryonic day 10 spinal cord cells is inhibited by antibodies to the β subunit of the LIF receptor. Since there are more undifferentiated precursors in antibody-treated cultures than in control and LIF-treated cultures, it is concluded that the primary action of LIF, or related molecules, is to promote neuronal differentiation, not precursor survival. In addition, the failure of LIF to support neuronal survival in the period immediately following differentiation suggests that the increased numbers of neurons generated with LIF are not attributable to its neurotrophic action. By selecting neuronal precursors on the basis of their inability to express class I major histocompatibility complex molecules, it was shown that LIF acted directly upon these cells and not via an intermediary cell. LIF also appears to be involved in regulating the differentiation of astrocytes, since it increases the number of glial fibrillary protein (GFAP)-positive cells present in the cultures and since the spontaneous production of GFAP-positive cells is blocked by antibodies to the LIF β receptor. These findings suggest that LIF or related factors promote the differentiation of neural precursors in the spinal cord, but that they are not involved in preferentially promoting precursors down a specific differentiation pathway.     

Pharmacological properties of the norepinephrine-induced depolarization of astrocytes in primary culture: evidence for the involvement of an α1-adrenergic receptor

The membrane potentials of astrocytes in primary cultures prepared from neonatal rat cerebral cortices were depolarized by (−)-norepinephrine. The average first response to 10⁻⁵ M (−)-norepinephrine was 24 mV from an average resting potential of −68 mV, and the average for the second response was 14 mV. Thus this process showed marked desensitization. The response was attributed to an activation of an α₁-receptor since it was about 1000 times more sensitive to inhibition by prazosin than to yohimbine or idazoxan. In addition, depolarization was seen to the application of 10⁻⁵ M phenylephrine.     

马桑内酯对星形胶质细胞细胞周期变化的影响

胶质细胞细胞周期的改变，会导致细胞自身功能的改变．从而引发一些疾病的形成。研究致痫时星形胶质细胞细胞周期的变化，可能对癫痫的形成机制提供新的思路。用马桑内酯（CL）刺激体外纯化培养的海马星形胶质细胞2、4、6、8h后．应用流式细胞技术测定越形胶喷细胞细胞周期各时期细胞的变化．结果显示：CL作用4h后，G1期细胞数较对照组和2h组明显下降（P〈0．05），S期和G2＋M期比对照组明显增高（P〈0．05）。同时细胞凋亡也随着时间的延长而增加（P〈0．05）。本实验结果提示致痫时星形胶质细胞细胞周期会发生改变．即细胞由G1／G0期向S和G2＋M期快速转化。     

Confocal observation of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease: Senile plaque morphology and relationship between senile plaques and astrocytes

Senile plaques In the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with the following three findings. First, in sections stained with Congo red, the serial CLSM images of optical sections clearly revealed that a classic plaque is composed of a plaque core and a corona. Radially arranged process-like structures, corresponding to bundles of amyloid fibrils, formed amyloid cores and stronger signals were detected in the center of some cores. Second, in sections stained with Congo red and anti-gllal fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), reactive astrocytes were found around the senile plaques and many astrocytlc processes surrounded the plaque cores and some processes had penetrated into them. Third, three-dimensional reconstruction on classic plaque revealed that the surface of classic plaque showed a 'coral-like' appearance.     

新生大鼠大脑皮层少突胶质细胞/Ⅱ型星形胶质祖细胞原代培养及形态

目的:研究不同诱导条件对大鼠大脑皮层O2A祖细胞生长活性的影响。方法:采用两次恒温摇床振荡培养法,倒置显微镜结合免疫荧光染色法鉴定细胞种类并判断纯度,透射电镜观察细胞超微结构。结果:O2A祖细胞胞体呈圆形,常有单极或双极突起.形成克隆球,A285标记阳性,免疫荧光鉴定细胞纯度可达90%以上。O2A祖细胞具有双向分化的能力,在不同诱导条件下可分化为星形胶质细胞或少突胶质细胞。电镜观察O2A祖细胞呈圆形或椭圆形,核仁可见,胞质内细胞器少,核周见成束胞质丝。结论:选择合适的培养基对O2A祖细胞纯化培养及诱导分化极其重要。     

6-羟多巴诱导大鼠黑质的持续胶质细胞反应

本研究将40μg6- 羟多巴注射到SD大鼠一侧纹状体制作Parkinson病动物模型,研究黑质反应性神经胶质增生在Par kinson病发病过程中的可能作用。筛选成功的模型大鼠,术后12周处死。应用免疫荧光双标记法检测模型大鼠黑质胶质细胞对多巴胺能神经元损伤的反应。结果显示:在注射后12周,损伤侧黑质仍然存在明显的星形胶质细胞反应和小胶质细胞激活。此外,小胶质小结和淋巴细胞浸润的存在提示在注射后12周的注射侧黑质内依然有多巴胺能神经元死亡。结论: 6 -羟多巴对大鼠黑质多巴胺能神经元的急性损伤可以通过胶质细胞反应从而对多巴胺能神经元产生长期的毒性作用。