Effects of decentralization on the levels of GAP-43 and p38 (synaptophysin) in sympathetic adrenergic neurons: a semi-quantitative study using immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy

The distribution of GAP-43 in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and iris were studied in normal animals and following decentralization using immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). GAP-43-like immunoreactivity (LI) was compared with p38 (synaptophysin)-LI, and tyrosin hydroxylase (TH)-LI. In the control SCG, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI were mainly localized in nerve terminals around the principal neurons. The neuronal perikarya were negative for GAP-43, but positive for p38 in a perinuclear zone, as well as positive for TH. SIF cells (Small Intensely Fluorescent cells, ganglionic interneurons) were positive for GAP-43, TH and p38. One day after decentralization, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI in nerve terminals around principal neurons had disappeared. Some of the principal neurons showed a weak GAP-43-immunoreactivity. Three days post-decentralization, GAP-43- and p38-positive nerve terminals around the neurons had reappeared in considerable numbers and the intra-ganglionic nerve bundles were positive for both antibodies. In the control irides, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI were distributed in a varicose pattern in the nerve bundles, around blood vessels and in the network of terminals. Double labelling studies showed that GAP-43-LI was colocalized with TH-LI and p38-LI. The network of terminals in the dilator plate of the irides was quantified by measuring the fluorescence intensity of randomly selected areas, using CLSM. Three days after decentralization the intensity of GAP-43-LI and p38-LI had significantly increased. TH-LI had decreased 8 days after decentralization. The results indicate that GAP-43-LI and p38-LI are normally present in the nerve fibers and terminals of both pre- and post-ganglionic neurons in adult rats. The expression of GAP-43-LI and p38-LI in post-ganglionic neurons is preganglionically regulated, as indicated by the increased expression after decentralization. The expression of p38 in these neurons is probably regulated via mechanisms that are separate from those which regulate GAP-43, since it showed a different time course than that of GAP-43-LI.     

肺腺癌神经内分泌分化的生物学特性

目的探讨肺腺癌伴神经内分泌(neuroendocrine NE)分化的生物学特性。方法采用免疫组化S-P法检测47例肺腺癌神经内分泌标记物的表达。结果肺腺癌组织中NE标记物神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)和突触素(Syn)的阳性表达率分别为63.83%、44.68%,均显著高于正常组织(P<0.01)。肺腺癌伴NE分化与肺癌的淋巴结转移、分化程度无关。NSE的表达在死亡组显著高于生存组(P<0.05)。结论肺腺癌伴有NE分化与生存时间呈负相关,与淋巴结转移和分化程度无相关性。     

BDNF对体外培养的大鼠脊髓前角神经元内突触素Ⅰ与突触囊泡素表达的影响

探讨BDNF对体外培养的大鼠脊髓前角神经元内突触素I与突触囊泡素(SYN)表达的影响。取孕14d大鼠子宫内胎鼠的脊髓腹侧部分神经元,体外有血清培养。在培养7d后,随机分成对照组、BDNF组和抗BDNF组。BDNF组培养液中加入BDNF(20ng/ml),抗BDNF组培养液中加入BDNF抗体(20μg/ml),对照组加入等量Hanks液。3d后在倒置显微镜下计数三组神经元存活数,并用NF200、MAP2、NSE的免疫组化反应对神经细胞进行鉴定。行突触素I与SYN免疫组化反应,对部分细胞行突触素ImRNA原位杂交反应,运用图像分析系统对突触素I与SYN免疫组织反应阳性产物以及突触素I原位杂交反应阳性产物作光密度分析。结果发现有血清培养时各组脊髓前角神经元的存活数无显著差异(P>0.05);BDNF组突触素I与SYN免疫反应阳性产物的平均光密度值高于其它两组,抗BDNF组最低(P<0.01)。BDNF组突触素ImRNA阳性产物的平均光密度值明显高于其它两组,抗BDNF组突触素ImRNA阳性产物的平均光密度值最低(P<0.01)。本研究结果提示BDNF对有血清培养时脊髓前角神经元的存活没有明显影响,但BDNF可明显上调培养的脊髓前角神经元内突触素I与SYN的表达。     

大鼠小脑皮质内突触素P38免疫反应产物的分布及年龄变化

用免疫组织化学方法结合图像分析研究突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物在Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠小脑皮质的分布及年龄变化，结果显示：小脑皮质内的突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物呈板层分布，各层之间的 产物密度差异很大；在三个年龄组，小脑Ｖ，Ⅶ叶分子层突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物校正光密度值以青年组最大，成年组次之，老年组最小，各组间差异显著。     

Genistein对体外培养的Parkinson病模型大鼠多巴胺能神经元及突触素的影响

为了探讨genistein(GST)对离体培养的Parkinson病模型大鼠多巴胺能神经元以及突触素的影响,取孕14~16d SD大鼠胚胎中脑腹侧部,常规体外培养。将培养的中脑腹侧细胞分为四组:正常对照组、雌二醇(E2)+MPP+组、GST+MPP+组、MPP+组。进行四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法测定细胞活力和代谢状态。采用TH和突触素(synaptophysin,SYN)免疫荧光组织化学染色技术,观察各组TH阳性神经元的生长状况以及突触数量的变化。结果显示:与正常对照组、E2+MPP+组以及GST+MPP+组相比,MPP+组TH阳性神经元数量少,SYN免疫活性产物表达亦减少,细胞活力差。而E2+MPP+组、GST+MPP+组中上述指标与正常对照组相比,差异无统计学意义。以上结果提示Genistein对体外培养的多巴胺能神经元具有类似雌激素样的神经保护作用。     

胎儿端脑突触素表达和突触发育的研究

为了探讨突触素(SYN)在不同周龄阶段胎儿端脑额叶中的表达与胎儿额叶皮质突触发育的关系,本研究采用免疫组织化学方法观察突触素在不同周龄阶段胎儿额叶的表达水平,利用计算机图像分析技术测量不同周龄阶段胎儿额叶突触素表达的平均光密度;同时取材、常规电镜技术处理、透射电镜观察额叶突触发育的超微结构变化。结果显示:(1)光镜下各组均可见SYN免疫阳性产物主要表达于胎儿的额叶皮层,其表达量随周龄的增加而增强,各组间呈现显著性差异(P<0.05),其中16～24周胎儿额叶的阳性产物位于神经元的胞浆内,呈均匀的浅黄色,神经元突起内未见阳性产物;25～29周额叶的阳性产物呈黄色,在胞浆和突起内均可见,但阳性产物的量却下降;而30～39周额叶的SYN阳性产物呈棕黄色的点状或颗粒状,主要位于神经元的突起内,神经元胞浆内未见阳性产物,阳性产物的量显著增加;(2)透射电镜下19～36周胎儿大脑额叶均可见到突触样结构,随着周龄的增加,突触的数量逐渐增多,结构逐渐清晰和完整。上述结果提示SYN的表达可以反映胎儿神经系统发育的程度,SYN的表达与突触的发育是一致的;SYN在胎儿大脑额叶的表达部位经历由神经元胞浆内表达为主到神经元终末表达为主的这一过程,可能是由于SYN先是在神经元胞浆内合成,再随着神经元的发育而逐步转移到神经元突起的末梢部位。     

Characterization of synaptic vesicles and related neuronal features in nerve growth factor and ras oncogene differentiated PC12 cells

PC12 cells can differentiate into neuron-like cells after treatment with either nerve growth factor (NGF) or transduction with a retrovirus which expresses the K-ras oncogene. The concomitant treatment of NGF plus ras differentiates PC12 cells further than either agent alone with respect to neurite outgrowth, acetylcholinesterase levels, and most strikingly, the number of synaptic vesicle (SV) clusters. These SV clusters in PC12 cell neurites closely resemble those in the presynaptic terminals of neurons. Such SV clusters have not been described in cell lines previously. The SV clusters from all three differentiated groups (NGF, ras, and NGF plus ras) were similar in size, shape, and configuration, except that the ones in the doubly treated group occur in higher frequency and have more vesicles. The synaptic nature of these vesicle clusters was demonstrated by their regulated depletion after potassium stimulation. Furthermore, these vesicle clusters stained positively for two SV-associated proteins, synapsin I and synaptophysin, by EM immunocytochemistry (ICC). Such SV clusters in a cell line are very useful for characterizing the regulated release of SVs and the distribution of SV-related antigens in intact cells. Analysis by SDS-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting indicated that synapsin I levels are higher in all three differentiated groups compared to untreated cells; whereas synaptophysin levels are lower in cells exposed to NGF alone or with NGF and ras double treatment. Possible convergence and/or divergence on the mechanisms of NGF and ras differentiation in PC12 cells are discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Synaptophysin in spinal anterior horn in aging and ALS: an immunohistological study

Summary Aged-related spinal cord changes such as neuronal loss have been related to the degree of clinical severity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); morphological data on synapses are, however, wanting. Variations in synaptophysin (Sph) expression in aging and ALS were thus studied at the level of lower motor neurons in 40 controls with non-neurological diseases and 11 cases of ALS. Control sections of formalin fixed paraffin embedded cervical (C7/8), thoracic (T10) and lumbar spinal cord (L5) and C6, C7, C8 and L5 of ALS cases were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, luxol fast blue (LFB), and immunostained with a mouse monoclonal antibody against Sph. The neuropil of the anterior horn (AH) in all control cases demonstrated Sph positivity. A dot-like pattern of positivity of presynaptic terminals on soma of motor neurons and fine immunoreactivity along neuronal processes were observed. A significant reduction of Sph immunostaining was observed in the neuropil with increasing age and 3 different somatic patterns were seen: a-well preserved Sph reactivity around the soma and the proximal dendrites of histologically normal neurons; b-few chromatolytic neurons showing large numbers of dot-like presynaptic terminals around the cell body and in a fused pattern; c-intense, diffuse, and homogeneous reactivity of some neurons. Attenuation of Sph reactivity in the AH neuropil, to its complete loss, was observed in all ALS cases. In addition to patterns a-c, two additional microscopic findings were noted in ALS: d-chromatolytic neurons showing complete absence of Sph reactivity; e-absence of Sph reactivity around the soma and the proximal dendrites of histologically normal surviving neurons.Our findings demonstrate that there is a decrease in Sph immunostaining with aging, thus suggesting an alteration in dendritic networks of the AH with aging. Changes in the pattern of Sph immunoreactivity in cell bodies may represent synaptic plasticity and/or degeneration. Reinnervation may also be a possible mechanism as a response to neuronal loss in oldest control cases. Sph reactivity results may thus lend support to the presence of superimposed aging components in ALS cases which may give an insight into explaining the increasing severity of the disease which is encountered with advancing age.     

Dendritic and synaptic alterations of hippocampal pyramidal neurones in scrapie-infected mice

Neurone damage and eventual loss may underlie the clinical signs of disease in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Although neurone death appears to be through apoptosis, the trigger for this form of cell death in the TSEs is not known. Using two different murine scrapie models, hippocampal pyramidal cells were studied through microinjection of fluorescent dye, and synaptic integrity, using p38-immunoreactivity (p38-IR), both visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Intradendritic distensions and dendritic spine loss were found to co-localize to areas of vacuolar and prion protein pathology in the hippocampus of mice infected with ME7 or 87 V scrapie. A significant reduction in p38-IR was found concomitantly in the hippocampus in ME7 scrapie mice. These results indicate that both pre- and post-synaptic sites are altered by scrapie infection; this would disrupt neuronal circuitry and may initiate apoptotic cell death, giving rise to the neurological disturbances manifested in clinical TSE cases.