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。     

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.     

苯甲酸雌二醇对去卵巢大鼠海马突触素和钙结合蛋白免疫活性的影响

目的　探讨苯甲酸雌二醇对大鼠海马CA1区、齿状回突触素(synaptophysin, Syn)及钙结合蛋白(calbindinD28k, CaBP, parvalbumin, PV)的调节作用。方法　用大鼠卵巢切除(OVX)动物模型,用免疫组化结合图象分析的方法。结果　OVX组大鼠海马CA1区及齿状回突触素、PV,CaBP积分光密度及面积密度均显著低于对照组,补充苯甲酸雌二醇35 d,这3项指标的积分光密度及面积密度均告恢复,与OVX组相比,呈显著性差异。结论　苯甲酸雌二醇可能通过调节海马、齿状回神经元突触密度,为改善学习记忆功能,缓解AD病人的症状提供结构基础,并通过维持胞内Ca²⁺的恒定达到保护神经元的目的。     

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。     

Distribution and morphology of sensory and autonomic fibres in the subendocardial plexus of the rat heart

Cardiac reflexes originating from sensory receptors in the heart ensure blood supply to vital tissues and organs in the face of constantly changing demands. Atrial volume receptors are mechanically sensitive vagal afferents which relay to the medulla and hypothalamus, affecting vasopressin release and renal sympathetic activity. To date, two anatomically distinct sensory endings have been identified which may subserve cardiac mechanosensation: end-nets and flower-spray endings. To map the distribution of atrial receptors in the subendocardial space, we have double-labelled rat right atrial whole mounts for neurofilament heavy chain (NFH) and synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) and generated high-resolution maps of the rat subendocardial neural plexus at the cavo-atrial region. In order to elucidate the nature of these fibres, double labelling with synaptophysin (SYN) and either NFH, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was performed. The findings show that subendocardial nerve nets are denser at the superior cavo-atrial junction than the mid-atrial region. Adluminal plexuses had the finest diameters and stained positively for synaptic vesicles (SV2 and SYN), CGRP and TH. These plexuses may represent sympathetic post-ganglionic fibres and/or sensory afferents. The latter are candidate substrates for type B volume receptors which are excited by stretch during atrial filling. Deeper nerve fibres appeared coarser and may be cholinergic (positive staining for ChAT). Flower-spray endings were never observed using immunohistochemistry but were delineated clearly with the intravital stain methylene blue. We suggest that differing nerve fibre structures form the basis by which atrial deformation and hence atrial filling is reflected to the brain.     

单眼形觉剥夺性弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度及功能的研究

目的：研究视觉发育关键期单眼形觉剥夺(MD)对弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度超微形态结构变化规律的影响,以及突触素(SYN)在视皮层的表达及意义,探讨弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度及功能的关系,为弱视的发病机制及临床治疗提供分子水平理论依据。

方法：选用正常新生Long Evans大鼠随机分为正常对照组与弱视模型组,每组16只,两组大鼠均在相同环境下饲养。正常对照组不做任何处理,弱视模型组在出生后第13d采用单眼缝合的方法建立单眼形觉剥夺性弱视经典模型。两组大鼠均于出生后51d进行闪光视觉诱发电位(F-VEP)的检测。检测结束后立即取材,用透射电镜及Image J图像分析软件观察并统计两组大鼠初级视皮层V1M区第Ⅳ～Ⅵ层大锥体细胞周围神经纤维网络的突触密度变化。利用漂染法对视皮层冰冻切片进行免疫荧光组织化学染色,在激光共聚焦显微镜及荧光显微镜下对SYN阳性神经元进行定位观察和定量统计分析。

结果：F-VEP检查结果显示与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组剥夺眼的P2潜伏期较正常眼明显延长,P2波振幅较正常眼明显降低(P<0.05); 透射电镜结果显示,与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组双侧视皮层的突触密度显著降低(P<0.05),其中弱视眼对侧视皮层下降更加明显(P<0.05); 免疫荧光染色结果显示两组大鼠视皮层脑切片形态完整,镜下组织结构清晰,与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组SYN阳性神经元表达强度值明显降低(P<0.01)。

结论：视觉发育关键期存在着突触结构可塑性,单眼形觉剥夺可以造成大鼠初级视皮层突触密度的降低,SYN表达水平下降,视皮层功能下降。     

脂欣康对ApoE基因敲除小鼠海马形态学及胆碱乙酰转移酶和突触素表达的影响

目的研究脂欣康对ApoE基因敲除(ApoEKO)小鼠海马形态学及脑胆碱乙酰转移酶(ChAT)和突触素(P38)表达的影响。方法以ApoEKO小鼠为研究对象,随机分为ApoEKO组、脂欣康组、联合干预组,分别给予生理盐水、脂欣康、脂欣康+维生素E灌胃,每日一次,连续灌胃60d,以同龄C57BL/6J小鼠作为正常对照组,之后将所有小鼠断头处死,采用HE染色观察各组小鼠海马神经元组织形态学改变,采用免疫组化技术与计算机图像分析技术检测ApoEKO小鼠海马内ChAT和P38的表达。结果与C57BL/6J小鼠相比,ApoEKO组小鼠海马区神经细胞结构破坏,ChAT阳性神经细胞数目与P38阳性染色颗粒明显减少,染色变浅,ChAT与P38平均灰度值明显增高(P<0.05)。干预组的反应结果介于两者之间,联合干预组表达优于脂欣康组。结论脂欣康能够减轻ApoEKO小鼠海马区神经损害,增强ChAT与P38的表达,与维生素E间有协同作用。