Host–microbiome interactions: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a critical node in tryptophan metabolites to brain signaling

ABSTRACT

Tryptophan (Trp) is not only a nutrient enhancer but also has systemic effects. Trp metabolites signaling through the well-known aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) constitute the interface of microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, the pathway through which Trp metabolites affect central nervous system (CNS) function have not been fully elucidated. AhR participates in a broad variety of physiological and pathological processes that also highly relevant to intestinal homeostasis and CNS diseases. Via the AhR-dependent mechanism, Trp metabolites connect bidirectional signaling between the gut microbiome and the brain, mediated via immune, metabolic, and neural (vagal) signaling mechanisms, with downstream effects on behavior and CNS function. These findings shed light on the complex Trp regulation of microbiome-gut-brain axis and add another facet to our understanding that dietary Trp is expected to be a promising noninvasive approach for alleviating systemic diseases.     

Relation of olfactory bulb and cortex. II. Model for driving of cortex by bulb

The major projection pathway of the olfactory bulb is by way of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) to the olfactory cortex. Oscillatory bursts of extracellular potential appear during inspiration in both bulb and cortex. Based on anatomical and physiological considerations, a model was proposed, consisting of a bulbar transmitter, a conduction line representing axons in the LOT, and a cortical receiver. The model predicted the relation between phase and frequency of bulbar and cortical burst pairs, based on the expectation that the bulb drives the cortex. Experimental phase-frequency plots were computed from bursts of 9 bulbocortical electrode site pairs from each of 10 rabbits. For each site pair, the model predicted the expected range of the joint variation of phase and frequency, using the known distance between the bulbar and cortical sites. The model was highly successful (greater than 95% prediction accuracy) for one quarter of the total number of site pairs examined. The wide range of variation for the rest of the data suggested that higher order interactions are responsible for the phase relation between bulb and cortex. Convergence of input, independence of the cortical generator, cortical feedback to the bulb and synchronization by an outside source are all discussed as possible contributors to this variation.     

原发性中枢神经系统恶性淋巴瘤27例临床病理分析

目的 :分析和探讨原发性中枢神经系统恶性淋巴瘤 (PCNSML)的临床与病理学特点。　方法 :总结经手术证实的 2 7例PCNSML患者的临床资料 ,并进行病理学及免疫组化研究 ;　结果 :患者以中年男性为多 ,临床表现无特异性 ,术前误诊率高。病理学显示 2 6例为B细胞淋巴瘤 ,绝大多数属弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤 ;1例为T细胞淋巴瘤。 81.3%B细胞淋巴瘤bcl 2呈阳性表达。术后行放、化疗者生存期优于单纯手术者。　结论 :PCNSML临床早期诊断困难 ,治疗方案应采取以手术加放化疗的综合治疗措施     

An epitope shared by central nervous system myelin and peripheral blood macrophages

Lewis rats were immunized with a homogenate of human spinal cord. Splenocytes from the immunized rats were fused with cells from the SP2/0-Ag14 cell line to form hybrids that were subsequently screened immunohistochemically for secretion of antibodies against myelin. Thirty hybrids secreting anti-myelin antibodies were cloned. One secreted antibody (774) that immunohistochemically stained central nervous system (CNS) myelin but not peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin also bound to the surface of peripheral blood macrophages. Hence we have identified an epitope that is shared by peripheral blood macrophages and CNS myelin.     

柴地合方对慢性应激大鼠大脑前额皮质和海马单胺类神经递质的影响

目的：研究柴地合方对脑组织单胺递质含量的影响，探讨其抗抑郁作用可能的机制。方法：复制大鼠慢性应激抑郁模型，慢性给予柴地合方，采用高效液相色谱系统(HPLC)加电化学检测器(ECD)检测前额皮质和海马组织中单胺类神经递质及相关代谢产物的含量。结果：慢性应激大鼠前额皮质中去甲肾上腺素(NE)、5羟色胺(5—HT)和3，4—二羟基苯乙酸(DOPAC)含量显著降低，柴地合方可以翻转这种降低；慢性应激大鼠海马中NE、5—HT含量显著降低，柴地合方可以部分逆转降低水平。结论：柴地合方可升高慢性应激模型大鼠前额皮质和海马中NE和5—HT水平，这可能是其抗抑郁的机制之一。     

全脑缺血后海马区单胺类神经递质的变化

目的观察全脑缺血后大鼠海马区单胺类神经递质的变化规律,探讨其在缺血后迟发性神经元死亡中的作用。方法建立大鼠全脑缺血再灌注模型,观察全脑缺血再灌注后酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)、多巴胺-β-羟化酶(DβH)的表达并对海马区去甲肾上腺素(NE)、肾上腺素、多巴胺、5-羟色胺(5-HT)和单胺类神经递质代谢产物高香草酸(HVA)、5-羟吲哚乙酸(5-H IAA)的含量进行测定。结果对照组TH及DβH呈阴性表达。全脑缺血再灌注后1 d,3 d缺血组海马CA1区神经元TH及DβH表达阴性。5 d后神经元TH及DβH呈阳性表达;全脑缺血再灌注后6 h,缺血组海马区单胺类神经递质含量显著上升,NE、肾上腺素、多巴胺及5-HT分别为对照组的232.5%、347.3%、336.1%和210.1%,1 d后开始回落,3 d已明显低于对照组,5 d后又有回升并接近对照组;缺血组,海马区单胺类神经递质的代谢产物HVA、5-H IAA含量于全脑缺血再灌注后6 h开始上升,1 d依然保持较高的水平,至3 d回落,5 d接近对照组。结论全脑缺血再灌注后早期海马区单胺类神经递质含量显著上升;单胺类神经递质含量显著上升可能是导致迟发性神经元死亡的主要因素之一。     

A stereotactic approach to deep-seated central nervous system neoplasms using the carbon dioxide laser

This report describes a technique in which deep-seated CNS neoplasms, the volume and shape of which had been determined and stereotactically localized by computer reconstruction of CT data, were vaporized with a carbon dioxide laser attached to a stereotactic frame. The clinical results with 6 patients treated by this technique are presented.     

Transplantation of central nervous tissue

Studies of post-lesional reorganization of central nervous connections have shown that central nerve fibers respond to nearby denervation by sprouting and formation of new terminals. The connections in the central nervous system (CNS) are accordingly much more plastic than was thought for a long time. This has revived the interest in transplantation of central nervous tissue. In this study we present some historical data on CNS transplantation supplemented by recent results obtained in our laboratory. Pieces of hippocampal tissue from embryonic or early postnatal rats were transplanted to different parts of the brain of littermates or adult rats. About two-thirds of the transplants were recovered after survival times ranging from 4 d to 2 years, and their cytological organization and intrinsic connections were monitored by cell and fiber stains and histochemical methods (AChE staining and Timm sulphide silver method). Comparison with both a normal and a lesioned control material revealed that in most transplants the tissue had developed as it does when left in situ in the donor brain, but deprived of its major afferent connections. In several instances we found evidence of a major exchange of connections between the transplants and host brains. The conditions needed for this to occur appeared to involve growth stimulation of host brain fibers by transection (host to transplant) and denervation of host neuropil (transplant to host). In cases where these conditions are met, the use of transplants may have future implications in attempts to repair lesions in the central nervous systems.