An active model of immune complex glomerulonephritis in the rat employing cationized antigen.

An active model of in situ immune complex glomerulonephritis involving a cationic antigen was established. Three weeks after immunization with human IgG, the left kidneys of Wistar rats were perfused with 100 micrograms of cationized human IgG (pI greater than 9.5) via the left renal artery. At this time the animals exhibited a mean serum concentration of 0.58 +/- 0.33 mg anti-human IgG antibody per milliliter. Renal tissue was examined at regular intervals by immunofluorescence, light, and electron microscopy thereafter. Cationized human IgG and rat IgG were distributed along the glomerular capillary wall in a pattern that became increasingly granular with time; rat C3 was also present. Histologically, a severe proliferative lesion was seen with crescent formation in 10-20% of the glomeruli; adhesions of glomerular tufts to Bowman's capsule were common and with time spike formation in the glomerular basement membrane became very prominent. Extensive subepithelial dense deposits were seen by electron microscopy. Proteinuria was present in 19 of 26 animals within 24 hours, and in 30 of 31 by Day 7. Protein excretion fell from Day 14 onward, but some animals exhibited chronic proteinuria. The model described here represents another situation in which cationic antigens can induce subepithelial immune complexes, namely, the rapid release of small quantities of antigen into a previously sensitized host. This sequence could well mirror the events occurring in nature more closely than the previously described passive in situ model.     

Effects of age on sympathetic innervation of the myenteric plexus and gastrointestinal smooth muscle of Fischer 344 rats

Loss of myenteric neurons with age is well documented, however little is known about age-related changes of the sympathetic innervation of the myenteric plexus and gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The goal of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate the influence of age on the sympathetic innervation of the myenteric plexus throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Ad libitum fed virgin male Fischer 344 rats at 3, 15–16, 24, and 27–28 months of age were sampled. Whole mounts of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine were processed with an antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Additionally, some specimens labeled for TH were stained for NADPH-diaphorase to selectively label the nitrergic subpopulation of neurons in the myenteric plexus. Age-related changes in the TH-positive axons occurred as early as 15–16 months and became more pronounced by 27–28 months. Changes included markedly swollen axons and terminals and a decrease in the intensity of TH staining in some of the surviving processes. Similarly, swollen NADPH-diaphorase-positive axons were found in the myenteric ganglia and secondary plexus between ganglia in the whole mounts of rats 15–28 months of age, but swollen nitrergic axons and dystrophic TH-positive axons were never present in the same ganglion or connective. Therefore, in the aged rat, deterioration of the sympathetic innervation of the myenteric plexus could be one possible mechanism for the age-related decline in gastrointestinal motor function evidenced in the elderly.     

No colocalization of immunoreactivities for VIP and neuronal NOS, and a differential relation to cGMP-immunoreactivity in bovine penile smooth muscle

The distribution of immunoreactivity (IR) for the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the bovine retractor penis muscle (RP) and penile artery (PA) was studied by using two different methods. The distribution of these immunoreactivities was also compared with that of the immunoreactivity for cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In both tissues the nerve fibers and terminals immunoreactive for VIP had a distribution that was completely different from that of the nerve fibers and terminals immunoreactive for nNOS. This contrasts with the previous observations in penile smooth muscle of other species. In the RP, as well as in the PA, many of the VIP-IR fibers were also immunoreactive for neurofilaments (NF), whereas the nNOS-IR fibers were consistently devoid of NF-IR. Stimulation with sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, considerably increased cGMP-IR in the smooth muscle cells in both RP and PA, and in several nerve fibers in PA. Many of these cGMP-IR nerve fibers exhibited nNOS-IR, whereas none of them was immunoreactive for VIP. Our results suggest that the degree of coexistence of VIP-IR and nNOS-IR in the nerve fibers and terminals innervating penile smooth muscle show wide species differences. They also suggest that the mechanisms by which VIP could be involved in neurogenic penile erection may vary between species.     

Projections of chemically identified myenteric neurons of the small and large intestine of the mouse

The projections of different subpopulations of myenteric neurons in the mouse small and large intestine were examined by combining immunohistological techniques with myotomy and myectomy operations. The myotomies were used to examine the polarity of neurons projecting within the myenteric plexus and showed that neurons containing immunoreactivity for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calbindin and 5-HT projected anally, while neurons with substance P (SP)-immunoreactivity projected orally, in both the small and large intestine. Neurons containing neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and calretinin-immunoreactivity projected locally. In the large intestine, GABA-immunoreactive neurons projected both orally and anally, with more axons tending to project anally. Myectomy operations revealed that circular muscle motor neurons containing NOS/VIP/±NPY and calretinin neurons projected anally both in the small and large intestine, while SP-immunoreactive circular muscle motor neurons projected orally. In the large intestine, GABA-IR circular muscle motor neurons projected both orally and anally. This study showed that although some neurons, such as the NOS/VP inhibitory motor neurons and interneurons, SP excitatory motor neurons and 5-HT interneurons had similar projections to those in other species, the projections of other chemical classes of neurons in the mouse intestine differed from those reported in other species.     

颈交感神经干离断对妊高征大鼠胎盘NO含量及NOS基因表达的影响

目的：观察颈交感神经干离断（TCST）对妊高征（PIH）大鼠胎盘一氧化氮（NO）含量及内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)基因表达的影响。方法:妊娠大鼠随机分5组,每组15只。对照组（C）：自妊娠14 d开始皮下注射生理盐水至孕20 d;妊高征1组、2组（H1、H2）：自妊娠14 d开始皮下注射L-NAME分别为125 mg·kg-1·d-1和62.5 mg·kg-1·d-1，至孕20 d；手术组（O）：妊娠第14 d行右TCST，余同B1;假手术组（S）：妊娠第14 d行右颈交感神经干分离，但不离断，余同 H1。孕21 d剖宫取仔。观察孕鼠血压、尿蛋白，胎鼠的大小、体重、畸形率、死亡率，胎盘NO含量、eNOS mRNA、iNOS mRNA表达。结果:（1） 血压、尿蛋白除基础值外H1、H2组各时点值明显高于C组(P<0.01)；H2组明显低于H1组(P<0.01)；O组与C组相比差异无显著(P>0.05)。（2）胎鼠体重、大小 H1、H2组明显低于C组（P<0.01）；H1组明显低于H2组（P<0.05，P<0.01）;O组与C组相比差异无显著(P>0.05)。死亡率、畸形率变化与上述指标相反。（3）胎盘NO含量及eNOS mRNA、iNOS mRNA表达 H1、H2组明显低于C组（P<0.01）；H1组明显低于H2组（P<0.01，P<0.05）;O组明显高于H1组 （P<0.01），且与C组比无显著差异（P>0.05）。结论：TCST可保护孕鼠免受妊高征的影响，可能与其具有改善孕鼠胎盘组织eNOS mRNA、iNOS mRNA表达和NO含量有关。     

Low and infrequent expression of nitric oxide synthase/NADPH-diaphorase in neurons of the human supraoptic nucleus: a histochemical study

The gas nitric oxide is a messenger in brain signaling. In the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system nitric oxide is involved in the control of the expression and/or release of peptide hormones (corticotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin and oxytocin). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme generating nitric oxide, is abundantly present in the magnocellular nuclei of the rat hypothalamus. Its localization in the human hypothalamus is less well studied. Hence, we investigated the anatomical distribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the human supraoptic nucleus by use of immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical techniques. The immunohistochemical localization of NOS was studied in 31 matched human hypothalami (13 control cases, eight depressed patients and ten schizophrenics). NADPH-diaphorase studies were carried out on seven additional hypothalami (three normal brains, four schizophrenics). Apparent inter-individual differences exist with regard to the occurrence of the enzyme in supraoptic neurons. In a majority of cases no immunostaining or histochemical reaction for the enzyme was observed. In seven cases (three controls, two schizophrenics, two depressives) a population of nitrergic nerve cells was seen in the dorsomedial part of the nucleus. This group of cells also stained for NADPH-diaphorase. Also, there were a few NOS-immunopositive neurons scattered throughout the nucleus. Additionally, thin NADPH-diaphorase positive fibers were observed to cross the nucleus. Our data show that, unlike the rat, the human supraoptic nucleus contains only a small number of nitrergic neurons. No correlation was found between the expression of the enzyme in supraoptic neurons and the psychiatric status of the patients.     

The expression and activity of renal nitric oxide synthase and circulating nitric oxide in polycystic kidney disease rats

Nitric oxide (NO) influences tubular fluid and electrolyte transport, and hence possibly also fluid accumulation in renal cysts. The expression and activity of intrarenal constitutive NO synthase (cNOS) [neuronal NOS, nNOS and endothelial NOS, eNOS] and inducible NOS (iNOS) and plasma nitrite/nitrate (PNOx) concentration were assessed in homozygous Han:SPRD polycystic kidney disease (PKD) rats (cy/cy), heterozygous Han:SPRD PKD rats (cy/+), homozygous normal Han:SPRD littermates (+/+) and Sprague Dawley rats (sd). The results showed: 1) nNOS expression was decreased in proximal tubules and thick ascending limbs of the loop of Henle in cy/cy and cy/+ rats compared to +/+ and sd rats (p<0.05). nNOS was weakly expressed in the epithelium of small cysts and unexpressed in epithelium of large cysts. 2) iNOS expression was increased in proximal tubular epithelial cells in cy/+ rats compared to +/+ rats and sd rats (p<0.01). iNOS expression in cyst epithelium was decreased in cy/+ rats (p<0.05) and absent in cy/cy rats. 3) eNOS expression was similar in the endothelium of intrarenal arteries in all groups. 4) The activity of renal cNOS was decreased in cy/cy and cy/+ rats; the activity of iNOS was decreased only in cy/cy rats, with no significant difference among the other three groups. 5) PNOx concentration was higher in cy/cy rats than in the other three groups, and correlated positively with plasma creatinine and urea. In conclusion, NOS expression and activity decreased as cysts developed, suggesting that NO downregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of PKD.     

Hyperprolactinemia reduces vasoactive intestinal peptide in the anterior pituitary glands of rats

The concentration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the anterior pituitary gland of female rats was significantly reduced by pituitary implants, prolactin-secreting tumours or dopamine blockade-induced hyperprolactinemia. Oestradiol implants increased plasma prolactin (PRL) to 12 times and increased pituitary VIP to 3.5 times that of controls after one week. The dopamine agonist bromocriptine significantly reduced pituitary VIP at doses within the clinically used range. These results provide evidence for a suppressive effect of plasma PRL on pituitary VIP, which may be effected by a dopaminergic mechanism, but is over-ridden by oestrogen.     

实验性精索静脉曲张大鼠睾丸组织和血清一氧化氮和一氧化氮合酶的改变

目的：检测实验性精索静脉曲张大鼠睾丸组织和血清NO含量和NOS活性的改变，以进一步阐明精索静脉曲张的发生机制。方法：通过手术方法建立大鼠精索静脉曲张模型，检测NO和NOS的变化。结果：实验组左侧睾丸组织NO含量显著高于对照组左侧睾丸含量；实验组血清NOS活力明显低于对照组。结论：实验性精索静脉曲张大鼠睾丸组织和血清NO和NOS有改变。     

Different effects of visual deprivation on vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-containing cells in the retinas of juvenile and adult rats

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a 28 amino acid peptide that has been shown to be present in a distinct subset of retinal amacrine cells (VIP+ cells). Previous work has suggested that the expression of retinal VIP might depend on the lighting conditions prevailing. Reasoning that a careful analysis of the exact conditions of this interaction and its time course might offer clues to the functional role of retinal VIP, we performed a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the effects of visual deprivation on the retinal VIP+ system in adult and in visually inexperienced neonatal rats. In adult rats visual deprivation caused a marked suppression of VIP-like immunoreactivity (IR) in both somata and processes of VIP+ cells which increased linearly over time, reducing the number of VIP+ cells to about 30% of the control value after approximately 50 days of deprivation. The observed changes were specific for VIP and were independent of the form of deprivation used (monocular lid suture versus keeping rats in constant darkness). However, the effects of visual deprivation were dependent on the developmental state of the rats, since juvenile rats without previous visual experience exhibited a decrease in VIP+ cells and fibers which was much smaller and occurred significantly slower than in adult rats. The suppression of VIP-like IR was completely reversible in both juvenile and adult rats when previously deprived rats were returned to a normal visual environment.     

胆系不完全结扎术对家兔Oddi括约肌内NOS和VIP的影响

目的探讨胆总管不完全结扎术和胆囊不完全结扎术对家兔Oddi括约肌(sphincter of Oddi,SO)内NOS和VIP数量的影响。方法将24只成年家兔随机分成正常对照组8只,胆总管不完全结扎组8只,胆囊不完全结扎组8只。结扎术1周后应用免疫组化链酶亲和素-过氧化物酶法(SABC法)观察各组家兔SO内一氧化氮合酶(NOS)和血管活性肠肽(VIP)的变化。结果胆总管不完全结扎组和胆囊不完全结扎组较对照组SO内NOS和VIP的光密度值显著升高。结论家兔分别行胆总管不完全结扎和胆囊不完全结扎处理后,其SO平滑肌中的NOS和(或)VIP的数量增多。     

Supplementation with l-glutathione improves oxidative status and reduces protein nitration in myenteric neurons in the jejunum in diabetic Rattus norvegicus

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome with multiple etiologies, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that increases the production of reactive oxygen species and decreases antioxidant defenses. The present study evaluated oxidative stress parameters and protein nitration in myenteric neurons in the jejunum in diabetic rats supplemented with l-glutathione. Rats (90?days of age) were distributed into four groups (n?=?6/group): normoglycemic (N), normoglycemic supplemented with l-glutathione (NGT), diabetic (D), and diabetic supplemented with l-glutathione (DGT). At 210?days of age, the animals were sacrificed, and the jejunum was collected, washed, and subjected to various procedures: tert-butyl hydroperoxide chemiluminescence (CL), determination of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), determination of catalase activity, quantification of nitric oxide (NO), and double-labeling of HuC/D-immunoreactive myenteric neurons and nitrotyrosine (3-NT). Diabetes increased oxidative stress in the jejunum in the D group, reflected by increases in lipid peroxidation, TAC, catalase activity, and NO. The D group exhibited an increase in the percentage of myenteric neurons that were double-labeled with 3-NT. Supplementation with l-glutathione did not cause differences in the average CL curves between the D and DGT groups, but reductions of TAC and catalase activity were observed. Supplementation with l-glutathione promoted a reduction of neurons that contained 3-NT in the DGT group. Diabetes mellitus promoted oxidative stress in the jejunum, and supplementation with l-glutathione improved oxidative status by preventing protein nitration in myenteric neurons in diabetic animals that received supplementation.     

Possible release of nitric oxide from cholinergic axons in the thalamus by stimulation of the rat laterodorsal tegmental nucleus as measured with voltammetry

By means of the differential direct current voltammetry technique with carbon fiber electrodes in urethane-anesthetized rats, we monitored nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in the thalamus in the basal condition and following electrical stimulation of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT), whose neurons have the strongest activity of NADPH-diaphorase, or NO synthase, together with acetylcholine. NO levels, measured as the height of the peak at +970–1000 mV in the voltammetry (NO was soon oxidized in vivo to be detected at the voltage of this peak, so that NO levels in this report are, in the strict sense, levels of the oxidized metabolites reflecting very possibly those of NO in physiological conditions; see Section 2, Methods), increased just after repetitive stimulation of the LDT. Stimulation of the surrounding areas or the cerebellum produced virtually no change in NO levels. An intravenous injection of -nitroarginine methyl ester reduced the basal level of NO, but stimulation of the LDT still increased NO levels, which may be due to very strong activity of NO synthase in the LDT neurons. These results are consistent with the notion that NO can be released from axons of the LDT neurons by their excitation.     

Upregulation of NMDA receptor and neuronal NADPH-d/NOS expression in the nodose ganglion of acute hypoxic rats

Nitric oxide may serve as a neuronal messenger in the regulation of cardiorespiratory function via the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activation. Since hypoxic stress would drastically influence the cardiorespiratory function, the present study aimed to examine if the expression of nNOS and NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NMDAR1) in the nodose ganglion (NG) would alter under different extents of hypoxia treatment. The nicotinamine adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry, nNOS and NMDAR1 immunofluorescence were used to examine nNOS and NMDAR1 expression in the NG following exposing of adult rats in the altitude chamber (0.27 atm, PO(2)=43 torr) for 2 and 4 h. The present results showed that NADPH-d, nNOS and NMDAR1 reactivities were co-localized in the NG under normoxic and hypoxic environment. Quantitative evaluation revealed that about 43% of neurons in the NG showed positive response for NADPH-d/nNOS and NMDAR1 reactivities. However, in animals subjected to hypoxia, both the percentage and the staining intensity of NADPH-d/nNOS and NMDAR1 labeled neurons were drastically increased. The percentage of NADPH-d/nNOS and NMDAR1-immunoreactive neurons in the NG was raised to 68% as well as 77%, respectively, following 2 and 4 h of hypoxic exposure. The magnitude of up-regulation was positively correlated with the duration of hypoxic periods. No significant cell loss was observed under this experimental paradigm. These findings suggest that different extents of hypoxia might induce the higher expression of nNOS and NMDAR1 in the NG, which could contribute to the neuronal integration as responding to the different physiological demands under hypoxic stress.     

急性内毒素血症早期大鼠淋巴管运动变化及其一氧化氮合酶组织学研究

目的:研究急性内毒素血症早期大鼠淋巴管运动变化和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的相关组织染色,探讨二者的关系。方法:股静脉注脂多糖(LPS),观察大鼠肠系膜淋巴管2h内的运动变化及相关组织的酶组化、HE染色。结果:LPS组淋巴管管径变大,运动频率减少,镜下见小肠绒毛中央乳糜管及粘膜下淋巴管丛极度扩张;对照及LPS组淋巴管内皮细胞及管壁上神经纤维都含有NOS阳性反应产物。结论:内毒素血症早期淋巴管扩张,运动减少,NOS可能在其中起重要作用。     

慢性低氧过程中肺血管内皮细胞损伤和一氧化氮合酶变化

目的：观察慢性低氧时肺血管内皮细胞及肺内一氧化氮合酶（NOS）的改变。方法：利用常压低氧舱复制大鼠慢性低氧模型，使用电镜技术观察肺血管内皮细胞的改变，采用还原型辅酶Ⅱ硫辛酸脱氢酶（ND）细胞化学染色及NOS免疫组化染色观察NOS的改变。结果：肺血管内皮细胞损伤、脱落，肺动脉肌化，随着低氧时间延长，血管内皮细胞NOS蛋白表达递增，但一氧化氮（NO）作用反而减弱。结论：慢性低氧可引起肺血管内皮细胞的损伤、肺内NOS含量和活性增加及内皮源性舒张因子（EDRF）的作用减弱，以致肺动脉发生肌化。     

The effect of electrolytic thalamic lesions on the NADPH-diaphorase activity of neurons of the laterodorsal tegmental and pedunculopontine nuclei in rats

Cholinergic neurons of the mesopontine complex have extensive ascending projections to the forebrain: the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus extensively innervates the anterior thalamus, the anteroventral nucleus in particular, whereas the pedunculopontine nucleus has widespread projections to both the thalamus and extrapyramidal structures. Most of their neurons express nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. Following electrolytic lesions of the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPHd) activity in neurons of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus changed drastically. The intensity of NADPH-diaphorase staining increased in laterodorsal tegmental neurons ipsilateral to the lesion side, but decreased contralaterally. The intensity of the NADPH-diaphorase staining of neurons of the pedunculopontine nucleus, however, remained unchanged bilaterally. After partial lesions of the anteroventral thalamic nucleus a similar effect was noted. In contrast, large electrolytic lesions involving other thalamic nuclei or extrapyramidal structures did not change the number of NADPH-diaphorase neurons or their intensity of staining in the laterodorsal tegmental nuclei. These data show that electrolytic lesions of target areas can lead to an upregulation of NOS expression in the parent cell bodies, provided that there is no wide collateralization as found for the pedunculopontine nucleus.     

急性乙醇中毒大鼠学习记忆行为的改变与脑组织NO和nNOS含量变化

目的：通过观察急性乙醇中毒对大鼠学习记忆的影响并测定脑组织中一氧化氮（NO）与神经型一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）含量的变化，探讨乙醇中毒影响学习记忆的分子机制。方法:成年SD大鼠随机分为2组，模型组腹腔1次性注射乙醇2.5 g/kg［用生理盐水配成含20%乙醇(W/V)溶液］制备急性乙醇中毒大鼠模型；对照组注射等容量的生理盐水。Y-型迷宫检测大鼠学习记忆成绩、硝酸还原酶法检测鼠脑海马CA1、新纹状体中NO的含量、免疫组化方法检测鼠脑海马CA1、纹状体、小脑中nNOS的含量。结果:（1）模型组大鼠达到学会标准所需要的训练次数（34.33±13.04）明显大于对照组（27.50±8.79），P<0.05；（2）海马CA1区NO的含量在模型组为23.09±9.60，明显高于对照组（8.46±5.67）（P<0.01）；新纹状体（尾壳核）NO的含量在模型组（19.46±8.25）也明显高于对照组（8.22±4.46），P<0.01；（3）海马CA1区nNOS阳性神经元的数量在模型组为18.22±7.47，明显高于对照组（10.15±4.24）（P<0.05）；新纹状体（尾壳核）nNOS阳性神经元的数量在模型组（11.38±5.00）也明显高于对照组（6.15±3.69），P<0.05。结论:乙醇的神经毒性作用可能与脑组织中nNOS和 NO信号通路有关。     

Distribution of peripheral nerve terminals in the small and large intestine of congenital aganglionosis rats (Hirschsprung's disease rats)

The congenital aganglionosis rat is considered to be an animal model of Hirschsprung's disease. The mutants had a long constricted segment (from distal ileum to rectum) below the dilated distal ileum. In the dilated region, synaptophysin-immunoreactivity (IR) was almost preserved in all layers of the intestinal wall. In the constricted distal ileum and oral proximal colon, synaptophysin-IR was scarce in all layers, including the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. In the anal proximal and distal colon, synaptophysin-IR was almost scarce in the circular muscle layer (CML). An ultrastructural study confirmed that almost no terminals were found in the CML of any regions of constricted intestine. Therefore, the CML in any region of a constricted segment, is presumed to be poor innervation. However, a few synaptophysin-IR were found in the longitudinal muscle layer (LML) of an anal part of a constricted segment. An ultrastructural study also confirmed that some terminals were observed in the LML of this segment. The present study suggested that denervated CML is related to the production of constricted segment, irrespective of the presence or absence of terminals in the LML.