Delayed c-fos proto-oncogene expression in the rat hippocampus induced by transient global cerebral ischemia: an in situ hybridization study

The relative levels of c-fos mRNA in individual neurons of the hippocampal formation of rats is dramatically increased following 20 min of cerebral ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion. After 24 h of recirculation, a number of scattered neurons in the dentate hilus became hybridization positive. This effect appeared to peak between 24 and 48 h. A few neurons in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 expressed c-fos as early as 24 h, but the most intense labeling in this region was seen at 72 h of recirculation. These results correlate well with the known distribution of delayed ischemic necrosis in the brain.     

Calpain activity in the rat brain after transient forebrain ischemia.

Activity of the Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain is increased in neurons after global and focal brain ischemia, and may contribute to postischemic injury cascades. Understanding the time course and location of calpain activity in the post-ischemic brain is essential to establishing causality and optimizing therapeutic interventions. This study examined the temporal and spatial characteristics of brain calpain activity after transient forebrain ischemia (TFI) in rats. Male Long Evans rats underwent 10 min of normothermic TFI induced by bilateral carotid occlusion with hypovolemic hypotension (MABP 30 mm Hg). Brain calpain activity was examined between 1 and 72 h after reperfusion. Western blot analysis of regional brain homogenates demonstrated a bimodal pattern of calpain-mediated alpha-spectrin degradation in the hippocampus, cortex, and striatum with an initial increase at 1 h followed by a more prominent secondary increase at 36 h after reperfusion. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that calpain activity was primarily localized to dendritic fields of selectively vulnerable neurons at one hour after reperfusion. Between 24 and 48 h after reperfusion neuronal calpain activity progressed from the dorsal to ventral striatum, medial to lateral CA1 hippocampus, and centripetally expanded from watershed foci in the cerebral cortex. This progression was associated with fragmentation of dendritic processes, calpain activation in the neuronal soma and subsequent neuronal degeneration. These observations demonstrate a clear association between calpain activation and subsequent delayed neuronal death and suggest broad therapeutic window for interventions aimed at preventing delayed intracellular Ca(2+) overload and pathologic calpain activation.     

Hyperglycemia suppresses c-fos mRNA expression following transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils.

The c-fos proto-oncogene is activated by transient cerebral ischemia. This activation may signify a specific genetic response to ischemia affecting tolerance to ischemia and ultimate cell survival. Hyperglycemia, which enhances brain injury from transient ischemia, was studied for its effects on this gene system in gerbils by measuring c-fos mRNA 2 h after 20 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion. Brain c-fos mRNA was increased by ischemia (11.7 +/- 5.0, p less than or equal to 0.05, fold increase) compared to nonischemic controls (1.0 +/- 1.3). Pretreatment with 1 g/kg of glucose partially reduced postischemic c-fos mRNA (6.3 +/- 1.6, p less than or equal to 0.05) while 4 g/kg of glucose completely suppressed postischemic c-fos expression (0.7 +/- 0.3, p less than or equal to 0.05). These data indicate that hyperglycemia suppresses normal postischemic gene expression and suggest the possibility that such suppression is a predictor or even a contributor to hyperglycemia-enhanced ischemic brain damage.     

Delayed neuronal death in the rat hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

Summary An unusual, slowly progressing neuronal damage has been reported to occur in the gerbil hippocampus following ischemia (Kirino 1982). Delayed neuronal death following ischemia has also been noticed in the rat four-vessel occlusion model (Pulsinelli et al. 1982). By light microscopy this slow neuronal injury in the rat was not different from the previously known neuronal ischemic cell change. This report lead us to the question as to whether neurons in the rat hippocampus are damaged rapidly following an initial latent period or deteriorate slowly and progressively until they display overt changes. To clarify this point, observation was done on the hippocampal CA1 sector of the rat following ischemia. Rats were subjected to four-vessel occlusion, and those which developed ischemic symptoms were perfusion-fixed. Although the change appeared very slowly and lacked microvacuolation of the cytoplasm, neuronal alteration was practically not different from classical ischemic cell change. By electron microscopy, however, the change was detectable when the neurons still appeared intact by light microscopy. An increase in the membranous organelles and deposition of dark substances were the initial manifestations. It seemed that the CA1 neurons deteriorated very slowly and progressively, and that they retained partial viability in the initial phase of the change. In spite of the difference in light-microscopic findings, the mechanisms underlying delayed neuronal death in the rat and gerbil hippocampus seemed to be identical.     

The microglial reaction in the rat dorsal hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia.

We have examined the distribution and time course of the microglial reaction in the rat dorsal hippocampus after 25-min transient forebrain ischemia (four-vessel occlusion model). Microglial cells were visualized in brain sections using lectin staining with the Griffonia simplicifolia B4-isolectin following intervals of reperfusion ranging from 20 min to 4 weeks. Increased staining of microglial cells was detected in the dentate hilus and area CA1 as early as 20 min after reperfusion. These same regions demonstrated more intense microglial staining after 24 h. The strongest microglial reaction was observed 4-6 days after reperfusion when reactive microglia were abundant throughout all laminae of CA1 and the dentate hilus. Following longer reperfusion intervals, the microglial reaction became less intense; however, it remained above normal levels until the end of the fourth week. At all time points examined, microglial reactivity in the CA3 pyramidal and dentate granule cell layers was considerably lower than that observed in CA1 and dentate hilus. Our results are consistent with the known serial pathological changes associated with cerebral ischemia, but, in addition, show that the examination of the microglial reaction provides an extremely sensitive indicator of subtle and morphologically nonapparent neuronal damage during the early stages of injury.     

Marked alteration of c-fos and c-jun but not hsp70 messenger RNA expression in rat brain after cold-induced trauma: An in situ hybridization study

Immediate early gene (IEG) mRNA induction by cryogenic injury was examined using an in situ hybridization approach and the results compared with the heat shock protein mRNA expression. Hybridization signals for c-fos and c-jun mRNA were found after 30 min in the ipsilateral cortex, the hippocampal dentate granule cells and the piriform cortex, c-jun mRNA was also detected in the contralateral dentate gyrus and the piriform cortex, but was less extensive. Return to baseline values was observed at the 24 h time point. Peak induction, with silver grains observed mainly over the neurons on emulsion autoradiograms, was demonstrated in all cases 30 min to 1 h post-injury. In contrast, only slight hsp70 mRNA expression by the neurons surrounding the cold-injured site could be detected by microautoradiography, at 6 h following the trauma. The results indicate that cryogenic brain injury induces IEGs in a similar way to mechanical modes of injury such as lateral fluid percussion, but that hsp70 mRNA is hardly expressed, implying the possible existence of differences in stress response pathways.     

Progressive expression of immunomolecules on microglial cells in rat dorsal hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

Summary We show a differential up-regulation of immunomolecules in the rat dorsal hippocampus accompanying neuronal cell death as a consequence of transient forebrain ischemia (four-vessel occlusion model). Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we have examined the time course of expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens class I (OX-18) and class II (OX-6), leukocyte common antigen (OX-1), CD4 (W3/25) and CD8 (OX-8) antigens, CR3 complement receptor (OX-42), as well as brain macrophage antigen (ED2). The study was performed at time intervals ranging from 1 to 28 days after reperfusion. Throughout all post-ischemic time periods, strongly enhanced immunoreactivity on microglial cells in the CA1 region and dentate hilus and, to a lesser extent, in CA3 was demonstrated with mAb OX-42. MHC class I-positive cells (OX-18) appeared on day 2, whereas cells immunoreactive with OX-1 and W3/25 became evident in the CA1 and hilar regions on post-ischemic day 6. In contrast, MHC class II (Ia) antigen was first detected on indigenous microglia by day 13. In some animals, the OX-8 antibody resulted in the labelling of scattered CD8-positive lymphocytes, but perivascular inflammatory infiltrates were absent. No changes in the expression of ED2 immunoreactivity on perivascular cells could be observed. The results show that following ischemic injury, microglial cells demonstrate a timedependent up-regulation and de novo expression of certain immunomolecules, indicative of their immunocompetence. The findings are compared with those obtained in other models of brain injury.Supported in part by NIH/NINCDS PO 1 NS27511     

Decreased expression and impaired function of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

In this study, we investigated whether transient cerebral ischemia affects the function and molecular expression of specific muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Our results show that in contrast to the GABA-B and A1 adenosine receptor systems, the ability of muscarinic receptors to attenuate evoked excitatory responses at vulnerable CA1 synapses is significantly attenuated by 18 h following reperfusion. This attenuation in efficacy was restricted to the vulnerable CA1 subfield, as no significant change in muscarinic receptor-mediated attenuation of evoked responsiveness was observed within post-ischemic dentate granule cell synapses. Expression analysis revealed that the mRNA and immunoreactive protein levels for individual types of muscarinic receptors respond differently and uniquely to transient cerebral ischemia insult. Of particular interest is the m4 subtype of receptor, whose mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly diminished within the hippocampus by 12 and 24 h following reperfusion, respectively. As the m4 muscarinic receptor localizes to presynaptic terminals within the hippocampus, a decrease in its expression could account for the impaired functional responsiveness of the muscarinic receptor system following ischemic insult. Taken together, these results demonstrate that transient forebrain ischemia leads to dynamic alterations in the gene expression, protein prevalence, and functionality of muscarinic receptors in the post-ischemic hippocampus at times preceding the degeneration of the vulnerable neurons.     

局灶脑缺血后胰岛素对c-fos、c-jun基因表达的影响

目的　观察胰岛素对局灶缺血性脑组织 c- fos、c- jun基因表达的影响。方法　 30只肾血管性高血压大鼠随机分 4组 ,在大脑中动脉闭塞 (MCAO)后即予胰岛素 (2 .1IU / kg,A组 )、葡萄糖和胰岛素 (2 .1IU / kg,B组 ;4.5 IU / kg,C组 )、生理盐水 (D组 ) ,采用原位杂交技术检测各组 MCAO后 3h脑组织 c- fos、c- jun基因的表达。结果　与其它组比较 ,A组血糖下降明显 (P<0 .0 1) ,MCAO后 1h、2 h、3h分别为 3.80± 0 .3mm ol/ L、3.6 8± 0 .3mm ol/L、3.6 9± 0 .3mm ol/ L。 c- fos m RNA被诱导出现于缺血侧皮层和尾壳核 ,C组 c- fos m RNA明显增加 (P<0 .0 1) ,皮层和尾壳核的灰度为 12 3.5 8± 8.72、141.0 8± 8.49;c- jun m RNA仅出现于缺血侧皮层 ,A、B、C组的 c- jun m RNA均增加明显 ,灰度分别为 171.82± 7.33、172 .5 6± 7.91、15 5 .0 9± 7.91,其中 C组的增加更为显著 (P<0 .0 1)。结论　胰岛素促进缺血脑组织 c- fos、c- jun基因表达可能是其神经保护作用机制之一。     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注DNA损伤原位检测

目的 研究大鼠大脑中动脉缺血再灌注时，DNA损伤随再灌注时程在各脑区的动态分布情况。方法 用线栓闭合大鼠大脑中动脉30min，然后分别再灌注30min、1h、2h、4h、6h、12h、24h和48h。采用原位PANG（DNA聚合酶I介导的生物素标记的dATP缺口平移)及原位TUENL(末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP末端标记)分别检测DNA损伤的单链断裂(SSBs)及双链断裂(DSBs)，分别观察SSBs细胞和DSBs细胞在大鼠前囟水平冠状切面的脑组织切片各区域的分布。结果 DNA单链断裂和双链断裂都首先发生在尾壳核(CPU)，而且在再灌注的各时间点，分布在尾壳核和梨状皮质(PI)的PANT或TUNEL阳性细胞数量显著多于分布在额叶皮质(FR)及顶叶皮质(PA)的数量(P＜0．05)。DNA单链断裂比双链断裂发生要早。结论 尾壳核和梨状皮质是受缺血影响的中心区域，额叶和顶叶皮质是受缺血影响相对较轻的区域，可能是缺血半影区。     

Changes in expression of mRNAs in the gerbil hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

The phenomenon of delayed neuronal death in CA1 neurons following brief duration of global ischemia has eluded definitive explanation. Using a differential display technique, we examined changes in expression of mRNAs in the hippocampus following 5-min cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, gerbils were sacrificed by decapitation at 6 h (n = 20) and 2 days (n = 20) after ischemia, and sham-operated gerbils (n = 20) were sacrificed at 6 h after surgery. Total RNA was isolated from the hippocampal samples in each group for the differential display analysis. The mRNAs were classified into three patterns; gradual disappearance, decrease and recovery, and new appearance. Representative mRNAs in three patterns were subcloned and sequenced partly. An mRNA in the gradual disappearance pattern showed homologous with neuronal pentraxin. In situ hybridization and Northern blot analyses of neuronal pentraxin revealed the gradual disappearance pattern. An mRNA in the decrease and recovery pattern showed homologous with 14-3-3 protein gamma-subtype, and an mRNA in the new appearance pattern showed no homology in the data base. The differential display analysis is a useful technique with which to investigate changes in expression of mRNAs following transient cerebral ischemia. The novel mRNA may be involved in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Further studies are necessary for this point.     

The dual specificity phosphatase PAC-1 is transcriptionally induced in the rat brain following transient forebrain ischemia

PAC-1 mRNA has previously been found only in activated T-cells in vitro and in vivo. The gene encodes a dual specificity protein phosphatase that regulates MAP kinase activity. Here, I describe that PAC-1 mRNA is induced also in neurons in the rat brain following 30 min of forebrain ischemia. At 6, 12 and 24 h after ischemia, PAC-1 mRNA was found most prominently in hippocampal cells which are resistant to 30 min of forebrain ischemia, but not in the selectively vulnerable CA1 sector. At later time points and in control animals no PAC-1 mRNA could be detected in any brain region. The protein-tyrosine/threonine phosphatase PAC-1, therefore, may be involved in adaptational responses of hippocampal cells resistant to ischemic injury.     

Changes in expression of mRNAs in the gerbil hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

Abstract

The phenomenon of delayed neuronal death in CA 1 neurons following brief duration of global ischemia has eluded definitive explanation. Using a differential display technique, we examined changes in expression ofmRNAs in the hippocampus following 5-min cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils.. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, gerbils were sacrificed by decapitation at 6 h (n = 20) and 2 days (n = 20) after ischemia, and sham-operated gerbils (n = 20) were sacrificed at 6 h after surgery. Total RNA was isolated from the hippocampal samples in each group for the differential display analysis. The mRNAs were classified into three patterns; gradual disappearance, decrease and recovery, and new appearance. Representative mRNAs in three patterns were subcloned and sequenced partly. An mRNA in the gradual disappearance pattern showed homologous with neuronal pentraxin. In situ hybridization and Northern blot analyses of neuronal pentraxin revealed the gradual disappearance pattern. An mRNA in the decrease and recovery pattern showed homologous with 14-3-3 protein y-subtype, and an mRNA in the new e appearance pattern showed no homology in the data base. The differential display analysis is a useful technique with which to investigate changes in expression ofmRNAs following transient cerebral ischemia. The novel mRNA may be involved in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Further studies are necessary for this point. [Neural Res 2000; 22: 825-831]     

Regional expression of heat shock protein-70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA following focal ischemia in rat brain.

In situ hybridization was used to estimate regional levels of heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) mRNA and c-fos mRNA in two related models of focal cerebral ischemia. In the first model, permanent occlusion of the distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) alone caused a patchy increase in HSP-70 mRNA by 1 h in the central zone of the MCA territory of the ipsilateral neocortex. Tissue levels of HSP-70 mRNA continued to increase for several hours and remained elevated at 24 h. In contrast to the focal expression of HSP-70, c-fos mRNA was increased throughout the ipsilateral cerebral cortex by 15 min and remained elevated for least 3 h. The wide distribution of c-fos expression suggests it may have been caused by spreading depression. In the second model, severe focal ischemia was produced with a combination of transient (1-h) bilateral carotid artery occlusion and permanent MCA occlusion. Combined occlusion for 1 h without reperfusion caused expression of HSP-70 mRNA only in regions adjacent to the central zone of the MCA territory of the neocortex. However, reperfusion of the carotids for 2 h generated intense expression of HSP-70 mRNA throughout most of the ipsilateral cerebral cortex, white matter, striatum, and hippocampus. The wide-spread increase in HSP-70 mRNA suggests that reperfusion triggered expression in all previously ischemic regions. However, at 24 h of reperfusion, increased levels of HSP-70 mRNA were restricted primarily to the ischemic core of the neocortex. These results suggest that expression of HSP-70 mRNA is prolonged in regions undergoing injury, but is transient in surrounding regions that recover.     

LY178002 reduces rat brain damage after transient global forebrain ischemia

Several feasible mechanisms have been proposed as sources of neuronal damage from ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. Included among these are oxidative damage caused by free radical production and lipid peroxidation and products derived from phospholipid breakdown. A series of 4-thiazolidinone compounds represented by LY178002 (5-[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methylene-4-thiazolidinon e) have been described as inhibitors of multiple enzymes in the arachidonic acid cascade, including fatty acid cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and phospholipase A2. Accordingly, we evaluated LY178002 in a four-vessel occlusion model of global forebrain ischemia with reperfusion. A 2-hour pretreatment of 11 male Wistar rats with 150 mg/kg LY178002 significantly protected against striatal (p = 0.0007) and hippocampal CA1 (p = 0.006) damage after 30 minutes of global ischemia. Similar protection was observed for the striatum (p = 0.005) and hippocampal CA1 layer (p = 0.025) after pretreatment of 13 rats with 50 mg/kg LY178002. We further evaluated LY178002 as a possible inhibitor of lipid peroxidation because part of its chemical structure incorporates the aromatic backbone of the known antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene. We found LY178002 to be a potent inhibitor of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Few substances possessing a single pharmacological activity have been found to be of significant therapeutic benefit in global ischemia of 30 minutes' duration because the mechanisms that lead to cell death in response to ischemia are likely to be multifactorial. Thus, the efficacy of LY178002 in this model may be due to its ability to inhibit multiple sources of damage.     

Developmental expression of somatostatin in mouse brain. II. In situ hybridization

The distribution and the levels of expression of preprosomatostatin (PPSOM) mRNA were examined during pre- and postnatal development of the mouse brain using the in situ hybridization technique. The signal obtained by in situ hybridization of embryonic tissues at day 14 and day 17 of gestation was highest over the neurons of the pyriform cortex, amygdala, and entopeduncular nucleus. The signal was very low over cells of the neocortex and the developing hippocampal formation. The density of grains overlying the neurons of the amygdala and pyriform cortex continued to be high during early postnatal life, but decreased as the animals became adults. A progressive increase of PPSOM mRNA expression was observed in postnatal animals in the stratum oriens and dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation. In the cerebral cortex and striatum, the number of these neurons became maximal between postnatal weeks 1 and 3. In the diencephalon, the highest densities of grains were found over neurons in the nucleus reticularis thalami and zona incerta at postnatal day 21; these levels declined slightly thereafter. The cells of the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus had high densities of grains as early as postnatal week 1 and continued to have high densities of grains in adult animals. These patterns of hybridization density parallelled the distribution of SOM-like immunoreactivity in the mouse brain. When PPSOM mRNA expression was examined in the cerebral cortices of mice that received lesions of the nucleus basalis of Meynert as neonates, a transient increase in the number of cells expressing PPSOM mRNA was observed in the frontoparietal cortex ipsilateral to the lesion at postnatal day 10, but not at postnatal day 30. Importantly, the density of grains over the individual cells was not altered in lesioned animals at these two ages.     

Comparison of calpain and caspase activities in the adult rat brain after transient forebrain ischemia

The role of calpain and caspase family proteases in postischemic neuronal death remains controversial. This study compared the timing, location, and relative activity of calpains and caspases in the adult rat brain following 10 min of transient forebrain ischemia. Western blots of cortical, striatal, and hippocampal homogenates demonstrated a alpha-spectrin cleavage pattern indicative of predominant calpain activity, which peaked between 24 and 48 h after reperfusion. However, immunohistochemical evidence of both caspase 3 activation and caspase-mediated substrate cleavage was detected as early as 1 h and as late as 7 days after reperfusion in circumscribed neuronal populations. Simultaneous or sequential caspase and calpain activation was also observed suggesting the potential for interaction of these protease systems. The complex spatiotemporal pattern of calpain and caspase activity observed in this study provides important insights for the development and evaluation of therapeutic strategies to reduce protease-mediated injury following global brain ischemia.     

Hypothermia reduces 72-kDa heat-shock protein induction in rat brain after transient forebrain ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined the influence of concurrent moderate hypothermia (30 degrees C) and transient forebrain ischemia on the induction of 72-kDa heat-shock protein and neuronal damage in male Wistar rats. SUMMARY OF REPORT: Experimental groups included: normothermic with 8 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia (group 1, n = 7), hypothermic without ischemia (group 2, n = 9), and hypothermic (30 degrees C) with 8 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia (group 3, n = 5). Intense 72-kDa heat-shock protein immunoreactivity was demonstrated in rat forebrain 48 hours after induction of normothermic forebrain ischemia (group 1); it was not detected in the brain of animals subjected to hypothermia without ischemia (group 2), and hypothermia during ischemia (group 3) significantly inhibited its expression compared with that in normothermic ischemia animals (group 1). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that 72-kDa heat-shock protein induction is not the mechanism by which moderate hypothermia protects against ischemic cell damage.