金纳多对血管性痴呆小鼠海马结构NOS表达的影响

目的观察银杏叶提取物(EGB)金纳多对血管性痴呆(VD)小鼠海马结构神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)表达的影响,探讨银杏叶提取物对血管性痴呆的治疗作用。方法复制VD小鼠模型,利用Y-迷宫检测VD模型小鼠学习记忆能力及不同剂量EGB治疗组的改善作用,实时定量PCR方法检测不同剂量EGB对VD小鼠海马结构中NOSmRNA转录水平的影响,组织化学和免疫组化方法研究其对NOS和nNOS蛋白表达的影响。结果行为学结果显示VD模型组和各治疗组小鼠均比对照组小鼠Y-迷宫学习记忆训练次数明显增多(<0.05),高低两个剂量EGB治疗组迷宫学会次数与模型组相比明显减少(<0.05),有剂量依赖性。实时定量PCR结果显示在背侧海马VD模型组nNOS mRNA转录水平显著提高,而高低EGB治疗组的nNOS mRNA转录水平显著降低(<0.05)。组织化学和免疫组化结果显示在海马结构CA1区VD模型组比对照组NOS和nNOS阳性神经元的数量明显增多(<0.05),高低两个EGB治疗组与VD模型组相比阳性神经元数量明显减少(<0.05)。结论银杏叶提取物对VD小鼠神经元有保护作用,可能与减少海马结构NOS的表达相关。     

牛磺酸锌对睡眠剥夺大鼠脑认知功能的影响及机理

目的:探索补锌对睡眠剥夺(SD)后大鼠脑认知功能的影响及机制。方法:采用小平台水环境法制作大鼠SD模型,3天后通过Y-型迷宫行为测试结合NADPH-d组化与免疫组化ABC法,分别观察大鼠海马结构不同亚区内一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性与神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)蛋白表达水平的变化。结果:SD组大鼠迷宫实验学会次数(89.3±25.3)较正常对照组大鼠(67.1±29.3)增加(t=1.81,P<0.05),补牛磺酸锌(5.9g/kg饲料牛磺酸锌水平)组大鼠的迷宫实验学会次数(71.9±21.4)较SD组减少(t=1.66,P<0.05)。与正常对照组大鼠海马结构的NOS(CA1:32.6±2.1;CA3:20.5±1.8;DG:27.5±1.8)活性和nNOS蛋白(CA1:68.3±4.1;CA3:41.7±2.5;DG:44.4±2.8)表达相比,SD组大鼠海马结构各亚区NOS(CA1:14.8±1.2;CA3:10.6±1.0;DG:13.1±1.3)活性和CA1区与齿状回nNOS蛋白(CA1:51.3±3.6;DG:41.6±2.7)表达减少(P<0.05),CA3区nNOS蛋白变化不明显(38.1±4.8,P>0.05)。与SD组大鼠相比,补牛磺酸锌组大鼠海马结构不同亚区内的NOS表达增加(CA1:27.2±2.8;CA3:15.3±1.6;DG:21.8±1.9,P<0.05),CA1区的nNOS蛋白表达增加(60.1±3.4,P<0.05),CA3和齿状回nNOS表达变化不明显(CA3:39.6±4.9;DG:42.8±3.5,P>0.05)。结论:牛磺酸锌对大鼠学习记忆功能有促进作用,其机理可能与上调海马结构NOS、nNOS表达水平有关。     

17 老年学习记忆减退大鼠海马和新皮质小白蛋白阳性神经元的丢失

<正>小白蛋白(Parvalbumin,pv)是一种细胞内钙调节蛋白,存在于GABA能神经元的一个亚型中,有研究报道它与学习记忆有密切关系.本文研究了衰老脑PV阳性神经元的变化及其与老年性学习记忆缺陷的关系.实验以青年鼠在Morris水迷宫测试中平均逃避潜伏期99%和95%正常值范围,将老年鼠分为学习记忆损害组和学习记忆正常组.用免疫组化方法显示海马结构、额皮质和颞皮质的PV阳性神经元,并对其进行定量分析.结果发现老年正常、损害组海马CAI区PV阳性神经元数量较青年组均明显减少(P<0.01),CA3区和齿状回老年正常、损害组PV阳性神经元数量较青年组显著减少(P<0.01),此外,老年损害组也较老年正常组明显减少(P<0.05),颞皮质只有老年损害组PV阳性神经元较青年组明显减少(P<0.05).相关分析结果表明被检脑区PV阳性神经元数量与大鼠在Morris水迷宫的平均逃避潜伏期、原平台象限游泳距离百分比分别呈显著正相关和负相关关系(P<0.01,r=-0.68;P<0.01,r=0.70).本研究结果提示在老年大鼠颞叶皮质和海马结构,尤其是海马CA3区和齿状回的PV阳性神经元的丢失可能与老年性学习记忆缺陷有关.     

Meynert核毁损后大鼠海马结构内生长抑素阳性神经元的变化

目的 观察Meynert核毁损后大鼠海马结构内生长抑素(SS)阳性神经元变化,探讨SS参与学习记忆的机制.方法以海人酸(1μg/每侧)毁损双侧Meynert(NBM)核建立学习记忆障碍模型,用避暗回避实验进行行为学检测,免疫组织化学染色后光镜下观察并计数海马结构内SS阳性神经元.结果 1.NBM受损后大鼠记忆力明显下降,与正常组比较具有显著性差异;2.NBM受损后各组海马结构内SS阳性神经元数量明显减少,与正常组比较具有高度显著性差异.细胞形态的改变主要表现为胞质着色减弱,阳性突起变短.结论 NBM损毁后大鼠海马结构内SS阳性神经元数量显著减少,此过程参与了NBM毁损导致的大鼠学习记忆障碍.     

跑步对早期APP/PS1转基因阿尔茨海默病小鼠海马CA1区和齿状回神经元数量的影响

目的:应用体视学方法定量研究跑步对早期APP/PS1转基因阿尔茨海默病(AD)小鼠海马CA1和齿状回区域内神经元的影响。方法:将6月龄雄性APP/PS1转基因AD小鼠,随机分为跑步组和未跑步对照组。用Morris水迷宫检测2组小鼠的空间学习记忆能力,然后用体视学方法定量研究海马CA1和齿状回区域的体积和神经元的数量。结果:与对照组相比,跑步组AD小鼠Morris水迷宫的逃避潜伏期明显缩短,平台所在象限时间百分比和穿越平台次数均显著增加。体视学研究显示,跑步组AD小鼠海马CA1和齿状回的体积分别比对照组显著增大42.8%和27.3%,并且跑步组AD小鼠海马CA1和齿状回区域内的神经元数量分别比对照组显著增加61.8%和62.2%。结论:跑步能延缓早期AD小鼠空间学习记忆能力的下降;并且可降低AD小鼠海马CA1和齿状回区域内神经元的死亡。     

血管性痴呆大鼠海马Ng及其磷酸化水平的动态变化

目的:观察血管性痴呆(VD)模型大鼠海马神经颗粒素(Ng)及其磷酸化水平的动态变化,探讨Ng在VD学习记忆功能障碍中的作用及其机制。方法:采用双侧颈总动脉夹闭再灌注同时腹腔注射硝普纳建立血管性痴呆模型,在15d,1,2,4个月等时间点,采用Morris水迷宫和免疫荧光方法分别观察大鼠空间学习记忆能力及海马Ng及其磷酸化水平的变化。结果:模型组大鼠各时间点的逃逸潜伏期(EL)比假手术组均明显延长(P0.01);海马CA1区Ng及其磷酸化Ng免疫阳性神经细胞数表达较假手术组明显减少(P0.01,P0.05),而且随造模手术后时间的延长,以上变化逐渐加重。齿状回仅在2个月和4个月时间点的免疫阳性神经细胞数比假手术组显著减少(P0.01,P0.05)。结论:模型组大鼠的空间学习记忆功能障碍可能与海马(特别是CA1区)的Ng及其磷酸化Ng表达水平持续降低有关。     

大鼠海马结构在空间辨别性学习记忆时突触素表达的变化

目的:探讨空间辨别性学习记忆活动与突触可塑性的关系。方法:用免疫组织化学方法对具有空间辨别性学习记忆功能的模型大鼠与对照组大鼠海马结构内突触素I的表达进行对比研究。结果:(1)对照组大鼠海马结构内未见明显的突触素颗粒产物;在模型组,经水迷宫训练1周的大鼠海马切片上见到齿状回、CA4和CA3区出现深染的颗粒分布,CA2和CA1区颗粒较少;训练2周的大鼠海马结构内的染色显示颗粒与训练1周的比较无明显差异,但染色加深;(2)模型组大鼠的突触素反应产物的光密度值明显大于对照组(P＜0.05);模型组大鼠海马结构内突触素光密度值在训练的1~2周内随训练时间增加而增加,训练2~3周则增加不明显;模型组大鼠海马结构CA3、CA4区和齿状回突触素反应产物的光密度值较CA1和CA2区的大,差异有显著(P＜0.05)。结论:(1)大鼠经水迷宫训练获得空间辨别性学习记忆功能时在海马结构内有新突触形成;(2)海马结构的CA3、CA4区和齿状回与空间辨别性学习记忆的关系密切。     

母鼠孕哺期铅暴露及补充铁、钙对子代神经系统的影响

目的观察孕哺期铅暴露及补充铁和钙对子代学习记忆能力及海马细胞中生长抑素（SS）表达的影响。方法母鼠从孕期第1天至仔鼠出生第30天哺乳期间给以下干预：对照组（A）：饮用去离子水;染铅组（B）：饮用浓度为0．1％醋酸铅去离子水;铁＋铅组（C）：饮用浓度为0．1％醋酸铅的去离子水同时每天灌胃3．0mg／kg铁;铁＋钙＋铅组（D）：饮用浓度为0．1％醋酸铅的去离子水同时每天灌胃3．0mg／kg铁和250mg／kg钙。Y-迷宫试验用于检测仔鼠的学习记忆能力,采用免疫组织化学的方法观察仔鼠海马细胞中生长抑素（SS）阳性神经元。结果B组与A组比较,仔鼠Y-迷宫试验的错误次数明显增多（P〈0．05）,海马CA1、CA3区SS阳性神经元数量减少（P〈0．05）。D组Y-迷宫试验的错误次数比B组明显减少（P〈0．05）,海马CAI区SS阳性神经元数量增多,有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。C组则未表现上述变化。结论孕哺期母体铅暴露会损害仔鼠的学习记忆能力,补充钙剂可有所改善,而补充铁则没有明显改变,并能从海马组织中SS表达的改变得到印证。     

亚甲蓝对APP/PS1转基因小鼠学习记忆及海马结构内GFAP表达的影响

目的:观察亚甲蓝对APP/PS1转基因小鼠学习记忆及胶质纤维酸性蛋白(Glial fibrillary acidic pro-tein,GFAP)在海马结构表达变化的影响。方法:20只3月龄APP/PS1小鼠,随机分2组,每组10只,对照组:自由饮水;治疗组:根据小鼠饮水量将亚甲蓝加入日常饮水中(25 mg/kg/d)连用4个月至7月龄。水迷宫测试观察其行为学的改变,免疫组化、Western Blot和TUNEL染色法观察GFAP在海马结构的表达及神经元的凋亡情况。结果:水迷宫测试结果显示亚甲蓝喂养组APP/PS1转基因小鼠第2～4 d的平均潜伏期显著低于对照组小鼠的潜伏期,说明治疗组与对照组相比在7个月时出现明显差异(P<0.05);免疫组化和Western结果显示治疗组海马结构内的GFAP在APP/PS1转基因小鼠的表达下调(P<0.05)。TUNEL染色法显示治疗组海马CA1、CA3区和齿状回TUNEL阳性细胞数较对照组明显减少(P<0.05)。结论:亚甲蓝能够下调APP/PS1小鼠海马结构内GFAP蛋白的表达,并通过抑制海马结构神经元的凋亡,提高APP/PS1小鼠的认知能力。     

宫内缺氧对成年小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的:探讨孕鼠宫内缺氧对成年小鼠学习记忆能力的影响。方法:用低张性缺氧模型致胎龄13、15、17d小鼠宫内缺氧,新生鼠P1、P7、P14、P28、P90脑组织作Nissl染色,观察海马CA3区锥体细胞层神经元数目及形态,P90小鼠行Morris水迷宫实验。结果:与正常组比较,宫内缺氧组小鼠海马CA3区锥体细胞层神经元数量明显减少,逃避潜伏期延长及穿环次数明显减少。结论:宫内缺氧导致小鼠海马CA3区锥体细胞层神经元数目减少及成年小鼠学习记忆能力降低。     

Development in in vitro toxicology

There are three principal pressures driving the development of in vitro toxicology: (1) the need for more efficient testing systems to cope with the large number of xenobiotics currently being developed; (2) public pressure to reduce animal experimentation; and (3) a need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity. Within this, in vitro toxicology is focused on local, systemic, and target-organ toxicity. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a step or decision-tree approach using input of a variety of experimental data (physicochemical properties, biokinetics, cytotoxicity) provides the most efficient system for predicting toxicity. Examples of the use of in vitro toxicity systems for prediction of systemic toxicity and target-organ (liver) toxicity are presented.Originally presented at ECCP 93.     

Seasonal variations in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Slovenia

Between December 1999 and December 2004, 40 081 pregnant women were examined for toxoplasmosis with Toxo-IgG, Toxo-IgM enzyme immunoassay. Women with positive results were then retested with the Toxo-IgG avidity assay for recent toxoplasmosis. Recent acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be significantly more frequent (p < 0.01) during winter than summer. The incidence of acute toxoplasmosis during winter-spring was also significantly more frequent (p < 0.025) than summer-autumn. This phenomenon should be taken into account when formulating preventive measures for toxoplasmosis, especially for pregnant women.     

Age-related changes in polyamines in memory-associated brain structures in rats

Polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are positively charged aliphatic amines and have important roles in maintaining normal cellular function, regulating neurotransmitter receptors and modulating learning and memory. Recent evidence suggests a role of putrescine in hippocampal neurogenesis, that is significantly impaired during aging. The present study measured the polyamine levels in memory-related brain structures in 24- (aged), 12- (middle-aged) and 4- (young) month-old rats using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. In the hippocampus, the putrescine levels were significantly decreased in the CA1 and dentate gyrus, and increased in the CA2/3 with age. Significant age-related increases in the spermidine levels were found in the CA1 and CA2/3. There was no difference between groups in spermine in any sub-regions examined. In the parahippocampal region, increased putrescine level with age was observed in the entorhinal cortex, and age did not alter the spermidine levels. The spermine level was significantly decreased in the perirhinal cortex and increased in the postrhinal cortex with age. In the prefrontal cortex, there was age-related decrease in putrescine, and the spermidine and spermine levels were significantly increased with age. This study, for the first time, demonstrates age-related region-specific changes in polyamines in memory-associated structures, suggesting that polyamine system dysfunction may potentially contribute to aged-related impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis and learning and memory.     

休克过程中肾上腺髓质素变化的研究进展

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a new peptidergic regulator of vascular function. AM serves as a hormone, which has many biological properties, plays an important role in the many pathophysiological processes, especially shock. This review will highlight the structure, biological properties of AM and the relationship between AM and shock.     

Secular change in menarche in women in Madrid

The age at menarche was estimated by recollection in 1617 women between the ages of 18 and 60 in Madrid and a nearby suburb, Pinto. The population of Pinto is working-class and the Madrid group, taken from residential neighbourhoods , belongs to the upper middle class. In both groups we found a diminution in average age at menarche, from 14.04 to 13.02 years in Madrid and from 14.55 to 13.16 years from about 1935 to about 1965 in Pinto. These changes have been more intense in the group which is less well-off economically, where living conditions have varied much more drastically.     

Pitfalls in TRAP assay in routine detection of malignancy in effusions

Telomerase has been found to be reactivated in a majority of cancers but is inactive in most somatic cells. Our principal goal was to determine the potential use of the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay as marker for malignancy in cytological effusions. The simple selection criterion was the cytological diagnosis, and routine samples were classified into malignant (58 samples) and nonmalignant (233 samples). Of the malignant samples, 44/58 (76%) were positive by TRAP assay. Of the 14 telomerase-negative cytology-positive samples, RNA integrity was poor in 9, indicating suboptimal sample conservation for molecular analysis. In 3 of the remaining 5 samples with a negative TRAP assay, a high number of malignant cells was observed, and these cells might have been telomerase-negative. Thus, the sensitivity of TRAP assay for the presence of malignant cells was about 76%. In the cytologically nonmalignant effusions, the presence of telomerase activity was observed in 24% (55/233). Of these, 6% were highly suspicious for malignancy, 9% were doubtful, and 9% were cytologically nonmalignant effusions confirmed by a follow-up of 12 mo or more. According to these data, the specificity of the TRAP assay to detect tumor cells in effusions ranged only between 82-91%. Our results indicate that, although the TRAP assay is positive in 6-15% of putative malignant effusions, the relatively high number of TRAP false-negative and false-positive cases renders this test unsuitable for routine diagnostic purposes.