Changes in vasoactive intestinal peptide and arginine vasopressin expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat brain following footshock stress

The neuropeptides, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are synthesized by neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus and are important regulators of SCN function. Previous studies have demonstrated that acute exposure to stressors can disrupt circadian activity rhythms, suggesting the possibility of stress-related alterations in the expression of these neuropeptides within SCN neurons. In this study, we examined the effect of intermittent footshock stress on AVP mRNA and heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) and VIP mRNA expression in neurons of the SCN. Young adult male Sprague/Dawley rats were subjected to 15 s of scrambled intermittent footshock (0.50 mA pulses, 1 pulse/s, 300 ms duration) every 5 min for 30 min. Animals were sacrificed 75 or 135 min after the onset of stress and brains examined for AVP mRNA and hnRNA, and VIP mRNA using in situ hybridization. Footshock stress increased AVP hnRNA levels at the 75 min time point whereas AVP mRNA was elevated at both the 75 and 135 min time points. In contrast, footshock stress decreased the number of cells expressing VIP mRNA in the SCN without changing hybridization level per cell. These data indicate that the disruptive effect of stress on activity rhythms correlate with alterations in the expression of regulatory peptides within the SCN.     

中枢CRH在大鼠应激性体温升高和LPS性发热机制中的作用

目的:进一步观察中枢促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)在大鼠应激性体温升高和脂多糖(LPS)性发热中枢机制中的作用。方法:第三脑室微量注射CRH受体拮抗剂α-helicalCRH(9-41)和LPS,测定大鼠结肠温度及脑腹中隔区精氨酸加压素(AVP)含量。结果:生理盐水对照组大鼠体温明显升高,最大升幅为(0.88±0.31)℃。第三脑室注射CRH受体拮抗剂α-helicalCRH(9-41)10min后再注射生理盐水组,90min内大鼠结肠温度未见明显波动,90min后体温开始上升,1.5h体温反应指数(TRI_1.5)明显低于生理盐水对照组,而脑腹中隔区AVP含量和TRI_3.5与对照组比较均没有明显差别。第三脑室注射300ng的LPS引起大鼠结肠温度双相性升高,其TRI_3.5明显高于生理盐水对照组。事先向第三脑室注射α-helicalCRH(9-41)(5μg)再注射LPS组,TRI_3.5明显高于LPS组,而脑腹中隔区AVP含量明显低于LPS组。结论:CRH介导应激诱导的早期体温升高。CRH可能通过诱导脑腹中隔区AVP的生成限制大鼠LPS性发热。在大鼠LPS性发热中,CRH可能是一种双相作用分子,一方面本身介导发热体温升高,另一方面又诱生发热体温负调节介质而限制发热体温的升高。     

Distribution of glucagon-like peptide-1 immunoreactivity in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) plays a role in modulating neuroendocrine and autonomic function. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) contains aggregations of GLP-1 fibers and expresses GLP-1 receptors, making it a likely site of action for GLP-1 signaling. The current study was designed to establish domains of GLP-1 action, focusing on axosomatic appositions on different neuroendocrine and autonomic cell populations in the PVN. The data indicate abundant GLP-1-immunoreactive terminal appositions on corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the medial parvocellular PVN. GLP-1 positive boutons can also be observed in apposition to oxytocinergic neurons and on retrogradely labeled pre-autonomic neurons projecting to the region of the nucleus of the solitary tract. In contrast, there were very few vasopressinergic neurons with GLP-1 appositions. Overall, the data indicate that the central GLP-1 system preferentially targets neurons in hypophysiotrophic zones of the PVN, consistent with excitatory actions of GLP-1 on adrenocorticotropin release. GLP-1 is also in position to influence oxytocin secretion and control outflow to brainstem cardiovascular relays.     

Increased enkephalin in brain of rats prone to overconsuming a fat-rich diet

Recent studies have shown that the opioid enkephalin (ENK), acting in part through the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), can stimulate consumption of a high-fat diet. The objective of the present study was to examine sub-populations of Sprague-Dawley rats naturally prone to overconsuming a high-fat diet and determine whether endogenous ENK, in different brain regions, is altered in these animals and possibly contributes to their behavioral phenotype. An animal model, involving a measure of initial high-fat diet intake during a few days of access that predicts long-term intake, was designed to classify rats at normal weight that are either high-fat consumers (HFC), which ingest 35% more calories of the high-fat than low-fat chow diet, or controls, which consume similar calories of these two diets. Immediately after their initial access to the diet, the HFC compared to control rats exhibited significantly greater expression of ENK mRNA, in the PVN, nucleus accumbens and central nucleus of the amygdala, but not the arcuate nucleus or basolateral amygdala. This site-specific increase in ENK persisted even when the HFC rats were maintained on a chow diet, suggesting that it reflects an inherent characteristic that can be expressed independently of the diet. It was also accompanied by a greater responsiveness of the HFC rats to the stimulatory effect of a PVN-injected, ENK analogue, D-ala2-met-enkephalinamide, compared to saline on consumption of the high-fat diet. Thus, normal-weight rats predicted to overconsume a fat-rich diet exhibit disturbances in endogenous ENK expression and functioning that may contribute to their long-term, behavioral phenotype.     

The utility of in situ--based methodologies including in situ polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis and study of viral infections

Molecular in situ-based assays are a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of viral infections by the surgical and cytopathologist. In some cases, the viral nucleic acids and/or proteins are abundant and easily detected by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry. In other cases, such as the one integrated provirus typical of latent retroviral localization, in situ polymerase chain reaction amplification is required to localize the virus in the intact cell. Direct correlation of viral localization and the histologic changes will demonstrate in many cases that routine histopathology often does not provide sufficient information to determine what specific cells are infected and/or the number of infected cells in a given biopsy. By combining this information with, for example, cytokine localization, one can elucidate much about the pathophysiology of the viral infection that cannot be afforded by polymerase chain reaction-based methods alone.     

用细胞原位杂交方法检测NPY mRNA在PC12细胞中的表达

目的：建立ＮＰＹ ｍＲＮＡ物细胞原位杂交检测方法,并以ＮＧＦ为诱导因子研究Ｄｅｘ对大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤ＰＣ１２细胞中ＮＰＹｍＲＮＡ表达的影响。方法：采用细胞原位杂交方法。方法：ＮＧＦ具有诱导ＮＰＹ基因表达的生物学效应且呈剂量效应关系;Ｄｅｘ对ＮＰｘＲＮＡ表达具有双相调节效应,即早期（〈８ｈ）可促进ＮＧＦ的诱导作用,而晚期（〉１６ｈ）则具有抑制作用（Ｐ〈０．０１）,但单独Ｄｅｘ对ＮＰＹｍＲＮＡ表达无显著影     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase increases synaptophysin mRNA expression in the hippocampal formation of rats

Synaptophysin is a protein involved in the biogenesis of synaptic vesicles and budding. It has been used as an important tool to investigate plastic effects on synaptic transmission. Nitric oxide (NO) can influence plastic changes in specific brain regions related to cognition and emotion. Experimental evidence suggests that NO and synaptophysin are co-localized in several brain regions and that NO may change synaptophysin expression. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to investigate if inhibition of NO formation would change synaptophysin mRNA expression in the hippocampal formation. Male Wistar rats received single or repeated (once a day for 4 days) i.p. injections of saline or l-nitro-arginine (l-NOARG, 40 mg/kg), a non-selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Twenty-four hours after the last injection the animals were sacrificed and their brains removed for ‘in situ’ hybridization study using ³⁵S-labeled oligonucleotide probe complementary to synaptophysin mRNA. The results were analyzed by computerized densitometry. Acute administration of l-NOARG induced a significant (p < 0.05, ANOVA) increase in synaptophysin mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus, CA1 and CA3. The effect disappeared after repeated drug administration. No change was found in the striatum, cingulated cortex, substantia nigra or nucleus accumbens. These results reinforce the proposal that nitric oxide is involved in plastic events in the hippocampus.     

Roles of corticosterone in formalin-induced conditioned place aversion in rats

Glucocorticoid hormones have been shown to contribute to many cognitive functions, such as depressions, learning and memory, and abnormal glucocorticoid secretion results in functional changes in prefrontal cortex and amygdala. In the present study, we used the conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigm to investigate the role of corticosterone (CORT) in the negative affective component of chemical somatic pain induced by intraplantar injection of formalin into male adult Long–Evan rats. Five percent of formalin produced acute biphasic nociceptive behaviors, including flinching and licking of hindpaw, and CPA. Intraplantar formalin induced CPA was abolished by bilateral adrenalectomy and the impairment of CPA can be restored by the CORT treatment. However, the adrenalectomy failed to affect the formalin-produced acute nociceptive behaviors. Therefore, data from the present study suggest that CORT secretion by the adrenal cortex may play a role in chemical somatic noxious stimuli-induced avoidance learning and aversive memory, but not sensory discrimination of noxious stimulation.     

内源性精氨酸加压素在索曼引起的大鼠体温降低中的作用

目的:探讨内源性精氨酸加压素是否参与索曼引起的降温过程。方法:用数字体温计测量大鼠的体温,每次间隔60 min,观察了腹腔注射AVP V₁受体阻断剂(30 μg/kg)对皮下注射索曼(60 μg/kg)引起大鼠降温效应的影响,以及给索曼后2 h血浆中AVP含量的变化。结果:给索曼后可引起明显的体温降低,在给药后7 h体温恢复到基线水平。AVP V₁受体阻断剂能明显阻断索曼的降温效应。在给索曼后2 h血浆中AVP浓度明显提高。结论:实验结果证明内源性AVP参与索曼引起的降温过程。     

不同环境温度对精氨酸加压素引起的大鼠低温的影响及其与尾部散热变化的关系

 目的：探讨不同环境温度对精氨酸加压素（AVP）引起的大鼠低温及其与尾部散热变化的关系,以确定是否外周给予AVP能提高大鼠尾部散热反应。方法：实验用成年雄性SD大鼠,在3种不同环境温度（12 ℃、22 ℃和32 ℃）下,用无线遥测技术连续记录体核温度和尾部皮肤温度。上午10:00给大鼠腹腔注射AVP(10 μg/kg)或V1a受体阻断剂(30 μg/kg)。同时观察AVP或V1a受体阻断剂对大鼠背斜方肌微血管直径和理毛行为的影响。结果：(1)在3种不同环境温度中,AVP引起大鼠低温均伴有尾部皮肤温度降低反应。(2) V1a受体阻断剂能够阻断AVP引起低温和尾部皮肤温度降低效应。(3)AVP能明显引起背斜方肌微血管收缩反应。(4)AVP能提高大鼠的理毛行为(唾液理毛),而且这种作用也能被外周给予V1a受体阻断剂所阻断。(5)内源性AVP不参与正常大鼠尾部散热过程。结论：外周给予AVP引起大鼠低温,不是由于其降低了体温调定点,可能是由于其抑制了体温调节性产热和提高唾液理毛活动以增加体表蒸发散热所致。     

Voluntary exercise and clomipramine treatment elevate prepro-galanin mRNA levels in the locus coeruleus in rats

Exercise exerts antidepressant effects in humans and rodent models of affective disorders. These effects may be mediated by the upregulation of endogenous factors that exert antidepressant actions. The physiological functions and behavioral actions of the neuropeptide galanin (GAL) suggest antidepressant activity. Previous studies have shown that various modes of exercise elevate GAL gene expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) in rats. The present experiments examined the interaction between voluntary exercise and antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were provided access to activity wheels (exercise condition) or inoperative wheels (sedentary condition) for 28 days. Rats in each group were injected with clomipramine (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle throughout this period (for 3 weeks). Prepro-GAL mRNA in the LC was measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Exercise and clomipramine treatment significantly elevated GAL gene expression, though prepro-GAL mRNA levels in rats receiving both interventions did not differ from sedentary controls that received vehicle. Prepro-GAL mRNA levels were significantly correlated with running distance. The results further implicate a role for GAL in the antidepressant effects of exercise and pharmacotherapy, though the mechanisms through which these treatments influence GAL gene expression appear to differ significantly.     

致敏大鼠肺组织一氧化氮的变化与气道炎症关系的研究

目的 探讨致敏大鼠肺组织一氧化氮（ＮＯ）的变化及其与气道炎症的关系。方法 采用原位杂交及免疫组化技术（ＡＢＣ法）,观察卵蛋白致敏大鼠过敏性气道炎症肺组织中诱导型一氧化氮合酶（ｉＮＯＳ）基因表达与气道炎性细胞、活化Ｔ淋巴细胞间的关系。结果 ｉＮＯＳ ｍＲＮＡ主要表达于致敏大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞臁细支乞管上皮细胞,与肺组织匀浆中ＮＯ代谢产物增高相一致。定量表达于致敏大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞及细支气管上皮细胞,与肺组     

大鼠双后肢高能爆炸伤后远位器官的研究

为了探讨大鼠双后肢高能爆炸伤后，远位器官的形态学改变的这些器官中的生长抑素和促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子的变化，用原位杂交组织化学、免疫组织化学、常规光、电镜技术和图像分析等方法作为研究手段，结果显示：１、大鼠双后肢炸伤后，超微结构有明显变化，１．大鼠双后肢伤后，超微结构有变化，主要表现为小肠，膀胱中的血管内皮皱缩，胞质内吞饮小泡增多及脑内神经毡水肿和轴突退行性变。２．炸伤后，远位器官中ＳＯＭ及ＳＯＭ     

Involvement of arginine vasopressin in endogenous central histamine-induced reversal of critical haemorrhagic hypotension in rats

Objective and design:Histamine is a potent stimulator of arginine vasopressin (AVP) release and therefore, the role of AVP was studied in the reversal of critical haemorrhagic hypotension induced by endogenous central histamine after inhibition of histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) activity in rats. Material:In 48 ethylurethane-anaesthetised male Wistar rats cardiovascular parameters and plasma hormone concentrations were measured. Treatment:Haemorrhage-shocked rats with mean arterial pressure (MAP) 20–25 mmHg were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) with HNMT inhibitor metoprine (20 g) after pre-treatment with V_1a, V_1b and V₂ receptor antagonists – [-mercapto-,cyclopentamethylenepropionyl¹, O-me-Tyr²,Arg⁸]AVP (10 g/kg; iv), SSR149415 (10 mg/kg; ip) and [adamantaneacetyl¹,O-Et-D-Tyr²,Val⁴, aminobutyryl⁶,Arg^8,9]AVP (10 g/kg; iv), respectively, or saline. Methods:MAP, heart rate (HR) and regional haemodynamics were monitored within 2 h after treatment or to death if it occurred earlier. Plasma hormone concentrations were measured using enzyme immunoassays. ANOVA followed by Neuman-Keules test, and Fishers exact test were used to compare the results. Results:Metoprine produced a long-lasting increase in MAP, HR, renal, hindquarters and mesenteric blood flows, and a 100% survival at 2 h (P < 0.05 vs. the control group). The action was associated with increased plasma AVP concentration (587.5 ± 98.9 vs. 387.3 ± 125.2 pg/ml; P < 0.05) in comparison to the control group as measured at 20 min after treatment. V_1a, but not V_1b and V₂, receptor antagonist inhibited metoprine-induced haemodynamic effects, with no influence on survival at 2 h. SSR149415 did not influence ACTH and adrenaline plasma concentrations in the metoprine-treated group. Conclusion:AVP, acting via V_1a receptors, is involved in endogenous central histamine-induced reversal of critical haemorrhagic hypotension in rats.Received 9 October 2003; returned for revision 2 December 2003; accepted by A. Falus 23 December 2003     

糖尿病视网膜病变早期血管内皮生长因子作用机制的研究

目的:通过链脲佐菌素(streptozocin,STZ)糖尿病大鼠视网膜的石蜡切片及血管铺片,研究糖尿病大鼠视网膜病变时血管内皮生长因子(vascularendothelialgrowthfactor,VEGF)作用的分子病理机制。方法:建立糖尿病大鼠模型,随机分为正常对照组(C),糖尿病1月组(M₁)、3月组(M₃)、5月组(M₅)。分别在视网膜石蜡切片及血管铺片上行VEGF原位杂交和免疫组化。结果:①石蜡切片:原位杂交仅M₅表达为67%;免疫组化M₃表达为34%,M₅表达为89%。②视网膜血管铺片:原位杂交仅M₅表达为34%;免疫组化仅M₅表达为56%。结论:①除内皮细胞外,周细胞及Müller细胞也可产生VEGF;②糖尿病视网膜病变早期VEGF可能是来源于旁分泌途径。     

The role of the inferior colliculus in a genetic model of audiogenic seizures

Previous studies have shown the functional importance of the inferior colliculus (IC) for the propagation and initiation of audiogenic seizures in several models of epilepsy in rats. A review of the cell types and cytoarchitecture of the IC, including its three major subdivisions, is presented. Significant increases in GABA levels and the number of GABAergic neurons are found in the central nucleus of the IC (ICCN) of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) as compared to Sprague-Dawley rats that do not display audiogenic seizures. Two independent anatomical methods were used to determine the number of GABAergic neurons, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. In both types of preparation, the labeled cells in the ICCN appeared to be of different sizes but the number of small cells with diameters less than 15 m showed the greatest increase. Nisslstained sections showed that the total number of neurons in the ICCN was increased in GEPR-9s and indicated that the increase in GABAergic neurons was not due to a change in the phenotype of collicular neurons from non-GABAergic to GABAergic. The number of small neurons in Nissl-stained sections of the ICCN was shown to correlate with seizure severity in the offspring of crosses made between Sprague-Dawley rats and GEPR-9s. Furthermore, the GEPR-3s that display moderate seizures showed a significant increase in the number of small neurons in the ICCN, and the magnitude of this increase was predicted from this correlation. Finally, the use of knife cuts through the midbrain indicated that the ICCN sends an important projection to the external nucleus and that this projection plays a vital role in the propagation of seizure activity from the site of seizure initiation in the ICCN. It remains to be resolved how the increase in small GABAergic neurons in the ICCN is responsible for the known pharmacological defects observed at GABAergic synapses.     

Influence of noradrenergic input into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus on fever in the guinea-pig

The febrile response of guinea-pigs to a bacterial pyrogen was tested under different experimental conditions: (1) during electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), (2) after destruction of noradrenergic afferents into the PVN by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), (3) during a microinfusion of noradrenaline (NA) into the PVN. Electrical stimulation of the PVN neurons by implanted microelectrodes reduced the febrile response to 45% of the control values. This confirmed the proposed antipyretic function of these neurons. Chronic destruction of noradrenergic afferents to the PVN by microinjected 6-OHDA also resulted in a significant reduction of febrile responses to 38% of the control values. A microinfusion of NA into the PVN enhanced the febrile responses to bacterial endotoxin by 39% in comparison to animals microinfused with the solvent (0.9% NaCl). Immunoreactivity to an antiserum against arginine vasopressin (AVP) was compared in PVN neurons of 6-OHDA-treated and of control animals. The number of AVP-immunoreactive perikarya and the intensity of immunoreactivity were increased in the animals treated with 6-OHDA, especially in the medial part of the PVN. Since fever was increased by microinfused NA and decreased by 6-OHDA treatment, we assume an inhibitory influence of noradrenergic brain stem afferents on the proposed antipyretic vasopressinergic system of the PVN.     

N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体在大鼠丘脑前核和扣带后回的表达

目的探讨大鼠丘脑前核和扣带后回内N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体NMDAR2A,NMDAR2B及NMDAR1(NR2A.NR2B及NR1)mRNA的表达,从形态学角度为系统研究丘脑前核的功能提供了依据。方法应用原位杂交方法检测丘脑前核及扣带后回内NR2A,NR2B以及NR1 mRNA的表达。结果原位杂交阳性反应产物为棕黄色,主要分布在神经元核周围胞浆中,胞核基本不着色。在丘脑前核,阳性神经元分布较密集,细胞形态较一致。扣带后回皮质阳性神经元在在大脑皮质不同部位分布有差异,分子层染色最弱,外颗粒层密集分布且染色增强,余四层较外颗粒层松散,染色细胞减少。结论 NR2A,NR2B以及NR1广泛分布在丘脑前核和扣带后回。     

Vasopressinergic neurons in rats in ontogenesis: Responses to salt loading and their modulation by noradrenergic afferents

Salt loading in adult mammals leads to increased vasopressin secretion by vasopressinergic neurons in the supraoptic nucleus, which is mediated by the actions of a number of hormones and neurotransmitters, including noradrenaline. The present study addressed identification of the stage of ontogenesis at which vasopressinergic neurons start to respond to salt loading and when the noradrenalinergic regulation of this process beins. Studies were performed on rats at embryonic day 21 (E21), postnatal day 3 (P3), and postnatal day 13 (P13) using immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization. Animals were subjected to salt loading, in some cases on the background of the alpha1-adrenoceptor inhibitor prazosin. Salt loading in rats of all age groups induced increases in the synthesis of vasopressin mRNA, probably accompanied by increased synthesis of vasopressin peptide. At E21 and P3, intraneuronal vasopressin levels were increased; there was no change at P13. In salt loading on the background of prazosin administration, vasopressin mRNA and vasopressin contents at E21 showed no change, while at P3 they were increased, which is evidence of the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on vasopressin expression in the early postnatal period. Thus, vasopressinergic neurons start to respond to salt loading at the end of the prenatal period with increases in vasopressin expression; noradrenergic afferents have inhibitory influences on vasopressin expression in the early postnatal period.