心肌梗死大鼠血清对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞的影响

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞的分化与微环境密切相关,心肌梗死后,心肌细胞发生坏死,补体活化,自由基产生,分泌各种细胞因子,患者的血清成分也发生改变,这些改变究竟对骨髓间质干细胞向心肌细胞分化存在怎样的影响？ 目的：观察急性心肌梗死大鼠血清在体外对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞的作用。 设计、时间及地点：对比观察体外细胞学实验,于2005-09/2006-06在中山大学干细胞与组织工程中心实验室完成。 材料：体质量50~80 g 三四周龄SD大鼠用于骨髓间质干细胞分离培养;体质量200~300 g 6~8周龄SD大鼠用于制作急性心肌梗死大鼠模型。 方法: 采用贴壁法分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞。结扎左冠状动脉前降支制作急性心肌梗死大鼠模型,并抽取正常大鼠与模型大鼠血清备用。取第3代骨髓间充质干细胞分6组培养:未诱导组、5-氮胞苷诱导组、5-氮胞苷+心肌梗死模型大鼠血清诱导组、5-氮胞苷+正常大鼠血清诱导组、心肌梗死模型大鼠血清诱导组、正常大鼠血清诱导组。 主要观察指标：大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞经诱导后的形态学变化。大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞经诱导后心肌肌钙蛋白的表达情况。大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞经诱导后GATA-4和结蛋白mRNA表达水平。 结果：大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞经5-氮胞苷联合血清诱导后,部分细胞渐伸长、变细,胞体中央形成球形,二三周后可见细胞呈球形、棒状,邻近细胞之间形成连接,镜下可见部分分化的细胞呈节律性跳动,呈心肌样细胞改变,其心肌肌钙蛋白、GATA-4、结蛋白表达阳性。对照组和单纯血清诱导组骨髓间充质干细胞未见形态改变,其心肌肌钙蛋白为阴性, GATA-4、结蛋白呈弱阳性。 结论：单纯使用心肌梗死大鼠血清不能诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞分化,但心肌梗死血清能促进5-氮胞苷诱导的骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞分化,并促进分化的心肌细胞成熟。     

5-氮杂胞苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞的分化☆

背景：5-氮杂胞苷能诱导人脐带间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞。 目的：以5-氮杂胞苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞。 方法：采用贴壁培养法分离、纯化人脐带间充质干细胞,以5-氮杂胞苷诱导第3代人脐带间充质干细胞分化为心肌样细胞。 结果与结论：诱导前人脐带间充质干细胞呈典型的梭形;诱导后一二周细胞体积变大,三四周后相邻细胞间胞膜有接触,逐渐相连呈肌管状,细胞胞质内可见细丝样结构。诱导4周后免疫组织化学鉴定人脐带间充质干细胞cTnI表达阳性,未诱导细胞cTnI表达阴性;诱导组Nkx2.5、GATA 4 mRNA表达水平较未诱导组显著增加(P < 0.05)。提示5-氮杂胞苷可能通过调控GATA4、Nkx2.5基因的表达促进人脐带间充质干细胞分化为心肌样细胞,并促进其成熟。     

体外模拟心肌环境诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞的分化★

目的：以往研究将长有一层心肌细胞的半透膜放于骨髓间充质干细胞培养皿中，或用培养过心肌细胞的培养基来培养骨髓间充质干细胞，均未发现心肌细胞特异蛋白表达。为此体外模拟心肌微环境诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞分化，并与常规诱导剂5-氮杂胞苷的诱导效果进行比较。 方法：实验于2007-03/09在山西医科大学中心实验室完成。①动物：Wistar大鼠20只，新生1 d龄Wistar乳鼠10只，均由山西医科大学动物房提供，清洁级，实验过程中对动物的处置符合动物伦理学标准。诱导剂5-氮杂胞苷为美国Sigma公司产品。②实验方法：自新生Wistar乳鼠心脏分离培养心肌细胞，取第1、2代制成1×109 L-1细胞悬液，-70 ℃放置4~5 h后融化，吸管吹打，反复3次，离心取上清，过滤后即为心肌细胞冻融液，以此作为培养基体外模拟心肌微环境。自成年Wistar大鼠骨髓分离骨髓间充质干细胞，取生长良好的第2代制成1×108 L-1细胞悬液，分为4组：血清对照组加入含15％胎牛血清的DMEM/F12培养基；5-氮杂胞苷组加入10μmol/L 5-氮杂胞苷37 ℃避光孵育24 h后，换DMEM/F12培养基继续培养；5-氮杂胞苷+心肌细胞冻融液组加入10μmol/L 5-氮杂胞苷诱导24 h后，在培养体系中加入相当于4倍骨髓间充质干细胞数量的心肌细胞冻融液；心肌细胞冻融液组加入相当于4倍骨髓间充质干细胞数量的心肌细胞冻融液。③实验评估：诱导1周后观察骨髓间充质干细胞的形态变化，利用免疫细胞化学技术鉴定心肌特异性肌钙蛋白T、连接蛋白43、α-横纹肌肌动蛋白、CD31的表达情况。 结果：①体外模拟心肌微环境情况：培养7 d时心肌细胞形成细胞簇或细胞单层，呈放射状排列的同心圆状或峰谷样生长，细胞簇搏动呈明显同步性。传代后的心肌细胞仍具有自主收缩的特性。②骨髓间充质干细胞的体外诱导结果：诱导处理1周后，5-氮杂胞苷组多数细胞呈杆状，紧密平行排列生长，细胞体积变大，可见肌丝样结构形成；心肌细胞冻融液组细胞有聚集生长趋势，形成大量的子细胞，可见大量的肌丝样的结构；5-氮杂胞苷+心肌细胞冻融液组脱落或降解的细胞数明显少于5-氮杂胞苷组，也形成肌丝样结构，但部分细胞内有脂肪空泡形成。③免疫细胞化学鉴定结果：诱导培养1周后，血清对照组仅表达α-横纹肌肌动蛋白；5-氮杂胞苷组表达心肌特异性蛋白T、α-横纹肌肌动蛋白、连接蛋白43，其阳性率分别为20%，28%，25%，抗CD31染色呈阴性；心肌细胞冻融液组上述蛋白阳性表达率分别为23%，32%，28%，明显高于5-氮杂胞苷组（P < 0.05），同时抗CD31染色呈阳性；5-氮杂胞苷+心肌细胞冻融液组上述蛋白阳性表达率略低于心肌细胞冻融液组，抗CD31染色呈阳性。 结论：①以心肌细胞冻融液体外模拟心肌微环境，可高效诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为心肌细胞。②部分骨髓间充质干细胞表达CD31，即可向血管内皮细胞分化，提示与5-氮杂胞苷单一的肌细胞诱导作用相比，心肌细胞冻融液更能提供一个心肌再生所需的自然条件。     

兔骨髓间充质干细胞体外向心肌样细胞诱导分化：缝隙连接蛋白43的

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞经过诱导因素刺激后,能够分化为心肌细胞,同时表达缝隙连接蛋白43,移植后可改善心功能或修复受损的心脏起搏传导系统。而缝隙连接蛋白43在维持心脏正常功能中发挥着重要作用。 目的：观察兔骨髓间充质干细胞体外诱导分化为心肌样细胞过程中缝隙连接蛋白43的表达变化,及诱导后骨髓间充质干细胞间隙连接通讯功能的改变。 方法：采用Percoll非密度梯度离心法与贴壁法分离培养兔骨髓间充质干细胞,正常组不进行任何干预,诱导组加入5-氮胞苷向心肌样细胞诱导,免疫荧光及流式细胞仪检验细胞诱导前后缝隙连接蛋白43的表达。将原代培养1 d的乳鼠心肌细胞分别接种于上述两组细胞爬片上,免疫荧光观察兔骨髓间充质干细胞与心肌细胞形成间隙连接的情况。划痕试验设立正常组、诱导组以及添加甘草次酸的阻滞剂组,观察兔骨髓间充质干细胞诱导前后细胞间隙连接的功能变化。 结果与结论：正常组骨髓间充质干细胞缝隙连接蛋白43呈弱表达,5-氮胞苷诱导2,4周后缝隙连接蛋白43的表达均显著增加(P < 0.01),细胞间隙连接通讯功能明显增强(P < 0.001),且随诱导时间的延长呈依赖性增强(P < 0.05)。骨髓间充质干细胞与心肌细胞共培养后,诱导组缝隙连接蛋白43明显呈线状表达在两个相邻细胞的接触面。与诱导4周时比较,阻滞剂组细胞间隙连接通讯功能明显受到抑制(P < 0.001)。提示骨髓间充质干细胞能够自发表达缝隙连接蛋白43,在移植后早期能与心肌细胞形成间隙连接,从而有利于移植后心肌电传导,并发挥骨髓间充质干细胞的旁分泌效应。 关键词：缝隙连接蛋白43;间隙连接;5-氮胞苷;诱导;心肌细胞;骨髓间充质干细胞     

心肌条件培养液与5-氮胞苷诱导骨髓基质干细胞向心肌样细胞的分化

背景：骨髓基质干细胞可以明显改善心肌缺血时的心脏功能，但其直接分化为心肌细胞并参与心功能恢复的机制尚不明确。 目的：探讨心肌条件培养液与5-氮胞苷诱导骨髓基质干细胞分化为心肌样细胞的作用。 方法：全骨髓贴壁法分离培养骨髓基质干细胞，将第6代骨髓基质干细胞随机分为4组：5-氮胞苷+心肌条件培养液联合诱导组；5-氮胞苷组；心肌条件培养液组；基础培养基组(空白组)。用心肌条件培养液和5-氮胞苷诱导3周后用免疫组化法测定各组心肌肌钙蛋白表达，并采用单因素方差分析检验进行统计学分析。 结果与结论：在体外心肌条件培养液可以诱导骨髓基质干细胞向心肌细胞分化，提示其中细胞因子可能起关键作用，但心肌条件培养液的这种作用要弱于化学诱导剂5-氮胞苷的诱导作用，且联合诱导作用更强。     

化学诱导剂5-氮杂胞苷及模拟生物微环境对骨髓间充质干细胞分化成心肌样细胞的影响

背景：研究显示干细胞有随环境发生分化即“环境依赖性分化”的特性,但骨髓间充质干细胞在心肌组织是否存在此种特性目前尚未形成公识。 目的：观察化学诱导剂和模拟的生物微环境诱导对骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞分化的影响。 设计、时间及地点：随机分组设计,细胞学体外对比观察,于2008-01/2009-02在苏州大学心血管内科干细胞移植实验室完成。 材料：6~8周龄SD大鼠,用于骨髓间充质干细胞的培养;新生1~3 d同种系SD大鼠,用于心肌细胞的培养。 方法：取SD大鼠股骨骨髓,培养至第2代,经流式细胞仪检测骨髓间充质干细胞纯度97%以上,制成4×108 L-1的细胞悬液,实验分为4组：单纯DMEM培养组：用含体积分数为10%胎牛血清的DMEM培养基继续培养;5-氮杂胞苷组：24 h后培养液内加入10 μmol/L的5-氮杂胞苷;心肌细胞裂解液组：将4倍于骨髓间充质干细胞数量的心肌细胞裂解液加入骨髓间充质干细胞培养瓶中;间接接触组：在培养体系中放入millicell插入式细胞培养皿,28 d收获细胞。 主要观察指标：免疫组织化学法检测诱导后骨髓间充质干细胞表达心肌特异性肌钙蛋白T、连接蛋白43、CD31的情况;RT-PCR法检测各组早期心肌细胞特异性转录因子GATA4、NKX2.5、β-肌球蛋白重链及α-肌球蛋白重链基因的表达情况。 结果：免疫组织化学检测显示实验组诱导4周后特异性抗原呈阳性表达,实验组与单纯DMEM培养组相比,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05);间接接触组较心肌细胞裂解液组阳性细胞数目稍增多,但组间差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);CD31是血管内皮细胞的表面抗原标志,单纯DMEM培养组和5-氮杂胞苷组无表达,其他两组弱阳性表达,组间差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。实验组诱导4周后,均表达心肌前体细胞特异性转录因子NKX-2.5和GATA4,同时表达胚胎期占优势的心肌细胞特异性β-肌球蛋白重链,而没有表达成年期占优势的心肌细胞特异性标志α-肌球蛋白重链。 结论：5-氮杂胞苷可以诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞分化,心肌细胞裂解液和细胞间接接触模拟的心肌微环境也可以诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化成心肌样细胞,分化的细胞介于成熟的心肌细胞和心肌祖细胞之间的心肌细胞前体。     

骨髓间充质干细胞体外诱导培养后的电生理特性

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞在宿主心肌中能够生长,并可在心肌环境诱导下分化,改善心脏功能,但目前骨髓干细胞分化过程中生物学特性尚不甚清楚。 目的：观察经5-氮胞苷诱导培养后,骨髓间充质干细胞体外缝隙连接蛋白43的表达及电生理特性变化。 设计、时间及地点：细胞学体外对照观察,于2007-07/2009-02在河北省人民医院心脏中心完成。 材料：2月龄雄性冀中白猪24只,购自河北医科大学实验动物中心。 方法：无菌条件下抽取猪双侧股骨骨髓,Percoll密度梯度法体外分离培养骨髓间充质干细胞,传至第2代后,加入10 μmol/L的5-氮胞苷,24 h后更换为不含诱导剂的DMEM培养基继续培养,分别于诱导后1,2,3周进行指标检测;并设立未经5-氮胞苷诱导的对照组。实验猪抽取骨髓后麻醉,取心室肌,组织块酶消化法分离培养正常心室肌细胞。 主要观察指标：ABC法免疫细胞化学染色检测缝隙连接蛋白43的表达,以膜片钳全细胞记录模式测定Ito电流密度及动作电位。 结果：5-氮胞苷诱导后1,2周,部分骨髓间充质干细胞表达缝隙连接蛋白43,呈核周散在分布的棕黄色颗粒;诱导后3周缝隙连接蛋白43阳性率为95%,细胞密度大的区域出现类似正常心肌的闰盘结构。在+80 mV时与正常心室肌细胞比较,未诱导对照组及诱导1,2周的骨髓间充质干细胞Ito电流密度均明显降低(P < 0.05),诱导3周的骨髓间充质干细胞Ito电流密度升高至正常心室肌细胞水平(P > 0.05)。5-氮胞苷诱导1,2周的骨髓间充质干细胞未能检测到动作电位,诱导3周后可检测到动作电位,与正常心室肌细胞相似。 结论：骨髓间充质干细胞经5-氮胞苷体外诱导3周后,与正常心肌具有相似的缝隙连接蛋白43表达能力及电生理特性。     

5-氮胞苷体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞分化：超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒的标记

背景：骨髓间充质干细胞体外经多种诱导剂均可成功转化为心肌样细胞,目前国内外报道中普遍采用的诱导剂为5-氮胞苷。超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒直径小,可被干细胞吞噬,加上其顺磁性可被MRI探测到信号,因而成为目前广泛应用于活体检测干细胞移植的理想示踪剂。 目的：与未经标记的干细胞相比,观察超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记方式对干细胞体外经5-氮胞苷诱导向心肌样细胞分化效应的影响。 方法：分离培养猪骨髓间充质干细胞,实验组采用P3代细胞经超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记,标记后细胞经5-氮胞苷体外诱导24 h后继续培养,对照组直接经5-氮胞苷诱导。2周后用抗结蛋白、肌球蛋白重链、心肌特异性肌钙蛋白I、连接蛋白43进行免疫细胞化学染色鉴定,经普鲁士蓝染色观察细胞内铁颗粒。 结果与结论：5-氮胞苷诱导分化后细胞表达抗结蛋白、肌球蛋白重链、心肌特异性肌钙蛋白I和连接蛋白43,且超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记诱导细胞内普鲁士蓝染色呈阳性。提示超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒标记骨髓间充质干细胞经5-氮胞苷体外诱导后可以分化为心肌样细胞。     

冻存和传代后脂肪间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞的分化

背景：脂肪间充质干细胞是一种成体多能干细胞,将成为一种重要的用于心肌组织工程和心脏病细胞治疗研究的种子细胞。 目的：观察脂肪间充质干细胞经液氮冻存和长期传代后向心肌样细胞分化的能力。 设计、时间和地点：对比观察,于2007-09/2008-06在解放军军事医学科学院卫生装备研究所组织工程实验室完成。 材料：大鼠脂肪间充质干细胞,来自2月龄Wistar大鼠附睾脂肪垫。 方法：第3代大鼠脂肪间充质干细胞液氮冻存6个月,复苏后用10 μmol/L 5-氮胞苷诱导,2周后检测细胞分化状况。另外,将间充质干细胞长期传代培养,用10 μmol/L 5-氮杂胞苷处理,2周后检测细胞分化状况。以未经5-氮杂胞苷处理的脂肪组织间充质干细胞为对照。 主要观察指标：免疫组织化学染色观察α-肌节型肌动蛋白、骨骼肌快肌肌浆球蛋白(骨骼肌细胞特有)和GATA-4的表达。 结果：液氮冻存后的脂肪间充质干细胞,经诱导后α-肌节型肌动蛋白和GATA-4免疫组织化学染色均为阳性,骨骼肌快肌肌浆球蛋白免疫组织化学染色为阴性;第6代脂肪间充质干细胞,经诱导后免疫组织化学染色结果与冻存后相同;第9代脂肪间充质干细胞,经诱导后α-肌节型肌动蛋白、骨骼肌快肌肌浆球蛋白和GATA-4免疫组织化学染色均为阳性。对照组均为阴性表达。 结论：脂肪间充质干细胞冻存后可向心肌样细胞分化;长期传代的脂肪间充质干细胞也能向心肌样细胞分化,但经5-氮杂胞苷诱导也可能同时向骨骼肌样细胞分化。     

骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞诱导过程中脉动电流刺激对肌细胞增强因子2C基因表达的影响

背景：一些研究发现电刺激可以改变成熟心肌细胞的分布和电生理特性，其是否对骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞分化的过程产生影响目前还不清楚。 目的：在诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌细胞分化过程中，观察低压脉动电刺激对肌细胞增强因子2C基因表达的影响。 设计、时间及地点：对比观察电刺激细胞学体外实验，于2005-09/2007-03在四川大学老年病研究室完成。 材料：清洁级4周龄雄性SD大鼠5只，由四川大学华西医学中心动物实验室中心提供。诱导剂5-氮胞苷为Sigma产品。使用一次性100 mL培养瓶、镍钛合金金属丝、心脏起搏器和连接导线设计制作电场。 方法：密度梯度离心+贴壁法体外分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞，传至第3代按1×107 L-1接种到电场内，细胞爬满80%后，加入终浓度为10 μmol/L 5-氮胞苷进行诱导。分别于诱导第1，2，3，4周收集细胞，分为2组：刺激组施加电场刺激，刺激参数选择1.5 V/cm电压，2 ms方波，频率1 Hz，刺激2周；对照组单纯以5-氮胞苷诱导。 主要观察指标：免疫细胞化学法和western blot技术检测肌钙蛋白I表达，RT-PCR法分析肌细胞增强因子2C基因的表达。 结果：诱导后细胞停止生长，并倾向集落化，诱导第2周两组均开始出现肌钙蛋白I阳性细胞，第3、4周明显增强，诱导各时间点刺激组肌钙蛋白I表达量均显著高于对照组（P < 0.05）。诱导第1周两组均开始表达肌细胞增强因子2C基因，第2周明显增强，第3周达高峰，持续到第4周，诱导各时间点刺激组肌细胞增强因子2C基因的表达量均显著高于对照组（P < 0.05）。 结论：肌细胞增强因子2C基因可能参与调控心肌细胞的形成过程，而电场刺激通过上调肌细胞增强因子2C基因的表达，进而促进肌钙蛋白I的表达和心肌细胞的形成。     

Asymmetry in the structural organization of the ganglion layer of the retina in the frog

Silver-impregnated retinal preparations were used to study the distribution density and topographic features of small and large ganglionic cells (GC) of Rana ridibunda and Rana temporaria. For both species the increased density of GC (a streak) stretched higher than the naso-temporal axis passing through the optic disk. Beyond the streak the density of small GC was maximal in the central zone of the retina and decreased towards its periphery. For the upper quadrants of the retina the density of small GC was higher than that for the lower ones by 26% on the average. On the contrary, the density of large GC was higher in the lower part of the retina as compared to the upper one, the difference being more pronounced for R. temporaria. The density of large GC was also asymmetric with respect to the dorso-ventral axis being higher in nasal quadrants than in temporal ones by 40-55%. The highest density of large GC was found in the middle zone of the retina. The found structural asymmetry in the retinal output raster may bear an adaptively ecological meaning and may condition the particularities of the formation of the visually guided prey-catching and avoidance reactions.     

Local nonuniformities in the syncytium of the horizontal cells of the retina in the turtle

Electrical coupling between horizontal cells of the turtle retina was investigated by means of two microelectrodes (current and recording ones) penetrating neighbouring cells at a fixed distance from each other. The morphological coupling was revealed by means of fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow. The electrical coupling was confirmed between elements of similar type (L1--axonal terminals, or L2--cell bodies, or R/G type cells) and no coupling was found between elements of different types, though L1 and L2 are directly connected through thin axons. In the L1 syncytium the electrical coupling at small (less than or equal to 50 microns) but fixed distances between microelectrodes could differ several times depending on the minimal displacement of microelectrodes. This local nonuniformity of coupling can be explained on the basis of structural nonuniformities in the L1 (axon terminal) network. It is unlikely however that the structural nonuniformities can influence the functional properties of horizontal cell network when the retina is stimulated adequately (by light).     

Inhomogeneities in the propagation of the slow wave in the stomach

The propagation of the slow wave in the stomach and its role in inducing sweeping peristaltic contractions toward the pylorus, essential for a proper digestion and emptying, have been studied for many years. Irregularities in the timing or in the pattern of propagation of the slow wave have been known to induce various gastric malfunctions and, recently, several types of gastric dysrhythmias have been described which could lead to gastric contraction abnormalities. In this study, Du et al. have analyzed the disturbances caused by a simple transmural incision in a human stomach, performed to obtain a biopsy of the muscle, on the propagation pattern of the slow wave. In addition, they show that such an incision may by itself also induce new types of gastric dysrhythmias. These results are important in demonstrating that the function of the stomach can easily be disturbed by such procedures. This mini‐review describes several ways in which inhomogeneities in propagation may affect the conduction pattern of the slow wave, including the genesis of several dysrhythmias, and what is currently known about their impact on gastric contraction and digestion.     

Early stages in the formation of the cerebellum in the frog

The formation of the cerebellum was studied during the first 6 months of the tadpole stage of the bullfrog by using standard histological methods and reconstructions from serial horizontal sections. Three major developmental phases were noted in the formation of the cerebellum. (1) During the first 5 weeks of development, the neuroepithelium proliferated and the dorsal mesencephalic plates increased in size. (2) Starting in the sixth week, a patch of neuroepithelium began to differentiate and gave rise to a small population of Purkinje cells. In subsequent weeks, the area of differentiation continued to spread and a Purkinje cell layer became established along the dorsal margin of the cerebellar plate. (3) In the 12th week, the ventrolateral part of the cerebellar plate began to increase in size and generate two populations of small cells. The lateralmost part of the neuroepithelium in this area generated a group of cells that formed an external granular layer that was one cell deep. Cells of this external granular layer migrated inward into the primitive molecular layer, and by the 26th week only a remnant of an external granular layer remained in the cerebellum. The more medially situated part of the neuroepithelium gave rise to another population of small cells that formed a column, which appeared to be continuous with the Purkinje cells, but differed from them in size. It should be noted that full maturation of the cerebellum occurs during metamorphosis, which in this species remains some 2 years away.     

Gradients of histogenesis in the ependymal lining of the third ventricle in the rabbit

Tritiated thymidine autoradiography was used to analyze the site, time of origin, and developmental gradients of the specialized lining of the ependymal surface of the third ventricle. Cells destined to form the ependyma are generated between days 15 and 22 of embryogenesis (gestation: 30 +/- 2 days), the majority of the cells undergoing final division on the 18th day of gestation. Ependymal cells originate in an orderly fashion according to 3 gradients. Two gradients of opposite direction (ventrodorsal and dorsoventral) are found in the parasaggital plane. Both gradients start at the level of the hypothalamic sulcus, progressively departing from this anatomical landmark as histogenesis progresses. A third gradient occurs in the caudorostral axis, such that cells located in caudal regions originate earlier than those located in rostral sectors. Thus, an orderly relationship exists between the time of origin of ependymal cells and their final location within the lining of the ventricular wall. These findings indicate, once again, the topographic nature of the gradients of histogenesis. The histogenic gradients displayed by the ependymal lining of the third ventricle appear strongly related to those exhibited by other diencephalic derivatives. The latter suggests that common factors govern the developmental sequence of all diencephalic derivatives as a function of their relative topographic location, independently of their functional role in the adult.     

Challenges in the Management of the HIV Patient in the Third Decade of AIDS

The epidemic of AIDS has been increasingly recognized as a major health and socioeconomic problem, not only in the United States or Africa, but also the rest of the world. The face of the epidemic has changed. The role that mental health providers play has also significantly grown as the epidemic continues on. Prior to the introduction of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) and other advances in HIV care, the patients faced issues that related to death and dying. These advances brought with them renewed hope and resurrected lives. The patients fought with issues related to living new lives with HIV no longer an imminent death threat. In the third decade of AIDS, the struggles of the post-HAART era continue but bring with it more challenges. Mental health providers need to familiarize themselves with these issues so that they can better help HIV patients cope with this devastating disease.     

Analysis of the habituation-like changes in transmission in the temporodentate pathway of the rat

Habituation-like decrements in extracellular measures of synaptic activation (population EPSP) and cell discharge (population spike) were analyzed in the dentate gyrus of the rat following repetitive low-frequency stimulation of the medial and lateral entorhinal cortex. Stimulation of either subdivision of the entorhinal projection system resulted in comparable habituation-like response decrements with similar stimulation regimens. However, habituating stimulation of one subdivision did not result in decreased responsiveness to stimulation of the other. Repetitive low-frequency stimulation or even a single pulse delivered to either subdivision did, however, result in a potentiation of granule cell discharge in response to stimulation of the other subdivision (a form of heterosynaptic potentiation). This heterosynaptic potentiation of granule cell discharge was not accompanied by any increase in the extracellular EPSP. Comparisons of the relationship between the population EPSP and population spike before and during habituating stimulation revealed changes in cell discharge in response to the habituating stimulus which could not be accounted for by changes in synaptic activation alone. The results suggest that repetitive activation of the temporodentate pathway alters granule cell output as a result of two processes, a habituation-like decrement in synaptic activation, and a potentiation of granule cell discharge as a consequence of prior activation.