Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of nitrotyrosine and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in aged rat cerebellum

In the present study, we examined age-related changes in 3-nitrotyrosine (NT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in rat cerebellum using immunohistochemistry. No immunoreactivity for NT was found in any layers of adult cerebellar cortex. In aged cerebellar cortex, the most prominent labeling of NT was found in the Purkinje cell layers and molecular layers. In aged cerebellar nuclei, NT immunoreactivity was observed in the surrounding neuropil. In aged rat cerebellum, nNOS immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the molecular layer, while it was slightly increased in the granular layer. Image analysis showed no significant age-related changes in nNOS immunoreactivity in the cerebellar nuclei. In summary, this report has demonstrated that NT increases with age in the cerebellum, and suggests that NO production by the neuronal form of NOS may not be the rate limiting step in NT formation in the aged brain. Further work is needed to examine the mechanisms underlying the increased immunoreactivity for NT, and the functional implications of this increase.     

Lead induced effects on acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebellum and hippocampus of developing rat

Exposure to low-levels of lead (Pb) during early development has been implicated in behavioral abnormalities and cognitive deficits in children. The present study is focused on developmental changes in hippocampus and cerebellum of rats following perinatal exposure to Pb. Pregnant rats were exposed to 0.2% Pb-acetate from gestation day 6 (GD 6) through postnatal day (PND) 21 and the activity levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were estimated in cerebellum and hippocampus of pups at specific time points for 5 weeks. In both the brain regions, Pb-exposure decreased AChE activity with an increase in age. Histochemical observations conducted in 35 days old rat brain showed decreased AChE activity conspicuously in stratum oriens and dentate gyrus of hippocampus, and molecular and granule cell layers of cerebellum. In vitro studies conducted in 35 days old rat brain showed a considerable decrease in the specific activity of AChE at high concentrations (50-100 microM) of Pb in a concentration-dependent manner. However, at low concentrations (5-20 microM), Pb failed to produce such changes. In the presence of eserine (physostigmine), the specific inhibitor of AChE, the inhibitory effect of Pb was potentiated and this was more pronounced at low-concentrations of Pb. The behavioral responses in open-field also showed a significant decrease in both Pb exposed as well as eserine administered rats. These data suggest that low-level perinatal Pb-exposure induces alterations in cholinergic system in the cerebellum and hippocampus of developing brain even after the withdrawal of Pb-exposure, that may contribute to behavioral and learning deficits.     

星形细胞瘤中bFGF和p53的表达及其与肿瘤血管形成的关系

目的探讨碱性纤维母细胞生长因子(bFGF)和抑癌基因p53在星形细胞瘤中的表达及其与肿瘤血管形成的关系。方法应用原位杂交和免疫组织化学方法,检测60例星形细胞瘤石蜡包埋标本的bFGF和p53的表达。结果bFGF和p53mRNA阳性颗粒可见于血管内皮细胞(VEC)和肿瘤细胞,两者在VEC中的表达呈正相关关系,r=0.82,P<0.01,高级别星形细胞瘤表达bFGF和p53的强度高于低级别者,其差异具有显著性,P<0.01;bFGF在血管内皮细胞中的表达强度随血管密度增加而增加;bFGF和P53蛋白在血管EC中的表达与其相应的基因在同一位置的表达无相关性。结论bFGF具有促血管发生作用,此作用可能受p53抑癌基因调控;bFGF和p53均参与星形细胞瘤的恶性变过程。     

Differential alterations in the distribution of voltage-gated calcium channels in aged rat cerebellum

In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to determine region-specific changes in the distribution of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in aged rat cerebellum. Age-dependent changes in the staining intensity of the α_1C and α_1D subunits were prominent in the Purkinje cells, whereas there was no change in the expression of the α_1A and α_1B subunits. In the aged rat, in particular, immunoreactivity for the α_1C subunits were increased in the dendrites as well as in the cell bodies of Purkinje cells. On the other hand, decreases in immunoreactivity for α_1A and α_1D subunits were found in the molecular or granular layers. However, only α_1D subunit immunoreactivity was decreased in the aged cerebellum membrane by Western blot analysis that, while not addressing regional specificity, further confirmed an age-related decrease in α_1D subunit. These age-related changes in α_1D subunit expression might reflect a gradual loss of regulation for L-type Ca²⁺ channels in the senescent period. The first demonstration of age-related alterations in VGCC expression may provide useful data for future investigations on aging and neurodegenerative diseases.     

戊四氮点燃癫痫持续状态大鼠海马p53的表达

目的观察癫痫持续状态后不同时间的大鼠海马神经细胞p5的表达变化,探讨p53基因在癫痫发作后的凋亡调控机制。方法戊四氮腹腔注射诱导大鼠癫痫持续状态（SE）,观察大鼠行为学改变,并选取SE后1、6、24、48、72h共5个时间点运用反转录多聚酶链反应（RT—PCR）、Western Blot方法检测SE组和对照组大鼠海马p53的表达。结果SE后6h,p53表达开始增高（P〈0．05）,24h达高峰（P〈0．001）,48h略有下降（P〈0．05）,72h后下降明显（P〈0．01）,但仍高于对照组水平。各组间两两比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论p53基因对戊四氮诱导癫痫持续状态后大鼠神经细胞凋亡起重要作用。     

Alterations in the hippocampus of aged mice

Summary The hippocampus of C57B1/6 mice was examined histologically and electron microscopically. Male and female mice at 3 and 8 months of age and female mice at 16 months of age were studied. PAS positive foci, containing particles 1–2 in diameter, were observed in the hippocampal region of 8 and 16 month old mice. These particles were diastase sensitive. Electron microscopically, in similar mice, a vacuolating change was observed in the cytoplasm of perithelial cells (pericytes) in the same area.     

脑缺血耐受与细胞凋亡及p53、p21、Bax表达关系的实验研究

目的　探讨大鼠局灶性缺血预处理的脑保护作用与细胞凋亡及凋亡相关因子p5 3、p2 1和Bax的关系。方法　采用线栓法阻塞大鼠大脑中动脉造成脑缺血预处理和致死性缺血模型 ,图像分析测算相对梗死体积 ,使用TUNEL染色标记神经细胞凋亡 ,免疫组化染色观察p5 3、p2 1和Bax蛋白表达。结果　与致死缺血组比较 ,缺血预处理组梗死体积减少 4 6 % (P <0 0 5 ) ,半暗区TUNEL阳性细胞数和p5 3阳性细胞数均明显降低 (均P <0 0 5 ) ,p2 1和Bax阳性细胞数无显著变化 (均P >0 0 5 )。结论　缺血预处理可能通过抑制严重缺血后p5 3表达 ,减轻神经细胞凋亡 ,发挥脑保护作用。p2 1和Bax在脑缺血耐受形成中可能不起重要作用。     

龙心素胶囊对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后p53蛋白表达的影响

目的观察龙心素胶囊对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后p53蛋白表达的影响,探索龙心素胶囊神经保护作用的分子机制。方法采用SD大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型（transientmiddle cerebral arteryocclusion,MCAO）,将大鼠随机分为3组：假手术组、缺血再灌注组、龙心素胶囊（Longxinsu Jiaohang）组。各组按实验设计给药造模,分时点对各组动物造模后神经功能缺陷进行评分,应用免疫组织化学法研究缺血再灌注损伤脑组织凋亡相关蛋白p53的表达情况。结果龙心素组其缺血再灌注后神经功能缺陷评分和脑组织p53蛋白表达均明显少于缺血再灌注组（P〈0．05）。结论龙心素胶囊能减轻脑组织的缺血再灌注损伤,改善神经功能缺失。其作用机制可能与其抑制脑组织p53蛋白表达有关。     

p53 accumulation and apoptosis in embolized meningiomas

Preoperative embolization of meningiomas is performed to decrease blood loss at surgery. While it is also expected to reduce tumor recurrence by producing necrosis at the site of dural attachment, very little has been described about what happens to the non-necrotic tumor cells. We investigated how the proliferative activities of meningiomas were modified after embolization. In nine meningiomas which were embolized preoperatively, proliferative potentials and expression of cell cycle inhibitors were assessed immunohistochemically using MIB-1, anti-p53 (DO-1 and DO-7), and anti-p21 (WAF1/CIP1) monoclonal antibodies. To determine whether a cell underwent apoptotic death besides necrosis, we applied the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling method. Results were compared with control meningiomas without embolization. MIB-1-positive cells often gathered in perinecrotic areas, although the mean MIB-1 staining index of the embolized meningiomas was not significantly different from the control. p53 and its downstream effector p21 accumulated mainly in the perinecrotic areas in eight of the nine embolized meningiomas. Apoptosis was also observed in the concomitant areas. Double staining for both MIB-1 and p21 frequently showed positive cells for both antibodies. The accumulation of MIB-1-positive cells in the embolized meningiomas may not be a sign of fast growth or malignancy, but it may implicate arrest of cell cycle by the p21. This study indicates that embolized meningiomas exhibit not only necrosis but also apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The latter effects appear to be at least partly p53 dependent. Received: 16 September 1996 / Revised, accepted: 4 December 1996     

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.     

Increase in p53 protein expression following cortical infarction in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Using stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SH-SP) rats with permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), we investigated the expression of wild type p53 (wt-p53) protein and the occurrence of DNA fragmentation in cerebral neurons after ischemia. Three days following MCA occlusion, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL staining) revealed a distinct pattern of nuclear staining in many neurons around the ischemic core. On the lesioned side of the cerebral cortex one day after MCA occlusion, wt-p53 immunoreactivity was observed specifically in the cortical neurons, in the same regions as the TUNEL staining. Mutant type p53 (mt-p53) immunoreactivity was not observed at any time following MCA occlusion. These findings suggest that wt-p53 dependent cell death of cortical neurons occurred in the ischemic periphery following cerebral ischemia and that this pathway for the induction of cell death may play an important role in the exaggeration of cerebral ischemic injury.     

Differential induction of p53 in immature and adult rat brain following lithium-pilocarpine status epilepticus

Activation of the tumor suppressor gene, p53, has been strongly implicated in selective neuronal cell death. This study investigated p53 expression in the immature and adult rat brain following status epilepticus induced by the administration of lithium-pilocarpine (LPSE). Both p53 mRNA and protein were examined in relation to neuronal degeneration using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Injured cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm with increased p53 mRNA were observed in hippocampal subfields, piriform cortex, amygdala and thalamus. p53 mRNA levels reached a peak by 8 h and returned to baseline by 24 h after the onset of LPSE. The magnitude of p53 mRNA induction was greatest in 21-day-old rats. In contrast to the cellular expression pattern of p53 mRNA, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that p53 protein was increased in all of the eosinophilic cells. Further, double-labeling studies revealed that p53 protein was elevated in neurons that were degenerating. This was supported by colocalization of activated caspase 3 in some cells with damaged DNA. These results provide additional evidence for a critical role for the p53 pathway in excitotoxic neuronal cell death due to status epilepticus.     

Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels in the rat cerebellum

Many neuronal processes are regulated by calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), including protein phosphorylation, gene expression, neurotransmitter release, and firing patterns of action potential. In the present study, we have used anti-peptide antibodies directed against a unique sequence in rat alpha(1A), alpha(1B), alpha(1C) and alpha(1D) subunits of VGCCs to determine their cellular distribution in normal rat cerebellum. Throughout the molecular layer, immunoreactivity for alpha(1B) and alpha(1D) subunits were found in the cell bodies of basket and stellate cells as well as in the neuropil. In the Purkinje cells, only alpha(1C)-IR was observed in the dendritic branches of Purkinje cells, whereas immunoreactivity for alpha(1B) and alpha(1D) subunits were rarely found in the cell bodies of Purkinje cells. Immunoreactivity for the alpha(1A), alpha(1B,) and alpha(1D) subunits were strong in the granule cell bodies, whereas alpha(1C)-IR was not prominent in the cell bodies. In the cerebellar nuclei, a distinct band of punctate immunoreactivity for the alpha(1A), alpha(1B), alpha(1C), and alpha(1D) subunits were observed. The overall results of the above localization study showed clearly that the alpha(1A), alpha(1B,) alpha(1C) and alpha(1D) pore forming subunits of VGCCs have differential distribution in the rat cerebellum. The present studies may provide useful data for such future investigations to understand the role of calcium channels in neurological pathways.     

Localization of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor receptor in neonatal and adult rat hippocampus

The regional and developmental expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in rat hippocampus was investigated utilizing immunocytochemical techniques at the light and electron microscopic levels. EGF receptor immunoreactivity in adult hippocampus was compared to that found at postnatal day 7 (P7). While the receptor was observed in P7 hippocampus, immunostaining was more prominent in the adult hippocampus, especially in the pyramidal CA2 field. Ultrastructural analysis of this region revealed that the receptor was localized to the cell bodies of both P7 and adult neurons rather than the axons or dendrites. The expression of EGF receptor in selected regions of the adult brain was verified by Western blotting. These results demonstrate the presence of EGF receptor in rat hippocampus as early as P7, localize the receptor to the pyramidal cell body, and establish the hippocampal formation, particularly CA2, as a major site of EGF receptor expression in rat brain.     

Cellular expression and subcellular localization of secretogranin II in the mouse hippocampus and cerebellum

Secretogranin II (SgII), or chromogranin C, is thought to participate in the sorting and packaging of peptide hormones and neuropeptides into secretory granules and large dense-core vesicle (LDCVs), and also functions as a precursor of neuropeptide secretoneurin. Although SgII is widely distributed in the brain and is predominantly localized at terminals of mossy fibers in the hippocampus and cerebellum and climbing fibers in the cerebellum, its cellular expression and ultrastructural localization remain largely unknown. In the present study, we addressed this issue in the adult mouse brain by multiple-labeling fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence and by preembedding and postembedding immunoelectron microscopies. SgII was expressed in various neurons, distributed as either tiny puncta or coarse aggregates in the neuropil, and intensely accumulated in perikarya of particular neurons, such as parvalbumin-positive interneurons and mossy cells in the hippocampus and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Coarse aggregates were typical of terminals of mossy fibers and climbing fibers. In these terminals, numerous immunogold particles were clustered on individual LDCVs, and one or two particles also fell within small synaptic vesicle-accumulating portions. SgII was further detected as tiny puncta in neural elements lacking LDCVs, such as parallel fibers of cerebellar granule cells, somatodendritic elements of various neurons and Bergmann glia. Thus, SgII is present in LDCV and non-LDCV compartments of various neural cells. The wide subcellular localization of SgII may reflect diverse release sites of neuropeptides and secretorneurin, or suggests its role in the sorting and packaging of molecules other than neuropeptides in non-LDCV compartments.     

Effect of aging on the distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactive cells in the rat hippocampus

Hippocampal formation is extremely sensitive to the aging process and appears to be one of the first regions to show structural and physiological changes with advancing age. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays an important role in the stimulation of mitogenesis in glial cells, the support of neuronal survival and the promotion of neurite outgrowth in vitro. In the present study, the effect of aging on the distribution of bFGF immunoreactive (bFGF-ir) cells was investigated. The protein product of bFGF was visualized immunohistochemically in the dorsal hippocampus of Wistar albino rats. bFGF-ir astrocytes in different subfields of hippocampus and neurons in CA2 field were quantified to determine whether changes in immunoreactivity were correlated with advancing age. Aging was accompanied by a decrease in bFGF-ir cell density in subfields of hippocampus. We concluded that aging was associated with a reduction in bFGF-ir cell density that may reflect a decreased expression of bFGF in the rat hippocampus.     

Distribution of the mineralocorticoid and the glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in the rat hippocampus

The cellular localization of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression in the rat hippocampus was studied by in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled RNA-probes, complementary to either 513 bases of the rat brain mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-mRNA or 500 bases of the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mRNA. Neurons in CA1, CA2, and the dentate gyrus expressed both receptor genes at high levels. The MR-mRNA was demonstrated in all pyramidal cell fields (CA1-4) of the hippocampal formation and the granular neurons of the dentate gyrus. In contrast, GR-mRNA was mainly restricted to CA1 and CA2 pyramidal cell fields and the dentate gyrus. This pattern of hybridization was found to agree with the cellular distribution of the two types of corticosteroid receptors detected previously in the hippocampus by autoradiography of the radio-labeled receptors and by immunocytochemistry of the receptor protein. These observations suggest that the corticosteroid receptors described previously as type 1 and type 2 are encoded by MR- and GR-mRNA, respectively. Although both the MR and GR genes are co-expressed in some hippocampal neurons, the unique patterns of distribution of the two receptor mRNAs in the hippocampal formation suggest that the genes for these receptors are differentially regulated. Moreover, the microanatomy of MR and GR expression provides insight into molecular mechanisms underlying the characteristic action of various steroids on behaviors involved in stress and circadian regulation.     

海马硬化型颞叶癫疒间海马组织中P-gp、p53和凋亡探讨

目的探讨海马硬化型颞叶癫疒间患者海马组织中P-gp、p53、凋亡的表达和意义。方法对17例海马硬化型颞叶癫疒间患者的手术标本分别进行免疫组化检查P-gp,p53;原位末端标记检测细胞凋亡;免疫印迹法检测P-gp,p53。结果对照组P-gp主要在血管内皮细胞表达,未见p53阳性细胞,仅有散在凋亡细胞;癫疒间组P-gp分布在血管内皮细胞和胶质细胞,14例有p53阳性细胞,均有凋亡细胞;免疫印迹法P-gp,p53表达较对照组明显增加。结论海马硬化型颞叶癫疒间患者海马组织中有P-gp、凋亡异常表达,p53可能发挥了调节作用。