Neural differentiation and synaptogenesis in retinal development

To investigate the pattern of neural differentiation and synaptogenesis in the mouse retina, immunolabeling, Brd U assay and transmission electron microscopy were used. We show that the neuroblastic cell layer is the germinal zone for neural differentiation and retinal lamination. Ganglion cells differentiated initially at embryonic day 13(E13), and at E18 horizontal cells appeared in the neuroblastic cell layer. Neural stem cells in the outer neuroblastic cell layer differentiated into photoreceptor cells as early as postnatal day 0(P0), and neural stem cells in the inner neuroblastic cell layer differentiated into bipolar cells at P7. Synapses in the retina were mainly located in the outer and inner plexiform layers. At P7, synaptophysin immunostaining appeared in presynaptic terminals in the outer and inner plexiform layers with button-like structures. After P14, presynaptic buttons were concentrated in outer and inner plexiform layers with strong staining. These data indicate that neural differentiation and synaptogenesis in the retina play important roles in the formation of retinal neural circuitry. Our study showed that the period before P14, especially between P0 and P14, represents a critical period during retinal development. Mouse eye opening occurs during that period, suggesting that cell differentiation and synaptic formation lead to the attainment of visual function.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor increases the numbe of endogenous neural stem cells and inhibits the expression of amino methyl isoxazole propionic acid receptors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice

This study aimed to investigate the number of amino methyl isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors and production of endogenous neural stem cells in the SOD1 G93AG1H transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, at postnatal day 60 following administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). A radioligand binding assay and immunohistochemistry were used to estimate the number of AMPA receptors and endogenous neural stem cells respectively. Results showed that the number of AMPA receptors and endogenous neural stem cells in the brain stem and sensorimotor cortex were significantly increased, while motor function was significantly decreased at postnatal days 90 and 120. After administration of FGF-2 into mice, numbers of endogenous neural stem cells increased, while expression of AMPA receptors decreased, whilst motor functions were recovered. At postnatal day 120, the number of AMPA receptors was negatively correlated with the number of endogenous neural stem cells in model mice and FGF-2-treated mice. Our experimental findings indicate that FGF-2 can inhibit AMPA receptors and increase the number of endogenous neural stem cells, thus repairing neural injury in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice.     

Nerve growth factor promotes in vitro proliferation of neural stem cells from tree shrews

Neural stem cells promote neuronal regeneration and repair of brain tissue after injury,but have limited resources and proliferative ability in vivo.We hypothesized that nerve growth factor would promote in vitro proliferation of neural stem cells derived from the tree shrews,a primate-like mammal that has been proposed as an alternative to primates in biomedical translational research.We cultured neural stem cells from the hippocampus of tree shrews at embryonic day 38,and added nerve growth factor(100 μg/L) to the culture medium.Neural stem cells from the hippocampus of tree shrews cultured without nerve growth factor were used as controls.After 3 days,fluorescence microscopy after DAPI and nestin staining revealed that the number of neurospheres and DAPI/nestin-positive cells was markedly greater in the nerve growth factor-treated cells than in control cells.These findings demonstrate that nerve growth factor promotes the proliferation of neural stem cells derived from tree shrews.     

经枕大池移植神经干细胞治疗重型颅脑损伤大鼠的实验研究

目的探讨胎脑皮质来源的神经干细胞(NSC)用于重型颅脑损伤模型大鼠的治疗作用。方法用电子颅脑损伤仪制备重型颅脑损伤大鼠模型(n=46),随即分为神经干细胞治疗组(NSC组,n=23)和对照组(DMEM/F12组,n=23)。将胎鼠皮质来源的NSC经体外培养、扩增后用BrdU标记,经枕大池移植到模型大鼠的脑脊液中,于移植后24h,3d,7d,14d,21d,28d对大鼠进行改良神经功能缺损评分(mNSS)的评估。对照组用相同体积的DMEM/F12代替NSC,mNSS评估时间和方法同NSC组。4w后NSC组取5只大鼠脑组织行免疫组化法染色检测BrdU表达。结果 NSC组大鼠在移植后第7d、14d、21d和24d,其mNSS评分与DMEM/F12组相比,均有显著性差异。对脑组织行BrdU免疫荧光染色,发现移植后第4w脑损伤灶及周围脑组织中有BrdU阳性细胞的表达。结论经枕大池移植后,NSC可在大鼠脑组织内存活、增殖,并能促进脑损伤大鼠神经功能的恢复。     

Differentiation of embryonic versus adult rat neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons in vitro

BACKGROUND:It has been reported that the conversion of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons in vitro can be increased through specific cytokine combinations. Such neural stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons could be used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, little is known about the differences in dopaminergic differentiation between neural stem cells derived from adult and embryonic rats. OBJECTIVE: To study the ability of rat adult and embryonic-derived neural stem cells to differen...     

鼠脑梗死后自体神经干细胞的原位增殖、分化及其可塑性

目的研究成年大鼠脑梗死后自体神经干细胞的原位增殖、分化及其可塑性。方法雄性Wistar大鼠共90只,分对照组(n=10)、脑梗死后1d组(n=16)、脑梗死后3d组(n=16)、脑梗死后7d组(n=16)、脑梗死后14d组(n=16)、脑梗死后28d组(n=16)。用免疫组织化学方法动态检测BrdU、GFAP、NeuN、PSA-NCAM的表达。BrdU确定神经干细胞的增殖,GFAP、NeuN确定神经干细胞的分化,PSA-NCAM确定神经干细胞的可塑性。结果与对照组相比,大鼠海马BrdU 细胞数在脑梗死后1d组开始增加,7d组达到高峰,28d组接近正常水平;BrdU /GFAP 细胞数在脑梗死前后无明显变化;BrdU /NeuN 细胞数在脑梗死后14d组开始增加,28d组最多;BrdU /PSA-NCAM 细胞数在脑梗死后7d组开始增加,14d组达到高峰,28d组开始下降,但仍高于对照组,大约占同期BrdU阳性细胞数60%。结论大鼠脑梗死激活自体神经干细胞原位增殖,大多数增殖的神经干细胞分化成神经元并且具有可塑性。     

神经干细胞移植修复鼠脊髓损伤的实验研究

目的 :观察神经干细胞移植治疗对鼠脊髓损伤后神经结构修复和功能恢复的作用并探讨其作用机制。方法 :制备鼠T10 脊髓损伤模型 ,体外培养、诱导鼠神经干细胞 ,定量评价神经干细胞移植对脊髓损伤后神经结构修复和功能恢复的影响。结果 :与对照组相比 ,神经干细胞移植组明显的增强了GAP 43mRNA的表达 ,促进了脊髓ChAT阳性的运动神经元的再生、结构的修复和下肢运动功能的恢复。结论 :神经干细胞移植促进了脊髓损伤后神经结构的修复和功能的恢复 ,是急性脊髓损伤一种有效的治疗方案     

小胶质细胞对体外培养神经干细胞向胆碱能神经元分化的影响

背景：神经干细胞的定向分化与小胶质细胞的浓度有关，浓度倍数过小可能达不到应有效应，太大则会产生细胞毒性。 目的：观察不同比例的小胶质细胞对体外培养的神经干细胞向胆碱能神经元方向分化的影响。 方法：取新生24，48 h内Wistar大鼠用于神经干细胞与小胶质细胞的原代培养，免疫组化进行鉴定。神经干细胞与小胶质细胞共同接种于6孔板，接种密度分别为10∶1，4∶1，1∶1，1∶4，1∶10，每种密度设6孔，以单纯神经干细胞作为对照，共培养3，7，14 d，观察细胞的生长情况。 结果与结论：原代培养的神经干细胞聚集成球状，悬浮生长，Nestin染色阳性，胞核不着色。小胶质细胞贴壁生长，折光性强，大部分细胞有短的突起呈分支状，小胶质细胞特异性标记抗体CD11b/c染色结果显示细胞纯度在80%以上。与单纯神经干细胞对照组相比，神经干细胞与小胶质细胞以10∶1，4∶1，1∶1，1∶4，1∶10接种密度共培养组ChAT阳性细胞数均明显升高。共培养组神经干细胞与小胶质细胞比例为4∶1时升高幅度显著高于其他接种密度 (P < 0.05)，且在培养第7天时生长达到高峰。结果提示小胶质细胞可以促进神经干细胞向胆碱能神经元方向分化，神经干细胞与小胶质细胞4∶1比例共培养第7天时效果最佳。     

Early expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor increase the neuronal plasticity of activated endogenous neural stem cells after focal cerebral ischemia

Endogenous neural stem cells become "activated" after neuronal injury, but the activation sequence and fate of endogenous neural stem cells in focal cerebral ischemia model are little known. We evaluated the relationships between neural stem cells and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in a photothromobotic rat stroke model using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. We also evaluated the chronological changes of neural stem cells by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine(BrdU) incorporation. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression was initially increased from 1 hour after ischemic injury, followed by vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α immunoreactivity was detected in the ipsilateral cortical neurons of the infarct core and peri-infarct area. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was detected in bilateral cortex, but ipsilateral cortex staining intensity and numbers were greater than the contralateral cortex. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactive cells were easily found along the peri-infarct area 12 hours after focal cerebral ischemia. The expression of nestin increased throughout the microvasculature in the ischemic core and the peri-infarct area in all experimental rats after 24 hours of ischemic injury. Nestin immunoreactivity increased in the subventricular zone during 12 hours to 3 days, and prominently increased in the ipsilateral cortex between 3–7 days. Nestin-labeled cells showed dual differentiation with microvessels near the infarct core and reactive astrocytes in the peri-infarct area. BrdU-labeled cells were increased gradually from day 1 in the ipsilateral subventricular zone and cortex, and numerous BrdU-labeled cells were observed in the peri-infarct area and non-lesioned cortex at 3 days. BrdU-labeled cells rather than neurons, were mainly co-labeled with nestin and GFAP. Early expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor after ischemia made up the microenvironment to increase the neuronal plasticity of activated endogenous neural stem cells. Moreover, neural precursor cells after large-scale cortical injury could be recruited from the cortex nearby infarct core and subventricular zone.     

Ankfy1 is dispensable for neural stem/precursor cell development

There are few studies on the membrane protein Ankfy1. We have found Ankfy1 is speciifcally expressed in neural stem/precursor cells during early development in mice (murine). To further explore Ankfy1 function in neural development, we developed a gene knockout mouse with a mixed Balb/C and C57/BL6 genetic background. Using immunolfuorescence andin situ hybridization, neural defects were absent in mixed genetic Ankfy1 null mice during development and in adults up to 2 months old. However, Ankfy1 gene knockout mice with a pure genetic background were found to be lethal in the C57/BL6 inbred mice embryos, even atfer seven generations of backcross-ing. Polymerase chain reaction conifrmed homozygotes were unattainable as early as embryonic day 11.5. We conclude that Ankfy1 protein is dispensable in neural stem/precursor cells, but could be critical for early embryonic murine development, depending on the genetic background.     

腺病毒载体Ad-BDNF-EGFP构建及其在神经干细胞中的表达

摘要 目的 研究腺病毒载体Ad-BDNF -EGFP的构建及在神经干细胞（NSCs）中的表达。方法 通过RT-PCR从在大鼠的海马中获得BDNF基因,通过基因克隆以及HEK293包装,获得了含增强绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因的重组腺病毒表达载体pAd-BDNF-EGFP,将其感染原代培养的神经干细胞,观察EGFP及BDNF两种基因的表达,镜下测定转染率,并检测RT-PCR产物,证实BDNF的存在。转染后的神经干细胞经G418筛选,抗性细胞传代扩增后获得成功转染BDNF基因的NSCs克隆。结果 荧光显微镜下可见感染后的NSCs表达EGFP而发出绿色荧光;通过RT-PCR证明感染后的NSCs具有表达BDNF的能力;用ELISA鉴定细胞上清中分泌的BDNF, 72h的含量达到最高值,为12.78ng/ml;证明通过构建病毒的感染可以使神经干细胞获得分泌BDNF的能力,且EGFP基因可作为神经干细胞移植研究中良好的示踪剂。结论 腺病毒病毒介导EGFP基因及BDNF基因在大鼠胚胎神经干细胞中成功表达,为应用以神经干细胞直接作为基因靶细胞,介导基因治疗中枢神经系统疾病莫定了基础。     

Effect of Angelica sinensis on neural stem cell proliferation in neonatal rats following intrauterine hypoxia

BACKGROUND:Angelica sinensis is a widely used herb in Chinese traditional medicine.It has been shown to improve hypoxia in embryonic rats and reduce nestin expression in neural stem cells,resulting in proliferation of neural stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To study the protective effect of Angelica on neural stem cell proliferation in neonatal rats after intrauterine hypoxia.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized,controlled,experiment was performed at the Department of Histology and Embryology,Luzhou Medical College,China from July 2007 to January 2008.MATERIALS:Because gestational days 14-15 are a key stage in rat nervous system development,21 healthy,pregnant Sprague Dawley rats(14 days after conception)were used for this study.Nestin monoclonal primary antibody was obtained from Chemicon,USA.Angelica parenteral solution(250 g/L)was obtained from Pharmaceutical Preparation Section,Second Affiliated Hospital of Wuhan University,China.METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into a control group(n=5),a hypoxia group(n=8),and an Angelica group(n=8).Saline(8 mL/kg)was injected into the caudal vein of rats in the hypoxia group once a day for seven consecutive days.Intrauterine hypotonic hypoxia was induced using 13% O2 for two hours per day on three consecutive days.Rats in the Angelica group received injections of Angelica parenteral solution(250 g/L);all other protocols were the same as the hypoxia group.The control group procedures were identical to the hypoxia group,but under normal,non-hypoxic conditions.After birth,brain tissues were immediately obtained from neonatal rats and prepared for nestin immunohistochemistry.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Nestin-positive cells in hippocampal CA3 area of neonatal rats in each group were quantified using image analysis to detect signal absorbance.RESULTS:The number of nestin-positive cells increased in the hippocampal CA3 area of neonatal rats in the hypoxia group.The number of nestin-positive cells was less in the Angelica group than in the hypoxia group.Integral absorbance of nestin-positive cells in the hippocampal CA3 area of neonatal rats was significantly higher in the hypoxia group,compared with the control group(P<0.05).The integral absorbance of nestin positive cells was lower in the Angelica group,compared with the hypoxia group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Intrauterine hypoxia,induced for 2 hours daily for three consecutive days,with an oxygen concentration of 13%,stimulated the proliferation of neural stem cells.Angelica injection has a protective effect on neural stem cells from neonatal rats following intrauterine hypoxia by decreasing proliferation of neural stem cells.     

Effect of Angelica sinensis on neural stem cell proliferation in neonatal rats following intrauterine hypoxia★

BACKGROUND： Angelica sinensis is a widely used herb in Chinese traditional medicine. It has been shown to improve hypoxia in embryonic rats and reduce nestin expression in neural stem cells, resulting in proliferation of neural stem cells.
OBJECTIVE： To study the protective effect of Angelica on neural stem cell proliferation in neonatal rats after intrauterine hypoxia.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The randomized, controlled, experiment was performed at the Department of Histology and Embryology, Luzhou Medical College, China from July 2007 to January 2008.
MATERIALS： Because gestational days 14-15 are a key stage in rat nervous system development, 21 healthy, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats （14 days after conception） were used for this study. Nestin monoclonal primary antibody was obtained from Chemicon, USA. Angelica parenteral solution （250 g/L） was obtained from Pharmaceutical Preparation Section, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wuhan University, China.
METHODS： Rats were randomly divided into a control group （n = 5）, a hypoxia group （n = 8）, and an Angelica group （n = 8）. Saline （8 mL/kg） was injected into the caudal vein of rats in the hypoxia group once a day for seven consecutive days. Intrauterine hypotonic hypoxia was induced using 13% O2 for two hours per day on three consecutive days. Rats in the Angelica group received injections of Angelica parenteral solution （250 g/L）; all other protocols were the same as the hypoxia group. The control group procedures were identical to the hypoxia group, but under normal, non-hypoxic conditions. After birth, brain tissues were immediately obtained from neonatal rats and prepared for nestin immunohistochemistry.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Nestin-positive cells in hippocampal CA3 area of neonatal rats in each group were quantified using image analysis to detect signal absorbance.
RESULTS： The number of nestin-positive cells increased in the hippocampal CA3 area of neonatal rats in the hypoxia group. The number of nestin-pos     

纳米磁化标记神经干细胞的MRI大鼠活体示踪实验研究

目的:探讨用MRI活体示踪移植磁化标记神经干细胞在创伤性脑损伤模型大鼠脑内迁移和分布的可行性。方法:建立大鼠脑部左侧半球脑损伤模型。2周后将磁化标记胚胎神经干细胞立体定向移植入大鼠脑部右侧半球。在移植后1、3d及1、2周分别行大鼠头部MRI。结果:移植后行头颅MRI可见移植部位FSET2 WI和GRET2 序列呈环形低信号。实验组大鼠头颅MRI脑内有一低信号线,指向对侧脑挫伤部位。结论:用MRI活体示踪移植磁化标记神经干细胞在TBI模型大鼠脑内迁移和分布是可行的。     

稳定增殖神经干细胞的实验研究

目的探讨稳定、可靠建立神经干细胞体外增殖的方法,并对增殖培养的细胞进行鉴定。方法获取胚胎大鼠的脑组织,通过加入神经生长因子和采用保留细胞联系技术操作,使脑组织中的神经干细胞在体外克隆增殖并稳定传代。以免疫荧光方法对增殖克隆的神经干细胞球进行鉴定。结果神经干细胞不断增殖形成神经干细胞球且神经干细胞能快速稳定传代增殖。培养的细胞为神经干细胞特异性巢蛋白(nestin)染色阳性细胞。结论在神经生长因子的作用下,利用保留细胞联系技术操作,神经干细胞可以在体外快速、稳定克隆增殖并传代。     

Differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells in adult versus neonatal rats after brachial plexus root avulsion injury

An experimental model of brachial plexus root avulsion injury of cervical dorsal C5-6 was established in adult and neonatal rats.Real-time PCR showed that the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3 in adult rats increased rapidly 1 day after brachial plexus root avulsion injury,and then gradually decreased to normal levels by 21 days.In neonatal rats,levels of the three neurotrophic factors were decreased on the first day after injury,and then gradually increased from the seventh day and remained at high levels for an extended period of time.We observed that greater neural plasticity contributed to better functional recovery in neonatal rats after brachial plexus root avulsion injury compared with adult rats.Moreover, immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of bromodeoxyuridine/nestin-positive cells increased significantly in the spinal cords of the adult rats compared with neonatal rats after brachial plexus root avulsion injury.In addition,the number of bromodeoxyuridine/glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells in adult rats was significantly higher than in neonatal rats 14 and 35 days after brachial plexus injury.Bromodeoxyuridine/β-tubulin-positive cells were not found in either adult or neonatal rats.These results indicate that neural stem cells differentiate mainly into astrocytes after brachial plexus root avulsion injury.Furthermore,the degree of neural stem cell differentiation in neonatal rats was lower than in adult rats.     

Neurons derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells express mu and kappa opioid receptors

Neuroprotection studies have shown that induced pluripotent stem(iPS) cells have the possibility to transform neuroprotection research. In the present study, iPS cells were generated from human renal epithelial cells and were then differentiated into neurons. Cells in the iPScell group were maintained in stem cell medium. In contrast, cells in the iPS-neuron group were first maintained in neural induction medium and expansion medium containing ROCK inhibitors, and then cultivated in neuronal differentiation medium and neuronal maturation medium to induce the neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons. The expression of relevant markers was compared at different stages of differentiation. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that cells in the iPS-neuron group expressed the neural stem cell markers SOX1 and nestin on day 11 of induction, and neuronal markers TUBB3 and NeuN on day 21 of induction. Polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated that, compared with the iPS-cell group, TUBB3 gene expression in the iPS-neuron group was increased 15.6-fold. Further research revealed that, compared with the iPS-cell group, the gene expression and immunoreactivity of mu opioid receptor in the iPS-neuron group were significantly increased(38.3-fold and 5.7-fold, respectively), but those of kappa opioid receptor had only a slight change(1.33-fold and 1.57-fold increases, respectively). Together, these data indicate that human iPS cells can be induced into mu opioid receptor-and kappa opioid receptor-expressing neurons, and that they may be useful to simulate human opioid receptor function in vitro and explore the underlying mechanisms of human conditions.     

壳聚糖作为中枢神经系统支架材料的可行性研究

目的探索壳聚糖作为中枢神经系统组织工程支架材料的可行性。方法选择孕14～16dWistar大鼠剖宫取胎鼠脑进行分离、培养,经巢蛋白、胶原纤维酸性蛋白、特异性烯醇化酶和半乳糖脑苷酯免疫细胞化学染色鉴定获得神经干细胞,种植于壳聚糖膜和明胶膜表面培养,然后行巢蛋白免疫细胞化学染色,观察神经干细胞在壳聚糖膜和明胶膜表面的贴附、生长和分化状态,以及壳聚糖、明胶的降解速度。结果从胎鼠大脑分离获得的神经干细胞,巢蛋白染色呈阳性反应,可分化形成神经元和胶质细胞,分化细胞分别呈胶原纤维酸性蛋白、特异性烯醇化酶和半乳糖脑苷酯染色阳性反应。神经干细胞接种后12h即贴附于壳聚糖膜表面,24h壳聚糖膜和明胶膜均贴附牢固;48h明胶膜表面神经球周围首先出现带突起的分化细胞,壳聚糖膜迟至生长第3天才出现。神经干细胞接种生长后第3天,壳聚糖膜部分降解,明胶膜完全降解;第4天膜表面长满分化细胞;第5、6天壳聚糖膜大部分降解,分化细胞部分死亡。结论壳聚糖与神经干细胞生物相容,具有促细胞贴附和分化作用,由于机械性能差,不宜作为中枢神经组织工程的结构性生物支架材料,但可以单独或者联合促贴附物明胶作为促神经干细胞贴附和分化的支架表面修饰剂。