谷氨酸对大鼠不同脑区神经毒性的比较研究

目的：探讨谷氨酸神经毒性在不同脑区的差异。方法：新生ＳＤ大鼠２９只，生后第３至第９天，分为１ｇ／ｋｇ、２ｇ／ｋｇ、３ｇ／ｋｇ３组，腹腔内注射谷氨酸单钠（ｍｏｎｏｓｏｄｉｕｍ ｇｌｕｔａｍａｔｅ，ＭＳＧ），并设空白对照组和注射生理盐水组。３月龄时取脑作石蜡切片，Ｓｐｏｅｒｒｉ氏法染色。光镜下计数丘脑、下丘脑、杏仁核、海马、齿状回、梨状皮质等１６个脑区的神经元数，并进行统计学分析。结果：多数脑区注射ＭＳＧ后神经元减少，并与注射量呈正相关，但齿状回、尾－壳复合体无明显变化，背侧内梨状核、杏仁内侧核、海马ＣＡ３区和海马ＣＡ４区的神经元，在低剂量组无明显减少，而在中、高剂量组明显减少。结论：ＭＳＧ对不同脑区的损伤程度不同，有些脑区具有某种保护机制，使神经元免受伤害。     

Neural transplants. effects On startle responses in neonatally MSG-treated rats

Neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment has been associated with dysfunctions in stress responses. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining the acoustic startle response (ASR) in MSG-treated rats and the effects of fetal neural transplantation. Male and female rats were given MSG (4 mg/g) or saline on alternate days from days 2-10 after birth. To determine whether fetal transplants could reverse behavioral impairments observed in MSG-treated rats, at 12 days of age MSG-treated rats received either arcuate nucleus (AN), cortical fetal grafts, or sham surgery into the third ventricle. ASR amplitude was measured at 35-40 days of age, and again in adulthood. MSG produced the expected decrease in the density of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the AN area. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons/fibers were not affected by MSG. Pituitary atrophy was observed in all MSG rats. We report a permanent increase in the amplitude and reduction in short-term habituation of ASR in all MSG-treated rats. No effect was observed on long-term habituation in male rats. Cortical, but not AN tissue significantly reduced the magnitude of ASR in MSG animals. The results are discussed in terms of the central pathways mediating ASR, in particular hypothalamo-amygdala connections. It is considered that nonspecific factors mediate recovery produced by cortical tissue grafts, as observed in other models of neural transplantation.     

Influences of reduced masticatory sensory input from soft-diet feeding upon spatial memory/learning ability in mice

It has been reported that reduction of masticatory afferent stimulation might influence learning and memory function. In order to clarify the influences of reduced masticatory sensory input on spatial memory/learning ability and neuropathological changes, we conducted the Morris water maze experiment and investigated the number of hippocampal neurons in association with the differences in masticatory afferent stimuli from hard- and soft-diet feeding in mice. The water maze experiment showed no significant difference in learning ability between 180-day-old solid- and powderdiet groups. Meanwhile, the ability was significantly reduced in the 360-day-old powder-diet group as compared with the age-matched solid-diet group. The total number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions was significantly smaller in 360-day-old powder-diet group than in the remaining groups. These results demonstrate that reduction of masticatory afferent stimuli due to long-term soft-diet feeding may induce neuron loss in the hippocampus and reduced memory/learning ability.     

热应激对小鼠海马神经元的保护作用

本文观察了热应激预处理对脑缺血/再灌注昆明小鼠海马神经元的保护作用。实验采用昆明小鼠以双侧颈总动脉夹闭7min后再通制作脑缺血/再灌注模型,在缺血/再灌注前予以热应激预处理。根据不同的处理方法将动物随机分为四组:(1)正常对照组,(2)热应激预处理后缺血再灌注组(HS/IR),(3)缺血再灌注组(IR),(4)单纯热应激组(HS),后3组又分别分为1d、4d和14d三个亚组。水迷宫检测小鼠学习记忆的行为改变,免疫组织化学染色结合图像分析技术检测缺血/再灌注对海马CA1区神经元微管相关蛋白-2(MAP-2)的影响,Nissl染色计数CA1区神经元的数目。结果表明:与正常组、HS和HS/IR组比较,IR组小鼠水迷宫检测逃避潜伏期增加(P<0.01),其搜索策略以边缘式和限制式为主,而其它三组搜索策略则以趋向式和直线式为主。Nissl染色显示IR组和HS/IR组海马锥体细胞减少,且IR组细胞丢失比HS/IR组更多(P<0.05);MAP-2免疫组化染色显示4d时海马CA1区辐射层的树突发生紊乱和断裂,MAP-2有明显减少(P<0.05),14d时IR组MAP-2阳性表达主要聚集于胞浆中。以上实验结果提示,热应激预处理可以通过对海马神经元的保护作用改善动物脑缺血/再灌注引起的学习记忆能力的下降。     

Upregulation of fibroblast growth factor-receptor messenger RNA expression in rat brain following transient forebrain ischemia

Recently, we demonstrated that transient forebrain ischemia in rats leads to an early and strong induction of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) synthesis in astrocytes in the injured brain regions. In this study, in order to clarify the targets of such raised endogenous bFGF levels, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of its receptors (flg and bek) at in the hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusion for 20 min was investigated using an in situ hybridization technique. Transient forebrain ischemia induced an increase in the number of flg mRNA-positive cells from an early stage (24 h after ischemia) in the hippocampal CA1 subfield where delayed neuronal death occurred later (48–72 h after ischemia). This increase became more marked with the progression of neuronal death and was still evident in the same area 30 days later. The time course of the appearance and distribution pattern of flg mRNA-positive cells in the CA1 subfield were quite similar to those of bFGF mRNA-positive cells. On the other hand, in situ hybridization for bek mRNA showed only slight and transient (observed 72 h and 5 days after ischemia) increases in the number of mRNA-positive cells in the CA1 subfield following ischemia. The use of in situ hybridization and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry in combination demonstrated that the cells in the CA1 subfield that exhibited ischemia-induced flg or bek mRNA expression were astrocytes. These data indicate that transient forebrain ischemia induces upregulation of fibroblast growth factor-receptor expression, accompanied by increased bFGF expression in astrocytes, and suggest that the increased astrocytic bFGF levels in injured brain regions act on the astrocytes via autocrine systems and are involved in the development and maintenance of astrocytosis.     

The driving system for hippocampal theta in the brainstem: An examination by single neuron recording in urethane-anesthetized rats

The brainstem has been shown to be involved in generating hippocampal theta; however, which brainstem region plays the most important role in generating the rhythm has remained unclear. To reveal which brainstem region triggers the theta, the hippocampal local field potential was recorded simultaneously with single unit activity in the brainstem of urethane-anesthetized rat. The firing latencies before theta onset and offset were compared among recording sites (deep mesencephalic nucleus, DpMe; pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, PPT; nucleus pontis oralis, PnO). We examined the activities of 59 cells; PPT showed the highest proportion of neurons changing their firing rates at theta onset (14/16, 87.5%). The proportion in the PnO was 14/22 (63.6%), but the neurons in the PnO showed the earliest changes in latencies (0.57 s before theta onset). The change in the PPT was 0.96 s after theta onset. Regarding the theta offset, the PPT showed the highest proportion of neurons changing their firing rates at theta offset (9/16, 56.3%; the proportion in the PnO was 5/22, 22.7%), but the difference in latent time was not significant among recorded regions. The neurons in the DpMe did not show any remarkable firing tendency at theta onset and offset. From these results, we propose a driving system of hippocampal theta, in which neurons in the PnO first trigger the theta onset and then those in the PPT maintain the theta by activating broadly the brainstem areas for the wave.     

低氧预适应对小鼠海马神经元中TSC1表达的影响

目的:在体视显微镜下分割ICR小鼠海马CA1区和CA3区,研究结节性硬化症因子1(TSC1)在小鼠海马低氧中的神经保护作用。方法:ICR小鼠分为对照组(control)、低氧对照组(hypoxia)及低氧预适应组(HPC),在体视显微镜下观察海马形态并分割CA1区和CA3区;采用real time RT-PCR和Western Blot的方法分别检测小鼠海马组织TSC1 mRNA和蛋白的表达;采用免疫荧光检测小鼠海马组织TSC1荧光强度。结果:大脑冠状切片清晰显示出海马CA1区、CA3区和DG区;CA1区TSC1 mRNA在低氧组降低而在低氧预适应组增高;Western Blot和组织免疫荧光显示:与对照组相比,低氧预适应组CA1区TSC1表达增加;而CA3区TSC1在低氧组和低氧预适应组均增加。结论:TSC1的差异性表达可能提示TSC1可能参与了低氧预适应对低氧敏感的CA1区神经细胞的保护。     

Chronic use of marijuana decreases cannabinoid receptor binding and mRNA expression in the human brain

Chronic exposure to Cannabis sativa (marijuana) produced a significant down-regulation of cannabinoid receptor in the postmortem human brain. The significant decrease in maximal binding capacity was not accompanied by changes in the affinity constant. [3H]SR141716A binding was reduced in the caudate nucleus, putamen and in the accumbens nucleus. A significant decrease of binding sites was seen in the globus pallidus. Also in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars reticulata quantitative analysis of the density of receptors shows a significant reduction in [3H]SR141716A binding. In Cannabis sativa user brains, compared with normal brains [3H]SR141716A binding was reduced only in the hippocampus. The density of cannabinoid receptor 1 mRNA-positive neurons was significantly lower in Cannabis sativa users than in control brains for the caudate nucleus, putamen, accumbens nucleus and hippocampal region (CA1-CA4, areas of Ammon's horn). No hybridization was seen in the mesencephalon and globus pallidus.     

A decrease of cytosol estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus as a result of treatment of neonatal rats with glutamate

Summary Experiments were performed to determine whether the neuroendocrine dysfunctions of rats treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate (MSG) could be related to a loss of cytoplasmic estrogen receptors. Female rats treated with MSG as neonates were ovariectomized as adults and killed by decapitation 2 or 3 weeks after ovariectomy. Body, gonadal and anterior pituitary gland weights in MSG-treated rats were depressed when compared to that seen in their littermate controls. Serum prolactin concentration was elevated in the MSG-treated rats. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was significantly lower in MSG-treated rats than in controls at 2 weeks, but not at 3 weeks after ovariectomy, suggesting a sluggish postovariectomy rise of serum LH concentration. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration was not altered by the MSG treatment. The concentration of cytosol estrogen receptors in the anterior pituitary gland was similar to that of controls, but hypothalamic concentration of estrogen receptors decreased as a result of the MSG treatment. After dissection of different hypothalamic regions, it was found that the greatest depletion of the cytosol estrogen receptors occurred in the arcuate-median eminence region. The results raise the possibility that some reproductive impairments of MSG-treated rats could stem from a decrease in cytosol estrogen receptors in the arcuatemedian eminence region.Supported by grants from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the NIMH (MH 36419), the NIH (HD11011), and the NSF (BNS 8013050)     

Selective neuronal death after transient forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil: a silver impregnation study

An important feature of ischemic brain damage is the exceptional vulnerability of specific neuronal populations and the relative resistance of others. Silver impregnation was used to delineate the extent and time-course of neuronal degeneration produced by 5 min of complete forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil. Lesions were confined to four brain regions: (1) hippocampal areas CA1, CA2-CA3a and CA4; (2) the dorsomedial portion of the lateral septal nucleus; (3) the dorsolateral portion of the striatum; and (4) the somatosensory neocortex. The ischemic lesion evolved with time in all four regions, but at different rates. Somatic argyrophilia developed rapidly in the striatum and hippocampal area CA4 (maximal in 24 h or less), at intermediate rates in the somatosensory neocortex, hippocampal areas CA1a and CA2-CA3a and the lateral septal nucleus (maximal in 2 days), and slowly in hippocampal area CA1b (maximal in 3 days). These results emphasize that the extent and rate of neuronal degeneration can vary even within a presumably homogeneous neuronal population, as evidenced by the different results in areas CA1a and CA1b. Similar results were obtained from analysis of brain sections stained with Cresyl Violet, hematoxylin-eosin or hematoxylin-eosin/Luxol Fast Blue. Terminal-like silver granules were observed in the projection fields of degenerated neurons. They also appeared, however, in the perforant path terminal zone of the hippocampal dentate molecular layer 1-2 days after transient ischemia and in stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of area CA1b prior to somatic degeneration. These granular deposits could not be clearly related to the degeneration of neuronal somata. Novel findings of this study include the degeneration of some dentate basket cells and lateral septal neurons and the appearance of terminal-like argyrophilia in the hippocampal formation without any obvious relation to somatic degeneration. Some of our results lend support to the hypothesis that ischemic neuronal cell death constitutes an excitotoxic process. Other results, however, suggest that the selective vulnerability of neurons to transient ischemia must involve factors beyond excitotoxicity.     

快速老化小鼠海马脑片CA1区神经元放电特征模式研究

目的研究快速老化对记忆脑区海马CA1神经元电活动兴奋性的影响。方法应用脑片和细胞外记录技术,记录快速老化（sAM．P／8）组和正常对照组小鼠在海马脑片CA1区的锥体神经元自发放电序列,通过计算2组神经元自发放电频率和神经元放电间隔（ISI）研究快速老化对海马CA1区神经元兴奋性的影响。结果快速老化组小鼠海马CA1区神经元自发放电频率为（1．052±0．364）Hz（样本数n1=14）,正常对照组为4．416＋1．306Hz（样本数n1=22）,前者比后者显著降低（P〈0．05）;快速老化组ISI≥1s,占80．5％,正常对照组ISI均≤1S,其中95．6％≤0．5S,前者比后者显著延长。结论快速老化组小鼠海马脑片CA1区神经元的发放频率降低,ISI延长。提示快速老化对小鼠海马区神经元兴奋性电活动起到了明显的抑制作用。     

Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) mRNA and protein in the adult human brain

Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) plays important roles in the development and plasticity of the brain, and it has recently been identified as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Though there are rodent data, little is known about its distribution in the human brain. The aim of this study was to ascertain the localization of NRG-1 and its mRNA in multiple regions of the normal adult human brain. We investigated NRG-1 mRNA in 11 subjects using in situ hybridization and northern analysis, and NRG-1 protein in six subjects using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. NRG-1 mRNA was present as bands of approximately 2, 3 and 6 kb. It was clearly detected in the prefrontal cortex (middle laminae), hippocampal formation (except CA1), cerebellum, oculomotor nucleus, superior colliculus, red nucleus and substantia nigra pars compacta. At the cellular level, NRG1 mRNA was abundant in hippocampal and cortical pyramidal neurons and some interneurons, and in cerebellar Purkinje cells and Golgi cells. NRG-1 protein was detected as bands of approximately 140, 110, 95 and 60 kD. Immunohistochemistry revealed NRG-1 in many cell populations, consistent with the mRNA data, being prominent in pyramidal neurons, Purkinje cells, several brainstem nuclei, and white matter neurons. Moderate NRG-1 immunoreactivity was also observed in cerebellar and dentate gyrus granule cells, and some glia. Within neurons, NRG-1 staining was primarily somatodendritic; in the cell body staining was granular, with clustering close to the plasma and nuclear membranes. There was also labeling of some fiber tracts, and local areas of neuropil (e.g. in the dentate nucleus) suggestive of a pre-synaptic location of NRG-1. The data show a widespread expression of NRG-1 in the adult human brain, including, but not limited to, brain areas and cell populations implicated in schizophrenia. Using these normative data, future studies can ascertain whether the role of NRG-1 in the disease is mediated, or accompanied, via alterations in its expression.     

精氨酸加压素阳性神经元在大鼠下丘脑的定位

目的:观察大鼠精氨酸加压素(AVP)及其mRNA阳性神经元在下丘脑的分布和形态特征。方法:以尼氏染色作参照,运用免疫组化和原位杂交观察AVP及其mRNA在下丘脑的表达。结果:下丘脑AVP及其mRNA阳性的神经元由吻侧到尾侧依次出现于视上核,视上核和视交叉上核,视上核、视交叉上核和室旁核,视上核和室旁核及视上核、下丘脑前核和室旁核。AVP及其mRNA阳性神经元仅占据视上核背内侧;在第三脑室室管膜膜内或膜下可见AVP阳性神经元的胞体或突起;在不同核团内AVP阳性神经元的形态存在差异。结论:AVP及其mRNA阳性神经元在下丘脑不同核团内具有特异性分布;AVP阳性触液神经元可能是调节脑脊液和脑组织之间AVP含量的桥梁。     

Neuropeptide gene expression in brain is differentially regulated by midbrain dopamine neurons

Summary In situ hybridization was used to study the expression of prepro-neuropeptide Y (NPY), preprosomatostatin (SOM), preprotachykinin (PPT) and preprocholecystokinin (CCK) mRNA in caudate-putamen and frontoparietal cortex of rat brain with unilateral lesion of midbrain dopamine neurons. Neurons expressing NPY and SOM mRNA showed a similar distribution and the expression of both NPY and SOM appears to be regulated by dopamine in a similar fashion. Following a dopamine deafferentation, the numerical density of both NPY and SOM mRNA producing neurons almost doubled in the lesioned caudate-putamen with no change in the average grain density over positive neurons. Hence, in the intact caudate-putamen dopamine appears to suppress expression of these two neuropeptide genes leading to an activation of both NPY and SOM mRNA expression in many non- or low-expressing neurons when the level of dopamine is decreased. In the fronto-parietal cortex, on the other hand, dopamine appears to stimulate NPY and SOM gene expression. Thus, in the absence of dopamine about half of the NPY positive neurons disappeared. However, for SOM the number of positive neurons did not change, but rather most positive neurons appeared to have down-regulated their SOM mRNA expression. No evidence was found for a change in CCK mRNA expression by the dopamine deafferentation, while PPT mRNA expression decreased in the deafferented caudate-putamen. Consequently, dopamine exerts dissimilar effects on the expression of different neuropeptide genes, that in turn do not respond in the same way in different brain regions.     

Stereological estimates of dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra and retrorubral field in the rat

Midbrain dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra and retrorubral field play key roles in reward processing, learning and memory, and movement. Within these midbrain regions and admixed with the dopamine neurons, are also substantial populations of GABAergic neurons that regulate dopamine neuron activity and have projection targets similar to those of dopamine neurons. Additionally, there is a small group of putative glutamatergic neurons within the ventral tegmental area whose function remains unclear. Although dopamine neurons have been intensively studied and quantified, there is little quantitative information regarding the GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. We therefore used unbiased stereological methods to estimate the number of dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic cells in these regions in the rat. Neurons were identified using a combination of immunohistochemistry (tyrosine hydroxylase) and in situ hybridization (glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 mRNA). In substantia nigra pars compacta 29% of cells were glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA-positive, 58% in the retrorubral field and 35% in the ventral tegmental area. There were further differences in the relative sizes of the GABAergic populations in subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area. Thus, glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA-positive neurons represented 12% of cells in the interfascicular nucleus, 30% in the parabrachial nucleus, and 45% in the parainterfascicular nucleus. Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 mRNA-positive neurons were present in the ventral tegmental area, but not substantia nigra or retrorubral field. They were mainly confined to the rostro-medial region of the ventral tegmental area, and represented approximately 2-3% of the total neurons counted ( approximately 1600 cells). These results demonstrate that GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons represent large proportions of the neurons in what are traditionally considered as dopamine nuclei and that there are considerable heterogeneities in the proportions of cell types in the different dopaminergic midbrain regions.     

Kainic acid-mediated increase of preprotachykinin-A messenger RNA expression in the rat hippocampus and a region-selective attenuation by dexamethasone.

The hippocampus contains the highest number of glucocorticoid-sensitive neurons in the rat brain and excessive exposure to glucocorticoids can cause damage to hippocampal neurons and impair the capacity of the hippocampus to survive neuronal insults. In this study in situ hybridization combined with quantitative image analysis was used to study preprotachykinin-A mRNA levels after administration of a toxic dose of kainic acid in animals pretreated with glucocorticoids. Kainic acid was injected into dorsal hippocampus CA3 region in animals pretreated with the synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonist dexamethasone and in control animals. Preprotachykinin-A mRNA was not detected in the hippocampus of untreated animals or in animals analysed 30 min after a kainic acid injection. However, 4 h after injection of kainic acid, the level of preprotachykinin-A mRNA increased to 20-times above the detection limit both in the dentate gyrus and the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Treatment of kainic acid-injected animals with dexamethasone 30 min before and 2 h after the injection attenuated the increase in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus by 50%. In contrast, dexamethasone pretreatment had no significant effect on the kainic acid-induced increase of preprotachykinin-A mRNA in pyramidal cells in regions CA3 or CA1. These results show that an excitatory stimulus within the hippocampus causes a substantial increase in the level of preprotachykinin-A mRNA in hippocampal granule and pyramidal cells and suggest that in granule cells of the dentate gyrus this increase can be modulated by glucocorticoids.     

Comparison of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region at various age stages in dogs

The hippocampus is a main brain region concerning learning and memory processes. It is imperative to determine the extent of alterations in number and function of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in the hippocampus as a function of age. We examined changes in GABAergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region at various ages of dogs using glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), which is a rate-limiting enzyme for GABA synthesis. We found only one band in the brain homogenates in dogs as well as mice and rats. GAD67 immunoreactive neurons in 1-year-old dogs were mainly detected in the stratum oriens. In the 6-year-old group, GAD67 immunoreactive neurons were evenly distributed in the CA1 region, and numbers of the neurons were highest among all experimental groups. Thereafter, GAD67 immunoreactive neurons were significantly decreased region with age: GAD67 immunoreactive neurons were scarcely found in the CA1 region in 10-year-old dogs. The reduction of GAD67 immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region may be closely related to highly susceptibility to memory loss in old aged dogs.     

The influence of forepaw palmar sensorimotor deprivation on learning and memory in young rats

This study examined the effects of early palmar forepaw sensorimotor deprivation on learning and memory in rats. Sensorimotor deprivation was performed on 18-day-old male rats. Controls were sham operated. Studies were performed on rats aged 18, 25, 35, 45 and 60 days. Morris water maze testing was used to assess learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was assessed by electrophysiological means in slices obtained from the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway. Nissl staining was performed to assess pyramidal cell number in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions. Hippocampal N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1) mRNA and protein levels were assessed. Learning and short-term memory were significantly depressed in 25 and 35 day old sensorimotor deprived rats (P<0.01). LTP was also significantly depressed in sensorimotor deprived rats at these ages, while hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell counts were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CA3 cell numbers were significantly lower in 25-day-old sensorimotor deprived rats (P<0.05). Both NMDAR1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in sensorimotor deprived rats aged 25 and 35 days (P<0.05). These findings indicate that palmar surface forepaw sensorimotor deprivation impairs subsequent learning and memory in young rats. Decreased hippocampal pyramidal cell numbers and altered NMDAR1 expression may underlie this impairment.     

The effect of arcuate nucleus transplantation on the development of the anterior pituitary in monosodium glutamate-treated rats

Treatment with monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the neonatal period is known to produce a selective lesion of the arcuate nucleus in rat brain, which is the major site of production of growth hormone releasing-hormone (GRH), followed by a secondary reduction in growth hormone (GH) synthesis in the anterior pituitary. Normal arcuate nuclei from hypothalamic areas of newborn rats were transplanted into the third ventricles of 27-day-old rats which were treated with MSG on alternate days for the first 10 days of life. Ninety days after birth, the anterior pituitaries were examined for GH synthesis by immunohistochemical staining with GH antiserum. The results indicated that the impaired GH synthesis in the anterior pituitary treated with MSG was partially restored in some recipients by grafts of arcuate nuclei in which the GRH-containing neurons were clearly detected by immunohistochemical staining with GRH antiserum.