Dopamine induces a slow afterdepolarization in lateral amygdala neurons

The amygdala and dopaminergic innervation thereunto are considered to cooperatively regulate emotional states and behaviors. The present experiments examined effects of dopamine on lateral amygdala (LA) neuron excitability by whole cell recordings. Bath application of dopamine induced slow afterdepolarization (sADP). This sADP lasted for >5 s, and its magnitude varied in a concentration-dependent manner. Co-application of the D1 receptor antagonist SKF83566 reduced its amplitude. The D1 receptor agonist SKF38393, applied alone, induced sADP of a smaller amplitude. Induction of the full sADP required 5-HT(2) and noradrenalin alpha(1) receptor activation as well. D2 receptor activation or blockade did not affect sADP induction. The calcium channel blocker cadmium or intracellular calcium chelator bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) blocked induction of the sADP, which was suggested to be triggered by calcium influx. Under voltage clamp, membrane conductance decreased at the peak of sADP current (I(sADP)). I(sADP) was suppressed by cesium included in pipettes. The I-V curve of the net I(sADP) was shifted as the external concentration of potassium was raised, and the reversal potential was identical to that of potassium, suggesting that dopamine decreases potassium conductance to induce the sADP. The present sADP may serve as a positive-feedback regulator of excitability in LA neurons.     

Development of Purkinje cells in humans: an immunohistochemical study using a monoclonal antibody against the inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate type 1 receptor (IP3R1)

Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out on the Purkinje cells from 21 autopsied fetal and early postnatal normal cerebella using a monoclonal antibody against the inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate type 1 receptor (IP₃R1) as a cytochemical marker of Purkinje cells. In normal adult cerebella used as positive controls, the cell bodies, axons, and dendrites, including spiny branchlets of the Purkinje cells, were specifically stained by the antibody. In the fetal cerebella examined, the IP₃R1 immunoreactivity was first detected in the soma of multilayered cells just beneath the molecular layer at 16 weeks of gestation. The IP₃R1 immunoreactivity gradually increased in area of positive staining from soma to dendrites and spiny branchlets, and the dendritic outgrowth rapidly progressed during 6 months after birth. The Purkinje cell maturation was more advanced in the vermis than in the hemisphere, more in the posterior lobe than in the anterior lobe, and more at the bottom of the folia than at the top. Partial absence of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex was observed in three cases. Heterotopias including Purkinje cells were often noted in the cerebellar white matter in five cases. Received: 8 October 1998 / Revised, accepted: 11 January 1999     

Postnatal development of orexin/hypocretin in rats

We examined developmental changes of orexins/hypocretins and their receptors (OX1R and OX2R) in the rat hypothalamus from postnatal day 0 to 10 weeks, using in situ hybridization histochemistry for the prepro-orexin, OX1R and OX2R mRNAs and immunohistochemistry for orexin-A and orexin-B. The prepro-orexin mRNA was weakly detected in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) from days 0 to 15. Orexin-A- and -B-like immunopositive cells and fibers were not detected from days 0 to 10, but they were observed after day 15. The prepro-orexin mRNA in the LHA markedly increased between days 15 and 20. The OX1R mRNA was detected in the ventromedial hypothalamic area (VMH) at day 0. The OX2R mRNA was not detected in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) at days 0 and 1, but weakly observed on day 5. The OX1R mRNA in the VMH and OX2R mRNA in the PVN gradually increased throughout the postnatal period. Next, we examined the effects of milk deprivation and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of leptin on the hypothalamic prepro-orexin mRNA in pups. Although 24-h milk deprivation did not affect the level of the prepro-orexin mRNA at days 5 and 10, i.p. administration of leptin from days 0 to 3 caused a significant increase in the prepro-orexin mRNA on days 5 and 10. These results suggest that the development of orexins may be associated with developmental changes such as increase of leptin, weaning, feeding and sleep/wakefulness states.     

Improved affinity of a human anti-Entamoeba histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin Fab fragment by a single amino acid modification of the light chain

We previously produced, in Escherichia coli, a human monoclonal antibody Fab fragment, CP33, specific for the galactose- and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of Entamoeba histolytica. To prepare antibodies with a higher affinity to the lectin, recombination PCR was used to exchange Ser91 and Arg96 in the third complementarity-determining region of the light chain with other amino acids. The screening of 200 clones of each exchange by an indirect fluorescent antibody test showed that 14 clones for Ser91 and nine clones for Arg96 reacted strongly with E. histolytica trophozoites. Sequence analyses revealed that the substituted amino acids at Ser91 were Ala in five clones, Gly in three clones, Pro in two clones, and Val in two clones, while the amino acid at position 96 was substituted with Leu in three clones. The remaining eight clones exhibited no amino acid change at position 91 or 96. These mutant Fab fragments were purified and subjected to a surface plasmon resonance assay to measure the affinity of these proteins to the cysteine-rich domain of lectin. Pro or Gly substitution for Ser91 caused an increased affinity of the Fab, but substitution with Ala or Val did not. The replacement of Arg96 with Leu did not affect affinity. These results demonstrate that modification of antibody genes by recombination PCR is a useful method for affinity maturation and that amino acid substitution at position 91 yields Fabs with increased affinity for the lectin.     

Interleukin-12 activates human γδ T cells: synergistic effect of tumor necrosis factor-α

γδ T cell populations are known to expand in response to intracellular bacterial infectious agents regardless of previous priming. We have shown previously that soluble factor(s) produced by Mycobacterium-stimulated monocytes activate cord blood γδ T cells to proliferate. In this study, we investigated whether cytokines produced by monocytes are responsible for γδ T cell activation in vitro: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor were examined. Recombinant human IL-12 stimulated γδ T cells, but not αβ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to express CD25 on their surfaces, and to expand in number in vitro. IL-12-primed γδ T cell numbers increased to a greater extent in the culture to which exogenous IL-2 (5 U/ml) was added. Anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody inhibited IL-12-induced up-regulation of CD25 on γδ T cells, suggesting that endogenous TNF-α may play a role in IL-12-induced activation of γδ T cells. Recombinant TNF-α synergistically augmented IL-12-induced activation of γδ T cells. Furthermore, IL-12 up-regulated TNF receptors on γδ T cells in vitro: TNF-α binding to its receptor induced CD25 expression on the γδ T cells in an autocrine or paracrine fashion, or perhaps both. It also became evident that both IL-12 and TNF-α were produced by mycobacterial lysate-stimulated monocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that upon confrontation with mycobacterial organisms, γδ T cells can be quickly and antigen-nonspecifically activated by soluble factors including IL-12 and TNF-α, both of which are produced by mononuclear phagocytes in response to mycobacterial organisms.