Glutamate acts at NMDA receptors on fresh bovine and on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells to trigger release of ATP

Efficient vesicle membrane recycling at presynaptic terminals is pivotal for preventing depletion and maintaining high firing rates in neuronal networks. We used a new approach, based on the combination of spectrally different optical probes, to investigate how stimulation determines the fate of synaptic vesicles after endocytosis. We found that in the small central synapses of rat hippocampal neurones low frequency stimulation (40 action potentials at 2 Hz) targets vesicles preferentially to vesicle pools that were kinetically faster. Vesicles taken up during endocytosis triggered by high frequency stimulation (400 action potentials, 20 Hz) were also placed in the back of the release queue. We performed a spatial analysis of the recycled vesicles in living hippocampal boutons using two spectrally different FM-dyes (FM1-43 and FM5-95). By using these consecutively, vesicles endocytosed by either stimulation protocol were labelled with a different colour. This revealed that the kinetic arrangement was also reflected in the spatial organization of vesicles within the bouton. Next, we identified the postsynaptic site of the active zone by transfecting the neurones with postsynaptic density protein PSD-95-CFP. The data from these triple colour experiments suggest that retrieval after low frequency stimulation keeps vesicles in a more confined region closer to the active zone as identified by PSD-95-CFP expression at the postsynaptic site.     

Nerve growth factor and tyrosine kinase A in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: expression patterns and effects on in vitro invasive behavior.

PURPOSE: Perineural invasion is a frequent occurrence in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and may prevent complete surgical resection. Studies have indicated that nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) may play a role in perineural invasion in several malignancies in which perineural invasion is observed. The present study was conducted to investigate the expression of NGF and TrkA in salivary ACC and to examine the effects of NGF on adhesion, migration and invasion capacities of a salivary ACC cell line (SACC-83) in vitro. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expression of NGF and TrkA was explored using immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissues of 32 cases of salivary ACC. The effects of NGF on in vitro adhesion, migration, and invasion capacities of the SACC-83 cell line were examined using an MTT assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay respectively. RESULTS: In ACC specimens, 31 (96.9%) and 32 (100%) tumors showed immunoreactivity for NGF and TrkA respectively. Significant correlations were found between NGF/TrkA expression levels and perineural invasion (P < .05). In cell adhesion assay, the percent adherences of SACC-83 cells co-cultured with 25 ng/ml NGF at 1.5 hours and 5, 25 ng/ml NGF at 6 hours were significantly higher than that co-cultured with 0 ng/ml NGF (P < .05). However, high concentration of NGF (500 ng/ml) resulted in a significant inhibition of invasion (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of NGF and TrkA in human salivary ACC tissues may constitute a reason for perineural invasion in salivary ACC.     

Brain natriuretic peptide enhances the endothelium-independent cAMP and vasorelaxant responses of calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat aorta

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) causes vasorelaxation in rat aorta involving endothelium/nitric oxide (NO)-dependent elevations of both cAMP and cGMP levels. When endothelium is removed, preincubation with exogenous NO uncovers and potentiates direct (endothelium-independent) cAMP elevations and vasorelaxations caused by CGRP. This enhancing effect of NO potentially involves elevation of cGMP and inhibition of Type III (cGMPinhibitable) phosphodiesterase, causing accumulation of cAMP. However, NO may have other actions. The aim of the present study was to determine if brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which elevates cGMP levels independent of NO, could enhance cAMP accumulations and vasorelaxations induced by CGRP in rat aortic rings denuded of endothelium. When added separately, neither CGRP (100 nM) nor BNP (10 nM) altered cAMP levels. When added in combination, CGRP (100 nM) and BNP (10 nM) significantly elevated cAMP levels (from control of 0.95 ± 0.08 to 1.53 ± 0.09 pmol/mg protein) at 2 min. BNP (10 nM) elevated cGMP levels 10-fold at 2 min and this response was not altered by co-administration of CGRP (100 nM).Pretreatment with BNP at concentrations as low as 1 nM in endothelium-denuded aortic rings greatly enhanced the direct vasorelaxant effects of CGRP (100 nM) (from control of 0% to 57.6 ± 6.8% relaxation of phenylephrineprecontractions). Our findings indicate that BNP enhances direct (endothelium-independent) cAMP elevations and vasorelaxations caused by CGRP in rat aorta, thus supporting the concept that cGMP inhibits cAMP metabolism and enhances CGRP-induced responses in aortic smooth muscle cells.     

大鼠脑缺血时脑细胞膜磷脂含量变化

采用SD大鼠一侧大脑中动脉阻断致局限性脑缺血模型。脑缺血后迅速断头置于液氮中,HPLC外标定量法测定各磷脂组分。观察脑缺血1、5、15、60、360min时脑细胞膜磷脂含量变化。结果显示,PI在缺血早期显著低于对照组(P<0.01～0.05);PE、PC早期仅呈下降趋势,PE在缺血60min组、PC缺血360min组显著低于对照组(P<0.01～0.05)。PS在缺血全过程中变化轻微(P>0.05)。提示磷脂降解与脑缺血存在一定关系,缺血早期首先出现脑细胞膜功能磷脂降解,膜结构磷脂则在缺血后期出现显著变化,且PE较PC优先降解。     

胫骨延长术后的功能康复程序初探

胫骨延长术是矫治小儿麻痹后遗症下肢短缩最常见的术式，但如何恢复或改善术后的功能，目前尚无一套系统的程序。本文作者根据自行设计的胫骨延长休后功能康复的临床观察，作较系统地介绍，并就该程序的合理性，进行了讨论与论证。     

Chronic opioid treatment of neuroblastoma X dorsal root ganglion neuron hybrid F11 cells results in elevated GM1 ganglioside and cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and onset of naloxone-evoked decreases in membrane K+ currents

Prolongation of the action potential duration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons by low (nM) concentrations of opioids occurs through activation of excitatory opioid receptors that are positively coupled via G_s regulatory protein to adenylate cyclase. Previous results suggested GM1 ganglioside to have an essential role in regulating this excitatory response, but not the inhibitory (APD-shortening) response to higher (μM) opioid concentrations. Furthermore, it was proposed that synthesis of GM1 is upregulated by prolonged activation of excitatory opioid receptor functions. To explore this possibility we have utilized cultures of hybrid F11 cells to carry out closely correlated electrophysiological and biochemical analyses of the effects of chronic opioid treatment on a homogeneous population of clonal cells which express many functions characteristic of DRG neurons. We show that chronic opioid exposure of F11 cells does, in fact, result in elevated levels of GM1 as well as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), concomitant with the onset of opioid excitatory supersensitivity as manifested by naloxone-evoked decreases in voltage-dependent membrane K⁺ currents. Such elevation of GM1 would be expected to enhance the efficacy of excitatory opioid receptor activation of the G_s/adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP system, thereby providing a positive feedback mechanism that may account for the remarkable supersensitivity of chronic opioid-treated neurons to the excitatory effects of opioid agonists as well as antagonists. These in vitro findings may provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndromes and opioid-induced hyperalgesia after chronic opiatf addiction in vivo. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

多囊卵巢综合征患者卵巢间质胰岛素样生长因子受体的表达

目的：探讨肥胖及非肥胖多囊卵巢综合征（ＰＣＯＳ）患者卵巢间质胰岛素样生长因子（ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ）受体基因的定量表达。方法：用逆转录基因扩增技术（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ），检测３５例ＰＣＯＳ患者（肥胖组１５例，非肥胖组２０例）及２０例正常妇女（对照组）卵巢间质细胞ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ受体ｍＲＮＡ的表达量（灰度比值）。并对ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ受体基因ｍＲＮＡ逆转录的ｃＤＮＡ产物进行限制性内切酶酶切分析。结果：ＰＣＯＳ两组ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ受体基因的表达量显著高于对照组，ＰＣＯＳ两组灰度比值为１．１８４±０．２４０，对照组灰度比值为０．９９９±０．０８６（Ｐ＜０．００１）。非肥胖组（１．２３８±０．３８７）明显大于肥胖组（１．０５８±０．１０９，Ｐ＜０．１）。酶切分析证实，３组ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ受体基因扩增片段相同，ＰＣＯＳ两组未发现明显的碱基突变存在。结论：ＰＣＯＳ患者卵巢间质ＩＧＦ－Ⅰ受体基因呈过度表达。且ＰＣＯＳ非肥胖患者局部ＩＧＦ－Ｉ受体表达高于ＰＣＯＳ肥胖患者。     

小叶锦鸡儿的抗炎作用

小叶锦鸡儿可明显对抗角叉菜胶、热烫及巴豆油所致的炎症,抑制小鼠毛细血管通透性、单核巨噬细胞系统的吞噬功能、肉芽组织增生及大鼠炎症部位PGE₂的合成和释放。     

Cannabinoid receptor down-regulation without alteration of the inhibitory effect of CP 55,940 on adenylyl cyclase in the cerebellum of CP 55,940-tolerant mice

The objective of this study was to determine whether the development of tolerance to CP 55,940, a potent cannabinoid agonist, was due to changes in the receptor or second messenger system. ICR mice treated with CP 55,940 (2 mg/kg) twice a day for 6 and one-half days developed a high degree of tolerance to the pharmacological effects of CP 55,940. The ability of CP 55,940 to produce motor hypoactivity, hypothermia and immobility was reduced 163-, 97- and 19-fold, respectively. Evaluation of 3H-CP 55,940 binding to rat brain membranes indicated no difference in receptor affinity between the vehicle- and CP 55,940-treated animals. However, these binding studies revealed a 50% decrease in receptor number in the cerebellum of the CP 55,940-tolerant mice. Although cAMP is generally considered to be the second messenger for cannabinoid receptors, little difference was observed in the inhibitory effects of CP 55,940 on adenylyl cyclase activity in cerebellum between vehicle and drug-treated mice. However, there was an increase in receptor mRNA which suggests a compensation for receptor loss. There are several possible explanations for these results. There may be sufficient spare receptors such that CP 55,940-tolerant mice are capable of producing a maximal effect on the second messenger system. On the other hand, one could conclude that cannabinoid receptor down-regulation does not account for the development of tolerance to all of the effects of CP 55,940 in mice.     

慢性肾血管性高血压大鼠脑细胞膜游离脂肪酸水平变化

采用SD大鼠慢性肾血管性高血压模型,气-液色谱法测定高血压组(n=8)、对照组(n=9)脑细胞膜游离脂肪酸(Free Fatty Acid,FFA)单组分水平。结果显示高血压组脑细胞膜FFA组份中C20:4、C22:6水平显著高于对照组(PO.05)。提示继发性高血压大鼠存在脑细胞膜FFA代谢障碍。