The cardiac sodium channel mRNA is expressed in the developing and adult rat and human brain

Expression of the rat (RH-I/SkM2) and human (hH1/SCN5A) tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R), voltage-sensitive sodium channels is thought to be specific to cardiac tissue. We detected RH-I/SkM2 mRNA in newborn rat brain using both RNase protection assay analysis and in situ hybridization and in adult rat brain using RNase protection assay analysis. This expression was observed primarily in developing limbic structures of the cerebrum and diencephalon, and in the medulla of the brain stem. Using RT-PCR analysis, we detected hH1/SCN5A mRNA in both fetal and adult human brain. Interestingly, mutations in the human cardiac sodium channel are known to lead to cardiac abnormalities, which result in arrhythmias and frequently in sudden cardiac death. If these mutant channels were also expressed in limbic regions of the brain, alterations in channel function could have drastic effects on the brain’s signaling ability, possibly promoting seizure activity.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics, nervous system biodistribution and biostability, and spinal cord permeability at the blood-brain barrier of putrescine-modified catalase in the adult rat.

Free radical-mediated oxidative damage has been proposed to be an underlying mechanism in several neurodegenerative disorders. Previous investigations in our laboratory have shown that putrescine-modified catalase (PUT-CAT) has increased permeability at the blood-brain (BBB) and blood-nerve barriers with retained enzymatic activity after parenteral administration when compared to native catalase (CAT). The goals of the present study were to examine the plasma stability, spinal cord BBB permeability, nervous system biodistribution, and spinal cord enzyme activity of CAT and PUT-CAT after parenteral administration in the adult rat. TCA precipitation and chromatographic analyses revealed that CAT and PUT-CAT were found intact in the plasma and in the central nervous system (CNS) after iv, ip, or sc bolus injections. The highest percentages of intact CAT or PUT-CAT proteins were found in the plasma after iv administration, and similar percentages of intact CAT or PUT-CAT were found in the CNS following all three types of administration. Increases of 2.4- to 4.7-fold in permeability at the BBB and similar increases in the levels of intact PUT-CAT were found in different brain regions compared to the levels of CAT. A 2.4-fold higher level of intact PUT-CAT compared to that of CAT (P < 0.05) was found in the spinal cord 60 min after a sc bolus injection. CAT enzyme activity in the spinal cord was 50% higher (P < 0.05) in rats treated with PUT-CAT continuously for 1 week by subcutaneously implanted, osmotic pumps than the activity found in rats treated with PBS. These results provide evidence that intact, enzymatically active PUT-CAT is efficiently delivered to the nervous system following iv, ip, and sc administration and suggest that sc administration of PUT-CAT may be effective in treating neurodegenerative disorders in which the underlying mechanisms involve the action of free radicals and oxidative damage.     

脊髓损伤后真皮多能干细胞移植时机的选择

目的:观察脊髓损伤后不同时间移植真皮多能干细胞对大鼠运动功能修复的影响。方法:实验于2006-06/2007-03在第三军医大学生理学教研室完成。①实验材料:实验动物2～4月龄SPF级SD大鼠,体质量(210±40)g,雌雄不限,由第三军医大学实验动物中心提供。真皮多能干细胞为第三军医大学防原医学系从SD大鼠真皮中提取和分离。②实验方法:将42只SD大鼠在L4水平制成脊髓全横断损伤模型。将动物随机分为对照组(n=6)、真皮多能干细胞移植组(n=36)。真皮多能干细胞移植组又分为6个时间点:损伤后1,4,7,10,14,21d移植组,每组6只。各移植组于伤处移植大鼠真皮多能干细胞,而对照组于损伤后7d注射等量磷酸盐缓冲液。③实验评估:分别于移植后1d、1周、4周、8周、12周对各组大鼠进行动物行为学和脊髓诱发电位检测。结果:42只实验大鼠均进入结果分析,无脱落。①动物行为学评分:4周以后各组动物行为学评分比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05),移植组明显高于对照组(P<0.05),各移植组间比较,以损伤后7,10d移植组动物行为学评分改善最显著。②各组大鼠脊髓诱发电位检查:体感诱发电位和运动诱发电位潜伏期和波幅值于移植后8,12周后明显高于对照组(P<0.05),各移植组间比较,以损伤后7,10d移植组体感诱发电位和运动诱发电位潜伏期和波幅值改善最显著。结论:脊髓损伤后7～14d进行真皮多能干细胞移植可明显改善大鼠后肢的运动功能。     

The nuclear concentration of kin17, a mouse protein that binds to curved DNA, increases during cell proliferation and after UV irradiation

UV-irradiation induces, in mammalian cells, the expression of a set of genes known as the 'UV-response', which may be reminiscent of the bacterial response, called SOS system. The multifunctional protein RecA controls the expression of the SOS genes. We report the expression profile of a mouse gene conserved among mammals, called Kin17, that codes a DNA-binding protein of undetermined biochemical activity and which shares epitopes with the bacterial RecA protein. We demonstrate that the level of Kin17 RNA was 5-fold higher in mid-S phase of serum- stimulated BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts than in quiescent cells. Cells in S- phase displayed a high level of kin17 protein with a marked nuclear localisation. The maximal level of Kin17 RNA was observed 18 h after serum stimulation, indicating that Kin17 gene is a new member of the late growth-related genes. The accumulation of kin17 protein during cell proliferation follows the increase in Kin17 RNA and correlates with DNA synthesis, which suggests a possible role of kin17 protein in a transaction related to DNA-replication. In quiescent fibroblasts, a 3- fold increase in Kin17 RNA was seen 13 h after UV irradiation. In parallel, kin17 protein accumulated in the nucleus, which suggests that it might be required after the stress produced by UV irradiation.      

Chronic daily headache with migrainous features due to papilledema-negative idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Patients with the syndrome of chronic daily headache often report migrainous symptoms and consequently are diagnosed as having a primary headache syndrome. We report two cases of idiopathic intracranial hypertension causing chronic daily headache with migrainous features in the absence of associated papilledema.