The aging brain, a key target for the future: The protein kinase C involvement

The brain represents the primary centre for the regulation and control of all our body activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses and transmitting information to the periphery. Most importantly, it is also the seat of consciousness, thought, emotion and especially memory, being in fact able to encode, store and recall any information. Memory is really what makes possible so many of our complex cognitive functions, including communication and learning, and surely without memory, life would lose all of its glamour and purpose. Age-associated mental impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness at the border with pathology to dementia, such as in Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, one of the most relevant observations of research on brain aging relates to data indicating that age-related cognitive decline is not only due to neuronal loss, as previously thought; instead, scientists now believe that age-associated functional changes have more to do with the dysfunctions occurring over time. Within this context a prominent role is certainly played by signal transduction cascades which guarantee neuronal cell to elaborate coordinated responses to the multiple signals coming from the outside and to adapt itself to the environmental changes and requests. This review will focus the attention on protein kinase C pathway, with a particular interest on its activation process, and on the role of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions to selectively localize the cellular responses. Furthermore, information is emerging and will be discussed on the possibility of mRNA stabilization through PKC activation. This review will also approach the issue on how alterations of these molecular cascades may have implications in physiological and pathological brain aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.     

Discriminative conditioning-related slow potential and single-unit responses in the frontal cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats

A model is described for obtaining long-term and stable discriminative conditioning-related slow-potential and single-unit responses from the frontal cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats. Responses were recorded and analyzed to reinforced (rewarding medial forebrain bundle stimulation) and non-reinforced tone cues. In the present study, cortical event-related slow potentials provided an adequate index of the level of discriminative conditioning. Single-unit response patterns are described for 57 neurons which demonstrated a discriminative response to either the reinforced or non-reinforced tone cue.     

脂肪来源间充质干细胞对大鼠肝移植的免疫调节作用

目的探讨大鼠脂肪来源间充质干细胞(MSC)对大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应的作用。方法分离、培养SD大鼠MSC,体外混合淋巴细胞培养(MLC)体系中,研究MSC对Wistar大鼠T细胞增殖的抑制作用。以SD与Wistar大鼠为供受体建立肝移植模型。随机分为MSC处理组与空白对照组,术后第7天检测肝功能、血清白细胞介素(IL)-2和白细胞介素(IL)-10水平、肝组织病理形态及肝细胞凋亡。结果体外MLC中,Wistar大鼠T细胞增殖明显受抑,抑制率为48.44%。实验组血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)、IL-2、IL-10分别为(134.2±45.0)、(162.5±30.5)U/L、(30.6±5.4)μmol/L、(187.35±18.26)、(193.95±37.62)μg/L;对照组上述指标分别为(355.6±54.3)、(296.4±71.2)U/L、(145.7±28.6)μmoL/L、(295.73±57.15)、(75.12±11.23)μg/L,两组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);病检提示实验组排斥反应较对照组明显减轻;脱氧脲核苷酸缺口末端标记(TUNEL)检测提示实验组肝细胞凋亡程度明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论供体来源MSC能明显抑制MLC体系中受体源T细胞的增殖,并能显著减轻大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应。     

磁共振脑表面成像在矢状窦旁脑膜瘤术中应用

目的 探讨磁共振脑表面成像技术在矢状窦旁腩膜瘤手术中的应用价值.方法 分析本院经头颅CT及MRI诊断为矢状窦旁脑膜瘤,利用显微手术技术切除并经病理证实的的22例患者;术前均运用磁共振脑表面成像技术评估与肿瘤关系密切的脑表面回流静脉情况.术中根据成像结果有目的 地保护重要的回流静脉,对比患者手术前后神经功能恢复状况,并进行随访来评价手术效果.结果 22例患者的术前磁共振脑表面成像中脑表面回流静脉与术中所见高度一致.术后患者恢复良好,未出现与静脉损伤相关的并发症.结论 磁共振脑表面成像技术能在术前明确矢状窦旁脑膜瘤与脑表面回流静脉之间关系,可在术前对患者肿瘤表面脑回流静脉做出正确的评估,对脑表面重要回流静脉的保护提供了准确的影像学依据,对患者神经功能的保护及术后恢复起到重要作用.     

非右房肥大的P波高电压(附39例临床分析)

本文报告39例临床上除外右房肥大的P波高电压,此种P波高电压主要见于冠心病及急性颅脑疾患,二者之和占76.9%。其形态64%与肺性P波相同。产生的机制可能与结间束传导阻滞、中枢调节机能受累、交感神经兴奋性增高等有关。     

Pathophysiological aspects of brain edema

Summary Two mayor types of brain edema, related to two different pathomechanisms, can be recognized: 1)cytotoxic type-where the main feature is the swelling of cellular elements of brain parenchyma and 2)vasogenic type-where an increased vascular permeability leading to accumulation of edema fluid inthe extracellular spaces plays the principal role. In this type of edema, there is a close interrelationship between extravasation of serum proteins and retention of water in the brain tissue. In theischemic brain edema both cytotoxic and vasogenic mechanisms are involved. A biphasic opening of the blood-brain barrier, associated with vasogenic edema, is observed following release of major cerebral artery occlusion. The first opening of the barrier is related to a reactive hyperemia which follows promptly recirculation. The second opening, recognizable after a delay, is associated with a severe ischemic brain tissue injury.Dedicated to Prof. F. Seitelberger on the occasion of his seventieth birthday     

Focal vulnerability of developing brain: CT studies on disproportionally dilated lateral ventricles

Summary Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain.     

脑源性神经生长因子和神经干细胞联合移植对大脑中动脉阻塞大鼠神经功能恢复的作用

目的 将脑源性神经生长因子(BDNF)和神经干细胞(NSCs)单独及联合移植应用于大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAo)模型大鼠,观察BDNF和NSCs移植对大鼠缺血性脑卒中神经功能恢复的作用及BDNF对内源性和外源性NSCs增殖、迁移及分化的影响.方法 体外分离、培养新生大鼠海马NSCs,BrdU标记.实验动物随机分为A组(MCAo组);B组(MCAo+BDNF组);C组(MCAo+NSCs组);D组(MCAo+BDNF+NSCs组),每组16只,移植后进行神经功能损害评分(NSS),用免疫组织化学行BrdU、nestin、BrdU/NSE检测,分析结果.结果 移植后的2、4周神经功能评分分别为:A组5.3±0.5、5.3±0.5;B组4.0±0.8、3.8±0.5;C组3.5±0.6、3.5±0.6;D组2.0 ±0.8、1.8±1.0,D组显著好于其他3组(P<0.05),B组与c组显著好于A组(P<0.05).nes.tin阳性细胞数:A组1.24±1.13,B组2.59±1.44(P<0.05),BrdU阳性细胞数:A组0.52±0.68,B组1.65±1.10(P<0.05).BrdU阳性细胞数:C组6.08±1.52,D组10.26±1.96(P<0.05),BrdU/NSE双阳性细胞数:C组1.74±1.04,D组3.58±1.20(P<0.05).结论 BDNF和NSCs移植单独及联合应用对MCAo大鼠的神经功能恢复均有作用,两者联合具有协同作用.BDNF对内源性NSCs的激活、增殖有促进作用,对外源性NSCs的增殖、迁移及分化有促进作用.