氯苯氨丁酸抑制脊髓背角神经元谷氨酸量子释放的机制

目的　研究GABAB 受体特异性激动剂氯苯氨丁酸(baclofen)在脊髓背角神经元抑制谷氨酸量子释放的机制。方法　在脊髓薄片标本上 ,采用全细胞电压钳法记录脊髓背角神经元谷氨酸能的微兴奋性突触后电流 (miniatureexcita torypostsynapticcurrents;mEPSCs) ,通过分析这些电流的变化来研究baclofen影响谷氨酸量子释放的机制。结果　ba clofen抑制mEPSCs的发放频率 ,但对平均幅度无明显影响 ,表明baclofen抑制谷氨酸释放的作用部位在突触前。在无钙溶液或者K+ 通道阻滞剂 4 AP存在的条件下 ,baclofen对mEPSCs发放频率的抑制作用不受影响 ,但腺苷酸环化酶激动剂foskolin (可使cAMP保持在较高水平 )能降低其抑制作用。而蛋白激酶C (PKC)激动剂PDBu对baclofen的抑制作用无影响。用NEM破坏G蛋白 ,则可取消baclofen的抑制效果。结论　baclofen不是通过影响突触前Ca2 + 通道或K+通道 ,或PKC途径 ,而是通过作用于G蛋白和 (或 )cAMP途径抑制谷氨酸的释放 ;这种抑制作用可能参与baclofen在脊髓水平的镇痛     

盐酸埃他卡林对大鼠海马神经元谷氨酸受体功能及突触活动的影响

目的 :研究盐酸埃他卡林 (Ipt)对脑神经元谷氨酸受体功能及突触活动的影响。方法 :采用原代培养的大鼠海马神经元 ,应用膜片钳全细胞记录技术 ,记录Ipt对培养的海马神经元谷氨酸或天冬氨酸(NMDA)诱发电流及神经元突触后电流的影响。结果 :Ipt(1～ 1 0 0 μmol·L- 1)可浓度依赖性地对抗培养的海马神经元谷氨酸或NMDA诱发电流 ,并为ATP敏感性钾通道拮抗剂格列本脲 30 μmol·L- 1所对抗。Ipt抑制培养的海马神经元之间突触联系形成的自发兴奋性突触后电流 ,降低其发放频率 ,抑制其电流幅度 ;但对微小兴奋性突触后电流无显著性影响。结论 :Ipt可阻断脑神经元谷氨酸受体功能 ,抑制脑神经元谷氨酸的兴奋性突触传递 ,其作用与ATP敏感性钾通道相关     

Quantification of glutamate and glutamine using constant‐time point‐resolved spectroscopy at 3 T

Separate quantification of glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) using conventional MRS on clinical scanners is challenging. In previous work, constant‐time point‐resolved spectroscopy (CT‐PRESS) was optimized at 3 T to detect Glu, but did not resolve Gln. To quantify Glu and Gln, a time‐domain basis set was constructed taking into account metabolite T₂ relaxation times and dephasing from B₀ inhomogeneity. Metabolite concentrations were estimated by fitting the basis one‐dimensional CT‐PRESS diagonal magnitude spectra to the measured spectrum. This method was first validated using seven custom‐built phantoms containing variable metabolite concentrations, and then applied to in vivo data acquired in rats exposed to vaporized ethanol and controls. Separate metabolite quantification revealed increased Gln after 16 weeks and increased Glu after 24 weeks of vaporized ethanol exposure in ethanol‐treated compared with control rats. Without separate quantification, the signal from the combined resonances of Glu and Gln (Glx) showed an increase at both 16 and 24 weeks in ethanol‐exposed rats, precluding the determination of the independent and differential contribution of each metabolite at each time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

β-cypermethrin-induced acute neurotoxicity in the cerebral cortex of mice

A Type II pyrethroid pesticide β-cypermethrin is widely used in agriculture and domestic applications for pest control. However, the effect of β-cypermethrin on the glutamate neurotransmitter has not been well-documented. In the current study, mice were treated with 20, 40, or 80?mg/kg β-cypermethrin by a single oral gavage, with corn oil as a vehicle control. Four hours after treatment, we investigated glutamate levels and glutamate-metabolizing enzyme (phosphate-activated glutaminase, PAG; glutamine synthetase, GS) activities in the cerebral cortex of mice, using a HPLC system with ultraviolet detectors and a colorimetric assay. Glutamate uptake levels in the synaptosomes of cerebral cortex and mRNA expression levels of PAG, GS, and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) in the cerebral cortex were detected by a radioactive labeling method and qRT-PCR, respectively. Toxic symptoms were observed in mice treated with 40 or 80?mg/kg β-cypermethrin. Compared with the control, significant decreases in glutamate level and GS activity, and an obvious increase in synaptosomal glutamate uptake, were found in the cerebral cortex of mice treated with 80?mg/kg β-cypermethrin. No significant changes were found among groups in PAG activity or PAG, GS, and GLT-1 mRNA expression levels. These results suggest that β-cypermethrin treatment may reduce the glutamate level in the mouse cerebral cortex, which is associated with decreased GS activity and increased synaptosomal glutamate uptake. Our findings provide a partial explanation for the neurotoxic effects of synthetic β-cypermethrin insecticides.     

An expert opinion on safinamide in Parkinson's disease

Background: Dopamine replacement therapies (levodopa, dopamine receptor agonists, anticholinergics, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors, and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors) remain the cornerstones of therapeutic interventions for Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite the treatment options for PD symptoms, a cure remains elusive. An optimal treatment would be one that combined relief in both motor and nonmotor symptoms with neuroprotective properties. Safinamide is an investigational drug for PD currently in development as add-on therapy to both dopamine agonists and levodopa. Safinamide is a unique molecule with a novel mode of action, targeting both dopaminergic and glutaminergic systems, and potentially provides motor symptom control. Preliminary results from experimental models suggest potential neuroprotective effects. Studies on the potential effects on nonmotor symptoms are ongoing. Objective: To review the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics, and to evaluate the available clinical safety and efficacy results of safinamide. Methods: A search of the electronic database MEDLINE (PubMed, no time limits) was performed on 14 December 2007. The full text of all citations was obtained for review. Furthermore, two abstracts on safinamide published as proceedings of a European conference were reviewed. Results/conclusion: Safinamide is a promising investigational drug for PD with a novel mode of action. Early reports confirm the potential efficacy of safinamide in PD. Further studies on potential effects on cognition and neuroprotection are needed.     

The unique contribution of ion channels to platelet and megakaryocyte function

Summary. Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play ubiquitous roles in cellular homeostasis and activation. In addition to their recognized role in the regulation of ionic permeability and thus membrane potential, some channel proteins possess intrinsic kinase activity, directly interact with integrins or are permeable to molecules up to ≈1000 Da. The small size and anuclear nature of the platelet has often hindered progress in understanding the role of specific ion channels in hemostasis, thrombosis and other platelet‐dependent events. However, with the aid of transgenic mice and ‘surrogate’ patch clamp recordings from primary megakaryocytes, important unique contributions to platelet function have been identified for several classes of ion channel. Examples include ATP‐gated P2X1 channels, Orai1 store‐operated Ca²⁺ channels, voltage‐gated Kv1.3 channels, AMPA and kainate glutamate receptors and connexin gap junction channels. Furthermore, evidence exists that some ion channels, such as NMDA glutamate receptors, contribute to megakaryocyte development. This review examines the evidence for expression of a range of ion channels in the platelet and its progenitor cell, and highlights the distinct roles that these proteins may play in health and disease.     

Cocaine facilitates protein synthesis-dependent LTP: The role of metabotropic glutamate receptors

Cocaine addiction alters synaptic plasticity in many brain areas involved in learning and memory processes, including the hippocampus. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the best studied examples of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and it is considered as one of the molecular basis of learning and memory. We previously demonstrated that in the presence of cocaine, a long lasting form of hippocampal LTP is induced by a single pulse of high frequency stimulation, which in normal conditions evokes only an early form of LTP. In this study, we further explore the molecular basis of this modulation of synaptic plasticity by cocaine. By performing pharmacological experiments on hippocampal slices, we were able to show that cocaine converts early LTP to a form of LTP dependent on protein synthesis, probably through the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling cascades. We also found that metabotropic glutamate receptors are involved in this phenomenon. These studies further clarify the molecular machinery used by cocaine to alter synaptic plasticity and modulate learning and memory processes.     

Stimulation of synaptoneurosome glutamate release by monomeric and fibrillated α‐synuclein

The α‐synuclein protein exists in vivo in a variety of covalently modified and aggregated forms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. However, the specific proteoform structures involved with neuropathological disease mechanisms are not clearly defined. Since α‐synuclein plays a role in presynaptic neurotransmitter release, an in vitro enzyme‐based assay was developed to measure glutamate release from mouse forebrain synaptoneurosomes (SNs) enriched in synaptic endings. Glutamate measurements utilizing SNs from various mouse genotypes (WT, over‐expressers, knock‐outs) suggested a concentration dependence of α‐synuclein on calcium/depolarization‐dependent presynaptic glutamate release from forebrain terminals. In vitro reconstitution experiments with recombinant human α‐synuclein proteoforms including monomers and aggregated forms (fibrils, oligomers) produced further evidence of this functional impact. Notably, brief exogenous applications of fibrillated forms of α‐synuclein enhanced SN glutamate release but monomeric forms did not, suggesting preferential membrane penetration and toxicity by the aggregated forms. However, when applied to brain tissue sections just prior to homogenization, both monomeric and fibrillated forms stimulated glutamate release. Immuno‐gold and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) detected exogenous fibrillated α‐synuclein associated with numerous SN membranous structures including synaptic terminals. Western blots and immuno‐gold TEM were consistent with SN internalization of α‐synuclein. Additional studies revealed no evidence of gross disruption of SN membrane integrity or glutamate transporter function by exogenous α‐synuclein. Overall excitotoxicity, due to enhanced glutamate release in the face of either overexpressed monomeric α‐synuclein or extrasynaptic exposure to fibrillated α‐synuclein, should be considered as a potential neuropathological pathway during the progression of PD and other synucleinopathies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.