Post-Traumatic Survival of Sensory Neurons of Different Subpopulations

Immunohistochemical studies were performed to address the expression of the high-molecular-weight component of the neurofilament triplet NF200 (a marker of neurons forming A fibers) and the binding of isolectin B4 (IB4) by neurons of the L4-5 spinal ganglia after ligation or section of the sciatic nerve in rats. A total of 15% of neurons in the ganglia of intact rats expressed NF200. By 90 days after nerve ligation, the proportion of NF200+ neurons decreased two-fold; administration to these rats of the nerve regeneration stimulator xymedone increased the number of NF200+ neurons by 50.7% compared with controls (ligation, no treatment). In intact rats, 23.6% of neurons bound IB4. The proportion decreased by 2.6% 30 days after nerve ligation and to undetectable levels by 90 days; xymedone increased the proportion of surviving IB(4)+ neurons more than eight-fold. IB(4)+ neurons were more likely to enter post-traumatic apoptosis. Ligation of the nerve was followed by survival of fewer NF200+ and IB(4)+ neurons than section of the nerve, which suggests that axon lengthening is a factor maintaining neuron survival. The pyrimidine derivative xymedone increased the survival of neurons of both subpopulations, especially IB(4)+ neurons.     

Information Capacity of the Corticospinal Tract Recordings as a Neural Interface

Recording the motor output of the central nervous system from the cervical spinal cord was investigated as a method of generating voluntary command signals, potentially to be used in quadriplegic individuals. Corticospinal volleys evoked by motor cortex stimulation were recorded from the spinal cord surface with multicontact electrodes in anesthetized cats. The multicontact recordings were analyzed for their information-carrying capacity as a neural interface. Neural signals resulting from the stimulation of various points in the motor cortex were considered as symbols of an alphabet that were sent through a discrete information channel. The information capacity of this channel at the thermal noise level of the electrode contacts was calculated. The maximum information rate was 1.57 bits in a trial for a 4-symbol alphabet. The background noise that reduces the information rate to 50% of its maximum theoretical value was defined as the half-bitrate-noise-tolerance (HBR-NoiseTol) and used as a measure of symbol distinguishability. The HBR-NoiseTol for all trials on average was 24 +/- 12%, 18 +/- 10%, and 15 +/- 9% for interfaces with 2-, 3-, and 4-symbol alphabets (n = 11 trials). The average peak-to-peak amplitude of the neural volleys was 13.5 +/- 6.7 microV (n = 11). These results suggest that the corticospinal signals can be recorded with spatial selectivity from the spinal cord surface and thus warrant further investigation of their potential use for a spinal cord-computer interface.     

Naturally occurring human IgA autoantibodies against IgE-DES myeloma protein

The prevalence and specificity of naturally occurring human IgA anti-IgE autoantibodies (a-E Ab) were studied by ELISA with anti-IgA monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and a purified myeloma IgE as solid-phase protein, i.e., IgE-DES(κ). Such detected IgA a-E Ab were common among adults, and significantly increased geometric means (GM) were found in patients with atopy (P= 0.006; n= 41; GM = 79.3 arbitrary units (AU)/ml) and filariasis (P= 0.02; n= 41; GM = 75.9 AU/ml), as compared with nonatopic controls (n= 42; GM = 48.8 AU/ml). No such difference was observed between age-matched nonatopic (n= 22; GM = 36.7 AU/ml) and atopic (n= 22; GM = 38.6 AU/ml) children. Children had significantly (P= 0.001) lower IgA a-E Ab concentrations than adults, probably as a result of age, because IgA a-E Ab concentrations and age of children were significantly correlated (n= 44; P<0.05; r_s= 0.30). IgA a-E Ab concentrations were very low in cord serum (n= 32; median <0.1 AU/ml). Sex did not influence IgA a-E Ab concentrations in any study group. The specificity of IgA a-E Ab in nine sera was studied by ELISA inhibition assay using IgE-DES myeloma as solid-phase protein and inhibitory proteins of the IgG, IgM, IgD, and IgE classes, including five different IgE myeloma proteins, as well as three enzymatic fragments of IgE-DES. The inhibitions indicated that all IgA a-E Ab tested reacted in a low-affinity reaction with determinants restricted to IgE-DES, i.e., the solid-phase protein. These epitopes were heat-resistant (2 h; 56°C) and located in the Fab_?-DES fragment. No isotype-specific IgA a-E Ab were found because none of the four other IgE proteins were inhibitory. Subclass typing indicated that most IgA a-E Ab belonged to the IgA 1 subclass. It is unlikely, for reasons of restricted specificity, low affinity, and common prevalence, that such IgA 1 a-E Ab are connected with IgE-mediated disorders. The study also raises questions on the definition of anti-IgE antibodies.     

神经调节素-1β对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的干预作用及可能的机制

目的 研究神经调节素-1β(NRG-1β)对小鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经行为功能,脑梗死体积,脑组织含水量,神经细胞凋亡以及胶质细胞水通道蛋白-4(AQP-4)表达的影响和神经保护的作用机制.方法 应用线栓法建立小鼠大脑中动脉闭塞再灌注(MCAO/R)模型,经颈内动脉微量注射NRG-1β(2μg/kg)干预治疗,Bederson法评价动物的神经行为功能;氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色,观察脑梗死体积;干湿重法测定脑组织含水量;免疫荧光染色检测神经细胞凋亡;免疫组织化学检测AQP-4的表达.结果 脑缺血再灌注损伤后,动物均表现神经行为功能障碍,缺血侧出现脑梗塞病灶,脑组织含水量、神经细胞凋亡数量和胶质细胞AQP-4表达均高于假手术组.与对照组相比较,NRG-1β治疗组缺血24h,动物神经行为功能损伤明显改善,凋亡神经细胞数明显减少,脑梗塞体积显著缩小(P<0.05);但脑组织含水量和AQP-4表达与对照组比较无显著性差异(P>0.05).缺血再灌注22h、46h和70h组,上述5项指标较相应的对照组均有显著性差异(P<0.05).结论 NRC-1β可能通过下调脑缺血再灌注损伤诱导的胶质细胞AQP-4表达和抑制细胞凋亡,减轻脑水肿和缩小梗死体积,从而改善动物的神经行为功能.     

大鼠三叉神经脊束间质核内接受内脏伤害性信息的含CB神经元向孤束核的投射

目的 探讨大鼠三叉神经脊束间质核(INV)内接受内脏伤害性信息的含calbindin D-28K(CB)神经元与孤束核(NTS)的投射联系。方法 用福尔马林刺激上消化道，应用荧光金(FG)逆行束路追踪结合Fos和CB的免疫荧光组织化学三重标记法。结果 INV的背侧边缘旁核(PaMd)和三叉旁核(PaV)内可见到大量FG逆标细胞，以注射FG的同侧为主。大部分FG逆标细胞(约71.2％)为CB免疫反应阳性。部分FG和CB双标记神经元(约31．5％)同时呈Fos免疫反应阳性的三重标记。结论 INV内部分接受内脏伤害性刺激的CB神经元可直接投射至NTS，含CB的神经元在内脏伤害性信息经INV向NTS的传导通路中，可能发挥重要作用.     

大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注损伤时血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的增殖与凋亡

目的研究大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注后血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的增殖和凋亡。方法以免疫组织化学SP法和末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导生物素标记法 (TUNEL)对大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注后的血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的Bcl-2、Bax、P53和增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)的表达进行观察研究。结果缺血再灌注后 ,血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞均有Bcl-2、Bax、P53和PCNA的表达 ,在平滑肌细胞 ,Bcl-2阳性细胞数量明显高于Bax和P53。PCNA阳性细胞明显增多。在内皮细胞 ,Bax和P53的表达最强 ,TUNEL阳性细胞率最高。结论大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注可造成平滑细胞的增殖和内皮细胞的凋亡 ,其结果可能与微循环障碍有关。     

Influence of Various Immunomodulators on the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Lewis Rats

The effect of various immunomodulators on the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is evaluated in the Lewis rat. Bordetella pertussis (BP) is the optimal inductor of EAE in this rat strain. Treatment of the animals with BP either before or after or simultaneously with guinea-pig spinal cord preparation (GpSC) resulted in an EAE about two weeks thereafter. Additional injection of living BCG, of CFA, IFA (incomplete Freund's adjuvant) or Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN) did not augment or mitigate the effect induced by BP or GpSC. Living BCG, IFA, VCN or Corynebacterium parvum (CP) did not induce EAE when given in combination with GpSC but without BP. CFA combined with GpSC only occasionally induced EAE. However, EAE could be induced by the combination of CFA and GpSC or IFA and GpSC in a part of the animals tested if they had been pretreated or simultaneously been injected with living BCG by intravenous route. EAE could not be enhanced by the additional injection of VCN. Surprisingly, most of the animals peracutely died after injection of CFA and BP in combination with GpSC when they had been pretreated with CP. This effect was most pronounced when pretreatment was done on day -4. No acute effect could be seen when CP was given simultaneously to CFA, BP and GpSC. Animals which did not peracutely succumb developed EAE similarly as those in the positive control groups. CP treatment simultaneously with BP but without CFA resulted in a reduction of the EAE specific mortality. This reduction could not be seen if treatment with CP was done after injection of GpSC and BP.     

人的周围神经拉伸强度测定

本文取材于7具男性成年尸体,98条周围神经,进行拉伸强度的测试,得出视神经、动眼神经、上颌神经、迷走神经、尺神经、正中神经及坐骨神经的拉伸强度数值,发现脑神经与脊神经之间,拉伸强度存在明显的差别。迷走神经与脊神经的拉伸强度几乎完全相同。尽管神经是粘弹性材料,但通过测试其拉伸强度,还是表现出一定的集中趋势,符合生物力学特征。     

Autosomal dominant late adult spinal muscular atrophy,type finkel

We describe clinical and genetic data from the study of two families with 80 members affected with the autosomal dominant, slowly progressive spinal muscular atrophy of late onset (average 48.8 years), first described by Finkel in 1962. Electromyography and muscle biopsy of a number of patients confirmed the neurogenic nature of the condition. Unusual findings in this disorder were cramps, spontaneous fits of suffocation, and symptomatic myotonia. Other manifestations are slow loss of muscle strength and progressive proximal atrophy, which starts in the lower limbs and progresses to the upper limbs; hypoactive or absent tendinous reflexes; and generalized fasciculations. Sensory and cranial nerve function is unimpaired. Probabilities for genetic counseling are evaluated by means of a method adequate to the late-onset nature of the condition.     

闭合性脑外伤脑电图变化与脑电地形图结果比较

目的:探讨脑电学检查在闭合性脑外伤中的应用.方法:对123例闭合性脑外伤患者进行EEG和BEAM检查.结果:EEG异常率为56.9%,表现为弥漫性或局部性慢波增多,BEAM异常率为70.7%,表现为θ或δ频带功率呈弥漫性或局限性增高.结论:闭合性脑外伤的损伤程度与EEG的变化有良好的正相关性;闭合性脑外伤EEG和BEAM,两者有显著性差异;多次重复脑电学检查,有重要临床价值.