大鼠室旁核内催产素免疫阳性细胞树突棘样结构在脱水状态下的改变

树突棘，室旁核，催产素，脱水，免疫组化，大鼠下丘脑内催产素大细胞神经分泌细胞与水盐代谢的调节有关，并伴有细胞形态的改变如细胞体积的增大及细胞膜与细胞膜间接触的增加和多突触的形成等。本文用免疫组化法发现在脱水状态下室旁核的催产素免疫阳性神经元上树突棘样结构有所增加。光镜观察并计算室旁核前大细胞亚核、内侧大细胞亚核及后大细胞亚核中含树突棘样结构的催产素神经元百分数变化，显示正常大鼠室旁核神经元树突棘样结构多位于树突干上，少数在胞体上。前大细胞亚核含树突棘样结构的细胞百分数为２１．２７％，内侧大细胞亚核为３０．２２％，后大细胞亚核为２０．２２％。轻度脱水大鼠室旁核含树突棘样结构细胞百分数显著增加（前大细胞亚核：２８．６５％，Ｐ＜０．０５；内侧大细胞亚核：３５．５３％，Ｐ＞０．０５；后大细胞亚核：３４．７８％，Ｐ＜０．０１）。细胞上树突棘样结构数也增加，其体积略为增大。重度脱水大鼠室旁核中树突棘样结构细胞百分数增加较小，仅后大细胞亚核内有显著变化（２７．１３％，Ｐ＜０．０５）。不同程度脱水组之间无显著变化。结果说明脱水可引起神经元膜结构的改变。树突棘样结构数变化是否与新突触的形成有直接关系？尚待进一步证实。     

F344／N－Smu－D大鼠生长发育若干生物学特性的检测

Ｆｉｓｃｈｅｒ３４４大鼠在国外广泛应用于肿瘤研究与慢性毒性试验，八十年代中期引入我国。我们对Ｆ３４４／Ｎ－Ｓｍｕ－Ｄ大鼠的生长发育的若干生物学特性进行了检测。结果表明，该品系大鼠体型较ＳＤ大鼠与Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠小，除睾丸、垂体、肾上腺、乳腺外的大部分器官与组织的自发性肿瘤的发生率相对较低，将Ｆ３４４／Ｎ－Ｓｍｕ－Ｄ大鼠种群与Ｆ３４４／ＤｕＣｒｊ种群比较，在体重、耗食量，血液学与生化学等方面的若干特性差异较大，肿瘤发生率与死亡差别不大。     

大鼠延髓内脏带与下丘脑室旁核、视上核往返投射通路参与高渗调节反应的研究

目的探讨延髓内脏带(MVZ)与下丘脑室旁核(PVN)和视上核(SON)之间是否存在往返渗透压投射通路。方法通过给予大鼠饮用3%氯化钠的方法制作高渗刺激模型,并用WGA-HRP逆行追踪、抗Fos、抗酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)或加压素(VP)及胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫组织化学相结合的四重标记方法,观察MVZ、PVN和SON中WGA-HRP、Fos、TH、VP和GFAP阳性分布及表达状况。结果高渗刺激后MVZ、PVN和SON内Fos阳性细胞明显增多;GFAP阳性结构也明显增多,其分布与Fos阳性细胞分布基本一致,表现为胞体肥大、突起粗长。星形胶质细胞(AST)紧密包绕在神经元周围形成神经元-AST复合体(N-ASC)。结论神经元和AST以N-ASC的形式共同参与渗透压调节反应,体内存在MVZ和SON或PVN之间往返的渗透压调节通路。     

肌电图对腰神经后根节段定位作用的实验研究

目的:探讨应用肌电图行大鼠腰神经后根节段定位的方法。方法:通过电生理的方法,依次电刺激L3￣L5脊神经后根,分别记录大鼠双侧下肢主要肌肉的肌电图像,测量最早出现的感觉神经动作电位(SNAP)最大波幅值。结果:刺激L3脊神经后根,于股四头肌记录到的波幅峰值(480.8±255.9μV)显著高于其它各组肌肉(P<0.01)。刺激L4脊神经后根,于下肢四组肌肉记录到的CMAP最大波幅平均值均>100μV,其中在股四头肌(305.2±131.5μV)、胫骨前肌(340.2±310.4μV)记录到的波幅峰值显著高于在股二头肌(142.4±144.7μV)、腓肠肌(138.2±127.6μV)记录到的波幅峰值(P<0.01)。刺激L5脊神经后根,于股二头肌(377.5±264.4μV)、腓肠肌(168.4±126.7μV)记录到的波幅峰值显著高于其它各肌群记录到的波幅峰值(P<0.01)。结论:电刺激不同脊神经后根,在大鼠下肢不同肌肉记录到的SNAP的波幅峰值存在差异,综合分析记录到的SNAP的波幅峰值,可作为腰神经后根节段定位的参考。     

Allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells promote glial–axonal remodeling without immunologic sensitization after stroke in rats

We evaluated the effects of allogeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment of stroke on functional outcome, glial–axonal architecture, and immune reaction. Female Wistar rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rats were injected intravenously with PBS, male allogeneic ACI – or syngeneic Wistar –bone marrow stromal cells at 24 h after ischemia and sacrificed at 28 days. Significant functional recovery was found in both cell-treated groups compared to stroke rats that did not receive BMSCs, but no difference was detected between allogeneic and syngeneic cell-treated rats. No evidence of T cell priming or humoral antibody production to marrow stromal cells was found in recipient rats after treatment with allogeneic cells. Similar numbers of Y-chromosome⁺ cells were detected in the female rat brains in both groups. Significantly increased thickness of individual axons and myelin, and areas of the corpus callosum and the numbers of white matter bundles in the striatum were detected in the ischemic boundary zone of cell-treated rats compared to stroked rats. The areas of the contralateral corpus callosum significantly increased after cell treatment compared to normal rats. Processes of astrocytes remodeled from hypertrophic star-like to tadpole-like shape and oriented parallel to the ischemic regions after cell treatment. Axonal projections emanating from individual parenchymal neurons exhibited an overall orientation parallel to elongated radial processes of reactive astrocytes of the cell-treated rats. Allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment after stroke in rats improved neurological recovery and enhanced reactive oligodendrocyte and astrocyte related axonal remodeling with no indication of immunologic sensitization in adult rat brain.     

Animal model for liver cell banking from non-heart beating donors after prolonged ischaemia time

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although there is a growing interest on the use of non-heart beating donors to enlarge the liver donor pool, livers with prolonged warm ischaemia time are not currently considered for organ transplantation. We hypothesised that these organs may represent a source of hepatocytes for cell transplantation and/or use in bioartificial liver devices. Thus, we investigated if prolonged ischaemia could influence the recovery and viability of functional hepatocytes dissociated from rat livers. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from the liver within 15 min after death (t=15 min) and after 4, 8 and 12h of ischaemia. Cells were either maintained in culture or cryopreserved. In all products, we evaluated cell recovery and viability, hepatocyte markers and cellular functions, including albumin and urea production. RESULTS: The number of cells per gram of tissue was similar at 15 min, 4 and 8h, while it was significantly decreased at 12h. About 0.2 x 10(6) viable cells expressing hepatocyte markers and producing albumin and urea were isolated up to 8h of ischaemia per gram of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of viable and functional hepatocytes seems possible after prolonged ischaemia time. These data warrant the evaluation of hepatocyte isolation from human livers of non-heart beating donors.     

Distribution kinetics of FK-506, a novel immunosuppressant, after intravenous administration to rats in comparison with cyclosporin A.

The distribution kinetics of a novel potent immunosuppressant, FK-506 (FK) has been studied in comparison with cyclosporin A (CyA) both in vivo and in vitro using blood specimens. The infusion studies on FK, 5.0 mg kg-1 through the portal and femoral veins showed that the mean hepatic extraction ratio of FK was 27.9 per cent. The effect of clamping both the hepatic artery and the portal vein on the plasma disappearance profiles of FK, 5.0 mg kg-1, and CyA, 3.5 mg kg-1 was studied. The plasma disposition kinetics of CyA was almost the same as in the normal rats. However, the plasma FK levels were about 10 times higher than those obtained in the control group rats. This difference is attributed to the restricted initial distribution of FK to the liver, because the volume of the initial distribution space, V1, of FK was about 10 times smaller than that obtained in normal rats. In in vitro experiments, drug distribution was studied in blood samples (2.0 ml) spiked with FK or CyA, 1.0 micrograms ml-1. The plasma drug levels measured at 2 min after drug administration were 0.842 +/- 0.012 micrograms ml-1 and 0.769 +/- 0.047 micrograms ml-1 for FK and CyA, respectively. The distribution volume in the blood compartment, VB, was determined by dividing the spiked amount of drugs with these plasma concentrations. The VB was 2.38 +/- 0.04 ml for FK and 2.62 +/- 0.16 ml for CyA. There was no significant difference in VB between FK and CyA. The plasma free fraction, fp of the drugs was measured by the equilibrium dialysis method. For FK, the mean fp values (+/- SE) were 1.31 +/- 0.18 per cent (2.0 micrograms ml-1) and 1.93 +/- 0.18 per cent (5.0 micrograms ml-1). For CyA, the fp values were 4.85 +/- 0.36 per cent (1.0 micrograms ml-1) and 5.75 +/- 0.82 per cent (5.0 micrograms ml-1). The hydrophobicity parameter, logP' determined through the HPLC method was 0.386 for FK and 0.545 for CyA. Although FK was less hydrophobic than CyA, its protein binding was higher than CyA.     

The trajectory of the sympathetic nerve fibers to the rat cochlea as revealed by anterograde and retrograde WGA-HRP tracing

Wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate was injected in the unilateral superior cervical ganglion (SCG), and the projection pathways of postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers innervating the cochlea were traced in the rat. The labeled axons advanced along the internal carotid artery (ICA), and a few advanced caudally in the major petrosal nerve (MPN) and entered the facial nerve, while the majority ran rostral to the pterygopalatine ganglion at the point where they crossed the MPN in the carotid canal. The rest of the labeled fibers remained on the surface of the ICA and advanced to the cranial cavity. Most of the labeled fibers along the facial nerve joined the cochlear nerve and finally reached the osseous spiral lamina through the spiral ganglion. Some of the labeled fibers ran along the anterior inferior cerebellar artery from the basilar artery which was previously thought to have been the only pathway. We could not find any labeled fiber on the modiolar artery from anterior inferior cerebellar artery in the cochlea. These observations are consistent with our hypothesis that the sympathetic fibers innervating the neural tissues or related structures follow nerve fibers and meninges as matrices of projection pathways rather than arteries.     

The locus coeruleus, norepinephrine, and memory in newborns

Use of learned odor cues by newborn rats is critical for pup survival. Rat pups acquire approach responses to maternal odors through an associative conditioning mechanism. This learned behavioral response is accompanied by a modification of olfactory bulb neural response patterns to the learned odor. Both the behavioral and neural reponse changes involved and require norepinephrine release in the olfactory bulb. The source of this norepinephrine is the locus coeruleus. It is proposed that the unique response properties of the locus coeruleus during the early postnatal period in the rat may facilitate acquisition of these critical early memories.     

Effect of peripheral administration of cinnarizine and verapamil on the abstinence syndrome in diazepam-dependent rats

The effects of two calcium channel blockers (verapamil and cinnarizine) were evaluated on diazepam withdrawal symptoms. Rats were made diazepam dependent by chronic treatment with daily injections of the drug, 20 mg/kg IP for 3 weeks. On abrupt termination of the drug, animals showed withdrawal hyperactivity that was assessed by autonomic, behavioural and motor signs. The peak effect was seen 3 days after the withdrawal of diazepam. On IP administration, verapamil and cinnarizine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) given on eight occasions at an interval of 12 h reversed the withdrawal-induced increase in spontaneous motor activity. Cinnarizine in higher doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) was found to be effective in suppressing the behavioural signs but verapamil did not show any protective effect against startle response and irritability. These results suggest that modulation of the calcium influx in the CNS might influence withdrawal.This study was presented in XIth International Congress of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) at Amsterdam (July 1–6, 1990)