GDNF基因活化的细胞外基质对大鼠坐骨神经损伤后神经元的保护作用

目的:探讨GDNF基因活化的细胞外基质对神经元的保护作用.方法:通过化学萃取获得大鼠坐骨神经细胞外基质,复合上编码GDNF的质粒DNA,构建成基因活化的细胞外基质支架.60只成年Wistar大鼠按随机数字法分为3组:A组(n=20)GDNF基因活化的细胞外基质桥接组,B组(n=20)ECM桥接组,C组(n=20)自体神经桥接组,术后3天、1周、4周、12周时用RT-PCR、激光共聚焦显微镜等形态学方法来评价神经元保护作用.结果:GDNF基因活化的细胞外基质能作为局部的基因缓释系统来释放GDNF,在脊髓中高效表达12周以上.GDNF mRNA的表达和Nissl染色阳性细胞的数量在脊髓中明显增加,而iNOS表达明显下降.神经元存活率明显优于对照组(78.04%±3.50%vs 56.09%±1.89%).结论:GDNF基因活化的细胞外基质可以促进GDNF mRNA在脊髓中表达,增加前角运动神经元的存活率,其机制可能与iNOS受抑制有关.     

经流式细胞仪分选神经细胞技术方法的建立

目的:探索建立一种分离在体模型中不同种类神经细胞的技术方法。方法:采用免疫荧光标记方法和流式细胞仪分选技术。结果:NeuN和GFAP双标显色可见,GFAP阳性的星形胶质细胞无NeuN表达,经过流式细胞仪分选可获得高纯度的星形胶质细胞和神经元,其阳性标记率分别为31.91%±4.67%和47.70%±6.30%。结论:该分选方法可以同时获得纯度高、数量多的不同种类的神经细胞。     

Acetylcholinesterase is increased in mouse neuronal and astrocyte cultures after treatment with beta-amyloid peptides

The cellular origin of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) associated with amyloid plaques in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain is unknown. In this study we report that amyloid beta-peptides (Abeta) increased AChE levels in both neuronal and astrocytic primary cultures, supporting the possibility that both neurons and glia may make a direct contribution to the pool of AChE seen around amyloid deposits in the AD brain.     

A Shaker homologue encodes an A-type current in Xenopus laevis

In Xenopus laevis, several distinct K(+)-channels (xKv1.1, xKv1.2, xKv2,1, xKv2.2, xKv3.1) have been cloned, sequenced, and electrophysiologically characterized. K(+)-channels significantly shape neuronal excitability by setting the membrane potential, and latency and duration of action potentials. We identified a further Shaker homologue, xKv1.4, in X. laevis. The open reading frame encodes a K(+)-channel that shares 72% of its 698 amino acids with the human Shaker homologue, hKv1.4. Northern blot analysis revealed xKv1.4 in the brain, muscle, and spleen but not in the ovary, intestine, heart, liver, kidney, lung, and skin. Whole-cell patch clamp recording from rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cells transfected with xKv1.4 revealed a voltage-gated, outward rectifying, transient A-type, K(+) selective current. xKv1.4 was strongly dependent on extracellular K(+). Exposure of cells to K(+) free bath solution almost completely abolished the current, whereas in the presence of high K(+), inactivation in response to a maintained depolarizing step and the frequency-dependent cumulative inactivation decreased. Ion channels encoded by xKv1.4 are sensitive to 4-aminopyridine and quinidine but insensitive to tetraethylammonium and the peptide toxins, charybdotoxin, margatoxin, and dendrotoxin. In conclusion, our results indicate that the biophysical and pharmacological signature of xKv1.4 closely resemble those of the A-current described in Xenopus embryonic neurons and is similar to the human Shaker homologue, hKv1.4.     

Analysis of Werner's expression within the brain and primary neuronal culture

Werner’s syndrome is a genetic progeria disorder caused by mutation of the Werner gene (WRN). The presence of mutations in the WRN gene is believed to result in a deleterious loss of normal WRN function, which has been best characterized for its role as a DNA helicase and exonuclease. The WRN gene is known to be expressed within the central nervous system, with Werner’s syndrome associated with several neuropathological abnormalities including brain atrophy, gliosis and extensive cytoskeletal abnormalities. While WRN has been intensely investigated in primary fibroblast and fibroblast cell lines, at present little is known about the normal expression pattern of the WRN protein in the brain or primary neuronal cultures. In the present study we demonstrate that WRN is expressed throughout the brain, and is present in both neurons and glia. Similarly, WRN is present in both primary neurons and glia in cell culture, with extensive immunoreactivity present in the neuritic processes or neurons. Analysis of WRN RNA revealed that WRN was expressed at its highest levels in brain tissue from embryonic tissue, undergoing a biphasic pattern expression from early post-natal period into adulthood. Taken together, these data indicate that WRN is present in the cells of the brain, expressed throughout primary neuronal cells in culture, possibly playing a developmental role in the central nervous system.     

Bcl-2基因家族在中枢神经系统中的作用

Bcl-2家族在中枢神经系统发育和动态平衡中起重要的作用。在调节神经元分化方面Bcl-xl和Bax起决定性作用,而Bax和Bak在调节神经祖细胞量方面起作用。Bax、Bcl-xl和Bcl-2调节神经营养因子剥夺所引起的细胞凋亡。相反,细胞兴奋性中毒死亡不依赖于Bax或Bak,但Bak缺乏能增强神经兴奋因子的毒性。     

神经酰胺对小鼠皮层神经元乳酸脱氢酶代谢的影响

目的研究神经酰胺对小鼠皮层神经元乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)代谢的影响。方法在培养的小鼠皮层神经元上清中分别加入50、100、200、500、1000、2000nmol/L的神经酰胺,分别作用0、1、4、8、12、16、24、36h,测定LDH浓度,计算其代谢率和漏出率。结果可显著改变乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)在细胞内外的分布,随神经酰胺作用时间的延长或剂量的增加,细胞外LDH含量显著升高,但神经酰胺对细胞总LDH代谢无影响。结论神经酰胺可增加LDH漏出率,但对细胞总LDH代谢无影响。     

Calbindin overexpression buffers hippocampal cultures from the energetic impairments caused by glutamate

A dramatic rise in free cytosolic calcium concentration is thought to be a central event in the pathogenesis of glutamate excitotoxicity in neurons. We have previously demonstrated that gene transfer of the calcium-binding protein calbindin D28k via a Herpes simplex amplicon vector decreases the rise in intracellular calcium and promotes cell survival following glutamatergic challenge. This study explores the effect of calbindin transgene expression on cellular metabolism following glutamate excitotoxicity. Because excitotoxic insults are often energetic in nature, and because calcium sequestering and extrusion place heavy energy demands on a cell, we hypothesized that calbindin overexpression may help preserve cellular energy levels during an insult. We overexpressed calbindin in primary hippocampal cultures, using a Herpes simplex amplicon vector system. We found that calbindin overexpression protected neurons from the decline in ATP levels, mitochondrial potential and metabolic rate following a glutamatergic insult. These results indicate that calbindin expression helps preserve cellular energy state following glutamate excitotoxicity. This illustrates the energetic load placed on neurons by increased free cytosolic calcium and may help explain the neuroprotective effects of calbindin.     

移植的神经干细胞在脑损伤区壳聚糖载体中的存活与分化

目的:探讨移植的NSCs在大鼠脑损伤区壳聚糖载体中的存活、分化情况及其对TBI大鼠认知功能的影响。方法:低温冷冻干燥法制备壳聚糖多孔支架。将从鼠胚前脑中分离的NSCs扩增、标记BrdU。Feeney法制备SD大鼠TBI模型,随机分为3组:损伤对照组清创后不做移植;NSCs 支架移植组行壳聚糖作载体的NSCs移植;NSCs 支架 NGF移植组行壳聚糖作载体的NSCs移植,并在其中加入NGF。术后1、2、3个月行避暗回避和跳台试验。脑切片行Nissl染色、BrdU与NF-200免疫荧光双标染色。结果:两移植组的认知功能在术后1、2、3个月较损伤对照组明显改善,含NGF的移植组改善更加显著。两移植组术后1、2、3个月在移植区均可见BrdU与NF-200免疫荧光双标细胞,含NGF移植组中的双标细胞数量多、胞体大、突起多且长。结论:大鼠TBI后移植的外源性NSCs可以在脑损伤区壳聚糖载体中长期存活并向神经元分化,可以改善大鼠的认知功能;NGF对其具有促进作用。