An immunohistochemical study of neuronal and glial cell reactions in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma

Glaucoma is a common disease seen in the eye clinic, but its associated pathological processes, especially the role of glial cells in glaucomatous retinae, are still under debate. The aim of the present work was to study the responses of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in retinae of rats with experimental glaucoma. Glaucoma was induced in adult male Wistar rats by cauterizing limbal-derived veins and the changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), OX42, OX18, OX6 and EDI expression were studied by immunohistochemical staining. Neuronal cell viability was studied by immunostaining with the neuronal nuclei (NeuN) antibody. In the experimental glaucomatous eyes, a significant drop in the number of NeuN-positive neurons was observed from 7 days postoperation and beyond in both the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. The expression of GFAP and OX42 was increased during the first 2 months after operation and reduced in rats at 3 and 4 months. OX6 and OX18 immunoreactivity was induced in some microglia of both glaucomatous and sham-operated control eyes. Possible mechanisms of the reaction of astrocytes, Müller cells and microglia in neuronal degeneration following glaucoma are discussed.     

Inhibitory effect of ketamine on phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 following brain ischemia and reperfusion in rats with hyperglycemia

To determine if the inhibitory effects of ketamine on the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 are involved in reduction of the hyperglycemia-exaggerated cerebral ischemic lesion, rats with normoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or hyperglycemia supplemented with ketamine were subjected to 15 min of forebrain ischemia, and then, reperfusion for 0.5, 1, and 3h. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the brain tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In rats with normoglycemia, we demonstrated a moderate increase of the ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the cingulum cortex and hippocampus CA3 following an ischemic intervention. It quickly dropped to control levels after reperfusion for 0.5h. In rats with hyperglycemia, however, the increase of the ERK1/2 phosphorylation in these areas was significantly higher in all animals reperfused. The neuronal death, detected by the TdT-mediated-dUTP nick end labeling assays, was found in the cingulum cortex (5.23+/-2.34, per high power feild) and hippocampus CA3 areas (6.29+/-3.68, per 1mm(2)) in hyperglycemic group after reperfusion for 3h. With ketamine treatment, the ERK1/2 phosphorylation in cingulum cortex and hippocampus CA1 and CA3 areas was found to be the same as that in normoglycemia rats. Our results suggest that hyperglycemia may increase the ischemic insult through modulation of the signal transduction pathways involving ERK1/2. The inhibitory effects of ketamine on the hyperglycemia-activated ERK1/2 phosphorylation are probably through inhibition of the N-methyl d-aspartate-mediated calcium influx, which subsequently reduce the hyperglycemia-exaggerated cerebral damage.     

Immunohistochemical study of neuron specific enolase and S-100 protein in Hirschsprung's disease

Summary The distribution of whole differentiated neurons in the intestines from 15 children with Hirschsprung's disease was investigated using neuron specific enolase (NSE) and the perineuronal elements were studied using S-100 protein immunostaining.In aganglionic segments, NSE immunoreactive ganglion cells and S-100 positive satellite cells were absent, but the hypertrophic nerve trunks did show a markedly positive NSE and S-100 immunoreactivity.Two different forms of aganglionic segment were present. One was the middle aganglionic segment of long segment aganglionosis which was almost completely dennervated. In the other type, there were several NSE positive nerve fibers in the muscularis propria of both the aganglionic segment of short segment aganglionosis and the distal aganglionic segment of long segment aganglionosis. These latter two aganglionic segments seemed to be innervated by extrinsic nerves.     

The dendritic architecture of the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system in the rat,rabbit, and cat

Summary The neurons of the medial terminal nucleus (MTN) of the accessory optic system (AOS) have been studied in the rat, rabbit and cat in Golgi-Cox and Golgi-Kopsch impregnated brain sections. The present anatomical findings permit a division of the MTN of these species into dorsal and ventral components (MTNd, MTNv), in agreement with other investigations. The MTNd contains predominantly linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar shaped neurons with cell bodies that measure in the range of 25–50 m. These neurons have 2 to 4 primary dendrites which, along with their smaller dendritic branches, are oriented in the plane of the long axis of the MTN (i.e. from ventromedial to dorsolateral). These linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar cells represent 70–80% of the neurons of the MTNd as seen in the Golgi impregnated sections. The remaining 20–30% of the MTNd neurons are nearly all multipolar in shape with somata measuring in the range of 15–25 m. An occasional multipolar neuron is larger, has a soma that measures around 30–60 m and has dendrites which extend outward from the cell body to cover large areas of the MTNd. There was considerable extension of the dendrites of MTNd neurons into the MTNv; however, the dendrites of MTNd neurons were not observed extending into the adjacent substantia nigra (SN) or ventral tegmental area (VTA) of Tsai (1925). Conversely, the dendrites of neurons in the neighboring SN and VTA course along the borders of the MTN but only occasionally extend into the MTN. The neuron population of the MTNv consists almost entirely of small-multipolar shaped cells with somata measuring from 15–25 m and dendritic trees resembling those described for multipolar cells of the MTNd. A small number of neurons of the ventral division are medium-multipolar in shape with cell bodies that measure approximately 30–60 m. Typically, these cells have several dendrites which extend ventrally within the MTNv and one or more dendrites that extend either across the MTNv or dorsally into the MTNd. Only a few linear-bipolar and linear-multipolar neurons were observed in the MTNv. The present findings are discussed in relation to anatomical, physiological, and histochemical studies on the MTN.Abbreviations to Figures CP Cerebral Peduncle - DTN Dorsal Terminal Nucleus - LG Lateral Geniculate Nucleus - LP Lateral Posterior Nucleus - MG Medial Geniculate Nucleus - ML Medial Lemniscus - MTNd Medial Terminal Nucleus, dorsal division - MTNv Medial Terminal Nucleus, ventral division - NTO Nucleus of the Optic Tract - PA Anterior Pretectal Nucleus - pn Nucleus Paranigralis - PP Posterior Pretectal Nucleus - Pul Pulvinar - PO Olivary Pretectal Nucleus - RN Red Nucleus - SGS Stratum Griseum Superficiale, Superior Colliculus - SN Substantia Nigra Supported by USPHS research grant EYO3642 from the National Eye Institute     

鹿茸多肽对胎大鼠脑神经干细胞体外诱导分化的实验研究

目的　探讨鹿茸多肽对胎大鼠脑神经干细胞体外分化的影响。　方法　从E12～ 14d的Wistar大鼠脑中分离扩增获得大量神经干细胞后 ,加入不同浓度的鹿茸多肽 ,观察其对胚胎神经干细胞分化的影响 ,并通过免疫组织化学染色检测神经干细胞分化为神经元和星形胶质细胞的状况。　结果　 5 0 μg L组分化细胞总数与对照组相比有显著性差异 (P <0 0 1) ;5 0 μg L、10 0 μg L、2 0 0 μg L组神经元特异烯醇化酶 (NSE)阳性率与对照组相比有显著性差异 (P <0 0 1) ,并呈一定的剂量依赖性。　结论　鹿茸多肽在体外可明显促进神经干细胞向神经元分化 ,为鹿茸多肽应用于神经系统损伤性疾病的治疗提供了实验依据。     

α-突触核蛋白过表达对黑质多巴胺能神经元酪氨酸羟化酶表达的影响

目的 研究α-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein，α-SYN)过表达对多巴胺能神经元酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)表达的影响。方法 在α—SYN基因转染的MES 23．5大鼠黑质多巴胺能神经元细胞系，分别用免疫组织化学、免疫荧光、Western blot等方法分析α-SYN和TH的表达以及两者之间的关系。通过绘制生长曲线和MTT测试细胞氧化还原活性，观察α—SYN基因转染细胞的生长和损伤情况。结果 α-SYN过表达明显抑制MES 23．5多巴胺能神经元的TH表达，但对该细胞的生长和增殖无明显影响，也不引起该细胞损伤。结论 α-SYN过表达对多巴胺能神经元的TH表达具有抑制作用。     

大鼠腰髓背角星形胶质细胞及神经元对一侧胫、腓骨骨折的反应及其相互关系

目的 研究大鼠脊髓内星形胶质细胞及神经元对一侧胫、腓骨骨折的反应及相互关系。方法 应用细胞免疫组织化学方法，观察脊髓内胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、Fos蛋白双标记以及蛋白激酶C(PKC)在左侧胫、腓骨骨折后不同时程的表达变化。结果 1．左侧胫、腓骨骨折后，GFAP阳性反应产物主要分布于同侧腰髓背角的星形胶质细胞胞浆，Fos阳性产物在其胞核也有表达，且以浅层为主，神经元的胞核也有Fos阳性产物；2．Fos—LI神经元与GFAP／Fos-LI星形胶质细胞的分布基本一致，两者关系密切；3．GFAP／Fos—LI星形胶质细胞表达高峰期在骨折后45min，而Fos—LI神经元的表达高峰期在骨折后90min；PKC—LI星形胶质细胞出现及达到高峰的时间比PKC—LI神经元要早。结论 腰髓背角的星形胶质细胞参与了下肢骨折伤害性刺激的应激反应及调节过程，而且Fos—LI、PKC-LI的表达早于神经元，可能主动地影响神经元的活动。     

Spatio-temporally differential expression of genes for three members of fatty acid binding proteins in developing and mature rat brains

The chronological changes in the gene expression for three species of cytosolic fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) in the rat brain were examined by Northern and in situ hybridization analyses. The expression for heart(H)-FABP became evident after birth, with a gradual increase and confined to the gray matter, suggesting that the expression of H-FABP mRNA is neuron-specific in postnatal brain. The expression for brain(B)-FABP was very intense in the ventricular germinal zone, without expression in the cerebellar external granule cell layer, suggesting the dominant expression in the cells of glial lineage. B-FABP mRNA was transiently expressed in perinatal gray as well as white matter and the expression in glial cells persists only in the olfactory nerve fiber layer at the adult stage. On the other hand, the expression for skin type(S)-FABP was evident in the both ventricular germinal zone and cerebellar external granule cell layer, suggesting the expression in cells of neuronal lineage. The expression for S-FABP was evident in the prenatal gray matter and S-FABP mRNA was expressed in glial cells at early postnatal stage, whereafter the expression decreased to, but remained at weak levels in the adult brain. Discrete functions of the three FABPs were suggested in neurons and glia differentially at various developmental stages.     

Silicon neuron simulation with SPICE: tool for neurobiology and neural networks

The paper deals with computer simulations of ‘silicon neurons’, which are assemblies of CMOS circuits that generate the equivalents of the ionic currents and of the action potentials of real (biological) neurons. The circuit simulation program SPICE is used to simulate the generation of action potentials by a silicon neuron. Moreover, the equivalent circuits of silicon synapses are described and the behaviours of simple two- and three-neuron networks are analysed. Implications for the areas of neurobiology and formal neural networks are briefly considered.     

豚鼠肠粘膜下神经丛淋巴管旁神经元的烯醇化酶免疫组织化学观察

作者曾报道豚鼠肠粘膜下神经丛内,可能有一种特殊类型的淋巴管旁神经元。为了对上述的研究提供进一步的证据,本文应用显示神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)的免疫组织化学方法,对这种类型的神经元进行了观察。胃肠神经丛内所有的神经元都呈NSE阳性反应,小肠和结肠粘膜下丛内的淋巴管旁神经元,也显同样的阳性反应。平滑肌和结缔组织细胞均为阴性。大多数淋巴管旁神经元具有典型的神经元形态特征;有些细胞虽不具有明显的神经元形态特点,但它们都显相同的NSE阳性反应。本文为我们前文报道的淋巴管旁神经元提供了更可信的证据。