Enhanced stimulus-reward learning by intra-amygdala administration of a D3 dopamine receptor agonist

The amygdala is considered to be a critical neural substrate underlying the formation of stimulus-reward associations, and is known to receive substantial innervation from dopaminergic neurons located within the ventral mesencephalon. However, relat- ively little is known about the function of the mesoamygdaloid dopamine projection in stimulus-reward learning. Recently, we have found post-session intra-amygdala microinjections of d-amphetamine to enhance appetitive Pavlovian conditioning as assessed in a discriminative approach task. In the present study, we have examined the effects of dopamine receptor agonists possessing relative selectivity for the D₁, D₂ and D₃ receptor subtypes in order to examine more fully the role of the mesoamygdaloid dopamine projection in stimulus-reward learning. Thus, subjects were trained to associate an initially neutral stimulus (CS⁺) with 10% sucrose reward (US). A second, control stimulus (CS⁻) was also presented but never paired with sucrose reward. In order to measure specifically the conditioned response to CS⁺/CS⁻ presentation, responding during CS and US presentations was measured separately. Immediately following each training session, subjects received bilateral intra-amygdala infusion of 0.1, 1 or 10 nmol/side of SKF-38393, quinpirole or 7-OH-DPAT. Infusions of SKF-38393 or quinpirole were without effect on CS⁺ approach. However, post-session intra-amygdala infusions of 7-OH-DPAT enhanced selectively CS⁺ approach in a dose-dependent fashion. No dose of any drug affected CS⁻approach, US behaviours, or measures of extraneous behaviour. Subsequent acquisition of a novel conditioned instrumental response was also unaffected. Thus, the present data indicate a selective involvement of the D₃ dopamine receptor subtype in the modulation of stimulus-reward learning by the mesoamygdaloid dopamine projection. Received: 12 December 1996 / Final version: 9 April 1997     

Mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrenyl-1-sulfate in the Ames test.

Comparison of the mutagenicity of nine isomeric benzo(a)pyrenyl [B(a)P] phenols conjugated with either sulfate or glucuronide was carried out using strain Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Of the nine conjugates tested, only B(a)P-1-sulfate was mutagenic. Accordingly, the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate was compared with that of B(a)P and 1-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P-1-OH] in the presence and absence of rat lung S9 and Aroclor-induced liver S9 with and without an NADPH-generating system. B(a)P-1-sulfate was slightly mutagenic, whereas B(a)P and the 1-hydroxy derivative were nonmutagenic when S9 fractions and NADPH were omitted. Addition of induced liver S9 with NADPH caused mutagenicity with B(a) -1-OH greater than B(a)P greater than B(a)P-1-sulfate. B(a)P-1-sulfate was the only mutagenic species when lung S9 was added. This mutagenicity did not require NADPH. Sodium sulfite, an inhibitor of arylsulfatase, decreased the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate. These data suggest that a unique mutagenic species is generated from B(a)P-1-sulfate via arylsulfatase in rat lung.     

Widenings of the myelin lamellae in a typical Guillain–Barré syndrome

The so-called “widenings of the myelin lamellae” are thought to be specific ultrastructural features of peripheral nerve myelin in patients with peripheral neuropathy associated with a monoclonal dysglobulinemia of IgM type and antiglycolipid activity. We report here a case of Guillain–Barré syndrome with no evidence of serum monoclonal dysglobulinemia, presenting the typical widenings of the myelin lamellae in small-diameter myelinated fibers from a sural nerve biopsy. In view of the positive reaction with anti-C3d complement on direct immunofluorescence, an immunological mechanism may be involved in the widenings of the myelin lamellae. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Altered enzyme activities of xenobiotic biotransformation in kidneys after subchronic administration of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) to rats

Activities of the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes were measured in the liver, kidney, duodenum and lung microsomes and cytosol fractions of Wistar rats after subchronic administration of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), a potent bacterial mutagen in chlorinated drinking water. MX was administered by gavage at the dose level of 30 mg/kg for 18 weeks (low dose), or at the dose level which was raised gradually from 45 mg/kg for 7 weeks via 60 mg/kg for 2 weeks to a clearly toxic dose of 75 mg/kg for 5 weeks (high dose). Microsomal and cytosolic preparations were made and the activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD), NADPH-cytochrome-c-reductase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were measured. Kidneys were affected most. A dose-dependent decrease was observed in EROD (90% in males, 80% in females at the high dose) and in PROD (58% in females, at the high dose) in kidneys. An increase was, however, detected in kidney NADPH-cytochrome-c-reductase (66% in females at high dose), UDPGT (89% in males and 97% in females at high dose) and GST activities (56% in males and 50% in females at high dose). MX caused only a few changes in the enzyme activities of the liver. The EROD activity was decreased 25% to 37%, both in the livers of males and females, but the total content of P450s was not altered. Hepatic GST activity was elevated in females in a dose-dependent manner (31% and 44%). GST activity was elevated in duodenum in females (59%) at the high dose. There were no marked changes in the enzyme activities in the lungs. MX was a weak inhibitor of EROD activity both in the liver and kidney microsomes in vitro, decreasing the EROD activity by 53% and 43%, respectively at the concentration of 0.9 mM. The results indicate that MX decreases the activity of phase I metabolism enzymes, but induces phase II conjugation enzyme activities, particularly in kidneys in vivo. It is possible that these changes contribute to metabolism of MX in kidneys and renders them susceptible to MX in the course of repeated exposure.     

质子磁共振波谱在胶质瘤诊断中的应用

目的探讨质子磁共振波谱（^1Hmagnetic resonance spectroscopy，^1HMRS）在胶质瘤诊断及分级中的应用。方法回顾分析我院2003年3月～2005年9月质子磁共振波谱检查并经病理证实的36例胶质瘤的临床资料，根据胶质瘤恶性程度不同分为A、B2组，其中A组为低恶性组（包括星形细胞瘤Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级、室管膜瘤、少突胶质细胞瘤等）21例，B组为高恶性组（包括星形细胞瘤Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级、多形性胶质母细胞瘤、间变型室管膜瘤、髓母细胞瘤）15例。观察氮乙酰门冬氨酸（Nacetylaspartate，NAA）、胆碱（choline，Cho）、肌酸（creatine，Cr）、肌醇（Ins）的共振峰及比值。大脑对侧对应正常脑组织的结果作内对照组。结果2组胶质瘤均表现为异常的。HMRS，与大脑对侧对应正常脑组织相比，A、B2组表现为NAA／Cr含量显著下降，Cho／Cr含量显著增高（P均〈0．05），cr总量变化不大，且无规律性（P〉0．05），Ins含量表现为轻度下降（P〉0．05）。A组NAA／Cr和NAA／Cho均显著高于B组（t=4．235，P=0．011；t=2．832，P=0．031），A组Cho／Cr显著低于B组（t=-2．323，P=0．042）。结论。HMRs可提高对胶质瘤诊断和分级的准确性。     

Frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 with the N279K tau mutation

We present a case of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP‐17) harboring the N279K mutation in the MAPT gene from the family known as pallido‐ponto‐nigral degeneration (PPND). This 49‐year‐old man was followed for 17 years. He presented at age 41 years with left leg stiffness and en‐bloc turning. During the course of his illness he developed a constellation of symptoms including parkinsonism, pyramidal signs, vertical gaze palsy, dysphagia, dystonia, personality and cognitive dysfunction, weight loss and mutism. Gross neuropathological examination showed mild atrophy of the cerebral cortex, hippocampal formation, amygdala, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus and depigmentation of the substantia nigra. Microscopy revealed neuronal loss and gliosis in the same regions. Tau immunohistochemistry showed pretangles, numerous threads, grain‐like structures and oligodendroglial tau‐positive inclusions (“coiled bodies”). In the spinal cord the tau pathology was more abundant in gray than white matter. Pretangles and threads were present in the anterior and, to a lesser extent, in the posterior horns. FTDP‐17 should be suspected in patients with a history of familial parkinsonism combined with behavioral and cognitive changes, onset before age 65 years and an aggressive clinical course.     

Identifying incident cases of parkinsonism among veterans using a tertiary medical center.

To better understand the impact of incident Parkinson's disease (PD) on the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) and to develop methods applicable to future epidemiological research, we performed a medical record review study at a tertiary referral VHA medical center. Searching the local data base, we identified 782 veterans with diagnostic codes for PD or secondary parkinsonism (SP) between 1998 and 2000. Based on structured medical record review, a movement disorders specialist confirmed diagnoses for incident parkinsonism cases. Among the 782, 191 incident parkinsonism cases were identified (100 PD, 75 SP, and 16 Parkinson's Plus). Incident PD cases were older at diagnosis (74.5 vs. 70.4 yr; P < 0.05) and more likely to be white (81% vs. 62; P < 0.07) than incident SP cases. Diagnostic codes were insufficient to distinguish between incident PD and SP (positive predictive value, 57% and 39%, respectively), and VHA sources failed to identify 21% of confirmed deaths among the incident PD cohort by November 2004. Although the large number of incident cases identified suggests PD is an important cause of disability among elderly VHA users, observed limitations of VHA sources for identifying incident PD cases and determining their vital status should be considered when designing future studies.     

红三叶总异黄酮对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的研究红三叶总异黄酮对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的生长抑制和凋亡的诱导作用。方法在体外细胞培养下,采用不同质量浓度红三叶异黄酮和5-Fu处理MCF-7细胞,MTT法测定红三叶总异黄酮抑制MCF-7细胞增殖的量-效关系;TUNEL法、流式细胞术分析其细胞凋亡率和周期分布。结果红三叶总异黄酮对MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用随药物质量浓度提高和作用时间延长而更加明显,而在低质量浓度时却出现轻微促细胞增殖现象。TUNEL法、流式细胞术分析结果表明,红三叶总异黄酮能诱导MCF-7细胞凋亡,阻滞细胞于G2/M期,降低细胞增殖指数,且这种作用也存在剂量-效应关系。结论红三叶总异黄酮可抑制MCF-7细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡,具有抗肿瘤作用。     

B组轮状病毒WH-2株vp7基因的原核表达与抗体的制备

目的：在大肠杆菌中表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白并制备其兔抗血清。方法：根据B组轮状病毒（GBRV）WH-2株vp7基因的全序列设计引物,用PCR的方法扩增得到vp7基因的编码区。将其克隆到原核GST融合表达载体pGEX-KG内,转化大肠杆菌E.coliDH5α,IPTG诱导表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白,经SDS-PAGE分离纯化表达的蛋白免疫新西兰兔,制备人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白抗血清。结果：经鉴定确认,vp7基因以正确的方式插入到载体中,此重组表达载体经IPTG诱导后,可表达相对分子量为53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白。制备的抗血清经同样诱导表达的表达载体pGEX-KG表达产物吸收后1：500倍稀释后用Western Blot分析,与53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白获得特异性显色信号。结论：人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白成功在大肠杆菌中GST融合表达,所表达的蛋白和制备的抗体不但为研究结构与功能提供了物质基础,也为GBRV所引起的疾病预防、诊断和治疗等流行病学研究和临床诊断奠定了基础,具有重要实际应用价值。     

Effect of Carbamazepine on Dopamine Release and Reuptake in Rat Striatal Slices

Carbamazepine has been shown to enhance dopaminergic agonist behavioral effects, but not to displace [3H]spiroperidol binding. To verify if carbamazepine acts presynaptically on dopaminergic neurons, reuptake and release of [3H]dopamine were measured in rat striatal slices in vitro. It was observed that carbamazepine blocked 20% of the reuptake of [3H]dopamine, while cocaine blocked 82% of the reuptake, compared with control. Carbamazepine released 62% and tyramine released 92% of the accumulated [3H]dopamine, compared with control. It was concluded that carbamazepine acts presynaptically on striatal neurons, mainly through enhancement of dopamine release. This finding can be related to some behavioral effects described for carbamazepine; however, the importance of its effects in epileptic and manic-depressive patients remains to be clarified.