The role of estrogen receptors,erbB receptors,vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors,and vascular endothelial growth inhibitor in the development of the rat mammary gland

We identified the localization and distribution of cell-specific epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs: erbB-1, erbB-2, erbB-3, erbB-4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors [VEGFRs: VEGF-R1 (flt-1), VEGF-R2 (flk-1/KDR), VEGF-R3 (flt-4)], vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI), and estrogen receptor (ER), and determined whether or not these growth factors in rat mammary glands are functional. Thirty-five adult female Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, each of which were at the 7th, 14th, and 21st day of pregnancy; 7th day post-delivery; and 7th day after weaning. It was determined that erbB, VEGF and its receptors, VEGI, and ER stained at different intensities. Intense staining was observed, in particular, in erbB receptors during pregnancy and involution, and also in VEGF and its receptors during lactation, while ER stained during the last periods of pregnancy and lactation. In conclusion, the expression of erbB, VEGF and its receptors, and ER were determined at varying intensities at different sites of the mammary gland during pregnancy, lactation, and involution periods.     

Neurochemical underpinning of hemodynamic response to neuropsychiatric drugs: A meta- and cluster analysis of preclinical studies

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an extensively used method for the investigation of normal and pathological brain function. In particular, fMRI has been used to characterize spatiotemporal hemodynamic response to pharmacological challenges as a non-invasive readout of neuronal activity. However, the mechanisms underlying regional signal changes are yet unclear. In this study, we use a meta-analytic approach to converge data from microdialysis experiments with relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) changes following acute administration of neuropsychiatric drugs in adult male rats. At whole-brain level, the functional response patterns show very weak correlation with neurochemical alterations, while for numerous brain areas a strong positive correlation with noradrenaline release exists. At a local scale of individual brain regions, the rCBV response to neurotransmitters is anatomically heterogeneous and, importantly, based on a complex interplay of different neurotransmitters that often exert opposing effects, thus providing a mechanism for regulating and fine tuning hemodynamic responses in specific regions.     

Heightened Hippocampal β-Adrenergic Receptor Function Drives Synaptic Potentiation and Supports Learning and Memory in the TgF344-AD Rat Model during Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease

The central noradrenergic (NA) system is critical for the maintenance of attention, behavioral flexibility, spatial navigation, and learning and memory, those cognitive functions lost first in early Alzheimer''s disease (AD). In fact, the locus coeruleus (LC), the sole source of norepinephrine (NE) for >90% of the brain, is the first site of pathologic tau accumulation in human AD with axon loss throughout forebrain, including hippocampus. The dentate gyrus is heavily innervated by LC–NA axons, where released NE acts on β-adrenergic receptors (ARs) at excitatory synapses from entorhinal cortex to facilitate long-term synaptic plasticity and memory formation. These synapses experience dysfunction in early AD before cognitive impairment. In the TgF344-AD rat model of AD, degeneration of LC–NA axons in hippocampus recapitulates human AD, providing a preclinical model to investigate synaptic and behavioral consequences. Using immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and brain slice electrophysiology in 6- to 9-month-old wild-type and TgF344-AD rats, we discovered that the loss of LC–NA axons coincides with the heightened β-AR function at medial perforant path–dentate granule cell synapses that is responsible for the increase in LTP magnitude at these synapses. Furthermore, novel object recognition is facilitated in TgF344-AD rats that requires β-ARs, and pharmacological blockade of β-ARs unmasks a deficit in extinction learning only in TgF344-AD rats, indicating a greater reliance on β-ARs in both behaviors. Thus, a compensatory increase in β-AR function during prodromal AD in TgF344-AD rats heightens synaptic plasticity and preserves some forms of learning and memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The locus coeruleus (LC), a brain region located in the brainstem which is responsible for attention and arousal, is damaged first by Alzheimer''s disease (AD) pathology. The LC sends axons to hippocampus where released norepinephrine (NE) modulates synaptic function required for learning and memory. How degeneration of LC axons and loss of NE in hippocampus in early AD impacts synaptic function and learning and memory is not well understood despite the importance of LC in cognitive function. We used a transgenic AD rat model with LC axon degeneration mimicking human AD and found that heightened function of β-adrenergic receptors in the dentate gyrus increased synaptic plasticity and preserved learning and memory in early stages of the disease.     

Metabolic imaging of acute and chronic infarction in the perfused rat heart using hyperpolarised [1‐13C]pyruvate

Hyperpolarised ¹³C MRI can be used to generate metabolic images of the heart in vivo. However, there have been no similar studies performed in the isolated perfused heart. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a method for the creation of ¹³C metabolite maps of the perfused rat heart and to demonstrate the technique in a study of acute and chronic myocardial infarction. Male Wistar rat hearts were isolated, perfused and imaged before and after occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, creating an acute infarct group. In addition, a chronic infarct group was generated from hearts which had their LAD coronary artery occluded in vivo. Four weeks later, hearts were excised, perfused and imaged to generate metabolic maps of infused pyruvate and its metabolites lactate and bicarbonate. Myocardial perfusion and energetics were assessed by first‐pass perfusion imaging and ³¹P MRS, respectively. In both acute and chronically infarcted hearts, perfusion was reduced to the infarct region, as revealed by reduced gadolinium influx and lower signal intensity in the hyperpolarised pyruvate images. In the acute infarct region, there were significant alterations in the lactate (increased) and bicarbonate (decreased) signal ratios. In the chronically infarcted region, there was a significant reduction in both bicarbonate and lactate signals. ³¹P‐derived energetics revealed a significant decrease between control and chronic infarcted hearts. Significant decreases in contractile function between control and both acute and chronic infracted hearts were also seen. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that hyperpolarised pyruvate can detect reduced perfusion in the rat heart following both acute and chronic infarction. Changes in lactate and bicarbonate ratios indicate increased anaerobic metabolism in the acute infarct, which is not observed in the chronic infarct. Thus, this study has successfully demonstrated a novel imaging approach to assess altered metabolism in the isolated perfused rat heart. © 2013 The Authors. NMR in Biomedicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Spinal Cord Stimulation Attenuates Below‐Level Mechanical Hypersensitivity in Rats After Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury

ObjectivesThe burden of pain after spinal cord injury (SCI), which may occur above, at, or below injury level, is high worldwide. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an important neuromodulation pain therapy, but its efficacy in SCI pain remains unclear. In SCI rats, we tested whether conventional SCS (50 Hz, 80% motor threshold [MoT]) and 1200 Hz, low-intensity SCS (40% MoT) inhibit hind paw mechanical hypersensitivity, and whether conventional SCS attenuates evoked responses of wide-dynamic range (WDR) neurons in lumbar spinal cord.Materials and MethodsMale rats underwent a moderate contusive injury at the T9 vertebral level. Six to eight weeks later, SCS or sham stimulation (120 min, n = 10) was delivered through epidural miniature electrodes placed at upper-lumbar spinal cord, with using a crossover design. Mechanical hypersensitivity was examined in awake rats by measuring paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to stimulation with von Frey filaments. WDR neurons were recorded with in vivo electrophysiologic methods in a separate study of anesthetized rats.ResultsBoth conventional SCS and 1200 Hz SCS increased PWTs from prestimulation level in SCI rats, but the effects were modest and short-lived. Sham SCS was not effective. Conventional SCS (10 min) at an intensity that evokes the peak Aα/β waveform of sciatic compound action potential did not inhibit WDR neuronal responses (n = 19) to graded or repeated electrical stimulation that induces windup.ConclusionsConventional SCS and 1200 Hz, low-intensity SCS modestly attenuated below-level mechanical hypersensitivity after SCI. Inhibition of WDR neurons was not associated with pain inhibition from conventional SCS.     

慢性轻度不可预见性应激对大鼠海马内甘丙肽表达的影响

目的:观察慢性轻度不可预见性应激(chronic unpredictable mild stress,CUMS)对大鼠海马甘丙肽(ga-lanin,Gal)蛋白及mRNA表达的影响,探讨Gal在大鼠实验性抑郁症发病过程中的作用机制。方法:将20只健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为正常组和模型组,每组10只。孤养结合CUMS 21 d建造抑郁症模型,应用旷场试验和糖水偏好试验检测大鼠行为学变化,使用免疫荧光组织化学方法和逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)法测定Gal及Gal mRNA的表达。结果:造模后模型组大鼠运动总路程、中央路程、周边路程及糖水摄入量均较正常组偏低(P<0.05);模型组与正常组相比,海马内Gal及Gal mRNA的表达同样降低(P<0.05)。结论:慢性轻度不可预见性应激可使大鼠海马内Gal及Gal mRNA的表达量下降,推测Gal在抑郁发病过程中可能起到神经保护作用。     

EGCG对16Hz,155dB次声诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞过度激活的影响

目的:研究表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(epigallocatechin gallate,EGCG)对次声诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞过度激活的抑制作用,探讨EGCG潜在的次声对脑损伤的防护作用。方法:16 Hz,155 dB次声刺激原代培养的小胶质细胞,通过细胞因子表达量和免疫荧光染色,观察不同浓度(1μmol/L、10μmol/L、100μmol/L)的EGCG在不同时程(12 h和24 h)对次声激活的小胶质细胞的抑制作用。结果:1μmol/L或10μmol/L EGCG预孵可显著抑制次声后大鼠小胶质细胞IL-1β、IL-6、IL-18、TNF-α表达的上调,且10μmol/L组的作用最强(P<0.01)。10μmol/L EGCG可以减少次声诱导的小胶质细胞过度激活的形态变化。结论:EGCG对次声诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞过度激活具有显著的抑制作用。     

急性高眼压后大鼠视网膜葡萄糖转运因子-1的表达

目的:观察急性高眼压后大鼠视网膜葡萄糖转运因子-1(GLUT-1)的表达变化及其对视网膜损伤的影响.方法:利用急性高眼压大鼠模型,通过免疫组织化学和免疫印迹检测急性高眼压后大鼠视网膜GLUT-1蛋白的表达变化;Nissl染色观察视网膜神经细胞层次改变及节细胞数的变化.结果:正常视网膜血管内皮细胞有GLUT-1表达,急性高眼压后3h开始下调,6h达最低值,之后1d、3d、7d逐渐恢复至正常水平.Nissl染色结果显示急性高眼压后3h、6h和12 h视网膜节细胞数减少不明显,到1、3d,视网膜层次紊乱、变薄,节细胞数明显减少.结论:急性高眼压后早期大鼠视网膜GLUT-1表达下调,影响了视网膜葡萄糖的转运,这可能是视网膜结构紊乱,节细胞丢失的重要原因.     

单纯性脑震荡大鼠海马OX-42阳性小胶质细胞的表达

目的:观察单纯性脑震荡(pure cerebral concussion,PCC)大鼠脑内海马小胶质细胞(microglia,MG)的反应和变化,探讨小胶质细胞是否参与脑损伤后的病理变化以及变化规律。方法:采用清醒状态下自制金属单摆闭合式脑损伤打击装置制备PCC模型,致伤后随机分为3 h、12 h、1 d、2 d、3 d、7 d组(n=5),另设正常对照组(n=5)。采用小鼠抗鼠OX-42单克隆抗体(MG特异性标记物)进行免疫组织化学SP法(streptavidin-peroxidase,SP)和免疫荧光染色,观察PCC组和正常组大鼠海马CA1～4区和上、下齿状回OX-42的表达变化。结果:正常状态下,OX-42表达很少甚至很难发现,PCC组大鼠海马CA1～4区和上、下齿状回的OX-42的表达呈现伤后逐渐增高趋势,与正常组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05),7 d后有下降趋势,但仍高于正常组。结论:PCC损伤早期海马MG出现激活后的形态和数量的变化,提示MG参与PCC致伤后的病理变化。     

NMDA对新生大鼠皮层神经元的兴奋毒作用

目的:建立NMDA诱导原代培养皮层神经元兴奋毒损伤模型,探讨NMDA对NMDA受体过度活化诱导兴奋性神经毒的可能途径。方法:原代培养新生大鼠大脑皮层神经元,通过倒置显微镜形态学观察、细胞活力检测(MTT及LDH释放的检测)及胞内Ca2+的动态测定,探索NMDA诱导毒性作用的适当浓度及时间。通过对ROS、NO检测,分析NMDA诱导毒性作用于线粒体的损伤情况。结果:NMDA(100μmol/L/2 h)引起皮层神经元形态学改变,且引起神经元细胞活力时间和浓度依赖性的下降,由同时伴随LDH释放增加(P<0.05),ROS和NO的生成量明显增加(P<0.05),皮层神经元内Ca2+的快速升高,并维持在高水平。结论:NMDA诱发皮层神经元明显的细胞毒性作用,提示NMDA过度活化NMDA受体后通过神经元膜内Ca2+超载造成ROS和NO的生成量增加,导致皮层神经元产生毒性损伤。