Sciatic nerve conditioned medium depleted of pro-NGF modulates sodium currents and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells

Excitability and axon/dendrite specification are the most distinctive features in the establishment of neuronal polarization. Conditioned medium from rat sciatic nerve (CM) induced a neuronal-like morphology in PC12 cells. Here we show that CM neuritogenic activity is limited to the induction of dendrites in PC12 cells. However, treatment of these cells with CM in combination with a generic inhibitor for tyrosine kinase receptors (k252a) promoted the enhancement of neurite length, development of axons and induction of sodium currents. On the other hand, specific inhibition of TrkA and p75^NTR receptors in CM-treated cells reduced the neurite length in comparison with cells treated only with CM, although the effect over the induction of sodium currents was continuously observed. These results suggested that CM had some components that, even though are able to start the morphological cell differentiation and produce short neurites (likely acting through TrkA and p75^NTR), can restrain further neurite extension. Depletion of pro-NGF isoforms from CM produced a similar effect as the exerted by k252a, TrkA and p75^NTR receptor inhibitors in CM-treated cells, inducing the elicitation of sodium currents. These results suggested that the effect of CM might be mediated through pro-NGF. The difference between the results obtained with the generic inhibitor for Trk receptors and the specific inhibitors for TrkA and p75^NTR receptors in CM-treated cells, suggested that alternative pathways could be used to regulate neurite elongation, axon specification and sodium currents in PC12 cells. These findings represent important clues to improve the understanding of the initiation of neuronal polarity.     

Modulation of neuronal dynamic range using two different adaptation mechanisms

The capability of neurons to discriminate between intensity of external stimulus is measured by its dynamic range. A larger dynamic range indicates a greater probability of neuronal survival. In this study, the potential roles of adaptation mechanisms (ion currents) in modulating neuronal dynamic range were numerically investigated. Based on the adaptive exponential integrate-and-fire model, which includes two different adaptation mechanisms, i.e. subthreshold and suprathreshold (spike-triggered) adaptation, our results reveal that the two adapta-tion mechanisms exhibit rather different roles in regulating neuronal dynamic range. Specifically, subthreshold adaptation acts as a negative factor that observably decreases the neuronal dynamic range, while suprathreshold adaptation has little influence on the neuronal dynamic range. Moreover, when stochastic noise was introduced into the adaptation mechanisms, the dynamic range was apparently enhanced, re-gardless of what state the neuron was in, e.g. adaptive or non-adaptive. Our model results suggested that the neuronal dynamic range can be differentially modulated by different adaptation mechanisms. Additionally, noise was a non-ignorable factor, which could effectively modulate the neuronal dynamic range.     

Practical model description of peripheral neural excitation in cochlear implant recipients: 3. ECAP during bursts and loudness as function of burst duration

In this, the third paper of the series, the loudness of low-rate bursts of electrical pulses was measured as a function of the burst duration, in subjects implanted with the Nucleus^® 24 cochlear implant system (three with straight and two with Contour™ electrode arrays). In order to help distinguish between the contributions of peripheral and more central effects, the ECAP was recorded to the individual pulses comprising the bursts, using the Neural Response Telemetry™ (NRT™) system. At a pulse rate of 250 pulses/s, the ECAP amplitude did not decrease greatly during the bursts: the mean reduction factor was 0.89. The time-constant for summation of the loudness contributions from the pulses comprising a burst was found to be larger than that associated with normal hearing. In addition, the first pulse of a pulse train was found to contribute much more to the overall loudness than did the subsequent pulses, although a corresponding difference was not observed in the ECAP recordings. These results establish a necessary connection between the essentially single-pulse model, developed in the fourth and fifth papers of the series, and the psychophysical data for pulse bursts, but they also have broader implications.     

孤啡肽对大鼠顶叶皮层神经元延迟整流钾电流的抑制作用

目的研究孤啡肽(orphanin FQ/nociceptin,OFQ/N)对大鼠顶叶皮层神经元延迟整流钾电流(IK)的影响,初步探讨其干扰学习记忆过程的离子机制。方法采用全细胞膜片钳技术,观察OFQ/N对急性分离的大鼠顶叶皮层神经元IK的作用。结果①OFQ/N明显抑制IK,并呈剂量依赖性(P<0.05)。②0.1μmol.L-1OFQ/N使IK的电流-电压(I-V)曲线降低(n=8,P<0.01)。③0.1μmol.L-1OFQ/N使IK激活曲线的半数激活电压(V1/2)和斜率因子(k)分别由给药前的(-43.4±6.1)mV和(11.5±1.1)mV变为给药后的(-19.1±4.6)mV和(17.3±3.2)mV(n=8,P<0.01)。④0.1μmol.L-1OFQ/N使IK失活曲线的半数失活电压(V1/2)和斜率因子(k)分别由给药前的(-68.8±2.6)mV和(16.5±1.7)mV变为给药后的(-76.8±2.8)mV(n=5,P<0.01)和(15.7±3.1)mV(n=5,P>0.05)。结论OFQ/N可抑制大鼠顶叶皮层神经元IK,使IK激活曲线右移,失活曲线左移。     

听觉剥夺延缓大鼠上外橄榄核神经元抑制性突触的发育

目的在出生后2周,大鼠上外橄榄核(LSO)神经元所接受的抑制性神经递质投射从以γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)为主逐渐转变为以甘氨酸为主,探讨听觉剥夺对该转变的影响。方法利用电压固定膜片钳技术,观察生后13~15d听觉剥夺大鼠和正常发育大鼠LSO神经元中GABA和甘氨酸受体电流的构成比率。结果在出生后4~6dLSO神经元,GABA和甘氨酸受体电流成分分别为(65.7±5.3)%和(34.3±5.3)%,出生后13~15d正常发育大鼠为(14.9±5.1)%和(84.1±5.1)%;出生后13~15d听觉剥夺大鼠为(38.7±5.9)%和(61.3±5.9)%。与正常发育组相比,听觉剥夺大鼠LSO神经元接受较多的GABA能投射(P<0.001)和较少的甘氨酸受体电流(P<0.001)。结论听觉剥夺大鼠LSO神经元的抑制性神经递质转换现象出现部分受阻,听觉信号刺激与听觉中枢通路的发育相关。     

家兔输精管结扎16月睾丸功能变化及其机制的实验研究

18只日本大耳白雄兔随机分为输精管结扎组(VG)和假手术组(SOG)。术后第16月进行睾丸功能与形态学观察。结果表明:血清睾酮含量两组无明显差异(p>0.05);睾丸环-磷酸腺苷cAMP含量与血管紧张素Ⅰ转换酶(ACE)活力,Na~+,K~+-ATP酶及Mg~(++)-ATP酶比活性呈显著的正相关,两组比较,VG的cAMP含量与酶活力均明显地低于SOG;输精管结扎术后自身免疫性睾丸炎可能是睾丸生精功能抑制的重要原因。     

Differential effects of bupivacaine enantiomers,ropivacaine and lidocaine on up-regulation of cell surface voltage-dependent sodium channels in adrenal chromaffin cells

In cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, (+/-)-bupivacaine inhibited veratridine-induced 22Na(+) influx (IC(50) 6.8 microM). The IC(50) of (+)-bupivacaine (2.8 microM) was 6.2-, 7.4-, and 17.1-fold lower than those of (-)-bupivacaine (17.3 microM), (-)-ropivacaine (20.6 microM), and lidocaine (47.8 microM). Chronic (i.e. 3-h) treatment of cells with (+/-)-bupivacaine increased cell surface [3H]saxitoxin ([3H]STX) binding capacity by 48% (EC(50) of 233 microM; t(1/2)=7.4 h), without changing the K(d) value. Treatment for 24 h with either (+)- or (-)-bupivacaine, or (-)-ropivacaine elevated [3H]STX binding, whereas 24-h treatment with lidocaine had no effect. The rise of [3H]STX binding by (+/-)-bupivacaine was prevented by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, or brefeldin A, an inhibitor of cell surface vesicular exit from the trans-Golgi network; however, (+/-)-bupivacaine did not increase Na(+) channel alpha- and beta(1)-subunit mRNA levels. In cells subjected to (+/-)-bupivacaine treatment (1 mM for 24 h) followed by 3-h washout, veratridine-induced 22Na(+) influx was enhanced, even when measured in the presence of ouabain, an inhibitor of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. Ptychodiscus brevis toxin-3 potentiated veratridine-induced 22Na(+) influx by 2.3-fold in the (+/-)-bupivacaine-treated cells, as in non-treated cells. These results suggest that lipophilic bupivacaine enantiomers or (-)-ropivacaine acutely inhibit Na(+) channel gating, whereas its chronic treatment up-regulates cell surface expression of Na(+) channels via translational and externalization events.     

Patch-clamp recording of Müller glial cells after cryopreservation

Human and other primate retinal Müller cells display dominating K⁺ currents as well as other membrane conductances that may change in cases of retinal pathology. Because the use of human and primate tissue is limited by reasons of availability, a method for long-term storage of these cells is desirable. We describe a cryopreservation method in which isolated Müller cells are stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, the cells can be used for patch-clamp experiments immediately, without culturing. We show that the main electrophysiological properties are not altered by this method and that voltage- and ligand-gated currents can be recorded from cryopreserved cells even after 2-years storage.     

芪参胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的研究芪参胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法用线栓法建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型,大鼠于缺血1h再灌注2h断头取脑,检测大脑组织Ca2 -ATPase,Na ,K -ATPase,NOS活性和NO,水的含量及大脑皮层神经元内游离钙离子浓度,行为学评价及梗死面积,常规石蜡切片,HE染色,作病理学检查。结果芪参胶囊显著降低缺血再灌注后大脑皮层神经元内游离钙离子浓度及大脑组织NOS活性,NO的含量和水肿程度及梗死面积;显著增强Ca2 -ATPase,Na ,K -ATPase的活性;病理学检查显示芪参胶囊能明显减轻脑水肿及神经元坏死程度。结论芪参胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤有明显保护作用。     

硝普钠对豚鼠单离耳蜗外毛细胞全细胞电流的影响

目的研究并探讨硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞(outer hair cells,OHC)全细胞电流的影响及其作用机制.方法利用急性分离的OHC和特异性的离子通道阻断剂作为工具药,通过膜片钳电压钳记录技术观察了SNP对豚鼠耳蜗OHC全细胞电流的影响,结果①在以 40mV的指令电压刺激时,10-3mol/L的SNP抑制15.34±6.59%的细胞电流(n=5);②SNP对全细胞电流的抑制作用有电压依赖性,在刺激高于0mV时作用明显,10-2mol/L的SNP在 10mV时抑制率为4.97±1.74%,而在 40mV时的抑制率为33.82±1.61%;③SNP对全细胞电流的抑制呈量效关系,在浓度大于10-3mol/L时,抑制作用逐渐明显,10-1mol/L的SNP时接近达到最大抑制效应;④分离离子电流成分后,SNP仅对Ca2 电流有抑制作用.结论SNP对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞的全细胞电流的抑制作用,主要通过抑制细胞外Ca2 的内流,进而影响Ca2 依赖性K 通道而实现.