Synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses in hypoglossal motoneurons after transection of the hypoglossal nerves

In cat hypoglossal motoneurons after axotomy the synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses made by the lingual nerve afferent fibers was studied. The amplitude of the short- and the long-lasting inhibitory postsynaptic potential produced in tongue protruder motoneurons 24 days after axotomy by stimulation of the lingual nerve was significantly reduced in size as compared with the control on the unoperated side. In most protruder motoneurons 40 days after axotomy a large excitatory postsynaptic potential and a spike was produced by stimulation of either the ipsilateral or the contralateral lingual nerve. We have demonstrated that the decline of synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses for the short-lasting inhibitory postsynaptic potential was more prominent than that for the long-lasting inhibitory potential in the motoneuron 24 days after axotomy. After the cut axons of protruder motoneurons were re-united to tongue muscles, we have demonstrated that the decline of synaptic efficacy of inhibitory synapses for the short-lasting inhibitory postsynaptic potential was less prominent than that in axotomized protruder motoneurons.     

鸡干扰素-γ抗球虫作用研究进展

干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）是一种重要的细胞因子,主要由T细胞、NK细胞产生,具有广谱抗病毒、抗肿瘤和双向免疫调节作用。重组鸡干扰素-γ（rChIFN-γ）已被证明与鸡球虫病的免疫有关。本文就鸡干扰素-γ（ChIFN-γ）的生物学特性及其抗球虫作用的研究进展作一综述。     

Differential cytokine profile in children with cystic fibrosis

The previously observed occurrence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) in patients who have cystic fibrosis (CF), together with the reported decrease in IgG2, a Th1-controlled isotype, suggests a potential for Th1/Th2 imbalance in CF patients with a possible Th2 predominance. 48 CF patients and 16 controls had levels of IFNgamma, IL-4, and IL-10 measured in supernatants of whole blood cell cultures stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phytohemaglutinine (PHA). The patients were divided into 2 groups: "low responders", having negligible secretion of cytokines (IFNgamma: 10.0-200.0 pg/ml, IL-4: 0.0-0.3 pg/ml) and "high responders", producing high levels of both IFNgamma (500.0-2000.0 pg/ml) and IL-4 (1.0-200.0 pg/ml). There was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) deterioration of lung function measured by an FEV(1) decline by 11.2% over 3 years in the "low responder" group. 10 of 16 "low responders" had chronic lung infections with P. aeruginosa while such infection was less prevalent in the "high responder" group where only 13 of 32 CF patients had positive cultures. A shift towards Th2 response was observed in the "high responder" group as children chronically infected with P. aeruginosa had greater IL-4 production than non-infected CF patients within the same cohort. ANCA autoantibodies were found only in the "high responder" group. Th2 immune response predominance in a subset of CF patients is associated with chronic P. aeruginosa infection.     

Evoked field potential analysis of dopaminergic mechanisms in the isolated turtle olfactory bulb

Dopaminergic mechanisms were Anatyzed in an isolated preparation of the turtle olfactory bulb. Field potentials were evoked by antidromic or orthodromic stimulation, and the effects determined of pharmacological manipulations of the bathing medium. In the presence of dopamine or a dopamine agonist, apomorphine, there was a reduction of amplitude and delay of onset of the component of the field potentials due to granule cell responses; fluphenazine, a dopamine antagonist, had generally opposite effects. Using paired volleys, it was found that the suppression of the response to the second test volley was reduced in the presence of dopamine or apomorphine, but enhanced in the presence of fluphenazine.The most likely explanation of these results is that exogenous dopamine depresses the response of mitral cells, which in turn decreases the dendrodendritic synaptic excitation of granule cells and reduces their inhibitory feedback onto mitral cells. This suggests that the dopaminergic cells in the bulb may suppress mitral cells by modulating excitable mechanisms in the mitral dendritic membrane, or modulating long-lasting synaptic potentials.     

gamma-Aminobutyric acid and taurine release in the striatum of the rat during hypoglycemic coma, studied by microdialysis

Extracellular levels of striatal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine were monitored during insulin-induced hypoglycemia using microdialysis. At the onset of isoelectricity in the electroencephalogram (EEG), a transient 5-fold increase in the levels of GABA occurred. Taurine levels increased 5 min following the onset of isoelectricity and continued to increase during the entire isoelectric period. The results demonstrate that events associated with the onset of isoelectricity during hypoglycemia trigger an increase in extracellular concentrations of GABA and taurine. The discrepancy in time-course of these changes may reflect differences in compartmentation, function and metabolism of the two amino acids.     

The regional distribution and cellular localization of iron in the rat brain

The regional distribution and cellular localization of iron throughout the rat brain was determined with iron histochemistry. Densitometry was used to measure the intensity of stain of 51 iron-concentrating sites. Among the areas of highest iron content are the circumventricular organs, islands of Calleja, globus pallidus, ventral pallidum, substantia nigra pars reticulata, interpeduncular nucleus, dentate nucleus, and interpositus nucleus. Iron occurs most commonly in oligodendrocytes and in the fibrous network of the neuropil, but is also found in the interstitial spaces of circumventricular organs and in the tanycytes of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, median eminence, and walls of the third ventricle. In diverse areas throughout the brain—among them, the islands of Calleja, dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation, lateral septal nucleus, and central amygdala—iron is found in association with the perikarya and neuronal processes of nerve cells.The overlapping distribution patterns of iron and γ-aminobutyric acid, enkephalin, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone suggest that the distribution of iron is related to its association with the metabolism of one or more neurotransmitters or neuroactive compounds.     

Morphologic evaluation of the liver in hereditary angioedema patients on long-term treatment with androgen derivatives

17 alpha-Alkylated androgens are highly effective in preventing attacks in HAE patients. These drugs, however, seem to be implicated in the development of cholestatic jaundice, peliosis hepatis, and liver tumors. In order to assess the risk-benefit balance of the long-term therapy with androgen derivatives, a follow-up investigation was performed in 13 HAE patients. The results of this study indicate that long-term treatment (15 to 47 mo) with low doses of danazol or stanozolol does not induce significant hepatic damage detectable by laboratory tests or liver biopsy. However, the limited number of patients, although in a rather long period of observation, still suggests a careful control and the use of minimal effective doses.     

Selective uptake of [3H]glutamine and [3H]glutamate into neurons and satellite cells of dorsal root ganglia in vitro

The uptake of [³H]glutamate and [³H]glutamine into rat dorsal root ganglia has been examined by autoradiography and thin-layer chromatography. [³H]glutamate was selectively accumulated by satellite glial cells and after 10 min, 53% of this had been converted to [³H]glutamine. [³H]glutamine, on the other hand, entered neuronal perikarya and 40% was converted to [³H]glutamate. It is suggested that these selective uptake processes provide supporting evidence for the existence of a neuronal-glial glutamine cycle in dorsal root ganglia. Small dark (B) cells accumulated 6 times as much [³H]glutamine as did large light (A) cells. The reasons for this marked difference in the metabolism of the two main types of dorsal root ganglion neurone are discussed.     

Effects of nigral application of muscimol on release of [3H]γ-aminobutyrate and on multi-unit activity in various cat thalamic nuclei

The release of [³H]γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) neosynthesized from [³H]glutamine was estimated in one substantia nigra and in the ipsilateral thalamus of halothane-anesthetized cats by perfusing a [³H]glutamine-enriched physiological medium through a push-pull cannula implanted in the two structures under investigation. After two hours of superfusion, muscimol (10^?6 M) was delivered through the nigral push-pull cannula for 50–60 min and local- and distal-evoked changes of [³H]GABA release were analyzed. In some experiments, changes of global neuronal activity induced by muscimol application were recorded in different thalamic nuclei, using a bipolar electrode. In a few of the above experiments, biochemical and electrophysiological determinations were simultaneously performed in the substantia nigra and the thalamus. The nigral application of muscimol (10^?6 M) induced locally an activation of the substantia nigra reticulata cells, as well as an increase in release of [³H]GABA.Distally, in the thalamus, two types of biochemical and electrophysiological responses were observed according to the localization of the tip of the push-pull cannula or the electrode. (1) An increased release of [³H]GABA and a depression of the global multi-unit cellular activity were obtained in the ventralis medialis-ventralis lateralis, the centralis lateralis and the paracentralis nuclei. These effects could reflect an activation of the GABAergic nigrothalamic neurons projecting to these different thalamic nuclei. (2) In contrast, in the medialis dorsalis paralamellar zone adjacent to the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus, a decrease of [³H]GABA release and an activation of the multi-unit activity were obtained. These latter results may suggest either a polysynaptic response or the non-GABAergic nature of the nigrothalamic neurons afferent to the medialis dorsalis paralamellar zone.     

Cellular localization of the uptake of [3H]taurine and [3H]β-alanine in cultures of the rat central nervous system

The cellular localization of the uptake of [³H]taurine and [³H]β-alanine was studied in cultures of rat central nervous system using autoradiography. In brain stem and spinal cord cultures, both amino acids were taken up by neurones and glial cells. In cerebellar cultures, [³H]taurine was accumulated by all glial cells and by a small number of neurones, whereas [³H]β-alanine was only taken up by glial elements. The uptake of both amino acids was sodium and temperature dependent, indicating an active transport mechanism.The results provide further support for the hypothesis that taurine and β-alanine are neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system.