Role of thalamic gamma-aminobutyrate in motor functions: catalepsy and ipsiversive turning after intrathalamic muscimol

Bilateral intrathalamic microinjections of nanogram amounts (5–50 ng) of muscimol, a γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) receptor agonist, elicited catalepsy in rats. Like neuroleptic-treated rats, those injected with muscimol in the thalamus remained suspended on a vertical grid but, unlike opioid-treated rats, they failed to remain horizontal on two book-holders. The righting reflex was present, while ptosis was absent. The areas with the highest sensitivity to the cataleptogenic effects of muscimol were the ventromedial and ventral-anterior nuclei of the thalamus. These thalamic areas were also characterized by the shortest latency for the induction of catalepsy. Injection of up to 50 ng of muscimol into the caudate, globus pallidus or entopeduncular nucleus failed to produce catalepsy. Catalepsy was also obtained after intrathalamic microinjection of other GABA analogs, such as 3-aminopropanesulphonic and imidazolacetic acid, which are known to be potent GABA receptor agonists, and β-p-chlorophenyl-GABA , a compound which has GABA mimetic activity. The catalepsy produced by 10 ng of muscimol was reversed by an intrathalamic microinjection of picrotoxin, a GABA receptor antagonist. Muscimol-induced catalepsy, unlike neuroleptic-induced catalepsy, was not reversed by systemic administration of high doses of apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist, or of scopolamine, a muscarine antagonist, or by intranigral injection of muscimol, and was not prevented by kainic acid-induced lesions of the striatum or of the nigra. Vice versa, injection of cataleptogenic doses of muscimol in the thalamus failed to prevent the stereotyped gnawing produced by systemic apomorphine or intranigral muscimol. Therefore, in these animals, catalepsy and stereotyped gnawing coexisted. The unilateral intrathalamic microinjection of muscimol resulted in a postural asymmetry consisting of turning towards the injected side. This ipsilateral posturing was converted into an ipsilateral circling by systemic administration of apomorphine.The results indicate that thalamic GABAergic mechanisms play an important role in the regulation of posture and in the mediation of certain motor responses arising in the striatum.     

Role of the ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus in motor behaviour—I. Effects of focal injections of drugs

An assortment of drugs was injected into one or both ventromedial nuclei of the thalamus, to see how these influenced stereotypy, locomotion and posture in spontaneously behaving and actively rotating rats. Unilateral intrathalamic muscimol promoted weak ipsiversive circling, while bilateral treatment gave catalepsy. Similar injections of 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid, which inhibits γ-aminobutyrate metabolism, raised γ-aminobutyrate levels in the ventromedial nuclei more than three-fold yet had none of these behavioural effects. The indirectly acting γ-aminobutyrate agonists flurazepam and cis-1,3-aminocyclohexane car☐ylic acid had little effect on posture and locomotion and, like muscimol and 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid, elicited only very weak stereotypies. Procaine behaved like the γ-aminobutyrate antagonist bicuculline, provoking vigorous locomotor hyperactivity and teeth chattering if given uni- or bilaterally. Pretreatment of one ventromedial nucleus with muscimol or 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid, and to a lesser extent flurazepam or cis-1,3-aminocyclohexane car☐ylic acid, gave rise to pronounced ipsilateral asymmetries when combined with a large systemic dose of apomorphine. Contraversive rotations were initiated by unilateral stereotaxic injection of muscimol into the substantia nigra pars reticulata, or with apomorphine from the supersensitive striatum in unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats. Drug treatments in the ipsilateral ventromedial nucleus showed a similar rank order of potency at inhibiting these circling behaviours, seemingly by reducing apomorphine-induced posture and muscimol-induced hypermotility. The suppression of circling by muscimol in these tests was highlighted by introducing the compound into the ventromedial nucleus at the height of circling activity. Both types of circling stimulus lost the capacity to increase locomotion, but still caused head turning and stereotypy in rats made cataleptic with bilateral ventromedial muscimol. Treating one ventromedial thalamus with muscimol greatly intensified any pre-existing posture directed towards that side, and vice versa.

These data suggest that the ventromedial nucleus is not involved with the expression of stereotyped behaviours, but can profoundly influence posture and locomotion, especially in the presence of some other motor stimulus. The recovery of circus movements in rats with impaired ventromedial nucleus function implies this nucleus is not essential for the execution of circling in these models.     

Effects of unilateral electrical stimulation of various thalamic nuclei on the release of dopamine from dendrites and nerve terminals of neurons of the two nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways

The role of several motor and intralaminar thalamic nuclei in the regulation of dopamine release from terminals and dendrites of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons was investigated in halothane-anaesthetized cats. For this purpose, the effects of the unilateral electrical stimulation of various thalamic nuclei on the release of newly synthesized [3H]dopamine were simultaneously determined in both substantiae nigrae and caudate nuclei using the push-pull cannula method. The electrical stimulation of the motor nuclei was the only one to induce asymmetric changes in the four structures since [3H]dopamine release was enhanced in the ipsilateral caudate nucleus and reduced in the contralateral structure while opposite responses were observed in the corresponding substantiae nigrae. A reduction of [3H]dopamine release occurred in the four structures or only in the contralateral substantia nigra and caudate nucleus following the stimulation of the parafascicularis nucleus and the adjacent posterior part of the nucleus centrum medianum or of the nucleus centralis lateralis and the adjacent paralaminar part of the nucleus medialis dorsalis, respectively. The stimulation of the anterior part of the nucleus centrum medianum, which in contrast to other thalamic nuclei examined, receives few nigral inputs, selectively enhanced [3H]dopamine release in the contralateral substantia nigra. No significant changes in [3H]dopamine release were seen either in the substantiae nigrae or in the caudate nuclei following the stimulation of midline thalamic nuclei. These results indicate that the motor and intralaminar thalamic nuclei exert multiple and selective influences on the release of dopamine from terminals and/or dendrites of the dopaminergic neurons. They also further support a role of thalamic nuclei in the transfer of information from one substantia nigra to the contralateral dopaminergic neurons. The possible involvement of connections between paired thalamic nuclei was underlined by the observations of evoked potentials in contralateral homologous nuclei following unilateral stimulation of motor, or some intralaminar, nuclei. The present report provides new insights on the mechanisms contributing to the reciprocal and/or bilateral regulations of nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways.     

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.     

Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 reduces the development of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization: effects on hippocampal type II corticosteroid receptors

Pretreatment of rats with the extract of Ginkgo biloba termed EGb761 reduced the behavioral sensitization induced by successive VM7BT2-H-B/0?wchp=dGLzVlb-zSkWz" alt="Image" title="Image" style="vertical-align:bottom" border="0" height=11 width="16"/> -amphetamine administrations (0.5 mg/kg) as estimated by increasing values of locomotor activity. EGb761 pretreatment also prevented the reduced density of [³H]dexamethasone binding sites in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 hippocampal regions of VM7BT2-H-B/0?wchp=dGLzVlb-zSkWz" alt="Image" title="Image" style="vertical-align:bottom" border="0" height=11 width="16"/> -amphetamine treated animals. These observations suggest that EGb761, by reducing glucocorticoid levels, could modulate the activity of the neuronal systems involved in the expression of the behavioral sensitization.     

替尼泊甙-司莫司汀序列给药治疗恶性脑胶质瘤

目的 探讨替尼泊甙（VM26）与司莫司汀（MeCCNU）序列给药治疗恶性脑胶质瘤的疗效及其并发症的防治。方法 对145例经病理证实的恶性胶质瘤病人术后采用超选择性动脉内灌注加静脉滴注VM26及口服MeCCNU化疗,通过比较化疗前后影像学表现评价近期疗效。结果 本组145例病人治疗后完全缓解21例（14.5%）、部分缓解72例（49.6%）、无变化31例（21.4%）、恶化21例（14.5%）。1、2、3年存活率分别为90.3%、74.5%和22.8%。全部病人无严重并发症及毒性反应。结论 VM26-MeCCNU联合序列给药可延长脑胶质瘤病人生存时间,并发症及毒副作用少。     

葡萄糖转运蛋白1和波形蛋白在肺癌胸水中的应用价值

目的:采用免疫细胞化学技术测定葡萄糖转运蛋白1(GLUT1)及波形蛋白(VM)在癌细胞中的定位表达,探讨GLUT1和VM在肺癌胸水中的应用价值。方法:以肺癌患者为研究对象,以肺癌性胸水为检测基础,收集胸水沉淀细胞,制成石蜡切块,采用免疫组化技术-链霉菌抗生物素-过氧化物霉法检测30例肺癌胸水和20例良性胸水中GLUT1和VM蛋白表达,统计单个及联合应用价值。结果:30例肺癌胸水中,GLUT1表达阳性的有25例(86.7%),良性胸水中间皮细胞VM表达阳性的有18例(90.0%),两种不同性质的胸水GLUT1和VM的阳性率表达均有差异(P<0.05),GLUT1和VM在肺癌胸水中表达呈负相关(P<0.05),两者联合诊断灵敏度为90%。结论:应用免疫组化方法检测肺癌胸水中GLUT1和VM蛋白表达,可提高肺癌早期诊断的灵敏度。     

The Use of Sodium Tetradecyl Sulphate for the Treatment of Venous Malformations of the Head and Neck

Introduction

Vascular malformations have devastating cosmetic effects in addition to being associated with pain and bleeding. Sclerotherapy has been used as an effective therapeutic modality for the management of vascular malformations. The purpose of this case series is to describe our clinical experience of using sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) 3 % in the treatment of venous malformation lesions of head and neck.

Materials and Methods

Thirteen patients were included in this study (three male and ten female; age range between 8 months and 54 years; mean age 18.2 years, ±SD 15.71). The patients were treated by 3 % STS intralesional injections. Of the thirteen patients treated, complete resolution occurred in four patients (28.57 %), a good response occurred in five patients (35.7 %), a moderate response in two patients (14.28 %), a mild response in two patients (14.28 %) and no response in one patient (7.14 %). The side effects encountered in all patients were pain and edema after injection which was controlled by oral analgesics and an intramuscular injection of dexamethasone. In addition, two patients developed a superficial ulceration (11.76 %) which healed uneventfully, and one patient developed ecchymosis after injection (5.88 %).

Conclusion

Sclerotherapy with 3 % STS is a simple, safe, and effective modality for the treatment of venous malformations.     

人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤早期血液供应模式的定量研究

目的 定量评估不同时间点人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤内血液供应模式的变化。方法 将1×10⁷/mL的MHCC97-H细胞悬液同一时间接种于40只裸鼠（0.2 mL/鼠）的左侧腹股沟皮下,分别于种瘤后第2、3、4、5周取瘤行HE染色和免疫组化染色（CD34和CD34/PAS双染色）,定量分析血管参数,包括微血管面积（microvascular area,MVA）、微血管密度（microvessel density,MVD）、血管生成拟态（vasculogenic mimicry,VM）,评估肿瘤内血管供应模式的变化。结果 随着肿瘤生长时间的延长,MVA先减小后增大,第3周肿瘤MVA小于第2周[（13 720.8±2 375.6）μm² vs.（28 795.5±3 412.7）μm²,P=0.013],第4周肿瘤MVA大于第3周[（29 221.3±3 958.5）μm² vs.（13 720.8±2 375.6）μm²,P=0.025];VM百分比呈明显升高趋势,第4周肿瘤VM百分比高于第2周（84.2%±15.4% vs.50.1%±14.6%,P=0.015）。结论 在人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤新生血管形成的早期阶段,随着肿瘤生长时间的延长,VM逐渐成为肿瘤的主要血液供应模式。     

Vasculogenic mimicry in non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with tumor stage

Objective： The purpose of the study was to study the mechanism of vasculogenic mimicry （VM） and its relationship with tumor stage in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： Forty-two patients with NSCLC were collected, 19 belonged to the early stage （stages Ⅰ ＋Ⅱ） while 23 were late stage （stages Ⅲ ＋ Ⅳ）. Moreover, 20 patients got surgical treat ment and 22 got chemotherapy. We studied the relationship of VM with stage, chemotherapeutic effect, HIF-la, microves sel density （MVD） and clinicopathologic features. Results： VM in patients of early stages were significantly more than late stages （68.4% vs 26.1%, P = 0.006）, and the positive rate of VM was proportional to HIF-la （P = 0.034）. But no correlation was found between VM and chemotherapeutic effect （14.3% vs 26.7%, P = 1.00） or MVD （P 〉 0.05）. Furthermore, we found VM also showed a negative correlation with distant metastases and lymph nodes metastases （P 〈 0.05） while no correlation was found with other clinicopathologic. Conclusion： VM was generated during the early stage in NSCLC and correlated with lymph nodes metastases. As the disease progressed, VM may be replaced by vascular endothelial cells, so the late-stage patients especially people with distant metastases had fewer VM. As the main factor produced by hypoxia, HIF-la may make a difference in VM formation. Thus we inferred VM might be a new target for targeted therapy, and could provide help for clinical staging and treatment.