Effects of decentralization on the levels of GAP-43 and p38 (synaptophysin) in sympathetic adrenergic neurons: a semi-quantitative study using immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy

The distribution of GAP-43 in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and iris were studied in normal animals and following decentralization using immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). GAP-43-like immunoreactivity (LI) was compared with p38 (synaptophysin)-LI, and tyrosin hydroxylase (TH)-LI. In the control SCG, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI were mainly localized in nerve terminals around the principal neurons. The neuronal perikarya were negative for GAP-43, but positive for p38 in a perinuclear zone, as well as positive for TH. SIF cells (Small Intensely Fluorescent cells, ganglionic interneurons) were positive for GAP-43, TH and p38. One day after decentralization, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI in nerve terminals around principal neurons had disappeared. Some of the principal neurons showed a weak GAP-43-immunoreactivity. Three days post-decentralization, GAP-43- and p38-positive nerve terminals around the neurons had reappeared in considerable numbers and the intra-ganglionic nerve bundles were positive for both antibodies. In the control irides, GAP-43-LI and p38-LI were distributed in a varicose pattern in the nerve bundles, around blood vessels and in the network of terminals. Double labelling studies showed that GAP-43-LI was colocalized with TH-LI and p38-LI. The network of terminals in the dilator plate of the irides was quantified by measuring the fluorescence intensity of randomly selected areas, using CLSM. Three days after decentralization the intensity of GAP-43-LI and p38-LI had significantly increased. TH-LI had decreased 8 days after decentralization. The results indicate that GAP-43-LI and p38-LI are normally present in the nerve fibers and terminals of both pre- and post-ganglionic neurons in adult rats. The expression of GAP-43-LI and p38-LI in post-ganglionic neurons is preganglionically regulated, as indicated by the increased expression after decentralization. The expression of p38 in these neurons is probably regulated via mechanisms that are separate from those which regulate GAP-43, since it showed a different time course than that of GAP-43-LI.     

BDNF对体外培养的大鼠脊髓前角神经元内突触素Ⅰ与突触囊泡素表达的影响

探讨BDNF对体外培养的大鼠脊髓前角神经元内突触素I与突触囊泡素(SYN)表达的影响。取孕14d大鼠子宫内胎鼠的脊髓腹侧部分神经元,体外有血清培养。在培养7d后,随机分成对照组、BDNF组和抗BDNF组。BDNF组培养液中加入BDNF(20ng/ml),抗BDNF组培养液中加入BDNF抗体(20μg/ml),对照组加入等量Hanks液。3d后在倒置显微镜下计数三组神经元存活数,并用NF200、MAP2、NSE的免疫组化反应对神经细胞进行鉴定。行突触素I与SYN免疫组化反应,对部分细胞行突触素ImRNA原位杂交反应,运用图像分析系统对突触素I与SYN免疫组织反应阳性产物以及突触素I原位杂交反应阳性产物作光密度分析。结果发现有血清培养时各组脊髓前角神经元的存活数无显著差异(P>0.05);BDNF组突触素I与SYN免疫反应阳性产物的平均光密度值高于其它两组,抗BDNF组最低(P<0.01)。BDNF组突触素ImRNA阳性产物的平均光密度值明显高于其它两组,抗BDNF组突触素ImRNA阳性产物的平均光密度值最低(P<0.01)。本研究结果提示BDNF对有血清培养时脊髓前角神经元的存活没有明显影响,但BDNF可明显上调培养的脊髓前角神经元内突触素I与SYN的表达。     

大鼠小脑皮质内突触素P38免疫反应产物的分布及年龄变化

用免疫组织化学方法结合图像分析研究突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物在Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠小脑皮质的分布及年龄变化，结果显示：小脑皮质内的突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物呈板层分布，各层之间的 产物密度差异很大；在三个年龄组，小脑Ｖ，Ⅶ叶分子层突触素Ｐ３８免疫反应产物校正光密度值以青年组最大，成年组次之，老年组最小，各组间差异显著。     

Genistein对体外培养的Parkinson病模型大鼠多巴胺能神经元及突触素的影响

为了探讨genistein(GST)对离体培养的Parkinson病模型大鼠多巴胺能神经元以及突触素的影响,取孕14~16d SD大鼠胚胎中脑腹侧部,常规体外培养。将培养的中脑腹侧细胞分为四组:正常对照组、雌二醇(E2)+MPP+组、GST+MPP+组、MPP+组。进行四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法测定细胞活力和代谢状态。采用TH和突触素(synaptophysin,SYN)免疫荧光组织化学染色技术,观察各组TH阳性神经元的生长状况以及突触数量的变化。结果显示:与正常对照组、E2+MPP+组以及GST+MPP+组相比,MPP+组TH阳性神经元数量少,SYN免疫活性产物表达亦减少,细胞活力差。而E2+MPP+组、GST+MPP+组中上述指标与正常对照组相比,差异无统计学意义。以上结果提示Genistein对体外培养的多巴胺能神经元具有类似雌激素样的神经保护作用。     

Characterization of synaptic vesicles and related neuronal features in nerve growth factor and ras oncogene differentiated PC12 cells

PC12 cells can differentiate into neuron-like cells after treatment with either nerve growth factor (NGF) or transduction with a retrovirus which expresses the K-ras oncogene. The concomitant treatment of NGF plus ras differentiates PC12 cells further than either agent alone with respect to neurite outgrowth, acetylcholinesterase levels, and most strikingly, the number of synaptic vesicle (SV) clusters. These SV clusters in PC12 cell neurites closely resemble those in the presynaptic terminals of neurons. Such SV clusters have not been described in cell lines previously. The SV clusters from all three differentiated groups (NGF, ras, and NGF plus ras) were similar in size, shape, and configuration, except that the ones in the doubly treated group occur in higher frequency and have more vesicles. The synaptic nature of these vesicle clusters was demonstrated by their regulated depletion after potassium stimulation. Furthermore, these vesicle clusters stained positively for two SV-associated proteins, synapsin I and synaptophysin, by EM immunocytochemistry (ICC). Such SV clusters in a cell line are very useful for characterizing the regulated release of SVs and the distribution of SV-related antigens in intact cells. Analysis by SDS-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting indicated that synapsin I levels are higher in all three differentiated groups compared to untreated cells; whereas synaptophysin levels are lower in cells exposed to NGF alone or with NGF and ras double treatment. Possible convergence and/or divergence on the mechanisms of NGF and ras differentiation in PC12 cells are discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Synaptophysin in spinal anterior horn in aging and ALS: an immunohistological study

Summary Aged-related spinal cord changes such as neuronal loss have been related to the degree of clinical severity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); morphological data on synapses are, however, wanting. Variations in synaptophysin (Sph) expression in aging and ALS were thus studied at the level of lower motor neurons in 40 controls with non-neurological diseases and 11 cases of ALS. Control sections of formalin fixed paraffin embedded cervical (C7/8), thoracic (T10) and lumbar spinal cord (L5) and C6, C7, C8 and L5 of ALS cases were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, luxol fast blue (LFB), and immunostained with a mouse monoclonal antibody against Sph. The neuropil of the anterior horn (AH) in all control cases demonstrated Sph positivity. A dot-like pattern of positivity of presynaptic terminals on soma of motor neurons and fine immunoreactivity along neuronal processes were observed. A significant reduction of Sph immunostaining was observed in the neuropil with increasing age and 3 different somatic patterns were seen: a-well preserved Sph reactivity around the soma and the proximal dendrites of histologically normal neurons; b-few chromatolytic neurons showing large numbers of dot-like presynaptic terminals around the cell body and in a fused pattern; c-intense, diffuse, and homogeneous reactivity of some neurons. Attenuation of Sph reactivity in the AH neuropil, to its complete loss, was observed in all ALS cases. In addition to patterns a-c, two additional microscopic findings were noted in ALS: d-chromatolytic neurons showing complete absence of Sph reactivity; e-absence of Sph reactivity around the soma and the proximal dendrites of histologically normal surviving neurons.Our findings demonstrate that there is a decrease in Sph immunostaining with aging, thus suggesting an alteration in dendritic networks of the AH with aging. Changes in the pattern of Sph immunoreactivity in cell bodies may represent synaptic plasticity and/or degeneration. Reinnervation may also be a possible mechanism as a response to neuronal loss in oldest control cases. Sph reactivity results may thus lend support to the presence of superimposed aging components in ALS cases which may give an insight into explaining the increasing severity of the disease which is encountered with advancing age.     

Dendritic and synaptic alterations of hippocampal pyramidal neurones in scrapie-infected mice

Neurone damage and eventual loss may underlie the clinical signs of disease in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Although neurone death appears to be through apoptosis, the trigger for this form of cell death in the TSEs is not known. Using two different murine scrapie models, hippocampal pyramidal cells were studied through microinjection of fluorescent dye, and synaptic integrity, using p38-immunoreactivity (p38-IR), both visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Intradendritic distensions and dendritic spine loss were found to co-localize to areas of vacuolar and prion protein pathology in the hippocampus of mice infected with ME7 or 87 V scrapie. A significant reduction in p38-IR was found concomitantly in the hippocampus in ME7 scrapie mice. These results indicate that both pre- and post-synaptic sites are altered by scrapie infection; this would disrupt neuronal circuitry and may initiate apoptotic cell death, giving rise to the neurological disturbances manifested in clinical TSE cases.     

Distribution and morphology of sensory and autonomic fibres in the subendocardial plexus of the rat heart

Cardiac reflexes originating from sensory receptors in the heart ensure blood supply to vital tissues and organs in the face of constantly changing demands. Atrial volume receptors are mechanically sensitive vagal afferents which relay to the medulla and hypothalamus, affecting vasopressin release and renal sympathetic activity. To date, two anatomically distinct sensory endings have been identified which may subserve cardiac mechanosensation: end-nets and flower-spray endings. To map the distribution of atrial receptors in the subendocardial space, we have double-labelled rat right atrial whole mounts for neurofilament heavy chain (NFH) and synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) and generated high-resolution maps of the rat subendocardial neural plexus at the cavo-atrial region. In order to elucidate the nature of these fibres, double labelling with synaptophysin (SYN) and either NFH, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was performed. The findings show that subendocardial nerve nets are denser at the superior cavo-atrial junction than the mid-atrial region. Adluminal plexuses had the finest diameters and stained positively for synaptic vesicles (SV2 and SYN), CGRP and TH. These plexuses may represent sympathetic post-ganglionic fibres and/or sensory afferents. The latter are candidate substrates for type B volume receptors which are excited by stretch during atrial filling. Deeper nerve fibres appeared coarser and may be cholinergic (positive staining for ChAT). Flower-spray endings were never observed using immunohistochemistry but were delineated clearly with the intravital stain methylene blue. We suggest that differing nerve fibre structures form the basis by which atrial deformation and hence atrial filling is reflected to the brain.     

单眼形觉剥夺性弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度及功能的研究

目的：研究视觉发育关键期单眼形觉剥夺(MD)对弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度超微形态结构变化规律的影响,以及突触素(SYN)在视皮层的表达及意义,探讨弱视大鼠视皮层突触密度及功能的关系,为弱视的发病机制及临床治疗提供分子水平理论依据。

方法：选用正常新生Long Evans大鼠随机分为正常对照组与弱视模型组,每组16只,两组大鼠均在相同环境下饲养。正常对照组不做任何处理,弱视模型组在出生后第13d采用单眼缝合的方法建立单眼形觉剥夺性弱视经典模型。两组大鼠均于出生后51d进行闪光视觉诱发电位(F-VEP)的检测。检测结束后立即取材,用透射电镜及Image J图像分析软件观察并统计两组大鼠初级视皮层V1M区第Ⅳ～Ⅵ层大锥体细胞周围神经纤维网络的突触密度变化。利用漂染法对视皮层冰冻切片进行免疫荧光组织化学染色,在激光共聚焦显微镜及荧光显微镜下对SYN阳性神经元进行定位观察和定量统计分析。

结果：F-VEP检查结果显示与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组剥夺眼的P2潜伏期较正常眼明显延长,P2波振幅较正常眼明显降低(P<0.05); 透射电镜结果显示,与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组双侧视皮层的突触密度显著降低(P<0.05),其中弱视眼对侧视皮层下降更加明显(P<0.05); 免疫荧光染色结果显示两组大鼠视皮层脑切片形态完整,镜下组织结构清晰,与正常对照组相比,弱视模型组SYN阳性神经元表达强度值明显降低(P<0.01)。

结论：视觉发育关键期存在着突触结构可塑性,单眼形觉剥夺可以造成大鼠初级视皮层突触密度的降低,SYN表达水平下降,视皮层功能下降。