Morphological study of neocortical areas in Rett syndrome

Various neocortical areas from four females aged 16–24 years with Rett syndrome (RS) were investigated and compared with brains of therapy-resistant partial epilepsy (TRPE) patients (18–25 years), infantile autism (IA), and control brains (24 and 58 years). The cytoarchitecture of area 10 (frontal), area 21 (temporal), area 4 (primary motor cortex), and area 17 (primary visual cortex) was studied by the combined Klüver-Barrera (luxol fast blue and cresyl violet) standard procedure. Autofluorescence of lipofuscin, immunofluorescence of synaptic vesicle proteins [synaptophysin (p38)] and lectin-stained (Wisteria floribunda agglutinin) perineuronal nets (PNs) were studied in the cortices using dual-channel confocal laser scanning microscopy. The brains of RS females show various types of morphological/cytoarchitectonical abnormalities of single pyramidal neurons in layers II–III, and V–VII of different cortical areas. The abnormalities include mild losses of pyramidal neurons, more pronounced in layers II and III than in layers V and VII, and more evident in frontal and temporal areas than in the visual cortex. Microdysgenesis, including abnormalities due to neuronal migration disorders, was not found in RS, in contrast to the observations in TRPE patients, strongly indicating that RS is not a neuronal migration disorder. Lipofuscin distribution was normal but amounts were lower in RS cases than in control and TRPE brains. PNs were less expressed in cortices of the IA case, but were clearly overexpressed in the motor cortex of RS. Quantitative analysis of p38 showed a decrease in the area occupied by p38 immunoreactivity by 20–40% in RS compared with controls. It is concluded that RS could best be explained by a postnatal synaptogenic developmental deficiency; the basic defect, however, is still completely unknown. Received: 26 February 1996 / Revised, accepted: 11 July 1996     

The amphicrine pancreatic cell line AR42J: a model system for combined studies on exocrine and endocrine secretion

Summary Secretory vesicles of both the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas have been isolated and characterized in molecular terms from pancreatic tissue and primary cell cultures. Studies on pancreatic secretory processes could be further facilitated by the use of permanent cell lines that respond to secretory stimuli with a regulated secretory response. We now present biochemical, morphological and secretory studies on the rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR42J. This cell line is characterized by the presence of digestive enzyme-containing dense core vesicles, which are released in response to cholecystokinin. In addition, we present evidence that these cells also contain small neuroendocrine-specific vesicles, as evidenced by the expression of the neuroendocrine-specific vesicle proteins synaptophysin and S.V.2. Corresponding to these mixed exocrine-neuroendocrine features, we also found considerable amounts of the neurotransmitters glycine, glutamine and gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA), as well as the rate-limiting enzyme in GABA synthesis, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) (EC 4.1.1.15) expressed in these cells. We demonstrated a specific uptake mechanism for radioactively-labelled GABA by these cells. In addition, GABA was released from intracellular storage pools by nicotinic receptor stimulation or membrane depolarization. In summary, AR42J cells represent the first amphicrine pancreatic cell line with the combined expression of exocrine and neuroendocrine secretory organelles, both of which follow a regulated secretory pathway in response to various secretory stimuli.Abbreviations DCV dense core vesicles - GABA gammaaminobutyric acid - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

银杏叶提取物对血管性痴呆大鼠海马突触素表达的影响

目的：研究银杏叶提取物(EGb761)对血管性痴呆模型大鼠海马突触素表达的影响。方法:以双侧颈总动脉反复夹闭再通同时腹腔注射硝普钠建立血管性痴呆模型大鼠，采用Morris 水迷宫和免疫组化方法分别观察大鼠空间学习记忆能力及海马突触素(SYN)表达情况。结果:模型组大鼠在1月、2月和4月不同时点测得的Morris水迷宫逃避潜伏期(EL)均较假手术组明显延长(P<0.01)，药物组EL均显著短于模型组，但仍长于假手术组(P<0.05或P<0.01)；模型组海马SYN表达弱于假手术组，而药物组海马SYN表达高于模型组(P<0.01)。结论:EGb761增加海马结构SYN表达可能是其改善VD大鼠学习记忆障碍的重要机制。     

Hippocampal neuron and synaptophysin-positive bouton number in aging C57BL/6 mice

A loss of hippocampal neurons and synapses had been considered a hallmark of normal aging and, furthermore, to be a substrate of age-related learning and memory deficits. Recent stereological studies in humans have shown that only a relatively minor neuron loss occurs with aging and that this loss is restricted to specific brain regions, including hippocampal subregions. Here, we investigate these age-related changes in C57BL/6J mice, one of the most commonly used laboratory mouse strains. Twenty-five mice (groups at 2, 14, and 28–31 months of age) were assessed for Morris water-maze performance, and modern stereological techniques were used to estimate total neuron and synaptophysin-positive bouton number in hippocampal subregions at the light microscopic level. Results revealed that performance in the water maze was largely maintained with aging. No age-related decline was observed in number of dentate gyrus granule cells or CA1 pyramidal cells. In addition, no age-related change in number of synaptophysin-positive boutons was observed in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus or CA1 region of hippocampus. We observed a significant correlation between dentate gyrus synaptophysin-positive bouton number and water-maze performance. These results demonstrate that C57BL/6J mice do not exhibit major age-related deficits in spatial learning or hippocampal structure, providing a baseline for further study of mouse brain aging.     

Synaptophysin: A reliable marker for medulloblastomas

Summary Synaptophysin is an acidic, integral membrane glycoprotein (M_r 38000) of presynaptic vesicles in various neurons and neuroendocrine cells, and in tumours derived from such cells. By indirect immunofluorescence microscopy of cryostat sections, using the monoclonal antibody SY 38 to synaptophysin, a consistent positive immunoreactivity was observed in all medulloblastomas (n= 6) and neuroblastomas (n=3) as well as a ganglioneuroma and a glioneuronal hamartoma. The presence of synaptophysin in medulloblastomas was confirmed biochemically by immunoblotting experiments. For purpose of comparison, the expression of intermediate-sized filament (IF) proteins was also examined. While neurofilament proteins were consistently expressed in the neuroblastomas (3/3), the ganglioneuroma and the glioneuronal hamartoma, IF distribution in medulloblastomas was variable. A neurofilament-positive type of tumour (1/6) could be distinguished from vimentin-expressing neoplasms (4/6) by immunocytochemistry. These data indicate that synaptophysin is a reliable marker for medulloblastomas as well as other differentiated and undifferentiated neuronal tumours and in this respect is superior to the more heterogeneous expression patterns of IF proteins in these tumours.     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase increases synaptophysin mRNA expression in the hippocampal formation of rats

Synaptophysin is a protein involved in the biogenesis of synaptic vesicles and budding. It has been used as an important tool to investigate plastic effects on synaptic transmission. Nitric oxide (NO) can influence plastic changes in specific brain regions related to cognition and emotion. Experimental evidence suggests that NO and synaptophysin are co-localized in several brain regions and that NO may change synaptophysin expression. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to investigate if inhibition of NO formation would change synaptophysin mRNA expression in the hippocampal formation. Male Wistar rats received single or repeated (once a day for 4 days) i.p. injections of saline or l-nitro-arginine (l-NOARG, 40 mg/kg), a non-selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Twenty-four hours after the last injection the animals were sacrificed and their brains removed for ‘in situ’ hybridization study using ³⁵S-labeled oligonucleotide probe complementary to synaptophysin mRNA. The results were analyzed by computerized densitometry. Acute administration of l-NOARG induced a significant (p < 0.05, ANOVA) increase in synaptophysin mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus, CA1 and CA3. The effect disappeared after repeated drug administration. No change was found in the striatum, cingulated cortex, substantia nigra or nucleus accumbens. These results reinforce the proposal that nitric oxide is involved in plastic events in the hippocampus.     

罗哌卡因所致的毒性惊厥对幼鼠学习记忆能力及突触素表达的影响

目的 制备罗哌卡因幼鼠毒性惊厥模型,观察毒性惊厥对幼鼠学习记忆能力和海马突触素表达的影响. 方法 选用21日龄SD鼠60只,按照随机数字表法分为罗哌卡因和生理盐水组(每组30只).2组各取20只并根据不同取材时间点又分为注射后24 b、3d、7d、60d4个亚组(每组5只),选取幼鼠海马组织,采用Western blotting行突触素蛋白含量测定；剩余各组10只于上述时间点进行水迷宫寻找平台潜伏期测试. 结果 罗哌卡因组幼鼠惊厥后寻找平台潜伏期随时间延长逐渐缩短,各时间点比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).生理盐水组幼鼠惊厥后各时间点潜伏期比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).罗哌卡因组24 h、3d时寻找平台潜伏期分别为(38.62±19.08)s、(18.40±7.95) s,明显长于同时期生理盐水组[(13.08±4.73)s、(14.17±3.28)s],差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).罗哌卡因组幼鼠注射后24 h突触素蛋白表达为0.25±0.03,生理盐水组为0.34±0.03,比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 幼鼠单次罗哌卡因毒性惊厥对其学习记忆存在一过性的影响,推测与突触素蛋白表达有关.     

Double Ki-67 and synaptophysin labeling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor biopsies

BackgroundPancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are frequently detected on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) specimens. The conventional methods for evaluating the Ki-67 labeling index (Ki67LI) in EUS-FNAB specimens are laborious, and their results are difficult to interpret. More practical and easy methods for evaluating the Ki67LI in PanNETs from EUS-FNAB specimens is increasing in need.MethodsWe used double Ki-67 and synaptophysin (double Ki-Syn) antibody cocktail; Ki67LI, total Ki-67 positive cells, and total tumor cells were counted and compared with those detected on conventional single Ki-67 immunostaining (single Ki-67) of 96 PanNETs [Grade 1 (G1), 68 cases (71%); G2, 26 (27%); G3, 2 (2%)] from EUS-FNAB specimens.ResultsThe tumor grading between double Ki-Syn and single Ki-67 immunolabeling was highly concordant (correlation, 0.95; Fisher's exact test, P < 0.001). Seven EUS-FNAB specimens (7%) had discrepant results, of which 2 were removed through surgical resection and showed the same tumor grade as that detected on double Ki-Syn immunolabeling. Fifty-four specimens (56%) had higher Ki-67 positive tumor cell counts on single Ki-67 immunolabeling. Sixty-two specimens (65%) had higher total tumor cell counts on double Ki-Syn immunolabeling. The number of specimens with less than 500 total counted tumor cells were significantly reduced when double Ki-Syn immunolabeling was applied [P = 0.046; single Ki-67, 17 specimens (18%); double Ki-Syn, 9 specimens (9%)].ConclusionDouble Ki-Syn immunolabeling enables the accurate counting of the number of proliferating tumor cells without including inflammatory and contaminant epithelial cells compared with single Ki-67 immunolabeling in PanNETs from EUS-FNAB specimens.     

大鼠脑梗死后突触素的变化及针刺的影响

目的　观察大鼠脑梗死及电针干预后突触素 (SYP)的动态变化 ,探讨突触可塑性的物质基础、机制及针刺的影响。方法　通过建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型 (MCAO)〔1〕,用免疫组化的方法 ,测定梗死对照组 (A组 )、针刺干预组 (B组 )、正常对照组 (C组 ) ,在 6h、2 4 h、3d、7d不同时间点 SYP的动态变化。结果　梗死灶中心区无明显 SYP阳性染色。A组 :梗死灶周围皮质阳性表达率于 6h、2 4 h表达减少 ,3d达最低值 ,7d开始增高但不及正常表达数值。病灶对侧对应区从 6 h始表达增加 ;B组 :针刺后阳性表达率增加。 A组和 B组比较有明显差异 ;C组无变化。结论　 MCAO大鼠梗死灶周围皮层 SYP变化明显 ,对侧对应皮层表达亦增加 ,表明存在明显的突触可塑性变化 ,针刺可促进这种可塑性变化 ,可能是主要的脑功能恢复的物质基础。     

Cellular,synaptic, and biochemical features of resilient cognition in Alzheimer's disease

Although neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in older adults are correlated with cognitive impairment and severity of dementia, it has long been recognized that the relationship is imperfect, as some people exhibit normal cognition despite high levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We compared the cellular, synaptic, and biochemical composition of midfrontal cortices in female subjects from the Religious Orders Study who were stratified into three subgroups: (1) pathological AD with normal cognition (“AD-Resilient”), (2) pathological AD with AD-typical dementia (“AD-Dementia”), and (3) pathologically normal with normal cognition (“Normal Comparison”). The AD-Resilient group exhibited preserved densities of synaptophysin-labeled presynaptic terminals and synaptopodin-labeled dendritic spines compared with the AD-Dementia group, and increased densities of glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytes compared with both the AD-Dementia and Normal Comparison groups. Further, in a discovery-type antibody microarray protein analysis, we identified a number of candidate protein abnormalities that were associated with a particular diagnostic group. These data characterize cellular and synaptic features and identify novel biochemical targets that may be associated with resilient cognitive brain aging in the setting of pathological AD.