Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.

Interaction of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with dopamine receptors in synaptic plasticity of the mouse insular cortex

The insular cortex plays essential roles in nicotine addiction. However, much is still unknown about its cellular and synaptic mechanisms responsible for nicotine addiction. We have previously shown that in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex, activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) suppresses synaptic potentiation through enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission, although it enhances both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. In the present study, we examined whether dopamine receptors might contribute to the nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation. The nicotine‐induced inhibition of synaptic potentiation was decreased in the presence of a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of a D2 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride, suggesting that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in nicotine‐induced inhibition. We also investigated how dopamine receptors might contribute to the nAChR‐induced enhancement of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. The nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission was decreased in the presence of SCH23390 irrespective of the presence of sulpiride, whereas that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission was not altered in the presence of SCH23390 and sulpiride. These results suggest that D1 dopamine receptors are involved in the nAChR‐induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission while dopamine receptors are not involved in that of glutamatergic synaptic transmission. These observations indicate that the interaction between nAChRs and D1 dopamine receptors plays critical roles in synaptic activities in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex. These insular synaptic changes might be associated with nicotine addiction.     

LKB1表达下调对培养海马神经元突触mEPSC的影响

目的研究离体培养的海马神经元LKB1表达下调对于神经元微小兴奋性突触后电流(mEP-SC)的影响。方法选用17d的胚胎大鼠培养海马神经元,分别用电穿孔的方法转染CAG-RE质粒和LKB1RNAi质粒,培养10~12d后进行电生理记录,选用全细胞膜片钳方式及自由记录模式,细胞外液加TTX阻断动作电位,加Bicucullin抑制GABA电流,记录神经元的mEPSC,比较2组神经元的mEPSC频率和幅度的差别。结果转染CAG-RE的神经元mEPSC幅度平均为25.6pA,频率平均为(5.21±0.25)Hz,是基线的99.8%;转染LKB1RNAi的神经元mEPSC幅度平均为35.1pA,频率平均为(5.79±0.27)Hz,是基线的127.1%;比较2组间频率、幅度变化,差别有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论LKB1基因表达下调增强了培养海马神经元突触传递的效率。     

丹参对持续癫痫幼鼠脑损伤保护作用的实验研究

目的 探讨丹参对持续癫痫发作诱发幼鼠脑神经元损伤是否具有保护作用。方法 皮下及腹腔注射贝美格针诱发健康幼龄鼠癫痫持续状态发作。光镜下观察神经元病变情况；电镜观察海马神经元超微结构的改变。结果 持续癫痴组幼鼠脑组织光镜下可见明显的神经元病变。电镜下可见海马区神经元的超微结构病变。丹参治疗组神经元病变均轻于持续癫痴组；而正常对照组未见类似病变。结论 丹参在组织、细胞和亚细胞水平对持续癫病幼鼠脑神经元损伤具有一定的保护作用，为临床有效防治小儿惊厥性脑损伤提供了可靠的实验依据。     

l-DOPA induces concentration-dependent facilitation and inhibition of presynaptic acetylcholine release in the guinea-pig submucous plexus

Neurotransmitter- or neuromodulator-like actions ofl-DOPA were investigated with intracellular recordings from submucous plexus neurons of the guinea-pig caecum.l-DOPA at 30 nM augmented the amplitude of fast EPSPs, but did not affect depolarizations elicited by puff application of acetylcholine (ACh). The augmenting effect ofl-DOPA on the fast EPSPs was counteracted byl-DOPA methyl ester. The fast EPSPs were depressed by 10 μMl-DOPA, but transiently augmented after rinsing the drug.l-DOPA methyl ester did not affect the inhibitory action ofl-DOPA on the fast EPSPs, but antagonized the potentiation following the inhibition. The depolarization elicited by exogenously applied. ACh was inhibited by 10 μMl-DOPA. Intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_i) of the neuronal soma were measured with fura-2 microfluorophotometry. The transient increase in the [Ca²⁺]_i evoked by the somatic action potential (Δ[Ca²⁺]_AP) was facilitated by 30 nMl-DOPA, but decreased by the drug at 10 μM. It is concluded thatl-DOPA at low concentrations enhances the Δ[Ca²⁺]_AP, increasing the neurotransmitter release, but at high dose diminishes the Δ[Ca²⁺]_AP, inhibiting the neurotransmission.     

Loss of basal forebrain P75(NTR) immunoreactivity in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

The long-held belief that degeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain was central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and occurred early in the disease process has been questioned recently. In this regard, changes in some cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) markers (e.g. the high affinity trkA receptor) but not others (e.g., cortical choline acetyltransferase [ChAT] activity, the number of ChAT and vesicular acetylcholine transporter-immunoreactive neurons) suggest specific phenotypic changes, but not frank neuronal degeneration, early in the disease process. The present study examined the expression of the low affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)), an excellent marker of CBF neurons, in postmortem tissue derived from clinically well-characterized individuals who have been classified as having no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild AD. Relative to NCI individuals, a significant and similar reduction in the number of nucleus basalis p75(NTR)-immunoreactive neurons was seen in individuals with MCI (38%) and mild AD (43%). The number of p75(NTR)-immunoreactive nucleus basalis neurons was significantly correlated with performance on the Mini-Mental State Exam, a Global Cognitive Test score, as well as some individual tests of working memory and attention. These data, together with previous reports, support the concept that phenotypic changes, but not frank neuronal degeneration, occur early in cognitive decline. Although there was no difference in p75(NTR) CBF cell reduction between MCI and AD, it remains to be determined whether these findings lend support to the hypothesis that MCI is a prodromal stage of AD.     

Chronic treatment with scopolamine and physostigmine changes nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor density and NGF content in rat brain

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptors were measured in cortex and hippocampus of rats treated with drugs affecting cholinergic neurotransmission. High (K_d= 0.045nM) and low (K_d= 21nM) affinity¹²⁵I-NGF binding sites were present in both cortical and hippocampal membranes with hippocampus containing higher numbers of both sites than cortex. Chronic treatment of rats with the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (5 mg/kg, twice daily) decreased the density of high- and low-affinity sites by 50–90% in cortical and hippocampal membranes. These changes were seen after 7 days, but not 3 days, of scopolamine treatment. Chronic infusion of physostigmine (1 mg/kg/day) using minipumps increased the number of high- and low-affinity sites in cortex 3- and 6-fold, respectively. The changes in receptor-binding parameters induced by physostigmine were transient as they were evident after 3 days of treatment, but returned to control levels after 7 days. NGF content in cortex and hippocampus was reduced by about 50% following 7, but not 3, days of chronic physostigmine infusion. In contrast, scopolamine treatment failed to change NGF levels in the cholinergic neuronal target regions but it decreased NGF content in the septal area. The content of NGF mRNA in the cortex measured by Northern blot analysis failed to change following either scopolamine or physostigmine treatment. The results suggest that levels of NGF and NGF receptors in the target regions of cholinergic neurons are regulated by the extent of cholinergic neurotransmitter activity.     

Baclofen-induced disinhibition in area CA1 of rat hippocampus is resistant to extracellular Ba

The mechanism of disinhibition produced by (±)-baclofen was studied using intracellular recording in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices. Baclofen reversibly depressed monosynaptic IPSPs evoked by direct activation of interneurons in the presence of the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) andd,l-2amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV). Ba²⁺ prevented baclofen-induced hyperpolarization of pyramidal neurons but not depression of monosynaptic IPSPs by baclofen. Baclofen reversibly depressed monosynaptic IPSPs when applied close to the recording site, but was ineffective when applied close to the stimulating site in stratum radiatum. These results suggest that baclofen disinhibits pyramidal neurons in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus by activating receptors on the terminals of inhibitory neurons that are coupled to a Ba²⁺-insensitive effector mechanism.     

Changes of Unit Discharge of the Medullary Respiratory Neurons during Apnea

Changes of the neuronal discharge of 128 medullary respiratory unitswere recorded and studied during the period of expiratory apnea induced reflexlyby intracarotid sinus injection of sodium citrate in rabbits.Generally,theneuronal discharge of inspiratory units began,stopped and recovered at the sametime with those of the phrenic nerve.But,about 5% the phase-spanninginspiratory units near the obex showed a different time course with the dischargeof the phrenic nerve.They fired continuously in a low frequency while thephrenic nerve was quiet.When increasing progressively and approaching to acertain level,the firing rate increased abruptly and at the same time phrenic nervebegan to fire.So it seemed that they acted as the pacemaker of inspiration.Comparison of the cycle-triggered histograms(CTH)of these inspiratory unitswith those of phrenic nerve showed clearly the above mentioned phasicrelationship.They started firing before the phrenic nerve,but they reached theirmaximal rate and then declined and stopped quite in accordance with the phrenicnerve.It is,therefore,reasonable to assume that the central mechanism of theswitch from expiratory apnea to inspiration may originate from this kind ofneurons.Most of the expiratory units show tonic discharges during the period of apneawith a higher discharge rate than normal and then the rate decreases just beforerecovery of phrenic firing.In addition,small portion of the expiratory units weredepressed as the phrenic discharge ceased.The function of these two differentkinds of neurons in the mechanism of development of respiratory rhythm is,apparently,different.