Conformations of neurotensin in solution and in membrane environments studied by 2-D NMR spectroscopy

Two-dimensional HOHAHA and ROESY nuclear magnetic resonance techniques are used to obtain complete proton resonance assignments and to perform a conformational investigation of the neuropeptide neurotensin (pGlu-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) in aqueous solution, methanol, and membrane-mimetic [deuterated sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)] environments. Results suggest the absence of discernible elements of secondary structure in water and methanol. ROESY spectra confirm that Lys-Pro and Arg-Pro peptide bonds are all-trans, but that a significant population of cis Arg-Pro bonds arises in aqueous solution, which increases in the environment of SDS micelles. The conformational ensemble of the peptide is observed to narrow as it becomes bound through its cationic mid-region to SDS micelles, with the accompanying advent of local extended structure. The overall results indicate the inherent conformational flexibility of neurotensin, and emphasize the environmental dependence of conformation in peptides of medium length.     

Influence of ascending noradrenergic fibers on the neurotensin-like immunoreactive perikarya and evidence of direct projection of ascending neurotensin-like immunoreactive fibers in the rat central nucleus of the amygdala

The influence of ascending noradrenergic neuronal input on the neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya located in the dorsal part of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) was examined using fluorescence histochemistry and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemistry. Unilateral hemitransection of the ascending noradrenergic pathway by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the caudal mesencephalon just rostral to the locus coeruleus caused a marked depletion of immunoreactivity in NT-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the CNA. Ascending noradrenergic neuronal input, therefore, is considered to facilitate production of NT-like immunoreactive substances in neuronal perikarya and to influence on the functional role of the amygdaloid complex. In addition, we obtained evidence of unilateral direct ascending projections of NT-like immunoreactive neurons into the CNA since the disappearance of NT-like immunoreactive processes occurred mainly in the ventral part of the CNA after surgical hemitransection of the ascending neuronal pathway that interrupts the ascending NT-like immunoreactive pathway arising from the neurons in the brain stem.     

大鼠孤束核内NT-LI成分生后发育和衰老变化的光镜和电镜观察

用免疫细胞化学和电镜相结合技术,在光镜和电镜水平对生后4天、15天、30天、90天、300天和760天6组大鼠孤束核内神经降压肽样免疫反应(NT-LI)成分的生后发育和衰老变化进行了定量研究。光镜下孤束核内NT-LI胞体和终末主要分布于最后区平面,多见于背侧亚核、内侧亚核和连合核内。电镜下内侧亚核内可见NT-LI胞体、树突、轴突及终末。6组大鼠孤束核内NT-LI细胞均数和内侧亚核内NT-LI终末密度及其突触密度均以生后4天至15天间增长最快,NT-LI细胞数在生后15天达到最高,NT-LI终末及突触密度在生后90天达到最高。三者在生后300天时均明显减少。发育期内侧亚核内NT-LI终末构成的突触以Gray Ⅰ型为主,至老年期则变为Gray Ⅱ型占优势。发育期内侧亚核内以含清亮囊泡伴颗粒囊泡的NT-LI终末为主,老年期此类终末明显减少。只含清亮囊泡的NT-LI终末从生后至老年变化不明显。     

Phasically firing neurons in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus: immunocytochemical and electrophysiological studies

Relations between firing patterns and peptides in supraoptic neurons of rat hypothalamic slice preparations were studied by electrophysiology, intracellular fluorescent dye-marking and immunocytochemistry. Seven out of 10 magnocellular neurons which showed phasically firing patterns were identified by injections of Lucifer Yellow-CH (LY); these were also stained with an anti-vasopressin serum. This report presents direct evidence that most of the phasically firing neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic nucleus contain vasopressin. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining immunocytochemical and electrophysiological techniques to study the peptides contents of single mammalian neurons.     

大鼠蓝斑内P物质、神经降压肽和生长抑素样神经元的上行投射

本实验采用HRP逆行追踪与免疫细胞化学相结合的方法,对大鼠蓝斑内P物质(SP)、神经降压肽(NT)、生长抑素(SOM)三种肽能投射神经元的纤维联系及其局部关系进行了探讨。结果证实:1.HRP注射至丘脑或尾壳核后,大鼠蓝斑内均可见到双标记神经元。2.存在SP样和NT样蓝斑—丘脑纤维,前者终止于丘脑腹后核和板内核,后者终止于丘脑板内核。3.蓝斑至尾壳核的投射呈SOM样免疫反应。4.蓝斑内三种肽能投射的起始和终止部位有所不同,其中SP样和NT样神经元主要位于蓝斑后部背侧区,其纤维终于丘脑;而SOM样投射神经元则见于蓝斑前部背侧区,纤维终止于尾壳核。上述肽能通路均为双侧性,而以同侧占优势。5.蓝斑内三种肽能单标记神经元中以NT样免疫反应阳性胞体最为丰富。以上结果表明;蓝斑上行性投射中除含去甲肾上腺素纤维外,还含有SP样、NT样和SOM样纤维,并存在一定的局部定位投射关系。     

大鼠脊髓背角向丘脑和外侧臂旁核的神经降压素能投射

本研究应用荧光金(FG)逆行追踪结合神经降压素(NT)免疫荧光组织化学染色的双标记技术,观察了大鼠脊髓背角向丘脑(TH)和外侧臂旁核(LPb)的NT能投射。将FG注入一侧TH或LPb后,FG逆标神经元主要见于脊髓背角的I层;NT阳性神经元主要分布于脊髓背角的I层、II层外侧部及II层内侧部与III层交界处;脊髓背角I层内可观察到FG逆标记并呈NT阳性的双标记神经元。上述结果表明脊髓背角I层的NT阳性神经元向TH和LPb投射,提示脊髓背角I层内的NT阳性神经元可能向TH和LPb传递伤害性信息。     

中脑导水管周围灰质内注射抗强啡肽血清对神经降压素镇痛作用的影响

目的：探讨大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质（PAG）内内源性强啡肽对神经降压素（NT）镇痛作用的影响。方法：以钾离子透入法引起大鼠甩尾反应的电流强度（mA)为痛行为反应的指标,观察向PAG内注入NT,抗神经降压素血清和抗强啡肽A1－13血清对动物痛阈的影响。结果：PAG内注入NT后,大鼠痛阈明显升高;注入抗神经降压素血清后,大鼠痛阈则明显降低,而注入抗强啡肽血清后,对NT的镇痛效应无显著影响,结论：PAG内NT在痛觉调制中发挥着重要的作用,且其作用不依赖于PAG内的内源性强啡肽。     

Light and Electron Microscopic Localization of the Neutral Metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.16 in the Mesencephalon of the Rat

The topographic and cellular distribution of the neurotensin-hydrolysing neutral metalloendopeptidase 24.16 (EC 3.4.24.16) was examined by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry in adult rat mesencephalon. Light microscopic immunoradioautography revealed a ubiquitous distribution of the enzyme throughout the midbrain with a relative enrichment of grey matter areas including the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, interfascicular nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, rostral and caudal linear raphe nuclei, central grey and superficial grey of the superior colliculus. Peroxidase - antiperoxidase immunocytochemistry revealed two distinct cellular patterns of immunostaining: (1) weakly labelled neuronal perikarya more or less uniformly distributed throughout the grey matter, and (2) intensely immunoreactive glial cells heterogeneously distributed across the mesencephalon. Areas exhibiting dense concentrations of endopeptidase 24.16-containing glial cells corresponded to those displaying enhanced immunoreactivity in immunoradioautographs, suggesting that a major proportion of brain endopeptidase 24.16 is associated with glia. Electron microscopic examination of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area confirmed the association of the enzyme with a subpopulation of neurons and allowed identification of labelled glial cells as protoplasmic astrocytes. In neurons, endopeptidase 24.16 immunoreactivity was distributed heterogeneously within the cytoplasm of perikarya, dendrites and axons. Reaction product was also characteristically associated with restricted zones of the plasma membrane and underlying neuroplasm. In astrocytes, endopeptidase 24.16 immunostaining was densely and uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of cell bodies and processes. Many of these processes were in direct contact with endopeptidase 24.16-immunopositive neuronal elements. The present results demonstrate that within the midbrain, endopeptidase 24.16 is both intracytoplasmic and membrane-associated in neurons and predominantly intracytoplasmic in glia. The presence of a large number of immunostained elements within areas of the midbrain known to display high levels of neurotensin and/or neurotensin receptors, together with the demonstrated catabolic activity of the enzyme on neurotensin in vitro, is consistent with a role of endopeptidase 24.16 in the functional inactivation of endogenous neurotensin in this region of the brain.     

腹膜后CO_2充气对脑血流及血管活性肽的影响

目的探讨以CO2充气为背景的手术中脑血流及血浆血管活性肽的变化及意义。方法选择19例接受后腹腔镜手术患者,ASAⅠ-Ⅱ级。分别于充气前、充气后30 min6、0 min1、20 min及停止充气30 min记录二氧化碳分压(PaCO2)、大脑中动脉血流速度(Vm)、血流速度变化百分比(Delt)、脉动指数(PI),并采集静脉血观察内皮素(ET)、降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)、神经肽Y(NPY)、神经降压素(NT)在各时间点的变化。结果与充气前相比,各时间点PaCO2、Vm、Delt均有明显上升,PI下降,并有统计学意义,充气结束后,各值趋于正常。ET、CGRP、NPY、NT充气后均有上升,并在不同的时间点分别有显著或非常显著差异。结论以CO2充气为背景的后腹腔镜手术,升高的PaCO2及血浆血管活性物质共同作用,使脑血量处于增加状态。     

益气养阴解毒通络方对糖尿病大鼠血浆、脑组织神经肽Y和神经降压素的影响

目的探讨糖尿病并发症的发病机理及益气养阴解毒通络方对其影响。方法采用链脲佐菌素左下腹腔注射所致糖尿病大鼠模型,应用放射免疫方法,分别测定糖尿病大鼠血浆、脑组织神经肽Y(NPY)与神经降压素(NT)水平。结果糖尿病大鼠血浆NPY水平明显高于脑组织;糖尿病大鼠脑组织的NT水平明显高于血浆;糖尿病大鼠血浆和脑组织的NPY水平较正常组显著升高;糖尿病大鼠脑组织NT水平明显低于正常组;中药组大鼠血浆和脑组织的NPY和NT水平与正常组比较均无显著性差异。结论NPY与NT在糖尿病大鼠不同组织器官的分布及其作用是有差别的;影响糖尿病脑血管病变的因素可能与NPY和NT的分泌失调有关;益气养阴解毒通络方具有调节糖尿病大鼠血浆和脑组织NPY和NT水平,从而防治糖尿病性脑血管并发症的作用。