Pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia: findings from genetic animal models

Dystonia is a common movement disorder which is thought to represent a disease of the basal ganglia. However, the pathogenesis of the idiopathic dystonias, i.e. the neuroanatomic and neurochemical basis, is still a mystery. Research in dystonia is complicated by the existence of various phenotypic and genotypic subtypes of idiopathic dystonia, probably related to heterogeneous dysfunctions.In neurological diseases in which no obvious neuronal degeneration can be found, such as in idiopathic dystonia, the identification of a primary defect is difficult, because of the large number of chemically distinct, but functionally interrelated, neurotransmitter systems in the brain.The variable response to pharmacological agents in patients with idiopathic dystonia supports the notion that the underlying biochemical dysfunctions vary in the subtypes of idiopathic dystonia. Hence, in basic research it is important to clearly define the involved type of dystonia.Animal models of dystonias were described as limited. However, over the last years, there has been considerable progress in the evaluation of animal models for different types of dystonia.Apart from animal models of symptomatic dystonia, genetic animal models with inherited dystonia which occurs in the absence of pathomorphological alterations in brain and spinal cord are described.This review will focus mainly on genetic animal models of different idiopathic dystonias and pathophysiological findings. In particular, in the case of the mutant dystonic (dt) rat, a model of generalized dystonia, and in the case of the genetically dystonic hamster (dt^sz), a model of paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis has been used, as these show great promise in contributing to the identification of underlying mechanisms in idiopathic dystonias, although even a proper animal model will probably never be equivalent to a human disease.Several pathophysiological findings from animal models are in line with clinical observations in dystonic patients, indicating abnormalities not only in the basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei, but also in the cerebellum and brainstem. Through clinical studies and neurochemical data several similarities were found in the genetic animal models, although the current data indicates different defects in dystonic animals which is consistent with the notion that dystonia is a heterogenous disorder.Different supraspinal dysfunctions appear to lead to manifestation of dystonic movements and postures. In addition to increasing our understanding of the pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia, animal models may help to improve therapeutic strategies for this movement disorder.     

Developmental changes of glutamate acid decarboxylase 67 in mouse brain after hypoxia ischemia

Objective To study the developmental changes of glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD-67, a GABA synthetic enzyme) in normal and hypoxic ischemic (HI) brain. Methods C57/BL6 mice on postnatal day (P) 5, 9, 21 and 60, corresponding developmentally to premature, term, juvenile and adult human brain were investigated by using both Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods either in normal condition or after hypoxic ischemic insult. Results The immunoreactivity of GAD67 was up regulated with brain development and significant difference was seen between mature (P21, P60) and immature (P5, P9) brain. GAD67 immunoreactivity decreased in the ipsilateral hemisphere in all the ages after hypoxia ischemia (HI) insult, but, significant decrease was only seen in the immature brain. Double labeling of GAD67 and cell death marker, TUNEL, in the cortex at 8h post-HI in the P9 mice showed that (15.6±7.0)% TUNEL positive cells were GAD67 positive which was higher than that of P60 mice. Conclusion These data suggest that GABAergic neurons in immature brain were more vulnerable to HI insult than that of mature brain.     

聚γ-谷氨酸高产突变株的选育及摇瓶发酵条件

对地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacilluslicheniformis)进行亚硝基胍和60Co诱变,获得一株γ PGA的高产菌株C9.γ PGA质量浓度由9.44g/L提高到19.76g/L,提高了109%.突变株传代10次,质量浓度保持基本稳定.通过正交试验和单因素试验对发酵培养基及发酵条件进行了优化.当发酵培养基中含柠檬酸12g/L、甘油80g/L、L 谷氨酸23g/L、氯化铵7g/L,pH7.0,装液量为50mL/250mL三角瓶,接种体积分数为5%时,37℃摇瓶发酵72h,γ PGA达到23.32g/L.     

谷氨酸脱羧酶抗体检测在2型糖尿病早期诊断中的意义

目的探讨谷氨酸脱羧酶抗体(GAD-Ab)检测在2型糖尿病患者早期诊断中的意义。方法比较2型糖尿病患者GAD-Ab阳性组12例与阴性组86例的临床特征、体重指数、C肽、糖化血红蛋白等指标。结果GAD-Ab阳性组发病年龄低于阴性组,空腹及餐后2 h C肽值较低,使用胰岛素者比例较高,酮症酸中毒发生率高。结论检测2型糖尿病患者的GAD-Ab可帮助临床上早期发现迟发自身免疫糖尿病病人,尽早采用胰岛素治疗,对保护残存的胰岛功能有重要意义。     

GABA and its neural regulation in rat brown adipose tissue

Summary By using a radioreceptor assay GABA was detectable in rat interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT), the levels being 1% those of CNS and 10-fold those of peripheral plasma. Injection of the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) inhibitor 3-mercaptopropionic acid lowered IBAT GABA levels by about half while injection of the GABA transaminase inhibitor -acetylenic GABA increased them by 230%. Rats kept at 4C for 14 days exhibited IBAT GABA levels that were about half those found at 22C. Accumulation of IBAT GABA after -acetylenic GABA increased by 2-fold in cold-exposed rats. Sympathetic denervation of IBAT prevented the effect of the cold environment on GABA content and impaired that on GABA accumulation. GAD activity was detectable in IBAT homogenates and isolated brown adipocytes. Exposure of rats to cold increased V_max of GAD without modifying its Km, regardless of intactness of innervation. In binding studies with³H-GABA as a ligand, two types of sites were uncovered of K_D=14 and 146 nM, respectively. In the presence of 2.5 mM Ca²⁺ bicuculline and baclofen were 57 and 46% as effective as GABA to displace³H-GABA from IBAT binding sites. The results indicate existence, possible synthesis and type A and B receptors of GABA in rat IBAT.     

The nucleus basalis magnocellularis: The origin of a cholinergic projection to the neocortex of the rat

The cells of origin of a neocortical cholinergic afferent projection have been identified by anterograde and retrograde methods in the rat. Horseradish peroxidase injected into neocortex labelled large, acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons in the ventromedial extremity of the globus pallidus. This same group of neurons underwent retrograde degeneration following cortical ablations. The region in which cell depletion occurred also showed significant decreases in the activities of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. Discrete electrolytic and kainic acid lesions restricted to the medial part of the globus pallidus each resulted in significant depletions of neocortical choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase. Hemitransections caudal to this cell group did not result in such depletions. Taken together these observations suggest that the acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons lying in the ventromedial extremity of the globus pallidus, as mapped in this study, constitute the origin of a major subcortical cholinergic projection to the neocortex. The utility of acetylcholinesterase histochemistry in animals pretreated with di-isopropylphosphorofluoridate in identifying cholinergic neurons is discussed in the light of this example; specifically, it is proposed that high acetylcholinesterase activity 4–8 h after this pretreatment is a necessary, but not sufficient, criterion for the identification of cholinergic perikarya.The neurons in question appear to be homologous to the nucleus basalis of the substantia innominata of primates, and are thus termed ‘nucleus basalis magnocellularis’ in the rat. No evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that nucleus of the diagonal band projects to neocortex. However, striking similarities in size and acetylcholinesterase activity were observed among the putative cholinergic perikarya of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis, the nucleus of the diagonal band, and the medial septal nucleus.Kainic acid lesions of the neocortex produced uniform and complete destruction of neuronal perikarya. These lesions decreased neocortical glutamic acid decar?ylase activity, suggesting that there are GABAergic perikarya in the neocortex. However, the same lesions did not affect neocortical choline acetyltransferase. This observation suggests that there are no cholinergic perikarya in the neocortex, a conclusion that is consistent with the absence of intensely acetylcholinesterase-reactive neurons in the neocortex.     

酸性神经肽1对小鼠大脑氨基酸类神经递质及cGMP影响的实验研究

目的 :探讨酸性神经肽 (bovineacidicneuropeptide 1BANP 1)对小鼠脑内氨基酸类递质 (谷氨酸和γ 氨基丁酸 )及cGMP的影响。方法 :将小鼠随机分为 6组 (每组 15只 ) ,其中 5组按 15mg/kg腹腔注射BANP 1,将小鼠在注射后 0 5h ,1h ,2h ,3h ,4h处死并取脑匀浆 ,另一组为注射生理盐水对照组 ,在注射盐水后 1h处死并取脑匀浆 ,用 75 %冰乙醇抽提氨基酸类物质及cGMP并沉淀蛋白质。应用滤纸电泳法对小鼠大脑谷氨酸 (glutamicacid ,Glu)和γ 氨基丁酸 (γ aminobutyricacid ,GABA)进行测定 ,应用放射免疫法对小鼠大脑环磷酸鸟苷 (cyclicmonophos phateguanosine ,cGMP)进行测定。结果 :腹腔注射BANP 1后 ,各项指标在不同时间的结果分别与对照组比较 :Glu浓度在 1h、2h时明显高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,0 5h、3h、4h时差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。GABA浓度在 2h、3h时显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,0 5h、1h、4h时差异无显著性 (P >0 0 1)。cGMP浓度有一定升高 ,1h 2h时显著升高 (P <0 0 1) ,其余各时间组差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :BANP 1急性用药后在一定时间可升高脑内Glu、GABA及cGMP水平     

酸性神经肽1对小鼠脑谷氨酸和GABA含量的影响

目的 :探讨酸性神经肽 1(bovineacidicneuropeptide 1,BANP 1)对小鼠脑内谷氨酸 (glutamicacid ,Glu)和GABA含量的影响。方法 :将小鼠随机分为 6组 (每组 15只 ) ,其中 5组按 15mg/kg腹腔注射BANP 1,分别在注射后0 .5h ,1h ,2h ,3h ,4h处死小鼠并取脑匀浆 ;另一组注射生理盐水作对照 ,注射后 1h处死并取脑匀浆 ,用体积分数75 %冰乙醇抽提氨基酸类物质并沉淀蛋白质。应用纸电泳法测定Glu和GABA。结果 :腹腔注射BANP 1后 ,与对照组比较 ,Glu含量在注射后 1h ,2h时明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,0 .5h ,3h ,4h时差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;GABA含量在 2h ,3h时显著高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,0 .5h ,1h ,4h时差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :BANP 1急性用药后在一定时间内可升高脑内Glu、GABA水平