Projections of the optic tectum and the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve in the tegu lizard (Tupinambis nigropunctatus)

Summary Fibers undergoing Wallerian degeneration following tectal lesions were demonstrated with the Nauta and Fink-Heimer methods and traced to their termination. Four of the five distinct fiber paths originating in the optic tectum appear related to vision, while one is related to the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminus. The latter component of the tectal efferents distributes fibers to 1) the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminus, 2) the motor nucleus of the trigeminus, 3) the nucleus of tractus solitarius, and 4) the intermediate gray of the cervical spinal cord.The principal ascending bundle projects to the nucleus rotundus, three components of the ventral geniculate nucleus and the nucleus ventromedialis anterior ipsilaterally, before it crosses in the supraoptic commissure and terminates in the contralateral nucleus rotundus, ventral geniculate nucleus and a hitherto unnamed region dorsal to the nucleus of the posterior accessory optic tract.Fibers leaving the tectum dorso-medially terminate in the posterodorsal nucleus ipsilaterally and the stratum griseum periventriculare of the contralateral tectum. The descending fiber paths terminate in medial reticular cell groups and the rostral spinal cord contralaterally and in the torus and the lateral reticular regions ipsilaterally. The ipsilateral fascicle also issues fibers to the magnocellular nucleus isthmi.     

亨廷顿蛋白相关蛋白1在成年大鼠脊髓中的分布

目的观察亨廷顿蛋白相关蛋白1(huntingtin-associated protein 1, HAP1)在成年大鼠脊髓中的分布特点.方法采用免疫组织化学ABC法和免疫印迹(Western blotting)方法.结果免疫组织化学结果显示,在成年大鼠脊髓中,以背角灰质浅层(Rexed Ⅰ,Ⅱ层)的HAP1免疫反应性最强,阳性细胞最密集,免疫反应产物除分布在胞体外,还大量弥散分布于胞体间的神经毡内;背角深层有部分HAP1免疫反应阳性细胞呈散在分布,中央管周围灰质(Rexed X)内阳性胞体密度和免疫反应性强度仅次于后角浅层,而在脊髓腹角,偶见HAP1免疫反应阳性神经元.此外, Western blotting分析显示,脊髓背角内HAP1表达水平明显高于脊髓前角.结论 HAP1主要分布于大鼠脊髓背角灰质浅层和中央管周围灰质神经元内,提示其可能与痛觉信息一级传入和/或调控有关.     

Decreased Release of D-Aspartate in the Guinea Pig Spinal Cord After Lesions of the Red Nucleus

This study attempts to determine if fibers that project from the guinea pig red nucleus to the spinal cord use L-glutamate and/or L-aspartate as transmitters. Unilateral injections of kainic acid were placed stereotaxically in the red nucleus to destroy the cells of origin of the rubrospinal tract. Six days after the injection, Nissl-stained sections through the lesion site showed that the majority of neurons in the red nucleus ipsilateral to the kainic acid injection were destroyed. In addition, the lesioned area included parts of the surrounding midbrain reticular formation. Silver-impregnated, transverse sections of the cervical spinal cord revealed the presence of degenerating fibers contralaterally in laminae IV-VII of the gray matter. Ipsilaterally, very sparse degeneration was evident in laminae VII and VIII of the gray matter. Two to six days after surgery, the electrically evoked, Ca2(+)-dependent release of both D-[3H]aspartate, a marker for glutamatergic/aspartatergic neurons, and gamma-amino[14C]-butyric acid ([14C]GABA) was measured in dissected quadrants of the spinal cervical enlargement. Lesions centered on the red nucleus depressed the release of D-[3H]aspartate by 25-45% in dorsal and ventral quadrants of the cervical enlargement contralaterally. The release of [14C]GABA was depressed by 27% in contralateral ventral quadrants. To assess the contribution of rubro- versus reticulospinal fibers to the deficits in amino acid release, unilateral injections of kainic acid were placed stereotaxically in the midbrain reticular formation lateral to the red nucleus. Nissl-stained sections through the midbrain revealed the presence of extensive neuronal loss in the midbrain and rostral pontine reticular formation, whereas neurons in the red nucleus remained undamaged. In the spinal cord, degenerating axons were present ipsilaterally in laminae VII and VIII of the gray matter. Some fiber degeneration was also evident contralaterally in laminae V and VI of the gray matter. This lesion did not affect the release of either D-[3H]aspartate or [14C]GABA in the spinal cord. The substantial decrements in D-[3H]aspartate release following red nucleus lesions suggests that the synaptic endings of rubrospinal fibers mediate the release of D-[3H]aspartate in the spinal cord. Therefore, these fibers may be glutamatergic and/or aspartatergic. Because other evidence suggests that rubrospinal neurons are probably not GABAergic, the depression of [14C]GABA release probably reflects changes in the activity of spinal interneurons following the loss of rubrospinal input.     

磁共振水成像对脊柱疾病诊断中的应用价值

目的:探讨磁共振水成像技术对脊柱疾病诊断的应用价值。方法:采用快速高级自旋回波(FASE)、重T2WI及脂肪抑制序列对300例病人检查行磁共振椎管水成像(MRmyelography,MRM)。结果:MRM显示正常25例,MRM异常275例,清楚显示原发病变与邻近脊髓腔、脊髓、神经根的相关关系。结论:MRM具有无创伤、无辐射、速度快,不需对比剂,患者易接受的特点。MRM与常规MRI图像结合可获得全面、客观的病变信息,MRM图像可取代X线脊髓造影和CT脊髓造影。     

Herpes Simplex Virus 1-Mediated Transfer of Preproenkephalin A in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia

Abstract: Recombinant herpes simplex virus-1 encoding the rat preproenkephalin A (HSVLatEnk₁) was generated for driving the expression of preproenkephalin A-derived peptides in dorsal root ganglia of rats in vivo. Three weeks after infection via the hind footpads, quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization experiments showed a strong expression of preproenkephalin A mRNA in lumbar dorsal root ganglia. In addition, a 40–160% increase in radioimmunoassayable Met-enkephalin-like material concentrations was found in the dorsal spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia, respectively, at the lumbar level in HSVLatEnk₁-infected rats as compared with animals infected with β-galactosidase-encoding recombinant herpes simplex virus-1 or control rats. These data demonstrate the efficacy of the preproenkephalin A encoding vector and suggest that it should help in elucidating the role of Met-enkephalin-containing primary afferent fibers in pain transmission and/or control.     

Depletion of vesicular zinc in dorsal horn of spinal cord causes increased neuropathic pain in mice

Zinc enriched (ZEN) neurons and terminals are abundant in the rodent spinal cord. Zinc ions have been suggested to modulate the excitability of primary afferent fibers believed to be important in nociceptive transmission. To test the hypothesis that vesicular zinc concentration is related to neuropathic pain we applied Chung’s rodent pain model on BALB/c mice, and traced zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) proteins and zinc ions with immunohistochemistry and autometallography (AMG), respectively. Under anesthesia the left fifth lumbar spinal nerve was ligated in male mice in order to produced neuropathic pain. The animals were then sacrificed 5 days later. The ZnT3 immunoreactivity was found to have decreased significantly in dorsal horn of fourth, fifth, and sixth lumbar segments. In parallel with the depressed ZnT3 immunoreactivity the amount of vesicular zinc decreased perceptibly in superficial gray matters of especially layer I-IV of the same segments. The transection-induced reduction of vesicular zinc in ZEN terminals of the dorsal horn was synchronic to reduced pain threshold, as measured by von Frey method. In a separate study, we observed intensive zinc selenite precipitation in somata of the smaller spinal ganglion cell, but 5 days after spinal nerve transection zinc precipitation was also found in the lager ganglion cells. The present results indicate that zinc may be involved in pain mechanism in the spinal ganglion level. These results support the hypothesis that vesicular zinc might have a modulatory role for neuropathic pain. Thus, increased pain sensitivity might be related to reduce vesicular zinc level in the dorsal spinal gray matter.     

脊髓细胞外调节激酶1/2在大鼠后足切割痛中的表达和作用

目的：探讨大鼠后足切割后脊髓ERK的表达情况。方法：以大鼠右后足切割作为急性疼痛模型;用免疫组织化学法测试脊髓磷酸化ERK（pERK）表达情况。ERK抑制剂U0126（1μg）在切割前20min或切割后20min鞘内注射。用von Frey纤维测试大鼠机械性痛敏。结果：大鼠后足切割后1min,在切割侧L4-L5脊髓浅层背侧角（板层Ⅰ和板层Ⅱ）ERK被迅速地激活,并在5min达到峰值,随后恢复到基础值。切割前鞘内给予U0126能显著减轻机械性痛敏,然而,切割后鞘内给予U0126对机械性痛敏的作用并不明显。结论：脊髓ERK在大鼠后足切割痛中产生机械性痛敏发挥了重要的作用。     

Locomotor Dysfunction and Pain: The Scylla and Charybdis of Fiber Sprouting After Spinal Cord Injury

Injury to the spinal cord (SCI) can produce a constellation of problems including chronic pain, autonomic dysreflexia, and motor dysfunction. Neuroplasticity in the form of fiber sprouting or the lack thereof is an important phenomenon that can contribute to the deleterious effects of SCI. Aberrant sprouting of primary afferent fibers and synaptogenesis within incorrect dorsal horn laminae leads to the development and maintenance of chronic pain as well as autonomic dysreflexia. At the same time, interruption of connections between supraspinal motor control centers and spinal cord output cells, due to lack of successful regenerative sprouting of injured descending fiber tracts, contributes to motor deficits. Similarities in the molecular control of axonal growth of motor and sensory fibers have made the development of cogent therapies difficult. In this study, we discuss recent findings related to the degradation of inhibitory barriers and promotion of sprouting of motor fibers as a strategy for the restoration of motor function and note that this may induce primary afferent fiber sprouting that can contribute to chronic pain. We highlight the importance of careful attentiveness to off-target molecular- and circuit-level modulation of nociceptive processing while moving forward with the development of therapies that will restore motor function after SCI.     

Some factors affecting the PTA staining of synaptic junctions

Summary An analysis has been made of the staining properties of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) on non-osmicated, glutaraldehyde fixed brain tissue, with regard to differences arising from the commercial source of the PTA, its water content, methanol as opposed to ethanol dehydration, and perfusion as contrasted with immersion fixation. The quality of the micrographs varied depending on the source of the PTA, the principal component of the synaptic junctions to be affected being the cleft material. Variation in the water content of the PTA solution was also reflected in the appearance of the cleft material, tissues stained with high hydration PTA resulting in cleft material with considerably less electronopacity than the corresponding dense projections and postsynaptic thickening. Low hydration PTA produced the typical picture of cleft densities. Methanol dehydration was unsuccessful in this series of experiments, while immersion and perfusion fixation yielded comparable results.Synaptic junctions from cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and spinal cord of the rat were examined. In addition to the typical paramembranous densities, subjunctional bodies are present in cerebellar and hippocampal junctions, and subsynaptic profiles in some spinal cord ones. The spinal cord junctions are characterized by a prominent synaptic plate and by a postsynaptic thickening which in places appears to be separated from the underlying postsynaptic membrane.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Australian Research Grants Committee. I would like to thank Mr. R.F. Brearley for his excellent technical assistance, and Mr. D. Stuart and Mrs. Z. Gobby for their help with the photography.     

Spinal Astrogliosis in Pain Models: Cause and Effects

Pathological pain has been subjected to intense research to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of key symptoms, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia. The main focus has by and large concerned plasticity of spinal cord neurons and the primary afferent nerves relaying peripheral information to the spinal cord. Animal pain models display an increased presence of reactive astrocytes in the spinal cord, but in contrast to neurons, little is known about how they contribute to abnormal pain sensation. However, astrocytes are now beginning to receive greater attention, and as new information is emerging, it appears that astrocytes undertake critical roles in manifesting pathological pain. Through the secretion of diffusible transmitters, such as interleukins, ATP, and NO, astrocytes may augment primary afferent neuronal signaling or sensitize second order neurons in the spinal cord. In addition, astrocytes might lead to altered pain perception by a direct modulation of synaptic transmission between neurons in the nociceptive pathway or through the creation of astrocytic networks capable of transducing signals for extended distances across and along the spinal cord. Future research in astrocyte activation and signaling may therefore reveal novel drug targets for managing pathological pain.     

N-Acetylsuccinimidylglutamate, a Cyclic Imide Form of the Peptide N-Acetylaspartylglutamate, Is Present in Low Micromolar Concentrations in Murine and Bovine CNS

Abstract: N -Acetylsuccinimidylglutamate [(asu)NAAG], a cyclic form of the peptide N -acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) in which the aspartyl residue is linked to glutamate via the α- and β-carboxylates, was identified and quantified by HPLC in the murine and bovine CNS. In the rat, the highest concentrations of (asu)NAAG were detected in the spinal cord (1.83 ± 0.15 pmol/mg of wet tissue weight) and brainstem (1.16 ± 0.08 pmol/mg wet weight), whereas the levels were below the limit of detection in cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. (Asu)NAAG was also detected in significant amounts in the superior colliculus and lateral genicutale nucleus (1.17 ± 0.05 and 0.82 ± 0.13 pmol/mg wet weight, respectively). Although the tissue content of (asu)NAAG was about three orders of magnitude lower than that of NAAG, levels of both peptides were positively correlated among different CNS regions ( r = 0.74, p < 0.003). In the rat spinal cord, (asu)NAAG levels progressively increased from week 2 to month 12 after birth. In bovine spinal cord, the contents of (asu)NAAG and NAAG were comparable in gray and white matter as well as in the dorsal and ventral horns. These results suggest that NAAG and (asu)-NAAG are closely related metabolically and raise the question of the physiological significance of such a cyclic peptide.     

丘脑中央下核在痛觉感受与痛觉调制中的作用

本结合笔的工作,综述了近年来关于丘脑中央下核（Ｓｍ）在痛觉感受与痛觉调制中作用的研究。结果表明,它可能主要与痛觉的情绪激动成分有关,而且Ｓｍ－ＶＬＯ－ＰＡＧ可能构成一个痛觉调制的通路,通过脑干下行抑制系统在脊髓水平调制伤害感受性输入,从而产生痛觉的负反馈性调节。     

镉对雄性大鼠脊髓下腰段运动神经元的影响

目的研究镉对成年雄性大鼠脊髓下腰段SNB和DLN运动神经元超微结构和雄激素受体(AR)表达的影响。方法成年雄性大鼠腹腔内反复小剂量注射氯化镉(0.5mg/kg体重和1.0mg/kg体重交替注射)及丙酸睾酮(TP)500μg皮下注射后,采血测定血清睾酮含量,取脊髓L5-6节段进行SNB和DLN运动神经元AR免疫组化及光密度(OD)分析,透射电镜观察SNB和DLN运动神经元超微结构,采用原子吸收石墨炉法测定脊髓镉含量。结果染镉后脊髓内镉含量升高,血清睾酮水平在染镉30d时明显下降。染镉7d、10d、15d,神经元核AR免疫染色平均OD值降低,TP皮下注射2h,AR平均OD值无明显升高;染镉30d,AR平均OD值进一步降低,TP皮下注射2h,AR平均OD值增加,但是只达到单纯染镉7d、10d、15d时水平。染镉后,神经元超微结构无明显改变。结论镉可以蓄积在成年大鼠脊髓内,导致SNB和DLN运动神经元功能损伤,可能与镉所致性功能障碍有关。     

白鱀豚脊髓的解剖学和组织学研究

采用２头白豚的脊髓分别做成浸制标本和切片。其脊髓式为Ｃ＿Ｒ－Ｔ＿（１０）－Ｌ＿（Ｌｃ１２）．根据Ｒｅｘｅｄ的细胞构筑原则将其灰质分为１０层,并对每层及其相关神经核的关系作了描记。在全髓白质中均发现特殊细胞群,包括侧索中的颈、胸、腰尾外侧核,背索中的脊髓背索核,以及腹索中的散在细胞。还发现其软膜内陷到脊髓深部,在白质和灰质中形成腔隙和管道并充满脑脊液,神经细胞浸于脑脊液中。作者认为这些细胞应是接触脑脊液神经元（ＣＳＦ－ＣＮ）。     

ROCK inhibition with Y27632 promotes the proliferation and cell cycle progression of cultured astrocyte from spinal cord

Rho-associated Kinase (ROCK) has been identified as an important regulator of proliferation and cell cycle progression in a number of cell types. Although its effects on astrocyte proliferation have not been well characterized, ROCK has been reported to play important roles in gap junction formation, morphology, and migration of astrocytes. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the effect of ROCK inhibition by [(+)-(R)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride] (Y27632) on proliferation and DNA synthesis in cultured astrocytes from rat spinal cord and the possible mechanism involved. Western blots showed that treatment of astrocytes with Y27632 increased their expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, and cyclin E, thereby causing cell cycle progression. Furthermore, Y27632-induced astrocyte proliferation was mediated through the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase signaling cascade. These results indicate the importance of ROCK in astrocyte proliferation.     

强啡肽对脊髓原生型与诱生型一氧化氮合成酶活性、分布和基因表达的影响及机制

蛛网膜下腔注射（ｉ．ｔ．）强啡肽Ａ１－１７（Ｄｙｎ）引起剂量依赖性后肢和尾部瘫痪及甩尾甩足抑制。脊髓背角（侧）ＮＭＤＡ受体和ＮＯＳ／ＮＯ功能活性下降可能与Ｄｙｎ镇痛作用有关,脊髓腹角（侧）ＮＭＤＡ受体－Ｃａ２＋－ＮＯＳ／ＮＯ通路过度激活及ｃ－ｆｏｓ高表达可能与Ｄｙｎ致脊髓损伤（ＳＣＩ）作用有关。在Ｄｙｎ致ＳＣＩ机制中,过量ＮＯ（细胞水平）具有神经毒性作用,脑源性ＮＯＳ主要在早期,诱生型ＮＯＳ主要在后期起作用,而内皮细胞源性ＮＯＳ和适量ＮＯ（血管水平）可能具有保护作用。在原代培养脊髓神经元中,高浓度Ｄｙｎ可通过ＮＭＤＡ受体和κ受体直接引起细胞内Ｃａ２＋超负荷,低浓度Ｄｙｎ只通过κ受体抑制高钾刺激性Ｃａ２＋内流     

大鼠脊髓小胶质细胞P2X4的表达和糖尿病病理性神经痛大鼠炎症反应和疼痛阈值的关系

摘要 目的：探究大鼠脊髓小胶质细胞P2X4的表达和糖尿病病理性神经痛大鼠炎症反应和疼痛阈值的关系。方法：通过高脂饮食结合链脲佐菌素注射诱导糖尿病病理性神经痛大鼠模型并分为3组：对照组（正常大鼠,腹腔注射载体柠檬酸盐缓冲液0.25 mL/kg）,模型组（糖尿病病理性疼痛模型,同上注射,n=15）和抑制剂组（大鼠糖尿病病理性模型,过鞘内导管注射米诺环素）,共28 d。通过MWT评估对机械刺激的手掌反应。通过双极针电极检测实验大鼠的运动神经传导速速。通过蛋白印迹分析P2X4和BDNF蛋白表达。通过RT-PCR分析炎症因子IL-1β、TNF-α和NLRP3的mRNA表达。通过蛋白印迹分析p38MAPK和p-p38MAPK的蛋白表达。结果：第2week、4week和6week,模型组MWT较对照组降低（P<0.05）,抑制剂组MWT较模型组升高（P<0.05）。第2 week,个实验组大鼠MNCV比较无差异（P>0.05）,第4week和第6week,模型组MNCV较对照组降低（P<0.05）,抑制剂组MNCV较模型组升高（P<0.05）。模型组P2X4和BDNF蛋白表达较对照组升高（P<0.05）,抑制剂组P2X4和BDNF蛋白表达较模型组降低（P<0.05）,模型组P2X4和BDNF mRNA表达较对照组升高（P<0.05）,抑制剂组P2X4和BDNF mRNA表达较模型组降低（P<0.05）。模型组IL-1β、TNF-α和NLRP3的mRNA表达较对照组升高（P<0.05）,抑制剂组IL-1β、TNF-α和NLRP3的mRNA表达较抑制剂组降低（P<0.05）。模型组p-p38MAPK蛋白表达较对照组升高（P<0.05）,抑制剂组p-p38MAPK蛋白表达较模型组降低（P<0.05）,各实验组大鼠p38MAPK蛋白表达无差异（P>0.05）。结论：大鼠脊髓小胶质细胞P2X4-BDNF信号在DNP中起重要作用,并且P2X4在DNP期间激活的脊髓小胶质细胞中表达升高,抑制小胶质细胞激活能显著降低P2X4表达和炎症水平,可防止热痛觉过敏并增加大鼠疼痛阈值。