大鼠内毒素血症不同时期血CGRP和背根神经节CGRP mRNA水平的变化

本文采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）方法测定大鼠内毒素血症不同时期胸腰段背根神经节降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）ｍＲＮＡ水平的改变,结合血浆ＣＧＲＰ水平的改变,以期全面了解大鼠内毒不血症不同时期ＣＧＲＰ释放与合成的变化。结果显示：注射内毒素（５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）后３０ｍｉｎ时,大鼠血浆ＣＧＲＰ开始增高,而背根神经节ＣＧＲＰ ｍＲＮＡ水平无明显变化;注射内毒素后３ｈ时,血浆ＣＧＲＰ及背根神经节ＣＧＲＰ     

糖尿病大鼠肠系膜动脉降钙素基因相关肽释放减少以及一氧化氮的作用

我们以前的工作已表明,内毒素可引起降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）从大鼠肠系膜动脉床释放,此作用部分是通过一氧化氮介导的。我们在离体肠系膜动脉床研究了内毒素引起糖尿病大鼠ＣＣＲＰ释放的改变以及一氧化氮所起的作用。采用ＣＣＲＰ放射免疫分析法测定灌流液中ＣＣＲＰ含量,ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法测定背根神经节ＣＧＲＰｍＲＮＡ水平。结果显示：内毒素累积灌流引起ＣＧＲＰ浓度依赖性地释放增多,此作用在糖尿病大鼠系膜动脉术明显     

降钙素的基因结构与表达调控

降钙素与降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＴ／ＣＧＲＰ）基因编码一组多肽,即降钙素（ＣＴ）、降钙素的Ｎ端肽和Ｃ端肽、降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）及淀粉不溶素（Ａｍｙｌｉｎ）。ＣＴ／ＣＧＲＰ基因转录而成的ｍＲＮＡ前体,在不同组分中通过选择性加工形成ＣＴ ｍＲＮＡ或ＣＧＲＰｍＲＮＡ,再通过翻译及蛋白质加工,最后形成成熟的降钙素或降钙素基因相关肽。本简单介绍一下降钙素的基因结构及表达调控方面的研究进展。     

电针频率对大鼠脊髓灌流液中SOM和CGRP含量的影响

本研究采用放射测定法,分析不同频率电针刺激下大鼠脊髓流液中抑制素（ＳＯＭ０和降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）放免活性（ｉｒ）的变化。电针频率选择２,１５和１００Ｈｚ,分别收集电针前、中、后各３０ｍｉｎ脊髓灌流液进行测定,实验结果如下：（１）低频（２Ｈｚ）电针使脊髓脊流液中ＳＯＭ－ｉｒ水平升高３９％（Ｐ〈０．０５）,ＣＧＲＰ－ｉｒ降低４７％（Ｐ〈０．０５）;（２）中频电针（１５Ｈｚ）则相反,使ＳＯＭ－ｉ     

微循环研究常用部位的肽能和胺能神经支配

以逆行追踪与免疫细胞化学相结合法,探讨了大鼠提睾肌、盲肠系膜和耳廓等微循环研究常用部位的神经肽Ｙ（ＮＰＹ）、降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）、甲啡吠（Ｍ－ＥＮＤ）和５－羟色胺（５－ＨＴ）等肽能和胺能神经的支配。结果表明：支配提睾肌的运动和感觉神经元分别含有５－ＨＴ和ＣＧＲＰ。支配提睾肌血管、盲肠系膜及其血管的交感神经元,一部分含有ＮＰＹ,一部分含有Ｍ－ＥＮＫ;支配耳廓局部的运动和感觉神经元均含有ＣＧＲ     

降钙素基因相关肽肽段的抗原性和免疫原性

用固相合成法合成了有关降钙素基因相关肽ＣＧＲＰ五个肽段。它们的氨基酸顺序分别为：ＣＧＲＰ－１（２４－３７）;ＣＧＲＰ－２（１４－３７）;ＣＧＲＰ－３（９－２３）;ＣＧＲＰ－４（１－２３）和ＣＧＲＰ－５（１－１３）。用酶标方法测定了它们的抗原性,发现ＣＧＲＰ－２和ＣＧＲＰ－１能够很好地与抗ＣＧＲＰ抗血清结合。将ＣＧＲＰ－１;ＣＧＲＰ－３和ＣＧＲＰ－５分别免疫兔子,获得的抗血清分别与ＣＧＲＰ进行反应,     

钙超载和血小板激活因子对肺组织释放降钙素基因相关肽的影响

在肠缺血／再灌注（Ｉ／Ｒ）损伤的大鼠模型中,用放射免疫法分析血管和离体肺灌洗液中降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）。结果发现Ｉ／Ｒ损伤后血浆ＣＧＲＰ水平较自身伤前增高１６１．３％（Ｐ〈０．０１）,伤前预先用血小板激活因子受阻断剂（ＳＲ２７４１Ａ）,血浆ＣＧＲＰ仍然高于自身伤前１１７．８％（Ｐ〈０．０１）。而假手术组没有明显变化。另外,Ｉ／Ｒ损伤组大鼠离体肺灌洗液同正常对照相比,ＣＧＲＰ还下降了１７．４％     

降钙素基因相关肽肽段的抗原性和免疫原性

用固相合成法合成了有关降钙素基因相关肽ＣＧＲＰ五个肽段。它们的氨基酸顺序分别为：ＣＧＲＰ－１（２４－３７）;ＣＧＲＰ－２（１４－３７）;ＣＧＲＰ－３（９－２３）;ＣＧＲＰ－４（１－２３）和ＣＧＲＰ－５（１－１３）。用酶标方法测定了它们的抗原性,发现ＣＧＲＰ－２和ＣＧＲＰ－１能够很好地与抗ＣＧＲＰ抗血清结合。将ＣＧＲＰ－１;ＣＧＲＰ－３和ＣＧＲＰ－５分别免疫兔子,获得的抗血清分别与ＣＧＲＰ进行反应,发现只有抗ＣＧＲＰ－１的抗血清能够与ＣＧＲＰ很好地结合。因此,可以推测ＣＧＲＰ的羧端部分是其免疫活性部位。     

小鼠颌下腺降钙素基因相关肽的免疫组织化学定位

本文用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法,对小鼠颌下腺中降钙素基因相关肽（ＣａｌｃｉｔｏｎｉｃＧｅｎｅ－ＲｅｌａｔｅｄＰｅｐｔｉｄｅ,ＣＧＲＰ）的分布进行了观察。结果表明：小鼠颌小腔内有降钙素基因相关肽免疫反应神经的分布,它们主要分布于小叶间结缔组织中。此外,颗粒由管细胞也呈降钙素基因相关肽免疫反应阳性。提示降钙素基因相关肽可能参与颌下腺的分泌活动及血液循环等生理调节。     

降钙素基因相关肽在豚鼠冠脉血流量和心脏传导系统作用的比较

本文目的在于深入研究降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）对豚鼠冠状血流量以及心脏传导系统各部分的作用。采用Ｌａｎｇｅｎｄｏｒｆｆ法灌流心脏,同步记录心脏表面电图和希氏束电活动。观察应用ＣＧＲＰ前后的冠脉流量、自主心率、在相同心房周期下的房室结（ＡＨ）及希浦系传导时间（ＨＶ）、心脏出现３：２文氏传导及２：１房室传导阻滞所需的最长起搏周期（ＰＣＬ３：２,ＰＣＬ２：１）。ＣＧＲＰ（３－３０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可显著增     

Simultaneous immunohistochemical demonstration of intra-axonally transported markers and neuropeptides in the peripheral nervous system of the guinea pig

Summary Projections and peptide neurotransmitter/neuromodulator content of autonomic and visceral afferent neurons of the guinea pig were studied after application of the subunit B of cholera toxin (CTB) with or without horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as retrograde and anterograde tracers and subsequent immunohistochemical processing for double staining using antibodies raised to CTB, HRP and various neuropeptides. The results demonstrate that substance P (SP)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing dorsal root ganglion cells project to the pylorus as well as to the celiac superior mesenteric and stellate ganglia as demonstrated with both retrograde and anterograde transport methodology. Binding studies revealed that a small number of the CTB-binding dorsal root ganglion cells contains immunoreactivity to SP and CGRP. The majority of the CTB-binding cells is SP- and CGRP-negative and terminate in the deeper parts of the dorsal horn. After injection of CTB conjugated to HRP (B-HRP) into the nodose ganglion, both motor and sensory elements were labeled in the medulla oblongata. Some of the CTB labeled vagal sensory nerve fibers in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) were also found to contain immunoreactivity to SP or CGRP. The tracer was also transported through the peripheral branch of the nodose ganglion cells and labeled terminals in the esophagus.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptor in the thymus

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37-amino acid residue neuropeptide, was immunostained in rat thymus at two sites: a subpopulation of thymic epithelial cells, namely subcapsular/perivascular cells, were heavily stained besides some nerve fibers surrounding arteries and arterioles. The administration of nanomolar concentrations of rat -CGRP dose-dependently raised intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in isolated rat thymocytes (half-maximum stimulation 1 nM) but not in cultured rat thymic epithelial cells. Peptides structurally related to CGRP (i.e., rat calcitonin or amylin) had no effect. CGRP(8–37), an N-terminally truncated form, acted as an antagonist. Peripheral blood lymphocytes did not respond to CGRP, suggesting that receptors are present only on a subpopulation of thymocytes but not on mature T cells. This was substantiated by visualization of CGRP receptors on single cells by use of CGRP-gold and -biotin conjugates of established biological activity: only a small proportion of isolated thymocytes was surface labeled. In situ, the CGRP conjugates labeled receptors on large thymocytes residing in the outer cortical region of rat thymus pseudolobules. Thus, immunoreactive CGRP is found in subcapsular/perivascular thymic epithelial cells and acts via specific CGRP receptors on thymocytes by raising their intracellular cAMP level. It is suggested that CGRP is a paracrine thymic mediator that might influence the differentiation, maturation, and proliferation of thymocytes.     

Simultaneous immunohistochemical demonstration of intra-axonally transported markers and neuropeptides in the peripheral nervous system of the guinea pig

Projections and peptide neurotransmitter/neuromodulator content of autonomic and visceral afferent neurons of the guinea pig were studied after application of the subunit B of cholera toxin (CTB) with or without horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as retrograde and anterograde tracers and subsequent immunohistochemical processing for double staining using antibodies raised to CTB, HRP and various neuropeptides. The results demonstrate that substance P (SP)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing dorsal root ganglion cells project to the pylorus as well as to the celiac superior mesenteric and stellate ganglia as demonstrated with both retrograde and anterograde transport methodology. Binding studies revealed that a small number of the CTB-binding dorsal root ganglion cells contains immunoreactivity to SP and CGRP. The majority of the CTB-binding cells is SP- and CGRP-negative and terminate in the deeper parts of the dorsal horn. After injection of CTB conjugated to HRP (B-HRP) into the nodose ganglion, both motor and sensory elements were labeled in the medulla oblongata. Some of the CTB labeled vagal sensory nerve fibers in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) were also found to contain immunoreactivity to SP or CGRP. The tracer was also transported through the peripheral branch of the nodose ganglion cells and labeled terminals in the esophagus.     

Distribution of adrenomedullin-containing perivascular nerves in the rat mesenteric artery

Distribution of adrenomedullin (AM)-containing perivascular nerve fibers was studied in rat mesenteric arteries. Many fibers containing AM-like immunoreactivity (LI) were observed in the adventitia. AM-LI fibers were abolished by cold storage denervation or capsaicin but not 6-hydroxydopamine. Double immunostainings showed colocalization of AM-LI with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-LI. The dorsal root ganglia had many AM-positive cells and AM mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Electron microscopy study revealed high proportions of immunogold labeling for AM and colocalization of both AM-LI and CGRP-LI in unmyelinated nerve axons. These results suggest that AM-containing perivascular nerves are distributed in the rat mesenteric artery.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP): perivascular distribution and vasodilatory effects

The distribution of perivascular nerve fibers displaying calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity and the effect of CGRP on vascular smooth muscle were studied in the guinea-pig. Perivascular CGRP fibers were seen in all vascular beds. Generally, they were more numerous around arteries than veins. Small arteries in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract had numerous CGRP fibers. The gastroepiploic artery in particular received a rich supply of such fibers. Coronary blood vessels had a moderate supply of CGRP fibers. In the heart, a moderate number of CGRP fibers was seen running close to myocardial fibers. The atria had a richer supply than the ventricles. Numerous CGRP immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers were seen in sensory (trigeminal, jugular and spinal dorsal root) ganglia. Sequential or double immunostaining with antibodies against substance P and CGRP suggested co-existence of the two peptides in nerve cell bodies in the ganglia and in perivascular fibers. In agreement with previous findings CGRP turned out to be a strong vasodilator in vitro as tested on several blood vessels (e.g. basilar, gastroepiploic and mesenteric arteries). Conceivably, perivascular CGRP/SP fibers have a dual role as regulator of local blood flow and as carrier of sensory information.     

Distribution and ontogeny of SP, CGRP, SOM, and VIP in chick sensory and sympathetic ganglia

The distribution and ontogeny of four neuropeptides in developing chick lumbosacral sensory and sympathetic ganglia were studied using immunohistochemical techniques. Antibodies to two of these peptides, substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), stained small neurons in the medial part of the dorsal root ganglia from embryonic Day 5 and Day 10, respectively, whereas neurons in the lateral part of the ganglia were negative; this distribution persisted throughout development. Both sets of neurons apparently send fibers to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord: SP to laminae I and II, and CGRP to lamina I, suggesting that the SP- and CGRP-positive sensory neurons are nociceptive or thermoreceptive. This correlation between the presence of SP or CGRP in a neuron and a particular functional modality thus provides evidence for a functional distinction between the mediodorsal and ventrolateral zones that are apparent during the development of chick dorsal root ganglia. Moreover, this study suggests that the type of neuron that develops within the dorsal root ganglion correlates with its position within the ganglion. In contrast to SP and CGRP, somatostatin (SOM) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivities were not seen in the lumbosacral sensory ganglia at any stage during development. However, both were present in sympathetic ganglia: SOM from embryonic Day 4.5 and VIP from embryonic Day 10. VIP immunoreactivity persisted throughout development in a large number of sympathetic neurons, but the number of cells with SOM immunoreactivity decreased from embryonic Day 10 onward. SOM therefore appears to be present only transiently in most chick lumbosacral sympathetic cells.     

Co-occurrence of immunoreactive calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuroendocrine cells of rat lungs

Summary Neuroendocrine cells of the lung, occurring singly or in clusters known as neuroepithelial bodies, contain a variety of biologically active compounds, including several neuropeptides. We have investigated the localization of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) within single and grouped neuroendocrine cells in the respiratory epithelium of rats by an immunohistochemical double-staining technique which uses specific antisera raised in heterogeneous animal species. Calcitonin- and CGRP-immunoreactivities were nearly totally co-localized in both single neuroendocrine cells and neuroepithelial bodies. CGRP-immunoreactivity was also present in neurons in the jugular, nodose and dorsal root ganglia. The calcitonin-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells, as in thyroid parafollicular (C) cells, was abolished by preincubation of the anticalcitonin serum with synthetic calcitonin. The CGRP-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells and in the neuronal cells was abolished by preincubation of anti-CGRP serum with synthetic CGRP. Thus, while the calcitonin gene is expressed exclusively or predominantly as either calcitonin or CGRP in all other tissues except thyroid C-cells, our results strongly suggest that both peptides are expressed in the rat bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine cells.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing neurons supplying the rat digestive system: differential distribution and expression pattern.

In the enteric nervous system, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity is localized to a substantial number of capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers and to intrinsic neurons and processes. CGRP immunoreactivity detected by immunohistochemistry represents the expression of two distinct genes, the calcitonin/alpha-CGRP and the beta-CGRP genes, which have different tissue distributions. In the present study, we used (1) in situ hybridization histochemistry and ribonucleic acid (RNA) blot hybridization with RNA probes complementary to the divergent sequences of alpha- and beta-CGRP messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to differentiate which CGRP gene was expressed in enteric and afferent neurons; and (2) axonal transport approaches in combination with CGRP immunohistochemistry to define the location of CGRP-containing afferent neurons supplying the digestive system. In situ hybridization histochemistry with [35S]-labeled RNA probes indicated that in the gastrointestinal tract beta-CGRP mRNA, but not alpha-CGRP mRNA, was expressed in enteric neurons confined to the myenteric and submucous plexuses of the small and large intestine. In dorsal root and vagal sensory ganglia, mRNAs for alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP were both present in a vast population of neurons, with an overlapping pattern, even though the alpha-CGRP signal appeared more intense. RNA blot hybridization analysis showed a single band of hybridization at 1.2 Kb with the beta-CGRP RNA probe in RNA extracts from muscle layer-myenteric plexus and submucosal layer preparations of the ileum, and from dorsal root ganglia; it also showed a single band at 1.3 Kb with the alpha-CGRP RNA probe in extracts from dorsal root ganglia, but not from the intestine. These findings further support the differential expression of alpha- and beta-CGRP mRNAs. Retrograde transport of fast blue or fluorogold coupled with CGRP immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the vast majority of CGRP-containing afferent neurons supplying the stomach, proximal duodenum, and pancreas were located in dorsal root ganglia at the middle and lower thoracic and at the upper lumbar levels, and represented a major component of the afferent innervation of these viscera (up to 89%). Approximately 50% of CGRP-immunoreactive afferent neurons also expressed tachykinin (TK) immunoreactivity, as shown by triple labeling. Only a minor component of the afferent innervation of the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas derived from vagal CGRP-containing neurons (less than 8%). A large portion of these neurons (an average of 62%) also contained TK immunoreactivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-receptor component protein expression in the uterine cervix, lumbosacral spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may play a role in neurogenic inflammation, tissue remodeling of the uterine cervix, promoting vasodilation, parturition, and processing of sensory information in the spinal cord. CGRP-immunoreactive nerves of the cervix and spinal cord have been studied but cellular identification of the CGRP receptor has received little attention. CGRP-receptor component protein (CGRP-RCP) is a small protein associated with the CGRP receptor; thus, immunostaining for the CGRP-RCP can be used to identify sites of the CGRP receptor. We determined sites of CGRP-RCP immunoreactivity relative to the presence of CGRP-ir nerve fibers in the female rat uterine cervix, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. CGRP-RCP immunoreactivity was expressed in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, venules of the uterine cervix, and perikarya of sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia. CGRP-immunoreactive fibers were adjacent to CGRP-RCP-immunoreactive vessels in the cervix and among CGRP-RCP-immunoreactive structures in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. This suggests CGRP-RCP is associated with structures innervated by CGRP nerves and these interactions may be changed in tissues in response to an appropriate stimulus.