交感神经系统内递质共存及其相互作用

在外周交感神经系统内,神经递质或神经肽类物质主要存在于大、小囊泡内;递质共存的现象在交感神经内不断得以发现．去甲肾上腺素和乙酰胆碱、神经肽Y、脑啡肽、P物质、血管活性肠肽、生长抑素、神经降压素、降钙素基因相关肽等物质共存的证实,扩大了交感神经递质的调节范围,递质之间网络式的相互调节作用有着重要的生理意义。     

多种神经活性物质在幼年猫和鸡视网膜神经细胞中的共存(简报)

视网膜起源于前脑泡,结构简单层次分明,因此常被视为脑的简化模型。但近期工作证明,视网膜包含的神经活性物质(神经递质、调质和神经肽)种类之多、分布之复杂并不亚于脑。尤其是无长突细胞不仅包含多种递质和肽类,而且还有递质与肽类或肽类与肽类在一个细胞中的共存。对视网膜神经递质、调质和神经肽的研究将是探索脑奥秘的有效途径。     

胆囊收缩素与惊厥

60年代后,对于单胺类神经递质及氨基酸类神经递质,尤其是γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)在惊厥发病中的作用,进行了大量的研究。有些研究成果已初步在临床上应用。有关惊厥性疾病与神经肽的关系,则尚处于开始研究的阶段;但近来也已有不少进展。一、CCK 与中枢神经系统兴奋性在众多的脑肽中,包括那些最早从脑组织中分离出来的肽,如 P 物质、脑啡肽、快速激肽等,CCK 处于值得注意的地位。因为,在哺乳动物的中枢神经系统中,CCK 的总含量高于其它已知调节肽。在大脑皮层中 CCK 浓度最高。在脑中的含量和浓度也明显高于新近发现的神经肽 Y。神经递质是由神经末梢释放,以改变邻近神经元或器官活动的化学物质。有人曾提出,     

交感神经节细胞的迟慢兴奋性突触后电位与肽能性突触传递

节前神经刺激可在交感神经节细胞内引起一个迟慢兴奋性突触后电位(Is-EPSP),它不被N或M型胆碱能阻断剂所阻断,故属于非胆碱能性突触传递。Is-EPSP的有关神经递质可能是肽类物质,如P物质、促性腺激素释放激素(LHRH);这种肽能性传递有可能参与交感神经节的生理整合机能。     

神经肽拮抗剂

由于肽的分离纯化、结构分析、化学合成、放射免疫、组织化学定位以及重组DNA等技术的应用,已发现的神经肽的数目与日俱增;但其中多数神经肽的生理功能尚不清楚,原因之一是缺乏特异性的拮抗剂。在神经系统中,神经肽可能起神经递质或神经调节物的作用;在神经内分泌、旁分泌及内分泌系统,又可能起激素的作用。神经肽拮抗剂能在受体水平阻断神经肽的作用,因而可用来推测神经肽在生理及病理状态下的功能;它们又可用于神经肽受体性质的研究以及受体亚型的分型。它们可能发展成为新型的诊断药或治疗药。     

神经肽Y对心脏的作用

神经肽Y（NPY）广泛分布于心脏各个部位,主要与去甲肾上腺素共存于交感神经。当交感神经兴奋时,由末梢释放。NPY对心脏具有直接的变力、变时和电生理作用,可影响细胞的信号转导,调制心脏自主神经递质的释放,并参与心脏的自主神经调节。NPY在心脏的生理学和病理生理学上具有重要意义。     

高通量质谱法用于小鼠器官内源性肽的鉴定

内源性肽以细胞因子、生长激素、激素肽等形式在人体的内分泌、神经、细胞生长和生殖各个领域发挥功能。神经肽是一种内源性肽,与痛觉、睡眠、情绪、学习与记忆等生理活动相关,不但存在于脑部神经细胞,也存在于其他体液和器官内并发挥重要作用。目前对器官内源性肽的研究仍不足,尤其是其中的神经肽。文中应用液质联用串联质谱高通量鉴定胰腺、心脏、肝脏和肾脏中内源性肽的分布以及神经肽的种类。鉴定结果显示,在肝脏中内源性肽和神经肽的数目最多,而胰腺中最少;所鉴定到的内源性肽具有器官特异性,在4个器官中分别呈现不同的动态分布;4个器官中神经肽的LPV(最长肽变异体)数目差异较大,而且基因家族的分布也各不相同,比如胰腺中的神经肽多属于Glucagon家族,心脏中的神经肽分别属于ACBD7、Granins、PEBP等几个家族。鉴定结果将为疾病的机制研究和治疗药物的研发提供参考。     

甘丙肽普遍存在于袋鼠的血管交感神经中

在哺乳动物,神经肽Y(NPY)常常和去甲肾上腺素共同存在于血管周围的交感神经轴浆中;而在血管周围神经元中,这两种递质的共存有部位和种类的差异。近年来又发现甘丙肽(galanin)存在于一些动物的交感神经元和副交感神经元,感觉神经元和内在神经元以及中枢神经中。澳大利亚学者近来报道,galanin     

神经肽Y对心血管的作用

神经肽Y(NPY)广泛分布于心脏和血管周围,主要存在于外周交感神经中,并由交感神经末梢分泌。它具有收缩血管的作用,还能增强交感神经递质等缩血管活性物质以及抑制舒血管活性物质的作用.在病理状况下可能是引起血管痉挛的因素之一。     

神经肽研究中的若干问题

说起神经递质,人们首先想到的是乙酰胆碱(ACh)、去甲肾上腺素(NA)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA),这些胺类和氨基酸类物质,它们都是分子量在100～200左右的小分子化合物,一般称为“经典递质”。近年来,在神经系统中发现了不少具有生物活性的肽类物质,也参与神经信息的传递,被称为神经肽。这些肽大多是由5～10个氨基酸组成,分子量在500～5000之间。最早发现的神经肽是 P 物质(SP),这是 Von Euler 和Gaddum 50余年前从牛肠中分离出来的;其后,发现它也存在于脑,是典型的“脑肠肽”。但神经肽问题真正引起人们的注意,开始于70年代中期,当时英国的 Hughes 和 Kosterlitz 发现了脑啡肽(ENK);接着人们又发现了内啡肽(EP)和强啡肽(DYN),从而掀起了一个研究阿片肽的高潮。进入80年代以来,由于蛋白     

Modulating effect of angiotensin II and bradykinin on the mediator sensitivity of central neurons

Using the methods of extracellular recording of bioelectrical activity and microiontophoresis, the effect of endogenous neuropeptides (angiotensin-II and bradykinin) on the cortical neuronal sensitivity to neurotransmitters was investigated in conscious rabbits. It was found that angiotensin-II and bradykinin modified neuronal responses to neurotransmitters, increasing, decreasing and reversing their mediator sensitivity. The most prominent effect of these neuropeptides was the increase of neuronal responses to acetylcholine and noradrenaline. At the central neuronal level, endogenous neuropeptides (angiotensin-II and bradykinin) are suggested to play the role of synaptic polytransmitter neuromodulators.     

The role of peripheral nerve fibers and their neurotransmitters in cartilage and bone physiology and pathophysiology

The peripheral nervous system is critically involved in bone metabolism, osteogenesis, and bone remodeling. Nerve fibers of sympathetic and sensory origin innervate synovial tissue and subchondral bone of diathrodial joints. They modulate vascularization and matrix differentiation during endochondral ossification in embryonic limb development, indicating a distinct role in skeletal growth and limb regeneration processes. In pathophysiological situations, the innervation pattern of sympathetic and sensory nerve fibers is altered in adult joint tissues and bone. Various resident cell types of the musculoskeletal system express receptors for sensory and sympathetic neurotransmitters. Osteoblasts, osteoclasts, mesenchymal stem cells, synovial fibroblasts, and different types of chondrocytes produce distinct subtypes of adrenoceptors, receptors for vasointestinal peptide, for substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Many of these cells even synthesize neuropeptides such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide and are positive for tyrosine-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for biosynthesis of catecholamines. Sensory and sympathetic neurotransmitters modulate osteo-chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells during endochondral ossification in limb development. In adults, sensory and sympathetic neurotransmitters are critical for bone regeneration after fracture and are involved in the pathology of inflammatory diseases as rheumatoid arthritis which manifests mainly in joints. Possibly, they might also play a role in pathogenesis of degenerative joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis. All together, accumulating data imply that sensory and sympathetic neurotransmitters have crucial trophic effects which are critical for proper limb formation during embryonic skeletal growth. In adults, they modulate bone regeneration, bone remodeling, and articular cartilage homeostasis in addition to their classic neurological actions.     

Autonomic neural signals in bone: physiological implications for mandible and dental growth

Signals derived from the autonomic nervous system exert potent effects on osteoclast and osteoblast function. A ubiquitous sympathetic and sensory innervation of all periosteal surfaces exists and its disruption affects bone remodeling. Several neuropeptides, neurohormones and neurotransmitters and their receptors are detectable in bone. Bone mineral content decreased in sympathetically denervated mandibular bone. When a mechanical stress was superimposed on mandibular bone by cutting out the lower incisors, an increase in bone density ensued providing the sympathetic innervation was intact. A lower eruption rate of sympathetically denervated incisors at the impeded eruption side, and a higher eruption rate of denervated incisors at the unimpeded side were also observed. A normal sympathetic neural activity appears to be a pre-requisite for maintaining a minimal normal unimpeded incisor eruption and for keeping the unimpeded eruption to attain abnormally high velocities under conditions of stimulated incisor growth. These and other results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in mandibular bone metabolism.     

Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the developing human central nervous system. A review

This is a review on the ontogenesis of major neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the developing human central nervous system. In general, the molecules under study appeared early in development, usually in the first trimester. Cholinergic neurons were found to be present around the time of neuropeptide formation. The newly formed neuropeptidergic fibers extended towards the cholinergic centers where both might interact. In the major centers of the central nervous system, neuropeptides were also noted to colocalize with various neurotransmitters. For example, in the facial nucleus, enkepahlin and substance P fibers coexisted with cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons, suggesting complex interactions. In the interpeduncular nucleus, peptidergic neurons acting as interneurons clearly modulated the afferent input to this nucleus. In the hippocampus and in sensory organs such as the retina, there were indications that neuropeptides and gamma-amino butyric acid coexisted. We hypothesize that interactions of neurotransmitters and peptides in neurons and fibers early in development play an indispensable role in the morphogenesis of the human central nervous system.     

Immunohistochemical identification of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in nerves of the bovine parathyroid gland

Summary Although peptide neurotransmitters have been shown to modulate hormone secretion in many glands, there are very few studies of neurotransmitters in the parathyroid gland. Bovine parathyroid glands were collected at a local abattoir, fixed with paraformaldehyde, sectioned using a cryostat, and stained by indirect immunohistochemistry for calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. We were able to positively identify both neuropeptides. Nerve fibres containing calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P were identified in contact with the tunica media of arteries and arterioles and dispersed throughout the stroma of the gland. While many of the fibres encircled parenchymal lobules, no intimate contact with the peripheral chief cells was observed. All immunoreactive fibres were found to contain both neuropeptides. Since calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P are vasodilators, they may increase blood flow within the gland. In addition, the neuropeptides may diffuse from perilobular nerve fibres into the parenchyma, thereby modulating secretion of parathyroid hormone.     

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is released from sympathetic nerve terminals via a botulinum neurotoxin A-mediated mechanism in canine mesenteric artery

Using high-performance liquid chromatography techniques with fluorescence and electrochemical detection, we found that beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (beta-NAD) is released in response to electrical field stimulation (4-16 Hz, 0.3 ms, 15 V, 120 s) along with ATP and norepinephrine (NE) in the canine isolated mesenteric arteries. The release of beta-NAD increases with number of pulses/stimulation frequencies. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed dense distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivity (TH-LI) and sparse distribution of TH-LI-negative nerve processes, suggesting that these blood vessels are primarily under sympathetic nervous system control with some contribution of other (e.g., sensory) neurons. Exogenous NE (3 micromol/l), alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 micromol/l), neuropeptide Y (NPY, 0.1 micromol/l), CGRP (0.1 micromol/l), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 0.1 micromol/l), and substance P (SP, 0.1 micromol/l) had no effect on the basal release of beta-NAD, suggesting that the overflow of beta-NAD is evoked by neither the sympathetic neurotransmitters NE, ATP, and NPY, nor the neuropeptides CGRP, VIP, and SP. Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNTA, 0.1 micromol/l) abolished the evoked release of NE, ATP, and beta-NAD at 4 Hz, suggesting that at low levels of neural activity, release of these neurotransmitters results from N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor/synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa-mediated exocytosis. At 16 Hz, however, the evoked release of NE, ATP, and beta-NAD was reduced by BoNTA by approximately 90, 60, and 80%, respectively, suggesting that at higher levels of neural activity, beta-NAD is likely to be released from different populations of synaptic vesicles or different populations of nerve terminals (i.e., sympathetic and sensory terminals).     

Developmental expression of serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the sympathoadrenal system of the chicken

Summary The avian sympathoadrenal system has been used as a model to examine the differentiation of cells expressing neuroactive substances derived from the neural crest. Previous studies have dealt with the expression of the classical neurotransmitters acetylcholine and catecholamines and of the neuropeptides somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. We have used immunocytochemistry to examine the developmental expression of the monoamine serotonin (5HT) in the chicken sympathoadrenal system. 5HT-like immunoreactivity (5HT-LI) was found to be transiently expressed by cells of the sympathetic ganglia very early in development (E-5 to E-8), disappearing almost entirely at more advanced embryonic stages (E-10 to E-19) and posthatched chickens where only a population of cells similar to mammalian small intensely fluorescent cells express immunoreactivity to the amine. In contrast, in the adrenal gland of embryos and post-hatched chickens, most chromaffin cells also express 5HT-LI. Double labeling experiments show that in both the adrenal gland and the sympathetic ganglia catecholaminergic properties and somatostatin immunoreactivity are co-expressed with 5-HT-LI. Moreover, the cells that transiently express 5HT-LI in sympathetic ganglia also transiently express somatostatin. The catecholaminergic cells expressing serotonin and somatostatin appear to define a biochemical phenotype common to some chromaffin cells, small intensely fluorescent cells and early sympathoblasts.     

The paradoxically high reactivity of septal neurons in hibernating ground squirrels to endogenous neuropeptides is lost after chronic deafferentation of the septum from the preopticohypothalamic areas

The effect of neuropeptides (TSKYR, TSKY and DY) and neurotransmitters (serotonin and noradrenaline) on the activity of medial septum (MS) neurons from the brain of summer wakening ground squirrels (WGS), hibernating ground squirrels (HGS), and hibernating ground squirrels with the undercut septum (UHGS) was studied. It was shown that in HGS, the neuropeptides were substantially more effective in modulating the spontaneous activity of MS neurons than in WGS. The undercutting of MS led to the disappearance of the increased responsiveness to the neuropeptides: in UHGS, neuropeptide-induced changes in the spontaneous activity became nearly identical to those in WGS. The decrease in MS responsiveness in UHGS is due mainly to pacemaker neurons, which cease to respond to the peptides. It was shown that the neuropeptides have a dual effect: they change the level of spontaneous activity through direct modulation of pacemaker potential and control responses to electrical stimulation by modulating the synaptic transmission. Contrary to neuropeptides, neurotransmitters were highly effective in neurons of all groups of animals. Presumably, the enhanced excitability of MS during hibernation, which is necessary for performing the 'sentry post' function, is formed under the influence of the preopticohypothalamic area, and this influence is mediated by peptides.     

Neuronal messengers in the human cerebral circulation

In recent years our knowledge of the nervous control of the cerebral circulation has increased. The use of denervations and retrograde tracing in combination with immunohistochemical techniques has demonstrated that cerebral vessels are supplied with sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nerve fibers and possibly central pathways containing a multiplicity of new transmitter substances in addition to the classical transmitters. The majority of these transmitters are neuropeptides. More recently it has been suggested that a gaseous transmitter, nitric oxide (NO) also could participate in the neuronal regulation of cerebral blood flow. Although little is known about the physiological actions and inter-relationships among all these putative neurotransmitters, their presence within cerebrovascular nerve fibers will make it necessary to revise our view on the mechanisms of cerebrovascular neurotransmission.