HAP-1在慢性复合应激大鼠肾上腺的表达

目的探讨慢性复合应激大鼠肾上腺髓质细胞亨廷顿蛋白相关蛋白1(Huntingtin-associated protein 1,HAP-1)表达的变化及其意义。方法36只大鼠随机分为两组:慢性复合应激组和对照组。应激组动物进行6周的垂直旋转、睡眠剥夺、捆绑(6h/d)和夜间光照等慢性复合性应激试验;实验结束后,所有动物采用免疫组织化学、Western-blot以及RT-PCR等方法检测肾上腺髓质细胞内HAP-1蛋白和mRNA水平的变化。结果与对照组相比,慢性复合应激组的大鼠肾上腺髓质中HAP-1的表达明显增强(P<0.05),HAP-1 mRNA水平明显升高(P<0.05)。结论6周慢性复合性应激大鼠HAP-1在肾上腺髓质区的表达加强,mRNA水平提高。提示HAP-1在慢性复合应激促进肾上腺功能中可能发挥一定作用。     

慢性复合应激对大鼠学习和记忆及海马神经元神经颗粒素表达的影响

目的探讨慢性复合应激对大鼠学习和记忆功能及海马内神经元神经颗粒素(neurogranin,Ng)表达的影响。方法成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组和复合应激组,复合应激组动物每天无规律交替暴露于复合应激原环境中,为期6周。应激结束后,用Morris水迷宫测试大鼠空间学习和记忆成绩,同时用免疫组织化学方法观察海马各亚区Ng表达的变化,并用RT-PCR技术分析各组大鼠海马Ng mRNA水平的变化。结果Morris水迷宫测试显示,应激组动物寻找隐蔽平台潜伏期明显短于对照组(P<0.05);应激组大鼠海马DG和CA3区Ng的蛋白表达水平明显高于对照组(P<0.05),而两组海马CA1区的Ng的免疫反应性无明显差别;与对照组相比,应激组动物的Ng mRNA水平亦明显上调(P<0.05)。结论慢性复合性应激大鼠的学习与记忆能力增强;Ng在海马中的表达和Ng mRNA转录水平增高,提示Ng参与了该增强机制。     

慢性复合应激对大鼠大脑皮质生长休止蛋白7表达影响的研究

目的探讨慢性复合应激对大鼠大脑皮质神经元中生长休止蛋白7（Gas7）的表达变化及意义。方法36只大鼠随机分为两组：慢性复合应激组和正常对照组。复合应激组动物进行6w的垂直旋转、睡眠剥夺、捆绑（6h／d）和夜间光照等慢性复合性应激试验;实验结束后,所有动物采用免疫组织化学、Western-blot等方法检测大鼠海马Gas7蛋白表达的变化。结果与对照组相比,Gas7在大鼠大脑皮质表达明显增强（P〈0．05）。结论Gas7参与了慢性复合应激对大鼠大脑皮质神经元生长发育的影响。     

慢性复合应激性增强空间学习与记忆时突触素Ⅰ在大鼠海马中的表达

目的观察突触素Ⅰ在慢性复合应激性空间学习与记忆增强大鼠海马各亚区表达的变化及其意义.方法成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分成应激组和对照组.采用垂直旋转、剥夺睡眠、噪音刺激和夜间光照4种应激原无规律交替应激动物6周,每天6 h,制作慢性复合应激动物模型.采用Morris水迷宫和Y-迷宫测试大鼠空间学习与记忆成绩,并用免疫组织化学技术显示突触素Ⅰ在慢性复合应激性空间学习与记忆增强大鼠海马中的表达变化.结果结果显示,应激组动物慢性复合应激后在Morris水迷宫内寻找隐蔽平台所需时间(潜伏期)比对照组的明显地短(P<0.05),在Y-迷宫内寻找安全区的正确率比对照组的明显地高(P<0.05);应激组动物慢性复合应激后,其海马齿状回(dentate gyrus,DG)和CA3区突触素I的免疫反应性明显地强于对照组(P<0.05), 两组CA1区突触素I的免疫反应性无明显差别(P>0.05).结论这些结果提示,慢性复合应激可增强大鼠空间学习与记忆能力,突触素Ⅰ在大鼠海马内表达的变化可能参与了大鼠空间学习与记忆增强的机制.     

慢性复合应激对成年海马FGF-2的表达及神经发生的影响

目的通过观察慢性复合应激后大鼠海马FGF-2表达的变化,来探讨慢性复合应激对FGF-2表达的影响及其与海马神经发生的联系。方法成年雄性大鼠随机分为复合应激组和正常对照组。复合应激组动物每天交替无规律暴露于复合应激原中达6周。然后运用免疫组织化学方法、Western-blot和RT-PCR技术观察海马FGF-2表达的变化。结果慢性复合应激组动物海马FGF-2阳性细胞的表达量增多(P<0.05);海马FGF-2蛋白的表达明显增加(P<0.05);海马FGF-2 mRNA水平明显上调(P<0.05)。结论慢性复合应激可引起海马FGF-2阳性细胞表达量增加和FGF-2表达水平升高,提示应激后内源性FGF-2的表达增高可能是慢性复合应激促海马神经发生的因素之一。     

蛋白激酶Cγ和蛋白磷酸酯酶Aα在慢性复合应激性学习记忆增强大鼠海马中表达的变化

目的 探讨蛋白激酶Cγ(PKCγ)和蛋白磷酸酯酶Aα(PP2B-Aα)在慢性复合应激性学习记忆增强大鼠海马中的表达及其意义。方法 将成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为应激组和对照组,对应激组实行慢性复合应激42d后,用Morris水迷宫,Y-迷宫对2组大鼠进行学习和记忆能力测试,然后用免疫组织化学方法,观察2组大鼠PKCγ和PP2B-Aα的表达,并用计算机图像分析系统对免疫阳性反应结果进行处理。结果 应激组比对照组学习记忆能力明显增强;在海马CA3区PKCγ的免疫反应阳性日月显增强;PP2B-Aα在海马CA1和CA3区的免疫反应阳性明显减弱。结论 海马内PKCγ和PP2B-Aα表达的变化可能参与了慢性复合应激致大鼠学习记忆增强的机制。     

酪氨酸羟化酶在成年大鼠胰腺中的定位

目的:酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)是儿茶酚胺类递质合成的限速梅,儿茶酚胺类递质对胰腺内分泌细胞的功能具有重要的调控作用,本研究拟探讨酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)在成年大鼠整个胰腺的具体定位和表达.方法:取雄性成年大鼠胰腺,冰冻组织切片,应用免疫荧光技术观察酪氨酸羟化酶在整个胰腺中的表达分布情况,并进一步运用免疫荧光双标技术鉴定酪氨酸羟化酶是否与胰岛素、胰高血糖素、生长抑素以及胰多肽分别共定位于β细胞;α细胞;δ细胞及PP细胞,进一步确定合成酪氨酸羟化酶确切的细胞类型.结果:①在胰腺腺泡细胞胞浆中存在酪氨酸羟化酶的阳性表达颗粒.②分布于胰腺外分泌腺的神经纤维和胰岛的神经纤维中都有酪氨酸羟化酶的表达.③酪氨酸羟化酶与胰岛的四种内分泌细胞所合成的肽之间均没有共定位关系.结论:在胰腺,酪氨酸羟化酶只存在于胰腺外分泌腺的腺泡细胞胞浆内以及胰腺中的神经纤维中,而胰岛四种内分泌细胞中没有酪氨酸羟化酶,说明胰腺儿茶酚胺类神经递质一方面由胰腺外分泌部的腺泡细胞合成,另一方面来源于神经末梢的释放,而胰岛细胞不能合成儿茶酚胺类递质;该结果为进一步研究胰腺内、外分泌部之间的关系和儿茶酚胺对胰腺分泌功能的调节提供形态学证据.     

大鼠视网膜中HAP1的免疫组织化学定位及不同光照条件对HAP1表达的影响

目的探讨亨廷顿蛋白相关蛋白1(huntingtin associated protein 1, HAP1)是否存在于视网膜内及是否与视觉有关.方法对正常大鼠眼球壁用ABC法进行免疫组织化学染色,观察HAP1在视网膜中的定位;用半定量免疫印迹方法(Western blotting)检测不同光照条件对大鼠视网膜中HAP1表达的影响.结果 HAP1较广泛地分布在大鼠视网膜各层,但以内核层及外核层中免疫反应较强,阳性反应产物主要定位在节细胞层和内核层/外核层中部分细胞胞体内;其余各层中,HAP1免疫反应较弱,阳性产物呈弥散分布,未见明显的阳性胞体.在连续处于黑暗环境中72小时大鼠视网膜中,HAP1表达较常规光照动物明显减少,而连续光照72h大鼠视网膜内HAP1表达无明显变化.结论 HAP1在视网膜中的存在及不同光照条件对视网膜HAP1表达的影响表明,HAP1可能与视觉活动有关.     

脐带间充质干细胞不同模式干预对2型糖尿病大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡的作用比较

目的对比脐带间充质干细胞(UCMSC)不同模式干预对2型糖尿病(T2DM)大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡的作用及其与TLR4/NF-κB炎症通路的关系。方法将SD大鼠分为正常对照组(NC组)、T2DM组、UCMSC A组和UCMSC B组,每组8只,予相应干预8周:UCMSC以尾静脉输注方式干预,其中UCMSC A组采用单次大量模式(细胞数20×106个);UCMSC B组采用多次足量序贯模式(每次细胞数5×106个,每两周干预1次共4次)。定期检测各组大鼠空腹血糖(FBG)、胰岛素(INS)、C肽(C-P);观察胰腺组织形态变化;TUNEL法检测胰岛细胞凋亡;Western blot法检测胰腺组织TLR4、NF-κB及IL-6蛋白表达水平。组间比较采用单因素方差分析。结果治疗8周末,与T2DM组比较,UCMSC A组和UCMSC B组大鼠FBG均呈明显下降,其中UCMSC B组明显低于UCMSC A组[(20.0±3.5)比(13.1±1.7)、(7.2±2.2)],P0.05;与T2DM组比较,两个治疗组大鼠INS和C-P水平呈不同程度增高;T2DM组大鼠胰腺组织形态紊乱,仅见少量胰岛细胞团存在,而两个治疗组大鼠胰腺组织形态呈不同程度改善;与T2DM组比较,两个治疗组大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡指数明显降低,以UCMSC B组为甚;与T2DM组比较,两个治疗组大鼠胰腺组织TLR4、NF-κB及IL-6蛋白表达降低,以UCMSC B组为甚,分别为(1.58±0.43)比(1.15±0.27)、(0.96±0.20),(1.06±0.22)比(0.80±0.15)、(0.62±0.10),(0.91±0.10)比(0.77±0.09)、(0.60±0.16),均P0.05。结论多次足量序贯输注干预模式对2型糖尿病大鼠糖代谢和胰岛分泌功能具有较好的改善作用,其机制可能与其下调TLR4/NF-κB炎症通路抑制胰岛β细胞凋亡相关。     

大鼠BTCe对体外培养胰岛保护作用及对糖尿病大鼠降糖作用的研究

β细胞素(betacellulin,BTC)是目前较受关注的胰岛再生因子,但其促胰腺、胰岛再生的机制不清.BTCe是betacellulin的功能片段,促细胞增殖能力与BTC相同.实验通过原核表达方法获得BTCe蛋白,MTT法证实其促3T3-L1细胞增殖能力.将BTC或BTCe作用于原代培养的大鼠胰岛,观察其对胰岛分泌的急性及长期影响作用,实时定量PCR及免疫荧光检测胰岛内关键基因的表达.将质粒pcDNA3.1-BTCe注射入链脲霉素(STZ)诱导的糖尿病大鼠肌肉中,观察对大鼠血糖的影响作用.加入BTC或BTCe可明显提高体外培养大鼠胰岛的GSIS水平,但实时定量PCR及免疫荧光显示胰岛内4种关键基因的表达并无明显变化;pcDNA3.1-BTCe转染糖尿病大鼠15～20天后血糖出现下降,糖耐量明显改善;免疫荧光显示:胰腺内有大量PDX-1 的导管细胞及胰岛素阳性细胞出现.推测BTC及BTCe对体外长期培养的大鼠胰岛具有一定的保护作用,可能通过促进胰腺内PDX-1 的导管细胞及胰岛素阳性细胞的增殖、诱导对STZ诱导的糖尿病大鼠的高血糖具有一定缓解作用.     

Selective Expression of Huntingtin-associated Protein 1 in ��-Cells of the Rat Pancreatic Islets

Huntingtin-associated protein-1 (HAP1) was initially identified as a binding partner of huntingtin, the Huntington''s disease protein. Based on its preferred distribution among neurons and endocrine cells, HAP1 has been suggested to play roles in vesicular transportation in neurons and hormonal secretion of endocrine cells. Given that HAP1 is selectively expressed in the islets of rat pancreas, in this study, we analyzed the expression pattern of HAP1 in the islets. In rats injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin, which can selectively destroy β-cells of the pancreatic islets, the number of HAP1 immunoreactive cells was dramatically decreased and was accompanied by a parallel decrease in the number of insulin-immunoreactive cells. Immunofluorescent double staining of pancreas sections showed that, in rat islets, HAP1 is selectively expressed in the insulin-immunoreactive β-cells but not in the glucagon-immunoreactive α-cells and somatostatin immunoreactive δ-cells. In isolated rat pancreatic islets, ∼80% of cells expressed both HAP1 and insulin. Expression of HAP1 in the INS-1 rat insulinoma cell line was also demonstrated by immunofluorescent staining. Western blotting further revealed that HAP1 in both the isolated rat pancreatic islets and the INS-1 cells also has two isoforms, HAP1A and HAP1B, which are the same as those in the hypothalamus. These results demonstrated that HAP1 is selectively expressed in β-cells of rat pancreatic islets, suggesting the involvement of HAP1 in the regulation of cellular trafficking and secretion of insulin. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:255–263, 2010)     

Immunohistochemical localization of huntingtin-associated protein 1 in endocrine system of the rat.

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) was originally found to be localized in neurons and is thought to play an important role in neuronal vesicular trafficking and/or organelle transport. Based on functional similarity between neuron and endocrine cell in vesicular trafficking, we examined the expression and localization of HAP1 in the rat endocrine system using immunohistochemistry. HAP1-immunoreactive cells are widely distributed in the anterior lobe of the pituitary, scattered in the wall of the thyroid follicles, or clustered in the interfollicular space of the thyroid gland, exclusively but diffusely distributed in the medullae of adrenal glands, and selectively located in the pancreas islets. HAP1-containing cells were also found in the mucosa of stomach and small intestine with a distributive pattern similar to that of gastrointestinal endocrine cells. However, no HAP1-immunoreactive cell was found in the cortex of the adrenal gland, the testis, and the ovary. In the posterior lobe of the pituitary, HAP1-immunoreactive products were not detected in the cell bodies but in many stigmoid bodies, one kind of non-membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelle with a central or eccentric electron-lucent core. HAP1-immunoreactive stigmoid bodies were also found in the cytoplasm of endocrine cells in the thyroid gland, the medullae of adrenal gland, the pancreas islets, the stomach, and small intestine. The present study demonstrates that HAP1 is selectively expressed in part of the small peptide-, protein-, and amino-acid analog and derivative-secreting endocrine cells but not in steroid hormone-secreting cells, suggesting that HAP1 is also involved in intracellular trafficking in certain types of endocrine cells.     

慢性复合应激增强大鼠空间学习和记忆能力

本文观察了慢性复合应激对大鼠学习与记忆功能的影响。实验采用成年 Wistar 大鼠, 将其随机分成应激组和对照组。采用垂直旋转、睡眠剥夺、噪音刺激和夜间光照4 种应激原, 无规律地交替刺激动物 6 周, 每天6 h, 制作慢性复合应激动物模型。采用 Morris 水迷宫和 Y- 迷宫测试大鼠学习与记忆成绩,并用 Cresyl violet 染色法对大鼠海马结构进行神经细胞计数。结果显示,应激组动物慢性复合应激后, 在 Morris 水迷宫内寻找隐蔽平台所需的时间(潜伏期)比对照组的明显地短(P<0.05), 表明应激鼠的空间记忆能力明显强于对照鼠;在 Y- 迷宫内寻找安全区的正确率比对照组的明显地高(P<0.05), 表明应激鼠的明暗分辨学习能力明显强于对照鼠; 应激鼠慢性复合应激后, 其海马结构齿状回、CA3 和CA1 区神经细胞密度极明显地高于对照鼠(P<0.001)。这些结果提示, 慢性复合应激可增强大鼠空间记忆能力和明暗分辨学习能力。本文并对慢性复合应激模式增强大鼠学习和记忆能力的可能原因进行了讨论。     

Effect of chronic psychological stress on insulin release from rat isolated pancreatic islets

Despite documented studies, the exact role of stress on diabetes is still unclear. The present study investigates the effect of chronic psychological stress on insulin release from isolated rat pancreatic islets. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of control and stressed (n=8/group). The animals of the stressed group were exposed to restraint stressors (1 h twice daily) for 15 or 30 consecutive days. At the beginning and end of the experimental periods, the animals were weighed and blood samples taken to determine the fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin and corticosterone. On the following day the pancreatic islets of 5/group of the above animals were isolated and the static release of insulin in the presence of different glucose concentrations (2.8, 5.6, 8.3, 16.7 mM) was assessed. The results showed that in the stressed group, fasting plasma glucose levels were increased significantly on the 15th day as compared to the control group. However there was no significant increase on the 30th day. Fasting plasma insulin was significantly decreased on the 15th and 30th days of the experiment in the stressed group. Stressed rats showed significantly higher fasting plasma corticosterone levels, only on the 15th day, as compared to the control rats. In response to increasing concentrations of glucose, insulin release from islets of the stressed group was increased significantly on the 30th day of the experiment as compared to the control group. We conclude that chronic psychological stress could increase responsiveness of pancreatic beta cells to glucose, in vitro, and thus, low insulin levels of the stressed animals, in vivo, may be due to reason(s) other than the reduction of insulin releasing capacity of pancreatic beta cells.     

Effects of CP 55,940--agonist of CB1 cannabinoid receptors on ghrelin and somatostatin producing cells in the rat pancreas

Cannabinoids participate in the modulation of numerous functions in the human organism, increasing the sense of hunger, affecting carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and controlling systemic energy balance mechanisms. Moreover, they influence the endocrine system functions, acting via two types of receptors, CB1 and CB2. The aim of the present study was to examine the number, distribution and activity of ghrelin and somatostatin producing endocrine cells in the pancreas of rats after a single administration of selective CP 55,940 agonist of CB1 receptor. The study was performed on 20 rats. Neuroendocrine cells were identified by immunohistochemical reactions, involving specific antibodies against ghrelin and somatostatin. The distribution and number of ghrelin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were separately studied in five pancreas islets of each section. A performed analysis showed a decreased number of somatostatin-immunoreactive cells and a weak immunoreactivity of ghrelin and somatostatin containing neuroendocrine cells in the pancreatic islets of experimental rats, compared to control animals. The obtained results suggest that a single administration of a selective CP 55,940 agonist of CB1 receptor influences the immunoreactivity of endocrine cells with ghrelin and somatostatin expression in the pancreas islets.     

The counteracting effects of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on the immobilization stress-induced adverse reactions in rat pancreas

Many studies suggest that Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) has many protective effects. But little is known about its protective effects against chronic restraint stress-induced damage in rats. The aim was to demonstrate the potential protective effects of EGCG against harmful pancreatic damage to the immobilization stress in the rat model. Forty rats, 2 months old, were divided into four groups (n = 10): control group; EGCG group, rats received EGCG by gavage (100 mg/kg /day) for 30 days; stressed group, rats exposed to immobilization stress; and stressed with EGCG group, rats exposed to immobilization stress and received EGCG for 30 days. Glycemic status parameters, corticosterone, and inflammatory markers were investigated on the first day, 15th day, and the 30th day of the experiment. Pancreatic oxidative stress markers and cytokines were evaluated. Histological, immunohistological, and statistical studies were performed. On the 15th day, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting plasma corticosterone were significantly higher in the stressed group when compared with first and 30th day in the same group as well as when compared with control and stressed with EGCG groups. The stressed group revealed significantly higher pancreatic IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, and NO, serum amylase and serum lipase, and significantly lower GSH, SOD, and CAT when compared to control and stressed with EGCG groups. EGCG treatment attenuated the pancreatic stress-induced cellular degeneration, leucocytic infiltration, and cytoplasmic vacuolations; significantly decreased area percentage of collagen fibers; and significantly increased mean area percentage of insulin immunopositive cell as compared with stressed group. EGCG is a protective agent against immobilization stress because of its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and and anti-oxidative stress properties, as confirmed by biochemical and histological alterations.     

Early Low Protein Diet Aggravates Unbalance between Antioxidant Enzymes Leading to Islet Dysfunction

Background

Islets from adult rat possess weak antioxidant defense leading to unbalance between superoxide dismutase (SOD) and hydrogen peroxide-inactivating enzymatic activities, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) rending them susceptible to oxidative stress. We have shown that this vulnerability is influenced by maternal diet during gestation and lactation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The present study investigated if low antioxidant activity in islets is already observed at birth and if maternal protein restriction influences the development of islet antioxidant defenses. Rats were fed a control diet (C group) or a low protein diet during gestation (LP) or until weaning (LPT), after which offspring received the control diet. We found that antioxidant enzymatic activities varied with age. At birth and after weaning, normal islets possessed an efficient GPX activity. However, the antioxidant capacity decreased thereafter increasing the potential vulnerability to oxidative stress. Maternal protein malnutrition changed the antioxidant enzymatic activities in islets of the progeny. At 3 months, SOD activity was increased in LP and LPT islets with no concomitant activation of CAT and GPX. This unbalance could lead to higher hydrogen peroxide production, which may concur to oxidative stress causing defective insulin gene expression due to modification of critical factors that modulate the insulin promoter. We found indeed that insulin mRNA level was reduced in both groups of malnourished offspring compared to controls. Analyzing the expression of such critical factors, we found that c-Myc expression was strongly increased in islets from both protein-restricted groups compared to controls.

Conclusion and Significance

Modification in antioxidant activity by maternal low protein diet could predispose to pancreatic islet dysfunction later in life and provide new insights to define a molecular mechanism responsible for intrauterine programming of endocrine pancreas.