肌萎缩侧索硬化脊髓器官型培养模型的建立

利用谷氨酸转运体抑制剂苏—羟天冬氨酸(THA)制备选择性运动神经元凋亡的肌萎缩侧索硬化(ALs)脊髓器官型培养模型。取出生后8天乳鼠腰段脊髓组织切成脊髓薄片,在培养液中分别加入不同浓度THA,用SMI—32免疫组化染色对脊髓腹角α运动神经元进行鉴定,calretinin免疫组化染色对背角中间神经元进行鉴定,测定培养液中谷氨酸(Glu)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的含量,并与对照组比较。结果显示对照组α运动神经元数目恒定;THA引起培养液中剂量依赖性Glu、LDH含量增高和SMI—32阳性的α运动神经元数目减少,脊髓背角的中间神经元损伤相对较轻;100μmol／L THA组在体外培养4周后,细胞外Glu含量增高,SMI—32阳性的α运动神经元数目较对照组明显减少,背角的中间神经元数目无显著变化,可以制成ALS脊髓器官型培养模型。     

谷氨酸转运抑制剂对器官型培养脊髓片的影响

观察谷氨酸转运体抑制剂苏-羟天冬氨酸(Threo-hydroxyaspartate,THA)对器官型培养的脊髓片的影响,探讨谷氨酸在运动神经元损伤中的作用。取出生后8天乳鼠的腰段脊髓组织切片做脊髓器官型培养,在培养液中加入不同浓度THA(50μmol/L、100μmol/L、500μmol/L),用神经元的特异性免疫组化染色剂SMI-32,非磷酸化神经丝标记物,对脊髓腹角α运动神经元进行鉴定,用单克隆抗钙网膜蛋白(calretinin)抗体对背角中间神经元进行记数,测定培养液中乳酸脱氨酶(LDH)的含量,并与对照组比较。结果显示对照组α运动神经元数目恒定,THA可以引起剂量依赖性的培养液中LDH含量增高和α运动神经元数目减少,而脊髓背角的中间神经元损伤相对较轻,其中THA100μmol/L组在体外培养4周后出现类似于肌萎缩侧索硬化(ALS)的病理改变:α运动神经元数目较对照组明显减少,而脊髓背角的中间神经元数目无显著变化。细胞外谷氨酸增高主要对运动神经元造成损伤,脊髓运动神经元较感觉神经元对谷氨酸的兴奋毒作用更加敏感。     

二相酶诱导剂D3T对运动神经元的保护作用

研究二相酶诱导剂3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione(D3T)对体外培养的运动神经元的保护作用。选用生后7天的SD乳鼠脊髓腰段切成薄片进行体外培养,正常培养1周后分组干预,对照组只加入正常培养液,THA组于培养液中加入谷氨酸转运体抑制剂threo-hydroxyaspartate(THA),D3T48h THA组于培养液中加入不同浓度的D3T,48h后同时给予THA和相应浓度的D3T。D3T THA组于培养液中同时给予THA和不同浓度的D3T。培养4周后观察运动神经元数量和超微结构变化。另外对培养1周后的脊髓薄片给予不同浓度的D3T,观察D3T干预48h后运动神经元数量与相应对照组之间的差异。结果显示D3T对THA引起的运动神经元的丢失有保护作用,且能够减轻THA引起运动神经元超微结构损害。由此认为,二相酶诱导剂D3T有望成为肌萎缩侧索硬化治疗的新切入点。     

I组mGluRs反义寡核苷酸抗谷氨酸对小鼠大脑皮层神经元的兴奋毒作用

目的:研究I组代谢型谷氨酸受体(mGluRs)反义寡核苷酸对谷氨酸钠(Glu)引起的小鼠大脑皮层神经元损伤的保护作用。方法:以细胞乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)漏出、光镜下细胞形态变化为指标,观察培养液中加入Glu引起的神经元损伤及mGluRl反义寡核苷酸或mGluR5反义寡核苷酸的保护作用;用免疫细胞化学检测神经元mGlulα仪和mGluR5表达。结果:实验显示0.1mmol.L-1的谷氨酸钠可明显造成神经元损伤,使LDH漏出增加(P<0.01),mGluRl反义寡核苷酸或mGluR5反义寡核苷酸6μmol.L-1和8μmol.L-1可明显拮抗Glu引起的神经元损伤,使LDH漏出显著减少(P<0.01);免疫组化实验证实体外培养神经元mGluRlα和mGluR5阳性表达。结论:mGluRl反义寡核苷酸和mGluR5反义寡核苷酸可对抗Glu引起的皮层神经元损伤。     

Ⅰ组mGluRs反义寡核苷酸抗谷氨酸对小鼠大脑皮层神经元的兴奋毒作用

目的研究Ⅰ组代谢型谷氨酸受体(mGluRs)反义寡核苷酸对谷氨酸钠(Glu)引起的小鼠大脑皮层神经元损伤的保护作用.方法以细胞乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)漏出、光镜下细胞形态变化为指标,观察培养液中加入Glu引起的神经元损伤及mGluRl反义寡核苷酸或mGluR5反义寡核苷酸的保护作用;用免疫细胞化学检测神经元mGlulα仪和mGluR5表达.结果实验显示0.1 mmol·L-1的谷氨酸钠可明显造成神经元损伤,使LDH漏出增加(P＜0.01),mGluRl反义寡核苷酸或mGluR5反义寡核苷酸6 μmol·L-1和8μmol·L-1可明显拮抗Glu引起的神经元损伤,使LDH漏出显著减少(P＜0.01);免疫组化实验证实体外培养神经元mGluRlα和mGluR5阳性表达.结论mGluRl反义寡核苷酸和mGluR5反义寡核苷酸可对抗Glu引起的皮层神经元损伤.     

脂多糖对脊髓前角运动神经元的损伤作用

研究脂多糖(LPS)诱导的炎症反应对运动神经元的损伤作用及其机制.采用SD乳鼠脊髓器官型培养,分为单纯培养液组和不同浓度LPS组,应用免疫组化、酶活性测定、电镜等技术衡量神经元损伤程度.对LPS组分别给予细胞内钙离子螯合剂BAPTA-AM和NADPH氧化酶抑制剂apocynin,观察运动神经元数量和形态变化.结果显示LPS可以引起剂量和时间依赖性的运动神经元数量减少和培养液中乳酸脱氢酶含量增高,运动神经元超微结构改变明显,中间神经元损伤相对较轻.运动神经元缺乏钙网膜蛋白表达,而BAPTA-AM减轻运动神经元损伤,提示钙离子缓冲能力较低是其较易受损的原因之一.LPS可以引起NADPH氧化酶活性增高,而apocynin对LPS引起的运动神经元丢失有保护作用,说明NADPH氧化酶在炎症介导的运动神经元损伤中发挥着关键作用.     

Ⅱ相酶诱导剂CPDT对运动神经元损伤保护作用的机制初探

利用谷氨酸转运体抑制剂制备选择性运动神经元损伤的脊髓片培养模型,在此基础上探讨Ⅱ相酶诱导剂5,6-二氢环戊烯并1,2-二硫杂环戊烯-3-硫酮(CPDT)对运动神经元的保护作用及机制.乳大鼠脊髓片分为正常对照组、THA模型组(100 μmol/L苏-羟天冬氨酸;THA)和Ⅱ相酶诱导剂CPDT干预组(15和30 μmol/L).通过免疫组化方法对脊髓腹角α运动神经元进行计数,并利用RT-PCR半定量方法,免疫印迹及酶活性检测等方法,分析各组间醌氧化还原酶1(NQO1)和铁蛋白重链的表达.结果表明CPDT(15或30 μmol/L)干预组脊髓腹角的运动神经元数明显增多,与THA模型组相比差异显著(P<0.05,P<0.01),并且经CPDT干预可以有效的诱导NQO1以及铁蛋白重链的表达增加,为下一步在肌萎缩侧索硬化(ALS))动物模型或ALS病人中进行临床干预打下了前期基础.     

器官型培养的脊髓与体内脊髓的对比

旨在观察体外器官型培养的脊髓薄片是否与同龄大鼠体内生长的脊髓具有相似的形态和恒定的前角a运动神经元数目,建立能模拟体内生长环境的稳定的脊髓器官培养模型。利用出生后8天乳鼠的腰段脊髓组织切片建立脊髓器官型培养模型,用神经元的特异性免疫组化染色SMI-32对脊髓前角a运动神经元加以鉴定并与同龄大鼠体内生长的脊髓做比较。结果发现脊髓体外生长良好,形态完整,a运动神经元数目恒定,与同龄大鼠比较无显著差异,并可长期存活达2个月。脊髓的器官培养技术为研究脊髓生理、病理改变及神经保护提供了有效的方法。     

锌离子调节皮质酮对原代培养大鼠海马神经元的损伤

探讨皮质酮对原代培养大鼠海马神经元的损伤效应及锌的调节作用。用原位染色和RT-PCR方法,分别检测神经元的损伤情况及NMDA受体三种亚基(NRl、NR2A、NR2B)mRNA的表达。皮质酮(5μmol／L)作用2,4h可明显降低海马神经元的存活率,导致神经元凋亡,并随着作用时间的延长而加重;锌离子明显影响皮质酮对海马神经元的损伤效应：同时加入皮质酮和低、中浓度Zn^2 (10、100μmol／L),可明显降低神经元凋亡率,而加入高浓度Zn^2 (250μmol／L)则加重神经元损伤。皮质酮作用24h后,海马神经元NRl、NR2BmRNA的表达水平增高,而同时加入低、中浓度Zn^2 (10、100μmol／L)的海马神经元NRl、NR2BmRNA表达水平与对照组接近;NR2AmRNA表达无明显变化。这些结果表明,锌对皮质酮所致应激损伤的调节具有双向性;NMDA受体亚基水平的变化可能是其中重要环节之一。     

GDNF对体外运动神经元和感觉神经元的影响

目的:探讨胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)对正常胎鼠脊髓运动神经元(SMN)和背根神经节神经元(DRG)生长活性的作用.方法:建立大鼠胚胎SMN和DRG单细胞培养体系,观察1 μg/L、10 μg/L、50 μg/L和100 μg/L GDNF对SMN和DRG存活及突起生长的影响.结果: GDNF组培养的SMN和DRG存活数目明显增加,神经元突起长度比对照组明显增长,且具有剂量依赖趋势.结论: GDNF对正常大鼠胚胎发育期运动神经元和感觉神经元具有神经营养作用.     

脊髓薄片器官型培养的方法研究（简报）

脊髓的器官培养技术是借助体外培养技术,将脊髓或其一部分分离出来进行培养、研究的技术。因其保留有脊髓神经元及其周围的组织结构,与体内的生理环境相似,是探讨脊髓形态发生、构筑特点、生理功能及病理改变等问题的一条重要途径,在近年来得到飞速发展,成为国际神经科领域的一大研究热点。本文旨在利用脊髓薄片器官型培养技     

可视膜片钳法记录初级传入纤维介导的脊髓背角神经元突触后电流

本文描述了用明胶半包埋法制备带背根脊髓薄片的实验步骤,和在脊髓背角记录由初级传入纤维介导的突触后电流的可视膜片钳法。手术制备一段带背根的脊髓标本,并用20％的明胶包埋在琼脂块上,再用振动切片机切片获得带背根的脊髓薄片。通过红外线可视的引导,在脊髓背角神经元上建立全细胞封接模式。在钳制电压为-70mV条件下,记录自发的和背根刺激引起的兴奋性突触后电流。以传入纤维的传导速度与刺激阈值为指标,可以区分A样纤维与C样纤维兴奋性突触后电流。在钳制电压为0mV条件下,记录自发的和背根刺激引起的抑制性突触后电流。用5μmol／L的士宁或20μmol／L的荷包牡丹碱分离出γ-氨基丁酸能或甘氨酸能的抑制性突触后电流。用可视膜片钳方法可以准确测量脊髓背角神经元的突触后电流,从而研究初级传入突触的传递过程。更重要的是,在红外线可视观察的帮助下,建立膜片钳封接的成功率显著提高,同时也使记录研究脊髓背角深层神经元变得更加容易。本研究为探索初级传入突触传递过程提供了一个有效的方法。     

Activation of the neurokinin-1 receptor by substance P triggers the release of substance P from cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Hypoxia and ischemia occur in the spinal cord when blood vessels of the spinal cord are compressed under pathological conditions such as spinal stenosis, tumors, and traumatic spinal injury. Here by using spinal cord slice preparations and patch-clamp recordings we investigated the influence of an ischemia-simulating medium on dorsal horn neurons in deep lamina, a region that plays a significant role in sensory hypersensitivity and pathological pain. We found that the ischemia-simulating medium induced large inward currents in dorsal horn neurons recorded. The onset of the ischemia-induced inward currents was age-dependent, being onset earlier in older animals. Increases of sensory input by the stimulation of afferent fibers with electrical impulses or by capsaicin significantly speeded up the onset of the ischemia-induced inward currents. The ischemia-induced inward currents were abolished by the glutamate receptor antagonists CNQX (20 μM) and APV (50 μM). The ischemia-induced inward currents were also substantially inhibited by the glutamate transporter inhibitor TBOA (100 μM). Our results suggest that ischemia caused reversal operation of glutamate transporters, leading to the release of glutamate via glutamate transporters and the subsequent activation of glutamate receptors in the spinal dorsal horn neurons.     

脊髓背角痛觉传递和调制的一些化学解剖学观察

本实验研究了脊髓背角内Ｃ纤维末梢的分布和突触学特征及其一些神经递质化学构筑;定量观察了急性痛引起背角的递质变化;显示了初级传入Ｃ纤维,抑制性中间神经元和背角伤害性感受神经元三者之间的突触关系,并探讨它们在痛觉信息传递和调制中的作用。     

AMINO ACID AND SUBSTANCE P CONTENTS IN SPINAL CORD OF CATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL HIND-LIMB RIGIDITY PRODUCED BY OCCLUSION OF SPINAL CORD BLOOD SUPPLY

Abstract— Experimental hind-limb rigidity of spinal origin was produced in cats by temporary occlusion of thoracic aorta and internal mammary arteries. In the lumbar segments (L6- S1) of these rigid cats, the monosynaptic reflex recorded from ventral roots was enhanced whereas the polysynaptic reflexes as well as the dorsal root reflexes were almost abolished. On morphological examination of the lumbar spinal cord, the number of interneurons was greatly reduced, whereas the small sized cells, presumably glial cells, were increased by about two times. Ventral horn motoneurons were also reduced. The lumbar spinal cords of the rigid cats were analysed for amino acid and substance P contents. Four major amino acids, aspartate, glutamate, glycine and GABA, were definitely reduced in both grey and white matter except that the glutamate level in the dorsal white was within the normal range. Content and distribution pattern of substance P were not altered in the lumbar cord of the rigid cats. These results are consistent with the notions that GABA occurs in the dorsal horn interneurons subserving primary afferent depolarisation, and that substance P is concentrated in primary afferent fibre terminals. The implications of the decrease of aspartate, glutamate and glycine in the spinal cord of rigid cats are discussed.     

Peripheral nerve injury increases glutamate-evoked calcium mobilization in adult spinal cord neurons

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Central sensitization in the spinal cord requires glutamate receptor activation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. We used Fura-2AM bulk loading of mouse slices together with wide-field Ca2+ imaging to measure glutamate-evoked increases in extracellular Ca2+ to test the hypotheses that: 1. Exogenous application of glutamate causes Ca2+ mobilization in a preponderance of dorsal horn neurons within spinal cord slices taken from adult mice; 2. Glutamate-evoked Ca2+ mobilization is associated with spontaneous and/or evoked action potentials; 3. Glutamate acts at glutamate receptor subtypes to evoked Ca2+ transients; and 4. The magnitude of glutamate-evoked Ca2+ responses increases in the setting of peripheral neuropathic pain. RESULTS: Glutamate robustly increased [Ca2+]i in 14.4 +/- 2.6 cells per dorsal horn within a 440 x 330 um field-of-view, with an average time-to-peak of 27 s and decay of 112 s. Repeated application produced sequential responses of similar magnitude, indicating the absence of sensitization, desensitization or tachyphylaxis. Ca2+ transients were glutamate concentration-dependent with a Kd = 0.64 mM. Ca2+ responses predominantly occurred on neurons since: 1) Over 95% of glutamate-responsive cells did not label with the astrocyte marker, SR-101; 2) 62% of fura-2 AM loaded cells exhibited spontaneous action potentials; 3). 75% of cells that responded to glutamate with a rise in [Ca2+]i also showed a significant increase in AP frequency upon a subsequent glutamate exposure; 4) In experiments using simultaneous on-cell recordings and Ca2+ imaging, glutamate elicited a Ca2+ response and an increase in AP frequency. AMPA/kainate (CNQX)- and AMPA (GYKI 52466)-selective receptor antagonists significantly attenuated glutamate-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i, while NMDA (AP-5), kainate (UBP-301) and class I mGluRs (AIDA) did not. Compared to sham controls, peripheral nerve injury significantly decreased mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and increased glutamate-evoked Ca2+ signals. CONCLUSIONS: Bulk-loading fura-2AM into spinal cord slices is a successful means for determining Ca2+ responses in adult dorsal horn neurons. Glutamate-evoked Ca2+ signals in adult dorsal horn neurons are mediated predominantly by AMPA channels and are potentiated by peripheral neuropathic injury.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor protects spinal cord motoneurons against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of motoneurons. Recently, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been identified as a neurotrophic factor and has been implicated in the mechanisms of pathogenesis of ALS and other neurological diseases. The potential neuroprotective effects of VEGF in a rat spinal cord organotypic culture were studied in a model of chronic glutamate excitotoxicity in which glutamate transporters are inhibited by threohydroxyaspartate (THA). Particularly, we focused on the effects of VEGF in the survival and vulnerability to excitotoxicity of spinal cord motoneurons. VEGF receptor-2 was present on spinal cord neurons, including motoneurons. Chronic (3 weeks) treatment with THA induced a significant loss of motoneurons that was inhibited by co-exposure to VEGF (50 ng/mL). VEGF activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3-K/Akt) signal transduction pathway in the spinal cord cultures, and the effect on motoneuron survival was fully reversed by the specific PI3-K inhibitor, LY294002. VEGF also prevented the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and survivin, two proteins implicated in anti-apoptotic and/or anti-excitotoxic effects, after THA exposure. Together, these findings indicate that VEGF has neuroprotective effects in rat spinal cord against chronic glutamate excitotoxicity by activating the PI3-K/Akt signal transduction pathway and also reinforce the hypothesis of the potential therapeutic effects of VEGF in the prevention of motoneuron degeneration in human ALS.     

ErbB transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors are expressed by sensory and motor neurons projecting into sciatic nerve.

Adult spinal cord motor and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons express multiple neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) isoforms that act as axon-associated factors promoting neuromuscular junction formation and Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation. NRG-1 isoforms are also expressed by muscle and Schwann cells, suggesting that motor and sensory neurons are themselves acted on by NRG-1 isoforms produced by their peripheral targets. To test this hypothesis, we examined the expression of the NRG-1 receptor subunits erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 in rat lumbar DRG and spinal cord. All three erbB receptors are expressed in these tissues. Sciatic nerve transection, an injury that induces Schwann cell expression of NRG-1, alters erbB expression in DRG and cord. Virtually all DRG neurons are erbB2- and erbB3-immunoreactive, with erbB4 also detectable in many neurons. In spinal cord white matter, erbB2 and erbB4 antibodies produce dense punctate staining, whereas the erbB3 antibody primarily labels glial cell bodies. Spinal cord dorsal and ventral horn neurons, including alpha-motor neurons, exhibit erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 immunoreactivity. Spinal cord ventral horn also contains a population of small erbB3+/S100beta+/GFAP- cells (GFAP-negative astrocytes or oligodendrocytes). We conclude that sensory and motor neurons projecting into sciatic nerve express multiple erbB receptors and are potentially NRG-1 responsive.     

The glutamatergic nature of TRPV1-expressing neurons in the spinal dorsal horn

The transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) is expressed on primary afferent terminals and spinal dorsal horn neurons. However, the neurochemical phenotypes and functions of TRPV1-expressing post-synaptic neurons in the spinal cord are not clear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TRPV1-expressing dorsal horn neurons are glutamatergic. Immunocytochemical labeling revealed that TRPV1 and vesicular glutamate transporter-2 were colocalized in dorsal horn neurons and their terminals in the rat spinal cord. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) treatment or dorsal rhizotomy ablated TRPV1-expressing primary afferents but did not affect TRPV1- and vesicular glutamate transporter-2-expressing dorsal horn neurons. Capsaicin significantly increased the frequency of glutamatergic spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents and miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents in almost all the lamina II neurons tested in control rats. In RTX-treated or dorsal rhizotomized rats, capsaicin still increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents and miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents in the majority of neurons examined, and this effect was abolished by a TRPV1 blocker or by non-NMDA receptor antagonist. In RTX-treated or in dorsal rhizotomized rats, capsaicin also produced an inward current in a subpopulation of lamina II neurons. However, capsaicin had no effect on GABAergic and glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents of lamina II neurons in RTX-treated or dorsal rhizotomized rats. Collectively, our study provides new histological and functional evidence that TRPV1-expressing dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord are glutamatergic and that they mediate excitatory synaptic transmission. This finding is important to our understanding of the circuitry and phenotypes of intrinsic dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord.