海马区锥体神经元轴突高频电刺激对胞体的影响

目的 深部脑刺激（deep brain stimulation,DBS）利用持续的电脉冲高频刺激（high-frequency stimulation,HFS）调控神经元的活动，可望用于治疗更多脑疾病。为了深入了解HFS的作用机制，促进DBS的发展，本文研究轴突HFS在引起轴突阻滞期间神经元胞体的改变。方法 在麻醉大鼠海马CA1区的锥体神经元轴突上施加脉冲频率为100 Hz的1 min逆向高频刺激（antidromic high-frequency stimulation,A-HFS）。为了研究胞体的响应，利用线性垂直排列的多通道微电极阵列，记录刺激位点上游CA1区锥体神经元胞体附近各结构分层上的诱发电位，包括A-HFS脉冲诱发的逆向群峰电位（antidromic population spike,APS）以及A-HFS期间施加的顺向测试脉冲诱发的顺向群峰电位（orthodromic population spike,OPS），并计算诱发电位的电流源密度（current-source density,CSD），用于分析A-HFS期间锥体神经元胞体附近动作电位的生成和传导。结果 锥体神经...     

神经元对于高频电刺激的动态响应

深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)在许多神经系统疾病的临床治疗上都展现出良好的应用前景,然而,其作用机制尚不明确.常规DBS采用高频刺激(high frequency stimulation,HFS)的脉冲序列,这种窄脉冲最容易激活神经元结构中的轴突部分,通过轴突的投射,将HFS的作用传播至下游神经元.因此,为了探讨DBS的作用机制,并鉴于海马脑区是治疗癫痫和痴呆症等疾病的重要靶点,我们研究了海马区轴突HFS对于下游神经元的作用.对麻醉大鼠的海马CA1区传入神经通路Schaffer侧支施加1 min的100 Hz高频刺激,记录并提取下游CA1区锥体神经元和中间神经元的单元锋电位.计算锋电位的发放率,以及它们与刺激脉冲之间的锁相值(phase-locking value,PLV)和潜伏期,以定量分析HFS期间神经元动作电位发放的变化趋势.结果显示,在传入轴突上施加HFS时,初期会诱发下游神经元群体同步产生动作电位(即群峰电位).在HFS后期(群峰电位消失之后),两类神经元的单元锋电位发放仍然持续,并且发放率较稳定.但是,锋电位与刺激脉冲之间的锁相性逐渐减弱、潜伏期逐渐延长.而且,与中间神经元相比较,锥体神经元锋电位的锁相性更弱、潜伏期更长.这些结果表明,持续的轴突HFS可以诱导下游神经元产生非同步的活动,高频脉冲刺激引起的不完全轴突传导阻滞可能是导致该现象产生的主要原因.本文的研究为揭示脑刺激的作用机制提供了重要信息.     

大鼠海马神经元对于高频脉冲刺激的暂态响应

闭环刺激是深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)的重要发展方向之一,有望用于治疗多种脑神经系统疾病.与常规开环的长时间持续刺激不同,闭环刺激通常采用短促的高频脉冲序列.而神经元对于高频刺激的响应存在暂态过程,在初期的短时间内会发生很大变化,从而影响闭环刺激的作用.为了研究这种暂态过程,在大鼠海马CA1区传出轴突纤维(alveus)上施加不同频率的恒频以及随机变频的逆向高频刺激(antidromic high-frequency stimulation,A-HFS),并以逆向诱发的群峰电位(antidromically-evoked population spike,APS)的幅值作为指标来考察神经元群体的响应.研究结果表明,100、133和200 Hz的恒频A-HFS初期,APS迅速衰减,脉冲频率越高,APS衰减越快.平均不到1 s时间内APS的幅值就会下降一半以上,100 Hz时的平均半衰期为～0.96 s,频率增加1倍至200 Hz时,平均半衰期缩短至～0.21 s.使用100～200 Hz范围内实时微调脉冲间隔的随机变频刺激,则可以显著延缓神经元响应的衰减速度,延长刺激作用的维持时间.这些结果可以为短促闭环刺激等DBS新模式的开发提供依据.     

持续高频刺激改变短刺激产生的神经网络效应

不同时长的电脉冲高频刺激(high frequency stimulation,HFS)对于脑神经系统具有不同的作用.其中,数秒时长的短促HFS可通过"点燃"效应制作动物癫痫模型,也可以产生长时间保持的突触可塑性变化,而数分钟以上的长时HFS却可以安全地用于临床的深部脑刺激,治疗多种脑疾病.因此推测,持续的HFS可以改变短促刺激产生的效应.为了验证此推测,在大鼠海马CA1区的输入轴突纤维Schaffer侧支上,分别施加5 s和2 min两种时长的100 Hz HFS,并监测刺激结束后下游神经元群体对于单脉冲测试的响应电位,即群峰电位(population spike,PS).结果显示,5 s短HFS结束时会紧跟后放电痫样活动,并且,从测试脉冲诱发的PS幅值和潜伏期可见,短HFS诱导的兴奋性增强可以维持数十分钟.反之,2 min的长HFS结束时紧随之后的是数十秒无发放活动的静息期,而且,PS在数分钟内即恢复到HFS前的基线水平.这些结果表明,长时HFS的后期刺激可以改变前期短促刺激对于下游神经网络的作用,即消除短刺激可能产生的长时程兴奋效应.此发现对于深入了解高频刺激的作用机制、促进深部脑刺激的临床应用具有重要意义.     

电刺激诱导大鼠海马癫痫电网络神经信息分析

探讨电刺激致海马(hippocampus,HPC)癫痫网络的神经信息特征和M型胆碱能受体阻断剂东莨菪碱(scopolamine)对该信息特征的调制作用。实验用雄性SD大鼠45只,体重150￣250g。急性强直电(60Hz,2s,0.4￣0.6mA)刺激右侧后背HPC(acutetetanizationoftherightposteriordorsalhippocampus,ATPDH),双电极同步记录同侧HPC网络和单个神经元电活动。分析癫痫发作样高频电振荡(ripple)功率谱(powerspec-trum)、尖波连续发放峰间间隔(interpeakinterval,IPI)和单位时间内平均频率(Hz),并同步分析单个神经元放电脉冲间隔(interspikeinterval,ISI)的变化特征。发现:(1)ATPDH诱导的HPC癫痫放电模式主要包括rip-ple和具有稳定频率特征的尖波样连续发放;(2)东莨菪碱(i.p.)可以提前ripple第1组分最大功率(μV2)与单个神经元原发性单位后放电最大ISI出现的时间,对最大ISI的作用更明显;(3)东莨菪碱可以部分再现重复施加ATPDH诱导出现巨大尖波连续发放IPI和神经元放电ISI平行发展特征。结果提示:M胆碱能受体阻断剂东莨菪碱可以同时调制HPC癫痫网络成员电场和细胞的瞬时编码信息;而成员电场ripple功率谱/连续尖波IPI和神经元放电ISI点分布的对比研究,可以用于分析癫痫网络瞬时编码信息和药物生物学效应。     

高频电刺激改变神经元锋电位的波形

为了正确检测和研究高频电刺激(high frequencystimulation,HFS)期间神经元的动作电位发放活动,进而深入揭示深部脑刺激治疗神经系统疾病的机制,本课题研究HFS期间锋电位波形的变化.在麻醉大鼠海马CA1区的输入神经通路Schaffer侧支上,施加1~2 min时长的100或者200 Hz顺向高频刺激(orthodromic-HFS,O-HFS),利用微电极阵列采集刺激下游神经元的多通道锋电位信号,并获得由O-HFS经过单突触传导激活的中间神经元的单元锋电位波形及其特征参数.结果表明,O-HFS使得锋电位的幅值明显减小而半高宽明显增加,以基线记录为基准计算百分比值,O-HFS期间锋电位的降支幅值和升支幅值分别可减小20%和40%左右,半高宽则增加10%以上.并且,在大量神经元同时产生动作电位期间,或者在比200 Hz具有更大兴奋作用的100 Hz刺激期间,锋电位波形的改变更多,幅值的减小可达50%,宽度的增加可达20%.可以推测,高频电刺激对于神经元的兴奋作用可能升高细胞膜电位,从而改变细胞膜离子通道的活动特性,导致动作电位波形的改变.这些结果支持深部脑刺激具有兴奋性调节作用的假说,对于正确分析高频电刺激期间神经元锋电位活动具有指导意义,也为进一步研究深部脑刺激(DBS)治疗脑神经系统疾病的机制提供了重要线索.     

低频刺激诱发海马突触传递去长时程增强的特性研究

目的和方法：以频率为1、3或5Hz,脉冲数为300或900,与高频刺激（HFS）时间间隔是20min或100min的低频刺激（LFS）作用于大鼠海马脑片,分别观察其对CA1区突触传递去长时程增强（DP）形成的影响。结果：HFS（100Hz,100脉冲的串刺激两串,串间隔30s)可诱发突触传递效率的长时程增强（LTP）。HFS经20min给予3Hz900脉冲的LFS可翻转LTP,产生DP,该作用可为NMDA受体阻断剂AP5（50μmol/L)所阻断,1Hz、5Hz、低脉冲数或与HFS时间间隔长的LFS,其诱发DP的效率减弱。结论：诱发海马CA1区DP的产生,对LFS的参数有较强的依从性。该作用可能是通过激活NMDA受体而实现的。     

脉冲磁场对神经元动作电位发放的影响

磁场作用于生物体产生的生物效应被广泛研究。本文将脉冲磁场作用于神经元细胞,试图观察Na+通道的变化及其引起的动作电位的变化。选择频率15 Hz、强度1 mT的脉冲磁场刺激昆明小鼠大脑皮质神经元,随后进行全细胞膜片钳实验。结果显示,脉冲磁场延缓了Na+通道电流的激活,促进Na+通道电流的失活。基于经典的细胞三层介电模型,模拟了在脉冲磁场下细胞膜电位分布的极化图,结果显示诱发的膜电位大小与脉冲磁场的频率和强度有关。基于Hodgkin-Huxley(H-H)模型,仿真了脉冲磁场感应的电流作用于离子通道所产生的动作电位曲线,与不加刺激时候的曲线相比较,当外加电流在-1.32~0μA时,动作电位的产生频率减小,幅值降低;当外加电流大于0μA时,动作电位的产生频率增大,幅值变化不明显;当外加电流小于-1.32μA时,动作电位的上升时间快速变短,峰值剧烈降低,无法形成完整的动作电位,即无动作电位。以上结果提示,磁场刺激可通过调节Na+通道影响神经元动作电位的发放频率和幅值。     

恒频-调频蝙蝠下丘神经元的恢复周期决定声脉冲跟随率

为探究恒频-调频蝙蝠下丘神经元恢复周期特点及其对声脉冲跟随率的影响,实验采用模拟的大蹄蝠(Hipposideros armiger)自然状态下的恒频-调频发声信号为声刺激,在5只听力正常的大蹄蝠上记录了下丘神经元的声反应和恢复周期(n = 93)．结果发现,根据神经元恢复率达50%时的双声刺激间隔(inter pulse interval,IPI),可将其分为长时恢复型(long recovery,LR;47.4%)、中等时间恢复型(moderate recovery,MR;35.1%)和短时恢复型(short recovery,SR;17.5%)．每种类型依据其恢复率随IPI增加而呈现的不同变化又可进一步分为单IPI反应区神经元,多IPI反应区神经元,以及单调IPI反应神经元．LR,MR和SR型神经元恢复率达50%时的平均IPI分别为(64.0 ± 24.8),(19.6 ± 5.8)和(7.1 ± 2.4) ms (P < 0.001),相对应的平均理论每秒声脉冲数分别为(18.2 ± 7.0),(55.4 ± 15.7)和(171.3 ± 102.9) Hz (P < 0.001)．结果提示,单IPI和多IPI反应区神经元具有特殊IPI反应特性,能对蝙蝠捕食和巡航期间所处的时相做出准确判断,而单调IPI反应神经元对IPI变化的敏感性较强,但时相判断性较差．另外LR,MR和SR型神经元恢复周期和理论脉冲跟随率的平均结果均能与这种蝙蝠回声定位期间3个时相的发声行为相匹配,且神经元恢复周期参与决定声脉冲跟随率,满足了蝙蝠巡航、捕食的行为学需要．     

新型深部脑刺激模式的开发及研究进展

深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)已成为治疗帕金森病等运动障碍疾病的常规方法之一,并且在许多其他神经和精神疾病的治疗中也具有良好的应用前景.但是,目前常规DBS采用单通道恒定脉冲间隔的高频刺激(high frequency stimulation,HFS),刺激模式缺少多样化,限制了DBS在临床上的推广应用.为了开发更多DBS刺激模式,用于改善疗效、拓展应用范围、并节省刺激器的电能,近年来研究人员基于去同步调控机制,在脉冲序列的时间模式和空间排布两方面开发了DBS新模式.主要包括:变频序列(包括规则变频和随机变频)、不同空间位点上的多通道异步刺激以及变频和多通道两者的结合.这些新刺激模式能够提高DBS的临床疗效、降低刺激能耗,在帕金森病以及癫痫、强迫症和微意识障碍等其他脑疾病的治疗中都展现了良好的应用前景.更值得关注的是,多通道异步刺激不仅在刺激期间具有更好的即时疗效,而且刺激结束后还能长时间保持疗效,具有刺激后效应.这个特性突破了常规DBS主要为即时效应的局限性,展现了DBS新前景.本文在概述常规DBS模式及其去同步调控机制的基础上,综述变频脉冲刺激和多通道刺激等新型DBS模式,可以为促进DBS的发展提供有价值的信息.     

Distinct temporal patterns of electrical stimulation influence neural recruitment during PTZ infusion: an fMRI study

Our working hypothesis is that constant inter-pulse interval (IPI) electrical stimulation (ES) would resonate with endogenous epileptogenic reverberating circuits, favoring seizure, while random inter-interval ES protocol would promote desynchronization of such neural networks, interfering with the abnormal recruitment of neural structures. Male Wistar rats were stereotaxically implanted with a monopolar ES carbon-fiber electrode (minimizing fMRI artifact) in the amygdala. A 7T fMRI scanner was used to evaluate brain activity during ES, fixed four pulses per second ratio, using either a periodic IPI (ES-P) or random IPI (non-periodic ES-NP) stimulation paradigm. Appropriate imaging protocols were used to compare baseline BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) MRI with scans during ES. A second series of experiments, both without stimuli and under the same ES paradigms, were evaluated during continuous infusion of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 4 mg/ml/min) through an i.v. catheter. Our results show that temporal lobe activation during ES-P or ES-NP did not present any statistical differences during ES. However, during PTZ infusion, PTZ-P facilitated recruitment of the temporal lobe ipsilateral to ES while PTZ-NP showed significantly less activation ipsilateral to ES and, in turn, less inter-hemispheric differences. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis of reverberating circuits being synchronized by ES-P and desynchronized by ES-NP. Time-coded low frequency stimulation may be an interesting alternative treatment for patients with refractory epilepsy.     

脑发育不同阶段慢性铅暴露对大鼠在体海马齿状回LTP的影响

目的和方法：探讨脑发育不同阶段慢性铅暴露对在体海马ＬＴＰ的影响。应用细胞外微电极记录单脉冲刺激穿通路纤维在海马齿状回诱发的群体锋电位（ＰＳ）,观察母体期、断乳后及出生前后持续性慢性铅暴露大鼠于高频刺激（ＨＦＳ）前后的ＰＳ幅值变化,并与对照组相比较。结果：ＨＦＳ前,基线记录的各铅暴露组ＰＳ平均幅值及峰潜伏期与对照组无显著差异;ＨＦＳ后,各铅暴露组ＬＴＰ发生率虽与对照组无显著差异,但铅暴露组的ＬＴＰ增幅减小,并出现了短时增强转为抑制及ＬＴＤ型反应。统计显示各铅暴露组ＨＦＳ后ＰＳ振幅的平均增强率显著低于对照组：对照组平均增强至基线值的１３８．２％,母体期铅暴露组为基线值的１０８．８％,断乳后铅暴露组为基线值的１０７．８％,持续铅暴露组为基线值的１０４．４％。结论：脑发育任一阶段的慢性铅暴露均可损害海马ＬＴＰ的在体诱导和维持,且以维持过程受损为主;与发育成熟海马相比,未成熟期海马对铅的神经毒性更为敏感,突触可塑性更易受损。     

Effects of activation pattern on nonisometric human skeletal muscle performance.

During volitional muscle activation, motor units often fire with varying discharge patterns that include brief, high-frequency bursts of activity. These variations in the activation rate allow the central nervous system to precisely control the forces produced by the muscle. The present study explores how varying the instantaneous frequency of stimulation pulses within a train affects nonisometric muscle performance. The peak excursion produced in response to each stimulation train was considered as the primary measure of muscle performance. The results showed that at each frequency tested between 10 and 50 Hz, variable-frequency trains that took advantage of the catchlike property of skeletal muscle produced greater excursions than constant-frequency trains. In addition, variable-frequency trains that could achieve targeted trajectories with fewer pulses than constant-frequency trains were identified. These findings suggest that similar to voluntary muscle activation patterns, varying the instantaneous frequency within a train of pulses can be used to improve muscle performance during functional electrical stimulation.     

In vitro and in vivo responses of saccular and caudal nucleus neurons in the grassfrog (Rana temporaria).

We present results from in vitro and in vivo studies of response properties of neurons in the saccular and caudal nuclei in the frog. In the in vitro studies the saccular nerve of the isolated brain was stimulated with electrical pulses. In the in vivo experiments, the neurons were stimulated by dorso-ventral vibrations of the intact animal. We identified six response types: (1) primary-like cells with short latencies and follow repetition rates up to 100 Hz; (2) phasic cells responding only to the first pulse in a train; (3) bursting cells firing several spikes in response to any stimulation; (4) late responders with very long latencies; (5) integrator cells showing facilitated responses, and (6) inhibitory cells inhibited by saccular nerve stimulation.The cells have comparable sensitivity and frequency characteristics to the primary fibres (BF 10-80 Hz, thresholds from 0.01 cm/s2) and enable a sophisticated analysis of vibrational stimuli.     

经验改变大鼠听皮层神经元的特征频率

应用常规电生理学技术,以神经元的特征频率和频率调谐曲线为指标,研究大鼠听皮层神经元特征频率的可塑性. 结果表明,在给予的条件刺激频率和神经元特征频率相差1.0 kHz范围内,条件刺激可诱导50%以上神经元特征频率发生完全偏移,并可分为向频率调谐曲线的低频端偏移、高频端偏移,或两侧均可偏移三种类型. 其中,神经元的特征频率高、Q₁₀-dB值大和频率调谐曲线对称指数大于零的神经元,其特征频率偏向频率调谐曲线高频端的概率更高. 结果提示,经验可改变大鼠听皮层神经元的特征频率,为深入研究中枢神经元功能活动可塑性的机制提供了重要实验资料.     

Leptin counteracts the hypoxia-induced inhibition of spontaneously firing hippocampal neurons: a microelectrode array study

Besides regulating energy balance and reducing body-weight, the adipokine leptin has been recently shown to be neuroprotective and antiapoptotic by promoting neuronal survival after excitotoxic and oxidative insults. Here, we investigated the firing properties of mouse hippocampal neurons and the effects of leptin pretreatment on hypoxic damage (2 hours, 3% O(2)). Experiments were carried out by means of the microelectrode array (MEA) technology, monitoring hippocampal neurons activity from 11 to 18 days in vitro (DIV). Under normoxic conditions, hippocampal neurons were spontaneously firing, either with prevailing isolated and randomly distributed spikes (11 DIV), or with patterns characterized by synchronized bursts (18 DIV). Exposure to hypoxia severely impaired the spontaneous activity of hippocampal neurons, reducing their firing frequency by 54% and 69%, at 11 and 18 DIV respectively, and synchronized their firing activity. Pretreatment with 50 nM leptin reduced the firing frequency of normoxic neurons and contrasted the hypoxia-induced depressive action, either by limiting the firing frequency reduction (at both ages) or by increasing it to 126% (in younger neurons). In order to find out whether leptin exerts its effect by activating large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK), as shown on rat hippocampal neurons, we applied the BK channel blocker paxilline (1 μM). Our data show that paxilline reversed the effects of leptin, both on normoxic and hypoxic neurons, suggesting that the adipokine counteracts hypoxia through BK channels activation in mouse hippocampal neurons.