屈光不正对儿童视觉皮层神经元活动影响的功能磁共振研究

目的：利用血氧水平依赖性功能性磁共振成像（BOLD-fMRI）技术及非金属MRI专用眼镜,分析探索屈光不正对儿童大脑皮层视觉功能区神经元活动的影响。方法：以1．5T磁共振成像系统采集8例屈光不正眼儿童屈光矫正前后枕叶视皮层兴趣区BOLD—fMRI数据,及8例正常眼凸透镜离焦前后枕叶视皮层兴趣区BOLD—fMRI数据,进行对比分析,比较屈光不正眼及其矫正后、正常眼及其离焦后皮层视觉功能区神经元活动的不同,分析其改变特点及原因。结果：屈光不正眼儿童矫正屈光后皮层视觉功能区神经元活动范围明显增加（P〈0．05）;正常眼离焦后皮层视觉功能区神经元活动范围明显减小（P〈0．05）。结论：屈光不正会明显降低儿童皮层视觉功能区的神经元活动。屈光不正患儿应尽早配镜矫正,以免影响视觉皮层功能发育。     

利用单感器记录与神经元示踪结合对棉铃虫主要性信息素感器内神经元投射的鉴定

【目的】鉴定雄性棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera成虫触角性信息素感器嗅觉受体神经元的功能、形态及中枢投射路径。【方法】利用单感器记录技术记录棉铃虫嗅觉受体神经元对性信息素的反应,同时采用荧光染料作为示踪剂染色标记嗅觉受体神经元;使用免疫组织化学方法处理相应的脑组织,标记脑内触角叶的神经纤维球结构;用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜获取图像数据,使用图形软件ZEN和Amira 4.1.1进行三维结构重建。【结果】记录到雄性棉铃虫成虫触角上长毛形感器对主要性信息素成分Z11-16∶Ald产生明显的电生理反应,并成功染色标记了该感器内的嗅觉受体神经元。染色标记显示该感器内具有两个嗅觉受体神经元,其轴突通过触角神经分别投射触角叶内的云状体神经纤维球和普通神经纤维球。【结论】单感器记录与神经元示踪两技术结合能够用于鉴定昆虫触角嗅觉受体神经元的功能、形态和投射至神经纤维球的路径。与赖氨酸钴方法比较,使用荧光染料法进行神经元示踪,操作更简便,且易于进行三维空间分析,为调查棉铃虫其他嗅觉神经元的投射路径以明确外周气味受体感受与中枢系统的联系提供了有力技术支持。     

视觉神经元感受野的数学模型及其空间频谱响应特性研究

本文在分析了现有视觉信息处理神经元感受野的数学模型的不足的基础上,提出了视觉通路各向同性和各向异性神经元感受野的数学描述,并考察其在空间频谱域的响应及其与感受野模型空间分布参数的关系.     

金黄地鼠视皮层中乙酰胆碱(Ach)阳性神经元及纤维

本文通过色疫组织化学方法-PAP法,使用乙酰胆碱(Ach)抗体对金黄地鼠视皮层中的Ach进行定位Ach阳性神经元分布于视皮层的第Ⅱ—Ⅵ层,主要集中在Ⅱ、Ⅲ层.其细胞形态除大部分为非锥体神经元外,还发现有极少数锥体型神经元.这些神经元的数量和树突形态在视皮层17区和18区存在某些区域性差异.17区细胞比较密集,18区比较稀疏.17区第IA层细胞排列整齐,顶树突特别粗大,18区这种现象不太明显.皮层白质中也有少量的Ach阳性神经元.视皮层Ach阳性神经元的相对含量约为10%.视皮层中遍布外源性和内源性Ach阳性神经纤维,它们主要分布在第Ⅳ层.在视皮层微血管周围有大量Ach阳性神经元,说明对血管有舒张作用的Ach可能来源于血管内壁.     

猫皮层体感Ⅱ区内脏伤害感受神经元的电生理特性及形态特征

应用胞内记录和标记技术,观察了猫皮质第Ⅱ感觉区内脏大神经代表区的神经元对电刺激内脏大神经反应诱发反应及形态特征。结果表明,在２５１个记录单位中,有１０９个为内脏伤害性感受神经元,其诱发反应分为兴奋性、抑制性及混合性三类。在形式上ＩＳＰＳ及ＥＰＳＰ－ＩＰＳＰ序列反应较多。对其中２１个神经元用神经生物素进行细胞内电泳标记,显示细胞的形态特点是胞体较小,分布于皮质Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ层,其中兴奋性和神经元形态多为     

丙二醛对大鼠海马神经元结构的破坏和钙离子稳态的影响

脂质过氧化中间产物丙二醛(Malondialdehyde,MDA)在生物体内表现了广泛的生物毒性,MDA也是机体过度训练和运动性疲劳的重要生理指标.采用光学显微镜和透射式电子显微镜观察不同浓度MDA作用后海马神经元形态和超微结构的变化,并采用荧光分光光度法测定原代培养的海马神经元中Ca2+-ATPase活性的变化和胞质游离钙离子水平的变化,探讨MDA对海马神经元形态和结构上的破坏及神经元钙离子稳态的影响.在光镜下可观察到MDA作用下神经元突触变短,胞体肿胀,出现细胞死亡或凋亡的形态特征;在电镜下可观察到线粒体结构的明显破坏,内膜上的嵴颗粒减少或消失;同时MDA还通过抑制质膜Ca2+-ATPase的活性和其它的途径,破坏神经元胞质游离Ca2+稳态.结果表明,MDA可通过破坏海马神经元的结构和影响胞质中钙离子稳态,破坏神经元的生理功能,在机体运动性中枢疲劳形成中可能发挥重要作用.     

大鼠运动皮层神经元集群锋电位时空模式解析

在大鼠前肢压杆任务中,同步记录初级运动皮层神经元集群活动信号与压杆的压力信号,分析神经元锋电位发放的时空模式,并用于大鼠前肢运动的解析和预测.数据分析显示在压杆阶段与非压杆阶段大鼠运动皮层神经元锋电位发放模式存在着显著差别,且神经元活动变化先于前肢运动的发生约300~400ms,并可通过与行为的相关性将神经元的发放模式分为4类.研究结果同时显示,两层Elman神经网络可用于神经元集群活动的解码,解码所得到的压力值与系统所采集的压杆压力信号有较好的拟合度,二者间的相关系数可达0.8766.研究表明了运动相关的神经信息处理和表征依赖于初级运动皮层神经元的相互作用和整合,揭示了神经元集群活动在运动信息编码中的重要作用.实验结果也揭示神经元集群活动信号解析后有望用于对外部器械进行直接控制,推动植入式脑-机接口及运动重建等康复技术的发展.     

中国树鼠句伏隔核促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素能神经元免疫组织化学研究

应用免疫组织化学碱性磷酸酶标Ａ蛋白（ＰＡＡＰ）技术在光镜水平研究中国树鼠句伏隔核内促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（ＣＲＦ）能神经元的形态和分布特点。结果显示,该核内ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元胞体多数呈多边形、圆形或卵圆形,梭形极少;直径多数为１３－１９ｕｍ,少数＜１３ｕｍ;胞质免疫反应强度不等。对左右侧伏隔核内ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元数目、胞体大小、形态和免疫反应强度进行分析,除免疫反应强阳性神经元计数项（Ｐ＜００１）外,其他项都无显著意义。ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元在伏隔核内分布不均,主要位于该核的前半段背侧区,核芯区较少     

基于直线电机的大视场快速光声显微成像系统

光声成像技术是近年来发展的一种新型的无损医学成像技术,它是以脉冲激光作为激发源,以检测的声信号为信息载体,通过相应的图像重建算法重建组织内部结构和功能信息的成像方法。该方法结合了光学成像和声学成像的特点,可提供深层组织高分辨率和高对比度的组织层析图像,在生物医学临床诊断以及在体成像领域具有广泛的应用前景。目前光声成像的扫描方式主要有基于步进电机扫描方式和基于振镜的扫描方式,本文针对目前步进电机扫描速度慢(10 mm×10 mm;0.001帧/s),振镜扫描范围小(1 mm2)的不足,发展了基于直线电机扫描的大视场快速光声显微成像系统。同一条扫描线过程中直线电机速度最高可达200 mm/s。该技术采用逐线采集光声信号的方式,比逐点采集光声信号的步进电机快800倍。该系统对10 mm×10 mm全场扫描的扫描速度为0.8帧/s。最大可扫描视场范围可以达到50 mm×50 mm。大视场快速光声显微成像系统的发展将为生物医学提供新的成像工具。     

SKF-96365对SD大鼠急性分离下丘脑神经元温度敏感性的影响

采用电流钳技术观察SD大鼠急性分离下丘脑神经元的自发性放电及其温度敏感特性,显微镜下,急性分离神经元表现为两种形态,一种具有突起,另一种表现为无突起的形态,记录到的有突起的78例神经元中,可以记录到4例热敏神经元（wsn）,但在无突起的61例神经元没有观察到热敏神经元的存在．在浴槽液体中加入SKF96365,这些热敏神经元就会失去温度敏感性．以上结果表明pWSN可能通过突起部位上分布的TRPV4而起到对周围环境温度的感受作用．     

Flavonoids,derived from traditional chinese medicines,show roles in the differentiation of neurons: Possible targets in developing health food products

Flavonoids, a family of phenolic compounds, are distributed in a variety of fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine. More importantly, many flavonoids are served as the active ingredients in traditional Chinese herbal medicines, which in general do not have side effects. Several lines of evidence support that flavonoids have impacts on many aspects of human health, including anti‐tumor, anti‐oxidation, and anti‐inflammation. Recently, there is significant attention focused on the neuronal beneficial effects of flavonoids, including the promotion of nervous system development, neuroprotection against neurotoxin stress, as well as the promotion of memory, learning, and cognitive functions. Here, the activities of flavonoids on the development of nervous system are being summarized and discussed. The flavonoids from diverse herbal medicines have significant effects in different developmental stages of nervous systems, including neuronal stem cell differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal plasticity. These findings imply that flavonoids are potential candidates for the development of health supplements in preventing birth defects and neuronal diseases. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 99:292–299, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A two‐phase growth strategy in cultured neuronal networks as reflected by the distribution of neurite branching angles

Neurite outgrowth and branching patterns are instrumental in dictating the wiring diagram of developing neuronal networks. We study the self‐organization of single cultured neurons into complex networks focusing on factors governing the branching of a neurite into its daughter branches. Neurite branching angles of insect ganglion neurons in vitro were comparatively measured in two neuronal categories: neurons in dense cultures that bifurcated under the presence of extrinsic (cellular environment) cues versus neurons in practical isolation that developed their neurites following predominantly intrinsic cues. Our experimental results were complemented by theoretical modeling and computer simulations. A preferred regime of branching angles was found in isolated neurons. A model based on biophysical constraints predicted a preferred bifurcation angle that was consistent with this range shown by our real neurons. In order to examine the origin of the preferred regime of angles we constructed simulations of neurite outgrowth in a developing network and compared the simulated developing neurons with our experimental results. We tested cost functions for neuronal growth that would be optimized at a specific regime of angles. Our results suggest two phases in the process of neuronal development. In the first, reflected by our isolated neurons, neurons are tuned to make first contact with a target cell as soon as possible, to minimize the time of growth. After contact is made, that is, after neuronal interconnections are formed, a second branching strategy is adopted, favoring higher efficiency in neurite length and volume. The two‐phase development theory is discussed in relation to previous results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2005     

Coordination of proliferation and neuronal differentiation by the retinoblastoma protein family

Once neurons enter the post‐mitotic G0 phase during central nervous system (CNS) development, they lose their proliferative potential. When neurons re‐enter the cell cycle during pathological situations such as neurodegeneration, they undergo cell death after S phase progression. Thus, the regulatory networks that drive cell proliferation and maintain neuronal differentiation are highly coordinated. In this review, the coordination of cell cycle control and neuronal differentiation during development are discussed, focusing on regulation by the Rb family of tumor suppressors (including p107 and p130), and the Cip/Kip family of cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors. Based on recent findings suggesting roles for these families in regulating neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation, I propose that the Rb family is essential for daughter cells of neuronal progenitors to enter the post‐mitotic G0 phase without affecting the initiation of neuronal differentiation in most cases, while the Cip/Kip family regulates the timing of neuronal progenitor cell cycle exit and the initiation of neuronal differentiation at least in the progenitor cells of the cerebral cortex and the retina. Rb's lack of involvement in regulating the initiation of neuronal differentiation may explain why Rb family‐deficient retinoblastomas characteristically exhibit neuronal features.     

Regulation of Signaling by Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatases: Potential Roles in the Nervous System

During neuronal development, cells respond to a variety of environmental cues through cell surface receptors that are coupled to a signaling transduction machinery based on protein tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases have received a great deal of attention; however, in the last few years, receptor (plasma membrane associated) and non-receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) have also been shown to play important roles in development of the nervous system. In many cases PTPs have provocative distribution patterns or have been shown to be associated with specific cell adhesion and growth factor receptors. Additionally, altering PTP expression levels or activity impairs neuronal behavior. In this review we outline what is currently known about the role of PTPs in development, differentiation and neuronal physiology.     

Development of the cerebral cortex in rodents and man

Studies mainly in rodents and man have contributed to new vistas on mammalian cerebral cortex development. Due to the much longer development in man and the larger size of the human brain, particular features (such as the existence of the subplate and tangential migration) were first detected in the human cortex. In addition, experimental techniques that can only be applied in nonhuman mammals revealed the pattern of neuronal generation, and demonstrated the different ways of neuronal migration and the formation of neuronal pathways. In this short review the present vistas on neuronal generation and migration, and the occurrence of transient layers are summarized.     

基因组尺度代谢网络自动重构及分析工具研究进展

高通量数据的产出为基因组尺度代谢网络的构建提供了基础,但同时也对网络构建和分析方法的改进提出了挑战。随着数据量的不断增大,耗时耗力的人工构建及分析已经无法满足模型发展的需要,因而各种自动化的方法应运而生。模型构建和分析的自动化不仅能够大幅度提高模型构建和解析的速度,同时对于模型构建和分析方法的标准化和程序化也有着不可替代的作用。文中结合作者的实际研究经验,对基因组尺度代谢网络构建的自动化进程和主要的代谢网络分析工具进行了较为详细的介绍,总结了代谢网络自动重构的流程,并提出了目前面对的主要问题和未来的研究方向。     

Nanomechanics controls neuronal precursors adhesion and differentiation

The ability to control the differentiation of stem cells into specific neuronal types has a tremendous potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In vitro neuronal differentiation can be guided by the interplay of biochemical and biophysical cues. Different strategies to increase the differentiation yield have been proposed, focusing everything on substrate topography, or, alternatively on substrate stiffness. Both strategies demonstrated an improvement of the cellular response. However it was often impossible to separate the topographical and the mechanical contributions. Here we investigate the role of the mechanical properties of nanostructured substrates, aiming at understanding the ultimate parameters which govern the stem cell differentiation. To this purpose a set of different substrates with controlled stiffness and with or without nanopatterning are used for stem cell differentiation. Our results show that the neuronal differentiation yield depends mainly on the substrate mechanical properties while the geometry plays a minor role. In particular nanostructured and flat polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with comparable stiffness show the same neuronal yield. The improvement in the differentiation yield obtained through surface nanopatterning in the submicrometer scale could be explained as a consequence of a substrate softening effect. Finally we investigate by single cell force spectroscopy the neuronal precursor adhesion on the substrate immediately after seeding, as a possible critical step governing the neuronal differentiation efficiency. We observed that neuronal precursor adhesion depends on substrate stiffness but not on surface structure, and in particular it is higher on softer substrates. Our results suggest that cell–substrate adhesion forces and mechanical response are the key parameters to be considered for substrate design in neuronal regenerative medicine. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2301–2310. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Neuronal stem cells in the central nervous system and in human diseases

The process of cortical expansion in the central nervous system is a key step of mammalian brain development to ensure its physiological function. Radial glial (RG) cells are a glial cell type contributing to this progress as intermediate neural progenitor cells responsible for an increase in the number of cortical neurons. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of RG cells during neurogenesis and provide further information on the mechanisms of neurodevelopmental diseases and stem cell-related brain tumorigenesis. Knowledge of neuronal stem cell and relative diseases will bridge benchmark research through translational studies to clinical therapeutic treatments of these diseases.     

Development of three-dimensional architecture of the neuroepithelium: Role of pseudostratification and cellular 'community'

This review discusses the development of the neuroepithelium (NE) and its derivative ventricular zone (VZ), from which the central nervous system (CNS) is formed. First, the histological features of the NE and VZ are summarized, highlighting the phenomenon of pseudostratification, which is achieved by polarization and interkinetic nuclear migration (INM) of neural progenitor cells. Next, our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms and biological significance of INM and pseudostratification are outlined. The recent three-dimensional time-lapse observations revealing heterogeneity in cell lineages within the NE and VZ are also described, focusing on the neuronal lineage. Finally, the necessity of comprehensive studies on cell-cell interactions in the NE/VZ is discussed, as well as the importance of electrophysiological and biomechanical approaches. In particular, we suggest that a systems biology approach to the NE/VZ as a cellular 'community' may be fruitful.     

Mechanisms of neuronal death in disease: defining the models and the players

Dysregulation of life and death at the cellular level leads to a variety of diseases. In the nervous system, aberrant neuronal death is an outstanding feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Since the discovery of the caspase family of proteases, much effort has been made to determine how caspases function in disease, including neurodegenerative diseases. Although many papers have been published examining caspases in neuronal death and disease, the pathways have not been fully clarified. In the present review, we examine the potential players in the death pathways, the current tools for examining these players and the models for studying neurological disease. Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder, and cerebral ischaemia, the most common cause of neurological death, are used to illustrate our current understanding of death signalling in neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the neuronal death pathways would provide targets for the development of therapeutic interventions for these diseases.