川芎嗪对脑缺血再灌注皮质神经元生存素表达的影响

目的探讨川芎嗪对脑缺血再灌注皮质神经元生存素表达的影响。方法大鼠60只分为正常对照组、假手术组、模型组、川芎嗪治疗1组(小剂量)和治疗2组(大剂量)。采用Bannister s颈动脉血引流法复制大鼠脑缺血再灌注动物模型并用腹腔注射川芎嗪治疗。缺血90min后,再灌注2h、24h和72h分别处死大鼠。脑组织4%多聚甲醛固定,石蜡切片;SP免疫组织化学染色。结果正常对照组survivin阴性,假手术组偶见阳性细胞,模型组大脑皮质出现较多的survivin阳性神经元,治疗1、2组在2h、24h、72h组survivin阳性细胞数密度增高,着色深(灰度值低);明显高于模型组。结论川芎嗪对脑缺血再灌注神经元中生存素表达有上调作用,并有量效关系和时相变化。     

Two-pore K+ channels, NO and metabolic inhibition

Ischemic preconditioning is a potent endogenous mechanism protecting many organs from the devastating effects of prolonged ischemia. In the heart, NO is one mediator of this myoprotective response thought to involve activation of the K(ATP) channel. Ischemic preconditioning is known to be induced by metabolic inhibition using sodium cyanide (NaCN) in single cardiomyocytes. In the present study, we show for the first time that the end effector channel activated by NaCN has been incorrectly identified. The channel activated is not K(ATP) but instead belongs to the relatively new family of two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P). Further when activated by metabolic ischemia, the amplitude of K2P current is directly modulated by activators and inhibitors of the NO pathway.     

Proteolytic mechanisms in necrotic cell death and neurodegeneration

Programmed neuronal cell death is required during development to achieve the accurate wiring of the nervous system. However, genetic or accidental factors can lead to the premature, non-programmed death of neurons during adult life. Inappropriate death of cells in the nervous system is the cause of multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Pathological neuronal death can occur by apoptosis, by necrosis or by a combination of both. Necrotic cell death underlies the pathology of devastating neurological diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, stroke or trauma. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that bring about necrotic cell death. Proteases play crucial roles in neuron degeneration by exerting both regulatory and catabolic functions. Elevated intracellular calcium is the most ubiquitous feature of neuronal death with the concomitant activation of cysteine calcium-dependent proteases, calpains. Calpains and lysosomal, catabolic aspartyl proteases, play key roles in the necrotic death of neurons. In this review, we survey the recent literature on the role of cysteine and aspartyl proteases in necrosis and neurodegeneration, aiming to delineate common proteolytic mechanisms mediating cellular destruction.     

Cloning and biochemical characterization of a novel mouse ADP-dependent glucokinase

Glycolysis, the catabolism of glucose to pyruvate, is an iconic central metabolic pathway and often used as a paradigm for explaining the general principles of the regulation/control of cellular metabolism. The ubiquitous mammalian ATP-dependent hexokinases I-III and hexokinase IV, also termed glucokinase, initiate the process by phosphorylating glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Despite glycolysis having been studied extensively for over 70 years and the last new mammalian ATP-dependent hexokinase isotype having been described in the 1960s, we report here the biochemical characterization of a recombinant ADP-dependent glucokinase cloned from a full-length Mus musculus cDNA, identified by sequence analysis. The recombinant enzyme is quite specific for glucose, is monomeric, has an apparent Km for glucose and ADP of 96 and 280 microM, respectively, and is inhibited by both high concentrations of glucose and AMP. The metabolic role of this enzyme in cells would be dependent on the relative level of its activity to those of the ATP-dependent hexokinases. The greatest advantage of an ADP-GK would clearly be during ischemia/hypoxia, clinically relevant conditions in multiple major disease states, by decreasing the priming cost for the phosphorylation of glucose, saving ATP.     

Early preconditioning prevents the loss of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and enhances its activity in the ischemic/reperfused rat heart

Cardiac ischemia may be responsible for either the loss of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) or changes in its activity, both conditions leading to coronary dysfunction. We investigated whether early ischemic preconditioning was able to preserve eNOS protein expression and function in the ischemic/reperfused myocardium. Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were subjected to 20 min global ischemia, followed by 30 min reperfusion (I/R). A second group of hearts was treated as I/R, but preconditioned with three cycles of 5 min-ischemia/5 min-reperfusion (IP). Cardiac contractility markedly decreased in I/R, consistently with the rise of creatine kinase (CK) activity in the coronary effluent, whilst ischemic preconditioning significantly improved all functional parameters and reduced the release of CK. Western blot analysis revealed that the amount of eNOS protein decreased by 54.2% in I/R with respect to control (p < 0.01). On the other hand, NOS activity was not significantly reduced in I/R, as well as cGMP tissue levels, suggesting that a parallel compensatory stimulation of this enzymatic activity occurred during ischemia/reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning completely prevented the loss of eNOS. Moreover, both NOS activity and cGMP tissue level were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in IP (12.7 +/- 0.93 pmol/min/mg prot and 58.1 +/- 12.2 fmol/mg prot, respectively) than I/R (7.34 +/- 2.01 pmol/min/mg prot and 21.4 +/- 4.13 fmol/mg prot, respectively). This suggest that early ischemic preconditioning may be useful to accelerate the complete recovery of endothelial function by preserving the level of cardiac eNOS and stimulating the basal production of nitric oxide.     

A case of macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita and review of neuroradiologic features

Macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (M-CMTC) is characterized by macrocephaly, cutis marmorata, capillary malformations, toe syndactily, joint laxity and pre-natal overgrowth. Cerebral abnormalities might also be seen. We reported cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a case with M-CMTC, who had giant atrial septal aneurysm and atrial septal defect. Cerebral alterations determined by MRI were bilateral prominent lateral ventricles, bilateral cortical dysplasia, cavum septi pellucidum cyst and calvarial hemangioma. At 17th day of his life he suddenly developed cardiorespiratory arrest and died.     

The development of an in vitro cerebral organoid model for investigating the pathomolecular mechanisms associated with the central nervous system involvement in Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE)

Abstract

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the thymidine phosphorylase gene (TYMP), leading to secondary aberrations to the mitochondrial genome. The disease is characterised by gastrointestinal dysmotility, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy and leukoencephalopathy. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the central nervous system (CNS) is hindered by the lack of a representative disease model; to address this we have developed an in vitro 3-D cerebral organoid of MNGIE. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a healthy control and a patient with MNGIE were characterised to ascertain bona fide pluripotency through the evaluation of pluripotency markers and the differentiation to the germ layers. iPSC lines were differentiated into cerebral organoids. Thymidine phosphorylase expression in PBMCs, iPSCs and Day 92 organoids was evaluated by immunoblotting and intact organoids were sampled for histological evaluation of neural markers. iPSCs demonstrated the expression of pluripotency markers SOX2 and TRA1-60 and the plasticity to differentiate into the germ layers. Cerebral organoids stained positive for the neural markers GFAP, O4, Tuj1, Nestin, SOX2 and MBP. Consistent with the disease phenotypes, MNGIE cells did not display thymidine phosphorylase expression whereas control PBMCs and Day 92 organoids did. Remarkably, control iPSCs did not stain positive for thymidine phosphorylase. We have established for the first time a MNGIE iPSC line and cerebral organoid model, which exhibited the expression of cells relevant to the study of the disease, such as neural stem cells, astrocytes and myelinating oligodendrocytes.     

Ultrastructural changes in the nerves innervating the cerebral artery after sympathectomy

Summary The ultrastructure of the innervation of the anterior cerebral artery of the rat was studied in control animals and in animals after superior cervical ganglionectomy.Fluorescence histochemistry shows a periarterial network of intensely fluorescent fibers which are divided into two groups, adventitial and periadventitial. The fluorescence begins to decrease 26 hours after, and completely disappears about 32 hours after, ganglionectomy.Fine structural changes are first observed 18 hours after ganglionectomy, when the axoplasm of degenerating axons becomes electron dense. This density gradually increases up to about 32 hours. By 32 hours most axons with disintegrating axolemmas become inclusion bodies of the Schwann cells. At this stage, synaptic vesicles can still be distinguished as less dense areas, but the membrane structures of synaptic vesicles and mitochondria are difficult to recognize. The degenerating axons are gradually absorbed and by 38 hours dense, residual bodies are observed in the Schwann cells. Generally speaking, the degeneration occurs first in the adventitial fibers and then in the periadventitial fibers. The transient appearance of small, granular vesicles is noticed in axon terminals about 18 hours after denervation, although very few small, granular vesicles are seen in control tissue or at later stages of degeneration.     

Fasergliastruktur der dorsalen Wand des Aquaeductus cerebri bei einigen Primaten

Zusammenfassung Bei Ateles, Cebus, Macaca und Pan wird die Architektonik der subependymalen Astroglia im ersten dorsalen Drittel des Aquaeductus cerebri und der marginalen Glia in der Commissura posterior und im Tectum beschrieben. Am Dach des Aquaeductus cerebri sind regionale Unterschiede in der subependymalen Fasertextur zu erkennen; den einzelnen Regionen entsprechen bestimmte Gliazelltypen. Verschiedenheiten zeigt auch die Anordnung der marginalen Glia der Commissura posterior und des Tectum. Zwischen der subependymalen Gliafaserdeckschicht des Subcommissuralorgans bzw. des Recessus mesocoelicus und der marginalen Glia der Commissura posterior besteht ein direkter Strukturzusammenhang. Diesen vermitteln kräftige perivasculäre Radiärfaserbündel, an die sich z.T. auch noch bipolare Tanycytenformen (Recessus mesocoelicus) anschließen. Zwischen der subependymalen Gliafaserdeckschicht des Aquaeductus cerebri und der marginalen Glia des Tectum läßt sich dagegen keine direkte Verbindung nachweisen. Eine mechanische (statische) Funktion der in der vorliegenden und in einer früheren Studie (Merker, 1968) beobachteten Gliatexturen wird diskutiert.

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The structure of fibrous astroglia in the dorsal wall of the cerebral aqueduct in some primates

Summary The structure and architecture of the subependymal astrocytes of the first third of the roof of the cerebral aqueduct and the marginal glia of the posterior commissure and of the tectum were studied in Ateles, Cebus, Macaca, and Pan. Regional differences in the types of subependymal astrocytes were observed in the roof of the cerebral aqueduct. The marginal glia of the posterior commissure and of the tectum also had special structural patterns. A direct structural connexion was found to exist between the subependymal glial layer of the subcommissural complex, or the recessus mesocoelicus, and the marginal glia of the posterior commissure. The connexion was characterized by coarse radial perivascular fiber bundles, supported to some extent by bipolar gliocytes. No junctional arrangement, however, was seen between the subependymal fiber layer of the cerebral aqueduct and the marginal fibrous glia of the tectum. The observations suggested that the astroglial formations may have a mechanical function.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.