前脑生长抑素样神经元对大鼠颈部食管前运动神经元的支配——PRV和SOM荧光双标记法研究

用ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ免疫荧光双标记法研究了前脑中ＳＯＭ样神经元对孤束核中食管前运动神经元的支配。当ＰＲＶ注射于大鼠颈部食管后,在大脑皮质前部嗅沟背侧的无颗粒型岛叶皮质后部和嗅沟腹侧的梨状前皮质前部可见较多ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ双标记细胞。在终纹床核、内侧视前区、外侧视前区和正中视前区、终板血管器、穹隆下器、以及嗅结节等处也可见少量ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ双标记细胞。本文推测脑对颈部食管运动的调节是由广泛的中枢神经系统结构来完成的     

The differential release of amino acids and neuropeptides from purified subpopulations of mammalian GABAergic and cholinergic cerebrocortical synaptosomes

GABAergic and cholinergic synaptosome populations were isolated by immunomagnetophoresis. Analysis of 8 amino acids showed that the GABAergic population was enriched in GABA (3 fold). The cholinergic population was enriched in citrulline (5 fold). CCK was found in both populations, but was enriched in the GABAergic. No monoamines were found in either subpopulation. Stimulated release (veratridine 50 m), measured using a superfusion system, showed that glutamate was only released from the cholinergic subpopulation, as was VIP. In the GABAergic population, stimulated SRIF release was slow and prolonged, and the CCK release was delayed and rapid. GABA release was rapid, only occurring during application of the stimulus and only from the GABAergic synaptosomes. The GABAergic release could be modified by GABA_A and GABA_B targeted drugs. The cholinergic subpopulation exhibited late release of both VIP and CCK, each showing the same time pattern of release. All release was calcium and tetrodotoxin dependent.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Claude Baxter.     

半胱胺对猫脊髓背角神经元伤害性热反应的抑制

在戊巴比妥钠麻醉和脊髓腰-1段全横切的16只猫上,观察生长抑素(somatostatin,SOM)的耗竭剂半胱胺对伤害性热刺激脚跖皮肤和电刺激胫后神经所引起的脊髓背角Ⅳ-Ⅵ层神经元单位反应的影响。静脉注射半胱胺50mg/kg对电刺激神经引起的伤害性反应无影响,100mg/kg可使被测试的13个神经元单位中的8个单位反应明显抑制。而静脉注射半胱胺50mg/kg可明显抑制伤害性热刺激所引起的脊髓背角神经元单位反应。用微电极将半胱胺微压注入背角胶质层也使背角神经元的伤害性热反应明显抑制,但只使13个单位中的7个单位对电刺激神经引起的伤害性反应轻度抑制。半胱胺对背角神经元伤害性反应的抑制可能由于耗竭了背角中的生长抑素。本文讨论了半胱胺对背角神经元伤害性热反应的抑制明显强于电刺激神经所诱发的伤害性反应的抑制的可能机制。     

Somatostatin precursors: evidence for presence in and release from rat median eminence and neurohypophysis

Characterization of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in rat median eminence and neurohypophysis by gel chromatography yielded two high molecular weight forms in addition to the tetradecapeptide somatostatin. The two larger molecules comprised 5% and 35% of the total tissue immunoreactivity, showed molecular weights of 25000 and 4000 dalton and were both releaseable in vitro in response to depolarizing stimuli. Their characteristic elution volumes remained unchanged after treatment with dithiothreitol or boiling in 8 M urea. Gentle trypsinization of the 25000 dalton molecule resulted in partial conversion into immunoreactive material coeluting with the tetradecapeptide somatostatin. Since the antibody employed in these studies is specific for the central and C-terminal portions of the tetradecapeptide somatostatin the present data suggest that both high molecular weight forms represent N-terminal extensions of somatostatin and that the 25000 molecular weight material might represent a prohormone for somatostatin.     

The PDZ/coiled-coil domain containing protein PIST modulates insulin secretion in MIN6 insulinoma cells by interacting with somatostatin receptor subtype 5

The multi-domain protein PIST (protein interacting specifically with Tc10) interacts with the SSTR5 (somatostatin receptor 5) and is responsible for its intracellular localization. Here, we show that PIST is expressed in pancreatic beta-cells and interacts with SSTR5 in these cells. PIST expression in MIN6 insulinoma cells is reduced by somatostatin (SST). After stimulation with SST, SSTR5 undergoes internalization together with PIST. MIN6 cells over-expressing PIST display enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and a decreased sensitivity to SST-induced inhibition of insulin secretion. These data suggest that PIST plays an important role in insulin secretion by regulating SSTR5 availability at the plasma membrane.     

氯氨酮和L-NAME抑制模拟高原低氧大鼠下丘脑NOS和生长抑素mRNA的表达

用高原低氧模型及原位杂交、ＮＡＤＰＨ－ｄ组织化学法,探讨氯氨酮和Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ对急性高原低氧大鼠下丘脑一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）和生长抑素ｍＲＮＡ（ＳＳ ｍＲＮＡ）表达的影响。结果表明,急性高原低氧引起下丘脑ＮＯＳ和ＳＳ ｍＲＮＡ过度表达,如先用ＮＭＤＡ受体拮抗剂氯氨酮和ＮＯＳ抑制剂Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ预处理,ＮＯＳ和ＳＳ ｍＲＮＡ的表达均明显被抑制。结果提示,ＮＭＤＡ受体参与了急生高原低氧引起的下丘脑ＮＯＳ和     

Glucosensing and glucose homeostasis: from fish to mammals

This review is focused on two topics related to glucose in vertebrates. In a first section devoted to glucose homeostasis we describe how glucose levels fluctuate and are regulated in different classes of vertebrates. The detection of these fluctuations is essential for homeostasis and for other physiological processes such as regulation of food intake. The capacity of that detection is known as glucosensing, and the different mechanisms through which it occurs are known as glucosensors. Different glucosensor mechanisms have been demonstrated in different tissues and organs of rodents and humans whereas the information obtained for other vertebrates is scarce. In the second section of the review we describe the present knowledge regarding glucosensor mechanisms in different groups of vertebrates, with special emphasis in fish.     

Remarkable similarities between the hemichordate (Saccoglossus kowalevskii) and vertebrate GPCR repertoire

Saccoglossus kowalevskii (the acorn worm) is a hemichordate belonging to the superphylum of deuterostome bilateral animals. Hemichordates are sister group to echinoderms, and closely related to chordates. S. kowalevskii has chordate like morphological traits and serves as an important model organism, helping developmental biologists to understand the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite being such an important model organism, the signalling system repertoire of the largest family of integral transmembrane receptor proteins, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is largely unknown in S. kowalevskii. Here, we identified 260 unique GPCRs and classified as many as 257 of them into five main mammalian GPCR families; Glutamate (23), Rhodopsin (212), Adhesion (18), Frizzled (3) and Secretin (1). Despite having a diffuse nervous system, the acorn worm contains well conserved orthologues for human Adhesion and Glutamate family members, with a similar N-terminal domain architecture. This is particularly true for genes involved in CNS development and regulation in vertebrates. The average sequence identity between the GPCR orthologues in human and S. kowalevskii is around 47%, and this is same as observed in couple of the closest vertebrate relatives, Ciona intestinalis (41%) and Branchiostoma floridae (~ 47%). The Rhodopsin family has fewer members than vertebrates and lacks clear homologues for 6 of the 13 subgroups, including olfactory, chemokine, prostaglandin, purine, melanocyte concentrating hormone receptors and MAS-related receptors. However, the peptide and somatostatin binding receptors have expanded locally in the acorn worm. Overall, this study is the first large scale analysis of a major signalling gene superfamily in the hemichordate lineage. The establishment of orthologue relationships with genes involved in neurotransmission and development of the CNS in vertebrates provides a foundation for understanding the evolution of signal transduction and allows for further investigation of the hemichordate neurobiology.     

The Binding Ability of a Bicyclic Somatostatin Analogue Towards Cu(II) Ions

Somatostatin (SST) analogues have aroused the interest of scientists for years. This group of compounds is used in the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. However, new molecules useful as radiopharmaceuticals in targeted therapy are still searched for. Bicyclic peptides seem to be very interesting in this context. These molecules are associated with beneficial properties. In this work, we present studies on the binding ability of the bicyclic analogue of somatostatin toward Cu(II) ions which could potentially be a chelator for copper radionuclides. The research is focused on the analysis of Cu(II) interactions with the metal binding cycle of the ligand and the influence of the receptor binding site on the coordination process. This is a novelty in comparison to the SST analogues used in medicine, where a metal ion is coordinated by a chelator and connected with a bioactive molecule by the linker. In this work, we present the first coordination study for a bicyclic ligand. The obtained results showed that the complexes with only imidazole donors are characterized by significantly higher stability in comparison to the other peptides.     

Molecular and cellular characterization of the age-related neuroinflammatory processes occurring in normal rat hippocampus: potential relation with the loss of somatostatin GABAergic neurons

Increased neuroinflammatory reaction is frequently observed during normal brain aging. However, a direct link between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration during aging has not yet been clearly shown. Here, we have characterized the age-related hippocampal inflammatory processes and the potential relation with hippocampal neurodegeneration. The mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the iNOs enzyme was significantly increased in aged hippocampus. Accordingly, numerous activated microglial cells were observed in aged rats. These cells were differentially distributed along the hippocampus, being more frequently located in the hilus and the CA3 area. The mRNA expression of somatostatin, a neuropeptide expressed by some GABAergic interneurons, and the number of somatostatin-immunopositive cells decreased in aged rats. However, the number of hippocampal parvalbumin-containing GABAergic interneurons was preserved. Interestingly, in aged rats, the mRNA expression of somatostatin and IL-1beta was inversely correlated and, the decrease in the number of somatostatin-immunopositive cells was higher in the hilus of dentate gyrus than in the CA1 region. Finally, intraperitoneal chronic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in young animals mimicked the age-related hippocampal inflammation as well as the decrease of somatostatin mRNA expression. Present results strongly support the neuroinflammation as a potential factor involved in the age-related degeneration of somatostatin GABAergic cells.