Distribution of Preproatrial Natriuretic Peptide mRNA in Rat Brain Detected by In Situ Hybridization of DNA Oligonucleotides: Enrichment in Hypothalamic and Limbic Regions

The expression and distribution of mRNA encoding preproatrial natriuretic peptide (ppANP) in rat brain has been investigated by in situ hybridization of two 35S-labeled synthetic DNA oligonucleotides, based on a cDNA clone sequence that encodes rat ppANP. The highest relative concentrations of ppANP mRNA were detected in the medial preoptic hypothalamic nucleus ("anteroventral/third ventricle region") and the medial habenula. Moderate concentrations of ppANP mRNA were observed in the CA1 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, the endopiriform nucleus, the arcuate nucleus, the zona incerta, and cells of the pontine tegmental and peduculopontine nuclei. Several of these regions, including the habenula and the hypothalamic areas, have previously been reported to contain atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-like immunoreactivity, but the expression of ppANP mRNA in CA1 pyramidal cells suggests the occurrence of differential translation of ppANP mRNA into protein product in different brain regions, or the existence of different immunological forms of the peptide. The abundance of ppANP mRNA in brain was relatively low in comparison with that previously reported for many other mRNA species encoding other brain neuropeptides. These results demonstrate that ANP gene expression occurs in discrete neuronal populations of the CNS and that studies of the regulation of this expression should now be possible using quantitative in situ hybridization.     

多巴胺的负调控中枢——缰核在抑郁症中的作用

腹侧被盖区(VTA)在大脑奖赏环路中起到核心调控作用。抑郁症中VTA的多巴胺能神经元电活动发生异常改变。近年来的研究发现,来自缰核的输入能够负调控VTA多巴胺神经元的电活动。在抑郁动物模型中,由于βCaMKII表达水平异常增加所引起的被过度活化的外侧缰核神经元,可以通过降低包括多巴胺在内的单胺水平,最终导致多种核心抑郁表型的产生。     

缰核痛相关神经元对伤害性刺激和吗啡的反应

目的:观察缰核痛相关神经元对经典镇痛药吗啡的反应,了解缰核的痛觉属性.方法:实验在浅麻醉下的成年大鼠进行.通过脑室插管微量注射,或经五管微电极电泳吗啡、纳络酮、八肽胆囊收缩素(CCK-8)等,并记录缰核内痛相关神经元的单位放电.结果:在内侧缰核、外侧缰核记录的痛相关神经元放电,又可分为痛兴奋性神经元和痛抑制性神经元.在缰核微电泳吗啡后,痛兴奋性神经元以抑制反应为主,痛抑制性神经元以兴奋反应为主.微电泳纳洛酮可以翻转吗啡对缰核的作用.在吗啡耐受大鼠腹腔注射吗啡10 mg/kg,LHb痛相关神经元表现为镇痛效应的数量远大于MHb痛相关神经元的,表明外侧缰核受吗啡的作用程度高于内侧缰核.对吗啡耐受大鼠脑室注入CCK拮抗剂后,再由腹腔注射吗啡,可减弱对吗啡的耐受程度.反之,在腹腔注射吗啡(10 mg/kg)10 min后,侧脑室注射CCK-8(15 ng/10μl),CCK-8可拮抗吗啡对LHb的镇痛作用,但对MHb的拮抗作用不明显.结论:缰核的痛兴奋性神经元和痛抑制性神经元对伤害性(痛)刺激敏感而不易发生适应.其中外侧缰核神经元对吗啡的敏感性高于内侧缰核神经元.     

损毁缰核对应激性高血压形成的影响

目的和方法 :运用核团损毁和微量注射的方法观察损毁缰核 (Hb)对应激性高血压 (SIH)形成进程的影响及SIH大鼠Hb内神经元对L 谷氨酸 (Glu)反应性的变化。结果 :①损毁双侧Hb延缓了SIH的形成进程 ;②在SIH大鼠内侧Hb(MHb)微量注射不同浓度的CIu ,血压明显升高 ,呈浓度依赖性 ,升高值与正常大鼠MHb注入等量GIu引起的升高值相比 ,有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;③在SIH大鼠外侧Hb(LHb)注入不同浓度的Glu ,血压明显下降 ,也呈浓度依赖性 ,下降值与正常大鼠LHb注入等量Glu引起的下降值相比 ,有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :损毁Hb延缓了SIH的形成进程 ,SIH大鼠Hb对Glu的敏感性提高了 ,Hb参与SIH的形成 ,且其作用有部位特异性。     

Differential regulation of neuronal excitability by nicotine and substance P in subdivisions of the medial habenula

The medial habenula (MHb) plays an important role in nicotine-related behaviors, such as aversion and withdrawal. The MHb is composed of distinct subregions with unique neurotransmitter expression and neuronal connectivity. Here, we showed that nicotine and substance P (SP) differentially regulate neuronal excitability in subdivisions of the MHb (ventrolateral division, MHbVL; dorsal division; MHbD and superior division: MHbS). Nicotine remarkably increased spontaneous neuronal firing in the MHbVL and MHbD, but not in the MHbS, which was consistent with different magnitudes of whole-cell inward currents evoked by nicotine in each subdivision. Meanwhile, SP enhanced neuronal excitability in the MHbVL and MHbS. Although the MHbD is composed of SP-expressing neurons, they did not respond to SP. Neurons in the MHbVL increased their firing in response to bath-applied nicotine, which was attenuated by neurokinin receptor antagonists. Furthermore, nicotine addiction and withdrawal attenuated and augmented excitatory SP effects in the MHbVL, respectively. On the whole, we suggest that MHb-involving nicotine-related behaviors might be associated with SP signaling in MHb subdivisions.     

Comprehensive Identification and Spatial Mapping of Habenular Neuronal Types Using Single-Cell RNA-Seq

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