Kinetic Constants for Blood—Brain Barrier Amino Acid Transport in Conscious Rats

The kinetic constants for large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of conscious rats were determined in four brain regions: cortex, caudate-putamen, hippocampus, and thalamus-hypothalamus. Indwelling external carotid artery catheters allowed for single-bolus (200 microliters) injections directly into the arterial system of unanesthetized and lightly restrained animals. Our results showed lower brain uptake index values for conscious rats compared to previous reports for anesthetized animals which are consistent with higher rates of cerebral blood flow in the conscious animals. Km values were lower in the conscious animals and ranged from 29% to 87% of the Km values in pentobarbital-anesthetized animals whereas the KD values were about twofold higher in the conscious animals. No apparent regional differences were observed. Influx rates were determined which take into consideration flow rates and plasma amino acid concentrations. Our results showed an average amino acid influx value of 5.2 nmol/min/g, which is 53% higher than the average influx in pentobarbital-anesthetized animals. The present results in conscious animals regarding the low Km of LNAA transport across the BBB lend further support to the importance of fluctuations in plasma amino acid concentrations and LNAA transport competitive effects on brain amino acid availability.     

叶酸联合成体神经干细胞治疗创伤性脑损伤大鼠的实验

目的观察叶酸联合成体神经干细胞对创伤性脑损伤大鼠的治疗作用,探讨其可能作用机制。方法 120只Wistar大鼠随机分为6组,正常组,模型组,假手术组,叶酸注射组,成体神经干细胞移植组,成体神经干细胞移植＋叶酸注射组。倒置显微镜下观察神经干细胞形态学变化;流式细胞仪检测神经干细胞表面标记物CD105、CD45、CD44、CD29的表达;免疫荧光法检测神经元特异性烯醇酶（NSE成熟神经元的特异性标志）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP胶质细胞的标记物）的表达;平衡木实验检测大鼠运动协调与整和能力;Morris水迷宫实验测试各组大鼠的学习记忆能力;HE染色及Brdu免疫组化实验观察脑组织形态学变化;酶联免疫吸附试验检测大鼠脑组中脑源性神经生长因子（BDNF）、神经生长因子（NGF）的表达;蛋白质印迹法检测脑组织中凋亡相关蛋白BCL-2、Bax、Caspase-3的表达。结果分离所得细胞能在体外传代培养,流式细胞仪检测发现细胞阳性表达CD44、CD29,阴性表达CD105、CD45,细胞经胎牛血清诱导分化后能形成NSE或GFAP阳性细胞。实验表明,叶酸与成体神经干细胞干预创伤性脑损伤大鼠模型后能显著改善其行为学变化,减轻脑组织的炎症反应,恢复受损神经细胞,增加脑组织内BDNF、NGF的含量,上调BCL-2的表达,下调Bax、Caspase-3的表达。结论叶酸联合成体神经干细胞干预创伤性脑损伤大鼠能显著改善中枢神经功能,对维持神经元微环境稳态具有重要的作用。     

SD大鼠母体低硒对子代哺乳期生长发育的影响

目的:探讨母体长期处于低硒状态下是否对子代哺乳期生长发育影响.方法:将正常成年雌性SD大鼠随机分为低硒实验组(SR)和正常对照组(NC),分别使用常硒和自制低硒饲料喂养,4周后,确定低硒动物模型建立成功后并分别进行合笼.从子代出生开始,通过记录两组子代大鼠哺乳期的各项生长发育指标并检测子代体内硒含量,探讨母体低硒对子代哺乳期生长发育的影响.结果:低硒实验组子代SD大鼠体长及体重均低于正常对照组,并且低硒实验组子代SD大鼠的死亡率较正常对照组高;低硒实验组子代SD大鼠肝脏、心脏、肾脏以及血液中的硒含量均明显低于正常对照组;低硒实验组子代SD大鼠的心脏、肝脏及肾脏重量,均低于正常对照组.结论:母体长期处于低硒状态下,将对子代哺乳期的生长发育造成严重影响.     

Effect of Hyperammonemia and Methionine Sulfoximine on the Kinetic Parameters of Blood-Brain Transport of Leucine and Phenylalanine

The activity of the blood-brain neutral amino acid transport system is increased in rats infused with ammonium salts or rendered hyperammonemic by a portacaval anastomosis. This effect may be due to a direct action of ammonia or to some metabolic consequence of high ammonia levels, such as increased brain glutamine synthesis. To test these possibilities we evaluated the kinetic parameters of blood-brain transport of leucine and phenylalanine in control rats, in rats after continuous 24 h infusion of ammonium salts (NH4+ = 2.5 mmol X kg-1 X h-1), and in rats treated with methionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, before infusion of ammonium salts. In ammonia-infused rats without methionine sulfoximine treatment, the KD and Vmax of phenylalanine transport were increased, respectively, about 170% and 80% compared to controls, whereas the Km and Vmax of leucine transport were increased, respectively, about 100% and 200%. Electron microscopy demonstrated marked swelling of astrocytic processes around brain capillaries of ammonia-infused rats; however, capillary permeability to horseradish peroxidase apparently was not increased by ammonia infusion. Administration of methionine sulfoximine before ammonia infusion inhibited glutamine synthesis and prevented the changes in transport of leucine and phenylalanine, but apparently did not reverse the perivascular swelling. These results suggest that the ammonia-induced increase in the activity of transport of large neutral amino acids across the blood-brain barrier requires glutamine synthesis in brain, and is not a direct effect of ammonia.     

局部灼伤对茉莉酸在蚕豆幼苗中运输和分配的影响

用示踪技术研究了3H-JA (jasmonic acid)在双子叶植物蚕豆(Vicia faba L.)中的运输和分配规律以及局部灼伤对其运输与分配的影响.外源3H-JA 能够以高于4～5 cm*min-1的速率在蚕豆幼苗体内向上和向下运输.幼叶局部灼伤能提高3H-JA的向上运输能力,促进3H-JA向受伤部位的调运;增加3H-JA向成熟叶片下表皮的运输分配比率;阻止3H-JA从受伤部位的向外输出.据此推测,伤胁迫下JA的运输与分配的改变可能与植物体防御伤反应密切相关,并有可能参与了对气孔运动的调控.     

局部灼伤对茉莉酸在蚕豆幼苗中运输和分配的影响

用示踪技术研究了3 H_JA (jasmonicacid)在双子叶植物蚕豆 (ViciafabaL .)中的运输和分配规律以及局部灼伤对其运输与分配的影响。外源3 H_JA能够以高于 4～ 5cm·min-1的速率在蚕豆幼苗体内向上和向下运输。幼叶局部灼伤能提高3 H_JA的向上运输能力 ,促进3 H_JA向受伤部位的调运 ;增加3 H_JA向成熟叶片下表皮的运输分配比率 ;阻止3 H_JA从受伤部位的向外输出。据此推测 ,伤胁迫下JA的运输与分配的改变可能与植物体防御伤反应密切相关 ,并有可能参与了对气孔运动的调控     

Involvement of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in the Inhibitory Effect of Ethanol on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced c-fos Expression in Rat Brain

The expression of c-fos mRNA in rat brain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin, which act on the picrotoxin binding site of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-benzodiazepine (GABA-BZ) receptor complex, by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and kainic acid, agonists of different classes of glutamate receptors and by caffeine, an antagonist of adenosine receptors. The actions of PTZ and picrotoxin but not that of NMDA were blocked by ethanol and the NMDA-receptor antagonist, MK-801. Ro 15-4513 partially reversed the inhibitory effect of ethanol on PTZ-induced c-fos mRNA synthesis. Acute ethanol administration blocked the actions of PTZ and NMDA without affecting the response to kainic acid or caffeine. Taken together, these data suggest that ethanol blocks c-fos gene activation by noncompetitive antagonists of the GABA-BZ receptor via actions on both the NMDA and GABA receptors.     

High-Affinity Transport of γ-Aminobutyric Acid, Glycine, Taurine, L-Aspartic Acid, and L-Glutamic Acid in Synaptosomal (P2) Tissue: A Kinetic and Substrate Specificity Analysis

In a cortical P2 fraction, [14C]gamma-aminobutyric acid ([14C]GABA), [14C]glycine, [14C]taurine, and [14C]glutamic and [14C]aspartic acids are transported by four separate high-affinity transport systems with L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid transported by a common system. GABA transport in cortical synaptosomal tissue occurs by one high-affinity system, with no second, low-affinity, transport system detectable. Only one high-affinity system is observed for the transport of aspartic/glutamic acids; as with GABA transport, no low-affinity transport is detectable. In the uptake of taurine and glycine (cerebral cortex and pons-medulla-spinal cord) both high- and low-affinity transport processes could be detected. The high-affinity GABA and high-affinity taurine transport classes exhibit some overlap, with the GABA transport system being more specific and having a much higher Vmax value. High-affinity GABA transport exhibits no overlap with either the high-affinity glycine or the high-affinity aspartic/glutamic acid transport class, and in fact they demonstrate somewhat negative correlations in inhibition profiles. The inhibition profiles of high-affinity cortical glycine transport and those of high-affinity cortical taurine and aspartic/glutamic acid transport also show no significant positive relationship. The inhibition profiles of high-affinity glycine transport in the cerebral cortex and in the pons-medulla-spinal cord show a significant positive correlation with each other; however, high-affinity glycine uptake in the pons-medulla-spinal cord is more specific than that in the cerebral cortex. The inhibition profile of high-affinity taurine transport exhibits a nonsignificant negative correlation with that of the aspartic/glutamic acid transport class.     

Acid Lability of Metabolites of 2-Deoxyglucose in Rat Brain: Implications for Estimates of Kinetic Parameters of Deoxyglucose Phosphorylation and Transport Between Blood and Brain

The steady-state brain/plasma distribution ratios of [14C]deoxyglucose ([14C]DG) for hypoglycemic rats previously determined by measurement of DG concentrations in neutralized acid extracts of freeze-blown brain and plasma exceeded those predicted by simulations of kinetics of the DG model. Overestimation of the true size of the precursor pool of [14C]DG for transport and phosphorylation could arise from sequestration of [14C]DG within brain compartments and/or instability of metabolites of [14C]DG and regeneration of free [14C]DG during the experimental period or extraction procedure. In the present study, the concentrations of [14C]DG and glucose were compared in samples of rat brain and plasma extracted in parallel with perchloric acid or 65% ethanol containing phosphate-buffered saline. The concentrations of both hexoses in acid extracts of brain were higher than those in ethanol, whereas hexose contents of plasma were not dependent on the extraction procedure. The magnitude of overestimation of DG content (about 1.2-to fourfold) varied with glucose level and was highest in extracts isolated from hypoglycemic rats; contamination of the [14C]DG fraction with 14C-labeled nonacidic metabolites also contributed to this overestimation. Glucose concentrations in acid extracts of brain exceeded those of the ethanol extracts by less than 40% for normal and hypoglycemic rats.     

Effect of Sesamin on the Composition of Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Liver and on Its Lymphatic Absorption in Rats

Changes in the hepatic concentration of n-3 fatty acids, e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid and linolenic acid, were significantly reduced by their simultaneous administration with sesamin, whereas there was no such effect of sesamin for n-6 and n-9 fatty acids. However, there was no significant difference in lymphatic absorption between eicosapentaenoic acid (n-3) and arachidonic acid (n-6), irrespective of the presence or absence of sesamin.     

饭包草种子萌发过程中养分运输和 消耗的细胞学过程初探

对饭包草大粒种子萌发过程中胚结构变化、养分运输和肖耗的细胞学过程进行了观察.结果显示:种子萌发时萌发孔盖张开,胚根、胚芽、胚轴、子叶鞘和子叶柄突破种皮生长,子叶片呈球状留在胚乳内吸收营养;透射电镜观察显示胚乳养分运输主要通过传递细胞运输、穿壁运输、胞间通道运输三种方式;细胞内养分消耗过程是细胞程序性死亡的过程,多膜小体...     

Dietary Effects of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acid Esters on Lipid Metabolism and Immune Parameters in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Sprague-Dawley rats were fed eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ethyl esters at the 2% level for 3 weeks to clarify their effects on immune functions. In the rats fed EPA or DHA, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid (PL) levels were significantly lower than those in the rats fed safflower oil. In PL fractions of serum, liver, lung, splenocytes, and peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), increases in linoleic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid contents and a decrease in arachidonic acid (AA) content were observed in the rats fed EPA or DHA. In addition, the EPA content increased in the rats fed EPA and DHA. In the rats fed EPA or DHA, a decrease of LTB₄ productivity and an increase of LTB₅ productivity were observed in the PEC, in response to the treatment with 5 μM calcium ionophore A23187 for 20 min. The changes in leukotriene production were more marked in EPA-fed rats than in DHA-fed rats. These results suggest that dietary EPA affects lipid metabolism and leukotriene synthesis more strongly than DHA.     

Effect of Ethanol on γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Glycine Receptor-Coupled Cl− Fluxes in Rat Brain Synaptoneurosomes

Chloride fluxes in synaptoneurosomes in response to additions of gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, and ethanol were measured using a chloride-sensitive fluorescent probe 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)quinolinium (SPQ). The Cl- gradient was directed outward by bathing cells in a medium low in Cl- concentration. The synaptoneurosomes responded to both gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine by outflow of Cl- ions, as judged from an increase in SPQ fluorescence. These effects were inhibited by picrotoxin and strychnine, respectively. Ethanol also produced an outflow of Cl- ions from the synaptoneurosomes. Both picrotoxin and strychnine inhibited this effect. When the antagonists were used together, the inhibiting effect was additive. These results indicate that ethanol affects both gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine receptor-linked chloride fluxes in the rat brain.     

Effects of K+-Depolarization,Arachidonic Acid,Ethanol, and Aging on the High-Affinity Choline Transport in Rat Hippocampus

The Na⁺-dependent high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) transport and the [³H]hemicholinium-3 ([³H]HC-3) specific binding were measured on hippocampal synaptosomes of young (3–6 months) and old (22 months) Wistar rats. In vitro effects of 100–300 M arachidonic acid (AA) and of 5% ethanol were tested under basal as well as stimulated (55 mM KCl) conditions. The influence of AA (an irreversible decrease of HACU and a reversible increase of [³H]HC-3 binding) was more marked under stimulated rather than basal conditions in brain tissue of young rats. The increased K⁺-depolarization effect on HACU and the decreased influence of AA on [³H]HC-3 binding were estimated in brain tissue of old compared to young rats. Results suggest the involvement of different pools of the high-affinity choline carrier and marked changes due to aging in the regulation of the HACU transport.     

Effect of Nipecotic Acid, a γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transport Inhibitor, on the Turnover and Release of γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Rat Cortical Slices

Abstract: To see the effect of a γ-aminobutyric acid GABA uptake inhibitor on the efflux and content of endogenous and labeled GABA, rat cortical slices were first labeled with [³H]GABA and then superfused in the absence or presence of 1 mM nipecotic acid. Endogenous GABA released or remaining in the slices was measured with high performance liquid chromatography, which was also used to separate [³H]GABA from its metabolites. In the presence of 3 mM K⁺, nipecotic acid released both endogenous and [³H]GABA, with a specific activity four to five times as high as that present in the slices. The release of labeled metabolite(s) of [³H]GABA was also increased by nipecotic acid. The release of endogenous GABA evoked by 50 mM K⁺ was enhanced fourfold by nipecotic acid but that of [³H]GABA was only doubled when expressed as fractional release. In a medium containing no Ca²⁺ and 10 mM Mg²⁺, the release evoked by 50 mMK⁺ was nearly suppressed in either the absence or the presence of nipecotic acid. In the absence of nipecotic acid electrical stimulation (bursts of 64 Hz) was ineffective in evoking release of either endogenous or [³H]GABA, but in the presence of nipecotic acid it increased the efflux of endogenous GABA threefold, while having much less effect on that of [³H]GABA. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) abolished the effect of electrical stimulation. Both high K⁺ and electrical stimulation increased the amount of endogenous GABA remaining in the slices, and this increase was reduced by omission of Ca²⁺ or by TTX. The results suggest that uptake of GABA released through depolarization is of major importance in removing GABA from extracellular spaces, but the enhancement of spontaneous release by nipecotic acid may involve intracellular heteroexchange. Depolarization in the presence of Ca²⁺ leads to an increased synthesis of GABA, in excess of its release, but the role of this excess GABA remains to be established.     

Effect of Sorbinil and Ascorbic Acid on myo-Inositol Transport in Cultured Rat Schwann Cells Exposed to Elevated Extracellular Glucose

Abstract: The effect of long-term (2 weeks) exposure to 0–50 m M glucose and 0–1 m M sorbitol on myo -inositol metabolism was studied in cultured rat Schwann cells. Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of sorbinil and ascorbic acid on myo -inositol uptake in rat Schwann cells cultured in the presence of increased extracellular glucose or sorbitol. myo -Inositol uptake and its incorporation into phospholipids decreased significantly when cells were grown in ≥30 m M glucose for a period of 2 weeks. This inhibitory effect was partly blocked by sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, in a dose-dependent fashion. Significant prevention was achieved with 0.5 and 1 m M sorbinil. Ascorbic acid also prevented the reduction in myo -inositol uptake due to excess extracellular glucose, at 3 and 30 µ M concentrations, but not at 300 µ M . Neither sorbinil nor ascorbic acid could prevent the alterations in myo -inositol transport in cells exposed to high sorbitol levels for the same period of time. These data suggest that glucose-induced alteration of myo -inositol transport in Schwann cells is mediated, at least in part, via sorbitol accumulation. This myo -inositol transport impairment is prevented by sorbinil and also by ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid may hold a fresh promise for the treatment/prevention of diabetic neuropathy/complications, at least as an adjunct therapy along with known aldose reductase inhibitors.     

肌酸对游泳大鼠乳酸、糖原含量和乳酸脱氢酶活性的影响

为探讨肌酸对提高大鼠运动能力的作用 ,观察了肌酸对游泳大鼠血清、心肌和骨骼肌乳酸、糖原含量和乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)活性的影响。实验用雄性wistar大鼠 2 4只 ,随机分为正常组、游泳对照组和游泳补充肌酸组。两个游泳组每天游泳训练 1h,9天后 ,游泳 4h ,测定血清、心肌和骨骼肌乳酸水平 ,测定血清和骨骼肌乳酸脱氢酶活性以及心肌与骨骼肌糖原含量。结果显示 :肌酸可抑制游泳运动后大鼠血清、心肌和骨骼肌乳酸浓度以及血清LDH活性的升高幅度 ,抑制心肌和骨骼肌糖原含量及骨骼肌LDH活力的下降。以上结果表明 ,肌酸可改善运动后机体乳酸和糖原的代谢 ,降低运动性疲劳 ,提高大鼠的运动能力     

High Rabdosiin and Rosmarinic Acid Production in Eritrichium sericeum Callus Cultures and the Effect of the Calli on Masugi-Nephritis in Rats

During an investigation of plant cell cultures that might be useful in the treatment of renal disorders, we established a vigorously-growing E-4 callus culture of Eritrichium sericeum that produced large amounts of caffeic acid metabolites, (?)-rabdosiin (1.8% dry wt) and rosmarinic acid (4.6% dry wt). Elicitation of the calli by methyl jasmonate induced a 38% increase in total polyphenol production. The most efficient method of eliciting (?)-rabdosiin biosynthesis was through the treatment of E-4 calli with cuprum glycerate, which induced an increase in (?)-rabdosiin production of as much as 4.1% dry wt. Oral administration of E-4 callus biomass (100 mg/kg/d for 30 d) to rats with induced Masugi-nephritis caused an increase in diuresis and lowered creatinine excretion and proteinuria levels as compared with Masugi-nephritis untreated rats. While all of the Masugi-nephritis untreated rats began to suffer, near a quarter of the E-4 treated rats remained in good health. This result indicates that the E-4 culture has the potential to alleviate the symptoms associated with nephritis.     

共轭亚油酸对高脂血症大鼠脂质代谢及visfatin基因表达水平的影响

目的建立高脂血症大鼠模型,分析共轭亚油酸（CLA）对其脂质代谢和visfatin基因表达水平的影响,为进一步研究CLA对脂肪代谢的调控机制奠定基础。方法用高脂饲料饲喂雄性Wistar大鼠,4周后断尾采血测定血清甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（CHO）和血糖（GLU）含量,将构建成功的高脂血症大鼠分为实验组和对照组,实验组每天定时灌胃CLA（0.8 mL/0.1 kg）,每周定时称重,记录采食量;4周后眼球采血,测定血清中GLU、CHO、TG、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL）水平;断颈处死大鼠,分离体脂并提取肝脏总RNA,半定量RT-PCR分析visfatin基因表达水平。结果高脂饲料饲喂4周后,模型组大鼠血清TG、CHO、GLU明显高于对照组大鼠（P〈0.05）,表明高脂大鼠模型构建成功。灌胃CLA 4周后,实验组大鼠体重、体脂和采食量低于对照组大鼠（P〈0.05）,血清中GLU、CHO、TG、LDL含量明显降低,但实验组HDL浓度升高。RT-PCR实验结果表明,实验组大鼠visfatin基因表达水平明显低于对照组大鼠（P〈0.05）。结论CLA能降低高脂血症大鼠摄食量,改善高血脂大鼠脂质代谢,并能降低visfatin基因的表达水平。     

Changes in Salicylic and Abscisic Acid Contents during Heat Treatment and Their Effect on Thermotolerance of Grape Plants

Heat treatment (38°C) of young grape plants (Vitis vinifera L., cv. Jingxiu) or leaf spraying with 100 µM salicylic acid (SA) increased leaf thermotolerance. Both treatments led to an increase in ABA content and a decrease in lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. ABA content showed a drastic rise by one hour after treatments and then sharply declined while LOX activity continuously decreased. In the course of heat treatment of grape plants, endogenous SA level and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity rapidly increased during the first hour, then declined. These results showed that endogenous SA and ABA can be involved in grape plant response to heat treatment resulted in improved thermotolerance.From Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 4, 2005, pp. 578–583.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Wang, Huang, Liu, Zhan.The text was submitted by the authors in English.