HSV转基因表达IL-1ra抑制P77PMC大鼠的惊厥发作

利用PCR基因克隆及基因转染技术 ,构建含人IL 1ra(IL 1receptorantago nist,IL 1ra)cDNA的质粒型单纯疱疹病毒 (herpessimplexvirus ,HSV)载体 ,再由HSV 1tsK株包装成假病毒颗粒 ,然后注入P77PMC听源性惊厥易感大鼠侧脑室 ,观察LacZ基因和IL 1ra在脑内的表达情况及对P77PMC大鼠惊厥程度的影响 .结果表明 :( 1 )LacZ在脑内神经和非神经细胞可持续表达 8周以上 ;( 2 )侧脑室注射pHSV IL 1ra假病毒可明显抑制P77PMC大鼠的惊厥发作 .原位杂交和免疫荧光染色发现脑膜和脉络丛上皮细胞及某些神经细胞有IL 1ramRNA和蛋白的表达 .结果表明HSV载体可有效地将IL 1ra基因转入脑内 ,并能明显抑制P77PMC听源性惊厥易感大鼠的惊厥发作 .     

听源性遗传癫痫易感大鼠大脑皮层胆囊收缩素mRNA的原位杂交检测

本实验用原位杂交法,对听源性遗传癫痫易感大鼠（P77PMC)癫痫发作前,单次癫痫发作和多次发作时大脑颞皮层CCK mRNA阳性信号进行了检测,结果显示：（1）单次和多次癫痫发作后颞皮层CCK mRNA阳性神经元数量明显增加（P＜0．01）;（2）多次癫痫发作者上述脑区CCK mRNA阳性神经元数量较单次癫痫发作有明显的下降（P＜0．01）,大脑颞皮层CCK mRNA增高表明,CCK mRNA在癫痫发作过程中起了某种作用,多次癫痫发作大鼠CCK mRNA表达降低提示,单次和多次癫痫发作时大脑皮层CCK mRNAl转录的调控可能存在不同的机制。     

慢性捆绑紧张致大鼠记忆受损及海马神经元NOS和Tau5的变化——组织化学与免疫组织化学研究

目的　探讨慢性捆绑紧张对大鼠学习与记忆的影响及其可能的神经生物学机制。方法　选雄性 SD大鼠 18只 ,其中 10只为实验组 ,8只为对照组。对实验组采用捆绑器每天捆绑 6 h,2 1天后用 Y迷宫对两组大鼠进行行为检测 ,并用酶组织化学和免疫组织化学方法观察海马内一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)阳性神经元及 Tau蛋白 (Tau5 )免疫反应的变化。结果　 1实验组大鼠学会躲避电击的次数为 35 .7± 7.5次 ,对照组为 2 5 .2± 2 .8次 ,P<0 .0 1;2海马右侧 CA1 区 NOS阳性神经元数目 ,对照组 2 7.2± 4.8个 ,实验组 38.9± 6 .4个 ,P<0 .0 5 ;NOS阳性神经元胞质平均灰度 ,对照组 170 .7± 11.8,实验组 16 2 .5± 12 .6 ,P<0 .0 5 ;3海马右侧 CA3 区 Tau5免疫阳性产物的平均灰度 ,对照组 16 1.7± 12 .8,实验组 145 .8± 13.8,P<0 .0 5。结论　一氧化氮产生过多而导致的神经毒性作用可能是慢性捆绑紧张导致动物学习与记忆功能受损的部分神经生物学机制 ,而海马 CA3 区神经元内所有的 Tau蛋白 (磷酸化及非磷酸化的 Tau)的总量增多说明 Tau蛋白的变化可能在此过程中起一定的作用。     

自发性高血压大鼠心肌胶原与血管紧张素Ⅱ的关系

目的　观察成年 (16周龄 )自发性高血压大鼠 (spontaneouslyhypertensiverat,SHR)与同龄对照组 (WKY)大鼠之间细胞外基质成分的差异及血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngiotensinⅡ ,AngⅡ )在SHR大鼠左室肥厚形成过程的作用。方法　用尾袖法间接测定大鼠血压 ;检测左心室组织及血浆中的血管紧张素转化酶 (angiotensinconvertingenzyme ,ACE)活性 (紫外分光光度法 ) ;放免法测定左室心肌AngⅡ含量。免疫组化测定左室心肌胶原含量 ,用3H -Proline掺入量测定体外培养心肌成纤维细胞 (cardiacfibroblast,CFB)胶原的合成率。结果　 (1) 16周龄SHR大鼠血压明显高于对照组 (WKY)大鼠 ,分别为 (2 7.6 3± 2 .6 7)kPa和 (16 39± 0 54)kPa ,P <0 .0 5;(2 )SHR大鼠左室心肌AngⅡ含量明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (2 6 6± 75)pg/ 10 0mg和 (134± 4 1)pg/ 10 0mg ,P <0 .0 5;(3)左室重量 (Leftventricalarmass,LVM)SHR明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (10 14.3± 6 2 .1)mg和 (895.7± 86 .4 )mg ,P <0 .0 5;(4 )心体比 (Letventricrlarmass/bodyeight,LVM/BW )SHR明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (3.4 4± 0 .15)mg/g和 (2 .17± 0 .11)mg/g ,P <0 .0 5;(5)体外细胞培养的心肌成纤维细胞3H -Proline掺入量随着AngⅡ浓度升高而增加 ,1μmol/L的AngⅡ使SH     

IL-1β对谷氨酸致痫大鼠大脑皮质、海马内蛋白激酶A表达的影响

目的　探讨白细胞介素 1β (Interleukin 1beta ,IL 1β)对谷氨酸钠致痫大鼠脑内PKACβ表达的影响 ,为阐明IL 1β在致痫中的作用机制提供资料。方法　随机将健康成年SD大鼠分为对照组、Glu组、IL 1β +Glu组、IL 1ra +IL 1β +Glu组和MCCG (2 methyl 2 carboxycyclopropylglycine +IL 1β+Glu组 (每组 8只 )。采用行为学测试及WesternBlot和免疫组织化学方法观察。结果　MCCG组大鼠痫性发作潜伏期 [平均 (1 1± 0 2min) ]较Glu组 [平均 (2 0± 0 3min) ]及IL 1β +Glu组 [平均 (1 8± 0 2min) ]明显缩短 (P 0 0 5 ) ,痫性发作持续时间 [平均 (4 6 4± 1 6min) ]明显延长(P 0 0 5 ) ,且发作程度加重 ,对照组及IL 1ra +IL 1β +Glu组无痫性发作 ;WesternBlot结果显示PKACβ含量在Glu组和IL 1β +Glu组大鼠大脑皮质及海马内均较对照组和IL 1ra +IL 1β +Glu组明显增多 (P 0 0 5 ) ,而对照组和IL 1ra +IL 1β+Glu组两组间无明显差别 ,MCCG +IL 1β +Glu组PKACβ含量显著高于其余各组 (P 0 0 5 ) ;免疫组化染色显示 ,PKACβ免疫反应增强主要表现在大脑皮质、海马CA3区及齿状回的颗粒细胞层 ,其各组间的变化与WesternBlot结果一致。结论　IL 1β参与致痫 ,IL 1对Glu致痫的促进作用与PKA介导的     

大鼠下丘脑外侧区内微量注射胃动素对胃窦运动和迷走背核复合体神经元电活动的影响

采用清醒大鼠胃运动记录和玻璃微电极记录神经元活动的实验方法 ,研究下丘脑外侧区 (lateralhy pothalamicarea,LHA)微量注射胃动素 (motilin) ,对清醒大鼠胃窦运动和对麻醉大鼠迷走背核复合体 (dorsalvagalcomplex ,DVC)中胃扩张敏感神经元电活动的调节作用。LHA内微量注射胃动素 (0 37nmol/ 0 5 μl)可使胃窦运动增强 76 2 9± 4 0 9% (P <0 0 1)。DVC中 6 0个胃扩张 (gastricdistention ,GD)敏感神经元中 ,39(6 5 % )个GD刺激引起电活动增强 ,2 1(35 % )个电活动减弱 ,分别称之为GD兴奋型神经元和GD抑制型神经元。双侧LHA微量注射胃动素 0 37nmol/ 0 5 μl,14个GD抑制型神经元中有 12个单位放电频率增加 4 4 35± 7 89% (P <0 0 1) ;2 4个GD兴奋型神经元中有 15个单位放电频率减少 7 17± 7 89% (P <0 0 5 )。结果提示 ,中枢胃动素可能通过LHA-DVC-迷走神经实现对胃窦运动的调控     

血管紧张素Ⅱ在紧张应激引起大鼠血压升高中的作用

实验在雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠上进行。实验动物被随机分为对照组、应激组和应激 腹腔注射卡托普利 (captopril)组。应激组大鼠每天给予电击足底结合噪声的应激刺激 ,每日 2次 ,每次 2h ,连续 15d ;应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠在给予应激刺激期间 ,经腹腔内注射captopril 5 0mg/kg d。实验结果观察到 ,15d后 ,三组大鼠平均尾动脉收缩压分别为 :对照组 16 32± 0 5 5kPa (n =7) ,应激组 19 75± 1 0kPa (n =8) ,应激 ipcaptopril组17 6 9± 1 0 7kPa (n =8)。应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠的尾动脉收缩压较对照组动物有显著升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但又显著低于应激组大鼠 (P <0 0 5 ) ;同时 ,三组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平分别为 :对照组 7332 6 6± 5 2 2 6 5 (n =6 ) ;应激组 12 990 33± 15 33 5 8(n =6 ) ,应激 ipcaptopril组 10 6 15 5± 1410 49(n =6 )。应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平较对照组有显著升高 (P <0 0 0 1) ,但又显著低于单纯应激组大鼠 (P <0 0 5 )。统计结果显示 :各组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平与血压之间存在正相关关系 (P <0 0 0 1)。对照组大鼠在侧脑室注射 (icv)选择性血管升压素 (AVP)V1受体拮抗剂d(CH2 ) 5Tyr(Me)AVP 0 3μg后 ,其平均动脉压 (     

17β-雌二醇对大鼠脑片穹隆下器神经元放电活动的调变作用

用细胞外记录技术 ,在大鼠脑片穹隆下器 (subfornicalorgan ,SFO)上观察了 17β 雌二醇 (17β estradiol,E2 )对SFO神经元放电的影响 ,并进而分析其作用机制。实验结果如下 :(1) 15个SFO神经元在给予小剂量E2(0 1nmol/L)时 ,放电频率由 3 2 1± 0 37增至 6 79± 0 71Hz(P <0 0 0 1) ;而在给予大剂量E2 (10 0nmol/L)时 ,则放电频率由 3 44± 0 40Hz降至 1 44± 0 36Hz (P <0 0 1) ;(2 )在 7个SFO神经元应用谷氨酸NMDA受体阻断剂MK 80 1(5 0pmol/L) ,可阻断小剂量E2 (0 1nmol/L)对SFO神经元的兴奋效应 ;(3)在 7个SFO神经元应用NO生理性前体L 精氨酸 (L arginine ,1mmol/L)时 ,SFO神经元放电减少 ,且可阻断小剂量E2 (0 1nmol/L)对神经元的兴奋效应 ;(4 )在 6个SFO神经元应用NOS抑制剂L NG 硝基精氨酸甲酯 (L NAME ,10mmol)引起SFO神经元放电增加 ,并阻断大剂量E2 (10 0nmol/L)对SFO神经元的抑制效应。结果提示 :E2 对SFO神经元有双重作用。小剂量E2 使SFO神经元放电增加 ,这一效应可能与谷氨酸受体激活有关 ;而大剂量E2 则导致神经元放电减少 ,此效应可归因于NOS激活而引发NO生成。     

铅对大鼠齿状回神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)阳性神经元的影响

目的　通过研究铅对大鼠齿状回nNOS阳性神经元的影响 ,分析铅对学习记忆影响的机制。方法　Wistar大鼠采用饮水加 2 0 0 0 μg/ml醋酸铅 (PbAc)方法染毒 3个月后 ,用Y迷宫测试大鼠神经行为的改变 ;用原子吸收分光光度法测定血液中铅的含量 ,用免疫组化法检测齿状回中nNOS的阳性神经元数目。结果　染铅组大鼠学习记忆能力比对照组明显下降 ;染铅组大鼠血液铅含量较对照组的明显增高 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ;染铅组大鼠齿状回nNOS阳性神经元数目比对照组明显减少 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　铅暴露导致齿状回nNOS阳性神经元数目明显减少可能是铅损害齿状回LTP形成的分子机制之一     

不同生殖状态雌性大鼠下丘脑视上核和室旁核内一氧化氮合酶神经元的变化

为了探讨下丘脑视上核 (SON)和室旁核 (PVN)内的一氧化氮 (NO)水平与生殖活动的关系 ,本实验应用 NADPH-黄递酶组织化学和 NOS免疫组织化学 ,研究了妊娠期、哺乳期和正常雌性大鼠 SON和 PVN内 NO合酶 (NOS)神经元的变化规律。结果发现 ,妊娠期大鼠的 NOS神经元数目、胞体截面积和免疫反应产物的灰度值在 PVN分别为 49.8± 3.9、15 2 .4± 14.1μm2 和 15 3.4± 8.9;在 SON分别为 2 9.2± 3.7、 16 3.5± 13.8μm2 和 140 .5± 7.2。 SON和 PVN的前两项指标均显著高于正常大鼠 (P<0 .0 1) ,而灰度值显著低于正常大鼠 (P<0 .0 1)。哺乳期大鼠 PVN的 NOS神经元数目和胞体截面积分别高于正常大鼠 2 8%和 9% ,而灰度值低于正常大鼠 7% ;在 SON,则分别高 75 %、 11%和低 9% ,以上三项指标均有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 1)。哺乳期大鼠 SON的 NOS神经元数目亦显著高于妊娠期大鼠 (P<0 .0 1)。这些结果提示 ,雌性大鼠在妊娠期和哺乳期 ,其 SON和 PVN内的 NOS活性上调     

Moderate body hypothermia alleviates behavioral and EEG manifestations of audiogenic seizures in metaphit-treated rats

We investigated the effects of hypothermia on the incidence and EEG signs of audiogenic seizures in rats treated with metaphit (1-[1(3isothiocyanatophenyl)-cyclohexyl] piperidine), an experimental model of generalized reflex epilepsy. After i.p. injection with metaphit (10 mg/kg) Wistar rats were exposed to audiogenic stimulation at hourly intervals during the time course of the experiment. After intermittent use of an ice pack 8 h after the metaphit treatment, when seizure was fully developed, the body temperature was reduced to 30 +/- 0.5 degrees C in one half of the rats, and maintained at 37 +/- 0.5 degrees C in the other half. Saline-injected rats served as a control group. In the hypothermia group, the incidence of audiogenic seizures induced by metaphit was completely suppressed during the 3 consecutive testing times, while no signs of epileptiform activity were noted in EEG tracings. The termination of hypothermic treatment resulted in the recovery of seizure susceptibility, and during audiogenic stimulation, bursts of spiking activity were recorded in the EEGs of metaphit-treated rats. These findings indicate that moderate body hypothermia is an effective anticonvulsant treatment for audiogenic seizures in metaphit-treated rats.     

Long lasting effects of audiogenic seizures on synaptosomal neurotransmitter amino acids in Rb mice

Long lasting alterations of synaptosomal amino acid neurotransmitters following a single or several audiogenic seizures and/or acoustic stimulations were investigated in six brain areas-olfactory bulbs (OB), amygdala (A), hippocampus (Hi), cerebellum (C), inferior colliculus (IC), ponsmedulla (P)- of three sublines of Rb mice: audiogenic seizure-prone Rb1 and Rb2, seizure-resistant Rb3. Changes in the synaptosomal levels of aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), taurine (Tau), 4-amino butyrate (GABA), glycine (Gly) and some closely related precursors, serine (Ser) and glutamine (Gln), were recorded 15–18 hours after a single or multiple acoustic stimulations. Changes were more frequent, or larger, after polystimulation. Some alterations appeared to be attributable to an effect of the acoustic stress.In both seizure-prone sublines, after a single or repeated seizures, an increase in synaptosomal Asp was observed in IC. Decreases in Asp and Tau in OB and Ser in A, an increase in Gln in IC were only observed after repeated seizures, in Rb1 and Rb2 mice.Abbreviations used GABA 4-aminobutyrate - Tau taurine - Gly glycine - Ser serine - Asp aspartate - Glu glutamate - Gln glutamine - OB olfactory bulbs - A amygdala - Hi hippocampus - C cerebellum - IC interior colliculus - P pons Professeur Paul Mandel passed away on 6th October, 1992Special issue dedicated to Dr. Bernard W. Agranoff.     

Inhibition of metaphit-induced audiogenic seizures by APV in rats.

The influence of APV ((+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) on EEG activity and behavior was studied on a model of epilepsy induced by intraperitoneal administration of metaphit (1-(1-(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)-cyclohexyl)-piperidine). Male Wistar rats received an injection of metaphit (10 mg/kg) and were subjected to intense audio stimulation (100+/-3 dB, 60 s) at hourly intervals during the experiment. The seizures were classified according to a four point scale ranging from 0 (no seizure) to 3 (tonic convulsions). In our report we studied the time course which revealed the maximum incidence and severity of seizures 7-12 h after the injection (10 out of 12 rats, with severity of 2.25+/-0.32). APV (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 micromol) was injected intracerebroventricularly at the time of fully developed convulsions. APV inhibited seizures in a dose-dependent manner. The minimum dose, which completely blocked seizures in all animals, was 0.3 micromol, while ED50 were 0.11, 0.10 and 0.07 micromol against running, clonus and tonus, respectively. In contrast to behavioral inhibition of convulsions, metaphit-provoked epileptiform activity was not abolished by APV, and represented a prerequisite for the reappearance of behavioral seizures. It is suggested that APV is rather an anticonvulsant than an antiepileptic agent in this model of epilepsy.     

Remote effects of early postnatal pituitary hormone melatonin injection on audiogenic seizures in Krushinsky-Molodkina rats

Rats Krushinsky-Molodkina inbred strain (KM) genetically prone to audiogenic seizures were injected with pineal hormone melatonin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) within the period 7th to the 14th posnatal days (PND). The remote effects of this injection adult KM rats consisted in a decrease in the latency and increase in severity of myoclonic seizures produced by audiogenic kindling (20 sound stimuli, 100 dB and 12-15 kHz). As compared to the control, in the cortex and hippocampus of rats of melatonin group, we also found a significant reduction of both total and functional activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMK II) after audiogenic kindling. On the contrary, melatonin administration within the 1st to 7th PND and the 14th to the 21st PND resulted in a decrease in seizure activity. In the first case, both the total (cortical) and functional (hippocampal) CAMK II activities in melatonin-injected rats were increased as compared to control, whereas in the second case, only a slight increase in Ca2+-independent CAMK II activity in the hippocampus of melatonin-injected rats was observed. Probably, the melatonin administration in the period of early postnatal development changes the features of expression and/or regulation of CAMK II activity, and this could be one of the mechanisms of audiogenic seizure modulation in KM rats.     

The effect of multiple audiogenic seizures upon the sleep organization in rats

The organization of sleep during and after frequentative convulsions, consisting of 2, 3, or 5 comparatively rare seizures (following one another with a 90-minute interval) or of 3, 5 or 9 comparatively frequent seizures (following one another with a 45-minute interval) of generalized tonic-clonic character in Krushinskii-Molodkina strain rats with inherited predisposition to audiogenic convulsions, was studied. In frequentative convulsions with rare seizures, between separate seizures, passive wakefulness (75.2 +/- 4.6% time) prevailed under low (24.8 +/- 4.3%) slow-wave sleep and full absence of fast-wave sleep. In rats under frequentative convulsions with frequent seizures, in interictal period, only passive wakefulness was observed under reduction of slow-wave sleep and fast-wave sleep, i.e. total sleep deprivation. Minimal latensy of first episodes of the slow-wave sleep after frequentative convulsions was 59.9 +/- 10.8, and of fast-wave sleep: 158.2 +/- 13.4 min. First episodes of slow-wave sleep and fast-wave sleep had normal structure, though they were lesser and shorter than in control experiments. In spite of long-lasting (up to 7 hrs) absence of slow-wave sleep during seizure and prolonged (8.5 hrs) reduction of fast-wave sleep with no subsequent compensatory increase, these conditions occurred in the wakefulness-sleep cycle during 12-hour reconstruction after convulsions. The reconstruction period after frequentative convulsions was characterized by increase in general share of wakefulness and reduction of total slow-wave and fast-wave sleep as compared with control data. Paroxysmal status seems to disorganize work of the brain somnogenic structures. The function of systems responsible for slow-wave sleep are affected to a lesser extent, but disorganization of the system responsible for fast-wave sleep is more significant and associated with mechanisms of starting the phase of sleep in the first place.     

听原性惊厥易感大鼠下丘GluR2的表达及QR位点编辑水平

听原性惊厥易感大鼠是强直 -阵挛惊厥大发作的一种模型 .一般认为 ,下丘是听原性惊厥发作神经元网络的启动部位 .采用RT PCR、Western印迹、免疫组织化学等方法观察了听原性惊厥易感大鼠 (P77PMC)一次惊厥发作与惊厥点燃状态下AMPA受体亚基GluR2在下丘内表达的改变 ,并采用限制性酶切方法分析了GluR2Q R位点mRNA编辑水平的改变 .研究结果显示 ,一次惊厥发作后下丘内GluR2表达无明显改变 ,惊厥点燃后下丘内GluR2表达降低 ,一次惊厥发作及惊厥点燃状态下GluR2Q R位点处于编辑成熟状态 .提示 ,GluR2表达降低参与了点燃状态下的惊厥发作 ,在听原性惊厥易感大鼠惊厥发作机制中不涉及下丘内GluR2Q R位点编辑水平改变 .     

APH, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, blocks the metaphit-induced audiogenic seizures in rats

The effect of the competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, (±)2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (APH) on electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity and behavior was studied in the model of epilepsy induced by systemic application of metaphit (1-(1-(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)-cyclohexyl)-piperidine). Male Wistar rats were injected with metaphit intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg, ip), and exposed to intense audio stimulation (electric bell generating 100 ± 3 dB at animal level for 60 s) 1 h after administration and at 1-h intervals thereafter. ECoG tracings showed appearance of paroxysmal activity in form of spikes, spike-wave complexes and ECoG seizures. Audiogenic seizures consisted of wild running followed by clonic and tonic convulsions. Each behavioral seizure response had a characteristic ECoG correlate. The incidence and severity of seizures increased with time, reaching a peak 8–12 h after metaphit administration, and then gradually decreased until 31 h, when no animal responded to sound stimulation. APH was injected intracerebroventricularly (0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05 μmol icv in 5 μL of sterile saline) after the 8th hour of audiogenic testing (AGS). APH inhibited seizures in a dose-dependent manner. The minimum dose which blocked seizures in all animals was 0.03 μmol. However, ECoG signs of seizure susceptibility were not suppressed by APH. After varying periods of time, behavioral seizures reappeared. It seems that APH blocks epileptiform propagation, but has less influence on the epileptogenic activity caused by metaphit.     

A Transient Upregulation of Glutamine Synthetase in the Dentate Gyrus Is Involved in Epileptogenesis Induced by Amygdala Kindling in the Rat

Reduction of glutamine synthetase (GS) function is closely related to established epilepsy, but little is known regarding its role in epileptogenesis. The present study aimed to elucidate the functional changes of GS in the brain and its involvement in epileptogenesis using the amygdala kindling model of epilepsy induced by daily electrical stimulation of basolateral amygdala in rats. Both expression and activity of GS in the ipsilateral dentate gyrus (DG) were upregulated when kindled seizures progressed to stage 4. A single dose of L-methionine sulfoximine (MSO, in 2 µl), a selective GS inhibitor, was administered into the ipsilateral DG on the third day following the first stage 3 seizure (just before GS was upregulated). It was found that low doses of MSO (5 or 10 µg) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the severity of and susceptibility to evoked seizures, whereas MSO at a high dose (20 µg) aggravated kindled seizures. In animals that seizure acquisition had been successfully suppressed with 10 µg MSO, GS upregulation reoccurred when seizures re-progressed to stage 4 and re-administration of 10 µg MSO consistently reduced the seizures. GLN at a dose of 1.5 µg abolished the alleviative effect of 10 µg MSO and deleterious effect of 20 µg MSO on kindled seizures. Moreover, appropriate artificial microRNA interference (1 and 1.5×10⁶ TU/2 µl) of GS expression in the ipsilateral DG also inhibited seizure progression. In addition, a transient increase of GS expression and activity in the cortex was also observed during epileptogenesis evoked by pentylenetetrazole kindling. These results strongly suggest that a transient and region-specific upregulation of GS function occurs when epilepsy develops into a certain stage and eventually promotes the process of epileptogenesis. Inhibition of GS to an adequate degree and at an appropriate timing may be a potential therapeutic approach to interrupting epileptogenesis.     

Dose-related involvement of CCK in bombesin-induced pancreatic growth.

We examined the role of CCK in bombesin-induced pancreatic growth in rats using the CCK receptor antagonist L-364,718. Rats (155 +/- 1 g, 8-10 per group) received subcutaneous injections every 8 h for 5 days with bombesin (0.6, 1.7 and 5 nmol/kg) or bombesin in combination with L-364,718 (1 mg/kg). After 5 days the pancreas was removed and pancreatic weight, protein content, DNA, amylase and chymotrypsin contents were determined. Bombesin produced a significant increase (48-475%) of pancreatic weight, tissue contents of protein, DNA, amylase and chymotrypsinogen (F = 82, P less than 0.001). When a large dose of bombesin (5 nmol/kg) was combined with L-364,718 a significant inhibition (up to 70%) of all tissue parameters was observed (P less than 0.001). L-364,718 did not affect the growth response to a small dose of bombesin (0.6 nmol/kg). Plasma CCK levels 15 min after a single injection of bombesin (0.6, 1.7 and 5 nmol/kg) were significantly increased in response to the 5 nmol/kg dose (2.0 +/- 0.7 to 3.4 +/- 0.8 pM, F = 6.9, P less than 0.01). No increases of CCK plasma levels were found in response to the 0.6 and 1.7 nmol/kg doses of bombesin, corresponding to the lack of effects of L-364,718 on growth parameters at these doses. Measuring the time-course of CCK plasma levels after a single injection of 5 nmol/kg bombesin revealed an increase from basal values of 1.4 +/- 0.3 pM to maximal levels of 3.5 +/- 0.5 pM after 15 min (F = 7.1, P less than 0.001). Values returned to basal after 60 min. These results suggest that low doses of bombesin act directly at the acinar cell or through release of non-CCK growth factors whereas high doses of bombesin act in part through CCK release.