Glutamate (mGluR-5) gene expression in brain regions of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats as a function of age: role in regulation of calcium release from the pancreatic islets in vitro

Metabotrophic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) modulate cellular activities involved in the processes of differentiation and degeneration. In this study, we have analysed the expression pattern of group-I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu-5) in cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, brainstem and hippocampus of streptozotocin induced and insulin treated diabetic rats (D+I) as a function of age. Also, the functional role of glutamate receptors in intra cellular calcium release from the pancreatic islets was studied in vitro. The gene expression studies showed that mGlu-5 mRNA in the cerebral cortex increased siginficantly in 7 weeks old diabetic rats whereas decreased expression was observed in brainstem, corpus striatum and hippocampus when compared to control. 90 weeks old diabetic rats showed decreased expression in cerebral cortex, corpus striatum and hippocampus whereas in brainstem the expression increased significantly compared to their respective controls. In 7 weeks old D+I group, mGlu-5 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in cerebral cortex and corpus striatum whereas the expression increased significantly in brainstem and hippocampus. 90 weeks old D+I group showed an increased expression in cerebral cortex, while it was decreased significantly in corpus striatum, brainstem and hippocampus compared to their respective controls. In vitro studies showed that glutamate at lower concentration (10^-7 M) stimulated calcium release from the pancreatic islets. Our results suggest that mGlu-5 receptors have differential expression in brain regions of diabetes and D+I groups as a function of age. This will have clinical significance in management of degeneration in brain function and memory enhancement through glutamate receptors. Also, the regulatory role of glutamate receptors in calcium release has immense therapeutic application in insulin secretion and function.     

Effect of chronic emotional stress and low dose ethanol on the level of neuronal cell adhesion molecule and glial fibrillary acidic protein in rat brain

The effect of chronic emotional stress and ethanol on NCAM and GFAP levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum and medulla-ponts was investigated. We report about increase of NCAM and GFAP concentrations in the cerebral cortex and decline of the total protein contents in the investigated brain areas of middle-sleep rats under the stress conditions. Ethanol in the dose of 0.5 g/kg during 7 days evoked opposite changes of NCAM and GFAP concentration and elevation of the total protein level in medulla-pons. In the other brain areas level changes of only one (any) of the two investigated neurospecific proteins were observed. Ethanol injections to the stressed rats normalized the relative weights of adrenals and the level of total protein in the brain areas but didn't normalize the behavioral activity in an "open field" test. Besides, we observed a dramatic increase of GFAP level (over 10 times) in the medulla-pons which may be connected with glioses. These results suggest the specific changes of NCAM and GFAP contents under the chronic emotional stress which don't correlate with changes in the hypophysis-adrenals system.     

Glial fibrillary acidic protein in rat brain structures under conditions of training for a passive defensive habit

Under conditions of training for a passive defensive habit in rats, changes were observed in the content of an intermediate filament marker of the astroglial cellular cytoskeleton, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in different brain structures (frontal cortex, medial thalamus, striatum, hippocampus, and pons). It is hypothesized that GFAP is involved in the control of synaptic plasticity underlying memory formation.     

Xylazine Activates Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in the Central Nervous System of Rats

Xylazine is a potent analgesic extensively used in veterinary and animal experimentation. Evidence exists that the analgesic effect can be inhibited using adenosine 5’-monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitors. Considering this idea, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the AMPK signaling pathway is involved in the central analgesic mechanism of xylazine in the rat. Xylazine was administrated via the intraperitoneal route. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed and the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, thalamus and brainstem were collected for determination of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and AMPKα mRNA expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and phosphorylated LKB1 and AMPKα levels using western blot. The results of our study showed that compared with the control group, xylazine induced significant increases in AMPK activity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and cerebellum after rats received xylazine (P < 0.01). Increased AMPK activities were accompanied with increased phosphorylation levels of LKB1 in corresponding regions of rats. The protein levels of phosphorylated LKB1 and AMPKα in these regions returned or tended to return to control group levels. However, in the brainstem, phosphorylated LKB1 and AMPKα protein levels were decreased by xylazine compared with the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data indicates that xylazine alters the activities of LKB1 and AMPK in the central nervous system of rats, which suggests that xylazine affects the regulatory signaling pathway of the analgesic mechanism in the rat brain.     

The protein of glial intermediate filaments in different areas of the rat brain at experimental neurosis

The content and polypeptide composition of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and mesencephalon were studied under conditions of experimental neurosis. Significant changes of the total GFAP content were observed in the hippocampus, mesencephalon, and cerebellum. Both the content and polypeptide composition of soluble GFAP form were markedly modified. These changes of glial filament protein apparently reflect the peculiarities of the reorganization of the astrocyte intermediate filaments at the animal’s long-term neurotization.     

不同甲状腺功能状态对成年大鼠中枢5—HT1A受体密度的影响

用三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T_3)和丙基硫氧嘧啶(PTU)灌胃分别制成大鼠的甲状腺机能亢进症(简称甲亢)和甲状腺机能低下症(简称甲低)模型。灌药后甲亢组心率、氧耗量、肛温以及血浆T_3浓度较对照组显著增高;在甲低组则均降低。氚标8-羟基-2-(二正丙氨基)-四氢化萘([~3H]8-OH-DPAT)的受体结合实验显示甲亢组海马的5-HT_(1A)受体结合数较对照组显著增加,皮层减低,下丘脑、脑干和纹状体无显著变化。Scatchard分析示甲文组[~3H]8-OH-DPAT在海马中的最大结合容量(B_(max))增加,皮层减低,K_D无变化。甲低组在上述脑区均未见显著变化。上述5-HT_(1A)受体的变化是否与甲亢并发精神神经障碍的机制有关,尚待进一步研究。     

Content of NCAM, the neural cell adhesion molecule, in the brain of rats subjected to prenatal stress

The content of NCAM, the neural cell adhesion molecule, was studied in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, and pons of 15- and 30-day-old rats, the offspring of intact females and females subjected to stress during pregnancy. At the 30th day of the postmatal development, opposite NCAM concentration changes were observed in the cortex and other brain parts of the offspring of stressed rats. These differences can be related to a deficiency of mature synapses in the forebrain of prenatally stressed rats and adaptation rearrangements in the neuronal systems of the brainstem and cerebellum.     

Profile of acetylcholinesterase in brain areas of male and female rats of adult and old age

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-metabolizing enzyme of acetylcholine, is presently the most important therapeutic target for development of cognitive enhancers. However, AChE activity in brain has not been properly evaluated on the basis of age and sex. In the present study, AChE activity was investigated in different brain areas in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats of adult (3 months) and old (18-22 months) age. AChE was assayed spectrophotometrically by modified Ellman's method. Specific activity (micromoles/min/mg of protein) of AChE was assayed in salt soluble (SS) and detergent soluble (DS) fractions of various brain areas, which consists of predominantly G1 and G4 molecular isoforms of AChE respectively. The old male rats showed a decrease (40-55%) in AChE activity in frontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and pons in DS fraction and there was no change in SS fraction in comparison to adult rats. In the old female rats the activity was decreased (25-40%) in frontal cortex, cerebral cortex, striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and medulla in DS fraction whereas in SS fraction the activity was decreased only in hypothalamus as compared to adult. On comparing with old male rats, old female rats showed increase in AChE activity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of DS fraction and decrease in hypothalamus of SS fraction. There was a significant increase in AChE activity in DS fraction of cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus and cerebellum in female as compared to male adult rats. However, no significant change in AChE activity was found in the SS fraction, except hypothalamus between these groups. Thus it appears that age alters AChE activity in different brain regions predominantly in DS fraction (G4 isoform) that may vary in male and female. These observations have significant relevance to age related cognitive deficits and its pharmacotherapy.     

Lentivirus-mediated microRNA-26a-modified neural stem cells improve brain injury in rats with cerebral palsy

This study is launched to investigate the effect of lentivirus-mediated microRNA-26a (miR-26a)-modified neural stem cells (NSCs) in brain injury in rats with cerebral palsy (CP). The successfully constructed miR-26a lentivirus expression vector and empty vector virus were used to modify NSCs. The model of CP with ischemia and anoxia was established in rats. NSCs and miR-26a-NSCs were stereoscopically injected into the cerebral cortex of the modeled rats, respectively. The survival and migration of NSCs infected with recombinant lentivirus expressing green fluorescence in vivo was observed under a light microscope. The neurobehavioral functions, morphology, and ultrastructure of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, apoptosis of brain cells, expression of apoptosis-related protein caspase-3 and Bax, together with the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were determined. Expression of miR-26a in NSCs infected with plVTHM-miR-26a increased significantly. After NSCs transplantation, the neurobehavioral status of CP rats was improved, the degree of brain pathological injury was alleviated, the apoptotic index of cells in cerebral cortex and hippocampus and the expression of the apoptotic protein (caspase-3 and Bax) were decreased, the expression of GFAP were significantly decreased. After miR-26a-NSCs transplantation, these aforementioned results further improved or decreased. Our study suggests that miR-26a-modified NSCs mediated by lentivirus can improve brain injury, inhibit apoptosis of brain cells and activation of astrocytes in CP rats.     

Regional differences in the morphological and functional effects of aging on cerebral basement membranes and perivascular drainage of amyloid‐β from the mouse brain

Development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with failure of elimination of amyloid‐β (Aβ) from the brain along perivascular basement membranes that form the pathways for drainage of interstitial fluid and solutes from the brain. In transgenic APP mouse models of AD, the severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy is greater in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, intermediate in the thalamus, and least in the striatum. In this study we test the hypothesis that age‐related regional variation in (1) vascular basement membranes and (2) perivascular drainage of Aβ contribute to the different regional patterns of CAA in the mouse brain. Quantitative electron microscopy of the brains of 2‐, 7‐, and 23‐month‐old mice revealed significant age‐related thickening of capillary basement membranes in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus, but not in the striatum. Results from Western blotting and immunocytochemistry experiments showed a significant reduction in collagen IV in the cortex and hippocampus with age and a reduction in laminin and nidogen 2 in the cortex and striatum. Injection of soluble Aβ into the hippocampus or thalamus showed an age‐related reduction in perivascular drainage from the hippocampus but not from the thalamus. The results of the study suggest that changes in vascular basement membranes and perivascular drainage with age differ between brain regions, in the mouse, in a manner that may help to explain the differential deposition of Aβ in the brain in AD and may facilitate development of improved therapeutic strategies to remove Aβ from the brain in AD.     

GABA-gated chloride ion influx in brains of tremor rats

We measured the GABA-gated chloride ion influx and GABA concentrations in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus of young (5 weeks old) and older (15 weeks old) tremor rats. GABA-gated chloride ion influx in these tremor rats was significantly greater than in the controls of both the 5 week- and 15 week-old groups. GABA concentrations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the tremor rats increased compared with controls of 5 weeks and decreased compared with controls of 15 weeks. These findings suggest that the GABAergic presynaptic neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of the tremor rat are disturbed with aging. This change may be related to the appearance of absence-like seizures in the rats. The increased GABA-gated chloride ion influx in tremor rats may be a compensatory mechanism against the genetically-determined seizure susceptibility of these rats. Furthermore, the increased GABA levels and GABA-gated chloride ion influx found in 5 week-old tremor rats may be related to the tremor movements.     

Transmembrane Transport and Release of GABA in the Brain of Rats Subjected to Postnatal Hypoxia

We studied the effects of early postnatal hypoxia on the efficiency of active GABA transport through the plasma membrane of synaptic terminals (synaptosomes) isolated from the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus of rats and on non-stimulated and Ca²⁺-stimulated GABA release. The state of hypoxia was induced by exposure of 10- to 12-day-old rats to a respiratory medium with low O₂ content (4% О₂ and 96% N₂) for 12 min (up to the initiation of clonico-tonic seizures). Animals were taken in the experiment 8 to 9 weeks after an episode of hypoxic stress. The intensity of transmembrane transport of GABA was estimated according to accumulation of [³Н]GABA in a coarse synaptosomal fraction. The process was characterized by calculation of the Michaelis constant K _m and also of the initial (within the 1st min) and maximum rates of accumulation of [³Н]GABA. The means of the initial rate of [³Н]GABA accumulation in preparations from the thalamus, cortex, and hippocampus were 205.5 ± 8.8, 266.2 ± 29.6, and 302.3 ± 31.2 pmol/min⋅mg protein, respectively. Hypoxic stress influenced the rates of accumulation of [³Н]GABA in synaptic terminals from the cortex and hippocampus but not in those from the thalamus. According to the characteristics of the response to hypoxic stress, all experimental animals could be classified into two groups. In some rats, accumulation of [³Н]GABA in both cortical and hippocampal synaptosomes decreased insignificantly (by about 15%), while in other animals this parameter increased significantly (by nearly 50%) for the cortex and decreased by 21.5%, on average, for the hippocampus. The affinity of the transporter with respect to [³Н]GABA in the cortex and hippocampus was nearly the same and showed no changes under the influence of hypoxia. The non-stimulated release of [³Н]GABA after the influence of hypoxia increased in all structures, while the depolarization-induced Ca²⁺-dependent release of [³Н]GABA was intensified only in synaptosomes from the cerebral cortex. The mechanisms of development of modifications of GABA-ergic processes under the influence of hypoxic stress in the course of the perinatal period are discussed. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 293–302, July–August, 2008.     

Neurotransmitter systems of some brain regions of rats subjected to chronic morphine intoxication

The content of neurotransmitters and their metabolites was investigated in brain cortex hemispheres, thalamus and brainstem of rats subjected to chronic morphine intoxication (7–21 days). Morphine administration for 7–14 days was accompanied by changes of the catecholamine system functioning, which was the most pronounced in the thalamus and the brainstem. These changes included increased secretion of dopamine and noradrenaline, their decrease in the brain tissue, and an increased content of their metabolites. The changes in serotonin and GABA content were less pronounced and included a decrease of serotonin level and the increase of the GABA content in different periods of opiate administration.     

Modifications of serotonergic and adrenergic receptor concentrations in the brain of aggressive Canis familiaris

The aim of the study was to measure beta-adrenergic (beta-AR) and serotonergic (5-HTR) receptor concentrations in different brain areas (frontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and thalamus) of normal and aggressive dogs. Eight adult male dogs, 4.2+/-0.6 years old, showing no clinical signs but aggression, were used for the study. Eight healthy male dogs, 4.4+/-0.8 years old, with no history of neurological and/or behavioural disorders and accidental death, were used as controls. The whole frontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and hypothalamus were collected after euthanasia and plasma membrane fractions obtained by ultracentrifugation. beta-AR and 5-HTR were measured by binding assays using specific radioligand [(-)[3H]CGP 12177 and 5-hydroxy[3H]-tryptamine trifluoroacetate, respectively]. A significant decrease in beta-AR levels was observed in the frontal cortex (P=0.001), hippocampus (P<0.0001), and thalamus (P<0.0001) of aggressive dogs compared to controls. As far as 5-HTR are concerned, two receptor subtypes were detected. The two subtypes were classified as low-affinity (5-HTR LA) and high-affinity (5-HTR HA) serotonergic receptors for [3H]-hydroxytryptamine, on the basis of their affinity for [3H]-hydroxytryptamine. 5-HTR LA significantly increased in the whole central nervous system (CNS) area of aggressive dogs (frontal cortex P=0.071; hippocampus P=0.0013; thalamus P<0.0001; hypothalamus P=0.0004); 5-HTR HA significantly increased only in the thalamus (P=0.0005) and hypothalamus (P=0.0002). Results suggest the possible role played by the catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems in canine aggressive behaviour. The understanding of the biological basis of canine aggression may enable the development of pharmacological treatments that would target specific neurotransmitter systems.     

Brain amines and neocortical EEG in young and aged rats

1. Frontal and parieto-occipital electroencephalography (EEG) of young (4 months-old) and aged (17 and 22 months-old) Wistar rats were analyzed, both during movement and during waking immobility. 2. The levels of monoamines, serotonin and their metabolites were measured from the frontal cortex, parieto-occipital cortex, hippocampus, brainstem and midbrain. 3. In aged rats, as compared to young rats, the most apparent changes of the quantitative EEG spectrum were the decreased amplitude of alpha (5-10 Hz) and beta (10-20 Hz) frequency bands in the frontal and parieto-occipital cortices during both movement and waking immobility behavior (p less than 0.05). 4. The levels of dopamine (DA), homovanillinic acid (HVA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) or the ratios of 5-HT/5-HIAA and DA/HVA did not differ between young and aged rats in any brain region studied, with the exceptions of brainstem DA and parieto-occipital 5-HIAA, which were elevated in aged rats (p less than 0.05). 5. In the frontal cortex, hippocampus and midbrain, noradrenaline (NA) levels of aged rats were slightly increased as compared to young rats (p less than 0.05). 6. NA levels of the parieto-occipital cortex and brainstem did not change during aging. 7. Furthermore, there were no clear correlations between the decreased amplitude of the quantitative EEG spectrum and monoamine or serotonin concentrations, or the ratios of 5-HT/5-HIAA and DA/HVA in the cerebral cortex of aging Wistar rat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lateral differences in GABA binding sites in rat brain

An asymmetric distribution of GABA binding sites was found in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellar hemispheres, striatum, and thalamus. Higher levels of [³H]GABA binding were observed in the left-side of most brain areas and in a greater percentage of adult rats, but the opposite asymmetry was found in the thalamus. A similar left-right difference in cerebral hemispheres was also found in five day-old rats, suggesting the genetic predetermination of asymmetry.     

Effect of immobilization stress on serotonin content and turnover in regions of the rat brain.

Sprague-Dawley rats were stressed by immobilization from 30 to 300 minutes and the effects on serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) content were determined in the cerebral cortex, diencephalon, striatum, hippocampus and the brain stem. In a subsequent study 5-HT turnover rate in these brain areas was estimated by measuring 5-HIAA accumulation 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after probenecid. The content of 5-HIAA and the turnover rate of 5-HT were significantly increased in the cerebral cortex shortly after the onset of immobilization. The content of 5-HIAA in the brainstem was increased by immobilization although 5-HT turnover rate was not increased. Short term increases in 5-HIAA content were observed in the striatum and hippocampus. However, no significant changes in 5-HT turnover rate were observed in either of these 2 brain areas. Immobilization did not affect 5-HIAA content or 5-HT turnover in the diencephalon. The sensitivity of the serotonergic system in the cerebral cortex to immobilization stress suggests that this brain region could be used in future studies of the interrelationships between stress and the brain serotonergic system.     

美洛昔康对Aβ诱导Alzheimer’s disease大鼠脑内炎症损伤的影响

目的：研究美洛昔康对β-淀粉样蛋白（Aβ）诱导的阿尔茨海默病（AD）模型大鼠脑内炎症损伤的保护作用,并探讨其抑制炎症作用的机制。方法：Aβ1-40海马注射建立AD大鼠模型。免疫组化法观察大鼠海马核因子κBp65（NF-κBp65）和星形胶质细胞（AS）胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）表达变化;Western-blot法测定大鼠皮层组织GFAP的表达;ELISA法检测大鼠皮层组织肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平变化;RT-PCR法检测大鼠海马组织白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）mRNA的表达情况。结果：美洛昔康能抑制AD大鼠海马NF-κBp65和GFAP的表达;降低大鼠皮层TNF-α的含量;抑制AD大鼠海马IL-1βmRNA的表达。结论：美洛昔康通过减少AD模型大鼠海马、皮层组织GFAP表达,抑制AS的增生,降低NF-κBp65的活性,减少炎症因子TNF-α和IL-1β的水平,减轻脑内炎症反应。