择时电针对氯胺酮滥用大鼠隔内侧核酪氨酸羟化酶、c-fos表达的影响

目的探讨择时电针治疗氯胺酮滥用成瘾的某些神经生物学机制。方法将56只清洁级SD大鼠随机分为7组,即正常组、生理盐水组、模型组、子时电针组、卯时电针组、午时电针组和酉时电针组,每组8只。每天1次经腹腔注射盐酸氯胺酮注射液100mg/kg,连续给药7d复制氯胺酮滥用成瘾模型,不同时辰电针组在造模成功后选取一侧"三阴交"和"足三里"穴给予电针(低频2Hz)治疗,每次30min,连续7d。采用免疫组织化学染色方法检测隔内侧核(medial septal nucleus,MS)酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)、c-fos的表达。结果与正常组和生理盐水组相比较,模型组MS TH、c-fos表达明显增强(P0.05)。与模型组相比较,午时、酉时电针组MS TH、c-fos表达明显减弱(P0.05),而子时、卯时电针组无明显变化(P0.05)。结论氯胺酮滥用成瘾可以增强TH、c-fos在MS的表达,午时、酉时电针具有逆转作用。     

电针对氯胺酮成瘾大鼠内侧前额叶皮质酪氨酸羟化酶表达的影响

目的观察不同时辰电针“足三里”和“三阴交”穴对氯胺酮成瘾大鼠内侧前额叶皮质（mPFC）酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）表达的影响,探讨电针治疗氯胺酮滥用成瘾的作用机制。方法将56只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、生理盐水对照组、模型组、电针治疗组,电针治疗组再分为子时（23：00）、卯时（05：00）、午时（11：00）、酉时（17：00）4个电针组,每组8只。每天1次经腹腔注射氯胺酮复制氯胺酮成瘾模型,不同时辰电针组在给药7d后分别选取一侧“足三里”和“三阴交”穴给予低频（2Hz）电针治疗,每次30min,连续治疗7d。采用免疫组织化学染色方法检测mPFC内TH的表达。结果与正常对照组和生理盐水对照组相比较,模型组mPFC内TH免疫反应阳性神经元的数量明显增多（P〈0．01）,细胞平均灰度值降低（P〈0．01）,与模型组相比较,午时、酉时电针组TH免疫反应阳性神经元的数量明显减少（P〈0．01）,细胞平均灰度值升高（P〈0．01）;子时、卯时电针组则无明显变化（P〉0．05）。结论氯胺酮成瘾使mPFC内TH的表达明显增加;午时、酉时电针“足三里”和“三阴交”穴可明显下调mPFC内TH的表达,改善氯胺酮成瘾症状。     

电针对帕金森病模型大鼠腹侧被盖区TH和nNOS表达的影响

目的观察不同频率电针对帕金森病（PD）模型大鼠腹侧被盖区（VTA）酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）和神经元型一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）表达的影响。方法将30只SD大鼠,随机分为5组：正常对照组,假手术组、模型组,PD模型低频电针组和高频电针组。采用右侧纹状体内注射6-羟基多巴胺（6～OHDA）制备PD模型,取合谷和太冲穴,分别给予低频（2Hz）和高频（100Hz）电针治疗。免疫组织化学方法观察VTA的TH和nNOS表达。结果与正常对照组相比,PD模型大鼠vTA的TH表达减少、nNOS表达增加,高频电针可增加其TH表达和降低nNOS表达,低频电针对其没有影响。结论高频电针治疗PD的机制之一可能是通过降低PD模型大鼠VTAnNOS表达,从而减少因NO的产生引起的TH标记的DA能神经元的死亡。     

帕金森病大鼠模型中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元改变及c-Jun蛋白表达

目的探讨帕金森病(Parkinson disease,PD)大鼠模型中脑腹侧被盖区(ventral tegmental area,VTA)多巴胺能神经元的改变及其c-Jun蛋白表达情况,探讨其可能机制。方法应用6-羟基多巴胺(6-hydroxydopamine,6-OHDA)单侧一点注射大鼠黑质致密区(substantia nigra compacta,SNc),特异性毁损DA能神经元;术后1d、7d、14d、21d腹腔注射阿朴吗啡(apomorphine,APO)诱发行为学观察、电镜、尼氏染色观察中脑VTA神经元的改变,免疫组织化学ABC观察其DA能神经元酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)及c-Jun的改变并进行图像分析,Western blot观察c-Jun蛋白表达。结果APO诱发PD大鼠模型异常旋转行为,尼氏染色及电镜见PD大鼠中脑VTA有神经细胞肿胀、坏死等变化,VTA TH阳性(TH )神经元数量减少,形态学改变。APO诱导的旋转实验≥7转/min,VTA毁损侧c-Jun表达。结论中脑VTA DA能神经参与PD模型大鼠的改变;APO能诱导6-OHDA PD模型大鼠的旋转行为,其强弱可能与TH 神经元数量直接相关;c-Jun表达与DA能神经元毁损程度有一定的关系。     

不同时辰电针对大鼠杏仁核一氧化氮合酶表达的影响

目的观察不同时辰电针对大鼠杏仁核一氧化氮合酶(NOS)表达的影响.方法采用还原型尼克酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸脱氢酶(NADPH-d)法,观察不同时辰电针大鼠一侧"足三里"穴对杏仁核NOS表达的影响.结果电针对大鼠杏仁皮质内侧核群、基底外侧核群NOS的表达有上调作用,并存在时辰差异(P<0.05);电针对大鼠杏仁中央核NOS表达无明显作用(P>0.05).结论电针对大鼠杏仁核NOS表达的影响有时辰差异.     

酪氨酸羟化酶基因载体－pCMVTH 质粒的构建及在大鼠骨骼肌内的表达

为用转基因方法治疗巴金森氏病大鼠模型,本研究采用分子克隆技术,将合成多巴胺的关键酶－酪氨酸羟化酶（ＴＨ）的基因,克隆进入以巨细胞病毒ＣＭＶ为启动子的载体质粒内,经限制性内切酶定位分析证实该重组的ＤＮＡ质粒的可靠性。携带ＴＨ基因的ＰＣＭＶＴＨ质粒以ＬＩＰＯ－ＦＥＣＴＩＮ介导,在培养的原代骨骼肌细胞中高效表达。本研究为进一步用转基因的细胞植入脑内以治疗巴金森氏病打下一定基础。     

电针对大鼠脊髓损伤后c—fos mRNA表达的影响

本实验通过检测电针对大鼠脊髓损伤后c-fosmRNA表达的影响,探讨电针对脊髓损伤后细胞保护作用的机制。将27只SD雄性大鼠随机分为3组,电针组（9只）,模型对照组（9只）,假手术组（9只）。所有动物均在麻醉后实施手术。电针组和模型对照组采用改良的Allen’s撞击法造成第10胸髓平面损伤,假手术组仅切除椎板,不损伤脊髓。     

电针对海洛因成瘾大鼠PAG的NPY表达的影响

目的:观察韩氏穴位神经刺激器(HNAS)针刺对海洛因成瘾大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质(PAG)的神经肽Y(NPY)表达的影响。方法:按给药剂量逐日递增的原则皮下注射海洛因建立成瘾模型,Morris水迷宫测大鼠空间学习记忆,免疫组化测大鼠PAG的NPY表达。结果:①成瘾组大鼠在定位航行实验中逃避潜伏期及搜索距离较正常组明显延长(P0.05),而针刺组较成瘾组明显缩短(P0.05);空间探索实验中,成瘾组原平台所在象限搜索时间及原平台所在象限的游泳距离占总距离的百分比较正常组明显缩短(P0.05),针刺组较成瘾组明显增加(P0.01)。②PAG的NPY表达成瘾组低于正常组(P0.05),针刺组高于成瘾组(P0.05)。结论:HANS针刺对海洛因成瘾引起的大鼠学习记忆减退有恢复作用,并上调其PAG的NPY表达。     

电针对脑缺血再灌注大鼠齿状回Nestin、GFAP表达的影响

目的观察电针对脑缺血再灌注损伤后大鼠齿状回巢蛋白(nestin)及胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达的影响。方法将SD雄性大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和电针组,每组再分为3、7、14和21d等4个亚组,每个亚组6只大鼠,采用大脑中动脉线栓法制作脑缺血再灌注模型。电针组选取"百会"、"大椎"穴给予2Hz电针刺激,持续30min,每天1次。采用免疫组织化学染色法显示各组大鼠齿状回nestin及GFAP的表达。结果①模型组nestin的表达在3d、7d、14d时明显高于假手术组(P0.01),21d时和假手术组比较无显著性差异(P0.05);电针组各时间点nestin的表达均显著高于模型组(P0.01或P0.05)。②模型组GFAP的表达在各时间点均明显高于假手术组(P0.01);电针组在7d、14d时GFAP的表达强度明显低于模型组(P0.01或P0.05),但细胞数变化不明显(P0.05),21d时GFAP阳性细胞数及表达强度较模型组均显著降低(P0.01)。结论电针能明显增强急性脑缺血再灌注大鼠齿状回nestin的表达,促进神经再生;并可以下调GFAP的持续过度表达,抑制星型胶质细胞的过度活化和增殖。     

核受体相关因子1表达下调对多巴胺能细胞酪氨酸羟化酶和神经突起生长的影响

将合成的核受体相关因子1（nuclear receptor-related factor 1,Nurr1）特异性短发夹寡核苷酸（small-hairpin RNA,shRNA）序列插入真核表达载体pSilen Circle（pSC）,构建Nurr1基因特异性shRNA真核表达载体,转染体外培养多巴胺能神经前体细胞系MN9D,分别采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot方法检测其对MN9D细胞内源Nurr1的干扰作用及其对酪氨酸羟化酶（tyrosine hydroxylase,TH）表达的影响,并在倒置显微镜下观察MN9D细胞神经突起生长的情况,探讨Nurr1 shRNA表达载体对多巴胺能细胞表型标记物删和以神经突起延长为特征的细胞成熟的影响。结果表明,脂质体组细胞和转染阴性对照质粒的MN9D细胞内Nurr1、TH的表达正常,而转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体（pSC-N1和pSC-N2）的MN9D细胞内Nurr1和TH的mRNA水平明显降低,Nurr1 mRNA的下降率分别为62．3％和45．6％,TH mRNA的下降率分别为76.3％和62．6％。同时Nurr1和TH蛋白的表达亦明显下调,Nurr1蛋白的下降率分别为57．4％和72．0％,TH蛋白的下降率分别为79．1％和70．1％。另外,转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达质粒的MN9D细胞神经突起延长有所减少,但是与正常细胞无明显差异。结果提示：Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体能显著下调MN9D细胞内源Nurr1和TH mRNA和蛋白的表达,同时可能对MN9D细胞的神经突起延长有一定的抑制作用。Nurr1 shRNA表达载体的成功构建为多巴胺能神经元发育以及帕金森病相关基因的功能研究奠定了基础。     

高脂食物诱导的肥胖小鼠不同脑区即刻早期蛋白和酪氨酸羟化酶的变化

目的：在高脂食物诱导肥胖的小鼠中检测多巴胺神经元的表达。方法：10只雄性小鼠饲喂高脂膳食作为高脂食物组（HFD）,10只雄性小鼠饲喂10%脂肪膳食作为对照组（NCD）。实验第10周,小鼠禁食12 h后称重,尾静脉取血测定基础血糖水平;实验11周进行葡萄糖耐受（GTT）测试和胰岛素抵抗实验（ITT）;实验12周,动物禁食4 h后处死,测定血清胰岛素和瘦素（leptin）浓度,免疫组织化学法检测即刻早期蛋白（c-Fos-ir）和酪氨酸羟化酶（TH-ir）的表达。结果：饲喂12周高脂食物后,HFD组体重明显增加。GTT测试显示HFD组在15 min和30 min血糖浓度均明显高于NCD组（P<0.05）。ITT测试显示HFD组在15 min和30 min血糖浓度均显著高于NCD组（P<0.05）。同时,禁食后,HFD组的胰岛素浓度和leptin浓度显著高于NCD组（P<0.01）。免疫组化结果表明HFD组在伏隔核、下丘脑室旁核、腹侧背盖区和黑质的c-Fos-ir细胞数均明显多于NCD组（P<0.01）,且腹侧被盖区和黑质的TH-ir和共表达TH/Fos-ir细胞也显著多于NCD组（P<0.01）。而且HFD组VTA区和SN区TH-ir的细胞数与HFD组小鼠的终体重呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：长期饲喂高脂食物导致的肥胖与奖赏系统多巴胺神经元的可塑性有关。     

Tyrosine hydroxylase protein expression in ventral nerve cord of Neotropical freshwater crab

Given the importance of catecholamines in coordinating physiological and behavioral responses in brachyurans, the present study was designed to investigate the distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells and fibers in the ventral nerve cord of Dilocarcinus pagei the Neotropical freshwater crab. TH immunoreactivity was visualized in adult crabs of both sexes, during the intermolt period. We found TH-positive cells that have not been previously described in brachyurans. Specifically, we found a pair of TH-positive cells in the ventral region of the thoracic ganglion, and in ventral and dorsal regions of the abdominal (pleonic) ganglion, suggesting catecholaminergic modulation of claws’ function and abdominal structures. In addition, great population of TH-positive cells was observed in the subesophageal ganglion, indicating conservation during evolution of catecholamines in this ganglion of decapods. Dopamine is present in cells and fiber tracts of brachyuran ventral nerve cord, projecting to endocrine, cardiac and digestive structures, suggesting widespread modulation and control of physiological functions and behavior. Dopamine plays a central role in movement and psychiatric disorders in humans. Information on dopaminergic function in the nervous system of invertebrates should improve the understanding of its function in more complex systems, such as human beings.     

Rat mesenchymal stem cells increase tyrosine hydroxylase expression and dopamine content in ventral mesencephalic cells in vitro

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent adult stem cells. It has been shown that MSCs secrete neurotrophic factors involving nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Also, these neurotrophic factors can upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in PC12 cells and neural stem cells. Here, we investigated the effect of co-culturing rat E13.5 ventral mesencephalic cells (VMCs) with MSCs from rat bone marrow on TH expression and dopamine (DA) content. The study consisted of 3 groups: MSC, VMC and a combined MSC+VMC group. All groups were cultured in serum-free neuro-basal medium for 3 days. Thereafter, each group was analyzed by RT-PCR, western blotting, and HPLC. The co-culture group showed a higher expression at TH and DA than the VMC group. However, TH and DA were not present in the MSC group. These observations suggest that MSCs could be an alternative source for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD).     

Progesterone receptor isoforms differentially regulate the expression of tryptophan and tyrosine hydroxylase and glutamic acid decarboxylase in the rat hypothalamus

Progesterone exerts a variety of actions in the brain through the interaction with its receptors (PR) which have two isoforms with different function and regulation: PR-A and PR-B. Progesterone may modulate neurotransmission by regulating the expression of neurotransmitters synthesizing enzymes or their receptors in several brain regions. The role of PR isoforms in this modulation is unknown. We explored the role of PR isoforms in the regulation of tryptophan (TPH) and tyrosine (TH) hydroxylase, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) expression in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized rats. Two weeks after ovariectomy, animals were subcutaneously injected with 5 μg of estradiol benzoate (EB), and 40 h later, progesterone (P) was intracerebroventricularly (ICV) injected. Each animal received two ICV injections of 1 μg/μl (4 nmol) of PR-B and total PR (PR-A + PR-B) sense or antisense (As) oligonucleotides (ODNs). First injection was made immediately before sc EB injection, and 24 h later animals received the second one. Twenty-four hours after P administration, rats were euthanized and brains removed to measure the expression of PR-A and PR-B, TPH, TH and GAD by Western blot. We observed that sense ODNs modified neither PR isoforms nor enzymes expression in the hypothalamus, whereas PR A + B antisense (PR A + B As) clearly decreased the expression of both PR isoforms in this region. ICV administration of PR-B As only decreased PR-B isoform expression with no significant effects on PR-A expression. A differential protein expression of TPH, TH and GAD was observed after PR isoforms antisense administration. PR-B As administration decreased the expression of TPH (65% with respect to control). In contrast, PR A + B As and PR-B As administration increased (51.6% and 34.4%, respectively) TH expression. The administration of PR A + B As and PR-B As diminished GAD expression (33.4% and 41.6%, respectively). Our findings indicate that PR isoforms play a differential role in the regulation of the content of TPH, TH and GAD in the rat hypothalamus.     

Change of tyrosine hydroxylase in the parkinsonian brain and in the brain of MPTP-treated mice as revealed by homospecific activity

Changes in homospecific activity (unit of enzyme activity per unit of enzyme protein; Rush, Kindler and Udenfriend, 1974. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 61, 38) of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the striatum of the brain were examined in MPTP-treated mice and parkinsonian patients. After a single injection of MPTP to mice, TH activity was acutely inhibited onlyin situ without changes in in vitro TH activity (Vmax) and TH protein; TH homospecific activity (TH Vmax/TH protein) did not change. After repeated injection of MPTP to mice for 8 days, in situ TH activity, in vitro TH Vmax, and TH protein were decreased in parallel, and TH homospecific activity did not change The result indicates that the decreases in in situ TH activity and in TH Vmax are due to the decrease in TH protein by nerve degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in MPTP treated mice. However, when MPP⁺ was infused in the striatum of rats for 3 hours, in vitro TH activity (Vmax) was decreased without changes in TH protein. Thus, TH homospecific activity was decreased. The results indicate that MPP⁺ inactivates TH protein in the striatum after continued infusion. In contrast, the homospecific activity of TH in post-mortem parkinsonian striatum was increased 3-fold. The increase in homospecific activity of residual TH in parkinsonian brain suggests such molecular changes in TH molecules as result in a compensatory increase in TH activity.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Sidney Udenfriend.     

Central angiotensin II increases biosynthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat adrenal medulla

Angiotensin II acting centrally contributes to the regulation of blood pressure and water intake and stimulates the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla. We hypothesized that the central angiotensin II is one mediator of biosynthesis of catecholamines in the adrenal medulla. Rats were administered i.c.v. angiotensin II or saline, and TH mRNA and protein levels in adrenal medulla were measured 1 or 3 h later. Angiotensin II did not change TH mRNA or protein 1 h later. However, by 3 h, angiotensin II increased TH mRNA and protein levels. Centrally administered angiotensin II elevates TH mRNA expression and protein levels in the adrenal medulla. In conclusion, one component of central angiotensin II elevation of blood pressure may be the result of increased catecholamine synthesis in the adrenal gland and elevated TH synthesis represents one underlying mechanism.     

Activation of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase by in vivo electrical stimulation: Comparison with cyclic AMP-mediated activation

These studies were carried out to characterize the activation of rat striatal tyroxine hydroxylase produced by depolarization of the medial forebrain bundle and to evaluate the possible role of cyclic AMP as a mediator of this activation. The enzymatic properties of tyrosine hydroxylase following in vivo depolarization were compared to those produced by treatment of striatal synaptosomes with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). Similar effects were observed with regard to enzyme distribution, altered sensitivity to dopamine-induced inhibition, and activity as a function of tyrosine concentration. However, differences between the two treatments were also apparent. First, treatment with dbcAMP shifted the pH optimum from 6.2 to 7.0. In contrast, electrical stimulation decreased the rate of decline in activity as the pH was increased above the optimum, but did not shift the pH optimum. Second, plots of tyrosine hydroxylase activity versus cofactor concentration revealed two enzyme forms for both control and electrically stimulated preparations. However, dbcAMP treatment converted the enzyme to a single high affinity form. These results can be explained by one of the following: (1) cyclic AMP is the sole mediator of enzyme activation, but does not produce a maximally activated enzyme following in vivo depolarization (2) cyclic AMP is only one of several mediators involved or (3) cyclic AMP is not involved in depolarization-induced activation, with activation occurring via the mediation of other intracellular messengers, such as calcium.