异氟烷单独或联合咪达唑仑对7日龄大鼠大脑caspase-3表达的影响

目的 观察异氟烷单独或联合咪达唑仑对7日龄大鼠大脑caspase-3表达的影响.方法 7日龄SD大鼠39只,随机分为对照组(C组,n=13),异氟烷组(I组,n=13)和咪达唑仑联合异氟烷组(MI组,n=13).C组:腹腔注射0.9%生理盐水10ml/kg,吸入30%O2 6 h;I组:在37℃恒温并通入1.5%异氟烷的麻醉小室内维持麻醉6h ;MI组:腹腔注射咪达唑仑9 mg/kg后,随即置于37℃恒温并通入1.5%异氟烷的麻醉小室内维持麻醉6h.麻醉结束即刻每组取3只大鼠,行动脉血气分析.麻醉结束2h 采用Realtime-PCR方法检测皮质和海马组织Caspase-3 mRNA水平的变化;并用免疫组织化学SABC法检测大脑Active caspase-3阳性神经细胞的分布情况,计数阳性细胞.结果 ⑴ I组和MI组大鼠麻醉结束即刻动脉血气分析结果与C组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).⑵ Realtime-PCR 结果显示,I组与MI组大鼠皮质和海马区Caspase-3 mRNA与对照组相比表达增多,且MI组与I组比较Caspase-3 mRNA表达增加(P<0.05).⑶免疫组化结果也显示:与对照组相比,I组与MI组大鼠在皮质、海马及丘脑部位Active caspase-3阳性神经细胞数量均明显增多 (P<0.05),而MI组与I组相比,在海马和丘脑部位Active caspase-3阳性神经细胞数量明显增多(P<0.05).结论 异氟烷麻醉能诱导脑发育高峰期大鼠重要脑区Caspase-3表达增加,联合应用咪达唑仑增加更明显;推测Caspase-3表达增加可能引起凋亡级联反应,导致神经细胞凋亡增加.     

CaMKⅡ在大鼠异氟烷全麻机制中的作用研究

目的:探讨磷酸化钙调蛋白依赖性激酶Ⅱ(pCaMKⅡ)在异氟烷吸入全身麻醉作用中的作用及相关机制。方法:采用经侧脑室置管全脑给药,将SD大鼠随机分为溶剂对照组(control组)和CaMKⅡ抑制剂十四烷酰肉豆蔻酰-钙调蛋白自变性抑制肽(myrAIP)处理组(n=10),给药40min后行异氟烷吸入麻醉(1MAC,30min),监测动物脑电,取脑电波平稳清晰的波段,在异氟烷麻醉30min时间点进行分析,并于异氟烷麻醉30min取脑组织样本进行蛋白定量分析。结果:抑制剂组动物给药30min时脑电抑制波明显多于对照组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,抑制剂组脑组织pCaMKⅡ蛋白表达量明显降低(P<0.05)。结论:CaMKⅡ抑制剂能明显改变异氟烷全麻过程中大鼠的脑电变化及磷酸化蛋白表达变化,pCaMKⅡα参与了异氟烷全身麻醉的过程。     

建立新生大鼠吸入麻醉模型及异氟醚对其海马凋亡的影响

目的:建立新生大鼠吸入麻醉模型并探讨吸入麻醉药异氟醚对其海马凋亡的影响。方法:Penlon Prima SP麻醉机、异氟醚挥发罐及自制带进出气口的麻醉小室。共55只7日龄的SD大鼠用于实验。将其中35只大鼠随机分为7组(n=5)。实验组(Ⅰ-Ⅵ组)异氟醚挥发罐刻度分别为0.125%,0.25%,0.5%,1%,1.5%,2%;新生大鼠置于自制密封麻醉小室内,分别通入含上述异氟醚浓度的混合气体。对照组(第Ⅶ组)给予未混合异氟醚的30%的氧气。将小室安放于37℃恒温箱内。调节气体流量2L/min。实验组于通入气体5,10,15,30,90,180,360 min(T1-7)时于小室出口处抽取10mL气体,采用气相色谱法测定麻醉小室内异氟醚浓度。于通入气体360 min(T7)自新生大鼠左心室采血行血气分析;另取SD大鼠20只,随机分为对照组(C组,n=10),1.5%异氟醚组(I组,n=10),按上述方法建立异氟醚吸入麻醉模型,麻醉结束后2h处死大鼠,采用免疫组织化学法观察C组和I组大鼠大脑海马区Active caspase-3的表达。结果:①麻醉小室出口异氟醚浓度(Y)与麻醉机挥发罐异氟醚浓度(X)的直线回归方程为Y=1.5472X-0.0575(r=0.9993)。②血气分析结果显示:Ⅰ-Ⅵ组与Ⅶ组血气分析组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。③免疫组化结果显示:与C组相比,I组大鼠海马Active caspase-3明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:通过麻醉机、异氟醚挥发罐及自制密封带进出气口的麻醉小室成功建立了新生大鼠异氟醚麻醉模型;为进一步研究异氟醚及相关吸入麻醉药对突触发生期的神经毒性提供了实验基础。     

异氟烷预处理对电磁脉冲辐射所致脑损伤的保护作用研究

目的:探讨异氟烷预处理对电磁脉冲辐射所致脑损伤的保护作用。方法:选取成年雄性SD大鼠48只,采用随机数字表法,将其随机分为4组(n=12),分别为:假辐照组(CON组)、电磁辐照组(EMP组)、异氟烷预处理组(IP组)和异氟烷预处理+电磁辐照组(IP+EMP组)。EMP组场强为400 KV/m,脉冲为200次,连续辐照3天;IP组吸入2.0%异氟醚2h;IP+EMP组吸入2.0%异氟醚2 h,24 h后制备EMP损伤模型。于辐照后24 h处死大鼠,每组随机抽取3只大鼠,取脑组织,采用ELISA法检测大鼠海马IL-6和TNF-α的表达变化;尼氏染色法观察大鼠海马区神经元的凋亡;采用Western blot法检测大鼠海马区BDNF蛋白的表达情况;采用免疫荧光法检测大鼠海马区BDNF细胞水平的表达。结果:与CON组比较,EMP组、IP组、IP+EMP组的IL-6和TNF-α的表达增高,尼氏小体减少,BDNF蛋白及细胞水平的表达均下调(P0.05);与EMP组比较,IP组和IP+EMP组IL-6和TNF-α的表达降低,尼氏小体增多,BDNF蛋白及细胞水平的表达上调(P0.05)。结论:异氟烷预处理可减轻电磁脉冲辐射所致脑损伤,其机制可能与减轻大鼠炎症反应有关。     

不同刺激形式在成年大鼠海马CAl区诱导长时程压抑的谷氨酸受体机制

前期研究显示低频率多串刺激能够在成年大鼠海马CAl区诱发稳定的长时程压抑(long-term depression,LTD),而这种LTD的受体机制目前还不清楚.本研究采用成年大鼠海马脑片标本,电刺激Schaffer侧枝传入纤维,在CAl区锥体细胞层记录群体锋电位(population spikes,PS),并分别应用N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA)受体和代谢型谷氨酸(metabotropic glutamate,mGlu)受体的拮抗剂AP5和MCPG,观察两组低频率(2-Hz和5-Hz)多串刺激能否诱导LTD,以揭示不同刺激形式诱导成年大鼠LTD的可能受体机制.结果显示,AP5和MCPG都能抑制由2-Hz多串刺激诱导的LTD:强直刺激后20 min时PS幅度分别为基础值的(96.0±3.5)%(n=10)和(95.7±4.1)%(n=8).MCPG能够抑制5-Hz多串刺激诱导的LTD的产生,而AP5不能:分别应用AP5和MCPG后,强直刺激后35 min时PS的幅度分别为基础值的(73.6±4.4)%(n=10)和(98.2±8.9)%(n=8).以上结果提示,2-Hz多串刺激诱导的LTD可能依赖于NMDA受体与mGlu受体的共同活化,而5-Hz多串刺激诱导的LTD只与mGlu受体有关.因此,不同频率的多串刺激诱导的LTD涉及不同的谷氮酸受体机制.     

远志皂苷与莲心碱对七氟烷诱发新生大鼠急性和远期认知功能损伤的改善作用及机制分析

为了分析远志皂苷与莲心碱对七氟烷诱发新生大鼠急性和远期认知功能损伤的改善作用及机制,将36只新生SD大鼠随机分为中药组（n=12）、模型组（n=12）和空白组（n=12）,中药组、模型组暴露于2.5%七氟烷环境中麻醉诱导2 h·d^-1,连续3 d,空白组暴露在不含七氟烷的相同环境中,中药组于麻醉前30 min腹腔注射远志皂苷与莲心碱1:1配伍溶液（30 mg·kg^-1）,模型组和空白组腹腔注射等量0.9%氯化钠溶液,比较各组大鼠血气指标、皮质脑电图结果、Morris水迷宫行为和血清皮质酮含量,并采用Western blot法检测海马Bcl₂、Bax和Caspase?3表达水平。中药组大鼠皮质脑电图癫痫波总时长、平均时长以及数量均低于模型组（P<0.05）;定位航行实验结果显示,中药组大鼠逃避潜伏期短于模型组（P<0.05）;空间探索实验结果显示,中药组大鼠探索时间长于模型组（P<0.05）;中药组大鼠血清皮质酮含量低于模型组（P<0.05）;中药组大鼠海马组织Bcl₂/Bax表达水平高于模型组（P<0.05）,cleaved Caspase?3表达水平低于模型组（P<0.05）。结果表明,远志皂苷与莲心碱可改善七氟烷诱发新生大鼠急性和远期认知功能损伤,其机制可能与调控凋亡相关基因Bcl₂、Bax和Caspase?3表达水平有关。     

不同浓度七氟烷对小儿麻醉后cTn I, CRP及补体影响研究

目的:探究不同浓度七氟烷联合丙泊酚对小儿麻醉后肌钙蛋白I、C反应蛋白以及补体水平影响。方法:收集我院60例ASAⅠ级拟行全麻手术患儿,随机分为A、B、C三组,每组20例。A组给予2%浓度的七氟烷联合丙泊酚麻醉;B组2.5%浓度的七氟烷联合丙泊酚麻醉;C组3%浓度的七氟烷联合丙泊酚麻醉。检测三组患儿苏醒时间、术后情况,肌钙蛋白I(cTnI)、C反应蛋白(CRP)及补体C_3、C_4水平。结果:A组、B组自主呼吸时间、气管导管拔管时间、解除监护时间较C组相比时间明显较短(P0.05);但A组与B组比较无统计学差异(P0.05);与A组比,B组与C组术后肌钙蛋白I、CRP水平较低,C_3、C_4水平较高(P0.05),但B组与C组血清指标比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:2.5%浓度的七氟烷联合丙泊酚是诱导小儿全身麻醉中的最佳浓度。     

卒中后抑郁大鼠多导睡眠图研究

目的:探讨卒中后抑郁(PSD)大鼠多导睡眠图的检测方法和变化特征。方法:雄性SD(Sprague Dawley)大鼠随机分为3组:对照组、卒中组、PSD组,通过结扎双侧颈总动脉结合孤养法、慢性不可预知应激刺激,建立PSD模型,同时将电极缝制在大鼠头皮下进行多导睡眠图监测。结果:多导睡眠图可清晰地记录大鼠活动、脑电、肌电、眼动等情况;PSD组大鼠快眼动睡眠潜伏期(REM latency,RL)为(108.2±16.1)s,较对照组(152.5±20.5)s和卒中组(145.1±18.7)s缩短,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);PSD组大鼠快眼动睡眠时间百分比(5.2%±1.2%),较对照组(8.3%±1.4%)和卒中组(7.9%±1.6%)降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:头皮下缝制电极法适合大鼠多导睡眠图监测应用;多导睡眠图可以做为PSD模型的一个检测指标。     

丹参酮ⅡA 预防慢性缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制

目的:探讨丹参酮ⅡA(TⅡA)预防慢性缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制。方法:将18只雄性SD大鼠(200-250 g)随机分为对照组、模型组(Model组)、TⅡA(10mg/kg.d)治疗组(TⅡA组)。复制慢性缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍模型,并给予相应治疗,在脑片水平运用膜片钳技术检测海马CA1区的LTP变化,并检测海马CA1区锥体细胞的兴奋性变化。结果:(1)给予高频强直刺激(HFS)后各组兴奋性突出后电位(fEPSP)斜率均显著增加,即均可诱发LTP并持续1h以上,但模型组LTP较对照组显著减弱(P<0.05),TⅡA治疗组LTP较模型组明显增强(P<0.05);(2)慢性缺氧使海马CA1锥体细胞放电所需的刺激电流幅度显著增加、阈电位升高、兴奋性降低,同样刺激强度条件下动作电位数量减少,TⅡA干预可明显减轻慢性缺氧对海马CA1锥体细胞的上述抑制。结论:TⅡA可能是通过维持海马CA1锥体细胞的兴奋性、维持海马的突出可塑性减轻慢性缺氧对认知功能的损害。     

丁苯酞对缺血性脑卒中大鼠记忆能力及海马5-HT1A受体和PKA信号通路活化的影响

目的:研究丁苯酞对缺血性脑卒中大鼠学习和记忆能力的影响和大鼠海马5-HT1A受体和PKA信号通路的调控作用。方法:将雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和丁苯酞组(n=15)。丁苯酞组大鼠建立大脑中动脉闭塞模型,并按照每天60 mg/kg的剂量灌胃丁苯酞,假手术组和模型组灌胃等体积的玉米油,共给药2周。治疗完成后对各组大鼠进行神经功能缺损评估和Morris水迷宫测试(n=15)。通过磁共振成像(MRI)检测梗塞区域(n=15)。ELISA法检测海马组织PKA激酶活性(n=6)。使用钙检测试剂盒测定海马组织的细胞内[Ca²⁺]浓度(n=6)。Western blot检测海马组织中5-羟色胺(1A)受体(5-HT1A)、谷氨酸N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体1(NMDA1)和α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异恶唑丙酸受体1(AMPA1)的表达(n=6)。结果:与模型组相比:丁苯酞组大鼠的逃避潜伏期显著降低,而穿越平台次数显著升高(P<0.05);大鼠的神经功能缺损评分和脑梗死体积较显著降低(P<0.05);大鼠的PKA激酶活性和细胞内[Ca²⁺]浓度显著升高(P<0.05);丁苯酞组大鼠的5-HT1A蛋白相对表达量显著降低,而AMPA1和NMDA1的磷酸化水平显著升高(P<0.05)。结论:丁苯酞可改善缺血性脑卒中大鼠的学习和记忆能力,下调海马5-HT1A受体活性并激活PKA信号通路。     

Exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field restores spinal cord injury-induced tonic pain and its related neurotransmitter concentration in the brain

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is unequivocally reported to produce hyperalgesia to phasic stimuli, while both hyper- and hypoalgesia to tonic stimuli. The former is spinally mediated and the latter centrally. Besides, its management is unsatisfactory. We report the effect of magnetic field (MF; 17.96 μT, 50 Hz) on tonic pain behavior and related neurotransmitters in the brain of complete thoracic (T13) SCI rats at week 8. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into Sham, SCI and SCI+MF groups. Formalin-pain behavior was compared utilizing 5 min block pain rating (PR), 60 min session-PR, time spent in various categories of increasing pain (T0–T3) and flinch incidences. Serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinepherine (NE), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate and glycine were estimated in brain tissue by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Session-PR, block-PR and number of flinches were significantly lower, while time spent in categories 0–1 was higher in the SCI versus Sham group. These parameters were comparable in the SCI+MF versus Sham group. 5-HT concentration in cortex, remaining forebrain areas and brain stem (BS), was lower while GABA and NE were higher in BS of SCI, which were comparable with Sham in the SCI+MF group. The concentration of DA, glutamate and glycine was comparable amongst the groups. The data indicate significant hypoalgesia in formalin pain while increased in GABA, NE and decreased in 5-HT post-SCI, which were restored in the SCI+MF group. We suggest beneficial effect of chronic (2 h/day × 8 weeks) exposure to MF (50 Hz, 17.96 μT) on tonic pain that is mediated by 5-HT, GABA and NE in complete SCI rats.     

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.     

High-frequency electro-acupuncture stimulation modulates intracerebral γ-aminobutyric acid content in rat model of Parkinson's disease

The purpose of the present study is to observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation on intracerebral neurotransmitters in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD), and explore the possible mechanism. We used 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection in medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in the right brain of Sprague Dawley (SD) rat to establish the parkinsonian rat model, and randomly divided the PD rats into model and 100 Hz EA stimulation groups (n =10 in each group). EA stimulation group received 4 courses of EA stimulation on Baihui (GV-20) and Dazhui (GV-14) acupuncture points. Moreover, ten rats were randomly selected as sham operation group, only receiving normal saline (NS) injection in MFB. Then apomorphine (APO)-induced rotational behavior in different groups was recorded, and the contents of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain were analyzed with high pressure/performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The results showed that model group exhibited abnormal rotational behavior with APO treatment, suggesting the successful establishment of PD model. Compared with sham operation group, model group showed increased GABA contents in cortex and striatum, as well as decreased GABA content in ventral midbrain, on the lesioned side. EA stimulation could effectively ameliorate the abnormal rotational behavior of PD rat. Compared with the model group, EA stimulation decreased the ratio of GABA content on the lesioned side to that on unlesioned side in the cortex, while increased the ratios in the striatum and cerebellum. However, there was no difference of the ratio in the ventral midbrain among three groups. These results suggest high-frequency EA stimulation significantly improves the abnormal behavior of PD rats, which may exert through enhancing the inhibitory effect of cerebellum-basal ganglia-cortical loop on motor center.     

脑电超慢涨落图技术在癫痫研究中的应用

目的：观察脑内多种神经递质对癫痫发作的影响。方法：以癫痫患者和ＳＤ大鼠为实验对象,用脑功能检测的最新脑电超电涨落图分析仪（ｅｎｃｅｐｈａｌｏｆｌｕｃｔｕｏｇｒａｍ ｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙ,ＥＴ）长时程采集脑电信号,提取在脑电中载有脑神经递质调节系统的震荡信息（即Ｓ谱线）,分析癫痫发作时的脑神经递质的变化。结果：患儿癫痫发作时,Ｓ谱线中Ｓ２（谷氨酸）增高;Ｓ１（γ－氨基丁酸）降低,造成Ｓ１＜Ｓ２。Ｓ５     

Perinatal Supplementation with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improves Sevoflurane-Induced Neurodegeneration and Memory Impairment in Neonatal Rats

Objectives

To investigate if perinatal Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplementation can improve sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment in neonatal rats.

Methods

Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 3 each group) were treated with or without an n-3 PUFAs (fish oil) enriched diet from the second day of pregnancy to 14 days after parturition. The offspring rats (P7) were treated with six hours sevoflurane administration (one group without sevoflurane/prenatal n-3 PUFAs supplement as control). The 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) was injected intraperitoneally during and after sevoflurane anesthesia to assess dentate gyrus (DG) progenitor proliferation. Brain tissues were harvested and subjected to Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively. Morris water maze spatial reference memory, fear conditioning, and Morris water maze memory consolidation were tested at P35, P63 and P70 (n = 9), respectively.

Results

Six hours 3% sevoflurane administration increased the cleaved caspase-3 in the thalamus, parietal cortex but not hippocampus of neonatal rat brain. Sevoflurane anesthesia also decreased the neuronal precursor proliferation of DG in rat hippocampus. However, perinatal n-3 PUFAs supplement could decrease the cleaved caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats, and mitigate the decrease in neuronal proliferation in their hippocampus. In neurobehavioral studies, compared with control and n-3 PUFAs supplement groups, we did not find significant spatial cognitive deficit and early long-term memory impairment in sevoflurane anesthetized neonatal rats at their adulthood. However, sevoflurane could impair the immediate fear response and working memory and short-term memory. And n-3 PUFAs could improve neurocognitive function in later life after neonatal sevoflurane exposure.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that neonatal exposure to prolonged sevoflurane could impair the immediate fear response, working memory and short-term memory of rats at their adulthood, which may through inducing neuronal apoptosis and decreasing neurogenesis. However, these sevoflurane-induced unfavorable neuronal effects can be mitigated by perinatal n-3 PUFAs supplementation.     

GABA involvement in naloxone induced reversal of respiratory paralysis produced by thiopental

No agent is yet available to reverse respiratory paralysis produced by CNS depressants, such as general anesthetics. In this study naloxone reversed respiratory paralysis induced by thiopental in rats. 25 mg/kg, i.v. thiopental produced anesthesia without altering respiratory rate, increased GABA, decreased glutamate, and had no effect on aspartate or glycine levels compared to controls in rat cortex and brain stem. Pretreatment of rats with thiosemicarbazide for 30 minutes abolished the anesthetic action as well as the respiratory depressant action of thiopental. 50 mg/kg, i.v. thiopental produced respiratory arrest with further increase in GABA and decrease in glutamate again in cortex and brain stem without affecting any of the amino acids studied in four regions of rat brain. Naloxone (2.5 mg/kg, i.v.) reversed respiratory paralysis, glutamate and GABA levels to control values in brain stem and cortex with no changes in caudate or cerebellum. These data suggest naloxone reverses respiratory paralysis produced by thiopental and involves GABA in its action.     

The Effects of Glutamate and GABA Receptor Antagonists on Nicotine-induced Neurotransmitter Changes in Cognitive Areas*

In the present study, we tested the effects of glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists on nicotine-induced neurotransmitter changes in the hippocampal (dorsal and ventral) and cortical (medial temporal and prefrontal) brain areas of conscious freely moving rats via microdialysis. Both the antagonists and nicotine were administered intracerebrally. The antagonists tested were NMDA, AMPA–kainate, and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype antagonists (MK801, CNQX, and LY 341495, respectively) and GABA_A and GABA_B receptor subtype antagonists (bicuculline and hydroxysaclofen, respectively). We assayed nicotine-induced changes in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites. We found with the antagonists, both decreases and increases in nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses. In the presence of nicotine all the antagonists (except LY 341495) caused a decrease in DA levels in the regions tested. NE levels were decreased in the cortex by all antagonists. In the hippocampus, GABA antagonists decreased NE levels, as did the metabotropic glutamate antagonist, LY 341495, while the other glutamate antagonists increased NE levels. The results of the 5-HT assay were more variable and dependent on the region and antagonist examined; increases were found slightly more often than decreases. The changes in metabolites were not often parallel with changes in their associated neurotransmitters, indicating that the antagonists also affect the metabolism of the neurotransmitters. The effect of the antagonists in the absence of nicotine was mostly to decrease the level of neurotransmitters, although increases were seen in a few cases. The results suggest that the excitatory glutamatergic- and inhibitory GABAergic-amino acid receptors are both involved in mediating nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses, and their inhibitory or stimulatory effects are receptor subtype and brain region dependent. * To John P. Blass, an outstanding scientist, clinician and a great friend.     

Effect of withdrawal from chronic ethanol ingestion on the cAMP response of cerebral cortical slices using the agonists histamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters.

The effect of ethanol withdrawal on the cAMP response of cerebral cortical brain slices was studied. The cAMP response was evoked in vitro by various neurotransmitters including norepinephrine (NE), histamine, serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The cAMP response to NE and histamine was enhanced by ethanol withdrawal. Serotonin evoked a cAMP response in the brain slices from ethanol-withdrawal rats but not in pair-fed controls. The histamine and serotonin evoked responses were blocked by chlortripolon and methysergide, respectively. The responses to histamine and serotonin were also blocked by alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists, possibly because of the nonspecific membrane stablizing effect of these antagonists. GABA inhibited the NE stimulated cAMP response possibly through the hyperpolarizing action of GABA. The results support the hypothesis that ethanol withdrawal induces a nonspecific postjunctional supersensitivity. It is postulated that the supersensitivity involves a partial depolarization of the receptor membrane. Alternative hypotheses are reviewed.     

不同麻醉药对瑞芬太尼诱发术后痛觉超敏的影响

目的:评价不同麻醉药对瑞芬太尼诱发术后痛觉超敏的影响。方法:40只尾静脉置管成功的成年雄性SD大鼠,根据不同麻醉方式随机分为5组(n=8):七氟醚麻醉组(S组);七氟醚+瑞芬太尼复合麻醉组(S+R组);小剂量丙泊酚麻醉组(Pro组);小剂量丙泊酚+瑞芬太尼麻醉组(Pro+R组);大剂量丙泊酚+瑞芬太尼麻醉组(HPro+R组)。在不同麻醉方式下建立大鼠后足切割痛模型并维持麻醉一小时,于术前24小时以及停药后6小时,24小时,48小时测定双后足的机械痛阈(PWT)及观测以上不同时间点切割足的累积疼痛评分(CPS)。结果:S+R组与S组相比,停药后6小时切割足的CPS增加(P0.05)、24小时双后足的PWT均下降(P0.05)。HPro+R在停药后各时间点切割足的PWT均高于Pro组(P0.001)、Pro+R组(P0.01)。与Pro+R组相比,HPro+R组在停药后各时间点切割足的CPS均低于Pro+R组(P0.05)。结论:吸入麻醉药七氟醚可加剧瑞芬太尼导致的术后痛觉过敏,而大剂量丙泊酚可抑制瑞芬太尼诱发的术后痛觉过敏。     

MicroPET imaging of noxious thermal stimuli in the conscious rat brain

Small animal positron emission tomography (microPET) has been utilized in the investigation of nociception. However, a possible drawback from previous studies is the reduced activation pattern due to the application of anesthesia. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate a potential means of avoiding anesthesia during stimulation, as well as minimizing the confounding anesthetic effect. Sodium pentobarbital and ketamine were first evaluated to determine their effect on microPET images in the current study. [¹⁸F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) was an appropriate radiotracer to reveal activated regions in rat brains. Pentobarbital anesthesia significantly reduced ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in neural tissues, blurrier to lower contrast; therefore, ketamine was used to anesthetize animals during microPET. After the rats were anesthetized and secured in a laboratory-made stereotaxic frame, a simple, noninvasive stereotaxic technique was used to position their heads in the microPET scanner and to roughly conform the images in the stereotaxic atlas. For functional imaging, conscious rats were restrained in cages with minimal ambient noise; short repetitive thermal stimuli were applied to each rat's tail subsequently. The rats were adequately anesthetized with ketamine following 30 min of scanning without stimulation. An activation index (AI) was calculated from microPET data to quantify the local metabolic activity changes according to the normalized ¹⁸F-FDG dosage. The average AI indicated a side-to-side difference for all innocuous stimulations in the thalamus. However, such side-to-side difference was only observed for noxious heat and cold stimulations in primary somatosensory cortex (SI), secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and agranular insular cortex (AIC). The present study demonstrated the feasibility of the microPET technique to image metabolic functions of the conscious rat brain, offering better rationale and protocol designs for future pain studies.