大鼠杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部向杏仁中央核的纤维投射──HRP逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学法研究

本实验采用ＨＲＰ逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学方法,对大鼠杏仁底基底外侧核腹侧部向中央杏仁核的纤维投射特征及其化学特性进行了研究。一侧杏仁中央核（Ｃｅ）内注射ＨＲＰ后,于双侧杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部（ＢＬＶ）观察到大量ＨＲＰ标记神经元,以对侧为主;在杏仁基底外侧核前（ＢＬＡ）、后（ＢＬＰ）部及梨状皮质内侧部（ＰＣＭ）第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层仅观察到少量ＨＲＰ标记神经元。当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核内侧部（ＣｅＭ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对多．当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核外侧部（ＣｅＬ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对少。将有ＨＲＰ标记神经元的切片分别与生长抑素（ＳＯＭ）、脑啡呔（ＥＮＫ）、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）抗血清按ＡＢＣ法完成免疫组织化学反应,结果在ＢＬＶ、ＰＣＭ第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层观察到ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ免疫阳性双标记神经元,但未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ免疫阳性双标记神经元;在ＢＬＡ和ＢＬＰ未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ、ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ免疫阳性双标记神经元。本文着重讨论了ＢＬＶ与内脏功能活动的关系,认为ＢＬＶ不同于ＢＬＡ与ＢＬＰ,它参与“内脏环路”。此外,还分析了ＰＣＭ投射到Ｃｅ的神经元的功能学意义。     

海马胆囊收缩素对大鼠癫痫发作的影响及其机制

目的和方法：采用原位杂交技术,观察遗传性听源性癫痫易感大鼠海马内ＣＣＫｍＲＮＡ表达的改变及少我注射ＣＣＫ３及其受体阻断剂对大鼠癫痫发作的影响。结果：（１）癫痫发作大鼠海马内ＣＣＫｍＲＮＡ表达明显增强（Ｐ〈０．０５－０．０１）,但癫痫反复发作的大嫌海马内ＣＣＫｍＲＮＡ表达的较癫痫发作一次大鼠明显减少（Ｐ〈０．０５）,海马ＣＡ主射Ｌ３６５后,ＣＣＫ８压抑癫痫发作的作用消失（Ｐ〈０．０１）。结论：ＣＣＫ     

大鼠排卵前促性腺激素释放激素释放过程中下丘脑前阿黑皮素基因表达和雌激素受体的水平

在大鼠动情前期促黄体生成激素峰形成前后测定了血清雌、孕激素水平变化、下丘脑正中隆起促黄体生成激素释放激素含量及弓状核区雌、孕激素受体密度改变和弓状核前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平变化。结果表明：动情前期１４小时时血清雌激素水平开始升高（Ｐ＜００５）,于１６小时时达高峰。此时弓状核雌激素受体密度降低（Ｐ＜００５）,孕激素受体密度增加（Ｐ＜００５）,前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平减少（Ｐ＜００５）。前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平与血清雌激素及正中隆起的促性腺激素释放激素水平呈负相关（Ｐ值分别小于００１及００５）,与弓状核雌激素受体密度变化呈正相关（Ｐ＜００１）。提示弓状核的前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平在此过程中可能受雌激素及其受体调控,下丘脑β内啡肽合成减少可能参与了排卵前促性腺激素释放激素／促黄体生成激素峰的形成。     

急性出血坏死性胰腺炎早期细菌易位规律及生长抑素的头孢噻甲羧肟对其影响

目的：探讨急性出血坏死性胰腺炎（ＡＨＮＰ）早期细菌易位规律及生长抑素（ｓｔｉｌａｍｉｎ）与头孢噻甲羧肟（Ｃｅｆｔａｚｉｄｉｍｅ）对其的影响。方法：应用去氧胆酸钠逆行胰管注射致大鼠ＡＨＮＰ模型。一、将ＳＤ大鼠随机分为模型组和对照组,１２及２４小时后采样。二、将ＳＤ大鼠模型随机分为：生理盐水治疗组,Ｓｔｉｌａｍｉｎ治疗组,Ｃｅｆｔａｚｉｄｉｍｅ治疗组,对照组同上。各组经腹腔用药,２４小时后采样,观察各组胰肝细菌学指标、小肠粘膜改变、肠组织ＭＤＡ含量及胰腺光镜病理学评分。结果：一、模型组胰肝细菌检出率及菌落计数明显高于假手术组（Ｐ＜００５）,检出菌以大肠杆菌和肠球菌为主,肠粘膜病变主要在回肠。二、肝胰菌落计数（ＣＦＵ／ｇ）：生长抑素组和抗生素组明显低于盐水组,（Ｐ＜００５）。抗生素组检出的细菌以肠球菌为主。生长抑素组肠粘膜病变较其它组明显减轻,且肠组织ＭＤＡ含量明显减少（Ｐ＜００１）,除出血外（Ｐ＜００５）胰腺病理评分较其它组未见显著差异。结论：ＡＨＮＰ早期应用抗生素和生长抑素能减轻细菌的肠道透壁易位,但不能阻止耐药菌易位。生长抑素腹腔用药能保护肠粘膜屏障。其机理与减轻氧自由基对肠道损伤有关     

粉防己碱抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖及对HSP70和p53表达的影响

目的：观察粉防己碱（Ｔｅｔ）对ＶＳＭＣ增殖的作用及对热应激蛋白７０ｋｄ（ＨＳＰ７０）及其ｍＲＮＡ和抑癌基因ｐ５３ｍＲＮＡ的影响。方法：用内皮素建立培养的血管平滑肌细胞增殖模型。采用氚－胸腺嘧啶核苷（［３Ｈ］ＴｄＲ）掺入法流式细胞术,Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ及Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ杂交方法。结果：Ｔｅｔ能逆转内皮素所致的［３Ｈ］ＴｄＲ掺入量增多（Ｐ＜０．０１）,阻止血管平滑肌细胞由静止期（Ｇ０／Ｇ１期）进入ＤＮＡ合成期（Ｓ期）和有丝分裂期（Ｇ２／Ｍ期）,并能逆转内皮素引起的ＨＳＰ７０及ｍＲＮＡ表达增强（Ｐ＜０．０１或Ｐ＜０．０５）,ｐ５３抑癌基因ｍＲＮＡ表达减弱（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：Ｔｅｔ能抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖,与ＨＳＰ７０及ｐ５３的调控有关     

CCK-8对癫痫发作大鼠脑内SOD和MDA的影响

目的和方法：采用核团微量注射、光化学分析等实验方法,观察大鼠脑内ＳＯＤ和ＭＤＡ在ＣＣＫ－８调节癫痫发作中的变化。结果：①与下沉大鼠比较,遗传性听源性癫痫易感大鼠皮层、海马、下丘脑及垂体内ＳＯＤＦ活性、ＭＤＡ含量无显著差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）;②大鼠癫痫发作后,上述区域内ＳＯＤ活性明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）,而ＭＤＡ含量明显增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,若癫痫发作次数增加,该变化愈显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）;③大鼠海马     

大鼠排卵前促性腺激素释放激素释放过程中下丘脑前阿黑皮素基因表达 …

在大鼠动情前期促黄体生成激素峰形成前后测定了血清雌、孕激素水平变化、下丘脑正中隆起促黄体生成激素释放激素含量及弓状核区雌、孕激素受体密度改变和弓状核前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平变化。结果表明：动情前期１４小时时血清雌激素水平开始升高（Ｐ〈０．０５）,于１６小时时达高峰。此时状核雌激素受体密度降低（Ｐ〈０．０５）,孕激素受体密度增加（Ｐ〈０．０５）,前阿黑皮素ｍＲＮＡ水平减少（Ｐ〈０．０５）。前阿黑皮素ｍ     

应激引起血压升高大鼠血管升压素V1受体mRNA水平改变

实验在雄性ＳｐｒａｇｕｅＤａｗｌｅｙ 大鼠上进行。实验动物被随机分为对照组和应激组, 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２ ｈ 。应激组大鼠在接受连续１５ ｄ 的慢性应激刺激后, 其尾动脉收缩压与对照动物相比有显著升高。对照组为１６－２５ ±０－６３ｋＰａ （ｎ ＝ ７） ; 应激组为１９－５５ ±１－４５ ｋＰａ （ｎ ＝ ８, Ｐ＜ ０－０５） 。用ＲＴＰＣＲ 结合Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ 印迹核酸分子杂交技术观察到, 血管升压素（ｖａｓｏｐｒｅｓｓｉｎ, ＡＶＰ）Ｖ１ 受体ｍＲＮＡ 广泛存在于大鼠下丘脑、皮质、延髓等部位以及心脏、肝脏、肾脏等组织中。用定量ＰＣＲ 方法观察到, 大鼠在接受慢性应激刺激之后, 其大脑顶叶皮质、下丘脑及延髓组织中ＡＶＰＶ１ 受体ｍＲＮＡ 水平均显著低于正常大鼠（ 顶叶皮质： Ｐ＜ ０－０５ ; 下丘脑： Ｐ＜ ０－０１ ; 延髓： Ｐ＜ ０－００１） , 而心脏、肝脏及肾脏组织中的ＡＶＰＶ１ 受体ｍＲＮＡ水平与正常大鼠相比均无明显差别（ 心脏： Ｐ＞ ０－０５ ; 肝脏： Ｐ＞ ０－０５ ; 肾脏：Ｐ＞ ０－０５） 。上述结果提示, 慢性应激刺激可引起大鼠不同部位脑组织ＡＶＰＶ１ 受体合成水平下调, 可能导致     

脑啡肽增强胶质细胞的神经营养作用与NO生成减少有关

本文在ＳＤ大鼠大脑皮层胶质细胞神经元共培养模式上,以神经元存活、突起生长、生长相关蛋白４３（ｇｒｏｗｔｈａｓｏｃｉａｔｅｄｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ４３,ＧＡＰ４３）ｍＲＮＡ的表达为指标,观察了脑啡肽对胶质细胞神经营养作用的影响,并对其机理作了初步探讨。结果表明,经脑啡肽处理的胶质细胞能使神经元的存活计数增加２８％（Ｐ＜００５）,单个神经元突起总长度增加１１％（Ｐ＜００５）,最长突起长度增加１６％（Ｐ＜００５）,ＧＡＰ４３ｍＲＮＡ的表达增加２６％（Ｐ＜００５）。然后又观察了脑啡肽（１０－６～１０－１２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对培养胶质细胞生成一氧化氮（ＮＯ）的影响。结果表明,浓度为１０－８,１０－１０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的脑啡肽能明显抑制其生成（Ｐ＜００５）。结果提示,脑啡肽可能增强胶质细胞的神经营养作用,其机制之一可能是通过抑制胶质细胞ＮＯ的生成。     

全蝎抗癫痫发作敏感性的阿片肽机制

红藻氨酸（ＫａｉｎｉｃＡｃｉｄ,ＫＡ）癫痫模型,探讨全蝎抗癫痫发作敏感性长期增强的阿片肽机制。本实验选用ＳＤ大鼠,随机分为两组,分别给予生理盐水（ＮＳ）和全蝎粗提液灌胃１０天,１０天后两组均分别颈部皮下注射ＮＳ和惊厥剂量（１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）的ＫＡ,再分别继续给予ＮＳ和全蝎粗提液灌胃１０天后,用阈下剂量（５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）的ＫＡ检测癫痫敏感性;用Ｆｏｓ免疫反应活性检测海马结构中神经元的兴奋性;用原位杂交技术检测海马脑啡肽原（ＰＥＮＫ）ｍＲＮＡ的动态变化过程。结果显示：实验对照组大鼠癫痫行为敏感性明显增强,脑内癫痫敏感性相关脑区海马齿状回颗粒细胞（ＤＧＣｓ）ｃ－Ｆｏｓ免疫反应阳性细胞数目明显增加,同时海马内具有致癫痫作用的脑啡肽原（ＰＥＮＫ）ｍＲＮＡ表达也明显增加;而实验组动物未见上述改变。本工作证实中药全蝎有明显降低海马神经元兴奋性及抗癫痫发作敏感性形成的作用,并提示这很可能与其抑制ＰＥＮＫｍＲＮＡ表达增加有关     

Amygdala kindling differentially regulates the expression of the elements involved in TRH transmission

Subthreshold electrical stimulation of the amygdala (kindling) activates neuronal pathways increasing the expression of several neuropeptides including thyrotropin releasing-hormone (TRH). Partial kindling enhances TRH expression and the activity or its inactivating ectoenzyme; once kindling is established (stage V), TRH and its mRNA levels are further increased but TRH-binding and pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase II (PPII) activity decreased in epileptogenic areas. To determine whether variations in TRH receptor binding or PPII activity are due to regulation of their synthesis, mRNA levels of TRH receptors (R1, R2) and PPII were semi-quantified by RT-PCR in amygdala, frontal cortex and hippocampus of kindled rats sacrificed at stage II or V. Increased mRNA levels of PPII were found at stage II in amygdala and frontal cortex, and of pro-TRH and TRH-R2, in amygdala and hippocampus. At stage V, pro-TRH mRNA levels increased and those of PPII, decreased in the three regions; TRH-R2 mRNA levels diminished in amygdala and frontal cortex and of TRH-R1 only in amygdala. In situ hybridization analyses revealed, at stage II, enhanced TRH-R1 mRNA levels in dentate gyrus and amygdala while decreased in piriform cortex; those of TRH-R2 increased in amygdala, CA2, dentate gyrus, piriform cortex, thalamus and subiculum and of PPII, in CAs and piriform cortex. In contrast, at stage V decreased expression of TRH-R1 occurred in amygdala, CA2/3, dentate gyrus and piriform cortex; of TRH-R2 in CA2, thalamus and piriform cortex, and of PPII in CA2, and amygdala. The magnitude of changes differed between ipsi and contralateral side. These results support a trans-synaptic modulation of all elements involved in TRH transmission in conditions that stimulate the activity of TRHergic neurons. They show that reported changes in PPII activity or TRH-binding caused by kindling relate to regulation of the expression of TRH receptors and degrading enzyme.     

Autoradiographic Analysis of [3H]Imipramine Binding in the Human Brain Postmortem: Effects of Age and Alcohol

In vitro quantitative autoradiography of high-affinity [3H]imipramine binding sites was performed on 16 human brains postmortem. The densities of binding sites were highest in the hypothalamus. Next, in descending order, were the basal and lateral nuclei of the amygdala; substantia innominata; insular cortex; the central nucleus of the amygdala; the anterior nucleus of the thalamus; the head of the caudate nucleus; portions of the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex; claustrum; the granular layer of the dentate gyrus; substantia nigra; the pyramidal layer of CA fields; globus pallidus; red nucleus; and white matter. Imipramine binding was found to increase with age in a region-specific manner. The presence of alcohol had a similar effect, which was most pronounced in the hippocampus. Sex and time from death to autopsy did not affect imipramine binding, in our sample.     

电惊厥及电刺激耳大神经抗惊厥时大鼠海马生长抑素的变化

本工作选用电惊厥大鼠为实验性癫痫模型,观察了电刺激耳大神经对大鼠电惊厥发作的影响,结果表明：电刺激耳大神经能抑制电惊厥诱导的大脑皮层痫样放电,并可以明显缓解惊厥症状。应用免疫组织化学和原位杂交方法观察了电惊厥及电刺激耳大神经抗惊厥后海马神经元生长抑素及其mRNA的变化。结果显示：电惊厥时海马CA4区、下托处生长抑素免疫反应明显减弱,生长抑素mRNA表达显著增高;电刺激耳大神经抗惊厥后,CA4区,下托处生长抑素免疫反应明显增强。生长抑素mRNA表达显著下降。提示：电惊厥时海马生长抑素释放增加,生长抑素基因表达增强,生长抑素的合成增加;电刺激耳大神经抗惊厥后海马生长抑素释放减少,生长抑素基因表达下降,生长抑素的合成减少;电刺激耳大神经对电惊厥的抑制作用与其在海马调控生长抑素基因的表达有关。     

Spastin in the human and mouse central nervous system with special reference to its expression in the hippocampus of mouse pilocarpine model of status epilepticus and temporal lobe epilepsy

In the present in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical studies in the mouse central nervous system (CNS), a strong expression of spastin mRNA and protein was found in Purkinje cells and dentate nucleus in the cerebellum, in hippocampal principal cells and hilar neurons, in amygdala, substantia nigra, striatum, in the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves and in different layers of the cerebral cortex except piriform and entorhinal cortices where only neurons in layer II were strongly stained. Spastin protein and mRNA were weakly expressed in most of the thalamic nuclei. In selected human brain regions such as the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, substania nigra and striatum, similar results were obtained. Electron microscopy showed spastin immunopositive staining in the cytoplasma, dendrites, axon terminals and nucleus. In the mouse pilocarpine model of status epilepticus and subsequent temporal lobe epilepsy, spastin expression disappeared in hilar neurons as early as at 2h during pilocarpine induced status epilepticus, and never recovered. At 7 days and 2 months after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus, spastin expression was down-regulated in granule cells in the dentate gyrus, but induced expression was found in reactive astrocytes. The demonstration of widespread distribution of spastin in functionally different brain regions in the present study may provide neuroanatomical basis to explain why different neurological, psychological disorders and cognitive impairment occur in patients with spastin mutation. Down-regulation or loss of spastin expression in hilar neurons may be related to their degeneration and may therefore initiate epileptogenetic events, leading to temporal lobe epilepsy.     

Increased levels of messenger RNAs for neurotrophic factors in the brain during kindling epileptogenesis.

Kindling, induced by repeated subconvulsive electrical or chemical stimulations leads to progressive and permanent amplification of seizure activity, culminating in generalized seizures. We report that kindling induced by electrical stimulation in the ventral hippocampus leads to a marked and transient increase in mRNA for NGF and BDNF in the dentate gyrus, the parietal cortex, and the piriform cortex. BDNF mRNA increased also in the pyramidal layer of hippocampus and in the amygdaloid complex. No change was seen in the level of HDNF/NT-3 mRNA. The increased expression of NGF and BDNF mRNAs was not influenced by pretreatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, but was partially blocked by the quisqualate, AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX. The presumed subsequent increase of the trophic factors themselves may be important for kindling-associated plasticity in specific neuronal systems in the hippocampus, which could promote hyperexcitability and contribute to the development of epileptic syndromes.     

Choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and somatostatin in the kainic acid model for chronic temporal lobe epilepsy

The aim of the study was to investigate neurochemical changes in a kainic acid (KA; 10 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced spontaneous recurrent seizure model of epilepsy, 6 months after the initial KA-induced seizures. The neuronal markers of cholinergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic systems, i.e. choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities, and a marker for neuropeptide, i.e. level of somatostatin, have been investigated. The brain regions investigated were the hippocampus, amygdala/piriform cortex, caudate nucleus, substantia nigra and the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital cortices. Six months after KA injection, reduced ChAT activity was observed in the amygdala/piriform cortex (47% of control; p<0.001), increased ChAT activity in the hippocampus (119% of control; p<0.01) and normal ChAT activity in the other brain regions. The activity of GAD was significantly increased in all analysed cortical regions (between 146 and 171% of control), in the caudate nucleus (144% of control; p<0.01) and in the substantia nigra (126% of control; p<0.01), whereas in the amygdala/piriform cortex, the GAD activity was moderately lowered. The somatostatin level was significantly increased in all cortical regions (between 162 and 221% of control) as well as in the hippocampus (119% of control), but reduced in the amygdala/piriform cortex (45% of control; p<0.01). Six months after KA injection, the somatostatin:GAD ratio was lowered in the amygdala/piriform cortex (49% of control) and in the caudate nucleus (41% of control), whereas it was normal in the hippocampus and moderately increased in the cortical brain regions. A positive correlation was found between seizure severity and the reduction of both ChAT activities and somatostatin levels in the amygdala/piriform cortex. The results show a specific pattern of changes for cholinergic, GABAergic and somatostatinergic activities in the chronic KA model for epilepsy. The revealed data suggest a functional role for them in the new network that follows spontaneous repetitive seizures.     

Lithium/pilocarpine status epilepticus-induced neuropathology of piriform cortex and adjoining structures in rats is age-dependent

Distribution of LiCl/pilocarpine status epilepticus-induced neuronal damage was studied in the piriform cortex and in adjoining structures in 12-day-old, 25-day-old and adult rats. No distinct structural and neuronal alterations were detected in the basal telencephalon in 12-day-old rats surviving status epilepticus (SE) for one week or two months. In 25-day-old rats a decrease in Nissl staining was evident. There was also cell loss and gliosis in the caudal 2/3 of the piriform cortex, in the superficial amygdaloid nuclei, in the dorsal and ventral endopiriform nucleus and in the rostrolateral part of the entorhinal cortical area. In adult animals, the topography of neuropathological changes in the basal telencephalon was comparable to those in 25-day-old rats. The damage in the caudal 2/3 or caudal half of the piriform cortex in adult rats with survival times one week or two months was characterized by a marked loss of neurons and striking glial infiltration. The thickness of the piriform cortex and superficial amygdaloid nuclei was significantly reduced. In 25-day-old and in adult animals the sublayer IIb and layer III of the piriform cortex was more affected, while sublayer IIa was less damaged. Parvalbumin (PV) immunocytochemistry revealed a significant decrease in the number of PV-immunoreactive neurons in the rostral piriform cortex and in the dorsal claustrum in animals surviving for two months.     

Changes in Cholinergic but Not in GABAergic Markers in Amygdala, Piriform Cortex, and Nucleus Basalis of the Rat Brain Following Systemic Administration of Kainic Acid

Three days after systemic administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg, s.c.), selected cholinergic markers (choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, and high-affinity choline uptake) and GABAergic parameters [benzodiazepine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors] were studied in the frontal and piriform cortex, dorsal hippocampus, amygdaloid complex, and nucleus basalis. Kainic acid treatment resulted in a significant reduction of choline acetyltransferase activity in the piriform cortex (by 20%), amygdala (by 19%), and nucleus basalis (by 31%) in comparison with vehicle-injected control rats. A lower activity of acetylcholinesterase was also determined in the piriform cortex following parenteral kainic acid administration. [3H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors was significantly decreased in the piriform cortex (by 33%), amygdala (by 39%), and nucleus basalis (by 33%) in the group treated with kainic acid, whereas such binding in the hippocampus and frontal cortex was not affected by kainic acid. Sodium-dependent high-affinity choline uptake into cholinergic nerve terminals was decreased in the piriform cortex (by 25%) and amygdala (by 24%) after kainic acid treatment. In contrast, [3H]flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptors and [3H]muscimol binding to GABA receptors were not affected 3 days after parenteral kainic acid application in any of the brain regions studied. The data indicate that kainic acid-induced limbic seizures result in a loss of cholinergic cells in the nucleus basalis that is paralleled by degeneration of cholinergic fibers and cholinoceptive structures in the piriform cortex and amygdala, a finding emphasizing the important role of cholinergic mechanisms in generating and/or maintaining seizure activity.     

Kainic acid—induced excitotoxicity is associated with a complex c-Fos and c-Jun response which does not preclude either cell death or survival

c-fos and c-jun mRNA induction and c-Fos and c-Jun protein expression were examined in the brains of adult rats subjected to systemic kainic acid (KA) injection at convulsant doses. Induction of c-fos and c-jun mRNA, as seen with in situ hybridization, occurred in the piriform and entorhinal cortices, neocortex, amygdala, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and discrete thalamic nuclei. This was followed by c-Fos protein expression, as revealed with immunohistochemistry, in the same regions. However, the distribution of c-Jun protein expression differed depending on the antibody used. The distribution of cells immunostained with the antibody c-Jun (AB-1) was similar to that of c-jun mRNA, but the distribution of cells immunostained with the antibody c-Jun/AP1 (N) was restricted to a few neurons in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 and CA3, layer II of the piriform and entorhinal cortices, basal amygdala, and discrete thalamic nuclei. Although the regional distribution of c-Fos- and c-Jun-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus, layer II of the entorhinal and piriform cortices, basal amygdala, and discrete thalamic nuclei matched the distribution of cells committed to dying, c-Fos- and c-Jun-immunoreactive cells in the neocortex and dentate gyrus survived. Therefore, the present data show that c-fos and c-jun are not predictors of either cell death or survival, but rather, markers of cells sensitive to KA excitotoxicity. Western blots to c-Fos showed a double band at p62 in samples containing the hippocampus and entorhinal and piriform cortices (hip samples) and in samples containing the neocortex (cortex samples). The upper band was abolished following preincubation of the samples with alkaline phosphatase, thus suggesting c-Fos phosphorylation. Western blots to c-Jun (AB-1) showed a single band at about p39 in hip and cortex. However, Western blots to c-Jun/AP1 (N) identified two bands. One band at about p39 was seen in control rats and the cortex of KA-treated rats. Another band at p26 was observed only in hip samples of KA-treated rats. In addition, decreased c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK-1) expression, as revealed on Western blots, was coincidental with the appearance of the p26 c-Jun-immunoreactive band in KA-treated rats. These results show that c-Fos and different Jun-related antigens are expressed following KA excitotoxicity, and that posttranslational modifications involving phosphorylation of c-Fos and Jun(s) may occur following KA injection. These results also stress the necessity of examining the composition of Fos and Jun-related antigens and the metabolic state of Fos and Jun(s) in different experimental models of nervous system injury. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 33: 232–246, 1997     

In vitro autoradiographic localization of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) binding sites in the rat central nervous system

This paper describes the autoradiographic distribution of VIP binding sites in the rat central nervous system using monoiodinated ¹²³I-labeled VIP. High densities of VIP binding sites are observed in the granular layer of the dorsal dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, the dorsolateral and median geniculate nuclei of the thalamus as well as in the ventral part of the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus.