单次注射人工合成大麻素降低大鼠中脑腹侧背盖区多巴胺能神经元兴奋性北大核心CSCD

大麻成瘾可能维持一生。中脑腹侧背盖区(ventral tegmental area,VTA)作为投射到意识及情绪相关皮层和边缘系统的多巴胺能神经元的主要来源,是奖赏系统的关键部位之一,与药物成瘾密切相关。目前,对于VTA多巴胺能神经元在药物成瘾过程中的作用研究,主要集中在药物成瘾过程中突触可塑性的变化。已有研究表明,大麻素慢性作用5天后,易化了低频电刺激诱导VTA多巴胺能神经元产生突触传递的长时程减弱(long-term depression,LTD)效应,而此过程中多巴胺能神经元兴奋性的变化情况还未见报道。实验中,作者采用离体脑片膜片钳技术,观察单次注射人工合成大麻素HU210对大鼠VTA区多巴胺能神经元兴奋性的影响。结果显示,HU210作用后,神经元基强度增大,平均放电频率降低,其细胞膜电生理特性也发生了改变,表明单次注射人工合成大麻素HU210,降低了VTA多巴胺能神经元的兴奋性,提示神经元内在兴奋性的可塑性改变可能在药物成瘾中发挥作用。     

利用全细胞膜片钳技术记录大鼠脑片NMDA电流的研究*

目的: 采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录大鼠脑片实验中NMDA电流,并介绍诱发NMDA电流的自制刺激电极制作方法。方法: 在大鼠目标脑区快速取材并获取活性良好的脑片,分别通过含受体激动剂NMDA的孵育液灌流和电刺激诱发NMDA电流两种方式进行膜片钳记录;利用针灸针自制刺激电极。结果: 通过记录到大鼠脑片神经元的EPSC和AP可判断神经元的状态,比较两种方法诱导的NMDA电流幅度,即直接灌流受体激动剂NMDA(282.0±24.3) pA和自制刺激电极诱发(261.4±40.1)pA,二者电流幅度无明显差异(P＞0.05,n=4);自制刺激电极与进口刺激电极诱发的NMDA电流幅度分别为(267.2±36.5)pA vs (239.2±41.0)pA,二者电流幅度无明显差异(P＞0.05,n=4),证明自制刺激电极成功。结论: 大鼠脑片实验中,通过直接灌流激动剂与电刺激两种方式均可诱导NMDA电流,自制刺激电极为在脑片上记录诱发电流提供了一种经济、可靠的实验手段,便于各实验室应用。     

cAMP-PKA通路参与Ⅱ组代谢性谷氨酸受体对新生鼠离体延髓脑片呼吸节律性放电的调节

本研究旨在探讨cAMP-PKA通路在Ⅱ组代谢性谷氨酸受体对离体延髓脑片呼吸节律性放电的影响中的作用。制作新生大鼠离体延髓脑片标本,主要包含延髓面神经后核内侧区(medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis,mNRF),并完整保留舌下神经根,以改良Kreb’s液(modified Kreb’s solution,MKS)恒温灌流脑片,用吸附电极记录舌下神经根呼吸节律性放电活动(respiratory rhythmical discharge activity,RRDA)。待放电活动稳定后,第1组灌流Ⅱ组代谢性谷氨酸受体特异性拮抗剂(2S)-α-ethylglutamic acid(EGLU)10min,第2组先给予cAMP-PKA通路激动剂Forskolin灌流10min,而后MKS洗脱至正常,灌流cAMP-PKA通路抑制剂Rp-cyclic3’,5’-hydrogen phosphorothioate adenosine triethylammonium salt(Rp-cAMPS)10min,第3组首先给予Rp-cAMPS10min,洗脱后联合Rp-cAMPS+EGL...     

胍丁胺对大鼠海马 CA1区神经元放电的影响

应用细胞外记录单位放电技术,在大鼠海马脑片上观察了胍丁胺(agmatine,Agm)对CAl区神经元放电的影响。实验结果如下：(1)在47个海马脑片放电单位上灌流Agm(0．1—1．0μmol／L)2min,有38个单位(80．9％)自发放电频率明显降低,且呈剂量依赖性,9个单位(19．1％)无明显的反应;(2)预先用0．2mmol／L的L-谷氨酸(L-glutamate,L-Glu)灌流12个海马脑片放电单位,有9个单位(75％)放电频率明显增加,表现为癫痫样放电,在此基础上灌流Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,其癫痫样放电被抑制;(3)在7个海马脑片放电单位上给予L型钙通道激动剂Bay K8644(0．1μmoL／L)时,有6个单位(85．7％)放电频率明显增加,另外1个单位(14．3％)无明显变化,再给予Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,其放电频率被明显抑制;(4)13个CAl放电单位,灌流50μmoL／L一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester。(L-NAME)5min后其放电频率明显增加,在此基础上再给予Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,有11个单位(84．6％)的放电频率被抑制,有2个单位(15．4％)的变化不明显。上述结果提示：胍丁胺能抑制海马CAl区神经元自发放电以及由谷氨酸、BayK8644和L-NAME诱发的放电,这一抑制效应可能与胍丁胺阻断CAl区锥体细胞上的NMDA受体,并减少钙离子内流有关。     

左旋千金藤啶碱的非经典安定剂特性——电生理和行为的研究

在记录神经元放电频率的实验中,发现麻醉或麻痹大鼠给予DA受体拮抗剂SPD,使VTA,SNC和DA神经元放电频率增加.但随着剂量的增加,SPD选择性地使VTA的DA神经元放电完全抑制,可被DA受体激动剂APO所翻转.提示这种抑制作用可能是DI.但SPD不抑制SNCDA神经元放电.在计数自发放电的神经元数目的实验中,观察到:慢性给予SPD21d后,大鼠VTA部位自发放电的DA神经元数目减少,有量效关系.可被APO所翻转.相反,同样给药并不影响SNC部位自发放电的DA神经元数目.当急性给予SPD时,VTA自发放电的DA神经元数目也减少,而SNC自发放电的DA细胞数不受影响.在行为实验中,SPD能抑制APO引起的定型活动,但SPD本身引起的僵住症很弱,仅能维持15min,并且无剂量依赖关系.上述结果提示:SPD选择性抑制VTADA神经元,而对SNCDA神经元的抑制作用很弱,引起的锥体外系副作用弱,可能发展成为新一代的非经典安定剂.     

多巴胺的负调控中枢——缰核在抑郁症中的作用

腹侧被盖区(VTA)在大脑奖赏环路中起到核心调控作用。抑郁症中VTA的多巴胺能神经元电活动发生异常改变。近年来的研究发现,来自缰核的输入能够负调控VTA多巴胺神经元的电活动。在抑郁动物模型中,由于βCaMKII表达水平异常增加所引起的被过度活化的外侧缰核神经元,可以通过降低包括多巴胺在内的单胺水平,最终导致多种核心抑郁表型的产生。     

非NMDA受体参与双相呼气和吸气神经元电活动的调节

在新生大鼠延髓脑片上同步记录舌下神经根和双相呼气神经元／吸气神经元单位的放电活动,并在灌流的改良Kredbs液中先后加以非NMDA受体的激动剂KA和拮抗剂DNQX,观察对神经元单位放电的影响,以进一步探讨非NMDA受体在对双相呼气神经元之间交互兴奋和吸气神经元兴奋性突触输入中的作用,结果表明,使用非NMDA受体激动剂KA以后,双相呼气神经元的放电频率和蜂频率都明显增大,吸气神经元中期放电的频率和非NMDA受体激动剂KA以后,双相呼气神经元的放电频率和峰频率都明显增大,吸气神经元中期放电的频率和峰频率也显著增大,而早期和晚期放电的频率无明显改变,用相应拮抗剂以后,上述效应明显被抑制,结果提示,非NMDA受体参与了双相呼气神经元之间的交互兴奋作用,并且也介导了吸气神经元的兴奋性突触输入／     

腺苷A1受体在离体延髓脑片上对节律性呼吸的调制

实验旨在探讨腺苷A1受体在对基本呼吸节律调制中的可能作用。制作新生大鼠离体延髓脑片标本,主要包含面神经后核内侧区(themedial region of the nucleus retrofacialis,mNRF),并保留完整的舌下神经根。以改良Kreb‘s液灌流脑片,记录mNRF吸气神经元的电活动,并同步记录舌下神经根呼吸节律性放电(respiratory rhythmical discharge activity,RRDA)。在灌流液中先分别单独给予腺苷A1受体的特异性拮抗剂8-环戊-1,3-二丙基黄嘌呤(8-cyclopenty 1-1,3-dipropylxanthine,DPCPX)和特异性激动剂R-苯异丙基-腺苷(R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine,R-PIA);再分别先后给予R-PIA和R-PIA DPCPX,观察RRDA和吸气神经元电活动的变化。结果显示,给予腺苷A1受体拮抗剂DPCPX后,呼气时程和呼吸周期明显缩短,吸气神经元中期放电的频率和峰频率显著增大;给予腺苷Al受体激动剂R-PIA后,吸气时程、积分幅度和吸气神经元中期放电的频率和峰频率均显著降低,呼吸周期明显延长,且R-PIA的呼吸抑制作用可部分地被DPCPX逆转。实验结果提示,腺苷A1受体可能通过介导吸气神经元的抑制性突触输入参与节律性呼吸的调制。     

胍丁胺对大鼠穹隆下器神经元电活动的影响

应用细胞外记录单位放电技术,在73个大鼠穹隆下器脑片上观察了胍丁胺(agmatine,Agm)对神经元电活动的影响。实验结果如下：(1)在28个穹隆下器脑片上灌流Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,有24个单位(85．7％)自发放电频率明显降低,4个单位(14．3％)无明显变化：(2)预先用L-谷氨酸(0．3mmol／L)灌流,24个放电单位中有19个单位(79．2％)放电频率明显增加,表现为癫痫样放电,5个单位(20．8％)的变化不明显,在此基础上灌流Agm(1．0gmol／L)2min,有15个单位(78．9％)的癫痫样放电被抑制,另外4个单位(21．1％)无明显变化：(3)灌流L型钙通道激动剂Bay K-8644(0．1μmol／L),在12个神经元放电单位中有10个单位(83．3％)的放电频率明显增加,另外2个单位(16．7％)变化不明显,然后灌流Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,有8个单位(80％)的放电频率被抑制,其余无明显变化;(4)9个单位在灌流一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂N^G-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester(L-NAME,50μmol／L)后,其中6个单位(66．7％)放电频率明显增加,另外3个单位(33．3％)放电频率变化不明显,在此基础上再给予Agm(1．0μmol)2min,增加的放电频率被抑制。上述结果提示：胍丁胺可抑制大鼠穹隆下器神经元自发放电以及由L-谷氨酸,Bay K-8644和L-NAME诱发的放电,这一效应可能与胍丁胺阻断了神经元的NMDA受体,从而减少钙离子内流有关。     

一氧化氮对谷氨酸诱发的大鼠海马脑片CA1区神经元活动的抑制

用细胞外记录单位放电技术,在大鼠海马脑片上观察了Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－ａｒｇ）、Ｎ－硝基Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－ＮＮＡ）及ＳＩＮ－１对谷氨酸（ｇｌｕｔａｍａｔｅ,Ｇｌｕ）诱导的ＣＡ１区神经元放电的影响。旨在了解Ｌ－精氨酸：ＮＯ通路在谷氨酸诱发的海马放电中的作用及其可能的机制。结果如下：（１）用ＧｌＵ（０．５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）灌流海马脑片１ｍｉｎ,１２个放电单位放电频率明显增加,表现为癫痫样放电;（２）海马脑片２ｍｉ     

慢性神经痛对抑郁状态以及中枢多巴胺神经元电生理的影响

目的：探讨大鼠慢性神经痛导致抑郁症状发生后,中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电活动的改变情况。方法：24只健康成年大鼠进行随机分组（n=12）：假手术组（Sham）大鼠仅进行坐骨神经分支暴露,坐骨神经损伤组（SNI）进行坐骨神经分支选择性损伤。在神经损伤后的第3、7、14、28、42、56天进行机械刺激计算缩足反射阈值,并进行糖水偏好、强迫游泳、旷场实验等行为学实验来评价大鼠是否发生抑郁症状;利用在体多通道电生理技术,对SNI组大鼠和假手术组大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区神经元分别进行记录分析。结果：与假手术组比较,SNI组大鼠的机械痛阈值明显降低（P<0.01）;在旷场实验、糖水偏好、强迫游泳较对照组出现显著性差异（P<0.01）;大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电频率、簇状放电活动中动作电位的数量明显增加（P<0.01）。结论：慢性疼痛可以导致大鼠抑郁相关症状的发生,中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电频率增加与疼痛后抑郁发生相关。     

Inhibition by talipexole, a thiazolo-azepine derivative, of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

A microiontophoretic study using rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate and immobilized with gallamine triethiodide was carried out to compare the effect of talipexole (B-HT 920 CL2:2-amino-6-allyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo [4,5-d]-azepine-dihydrochloride), a dopamine autoreceptor agonist, on dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to non-dopaminergic neurons in the VTA. VTA neurons were classified into two types according to the responses to antidromic stimulation of the nucleus accumbens (Acc): type I neurons with a long spike latency (8.69 +/- 0.24 msec) upon Acc stimulation and low spontaneous firing rate (6.80 +/- 1.34/sec), and type II neurons with a short latency (2.76 +/- 0.20 msec) and high spontaneous firing rate (26.77 +/- 7.05/sec), probably corresponding to dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons, respectively. In type I neurons, microiontophoretic application of talipexole and dopamine inhibited antidromic spike generation elicited by Acc stimulation, and talipexole-induced inhibition was antagonized by domperidone (dopamine D-2 antagonist). In type II neurons, however, the antidromic spikes were not affected by either talipexole or dopamine. Furthermore, spontaneous firing was also inhibited by iontophoretically applied talipexole and dopamine in most type I neurons, but rarely affected by either drug. Inhibitory effects of talipexole were antagonized by domperidone. These results suggest that talipexole acts on dopamine D-2 receptors, thereby inhibiting the dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.     

Functional diversity of ventral midbrain dopamine and GABAergic neurons

Recent findings indicate that VTA and SN dopaminergic (DA) and GABAergic neurons form subpopulations that are divergent in their electrophysiological features, vulnerability to neurodegeneration, and regulation by neuropeptides. This diversity can be correlated with the anatomical organization of the VTA and SN and their inputs and outputs. In this review we describe the heterogeneity in ion channels and firing patterns, especially burst firing, in subpopulations of dopamine neurons. We go on to describe variations in vulnerability to neurotoxic damage in models of Parkinson’s disease in subgroups of DA neurons and its possible relationship to developmental gene regulation, the expression of different ion channels, and the expression of different protein markers, such as the neuroprotective marker calbindin. The electrophysiological properties of subgroups of GABAergic midbrain neurons, patterns of expression of protein markers and receptors, possible involvement of GABAergic neurons in a number of processes that are usually attributed exclusively to dopaminergic neurons, and the characteristics of a subgroup of neurons that contains both dopamine and GABA are also discussed.     

Comparison of the effect of morphine on locus coeruleus noradrenergic and ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons in vitro

Extracellular single-cell recordings were performed on rat brain slices to compare the effects of morphine on noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) and on dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Morphine inhibited the firing of LC neurons at very low concentrations. The mean IC50 was 13.4 +/- 1nM (mean +/- SEM) (n = 7). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of morphine was identical in slices obtained from rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate or from non-anesthetized rats. On the contrary, morphine did not have any influence on the firing of most VTA neurons (N = 20) up to 100 microM, and did not modify the sensitivity of their autoreceptors (N = 8). It is concluded that morphine potently inhibits the firing of LC neurons in vitro both in slices of anesthetized and not anesthetized animals and has no direct excitatory effect on VTA dopaminergic neurons of the rat.     

Hierarchical control of dopamine neuron-firing patterns by nicotinic receptors

Nicotine elicits dopamine release by stimulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on dopaminergic neurons. However, a modulation of these neurons by endogenous acetylcholine has not been described. We recorded, in vivo, the spontaneous activity of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA of anaesthetized wt and nAChR knockout mice and their response to nicotine injections. Deleting alpha7 or beta2 subunits modified the spontaneous firing patterns, demonstrating their direct stimulation by endogenous acetylcholine. Quantitative analysis further revealed four principal modes of firing, each depending on the expression of particular nAChR subunits and presenting unique responses to nicotine. The prominent role of the beta2 subunit was further confirmed by its selective lentiviral reexpression in the VTA. These data suggest a hierarchical control of dopaminergic neuron firing patterns by nAChRs: activation of beta2*-nAChR switches cells from a resting to an excited state, whereas activation of alpha7*-nAChRs finely tunes the latter state but only once beta2*-nAChRs have been activated.     

Stimulation of midbrain dopaminergic structures modifies firing rates of rat lateral habenula neurons

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are midbrain structures known to be involved in mediating reward in rodents. Lateral habenula (LHb) is considered as a negative reward source and it is reported that stimulation of the LHb rapidly induces inhibition of firing in midbrain dopamine neurons. Interestingly, the phasic fall in LHb neuronal activity may follow the excitation of dopamine neurons in response to reward-predicting stimuli. The VTA and SNpc give rise to dopaminergic projections that innervate the LHb, which is also known to be involved in processing painful stimuli. But it's unclear what physiological effects these inputs have on habenular function. In this study we distinguished the LHb pain-activated neurons of the Wistar rats and assessed their electrophysiological responsiveness to the stimulation of the VTA and SNpc with either single-pulse stimulation (300 μA, 0.5 Hz) or tetanic stimulation (80 μA, 25 Hz). Single-pulse stimulation that was delivered to either midbrain structure triggered transient inhibition of firing of ～90% of the LHb pain-activated neurons. However, tetanic stimulation of the VTA tended to evoke an elevation in neuronal firing rate. We conclude that LHb pain-activated neurons can receive diverse reward-related signals originating from midbrain dopaminergic structures, and thus participate in the regulation of the brain reward system via both positive and negative feedback mechanisms.     

The hippocampal-VTA loop: controlling the entry of information into long-term memory

In this article we develop the concept that the hippocampus and the midbrain dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) form a functional loop. Activation of the loop begins when the hippocampus detects newly arrived information that is not already stored in its long-term memory. The resulting novelty signal is conveyed through the subiculum, accumbens, and ventral pallidum to the VTA where it contributes (along with salience and goal information) to the novelty-dependent firing of these cells. In the upward arm of the loop, dopamine (DA) is released within the hippocampus; this produces an enhancement of LTP and learning. These findings support a model whereby the hippocampal-VTA loop regulates the entry of information into long-term memory.     

Firing properties of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in freely moving rats

Single unit recordings were obtained from putative dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of awake, freely moving rats. The cells exhibited waveforms, range of firing rates and types of firing patterns identical to those of identified DA neurons of anesthetized or paralyzed rats. Two firing patterns were observed: single spike activity and a bursting mode with spikes of progressively diminished amplitude and increased duration within each burst. The degree of burst firing varied considerably among the cells and individual cells sometimes switched from one pattern of firing (e.g. predominantly single spike) to another (e.g. bursting), although the determinants of these transitions are, at this time, unclear. Putative DA neurons were inhibited by i.v. apomorphine and excited by i.v. haloperidol. Haloperidol also reversed the apomorphine-induced inhibition of firing. Inhibitions and excitations were associated with a reduction and elevation, respectively, in burst firing. The effects of the two drugs were identical to their effects in immobilized rats. In several cases, a putative DA neuron was observed to fire all of its spikes in near coincidence with at least one other cell with identical electrophysiological characteristics. This form of interaction (i.e. presumed electrical coupling) between DA cells is only rarely observed in anesthetized or paralyzed rats and may play a significant role in the normal functioning of the nigrostriatal DA system.