电损毁大鼠杏仁中央核对脑桥臂旁核味觉神经元的影响

应用细胞外记录的电生理学方法,在乌拉坦麻醉的大鼠观察了电损毁双侧杏仁中央核前后脑桥臂旁核味觉神经元对四种基本味觉刺激(即氯化钠、盐酸、奎宁和蔗糖)反应的变化。根据对味觉刺激的优势反应,29个记录的味觉神经元中,有14个NaCl优势、9个HCl优势、3个QH2SO4优势和3个蔗糖优势反应神经元。损毁杏仁中央核明显增强臂旁核味觉神经元对盐酸和硫酸奎宁的反应(P＜0．01)。氯化钠优势、盐酸优势和奎宁优势反应神经元对盐酸和硫酸奎宁的反应在电损毁杏仁中央核后也明显增强。在破坏杏仁中央核后,臂旁核味觉神经元对氯化钠和硫酸奎宁苦味的分辨能力降低。以上结果提示,杏仁中央核在大鼠脑桥水平的味觉编码中发挥重要作用,它可能是通过参与对味觉的影响来调节机体的摄食行为。     

损毁大鼠杏仁中央核对不同味觉溶液摄入的影响

目的:研究大鼠杏仁中央核在味觉欣快感受中的作用,以探讨其在味觉指导下进行摄食行为调节的可能机制.方法:采用双瓶选择实验(味觉溶液vs水),观察电解损毁大鼠双侧CeA后对四种基本味觉溶液摄入的影响.结果:与对照组相比,CeA损毁明显降低了大鼠对0.03、0.1和0.3 mol/L氯化钠溶液,0.01、0.1和1.0 mmol/L柠檬酸溶液及10、20和50 μmol/L盐酸奎宁溶液的摄入,且其对相邻浓度的氯化钠、柠檬酸和盐酸奎宁的分辨能力也明显降低.但两组动物总的摄入量(味觉溶液和水)在各组实验中均无显著性差异.结论:CeA损毁可降低大鼠对味觉溶液的摄入,但对不同浓度溶液的影响不同.结果提示CeA可能通过影响中枢味觉评估机制,改变大鼠对不同味觉刺激的欣快阈值,从而参与摄食行为的调控.     

CNQX在小鼠脑不同类型突触分泌中的作用

目的:探讨6-氰基-7-硝基喹喔啉-2,3-二酮(CNQX)在小鼠脑不同类型突触分泌中的作用。方法:体外培养新生小鼠大脑皮层神经细胞与海马神经细胞,在加有不同浓度的CNQX的细胞外液中对细胞进行电生理记录,分别记录m EPSC的频率和e EPSC的幅值。结果:CNQX作用于诱发性神经递质释放的半抑制浓度(IC_(50))显著大于自发性神经递质释放的半抑制浓度,CNQX对自发性神经递质的释放作用效果更加明显。但对于不同脑区,CNQX的作用效果差异并不明显。结论:CNQX在阻断兴奋性神经递质自发释放和诱发释放时可能有不同的机制,但是并不具有脑区特异性。     

大鼠杏仁中央核内注射CRH对血压的影响及其中枢机制初探

在戊巴比妥钠麻醉的大鼠,观察杏仁中央核内微量注射促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素对血压的影响,并对其中枢机制进行初步探讨。结果如下：（１）ＣｅＡ内微量注射ＣＲＨ产生剂量依赖血压升高,这种升压效应一般出现在 注射后５ｍｉｎ左右,可维持１ｈ以上。（２）ＣｅＡＣＲＨ体拮抗ａ－ｈｅｌｉｃａｌＣＲＨ９－４１,能取消ＣｅＡ内注射ＣＲＨ引起的升压效应。（３）侧脑室内给予纳洛酮,显著减弱ＣｅＡ内注射ＣＲＨ引起的升压效应。     

杏仁中央核注射β—内啡肽对大鼠血压和心率的影响及其机制的分析

本工作采用微量注射法向大鼠杏仁中央核注射β－Ｅｎｄ对大鼠血压和心率的影响,并对其作用机制进行初步分析。实验结果表明：（１）β－Ｅｎｄ（１００,２５０ｐｇ／１μｌ）可引起血压降低和心率减慢,（２）纳洛酮及β－Ｅｎｄ抗血清均可拮抗β－Ｅｎｄ的效应。（３）酚妥拉明及心得安均可翻转β－Ｅｎｄ的降低血压和减慢心率的效应。结果提示;杏仁中央核注射β－Ｅｎｄ引起的心血管效应是通过阿片受体内介的,并且与肾素能神经     

杏仁中央核损毁对缺钠大鼠钠欲行为启动和表达的影响

目的:探讨杏仁中央核(CeA)损毁对缺钠大鼠钠欲行为启动和表达的影响。方法:将18只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组(n=6):双侧Ce A损毁组、假损毁组和不损毁组,手术恢复后给予大鼠14 d低钠饲料摄食以建立缺钠大鼠模型,运用单笼双瓶选择测试方法观察缺钠大鼠在24 h内5个不同时间段对0.3 mol/L NaCl和自由饮水的摄入情况。应用免疫荧光化学染色方法观察杏仁中央核损毁与否对缺钠或正常大鼠孤束核内醛固酮敏感神经元活动的影响。结果:低钠饮食14 d后,大鼠对0.3 mol/L NaCl 24 h内饮用量和偏爱率比低钠饮食前明显增加(P<0.01);杏仁中央核损毁后缺钠大鼠对0.3 mol/L Na Cl溶液的摄入量和偏爱率显著下降(P<0.01)。杏仁中央核损毁对低钠饮食诱发的大鼠孤束核内醛固酮敏感神经元活动增加没有影响。结论:低钠饮食诱导大鼠钠欲行为表达增加;杏仁中央核损毁压抑缺钠大鼠钠欲行为的表达,而对缺钠大鼠的钠欲行为的启动没有影响。     

兔杏仁中央核中心区微量注射吗啡,纳洛酮对膈神经放电的影响

实验在24只家兔身上观察了微量注射吗啡、纳洛酮于杏仁中央核(ACE)中心区对膈神经放电的影响,同时监测动脉血压,主要结果如下:(1)ACE中心区微量注射m吗啡,不同动物出现两种不同的呼吸效应,一为吸气时程延长,膈神经放电积分幅值升高;二为膈神经放电积分幅值下降,呼吸时程无明显变化。(2)ACE中心区微量注射纳洛酮,呼吸频率增加,积分幅值升高,吸气时程缩短。(3)预先注射纳洛酮,可阻断吗啡在ACE中心区的吸气延长效应,而对其它的呼吸指标不产生影响。提示:ACE神经元上可能存在有内源性吗啡受体,内源性吗啡通过其受体可对呼吸产生影响。     

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。     

杏仁中央核注射β－内啡肽对大鼠血压和心率的影响及其机制的分析

本工作采用微量注射法向大鼠杏仁中央核注射β－Ｅｎｄ，观察β－Ｅｎｄ对大鼠血压和心率的影响，并对其作用机制进行初步分析。实验结果表明：（１）β－Ｅｎｄ（１００，２５０ｐｇ／１μｌ）可引起血压降低和心率减慢，（２）纳洛酮及β－Ｅｎｄ抗血清均可拮抗β－Ｅｎｄ的效应。（３）酚妥拉明及心得安均可翻转β－Ｅｎｄ的降低血压和减慢心率的效应。结果提示：杏仁中央核注射β－Ｅｎｄ引起的心血管效应是通过阿片受体中介的，并且与肾上腺素能神经元的活动有关。     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核神经元对电刺激中脑中央灰质、内侧丘系的反应

本工作以玻璃微电极记录PVH神经元的单位放电。当用双极电极刺激CG和LM时,观察PVH神经元对刺激的反应。其中,刺激CG时,在284个PVH神经元中发生逆行反应的有4个单位,发生顺行反应的有47个单位。顺行反应分为两型:Ⅰ型对单刺激发生反应,Ⅱ型只对串刺激发生反应。刺激IIM时,未能观察到PVH神经元的反应。 实验结果表明,PVH与CG之间有双向连接,而PVH与LM之间在电生理学上未能证明有连接的存在。     

味觉刺激引起大鼠臂旁核神经元抑制性反应

本研究以轻度麻醉的大鼠为对象,应用细胞外微电极记录技术,观察并分析了脑桥臂旁核抑制性味觉神经元的自发活动及其对NaCl、HCl、盐酸奎宁（quinine HCl,QHCl））和蔗糖等四种基本味觉刺激的反应。共分析了18个具有自发活动的抑制性味觉神经元,自发放电频率分布在0．2～5．5Hz之间,平均放电频率（2．15±0．31）Hz。18个神经元中,1个神经元对单一味觉刺激呈抑制性反应,其余17个神经元对两种或两种以上的基本味觉刺激发生抑制性反应,且抑制具有潜伏期短、持续时间较长等特征。抑制持续时间5～80S,部分神经元表现为后抑制效应。根据神经元对四种基本味觉刺激呈抑制性反应的程度,将其分为NaCl优势神经元（n=8）,HCl优势神经元（n=3）,QHCl优势神经元n=3）和蔗糖优势神经元n=4）。其中NaCl优势神经元的反应谐宽最高（0．945）。这些神经元对欣快或厌恶刺激的区别能力较低。结果提示,在脑桥臂旁核存在对味觉刺激起抑制性反应的神经元,这些味觉神经元可能在味觉的调制及对欣快和厌恶刺激的编码中发挥重要的作用。     

The number and location of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons in the central gustatory system following electrical stimulation of the parabrachial nucleus in conscious rats

Electrical stimulation of the waist area (W) of the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) in conscious rats elicits stereotypical oromotor behaviors (Galvin et al. 2004). To identify neurons possibly involved in these behavioral responses, we used Fos immunohistochemistry to locate populations of neurons within central gustatory and oromotor centers activated by PBN stimulation. Dramatic increases in the numbers of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were observed in the ipsilateral PBN, nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), and central amygdala. The increase in neurally-activated cells within the ventral subdivision (V) of the rostral NST is particularly noteworthy because of its projections to medullary oromotor centers. A modest increase in labeled neurons occurred bilaterally within the gustatory cortex. Although there were trends for an increase in Fos-labeled neurons in the gustatory thalamus and medullary reticular formation, most changes in labeled neurons in these areas were not statistically significant. Linear regression analysis revealed a relationship between the number of taste reactivity (TR) behaviors performed during PBN stimulation and the number of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons in the caudal PBN and V of the rostral NST. These data support a role for neurons in W of the PBN and the ventral rostral NST in the initiation of TR behaviors.     

Morphological and physiological evidence of a synaptic connection between the lateral parabrachial nucleus and neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group in rats

Background

The descending noradrenergic (NAergic) system is one of the important endogenous analgesia systems. It has been suggested that noxious stimuli could activate descending NAergic system; nevertheless, the underlying neuronal circuit remains unclear. As NAergic neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group (A7) are a part of the descending NAergic system and the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) is an important brainstem structure that relays ascending nociceptive signal, we aimed to test whether LPB neurons have direct synaptic contact with NAergic A7 neurons.

Results

Stereotaxic injections of an anterograde tracer, biotinylated dextran-amine (BDA), were administered to LPB in rats. The BDA-labeled axonal terminals that have physical contacts with tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (presumed noadrenergic) neurons were identified in A7. Consistent with these morphological observations, the excitatory synaptic currents (EPSCs) were readily evoked in NAergic A7 neurons by extracellular stimulation of LPB. The EPSCs evoked by LPB stimulation were blocked by CNQX, a non-NMDA receptor blocker, and AP5, a selective NMDA receptor blocker, showing that LPB-A7 synaptic transmission is glutamatergic. Moreover, the amplitude of LPB-A7 EPSCs was significantly attenuated by DAMGO, a selective μ-opioid receptor agonist, which was associated with an increase in paired-pulse ratio.

Conclusions

Taken together, the above results showed direct synaptic connections between LPB and A7 catecholamine cell group, the function of which is subject to presynaptic modulation by μ-opioid receptors.     

Brain regions responsible for the expression of conditioned taste aversion in rats

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) is acquired when the ingestion of a food is followed by malaise. CTA is a kind of fear learning making animals avoid subsequent intake of the food and show aversive behavior to the taste of the food. To elucidate the brain regions responsible for the expression of CTA, our previous electrophysiological and recent c-fos immunohistochemical studies have been reviewed. Among a variety of brain regions including the parabrachial nucleus, amygdala, insular cortex, supramammillary nucleus, nucleus accumbens, and ventral pallidum that are involved in different phases of CTA expression, the enhanced taste sensitivity to facilitate detection of the conditioned stimulus may originate in the central nucleus of the amygdala and the hedonic shift, from positive to negative, may originate in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala.     

Effect of stereotactic ablation of the central nucleus of the amygdala on pain sensitivity among rats

The central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) is a terminal area of the major nociceptive ascending pathway, the spino-(trigemino)-parabrachio-amygdaloid tract. In our study, the Ce was bilaterally electrolytically lesioned in male albino rats. Nociception was assessed by the tail flick latency, which was later compared with the corresponding values in intact and sham-lesioned rats. Stereotactic electrolytic bilateral lesioning of the Ce significantly decreased the sensitivity to pain. In addition, the diurnal variation in the pain sensitivity observed in control animals was noticeably smoothed. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 231–234, May–June, 2006.     

Medullary taste responses are modulated by the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

Previous studies have shown a modulatory influence of limbic forebrain areas, such as the central nucleus of the amygdala and lateral hypothalamus, on the activity of taste-responsive cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), which receives gustatory afferent information, also sends descending axons to the NST. The present studies were designed to investigate the role of the BST in the modulation of NST gustatory activity. Extracellular action potentials were recorded from 101 taste-responsive cells in the NST of urethane-anesthetized hamsters and analyzed for a change in excitability following bilateral electrical stimulation of the BST. The response of NST taste cells to stimulation of the BST was predominately inhibitory. Orthodromic inhibitory responses were observed in 29 of 101 (28.7%) NST taste-responsive cells, with four cells inhibited bilaterally. An increase in excitability was observed in seven of the 101 (6.9%) NST taste cells. Of the 34 cells showing these responses, 25 were modulated by the ipsilateral BST and 15 by the contralateral; four were inhibited bilaterally and two inhibited ipsilaterally and excited contralaterally. The duration of inhibitory responses (mean = 177.9 ms) was significantly longer than that of excitatory responses (35.4 ms). Application of subthreshold electrical stimulation to the BST during taste trials inhibited or excited the taste responses of every BST-responsive NST cell tested with this protocol. NST neurons that were most responsive to sucrose, NaCl, citric acid or quinine hydrochloride were all affected by BST stimulation, although citric acid-best cells were significantly more often modulated and NaCl-best less often modulated than expected by chance. These results combine with excitatory and inhibitory modulation of NST neurons by the insular cortex, lateral hypothalamus and central nucleus of the amygdala to demonstrate extensive centrifugal modulation of brainstem gustatory neurons.     

Somatostatinergic projections from the central nucleus of the amygdala to the vagal nuclei

In the rat, somatostatin immunoreactivity was identified in neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala that were retrogradely labeled by injection of fluorescent dyes into the nucleus tractus solitarius and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. The double-labeled neurons are located in the medial subdivision of the central nucleus and appear to comprise less than one fifth of the descending pathway. These results suggest that somatostatin may act as a neurotransmitter in a pathway which mediates cardiovascular and other autonomic responses to fear-producing and other emotional stimuli.     

Increased dopamine release in vivo by estradiol benzoate from the central amygdaloid nucleus of Parkinson's disease model rats

In addition to the dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system, the properties of dopaminergic neurons in the mesolimbic system, such as the amygdala, are also of interest and importance because of their specific neuromodulatory effects in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using the fast cyclic voltammetry (FCV) technique, we present evidence to indicate that electrically-evoked dopamine (DA) release from the amygdala, especially the central amygdaloid nucleus (CAN), of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats was significantly enhanced with increasing doses of estradiol benzoate (EB; 30, 50 and 100 microg/kg). Impaired DA release from the amygdala of an OVX rat PD model can also be increased by EB treatment (50 microg/kg) to a level similar to that of controls. The well established neuroprotective effects of estrogen may be beneficial for reducing the dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in mesolimbic structures of rat PD models and PD patients.