腹腔内注射LPS和SEB诱发Ⅰ型IL-1受体在大鼠下丘脑室旁核和视上核的表达增强

目的　为揭示脑内参与神经免疫调节过程的部位和核团。方法　大鼠腹腔内给予细菌内毒素脂多糖 (LPS)或葡萄球菌肠毒素B (SEB) ,用免疫组织化学方法观察了Ⅰ型IL 1受体在脑内表达的变化。结果　Ⅰ型IL 1受体在正常成年大鼠脑内有广泛的表达 ,隔区、视前内侧区、新皮质、海马、下丘脑室旁核、视上核、下丘脑腹内侧核、弓状核和正中隆起等部位有较多Ⅰ型IL 1受体阳性细胞。与生理盐水对照组和非免疫应激对照组 (强迫游泳 )比较 ,LPS或SEB腹腔注射后大鼠下丘脑室旁核和视上核中表达Ⅰ型IL 1受体的细胞数量显著增加 ,染色加深 (P <0 0 5 )。阳性细胞的胞浆染色面积增大 ,突起染色的长度延长。结论　下丘脑室旁核和视上核在神经免疫调节过程中可能具有重要的作用。     

大鼠下丘脑视前区神经元内雌激素受体α的表达--免疫组织化学研究

了解雌激素受体α(estrogen receptor alpha, ERα)在大鼠脑的分布及大鼠下丘脑视前区雌激素受体样阳性神经元的生后发育规律.用免疫组织化学反应方法结合图像分析仪检测雌性大鼠下丘脑视前区雌激素受体样阳性神经元的数量和灰度值.ERα分布于Calleja岛、梨形核、外侧隔核、基底前脑胆碱能神经元各群、终纹床核、下丘脑内侧视前区、室周核、腹内侧核、弓状核和结节乳头核、再连合和前内侧丘脑核、杏仁核复合体、梨形皮质和穹窿下器官.相比之下,皮质和海马内仅见几个分散的 ERα样阳性神经元.而纹状体内未见ERα样阳性神经元.ERα免疫反应产物主要位于细胞核内,蓝黑色.在成年雌性大鼠下丘脑内侧视前区(medial preoptic area, MPA)神经元的胞浆和突起内可见较弱的ERα免疫反应产物.在MPA内,生后1天可见ERα表达,随着大鼠的生后发育,成年时达到高峰.与成年大鼠比较,老年雌性大鼠雌激素受体样阳性神经元数量减少10.05%,P＞0.05,差异无显著性;平均灰度减少41.57%,P＜0.05,差异有显著性.老年雌性大鼠下丘脑MPA内ERα表达下调,可能与卵巢功能减退而导致情感、记忆变化有关.     

青紫蓝兔体内Ghrelin的免疫组化定位

采用免疫组织化学方法研究了Ghrelin在青紫蓝兔(Oryctolagus cuniculus)体内的分布定位。结果显示,Ghrelin免疫阳性细胞分布于下丘脑、大脑皮质、延髓、脊髓、胃、小肠和大肠。下丘脑内的阳性神经元胞体主要分布于弓状核、室旁核、腹内侧核、背内侧核和下丘脑外侧区。胃肠道内的Ghrelin免疫阳性细胞存在两种类型,即"闭合型"细胞和"开放型"细胞。实验结果表明,兔体内Ghrelin的分布与人和其他动物的分布基本相似,但也存在一些差异。     

下丘脑室旁核orexin-A对大鼠摄食和胃动力影响及调控机制

目的:探讨下丘脑室旁核orexin-A对大鼠摄食和胃动力影响及调控机制。方法:采用免疫组化观察下丘脑室旁核(paraventricular nucleus,PVN)orexin受体表达情况;PVN注射orexin-A观察大鼠摄食、胃运动、胃酸分泌和胃排空的改变。结果:免疫组化实验显示大鼠PVN中存在orexin受体免疫阳性细胞。PVN注射orexin-A后,大鼠前三小时摄食增加,6 h和24 h摄食无显著改变。PVN微量注射orexin-A后,大鼠胃运动幅度和频率增加、胃排空增快并且胃酸分泌增多。[D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6可部分阻断orexin-A对摄食、胃运动、胃排空和胃酸分泌的促进作用,SB334867可完全阻断orexin-A对胃运动、胃排空和胃酸分泌的促进作用。结论:下丘脑室旁核orexin-A可能通过生长激素促泌素GHSR受体信号通路调控大鼠摄食及胃功能。     

电磁脉冲（EMP）辐照对雄性子代大鼠下丘脑GABA_A受体表达的影响

目的：观察电磁脉冲（EMP）辐照亲代大鼠后其雄性子代下丘脑GABAA受体表达的变化。方法：应用免疫组织化学及图像分析观察亲代大鼠接受EMP辐照后其雄性子代下丘脑GABAA受体表达的变化。结果：与对照组相比,100次脉冲组其雄性子代下丘脑室旁核GABAA受体阳性神经元增加,400次脉冲组光密度值显著增强;100次和400次脉冲组弓状核GABAA受体阳性神经元增加,光密度值增强。结论：电磁脉冲可以影响雄性子代下丘脑GABAA受体的表达,这可能与电磁脉冲辐射产生的远期遗传毒性有关。     

神农架川金丝猴投食群的攻击行为及等级序列

为探讨人工补食条件下川金丝猴的攻击行为在维持社会等级中的作用,2007 年1 ～ 6 月,采用行为取样法
和全事件记录法对神农架自然保护区投食群的攻击行为及等级序列进行研究。我们共记录到8 种攻击行为,按
频次多少依次为:咕叫、抓打、追赶、瞪眼、瞪咕、驱赶、抢食、打架。攻击行为的发起者在性别间和年龄间
均存在显著差异,雄性多于雌性,年龄间按次数多少依次为:成年猴、亚成年猴、青年猴、少年猴;承受者在
性别间和年龄间差异均不显著。社会单元内与单元间攻击行为差异显著,前者多于后者。一雄多雌单元间的等
级高低依次为:长毛单元、白头单元、红头单元。基于单元内攻击行为较多,建议适当扩大投食场,给每只个
体分别投食,以减少因争食发生的攻击行为。     

电磁脉冲(EMP)辐照对雄性子代大鼠下丘脑GABAA 受体表达的影响

目的:观察电磁脉冲(EMP)辐照亲代大鼠后其雄性子代下丘脑GABA<,A>受体表达的变化.方法:应用免疫组织化学及图像分析观察亲代大鼠接受 EMP 辐照后其雄性子代下丘脑 GABA<,A>受体表达的变化.结果:与对照组相比,100次脉冲组其雄性子代下丘脑室旁核GABA<,A>受体阳性神经元增加,400 次脉冲组光密度值显著增强;100次和400次脉冲组弓状核GABA<,A>受体阳性神经元增加,光密度值增强.结论:电磁脉冲可以影响雄性子代下丘脑GABA<,A>受体的表达,这可能与电磁脉冲辐射产生的远期遗传毒性有关.     

下丘脑室旁核内雌激素受体的表达与意义

下丘脑室旁核 (paraventricularnucleus ,PVN)包括大细胞部、小细胞部和背侧帽部等几个部分 ,其中大细胞部主要合成催产素和加压素 ,小细胞部主要合成促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素、甘丙肽等多种神经肽。研究发现PVN的神经内分泌活动受到雌激素的调节 ,进而影响动物的分娩、摄食、脂肪代谢、体重增加等生理功能。雌激素有α和 β两种受体 (即ER α和ER β)。在不同种属动物的PNV内两种雌激素受体的表达水平不同 ,如大鼠PVN主要表达ER β ,而小鼠PVN内除了表达ER β以外也能表达少量ER α ,提示两种ER在不同动物的PVN内功能可能不同 ,它们单独或协同介导雌激素在PVN内参与多种肽能神经元有关的生理功能。     

下丘脑室旁核胃动素对胃运动影响的探讨

目的 :研究下丘脑室旁核 (paraventricularnucleus,PVN)胃动素对胃运动调节的参与作用及机制。 方法 :应用免疫组织化学的方法检测室旁核内胃动素神经元的表达情况及室旁核与延髓迷走复合体 (dorsalvagalcomplex ,DVC)间的神经联系 ,应用室旁核内微量注入胃动素的方法观察清醒大鼠胃运动的变化。结果 :①下丘脑室旁核有胃动素免疫阳性细胞 ,在饥饿组和十二指肠灌酸组 ,阳性细胞数有明显增加 (P <0 .0 1)。②迷走背核注入辣根过氧化物酶 (horseradishperoxidase ,HRP) ,在室旁核发现HRP标记细胞 ,证实室旁核与DVC间的纤维联系。③清醒大鼠室旁核内微量注射胃动素可使胃运动的幅度和频率明显增加 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,切断双侧膈下迷走神经后 ,胃动素对胃运动的作用消失。结论 :下丘脑室旁核内胃动素可增强胃运动 ,其作用可能是通过下丘脑 延髓迷走复合体 迷走神经实现的     

生后雌性小鼠下丘脑室旁核内ER-β表达的免疫组化研究

研究发现小鼠下丘脑室旁核(PVN)内雌激素β受体(ER-β)的表达与在大鼠等一些实验动物脑PVN的表达有差异,提示其在小鼠PVN内的表达可能有特定的生理意义。为了深入探讨ER-β在小鼠PVN内的功能,本文采用硫酸镍铵增强显色的免疫组化SP法研究了ER-β在生后雌性小鼠PVN内的表达。结果发现ER-β免疫阳性物质主要见于PVN的大细胞部,在小细胞部和背侧帽部免疫阳性细胞数目较少。免疫阳性物质主要位于细胞核内,未发现明显的胞浆或突起阳性,但在发育的某些时期可见免疫阳性细胞核局部呈现阴性反应。最高表达见于生后早期(第1-9天),随后表达降低,生后一个月即达到成年水平。PVN内ER-β的表达模式表现为生后早期表达高、随后降低,提示在该部位ER-β可能主要参与了对生后早期PVN的神经内分泌活动以及神经结构的发育与完善的调控,并可能与生后早期动物的应激、体重增加和脂肪代谢等有关。     

雌激素受体α和β免疫反应在雄性和雌性棕色田鼠脑区分布的比较

单配制和多配制动物社会行为有差异,这些差异可能与雌激素受体类型有关（ERs）。虽然多配制大鼠和小鼠中枢神经雌激素受体α（ERα）和β（ERβ）免疫反应在大脑的分布已有报道,单配制雄性草原田鼠中枢神经ERα的分布也有报道,但单配制田鼠ERα和（或）ERβ在雌性和雄性分布差异未见报道。本研究对雄性和雌性棕色田鼠前脑区域ERα和ERβ免疫反应（IR）细胞数量进行比较。研究结果表明：（1）免疫反应主要分布在细胞核中。 （2）ERα-IR和ERβ-IR细胞广泛分布于整个雌性和雄性前脑区域,在许多脑区表达有重叠。然而,不同受体在雌雄不同脑核中的分布数量是不同的。（3）ERα 和ERβ的分布存在性别差异。例如,雌性ERα在视前核中部（MPN）,终纹床和（BNST）和杏仁内侧核（MeA）比雄性多,相反雄性ERβ在MPN和BNST比雌性多。这些研究结果可能为我们理解如何通过ERα和ERβ调节动物的社会行为,及雌性和雄性社会行为的差异提供一个重要的神经解剖学基础。     

BiP mRNA expression is upregulated by dehydration in vasopressin neurons in the hypothalamus in mice

The immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone that facilitates the proper folding of newly synthesized secretory and transmembrane proteins. Here we report that BiP mRNA was expressed in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus in wild-type mice under basal conditions. Dual in situ hybridization in the SON and PVN demonstrated that BiP mRNA was expressed in almost all the neurons of arginine vasopressin (AVP), an antidiuretic hormone. BiP mRNA expression levels were increased in proportion to AVP mRNA expression in the SON and PVN under dehydration. These data suggest that BiP is involved in the homeostasis of ER function in the AVP neurons in the SON and PVN.     

Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor-immunoreactive cells are not co-localized with gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the brain of the female mink (Mustela vison)

The distribution of gonadal steroid (estrogen, progesterone) receptors in the brain of the adult female mink was mapped by immunocytochemistry. Using a monoclonal rat antibody raised against human estrogen receptor (ER), the most dense collections of ER-immunoreactive (IR) cells were found in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area, the mediobasal hypothalamus (arcuate and ventromedial nuclei), and the limbic nuclei (amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septum). Immunoreactivity was mainly observed in the cell nucleus and a marked heterogeneity of staining appeared from one region to another. A monoclonal mouse antibody raised against rabbit uterine progesterone receptor (PR) was used to identify the PR-IR cells in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area and the mediobasal hypothalamus (arcuate and ventromedial nuclei). This study also focused on the relationship between cells containing sex-steroid receptors and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons on the same sections of the mink brain using a sequential double-staining immunocytochemistry procedure. Although preoptic and hypothalamic GnRH neurons were frequently in close proximity to perikarya containing ER or PR, they did not themselves possess receptor immunoreactivity. The present study provides neuroanatomical evidence that GnRH cells are not the major direct targets for gonadal steroids and confirms for the first time in mustelids the results previously obtained in other mammalian species.     

Studies on the cellular localization and distribution of glucocorticoid receptor and estrogen receptor immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the rat and their relationship to the monoaminergic and peptidergic neurons of the brain

By means of monoclonal antibodies against the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the human estrogen receptor (ER), in combination with an immunocytochemical analysis, it has been possible to map out GR and ER immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the rat central nervous system and GR IR glial cells in the white matter. The GR IR is located in the cytoplasm and especially in the nucleus while the ER IR is only demonstrated in the nuclei of the neurons. Upon adrenalectomy the GR IR appears to be present exclusively in the cytoplasm, while after castration the ER IR is still exclusively present in the nuclei. Upon corticosterone treatment of the adrenalectomized rat the GR IR is again predominantly found in the nuclei of the neurons. These results indicate that the occupied GR and the unoccupied and occupied ER are located in the nuclei and the unoccupied GR in the cytoplasm. Evidence has been presented that large numbers of monoamine and peptide nerve cell bodies contain GR IR. Furthermore, neuronal GR IR is found in neuronal populations all over the central nervous system, especially in the cerebral cortex, the thalamus and the hypothalamus, indicating a major role of GR in regulating the metabolic and synaptic functions of the brain. The ER IR is instead limited to certain neuronal populations, mainly those of the preoptic area, the bed nucleus of the striae terminalis and the arcuate nucleus, suggesting a specific role in control of LHRH secretion and reproductive behaviour.     

Natural variation in paternal behavior is associated with central estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin levels

In monogamous mammals paternal care plays an important role in the neural and behavioral development of offspring. However, the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying paternal behavior remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the association between natural variation in paternal responsiveness and central levels of oxytocin (OT) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). We used the frequency of licking and grooming behavior to distinguish low paternal responsiveness and high paternal responsiveness in virgin mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus). Males that engaged in high paternal behavior had elevated levels of OT immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus compared with males that displayed low paternal behavior. Likewise, males of high paternal responsiveness had more ERα immunoreactive neurons in the medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and medial amygdaloid nucleus compared to low responsive males. The level of ERα immunoreactive neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus was lower in highly paternal males compared to less paternal males. These results suggest that natural variation in paternal responsiveness may be directly related to variation in central OT and ERα.     

The distributions of the duplicate oestrogen receptors ER-beta a and ER-beta b in the forebrain of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus): evidence for subfunctionalization after gene duplication

Teleost fishes have three distinct oestrogen receptor (ER) subtypes: ER-alpha, ER-beta a (or ER-gamma) and ER-beta b. ER-beta a and ER-beta b arose from a duplication of an ancestral ER-beta gene early in the teleost lineage. Here, we describe the distribution of the three ER mRNAs in the hypothalamus and cerebellum of the Atlantic croaker to address two issues: the specific functions of multiple ERs in the neuroendocrine system and the evolution and fate of duplicated genes. ER-alpha was detected in nuclei of the preoptic area (POA) and hypothalamus previously shown to possess ER-alphas in teleosts. AcER-beta b, but not ER-beta a, labelling was detected in the magnocellular neurons of the POA, nucleus posterior tuberis, the nucleus recessus posterior and cerebellum. By contrast, acER-beta a, but not ER-beta b, was detected in the dorsal anterior parvocellular POA and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Both ER-betas were found in posterior parvocellular and ventral anterior POA nuclei, the ventral hypothalamus, and periventricular dorsal hypothalamus. The differences we observed in ER subtype mRNA distribution within well-characterized brain nuclei suggest that ER-beta a and ER-beta b have distinct functions in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction and behaviour, and provide evidence that the teleost ER-beta paralogues have partitioned functions of the ancestral ER-beta gene they shared with tetrapods.     

Changes in androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, and sexual behavior with aging and testosterone in male rats

Reproductive aging in males is characterized by a diminution in sexual behavior beginning in middle age. We investigated the relationships among testosterone, androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) cell numbers in the hypothalamus, and their relationship to sexual performance in male rats. Young (3 months) and middle-aged (12 months) rats were given sexual behavior tests, then castrated and implanted with vehicle or testosterone capsules. Rats were tested again for sexual behavior. Numbers of AR and ERα immunoreactive cells were counted in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus and the medial preoptic nucleus, and serum hormones were measured. Middle-aged intact rats had significant impairments of all sexual behavior measures compared to young males. After castration and testosterone implantation, sexual behaviors in middle-aged males were largely comparable to those in the young males. In the hypothalamus, AR cell density was significantly (5-fold) higher, and ERα cell density significantly (6-fold) lower, in testosterone- than vehicle-treated males, with no age differences. Thus, restoration of serum testosterone to comparable levels in young and middle-aged rats resulted in similar preoptic AR and ERα cell density concomitant with a reinstatement of most behaviors. These data suggest that age-related differences in sexual behavior cannot be due to absolute levels of testosterone, and further, the middle-aged brain retains the capacity to respond to exogenous testosterone with changes in hypothalamic AR and ERα expression. Our finding that testosterone replacement in aging males has profound effects on hypothalamic receptors and behavior has potential medical implications for the treatment of age-related hypogonadism in men.