M4受体阻滞剂MT3抑制豚鼠形觉剥夺性近视的探讨

目的探讨高度选择性M4受体阻滞剂MT3对豚鼠形觉剥夺性近视的抑制作用及其潜在作用机理。方法 3周龄豚鼠随机分为三组:对照组、形觉剥夺组、形觉剥夺+MT3组。实验前后使用带状光检影测量屈光度,A超测量眼生物学参数,RT-PCR检测视网膜和脉络膜中TGF-β2的mRNA相对表达量。结果与对照组右眼相比,形觉剥夺+MT3组豚鼠右眼形成了(-1.44±0.50)D相对近视(右眼-左眼),玻璃体腔和眼轴长度分别延长(0.10±0.02)mm和(0.14±0.07)mm(P=0.001,P0.001,P0.001),但近视量、玻璃体腔和眼轴长度增加量均显著小于单纯形觉剥夺组(P0.001,P0.001,P0.001)。单纯形觉剥夺可引起视网膜和脉络膜TGF-β2的mRNA相对表达量下调(P0.001,P=0.014);而玻璃体腔注射MT3可导致形觉剥夺眼视网膜和脉络膜TGF-β2的mRNA相对表达量上调(P0.001,P0.001)。结论 MT3能抑制豚鼠形觉剥夺性近视的形成,其可能通过上调视网膜和脉络膜中TGF-β2的mRNA水平而发挥作用。     

球结膜下注射不同浓度消旋山莨菪碱液对雏鸡形觉剥夺近视眼轴的影响

目的研究不同浓度消旋山莨菪碱液对雏鸡形觉剥夺近视眼轴的影响。方法 3日龄雏鸡60只右眼遮盖半透明塑料膜,随机分为6组:给药组4组,不同浓度消旋山莨菪碱液(0.05%组,0.1%组,1%组,2.5%组),隔天行右眼球结膜下注射,每次给药50μL,共4次;对照组为生理盐水组,注射方法同给药组;单纯形觉剥夺组,不做干预。8 d后观察药物对眼轴的影响。结果 2.5%浓度组右眼与左眼眼轴差异显著小于低浓度组及对照组(P<0.05),给药组未发现组织病理毒性。结论消旋山莨菪碱对雏鸡近视眼轴增长有一定抑制作用,无毒副作用,有一定浓度依赖性。     

单眼睑缝合1周建立形觉剥夺性弱视猫模型

目的比较正常组、模型组及对照组的图形视觉诱发电位(PVEP)和扫描视觉诱发电位(SVEP)视力,研究各组的视觉电生理表现,探讨单眼睑缝合1周是否可以建立形觉剥夺性弱视模型。方法分析三组PVEP的波形变化、潜时及完成一次诱发反应的时间;比较各组由SVEP得出的客观视力。结果①正常组PVEP由2个波峰组成“M型”(正向波向上),模型组及对照组出现波的分离—波形由多个波组成,而且完成一次反应的时间延长。②缝合侧的N75延迟,SVEP视力较正常组差且差别有统计学意义。③对照组未缝合侧视力恢复到正常水平而缝合侧视力仍差且与正常组有统计学差异。结论短期形觉剥夺的视觉电生理变化是弱视猫的一种表现,单眼睑缝合1周即可建立形觉剥夺性弱视猫的模型。     

触觉剥夺后豚鼠桶状皮质DCX 阳性细胞的实验研究*

目的:观察豚鼠单侧触觉剥夺后豚鼠两侧桶状皮质的DCX阳性细胞数量的差别,探讨触觉剥夺对豚鼠桶状皮质神经发生的影响。方法:12只健康豚鼠随机分为2组,每组6只,制作豚鼠单侧(右侧)触觉(胡须)剥夺模型,之后常规饲养1月和2月灌注取材,用免疫组化和免疫荧光双标法观察同一只豚鼠两侧桶状皮质的DCX阳性细胞情况并比较其数量差异。结果:DCX免疫组织化学染色显示两实验组大脑皮层barrel区DCX阳性细胞数实验侧均明显多于对照侧;NeuN免疫组织化学染色显示两实验组动物大脑皮层barrel区两侧NeuN阳性细胞数差别无统计学意义;DCX和NeuN免疫荧光双标染色显示两实验组大脑皮层barrel区均可见双标细胞存在。结论:触觉剥夺后豚鼠两侧桶状皮质的DCX阳性细胞数具有明显差异性,可能是神经再生的表现。     

频闪光诱导光觉异常性豚鼠近视模型

目的使用特制的频闪调光器进行持续频闪光刺激,建立一种光觉异常性豚鼠近视模型,观察豚鼠在频闪光刺激后眼球产生的异常改变。方法 24只2周龄普通级豚鼠随机分为3组(n=8),Ⅰ组予0.5 Hz频率等时交替频闪,频闪亮度0～600 lx;Ⅱ组为无频闪等亮度光照组;Ⅲ组为开放环境正常光照组。光照时间6∶00～18∶00。每2周记录屈光度、眼轴长度及曲率半径,12周时眼底拍照后取出眼球,光学显微镜及扫描电镜观察眼球后极部改变。结果光照前各组间生物学测量参数差异无显著性(P>0.05)。随时间延长,Ⅰ组与Ⅱ、Ⅲ组相比近视屈光度明显增加、眼轴延长,12周时3组间近视屈光度及眼轴差异有显著性(P<0.05),Ⅰ组与Ⅱ组相比眼球发生(-5.4±1.5)D的近视,眼轴增加(0.74±0.18)mm。Ⅰ组与Ⅲ组相比眼球发生(-6.6±1.5)D的近视,眼轴增加(0.86±0.24)mm。Ⅰ组眼底普遍出现豹纹状改变,视网膜感觉细胞层外段排列紊乱且有大量脱落节盘。结论通过改变正常光觉环境,频闪光能刺激豚鼠眼球产生过度发育并诱导轴性近视形成。这种光觉的异常最终影响了视网膜感光细胞的正常发育。     

豚鼠基因组26个多态性微卫星标记的筛选

目的筛选豚鼠基因组的多态性微卫星标记,为豚鼠遗传质量控制及基因定位等工作奠定基础。方法采用磁珠富集法和豚鼠基因组数据库筛选法获取微卫星位点序列,通过分析和初步筛选,挑选部分候选位点,根据其序列设计引物,对5种不同来源的豚鼠基因组DNA标本进行PCR扩增,以期获得多态性分子标记。结果本实验采用磁珠富集法共获得微卫星序列304个,设计引物125对,最终获得多态性位点1个,暂未发现多态性的特异性位点17个;用数据库筛选法共获得微卫星序列292个,设计并合成相应引物178对,最终发现多态性位点25个,暂未发现多态性的特异性位点28个。结论本实验获得26个多态性微卫星标记,45个潜在的候选标记,为微卫星标记在豚鼠遗传质量监测及突变基因定位等工作的应用奠定了基础。     

Diffusion barriers in the vaginal epithelium during the estrous cycle in guinea pigs

Summary In the present study the permeability barriers of the multilayered vaginal epithelium were examined using tracer perfusion techniques, freeze-fracture and thin sectioning. During diestrus and proestrus the upper layers of mucified epithelial cells exhibit tight-junctional belts, which restrict tracer molecules such as lanthanum and horseradish peroxidase. When the highly mucified cells begin to degenerate toward the end of proestrus the underlying epithelium is already keratinized as typical for estrus. The keratinized epithelial cells have a tight-junctional network that joins the basal plasma membranes with the apical membranes of subjacent cells and blocks paracellular diffusion of the tracer molecules. During conversion of the cornified epithelium to a mucified epithelium in metestrus the intercellular space of the epithelium is stained by tracer molecules even though tight-junctional belts can be observed.These results indicate that during cyclic changes of the vaginal epithelium tight junctions can, in general, be considered for the restriction of paracellular diffusion. In metestrus, however, junctions become functionally leaky although they remain morphologically intact.Intercellular lipids, which are normally common in cornified epithelia, are extremely rare and cannot constitute an effective barrier to diffusion in the vagina of the guinea pig. The significance of a strategy that bases the regulation of the permeability on tight junctions rather than on intercellular lipids is discussed.     

Analysis of host responses of guinea pigs during Helicobacter pylori infection

Host responses of guinea pigs infected with Helicobacter pylori were investigated. Passaged H. pylori colonised the stomach for up to 13 weeks after infection, but after 1 month the number of bacteria fell sharply. Specific antibodies, predominantly of the IgG2 subtype, were present from week 3 onwards. Antibodies to urease A and flagella were abundant. Severe inflammation of the gastric mucosa and damage to the stomach epithelium was seen. Infiltrates of mononuclear cells and eosinophils were found near the parietal glands. As infection progressed, inflammation and tissue damage became more localised and more variable between individual animals. These parameters can be used as markers for colonisation of the stomach by H. pylori.     

Quantitative analysis of epithelial changes during wound healing in palatal mucosa of guinea pigs

Summary The epithelium of wounded guinea pig palate was subjected to stereologic analysis. A total of 18 biopsies (animals) were used. Biopsies were taken at 18, 48, 96 and 120 h after wounding. Point counting procedures were employed to analyse electron micrographs sampled from one (18 h) or two epithelial strata (48, 96 and 120 h). The essential modulations in epithelial structure as wound healing proceeds were as follows: During the early phases characterized by formation and advancement of epithelial lips (18 and 48 h), migrating cells converged towards a cell type which structurally was less differentiated than normal basal cells. This alteration was expressed by a decrease in volume density of cytoplasmic organelles, mainly mitochondria, free ribosomes and tonofilament bundles, coupled with an increase in volume density of lysosomal bodies. Concomitantly, the volume density of cytoplasmic ground substance rose markedly. Subsequent to fusion of contralateral migratory lips (96 and 120 h) reversion to normal epithelial structure was indicated by the increment in magnitude of basal cell parameters. Further structural density gradients from basal towards upper cell layers appeared. This pattern was mainly displayed by mitochondria, free ribosomes, and tonofilament bundles. The magnitude and gradation of most tissue and cell parameters were not yet re-established at 120 h. The density of tonofilament bundles and the density level of cytoplasmic ground substance in particular deviated.This investigation was supported in part by grants No. 512-5958 and No. 512-5151 from the Danish State Medical Research Council     

Quantitative analysis of squamous epithelium of normal palatal mucosa in guinea pigs

Summary The epithelium of intact guinea pig palate was subjected to stereologic analysis in a study of structural alterations in the keratinizing epithelium in response to wounding. Point counting procedures were employed to analyse electron micrographs sampled from three epithelial strata in biopsies collected from five animals. The differentiation pattern of the guinea pig palate epithelium displayed the following structural density gradients from basal to granular layers: descending gradients of metabolically active organelles, ascending gradient of bundled filaments coupled with the appearence of membrane coating granules and keratohyalin granules, and a plateau-like gradient of cytoplasmic ground substance. This pattern of epithelial differentiation is basically identical to that of human hard palate epithelium and epidermis. Regional and species variations in structure of keratinizing epithelia are suggested based on interepithelial differences in morphometric parameters.This investigation was supported in part by grant No. 512-4064 from the Danish State Medical Research Council and by a grant from the Calcin Foundation.The data recording and computation was performed on a guest visit at the Dental Institute, University of Zürich.     

Lymphatic vessels and Kurloff cells in the thymus of estradiol-treated guinea pigs

Summary Male guinea pigs were given a single subcutaneous injection of estradiol, which induces formation of Kurloff cells, and serial sections of thymus were examined after 10, 12, 15 and 21 days. Kurloff cells were found in large numbers in lymphatic vessels, both outside the thymus, in the interlobular tissue, at the cortical surface and inside the cortex, suggesting migration via such structures. Large extrathymic or interlobular lymphatics communicated with a previously undescribed thymic structure-the lymphatic centre-surrounded by a marginal sinus. The orientation of lymphatic valves, and the concentration of Kurloff cells within this lymphatic centre at an early time after the administration of estradiol, indicate the existence of an afferent migratory pathway. The different morphology at different times after estradiol suggest that the treatment caused a dynamic remodeling of thymic lymphatic structures.     

Modification of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions by muramyldipeptide in guinea pigs

Abstract N -Acetylmuramyl- l -alanyl- d -isoglutamine (muramyldipeptide, MDP) modulated delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions and induced severe inflammatory lesions in guinea pigs. The animals immunized with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis were challenged with the purified protein derivative (PPD) at the flanks and the corneas to prepare DTH reactions at 2 weeks after the immunization, thereafter 24 h the animals received subcutaneous injections of MDP at the flanks of the opposite side. At the skin with the DTH reaction, increase of swelling and redness accompanied with hemorrhage and necrosis were observed. As corneal reactions in the animals that had received MDP, increase of cornea thickness, opaque and grayish-white and the projection of eyes accompanied with severe iritis were observed. Modification of the skin reaction occurred from 2 h after the MDP injection, rapidly increased to the maximum level around 10 h, maintained the level until 24 h, then slowly decreased. The polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was observed from 15 min after the MDP injection, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 levels in the serum and skin lesions increased after the MDP injection. Synthetic muramyltripeptide ( N -acetylmuramyl- l -alanyl- d -isoglutaminyl- l -lysine) also provoked definite skin reactions, while the larger peptidoglycan fragments and various inflammatory agents including cytokines so far examined were inactive in this respect. Cortisone and heparin inhibited definitely and slightly the reaction, respectively. A comparison was made with the modified DTH reaction and the necrotic reactions which we reported previously.     

In vitro differentiation of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons of guinea pigs

Summary The development of neurophysin-oxytocin and neurophysinvasopressin containing neurons of the guinea pig was studied in vitro. Supraoptic (SO) and paraventricular (PV) nuclei were explanted from guinea pig foetuses at the 40th day of gestation and cultured in Maximov slides for nearly fifty days. The cultures were observed daily under a phase-contrast microscope. Explants were fixed every five days for observation with the electron microscope. At the time of explantation, magnocellular neurons were still immature. They acquired the morphologic characteristics of mature neurons, with axosomatic synapses, after about 10 days in vitro. After 15–20 days in vitro, they contained in addition neurosecretory granules (NSG), first in the Golgi region, then also dispersed in the cytoplasm. In the oldest culture (45–50 days), signs of granulolysis were regularly found. It appears that magnocellular neurosecretory neurons are able to differentiate in vitro from a primitive state in the absence of specific stimulation.The authors are indebted to M.J. Drian for help with tissue culture, and to D. Le Cren for photographic work     

Protective effect of prior immunization on ocular paracoccidioidomycosis in guinea pigs

The present study reproduced the experimental model of ocular paracoccidioidomycosis in guinea pigs, by the intracardiac inoculation of yeast-forms of P. brasiliensis. Ocular involvement was observed in 80% of the infected animals. The uvea, ciliary body, choroid, iris, lids and the conjunctiva were the structures most commonly affected. To protect the animals against the infection, an immunization protocol was standardized utilizing a P. brasiliensis soluble antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant, administered weekly, during 3 weeks, by the subcutaneous route. Two weeks later, previously immunized guinea pigs were challenged by the intracardiac route with yeast-forms of P. brasiliensis (vaccinated group). When compared with a control group (infection in the absence of prior immunization), the vaccinated animals developed higher levels of anti-P. brasiliensis cellular and humoral immune response and a three times lower frequency of ocular involvement (85.7% vs 28.5%). In addition, the ocular lesions were significantly more localized and contained less fungal cells. The data demonstrated that the subcutaneous immunization was effective in decreasing the frequency and extent of ocular lesions, as well as in blocking fungal multiplication.