刺激大鼠右侧胼胝体激活对侧尾壳核-海马癫痫相关性神经网络

目的：探讨慢性激活右侧胼胝体(corpus callosum,CC)重建对侧尾壳核(caudate-putamen,CPu)-海马(hippocam-pus,HPC)癫痫网络的跨半球机制。方法：SD大鼠50只。慢性强直电刺激(60Hz,0．4～0．6mA,2s)右侧CC(chronic tetanization of the rignt CC,CTRCC),一天一次,8d后再次施加强直电刺激,同步记录左侧CPu(LCPu)和左侧HPC(LHPC)电图。结果：CTRCC①引起LCPu和LHPC出现深部电波的交互性抑制现象,LCPu电图出现持续尖波发放时交互抑制现象消失。②诱发LCPu和LHPC电图出现癫痫点燃现象。③未引起大鼠LCPu和LH-PC电图点燃时,急性强直电刺激可诱发LCPu出现高幅失律,压抑LHPC具有频率特征的尖波连续发放。④联合运用慢性和急性强直电刺激可诱导LCPu或LHPC电图出现原发性后放。结论：慢性激活ROC可促进对侧CPu-HPC癫痫网络的重建。形成新的癫痫病灶。     

Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和齿状回区的解剖分割

目的:在体视显微镜下分割Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和齿状回(DG)区。方法:24只健康Wistar大鼠,分组如下:①6只大鼠取脑后硫堇染色,观察海马各区细胞形态;②6只大鼠分离出海马,体视显微镜下观察海马形态并分割CA1区、CA3区和DG区,各区分别切片后硫堇染色;③12只大鼠检测海马各区HSP 70的表达。结果:①大脑冠状切片硫堇染色清晰显示出海马CA1区、CA3区和DG区;②体视显微镜下,在海马腹侧面,沿着CA1区和DG区之间的海马沟可分割开CA1区和DG区,沿着CA3区和DG区之间的裂隙可分割开CA3区和DG区;分割后的海马各区细胞形态结构与整体大脑冠状切片上相对应区域的细胞形态结构一致;③Western blot结果显示:与对照组相比,脑缺血组HSP 70的表达在海马CA3+DG区明显上调、而在CA1无明显变化,这一结果与免疫组织化学结果一致。结论:上述方法可比较明确地分割Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和DG区,分割得到的各区组织可用于蛋白质表达的检测。     

Early network activity propagates bidirectionally between hippocampus and cortex

Spontaneous activity in the developing brain helps refine neuronal connections before the arrival of sensory‐driven neuronal activity. In mouse neocortex during the first postnatal week, waves of spontaneous activity originating from pacemaker regions in the septal nucleus and piriform cortex propagate through the neocortex. Using high‐speed Ca²⁺ imaging to resolve the spatiotemporal dynamics of wave propagation in parasagittal mouse brain slices, we show that the hippocampus can act as an additional source of neocortical waves. Some waves that originate in the hippocampus remain restricted to that structure, while others pause at the hippocampus‐neocortex boundary and then propagate into the neocortex. Blocking GABAergic neurotransmission decreases the likelihood of wave propagation into neocortex, whereas blocking glutamatergic neurotransmission eliminates spontaneous and evoked hippocampal waves. A subset of hippocampal and cortical waves trigger Ca²⁺ waves in astrocytic networks after a brief delay. Hippocampal waves accompanied by Ca²⁺ elevation in astrocytes are more likely to propagate into the neocortex. Finally, we show that two structures in our preparation that initiate waves—the hippocampus and the piriform cortex—can be electrically stimulated to initiate propagating waves at lower thresholds than the neocortex, indicating that the intrinsic circuit properties of those regions are responsible for their pacemaker function. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 661–672, 2016     

Proteomic analysis of CA1 and CA3 regions of rat hippocampus and differential susceptibility to intermittent hypoxia

The CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus markedly differ in their susceptibility to hypoxia in general, and more particularly to the intermittent hypoxia that characterizes sleep apnea. Proteomic approaches were used to identify proteins differentially expressed in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the rat hippocampus and to assess changes in protein expression following a 6-h exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH). Ninety-nine proteins were identified, and 15 were differentially expressed in the CA1 and the CA3 regions. Following IH, 32 proteins in the CA1 region and only 7 proteins in the more resistant CA3 area were up-regulated. Hypoxia-regulated proteins in the CA1 region included structural proteins, proteins related to apoptosis, primarily chaperone proteins, and proteins involved in cellular metabolic pathways. We conclude that IH-mediated CA1 injury results from complex interactions between pathways involving increased metabolism, induction of stress-induced proteins and apoptosis, and, ultimately, disruption of structural proteins and cell integrity. These findings provide initial insights into mechanisms underlying differences in susceptibility to hypoxia in neural tissue, and may allow for future delineation of interventional strategies aiming to enhance neuronal adaptation to IH.     

Effect of thapsigargin on inhibitory synaptic transmission between cultured neurons of the rat hippocampus

We carried out electrophysiological experiments on cultured neurons of the rat hippocampus. The voltage-clamp technique and extracellular stimulation of single presynaptic axons were used for measurements of the evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs). It was found that 1 μM thapsigargin is capable of modulating inhibitory synaptic transmission, and the effects were ambivalent. Among 21 examined cells, eIPSCs decreased in 15 neurons and were augmented in 6 units; the kinetic parameters of these currents underwent no changes. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 39, Nos. 4/5, pp. 374–376, July–October, 2007.     

Effect of perinatal asphyxia and carbamazepine treatment on cortical dopamine and DOPAC levels

Background

One of the most important manifestations of perinatal asphyxia is the occurrence of seizures, which are treated with antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine. These early seizures, combined with pharmacological treatments, may influence the development of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the frontal cortex. This study aimed to determine the extracellular levels of dopamine and its main metabolite DOPAC in 30-day-old rats that had been asphyxiated for 45 min in a low (8%) oxygen chamber at a perinatal age and treated with daily doses of carbamazepine. Quantifications were performed using microdialysis coupled to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system in basal conditions and following the use of the chemical stimulus.

Results

Significant decreases in basal and stimulated extracellular dopamine and DOPAC content were observed in the frontal cortex of the asphyxiated group, and these decreases were partially recovered in the animals administered daily doses of carbamazepine. Greater basal dopamine concentrations were also observed as an independent effect of carbamazepine.

Conclusions

Perinatal asphyxia plus carbamazepine affects extracellular levels of dopamine and DOPAC in the frontal cortex and stimulated the release of dopamine, which provides evidence for the altered availability of dopamine in cortical brain areas during brain development.     

Long-lasting up-regulation of orexin receptor type 2 protein levels in the rat nucleus accumbens after chronic cocaine administration

Hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) neurons project to the key structures of the limbic system and orexin receptors, both orexin receptor type 1 (OXR1) and type 2 (OXR2), are expressed in most limbic regions. Emerging evidence suggests that orexin is among important neurotransmitters that regulate addictive properties of drugs of abuse. In this study, we examined the effect of psychostimulant cocaine on orexin receptor protein abundance in the rat limbic system in vivo. Intermittent administration of cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p., once daily for 5 days) caused a typical behavioral sensitization response to a challenge cocaine injection at a 14-day withdrawal period. Repeated cocaine administration at the same withdrawal time also increased OXR2 protein levels in the nucleus accumbens while repeated cocaine had no effect on OXR1 and orexin neuropeptide (both orexin-A and orexin-B) levels in this region. In contrast to the nucleus accumbens, OXR2 levels in the frontal cortex, the ventral tegmental area, the hippocampus, and the dorsal striatum (caudate putamen) were not altered by cocaine. Remarkably, the up-regulated OXR2 levels in the nucleus accumbens showed a long-lasting nature as it persisted up to 60 days after the discontinuation of repeated cocaine treatments. In contrast to chronic cocaine administration, an acute cocaine injection was insufficient to modify levels of any orexin receptor and peptide. Our data identify the up-regulation of OXR2 in the nucleus accumbens as an enduring molecular event that is correlated well with behavioral plasticity in response to chronic psychostimulant administration. This OXR2 up-regulation may reflect a key adaptation of limbic orexinergic transmission to chronic drug exposure and may thus be critical for the expression of motor plasticity.     

Long-term tracing of adenoviral expression in rat and rabbit using luciferase imaging

BACKGROUND: Luciferase optical imaging provides a novel method to monitor transgene expression in small living animals. As the genetic and immunological heritages of particular animals significantly affect the expression of adenovirus-delivered transgenes, it is essential to know the expression patterns specific to athymic nude and Sprague-Dawley rats, two strains commonly used in rodent models. In this study we set out to determine these patterns. At the same time, we tested luciferase optical imaging in a larger animal, the rabbit. METHODS: A recombinant luciferase adenoviral vector was injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly into athymic nude rats, Sprague-Dawley rats, and Dutch Belted rabbits. The luciferase expression was assessed using a cooled charge-coupled device. RESULTS: The luminescent signal was capable of passing through at least 1.3 cm of muscle tissue and proved to be much stronger when luciferin was delivered via a local injection than by an intraperitoneal injection. Although the types of immune cells differed between immunodeficient and immunocompetent rats, similar amounts and patterns of luciferase expression were observed in the musculature in two rat strains during the 1st month after a viral intramuscular injection. The duration of luciferase expression was longer than 15 months in athymic nude rats, 9 months in Sprague-Dawley rats, and 6 months in rabbits following a direct viral injection. CONCLUSIONS: Luciferase expression after adenoviral gene delivery can persist for longer than 6 months, even in immunocompetent animals. Live imaging of luciferase expression can be performed not only in small animals, but also in larger animals such as rabbits.     

Chronic treatment with glucocorticoids alters rat hippocampal and prefrontal cortical morphology in parallel with endogenous agmatine and arginine decarboxylase levels

In the present study, we examined the possible effect of chronic treatment with glucocorticoids on the morphology of the rat brain and levels of endogenous agmatine and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) protein, the enzyme essential for agmatine synthesis. Seven-day treatment with dexamethasone, at a dose (10 and 50 μg/kg/day) associated to stress effects contributed by glucocorticoids, did not result in obvious morphologic changes in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, as measured by immunocytochemical staining with β-tubulin III. However, 21-day treatment (50 μg/kg/day) produced noticeable structural changes such as the diminution and disarrangement of dendrites and neurons in these areas. Simultaneous treatment with agmatine (50 mg/kg/day) prevented these morphological changes. Further measurement with HPLC showed that endogenous agmatine levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly increased after 7-day treatments with dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, 21-day treatment with glucocorticoids robustly reduced agmatine levels in these regions. The treatment-caused biphasic alterations of endogenous agmatine levels were also seen in the striatum and hypothalamus. Interestingly, treatment with glucocorticoids resulted in a similar change of ADC protein levels in most brain areas to endogenous agmatine levels: an increase after 7-day treatment versus a reduction after 21-day treatment. These results demonstrated that agmatine has neuroprotective effects against structural alterations caused by glucocorticoids in vivo . The parallel alterations in the endogenous agmatine levels and ADC expression in the brain after treatment with glucocorticoids indicate the possible regulatory effect of these stress hormones on the synthesis and metabolism of agmatine in vivo .     

Stereoselective metabolism of benalaxyl in liver microsomes from rat and rabbit

Benalaxyl (BX), methyl‐N‐phenylacetyl‐N‐2,6‐xylyl alaninate, is a potent acylanilide fungicide and consist of a pair of enantiomers. The stereoselective metabolism of BX was investigated in rat and rabbit microsomes in vitro. The degradation kinetics and the enantiomer fraction (EF) were determined using normal high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and a cellulose‐tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase (CDMPC‐CSP). The t_1/2 of (?)‐R‐BX and (+)‐S‐BX in rat liver microsomes were 22.35 and 10.66 min of rac‐BX and 5.42 and 4.03 of BX enantiomers. However, the t_1/2 of (?)‐R‐BX and (+)‐S‐BX in rabbit liver microsomes were 11.75 and 15.26 min of rac‐BX and 5.66 and 9.63 of BX enantiomers. The consequence was consistent with the stereoselective toxicokinetics of BX in vitro. There was no chiral inversion from the (?)‐R‐BX to (+)‐S‐BX or inversion from (+)‐S‐BX to (?)‐R‐BX in both rabbit and rat microsomes. These results suggested metabolism of BX enantiomers was stereoselective in rat and rabbit liver microsomes. Chirality, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

利多卡因和硫喷妥钠对培养的大鼠海马脑片神经元损伤的影响

目的 :观察利多卡因和硫喷妥钠对生后 2 2d大鼠培养海马脑片的实验型缺血后神经元损伤的影响。方法 :将培养的SD大鼠海马脑片实验型缺血 (缺氧缺糖 ) 1 0min ,给药组在缺血前 1 0min给予 1 0nmol/L、1 0 0nmol/L的利多卡因或 2 50nmol/L、60 0nmol/L的硫喷妥钠 ,缺血后换用正常培养基继续培养 7d ,并用荧光染料PropidiumIo dide(PI)连续观察海马CA1区和齿状回神经元的损伤。结果 :缺血后第 1d缺血组即出现神经元损伤高峰 ,CA1区和齿状回的PI指数显著增加 (P <0 .0 1 ) ;直至缺血后第 7d其损伤指数仍显著高于缺血前水平 (P <0 .0 1 )。两浓度的利多卡因和硫喷妥钠均可降低缺血后CA1区和齿状回神经元损伤的程度 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,并可将CA1区和齿状回的神经元损伤高峰推迟至缺血后第 3d。结论 :利多卡因和硫喷妥可减轻缺血后海马CA1区和齿状回的神经元损伤 ,推迟神经元的损伤高峰。     

Effect of haloperidol withdrawal on somatostatin level and binding in rat brain

The effects of withdrawal on the level and specific binding of somatostatin in the frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus of the rat after chronic haloperidol treatment were examined using¹²⁵I-Tyr¹¹ somatostatin as tracer. One week after haloperiodol withdrawal the number of specific somatostatin receptors in both brain areas returned to control values, after having decreased as the result of chronic administration. Neither administration of haloperidol nor withdrawal of it affected the levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the two brain areas studied. The return of the somatostatin receptor number to control values after haloperidol withdrawal may be related to the motor side-effects that are clinically observed when the haloperidol treatment is terminated.     

胃扩张刺激对大鼠大脑皮层及海马CCK mRNA表达的影响

胆囊收缩素（ｃｈｏｌｅｃｙｓｔｏｋｉｎｉｎ,ＣＣＫ）是脑肠肽中的一种,被认为是饱因子。本实验采用以地高辛标记的ＣＣＫ ｃＤＮＡ为探针的原位杂交和半定量ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ技术。用水囊扩张胃作为对胃壁的机械刺激模拟食物对胃的充盈作用,观察大鼠大脑皮层和海马内含ＣＣＫ神经元ＣＣＫ ｍＲＮＡ表达的变化情况。     

Contractile effects of adenovirally-mediated increases in SERCA2a activity: A comparison between adult rat and rabbit ventricular myocytes

Adenoviral vectors have been successfully used to increase the activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase in adult ventricular myocytes and to produce functional improvements in contractility in vivo and in vitro. While in vivo experiments are often performed in rat, in vitro manipulation of myocytes has been confined to rabbit and human cells. In the present study we make quantitative comparisons between cultured adult rat and rabbit myocytes in their responses to SERCA2a overexpression using adenoviral vectors. We also compare the strategy of SERCA2a overexpression with that of phospholamban down-regulation, using adenovirus carrying antisense message, as a means to increase SERCA2a activity and enhance contraction and relaxation. Adult myocytes were cultured for 48 h with either vector, and contraction assessed in 2 mM Ca²⁺, 37°C, at a range of stimulation frequencies. Contraction amplitude was enhanced to a similar degree in either rat or rabbit myocytes at most stimulation frequencies, with SERCA2a overexpression and phospholamban down-regulation approximately equally effective. The maximum effect of either vector was less than that of -adrenoceptor agonists. Relaxation was accelerated in rabbit myocytes more strongly than in rat. Phospholamban antisense was slightly less effective than SERCA2a overexpression on relaxation times in rabbit. Increasing stimulation frequency also accelerated relaxation in rat myocytes: this effect was greater than, and additive with, that of SERCA2a overexpression. We conclude that, despite some species-dependent modification, the effects of increased SERCA2a activity are broadly similar in rat and rabbit. Both SERCA2a overexpression and phospholamban down-regulation are effective strategies, and neither appears to produce supraphysiological stimulatory effects on contraction or relaxation.     

Extracellular levels of brain aspartate, glutamate and GABA during an inhibitory avoidance response in the rat

The extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate and GABA were measured by microdialysis, coupled with an HPLC method, in rat prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and ventral hippocampus (VH) before and during the performance of a step-down inhibitory task. The basal levels of glutamate were about 50% higher than those of aspartate, and GABA levels were about 20-folds smaller than those of the excitatory amino acids. There were no significant differences in the basal levels of any of the three amino acids between the two brain regions. The extracellular levels of aspartate increased during acquisition and recall trials in both VH and mPFC, whereas those of glutamate increased in the VH during acquisition only. A significant increase in GABA levels was also detected during acquisition but only in the mPFC. The neuronal origin of the increased extracellular levels of aspartate, glutamate and GABA was demonstrated by administering tetrodotoxin directly into the mPFC or VH by reverse dialysis. These findings, together with previous evidence from our and other laboratories, indicate a differential release of aspartate and glutamate from excitatory neurons during the performance of behavioral responses, and therefore, distinct roles for the two excitatory amino acids should be envisaged.     

Progesterone treatment decreases traumatic brain injury induced anxiety and is correlated with increased serum IGF-1 levels; prefrontal cortex,amygdala, hippocampus neuron density; and reduced serum corticosterone levels in immature rats

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause neuropsychiatric problems, such as anxiety disorder, that have negative effects on cognitive functions and behavior. We investigated the effects of progesterone on traumatic brain injury induced anxiety in 7-day-old rat pups subjected to contusion injury. Progesterone treatment decreased TBI induced anxiety and serum corticosterone levels, and increased serum IGF-1 levels. Moreover, progesterone treatment increased amygdala, prefrontal cortex and hippocampal neuron density. We found a negative correlation between serum corticosterone levels and anxiety tests, and a positive correlation between serum IGF-1 levels and anxiety tests. In addition, progesterone treatment decreased serum corticosterone compared to the controls and sham. Our results indicate that single dose progesterone may be effective for treating anxiety caused by TBI.     

Lateral entorhinal cortex lesions rearrange afferents, glutamate receptors, increase seizure latency and suppress seizure-induced c-fos expression in the hippocampus of adult rat

The entorhinal cortex (EC) provides the predominant excitatory drive to the hippocampal CA1 and subicular neurones in chronic epilepsy. Here we analysed the effects of one-sided lateral EC (LEC) and temporoammonic (alvear) path lesion on the development and properties of 4-aminopyridine-induced seizures. Electroencephalography (EEG) analysis of freely moving rats identified that the lesion increased the latency of the hippocampal seizure significantly and decreased the number of brief convulsions. Seizure-induced neuronal c-fos expression was reduced in every hippocampal area following LEC lesion. Immunocytochemical analysis 40 days after the ablation of the LEC identified sprouting of cholinergic and calretinin-containing axons into the dentate molecular layer. Region and subunit specific changes in the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) were identified. Although the total amount of AMPA receptor subunits remained unchanged, GluR1(flop) displayed a significant decrease in the CA1 region. An increase in NR1 and NR2B N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits and KA-2 kainate receptor subunit was identified in the deafferented layers of the hippocampus. These results further emphasize the importance of the lateral entorhinal area in the spread and regulation of hippocampal seizures and highlight the potential role of the rewiring of afferents and rearrangement of iGluRs in the dentate gyrus in hippocampal convulsive activity.     

Isolation and long-term culture of rat,rabbit, and human nasal turbinate epithelial cells

Summary Nasal turbinate epithelial cells were isolated from rats, rabbits, and humans using either a surgical or an in situ enzyme incubation technique. The culture conditions that permit optimal cell attachment and selective growth of the nasal epithelial cells were determined. These conditions will permit the long-term culture of these cells where typically 20 to 30 population doublings were observed. Differences between rat and human nasal epithelial cells were seen in substrate requirements, colony-forming efficiency, and response to fetal bovine serum and bovine serum albumin. These methodology and results will permit mechanistic studies of normal and abnormal cellular function and comparative response studies between nasal epithelial cells from rats and humans. This work was supported under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contract 68-02-4032.