Amyloid beta-peptide1-40 increases neuronal membrane fluidity: role of cholesterol and brain region

There is increasing evidence of an interaction between cholesterol dynamics and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyloid beta-peptide may play an important role in this interaction. Abeta destabilizes brain membranes and this action of Abeta may be dependent on the amount of membrane cholesterol. We tested this hypothesis by examining effects of Abeta1-40 on the annular fluidity (i.e., lipid environment adjacent to proteins) and bulk fluidity of rat synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus using the fluorescent probe pyrene and energy transfer. Amounts of cholesterol and phospholipid of SPM from each brain region were determined. SPM of the cerebellum were significantly more fluid as compared with SPM of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Abeta significantly increased (P < or = 0.01) annular and bulk fluidity in SPM of cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In contrast, Abeta had no effect on annular fluidity and bulk fluidity of SPM of cerebellum. The amounts of cholesterol in SPM of cerebral cortex and hippocampus were significantly higher (P < or = 0.05) than amount of cholesterol in SPM of cerebellum. There was significantly less (P < or = 0.05) total phospholipid in cerebellar SPM as compared with SPM of cerebral cortex. Neuronal membranes enriched in cholesterol may promote accumulation of Abeta by hydrophobic interaction, and such an interpretation is consistent with recent studies showing that soluble Abeta can act as a seed for fibrillogenesis in the presence of cholesterol.     

Effects of central administration of beta-amyloid peptide (25-35): pathomorphological changes in the hippocampus and impairments of spatial memory

A possible relationship between the amnesia induced by central administration of beta-amyloid (25-35) [Abeta(25-35)] and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus was studied. Male Wistar rats received a single intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta(25-35) at a dose of 15 nmol. One month after the administration, animals were trained in an eight-arm radial maze. After the training, a histopathological investigation of the hippocampus was carried out using brain slices stained with hematoxylin/eosin. Abeta(25-35) induced impairments in reference and working memory in the eight-arm radial maze. A moderate decrease in neuronal cell number was demonstrated in the CA1, but not in the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. The number of both reference and working errors negatively correlated with the number of neurons in hippocampal CA1. The results are the first evidence for a specific relationship between neurodegeneration in the CA1 subfield of rat hippocampus and impairments of learning and memory induced by Abeta(25-35).     

Soybean-derived phosphatidylinositol inhibits in vivo low concentrations of amyloid beta protein-induced degeneration of hippocampal neurons in V337M human tau-expressing mice

In our previous reports using primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons, pathophysiological concentrations (< or =10 nM) of amyloid beta proteins (Abetas) showed neurotoxicity via a phosphatidylinositol metabolism disorder, and soybean-derived phosphatidylinositol protected the neurons against the Abeta's neurotoxicity. In the present study, such a neurotoxic effect of Abeta and a neuroprotective effect of phosphatidylinositol were examined in vivo using transgenic mice expressing V337 M human tau. Intrahippocampal CA1 injection of 1.5 mul of 100 nM or 1 microM Abeta25-35 increased the number of degenerating neurons with an apoptotic feature in bilateral hippocampal CA1, CA2, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions in 1 month, demonstrating an in vivo neurotoxic effect of Abeta at lower concentrations after diffusion. Intrahippocampal co-injection or intracerebroventricular administration of 1.5 microl of 500 nM phosphatidylinositol prevented the Abeta25-35-induced neuronal degeneration in all the hippocampal regions, while co-injection of another acidic phospholipid, phosphatidylserine (1.5 microl, 500 nM) with Abeta25-35 showed no protective effects. Thus, exogenously applied phosphatidylinositol appeared to minimize the toxic effects of Abeta in vivo. These results suggest that soybean-derived phosphatidylinositol may be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Effect of intrahippocampal kainic acid on the behavior of rats and functional state of mitochondria in brain structures

Cognitive processes and functional state of mitochondria in brain structures of Wistar rats were studied after intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid, an agonist of glutamate receptors. A single administration of 0.25 μg kainic acid into the dorsal part of the left and right hippocampi affected task retrieval and decreased inhibition of unrewarded responses. The injection of 0.75 μg kainic acid induced recurrent seizures and completely disorganized animal behavior. The functional state of mitochondria, as an important marker of excitotoxicity, was studied after intrahippocampal injections of kainic acid in the same doses. Kainic acid at 0.25 μg proved to activate the oxidative phosphorylation in hippocampal mitochondria. A higher (epileptogenic) dose of kainic acid inhibited mitochondrial respiration in the frontal cortex, but had an insignificant effect on mitochondrial respiration in the hippocampus. The disturbed interaction between the hippocampal system and frontal cortex after kainic acid administration can be the main factor of the revealed cognitive dysfunctions.     

海马内生长抑素与γ－氨基丁酸在大鼠穿梭箱主动回避反应中的作用

本实验以大鼠穿梭箱主动回避反应（ＡＡＲ）的习得和消退为学习记忆的指标,研究了海马内生长抑素（ＳＳ）和γ－氨基丁酸（ＧＡＢＡ）在学习记忆中的作用。结果如下：（１）经训练而建立了ＡＡＲ的大鼠,其海马内ＳＳ较对照组显著增高,而海马内ＧＡＢＡ含量却明显降低;（２）海马内注入ＳＳ的耗竭剂半胱胺（Ｃｙｓ,２０ｇ／Ｌ）使大鼠ＡＡＲ的习得受到明显损害,ＡＡＲ的消退显著加速,海马内ＳＳ明显降低,而ＧＡＢＡ含量却显著升高;（３）海马内注入ＧＡＢＡ（２００ｇ／Ｌ）使大鼠ＡＡＲ的消退显著加速的同时,其海马内ＳＳ含量亦显著降低。由此表明,海马内ＳＳ可能有促进学习记忆的作用,而海马内ＧＡＢＡ升高则有相反的效应;二者在海马调控学习记忆过程中具有重要作用。     

Green tea catechins prevent cognitive deficits caused by Abeta1-40 in rats

Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta)-induced oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In contrast, green tea catechins confer potent antioxidative defense to brain neurons. Therefore, we examined whether long-term administration of green tea catechins [Polyphenon E (PE): 63% of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, 11% of epicatechin, 6% of (-)-epigallocatechin and 6% of (-)-epicatechin-gallate] prevents cognitive impairment in an animal model of AD, rats infused with Abeta(1-40) into the cerebral ventricle. Five-week-old male Wistar rats fed with an MF diet were randomly divided into two groups: 0.0% PE (rats administered with water only) and 0.5% PE (rats administered with 5 g/L of PE). Twenty weeks after the PE administration, the 0.0% PE group was divided into the Vehicle group (rats infused with the solvent used for dissolving Abeta) and the Abeta(1-40)-infused rat group (Abeta group), whereas the 0.5% PE group was divided into the PE+Vehicle group (PE-preadministered vehicle-infused rats) and the PE+Abeta group (PE-preadministered Abeta-infused rats). Abeta(1-40) or vehicle was infused into the cerebral ventricle using a mini osmotic pump. Behavioral changes in the rats were assessed by an eight-arm radial maze. PE administration for 26 weeks significantly decreased the Abeta-induced increase in the number of reference and working memory errors, with a concomitant reduction of hippocampal lipid peroxide (LPO; 40%) and cortico-hippocampal reactive oxygen species (ROS; 42% and 50%, respectively). Significantly reduced levels of LPO in the plasma (24%) and hippocampus (25%) as well as those of ROS in the hippocampus (23%) and cortex (41%) were found in the PE+Vehicle group as compared with the Vehicle group. Furthermore, rats with preadministered PE had higher ferric-reducing antioxidation power of plasma as compared with the Vehicle group. Our results suggest that long-term administration of green tea catechins provides effective prophylactic benefits against Abeta-induced cognitive impairment by increasing antioxidative defenses.     

寡聚体Aβ1-42对大鼠海马突触可塑性的慢性影响

突触传递的长时程抑制(long-term depression,LTD)和长时程增强(longterm-potentiation,LTP)是突触可塑性的两种重要形式,并且与学习记忆密切相关.本文探讨Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠在海马齿状回区(dentate gyrus,DG)注射36 h孵育形成的寡聚体Aβ...     

早期干预改善缺氧缺血性脑损伤大鼠认知能力及其机制分析

目的研究早期干预对缺氧缺血性脑损伤(HIBD)大鼠学习记忆功能的影响及其作用机制。方法选用SD大鼠建立宫内HIBD动物模型,随机分为非干预组和干预组,非干预组与正常对照组常规饲养,对干预组采取早期触摸和丰富环境刺激。干预28d后,通过三等臂Y型迷宫试验检测各组大鼠的学习记忆功能,而后取大鼠额皮质和海马组织进行病理观察,并采用DNA缺口原位末端标记法(TUNEL反应法)检测凋亡细胞,观察脑组织神经元凋亡情况。结果单纯HIBD组大鼠学习获得与记忆保持能力明显低于正常对照组(P<0·01),但HIBD干预组Y迷宫测试成绩则优于HIBD非干预组(P<0·01)。同时,HIBD非干预组脑额皮质和海马CA1区神经元缺失远较正常组多(P<0·01),而HIBD干预组与HIBD非干预组之间神经元数量的差异则不那么显著。但HIBD干预组脑额皮质和海马神经元凋亡百分率明显低于HIBD非干预组(P<0·01)。结论早期干预可减轻缺氧缺血性损伤脑组织神经细胞凋亡,该作用可能是早期干预促进HIBD大鼠脑功能修复的机制之一。     

Activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling cascade mediates the effect of amyloid-beta on long term potentiation and cell death in hippocampus: a role for interleukin-1beta?

Amyloid-beta (Abeta) is a major constituent of the neuritic plaque found in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients, and a great deal of evidence suggests that the neuronal loss that is associated with the disease is a consequence of the actions of Abeta. In the past few years, it has become apparent that activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mediates some of the effects of Abeta on cultured cells; in particular, the evidence suggests that Abeta-triggered JNK activation leads to cell death. In this study, we investigated the effect of intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta(1-40) on signaling events in the hippocampus and on long term potentiation in Schaffer collateral CA1 pyramidal cell synapses in vivo. We report that Abeta(1-40) induced activation of JNK in CA1 and that this was coupled with expression of the proapoptotic protein, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c, poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and Fas ligand expression in the hippocampus. These data indicate that Abeta(1-40) inhibited expression of long term potentiation, and this effect was abrogated by administration of the JNK inhibitor peptide, D-JNKI1. In parallel with these findings, we observed that Abeta-induced changes in caspase-3 activation and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining in neuronal cultured cells were inhibited by D-JNKI1. We present evidence suggesting that interleukin (IL)-1beta plays a significant role in mediating the effects of Abeta(1-40) because Abeta(1-40) increased hippocampal IL-1beta and because several effects of Abeta(1-40) were inhibited by the caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK. On the basis of our findings, we propose that Abeta-induced changes in hippocampal plasticity are likely to be dependent upon IL-1beta-triggered activation of JNK.     

Modulation of amyloid-beta-induced and age-associated changes in rat hippocampus by eicosapentaenoic acid

The age-related deficit in long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus is positively correlated with hippocampal concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Previous evidence also indicates that the inhibition of LTP induced by intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-beta(1-40) (Abeta) is accompanied by increased hippocampal IL-1beta concentration and IL-1beta-stimulated signalling, specifically activation of the stress-activated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). We considered that the underlying age-related neuroinflammation may render older rats more susceptible to Abeta administration and, to investigate this, young, middle-aged and aged rats were injected intracerebroventricularly with Abeta or vehicle. Hippocampal IL-1beta concentration, JNK phosphorylation, expression of the putative Abeta receptor, Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the microglial cell surface marker, CD40 were assessed. We report that Abeta inhibited LTP in a concentration-dependent manner in young rats and that this was accompanied by concentration-dependent increases in hippocampal IL-1beta and expression of phosphorylated JNK, RAGE and CD40. While 20 micromol/L Abeta exerted no significant effect on LTP in young rats, it inhibited LTP in middle-aged and aged rats and the increased vulnerability of aged rats was associated with increased IL-1beta concentration. Treatment of rats with eicosapentaenoic acid attenuated the inhibitory effect of 60 micromol/L Abeta on LTP in young rats and the effect of 20 micromol/L Abeta in middle-aged and aged rats. We present evidence which indicates that the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid may be linked with its ability to stimulate activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.     

Abeta mediated diminution of MTT reduction--an artefact of single cell culture?

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) reduction assay is a frequently used and easily reproducible method to measure beta-amyloid (Abeta) toxicity in different types of single cell culture. To our knowledge, the influence of Abeta on MTT reduction has never been tested in more complex tissue. Initially, we reproduced the disturbed MTT reduction in neuron and astroglia primary cell cultures from rats as well as in the BV2 microglia cell line, utilizing four different Abeta species, namely freshly dissolved Abeta (25-35), fibrillar Abeta (1-40), oligomeric Abeta (1-42) and oligomeric Abeta (1-40). In contrast to the findings in single cell cultures, none of these Abeta species altered MTT reduction in rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHC). Moreover, application of Abeta to acutely isolated hippocampal slices from adult rats and in vivo intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta also did not influence the MTT reduction in the respective tissue. Failure of Abeta penetration into the tissue cannot explain the differences between single cells and the more complex brain tissue. Thus electrophysiological investigations disclosed an impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices from rat by application of oligomeric Abeta (1-40), but not by freshly dissolved Abeta (25-35) or fibrillar Abeta (1-40). In conclusion, the experiments revealed a glaring discrepancy between single cell cultures and complex brain tissue regarding the effect of different Abeta species on MTT reduction. Particularly, the differential effect of oligomeric versus other Abeta forms on LTP was not reflected in the MTT reduction assay. This may indicate that the Abeta oligomer effect on synaptic function reflected by LTP impairment precedes changes in formazane formation rate or that cells embedded in a more natural environment in the tissue are less susceptible to damage by Abeta, raising cautions against the consideration of single cell MTT reduction activity as a reliable assay in Alzheimer's drug discovery studies.     

Changes in progesterone metabolites in the hippocampus can modulate open field and forced swim test behavior of proestrous rats

The purpose of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that attenuating the endogenous increase of the 5alpha-reduced progesterone metabolite 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) in the hippocampus will alter anxiety and depression behavior of proestrous rats. In Experiment 1, anxiety (open field) and depression (forced swim test) behavior was compared of rats that should have high (proestrous) and low (diestrous and male rats) endogenous hippocampal 3alpha,5alpha-THP. Proestrous rats exhibited more anxiolytic-like (increased central entries in the open field) and anti-depressant-like (less immobility in the forced swim test) behavior than diestrous or male rats. In Experiments 2 and 3, respectively, systemic and intrahippocampal finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor which attenuates progesterone's metabolism to 3alpha,5alpha-THP, versus vehicle administration to proestrous rats was compared for effects on open field and forced swim test behavior. Systemic or intrahippocampal finasteride decreased central entries in the open field and increased immobility in the forced swim tests compared to vehicle administration. In Experiment 4, the effects of systemic and intrahippocampal finasteride vs vehicle administration on hippocampal 3alpha,5alpha-THP of proestrous rats was examined. Finasteride, SC or intrahippocampally, reduced 3alpha,5alpha-THP in the hippocampus compared to vehicle administration. Together these data suggest that variations in 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels in the hippocampus may mitigate proestrous changes in anxiety and depressive behavior of cycling rats.     

金雀异黄素对大鼠氧化应激损伤的保护作用研究

目的观察金雀异黄素(又称染料木黄酮,genistein,Gen)对β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)致大鼠氧化应激损伤的保护作用。方法 30只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和Gen干预组,每组10只。Gen组灌胃剂量为30 mg/(kg.d),假手术组和模型组灌胃等量的0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠。连续灌胃14 d后,模型组和Gen组大鼠双侧海马CA1区注射Aβ25-35,假手术组注射等量生理盐水,于术后7 d,生物化学方法检测脑组织中SOD、GSH-Px、MDA的活性或含量,HE染色观察大鼠海马的形态学改变。结果 (1)与假手术组比较,模型组脑组织SOD及GSH-Px活力明显降低,MDA含量明显升高(P0.01),而Gen组脑组织SOD及GSH-Px活力较模型组升高,MDA含量较模型组降低(P0.05)。(2)假手术组HE染色可见大鼠海马锥体细胞排列整齐、均匀,细胞结构完整,形态正常;模型组可见海马锥体细胞脱失、排列紊乱,结构不清,部分胞核固缩、深染;Gen组海马锥体细胞排列较整齐、均匀,结构尚清晰,形态基本正常。结论 Gen能保护海马神经细胞免受Aβ的损伤,这种作用可能与改善机体氧化还原状态,提高抗氧化水平有关。     

Effects of carnitine on respiratory chain and metabolism of oxygen radical in mitochondria of liver after exhaustive running in training rat

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of carnitine on cellular respiratory chain and metabolism of oxygen radical in mitochondria of liver after exhaustive running in training rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10): control, carnitine, training and training+carnitine groups. The training and training+carnitine groups received 6-week treadmill training, whereas carnitine and training+carnitine groups were administrated intragastrically with carnitine (300 mg/kg per d) for 6 weeks. After exhaustive running, all the groups were sacrificed to obtain liver samples, and liver mitochondria were extracted by differential centrifugation. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to evaluate activities of respiratory chain complexes (RCC) I-IV, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver mitochondria. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the carnitine group exhibited increased RCCIV activity (P < 0.05), the training group exhibited increased RCCI, RCCIII and RCCIV activities, and the training+carnitine group showed increased RCCI-IV activities (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, RCCI and RCCIV activities in the training+carnitine group were higher than those in the carnitine and training groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the training+carnitine group showed increased SOD activity (P < 0.01), the carnitine, training and training+carnitine groups showed increased GSH-Px activities (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the training and training+carnitine groups showed decreased MDA contents (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The training+carnitine group showed increased GSH-Px activity compared to that in the carnitine group (P < 0.01).The SOD activity in the training+carnitine group was higher than those in the carnitine and training groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the MDA level in the the training+carnitine group was lower than those in the carnitine and training groups (P < 0.01). These results suggest that training and carnitine can increase the function of respiratory chain and antioxidant capacity in liver mitochondria, and the improving effects of training and carnitine can be synergistic.     

硫酸软骨素对慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用

目的:研究硫酸软骨素时慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤的保护作用.方法:60只Wistar大鼠随机分成六个组:空白组给予蒸馏水,酒精模型组给予50%的酒精8 ml·kg-1·d-1灌胃,纳洛酮组在给予酒精三十分钟后腹腔注射纳洛酮0.08mgkg-1·d-1,硫酸软骨素低、中、高剂量组在酒精模型组的基础上分别给予硫酸软骨素50,100和150mg·kg-1·d-1.两周后酒精的剂量增加到12mg·kg-1d-1.在第八周末,分离大鼠脑组织,观察大鼠神经细胞.用生物方法测定大鼠脑组织中GSH-PX、SOD、MDA以及Ache的活性.结果:模型组大鼠大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞的数量明显减少并且排列紊乱;和酒精模型组相比较,硫酸软骨素中剂量组大脑皮质和海马区神经细胞排列较整齐,酒精+Chondroitin组脑组织中MDA的含量和Ache降低(P＜0.01),GSH-PX的含量和SOD的活力均明显增加(P＜0.01).结论:硫酸软骨素时慢性酒精中毒氧化损伤具有保护作用.     

小檗碱对血管性认知功能障碍模型大鼠学习记忆能力的影响*

目的:观察小檗碱(berberine)对血管性认知功能障碍(VCI)大鼠学习记忆的影响。 方法:68只Wistar大鼠随机分为:正常组10只、 假手术组10只、造模组48只。造模组大鼠行双侧颈动脉结扎术制备血管性认知功能障碍模型,造模后大鼠又随机分为血管性认知功能障模型组、小檗碱低剂量(20 mg/kg)组、中剂量(40 mg/kg)组和高剂量(60 mg/kg)组(每组大鼠10只)。治疗组腹腔注射不同剂量的小檗碱,其余组腹腔注射生理盐水,每天1次,共34 d。给药28 d后,Morris水迷宫检测大鼠学习记忆能力;水迷宫实验后,检测超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)、丙二醛(MDA)以及前脑皮层TNF-α、IL-1β、5-HT的含量与单胺氧化酶(MAO)的含量。 结果:与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠逃避潜伏期显著延长(P＜0.01),通过平台次数显著减少(P＜0.01),海马或前脑皮层SOD、GSH和5-HT水平明显降低(P＜0.01),MDA、TNF-α、IL-1β和MAO水平明显升高(P＜0.01);与模型组相比,小檗碱各治疗组逃避潜伏期显著缩短(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),通过平台的次数显著增加(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),海马或前脑皮层SOD、GSH 和5-HT水平明显升高(P＜0.01),MDA、TNF-α、IL-1β和MAO水平明显降低(P＜0.01)。结论:小檗碱显著提高血管性认知功能障碍模型大鼠的空间学习记忆能力,其机制可能与小檗碱调节大鼠的海马抗氧化应激、抗炎性反应和前脑皮层单胺类神经递质系统的作用有关。小檗碱60 mg/kg组作用较好。     

D-半乳糖诱导大鼠脑损伤的糖基化机制

目的D-半乳糖（D-galactose）诱导大鼠体内不同糖基化水平,研究其脑损伤发生的机理。方法采用不同剂量D-半乳糖[150、75、37．5mg／（kg·d）]分别腹腔注射（ip）处理大鼠8周,诱导糖基化状态和脑损伤。采用硫代巴比妥酸（TBA）比色法测定糖化血红蛋白,硝基四氮唑蓝（NBT）比色法测定血清果糖胺;按文献方法分别测定血红细胞醛糖还原酶活性和晚期糖基化终末产物（AGEs）含量及脑组织中AGEs含量,羟胺法和比色法分别测定SOD和GSH-Px活性,硫代巴比妥酸法测定MDA含量;以Fura-2／AM作为钙荧光指示剂,双波长荧光分光光度法检测脑海马神经细胞胞质[Ca^2＋]i的变化;透射电镜观察脑海马神经细胞线粒体的变化。结果D-半乳糖处理8周后,大鼠血红细胞醛糖还原酶活性升高,糖化产物形成增多;脑组织中AGEs及脑细胞胞质[Ca^2＋]i含量明显升高,SOD及GSH-Px活性下降,MDA含量升高（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）,海马神经细胞线粒体出现病理性改变。结论D-半乳糖通过诱导体内蛋白糖基化和脑组织AGEs大量生成,降低抗氧化能力及胞质[Ca^2＋]i超负荷等,导致脑细胞损伤。     

β-淀粉肽(1-40)对海马神经元高电压激活钙电流的作用及银杏内酯B对该作用的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳技术探讨β-淀粉肽(1-40)(β-amyloid peptide1-40,Aβ1-40)对新鲜分离的大鼠海马CA1区锥体神经元高电压依赖性钙通道电流(high voltage-activated calcium channel current,IHVA)的作用并观察银杏内酯B(ginkgolideB,GB)对该作用的影响.利用细胞外灌流或者电极内液给药的方法,比较加药前后电流幅度的变化以判断药物是否发挥作用.细胞外给予老化处理的Aβ1-40可以浓度依赖性地增强IHVA的幅度,Aβ1-40的浓度为0.01～30 μmol/L时可分别使IHVA幅度增加(5.43±3.01)%(n=8,P＞0.05)、(10.49±4.13)%(n=11,P＞0.05)、(40.69±8.01)%(n=16,P＜0.01)、(58.32±4.85)%(n=12,P＜0.01)和(75.45±5.81)%(n=6,P＜0.01);新鲜配制的Aβ1-40对IHVA几乎没有影响(n=5,P＞0.05).L-型钙通道阻断剂nifedipine可以抵消Aβ1-40对IHVA的增强作用.Aβ1-40(1.0μmol/L)对IHVA的增强作用可以被cAMP的类似物8-Br-cAMP和腺苷酸环化酶(adenylyl cyclase,AC)的激动剂forskolin增强[分别为(66.19±5.74)%,P＜0.05和(73.21±6.90)%,P＜0.05],被蛋白激酶A(protein kinaseA,PKA)的抑制剂H-89减弱[(20.08±2.18)%,P＜0.05].GB可有效地减弱Aβ1-40对IHVA的增强作用.以上结果表明Aβ1-40可通过AC-cAMP-PKA增强IHVA引起胞内钙超载,这可能是其产生神经毒性作用的机制之一.GB可通过抑制Aβ1-40引起的异常钙离子内流对神经元起一定保护作用.     

Cholinergic and glutamatergic activation reverses working memory failure by hippocampal histamine H1 receptor blockade in rats

Intrahippocampal administration of the histamine H1 receptor antagonist pyrilamine (3.2-32 ug/ side) but not the histamine H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine (1.0-10 microg/side) increased the number of errors in the working memory task with a three-panel runway setup. The increase in working memory errors induced by intrahippocampal 32 microg/side pyrilamine was significantly reduced by concurrent infusion of the histamine H1 receptor agonist 2-pyridylethylamine (3.2 and 10 microg/side). The cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine ( 1.0 and 3.2 microg/side) and D-cycloserine (0.32 and 1.0 microg/side), the partial agonist at the glycine binding site on the NMDA receptor/channel complex, reduced the increase in working memory errors induced by intrahippocampal 32 microg/side pyrilamine. These results suggest that the hippocampal histaminergic activity via histamine H1 receptor is necessary for normal working memory processes and that the septohippocampal cholinergic activation and positive modulation of the NMDA receptor/channel through activation of the glycine site can alleviate dysfunction of hippocampal histamine H1 receptor-mediated neurotransmission involved in working memory function.     

汽车尾气污染对四种北方阔叶树苗木膜脂过氧化和保护酶活性的影响

采用相同浓度(25μgNO2·m^-3)不同处理时间(1、3、5、7d)和相同处理时间(2h)不同浓度(40、60、80、100μgNO2·m^-3)两种方法进行熏气处理,研究了汽车尾气对五角槭、山荆子、山梨和茶条槭苗木叶液pH值、相对电导率、MDA含量、叶绿素含量、SOD和POD活性及ASA含量的影响．结果表明．随着熏气时间的延长和熏气浓度的增加,4个树种苗木的叶液pH值、叶绿素含量和ASA含量均逐渐降低,相对电导率、MDA含量、SOD和POD活性逐渐上升,不同树种苗木叶片组织的各项指标间存在较大差异,相同浓度处理7d后．山梨苗木叶片组织的pH降幅最大,山荆子次之,茶条槭最小;叶绿素含量的下降顺序为山梨>山荆子>茶条槭>五角槭;ASA含量的下降幅度以五角槭和茶条槭较小,山荆子和山梨较大,随着处理时间的延长．五角槭苗木叶片组织的相对电导率和MDA含量上升幅度最大．分别比对照升高了68．1％和52．50％,山荆子次之,茶条槭最小．随着处理浓度的增加,山荆子苗木的相对电导率和MDA上升幅度最大,分别比对照升高99．8％和52．5％,山梨次之,五角槭和茶条槭较小．4个树种苗木的自由基清除系统受到明显影响．SOD、POD活性呈上升趋势,茶条槭除ASA变幅稍高于五角槭外．各项生理指标的变化明显低于其它3个树种,表现出相对较强的抗性,山荆子的各项生理指标变化幅度相对较大,且其SOD和POD在最高浓度处理时开始遭到破坏．表现出相对较弱的抗性。