Cytological characteristics of the anterior amygdaloid area neurons and their reactive changes on a background of various levels of gonadal steroids

The work deals with cytological characteristics of neurons, glias and synapses of the anterior amygdaloid area of rat brain amygdaloid complex, one of the areas of sexual dimorphism, at the stage of estrous and after gonadectomy. The electron microscopic investigation of neurons at the stage of estrous has revealed that greater part of neurons display increased or moderate activities. A decrease in the functional activities of AAA neurons was observed after gonadectomy.     

杏仁内侧核注射AVP和AVPMcAb对家兔ET性发热效应的影响

目的和方法：在大脑杏仁内侧核微量注射精氨酸加压素（ＡＶＰ）和精氨酸加压素单克隆抗体（ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ）,观察其对家兔内毒素（ＥＴ）性发热效应以及视前区一下丘脑前部（ＰＯＡＨ）温敏神经元放电活动的影响。结果：①杏仁内侧核微量注射ＡＶＰ能明显抑制家兔ＥＴ性发热效应,注射ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ能明显易化家兔ＥＴ性发热效应;②杏仁外侧核分别注射ＡＶＰ和ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ则对家兔ＥＴ性发热效应无明显影响;③杏仁内侧核分别注射ＡＶＰ和ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ后ＰＯＡＨ热敏神经元和冷敏神经元放电活动均无明显变化。结论：家兔杏仁内侧核也是ＡＶＰ抗热效应的一个重要的作用部位,杏仁内侧核注射ＡＶＰ的抗热作用途径与隔区注射ＡＶＰ的抗热途径可能不同     

刺激家兔杏仁基底核对外膝体“ON”神经元感受野反应特性的影响

利用细胞外记录,在乌拉坦麻醉和三碘委按酚麻痹的３７只新西兰兔上,考察刺激杏仁基底核对外膝体神经元感受野反应特性的影响。实验观察到,在１１７个具有“ＯＮ”反应外膝体神经元中,４７个单位在电刺激杏仁基底核时不同程度地受到抑制或易化性影响,即细胞反应强度和／或感受野范围均有改变。产生这些影响的潜伏期为７－４１ｍｓ,最大时程约２８ｍｓ。撤除电刺激３ｍｉｎ后,感受野反应特性即告恢复。单独刺激杏仁核不能引起外     

刺激兔杏仁体影响内膝体听觉神经元的ON-OFF反应

在２３只三碘季铵酚麻痹的新西兰兔上记录细胞外放电,观察短纯音诱发的内膝体神经元ｏｎｏｆ反应的特性及电刺激边缘系统杏仁外侧核（Ｌａｔｅｒａｌａｍｙｇｄａｌｏｉｄｎｕｃｌｅｕｓ,ＬＡｍ）对反应的影响。实验发现,内膝体神经元的ｏｎｏｆ反应与纯音刺激的强度、频率及作用时程有关;刺激ＬＡｍ,可以抑制ｏｎｏｆ反应,或是使ｏｎｏｆ反应放电构型发生变化。ｏｎｏｆ反应是神经元对声音信号作用时程及声音的起止进行编码的方式之一,ＬＡｍ对ｏｎｏｆ反应的影响表明,边缘系统杏仁体的活动可以调控听觉中枢对声音时间信息的编码。     

Aromatase immunoreactivity in the rat brain: Gonadectomy-sensitive hypothalamic neurons and an unresponsive “limbic ring” of the lateral septum-bed nucleus-amygdala complex

The aromatase (estrogen synthetase) enzyme catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens in peripheral tissues, as well as in the brain. Our study aimed at comparing the brain distribution of aromatase-immunoreactive neurons in male and female, normal and gonadectomized rats. Light microscopic immunostaining was employed using a purified polyclonal antiserum raised against human placental aromatase. Two anatomically separate aromatase-immunoreactive neuronal systems were detected in the rat brain: A “limbic telencephalic” aromatase system was composed by a large population of labeled neurons in the lateral septal area, and by a continuous “ring” of neurons of the laterodorsal division of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, central amygdaloid nucleus, stria terminalis, and the substantia inominata-ventral pallidum-fundus striati region. The other, “hypothalamic” aromatase system consisted of neurons scattered in a dorsolateral hypothalamic area including the paraventricular, lateral and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, the subincertal nucleus as well as the zona incerta. In addition, a few axon-like processes (unresponsive to gonadectomy) were present in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic complex, the ventral striatum, and midline thalamic regions. No sexual dimorphism was observed in the distribution or intensity of aromatase-immunostaining. However, 3 days, 2, 3, 8, 16, or 32 weeks after gonadectomy, aromatase-immunoreactive neurons disappeared from the hypothalamus, whereas they were still present in the limbic areas of both sexes. The results indicate the existence of two distinct estrogen-producing neuron systems in the rat brain: (1) a “limbic ring” of aromatase-labeled neurons of the lateral septum-bed nucleus-amygdala complex unresponsive to gonadectomy; and (2) a sex hormone-sensitive “hypothalamic” aromatase neuron system.     

电刺激杏仁复合体诱发心律失常及其下行神经通路的初步探讨

电刺激杏仁复合体能诱发心律失常。心律失常的类型为心动过缓伴室性或结性期外收缩。刺激杏仁复合体不同亚核均能诱发心律失常,不同类型的心律失常在核内具有相应的代表点。心律失常发作与杏仁局部区域诱发的爆发性后放电有关。推测杏仁复合体内神经元过度激活可能通过杏仁-迷走神经运动背核及杏仁-下丘脑外侧区等通路下行,使心率减慢、房室传导阻滞而导致心律失常。     

基底外侧杏仁核对睡眠-觉醒的调节作用

采用多道睡眠描记方法,观察了基底外侧杏仁核在睡眠－觉醒调节中的作用。结果发现,电损毁双侧ＢＬＮ引起慢波睡眠和快波睡眠增加,觉醒减少;在双侧ＢＬＮ内注射选择性损毁神经元胸体剂量的红藻氨酸引起双相效应,注射ＫＡ后第１天出现失眠,自第３天开始,ＳＷＳ增多,Ｗ减少,但ＰＳ无显著变化。     

GABA介导杏仁外侧核对皮层A Ⅰ区神经元声反应的抑制:在体微电泳研究

在SD大鼠上应用多顺利完成微电极方法,观察微电泳CABA及其受体的拮抗剂或激动剂对杏仁外侧核（LA）抑制皮层AⅠ神经元声反应效应的影响。结果显示,电泳GABA能抑制皮层AⅠ区神经元的电活动,电泳GABAA受体拮抗剂bicuculline（BIC）则能易化其反应;电刺激LA能抑制皮层AⅠ区听神经元声反应,电泳GABA产生类拟于刺激LA的抑制效应;LA对皮层AⅠ区神经的抑制效应能被BIC所翻转,而不能被什氨酸受体拮抗剂strychnine所翻转,电泳GABAB型受体例激动剂baclofen对神经元声反应无影响。上术结果表明,GABA可能是介民LA抑制皮层AⅠ区神经元声反应的最终递质,并且是通过GABAA受体作用的。     

刺激大鼠杏仁外侧核对皮层AⅠ区ON-OFF神经元反应及调谐曲线的影响

在30只氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉的SD大鼠上记录神经元单位放电,观察短纯音诱发的皮层AI区神经元ON－OFF反应的特性及电刺激杏仁外侧核（lateral amygdaloid nucleus,LA)对ON－OFF反应以及调谐曲线的影响。实验证实,AI区神经元ON－OFF反应的模式与纯音刺激的强度、频率及作用时程有关;刺激LA可以抑制ON－OFF反应的放电频数,使反应的阈值升高,或使反应放电构型发生变化;此外,刺激LA能使ON－OFF神经元的调谐曲线变窄,Q10数值增大。研究结果不仅表明ON－OFF神经元能对纯音刺激的时程、强度和频率等多种信息进行编码,而且还证明杏仁外侧核可以在皮层水平参与听觉信息的调制,削弱或衰减某些听觉信息,导致整个调谐曲线上移变窄,从而提高AI区ON－OFF神经元的频率选择性能,有利于检测外界嘈杂环境中特定的听觉信息。     

Colocalization of tyrosine hydroxylase and Fos in the male Syrian hamster brain following different states of arousal

In an investigation of the role that central tyrosine hydroxylase-(TH) containing neurons play in copulation in the male Syrian hamster, The induction of Fos protein was used as an index of neuronal activation. With a double immunoperoxidase technique, the activation of TH neurons was compared in hamsters from three experimental groups: (1) mated in a new cage; (2) handled controls placed in a new cage, and (3) unhandled controls. Although mating selectively induces Fos production in the medial amygdaloid nucleus (Me), more than half of the TH neurons in Me (a region outside of the classical catecholamine systems) expressed Fos equally in all of the experimental groups. In the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), TH neurons were activated equivalently in mated and handled control animals compared to unhandled controls. TH neurons in the neucleus of the solitary tract (NST) were also activated in handled control animals, and mating further enhanced the level of Fos immunostaining in these neurons above both groups of nonmated animals. Although not quantified, co-localization of Fos and TH was also observed in all experimental groups in the olfactory bulbs and the interfascicular nucleus, and in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca and the cerebral cortex, regions which contain TH neurons but are not part of the classically described TH cell groups. Few, if any, TH neurons in other catecholaminergic brain regions, such as the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, produced Fos in any of the experimental groups. These results suggest that TH neurons in the PVN and NST may be activated during different states of arousal, and that nonclassical TH neurons in the amygdala produce high levels of Fos even in unstimulated animals. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Wiring and Volume Transmission in Rat Amygdala. Implications for Fear and Anxiety

The amygdala plays a key role in anxiety. Information from the environment reaches the amygdaloid basolateral nucleus and after its processing is relayed to the amygdaloid central nucleus where a proper anxiogenic response is implemented. Experimental evidence indicates that in this information transfer a GABAergic interface controls the trafficking of impulses between the two nuclei. Recent work indicates that interneuronal communication can take place by classical synaptic transmission (wiring transmission) and by volume transmission in which the neurotransmitter diffuses and flows through the extracellular space from its site of release and binds to extrasynaptic receptors at various distances from the source. Based on evidence from our laboratory the concept is introduced that neurotransmitters in the amygdala can modulate anxiety involving changes in fear learning and memories by effects on receptor mosaics in the fear circuits through wiring and volume transmission modes of communication. Special issue article in honor of Dr. Ricardo Tapia.     

雌激素对电刺激诱发杏仁核多巴胺释放的影响

用快速周期伏安法（FCV）测定了去卵巢（OVX）雌鼠,经雌激素处理的去卵巢雌鼠及正常雌鼠的中央杏仁核（CAN）的多巴胺（DA）释放,并应用放射免疫技术检测了大鼠在不同处理条件下血清雌二醇（E2）含量,结果表明,雌激素处理的OVX组大鼠的杏仁核DA释放量均高于对照OVX组大鼠,并随苯甲酸雌二醇（EB）注射剂量的增加,DN释放量及血清E2含量迹增加,有明显的量－效关系,提示雌激素可能是调节大鼠CAN区DA释放量的重要因素。     

Supratrigeminal neurons mediate the shortest, disynaptic pathway from the central amygdaloid nucleus to the contralateral trigeminal motoneurons in the rat

Stimulation of the supratrigeminal area (STA) of the rat induced a monosynaptic EPSP in most mylohyoid-digastric motoneurons and a monosynaptic IPSP or EPSP in the majority of masseteric ones, contralaterally. Stimulation of the central amygdaloid nucleus induced the ipsilateral STA activity immediately followed by the contralateral mylohyoid nerve activities. The same amygdaloid stimulated excited 19 of 46 STA neurons, which were antidromically identified to project to the contralateral trigeminal motor nucleus. Nine of these were monosynaptically excited. The mean of the antidromic and monosynaptic latencies of these neurons explains the mean onset latencies of the amygdaloid influences on the contralateral trigeminal motoneurons. Therefore, the shortest crossing amygdalo-motoneuronal pathway is probably disynaptic and mediated by commissural STA neurons.     

The action of sodium glutamate and acetylcholine on neurons of the basal amygdaloid nucleus after degeneration of hypothalamo-amygdaloid pathways

The chemoreactive properties of neurons of the rabbit basal amygdaloid nucleus were investigated at various times after unilateral division of all the direct hypothalamo-amygdaloid pathways (stria terminalis, ventroamygdalofugal pathway) and the anterior commissure. After immobilization with diplacin, the activity of the absolute majority of neurons of the partially deafferented basal nucleus (by contrast with responses of neurons of the intact amygdala) were inhibited by acetylcholine. Sodium glutamate caused facilitation of activity during electrophoresis, followed by inhibition. The results are compared with those obtained on neurons of long-isolated cortical slabs.     

Various effects of angiotensin II on amygdaloid neuronal activity in normotensive control and hypertensive transgenic [TGR(mREN-2)27] rats.

The effects of iontophoretically ejected angiotensin II (Ang II) on the firing rate of neurons in the basolateral complex and the central and cortical amygdala were investigated in two strains of urethane anesthetized rats. In normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats, Ang II induced a significant increase in the discharge rate of responsive amygdaloid neurons. In contrast, in the hypertensive transgenic [TGR(mREN-2)27] rats with higher brain Ang II level, Ang II more often caused inhibitory effects on the amygdaloid firing rate in comparison with controls. The distribution of nonresponsive, excited, and inhibited neurons differed significantly in the two rat strains. Moreover, the responsiveness of amygdaloid neurons was significantly higher in transgenic rats in comparison with controls. Both the increase and the decrease in the firing rate caused by Ang II could be blocked either by angiotensin AT(1) or by AT(2) receptor-specific antagonists. In many cases, the Ang II-induced decrease in the firing rate was antagonized by bicuculline, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) antagonist. The higher responsiveness of amygdaloid neurons in transgenic rats as well as the predominance of inhibitory effects, presumedly mediated by GABAergic interneurons, could change the output of the amygdala and its influence on thirst, kidney, and cardiovascular function or on processes of learning and anxiety.     

Immunocytochemical localization of aromatase-containing neurons in the rat brain during pre- and postnatal development

the present immunohistochemical study demonstrates the ontogenetic appearance of aromatase-immunoreactive neurons in several discrete regions of the hypothalamus and limbic system in the rat brain, using a purified antibody against human placental aromatase cytochrome P450. Immunoreactive cells were first detected in the preoptic area on the 13th day of embryonic life (E 13), and additionally in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis on E 15. Labeled cells were also found in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the ventromedial nucleus on E 16, and some were detected in the arcuate nucleus on E 19. As gestation progressed, the number and the immunoreactivity of these cells gradually increased and peaked within definite periods of perinatal life and there-after declined or disappeared. The immunoreactive cells were also found in the central amygdaloid nucleus and the lateral septal nucleus, and in the ventral pallidum, after the 14th day of postnatal life (P 14) and 30th day (P 30), respectively. The distribution of aromatase-immunoreactive neurons was similar between the sexes, while the immunoreactivity was higher in males than in females after late gestational days. No immunoreaction was detectable in other regions of the telencephalon or midbrain at any time periods studied. The aromatase-immunoreactive neurons in the specific regions may be involved in the sexual differentiation of the brain.     

慢性吗啡依赖大鼠条件性位置厌恶模型杏仁中央核蛋白激酶A表达变化

目的:分析慢性吗啡依赖大鼠纳洛酮催瘾戒断条件性位置厌恶(CPA)建立前后、消退后及重建后,与成瘾密切相关的脑区杏仁中央核(CeA)内蛋白激酶A(PKA)蛋白表达的适应性变化,探讨阿片依赖戒断后厌恶动机形成的生物学基础。方法:①将雄性SD大鼠分为实验组(慢性吗啡注射+纳洛酮催瘾组,MN),对照组(慢性吗啡注射+生理盐水催瘾组,MS),慢性生理盐水注射+纳洛酮催瘾组,SN),每组24只。采用慢性吗啡注射(10 mg/kg,BID,ip)后给予一次纳洛酮(0.3 mg/kg)催瘾注射(同时与条件性位置训练箱搭配)建立大鼠CPA模型。②在CPA建立前后、消退后及重建后,采用免疫组织化学方法检测CeA内PKA蛋白表达情况。结果:MN组在CPA建立前后、消退后及重建后CeA内PKA的蛋白表达出现适应性变化(P<0.05),建立后(Day7,134.43±4.481,P<0.05),消退后(Day13,141.01±3.360,P<0.01)及重建后(Day14,137.18±40.330,P<0.05)PKA蛋白表达水平均低于建立前(Day5,124.48±6.722)。而MS组(P>0.05)和SN组(P>0.05)在CPA的各个时间点PKA的蛋白表达变化差异均无显著性。结论:①CeA内PKA蛋白的低表达导致的厌恶的中枢状态,可能是CPA建立的关键的神经机制。②CeA内PKA的适应性变化可能是物质依赖戒断后CPA相关神经可塑性变化的重要分子基础。     

Topical organization of the projections to the putamen from the nuclei of the amygdaloid body in the cat

The investigation has been performed on the cat by means of the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase method and luminescent markers. To the putamen along its rostro-caudal length and to all the segments projection fibers get only from the neurons of the basal nucleus of the amygdaloid body, greater number of the neurons projecting to the antero-ventral parts of the putamen than to the posterior ones. The problem on likeness in organization of the projections of the amygdaloid body and the caudate nucleus is discussed.     

Effects of gonadectomy and sex hormones on the levels of noradrenaline and dopamine in rat hypothalamus

The levels of noradrenaline and dopamine were determined in the homogenates of the hypothalamus of rats of either sex. The determinations were done in intact rats, after sham gonadectomy, 6 and 9 weeks after gonadectomy, and in gonadectomized rats receiving 6 weeks after gonadectomy one dose of oestradiol cypionate (females) or testosterone cypionate (males). Catecholamines were determined fluorimetrically. The changes of the determined catecholamines differed in the hypothalamic homogenates in males and females after gonadectomy. Following orchidectomy the noradrenaline level rose, while after ovariectomy the level of this catecholamine decreased. Contrary to this, in ovariectomized rats the dopamine level was significantly raised after the operation. This change was reversible as observed after administration of oestradiol cypionate. Orchidectomy and testosterone cypionate injection had no effect on the dopamine level in the hypothalamus. The role of these catecholamines in the processes connected with the regulation of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis is discussed.     

Neuronal activity in the amygdaloid structure during the sleep-wake cycle of the rat

The pattern of neuronal spike activity in the amygdaloid structure was studied in the sleep-wake cycle during experiments on unrestrained rats. It was shown that most neurons of the dorsomedial portion of the amygdala display greater spike activity during active wakefulness (80%) and paradoxical sleep (66.7%) than during slow-wave sleep. Most neurons of the basolateral amygdaloid region discharged at high frequency during active wakefulness (84.6%) and during paradoxial sleep (38.4%) compared with the frequency of firing during slow-wave sleep. Some neurons were found whose rate of discharge rose during slow-wave sleep in comparison with a similar period of paradoxical sleep (38.4%) and of active wakefulness (7.7%). Our findings show how the pattern of neuronal activity in the dosromedial and basolateral regions of the amygdaloid structure differs at various stages of the sleep-wake cycle. It is postulated that this structure serves mainly to regulate emotionally motivated processes rather than helping to govern the basic mechanisms of the sleep-wake cycle.Beritashvili Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR, Tbilisi. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 747–756, November–December, 1985.