Spatio-temporal properties of 5-lipoxygenase expression and activation in the brain after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

The role of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in brain injury after cerebral ischemia has been reported; however, the spatio-temporal properties of 5-LOX expression and the enzymatic activation are unclear. To determine these properties, we observed post-ischemic 5-LOX changes from 3 h to 14 days after reperfusion in rats with transient focal cerebral ischemia induced by 30 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion. We found that the expression of 5-LOX, both mRNA and protein, was increased in the ischemic core 12-24 h after reperfusion, and in the boundary zone adjacent to the ischemic core 7-14 days after reperfusion. The increased 5-LOX was primarily localized in the neurons in the ischemic core at 24 h, but in the proliferated astrocytes in the boundary zone 14 days after reperfusion. As 5-LOX metabolites, the level of cysteinyl-leukotrienes in the ischemic brain was substantially increased 3 h to 24 h, near control at 3 days, and moderately increased again 7 days after reperfusion; whereas the level of LTB(4) was increased mildly 3 h but substantially 7-14 days after reperfusion. Thus, we conclude that 5-LOX expression and the enzymatic activity are increased after focal cerebral ischemia, and spatio-temporally involved in neuron injury in the acute phase and astrocyte proliferation in the late phase.     

Transient Cerebral Ischemia Induces Active Astrocytosis Without Distinct Neuronal Death in the Gerbil Main Olfactory Bulb: A Long-Term Analysis

In the present study, we examined ischemia-induced neuronal and glial changes in the gerbil MOB at various time points during 60 days after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia. The number of neuronal neuclei-immunoreactive neurons was not changed after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Myelin basic protein immunoreaction was well preserved after I/R. Five days after I/R, reactive form of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes began to increase in the external plexiform layer and granule cell layer: These reactive astrocytes peaked 10 days after I/R, thereafter, they decreased with time after I/R. Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia were ubiquitously distributed in all layers of the MOB. After I/R, significant changes in their morphology and immunoreactivity were not detected. The results of western blot analyses for GFAP, Iba-1 and MBP were similar to the immunohistochemical data. In addition, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (a marker for DNA damage) immunoreactivity and SOD1, an antioxidant, protein levels were not changed in the ischemic MOB. These results indicate that neurons in the MOB are resistant to ischemic insult, showing that astrocytes are activated late in the ischemic MOB.     

Phosphorylation of JNK Increases in the Cortex of Rat Subjected to Diabetic Cerebral Ischemia

Previous studies have demonstrated that the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway plays an important role in inducing neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemic injury. JNK signaling pathway in activated during cerebral ischemic injury. It participates in ischemia-induced neuronal apoptosis. However, whether JNK signaling is involved in the process of neuronal apoptosis of diabetes-induced cerebral ischemia is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury on phosphorylation of JNK in diabetic rats. Twenty-four adult streptozotocin induced diabetic and 24 adult non-diabetic rats were randomly subjected to 15 min of forebrain ischemia followed by reperfusion for 0, 1, 3, and 6 h. Sixteen sham-operated diabetic and non-diabetic rats were used as controls. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL). Protein expression of phospho-JNK was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The numbers of TUNEL-positive cells and phospho-JNK protein expression in the cerebral cortices after 1, 3 and 6 h reperfusion was significantly higher in diabetic rats compared to non-diabetic animals subjected to ischemia and reperfusion (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed significantly higher phospho-JNK protein expression in the cerebral cortices of the diabetic rats after 1 and 3 h reperfusion than that was presented in non-diabetic animals subjected to ischemia and reperfusion (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that increased phosphorylation of JNK may be associated with diabetes-enhanced ischemic brain damage.     

Autophagy Activation Contributes to the Neuroprotection of Remote Ischemic Perconditioning Against Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Remote ischemic perconditioning (RIPer) has been proved to provide potent cardioprotection. However, there are few studies on neuroprotection of RIPer. This study aims to clarify the neuroprotective effect of RIPer and the role of autophagy induced by RIPer against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats to imitate focal cerebral ischemia. RIPer was carried out 4 cycles of 10 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion, with a thin elastic band tourniquet encircled on the bilateral femoral arteries at the start of 10 min after MCAO. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and autophagy inducer rapamycin were administered respectively to determine the contribution of autophagy in RIPer. Neurologic deficit scores, infarct volume, brain edema, Nissl staining, TUNEL assay, immunohistochemistry and western blot was performed to analyze the neuroprotection of RIPer and the contribution of autophagy in RIPer. RIPer significantly exerted neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats, and the autophagy-lysosome pathway was activated by RIPer treatment. 3-MA reversed the neuroprotective effects induced by RIPer, whereas rapamycin ameliorated the brain ischemic injury. Autophagy activation contributes to the neuroprotection by RIPer against focal cerebral ischemia in rats.     

Glycolysis and glucose oxidation during reperfusion of ischemic hearts from diabetic rats

Stimulationg of glucose oxidation by dichloroacetate (DCA) treatment is beneficial during recovery of ischemic hearts from non-diabetic rats. We therfore determined whether DCA treatment of diabetic rat hearts (in which glucose use is extremely low), increases recovery of function of hearts reperfused following ischemia. Isolated working hearts from 6 week streptozotocindiabetic rats were perfused with 11 mM [2-³H/U-¹⁴C]glucose, 1.2 mM palmitate, 20 μU/ml insulin, and subjected to 30 min of no flow ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. Heart function (expressed as the product of heart rate and peak systolic pressure), prior to ischemia, was depressed in diabetic hearts compared to controls (HR × PSP × 10^?3 was 18.2 ± 1 and 24.3 ± 1 beats/mm Hg/min in diabetic and control hearts respectively) but recover to pre-ischemic levels following ischemia, whereas recovery of control of control hearts was significantly decreased (17.8 ± 1 and 11.9 ± 3 beats/mm Hg/min in diabetic and control hearts respectively). This enhanced recovery of diabetic rat hearts occurred even though glucose oxidation during reperfusion was significantly reduced as compared to controls (39 ± 6 and 208 ± 42 nmol/min/g dry wt, in diabetic and control hearts respectively). Glycolytic rate (³G₂O production) during reperfusion were similar in diabetic and control hearts (1623 ± 359 and 2071 ± 288 nmol/min/g dry wt, respectively). If DCA (1 mM) was added at reperfusion, hearts from control animals exhibited a significant improvement in function (HR × PSP × 10^? recovered to 20 ± 4 beats/mm Hg/min) that was accompanied by a 4-fold increase in glucose oxidation (from 208 ± 42 to 753 ± 111 nmol/min/g dry wt). DCA was without effect on functional recovery of diabetic rat hearts during reperfusion but did significantly increase glucose oxidation from 39 ± 6 to 179 ± 44 nmol/min/g dry wt). These data suggests that, unlike control hearts, low glucose oxidation rates are not an important factor in reperfusion recovery of previouskly ischemic diabetic rat hearts.     

Neuronal Damage Using Fluoro-Jade B Histofluorescence and Gliosis in the Gerbil Septum Submitted to Various Durations of Cerebral Ischemia

The extent of neuronal damage/death in some brain regions is highly correlated to duration time of transient ischemia. In the present study, we carried out neuronal degeneration/death and glial changes in the septum 4 days after 5, 10, 15, and 20 min of transient cerebral ischemia using gerbils. To examine neuronal damage, Fluoro-Jade B (F-J B, a marker for neuronal degeneration) histofluorescence staining was used. F-J B positive (⁺) cells were detected in the septo-hippocampal nucleus (SHN) of the septum only in the 20 min ischemia-group; the mean number of F-J B⁺ neurons was 14.9 ± 2.5/400 μm² in a section. Gliosis of astrocytes and microglia was examined using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and anti-ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), respectively. In all the ischemia-groups, GFAP- and Iba-1-immunoreactive astrocytes and microglia, respectively, were increased in number, and apparently tended to be increased in their immunoreactivity. Especially, in the 20 min ischemia-group, the number and immunoreactivity of Iba-immunoreactive microglia was highest and strongest in the ischemic SHN 4 days after ischemia–reperfusion. In brief, our findings showed that neuronal damage/death in the SHN occurred and gliosis was apparently increased in the 20 min ischemia-group at 4 days after ischemia–reperfusion.     

Decreased Brain KATP Channel Contributes to Exacerbating Ischemic Brain Injury and the Failure of Neuroprotection by Sevoflurane Post-Conditioning in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes leads to exacerbating brain injury after ischemic stroke, but the underlying mechanisms and whether therapeutic intervention with anesthetic post-conditioning can induce neuroprotection in this population are not known. We tested the hypothesis that alteration of brain mitochondrial (mito) K_ATP channels might cause exacerbating brain injury after ischemic stroke and attenuate anesthetic post-conditioning induced neuroprotection in diabetes. We also examined whether hyperglycemic correction with insulin would restore anesthetic post-conditioning in diabetes. Non-diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with or without insulin were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Post-conditioning was performed by exposure to sevoflurane for 15 min, immediately at the onset of reperfusion. The role of the mitoK_ATP channel was assessed by administration of a selective blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) before sevoflurane post-conditioning or by diazoxide (DZX), a mitoK_ATP channel opener, given in place of sevoflurane. Compared with non-diabetic rats, diabetic rats had larger infarct volume and worse neurological outcome at 24 h after ischemia. Sevoflurane or DZX reduced the infarct volume and improved neurological outcome in non-diabetic rats but not in diabetic rats, and the protective effects of sevoflurane in non-diabetic rats were inhibited by pretreatment with 5-HD. Molecular studies revealed that expression of Kir6.2, an important mitoK_ATP channel component, was decreased in the brain of diabetic rats as compared to non-diabetic rats. In contrast, hyperglycemic correction with insulin in diabetic rats normalized expression of brain Kir6.2, reduced ischemic brain damage and restored neuroprotective effects of sevoflurane post-conditioning. Our findings suggest that decreased brain mitoK_ATP channel contributes to exacerbating ischemic brain injury and the failure of neuroprotection by anesthetic post-conditioning in diabetes. Insulin glycemic control in diabetes may restore the neuroprotective effects of anesthetic post-conditioning by modulation of brain mitoK_ATP channel.     

脑缺血后大鼠神经元和星形胶质细胞P21cip1表达的研究

目的研究大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子P21cip1在神经元和星形胶质细胞的表达。方法建立大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAo)再灌注模型,应用流式细胞术检测各组MCAo再灌注后不同时期神经元和星形胶质细胞中的P21cip1的表达。结果缺血侧皮层区星形胶质细胞和神经元中的P21cip1的表达在再灌注3d、7d、14d后表达下调,与假手术组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05);神经元中的P21cip1的表达和星形胶质细胞中的P21cip1的表达无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后,缺血侧皮层区星形胶质细胞和神经元的p21cip1表达下调。     

Effect of Antioxidant Treatment in Global Ischemia and Ischemic Postconditioning in the Rat Hippocampus

Ischemic postconditioning is a very effective way how to prevent delayed neuronal death. Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761; 40 mg/kg) posttreatment was studied on the rat model of transient forebrain ischemia and ischemia/postconditioning. Global ischemia was produced by four-vessel occlusion in Wistar male rats. Two experimental protocols were used: (a) 10 min of ischemia/7 days of reperfusion with or without EGb 761 treatment or (b) 10 min of ischemia/2 days of reperfusion/5 min of ischemia (postconditioning), following 5 days of reperfusion. EGb 761 was applied as follows: 30 min before 10 min of ischemia then 5 h, 1 and 2 days after 10 min of ischemia. Fluoro Jade B, marker for neuronal degeneration, was used for quantitative analysis of the most vulnerable hippocampal CA1 neurons. Cognitive and memory functions were tested by Morris water maze, as well. Administration of EGb 761 30 min before 10 min of ischemia or 5 h after ischemia has rather no protective effect on neuronal survival in CA1 region. Ten minutes of ischemia following ischemic postconditioning after 2 days of reperfusion trigger a significant neuroprotection of CA1 neurons, but it is abolished by EGb 761 posttreatment. Ischemia/postconditioning group showed a significant improvement of learning and memory on the seventh day of reperfusion. Protection of the most vulnerable CA1 neurons after ischemia/postconditioning is abolished by exogenous antioxidant treatment used in different time intervals after initial ischemia. Moreover, combination of EGb 761 administration with repeated stress (5 min ischemia used as postconditioning) causes cumulative injury of CA1 neurons.     

Effect of Transient Cerebral Ischemia on the Expression of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) in the Gerbil Hippocampus Proper

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily that has been implicated in multiple neuronal and inflammatory stress processes. In this study, we examined changes in RAGE immunoreactivity and its protein levels in the gerbil hippocampus (CA1-3 regions) after 5 min of transient global cerebral ischemia. The ischemic hippocampus was stained with cresyl violet, neuronal nuclei (a neuron-specific soluble nuclear antigen) antibody and Fluoro-Jade B (a marker for neuronal degeneration). 5 days after ischemia–reperfusion, delayed neuronal death occurred in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region. RAGE immunoreactivity was not detected in any regions of the CA1-3 regions of the sham-group; the immunoreactivity was markedly increased only in the CA1 region from 3 days after ischemia–reperfusion. On the other hand, RAGE immunoreactivity was newly expressed in astrocytes, not in microglia. Western blot analysis showed that RAGE protein level was highest at 5 days post-ischemia. In brief, both the RAGE immunoreactivity and protein level were distinctively increased in astrocytes in the ischemic CA1 region from 3 days after transient cerebral ischemia. These results indicate that the increase of RAGE expression in astrocytes after ischemia–reperfusion may be related to the ischemia-caused activation of astrocytes in the ischemic CA1 region.     

Minocycline inhibits 5-lipoxygenase expression and accelerates functional recovery in chronic phase of focal cerebral ischemia in rats

AimsWe previously reported that minocycline attenuates acute brain injury and inflammation after focal cerebral ischemia, and this is partly mediated by inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) expression. Here, we determined the protective effect of minocycline on chronic ischemic brain injury and its relation with the inhibition of 5-LOX expression after focal cerebral ischemia.Main methodsFocal cerebral ischemia was induced by 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion for 36 days. Minocycline (45 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 2 h and 12 h after ischemia and then every 12 h for 5 days. Sensorimotor function was evaluated 1–28 days after ischemia and cognitive function was determined 30–35 days after ischemia. Thereafter, infarct volume, neuron density, astrogliosis, and 5-LOX expression in the brain were determined.Key findingsMinocycline accelerated the recovery of sensorimotor and cognitive functions, attenuated the loss of neuron density, and inhibited astrogliosis in the boundary zone around the ischemic core, but did not affect infarct volume. Minocycline significantly inhibited the increased 5-LOX expression in the proliferated astrocytes in the boundary zone, and in the macrophages/microglia in the ischemic core.SignificanceMinocycline accelerates functional recovery in the chronic phase of focal cerebral ischemia, which may be partly associated with the reduction of 5-LOX expression.     

Early ischemic preconditioning against focal transient and permanent brain ischemia in rats: role of collateral circulation

We hypothesize that early ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can afford protection against focal brief and prolonged cerebral ischemia with subsequent reperfusion as well as permanent brain ischemia in rats by amelioration of regional cerebral blood flow. Adult male Wistar rats (n=97) were subjected to transient (30 and 60 minutes) and permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. IPC protocol consisted of two episodes of 5-min common carotid artery occlusion + 5-min reperfusion prior to test ischemia either followed by 48 hours of reperfusion or not. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans blue were used for delineation of infarct size and anatomical area at risk (comprises ischemic penumbra and ischemic core), respectively. Blood flow in the MCA vascular bed was measured with use of Doppler ultrasound. The IPC resulted in significant infarct size limitation in both transient and permanent MCA occlusion. Importantly, IPC caused significant reduction of area at risk after 30 min of focal ischemia as compared to controls [med(min-max) 11.4% (3.59-2 0.35%) vs. 2.47% (0.8-9.31%), p = 0.018] but it failed to influence area at risk after 5 min of ischemia [med(min-max) 7.61% (6.32-10.87%) vs. 8.2% (4.87-9.65%), p > 0.05]. No differences in blood flow were found between IPC and control groups using Doppler ultrasound. This is suggestive of the fact that IPC does not really influence blood flow in the large cerebral arteries such as MCA but it might have some effect on smaller arteries. It seems that, along with well established cytoprotective effects of IPC, IPC-mediated reduction of area at risk by means of improvement in local cerebral blood flow may contribute to infarct size limitation after focal transient and permanent brain ischemia in rats.     

Fasudil Hydrochloride Protects Neurons in Rat Hippocampal CA1 Region through Inhibiting GluR6–MLK3–JNKs Signal Pathway

Fasudil hydrochloride (FH), a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, has been reported to prevent cerebral ischemia in vivo from increasing cerebral blood flow and inhibiting inflammatory responses. However, it is uncertain by what mechanism a ROCK inhibitor can directly protect neurons against ischemic damage. The present study was designed to evaluate whether FH decreased the increased phosphorylation of glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) and its downstream in GluR6–MLK3–JNKs signal transduction pathway following global transient cerebral ischemia, as a result of protecting against neuronal apoptosis and death. Transient cerebral ischemia was induced by the Pulsinelli–Brierley four-vessel occlusion method. FH (15 mg/kg) was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection 30 min before ischemia. The phosphorylation and protein expression of GluR6 at 6 h during reperfusion were detected using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analysis. The phosphorylation and protein expression of Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) at ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) 6 h and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) at I/R 3 d were detected using immunoblotting analysis, respectively. The same method was used to detect the expression of caspase-3 at I/R 6 h. Furthermore, we also use TUNEL staining and Cresyl violet staining to examine the survival neurons in rat hippocampal CA1 regions after 3 and 5 d reperfusion, respectively. Our study indicated that FH could inhibit the increased phosphorylation of GluR6 and MLK3 and the expression of caspase-3 at peaked 6 h of reperfusion and the phosphorylation of JNK (3 d) (p < 0.5). The results of TUNEL staining and Cresyl violet showed that the number of surviving pyramidal neurons in rats hippocampal CA1 subfield increased markedly in FH-treated rats compared with ischemic groups after 3 or 5 d of reperfusion following ischemia (p < 0.5). These results suggested that FH, as a ROCK inhibitor, may be partly responsible for its protective effects against such damage by taking part in GluR6-MLK3-JNKs signaling pathway which modulates ischemic damage. Taken together, this is the first study investigating Rho and ROCK as the upstream of GluR6 taking part in GluR6–MLK3–JNKs signal transduction pathway following cerebral ischemia.     

Characterization of neuronal cell death in normal and diabetic rats following exprimental focal cerebral ischemia.

We have studied the forms of cell death following ischemia/reperfusion, and the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) as an additional factor. Based on the models of diabetes and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), characteristics of cell death after ischemia/reperfusion were evaluated synthetically by different methods: pathology, FCM, TUNEL and DNA agarose electrophoresis. The results showed that the occurrence of cerebral injury after ischemia/reperfusion was accompanied by cell necrosis and cell apoptosis. Cell apoptosis was mainly located in the ischemic penumbral (IP) zone around the densely ischemic focus. The ischemic core was characterized by cell necrosis. At the same time, the results showed that the process of ischemic cerebral injury worsened by DM was related to inducing cell apoptosis in IP and mid zone. In conclusion, there existed not only cell apoptosis but cell necrosis in brain damage following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and showed a close, internal relationship between them. Brain damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was worsened distinctly under diabetic conditions.     

Effects of Transient Cerebral Ischemia on the Expression of DNA Methyltransferase 1 in the Gerbil Hippocampal CA1 Region

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification of DNA that is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt). Increasing evidences suggest that DNA methylation in neurons regulates synaptic plasticity as well as neuronal network activity. In the present study, we investigated the changes in DNA methyltransferases 1 (Dnmt1) immunoreactivity and its protein levels in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region after 5 min of transient global cerebral ischemia. CA1 pyramidal neurons were well stained with NeuN (a neuron-specific soluble nuclear antigen) antibody in the sham-group, Four days after ischemia–reperfusion (I–R), NeuN-positive (⁺) cells were significantly decreased in the stratum pyramidale (SP) of the CA1 region, and many Fluro-Jade B (a marker for neuronal degeneration)⁺ cells were observed in the SP. Dnmt1 immunoreactivity was well detected in all the layers of the sham-group. Dnmt1 immunoreactivity was hardly detected only in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region from 4 days post-ischemia; however, at these times, Dnmt1 immunoreactivity was newly expressed in GABAergic interneurons or astrocytes in the ischemic CA1 region. In addition, the level of Dnmt1 was lowest at 4 days post-ischemia. In brief, both the Dnmt1 immunoreactivity and protein levels were distinctively decreased in the ischemic CA1 region 4 days after transient cerebral ischemia. These results indicate that the decrease of Dnmt1 expression at 4 days post-ischemia may be related to ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death.     

Activated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 redistributes to the cytosol and binds to Jun N-terminal kinase-interacting protein 1 involving oxidative stress during early reperfusion in rat hippocampal CA1 region

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 7, a specific upstream activator of Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) in the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/JNK signaling pathway, plays an important role in response to global cerebral ischemia. We investigated the subcellular localization of activated (phosphorylated) MKK (p-MKK) 7 using western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry analysis in rat hippocampus. Transient forebrain ischemia was induced by the four-vessel occlusion method on Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results showed that both protein expression and activation of MKK7 were increased rapidly with peaks at 10 min of reperfusion in the nucleus of the hippocampal CA1 region. Simultaneously, in the cytosol activated MKK7 enhanced gradually and peaked at 30 min of reperfusion. In addition, we also detected JNK-interacting protein (JIP) 1, which accumulated in the perinuclear region of neurons at 30 min of reperfusion. Interestingly, at the same time-point the binding of JIP-1 to p-MKK7 reached a maximum. Consequently, we concluded that MKK7 was rapidly activated and then translocated from the nucleus to the cytosol depending on its activation in the hippocampal CA1 region. To further elucidate the possible mechanism of MKK7 activation and translocation, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine was injected into the rats 20 min before ischemia. The result showed that the levels of MKK7 activation, translocation and binding of p-MKK7 to JIP-1 were obviously limited by N-acetylcysteine in the cytosol at 30 min after reperfusion. The findings suggested that MKK7 activation, translocation and binding to JIP-1 were closely associated with reactive oxygen species and might play a pivotal role in the activation of the JNK signaling pathway in brain ischemic injury.     

大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子ICAM-1表达和LFA-1阳性细胞浸润的研究

研究粘附分子和白细胞与脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理联系,运用原位杂交和免疫组化技术对36只SD大鼠脑缺血区细胞间粘附分子（ICAM－1）表达和淋巴细胞机能相关抗原（LFA－1）阳性细胞浸润进行了观察。结果显示,脑缺血区的毛细胞血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA发生于脑缺血1h,在脑缺血1h／再灌流8h达到高峰。而脑缺血区毛细血管ICAM－1蛋白质的表达则发生于脑缺血1h／再灌流2h,高峰出现于脑缺血1h／再灌流16h,LFA－1阳性细胞在脑缺血区的聚集发生在脑缺血1h,并随再灌流时间延长,其聚集数量逐渐增加。结果提示,脑缺血／再灌流能诱导缺血区的血管内皮细胞表达ICAM－1 mRNA和蛋白质,进而导致白细胞在脑缺血区的浸润,此可能是脑缺血／再灌流损伤的病理机制之一。     

脑缺血大鼠海马信号转导与转录激活子-3的激活及其调控

以往的研究表明,在脑缺血/再灌注的皮层和纹状体组织中信号转导与转录激活子-3(STAT3)被激活。本实验旨在研究SD大鼠四动脉结扎诱导的全脑缺血是否引起海马组织STAT3的快速激活及其调控机制。结果表明,脑缺血导致STAT3快速磷酸化激活及DNA结合活性增加。胞浆STAT3的磷酸化水平从缺血5min起就显著增高,10min达高峰(增加约1．7倍),然后开始下降。核内STAT3的磷酸化水平则逐渐增加,缺血30min时达高峰(增加约2．3倍)。电泳迁移率改变分析法显示,STAT3的DNA结合活性从缺血5min起就显著增加,30min达高峰(增加约3．2倍)。进一步的研究表明,缺血前20min腹腔注射给药,然后缺血30min,发现蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂染料木黄酮和抗氧化剂N-乙酞半胱氨酸能显著地抑制核内STAT3的磷酸化水平及DNA结合活性的增加(磷酸化水平从2．3和2．5倍分别降为1．2和1．4倍,DNA结合活性则从2．8和3．7倍分别降为1．1和1．5倍),而蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶抑制剂矾酸钠则能明显地促进他们的增高(磷酸化水平从2．0倍增到3．4倍,DNA结合活性从3．1倍增为5．1倍)。这些结果提示,蛋白酪氨酸激酶和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶可能共同参与了缺血诱导STAT3的激活调控,STAT3的激活可能有助于海马神经元适应氧化应激。     

Time-course Changes in Immunoreactivities of Glucokinase and Glucokinase Regulatory Protein in the Gerbil Hippocampus Following Transient Cerebral Ischemia

Glucose is a main energy source for normal brain functions. Glucokinase (GK) plays an important role in glucose metabolism as a glucose sensor, and GK activity is modulated by glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP). In this study, we examined the changes of GK and GKRP immunoreactivities in the gerbil hippocampus after 5 min of transient global cerebral ischemia. In the sham-operated-group, GK and GKRP immunoreactivities were easily detected in the pyramidal neurons of the stratum pyramidale of the hippocampus. GK and GKRP immunoreactivities in the pyramidal neurons were distinctively decreased in the hippocampal CA1 region (CA), not CA2/3, 3 days after ischemia–reperfusion (I–R). Five days after I–R, GK and GKRP immunoreactivities were hardly detected in the CA1, not CA2/3, pyramidal neurons; however, at this point in time, GK and GKRP immunoreactivities were newly expressed in astrocytes, not microglia, in the ischemic CA1. In brief, GK and GKRP immunoreactivities are changed in pyramidal neurons and newly expressed in astrocytes in the ischemic CA1 after transient cerebral ischemia. These indicate that changes of GK and GKRP expression may be related to the ischemia-induced neuronal damage/death.     

高压氧预处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:研究高压氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法:36只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组及高压氧预处理组,每组12只。高压氧预处理组大鼠在造模前5天给予高压氧预处理。采用线栓法建立大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,观察高压氧预处理对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠神经功能缺损评分、脑梗死面积的影响,检测大鼠缺血脑组织COX-2 mRNA和蛋白的表达以及IL-1β、TNF-α、MDA的含量。结果:高压氧预处理可明显改善脑缺血再灌注大鼠神经功能缺损评分,减少脑梗死面积,降低COX-2m RNA和蛋白表达量,抑制IL-1β、TNF-α的表达,降低MDA水平。结论:高压氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤具有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与抑制IL-1β、TNF-α、COX-2的表达以及减弱脂质过氧化反应有关。