Homotopic transplantation of embryonic neocortical tissue into the brain of adult rats after its damage

Structural characteristics (survival, growth, connections) have been studied in the transplant of the cerebral cortex tissue in Wistar rat embryos (18-day-old), implanted into the brain of mature rats of the same line at various time after a partial lesion of the sensomotor cortex. In 3-5 months after transplantation the light microscopy methods demonstrate that spatial interconnections of the transplant and the injured brain of the recipient depend on time interval between the cerebral lesion and transplantation of the embryonal nervous tissue. Horseradish peroxidase (HP) is ionophoretically injected into the recipient's cerebral tissue away from the place of transplantation. In the transplant retrogradely labelled HP neurons are revealed. This demonstrates efferent connections of the implanted tissue with the host's brain. Presence of the anterogradely labelled nervous terminals in the transplant tissue demonstrates existence of afferent connections of the transplant with the recipient's tissue. Possible mechanisms of survival, growth and formation of connections of the transplant in the injured brain of the mature animal are discussed.     

Transplantation of embryonal anlagen of the human neocortex into the brain of the rat

A possibility for transplanting anlages of human embryonal neocortex into mature rat brain has been studied. Light- and electron-microscopic investigations demonstrate that the embryonal tissue of the human neocortex implants into the cerebral grey and white substance of mature rats. In the grafts cellular elements proliferate and differentiate, neuropil is formed. These results open certain perspectives for modelling investigations on histogenesis of neural tissues and on studying possibilities for clinical use of grafts of the human embryonal brain.     

Competence as the Main Factor Determining the Size of the Neural Plate

A piece of ectoderm was taken from the neural plate area of an early neurula ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) and replaced by competent gastrula ectoderm. Neural tissue was induced in these transplants, and the amount of neural tissue was used to estimate the spreading of the neural inductive stimulus. Dependence was tested of the amount of neural tissue formed in the transplants on the following factors: distance of the transplant from the dorsal midline of the host, age of the host, age of the transplant. The first two factors had no influence on the results but age of the transplant turned out to be decisive. The distance of the transplant from the midline of the host did not influence the amount of neural tissue found in the transplant, even in transplants out side the normal neural plate area neural differentiation was induced.
It is concluded that the spreading of neural induction is not controlled by a gradient but by the loss of neural competence of the ectoderm. A model for the spreading of neural induction is suggested using competence and homoiogentic induction as its main factors.     

Roles of the basic helix-loop-helix genes Hes1 and Hes5 in expansion of neural stem cells of the developing brain

Neural stem cells, which differentiate into neurons and glia, are present in the ventricular zone of the embryonal brain. The precise mechanism by which neural stem cells are maintained during embryogenesis remains to be determined. Here, we found that transient misexpression of the basic helix-loop-helix genes Hes1 and Hes5 keeps embryonal telencephalic cells undifferentiated although they have been shown to induce gliogenesis in the retina. These telencephalic cells later differentiate into neurons and astroglia when Hes expression is down-regulated, suggesting that Hes1- and Hes5- expressing cells are maintained as neural stem cells during embryogenesis. Conversely, in the absence of Hes1 and Hes5, neural stem cells are not properly maintained, generating fewer and smaller neurospheres than the wild type. These results indicate that Hes1 and Hes5 play an important role in the maintenance of neural stem cells but not in gliogenesis in the embryonal telencephalon.     

叶酸联合成体神经干细胞治疗创伤性脑损伤大鼠的实验

目的观察叶酸联合成体神经干细胞对创伤性脑损伤大鼠的治疗作用,探讨其可能作用机制。方法 120只Wistar大鼠随机分为6组,正常组,模型组,假手术组,叶酸注射组,成体神经干细胞移植组,成体神经干细胞移植＋叶酸注射组。倒置显微镜下观察神经干细胞形态学变化;流式细胞仪检测神经干细胞表面标记物CD105、CD45、CD44、CD29的表达;免疫荧光法检测神经元特异性烯醇酶（NSE成熟神经元的特异性标志）、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP胶质细胞的标记物）的表达;平衡木实验检测大鼠运动协调与整和能力;Morris水迷宫实验测试各组大鼠的学习记忆能力;HE染色及Brdu免疫组化实验观察脑组织形态学变化;酶联免疫吸附试验检测大鼠脑组中脑源性神经生长因子（BDNF）、神经生长因子（NGF）的表达;蛋白质印迹法检测脑组织中凋亡相关蛋白BCL-2、Bax、Caspase-3的表达。结果分离所得细胞能在体外传代培养,流式细胞仪检测发现细胞阳性表达CD44、CD29,阴性表达CD105、CD45,细胞经胎牛血清诱导分化后能形成NSE或GFAP阳性细胞。实验表明,叶酸与成体神经干细胞干预创伤性脑损伤大鼠模型后能显著改善其行为学变化,减轻脑组织的炎症反应,恢复受损神经细胞,增加脑组织内BDNF、NGF的含量,上调BCL-2的表达,下调Bax、Caspase-3的表达。结论叶酸联合成体神经干细胞干预创伤性脑损伤大鼠能显著改善中枢神经功能,对维持神经元微环境稳态具有重要的作用。     

Transplantation of human embryonal nervous tissue to the spinal cord of mature rats

Pieces of the wall obtained from the anterior cerebral bladder of human embryos at the age of 8-10 weeks can survive in the spinal cord of mature animals. In the transplant, unlike the normal embryonal histogenesis, neuroepithelial cells make groups of rosellas. The differentiation process of cells of the human nervous tissue transplant can be followed in the rat spinal cord without any immune suppression up to the end of the 2d month of development. During the 3d month the transplant neuroblasts perish as a result of the immune reaction.     

Fear memory and the amygdala: insights from a molecular perspective

The amygdala modulates memory consolidation and the storage of emotionally relevant information in other brain areas, and itself comprises a site of neural plasticity during aversive learning. These processes have been intensively studied in Pavlovian fear conditioning, a leading aversive learning paradigm that is dependent on the structural and functional integrity of the amygdala. The rapidness and persistence, and the relative ease, with which this conditioning paradigm can be applied to a great variety of species have made it an attractive model for neurochemical and electrophysiological investigations on memory formation. In this review we summarise recent studies which have begun to unravel cellular processes in the amygdala that are critical for the formation of long-term fear memory and have identified molecular factors and mechanisms of neural plasticity in this brain area.     

Neuronal signalling of fear memory

The learning and remembering of fearful events depends on the integrity of the amygdala, but how are fear memories represented in the activity of amygdala neurons? Here, we review recent electrophysiological studies indicating that neurons in the lateral amygdala encode aversive memories during the acquisition and extinction of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Studies that combine unit recording with brain lesions and pharmacological inactivation provide evidence that the lateral amygdala is a crucial locus of fear memory. Extinction of fear memory reduces associative plasticity in the lateral amygdala and involves the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Understanding the signalling of aversive memory by amygdala neurons opens new avenues for research into the neural systems that support fear behaviour.     

Detection of a nerve-specific membrane protein on differentiating PCC3/A/1 cells

Attempts were made to prepare monoclonal antibodies specifically reactive with cell surface components of a murine neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro 2a. One of the antibodies (1c2) reacts with a varying proportion of in vitro cultivated Neuro 2a cells, but does not react with murine embryonal carcinoma cell lines (PCC3/A/1 and F9) or with a murine fibroblast line (LM). This antibody selectively stains a subpopulation of nerve cells in murine adult central nervous system, e.g. granular cells in cerebellar cortex. Immunoaffinity purification of adult brain and Neuro 2a plasma membrane fractions with the antibody resulted in an electrophoretically pure protein of approx. 28 kD molecular weight as estimated by SDS-PAGE. Although this antigen is absent from PCC3/A/1 embryonal carcinoma cells, it can be demonstrated after 9 days of growth and differentiation under low density conditions by indirect immunoperoxidase staining. This monoclonal antibody may prove useful in further analysis of neural tissue development.     

Contributions of the amygdala to emotion processing: from animal models to human behavior

Research on the neural systems underlying emotion in animal models over the past two decades has implicated the amygdala in fear and other emotional processes. This work stimulated interest in pursuing the brain mechanisms of emotion in humans. Here, we review research on the role of the amygdala in emotional processes in both animal models and humans. The review is not exhaustive, but it highlights five major research topics that illustrate parallel roles for the amygdala in humans and other animals, including implicit emotional learning and memory, emotional modulation of memory, emotional influences on attention and perception, emotion and social behavior, and emotion inhibition and regulation.     

Developmental Trajectories of Amygdala and Hippocampus from Infancy to Early Adulthood in Healthy Individuals

Knowledge of amygdalar and hippocampal development as they pertain to sex differences and laterality would help to understand not only brain development but also the relationship between brain volume and brain functions. However, few studies investigated development of these two regions, especially during infancy. The purpose of this study was to examine typical volumetric trajectories of amygdala and hippocampus from infancy to early adulthood by predicting sexual dimorphism and laterality. We performed a cross-sectional morphometric MRI study of amygdalar and hippocampal growth from 1 month to 25 years old, using 109 healthy individuals. The findings indicated significant non-linear age-related volume changes, especially during the first few years of life, in both the amygdala and hippocampus regardless of sex. The peak ages of amygdalar and hippocampal volumes came at the timing of preadolescence (9–11 years old). The female amygdala reached its peak age about one year and a half earlier than the male amygdala did. In addition, its rate of growth change decreased earlier in the females. Furthermore, both females and males displayed rightward laterality in the hippocampus, but only the males in the amygdala. The robust growth of the amygdala and hippocampus during infancy highlight the importance of this period for neural and functional development. The sex differences and laterality during development of these two regions suggest that sex-related factors such as sex hormones and functional laterality might affect brain development.     

Can the function of the extirpated amygdaloid complex be compensated for by the transplantation of embryonic nerve tissue?

In 20 white rats bilateral coagulation of the amygdalar complex was produced; on the fifth day to one half of them transplantation was performed by introducing stereotaxically on the left side 0.2-0.5 mm3 of the brain embryonal tissue from the corresponding area of the amygdala of 20-days embryo; in control saline was administered. After two months the rats were sacrificed to determine the activity of antiradical defense by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of lipids peroxide oxidation (LPO) in the cerebral cortex. The transplantation decreased LPO even more and increased SOD as compared to amygdalectomy, e. i. caused still greater deviations from the norm (in this meaning--paradoxal effect), what apparently corresponds to intensification of adaptative-compensatory processes caused by amygdalectomy. The transplantation did not reverse the rats behaviour to the initial one and did not eliminate memory defect in the test of conditioned reaction of passive avoidance (like pyrazetam); it had different direction influence on "drinking under current" in conflict situation, only in particular cases approaching it to the norm.     

Ultrastructure of mitotically dividing cells with signs of neurons in the rat brain

Ultrastructure of mitotically dividing cells in the sensomotor cerebral cortex of mature rats has been investigated, after transplantation into them embryonal nervous tissue of 17-day-old embryos. In 4 days after the operation in the recipient's nervous tissue, arranging around the developing transplant, among various proliferating cells with mitotic figures, some cells with signs of neurons (oval bodies, electron opaque cytoplasm with developed organelles and RNP-particles, specific for the nervous cell, with axonal terminals on the body) have been found. These cells are surrounded with the satellite glia. There are no mitotic figures in the pyramidal neurons.     

Induction of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression in Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells Using a Natural Tissue‐Specific Inducer

A large number of studies have focused on the generation of dopaminergic neurons from pluripotent cells. Differentiation of stem cells into distinct cell types is influenced by tissue‐specific microenvironment. Since, central nervous system undergoes further development during postnatal life, in the present study neonatal rat brain tissue extract (NRBE) was applied to direct the differentiation of embryonal carcinoma stem cell line, P19 into dopaminergic (DA) phenotypes. Additionally, a neuroprotective drug, deprenyl was used alone or in combination with the extract. Results from morphological, immunofluorescence, and qPCR analyses showed that during a period of one to three weeks, a large percentage of stem cells were differentiated into neural cells. The results also indicated the greater effect of NRBE on the differentiation of the cells into tyrosine hydroxylase‐expressing cells. MS analysis of NRBE showed the enrichment of gene ontology terms related to cell differentiation and neurogenesis. Network analysis of the studied genes and some DA markers resulted in the suggestion of potential regulatory candidates such as AVP, ACHE, LHFPL5, and DLK1 genes. In conclusion, NRBE as a natural native inducer was apparently able to simulate the brain microenvironment and support neural differentiation of P19 cells.     

Changes in the esterase activity and isoenzyme spectrum following the transplantation of embryonic nerve tissue into the brain of adult rats

Nervous tissue of 17-days old rat embryos was transplanted into lateral ventricle of the brain of adult rats. 15 days after transplantation esterase activity was analyzed from transplant tissue and flanking regions of cerebral cortex. Isoenzymes were shown to activate their activity after embryonic tissue transplantation either in transplants or flanking regions. These changes result obviously from the effect of substances, synthesized by transplant.     

Effect of Amygdaloid Kindling on the Content and Release of Amino Acids from the Amygdaloid Complex: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

Abstract: The tissue content and the interstitial fluid levels of glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glutamine, glycine, and serine were studied in amygdaloid-kindled rat brain. Interstitial levels were studied in vivo before and during stage 5 full limbic seizures using microdialysis. Slices of amygdala from kindled and sham-operated animals were used to study baseline and KCl-evoked release in vitro. The contents of these amino acids were measured in slices of amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex from kindled and sham-operated animals. Kindled brains showed two- to threefold higher levels of glutamate, aspartate, and GABA and 12-fold higher levels of glutamine than sham-operated controls. Correlating with this, interstitial fluid levels of glutamate were two- to threefold higher from kindled amygdala than from control both in vivo (microdialysis) and in vitro (superfusion). GABA levels in interstitial fluid from kindled amygdala were reduced by 67% compared with control amygdala.     

Identification of catecholamines in the rat brain and mollusk tissues using semithin slices and retrograde staining

The suggested technique allows revealing the transport-specific dye (primulin) and catecholamine fluorescence simultaneously in the same cell of brain. Intense fluorescence is observed when brain tissue is quickly dehydrated and embedded in the epoxy resin. The same method is suggested for the identification of catecholamines in the embryonal and juvenile tissues of gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis (Mollusca Pulmonata) without using of primulin dye.     

带状疱疹后神经痛患者杏仁核的功能连接改变研究

带状疱疹后神经痛(postherpetic neuralgia,PHN)是一种常见的神经病理性疼痛,但其中枢机制尚不明了.杏仁核在疼痛反应中的作用近年来受到关注.本研究的目的在于通过功能磁共振成像,研究带状疱疹后神经痛患者杏仁核各个亚区功能连接(functional connectivity,FC)的改变,探索慢性神经病理性疼痛的中枢机制.8位带状疱疹后神经痛患者和8位健康者进行了普通核磁共振和静息态功能磁共振扫描.将杏仁核各个亚区分别进行的功能连接分析,并将功能连接和被试者的病程、视觉模拟评分(visual analog scale,VAS)进行了相关分析.与健康志愿者相比,PHN患者杏仁核的基底外侧部(laterobasal groups,LB)和皮质部(superficial groups,SF)与多个脑区的FC表现出增强,主要位于颞叶和额叶.同时SF与多个区域的FC出现减低,主要位于额叶和顶叶.颞叶和额叶部分区域与LB的FC强度、与病程长短和VAS评分表现出关联性.研究结果提示,PHN患者杏仁核功能连接的改变提示了在慢性神经病理性疼痛的产生和发展中,杏仁核以及多个涉及情绪、认知、注意的脑区发挥了重要作用.     

L-myc and N-myc influence lineage determination in the central nervous system.

The N-myc and the L-myc proto-oncogenes are expressed during embryonal development mainly in the developing brain. Studies of their expression in single neuroepithelial cells revealed that neural precursors not yet committed to the glial or the neuronal lineage expressed both genes, but after lineage commitment they expressed either N-myc or L-myc. Moreover, enforced expression of L-myc in the neural precursor cell line 2.3D caused neuronal differentiation, while the expression of N-myc promoted glial differentiation. These results indicate that L-myc and N-myc play critical roles in lineage determination for the central nervous system.     

Two specific markers for neural differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells

Two multipotential embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines, 1003 and 1009, can be induced to form preferentially neural derivatives in vitro. Synthesis of specific proteins during neural differentiation was followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The comparison of protein patterns obtained with neural and non-neural derivatives of these EC cell lines indicates that two changes are specific for the neural pathway: (i) the appearance of a new beta-tubulin isoform and (ii) the accumulation of the brain isozyme of creatine phosphokinase already present in small amounts in EC stem cells. These changes were found to take place early in the course of differentiation and to occur even when neurite outgrowth was prevented.