NEUROCHEMISTRY OF THE SPINAL CORD IN EXPERIMENTAL BORDER DISEASE (HYPOMYELINOGENESIS CONGENITA) OF LAMBS

Abstract— The total lipid, cholesterol (free and esterified), cerebroside, phospholipid and fat-free dry matter contents were estimated in spinal cords of lambs affected with experimentally produced Border Disease. Comparisons were made with a healthy control group and with a group of lambs obtained from vaccinated ewes.
Clinically affected lambs showing tremors ('shaking'), a'hairy'birthcoat or both were found to possess one or two myelin lipid abnormalities. These were a generalised deficiency of myelin lipids (notably cerebroside) and the presence of abnormal quantities of esterified cholesterol. The former was particularly associated with the birthcoat defect and the latter with the neurological signs.
Previous exposure of the ewes to the infective agent (vaccination 28 days before mating) appeared to give considerable protection against the degenerative lipid changes and against 'shaking'but less against myelin dysgenesis and'hairiness'.     

CONGENITAL HYPOMYELINOGENESIS (BORDER DISEASE) OF LAMBS: POSTNATAL NEUROCHEMICAL RECOVERY IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Abstract— In a neurochemical study of experimental Border Disease in lambs it was found that the fresh weights of four parts of the CNS (cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord) from clinically affected lambs were significantly smaller than those of controls at birth but by 20 weeks of age the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem had reached near normal weights. The spinal cord was still considerably smaller, however. Clinical symptoms of the disease (muscular spasms and'hairy'birthcoat) had disappeared during this period, accompanied by a regression in the neurochemical abnormalities seen at birth. Thus the deficiency of myelin lipids was partially made up by the rapid deposition of cerebrosides and by 20 weeks differences in the fatty acid composition of this lipid fraction were no longer apparent. Myelin degeneration as indicated by the presence of elevated levels of esterified cholesterol was apparently absent at 20 weeks of age and this was parallelled by a fall in the level of'anti-myelin'antibodies in the sera of affected lambs. The altered distribution of copper in spinal cord myelin seen at birth had also become nearly normal at the end of the period.     

ALTERATION OF MYELIN BIOSYNTHESIS IN SLICES OF RABBIT SPINAL CORD BY ANTISERUM TO MYELIN BASIC PROTEIN AND BY PUROMYCIN 1

Abstract— Slices of rabbit spinal cord were incubated with [³H]tyrosine and [³⁵SO₄] in the presence of either 5% antiserum to myelin basic protein or 0.21 mM-puromycin. The degree of incorporation of the precursors into the basic protein (BP), the proteolipid protein (PLP) and into sulphatides, as a representative lipid, in isolated myelin was investigated. Anti-BP serum inhibited the incorporation of [³H]tyrosine into BP and PLP from 22 to 46% as compared to controls, whereas puromycin nearly completely inhibited incorporation. The incorporation of [³⁵SO₄] into sulphatides was inhibited by anti-BP serum from 20 to 34% and by puromycin from 33 to 65% as compared to controls. These alterations were myelin-specific as shown by the equal or even increased incorporation of the precursors into the homogenates of spinal cord. The results are discussed in relation to the interaction of lipids and proteins in membrane assembly.     

l-Alany-β-NAPHTHYLAMIDASE IN RAT SPINAL CORD MYELIN

Abstract— The properties of l -alanyl-β-naphthylamidase were studied in purified myelin of the spinal cord. The enzyme could be partially extracted with Triton-X-100, but some activity was lost by this operation. l -Alanyl-β-naphthylamidase migrated anodally in acrylamide gel, and the bulk of the activity did not appear to be associated with the basic protein or with the proteolipid protein of myelin. This enzyme is somewhat elevated with acute EAE, but subcellular fractionation of the spinal cord showed that the increased activity was not in the myelin but in the heavier particulate fractions. The relatively small increase in enzyme activity with EAE indicates that this enzyme is probably not a major causative agent in demyelination.     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE MYELIN PROTEINS OF BOVINE PERIPHERAL NERVE AND SPINAL CORD

Abstract— (1) Two myelin fractions of bovine peripheral nerve and spinal cord have been studied comparatively. Cholesterol as well as cerebroside content per mg of protein in the peripheral nerve myelin was less than that in the spinal cord myelin, while no significant difference in the total phospholipid content was noted.
(2) The basic proteins in myelin fractions were quantitatively estimated by disc gel electrophoresis. Around one-fourth of the total myelin protein in the bovine peripheral nerve was a basic protein with a mobility of 1.07 relative to lysozyme by Reisfeld's disc gel electrophoresis.
(3) The myelin proteins in the peripheral nerve were less completely solubilized than those of the spinal cord by treatment with deoxycholate as well as by Triton-salt solution. The protein fractions obtained from the peripheral nerve myelin by techniques similar to that for obtaining the proteolipids from the spinal cord myelin, contained different types of protein.
(4) 2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activity in the peripheral nerve myelin was only one tenth of that in the spinal cord myelin. The Triton-salt insoluble fraction showed remarkable high activity among subfractions of the spinal cord myelin.
(5) By immunological studies, it may be concluded that an antigenic substance for experimental allergic neuritis was localized in the peripheral nerve myelin, but not in its basic protein.     

EFFECT OF HYPERPHENYLALANINEMIA ON FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF LIPIDS OF RAT BRAIN MYELIN

Abstract— We have studied the fatty acid compositions of cerebral myelin lipids in phenyl-alanine-treated and control rats. The proportion of long chain fatty acids and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids of whole brain lipids was low in the penylalanine-treated animals. Both of these reductions were more pronounced in the myelin from phenylalanine-treated rats. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids in ethanolamine phosphatides was markedly decreased in the hyperphenylalaninemic condition. The reduction in the proportion of long chain fatty acids was predominant in non-hydroxy fatty acids in cerebrosides and ethanolamine phosphatides. The lipid composition of the myelin expressed as mole percentages of individual phospholipid and sphingolipid components was not significantly different in the two groups of rats, nor did it change with age. Our results indicate a deficiency in the fatty acid elongation and desaturation system in the brains of phenylalanine-treated rats. We suggest that in hyperphenylalaninemic rats, a reduction in the amounts of unsaturated fatty acid and long chain fatty acid alters, respectively, the biochemical reactivity and the stability of the myelin.     

脊髓提取液对培养脊髓神经细胞中GABA能及DYN能神经元突起生长的影响

本文以体外培养的小鼠脊髓神经元为模型研究了人胚脊髓提取液对E 12—15小鼠脊髓中GABA能神经元和DNY能神经元的突起生长的营养作用,结果发现人胚脊髓提取液在蛋白浓度为250μg/ml时对GABA能神经元的突起生长无营养作用,但对DNY能神经元的突起生长有显著的促进作用。提示了人胚脊髓提取液中有促进神经元突起生长的营养物质,且对特定胎龄的不同的神经元有不同的作用。     

SIMULTANEOUS ISOLATION OF PURIFIED MICROSOMAL and MYELIN FRACTIONS FROM RAT SPINAL CORD

Abstract— The fraction that sediments between 2 × 10⁵ g -min and 6 × 10⁶ g -min from dilute dispersions of rat brain in 0.32 m -sucrose is a microsomal fraction with very little contamination by myelin. A crude microsomal fraction prepared in the same way from rat spinal cord contains more myelin than microsomes. Centrifugation of the crude microsomal fraction in 0.85 m -sucrose gave a floating fraction, an infranatant fraction (purified microsomes) and a small pellet. The purified microsomes contained very little myelin as judged by electron microscopy and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The lipid composition resembled that of spinal cord myelin except that the purified microsomes contained relatively less cholesterol and ethanolamine plasmalogens. The content of galactolipids was much greater in spinal cord microsomes than in brain microsomes. The spinal cord CDP-ethanol-amine:diglyceride ethanolaminephosphotransferase activity (EC 2.7.8.1) was concentrated in the purified microsomes.
A spinal cord myelin fraction isolated from the 2 × 10⁵ g -min pellet was quite pure as judged by electron microscopy, enzyme activities and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No NADPH-cyto-chrome c reductase activity (EC 1.6.2.3) could be detected in the purified myelin. The ethanolaminephosphotransferase specific activity was about 5% of that found in the purified microsomal fraction. The protein content was 25% by weight for spinal cord myelin and 31% for brain myelin. Of the total spinal cord 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase activity, 16% was lost from the crude myelin during purification, 21% was recovered in the purified myelin, and 11% was found in the floating fraction from the crude microsomes. The purified myelin and microsomal fractions from spinal cord were relatively pure. Additional myelin was recovered in the floating fraction from the crude microsomes.     

IMMUNOCHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES DEMONSTRATING THE IDENTITY OF A BOVINE SPINAL CORD PROTEIN (SCP) AND A BASIC PROTEIN OF BOVINE PERIPHERAL MYELIN (BF)

A protein extracted from bovine peripheral myelin (BF) and a protein extracted from bovine spinal cord (SCP) have been shown to be identical: the proteins cross-react immunochemicaliy with each other but not with highly purified CNS myelin basic protein. Neither BF nor SCP have anti-encephalitogenic activity. Their electrophoretic behavior is the same at three different pH values. Their apparent molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis is 13,800 ± 550. The amino acid compositions of the proteins are essentially identical. BF and SCP each contain 2 cysteine residues and have valine at the C terminus. The 23 major tryptic peptides are identical on peptide maps. Circular dichroic analyses yield essentially identical curves, which, when computed by best-fit curve analysis, indicate that each has 0%α helix and a large percentage of β structure.     

天然胶乳脂质的磷脂组成与分布

本文采用单向硅胶薄层色谱对“红星1号”（抗风品系）和“9－110”（抗寒品系）两种无性系天然橡胶胶乳脂质的磷脂组成进行定性分析,分离出8种磷脂组分,已检出6种,发现两种是从来没检出过的磷脂组分,此外用薄层色谱扫描和“吸光度比例系数校正法”对两种品系天然胶乳总脂,橡胶相和底层脂质中各种磷脂组分的分布进行了快速定量分析。     

THE COMPOSITION OF LIPIDS IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Abstract— The proportions of esterified cholesterol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine in lipids of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children were found to be lower than the corresponcling values for adult CSF. The fatty acid patterns of the cholesterol ester, triglyceride + non-esterified fatty acids and phospholipid fractions all displayed low proportions of linoleate; palmitate and oleate were the principal acids present. The fatty acid composition of these lipid classes for CSF derived from children was similar to that from adult subjects. Degradation of CSF lecithin by snake-venom phospholipase A₂ revealed the saturated acids to be located predominantly in the 1-position with the unsaturated ones mainly in the 2-position.     

DIFFERENTIATION OF DOPAMINERGIC AND NORADRENERGIC NEURONS IN RAT SPINAL CORD

Abstract— Norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DM) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HVA) content have been measured in different parts of rat spinal cord and cerebellum by a gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method. In cerebellum, which does not contain dopaminergic neurons, the ratio of NE to DA content was 47, whereas in parts of the spinal cord this ratio varied between 11 and 19. In the cord after desipramine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) plus 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HDA, 100/jg intracisternally), there was a significant depletion of DM but not of NE. Conversely, after benztropine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) plus 6-HDA there was a significant depletion of NE but not of DM. Chlorpromazine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or clozapine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant increase in spinal cord HVA concentration 1 h after treatment. Evidence is presented which suggests that the increased HVA measured in the cord did not originate in the brain. After electrolytic lesion of the locus coeruleus there was a significant reduction of NE but not of DM. Spinal cord DM and NE were depleted by reserpine in a dose-dependent manner, the threshold dose for DM depletion being less than that for NE depletion. Seven days after cord transection at T₁₀ spinal cord DM was significantly reduced in the lumbar region. These results suggest that dopaminergic neurons exist in rat spinal cord independently of noradrenergic neurons and that the DM is likely to be present in the terminals of descending axons.     

PROTEIN AND GLYCOPROTEIN COMPOSITION OF MYELIN AND MYELIN SUBFRACTIONS FROM BRAINS OF ''QUAKING'' MICE

Abstract— Quaking mutants in mice are known to be affected by an arrest of myelinogenesis and to have a purified myelin which is more dense than that of controls. Their myelin has been shown to demonstrate a striking decrease in proteolipid protein, a lesser decrease in the small myelin basic protein and changes in glycoproteins comprising reduction in the major peak and shift of this peak towards a higher apparent molecular weight. The possibility that these findings might reflect merely contamination of myelin with other membranes was tested by subfractionation. Light myelin (floats on 0.62 m -sucrose) is generally accepted as more compact and mature than the heavier subfraction (floating on 0.85 m -sucrose). The changes previously found were present in both subfractions and even more marked in the light myelin. These results indicate that the anomalies of myelin proteins and glycoproteins were not caused by contaminants and are present in compact myelin as well as in membranes which are transitional between the glial plasma membrane and the myelin sheath. Therefore, we suggest that the Quaking mutation results in dysmyelination rather than hypomyelination.     

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CEREBROSIDES IN MICROSOMES AND MYELIN OF MOUSE BRAIN

Abstract— The fatty acid composition of cerebrosides isolated from myelin and from light and heavy microsomes of adult mouse brain was determined. 2-Hydroxy fatty acids represented 80 per cent of the fatty acids in myelin cerebrosides and approximately 55 per cent of the fatty acids in both light and heavy microsomes. In myelin, the majority of the fatty acids, both normal and hydroxy, were of chain length > C-20; in microsomes, shorter chain acids (C-16 to C-20) predominated.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN PERIPHERAL NERVE AND SPINAL CORD OF MONKEY

—The isolation of uronic acid-containing glycosaminoglycans from peripheral nerve and spinal cord of monkey was done by combining the cetyl pyridinium procedure and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. The constituent analyses of the isolated GAG-fractions indicated that hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-4-sulphate, chondroitin-6-sulphate, heparan sulphate and a testicular hyaluronidase-resistant galactosamine-containing GAG were present in both tissues. Hyaluronic acid was the predominant GAG (63 per cent) in both tissues and its level was much higher than in brain. Chondroitin-4-sulphate constituted 16 per cent in both tissues. The levels of heparan sulphate and hyaluronidase-resistant galactosamine-containing GAG in these tissues were much lower than in brain. The results indicate that the patterns of GAGs in peripheral nerve and spinal cord of monkey are similar but differ from that of brain.     

ANTI-WHOLE WHITE MATTER SERUM INHIBITS INCORPORATION OF GLUCOSE AND GALACTOSE INTO THE LIPIDS OF MYELINATING SPINAL CORD CULTURES

Myelin formation was inhibited in fetal mouse spinal cord cultures in the presence of serum from rabbits with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis produced by inoculation of whole bovine spinal cord white matter in complete Freund's adjuvant. Controls were exposed to decomplemented serum. Replacement of serum in inhibited cultures on the 18th day in vitro (DIV) with control serum (disinhibited) resulted in the appearance of visible myelin within 2–3 days. From 20 to 23 DIV, d -[U-¹⁴C]glucose or d -[U-¹⁴C]galactose was present in all media. Total protein, DNA, gangliosides and galactolipids were reduced by 21% in inhibited cultures, and activity of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase was reduced by 50%. There was little reduction in the incorporation of glucose carbon (21–23 DIV) into several lipid classes examined. Labelling of cerebrosides by galactose carbon in inhibited cultures was only 12% of that of controls while there was no reduction in the labelling of neutral lipid–cholesterol and the glycerophosphatides. Galactolipid labelling by [¹⁴C]galactose in the disinhibited cultures was intermediate between inhibited and control cultures. Differences in the effects of inhibiting medium on the incorporation of glucose and galactose carbon indicate that ceramide synthesis is less affected than is galactose incorporation to form cerebroside.     

大鼠脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射5-羟色胺和吗啡的镇痛作用

本工作利用大鼠脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射的方法,观察了在脊髓水平5-HT 和吗啡的镇痛作用及其相互关系。结果如下:(1)脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射 200μg 5-HT 或10μg吗啡可产生明显的镇痛作用,并分别被 5-HT受体阻断剂肉桂硫胺和阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮所对抗。(2)单纯使用肉桂硫胺可产生痛敏。纳洛酮对痛阈无明显影响。(3)5-HT 镇痛作用不能被大剂量纳洛酮(10mg/kg,sc)阻断。吗啡镇痛作用则可被脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射肉桂硫胺所削弱。后一效应可能与肉桂硫胺本身可引起痛敏有关。上述结果表明,在脊髓水平5-HT 和吗啡可通过各自的受体产生镇痛作用,两者间无明显依赖关系。5-HT 可能有紧张性活动,内源性阿片肽似不存在紧张性作用。