长时程增强效应与逆信使一氧化氮

长时程增强效应(LTP)是神经元可塑性的反映和记忆过程中神经元生理活动的指标,一氧化氮(NO)在 LTP 产生过程中,可能作为逆信使作用于突触前区,增加递质释放,维持 LTP.     

海马突触传递长时程增强效应中的逆行信使

海马突触传递长时程增强现象的突触机制研究取得了许多重要进展,其中特别是发展了突触前膜与突触后膜功能双向调控的概念,即观察了逆行信使的存在和作用,这对于理解和阐明学习、记忆的机制具有重要的理论意义。本文结合笔者的工作,重点介绍一氧化氮等所谓的逆行信使在突触传递长时程增强中的功能。     

长时程增强翻转的研究进展

长时程增强(LTP)是突触传递功能可塑性的重要表现形式,是大脑内信息储存和记忆形成的细胞机制。近年来的研究资料表明,LTP诱导后,神经元的某些活动可使其翻转(LTP reversal),或称为去强化(depotentiation)。LTP翻转在一些生理功能的完成中具有重要作用,早时相LTP翻转参与了神经环路的细化过程,而晚时相LTP翻转可能是消除有害的或病理性记忆(如痛觉记忆、成瘾记忆)的重要机制之一。因而近年来LTP翻转研究成为神经科学领域的研究热点。本文对引起LTP翻转的条件与机制方面的研究资料予以综述。     

与长时程增强相关的基因表达的研究进展

长地程增强（long-term potentiation,LTP)现象在细胞水平和分子水平反映突触的可塑性,它被认为是记忆过程中神经元活动的客观电生理指标。对其机制的研究表明,伴随着LTP的产生,有基因表达和蛋白质成分的改变。揭开LTP形成过程中所伴随的基因表达的改变,也许是探讨LTP形成机制的关键。     

关于长时程增强形成机理的研究进展

长时程增强（ＬＴＰ）现象是信息贮存的客观指标。其形成主要与突触后机制有关。本文就近年来关于ＬＴＰ形成过程中膜受体特征及受体被激活后细胞内的级联反应研究进行了综述，主要包括钙离子道通、蛋白激酶Ｃ以及早期诱导基因与ＬＴＰ的关系。     

2 Hz与100 Hz刺激在诱导大鼠视皮层长持续长时程增强中的不同作用

在哺乳动物的视皮层,多种不同参数的刺激可诱导出长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP)现象。但关于刺激参数与持续时间长于3h的长持续LTP(long lasting LTP,L-LTP)之间关系的研究较少。本研究用3周龄的大鼠视皮层脑片标本,在Ⅳ层刺激而在Ⅱ／Ⅲ层记录场电位,待场电位稳定后施加强直刺激诱导LTP,探讨2Hz与100Hz的强直刺激在诱发持续时间长于3h的L-LTP中的作用。结果表明,多于300个脉冲不同频率的刺激可稳定地诱导出L-LTP;2Hz与100Hz的刺激诱发的L-LTP有明显不同的表达形式,100Hz刺激可诱导出较大的L-LTP;频率相同而脉冲数不同的强直刺激诱发的L-LTP有相同的表达形式。以上结果提示,不同频率的强直刺激诱发的L-LTP机制可能不同;相同频率的刺激(脉冲数不同)诱发的L-LTP可能有相同的机制。     

哺乳动物视皮层的长时程增强效应

目前一般认为长时程增强效应（ｌｏｎｇ－ｔｅｒｍｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｔｉｏｎ,ＬＴＰ）和哺乳动物大脑学习记忆的机制有关。本文简述了视皮层中ＬＴＰ的诱导,产生的关键期以及ＬＴＰ在脑皮层功能柱的不同层中的差异。讨论了Ｎ－甲基－Ｄ－氨基丁酸（Ｎ－ｍｅｔｈｙｌ－Ｄ－ａｓｐａｒｔａｔｅ,ＮＭＤＡ）受体、低阈值Ｇａ２＋通道（ｌｏｗ－ｔｈｒｅｓｈｏｌｄＣａ２＋ｃｈａｎｎｅｌｓ,ＬＴＣｓ）在ＬＴＰ诱导过程中的作用,以及视皮层ＬＴＰ和海马ＬＴＰ的差异。     

Ca2+及其信号转导途径与长时程增强的关系

Ca2 作为信号转导过程中的第二信使,参与机体的各种反应,尤其在神经突触可塑性方面,突触前后Ca2 浓度的变化发挥了重要的信息传递作用.Ca2 在长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP)过程中也发挥重要作用.它不仅是LTP产生的触发器,而且能通过激活下游的蛋白激酶、磷酸化ERK,以及活化即刻早期基因(IEGs)等促进基因转录和蛋白质合成,最终参与LTP的维持.     

东莨菪碱,印防己毒素对习得性长时程突触增强的影响

在大鼠条件性饮水反应的建立、消退和再建立过程中,于海马 CA_3区记录电极部位微量注射 M-胆碱受体阻断剂东莨菪碱和 GABA 受体阻断剂印防已毒素,观察其对习得性长时程突触增强的影响。结果表明,东莨菪碱有明显的抑制作用,印防已毒素则有明显的易化作用,同时相应地影响条件性行为;并发现习得性长时程突触增强的发展与变化是超前于条件性行为的发展和改变的。上述结果为进一步论证习得性长时程突触增强可能是学习和记忆的神经基础之一提供了证据,并提示海马 CA_3区习得性长时程增强的产生与保持有胆碱受体与 GABA 受体参与。     

The role of nitric oxide in hippocampal long-term potentiation.

Long-term potentiation is a long-lasting, use-dependent increase in the strength of synaptic connections. We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in determining the duration of potentiation induced by high frequency stimulation of afferents in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. The calcium/calmodulin-dependent production of NO can be initiated by activation of excitatory amino acid receptors and results in increased levels of cGMP in target cells. Here we report that only a relatively short-term potentiation can be induced in the presence of nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an NO synthase inhibitor. The effects of L-NAME on the duration of potentiation are partially reversed by coadministration of L-arginine, a precursor of neuronal NO, and by dibutyryl cGMP. Hemoglobin, which binds extracellular NO, also shortens the duration of stimulus-induced potentiation. The results suggest a role for NO in the maintenance of activity-dependent synaptic enhancements, possibly via the generation of cGMP.     

Retrograde adaptive resonance theory based on the role of nitric oxide in long-term potentiation

Adaptive resonance theory (ART) demonstrates how the brain learns to recognize and categorize vast amounts of information by using top–down expectations and attentional focusing. ART 3, one member of the ART family, embeds the computational properties of the chemical synapse in its search process, but it converges slowly and is lack of stability when being applied in pattern recognition and analysis. To overcome these problems, Nitric Oxide (NO), which serves as a newly discovered retrograde messenger in Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), is introduced in retrograde adaptive resonance theory (ReART) model presented in this paper. In the presented model a novel search hypothesis is proposed to incorporate angle and amplitude information of an external input vector to decide whether the input matches the long-term memory (LTM) weights of an active node or not, and the embedded NO retrograde mechanism makes the search procedure a closed loop, which improves the stability and convergence speed of the transmitter releasing mechanism in a synapse. To make the model more adaptive and practical, a forgetting mechanism is built to improve the weights updating process. Experimental results indicate that the proposed ReART model achieves low error rate, fast convergence and self-organizing weights regulation. Action Editor: Christiane Linster     

昆虫一氧化氮及其合酶的研究进展

一氧化氮作为一种重要的信息分子 ,参与调节昆虫嗅觉、视觉、机械感受、发育、机体防御及学习行为。该文从生理、生化、形态定位以及信号转导几方面综述了有关昆虫一氧化氮及其合酶的最新研究进展。     

Inducible molecular switches for the study of long-term potentiation

This article reviews technical and conceptual advances in unravelling the molecular bases of long-term potentiation (LTP), learning and memory using genetic approaches. We focus on studies aimed at testing a model suggesting that protein kinases and protein phosphatases balance each other to control synaptic strength and plasticity. We describe how gene 'knock-out' technology was initially exploited to disrupt the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIalpha (CaMKIIalpha) gene and how refined knock-in techniques later allowed an analysis of the role of distinct phosphorylation sites in CaMKII. Further to gene recombination, regulated gene expression using the tetracycline-controlled transactivator and reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator systems, a powerful new means for modulating the activity of specific molecules, has been applied to CaMKIIalpha and the opposing protein phosphatase calcineurin. Together with electro-physiological and behavioural evaluation of the engineered mutant animals, these genetic methodologies have helped gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of plasticity and memory. Further technical developments are, however, awaited for an even higher level of finesse.     

Reduction of nitric oxide in bacterial nitric oxide reductase--a theoretical model study

The mechanism of the nitric oxide reduction in a bacterial nitric oxide reductase (NOR) has been investigated in two model systems of the heme-b(3)-Fe(B) active site using density functional theory (B3LYP). A model with an octahedral coordination of the non-heme Fe(B) consisting of three histidines, one glutamate and one water molecule gave an energetically feasible reaction mechanism. A tetrahedral coordination of the non-heme iron, corresponding to the one of Cu(B) in cytochrome oxidase, gave several very high barriers which makes this type of coordination unlikely. The first nitric oxide coordinates to heme b(3) and is partly reduced to a more nitroxyl anion character, which activates it toward an attack from the second NO. The product in this reaction step is a hyponitrite dianion coordinating in between the two irons. Cleaving an NO bond in this intermediate forms an Fe(B) (IV)O and nitrous oxide, and this is the rate determining step in the reaction mechanism. In the model with an octahedral coordination of Fe(B) the intrinsic barrier of this step is 16.3 kcal/mol, which is in good agreement with the experimental value of 15.9 kcal/mol. However, the total barrier is 21.3 kcal/mol, mainly due to the endergonic reduction of heme b(3) taken from experimental reduction potentials. After nitrous oxide has left the active site the ferrylic Fe(B) will form a mu-oxo bridge to heme b(3) in a reaction step exergonic by 45.3 kcal/mol. The formation of a quite stable mu-oxo bridge between heme b(3) and Fe(B) is in agreement with this intermediate being the experimentally observed resting state in oxidized NOR. The formation of a ferrylic non-heme Fe(B) in the proposed reaction mechanism could be one reason for having an iron as the non-heme metal ion in NOR instead of a Cu as in cytochrome oxidase.     

Copper interaction on the long-term potentiation

The role of copper on the CA1 piramidal neurons and their sinaptic connections to the Schaffer's collateral was investigated using the field excitatory post-sinaptic potential (fEPSP). The same fEPSP was used to study copper effects on Long-term potentiation (LTP). We have found that copper 10 microM has an inhibitory action on the fEPSP. Similar effects were demonstrated with 10 microM of GABA. Moreover, copper showed a strong inhibitory action on the consolidated LTP. However, copper washout left a significant and persistent excitatory response. In our opinion, copper shows a dual sinaptic effect depending on the sinaptic experience.     

The effect of nitric oxide on glucose metabolism

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important bioactive signaling molecule that mediates a variety of normal physiological functions, which, if altered, could contribute to the genesis of many pathological conditions, including diabetes. In this study, we examined the possible diabetogenicity of NO by noting differences in the cellular binding of insulin in dogs treated with the NO donor, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) compared to captopril-treated controls. GSNO administration resulted in an abnormality in glucose metabolism which was attributed to decreased binding of insulin to its receptor on the cell membrane of mononuclear leucocytes, 11.60 ± 0.60% in GSNO-treated dogs compared with 18.10 ± 1.90% in captopril-treated control (p < 0.05). The decreased insulin binding was attributed to decreased insulin receptor sites per cell, 21.43 ± 2.51 × 10⁴ in GSNO-treated dogs compared with 26.60 ± 1.57 × 10⁴ in captopril-treated controls (p < 0.05). Average affinity analysis of the binding data demonstrated that this decrease in insulin binding was also due to a decrease in average affinity of the receptor on mononuclear leucocytes for insulin. This was evident by a decrease in empty and filled site affinities in GSNO-treated dogs compared with that of captopril-treated dogs (p < 0.05). It appears that GSNO is exerting its effect by decreasing the number of insulin receptor sites and/or decreasing the average receptor affinity. These results provide evidence for a novel role of NO as a modulator of insulin binding and the involvement of NO in the aetiology of diabetes mellitus. (Mol Cell Biochem 263: 29–34, 2004)     

The effect of nitric oxide on glucose metabolism

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important bioactive signaling molecule that mediates a variety of normal physiological functions, which, if altered, could contribute to the genesis of many pathological conditions, including diabetes. In this study, we examined the possible diabetogenicity of NO by noting differences in the cellular binding of insulin in dogs treated with the NO donor, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) compared to captopril-treated controls. GSNO administration resulted in an abnormality in glucose metabolism which was attributed to decreased binding of insulin to its receptor on the cell membrane of mononuclear leucocytes, 11.60 +/- 0.60% in GSNO-treated dogs compared with 18.10 +/- 1.90% in captopril-treated control (p < 0.05). The decreased insulin binding was attributed to decreased insulin receptor sites per cell, 21.43 +/- 2.51 x 10(4) in GSNO-treated dogs compared with 26.60 +/- 1.57 x 10(4) in captopril-treated controls (p < 0.05). Average affinity analysis of the binding data demonstrated that this decrease in insulin binding was also due to a decrease in average affinity of the receptor on mononuclear leucocytes for insulin. This was evident by a decrease in empty and filled site affinities in GSNO-treated dogs compared with that of captopril-treated dogs (p < 0.05). It appears that GSNO is exerting its effect by decreasing the number of insulin receptor sites and/or decreasing the average receptor affinity. These results provide evidence for a novel role of NO as a modulator of insulin binding and the involvement of NO in the aetiology of diabetes mellitus.     

Dual effect of nitric oxide on phenoloxidase-mediated melanization

The study has demonstrated a dual effect of nitric oxide on phenoloxidase (PO)-mediated DOPA oxidation and melanization process. NO generated at low rates proportionally increased in PO-mediated DOPA oxidation. Competitive PO inhibitor, phenylthiourea, resulted in significant inhibition of NO-mediated DOPA oxidation. Further analysis using fluorescent and EPR methods demonstrated that the effect of NO on DOPA oxidation is explained by oxidation of NO to NO₂ at the active site of PO followed by oxidation of DOPA by NO₂. On the contrary, the bolus addition of NO gas solution resulted in a significant decrease in observed PO activity. Similar dose-dependent effect of NO was observed for the insect’s haemocytes quantified as percentage of melanized cells after treatment with nitric oxide. In conclusion, the results of the study suggest that NO may have a significant regulatory role on melanization process in invertebrates as well as in human and result in protective or damaging effects.