Comparison of the Protection against Neuronal Injury by Hypothalamic Peptides and by Dexamethasone

The comparative study has been carried out on hypothalamic neurohormone (proline-rich polypeptides-PRP) and synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) protective properties at the systemic (i/m) administration. Both background and evoked electrical activity (on n.ischiadicus stimulation) of single neurons in the lumbo-sacral part (laminae II–VI and VII–VIII by Rexed) and field potentials (FP) of spinal cord were recorded during acute experiments on intact spinal rats, subjected to Vipera Raddei (VR) venom intoxication, and chronic spinal cord trauma (hemisection). The action of PRP was characterized by the pronounced activation of the background activity (BA) with adaptive effect, depending on dose and initial level of BA, by results of the statistical analysis. A high effect is received from comparatively small doses. For comparison it was used strong glucocorticoid DEX, possessing single-directed but less expressed excitative action on investigated spinal cord neurons. The initial increase of BA frequency with subsequent depression was the typical symptom of venom influence. A protective effect of preliminary PRP injection is revealed on the succeeding VR venom influence. Use of PRP and DEX causes the increase of reduced activity of neurons on the injury side of animals with spinal cord hemisection. It provides the possibility of the therapeutic utilization. It was revealed considerably more expressed PRP action on neurodegenerative process connected to spinal cord injury (in comparison with DEX). The influence of hormones was compared in identical conditions of experiments on non-injured (control) and injured sides. Taking into consideration revealed protection characteristic of PRP and also the ability of snake venom to stabilize and to prolong its action combined with these preparations, the assumption is made on prospective use of the specified combination in clinical practice.     

Interaction between hindbrain and spinal networks during the development of locomotion in zebrafish

Little is known about the role of the hindbrain during development of spinal network activity. We set out to identify the activity patterns of reticulospinal (RS) neurons of the hindbrain in fictively swimming (paralyzed) zebrafish larvae. Simultaneous recordings of RS neurons and spinal motoneurons revealed that these were coactive during spontaneous fictive swim episodes. We characterized four types of RS activity patterns during fictive swimming: (i) a spontaneous pattern of discharges resembling evoked high-frequency spiking during startle responses to touch stimuli, (ii) a rhythmic pattern of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) whose frequency was similar to the motoneuron EPSP frequency during swim episodes, (iii) an arrhythmic pattern consisting of tonic firing throughout swim episodes, and (iv) RS cell activity uncorrelated with motoneuron activity. Despite lesions to the rostral spinal cord that prevented ascending spinal axons from entering the hindbrain (normally starting at approximately 20 h), RS neurons continued to display the aforementioned activity patterns at day 3. However, removal of the caudal portion of the hindbrain prior to the descent of RS axons left the spinal cord network unable to generate the rhythmic oscillations normally elicited by application of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), but in approximately 40% of cases chronic incubation in NMDA maintained rhythmic activity. We conclude that there is an autonomous embryonic hindbrain network that is necessary for proper development of the spinal central pattern generator, and that the hindbrain network can partially develop independently of ascending input.     

氯胺酮对单足致炎大鼠脊髓背角神经元活动的影响

在大鼠脊髓背角用细胞外记录技术共记录到３２个单位。角叉菜胶一侧足底注射致炎后,电刺激该侧足底内外侧神经激动其中Ａ、Ｃ纤维时,脊髓背角神经元诱发放电数均显著增加;静脉注射ＮＭＤＡ受体拮抗剂氯胺酮后,Ａ、Ｃ纤维刺激诱发的放电反应均显著下降甚至消失。致炎后脊髓背角深层单位出现Ｗｉｎｄｕｐ现象,静脉注射氯胺酮后该现象减轻消失。结果提示：角叉菜胶致炎导致脊髓背角神经元兴奋性升高和Ｗｉｎｄｕｐ;ＮＭＤＡ受体参     

Regional specificity of functional sensory connections in developing spinal cord cultures varies with the incidence of spontaneous bioelectric activity

Summary Cultured spinal cord explants in which little spontaneous bioelectric activity was present showed, when monitored using sensory ganglion-evoked monosynaptic action potentials, diffuse innervation by ingrowing afferent fibers at 3–4 weeks in vitro. In contrast, highly active cultures of the same age showed a strong tendency for functional sensory connections to be made within the dorsal half of the cord. Regional specificity was present in mature cultures (4–5 weeks in vitro), however, even when their spontaneous activity level was low. The results support earlier results using tetrodotoxin, and make it appear likely that centrally generated neuronal discharges can influence the topography of afferent terminals within the developing spinal cord.     

The effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range neuron activity in the spinal dorsal horn of rats

The present study investigated the effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range (WDR) neuron activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of rats. The evoked discharge of WDR neurons was elicited by transdermic electrical stimulation applied on the ipsilateral hindpaw of rats. Galanin was administered directly on the spinal dorsal surface of L3-L5. The evoked discharge frequency of the WDR neurons decreased significantly after the administration of galanin and the effect lasted for more than 30 min. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of galanin on the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons was blocked by following administration of the galanin antagonist galantide, indicating that the inhibitory effect of galanin on the activity of WDR neurons was induced by activating galanin receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results suggest that galanin has an inhibitory role in the transmission of presumed nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.     

Various forms of potentials recorded from caudate nucleus neurons

Spontaneous and evoked activity of caudate nucleus neurons was recorded extracellularly in acute experiments on cats. Different forms of potentials were found by analysis of the results. The potentials recorded belong to three types: ordinary action potentials; prepotentials or incomplete spikes differing from ordinary action potentials in their lower amplitude and slower decline, and complex discharges in which a spike of somewhat reduced amplitude is followed by a slow positive-negative wave. In the spontaneous activity prepotentials were observed both in complete action potentials and in isolation. The frequency of the complex discharges was 0.5–1 per second. The slow wave of these discharges blocked prepotential and action potential formation. The origin of these forms of potentials in neurons of the caudate nucleus is discussed and they are compared with analogous forms of potentials described for the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukranian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 149–156, March–April, 1977.     

Actions of a novel water-soluble benzodiazepine-receptor agonist JM-1232(-) on synaptic transmission in adult rat spinal substantia gelatinosa neurons

Although the intrathecal administration of JM-1232(-) reportedly produces antinociception, this action has not yet been examined at the cellular level. We examined the action of JM-1232(-) on synaptic transmission in spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons which play an important role in regulating nociceptive transmission from the periphery. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was applied to the SG neurons of adult rat spinal cord slices. Bath-applied JM-1232(-) prolonged the decay phase of GABA(A)-receptor mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) and increased its frequency without a change in amplitude. The former but not latter action was sensitive to a benzodiazepine-receptor antagonist flumazenil. JM-1232(-) also increased glycinergic sIPSC frequency with no change in amplitude and decay phase. On the other hand, glutamatergic spontaneous excitatory transmission was unaffected by JM-1232(-). These results indicate that JM-1232(-) enhances inhibitory transmission by (1) prolonging the decay phase of GABAergic sIPSC through benzodiazepine-receptor activation and by (2) increasing the spontaneous release of GABA and glycine from nerve terminals without its activation. This enhancement could contribute to at least a part of the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally-administered JM-1232(-).     

Modulation of dorsal horn neuronal activity by spinal cord stimulation in a rat model of neuropathy: The role of the dorsal funicles

We recorded the spike activity from spinal neurons In rats with a model of neuropathy after ligation of then. ishiadicus. A significantly increased frequency of background discharges and responsiveness to nonnoxious stimuli were observed in dorsal horn wide-dynamic range (convergent) neurons in a group of allodynic rats, as compared with non-allodynic and intact rats. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) Induced a significant depression of both the principal responses and afterdischarges in allodynic rats. The frequency of background discharges was markedly decreased in approximately one third of the neurons. These effects outlasted SCS by about 10 rain. The moderating effect of SCS is considered a result of activation of distinctly different and complementary mechanisms: segmental and transsupraspinal. The former appears to be the most important in allodynic animals.     

Effect of cortisol microiontophoresis on discharge time structure of dorsal hippocampal neurons in rabbits

The effect of microiontophoretic application of cortisol to single neurons of the dorsal hippocampus on the character of distribution of interspike intervals in their discharges was studied in chronic experiments on rabbits. Cortisol modified the time structure of regular and rhythmic discharges of hippocampal neurons. Regularization of discharges in the form of bursting activity appeared as the result of cortisol in cells with irregular spontaneous activity. Activity of more than half of the neurons, in which bursting discharges corresponded in frequency to the theta-rhythm, was intensified as a result of microapplication of cortisol. In neurons discharging complex spikes, in which under normal conditions a phenomenon of reduction of spike amplitude was observed within each burst, no definite rule as regards changes in the time structure of the discharges could be observed after administration of the hormone. It is suggested that cortisol plays a modulating role in mechanisms of generation of spike activity by hippocampal neurons.P. K. Anokhin Research Institute of Normal Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 628–635, November–December, 1981.     

A study of single sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the lateral horns of the lumbar spinal cord

Antidromic discharges and spontaneous activity of single sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the lateral horns of the second lumbar segment of the spinal cord were recorded extracellularly in cats anesthetized with a mixture of chloralose and pentobarbital. A new technique used to identify antidromic discharges of sympathetic preganglionic neurons is described and the characteristics of discharges and sites where they were recorded are investigated. Changes in the frequency of spontaneous discharges of most neurons were shown to be connected with different types of fluctuation of the arterial pressure. Absence of functional specialization of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons is postulated.I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol.6, No.3, pp.295–303, May–June, 1974.     

Chronic opioid potentiates presynaptic but impairs postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor activity in spinal cords: implications for opioid hyperalgesia and tolerance

Opioids are the most effective analgesics for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. However, chronic opioid treatment can cause both hyperalgesia and analgesic tolerance, which limit their clinical efficacy. In this study, we determined the role of pre- and postsynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in controlling increased glutamatergic input in the spinal cord induced by chronic systemic morphine administration. Whole-cell voltage clamp recordings of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were performed on dorsal horn neurons in rat spinal cord slices. Chronic morphine significantly increased the amplitude of monosynaptic EPSCs evoked from the dorsal root and the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs, and these changes were largely attenuated by blocking NMDARs and by inhibiting PKC, but not PKA. Also, blocking NR2A- or NR2B-containing NMDARs significantly reduced the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs and the amplitude of evoked EPSCs in morphine-treated rats. Strikingly, morphine treatment largely decreased the amplitude of evoked NMDAR-EPSCs and NMDAR currents of dorsal horn neurons elicited by puff NMDA application. The reduction in postsynaptic NMDAR currents caused by morphine was prevented by resiniferatoxin pretreatment to ablate TRPV1-expressing primary afferents. Furthermore, intrathecal injection of the NMDAR antagonist significantly attenuated the development of analgesic tolerance and the reduction in nociceptive thresholds induced by chronic morphine. Collectively, our findings indicate that chronic opioid treatment potentiates presynaptic, but impairs postsynaptic, NMDAR activity in the spinal cord. PKC-mediated increases in NMDAR activity at nociceptive primary afferent terminals in the spinal cord contribute critically to the development of opioid hyperalgesia and analgesic tolerance.     

After-effects of repetitive stimulation in spinal neurons

Spontaneous activity of interneurons before and after repetitive stimulation at 0.1–0.5/sec was recorded in acute experiments on spinal cats and kittens. Using the dynamic selective correlation method a search was made for areas of spontaneous activity with the same distribution of action potentials in time as in the averaged evoked response to a single stimulus. In the case of some neurons portions of the background which correlate reliably in structure with the evoked response repeated at an interval equal to or a multiple of the interval of stimulation. Reproduction of the rhythm of stimulation in the spontaneous activity is intensified with an increase in the total duration of preceding stimulation with the same input and shows positive correlation with the degree of posttetanic potentiation. The facts obtained are evidence of prolonged after-processes in spinal neurons.Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 272–280, May–June, 1973.     

Neuromuscular transmission in cultures of adult human and rodent skeletal muscle after innervation in vitro by fetal rodent spinal cord

Electrophysiologic analyses have been carried out on in vitro-coupled explants of fetal rodent spinal cord and adult skeletal muscle of human as well as rodent origin. The studies demonstrate that characteristic neuromuscular transmission can develop and be maintained in these unusual tissue combinations during long-term culture. After coupling periods of 2–7 weeks in vitro, selective stimulation of spinal cord evokes widespread coordinated contractions in the muscle tissue. Simultaneous microelectrode recordings of cord and muscle responses to local cord, or ventral root, stimuli show that muscle action potentials (and contractions) generally occur with latencies of several msec after onset of cord discharges. Similar temporal relations are often seen during spontaneous rhythmic discharges of the coupled cord and muscle tissues. Long series of repetitive discharges, at 2–5 sec intervals, may occur synchronously between these cord and muscle explants, in response to single cord (or dorsal-root ganglion) stimuli, and they may also appear spontaneously. d-Tubocurarine (1–10 μg/ml) selectively and reversibly blocks neuromuscular transmission in these cultures. Eserine accelerates recovery of normal function. Spontaneous repetitive fibrillations of many of the cultured muscle fibers are observed sporadically, and these contractions often continue unabated after block of neuromusclar transmission by d-tubocurarine. Many of the fibers which show asynchronous fibrillations are probably not innervated (as in denervated muscle in situ). In some cases, however, extracellular as well as intracellular recordings indicate that similar fibrillations may also occur in fibers which are clearly innervated. Repetitive cord and muscle discharges are greatly augmented after introduction of strychnine. Complex rhythmic oscillatory (ca. 10/sec) afterdischarges generated in strychninized cord explants lead to similarly patterned muscle discharges (and contractions), which may also occur, at, times, in normal medium.     

Effect of motor stimulation and stretching on afferent activity of the neuromuscular spindle isolated from the frog]

The arrangement of muscle spindles in m. ext. long. dig. IV has been examined by microdissection. It is confirmed that spindle systems generally appear to consist of individual receptors. Stimulation effects of fast motor fibres (conduction velocities greater than 12 m/sec) on the spindles of the same muscle were studied. Receptors were isolated with their nerves and the appropriate spinal roots, the latter ones were used for stimulating efferent fibres and recording sensory discharges. Single shocks to the ventral root filaments caused afferent responses ranging from a single action potential to a train of impulses. During repetitive stimulation (train of stimuli at frequency of 10 to 150/sec) a marked increase in afferent activity was found. Afferent activity could be driven by the frequency of stimuli ("driving") and the stimulus/action potentials ratio varied from 1:1 to 1:3 or more. The rate of sensory discharge depended on the frequency of stimuli: the maximum effect, was attained at 30 to 50 stimuli/sec and, in the most responsive receptors, up to 80 stimuli/sec. Slight increases of the initial lengths of the receptors caused facilitation of sensory responses to motor stimulation. Moreover, impairing effects, which appear during sustained or high-frequency stimulation, possibly related to fatigue in intrafusal neuromuscular transmission, could be relieved by increasing the initial length. The repetitive stimulation of fast fusimotor fibres increased both dynamic and static responses and also raised the afferent activity after a period of stretching, when usually a depression occurs; these effects varied according to the preparation, its initial tension and the frequency of stimulation. The main feature of the examined motor fibres, when stimulated, is the constant excitatory action on muscle spindle static response. Results are discussed. It is suggested that the different characteristics of intrafusal muscle fibres, the receptor initial tension and the frequency of motor units discharges, may together affect muscle spindles static or dynamic performance.     

Inhibitory miniature synaptic potentials in rat motoneurons

In the newborn rat spinal cord, spontaneous potentials were recorded, with KCl electrodes, from motoneurons in the presence of tetrodotoxin (10(-6) g ml-1) to abolish nerve impulses. These potentials occurred at low frequencies (less than 2 Hz), and their mean amplitude was a fraction of 1 mV. An increase of osmolarity with sucrose or an increase of extracellular K+, increased the frequency of miniature synaptic potentials. The amplitude of the spontaneous potentials was increased by intracellular injection of Cl-. Strychnine (2-25 microM) completely abolished the spontaneous potentials. It is suggested that these potentials are produced by the spontaneous release of packages of inhibitory transmitter at synapses on motoneurons.     

Correlation between electrical activity and ACTH/beta-endorphin secretion in mouse pituitary tumor cells

The electrical and secretory activities of mouse pituitary tumor cells (AtT-20/D-16v), which contain and release the ACTH/beta-endorphin family of peptides, were studied by means of intracellular recordings and radioimmunoassays. Injection of depolarizing current pulses evoked action potentials in all cells and the majority (82%) displayed spontaneous action potential activity. Action potentials were found to be calcium-dependent. Barium increased membrane resistance, action potential amplitude and duration, and release of ACTH and beta- endorphin immunoactivity. Isoproterenol increased both action potential frequency and hormone secretion. Raising the external calcium concentration increased the frequency and amplitude of the action potentials and stimulated secretion of ACTH and beta-endorphin immunoactivity. Thus, stimulation of secretory activity in AtT-20 cells was closely correlated with increased electrical activity. However, a complete blockade of action potential activity had no effect on basal hormone secretion in these cells. These results suggest that the mechanisms underlying stimulated hormone secretion are different from those responsible for basal secretory activity. It is proposed that the increased influx of calcium due to the increased action potential frequency initiates the stimulated release of hormone from these cells.     

The role of peritoneal macrophages in realizing the growth inhibiting effect of glucocorticoids on reinoculated murine hepatoma 22 cells: the effect of hydrocortisone on the cytotoxic activity and metabolism of phospholipids by macrophages

A single injection of hydrocortisone to rats with ascite hepatoma 22 had practically no effect on tumour growth. Inhibition of tumour growth was observed only after reinoculation of ascite hepatoma to mice that had received no less than 8 daily injections of the hormone. A single injection of hydrocortisone induced inhibition of the cytotoxic activity and decreased phospholipid metabolism in peritoneal macrophages. Contrariwise, long-term administration of the hormone caused marked activation of macrophage cytotoxicity. In this case incorporation of 32P into macrophage phospholipids was restored up to the control level. It is concluded that one of mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on macrophages is inhibition of phospholipid turnover. Presumably, long-term administration of the hormone promotes the formation of a new population of macrophages insensitive to the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids and possessing a high cytostatic activity. The appearance of such activated macrophages may account for the enhancement of hydrocortisone effect on tumour cells upon prolonged administration of the hormone.     

Sensitivity of embryonic spontaneous motility to the GABA agonists baclofen and muscimol

The development of the sensitivity of spontaneous motor activity to the GABA agonists baclofen (10 mg/kg egg weight, systemic administration) and muscimol (0.8 mg/kg e.w., systemic administration) was tested in 11-day to 19-day-old chick embryos. 1) Baclofen already significantly depressed the frequency of spontaneous movements in 11-day embryos; its effect attained the maximum (85% depression of spontaneous motility) in 13-day embryos. After the 15th day of incubation, it reduced spontaneous motor activity by 50-60%. In spinal embryos, baclofen had the same, but a quantitatively more pronounced effect, demonstrated from its direct action on the spinal cord uninfluenced by supraspinal modulation, which began to be manifested after the 15th day of incubation. 2) Muscimol did not begin to inhibit spontaneous motility significantly until the 13th day of incubation. Subsequently, the latent period of its effect shortened, its duration lengthened and, lastly, its quantitative result also increased. 3) A comparison of the effect of GABA (Sedlácek 1978), muscimol and baclofen in 17-day chick embryos showed that the depressive effect increased in the sequence baclofen less than GABA less than muscimol, but that GABA took effect faster than the others. The results testify that the maturation of the individual elements of the GABA-ergic central inhibition system is a complex process.     

The acute and the chronic effects of imipramine on the spontaneous motility in chick embryos

The effect of imipramine on the spontaneous motility and development of chick embryos was studied from the 4th to the 19th day of incubation. On acute administration (a single dose of 12.5 of 25 mg/kg egg weight), imipramine already induced significant depression of spontaneous motility in 11-day embryos--an effect which increased significantly after the 15th day of incubation. The similar effect of imipramine in spinal embryos testifies to its direct action on the spinal cord and draws attention to certain details of the role of supraspinal structures of the CNS in the acute effect of imipramine. The chronic administration of imipramine showed that it had an almost 100% lethal effect from 4th to the 7th day of incubation. Between the 8th and the 10th day it caused longlasting depression of spontaneous motility. When it was administered between the 11th and 16th day of incubation, no significant effect on the development of spontaneous motor activity was found in chick embryos.     

荷包牡丹碱和印防己毒素诱发的脊兔膈神经呼吸样电活动

实验用家兔共71只。乌拉坦浅麻醉,麻痹肌肉,颈_1或颈_2 横断脊髓,记录膈神经电活动。43例中,25例出现紧张性电活动,无一例自行恢复呼吸样节律放电。24例于脊髓蛛网膜下腔(i.s.s.)内给荷包牡丹碱(BCL,20μg/10μl—40μg/20μl i.s.s.),13例给印防已毒素(PIC,20μg/20μl,i.s.s.或3—5mg/kgbt i.v.),能诱发出长串的呼吸样放电(串长在0.25s以上)或短串的抽搐样放电(串长在0.1s 以下)。长串放电,按其募集与去募集特点,可分为三型: Ⅰ型,排放频率平均为23.5±2.3串/min(BCL),出现率为58.5%(BCL)或67.7%,(PIC);Ⅱ型,排放频率平均为33.8±4.7串/min(BCL),出现率为39.3%(BCL)或32.3%(PIC);Ⅱ型,排放频率平均为21.3±2.8串/min(BCL),出现率为2.2%(BCL)或3.3%(PIC)。放电持续时间平均为60.0±18.9min(BCL)或42.0±0.8min(PIG)。Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型放电均具呼吸样放电的特点,Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型的出现率共占长串放电的97.8%。本工作提示:脊髓內源性 GABA 系统对脊髓“呼吸”具有紧张性抑制作用。