Orexin-A通路对胃运动的调控研究

目的:探讨下丘脑外侧核(LHA)-伏隔核(NAcc)orexin-A神经和功能通路构成及该通路对胃运动的影响及潜在机制。方法:将健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为逆行追踪组和胃运动组:逆行追踪组大鼠采用逆行追踪技术结合免疫荧光组织化学染色法,观察下丘脑外侧核-伏隔核间是否存在orexin-A神经通路;胃运动组大鼠通过在体胃运动研究,观察伏隔核内微量注射不同浓度orexin-A对大鼠胃运动幅度和频率的影响,以及电刺激下丘脑外侧核后,大鼠胃运动的变化及机制。结果:荧光逆行追踪结合荧光免疫组织化学染色结果显示:下丘脑外侧核内有荧光金和orexin-A双重标记的神经元。胃运动研究结果显示:伏隔核内微量注射orexin-A,大鼠胃运动幅度和频率显著增加,并呈现显著剂量依赖关系(P0.05),伏隔核预先微量注射SB-334867,可反转该效应(P0.05)。电刺激下丘脑外侧核,大鼠胃运动幅度和频率显著增强(P0.05)。同样,伏隔核内微量注射SB-334867,再电刺激下丘脑外侧核,电刺激导致的胃运动增强效应显著减弱(P0.05)。结论:下丘脑外侧核-伏隔核存在orexin-A神经和功能通路,该通路可能通过orexin-A受体介导参与胃动力和能量代谢调控。     

果糖暴食对大鼠下丘脑外侧核与伏隔核Orexin 神经元的影响

目的:探讨给予间歇性摄食大鼠模型(Intermittent Access Model[IAM])果糖是否可使IAM大鼠对果糖产生暴食行为,以及下丘脑外侧核(LHA)和伏隔核Orexin(ORX)神经元对果糖暴食行为的影响。方法:给予IAM大鼠4%、8%或12%的果糖溶液及生理盐水,观察和记录大鼠果糖摄入量及能否产生果糖暴食行为;测定果糖凝集反应大鼠伏隔核壳(NAc shell)、伏隔核核(NAc core)和背侧纹状体(Dorsal striatum)多巴胺受体(D1R、D2R)数目(Bmax)和受体亲和力(Kd);分别监测长期和短期IAM大鼠室旁核(PVN)、杏仁核(CeA)、伏隔核(NAc)等相关核团的C-Fos神经元活性(Fos-IR);给予长期IAM大鼠OX1R拮抗剂SB334867,记录大鼠摄食量。结果:长期IAM大鼠表现出果糖暴食行为,但相应的多巴胺受体数目并未改变。与对照组相比,果糖暴食组大鼠伏隔核c-Fos蛋白减少,神经元活性降低。短期IAM大鼠可产生果糖暴食但Fos-IR未改变。给予长期IAM大鼠OX1R拮抗剂SB-334867(30 mg/kg),大鼠果糖暴食量和食物摄入量均减少。结论:长短期IAM大鼠均可产生果糖暴食行为;仅长期果糖暴食可致Orexin释放增加,减少伏隔核Orexin神经元激活,增强外侧核Orexin神经元激活。     

中华倒刺鲃幼鱼逃逸运动的方向偏好及其稳定性

鱼类种群中部分个体表现出的运动方向偏好常常与捕食或逃逸策略有关。本研究以中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)幼鱼为对象,将40尾实验鱼于(20±1.0)℃条件下单独饲养,然后分别进行10次T形迷宫实验,以确定实验鱼是否存在方向偏好(朝迷宫同一方向8次及以上则认为该实验鱼有方向偏好行为),并计算方向偏好程度;随后将上述实验每隔3 d进行一次重复,重复3次(共测试4次),以考查初次测试中具偏好个体在重复实验中是否仍保持初始方向偏好。结果表明:4次测试中具方向偏好个体占全部实验鱼的(53.4±3.8)%,其中左、右偏好各占(19.2±1.3)%、(34.2±4.0)%,且4次测试之间的相对偏侧指数(relative lateralization index,LR)没有显著差异;3次跟踪重复测试后,保持了初始方向偏好的个体占全部实验鱼的比例呈下降趋势,由初始的45.0%依次下降到21.0%、16.7%和17.1%,首次重复显著下降(P0.05),随后的重复则不再下降,稳定后左、右方向偏好各占比例均为8.57%;中华倒刺鲃种群中存在具运动方向偏好的个体,但比例低于相关文献报道的其他鱼类,提示该种鱼的运动方向偏好可能对其生存适合度的贡献较小;实验还提示,跟踪重复测试对于该种鱼运动方向偏好的评估具有十分重要的作用。     

独花兰野生种群研究——开花与营养体状态的关系

对安徽省天堂寨自然保护区独花兰野生种群的花果期节律和营养体状态研究表明 ,开花植株占观察样本的 3 7 5 %,个体是否开花与假鳞茎数目、地下茎总体积和叶面积呈极显著相关关系。绝大多数开花个体具有 3个假鳞茎且其总体积通常达 8cm3,叶面积达 3 3cm2 。个体较大的植株开花持续期较长。花葶在花果期具有不同的生长时相 :开花期中止生长 ,幼果期呈逻辑斯谛型生长。面对日益增长的人类采掘风险 ,独花兰开花与大型植株的关联可能是其生活史中影响种群生存的脆弱点之一。     

伏隔核微注射orexin-A 对大鼠摄食和活动的影响

目的:探讨伏隔核微注射orexin-A后,大鼠摄食和活动的变化。方法:采用SD大鼠(250-280g),用脑立体定位仪在伏隔核植入微量注射管。大鼠随机分组,分别微注射乳酸格林液(Ringer’s),orexin-A 100pmol和500pmol。观察微注射后大鼠0-1h,1-2h,2-4h摄食和0-30min,30-60min,60-90min,90-120min活动性变化。结果:Orexin-A微注射后,大鼠0-1h,1-2h摄食量增加;30-60min,60-90min,90-120min的活动性显著增加(P<0.05 vs对照组)。结论:伏隔核是orexin-A刺激大鼠增加摄食量,提高其活动性的作用点。     

高体鰟鮍在加入个体数不同的群体时的选择

集群给动物带来安全、接触配偶机会等利益的同时,也存在增加竞争的风险。不同的物种以及生活史不同的阶段,动物会采取不同的集群策略。本研究设计实验,检验在繁殖期个体大小不同的高体鰟鮍对由同性个体组成的个体数不同的群体的偏好。结果显示,大个体雄性显著偏好于大的群体(第一次选择:V=72,n=12,P=0.0054;第二次选择:V=65,n=12,P=0.022),大个体雌性对不同大小的群体则无显著偏好(第一次选择:V=54,n=12,P=0.13;第二次选择:V=41.5,n=12,P=0.44);小个体雄性(第一次选择:V=59,n=12,P=0.0012;第二次选择:V=78,n=12,P=0.0013)与小个体雌性(第一次选择:V=75,n=12,P=0.0026;第二次选择:V=70,n=12,P=0.0083)均显著偏好于大的群体。这说明在选择加入某一群体时,大型和小型的雄性个体均主要考虑安全因素;而小型的雌性个体主要考虑安全因素,大型的雌性个体则同时考虑安全因素和繁殖竞争。     

中国树鼠句伏隔核促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素能神经元免疫组织化学研究

应用免疫组织化学碱性磷酸酶标Ａ蛋白（ＰＡＡＰ）技术在光镜水平研究中国树鼠句伏隔核内促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（ＣＲＦ）能神经元的形态和分布特点。结果显示,该核内ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元胞体多数呈多边形、圆形或卵圆形,梭形极少;直径多数为１３－１９ｕｍ,少数＜１３ｕｍ;胞质免疫反应强度不等。对左右侧伏隔核内ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元数目、胞体大小、形态和免疫反应强度进行分析,除免疫反应强阳性神经元计数项（Ｐ＜００１）外,其他项都无显著意义。ＣＲＦ免疫反应阳性神经元在伏隔核内分布不均,主要位于该核的前半段背侧区,核芯区较少     

独花兰野生种群研究——开花与营养体状态的关系

对安徽省天堂寨自然保护区独花兰野生种群的花果期节律和营养体状态研究表明,开花植株占观察样本的375%,个体是否开花与假鳞茎数目、地下茎总体积和叶面积呈极显著相关关系。绝大多数开花个体具有３个假鳞茎且其总体积通常达８cm３,叶面积达33 cm2。个体较大的植株开花持续期较长。花葶在花果期具有不同的生长时相：开花期中止生长,幼果期呈逻辑斯谛型生长。面对日益增长的人类采掘风险,独花兰开花与大型植株的关联可能是其生活史中影响种群生存的脆弱点之一。     

体色和社会熟悉度对慈鲷选择集群的影响

为了探究体色和社会熟悉度对慈鲷(Cichlidae)选择集群的影响,以体色呈蓝色的蓝阿里(Sciaenochromis fryeri)为研究对象,体色呈白色的雪鲷(Hindongo socolofi)和体色呈黄色的淡黑镊丽鱼(Labidochromis caeruleus)作为刺激鱼群,通过控制鱼群社会熟悉,测试实验鱼是否与优先偏好的颜色表型发生联系,并观察实验鱼是否更喜欢与偏好的颜色表型但并不熟悉的刺激鱼群联系。结果显示,当刺激鱼群的社会熟悉度没有差异时,个体和群体都更倾向于与偏好的颜色表型鱼群联系;而当刺激鱼群社会熟悉度不同时,个体蓝阿里表现出与社会熟悉度更高的群体联系在一起,但群体实验鱼表现出与偏好的颜色表型联系。研究表明,体色对蓝阿里选择集群的影响要比社会熟悉度更大,并且体色可能是慈鲷重要的集群线索,这为研究鱼群内体色的生态影响(如捕食者-猎物之间的相互作用)奠定了基础。     

运动奖赏效应及其神经生物学机制的研究进展

身体活动不足已经成为当今社会的公共卫生问题。深入理解运动的奖赏效应及其可能的神经生物学机制,将为改善身体活动不足提供科学有效的干预靶点。本文指出运动是一种典型的自然奖赏行为。大脑奖赏相关的腹侧背盖区-伏隔核的多巴胺能神经环路、前额叶皮质-伏隔核的谷氨酸能神经投射、红核-腹侧背盖区的谷氨酸能神经投射是调控运动奖赏效应的关键神经环路机制。此外,多巴胺、内源性大麻素系统和内源性阿片肽等多种神经分子参与了运动奖赏效应的调控。然而,大脑奖赏系统的过度激活将会导致运动成瘾。     

Increasing oxytocin receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens of pre-pubertal female prairie voles enhances alloparental responsiveness and partner preference formation as adults

Oxytocin receptors (OXTR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) promote alloparental behavior and partner preference formation in female prairie voles. Within the NAcc there is significant individual variation in OXTR binding and virgin juvenile and adult females with a high density of OXTR in the NAcc display an elevated propensity to engage in alloparental behavior toward novel pups. Over-expression of OXTR in the NAcc of adult female prairie voles using viral vector gene transfer facilitates partner preference formation, but has no effect on alloparental behavior, even though OXTR antagonists infused into the NAcc blocks both behaviors. We therefore hypothesized that long-term increases in OXTR signaling during development may underlie the relationship between adult OXTR density in the NAcc and alloparental behavior. To test this hypothesis, we used viral vector gene transfer to increase OXTR density in the NAcc of prepubertal, 21 day old female prairie voles and tested for both alloparental behavior and partner preference formation as adults. Consistent with a developmental impact of OXTR signaling, adults over-expressing OXTR from weaning display both increased alloparental behavior and partner preference formation. Thus, the relatively acute impact of elevated OXTR signaling in the NAcc on partner preference formation previously reported appears to be dissociable from the effects of longer term, developmentally relevant OXTR signaling necessary for modulating alloparental behavior. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that oxytocin can have both long-term “organizational” effects as well as acute “activational” effects on affiliative behaviors.     

Increasing oxytocin receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens of pre-pubertal female prairie voles enhances alloparental responsiveness and partner preference formation as adults

Oxytocin receptors (OXTR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) promote alloparental behavior and partner preference formation in female prairie voles. Within the NAcc there is significant individual variation in OXTR binding and virgin juvenile and adult females with a high density of OXTR in the NAcc display an elevated propensity to engage in alloparental behavior toward novel pups. Over-expression of OXTR in the NAcc of adult female prairie voles using viral vector gene transfer facilitates partner preference formation, but has no effect on alloparental behavior, even though OXTR antagonists infused into the NAcc blocks both behaviors. We therefore hypothesized that long-term increases in OXTR signaling during development may underlie the relationship between adult OXTR density in the NAcc and alloparental behavior. To test this hypothesis, we used viral vector gene transfer to increase OXTR density in the NAcc of prepubertal, 21 day old female prairie voles and tested for both alloparental behavior and partner preference formation as adults. Consistent with a developmental impact of OXTR signaling, adults over-expressing OXTR from weaning display both increased alloparental behavior and partner preference formation. Thus, the relatively acute impact of elevated OXTR signaling in the NAcc on partner preference formation previously reported appears to be dissociable from the effects of longer term, developmentally relevant OXTR signaling necessary for modulating alloparental behavior. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that oxytocin can have both long-term “organizational” effects as well as acute “activational” effects on affiliative behaviors.     

CRF receptors in the nucleus accumbens modulate partner preference in prairie voles

Recent evidence suggests a role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the regulation of pair bonding in prairie voles. We have previously shown that monogamous and non-monogamous vole species have dramatically different distributions of CRF receptor type 1 (CRF(1)) and CRF receptor type 2 (CRF(2)) in the brain and that CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptor densities in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) are correlated with social organization. Monogamous prairie and pine voles have significantly lower levels of CRF receptor type 1 (CRF(1)), and significantly higher levels of type 2 (CRF(2)) binding, in NAcc than non-monogamous meadow and montane voles. Here, we report that microinjections of CRF directly into the NAcc accelerate partner preference formation in male prairie voles. Control injections of CSF into NAcc, and CRF into caudate-putamen, did not facilitate partner preference. Likewise, CRF injections into NAcc of non-monogamous meadow voles also did not facilitate partner preference. In prairie voles, this CRF facilitation effect was blocked by co-injection of either CRF(1) or CRF(2) receptor antagonists into NAcc. Immunocytochemical staining for CRF and Urocortin-1 (Ucn-1), two endogenous ligands for CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptors in the brain, revealed that CRF, but not Ucn-1, immunoreactive fibers were present in NAcc. This supports the hypothesis that local CRF release into NAcc could activate CRF(1) or CRF(2) receptors in the region. Taken together, our results reveal a novel role for accumbal CRF systems in social behavior.     

Trichostatin A (TSA) facilitates formation of partner preference in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

In the socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), the development of a social bonding is indicated by the formation of partner preference, which involves a variety of environmental and neurochemical factors and brain structures. In a most recent study in female prairie voles, we found that treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) facilitates the formation of partner preference through up-regulation of oxytocin receptor (OTR) and vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) genes expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TSA treatment also facilitates partner preference formation and alters OTR and V1aR genes expression in the NAcc in male prairie voles. We thus observed that central injection of TSA dose-dependently promoted the formation of partner preference in the absence of mating in male prairie voles. Interestingly, TSA treatment up-regulated OTR, but not V1aR, gene expression in the NAcc similarly as they were affected by mating — an essential process for naturally occurring partner preference. These data, together with others, not only indicate the involvement of epigenetic events but also the potential role of NAcc oxytocin in the regulation of partner preference in both male and female prairie voles.     

Transfer of neuroplasticity from nucleus accumbens core to shell is required for cocaine reward

It is well established that cocaine induces an increase of dendritic spines density in some brain regions. However, few studies have addressed the role of this neuroplastic changes in cocaine rewarding effects and have often led to contradictory results. So, we hypothesized that using a rigorous time- and subject-matched protocol would demonstrate the role of this spine increase in cocaine reward. We designed our experiments such as the same animals (rats) were used for spine analysis and behavioral studies. Cocaine rewarding effects were assessed with the conditioned place preference paradigm. Spines densities were measured in the two subdivisions of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), core and shell. We showed a correlation between the increase of spine density in NAcc core and shell and cocaine rewarding effects. Interestingly, when cocaine was administered in home cages, spine density was increase in NAcc core only. With anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, injected in the core we blocked spine increase in core and shell and also cocaine rewarding effects. Strikingly, whereas injection of this inhibitor in the shell immediately after conditioning had no effect on neuroplasticity or behavior, its injection 4 hours after conditioning was able to block neuroplasticity in shell only and cocaine-induced place preference. Thus, it clearly appears that the neuronal plasticity in the NAcc core is essential to induce plasticity in the shell, necessary for cocaine reward. Altogether, our data revealed a new mechanism in the NAcc functioning where a neuroplasticity transfer occurred from core to shell.     

Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in nucleus accumbens attenuates morphine-induced rewarding in a neuropathic pain model

Treatment of neuropathic pain with opioid analgesics remains controversial and a major concern is the risk of addiction. Here, we investigated this issue with spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain in rats and mice. SNI prevented conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by low dose (3.5 mg/kg) of morphine (MOR), which was effective for anti-allodynia, but not by high dose (?5.0 mg/kg) of MOR. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was upregulated in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) following SNI. The inhibitory effect of SNI on MOR-induced CPP was blocked by either genetic deletion of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or microinjection of anti-TNF-α into the NAcc and was mimicked by intra-NAcc injection of TNF-α in sham rats. Furthermore, SNI reduced dopamine (DA) level and upregulated dopamine transporter (DAT) in the NAcc, but did not affect total tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or phospho-TH (p-TH), a rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis, in ventral tegmental area (VTA). Accordingly, the increase in DA reuptake but not decrease in its synthesis may lead to the reduction of DA level. Finally, the upregulation of DAT in the NAcc of SNI animals was again blocked by either genetic deletion of TNFR1 or NAcc injection of anti-TNF-α, and was mimicked by NAcc injection of TNF-α in sham animals. Thus, our data provided novel evidence that upregulation of TNF-α in NAcc may attenuate MOR-induced rewarding by upregulation of DAT in NAcc under neuropathic pain condition.     

The affective impact of financial skewness on neural activity and choice

Few finance theories consider the influence of "skewness" (or large and asymmetric but unlikely outcomes) on financial choice. We investigated the impact of skewed gambles on subjects' neural activity, self-reported affective responses, and subsequent preferences using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). Neurally, skewed gambles elicited more anterior insula activation than symmetric gambles equated for expected value and variance, and positively skewed gambles also specifically elicited more nucleus accumbens (NAcc) activation than negatively skewed gambles. Affectively, positively skewed gambles elicited more positive arousal and negatively skewed gambles elicited more negative arousal than symmetric gambles equated for expected value and variance. Subjects also preferred positively skewed gambles more, but negatively skewed gambles less than symmetric gambles of equal expected value. Individual differences in both NAcc activity and positive arousal predicted preferences for positively skewed gambles. These findings support an anticipatory affect account in which statistical properties of gambles--including skewness--can influence neural activity, affective responses, and ultimately, choice.     

Network Environment and Financial Risk Using Machine Learning and Sentiment Analysis

Under the network environment, the trading volume and asset price of a financial commodity or instrument are affected by various complicated factors. Machine learning and sentiment analysis provide powerful tools to collect a great deal of data from the website and retrieve useful information for effectively forecasting financial risk of associated companies. This article studies trading volume and asset price risk when sentimental financial information data are available using both sentiment analysis and popular machine learning approaches: artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM). Nonlinear GARCH-based mining models are developed by integrating GARCH (generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) theory and ANN and SVM. Empirical studies in the U.S. stock market show that the proposed approach achieves favorable forecast performances. GARCH-based SVM outperforms GARCH-based ANN for volatility forecast, whereas GARCH-based ANN achieves a better forecast result for the volatility trend. Results also indicate a strong correlation between information sentiment and both trading volume and asset price volatility.     

Anticipatory affect: neural correlates and consequences for choice

'Anticipatory affect' refers to emotional states that people experience while anticipating significant outcomes. Historically, technical limitations have made it difficult to determine whether anticipatory affect influences subsequent choice. Recent advances in the spatio-temporal resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging, however, now allow researchers to visualize changes in neural activity seconds before choice occurs. We review evidence that activation in specific brain circuits changes during anticipation of monetary incentives, that this activation correlates with affective experience and that activity in these circuits may influence subsequent choice. Specifically, an activation likelihood estimate meta-analysis of cued response studies indicates that nucleus accumbens (NAcc) activation increases during gain anticipation relative to loss anticipation, while anterior insula activation increases during both loss and gain anticipation. Additionally, anticipatory NAcc activation correlates with self-reported positive arousal, whereas anterior insula activation correlates with both self-reported negative and positive arousal. Finally, NAcc activation precedes the purchase of desirable products and choice of high-risk gambles, whereas anterior insula activation precedes the rejection of overpriced products and choice of low-risk gambles. Together, these findings support a neurally plausible framework for understanding how anticipatory affect can influence choice.     

Neural predictors of purchases

Microeconomic theory maintains that purchases are driven by a combination of consumer preference and price. Using event-related fMRI, we investigated how people weigh these factors to make purchasing decisions. Consistent with neuroimaging evidence suggesting that distinct circuits anticipate gain and loss, product preference activated the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), while excessive prices activated the insula and deactivated the mesial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) prior to the purchase decision. Activity from each of these regions independently predicted immediately subsequent purchases above and beyond self-report variables. These findings suggest that activation of distinct neural circuits related to anticipatory affect precedes and supports consumers' purchasing decisions.