学习训练对谷氨酸单钠所致大鼠海马损伤的神经保护作用

目的：探讨学习训练对谷氨酸神经毒性的保护作用。方法：在SD大鼠生后第3～9d腹腔注射谷氨酸单钠复制谷氨酸毒性模型,在1月龄和2月龄时训练大鼠学会以明暗辨别来获得食物,3月龄时取脑,在光镜下计数海马内存活神经元数,电镜下观察海马CA1区的超微结构,并计数突触数,测量突触活性带长度。结果：学习训练组海马CA3区和CA4区内的存活神经元数、海马CA1区内的突触数和突触活性带长度均大于非学习组,结论：结果提示学习训练可在一定程度上减轻MSG对海马的损伤。     

东莨菪碱慢性给药大鼠作为老龄相关记忆损害模型的探索

目的对东莨菪碱慢性给药大鼠能否作为老龄相关记忆损害模型进行探索。方法14只1月龄SD大鼠随机分为对照组和东莨菪碱模型组。东莨菪碱模型组大鼠皮下注射东莨菪碱2mg kg,2次日,正常对照组予等量生理盐水,连续21d。然后利用Morris水迷宫(MWM)参照记忆试验进行行为学测试;神经元的特殊染色及电子显微镜技术,观察大鼠海马CA1、CA3区锥体细胞数、超微结构的改变以及突触可塑性变化。结果东莨菪碱组大鼠隐匿平台搜索实验成绩有一定损害;两组大鼠空间探索次数差异无显著性(P>0.05)。两组间海马CA1、CA3区锥体细胞数差异无显著性(P>0.05)。两组大鼠锥体细胞胞体超微结构无差异,但两组大鼠CA1区神经元突触超微结构有轻微变化。结论东莨菪碱慢性给药对大鼠学习记忆能力有一定损害,但对长时记忆无明显影响;对海马神经元结构无明显损害,对神经元突触可塑性有轻微影响。此种动物模型可能不是理想的老年性痴呆或老年相关记忆损害模型。     

核磁共振磁场照射对子代大鼠海马突触形态的影响

研究观察了孕期磁共振磁场照射对子代大鼠海马突触超微结构的影响。SD孕鼠妊娠第12-18d给予0．35T核磁共振(magnetic resonance imaging,MRI)磁场照射。测量1、2和5月龄雌性仔鼠海马CAl区和齿状回的突触结构参数,用立体计量学方法进行定量测定。结果显示,磁场照射可引起2月龄子代大鼠海马CAl区突触间隙增宽．齿状回突触活性区长度变短、突触界面曲率和活性区面密度减小;5月龄子代大鼠CAl区突触间隙增宽,突触后致密物变薄,突触界面曲率减小,齿状回突触间隙增宽。结果提示,妊娠期接受MRI磁场照射可引起海马突触超微结构的改变。对这些结构变化与行为损害之间的关系进行了讨论。     

大鼠发育过程中海马细胞周期相关蛋白的表达与分布

目的观察正常SD大鼠发育过程中海马细胞周期相关蛋白表达及分布特点,探讨其与脑老化的关系.方法采用免疫组织化学方法观察不同发育时期(1周,2月,4月,10月,15月)Cyclin D1、CDK4、P16、NeuN表达的规律.结果在各年龄组Cyclin D1、CDK4、P16、NeuN阳性细胞层的厚度随着增龄而逐渐变薄.各阳性细胞的排列逐渐由紧密变得松散,胞体逐渐增大,各阳性细胞逐渐伸出轴突进入分子层.P16随月龄的增长在海马各区染色增强,但P16阳性细胞数目减少.结论 Cyclin D1、CDK4、P16、NeuN在海马发育的各个时期均有表达,老龄大鼠海马内Cyclin D1、CDK4、P16表达的下调提示细胞增殖活性受限,这可能与脑老化有关.     

AMPA受体参与的出生后大鼠海马发育早期的电生理学特点

本研究旨在探讨α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异恶唑丙酸(AMPA)受体参与的出生后大鼠海马发育早期的电生理学特点。选择出生后0.5月龄、1月龄、2月龄和3月龄Wistar大鼠共计48只(每组各12只)。应用全细胞膜片钳技术及MED64平面微电极阵列技术检测海马CA1区锥体神经元的被动膜特性及AMPA受体参与的自发兴奋性突触后电流(spontaneous exctitatory postsynaptic current,sEPSC)和场兴奋性突触后电位(field excitatory postsynaptic potential,fEPSP)。结果显示,海马CA1区锥体神经元在出生后0.5～3月龄期间,在被动膜特性方面表现为:膜电容与静息膜电位无显著性变化;膜输入电阻与时间常数均显著下降。在主动膜特性方面,呈现出阶段性变化:0.5～1月龄期间,s EPSC的反应表现为:振幅显著升高,频率明显增大,上升时间及下降时间显著增加;1～3月龄期间,sEPSC的反应特性与0.5～1月龄期间相反。此外,0.5～3月龄期间,海马CA1区诱发出的f EPSP范围明显扩大,而幅值显著减小;各月龄海马CA1区诱发出的fEPSP幅值均可被AMPA受体竞争性拮抗剂6-氰基-7-硝基喹喔啉-2,3-二酮(CNQX)明显降低。以上结果提示,在出生后大鼠海马发育早期过程中,AMPA受体作为调节突触传递和突触联系的主要兴奋性受体,可以促进海马的发育及功能成熟。     

参乌胶囊及其有效成分二苯乙烯苷对老年大鼠海马区神经生长因子及其受体表达的影响

目的观察本室自行研制的中药新复方参乌胶囊（SW）及其有效成分何首乌四羟基二苯乙烯苷（TSG）对老年大鼠海马区神经生长因子（NGF）及其受体表达的影响。方法老年sD大鼠从21月龄始,分别灌胃给予SW低、高剂量（0．8s／kg、1．6g／kg）和TSG低、高剂量（0．03s／kg、0．06g／kg）至24月龄。以6月龄大鼠为青年对照,未给药的24月龄大鼠为老年对照。应用实时定量PCR方法检测大鼠海马区NGF及其受体TrkA的mRNA表达水平,免疫组织化学染色和Westernblot方法检测海马区NGF及TrkA表达水平。结果从基因和蛋白质水平观察到,老年大鼠海马区NGF及其受体TrkA的mRNA表达和蛋白表达明显降低。老年大鼠灌胃给予SW能够上调其海马区NGFmRNA和TrkAmRNA水平;SW和TSG对NGF蛋白表达有明显的增高作用,高剂量SW和TSG对TrkA表达的上调作用显著。结论SW和TSG能够增高老年大鼠海马区NGF及其受体水平,提示它们可作用在神经元信号转导通路的起始端,有利于提高神经元的存活和功能。     

LASS1基因克隆及其在大鼠脑皮层的表达与神经元衰老的相关性初步研究

长寿保障基因LAG1是从酵母中克隆的与酵母寿命相关的基因,随酵母生命衰老而表达发生变化.对大鼠中同源基因LASS1进行克隆、测序和序列分析,发现其mRNA序列不同于GenBank中的预测序列,开放阅读框包含1 053碱基对,编码蛋白由350个氨基酸组成,内含Lag1蛋白家族保守的Lag1p motif和TLC结构域.从新生、1月龄、6月龄、12月龄和24月龄大鼠脑顶叶皮质提取总RNA,用半定量RT-PCR及RNA印迹方法对LASS1在大鼠脑皮质中的表达随年龄变化情况进行分析.结果表明,出生后LASS1表达量随年龄增加而增高,至6月龄达高峰,然后随年龄增加而逐渐下降,至24月老龄鼠达最低.衰老相关β半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-gal)对鼠脑皮层染色发现,神经元阳性染色随年龄增长明显增加.大鼠LASS1基因表达在正常衰老过程中发生变化,为进一步研究该基因的作用奠定了基础.     

新生期缺氧缺血脑白质损伤大鼠神经元树突和突触损伤

目的探讨新生大鼠缺氧缺血脑白质损伤后脑内神经元的变化。方法新生3日龄SD大鼠24只,随机分为对照组和缺氧缺血脑白质损伤(WMI)组。于缺氧缺血后4周,应用免疫荧光染色检测大鼠脑内髓鞘碱性蛋白(MBP)、皮层和海马神经核抗原(Neu N)、微管相关蛋白-2(MAP-2)和突触素(Syn)的表达,应用高尔基染色法观察神经元树突变化,并应用Western blot法进一步测定Syn表达量的变化。结果免疫荧光染色结果显示:与对照组相比,WMI组MBP表达减少,皮层和海马Neu N阳性细胞数未见明显改变,MAP-2阳性细胞突起弯曲、断续;高尔基染色结果显示:WMI组树突棘数量减少;免疫荧光染色和Western blot结果显示:WMI组Syn表达量降低。结论新生大鼠发生缺氧缺血脑白质损伤后树突损伤、树突棘数量减少、突触减少导致神经元之间联系减少,可能引起学习记忆能力减退。     

PSD-95结构域PDZ1过表达拮抗缺氧缺糖诱导的海马神经元凋亡

为了观察突触后致密物质-95（postsynaptic density95,PSD-95）结构域PDZI过表达对缺氧缺糖诱导的海马神经元凋亡的影响,本研究采用培养21d的Sprague—Dawley大鼠海马神经元,加入PDZ2腺病毒颗粒感染24h,收集细胞进行免疫沉淀、免疫印迹实验;缺氧缺糖1．5h后,用DAPI染色后荧光显微镜观察细胞凋亡,并收集细胞进行免疫印迹实验。结果显示：（1）PDZ2在海马神经元中过表达;（2）过表达的PDZ1使缺氧缺糖诱导的海马神经元凋亡数量减少（P〈0．05）;（3）过表达的PDZ1使PSD-95与GluR6结合减少;（4）PDZ1过表达抑制由缺氧缺糖诱导的火鼠海马神经元MLK3和JNK1／2磷酸化。以上结果提示,PDZ1过表达能拈抗缺氧缺糖诱导的海马神经元凋亡。     

海马结构游离锌变化与神经元缺血性损伤关系的探讨

目的：探讨前脑缺血／再灌注后海马结构游离Zn^2 变化与神经元缺血性迟发损伤之间的关系。方法：建立大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注模型;采用TSQ荧光法检测海马神经元内游离Zn^2 变化;观察侧脑室注入Zn^2 螯合剂对海马结构神经元内游离Zn^2 含量和对其病理变化的影响。结果：①再灌注后48h,CA3区、齿状回门、CA1区起和放射层的Zn^2 荧光强度较缺血前减弱;再灌注后72－96h海马结构背景荧光强度恢复至缺血前水平,但在CA1区和齿状回门锥体细胞层出现逐渐增多的斑点状荧光;再灌注后7d,荧光强度基本恢复正常;②侧脑室内注入Zn^2 螯合剂CaEDTA能降低细胞内游离Zn^2 含量,减轻海马CA1区神经元损伤。结论：①前脑缺血／再灌注后,海马神经元突触前末梢游离Zn^2 的释放和扩散增加,Zn^2 移位至突触后神经元并参与神经元缺血性损伤;②膜不通透性Zn^2 螯合剂CaEDTA可减轻海马神经元缺血性损伤。     

SkQ1 slows development of age-dependent destructive processes in retina and vascular layer of eyes of wistar and OXYS rats

We show the development of clearly pronounced age-related pathological changes in eye tissues of Wistar and OXYS rats. Photoreceptor cells were virtually absent in all OXYS rats in the age of 24 months. Massive accumulations of lipofuscin granules were detected in the pigmented epithelium cells. Flattening, overgrowing, and degradation of endothelial cells of choriocapillaries were also observed. Along with these changes, vessels without signs of degradation were detected in the pigmented epithelium. In 24-month-old Wistar rats these changes were local and were seen in only some of the animals. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 (the rats were given SkQ1 daily with food at the dose of 250 nmol/kg for 5 months, starting from the age of 19 months) prevented the development of these pathological changes in both Wistar and OXYS rats. The data were subjected to mathematical processing and statistical analysis.     

Age-dependent accumulation of lipofuscin in perivascular and subretinal microglia in experimental mice

Fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy has been widely used by ophthalmologists in the diagnosis/monitoring of various retinal disorders. It is believed that fundus AF is derived from lipofuscin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells; however, direct clinicopathological correlation has not been possible in humans. We examined fundus AF by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and confocal microscopy in normal C57BL/6 mice of different ages. Increasingly strong AF signals were observed with age in the neuroretina and subretinal/RPE layer by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Unlike fundus AF detected in normal human subjects, mouse fundus AF appeared as discrete foci distributed throughout the retina. Most of the AF signals in the neuroretina were distributed around retinal vessels. Confocal microscopy of retinal and choroid/RPE flat mounts demonstrated that most of the AF signals were derived from Iba-1+ perivascular and subretinal microglia. An age-dependent accumulation of Iba-1+ microglia at the subretinal space was observed. Lipofuscin granules were detected in large numbers in subretinal microglia by electron microscopy. The number of AF+ microglia and the amount of AF granules/cell increased with age. AF granules/lipofuscin were also observed in RPE cells in mice older than 12 months, but the number of AF+ RPE cells was very low (1.48 mm(-2) and 5.02 mm(-2) for 12 and 24 months, respectively) compared to the number of AF+ microglial cells (20.63 mm(-2) and 76.36 mm(-2) for 6 and 24 months, respectively). The fluorescence emission fingerprints of AF granules in subretinal microglia were the same as those in RPE cells. Our observation suggests that perivascular and subretinal microglia are the main cells producing lipofuscin in normal aged mouse retina and are responsible for in vivo fundus AF. Microglia may play an important role in retinal aging and age-related retinal diseases.     

不同年龄大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞超微结构的变化

对不同年龄雄性Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠小脑蚓剖皮质浦肯野细胞的超微结构进行了观察。结果表明,随年龄增神经内的细胞器和内涵物发生了明显变化。浦肯野细胞内粗面内质网、高尔基复合体等细胞器数量有不同程度减少;微管增加;粗面内质网排列失序,网腔扩张;高尔基器排列紊乱,囊腔扩张;线粒体扩张或固缩,     

Ca(2+) permeability of human heteromeric nAChRs expressed by transfection in human cells

The distribution of the calcium binding protein neurocalcin a has been examined in the enteric nervous system of young adult (3 months) and aged (24+ months) male rats by immunofluorescence. Neurocalcin-immunoreactive (NC-ir) neurons were observed in the submucous and myenteric plexuses throughout the gastrointestinal tract from the oesophagus to the distal large intestine. NC-ir nerve terminals were also seen on NC-ir and NC-negative neurons. Semiquantitative estimates revealed fewer NC-ir neurons in the submucous plexus than in the myenteric plexus. The greatest occurrence of NC-ir neurons was in the small and large intestine. NC-ir axons were seen in the mucosa and also in between the ganglia of the myenteric plexus. In the aged rats, there were no discernible changes in the numbers of NC-ir neurons in th e oesophagus and stomach, with an increase in the pylorus and slight decreases in the small and large intestines. No decrease in NC-ir was observed in the distal large intestine. NC-ir neurons never contained lipofuscin age pigment and many enteric neuro ns devoid of NC-ir contained age pigment. Like other previously investigated calcium-binding proteins in enteric neurons, the distribution of NC shows much variability from one part of the intestine to another. The observed slight decreases in the number of NC-ir enteric neurons in aged rats may compromise the regulation of calcium in these neurons.     

Effects of prolonged ACTH-stimulation on adrenocortical accumulation of lipofuscin granules in aged rats

Subcellular deposition of lipofuscin granules is a marker of aging. Human and rodent adrenal cortices accumulate lipofuscin granules with age, but the mechanism that leads to the accumulation is not known. The ultrastructural appearance of lipofuscin granules resembles that of secondary lysosomes. Since adrenocortical subcellular events are predominantly influenced by ACTH action, we therefore studied the effect of prolonged ACTH-stimulation on adrenocortical accumulation of secondary lysosome-like granules, designated herein as lipofuscin granules. Using aged Fischer 344 male rats as a model, we found that a 7 day ACTH stimulation exerts a reducing effect on adrenocortical lipofuscin accumulation. Thus, adrenocortical accumulation of lipofuscin granules with age in vivo may not be an irreversible process.     

The lipofuscin in neuroglial cells of the optic nerve of Formosan rock-monkey (Macaca cyclopis)

The ultrastructure of lipofuscin granules in neuroglial cells of the optic nerve of the Formosan Rock-Monkey was investigated by electron microscopy. In the cytoplasm of astroglial cells, numerous irregular lipofuscin granules were characterized by the presence of large lipid droplets, small electron-dense pigment granules, and some lamellar structures. The lipofuscin granules of the oligodendroglial cells were composed largely of dense, coarse pigment granules, multilinear structures, and a few small lipid droplets. The lipofuscin granules in microglial cells were characterized by numerous lipid droplets in various sizes, small electron-dense pigment granules, and prominent lamellar structures. It was reported that the lipofuscin granules are wear-and-tear materials and products from the cells in lower functional activity. However, our observations suggest that the presence of lipofuscin granules in the neuroglial cells of the optic nerve is likely a characteristic product of active phagocytosis.     

Early Onset of Lipofuscin Accumulation in Dystrophin-Deficient Skeletal Muscles of DMD Patients and mdx Mice

Lipofuscin, the so-called ageing pigment, is formed by the oxidative degradation of cellular macromolecules by oxygen-derived free radicals and redox-active metal ions. Usually it accumulates in post-mitotic, long-lived cells such as neurons and cardiac muscle cells. In contrast, it is rarely seen in either normal or diseased skeletal muscle fibres. In this paper, we report that lipofuscin accumulates at an early age in both human and murine dystrophic muscles. Autofluorescent lipofuscin granules were localized, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscles of X chromosome-linked young Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and of mdx mice at various ages after birth. Age-matched normal controls were studied similarly. Autofluorescent lipofuscin granules were observed in dystrophic biceps brachii muscles of 2-7-year-old DMD patients where degeneration and regeneration of myofibres are active, but they were rarely seen in age-matched normal controls. In normal mice, lipofuscin first appears in diaphragm muscles nearly 20 weeks after birth but in mdx muscles it occurs much earlier, 4 weeks after birth, when the primary degeneration of dystrophin-deficient myofibres is at a peak. Lipofuscin accumulation increases with age in both mdx and normal controls and is always higher in dystrophic muscles than in age-matched normal controls. At the electron microscopical level, it was confirmed that the localisation of autofluorescent granules observed by light microscopy in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscles coincided with lipofuscin granules in myofibres and myosatellite cells, and in macrophages accumulating around myofibres and in interstitial connective tissue. Our results agree with previous biochemical and histochemical data implying increased oxidative damages in DMD and mdx muscles. They indicate that dystrophin-deficient myofibres are either more susceptible to oxidative stress, or are subjected to higher intra- or extracellular oxidative stress than normal controls, or both.     

An ultrastructural readout of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching using correlative light and electron microscopy

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) provides an important quantitative readout of the mobility of fluorescently tagged structures in live tissue. Here we present a protocol for visualizing FRAP signal at the ultrastructural level, permitting the nature of recovered fluorescence signal to be studied at greater resolution than afforded by conventional light microscopy. Specifically we use FRAP, fixation, photoconversion and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to examine the ultrastructural organization of mobile FM1-43-labeled vesicles in synapses of cultured hippocampal neurons. At photobleached synapses, the FRAP signal can be visualized as photoconverted electron-dense vesicles. The combination of FRAP and CLEM provides a powerful tool for examining the specific localization of imported vesicles in relation to synaptic architecture. Moreover, with the increasing availability of photoconvertible fluorophores, this approach should be readily applicable to other systems where an ultrastructural characterization of FRAP signal is desirable. After cultures are prepared and ready to use, this protocol takes 2-3 days.     

A role for the protein phosphatase 2B in altered hippocampal synaptic plasticity in the aged rat.

Synaptic plasticity following NMDA application on hippocampal slices from young (3-5 months) and aged (24-27 months) rats was compared. In young rats, NMDA (20 microM) induced opposite effects depending on the duration of the application. A short (1 min) or long (5 min) application induced a long-term depression of synaptic activity while a 3 min application induced a potentiation. In aged rats, however, NMDA application always induced depression, regardless of the duration. To identify mechanisms which could explain the difference observed between young and aged rats, we explored changes in NMDA receptor activation and changes in kinase/phosphatase balance. We first demonstrate that the potentiation present in slices from young rats was not restored in aged rats by exogenous application of the co-agonist of NMDA receptor d-serine (which compensates for the changes in NMDAR activation seen in aged rats). This suggested that alterations in synaptic plasticity activation mainly involve intracellular mechanisms. We next showed that the participation of the kinases PKA and CaMKII in the NMDA-induced potentiation in young rats is negligible. Finally, we determined the consequences of phosphatase inhibition in aged rats. Incubation of slices in okadaic acid (a PP1/PP2B antagonist) did not affect the depression induced by a 3min NMDA application in aged rats. The PP2B antagonist FK506 restored potentiation in aged rats (3 min NMDA application). In hippocampal neurons from aged rats, a depression is always observed, suggesting a preferential activation of PP2B by NMDA in these neurons.     

High Caloric Diet Induces Memory Impairment and Disrupts Synaptic Plasticity in Aged Rats

The increasing consumption of sugar and fat seen over the last decades and the consequent overweight and obesity, were recently linked with a deleterious effect on cognition and synaptic function. A major question, which remains to be clarified, is whether obesity in the elderly is an additional risk factor for cognitive impairment. We aimed at unravelling the impact of a chronic high caloric diet (HCD) on memory performance and synaptic plasticity in aged rats. Male rats were kept on an HCD or a standard diet (control) from 1 to 24 months of age. The results showed that under an HCD, aged rats were obese and displayed significant long-term recognition memory impairment when compared to age-matched controls. Ex vivo synaptic plasticity recorded from hippocampal slices from HCD-fed aged rats revealed a reduction in the magnitude of long-term potentiation, accompanied by a decrease in the levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptors TrkB full-length (TrkB-FL). No alterations in neurogenesis were observed, as quantified by the density of immature doublecortin-positive neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. This study highlights that obesity induced by a chronic HCD exacerbates age-associated cognitive decline, likely due to impaired synaptic plasticity, which might be associated with deficits in TrkB-FL signaling.