Aging Differentially Affects the Loss of Neuronal Dendritic Spine,Neuroinflammation and Memory Impairment at Rats after Surgery

It is known that age is an important factor for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and the patients with POCD suffer from the impairment of multiple brain regions and multiple brain functions. However currently animal studies of POCD mainly focus on hippocampus region, therefore in this study we performed partial hepatectomy in young adult and aged rats to test the questions (1) whether POCD in animals involves other brain areas besides hippocampus; (2) how age influences POCD of young adult and aged animals. We found that (1) in young adult rats, the memory was not significantly affected (P>0.05) 1d, 3d and 7d after partial hepatectomy, but was significantly impaired (p<0.001) in aged rats 1d and 3d post-surgery; (2) in young adult rats, the surgery did not significantly affect the densities of dendritic spines of neurons at CA1, dentate gyrus (DG) and cingulate cortex (P>0.05, respectively) 1d and 3d post-surgery, but the spine densities at CA1 and DG of aged rats were significant reduced 1d and 3d post-surgery (p<0.001, respectively), however this didn’t happen at cingulate cortex (P>0.05); (3) In young adult rats, surgery didn’t affect the activation of microglia and levels of TNF-α and IL-1β at hippocampus (P>0.05), but significantly activated microglia and increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β at hippocampus of aged rats (P<0.05). Our data suggest that (1) partial hepatectomy-induced POCD mainly involves hippocampus impairments, and (2) differential loss of neuronal dendritic spines and neuroinflammation at hippocampus are most likely the mechanism for the formation of POCD in aged rats.     

Protective Effects of Edaravone in Adult Rats with Surgery and Lipopolysaccharide Administration-Induced Cognitive Function Impairment

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by cognitive declines in patients after surgery. Previous studies have suggested that surgery contributed to such impairment. It has been proven that neuroinflammation may exacerbate surgery-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats. The free radical scavenger edaravone has high blood brain barrier permeability, and was demonstrated to effectively remove free radicals from the brain and alleviate the development of POCD in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, suggesting its potential role in preventing POCD. For this reason, this study was designed to determine whether edaravone is protective against POCD through its inhibitory effects on inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. First, Sprague Dawley adult male rats were administered 3 mg/kg edaravone intraperitoneally after undergoing a unilateral nephrectomy combined with lipopolysaccharide injection. Second, behavioral parameters related to cognitive function were recorded by fear conditioning and Morris Water Maze tests. Last, superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde levels were measured in the hippocampi and prefrontal cortex on postoperative days 3 and 7, and microglial (Iba1) activation, p-Akt and p-mTOR protein expression, and synaptic function (synapsin 1) were also examined 3 and 7 days after surgery. Rats that underwent surgery plus lipopolysaccharide administration showed significant impairments in spatial and working memory, accompanied by significant reductions in hippocampal-dependent and independent fear responses. All impairments were attenuated by treatment with edaravone. Moreover, an abnormal decrease in superoxide dismutase activation, abnormal increase in malondialdehyde levels, significant increase in microglial reactivity, downregulation of p-Akt and p-mTOR protein expression, and a statistically significant decrease in synapsin-1 were observed in the hippocampi and prefrontal cortices of rats at different time points after surgery. All mentioned abnormal changes were totally or partially reversed by edaravone. To our knowledge, few reports have shown greater protective effects of edaravone on POCD induced by surgery plus lipopolysaccharide administration from its anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as maintenance of Akt/mTOR signal pathway activation; these might be closely related to the therapeutic effects of edaravone. Our research demonstrates the potential use of edaravone in the treatment of POCD.     

Prolonged Neuroinflammation after Lipopolysaccharide Exposure in Aged Rats

Inflammation is a hallmark of several disease states ranging from neurodegeneration to sepsis but is also implicated in physiological processes like ageing. Non-resolving inflammation and prolonged neuroinflammation are unclear processes implicated in several conditions, including ageing. In this study we studied the long-term effects of endotoxemia, as systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, focusing on the role of astrocyte activation and cytokine release in the brain of aged rats. A single dose of LPS (2 mg/kg) or 0.9% saline was injected intraperitoneally in aged rats. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β) and NF-κB p65 activation were measured systemically and in hippocampal tissue. Astrocytes and cytokines release in the CNS were detected via double immunofluorescence staining at different time-points up to day 30. Serum levels of TNFα and IL-1β were significantly increased acutely after 30 minutes (p<0.001) and up to 6 hours (p<0.001) following LPS-injection. Centrally, LPS-treated rats showed up-regulated mRNA expression and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. These changes associated with astrogliosis in the hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG), IL-1β immunoreactivity and elevated NF-κB p65 expression up to day 30 post LPS exposure. Overall, these data demonstrate that LPS induces prolonged neuroinflammation and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus of aged rats. Hippocampal NF-κB p65 and excessive astrocytes-derived IL-1β release may play a pivotal role in regulating long-lasting neuroinflammation.     

A study on neuroinflammatory marker in brain areas of okadaic acid (ICV) induced memory impaired rats

AimsThe aim of the present study is to investigate the status of proinflammatory cytokine in the brain of intracerebroventricular (ICV) okadaic acid (OKA) induced memory impaired rat.Main methodsOKA (200 ng) intracerebroventricular (ICV) was administered in rats. Memory was assessed by Morris water maze test. Biochemical marker of neuroinflammation (TNF-α, IL-β), total nitrite, mRNA (RT PCR) and protein expression (WB) of iNOS and nNOS were estimated in rat brain areas.Key findingsOKA caused memory-impairment in rats with increased expression of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-1β and total nitrite in brain regions hippocampus and cortex. The expression of mRNA and protein of iNOS was increased while; the expressions were decreased in case of nNOS. Pretreatment with antidementic drugs donepezil (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and memantine (10 mg/kg, p.o) for 13 days protected ICV OKA induced memory impairment and changes in level of TNF-α, IL-β, total nitrite and expressions of iNOS and nNOS in OKA treated rat.SignificanceThis study suggests that neuroinflammation may play a vital role in OKA induced memory impairment.     

Molecular and cellular characterization of the age-related neuroinflammatory processes occurring in normal rat hippocampus: potential relation with the loss of somatostatin GABAergic neurons

Increased neuroinflammatory reaction is frequently observed during normal brain aging. However, a direct link between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration during aging has not yet been clearly shown. Here, we have characterized the age-related hippocampal inflammatory processes and the potential relation with hippocampal neurodegeneration. The mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the iNOs enzyme was significantly increased in aged hippocampus. Accordingly, numerous activated microglial cells were observed in aged rats. These cells were differentially distributed along the hippocampus, being more frequently located in the hilus and the CA3 area. The mRNA expression of somatostatin, a neuropeptide expressed by some GABAergic interneurons, and the number of somatostatin-immunopositive cells decreased in aged rats. However, the number of hippocampal parvalbumin-containing GABAergic interneurons was preserved. Interestingly, in aged rats, the mRNA expression of somatostatin and IL-1beta was inversely correlated and, the decrease in the number of somatostatin-immunopositive cells was higher in the hilus of dentate gyrus than in the CA1 region. Finally, intraperitoneal chronic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in young animals mimicked the age-related hippocampal inflammation as well as the decrease of somatostatin mRNA expression. Present results strongly support the neuroinflammation as a potential factor involved in the age-related degeneration of somatostatin GABAergic cells.     

巴氏蘑菇多糖对铅中毒大鼠脾脏细胞因子mRNA表达的影响

为了研究巴氏蘑菇Agaricus blazei多糖对铅中毒大鼠脾脏细胞因子mRNA表达的影响,进而探索巴氏蘑菇多糖对铅中毒大鼠的免疫调节作用。选用45日龄SD大鼠,随机分为6组,每组8只,雌雄各半。分别为正常对照组、多糖组、铅中毒模型组、铅+50mg/kg·d多糖试验组、铅+100mg/kg·d多糖试验组、铅+200mg/kg·d多糖试验组。铅中毒模型组、铅+多糖试验组分别给予含0.2%醋酸铅饮水,自由饮用。饲养60d后,采集脾脏,荧光定量RT-PCR对其细胞因子IL-1β、IL-2、IL-6、TNF-α     

Diminished cytokines gene expression in lymphoid organs of healthy aged rats

Immunuosenescence-related dysregulation of cytokine production is not fully understood and the roles of cytokines in organ aging have been insufficiently studied. This work aimed to compare the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFNγ), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) in lymphoid organs of young (3 months; n = 10), adult (1 year; n = 10), and aged (2 years; n = 7) rats under healthy, steady-state conditions. Cytokine mRNA levels were determined with TaqMan real-time PCR. In the spleen, all cytokine expression gradually declined with age (for representative cytokine IL-2 averages dCt in spleens of 3 months, 1 year and 2 years rats were 13,645, 13,19 and 15,470, respectively). In lymph nodes, all cytokines except TGF-β showed markedly upregulated expression in adult compared to young rats, but all were expressed at very low levels in aged rats. In bone marrow, adult animals showed enhanced IL-2, IFNγ, and TGFβ expression, but similar IL-4 and IL-6 expression, compared to young rats. Bone marrow of aged rats showed very low expression of all the measured cytokines. Our results demonstrated that changes occurred unevenly with aging in different immune system compartments.     

Effects of Hydrogen-Rich Saline on Hepatectomy-Induced Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Old Mice

This study aims to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of hydrogen-rich saline on the cognitive functions of elder mice with partial hepatectomy-induced postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Ninety-six old male Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n?=?24 each): control group (group C), hydrogen-rich saline group (group H), POCD group (group P), and POCD?+?hydrogen-rich saline group (group PH). Cognitive function was subsequently assessed using Morris water-maze (MWM) test. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry, along with NF-κB activity determined by ELISA. The morphology of hippocampal tissues were further observed by HE staining. Learning and memory abilities of mice were significantly impaired at day 10 and day 14 post-surgery, as partial hepatectomy significantly prolonged the escape latency, decreased time at the original platform quadrant and frequency of crossing in group P when compared to group C (p?<?0.05). The surgery also increased the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB activity at all time points after surgery (p?<?0.05). The introduction of hydrogen-rich saline (group PH) partially rescued spatial memory and learning as it shortened escape latency and increased time and crossing frequency of original platform compared to group P (p?<?0.05). Moreover, such treatment also decreased TNF-α and IL-1β levels and NF-κB activity (p?<?0.05). In addition, cell necrosis in the hippocampus induced by hepatectomy was also rescued by hydrogen-rich saline. Hydrogen-rich saline can alleviate POCD via inhibiting NF-κB activity in the hippocampus and reducing inflammatory response.     

乌司他丁对心肺转流下心脏手术患者炎症因子及认知功能的影响

目的:探索乌司他丁(UTI)对心肺转流(CPB)下心脏手术患者炎症因子及认知功能的影响。方法:选择自2010年5月至2014年9月我院收治的CPB瓣膜置换手术患者60例,按照随机数表法将患者分成对照组和观察组,每组30例。观察组患者在麻醉诱导后静脉泵入1.2×10~4U/kg UTI,在CPB结束前5 min从体外管道内给予0.6×10~4U/kg UTI,对照组患者给予等量的生理盐水。对比两组CPB前(T0)、CPB开始后1 h(T1)、CPB结束后1 h(T2)、术后4 h(T3)及术后24 h(T4)的血浆肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6/10(IL-6/10)、中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶(NE)、星形胶质细胞S100蛋白的β亚型(S100β)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA),在术前1 d和术后7 d时,采用简易精神状态检查表(MMSE)对患者进行神经精神功能测试,并评价患者的术后认知功能障碍(POCD)的发生率。结果:与T0相比,两组患者T1-T4的TNF-α、IL-6、NE、S100β、MDA水平明显升高,且观察组显著低于对照组,而两组IL-10、SOD水平显著下降,观察组显著高于对照组(P0.05)。术后7d,两组患者MMSE评分均明显高于术前1 d,且观察组显著高于对照组(P0.05);观察组POCD的发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:UTI可以有效降低CPB下行瓣膜置换术患者的炎症因子水平,并改善患者的POCD,对于临床用药具有指导意义。     

不同麻醉方法对肝癌手术患者炎性细胞因子基因表达的影响

目的:探讨不同麻醉方法对肝癌手术患者外周血炎性细胞因子基因表达的影响。方法:选择肝癌手术患者48例,随机分为单纯全麻和全麻复合硬膜外麻醉两组,在麻醉前和麻醉后4h抽取静脉血,Trizol法抽提RNA,RT-PCR检测IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8的TNF-α的mRNA表达水平。结果:麻醉前两组患者间外周血炎性细胞因子基因表达无差别,麻醉4h后全麻组外周血IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8的mRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.05),并高于联合组(P<0.05)。结论:不同麻醉方法对细胞因子的分泌会产生不同的影响,单纯全麻将增强肝癌手术病人外周血炎性细胞因子基因的表达。     

Picroside II Attenuates CCI-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats by Inhibiting Spinal Reactive Astrocyte-Mediated Neuroinflammation Through the NF-κB Pathway

Reactive astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammatory responses in the spinal dorsal horn have been reported to play a pivotal role in pathological pain. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) enhances the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which is involved in neuropathic pain (NP). Picroside II (PII), a major active component of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, has been investigated for its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. Here, we explored the analgesic effects of PII on a model of CCI-induced NP and investigated the levels of the GFAP protein and the mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). CCI significantly induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Intraperitoneal administration of PII remarkably reversed the CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and reduced the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the spinal cord. Additionally, according to the in vitro data, the PII treatment inhibited LPS-induced increases in the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and suppressed the NF-κB pathway by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65 and the degradation of inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) in astrocytes without toxicity to astrocytes. Overall, the analgesic effect of PII correlated with the inhibition of spinal reactive astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation through the NF-κB pathway in rats with NP.     

虎杖苷对老年小鼠术后认知功能障碍及海马氧化应激和神经炎症的影响

摘要 目的：探讨虎杖苷对老年小鼠术后认知功能障碍及海马氧化应激和神经炎症的影响。方法：C57BL/6J雄性老年小鼠,18月龄,体重24~28 g,随机分为4组：假手术组（Sham组）、术后认知功能障碍组（POCD组）、低剂量虎杖苷组（PD1组）、高剂量虎杖苷组（PD2组）。Sham组老年小鼠仅接受水合氯醛麻醉,不行外科手术;POCD组老年小鼠接受腹部手术以制备POCD老年动物模型;PD1组小鼠制备POCD模型,并于术后即刻、24 h和48 h分别腹腔注射低剂量虎杖苷25 mg/kg;PD2组小鼠制备POCD模型,并于术后即刻、24 h和48 h分别腹腔注射高剂量虎杖苷50 mg/kg。使用Morris水迷宫行为学实验评估老年小鼠术后认知功能,使用Western blot法检测术后小鼠海马Nrf2、HO-1、HMGB1、Iba-1蛋白水平,检测海马活性氧（ROS）、丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量以反映术后海马氧化应激水平。结果：（1）与Sham组比较,POCD组老年小鼠术后逃离潜伏期显著增加（P<0.05）,穿越平台次数和目标象限停留时间下降（P<0.05）,海马Nrf2和HO-1蛋白表达水平明显降低（P<0.05）,氧化应激产物ROS和MDA含量增加（P<0.05）,抗氧化酶SOD活性降低（P<0.05）,Iba-1和HMGB1蛋白表达水平增加（P<0.05）;（2）与POCD组比较,PD1组和PD2组小鼠术后逃离潜伏期缩短（P<0.05）,穿越平台次数和目标象限停留时间增多（P<0.05）,海马Nrf2和HO-1蛋白表达水平升高（P<0.05）,ROS和MDA含量减少（P<0.05）,SOD活性增加（P<0.05）,Iba-1和HMGB1蛋白表达减少（P<0.05）。结论：虎杖苷可减轻老年小鼠术后认知功能损伤,缓解术后海马氧化应激和神经炎症,其机制可能与促进Nrf2/HO-1信号通路有关。     

Effects of intrahippocampal CT105, a carboxyl terminal fragment of beta-amyloid precursor protein,alone/with inflammatory cytokines on working memory in rats

In this study, we examined the effects of a 105 amino acid carboxyl terminal fragment of beta-amyloid precursor protein (CT105) and inflammatory cytokines on working memory in rats, by using a three-panel runway set-up. CT105 at 10 nmol/side significantly impaired working memory when it was administered bilaterally into the hippocampus. Furthermore, to elucidate the interaction of CT105 with inflammatory cytokines, we co-administered tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in combination with CT105. Concurrent injections of CT105 (1.0 nmol/side) and TNF-alpha (100 ng/side) produced a synergistic deficit of working memory, whereas IL-1beta (100 ng/side) combined with CT105 (1.0 nmol/side) did not affect the working memory performance. These results indicate that the CT105-induced impairment of working memory is strongly aggravated by an increase in the level of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, which may occur in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.     

乌司他丁对老年患者下肢关节置换术后认知功能障碍的影响

目的：观察乌司他丁对老年患者下肢关节置换术后认知功能障碍的影响。方法：择期行下肢骨折内固定手术的老年患者40例,随机分为2组：乌司他丁组（UTI组,20例）于手术开始时和术后6 h分别给予乌司他丁200,000U,静滴;对照组（CON组,20例）则给予100 mL生理盐水滴注。分别于术前、术后7天（D7）及术后1个月（M1）进行简易精神状态量表（MMSE）评估患者的认知功能。术前、手术结束时及术后24小时,采静脉血检测炎症因子IL-1β、IL-8和TNF-α。结果：UTI组术后7天及1月MMSE评分均显著低于CON（P〈0.05）,但POCD的发生率并无明显差异。术后24h时UTI组的IL-β显著低于CON组（P〈0.05）,而IL-8显著高于CON组（P〈0.05）;而TNF-α在各时间点均无显著性差异。结论：围术期应用乌司他丁可有效改善术后认知功能,其作用机制可能与抑制术后炎症反应相关。     

Effect of dexmedetomidine on rats with convulsive status epilepticus and association with activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway

Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is a neurological disease with contraction and extension of limbs, leading to damage of hippocampus and cognition. This study aimed to explore the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the cognitive function and neuroinflammation in CSE rats. All rats were divided into control group, CSE group and DEX group. Morris water maze test was used to measure cognitive function. Acute hippocampal slices were made to detect long-term potentiation (LTP). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), S-100β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results showed that DEX improved the memory damage caused by CSE. DEX reduced seizure severity and increased the amplitudes and sustainable time of LTP, and also inhibited the hippocampal expression of α7-nAChR and IL-1β in CSE rats. DEX treatment decreased serum IL-1β, TNF-α and S-100β levels and increased BDNF levels. The effects of DEX on seizure severity and LTP could be simulated by nicotine or attenuated by concurrent α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) treatment. In conclusions, DEX significantly improved spatial cognitive dysfunction, reduced seizure severity and increased LTP in CSE rats. Improvements by DEX were closely related to enhancement of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.     

Protective effect of post-ischemic treatment with trans-resveratrol on cytokine production and neutrophil recruitment by rat liver

Oxidative and inflammatory processes are elicited during hepatic post-ischemic reperfusion and generate liver damage. This study investigated the early anti-inflammatory effect of trans-resveratrol (T-res) and its consequences on the late self-aggravating inflammatory process in liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Partial hepatic ischemia was initiated in rats for 1 h and T-res (0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg) was administered intravenously 5 min before starting reperfusion for 3 h. Plasma levels of aminotransferases and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6) and hepatic neutrophil recruitment were assessed. Hepatic expression of stress protein (heat-shock protein (HSP-70), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)) and cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC)) mRNA was investigated. I/R caused an increase in aminotransferase levels and increased polymorphonuclear cell infiltration. Post-ischemic treatment with T-res (0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg) resulted in a significant decrease in aminotransferase, IL-1β and IL-6 plasma levels by about 40%, 60% and 40%, respectively, compared to the vehicle I/R group. Post-ischemic treatment with T-res (0.02 mg/kg) also significantly decreased hepatic neutrophil recruitment. TNF-α, IL-1β, KC and HO-1 hepatic mRNA expression was reduced by T-res without any change in HSP-70 mRNA. This T-res mediated decrease in early release of cytokines and neutrophil recruitment led to a reduction in the late inflammatory process. T-resveratrol might be useful in the prevention of inflammation secondary to hepatic surgery or liver transplantation.     

Minocycline Attenuates Cognitive Impairment Induced by Isoflurane Anesthesia in Aged Rats

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a clinical phenomenon characterized by cognitive deficits in patients after anesthesia and surgery, especially in geriatric surgical patients. Although it has been documented that isoflurane exposure impaired cognitive function in several aged animal models, there are few clinical interventions and treatments available to prevent this disorder. Minocycline has been well established to exert neuroprotective effects in various experimental animal models and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized that pretreatment with minocycline attenuates isoflurane-induced cognitive decline in aged rats. In the present study, twenty-month-old rats were administered minocycline or an equal volume of saline by intraperitoneal injection 12 h before exposure to isoflurane. Then the rats were exposed to 1.3% isoflurane for 4 h. Two weeks later, spatial learning and memory of the rats were examined using the Morris Water Maze. We found that pretreatment with minocycline mitigated isoflurane-induced cognitive deficits and suppressed the isoflurane-induced excessive release of IL-1β and caspase-3 in the hippocampal CA1 region at 4 h after isoflurane exposure, as well as the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei. In addition, minocycline treatment also prevented the changes of synaptic ultrastructure in the hippocampal CA1 region induced by isoflurane. In conclusion, pretreatment with minocycline attenuated isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats.