小脑间位核对淋巴细胞功能的调节作用

目的:研究小脑深部核团之一间位核对淋巴细胞功能的调节作用,以拓宽对小脑功能的认识进而增加神经免疫学的知识.方法:在大鼠双侧小脑间位核内注射海人酸(KA)以损毁间位核内神经元的胞体,并设对照组,于小脑间位核内注入等量生理盐水.在手术后的第8、16、32 d分别用血细胞计数法检测动物外周血中淋巴细胞的数量;用四甲基偶氮唑(MTT)比色法检测动物肠系膜淋巴结细胞对刀豆蛋白A(Con A)刺激的增殖反应;用ELISA法检测动物血清中抗绵羊红细胞(SRBC)特异性IgM抗体的生成能力;用流式细胞术测定脾脏自然杀伤(NK)细胞的活性.结果:小脑间位核损毁后的第8、16、32 d,动物外周血中淋巴细胞数都明显低于损毁手术前的淋巴细胞数,也显著低于生理盐水对照组相应时间段的淋巴细胞数.在小脑间位核注射KA后的第8、16、32 d,动物的肠系膜淋巴结细胞由Con A诱导的增殖反应、血清中特异性抗SRBC IgM抗体的生成能力和脾脏NK细胞杀伤靶细胞YAC-1的活性均明显低于生理盐水对照组,但比较损毁后不同时间段的T、B和NK细胞功能的变化,没有发现显著的差异.结论:小脑双侧间位核损毁可导致总淋巴细胞数以及T、B和NK细胞功能均发生不可逆的降低,充分说明小脑间位核可调节淋巴细胞的功能,并提示在正常体内,小脑间位核对淋巴细胞功能具有增强效应.     

小脑顶核损毁对淋巴细胞功能的影响

目的：研究小脑顶核对淋巴细胞功能的调节作用,并初步探讨介导这种调节的中枢途径。方法：用海人酸（KA）毁损大鼠双侧小脑顶核,于术后第8d,取动物肠系膜淋巴结细胞和脾脏自然杀伤（NK）细胞进行体外培养,分别用四甲基偶氮唑（MTT）比色法检测由刀豆蛋白A（Con A）诱导的淋巴细胞的增殖反应,用流式细胞术测定NK细胞杀伤YAC-1肿瘤细胞的活性。同时用高效液相色谱法检测下丘脑中兴奋性神经递质谷氨酸的含量。结果：小脑双侧顶核注入KA后的第8d,小脑切片经Nissl染色,可见顶核内神经元胞体被有效破坏。此时,淋巴细胞对Con A诱导的增殖反应较双侧顶核注入生理盐水的对照组明显增强;而且NK细胞对YAC-1靶细胞的杀伤活性也明显高于对照组;同时下丘脑中谷氨酸含量较对照组明显减少。结论：小脑双侧顶核毁损可导致T和NK淋巴细胞功能明显增强,且下丘脑中谷氨酸含量显著下降,提示小脑顶核对淋巴细胞功能具有调节作用,小脑-下丘脑的谷氨酸能神经投射可能介导小脑顶核的免疫调节作用。     

中枢注射抗Orexin抗体对禁食大鼠摄食的抑制作用

目的:探讨中枢注射抗Orexin抗体对禁食大鼠摄食的抑制作用。方法:采用免疫组织化学法和蛋白质免疫印迹分析法,对Orexin抗体的特异性进行了检测,分析Orexin阳性神经元和阳性神经纤维在大脑中的分布。给予24 h禁食大鼠中枢注射抗Orexin抗体,计算其对大鼠食物摄入量的影响。结果:蛋白质免疫印迹分析显示,Orexin抗体能够检测到合成的Orexin-A。免疫组织化学分析显示,Orexin阳性神经元存在于外侧下丘脑区域和穹窿周核,Orexin阳性神经纤维大量投射至弓状核、下丘脑室周核和下丘脑室旁核、菱形丘脑核、丘脑室旁核、缰内侧核和纹质丘脑、中脑的中央灰质区、蓝斑核和中缝核、脑桥和髓质的网状结构、对疑核和迷走神经复合体。与注射羊血清相比,给予45μg/10μL抗Orexin抗体侧脑室注射则抑制了大鼠的食物摄入量(P0.05)。高剂量抗Orexin抗体能显著地抑制大鼠摄食,并且呈剂量依赖关系(P0.05)。结论:中枢注射抗Orexin抗体对禁食大鼠摄食具有抑制作用,并呈剂量依赖关系。     

体外诱导绵羊红细胞特异性抗体形成及单纯疱疹病毒感染对它的影响

本文建立了一种较稳定、理想的人淋巴细胞体外诱导绵羊红细胞(SRBC)特异性抗体生成的系统。用SRBC体外刺激人扁桃体淋巴细胞,用溶血空斑法计数针对SRBC特异性抗体形成细胞。发现极低量抗原可诱导其抗体形成,抗体形成量随抗原量呈规律性变化;在抗原刺激后的第4天特异性抗体开始出现,第6天达高峰,并稳定维持至第8天;在辅助刺激剂美洲商陆(PWM)存在下,抗体形成量显著高于无PWM的情况;除去人扁桃体细胞中粘附细胞(主要是巨噬细胞)才能诱导最适抗体形成。将具感染性的HSV-1与SRBC一起加入淋巴细胞培养中,可显著抑制SRBC诱导的特异性抗体形成,这一抑制效应与病毒的感染量有关。此系统中同时加入α-干扰素则可部分解除病毒的抑制效应,并且解除效果与α-干扰素的剂量有关。     

肺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞分型与抗核抗体之间的关系研究

摘要 目的：研究肺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞分型与抗核抗体之间的关系。方法：选择2019年1月到2021年6月在我院接受治疗的肺癌患者81例作为研究组,并选择同期健康志愿者81例作为对照组,检测并比较两组患者外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例,以及抗核抗体血清滴度。比较不同抗核抗体、年龄、性别、TNM分期、肿瘤分化程度以及病理类型肺癌患者外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例。结果：（1）肺癌患者外周血CD4⁺和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例显著低于对照组,而CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（2）III+IV肺癌患者外周血CD4⁺、和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例均显著低于I+II肺癌患者,而CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例均显著高于I+II肺癌患者（P<0.05）;（3）小细胞肺癌患者外周血CD4⁺、和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例均显著低于非小肺癌患者,而CD8⁺淋巴细胞比例均显著高于非小肺癌患者（P<0.05）;（4）肺癌患者抗核抗体血清滴度显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（5）抗核抗体阳性患者CD4⁺和CD4⁺/CD8⁺淋巴细胞亚群比例均显著低于抗核抗体阴性患者,而CD8⁺淋巴细胞亚群比例显著高于抗核抗体阴性患者（P<0.05）。结论：肺癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群表达异常,并且其表达水平可能与抗核抗体滴度有关。     

HFRS病毒特异性抗体与淋巴细胞亚群检测的意义

研究了肾综合征出血热病毒的特异抗体与淋巴细胞亚群检测对临床诊断的意义。用ELISA法对 30例临床诊断肾综合征出血热患者进行特异性IgM抗体检测 ,进而用流式细胞仪对IgM抗体阳性患者进行淋巴细胞亚群测定。正常对照 30例 ,均为健康人。肾综合征出血热患者特异性IgM抗体阳性 2 2例 ,检出率为 73 .33 % ,正常对照标本均未检出病毒特异性IgM抗体。肾综合征出血热患者CD4 +细胞百分比较正常对照组降低 ,CD8+细胞百分比较正常对照组增高 ,CD4 +/CD8+比值下降或倒置。肾综合征出血热病毒的特异性IgM抗体特异性强 ,可作为该病早期临床诊断的重要依据。肾综合征出血热患者的免疫功能明显下降 ,对于判定疗效和疾病预后等具有参考价值。     

用Epstein-Barr病毒转化技术建立分泌人单克隆抗体B淋巴细胞系的条件

用以去除T淋巴细胞的E—玫瑰花形成法中所用的羊红细胞(SRBC),其保鲜程度对EB病毒转化B淋巴细胞的结果有一定影响,用保存1天的SRBC者,转化细胞的抗体分泌时间较长(8～10周),并且能形成传代细胞系;用保存17天的SRBC,转化细胞的抗体分泌时间较短,未能无限传代。分离外周血单个核细胞时,保留自体粘附细胞作为饲养细胞,转化的细胞二个月的成活率可达75％,而不保留粘附细胞者,转化细胞成活率仅40％。能产生抗-HBc抗体的EBV转化细胞,自然分泌抗体时间一般不超过10周,高峰期在3周以内,第2周时最高。EB病毒感染后的转化细胞5天开始克隆,一般细胞难成活,在14天克隆的,成活率可达100％。21天开始克隆的转化细胞,免疫球蛋白自然分泌维持12周以上,而在35天开始克隆的细胞,维持分泌的时间都不超过10周。以未经γ线照射的小鼠腹腔渗出细胞作饲养细胞,可支持转化3周的细胞克隆扩增,克隆成活率可达100％,而对照组克隆成活率仅为64.7％。     

刺激家兔腹部迷走神经外周端降压效应中枢机制的研究

应用电解损毁和脑室内注射药物的方法研究了刺激家兔腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压效应的中枢机制。结果表明:1.电刺激延脑闩部尾侧1.5—2mm、中线旁开0.25mm、深1—2mm 处主要引起降压反应。2.电解损毁该部位可以使刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所引起的降压效应显著减弱(n=20,P<0.001),但对刺激减压神经所致降压反应无影响。3.在延脑闩部水平电解损毁减压神经纤维在孤束核的主要投射区可以使刺激减压神经所致降压反应显著减弱,而对刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压反应无影响。4.第四脑室注射5,6-双羟色胺的动物较之注射人工脑脊液的动物颈、胸髓5-羟色胺含量明显降低、动物动脉压增高、心率明显增快、刺激减压神经所致降压反应未见减弱,而刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压反应却明显减小。因此,我们认为家兔腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压效应依赖于延脑闩下部的中缝隐核及连合核等结构,而与减压神经的投射部位无关。延脑中缝核至脊髓的下行性5-HT能神经纤维抑制脊髓交感节前神经元的活动,是这个降压效应的中枢机制之一。     

孤束核参与刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛作用

本实验用电刺激鼠尾-嘶叫法测痛,观察电刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应,并采用核团损毁和核团内微量注射药物等方法分析其镇痛通路。实验结果如下:(1)电刺激下丘脑室旁核能产生明显的镇痛效应。同时,放射免疫测定发现脑干加压素含量升高。(2)损毁孤束核能取消刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应,但对基础痛阈无影响。(3)孤束核内微量注射加压素拮抗剂[d(CH_2)_5 TYr(Me)-AVP]60ng/0.6μl 和加压素抗血清0.6μl 都可明显对抗刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应。(4)直接在孤束核内微量注射加压素60ng/0.6μl,能模拟刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应。实验结果表明:电刺激下丘脑室旁核能产生镇痛效应,其机理之一可能是兴奋了下丘脑室旁核中加压素能神经元胞体,后者通过下行投射纤维在孤束核中释放加压素,影响孤束核神经元的活动,从而产生镇痛。     

锌对小鼠免疫功能的影响

每天给小鼠0.2 mg 锌灌胃,连续15d,明显提高外周血 T 淋巴细胞百分率,促进 T淋巴细胞转化功能及迟发型超敏反应;对腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能有抑制作用、对 IgM 抗体生成及胸腺重量无明显影响。胸腺组织结构在光镜下未见明显变化,但在电镜下可见皮质淋巴细胞核形态有不规则变形。这些结果表明:一定剂量的锌对细胞免疫虽有促进作用,但对巨噬细胞吞噬功能有抑制作用,对胸腺淋巴细胞有潜在的损伤。     

Protective effect of chemical stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus on stress gastric mucosal injury in rats

AimsWe investigated the protective effects of chemical stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) on stress gastric mucosal injury (SGMI) and its possible neuro-regulatory mechanisms in rats.Main methodsChemical stimulation, electrical stimulation, chemical ablation, electrolytic lesion, and microinjection were used to investigate the effects of FN simulation on SGMI. The model of SGMI was established by restraint and water (21 ± 1 °C)-immersion (RWI) for 3 h in rats. The gastric mucosal injury index indicated the severity of gastric mucosal injuries.Key findingsWe showed that microinjection of L-glutamic acid into the FN or electrical stimulation of the FN markedly attenuated SGMI. Either chemical lesion of the FN or electrical ablation of the decussation of superior cerebellar peduncle (DSCP) obviously aggravated SGMI. The protective effect of FN stimulation on SGMI was reversed after chemical ablation of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). The protective effect of FN was prevented by pretreatment with the glutamic acid decarboxylase antagonist, 3-MPA into the FN or GABA_A receptor antagonist, bicuculline into the LHA. The protective effect of FN was abolished by pretreatment with sympathectomy. The discharge frequency of greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) was decreased and gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was increased after chemical stimulation of FN. These results indicate that the FN participates in regulation of SGMI, and is a specific area in the CNS for exerting protective effects on the SGMI. The DSCP, LHA and peripheral sympathetic nerve may be involved in this process.SignificanceOur findings might provide a new and improved understanding of the cerebellar function and an effective treatment strategy for stress gastric mucosal injury.     

Knockdown of clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus blocks prolactin surges and alters FRA expression in the locus coeruleus of female rats

The nature of the circadian signal from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) required for prolactin (PRL) surges is unknown. Because the SCN neuronal circadian rhythm is determined by a feedback loop of Period (Per) 1, Per2, and circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (Clock) gene expressions, we investigated the effect of SCN rhythmicity on PRL surges by disrupting this loop. Because lesion of the locus coeruleus (LC) abolishes PRL surges and these neurons receive SCN projections, we investigated the role of SCN rhythmicity in the LC neuronal circadian rhythm as a possible component of the circadian mechanism regulating PRL surges. Cycling rats on proestrous day and estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats received injections of antisense or random-sequence deoxyoligonucleotide cocktails for clock genes (Per1, Per2, and Clock) in the SCN, and blood samples were taken for PRL measurements. The percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons immunoreactive to Fos-related antigen (FRA) was determined in ovariectomized rats submitted to the cocktail injections and in a 12:12-h light:dark (LD) or constant dark (DD) environment. The antisense cocktail abolished both the proestrous and the estradiol-induced PRL surges observed in the afternoon and the increase of FRA expression in the LC neurons at Zeitgeber time 14 in LD and at circadian time 14 in DD. Because SCN afferents and efferents were probably preserved, the SCN rhythmicity is essential for the magnitude of daily PRL surges in female rats as well as for LC neuronal circadian rhythm. SCN neurons therefore determine PRL secretory surges, possibly by modulating LC circadian neuronal activity.     

The chromatin repeat length of brain cortex and cerebellar neurons changes concomitant with terminal differentiation.

Chromatin repeat lengths in neuronal, glial, and liver nuclei of the rat were determined by micrococcal nuclease digestion followed by gel electrophoresis. The repeat length of cortex neurons decreased from 200 base pairs (bp) before birth to 170 bp at 14 days and all subsequent stages. Administration of [3H]thymidine to pregnant rats during the period of fetal neurogenesis allowed neurons differing in their time of origin to be labeled individually. This revealed that the shortening of the chromatin repeat length affected only neurons generated early during development, i.e., between gestational days 13/14 and 18/19, whereas neurons continuing to proliferate beyond gestational day 19 and up to birth (day 22) did not undergo shortening of their repeat length. In contrast to the cortex neurons, cerebellar neurons (granule cells) underwent lengthening of the repeat length from 165 bp at fetal and early post-natal stages (up to day 4) to 218 bp after day 30. Thus, in both cortex and cerebellar neurons the changes occurred temporally coincident with major developmental processes. No changes were detected in liver nuclei during the same period. Non-astrocytic glia cells of the adult cortex had 200 bp repeats.     

Tryptamine Concentrations in Areas of 5-Hydroxytryptamine Terminal Innervation After Electrolytic Lesions of Midbrain Raphe Nuclei

The possible existence of tryptamine-containing neurons originating in the midbrain raphe is suggested by several reports of tryptamine-mediated responses to electrical stimulation of the raphe nuclei. To assess this hypothesis, we have investigated the effects of electrolytic lesions of the median and dorsal raphe nuclei on striatal, hypothalamic, and hippocampal concentrations of tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. In addition, the rat striatal tryptophan concentrations were also determined. No changes in the concentrations of tryptamine were observed at 1 or 2 weeks after lesioning the dorsal and median raphe nuclei, at which time the other 5-hydroxyindoles were markedly reduced; furthermore, no reductions were observed in tryptamine concentrations in the striatum, hypothalamus, or hippocampus of rats pretreated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. The only change observed in these rats was a limited increase in striatal tryptamine and tryptophan observed at 1 day after lesioning. The results indicate that tryptamine concentration is independent of the integrity of 5-HT-containing neurons of the midbrain raphe nuclei. Furthermore, if tryptamine-containing neurons that have terminal projections to the striatum, hypothalamus, and hippocampus exist, their cell bodies are located in regions outside the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. Another possibility could be that tryptamine is located in glial cells.     

Immunolocalization of laminin-alpha1-like antigens around synapses in mouse cerebellar perineuronal nets

The hypothesis that extracellular matrix components may be related to neuronal development in the mouse cerebellar cortex was verified with immunohistochemistry by using an antibody against laminin-alpha1, a major extracellular matrix protein in various tissues. A commercially available polyclonal antibody, raised against the carboxyl-terminal 20-amino acid peptide of laminin-alpha1 was used. Some positive immunoreaction products were localized around large GABAergic interneurons in granular layers and others were around neurons in deep cerebellar nuclei. At the electron microscope level, diaminobenzidine immunoreaction products were localized around presynaptic boutons and in intercellular matrices around interneurons. Such immunoreaction products could be detected at postnatal day 20, when most of cerebellar synapses are assumed to be established. It has been known that a special feature of extracellular matrix, termed perineuronal nets, exists around specific subpopulation of neurons. In the mouse cerebellum, the present findings suggest that laminin itself or laminin-like-antigens exists in the perineuronal nets in relation to inhibitory neuron synapses.     

Immunolocalization of laminin-α1-like antigens around synapses in mouse cerebellar perineuronal nets

The hypothesis that extracellular matrix components may be related to neuronal development in the mouse cerebellar cortex was verified with immunohistochemistry by using an antibody against laminin-α1, a major extracellular matrix protein in various tissues. A commercially available polyclonal antibody, raised against the carboxyl-terminal 20-amino acid peptide of laminin-α1 was used. Some positive immunoreaction products were localized around large GABAergic interneurons in granular layers and others were around neurons in deep cerebellar nuclei. At the electron microscope level, diaminobenzidine immunoreaction products were localized around presynaptic boutons and in intercellular matrices around interneurons. Such immunoreaction products could be detected at postnatal day 20, when most of cerebellar synapses are assumed to be established. It has been known that a special feature of extracellular matrix, termed perineuronal nets, exists around specific subpopulation of neurons. In the mouse cerebellum, the present findings suggest that laminin itself or laminin-like-antigens exists in the perineuronal nets in relation to inhibitory neuron synapses.     

Evidence for a GABAergic Projection from the Dorsal Nucleus of the Lateral Lemniscus to the Inferior Colliculus

Abstract: This study attempts to determine whether the pathways from the guinea pig dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) to the inferior colliculus (IC) use γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a transmitter. Injections of kainic acid (KA) were used to destroy neurons in the left DNLL. Two to 4 days after the injection, Nissl-stained sections through the lesion site showed destruction of the DNLL neurons. The lesions varied in size; 12–100% of the DNLL neurons were destroyed on the injected side without damage to the ipsilateral IC. Two to 4 days after the injection, the electrically evoked, Ca²⁺-dependent release and high-affinity uptake of [³H]GABA were measured in dissected pieces of the left and right IC. These activities were compared with those in the IC taken from unlesioned controls and from sham controls, which received injections of saline instead of KA. Each IC was divided into a dorsal piece, which contained the dorsal cortex and dorsomedial nucleus, and a ventral piece, which contained the central and lateral nuclei. Lesions of the left DNLL depressed the release and uptake of [³H]GABA in the ventral pieces of the IC, but there was a greater depression in the ventral IC contralateral to the lesioned DNLL. There were good correlations between the percentage of neuronal loss in the left DNLL and deficits in [³H]GABA release and uptake activities in the ipsi- and contralateral ventral IC. By contrast, there was no depression of [³H]GABA release and uptake in the dorsal pieces of the IC. The localization of the deficits in release and uptake appears to match the distribution of the synaptic endings of the DNLL pathways in the IC. This correspondence associates GABA release and uptake activities with the DNLL projections to the IC and, therefore, suggests that GABA may be a transmitter of these pathways. The release and uptake of [¹⁴C]glycine was also measured to determine whether glycine might be a transmitter of the DNLL pathways to the IC. Lesions of the left DNLL failed to alter the Ca²⁺-dependent release or the uptake of [¹⁴C]glycine, suggesting that DNLL neurons are unlikely to use this compound as a transmitter.     

Distinct aggregation and cell death patterns among different types of primary neurons induced by mutant huntingtin protein

Aggregation of disease proteins is believed to be a central event in the pathology of polyglutamine diseases, whereas the relationship between aggregation and neuronal death remains controversial. We investigated this question by expressing mutant huntingtin (htt) with a defective adenovirus in different types of neurons prepared from rat cerebral cortex, striatum or cerebellum. The distribution pattern of inclusions is not identical among different types of primary neurons. On day 2 after infection, cytoplasmic inclusions are dominant in cortical and striatal neurons, whereas at day 4 the ratio of nuclear inclusions overtakes that of cytoplasmic inclusions. Meanwhile, nuclear inclusions are always predominantly present in cerebellar neurons. The percentage of inclusion-positive cells is highest in cerebellar neurons, whereas mutant htt induces cell death most remarkably in cortical neurons. As our system uses htt exon 1 protein and thus aggregation occurs independently from cleavage of the full-length htt, our observations indicate that the aggregation process is distinct among different neurons. Most of the neurons containing intracellular (either nuclear or cytoplasmic) aggregates are viable. Our findings suggest that the process of mutant htt aggregation rather than the resulting inclusion body is critical for neuronal cell death.     

Prosaposin Overexpression following Kainic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity

Because excessive glutamate release is believed to play a pivotal role in numerous neuropathological disorders, such as ischemia or seizure, we aimed to investigate whether intrinsic prosaposin (PS), a neuroprotective factor when supplied exogenously in vivo or in vitro, is up-regulated after the excitotoxicity induced by kainic acid (KA), a glutamate analog. In the present study, PS immunoreactivity and its mRNA expression in the hippocampal and cortical neurons showed significant increases on day 3 after KA injection, and high PS levels were maintained even after 3 weeks. The increase in PS, but not saposins, detected by immunoblot analysis suggests that the increase in PS-like immunoreactivity after KA injection was not due to an increase in saposins as lysosomal enzymes after neuronal damage, but rather to an increase in PS as a neurotrophic factor to improve neuronal survival. Furthermore, several neurons with slender nuclei inside/outside of the pyramidal layer showed more intense PS mRNA expression than other pyramidal neurons. Based on the results from double immunostaining using anti-PS and anti-GABA antibodies, these neurons were shown to be GABAergic interneurons in the extra- and intra-pyramidal layers. In the cerebral cortex, several large neurons in the V layer showed very intense PS mRNA expression 3 days after KA injection. The choroid plexus showed intense PS mRNA expression even in the normal rat, and the intensity increased significantly after KA injection. The present study indicates that inhibitory interneurons as well as stimulated hippocampal pyramidal and cortical neurons synthesize PS for neuronal survival, and the choroid plexus is highly activated to synthesize PS, which may prevent neurons from excitotoxic neuronal damage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates axonal transport and increased production of neurotrophic factor PS after KA injection.