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。     

小脑间位核和顶核对下丘脑外侧区神经元电活动的影响

电刺激猫小脑问位核和顶核可以影响下丘脑外侧区神经元的电活动,其中有一些神经元是葡萄糖敏感神经元.这一结果揭示小脑不仅具有经典的躯体运动调节功能,同时也可以通过小脑-下丘脑通路参与机体非躯体活动的调节.     

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.     

大鼠海马—小脑皮层—小脑深部核团投射的电生理学和HRP研究

本文用电生理学和HRP示踪法,研究了大鼠海马-小脑皮层投射的空间分布,小脑皮层的海马投射区与其深部核团间的纤维联系。 电生理学的实验结果表明,刺激背侧海马CA_1/CA_3区,均可使小脑皮层第Ⅵ小叶的浦肯野细胞产生顺行多突触的诱发简单锋电位和复杂锋电位反应。提示背侧海马CA_1/CA_3区与小脑皮层之间有经苔状纤维和攀缘纤维的多突触投射。实验证明,大鼠的这一投射的终止区域,集中在小脑皮层第Ⅵ小叶中线外侧0.8—1.4mm的范围内;并且来自CA_1区的投射以对侧性为主,CA_3区的投射以同侧性为主。HRP示踪的实验表明,背侧海马CA_1/CA_3区在小脑皮层第Ⅵ小叶的投射区是小脑纵区组构的间位区,该区皮层与间位核之间存在着交互投射关系。     

猫小脑第Ⅶ小叶皮层—核团投射的电生理学研究

在三碘季铵酚制动的去大脑猫上,记录了小脑后叶的第Ⅶ小叶皮层浦肯野细胞(PC)对分别刺激顶核、间位核和齿状核的逆行场电位和逆行单位反应,以确定小脑皮层PC对这三个核团投射的空间分布。在鉴定了PC对其靶核团的投射后,用特制的模拟自然屈腕运动的刺激装置来推动猫同侧前肢的掌背,造成腕关节一次轻微的屈曲,观察该PG对这一刺激的单位反应。实验资料用电子计算机处理,作出平均诱发电位和刺激后时间直方图。 本文以电生理学方法揭示,猫小脑后叶第Ⅶ小叶皮层-核团投射存在较明确的纵区分布模式,纵区之间的分界线走向有一定的弯曲,与前叶略有不同。小脑后叶皮层从中线到两侧2.8mm为顶核区(FZ);其外侧为间位核区(IZ),最大宽度约为3.5mm;齿状核区(DZ)约始于5.0mm处。这三个不同纵区的PC对外周自然屈腕刺激都有反应,但反应细胞的百分数不同,FZ有59％的PC对外周刺激有反应,IZ为84％,DZ为20％。这些结果表明后叶第Ⅶ小叶具有类似于前叶的功能分布,IZ的PC对外周刺激有更大的调制作用,提示该皮层-核团投射的纵区结构有其特定的功能意义。     

大鼠缰核与下丘脑外侧区在血压调节中的相互关系

电刺激乌拉坦麻醉的大鼠下丘脑外侧区(LH)可使缰核(Hb)内51.0％的单位兴奋,15.7％的单位抑制,其中发生兴奋反应的单位有15.4％可被逆行激活。双侧Hb内微量注射利多卡因,电刺激LH引起的升压反应可被阻断42.0±28.0％;反之,双侧LH内微量注射利多卡固,电刺激Hb引起的升压反应可被阻断62.0±26.4％。结果表明,LH与Hb在血压调节中相互依赖,具有协同作用。     

5-HT1B受体亚型对小脑顶核介导的运动行为的影响

目的：探讨5-羟色胺（5-HT）能神经系统在经小脑顶核介导的运动行为中的作用。方法：采用大鼠离体脑片膜片钳及大鼠走步机的行为学测试方法。结果：阻断5-HT_1B受体能够增强小脑顶核兴奋性突触传递,行为学试验中给予5-HT及5-HT_1B受体阻断剂SB224289,发现注射5-HT到小脑顶核后,大鼠在Rota-rod走步机上的持续时间显著延长,而给予其阻断剂SB224289后,能够反转此作用。结论：5-HT很可能通过5-HT_1B受体抑制顶核神经元的兴奋性突触传递从而调节小脑核团神经元环路的活动,继而影响小脑的最终输出,实现对小脑顶核介导的运动平衡和协调能力的调控。     

维吾尔药神香草调节哮喘大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴功能紊乱的实验研究

目的:观察维吾尔药(维药)神香草对哮喘大鼠模型神经内分泌免疫网络若干组分的影响。方法:取雄性健康Wistar大鼠50只,随机分为正常对照组,哮喘模型组,神香草低、中、高剂量治疗组。采用致敏和雾化的方法制备哮喘模型。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测血清中白介素-4(IL-4)、白介素-6(IL-6)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)、皮质酮(CORT)水平;放免法检测血浆中促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)的含量;采用实时定量-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法测定下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)mRNA表达水平。结果:哮喘反复发作时,大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(HPA)轴紊乱,哮喘大鼠下丘脑CRH mRNA表达和血浆ACTH无明显变化,实验各组血清CORT水平升高(P<0.05),神香草高剂量组血清CORT含量高于低剂量组(P<0.05)。细胞因子IFN-γ无明显变化,IL-6、IL-4有下降趋势(P<0.05)。结论:哮喘反复发作的大鼠存在NEI网络的紊乱;神香草可以增强下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质(HPA)轴的功能,改善细胞因子的平衡。这些可能是其治疗哮喘的机制之一。     

维吾尔药神香草调节哮喘大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴功能紊乱的实验研究

目的：观察维吾尔药（维药）神香草对哮喘大鼠模型神经内分泌免疫网络若干组分的影响。方法：取雄性健康Wistar大鼠50只,随机分为正常对照组,哮喘模型组,神香草低、中、高剂量治疗组。采用致敏和雾化的方法制备哮喘模型。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）方法检测血清中白介素-4（IL^4）、白介素-6（IL-6）、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、皮质酮（CORT）水平;放免法检测血浆中促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的含量;采用实时定量-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）法测定下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）mRNA表达水平。结果：哮喘反复发作时,大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴紊乱,哮喘大鼠下丘脑CRHmRNA表达和血浆ACTH无明显变化,实验各组血清CORT水平升高（P〈0．05）,神香草高剂量组血清CORT含量高于低剂量组（P〈0．05）。细胞因子IFN-γ无明显变化,IL-6、IL-4有下降趋势（P〈0．05）。结论：哮喘反复发作的大鼠存在NEI网络的紊乱;神香草可以增强下丘脑．垂体．肾上腺皮质（HPA）轴的功能,改善细胞因子的平衡。这些可能是其治疗哮喘的机制之一。     

下丘脑室旁核β－内啡肽在大鼠烫伤休克中的作用

以１００℃沸水接触雄性大鼠去毛的背部２０ｓ,形成占体表面积２０％的三度烫伤。收集下丘脑室旁核推挽灌流液测定β－内啡肽免疫活性物质的含量;向下丘脑室旁核微量注射β－内啡肽或其抗血清,观察烫后心血管功能指标的改变及存活时间。结果表明,烫后下丘脑室旁核灌流液中β－内啡肽免疫活性物质含量显著升高,有两个峰值。烫后给予β－内啡肽抗血清,可显著改善心血管功能指标（ＭＡＰ,ｄＰ／ｄｔｍａｘ,Ｌｖｓｐ和ＨＲ）,延长存活时间;给予β－内啡肽则作用相反。上述观察表明下丘脑β－内啡肽的过量增多是促使休克加重和加快死亡的重要原因之一。     

Electrical stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus protects rat brain, in vitro, from staurosporine-induced apoptosis

Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) elicits a prolonged ( approximately 10 days) and substantial (50-80%) protection against ischemic and excitotoxic injuries. The mechanism(s) of protection are unknown. We investigated whether FN stimulation directly protects brain cells against apoptotic cell death in an in vitro rat brain slice culture model. Rats were electrically stimulated in FN or, as control, the cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN). Coronal slices through the forebrain were explanted, exposed to staurosporine, harvested, and analyzed for caspase-3 activity by a fluorescence assay. FN, but not DN, stimulation significantly reduced staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activity by 39 +/- 7% at 3 h, 31 +/- 3% at 6 h and 26 +/- 4% at 10 h of incubation. Immunocytochemistry revealed FN-specific reductions in activated caspase-3 mainly in glial-like cells throughout the forebrain. FN stimulation also results in a 56.5% reduction in cytochrome c release upon staurosporine incubation. We conclude that neuroprotection elicited from FN stimulation can directly modify the sensitivity of brain cells to apoptotic stimuli and thereby suppress staurosporine induced apoptosis in adult rat brain slices. This model indicates that neuroprotection can be studied in vitro and provides new insight into the potential role of glial cells in ischemic protection of neurons induced by FN stimulation.     

Background impulse activity of neurons of the fastigial cerebellar nucleus of intact and labyrinthectomized rats under conditions of vibration

In acute experiments on nembutal-anesthetized (40 mg/kg, i.p.) albino rats, we recorded extracellularly and analyzed the background impulse activity (BIA) of neurons of the fastigial nucleus of the cerebellum. Experiments were carried out on intact and labyrinthectomized rats in the norm and after long-lasting (up to 15 days) influence of general vertical vibration (60 Hz, 0.4 mm, 2-h-long everyday sessions). Distributions of the neurons according to the level of regularity of BIA, dynamics of spike trains, pattern of histograms of interspike intervals (ISIs), and different frequency ranges of BIA were plotted; the mean frequency of this activity and the coefficient of variation of ISIs were also calculated. Possible mechanisms of the effects of long-lasting vibration of different durations on the BIA generated by neurons of the fastigial cerebellar nucleus in intact animals and after switching off of labyrinth afferent inputs are discussed. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 32–39, January–February, 2006.     

Mitochondria are involved in the neurogenic neuroprotection conferred by stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus

Activation of neural pathways originating in the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) protects the brain from the deleterious effects of cerebral ischemia and excitotoxicity, a phenomenon termed central neurogenic neuroprotection. The neuroprotection is, in part, mediated by suppression of apoptosis. We sought to determine whether FN stimulation exerts its anti-apoptotic effect through mitochondrial mechanisms. Mitochondria were isolated from the cerebral cortex of rats in which the FN was stimulated for 1 h (100 microA; 1 s on/1 s off), 72 h earlier. Stimulation of the dentate nucleus (DN), a brain region that does not confer neuroprotection, served as control. Mitochondria isolated from FN-stimulated rats exhibited a marked increase in their ability to sequester Ca2+ and an increased resistance to Ca2+-induced membrane depolarization and depression in respiration. FN stimulation also leads to reduction in the release in cytochrome c, induced either by Ca2+ or the mitochondrial toxin mastoparan. Furthermore, in brain slices, FN stimulation reduced the staurosporine-induced insertion of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax into the mitochondria, a critical step in the mitochondrial mechanisms of apoptosis. Collectively, these results provide evidence that FN stimulation protects the mitochondria from dysfunction induced by Ca2+ loading, and inhibits mitochondrial pathways initiating apoptosis. These mitochondrial mechanisms are likely to play a role in the neuroprotection exerted by FN stimulation.     

Dexamethasone attenuates by colchicine induced Fos expression in the rat deep cerebellar and vestibular nuclei

1. The intent of the present study was to find out whether dexamethasone pretreatment may affect the induction of Fos protein in cell nuclei of the cerebellar vestibular neuronal complex (CVNC) elicited by central administration of colchicine. Specifically, the rate of the dexamethasone-sensitive cell population was analyzed and compared at different levels of the CVNC using a light microscopic avidin-biotin peroxidase immunohistochemistry.2. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with dexamethasone 3 days prior (2.5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) and 24 h after an intracerebroventricular delivery of colchicine (60 g/10 L). Animals were sacrificed 48 h after colchicine treatment by a transcardial perfusion with fixative.3. Dexamethasone in itself had no effect on the activity of cells of the CVNC. However, in colchicine treated animals, which exhibited a large number of Fos-positive cells over the entire CVNC, the dexamethasone elicited a substantial reduction in the number of the Fos-immunoreactive cells over the CVNC. Distinct dexamethasone dependent reduction (50–90%) of Fos-immunoreactivity was observed in each of the deep cerebellar nuclei. On the other hand, less number of dexamethasone-sensitive cells were recognized in the vestibular structures. From these, maximal Fos-inhibition by dexamethasone was recognized in the medial vestibular nucleus, however, even in this case the number of suppressed cells did not exceed 50%.4. The results provide for the first time evidence about the dexamethasone dependent reduction of Fos-immunoreactivity in the cells of the CVNC in response to stimulation elicited by colchicine. The data also indicate that the glucocorticoids might be involved in the regulation of some functions of the CVNC under stress conditions.     

Inhibition of human lymphocyte function by organic solvents

We studied the direct effect of reactive hydroxyl precursors and inhibitors on CD4+ T-cell function. We used hydrogen peroxide plus ferrous chloride as the hydroxyl radical-generating system and di-methyl sulphourea, di-methyl sulfoxide, pyrrolidine dithiocarbonate, methanol, and ethanol, at a noncytotoxic concentration, as inhibitors. The immune parameter studies were proliferation and interleukin-2 production by peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody, phytohemagglutinin and alloantigens; proliferation, interleukin-2 production and mRNA expression of interleukin-4 and interferon gamma by allogeneic CD4+ T-cell clones stimulated with alloantigens. The results show that lymphocytes produce significant amounts of reactive oxygen species as measured by malondialdehyde produced in cultures. The hydroxyl radical-generating system did not change any of the cellular responses studied although it doubled Malondialdehyde production. Hydroxyl radical scavengers signi tly inhibited all responses at doses that didn't significantly decrease malondialdehyde production. DNA analysis failed to show evidence for apoptosis. Conclusion: Hydroxyl radical scavengers inhibit lymphocyte mitogenesis by a process that is independent of scavenging hydroxyl radicals.     

Somatostatinergic projections from the central nucleus of the amygdala to the vagal nuclei

In the rat, somatostatin immunoreactivity was identified in neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala that were retrogradely labeled by injection of fluorescent dyes into the nucleus tractus solitarius and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. The double-labeled neurons are located in the medial subdivision of the central nucleus and appear to comprise less than one fifth of the descending pathway. These results suggest that somatostatin may act as a neurotransmitter in a pathway which mediates cardiovascular and other autonomic responses to fear-producing and other emotional stimuli.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase and protein kinase A pathways mediate the anti-apoptotic effect of pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide in cultured cerebellar granule neurons: modulation by ethanol

Cerebellar granule neurons cultured in the presence of 5 mm KCl undergo spontaneous apoptosis, which is reduced by exposure to pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP). Previous work has suggested roles for the cyclic AMP/PKA and MAP kinase signaling pathways in the anti-apoptotic effect of PACAP. In the present study, the use of specific inhibitors confirmed the role of the cyclic AMP/PKA pathway, and also demonstrated a role for the phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase) neuroprotective pathway in the action of PACAP. Ethanol exposure accelerates the anti-apoptotic effect of PACAP by a mechanism that involves the PKA and PI-3 kinase pathways. The results demonstrate that ethanol can increase neuroprotection induced by PACAP. As previous work has shown that ethanol can increase apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons by inhibiting the protective effect of agents such as NMDA or IGF-1, the overall effect of ethanol on cerebellar neuron apoptosis during development may reflect the balance between inhibition and enhancement of the actions of various endogenous neuroprotective agents.