逍遥散对CUMS模型大鼠行为学及脑内单胺类神经递质的影响

目的:观察逍遥散对慢性温和不可预知应激(CUMS)模型大鼠的行为学及脑内单胺类神经递质含量的影响。方法:应用慢性温和不可预知应激程序对大鼠进行为期11周的造模,造模后3周,分别采用逍遥散(19.5g/kg、25.0g/kg)和丙咪嗪(15.0mg/kg)对模型大鼠进行为期8周的治疗。实验进程中,定期测定大鼠体重、糖水消耗量;应用开场实验测定大鼠爬行格子数和站立次数;造模、治疗结束后处死大鼠,解剖分离大鼠皮层和海马部位,采用荧光分光光度法测定5-HLAA、5-HT、DA和NE含量。结果:与正常对照组比较。大鼠造模后3周糖水消耗量、爬行格子数和站立次数均明显减少(P<0.01);与模型对照组比较,逍遥散19.5、25.0g/kg连续给药2周能显著增加糖水消耗量,但给药4周、7周对糖水消耗量影响不明显;与模型对照组比较,逍遥散25.0g/kg连续给药7周,对大鼠体重、爬行格子数和站立次数表现出提高趋势(P>0.05),逍遥散25.0g/kg连续给药8周,能明显提高模型大鼠皮层部位5-HT含量及海马部位5-HIAA含量(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:逍遥散对CUMS抑郁模型大鼠表现出抗抑郁作用,作用机制与影响脑内单胺类神经递质5-HT活性有关。     

Altered Function of Peripheral Organ Systems in Rats Exposed to Chronic Mild Stress Model of Depression

1. In depression, psychiatric symptoms are frequently associated with impaired cardiovascular function and perhaps also increased risk for cancer diseases. Pathophysiological basis of this comorbidity is not clearly understood. Molecular events involved, particularly factors modified by chronic stress exposure, may only be evaluated in animal models of depression.2. Present experiments were aimed to study parameters related to cardiovascular system (tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in adrenal glands) and carcinogenesis (retinoic acid receptors in the liver) in the chronic mild stress model of depression.3. Chronic mild stress induced a rise in adrenal TH gene expression in both male and female rats. Gender dependent changes were found in retinoic acid receptor binding with stress-induced activation in females but not males. Ovariectomized animals exhibited higher retinoic acid receptor binding, slightly elevated TH mRNA levels and failed to respond to chronic mild stress exposure with further increase in TH mRNA levels. Similarly, chronic mild stress induced an anhedonic state manifested by decreased sucrose preference in control but not ovariectomized rats.4. Presented data document that central neurochemical and behavioral changes in animals exposed to chronic mild stress model of depression are associated with changes in adrenal TH gene expression and with gender dependent changes in retinoic acid receptor status in the liver. Such alterations may participate in the development of pathological changes and could participate on increased risk for cardiovascular and oncologic comorbidity in depressive patients.     

Influence of Age on Stress Responses to Metabolic Cage Housing in Rats

1.We studied the effect of isolation stress in 3- and 12-month-old rats individually housed in metabolic cages for 7 days. Urine (24 hr) was collected daily from one group of animals of each age. The other group was tested in an open field and on a hot plate on days 1 and 7.2.Total deambulation in the open-field test was lower in young than in older rats both on day 1 (54.7 ± 9.9 vs 80 ± 8.9 crossings/session; P < 0.04) and on day 7 (21 ± 9 vs 48 ± 7 crossings per session; P < 0.04) and decreased significantly in the two groups when tested on day 7 (P < 0.03). Latency to paw-licking in the hot-plate test was longer in young than in older animals on day 1 (14 ± 2 vs 8 ± 4 sec; P < 0.05) but was similar in the two groups on day 7.3.Urinary excretions of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Urinary NE in day 1 was similar in young and older animals (2627 ± 828 vs 3069 ± 598 ng/24 hr). In young animals NE excretion decreased along the study and was significantly (P < 0.02) lower than on day 1 during the last 3 days of the study. Conversely, in older animals urinary excretion of NE remained similar throughout the study. On day 7 urinary excretion of NE in older animals was about two fold that in young rats. Urinary E was similar in young and older rats (341 ± 127 vs 532 ± 256 ng/24 hr) on day 1 and showed a tendency to increase throughout the study.4.Urinary monoamine oxidase inhibitory (IMAO) activity was determined by testing the ability of urine extracts to inhibit rat liver MAO activity in vitro and was higher in young than in older animals throughout the study (day 1, 54.8 ± 4.2 vs 25.1 ± 5.1%; P < 0.02). In young rats excretion of IMAO was significantly higher during the last 3 days of the study than on day 1 (P < 0.05). In older animals urinary IMAO showed a tendency to increase at the end of the study.5.Isolation stress caused by housing rats in metabolic cages results in different behavioral and metabolic responses in young and older animals. Young animals exhibit a lower locomotor and analgesic response and excrete lower amounts of NE and higher IMAO activity in the urine than older rats. The metabolic and behavioral responses to isolation stress are highly dependent on the age of the animals tested. These results should be taken into consideration when designing experiments requiring the use of metabolic cages.     

慢性温和不可预知性刺激致大鼠抑郁症模型的病理机制研究进展

抑郁症是一种伴有行为学、神经化学和其他生理病理导演的心理障碍.慢性暴露于轻度不可预见性应激（CUMS）已被证实可以导致抑郁薅行为,包括糖水消耗减少等.并且CUMS引起的一系列生化改变类似于人类的抑郁症.我们综述了CUMS致抑郁症动物模型的病理变化,包括了受体、信号转导系统等方面的病理改变.     

束缚应激对大鼠同型半胱氨酸代谢的影响

为了探讨束缚应激对大鼠血清含硫氨基酸代谢的影响,根据同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平,将32只雄性Wistar大鼠分为对照组(control)、束缚应激组(RS)、1%蛋氨酸组(1%Met)和1%蛋氨酸+束缚应激组(1%Met+RS)。采用高压液相色谱法检测血清中的Hcy、半胱氨酸(Cys)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量,采用全自动氨基酸分析仪测定血清中蛋氨酸(Met)和牛磺酸(Tau)含量。结果显示,RS组大鼠血清Hcy、Cys和GSH含量随着束缚时间延长而降低,且较对照组和1%蛋氨酸组有显著性差异(p<0.05);RS组大鼠血清Met和Tau含量较对照组和1%蛋氨酸组则显著升高(p<0.05)。束缚应激可能降低血清抗氧化能力和总Hcy水平。     

Effects of Metformin on Burn-Induced Hepatic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Male Rats

Severe burn injury causes hepatic dysfunction that results in major metabolic derangements including insulin resistance and hyperglycemia and is associated with hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We have recently shown that insulin reduces ER stress and improves liver function and morphology; however, it is not clear whether these changes are directly insulin mediated or are due to glucose alterations. Metformin is an antidiabetic agent that decreases hyperglycemia by different pathways than insulin; therefore, we asked whether metformin affects postburn ER stress and hepatic metabolism. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of metformin on postburn hepatic ER stress and metabolic markers. Male rats were randomized to sham, burn injury and burn injury plus metformin and were sacrificed at various time points. Outcomes measured were hepatic damage, function, metabolism and ER stress. Burn-induced decrease in albumin mRNA and increase in alanine transaminase (p < 0.01 versus sham) were not normalized by metformin treatment. In addition, ER stress markers were similarly increased in burn injury with or without metformin compared with sham (p < 0.05). We also found that gluconeogenesis and fatty acid metabolism gene expressions were upregulated with or without metformin compared with sham (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that, whereas thermal injury results in hepatic ER stress, metformin does not ameliorate postburn stress responses by correcting hepatic ER stress.     

Enhancement of Hypophysectomy-Induced Dopamine Receptor Hypersensitivity in Male Rats by Chronic Haloperidol Administration

It has been reported that hypophysectomy (HYPOX) would antagonize the development of a neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity, and suggested that the neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity may be mediated by the neuroleptic-induced hyperprolactinemia. Conversely, we and others have reported on the ability of HYPOX animals to develop a neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity. The present study was undertaken to define the possible role(s) of prolactin in the modulation of striatal dopamine receptor sensitivity. The data from these studies indicate: that HYPOX alone will result in the development of a striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity; that the HYPOX-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity could be increased by the chronic administration and withdrawal of haloperidol; that administration of prolactin to HYPOX rats would partially antagonize the development of the neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity; and that the administration of prolactin alone had minimal effects on the apomorphine-induced behavior or neurochemistry of the HYPOX animals. These results suggest that the neuroleptics do not require the presence of a pituitary secretion (specifically, prolactin) to induce a striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity; however, they do indicate that a pituitary secretion, perhaps prolactin, may have the ability to modulate striatal dopamine sensitivity.     

Clomipramine Treatment and Repeated Restraint Stress Alter Parameters of Oxidative Stress in Brain Regions of Male Rats

This study aimed to compare the effects of repeated restraint stress alone and the combination with clomipramine treatment on parameters of oxidative stress in cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus of male rats. Animals were divided into control and repeated restraint stress, and subdivided into treated or not with clomipramine. After 40 days of stress and 27 days of clomipramine treatment with 30 mg/kg, the repeated restraint stress alone reduced levels of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in all tissues studied. The combination of repeated restraint stress and clomipramine increased the lipid peroxidation, free radicals and CAT activity as well as decreased levels of NP-SH in the tissues studied. However, Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase level decreased in striatum and cerebral cortex and the SOD activity increased in hippocampus and striatum. Results indicated that clomipramine may have deleterious effects on the central nervous system especially when associated with repeated restraint stress and chronically administered in non therapeutic levels.     

长期酒精摄入对雄性大鼠生殖系统的损伤

目的：研究长期酒精摄入对雄性大鼠生殖系统的损伤机制。方法：选用8周龄的SD大鼠,进行随机分组：对照组（5％蔗糖,口服）;酒精组（4g／kg,口服）。连续12周后,分别取附睾考察精子数目、活力;取血清检测睾酮和促黄体生产素（LH）含量;计算睾丸一体重比,并检测睾丸中丙二醛（MDA）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量以及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性;同时检测凋亡相关蛋白bax,bcl-2以及caspase．3前体和剪切体的蛋白表达。结果：酒精组12周后,大鼠的睾丸．体重比明显降低（P〈0．05）,精子数目减少（P〈0．01）,精子活力下降（P〈0．01）;血清中睾酮含量下降（P〈0．05）,LH含量增加（P〈0．05）;睾丸中MDA含量增加（P〈0．01）,GSH含量降低（P〈0．05）,GPX和SOD活性下降（P〈0,01）;凋亡相关蛋白bax表达增加（P〈0．05）,caspase-3剪切体与前体的比值增加（P〈O．01）。结论：长期摄入酒精引起的大鼠睾丸内氧化应激水平的增加是其导致其生殖系统损伤的重要因素之一。     

Comorbidity in Psychiatric and Chronic Physical Disease: Autocognitive Developmental Disorders of Structured Psychosocial Stress

Applying a 'necessary condition' communication theory formalism roughly similar to that of Dretske, but focused entirely on the statistical properties of long sequences of signals emitted by the interacting cognitive modules of human biology, we explore the regularities apparent in comorbid psychiatric and chronic physical disorders using an extension of recent perspectives on autoimmune disease. We find that structured psychosocial stress can literally write a distorted image of itself onto child development, resulting in a life course trajectory to characteristic forms of comorbid mind/body dysfunction affecting both dominant and subordinate populations within a pathogenic social hierarchy.     

Chronic Variable Stress Alters Inflammatory and Cholinergic Parameters in Hippocampus of Rats

In the present study we investigated the effect of chronic variable stress (CVS) on some parameters of the immune system, including levels of cytokines [interleukin 1β (IL-1 β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α)] and chemokine CCL2 (MCP-1) in the hippocampus of rats. Acetylcholinesterase activity was also evaluated. Sixty-day old Wistar rats were submitted to different mild stressors for 40 days. After the last stress section, the cytokines and MCP-1 were determined by immunoassay and acetylcholinesterase activity by colorimetric method. Results showed that chronic stress significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, but did not alter the levels of MCP-1. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activity was increased in the hippocampus of rats subjected to CVS. These findings suggest that inflammation and cholinergic dysfunction may be, at least in part, important contributors to the neurological dysfunction observed in some depressed patients.     

Integrated Inflammatory Stress (ITIS) Model

During the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in the coupling between the acute inflammatory response and the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis. The inflammatory response is activated acutely by pathogen- or damage-related molecular patterns, whereas the HPA axis maintains a long-term level of the stress hormone cortisol which is also anti-inflammatory. A new integrated model of the interaction between these two subsystems of the inflammatory system is proposed and coined the integrated inflammatory stress (ITIS) model. The coupling mechanisms describing the interactions between the subsystems in the ITIS model are formulated based on biological reasoning and its ability to describe clinical data. The ITIS model is calibrated and validated by simulating various scenarios related to endotoxin (LPS) exposure. The model is capable of reproducing human data of tumor necrosis factor alpha, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol and suggests that repeated LPS injections lead to a deficient response. The ITIS model predicts that the most extensive response to an LPS injection in ACTH and cortisol concentrations is observed in the early hours of the day. A constant activation results in elevated levels of the variables in the model while a prolonged change of the oscillations in ACTH and cortisol concentrations is the most pronounced result of different LPS doses predicted by the model.     

Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I)-induced Chronic Gliosis and Retinal Stress Lead to Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Retinopathy

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) exerts multiple effects on different retinal cell types in both physiological and pathological conditions. Despite the growth factor''s extensively described neuroprotective actions, transgenic mice with increased intraocular levels of IGF-I showed progressive impairment of electroretinographic amplitudes up to complete loss of response, with loss of photoreceptors and bipolar, ganglion, and amacrine neurons. Neurodegeneration was preceded by the overexpression of genes related to retinal stress, acute-phase response, and gliosis, suggesting that IGF-I altered normal retinal homeostasis. Indeed, gliosis and microgliosis were present from an early age in transgenic mice, before other alterations occurred, and were accompanied by signs of oxidative stress and impaired glutamate recycling. Older mice also showed overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our results suggest that, when chronically increased, intraocular IGF-I is responsible for the induction of deleterious cellular processes that can lead to neurodegeneration, and they highlight the importance that this growth factor may have in the pathogenesis of conditions such as ischemic or diabetic retinopathy.     

Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) and Growth Factors Called into Question as Markers of Prolonged Psychosocial Stress

Background

Psychosocial stress is becoming a major contributor to increased mental ill-health and sick leave in many countries. Valid markers of chronic stress would be valuable for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. A recent study suggested monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as markers of chronic stress. We aimed to confirm these potential biomarkers of prolonged psychosocial stress in female patients.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Circulating levels of MCP-1, EGF and VEGF, along with several other cytokines, were measured in plasma from 42 female patients suffering from exhaustion due to prolonged psychosocial stress and 42 control subjects, using a protein biochip immunoassay. There were no significant differences between patients and controls in any of the cytokines or growth factors analyzed. Furthermore, when using a different protein bioassay and reanalyzing MCP-1 and VEGF in the same samples, markedly different levels were obtained. To further explore if inflammation is present in patients with exhaustion, the classical inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in another group of patients (n = 89) and controls (n = 88) showing a small but significant increase of CRP levels in the patients.

Conclusions/Significance

MCP-1, EGF and VEGF may not be suitable markers of prolonged psychosocial stress as previously suggested. Furthermore, significant differences were obtained when using two different protein assays measuring the same samples, indicating that comparing studies where different analytic techniques have been used might be difficult. Increased levels of CRP indicate that low-grade inflammation might be present in patients with exhaustion due to prolonged stress exposure but this inflammation does not seem to be reflected by increase in circulating MCP-1 or other cytokines measured.     

Effect of Acute Stress on the Development of Seizures in a Kindling Model in Rats

We studied the effect of acute stress induced by nociceptive stimulation of the limbs on the duration of ECoG epileptiform activity and manifestation of generalized motor convulsive reactions under conditions of a kindling model of epilepsy in rats. Two and four weeks after termination of the kindling procedure, test stimulations of the hippocampus evoked intense attacks of epileptic activity. Short-lasting pain-inducing stimulation (intense electrical stimulation of the limbs) resulted in noticeable limitation of both ECoG and motor behavioral manifestations of epileptic activity determined by the formation of an epileptogenic nidus. The antiepileptic effect of acute stress was limited in time; manifestations of this effect reached their maximum about 3 h after painful stimulation, while about 6 h after such stimulation they became smoothed to a considerable extent.     

The Effect of Social Stress on Chronic Pain Perception in Female and Male Mice

The current investigations on social stress primarily point to the negative health consequences of being in a stressful social hierarchy. The repetitive nature of such stressors seems to affect behavioral response to pain both in rodents and humans. Moreover, a large discrepancy in the possibility of social stresses affecting pain perception in the two genders exists. The present study examined the effect of chronic social stress on nociceptive responses of both sexes by implementing of food deprivation, food intake inequality and unstable social status (cage-mate change every 3 days) for a period of 14 days in 96 Balb/c mice. In this regard we injected 20 µl formalin 2% into the plantar surface of hind paw at the end of stress period and scored pain behaviors of all subjects, then serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Our results showed that there was significant difference in chronic phase of formalin test following implementation of food deprivation and inequality (P<0.05) as compared to control group, so that pain perception was decreased considerably and this decline in inequality exposed subjects was well above isolated ones (P<0.05); whereas unstable social situation did not affect pain perception. Moreover, IL-1 and IL-6 concentrations in serum of stressed mice of both genders were well above control group (p<0.05). Finally, despite chronic pain perception in control and unstable male subjects was larger than females; the decrease of chronic pain perception in male stressed animals (poverty and inequality experienced subjects) was much more than stressed females. These results revealed that although food deprivation and social inequality can induce hypoalgesia, some socioeconomic situations like social instability don''t affect pain sensation, whereas there were similar increases of proinflammatory cytokines level in all socially stressed subjects. In addition, males display larger hypoalgesic responses to inequality as compared with females.     

HFJ和Wistar大鼠脂肪肝及胰岛素抵抗动物模型的比较

目的建立近交系HFJ大鼠和封闭群Wistar大鼠脂肪肝胰岛素抵抗动物模型及比较其生物学特性。方法雄性HFJ大鼠和Wistar大鼠,分别随机分为模型组和正常组,模型组喂养高脂饮食,正常组喂养普通饮食,两组脂肪分别占摄入能量的44.2%和19.2%,共饲养12周。每周称体质量,测定血糖、甘油三酯、胆固醇、ALT、AST、HDLC、LDLC和血胰岛素水平。实验期末处死动物摘取肝脏并称质量,计算肝指数;鼠肝脏用10%甲醛固定,石蜡包埋切片,HE染色,光镜下评估肝脂肪变性和炎症活动情况。结果镜下可见,HFJ和Wistar大鼠模型组肝细胞均呈现弥漫性脂肪变性,小叶内可见炎症细胞浸润,HFJ比Wistar脂肪变性较重,对照组肝脏均未见异常。两种动物的模型组ALT、AST、肝指数、HOMA-IR指数均显著高于其正常组,HFJ和Wistar种系间各指标的差异无显著性;HFJ大鼠模型组体重和正常组体重具有显著性差异(P<0.01),而Wistar大鼠模型组体重与正常组体重间无显著差异(P>0.05);HFJ大鼠TG和TC含量均显著高于Wistar大鼠。结论通过高脂饮食喂养成功建立了HFJ大鼠和Wistar大鼠脂肪肝与胰岛素抵抗疾病动物模型,与Wistar大鼠比较,HFJ大鼠具有自发性高血脂特征,造模更易成功,可为胰岛素抵抗和脂肪肝的发病机制研究、防治高血脂药物筛选提供一种新的实验动物。