Electrophysiological study of locus ceruleus projections to central cerebellar nuclei

Evoked response (field potentials) were recorded in all cerebellar nuclei when stimulating the locus ceruleus (LC). Response occurring in the dentate and fastigial nuclei were of considerably greater amplitude and were repeated at a higher rate than in the interstitial nucleus. Blockade of beta-adrenoreceptors led to clear-cut depression of response in the dentate and fastigial nuclei and increased response in the interstitial nucleus. Neuronal response to LC stimulation in the nuclei mainly took the form of inhibition of spontaneous discharges. A less pronounced response was observed in the interstitial nucleus. The findings obtained would indicate the presence of noradrenergic afferents reaching the cerebellar nuclei, where they are unevenly distributed.Kh. Anovyan Pedagogical Institute, Armenia SSR, Erevan. L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, Erevan. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 1, pp. 39–44, January–February, 1989.     

Age-related characteristics of lipid changes in the lungs, heart and brain of albino rats in relation to dietary factors

It has been studied how long-term periodical calorie-insufficient and growth-restraining nutrition of the Wistar albino rats influences the lipid metabolism. It is shown that diet has a marked effect on the levels of phospholipids, cholesterol, neutral lipids, fatty acids in different tissues. The lipid composition in aged rats with prolonged life is closer to that of young animals of the control group.     

大鼠蓝斑组胺受体在应激导致颈动脉窦反射重调定中的作用

目的：揭示蓝斑（LC）的H1和H2受体在足底电击应激对颈动脉窦反射（CBR）重调定中的作用。方法：足底电击应激1周的SD大鼠,麻醉后孤离双侧颈动脉窦区,将不同窦内压（ISP）与其对应的平均动脉压（MAP）值进行Logistic五参数曲线拟合,求得ISP-MAP、ISP-增益（Gain）关系曲线及反射特征参数,观察Lc微量注射选择性H1或H2,受体拮抗剂氯苯吡胺（CHL）或西咪替丁（CIM）对应激状态下CBR的影响。结果：应激导致ISP-MAP关系曲线显著全面上移（P〈0.05）,ISP-Gain关系曲线中部明显下移（P〈0.05）,反射参数中闪压、饱和压、调定点和最大增益时的ISP值增大（P〈0.05）,而MAP反射变动范围及反射最大增益减小（P〈0.05）;LC内注射CHL（0.5μg/μl）或CIM（1.5μg/μl）20min内均可明显减弱应激对CBR的上述改变（P〈0.05）,CIM的减弱效应不如CHL的显著（P〈0.05）;LC注射上述相同剂量的CHL或CIM对非应激大鼠的CBR无明显影响（P〉0.05）;LC内注射CHL或CIM均不能使应激的CBR水平完全恢复到相应的非应激对照水平。结论：应激引起CBR重调定,反射敏感性下降;部分机制可能是激活中枢纽胺能系统,LC的H1和H2受体尤为H1受体在应激对CBR的重调定机制中发挥重要作用,下丘脑-LC的组胺能通路可能是应激所致CBR重调定的下行通路之一;除此之外,应激作用中尚有其他因素的参与。     

蓝斑α受体减弱脑室注射组胺对颈动脉窦压力感受性反射的重调定

目的:探讨蓝斑α1和α2受体在脑室注射(ICV)组胺(HA)对颈动脉窦反射(CBR)重调定中的作用.方法:孤离麻醉SD大鼠的双侧颈动脉窦区,将不同窦内压(ISP)与其对应的平均动脉压(MAP)值进行Logistic五参数曲线拟合,求得ISP-MAP关系曲线及其特征参数,观察ICV HA以及预先在蓝斑(LC)微量注射α1或α2受体拮抗剂对CBR的影响.结果:ICV HA(60 μmol·L,5μl)导致ISP-MAP关系曲线后半程显著上移(P＜0.05),反射参数MAP反射变动范围及反射最大增益减小(P＜0.05);预先向LC注射选择性的α1受体拮抗剂酚苄明(PBZ,3μmol·L,500nl)或α2受体拮抗剂育亨宾(YOH,2.5μmol·L-1,500 nl),均能明显加强HA的上述效应,PBZ的这种加强作用不如YOH的显著(P＜0.05).结论:脑室给HA使CBR产生快速重调定,反射敏感性下降;LC的α1、α2受体作用可减弱ICV HA对CBR的抑制性重调定;α2受体在调制这种重调定的过程中可能发挥更为重要的作用.     

Ultrastructural changes in somatosensory cortex of albino rats during space flight

For the first time, mammalian brain has been studied during space flight aboard NASA orbital laboratory Spacelab-2. The main ultrastructural differences in the somatosensory cortex of the brain fixed under microgravity conditions and after landing include an increased number of degenerating presynaptic axon terminals after landing. Apparently, this is due to a sharp increase in afferent impulsation in the cortex during and after landing.     

Morphological,cellular and molecular changes during postovulatory egg aging in mammals

Postovulatory aging is associated with several morphological, cellular and molecular changes that deteriorate egg quality either by inducing abortive spontaneous egg activation (SEA) or by egg apoptosis. The reduced egg quality results in poor fertilization rate, embryo quality and reproductive outcome. Although postovulatory aging-induced abortive SEA has been reported in several mammalian species, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this process remains to be elucidated. The postovulatory aging-induced morphological and cellular changes are characterized by partial cortical granules exocytosis, zona pellucida hardening, exit from metaphase-II (M-II)arrest and initiation of extrusion of second polar body in aged eggs. The molecular changes include reduction of adenosine 3'',5''- cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) level, increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thereby cytosolic free calcium (Ca²⁺) level. Increased levels of cAMP and/or ROS trigger accumulation of Thr-14/Tyr-15 phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) on one hand and degradation of cyclin B1 through ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis on the other hand to destabilize maturation promoting factor (MPF). The destabilized MPF triggers postovulatory aging-induced abortive SEA and limits various assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) outcome in several mammalian species. Use of certain drugs that can either increase cAMP or reduce ROS level would prevent postovulatory aging-induced deterioration in egg quality so that more number of good quality eggs can be made available to improve ART outcome in mammals including human.     

P-aminodiphenylamine induced biochemical changes in sex organs of male albino rats.

Intraperitoneal administration of p-aminodiphenylamine (p-ADPA), an aromatic amine of wide industrial applications, / 42.5 mg/kg body weight for 180 days significantly decreased the activities of testicular lactate dehydrogenase and hyaluronidase and lactic acid content indicating arrest of spermatogenesis. Patchy necrosis of the testis was confirmed histopathologically. No change in testicular cholesterol, fructose content of coagulating glands and dorso-lateral prostate and activities of alkaline phosphatase in seminal vesicle and acid phosphatase in ventral prostate support normal androgenic status.     

Morphological characteristics of the thymus gland of albino rats after prenatal administration of indomethacin

By means of histological, histochemical and electron microscopical methods the thymus of white rat fetuses and offspring has been investigated during various age periods after indomethacin++ influence (2.5 mg/kg). In the fetuses retardation in separation of the gland parenchyma into lobules has been revealed. During the first two weeks of life the section area of the medulla decreases. Amount of lymphoid cells decreases; small and degenerating lymphocytes decrease in their number, while the part of lymphoblasts, middle lymphocytes and figures of mitosis increases. Enzymatic activity in the nervous structures of the organ is inhibited. Some essential disturbances of the intracellular structures are revealed; they demonstrate certain destructive changes. The data obtained show a decreasing function of the thymus after the prenatal influence of indomethacin++ during the first month of life, which is especially manifested during the first two weeks.     

Biochemical and immunological changes on oral glutamate feeding in male albino rats

 High altitude stress leads to lipid peroxidation and free radical formation which results in cell membrane damage in organs and tissues, and associated mountain diseases. This paper discusses the changes in biochemical parameters and antibody response on feeding glutamate to male albino Sprague Dawley rats under hypoxic stress. Exposure of rats to simulated hypoxia at 7576 m, for 6 h daily for 5 consecutive days, in an animal decompression chamber at 32±2° C resulted in an increase in plasma malondialdehyde level with a concomitant decrease in blood glutathione (reduced) level. Supplementation of glutamate orally at an optimal dose (27 mg/kg body weight) in male albino rats under hypoxia enhanced glutathione level and decreased malondialdehyde concentration significantly. Glutamate feeding improved total plasma protein and glucose levels under hypoxia. The activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and the urea level remained elevated on glutamate supplementation under hypoxia. Glutamate supplementation increased the humoral response against sheep red blood cells (antibody titre). These results indicate a possible utility of glutamate in the amelioration of hypoxia-induced oxidative stress. Received: 23 March 1998 / Accepted: 19 October 1998     

Ameliorative role of atorvastatin on methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia and hematological changes in albino rats

Methionine (1g/kg, po) administration to pathogenic control rats for 30 days significantly increased the levels of homocysteine, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TGs) and decreased the levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) in serum. Hematological observations of the peripheral blood smears of pathogenic rats fed with methionine also showed crenation of RBCs cell membrane and significant increase in total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count and platelet counts with significant decrease in the mean hemoglobin levels as compared to vehicle control rats. Administration of atorvastatin (0.2 mg/kg/po) to hyperhomocysteinemic rats significantly decreased the levels of homocysteine, TC, TGs, LDL-C and VLDL-C and increased the levels of HDL-C in serum. The present results provide clear evidence that oral treatment with atorvastatin exhibit homocysteine and lipid lowering activity and also reversal of hematological changes induced by methionine in albino rats.     

Angiotensin II receptor binding in the locus ceruleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats: A quantitative autoradiographic study with references to hypertension and cardiac/testicular hypertrophy

The locus ceruleus (LC) contains a high density of angiotensin II (All) receptors. The role of All receptors at the LC in genetic hypertension and organ function is unclear. Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were studied, and blood pressure of animals was measured using the tail-cuff method. Animals were decapitated and the heart weight (HW) and testicular weight (TW) of animals measured. All receptor binding was carried out by incubating the LC tissue sections with 200 pM [¹²⁵I]-All receptor ligand, and measured using quantitative autoradiography. Results showed that the HW/BW ratio was significantly higher in SHR rats than WKY rats. However, the TW/BW ratio was higher in SHR rats than WKY rats only at two hypertensive stages, whereas All receptor binding capacity in the LC was also statistically higher in SHR rats than WKY rats. Results indicated that cardiac and testicular hypertrophies were related to higher All receptor binding in the LC of SHR rats, when compared with WKY rats. Interestingly, the literature shows that there is an LC-testes axis. In conclusion, this study indicated that All receptors in the LC are associated with genetic hypertension, and testicular weight could be a reasonable index for essential hypertension.     

Morphological changes of myelin sheaths in rats intracranially injected with apotransferrin

Previous findings from our laboratories indicate that the intracranial injection of apotransferrin (aTf) in neonatal rats produces an accelerated oligodendrocyte maturation and an enhanced production and deposition of myelin membranes in the brain. To evaluate the anatomical distribution and the morphological characteristics of the myelin in these rats, we analyzed the optic nerves, cerebellum, and selected areas of brain sections from aTf-treated and control rats by both light and electron microscopy. Microscopic identification of myelin using a specific staining procedure, showed that in aTf-injected rats, in coincidence with previous biochemical studies, there was an increased deposition of myelin in selected areas of the nervous system. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of electron micrographs from areas showing increased myelinaton, such as the optic nerves and the corpus callosum, showed that among other changes, the intracranial treatment with aTf produces ultrastructural evidences of myelin decompaction, consisting of an enlargement in the distance between adjacent major dense lines, a decreased density of the intraperiod line, and an increased electron density of the major dense line, accompanied by a significant increase in its width. The intracranial administration of aTf induces an increased deposition of myelin by oligodeudroglial cells (OLGc), and these myelin membranes, in spite of the changes in composition and in morphology, appear to function normally. Apotransferrin can be considered as a differentiation factor that could be used to stimulate remyelination in cases in which myelin has been destroyed by various pathological processes.