花生四烯酸代谢物对呼吸道感受器的作用

迷走神经与神经．免疫交互作用密切相关。在呼吸道中,迷走神经传入纤维末梢上的伤害性感受器能被多种细胞因子、炎性介质和免疫调质激活。在炎症过程中,细胞膜磷脂在磷脂酶A2作用下释放花生四烯酸（arachidonic acid,AA）,后者再经不同的酶促反应产生多种脂类代谢物。与其它的炎性介质一样,这些代谢物在炎症反应中可以激活呼吸道感受器并发挥重要作用。有些AA代谢物直接与感觉神经末梢上的受体结合,产生神经冲动并传向中枢,引起反射性效应;有些作用于感觉末梢周围的组织,改变肺的机械特性,从而刺激感觉传入神经;有些提高感觉神经末梢对机械或化学刺激的敏感性,从而增强其反应;还有些可以产生其它介质或调质而触发反射效应,或者引起炎症细胞的聚集而产生局部效应。总之,AA代谢产物有多种来源,并通过多种途径刺激呼吸道中的伤害性感受器。本综述对此进行了探讨,希望有助于阐明呼吸道炎症反应的机理。     

利用转盘共聚焦显微镜进行快速实验的新方法

转盘共聚焦显微镜是快速激光共聚焦显微镜的一种,与传统的激光共聚焦显微镜相比具有一些相同点,也有其特有的优势。本文主要介绍转盘共聚焦显微镜的基本原理及如何利用转盘共聚焦显微镜进行快速实验及应用实例,并与传统激光共聚焦显微镜进行比较。转盘共聚焦显微镜具有速度快、灵敏度高、对样品光损伤和光淬灭程度低、操作灵活简单,是随着实验技术发展使用越来越广泛的实验仪器。     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜对人类染色体三维结构的观察

为了获得染色体内部结构的多种信息,以及对染色体形态构建提供有益的尝试,本试验利用荧光染料的特异性标记及激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的连续断层扫描和三维重建的特点,对人类染色体的形态结构进行观测,结果显示：本方法不仅能显示染色体的荧光带纹的分布状况,而且能作染色体内部的一系列光学切片和染色体三维结构的观测。     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜术中活细胞标本的制备

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜是以单个的、活性的、贴壁的细胞标本为主要的研究对象。为了获得适合共聚焦显微镜分析的组织细胞标本,本文讨论了标本制备存在的一些问题并提出了改进的方法。结果显示：组织细胞外环境中盐溶液、ｐＨ值、温度、氧气等均为影响细胞活性的重要因素;而且细胞的贴壁效果也是观测分析的关键条件之一。本文对激光扫描共聚焦显微镜术中的组织细胞学方法进行了探讨,并为此提供一些有实效的实验方法。     

共聚焦激光扫描对呼吸窘迫综合症大鼠肺组织的观察

目的：为了更直观地观察和显示呼吸窘迫综合症(acute respiratory distress syndrom,ARDS)典型的病理变化(肺泡内形成一层蛋白质透明膜)。方法：利用百草枯(Paraqual)染毒SD大鼠复制ARDS实验动物模型,取肺病理组织,切片,试剂Goat—Anti-Rat—FITC IgM IgG染色,共聚焦激光扫描显微镜(confocal laser scarming microscope,CLSM)观察。结果：CLSM能清晰到样品内不同层面的病理变化。结论：共聚焦激光扫描显微镜能清晰观察样品内不同层面的结构,相比于传统的光学显微镜,其观察到的图像更直观、更具立体感,能更好表达ARDS的病理变化特征。     

丝光绿蝇触角鞭节感受器官超显微形态研究

【目的】观察研究重要的医学昆虫丝光绿蝇Lucilia sericata触角感受器的形态,以明确不同类型感受器的结构及功能。【方法】采用透射电镜与激光共聚焦显微镜技术相结合的方法。【结果】明确并详细描述了毛型感受器、锥型感受器、腔锥型感受器及感觉囊的形态结构。【结论】毛型感受器和锥型感受器可能为化学感受器,腔锥型感受器可能为温湿度感受器;感觉囊中的无孔锥型感受器可能为温湿度感受器,类锥型感受器及类腔锥型感受器可能为化学感受器,各类型感受器同时行使功能,表明感觉囊为一个功能复合体。蝇类触角的感器类型多样、囊结构复杂,可作为研究昆虫触角感器形态、功能及演化的模式类群。     

用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察雪松花粉和花粉管

为更直观地观察和显示花粉和花粉管中细胞结构及其细胞核的状态与行为。雪松花粉和花粉管经卡诺液固定,分别以埃氏苏木精、曙红、Hoechst 33243单染和曙红-Hoechst 33342双染后,用冬青油整体透明,在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下观察。4种染色法观察效果不同;以曙红-Hoechst 33342双染的样品观察效果最佳,在紫外光激发下清晰地显示出细胞核,在488 nm激光激发下不仅能清晰看到花粉和花粉管壁结构,且能分辨管细胞、柄细胞及体细胞的结构特点和空间位置关系。建立了一种快速简便的适于在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下观察花粉和花粉管中成员细胞结构及其细胞核的状态、行为的制片技术;激光扫描共聚焦显微镜具有独特的共轭成像装置、连续光学扫描、图像三维重组和多通道检测等功能,极好地展示了雪松花粉和花粉管的结构特点,相比于传统的光学显微镜和荧光显微镜,其观察到的图像更清晰、更直观、更具立体感。     

水稻双受精过程的共聚焦显微镜观察

(郑州大学离子束生物工程省重点实验室,郑州450052)摘要:首次利用核特异荧光染色与整体透明技术并利用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(LSCM)对水稻双受精过程进行了观察。激光扫描共聚焦显微镜具有"组织与细胞CT"的功能,可以对整体组织进行扫描并构建三维结构。经荧光染色及透明处理后,在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下经488nm激光激发,胚囊内各细胞的细胞核以及核仁发出明亮荧光,细胞核轮廓比较清晰,层次感强,并能清晰观察到胚囊内各细胞的结构特点和空间位置关系。不论是对开花前较小的成熟胚囊材料还是开花后较大的胚囊材料都取得了较好的观察效果。同传统的光学显微镜和荧光显微镜相比,其观察到的图像更清晰、更直观、更具立体感。     

电离辐射对血管内皮细胞骨架蛋白F-actin影响的激光共聚焦显微镜观察

目的： 观察电离辐射对血管内皮细胞骨架蛋白F-actin影响,探讨血管内皮细胞电离辐射损伤的机理.方法： 用Co60 γ射线对体外培养的血管内皮细胞进行0、2、4、6、8、10、12 Gy照射,于照射后6小时后用激光共聚焦显微镜对其细胞骨架蛋白F-actin进行观察.结果： 细胞骨架蛋白F-actin随着辐射剂量的增加而解聚增加,这种变化呈剂量依赖性.结论： 电离辐射对血管内皮细胞骨架蛋白F-actin的破坏可能是血管内皮细胞辐射损伤机体机理之一.     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察细菌生物膜形成的方法学研究

目的:建立激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察生物膜形成过程的方法,为进一步研究生物膜的形成机制奠定基础。方法:以临床分离金葡菌X428为研究对象,在盖玻片上形成生物膜,分别于接种后的4、8、12、16、24和48h取出玻片,采用免疫荧光技术标记多糖和细菌,激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(CLSM)观察生物膜形成情况。结果:取得了生物膜形成过程的不同时间点的CLSM图像,4h时细菌在盖玻片上粘附形成小菌落,8h和12h细菌聚集成簇,多糖基质产生并逐渐增多,至16h形成成熟生物膜结构;24h和48h生物膜已经播散,其结构变小。结论:应用免疫荧光技术和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术研究生物膜形成过程是一种简便可行的方法。     

用荧光标记钠钾ATP酶显示气道感受器结构

由于普通光学和荧光显微镜功能上的限制以及缺乏良好的染色方法,我们对于呼吸道感受器形态方面的认识进展缓慢,缺乏对感受器结构的认识,阻碍了对其基本生理活动的探讨,随着共聚焦显微镜的产生与图像处理技术的进展,不但提高了对荧光结构的分辨率,还可通过三维重组而展现微小物体的整体结构。本文阐述了一种新颖方法,利用上述技术并结合免疫组织化学方法,采用Na^ /K^ -ATPase作为标记,对家兔呼吸道感受器进行了观察。本文中经过处理的气道组织结构,背景清晰,感受器部位着色强,观察到的整个感受器,结构复杂,呈树枝状,感受器末梢膨大,形成叶片状,本文首次以高清晰度展示了呼吸气道中单个感受器的整体结构,改变了需要以手绘来刻画感受器的现状,无疑,这种新方法能促进了解感受器的结构及其生理活动的机理。     

Detection of submicroscopic magnetite particles using reflectance mode confocal laser scanning microscopy

Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy work at such different scales that some components of cells may be too small to detect using light microscopy but too dispersed among cells within tissues to be discovered using electron microscopy. We have used reflectance mode confocal laser scanning microscopy to detect single-domain magnetite crystals in both live and resin-embedded preparations of magnetotactic bacteria. We show that reflections from bacterial cells are uniquely associated with the magnetite, which underpins the magnetotactic response of the bacteria. En bloc viewing shows that relatively large volumes of material can be searched with sufficient resolution to enable detection of submicroscopic particles. The techniques reported here may be of interest to others wishing to detect submicroscopic objects dispersed in large volumes of tissue.     

Insight into pollutant bioavailability and toxicity using Raman confocal microscopy

Raman confocal microscopy was used to discriminate between cultures of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 exposed to four different common environmental pollutants: phenanthrene, dodecane, 3-chlorobiphenyl and pentachlorophenol. Evidence is presented for the application of Raman spectroscopy as a bioassay for pollutant bioavailability and toxicity.     

Prox2 and Runx3 vagal sensory neurons regulate esophageal motility

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Simultaneous immunofluorescence and histology in pemphigus vulgaris using ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy

Ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (ex vivo CLSM) provides rapid, high-resolution imaging and immunofluorescence examinations of the excised tissues. We aimed to evaluate the applicability of ex vivo CLSM in histomorphological and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) examination of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). 20 PV sections were stained with fluorescent-labeled anti-IgG and anti-C3 using various dilutions and incubation periods. Subsequently, the determined ideal staining protocol was applied on 20 additional PV and 20 control sections. Ex vivo CLSM identified intraepidermal blisters and acantholytic cells in 80% and 60% of PV patients, respectively. The sensitivity of ex vivo CLSM in detecting intraepidermal fluorescence was 90% both with IgG and C3. The specificity of staining for IgG and C3 was 70% and 90%, respectively. Histomorphological and immunofluorescence features of PV could be detected within the same ex vivo CSLM session showing a comparable performance to conventional histopathology and DIF microscopy.     

New insights into the performance characteristics of the Planova-series hollow-fiber parvovirus filters using confocal and electron microscopy

Virus filtration remains a critical step in the downstream process for the production of monoclonal antibodies and other mammalian cell-derived biotherapeutics. Recent studies have shown large differences in virus capture behavior of different virus filters, although the origin of these differences is still unclear. The objective of this study was to use confocal and scanning electron microscopy to directly evaluate the capture of virus-size nanoparticles in Planova 20N and BioEX hollow-fiber virus filters. Confocal images of fluorescent nanoparticles were quantified using ImageJ image processing software based on the measured fluorescence intensity of the labeled nanoparticles. Nanoparticle capture by the Planova BioEX was independent of transmembrane pressure from 10 to 45 psi. In contrast, the Planova 20N showed significant differences in nanoparticle capture profile at low pressure, consistent with literature data showing virus breakthrough under these conditions. Images obtained after a process interruption show significant migration of previously captured nanoparticles in the Planova 20N filters but not in the BioEX. These results provide important insights into the nature of virus capture in different virus filters and its dependence on the underlying structure of the virus filtration membranes.     

Histological classification of atherosclerotic arteries using high-speed confocal Raman microscopy with machine learning

Confocal Raman microscopy is a useful tool to observe composition and constitution of label-free samples at high spatial resolution. However, accurate characterization of microstructure of tissue and its application in diagnostic imaging are challenging due to weak Raman scattering signal and complex chemical composition of tissue. We have developed a method to improve imaging speed, diffraction efficiency, and spectral resolution of confocal Raman microscopy. In addition to the novel imaging technique, the machine learning method enables confocal Raman microscopy to visualize accurate histology of tissue sections. Here, we have demonstrated the performance of the proposed method by measuring histological classification of atherosclerotic arteries and compared the histological confocal Raman images with the conventional staining method. Our new confocal Raman microscopy enables us to comprehend the structure and biochemical composition of tissue and diagnose the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall without labeling.     

Differential distribution of alpha-tubulin isotypes in Euplotes eurystomus determined by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy

Detergent permeabilized Euplotes eurystomus (a fresh water hypotrichous ciliate) was reacted with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for either detyrosinated or tyrosinated alpha-tubulin (Glu- or Tyr-tubulin). The isolated cytoskeleton-nuclear complex was examined by Western immunoblotting and by immunofluorescent and electron microscopic methods. Both Glu- and Tyr-tubulins were detected by immunoblot analysis. Immunofluorescent microscopy indicated that the alpha-tubulin isotypes are concentrated in different regions of permeabilized cells: Glu-tubulin is located primarily in cirri, membranelles, and surrounding the macro- and micronuclei. Tyr-tubulin is principally at the bases of cirri and membranelles. This differential distribution of alpha-tubulin isotypes is discussed in terms of current concepts concerning the correlation of tubulin post-translational modifications to microtubule stability. Confocal immunofluorescent imaging was of critical importance in clearly differentiating the Glu-tubulin isotype surrounding the macro- and micronuclei from a brilliantly fluorescent environment originating from cytoskeletal structures. In conjunction with conventional and stereo-electron microscopy, confocal optical microscopy provided convincing evidence for a "basket" of microtubules surrounding both nuclei.     

Osmotic water permeability measurements using confocal laser scanning microscopy

 We have developed a method for measurement of plasma membrane water permeability (P _f) in intact cells using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The method is based on confocal recording of the fluorescence intensity emitted by calcein-loaded adherent cells during osmotic shock. P _f is calculated as a function of the time constant in the fluorescence intensity change, the cell surface-to-volume ratio and the fractional content of the osmotically active cell volume. The method has been applied to the measurement of water permeability in MDCK cells. The cells behaved as linear osmometers in the interval from 100 to 350 mosM. About 57% of the total cell volume was found to be osmotically inactive. Water movement across the plasma membrane in intact MDCK cells was highly temperature dependent. HgCl₂ had no effect on water permeability, while amphotericin B and DMSO significantly increased P _f values. The water permeability in MDCK cells transfected with aquaporin 2 was an order of magnitude higher than in the intact MDCK cell line. The water permeability of the nuclear membrane in both cell lines was found to be unlimited. Thus the intranuclear fluid belongs to the osmotically active portion of the cell. We conclude that the use of confocal microscopy provides a sensitive and reproducible method for measurement of water permeability in different types of adherent cells and potentially for coverslip-attached tissue preparations. Received: 12 June 1999 / Revised version: 21 February 2000 / Accepted: 25 February 2000     

In vivo assessment of mechanical properties during axolotl development and regeneration using confocal Brillouin microscopy

In processes such as development and regeneration, where large cellular and tissue rearrangements occur, cell fate and behaviour are strongly influenced by tissue mechanics. While most well-established tools probing mechanical properties require an invasive sample preparation, confocal Brillouin microscopy captures mechanical parameters optically with high resolution in a contact-free and label-free fashion. In this work, we took advantage of this tool and the transparency of the highly regenerative axolotl to probe its mechanical properties in vivo for the first time. We mapped the Brillouin frequency shift with high resolution in developing limbs and regenerating digits, the most studied structures in the axolotl. We detected a gradual increase in the cartilage Brillouin frequency shift, suggesting decreasing tissue compressibility during both development and regeneration. Moreover, we were able to correlate such an increase with the regeneration stage, which was undetected with fluorescence microscopy imaging. The present work evidences the potential of Brillouin microscopy to unravel the mechanical changes occurring in vivo in axolotls, setting the basis to apply this technique in the growing field of epimorphic regeneration.