Activation of PKC modulates blood-brain barrier endothelial cell permeability changes induced by hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a metabolic and physiological barrier important for maintaining brain homeostasis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PKC activation in BBB paracellular permeability changes induced by hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation using in vitro and in vivo BBB models. In rat brain microvessel endothelial cells (RMECs) exposed to hypoxia (1% O2-99% N2; 24 h), a significant increase in total PKC activity was observed, and this was reduced by posthypoxic reoxygenation (95% room air-5% CO2) for 2 h. The expression of PKC-betaII, PKC-gamma, PKC-eta, PKC-mu, and PKC-lambda also increased following hypoxia (1% O2-99% N2; 24 h), and these protein levels remained elevated following posthypoxic reoxygenation (95% room air-5% CO2; 2 h). Increases in the expression of PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta were also observed following posthypoxic reoxygenation (95% room air-5% CO2; 2 h). Moreover, inhibition of PKC with chelerythrine chloride (10 microM) attenuated the hypoxia-induced increases in [14C]sucrose permeability. Similar to what was observed in RMECs, total PKC activity was also stimulated in cerebral microvessels isolated from rats exposed to hypoxia (6% O2-94% N2; 1 h) and posthypoxic reoxygenation (room air; 10 min). In contrast, hypoxia (6% O2-94% N2; 1 h) and posthypoxic reoxygenation (room air; 10 min) significantly increased the expression levels of only PKC-gamma and PKC-theta in the in vivo hypoxia model. These data demonstrate that hypoxia-induced BBB paracellular permeability changes occur via a PKC-dependent mechanism, possibly by differentially regulating the protein expression of the 11 PKC isozymes.     

The effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain trace metals.

This study determined the effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain pro- and antioxidant trace metals. Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (50–60 days gestation) were exposed to 1 h hypoxia (7% O₂/93% N₂) followed by 4 h reoxygenation in room air. Fetal hearts and brains were harvested and analyzed for copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Fetal brain iron was significantly increased 28% after hypoxia and 35% by 1 h posthypoxia. Fetal brain magnesium demonstrated progressive decreases of 18% by 4 h posthypoxia. No significant effects of hypoxia were observed on heart trace metals. These results indicate that prooxidant metals may be increased and antioxidant metals may be decreased in posthypoxic fetal brain during a time when these tissues may be vulnerable to oxidative injury.     

The effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain trace metals

This study determined the effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain pro- and antioxidant trace metals. Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (50–60 days gestation) were exposed to 1 h hypoxia (7% O₂/93% N₂) followed by 4 h reoxygenation in room air. Fetal hearts and brains were harvested and analyzed for copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Fetal brain iron was significantly increased 28% after hypoxia and 35% by 1 h posthypoxia. Fetal brain magnesium demonstrated progressive decreases of 18% by 4 h posthypoxia. No significant effects of hypoxia were observed on heart trace metals. These results indicate that prooxidant metals may be increased and antioxidant metals may be decreased in posthypoxic fetal brain during a time when these tissues may be vulnerable to oxidative injury.     

Cerebral microvascular changes in permeability and tight junctions induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation

Cerebral microvessel endothelial cells that form the blood-brain barrier (BBB) have tight junctions (TJ) that are critical for maintaining brain homeostasis and low permeability. Both integral (claudin-1 and occludin) and membrane-associated zonula occluden-1 and -2 (ZO-1 and ZO-2) proteins combine to form these TJ complexes that are anchored to the cytoskeletal architecture (actin). Disruptions of the BBB have been attributed to hypoxic conditions that occur with ischemic stroke, pathologies of decreased perfusion, and high-altitude exposure. The effects of hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation in cerebral microvasculature and corresponding cellular mechanisms involved in disrupting the BBB remain unclear. This study examined hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation effects on paracellular permeability and changes in actin and TJ proteins using primary bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMEC). Hypoxia induced a 2.6-fold increase in [(14)C]sucrose, a marker of paracellular permeability. This effect was significantly reduced (~58%) with posthypoxic reoxygenation. After hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation, actin expression was increased (1.4- and 2.3-fold, respectively). Whereas little change was observed in TJ protein expression immediately after hypoxia, a twofold increase in expression was seen with posthypoxic reoxygenation. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies showed alterations in occludin, ZO-1, and ZO-2 protein localization during hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation that correlate with the observed changes in BBMEC permeability. The results of this study show hypoxia-induced changes in paracellular permeability may be due to perturbation of TJ complexes and that posthypoxic reoxygenation reverses these effects.     

Relationships of Dopamine, Cortical Oxygen Pressure, and Hydroxyl Radicals in Brain of Newborn Piglets During Hypoxia and Posthypoxic Recovery

Abstract: The present study describes the relationships of extracellular striatal dopamine, cortical oxygen pressure, and striatal hydroxyl radicals in brain of newborn piglets during hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation. Hypoxia was induced by reducing the fraction of inspired oxygen (F_iO₂) from 22% (control) to 7% for 1 h. The F_iO₂ was then returned to the control value and measurements were continued for 2 h. Cerebral oxygen pressure was measured by the oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence and extracellular levels of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and hydroxy radicals in the striatum were determined by in vivo microdialysis. Hypoxia decreased the cortical oxygen pressure from 47 ± 2 to 9 ± 1.3 torr (p < 0.001); the levels of extracellular dopamine in the striatum increased to 16,000 ± 3,270% of control (p < 0.01), whereas the levels of DOPAC and HVA decreased to 25.3 ± 6% (p < 0.001) and 36 ± 5% (p < 0.01) of control, respectively. Compared with control, the hydroxyl radical levels at each time point were not significantly increased during hypoxia, although the sum of the measured values was significantly increased (p < 0.05). During the first 5 min after F_iO₂ was returned to 22%, the cortical oxygen pressure increased to control values and stayed at this level for the remainder of the measurement period. The extracellular level of dopamine declined to values not statistically different from control during 40 min of reoxygenation. During the first 10 min of reoxygenation, DOPAC and HVA further decreased and then began to slowly increase. By 70 min of reoxygenation, the values were not significantly different from control. Hydroxyl radicals were above control during the entire period of reoxygenation, with maximal values observed after 100 min of reoxygenation. This increase was largely abolished by injecting the animals with α-methyl-p-tyrosine 5 h before hypoxia, a procedure that depleted the brain of dopamine. Our results suggest that oxidation of striatal dopamine during posthypoxic reoxygenation is at least partly responsible for the observed increase in striatal level of hydroxyl radicals that may exacerbate posthypoxic cerebral injury.     

Chronic exposure to sublethal doses of radiation mimetic Zeocin selects for clones deficient in homologous recombination

Research indicates that exposure to hypoxia is associated with oxidative stress. In this investigation, healthy subjects were exposed to hypoxia by inhalation of 10% oxygen for 2 h (corresponding to 5500 m above sea level). The levels of strand breaks and oxidatively damaged purine bases, measured by the comet assay, and the expression of genes involved in DNA repair of oxidatively damaged DNA were investigated in mononuclear blood cells (MNBC) at baseline, after 2 h of hypoxia, 2 h of reoxygenation, and 1 day and 8 days after the exposure. The level of strand breaks and oxidized purine bases in MNBC increased following both the 2 h of hypoxia and the 2 h reoxygenation period, whereas this effect was not observed in unexposed subjects. The expressions of oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1), nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X-type motif 1 (NUDT1), nei endonuclease VIII-like 1 (NEIL1), and mutY homolog (MUTYH) were unaltered throughout the experiment in both groups of subjects, indicating that DNA repair genes are not up-regulated by the hypoxia and reoxygenation treatment. Taken together, this report shows that inhalation of 10% oxygen for 2 h is associated with increased number of oxidized DNA lesions in MNBC, but acute hypoxia may not inflict upon the regulation of genes involved in repair of oxidized DNA.     

Acetazolamide protects against posthypoxic unstable breathing in the C57BL/6J mouse.

Acetazolamide (Acz), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, is used to manage periodic breathing associated with altitude and with heart failure. We examined whether Acz would alter posthypoxic ventilatory behavior in the C57BL/6J (B6) mouse model of recurrent central apnea. Experiments were performed with unanesthetized, awake adult male B6 mice (n = 9), ventilatory behavior was measured using flow-through whole body plethysmography. Mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of either vehicle or Acz (40 mg/kg), and 1 h later they were exposed to 1 min of 8% O(2)-balance N(2) (poikilocapnic hypoxia) or 12% O(2)-3% CO(2)-balance N(2) (isocapnic hypoxia) followed by rapid reoxygenation (100% O(2)). Hypercapnic response (8% CO(2)-balance O(2)) was examined in six mice. With Acz, ventilation, including respiratory frequency, tidal volume, and minute ventilation, in room air was significantly higher and hyperoxic hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness was generally lower compared with vehicle. Poikilocapnic and isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory responsiveness were similar among treatments. One minute after reoxygenation, animals given Acz exhibited posthypoxic frequency decline, a lower coefficient of variability for frequency, and no tendency toward periodic breathing, compared with vehicle treatment. We conclude that Acz improves unstable breathing in the B6 model, without altering hypoxic response or producing short-term potentiation, but with some blunting of hypercapnic responsiveness.     

Posthypoxic ventilatory decline during NREM sleep: influence of sleep apnea.

We wished to determine the severity of posthypoxic ventilatory decline in patients with sleep apnea relative to normal subjects during sleep. We studied 11 men with sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome and 11 normal men during non-rapid eye movement sleep. We measured EEG, electrooculogram, arterial O(2) saturation, and end-tidal P(CO2). To maintain upper airway patency in patients with sleep apnea, nasal continuous positive pressure was applied at a level sufficient to eliminate apneas and hypopneas. We compared the prehypoxic control (C) with posthypoxic recovery breaths. Nadir minute ventilation in normal subjects was 6.3 +/- 0.5 l/min (83.8 +/- 5.7% of room air control) vs. 6.7 +/- 0.9 l/min, 69.1 +/- 8.5% of room air control in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients; nadir minute ventilation (% of control) was lower in patients with OSA relative to normal subjects (P < 0.05). Nadir tidal volume was 0.55 +/- 0.05 liter (80.0 +/- 6.6% of room air control) in OSA patients vs. 0.42 +/- 0.03 liter, 86.5 +/- 5.2% of room air control in normal subjects. In addition, prolongation of expiratory time (Te) occurred in the recovery period. There was a significant difference in Te prolongation between normal subjects (2.61 +/- 0.3 s, 120 +/- 11.2% of C) and OSA patients (5.6 +/- 1.5 s, 292 +/- 127.6% of C) (P < 0.006). In conclusion, 1) posthypoxic ventilatory decline occurred after termination of hypocapnic hypoxia in normal subjects and patients with sleep apnea and manifested as decreased tidal volume and prolongation of Te; and 2) posthypoxic ventilatory prolongation of Te was more pronounced in patients with sleep apnea relative to normal subjects.     

Exocytotic release of dopamine in ventral tegmental area slices from C57BL/6 and dopamine transporter knockout mice

The present study used voltammetry to ascertain whether electrically stimulated somatodendritic dopamine release in ventral tegmental area slices from C57BL/6 and dopamine transporter knockout mice was due to exocytosis or dopamine transporter reversal, as has been debated. The maximal concentration of electrically evoked dopamine release was similar between ventral tegmental area slices from dopamine transporter knockout and C57BL/6 mice. Dopamine transporter blockade (10 μM nomifensine) in slices from C57BL/6 mice inhibited dopamine uptake but did not alter peak evoked dopamine release. In addition, dopamine release and uptake kinetics in ventral tegmental area slices from dopamine transporter knockout mice were unaltered by the norepinephrine transporter inhibitor, desipramine (10 μM), or the serotonin transporter inhibitor, fluoxetine (10 μM). Furthermore, maximal dopamine release in ventral tegmental area slices from both C57BL/6 and dopamine transporter knockout mice was significantly decreased in response to Na⁺ channel blockade by 1 μM tetrototoxin, removal of Ca²⁺ from the perfusion media and neuronal vesicular monoamine transporter inhibition by RO-04-1284 (10 μM) or tetrabenazine (10 and 100 μM). Finally, the glutamate receptor antagonists AP-5 (50 and 100 μM) and CNQX (20 and 50 μM) had no effect on peak somatodendritic dopamine release in C57BL/6 mice. Overall, these data suggest that similar mechanisms, consistent with exocytosis, govern electrically evoked dopamine release in ventral tegmental area slices from C57BL/6 and dopamine transporter knockout mice.     

Ventilatory behavior after hypoxia in C57BL/6J and A/J mice.

Given the environmental forcing by extremes in hypoxia-reoxygenation, there might be no genetic effect on posthypoxic short-term potentiation of ventilation. Minute ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (f), tidal volume (VT), and the airway resistance during chemical loading were assessed in unanesthetized unrestrained C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J mice using whole body plethysmography. Static pressure-volume curves were also performed. In 12 males for each strain, after 5 min of 8% O2 exposure, B6 mice had a prominent decrease in VE on reoxygenation with either air (-11%) or 100% O2 (-20%), due to the decline of f. In contrast, A/J animals had no ventilatory undershoot or f decline. After 5 min of 3% CO2-10% O2 exposure, B6 exhibited significant decrease in VE (-28.4 vs. -38.7%, air vs. 100% O2) and f (-13.8 vs. -22.3%, air vs. 100% O2) during reoxygenation with both air and 100% O2; however, A/J mice showed significant increase in VE (+116%) and f (+62.2%) during air reoxygenation and significant increase in VE (+68.2%) during 100% O2 reoxygenation. There were no strain differences in dynamic airway resistance during gas challenges or in steady-state total respiratory compliance measured postmortem. Strain differences in ventilatory responses to reoxygenation indicate that genetic mechanisms strongly influence posthypoxic ventilatory behavior.     

Cytochrome c associated apoptosis during ATP recovery after hypoxia in neonatal rat cerebrocortical slices

Cellular injury was evaluated in superfused cerebrocortical slices (350 micro m) from 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to 30 min hypoxia followed by 4 h of reoxygenation. At the end of hypoxia homogenous cytosolic immunoreactivity of cytochrome c increased approximately fourfold, cytochrome c intensity in western blot analyses increased more than fivefold, and whole cell and cytosolic cleaved caspase-9 underwent 50% and 100% increases, respectively. Immunostaining of sections taken 1.5 h after hypoxia showed: (i) more than a threefold increase in cleaved caspase-9; (ii) localization of cleaved caspase-9 to the interior and peripheral exterior of nuclei; and (iii) homogeneously distributed cytochrome c in the cytosol. Western blot analysis for 1.5 h after hypoxia showed that cytosolic caspase-9 returned to control values, while whole cell caspase-9 stayed approximately the same, suggesting translocation of caspase-9 to nuclei. By 4 h after hypoxia there was significant nuclear fragmentation and an increase in TUNEL positive staining. 31P/1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed substantial decreases of ATP and phosphocreatine during hypoxia, with rapid but incomplete recovery being close to steady state 1 h after reoxygenation. At all time points after hypoxia the primary injury was cytochrome c associated apoptosis.     

Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain Cortical Slices as Measured by the Thiobarbituric Acid Test

Abstract: Malonaldehyde formation by cortical brain slices from rat brain was determined as a function of incubation time and of oxygen pressure. This substance, a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, was detected by the thiobarbituric acid test. Significant amounts of malonaldehyde were formed by brain slices during incubation in the 0.2 (air) to 10 atm oxygen range, and a portion of it was released into the medium. The rate of malonaldehyde formation was the highest during the first 10 min. Elevation of oxygen pressure above 1 atm caused further increments in malonaldehyde production with kinetic properties similar to that seen at 1 atm pressure, but the increments per additional oxygen pressure were diminishing. The formation of a given amount of malonaldehyde can be expressed as a function of atm oxygen × min. This function has the shape of a saturation curve approaching a maximum at around 300 atm × min. The results indicate extensive lipid peroxidation in brain slices under standard incubation conditions.     

Strain differences in murine ventilatory behavior persist after urethane anesthesia.

Differences in breathing pattern between awake C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J mice are such that A/J mice breathe slower, deeper, and with greater variability than B6. We theorized that urethane anesthesia, by affecting cortical and subcortical function, would test the hypothesis that strain differences require a fully functional neuroaxis. We anesthetized B6 and A/J mice with urethane, placed them in a whole-body plethysmograph, and measured the durations of inspiration and expiration, respiratory frequency (Fr), and peak amplitude during exposure to room air (21% O2), hyperoxia (5 min, 100% O2), hypoxia (5 min, 8% O2), and posthypoxic reoxygenation (5 min, 100% O2). Breathing variability was assessed by calculating the coefficient of variation (CV) and by applying spatial statistics to Poincaré plots constructed from the timing and amplitude data. Even though Fr in anesthetized B6 and A/J mice was greater than that for unanesthetized animals, anesthetized A/J mice still breathed slower, deeper, and with greater variability than B6 mice at rest and during hyperoxia. During the fourth minute of hypoxia, Fr and its CV were not significantly different between strains. Even though Fr was similar between strains immediately after hypoxia, its CV was significantly greater for B6 than A/J mice. Posthypoxic Fr was significantly less than baseline Fr in B6 but not A/J mice, and the CV for posthypoxic Fr was greater for B6 but less for AJ mice compared with baseline CV. This difference in patterning was confirmed by spatial statistical analysis. We conclude that strain-specific differences in respiratory pattern and its variability are robust genetic traits. The neural substrate for these differences, at least partially, exists within subcortical structures generating the breathing pattern.     

Short-term hypoxia induces a selective death of GABAergic neurons

It is known that brief episodes of hypoxia protect neurons from death caused by global ischemia and hypoxia (hypoxic preconditioning). At the same time, brief hypoxia may cause a phenomenon of posthypoxic hyperexcitability during reoxygenation, which can lead to the death of separate neurons due to their individual differences. In this work we compare the effects of short-term hypoxia on the initiation of preconditioning and posthypoxic hyperexcitability in two populations of neurons: inhibitory GABAergic neurons and excitatory glutamatergic neurons. Preconditioning effect was evaluated according to the suppression of the NMDA-receptor activity. The phenomenon of posthypoxic hyperexcitability was estimated by the appearance of spontaneous synchronized Ca²⁺ spikes in the neuronal network during reoxygenation after each episode of hypoxia. It is shown that the preconditioning effect occurs only in glutamatergic neurons. In the GABAergic neurons the effect of preconditioning was not observed. The activity of NMDA receptors in these neurons was not suppressed but increased after each episode of hypoxia. At the moment of posthypoxic synchronous Ca²⁺-spike generation, a global increase of the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration occurred in a few of GABAergic neurons, followed by the apoptotic death of these cells. The anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10) prevented the development of posthypoxic hyperexcitability, inhibiting spontaneous synchronous Ca²⁺ spike, and protected GABAergic neurons from the death, restoring the preconditioning effect in them. PI3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 prevented the IL-10 protective effect abolishing the inhibiting effect of IL-10 on the generation of the Ca²⁺ synchronous spike. These findings point out to the leading role of GABAergic neurons in the development of posthypoxic hyperexcitability. We suggest that the reason for posthypoxic hyperexcitability in the network is a weakening of the inhibiting effect of GABAergic neurons. Activation of different signaling pathways leading to activation of PKB- and PKG-dependent phosphorylation in the neurons of this type represents a possible strategy to protect neurons from death during hypoxia.     

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition mimics intermittent reoxygenation and improves cardioprotection in the hypoxic myocardium

Although chronic hypoxia is a claimed myocardial risk factor reducing tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), intermittent reoxygenation has beneficial effects and enhances heart tolerance to I/R. Aim of the study: To test the hypothesis that, by mimicking intermittent reoxygenation, selective inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 activity improves ischemia tolerance during hypoxia. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxia for 15 days (10% O₂) and treated with placebo, sildenafil (1.4 mg/kg/day, i. p.), intermittent reoxygenation (1 h/day exposure to room air) or both. Controls were normoxic hearts. To assess tolerance to I/R all hearts were subjected to 30-min regional ischemia by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation followed by 3 h-reperfusion. Whereas hypoxia depressed tolerance to I/R, both sildenafil and intermittent reoxygenation reduced the infarct size without exhibiting cumulative effects. The changes in myocardial cGMP, apoptosis (DNA fragmentation), caspase-3 activity (alternative marker for cardiomyocyte apoptosis), eNOS phosphorylation and Akt activity paralleled the changes in cardioprotection. However, the level of plasma nitrates and nitrites was higher in the sildenafil+intermittent reoxygenation than sildenafil and intermittent reoxygenation groups, whereas total eNOS and Akt proteins were unchanged throughout. Conclusions: Sildenafil administration has the potential to mimic the cardioprotective effects led by intermittent reoxygenation, thereby opening the possibility to treat patients unable to be reoxygenated through a pharmacological modulation of NO-dependent mechanisms.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic, L-749,345, in human plasma and urine

A column-switching, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic assay using ultraviolet detection has been developed for a new carbapenem antibiotic L-749,345 in human plasma and urine. A plasma sample is centrifuged and then injected onto an extraction column using 25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.5. After 3 min, using a column-switching valve, the analyte is back-flushed with 10.5% methanol–phosphate buffer for 3 min onto a Hypersil 5 μm C₁₈ BDS 100×4.6 mm analytical column and then detected by absorbance at 300 nm. The sample preparation and HPLC conditions for the urine assay are similar, except for a longer analytical column 150×4.6 mm. The plasma assay is specific and linear from 0.125 to 50 μg/ml; the urine assay is linear from 1.25 to 100 μg/ml.     

线粒体钾通道参与葛根素抗心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的作用

目的:探讨线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道和线粒体钙激活钾通道在葛根素预处理抗心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤中的作用。方法:采用酶解分离大鼠心肌细胞复制心肌细胞缺氧/复氧模型,台盼蓝拒染法测定心肌细胞存活率;四甲基罗丹明乙酯(TMRE)孵育测定线粒体膜电位值;分离线粒体测定线粒体渗透性转换孔开放程度。结果:与缺氧/复氧组相比,葛根素(0.24mmol/L)预处理5min可明显增加心肌细胞的存活率,线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道抑制剂5-羟基癸酸(100μmol/L,预处理20min)或线粒体钙激活钾通道阻断剂paxilline(1μmol/L,预处理5min)均可拮抗葛根素的作用。葛根素预处理可明显减弱缺氧引起的线粒体膜电位的耗损,5-羟基癸酸和paxilline都能明显拮抗其作用。在分离心肌线粒体模型上,葛根素显著减弱CaCl2诱导的线粒体在A520处吸光度降低,其作用与单独应用线粒体渗透性转换孔抑制剂环孢菌素A相似;5-羟基癸酸和paxilline可拮抗葛根素的保护作用。结论:在大鼠分离心肌细胞模型或分离线粒体模型上,葛根素预处理具有抗缺氧/复氧损伤的作用,这种保护作用可能与其促进线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道和线粒体钙激活钾通道的开放,进而稳定线粒体膜电位,抑制线粒体渗透性转换孔开放有关。     

Protection of cultured hippocampal neurons in hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation by antioxidant from the spatially hindered phenols class]

The influence of antioxidant from hindered phenols (U-18) on a hypoxic neurodestructive effect in mouse hippocampal cell cultures was studied. Morphological and biochemical quantitative analysis of neuronal damage showed that U-18 attenuates nerve cell death resultant from 6-7-hour hypoxia and subsequent 12-hour posthypoxic reoxygenation. This antidestructive action of U-18 was observed upon its introduction in nutrient medium both before and immediately after hypoxic period. Thus, our results suggest that peroxidant reactions play a pivotal role in hypoxic neuronal injury and probably participate in this neurodestructive process mainly during posthypoxic reoxygenation period.     

The presence of the potentially toxic genera Ostreopsis and Coolia (Dinophyceae) in the North Aegean Sea, Greece

The examination of macrophyte, water and sediment samples, collected at depths less than 1.5 m from 50 different sites along the North Aegean coasts, has revealed, for the first time in Greek coastal waters, the presence of two Ostreopsis species (O. ovata and O. cf. siamensis) and Coolia monotis in the majority of the sampling sites (94% and 100%, respectively). Other epiphytic dinoflagellates of the genera Prorocentrum and Amphidinium and diatoms were accompanying species in this epiphytic community. Morphometric features, plate formula and thecal ornamentation were used for species identification. O. ovata cells were smaller in dorsoventral (DV) diameter and width (W) (26.18–61.88 μm and 13.09–47.60 μm, respectively) in comparison with O. cf. siamensis (35.70–65.45 μm and 23.80–49.98 μm, respectively). In contrast, the anterioposterior (AP) diameter of O. cf. siamensis was smaller (14.28–26.18 μm) resulting in DV/AP ≈ 3, whereas the above ratio for O. ovata was less than 2 (AP ranging between 14.28–35.70 μm). Moreover, the theca of O. ovata cells was ornamented with scattered pores, which fluctuated in a wider range (0.07–0.32 μm) than those of O. cf. siamensis (0.23–0.29 μm). Coolia monotis cells were almost round with average DV diameter 26.88 μm, AP 25.66 μm and width 26.76 μm. Small and large cells were recorded in both field and culture populations of Ostreopsis spp. and C. monotis, while hyaline cysts were observed for O. ovata. The presence of O. ovata and O. cf. siamensis exhibited a clear seasonal pattern dominating (maximum abundance up to 4.05 × 10⁵ cells gr⁻¹ fwm) the period from midsummer to late autumn in years 2003 and 2004, while C. monotis was found also in winter and spring months.     

Effects of buspirone on posthypoxic ventilatory behavior in the C57BL/6J and A/J mouse strains.

Buspirone, a partial agonist of the serotonergic 5-HT1A receptor, improves breathing irregularities in humans with Rett syndrome or brain stem injury. The purpose of this study was to examine whether buspirone alters posthypoxic ventilatory behavior in C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J mouse strains. Measurements of ventilatory behavior were collected from unanesthetized adult male mice (n=6 for each strain) using the plethysmographic method. Mice were given intraperitoneal injections of vehicle or several doses of buspirone and exposed to 2 min of hypoxia (10% O2) followed by rapid reoxygenation (100% O2). Twenty minutes later, mice were tested for hypercapnic response (8% CO(2)-92% O2). On a separate day, mice were injected with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist 4-iodo-N-{2-[4-(methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethyl}-N-2-pyridinylbenzamide (p-MPPI) before the injection of buspirone, and measurements were repeated. In separate studies, arterial blood-gas analysis was performed for each strain (n=12 in B6 and 10 in A/J) with buspirone or vehicle. In both strains, buspirone stimulated ventilation at rest. In the B6 mice, the hypoxic response was unchanged, but the response to hypercapnia was reduced with buspirone (5 mg/kg; P<0.05). With reoxygenation, vehicle-treated B6 exhibited periodic breathing and greater variation in ventilation compared with A/J (P<0.01). In B6 animals, >or=3 mg/kg of buspirone reduced variation and prevented the occurrence of posthypoxic periodic breathing. Both effects were reversed by p-MPPI. Treatment effect of buspirone was not explained by a difference in resting arterial blood gases. We conclude that buspirone improves posthypoxic ventilatory irregularities in the B6 mouse through its agonist effects on the 5-HT1A receptor.