刺激蓝斑对下丘脑弓状核单位放电的影响

本研究室以往工作表明,下丘脑弓状核(ARC)和蓝斑(LC)在痛觉调制和针刺镇痛中具有重要作用。本实验观察刺激 LC 对清醒制动大鼠 ARC 单位放电的影响。ARC 单位对刺激LC 的反应以抑制为主,在38个单位中有23个单位呈现抑制反应。ARC 单位对外周伤害性刺激的反应以兴奋为主,在27个单位中有20个单位呈现兴奋反应。刺激 LC 可以使 ARC 单位的伤害性反应的持续时间明显缩短。α_2受体激动剂(氯压啶)和α_1受体阻断剂(酚苄明)能加快ARC 单位的平均放电频率,而β-受体激动剂(异丙基肾上腺素)和β受体阻断剂(心得安)则无明显影响。这些结果提示 LC 的去甲肾上腺素能神经元对 ARC 神经元的作用是通过α受体实现的。     

猫脑干上涎核节前神经元电活动的观察

在麻醉的32只猫记录了电刺激颌下腺神经支引起的上涎核平均场电位和单位放电。逆行电刺激颌下腺神经支引起的上涎核平均场电位分布在同侧脑干背面闩部头端5.5—8mm处,与过去的组织学结果大致符合。用微电极在上涎核记录了68个对刺激颌下腺神经支有反应的单位,其中33个单位作了碰撞试验。有9个单位符合逆向反应标准,它们是真正的颌下腺节前神经元,逆行反应的潜伏期为14.4±2.5ms,其轴突传导速度为2.9±0.1m/s。其他不符合逆向反应标准的单位,对刺激颌下腺神经支仍能发生反应,估计多为中间神经元。在一部分单位观察了电刺激舌神经或味觉刺激舌引起的反应。根据这些观察对上涎核内存在复杂神经元回路的可能性作了讨论。     

刺激家兔腹部迷走神经外周端降压效应中枢机制的研究

应用电解损毁和脑室内注射药物的方法研究了刺激家兔腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压效应的中枢机制。结果表明:1.电刺激延脑闩部尾侧1.5—2mm、中线旁开0.25mm、深1—2mm 处主要引起降压反应。2.电解损毁该部位可以使刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所引起的降压效应显著减弱(n=20,P<0.001),但对刺激减压神经所致降压反应无影响。3.在延脑闩部水平电解损毁减压神经纤维在孤束核的主要投射区可以使刺激减压神经所致降压反应显著减弱,而对刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压反应无影响。4.第四脑室注射5,6-双羟色胺的动物较之注射人工脑脊液的动物颈、胸髓5-羟色胺含量明显降低、动物动脉压增高、心率明显增快、刺激减压神经所致降压反应未见减弱,而刺激腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压反应却明显减小。因此,我们认为家兔腹部迷走神经外周端所致降压效应依赖于延脑闩下部的中缝隐核及连合核等结构,而与减压神经的投射部位无关。延脑中缝核至脊髓的下行性5-HT能神经纤维抑制脊髓交感节前神经元的活动,是这个降压效应的中枢机制之一。     

家兔脑桥臂旁内侧核区微量注射吗啡对中缝大核区单位放电的影响

实验在62只家兔上进行。结果观察到,中缝大核(NRM)区562个单位中,有118个单位的自发放电频率低,放电比较规则,动作电位时程长,易被微电泳5-羟色胺所阻遏,称为A 组单位。其余444个单位的自发放电频率高,动作电位时程短,称为B 组单位。大多数 B组单位对微电泳5-羟色胺不起反应。脑桥臂旁内侧核(NPBM)区微量注射吗啡(200μg/2μl)或静脉注射吗啡(3mg/kg)后,20个A 组单位中有19个发生兴奋效应,而49个B 组单位中仅有29个发生兴奋效应,而且A组单位发生兴奋的程度也比B组单位的高。这些结果提示,NRM区的A 组单位可能是5-羟色胺神经元,吗啡对这些神经元有相对选择性的兴奋作用。 在另外11只家兔上,应用辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)逆行追踪技术观察到,NPBM 区与NRM 区有纤维联系。 本实验结果提示,静脉注射吗啡所致的呼吸抑制,可能与吗啡作用于 NPBM,通过纤维联系,引起NRM 5-羟色胺神经元兴奋有关。     

Evoked Release of Proteins from Central Neurons In Vivo

Push-pull cannulae were implanted in both substantiae nigrae and caudate nuclei of the halothane-anesthetized cat. The release of total protein, acetylcho-linesterase, and nonspecific cholinesterases was examined. Following direct application of potassium to one substantia nigra, changes occurred in the local release of total protein and acetylcholinesterase, but not nonspecific cholinesterases; changes also were observed in both caudate nuclei and the contralatera/ substantia nigra. The local evoked release of acetylcholinesterase and of total protein differed in the extent to which they were calcium-dependent. Control studies suggest that release of these compounds, both spontaneous and evoked, is related, at least in part, to neuronal activity. The significance of the neuronal release of proteins is discussed.     

Hypoprolactinemic Action of Calcitonin and the Tuberoinfundibular Dopaminergic System

Abstract: The effects of calcitonin on neurochemical parameters related to the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic system have been investigated in an attempt to elucidate how calcitonin decreases serum prolactin levels. Intracerebroventricular human or salmon calcitonin injection decreases serum prolactin, medial basal hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and hypophysial DA and increases hypophysial DOPAC. Results suggest that calcitonin may decrease prolactin secretion via the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic system.     

Substance P and enkephalin in transected axons of medulla and spinal cord

The accumulation of transported materials in cut axons is demonstrated by the light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical localization of substance P and enkephalin in the caudal medulla and cervical spinal cord of adult rat. Two days following unilateral knife-cuts in the caudal medulla or spinal (C2-C3) levels, substance P and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (SPLI and ELI) are detected in lesioned axons located rostral and caudal to the transection. Rostrally, SPLI and ELI are detected in the lateral reticular region and ventrolateral fasciculus corresponding to the location of previously identified bulbospinal pathways. Caudally, previously unidentified, propriospinal pathways showing SPLI are detected in the dorsal columns and in the dorsolateral fasciculus. In contrast, ELI is found caudal to the transection only in the reticular region of the medulla. For both peptides, immunoreactivity is present throughout axons containing numerous large, dense core, and small clear vesicles. These results support the concept of both particulate and soluble modes of transport for substance P and enkephalin within axons of the central nervous system.     

The nuclei of cellular organelles and the formation of daughter organelles by the “plastid-dividing ring”

It has been established that organelles, such as mitochondria and plastids, contain organelle-specific DNA and arise from the division of pre-existing organelles (e.g., Possingham and Lawrence, 1983). We propose that organelle DNAs, such as mitochondrial DNA and plastid DNA are not naked in organellesin situ but are organized in each case to form an “organelle nucleus” with basic proteins (Kuroiwa, 1982). The concept of organelle nuclei has changed our ideas about the division of organelles. Thus, the process of organelle division must be composed of two main events: division of the organelle nucleus and organellekinesis (division of the other components of the mitochondrion or plastid). The latter term has been adopted as an appropriate analogue of cytokinesis. We were the first to identify the plastid-dividing ring (PD-ring), which is located in the cytoplasm close to the outer envelope membrane at the constricted isthmus of dividing chloroplasts in the red algaCyanidium caldirum. The PD-ring is about 60 nm in width and 25 nm in thickness, and is a circular bundle of actin-like, fine filaments, each about 4–5 nm in diameter. Since cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of polymerization of actin filaments, inhibits the formation of the PD-ring and, thus, prevents subsequent division of chloroplasts, the PD-ring is thought to be a structure that is essential for the division of plastids (plastidkinesis). The behavior of the PD-ring during a cycle of chloroplast division can be classified into the following four stages on the basis of morphological and temporal differences. The chloroplast growth stage: the small, spherical chloroplast increases in volume and becomes a football-like structure, while the PD-ring from the previous division disappears. Formation of the PD-ring: the somewhat electron-dense body (see below) is fragmented into many, somewhat electron-dense granules, which are aligned along the equatorial region of the chloroplast and fine filaments are formed from the somewhat electron-dense granules in the equatorial region. The fine filaments of the PD-ring align themselves according to the longest axis of their overall domain, i.e., circumferentially. Contraction stage: a bundle of fine filaments begins to contract and generates a deep furrow. Conversion stage: after chloroplast division, the remnants of the PD-ring are converted into somewhat electron-dense bodies. Similar events occur during the second cycle of chloroplast division. Since similar structures are observed extensively in the plastids of algae, moss and higher plants, the PD-ring appears to be an essential structure for the division of plastids in plants.     

伤害性刺激和非伤害性刺激对大鼠丘脑后核神经元电活动的影响

用微电极细胞外记录的方法,观察内脏痛、躯体痛和触觉刺激对大鼠丘脑后核(PO)中770个神经元电活动的影响,其中305(38.3％)个对伤害性刺激起反应,103(13.4％)个对触觉刺激起反应。对伤害性刺激反应的神经元中多数对躯体痛和内脏痛刺激均起反应且反应形式相同,少数反应不同或相反,对触觉刺激反应的神经元中多数也对两种伤害性刺激均起反应,只对触觉刺激反应的神经元很少。