c-fos Expression in Gracilothalamic Tract Neurons after Electrical Stimulation of the Injured Sciatic Nerve in the Adult Rat

The number of c-fos protein-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) cells in the gracile nucleus was determined after electrical stimulation at Aα/Aβ-fiber strength of the normal and of the previously injured sciatic nerve in adult rats. No Fos-LI cells were seen after electrical stimulation of the noninjured sciatic nerve, or after sciatic nerve injury without electrical stimulation. However, stimulation 21 days after sciatic nerve transection resulted in numerous Fos-LI cells in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus. Combined Fos immunocytochemistry and retrograde labeling from the thalamus showed that the majority (76%; range = 70–80%) of the cells in the gracile nucleus that expressed Fos-LI after nerve injury projected to the thalamus. The results indicate that morphological, biochemical, and physiological alterations in primary sensory central endings and second-order neurons, which have earlier been demonstrated in the dorsal column nuclei after peripheral nerve injury, are accompanied by changes in the c-fos gene activation pattern after stimulation of the injured sciatic nerve. A substantial number of the c-fos-expressing neurons project to the thalamus.     

Slit 2N与丝素蛋白混合物诱导大鼠海马神经元迁移的体外模型建立

目的：利用Slit排斥导向迁移和丝素蛋白,探索建立简便可行、经济实惠、作用持久的神经元导向迁移模型新方法。方法：提取SD新生鼠海马组织,以专用细胞培养片体外培养神经元,分为空白对照组、单纯丝素蛋白、单纯Slit 2N和Slit 2N与丝素蛋白混合物组（以下简称混合物组）,分别随机选择不同视野下50个神经元,用显微镜拍照记录胞体坐标及突起状态,除空白对照组外,其他3组均距每个神经元100 μm处添加相应诱导物,共观察30 min,再次记录后,用免疫荧光染色法鉴定细胞性质及其阳性率。结果：单纯Slit 2N组和混合物组均可见突起向浓度低处迁移或弯曲,且长度有所缩短,空白对照组和单纯丝素蛋白组未见明显变化。突起变化的平均持续时间及平均长度差从大到小依次为混合物组、单纯Slit 2N组、单纯丝素蛋白组（P<0.05）,单纯丝素蛋白组和空白对照组间无明显变化（P>0.05）。四组神经元MAP-2阳性率均达到90%以上。结论：丝素蛋白对Slit 2N诱导大鼠海马神经元迁移作用无明显影响,可有效减缓Slit 2N扩散速度,使作用时间延长,为治疗中枢神经系统疾病建立三维神经定向修复提供有利的体外实验构建基础。     

GM2 Promotes Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor-Dependent Rescue of Immortalized Motor Neuron-Like Cell (NSC-34)

We have examined whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can alter serum-free cell survival of immortalized motor neuron-like cells, which were established by fusing mouse neuroblasoma N18TG2 with mouse motor neurons. One of the cell lines, NSC-34 exhibited cell survival in the presence of CNTF. NSC-34 preserves the most characteristics of motor neurons, such as the formation of neuromuscular junctions on co-cultured myotube. GM2 ganglioside is characteristic of motor neurons, and expressed highly in NSC-34. When NSC-34 was cultured with exogenous GM2 ganglioside and CNTF, GM2 facilitated the cell survival effect of CNTF. In the addition, 1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GM2 synthase) activity was enhanced up to 3.9-fold by culture in the presence of CNTF. GM2 might be a functional modulator of CNTF in motor neurons. It might be presented to cell surface by its enzyme activation, and become a signal of early stage, when CNTF rescues motor neurons.     

人GDNF基因在昆虫细胞中的高效表达

应用昆虫杆状病毒表达系统在昆虫细胞Ｔｎ－５Ｂ１－４中高效表达了人胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（ＧＤＮＦ）,ＰＡＧＥ分析表达量占细胞可溶性蛋白质的３０％左右,表达产物经亲和层析纯化后纯度达８０％以上,活性研究表明,昆虫细胞表达的ＧＤＮＦ蛋白能显著促进多巴胺能神经元的存活,此研究为进一步研究ＧＤＮＦ结构与功能打下了良好的基础。     

Function of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the stomach

-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) are transmitters of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the enteric interneurons, targeting excitatory or inhibitory GABA receptors or glutamate receptors that modulate gastric motility and mucosal function. GABAergic and glutamatergic neuron immunoreactivity have been found in cholinergic enteric neurons in the stomach. GABA and L-Glu may also subserve hormonal and paracrine signaling. Disruption in gastrointestinal function following perturbation of enteric GABA receptors and glutamate receptors presents potential new target sites for drug development.     

Behavioural assessments of neurotoxic effects and neurodegeneration in zebrafish

Altered neurological function will generally be behaviourally apparent. Many of the behavioural models pioneered in mammalian models are portable to zebrafish. Tests are available to capture alterations in basic motor function, changes associated with exteroceptive and interoceptive sensory cues, and alterations in learning and memory performance. Excepting some endpoints involving learning, behavioural tests can be carried out at 4 days post fertilization. Given larvae can be reared quickly and in large numbers, and that software solutions are readily available from multiple vendors to automatically test behavioural responses in 96 larvae simultaneously, zebrafish are a potent and rapid model for screening neurological impairments. Coupling current and emerging behavioural endpoints with molecular techniques will permit and accelerate the determination of the mechanisms behind neurotoxicity and degeneration, as well as provide numerous means to test remedial drugs and other therapies. The emphasis of this review is to highlight unexplored/underutilized behavioural assays for future studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Zebrafish Models of Neurological Diseases.     

人体小脑神经元发育的定量观察

目的：研究人体小脑神经元的发育过程。方法：应用体视学方法,对18例不同时期人体小脑组织Golgi染色后进行观察,观测小脑皮质分层出现的时间,观测并计算神经元的数密度、体密度和表面积密度。结果：6月龄时,小脑皮质出现较明显的分子层、蒲肯野细胞层和颗粒层;星形细胞、篮状细胞、蒲肯野细胞、颗粒细胞和高尔基细胞的的数密度随月龄／年龄的增长而减少,体密度和表面积密度随月龄／年龄的增长而增加,但这些减小和增大是不等速的,6-8月龄变化最明显。结论：人体小脑神经元的发育呈现快慢交替、不均速发展,6～8月是小脑神经元发育的重要时期。     

醒脑静对颅脑创伤的保护作用

目的：探讨醒脑静对颅脑损伤大鼠的保护作用及其机制。方法：健康雄性成年SD大鼠63只,随机分为3组（n=21）：假手术组、模型组、醒脑静组。模型组与醒脑静组均采用自由落体撞击伤方法制作创伤性脑损伤模型,假手术组仅行开颅术,不造成脑损伤。醒脑静组盆大鼠造模后10min内经尾静脉注射醒脑静注射液10ml／（kg·d）,模型组与假手术组则经尾静脉注射等量0．9％氯化钠溶液,三组均连续给药7d。给药第7天比较各组大鼠血清中S-100B蛋白和神经特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）水平,脑组织含水量,检测血清中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—Px）含量,并对各组大鼠进行神经功能缺损评分。结果：与假手术组比较,醒脑静组和模型组均有明显的神经缺损,脑组织含水量、MDA、S-100B蛋白和NSE水平明显升高,SOD、GSH-Px含量明显降低;醒脑静组与模型组比较,醒脑静组神经缺损程度及脑含水量显著低于模型组,血清中MDA和NSE水平明显低于模型组,SOD、GSH-Px活性明显高于模型组。结论：醒脑静注射液对大鼠颅脑损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与减轻颅脑损伤后脑水肿及抑制氧自由基反应、保护神经细胞有关。