鹦鹉热衣原体感染致复视1例

鹦鹉热衣原体是一种胞内寄生的革兰阴性菌,可引发人畜共患病。鹦鹉热衣原体感染多表现为呼吸道症状,在中枢神经系统受累时通常表现为脑膜炎、颅神经麻痹、吉兰巴雷综合征以及癫痫。本文介绍了1例鹦鹉热衣原体致重症肺炎且合并颅神经损害的病例,经过多西环素抗感染治疗后肺部感染及颅神经病变好转。该病例报告不仅帮助临床医师进一步熟悉鹦鹉热衣原体感染累及中枢神经系统的临床表现,更有助于其了解鹦鹉热病原体目前的诊断手段。     

Role of splanchnic nerve on steroid-hormone-induced alteration of adrenomedullary catecholamines in untreated and reserpinized pigeon

Summary The aim of the present investigation was to ascertain (1) the effect of steroid hormones (corticosterone, dexamethasone, deoxycorticosterone, progesterone, testosterone and oestrogen) on the neural regulation of adrenomedullary catecholamine (CA) content, and (2) the neural modulation of the effect of glucocorticoid hormones (corticosterone and dexamethasone) on reserpine-induced resynthesis of CA. The experiment was conducted on unilaterally splanchnic-denervated pigeons. The findings revealed that 7 consecutive days of steroid treatments (2.5 mg·kg b.w.^-1, i.m.) resulted in significant changes of CA content. Interestingly, the changes of epinephrine (E) content differed significantly between the innervated and denervated glands. This clearly indicates that the splanchnic nerve regulates steroid-induced alterations of E content in the pigeon. The results further revealed that the glucocorticoid hormones augmented reserpine-induced resynthesis of CA specifically in the innervated glands. This confirms that the splanchnic nerve is essential for the synergistic action of glucocorticoids and reserpine in accelerating resynthesis of CA.Abbreviations ANOVA analysis of variance - b.w. body weight - CA catecholamine - DBH dopamine--hydroxylase - df degrees of freedom - E epinephrine - i.m. intramuscular - i.p. intraperitoneal - mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid - NE norepinephrine - PNMT phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase - TH tyrosine hydroxylase     

Proliferation‐ and migration‐enhancing effects of ginseng and ginsenoside Rg1 through IGF‐I‐ and FGF‐2‐signaling pathways on RSC96 Schwann cells

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the proliferation‐ and migration‐enhancing effects of ginseng and its component, ginsenoside (Rg1) on RSC96 Schwann cells. We investigated the molecular signaling pathways, which include: (1) survival signaling, IGFs‐IGFIR‐Akt‐Bcl2 and proliferative signaling, cell cycle factors and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, (2) migrating and anti‐scar signaling, FGF‐2‐uPA‐MMPs.We treated RSC96 cells with different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 µg ml^?1) of ginseng and its constituent, Rg1 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 µg ml^?1). We observed a proliferative effect in a dose‐dependent manner by PCNA western blotting assay, MTT assay, and wound healing test. Furthermore, we also found in the results of western blotting assay, ginseng and Rg1 enhance protein expression of IGF‐I pathway regulators, cell cycle controlling proteins, and MAPK signaling pathways to promote the cell proliferation. In addition, ginseng and Rg1 also stimulated the FGF‐2‐uPA‐MMP 9 migrating pathway to enhance the migration of RSC96 Schwann cells. Using MAPK chemical inhibitors, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125, the proliferative effects of ginseng and Rg1 on RSC96 cells were identified to be MAPK signaling‐dependent. On the basis of the results, applying appropriate doses of ginseng and Rg1 with biomedical materials would be a potential approach for enhancing neuron regeneration. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

NGF augments the autophosphorylation of Ret via inhibition of ubiquitin-dependent degradation

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is required for the trophic maintenance of postnatal sympathetic neurons. A significant portion of the growth-promoting activity of NGF is from NGF-dependent phosphorylation of the heterologous receptor tyrosine kinase, Ret. We found that NGF applied selectively to distal axons of sympathetic neurons maintained in compartmentalized cultures activated Ret located in these distal axons. Inhibition of either proteasomal or lysosomal degradation pathways mimicked the effect of NGF on Ret activation. Likewise, NGF inhibited the degradation of Ret induced by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-dependent activation, a process that requires ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. NGF induced the accumulation of autophosphorylated Ret predominantly in the plasma membrane, in contrast to GDNF, which promoted the internalization of activated Ret. An accretion of monoubiquitinated, but not polyubiquitinated, Ret occurred in NGF-treated neurons, in contrast to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor that promoted the robust polyubiquitination of Ret. Thus, NGF stimulates Ret activity in mature sympathetic neurons by inhibiting the ongoing ubiquitin-mediated degradation of Ret before its internalization and polyubiquitination.     

A derivative of the plasma protease inhibitor alpha(2)-macroglobulin regulates the response to peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve injury induces endoneural inflammation, controlled by diverse cytokines and extracellular mediators. Although inflammation is coupled to axonal regeneration, fulminant inflammation may increase nerve damage and neuropathic pain. alpha(2)-Macroglobulin (alpha2M) is a plasma protease inhibitor, cytokine carrier, and ligand for cell-signaling receptors, which exists in two well-characterized conformations and in less well-characterized intermediate states. Previously, we generated an alpha2M derivative (alpha(2)-macroglobulin activated for cytokine binding; MAC) similar in structure to alpha(2)M conformational intermediates, which binds tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and inhibits endotoxin toxicity. In this study, we report that the continuum of cytokines that bind to MAC includes IL-6 and IL-18. MAC inhibited TNF-alpha-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and cell death in cultured Schwann cells. When administered by i.p. injection to mice with sciatic nerve crush injury, MAC decreased inflammation and preserved axons. Macrophage infiltration and TNF-alpha expression also are decreased. MAC inhibited TNF-alpha expression in the chronic constriction injury model of nerve injury. When MAC was prepared using a mutated recombinant alpha2M, which does not bind to the alpha2M receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1, activity in the chronic constriction injury model was blocked. These studies demonstrate that an alpha2M derivative is capable of regulating the response to peripheral nerve injury by a mechanism that requires low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1.     

Dopamine beta-hydroxylase like immunoreactive cells in the frog taste disc

We immunohistochemically examined the existence of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), a noradrenalin (NA)-synthesizing enzyme from dopamine, in the taste disc of frog, Rana catesbeiana. DBH-like immunoreactive cells were located in the intermediate layer in the taste disc; the cells showed an apical process reaching the surface of the disc and one or several basal processes. Cells with a thick apical process and those with a thin apical process were both immunoreactive: these cells corresponded to type II and III receptor cells of the frog taste disc. Immunoreactive granules were observed in the cytoplasm of those cells. In the frog taste disc, only type III cells are reported to have afferent synapses with the nerve via basal processes but those basal processes have not been reported in type II cells. In the present study, we found that type II-like cells possessed a long basal process extending toward the basal lamina. Mucous (type Ia) cells, wing (type Ib) cells, and glia-like sustentacular (type Ic) cells were all immunohistochemically unreactive. The present observations support the argument that NA (or adrenalin) may work as a chemical transmitter in the frog taste organ.     

Cleavage of BNIP-2 and BNIP-XL by caspases

BNIP-2 and BNIP-XL are BCH domain-containing proteins that are implicated in programmed cell death. It has been reported that overexpression of BNIP-2 in neuroblastoma cell lines resulted in massive cell death, whereas BNIP-XL was upregulated during NGF-depletion-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma and was involved in the regulation of differentiation, survival, and aggressiveness of tumor cells. Despite their importance in apoptosis, our understanding of BNIP-2 containing proteins is limited. In this communication, we demonstrate that both BNIP-2 and BNIP-XL are cleaved by caspases during apoptosis. Significantly, the caspase cleavage sites on BNIP-2 are located on its N-terminal EF-hand motif, while that on BNIP-XL is located upstream of the C-terminal BCH domain. Our results suggest that the caspase-mediated cleavage of BNIP-2 and BNIP-XL could result in the release of the BCH domain or smaller fragments that are crucial for their proapoptotic activities.     

生长抑素前体蛋白1和前脑啡肽原mRNA在鸡肠Remak神经中的分布

肠Remak神经(Intestinal nerve of Remak,INR)是禽类特有的一根自主神经节链,但INR中肽类递质的分布至今仍然存在许多疑问。本文应用RT-PCR方法从鸡脑组织提取的RNA中扩增生长抑素前体蛋白1(Somatostatin precursor1,PSS1)和前脑啡肽原(Preproenkephalin,PPE)基因片段,将其连接于pGM-Teasy质粒,经过转化大肠杆菌、挑取阳性克隆和测序鉴定,确定为目的片段。分别以线性化的SS1/pGM-Teasy和PPE/pGM-Teasy质粒为模板,用体外转录的方法合成正反义地高辛标记RNA探针。通过原位杂交方法将合成的探针用于探查PPE和PSS1 mRNA在鸡空回肠段和直肠段INR中的分布情况。结果表明:INR中大部分神经细胞中有PPE和PSS1的mRNA的转录,其中PPE探针杂交阳性细胞在空回肠段和直肠段INR分别占83.79%±7.96%和96.04%±4.53%,而PSS1探针在空回肠段和直肠段INR中的杂交阳性细胞分别占86.98%±7.93%和86.07%±6.11%;在整个INR中都可能有PPE和PSS1 mRNA共存于同一神经细胞的现象;原位杂交阳性神经细胞胞体呈有突起的梭形或椭圆形,其纵轴与INR延伸的方向平行;阳性神经细胞胞体在INR神经节中呈层状或成群分布,在节间束也有少量的阳性细胞分布。本文从基因水平证明INR中大量神经细胞进行PPE或PSS1的mRNA的转录,并可能作为外源性生长抑素1和脑啡肽能神经纤维支配到肠壁和输卵管     

膈下迷走神经切断降低LPS所致大鼠发热及室旁核神经元放电频率

目的：探讨迷走神经是否可以作为LPS信息由外周组织传入中枢神经系统的桥梁。方法：将Wistar大鼠随机分组,实验组为膈下迷走神经切断并给予LPS组,三个对照组为假手术生理盐水组,假手术LPS组,膈下迷走神经切断生理盐水组。用数字体温检测仪测定大鼠体温,用玻璃微电极记录正常大鼠和膈下迷走神经切断大鼠给予LPS前后下丘脑室旁核的单位放电。结果：体温变化：实验组大鼠体温变化值与假手术LPS组相比明显降低（P＜0．05）。单位放电变化：正常大鼠给予LPS后室旁核单位放电放电频率明显增加,膈下迷走神经切断大鼠给予LPS后室旁核单位放电频率无明显变化,结论：外周LPS信息可能通过迷走神经传递到脑组织。