Reaction of small heat-shock proteins to different kinds of cellular stress in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Upregulation of small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) in response to cellular stress is one mechanism to increase cell viability. We previously described that cultured rat hippocampal neurons express five of the 11 family members but only upregulate two of them (HspB1 and HspB5) at the protein level after heat stress. Since neurons have to cope with many other pathological conditions, we investigated in this study the expression of all five expressed sHsps on mRNA and protein level after sublethal sodium arsenite and oxidative and hyperosmotic stress. Under all three conditions, HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, and HspB8 but not HspB11 were consistently upregulated but showed differences in the time course of upregulation. The increase of sHsps always occurred earlier on mRNA level compared with protein levels. We conclude from our data that these four upregulated sHsps (HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, HspB8) act together in different proportions in the protection of neurons from various stress conditions.     

Expression of Biologically Active Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor by Genetically Modified Rat Primary Skin Fibroblasts

Abstract: Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is normally expressed as a cell-associated protein, and accordingly it is not clear how it exerts its action on target cells in vivo. It has been proposed that cells release, by death or other mechanisms, small amounts of FGF-2 that then acts in an autocrine manner. To address the question of whether it is necessary that FGF-2 remain cell associated or needs to be secreted from cells to have biological activity, we expressed the 18-kDa form of FGF-2 in primary fibroblasts as a cell-associated (FGF-2-B) or as a secreted (FGF-2-S) protein. FGF-2 protein is detected in cell lysates and membrane fractions of both cell types, whereas it is present in significant amounts only in the conditioned medium of FGF-2-S cells. No FGF-2 is detected in control (untransfected) cells. FGF-2-S cells also grow faster than the control or FGF-2-B cells. Yet, when evaluated for their ability to promote the survival of embryonic hippocampal neurons in vitro, both the cell types are active, establishing the activity of the transgene product. We conclude that FGF-2 is active when engineered to be expressed as a cell-associated form or secreted from cells.     

Sulphur-Containing Amino Acids Modulate Noradrenaline Release from Hippocampal Slices

Abstract: The l - and d -enantiomers of the sulphur-containing amino acids (SAAs)—homocysteate, homocysteine sulphinate, cysteate, cysteine sulphinate, and S-sulphocysteine—stimulated [³H]noradrenaline release from rat hippocampal slices in a concentration-dependent manner. The relative potencies of the l -isomers (EC₅₀ values of 1.05–1.96 mM) were of similar order to that of glutamate (1.56 mM), which was 10-fold lower than that of NMDA (0.15 mM), whereas the d -isomers exhibited a wider range of potencies (0.75 to >5 mM). All stimulatory effects of the SAAs were significantly inhibited by the voltage-sensitive Na⁺ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (55–71%) and completely blocked by addition of Mg²⁺ or Co²⁺ to the incubation medium. All SAA-evoked responses were concentration-dependently antagonized by the selective NMDA receptor antagonist d -(?)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (IC₅₀ values of 3.2–49.5 µM). 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a non-NMDA receptor antagonist, at 100 µM inhibited the [³H]noradrenaline release induced by glutamate and NMDA (65 and 76%, respectively) and by all SAAs studied (65–85%), whereas 10 µM CNQX only inhibited the effects of S-sulpho-l -cysteine and l - and d -homocysteate (33, 32, and 44%, respectively). However, the more selective AMPA/kainic acid receptor antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulphamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (100 µM), which did not antagonize the [³H]noradrenaline release induced by glutamate and NMDA, reduced only the S-sulpho-l -cysteine-evoked response (25%). Thus, the stimulation of Ca²⁺-dependent[³H]noradrenaline release from hippocampal slices elicited by the majority of the SAAs appears to be mediated by the NMDA receptor.     

丁苯酞对颈动脉狭窄大鼠认知功能及海马CA1区神经元凋亡的影响及相关机制研究

摘要 目的：探讨与研究丁苯酞对颈动脉狭窄大鼠认知功能及海马CA1区神经元凋亡的影响及相关机制。方法：将颈动脉狭窄大鼠大鼠（n=42）随机为三组-模型组、低剂量丁苯酞（20 mg/kg）组和高剂量丁苯酞（40 mg/kg）组,每组14只。低剂量丁苯酞组与高剂量丁苯酞组每天给予20 mg/kg、40 mg/kg丁苯酞灌胃治疗,对照组给予等剂量的生理盐水灌胃,持续21 d。结果：低剂量丁苯酞组与高剂量丁苯酞组治疗第7 d、第14 d、第21 d的BBT评分低于模型组（P<0.05）,高剂量丁苯酞组低于低剂量丁苯酞组（P<0.05）。低剂量丁苯酞组与高剂量丁苯酞组治疗第21 d、第28 d的海马CA1区神经元凋亡指数低于模型组,高剂量丁苯酞组低于低剂量丁苯酞组（P<0.05）。低剂量丁苯酞组与高剂量丁苯酞组治疗第21 d、第28 d的脑组织超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxide dismutase,SOD）活性高于模型组（P<0.05）,丙二醛（Malondialdehyde,MDA）活性低于模型组（P<0.05）,高剂量丁苯酞组与低剂量丁苯酞组对比差异都有统计学意义（P<0.05）。低剂量丁苯酞组与高剂量丁苯酞组治疗第21 d、第28 d的海马CA1区BCL2-Associated X（Bax）、B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2,bcl-2）蛋白相对表达水平高于模型组（P<0.05）,高剂量丁苯酞组高于低剂量丁苯酞组（P<0.05）。结论：丁苯酞在颈动脉狭窄大鼠的应用能提高海马CA1区Bax、Bcl-2蛋白的表达,抑制神经元的凋亡,改善氧化应激状态,从而提高大鼠的认知功能。     

Drapc1 expression during mouse embryonic development

We identified the mouse homolog of human DRAPC1 (APCDD1) gene, shown to be a target of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in cancer cell lines. Analysis of its spatiotemporal expression in mouse embryos from E7.5 to E14 showed that Drapc1 is expressed during development of the extraembryonic structures, nervous system, vascular system and inner ear. In addition, Drapc1 is expressed in the mesenchyme of several developing organs at sites of epithelio-mesenchymal interactions. Drapc1 expression was also found in the hair follicles of the adult mouse skin. Similarity of Drapc1 expression pattern to location of active beta-catenin in developing mouse embryo further suggests that mouse Drapc1 is a novel in vivo target gene of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.     

In vitro interactions between bone marrow stromal cells and hippocampal slice cultures

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are capable of differentiating into various cell types including brain cells. Several groups have also demonstrated trophic effects of MSC grafts in experimental ischemia models. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. We developed an “in vitro graft model” which consisted in a coculture of GFP-expressing BMSCs and hippocampal organotypic slice cultures. Total marrow cells (MCs) or BMSCs after one (BMSC^1P) or five passages (BMSC^5P) were transplanted on hippocampal slices. During the 10 days of our experiments, MCs and BMSC^1P migrated toward the tissue, but their total number remained constant. Conversely, the number of BMSC^5P decreased over the 10 days of the experiment, and no migration could be detected. Using immunohistochemistry, we observed that the hippocampal slices induced the expression of neural antigens in very few grafted cells, but MCs and BMSC^1P improved the conservation of the hippocampal slice culture. Similar experiments using BMSC^5P did not produce any significant change. We conclude that the number of passages greatly influence BMSCs survival rate, migration and neuroprotective capacities.     

In Vitro Studies on the Putative Function of N-acetylaspartate as an Osmoregulator

Efflux and tissue content of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and amino acids were evaluated from cultured and acutely prepared hippocampal slices in response to changes in osmolarity. The osmoregulator taurine, but not NAA, was lost from both types of slices after moderate reductions in extracellular osmolarity (−60 mOsm) for 10–48 h. Hypoosmotic shock (−166 mOsm) for 5 min resulted in unselective efflux of several amino acids from acutely prepared slices. Notably, the efflux of taurine, but not NAA, was prominent also after the shock. Efflux of NAA was markedly enhanced by NMDA and high K⁺, in particular after the stimulation period. The high K⁺-mediated efflux was decreased by high extracellular osmolarity and a NMDA-receptor antagonist. The results indicate that NAA efflux can be induced by a sudden non-physiological decrease in extracellular osmolarity but not by prolonged more moderate changes in osmolarity. The mechanisms behind the efflux of NAA by high K⁺ are complex and may involve both swelling and activation of NMDA-receptors.     

人体海马CA1区锥体细胞胞体的发育

目的：探究人体海马CA1区神经元锥体细胞胞体发育的过程。方法：取19孕周（19GW）、20GW、26GW、35GW、38GW水囊引产胎儿和8岁（8Y）死亡儿童各1例,所有标本来源符合相关法律法规和伦理要求,采用Golgi染色技术,借助配备有＂Neurolu-cida＂软件的共聚焦显微镜观察CA1区锥体细胞胞体,分析细胞体的长度和面积。结果：19GW和20GW细胞体形态尚不明显。26Gw、35Gw、38Gw、8Y海马CA1区锥体神经元胞体长度分别为56．5±2．5（μm）、80．8±8．5（μm）、85．9±12．2（μm）、91．3±9．6（μm）;胞体面积分别为254．5±13．7（μm^2）、362．5±15．5（μm^2）、380．5±22．8（μm^2）、460．8±25．7（μm^2）。26GW锥体细胞胞体长度和面积与35GW、38GW、8Y相比差异明显（P〈0．05）;8岁胞体长度和面积与38GW相比有小幅度增大;细胞形态学：26GW、35GW、38GW锥体细胞胞体切面呈椭圆形或三角形,随胎龄增大,胞体长度和面积逐渐增长增大,特别是细胞基底部增宽。胞体形态由椭圆形逐渐转换为三角形;细胞底部的基树突数量也逐渐增加,到38GW时可以达到4—7个,8Y锥体细胞胞体在切面上基本上都呈三角形,细胞长度和面积与38GW相比稍微增大,相对趋于稳定。结论：人体在发育过程中,锥体细胞长度呈逐渐增长、面积呈逐渐增大趋势,26GW与35GW之间变化最大,38GW与8Y胞体面积差异不明显,整个变化趋势逐渐变慢并趋于稳定。