Effects and mechanisms of electro-acupuncture on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in C57 mice exposed to different doses of X-ray radiation / 生理学报

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of electro-acupuncture (EA) on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of C57 mice exposed to different doses of X-ray radiation. Thirty-day-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, irradiation, and EA groups. The control group was not treated with irradiation. The irradiation groups were exposed to different doses of X-ray (4, 8 or 16 Gy) for 10 min. The EA groups were electro-acupunctured at Baihui, Fengfu and bilateral Shenyu for 3 courses of treatment after X-ray radiation. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate proliferation and differentiation of the hippocampal neural stem cell. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of Notch1 and Mash1 in the hippocampus, respectively. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the numbers of BrdU positive cells (4, 8 Gy subgroup) and BrdU/NeuN double-labeling positive cells (3 dose subgroups) were decreased significantly in the irradiation group, but the above changes could be reversed by EA. Compared with the control group, the number of BrdU/GFAP double-labeling positive cells in each dose subgroup of irradiation group was decreased significantly, while EA could reverse the change of 4 and 8 Gy dose subgroups. In addition, compared with the control group, the expression levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in hippocampus were up-regulated, and the expression levels of Mash1 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in each dose subgroup of irradiation group. Compared with irradiation group, the expression levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in hippocampus of EA group were decreased significantly in each dose subgroup, and the expression levels of Mash1 mRNA and protein were increased significantly in 4 and 8 Gy subgroups. These results suggest that irradiation affects the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in hippocampus of mice, whereas EA may significantly increase the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells via the regulation of Notch signaling pathway.

Effects of different concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide on long-term depression of hippocampus in mice / 生理学报

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the long-term depression (LTD) of hippocampus in mice. Sixty C57BL/6J mice (30 days old) were randomly divided into control group, three CGRP (50, 100, and 200 nmol/L) groups, CGRP + CGRP group and CGRP + APV group (10 mice for each group). The effects of exogenous application of different concentrations of CGRP on synaptic plasticity and LTD in hippocampus of mice were detected by in vitro recording of local field potential. The results showed that higher doses (100 and 200 nmol/L) of CGRP significantly enhanced the induction of LTD in the hippocampus. Moreover, CGRP increased the magnitude of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents. The above-mentioned effects of CGRP were blocked by either CGRP selective antagonist CGRP or NMDA receptor antagonist APV. These results suggest that CGRP can dose-dependently enhance the induction of LTD in hippocampus of mice, and the underlying mechanism involves the mediation of NMDA receptor function.

Effect of different concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the long-term potentiation in hippocampus of mice / 生理学报

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of different concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus of mice. C57BL/6J mice (30 days old) were randomly divided into control group, three CGRP groups, and CGRP + CGRPgroup (10 mice for each group). Different concentrations of CGRP (50, 100 and 200 nmol/L) were given to the hippocampal slices of mice. The presynaptic release of neurotransmitters and the induction of LTP were measured by extracellular field recording techniques. The result showed that different concentrations of CGRP did not affect the presynaptic release of neurotransmitters, but 100 and 200 nmol/L CGRP increased the amplitude of LTP induced in the hippocampus of mice. This facilitation effect of CGRP was blocked by its specific antagonist CGRP. These results suggest that CGRP dose-dependently facilitates the induction of LTP in the hippocampus of mice through its specific receptor.