The Protective Effect of Black Ginseng Against Transient Focal Ischemia-induced Neuronal Damage in Rats

Black ginseng (BG) has been widely used as herbal treatment for improving physiological function. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this herbal medicine, we examined the influence of BG on the learning and memory of rats using the Morris water maze, and we studied the effects of BG on the central cholinergic system and neural nitric oxide synthesis in the hippocampus of rats with neuronal and cognitive impairment. After middle cerebral artery occlusion was applied for 2h, the rats were administered BG (100 or 400 mgkg(-1), p.o.) daily for 2 weeks, followed by training and performance of the Morris water maze test. The rats with ischemic insults showed impaired learning and memory on the tasks. Treatment with BG produced improvement in the escape latency to find the platform. Further, the BG groups showed a reduced loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d)-positive neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the ISC group. These results demonstrated that BG has a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that BG might be useful for the treatment of vascular dementia.

Distribution Patterns of Calbindin-D28K and NADPH-Diaphorase Positive Neurons in the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray of the Rabbit / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We attempted to compartmentalize the periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rabbit in terms of the different distribution patterns between NADPH-diaphorase (NADPHd)- and calbindin D28K (CB)-positive neurons. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent labelling for CB and histochemistry for NADPHd were carried out on coronally-sectioned midbrain slices of the rabbit. RESULTS: NADPHd-positive neurons were selectively localized in the dorsolateral (DL), the middle one-third of the lateral (L), the dorsal half of the ventrolateral (VLd) PAG, and the supraoculomotor cap nucleus (Su3C). Clusters of CB-immunoreactive perikarya marked the dorsal half of DL (DLd), Su3C, the ventral one-third of L, and the ventral half of the ventrolateral (VLv) PAG. Double labelling for NADPHd and CB revealed that two markers labelled different neuronal groups in DLd and Su3C subdivisions. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that NADPHd and CB can be regarded as reliable neurochemical markers to reveal the longitudinally-columnar organization within the PAG and to subdivide each columnar area.

ONTOGENY OF THE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE POSITIVE NEURONS IN RAT TELENCEPHALON / 解剖学报

Objective In the present study, we observed the distribution of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons in the developing rat telencephalon and to realize the possible roles of NO in brain development further. Methods NADPH-d histochemical method was used to investigate the micromorphology and distribution of NOS positive neurons in rat telencephalon from embryonic day 14 (El4) to postnatal day 14 (P14). Results At El4, no neurons stained. Labeling was observed in the ventrolateral of the striatum at E15. At E17, positive neurons were seen in the cerebral cortex and piriform cortex. They were cells with small cell bodies, shorter dendrites and less ramification. The stained neurons were either increased or maintained in both number of neurons and intensity during development. At E20, positive cells were found in many regions. Many positive neurons were present in the piriform cortex, ventrolateral of the striatum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. They acquired larger size and more complex dendrites. After birth, intensely stained NOS positive fibers were distributed widely in the cerebral cortex and striatum. Stained cells were found in the corpus callosum and hippocampus also. The distribution pattern of positive cells at P14 was essentially similar to that reported in adult rats. Conclusion The distinctive temporal and spatial expression pattern of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons in the telencephalon indicated that NO may play an important role in brain development and maturation.

EFFECTS ON DISTRIBUTION OF NADPH-d POSITIVE NEURONS AND Fos EXPRESSION IN THE MEDULLARY VISCERAL ZONE OF THE RAT FALLOWING CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA REPERFUSSION INJURY / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the changes of distribution and expression of NADPH\|d positive neurons and Fos like immunoreactive(Fos\|LI) neurons in the rats medullary visceral zone(MVZ) following different time course after global cerebral ischemia reprefussion. Method Fifty adult SD rats were divided into three groups,normal control group( n =2),sham operation group( n =12) and ischemia group( n =36).The 4 brain vessel of ischemia group rats were occluded for 30?min,then reperfused for 2?h,4?h,8?h,12?h,24?h and 48?h respectively.The sections of medulla oblongata were divided into three series.The first and second series were reacted with NADPH\|d histochemical and anti\|Fos immunohistochemical methods respectively,and the third series were double stained with the other two methods mentioned above. Results NADPH\|d neurons and Fos\|LI neurons were distributed in bilateral MVZ(in NTS and VLM predominately).The number of NADPH\|d neurons and Fos\|LI neurons of ischemia group rats were significantly increased than that of control group at 2\|12?h.Approximately 15\|20 percent NADPH\|d/Fos\|LI double labeled neurons were found in MVZ.Conclusion\ The results indicated that NADPH\|d neurons and non\|NADPH\|d neurons could sensitively respond to brain ischemia reperfsion and might associate with regulation of stress and defence responese.

A Study on Age-related change of the neuropeptide Y and NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the cerebral cortex and striatum of Apodemus agrarius / 대한해부학회지

Apodemus agrarius has been used for experimental purpose to identify the route of infection and pathogenesis of Korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite the increasing amount of information being published at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, few data are available about the morphologic findings in the brain. This study was aimed to clarify the change of NADPH-d and neuropeptide Y (NPY) associated with aging of the Apodemus. The number of NADPH-d positive or negative NPY neurons in the cerebral cortex and striatum were compared between two age groups of Apodemus (4 months and 24 months) after the histochemical and immunohis-tochemical staining. 1. The number of NADPH-d positive NPY neurons in cerebral cortex or striatum were not different between the two age groups. 2. The number of NADPH-d negative NPY neurons in cerebral region or caudatoputamen striatum were not different between the two age groups. 3. Most of NADPH-d or NPY neurons were bipolar or multipolar neurons with complex and long dendrites in the control group. 4. The NADPH-d or NPY neurons in cerebral cortex were more tortous and shorter than control in the aged group. These findings demonstrate that NADPH-d positive NPY neurons and NPY neurons do not seem to be change of age in cerebral cortex or striatum of Apodemus agrarius.

THE CYTOCHEMICAI IDENTIFICATION OF THE NESTIN POSITIVE CELLS IN ADULT HUMAN BASAL FOREBRAIN / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the distribution and chemical character of nestin immunoreactive cells in the human basal forebrain. Methods We explored systematically the distribution of nestin immunoreactive cells throughout the human basal forebrain by nestin 331B, 10C2, Rat401 antibody.Furthermore, we investigated the chemical identity of these nestin immunoreactive cells by using double\|labeling immunocytochemistry with NSE, ChAT, p75NGFR, GFAP antibody or using NADPH\|d histochemistry. Results The nestin immunoreactive cells were found in the septum, diagonal band of Broca, innominate substance,amygdala,basal nucleus of Meynert of adult human brain.These nestin immunoreactive cells haven big cell body,2\|3 processes.The nestin immunoreactive cells were labeled by NSE antibody.The large majority of those were single stained,and 28% were double labeled with ChAT positive neurons,15% with NGFR positive neurons,6% with NOS positive neurons.A few nestin immunoreactive cells shared similar morphology with that of astrocyte glia which existed in the spaces between the thin septa pellucida or the midline along the septum.It could not be labeled by GFAP antibody.Conclusion\ A new cluster of nestin immunoreactive neurons that were different from the ChAT,NGFR,NOS positive neurons existed in adult human basal forebrain.\;[