Functional Autapses Form in Striatal Parvalbumin Interneurons but not Medium Spiny Projection Neurons / 神经科学通报·英文版

Autapses selectively form in specific cell types in many brain regions. Previous studies have also found putative autapses in principal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the striatum. However, it remains unclear whether these neurons indeed form physiologically functional autapses. We applied whole-cell recording in striatal slices and identified autaptic cells by the occurrence of prolonged asynchronous release (AR) of neurotransmitters after bursts of high-frequency action potentials (APs). Surprisingly, we found no autaptic AR in SPNs, even in the presence of Sr2+. However, robust autaptic AR was recorded in parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons. The autaptic responses were mediated by GABAA receptors and their strength was dependent on AP frequency and number. Further computer simulations suggest that autapses regulate spiking activity in PV cells by providing self-inhibition and thus shape network oscillations. Together, our results indicate that PV neurons, but not SPNs, form functional autapses, which may play important roles in striatal functions.

The Secondary Motor Cortex-striatum Circuit Contributes to Suppressing Inappropriate Responses in Perceptual Decision Behavior / 神经科学通报·英文版

The secondary motor cortex (M2) encodes choice-related information and plays an important role in cue-guided actions. M2 neurons innervate the dorsal striatum (DS), which also contributes to decision-making behavior, yet how M2 modulates signals in the DS to influence perceptual decision-making is unclear. Using mice performing a visual Go/No-Go task, we showed that inactivating M2 projections to the DS impaired performance by increasing the false alarm (FA) rate to the reward-irrelevant No-Go stimulus. The choice signal of M2 neurons correlated with behavioral performance, and the inactivation of M2 neurons projecting to the DS reduced the choice signal in the DS. By measuring and manipulating the responses of direct or indirect pathway striatal neurons defined by M2 inputs, we found that the indirect pathway neurons exhibited a shorter response latency to the No-Go stimulus, and inactivating their early responses increased the FA rate. These results demonstrate that the M2-to-DS pathway is crucial for suppressing inappropriate responses in perceptual decision behavior.

Effect of accutase or trypsin dissociation on the apoptosis of human striatum-derived neural stem cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the apoptosis of neural stem cells (NSCs) at differential time points after the dissociation of neurospheres by Accutase or trypsin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The NSCs were isolated from striatum of human fetals that suffered abortion at 12-16 weeks of pregnancy. The 3(rd)-5(th) passages of NSCs were digested by Accutase or trypsin. Only vortexing was applied, and the triturating by Pasteur pipette was avoided to attenuate the injury to the cells during the dissociation. The single cells were then stained by Annexin V/propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342. The apoptosis rates 2 and 24 hours after passaging were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The trypan blue staining confirmed that immediately after the dissociation,the viability of cells digested by trypsin was (83.10 ± 6.76)%, which was significantly lower than that digested by Accutase,which was (91.65 ± 4.43)% (P<0.05). The apoptosis of the NSCs digested by Accutase was higher than that digested by trypsin at both 2 and 24 hours after passaging (P<0.01). Four days after the passaging, both the new clone formation rate and diameter of new spheres after trypsin digestion were significantly higher than those after Accutase digestion (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although the viability of NSCs immediately after the disassociation by trypsin is lower than that digested by Accutase, the apoptosis of NSCs subsequently caused by trypsin is lower than that caused by Accutase. Trypan blue test immediately after the disassociation can not be used as an indicator in estimating the apoptosis of NSCs during the expanding.</p>

Protective effect of alkaloids from Piper longum in rat dopaminergic neuron injury of 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the protective effect of alkaloids from Piper longum (PLA) in rat dopaminergic neuron injury of 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The rat PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the unilateral striatum with a brain solid positioner. The PD rats were divided into the PLA group (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), the madorpa group (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and the model group, with 15 rats in each group. All of the rats were orally given drugs once a day for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, other 15 rats were randomly selected as the sham operation group, and only injected with normal saline in the unilateral striatum. The behavioral changes were observed with the apomorphine (APO)-induced rotation and rotary rod tests. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in rat substantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum were detected by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. The content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rat substantia nigra and striatum were measured by the spectrophotometric method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After being induced by APO, PD rats showed obvious rotation behaviors, with decreased time stay on rotary rod and significant reduction in the number of TH-positive cells in sustantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, the content of GSH and the total antioxidant capacity significantly decreased, whereas the activities of NOS and the content of MDA, NO significantly increased. PLA could significantly improve the behavioral abnormality of PD rats and increase the number of TH-positive cells in sustantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum. It could up-regulate the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, the content of GSH and the total antioxidant capacity, and decrease the content of NOS and the content of MDA, NO.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alkaloids from P. longum shows the protective effect in substantia nigra cells of 6-OHDA-induced PD model rats. Its mechanism may be related with their antioxidant activity.</p>

Impact of gender on the marginal division of the neostriatum in health adults / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the impact of gender on the marginal division(MrD)of the neostriatum in healthy adults.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Conventional magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),3D structure images,and resting-state function MRI(rs-fMRI)were performed in 64 health adults,who were divided into male group(n=28)and female group(n=26).MrD was defined using manual drawing on structure images,and was applied to the computation of functional connectivity maps.Single group data was performed with simple t test,and two groups data were performed with analysis of covariance with age as the covariance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The brain regions of functional connectivity related with MrD were located in bilateral middle cingulate gyrus,rolandic operculum,insula,putamen,thalamus and amygdala in male group,and in bilateral heschl gyrus,putamen,thalamus and amygdala in female group.The brain regions with increased functional connectivity related with MrD were demonstrated in right superior temporal gyrus,middle temporal gyrus and gyrus rectus,and decreased in left superior parietal cortex in male group compared with that in female group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The functional connectivity related with MrD shows certain gender-related consistency and difference in the brain of health adults.</p>

Analgesic effect of sinomenine on SSNI model rats and monoamine neurotransmitters in striatal extracellular fluid / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the analgesic effect of sinomenine on the neuropathic pain rat model induced by SSNI, and discuss its impact on monoamine neurotransmitters in striatal extracellular fluid.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, the SSNI model group, the gabapentin group (100 mg x kg(-1)), the sinomenine high dose group (40 mg x kg(-1)) and the sinomenine low dose group (20 mg x kg(-1)). Mechanical hyperalgesia and cold pain sensitivity were evaluated by Von Frey hairs and cold spray. Striatum was sampled by microdialysis. High performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD) were used to detect the content of such neurotransmitters as monoamine neurotransmitters noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>SSNI model rats showed significant improvement in mechanical withdrawal threshold and cold pain sensitivity, significant decrease in intracerebral NE and notable increase in DA, 5-HT and their metabolites. Compared with the model group, the sinomenine high dose group showed significant increase in mechanical withdrawal threshold at 60, 90, 180 and 240 min after abdominal administration (P < 0.01), significant decrease in cold pain sensitivity score during 30-240 min (P < 0.05). Sinomenine can significantly up-regulated NE content in striatal extracellular fluid during 45-135 min (P < 0.05), remarkably reduce DA content and DOPAC at 45, 75 and 135 min (P < 0.05), 5-HT content during 45-135 min, DOPAC during 75-165 min (P < 0.05), and 5-HIAA during 45-135 min (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sinomenine has the intervention effect on neuropathic pain in SSNI model rats. Its mechanism may be related to disorder of monoamine neurotransmitters in striatal extracellular fluid.</p>

Microdialysis and HPLC method for determination of concentration of pantoprazole in rat striatum aftercombined administration with borneol / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of borneol, a traditional Chinese medicine, on the concentration of ceftriaxone in the rat brain striatum and evaluate the relativity.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The sample of cerebrospinal fluid in the rat brain striatum was collected via brain microdialysis technology, and then the contents of ceftriaxone in standard preparation and sample were detected by high efficiency liquid chromatography combined with diode array detector respectively and analyzed statistically. The concentration of ceftriaxone in rat brain striatum in the ceftriaxone + Borneol group was compared with that in the ceftriaxone-only group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The concentration of ceftriaxone in the rat brain in the ceftriaxone + Borneol group (13.01-4.43 mg x L(-1)) is significantly higher than that in the ceftriaxone-only group (2.41-0.94 mg x L(-1)).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Borneol can promote ceftriaxone through blood-brain barrier, and increase the concentration thereof in striatum.</p>

Effect of Tianwang Buxin decoction or Tianwang Buxin without Radix platycodi decoction on brain neurotransmitter of rats hyposomnia model / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the action mechanism of Tianwang Buxin decoction that is the whole prescription included all drugs from Tianwang Buxin honeyed pill and Tianwang Buxin without radix platycodi decoction on the nerves-calming and hyposomnia-curing.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The influence of Tianwang Buxin decoction and Tianwang Buxin without radix platycodi decoction on somnus utilizing the mice' s somnus in coordination with Pentobarbital sodium was observed. Investigation whether the compatibility of radix platycodi affect the concentration of brain neurotransmitter, 5-HT, NA and DA, correlated sleep-awareness by HPLC-ECD detection was carried out after rats' hyposomnia model were founded.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The falling asleep rates of mice given subthreshold dose raised (P<0.05), remarkably because of Tianwang Buxin decoction. But there is significant difference with Tianwang Buxin lack of radix platycodi decoction despite the heightening tendency. All groups were discovered that the level of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, the monoamine transmitter, heighten obviously after the whole prescription and the prescription without radix platycodi were administered in nuclei raphae medullae oblongatae (P<0.05), but it is only the whole prescription group that emerged same phenomenon in the Ammon's horn and striatum area. Furthermore significant difference exist as comparing Tianwang Buxin whole prescription decoction with Tianwang Buxin without radix platycodi decoction. The level of another monoamine transmitter DA stepped up notably in the whole prescription and the prescription without radix platycodi groups following administration in corpora striata (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanism of hypnosis action lie in enhancement of releasing 5-HT in encephalic regions for the Tianwang Buxin whole prescription decoction, but it's possible that radix platycodi may be the key point that adjusts the additional quantity.</p>

Effect of Ginkgo biloba Pingchan Recipe on neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression in the brain of mouse models of Parkinson disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of the Chinese compound prescription Ginkgo biloba Pingchan Recipe (GBPR) on experimental Parkinson disease (PD) in mice and explore the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male C57/BL6J mice were divided into normal control, PD model and treatment groups. PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection with 1-methl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin (MPTP) in the mice, and in the treatment group, GBPR was administered intragastrically after the injection. The mice were sacrificed 14 and 28 days later, and using in situ hybridization with Digoxin-labeled nNOS cDNA oligonucleotide probe, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mRNA was detected in the striatum and substantia nigra in the brain of mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>nNOS mRNA expression was detected in the striatum and substantia nigra of the PD model mice, and GBPR treatment significantly reduced its expressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GBPR has obvious inhibitory effect against the neurotoxicity of NO probably by producing an anti-oxiditive effect through decreasing nNOS synthesis in the brain.</p>

Effect of central microinjection of carbenoxolone in an experimental model of focal cerebral ischemia

Previous experimental studies have shown the protective effects of CBX on brain ischemic injures in global and in vitro models of ischemia. However, effects of CBX in temporary model of focal cerebral ischemia are not clear. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of central micro injection of CBX on post-ischemic reperfusion injuries in a temporary model of focal cerebral ischemia. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO], followed by 23 h reperfusion. CBX was administered into the right ventricle at doses of 1, 12, 25, 50 and/or 100 micro g/kg at the beginning of MCAO. Cortical and striatal infarct volumes and motor dysfunctions were assessed 24 h after MCAO. Administration of CBX at doses of 1, 12, 25 and/or 50 micro g/kg significantly reduced cortical infarct volumes by 35%, 49%, 41% and 43%, respectively [P<0.001]. In addition, CBX only at dose of 25 micro g/kg significantly reduced striatal infract volume and improved neurological dysfunctions [P<0.01]. Our findings indicated that central microinjection of CBX has protective effect on against ischemic reperfusion injuries in a transient model of focal cerebral ischemia

Pre-ischemic Treatment with Ampicillin Reduces Neuronal Damage in the Mouse Hippocampus and Neostriatum after Transient Forebrain Ischemia

Ampicillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic, has been reported to induce astrocytic glutamate transporter-1 which plays a crucial role in protecting neurons against glutamate excitotoxicity. We investigated the effect of ampicillin on neuronal damage in the mouse hippocampus and neostriatum following transient global forebrain ischemia. Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery for 40 min. Ampicillin was administered post-ischemically (for 3 days) and/or pre-ischemically (for 3~5 days until one day before the onset of ischemia). Pre- and post-ischemic treatment with ampicillin (50 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day) prevented ischemic neuronal death in the medial CA1 area of the hippocampus as well as the neostriatum in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ischemic neuronal damage was reduced by pre-ischemic treatment with ampicillin (200 mg/kg/day). In summary, our results suggest that ampicillin plays a functional role as a chemical preconditioning agent that protects hippocampal neurons from ischemic insult.

The selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 inhibits neuronal activity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease / 神经科学通报·英文版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The ventral part of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays an important role in initiation and control of voluntary movement, mood and cognition. However, after the degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway, the neuronal activity of the ventral mPFC and the role of serotonin(1A) (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT(1A)) receptors in the firing of the neurons are still unknown. The present study is to investigate the change of neuronal activity in the ventral mPFC and the effect of systemic administration of the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 on the activity of the neurons in normal and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Single unit responses were recorded extracellularly with glass microelectrodes from ventral mPFC neurons in normal rats and 6-OHDA unilaterally lesioned rats in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>6-OHDA lesion of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) significantly increased the firing rate with no change in the firing pattern of neurons of the ventral mPFC in rats. Systemic administration of WAY-100635 (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) did not change the mean firing rate and firing pattern of ventral mPFC neurons in normal rats. In contrast, WAY-100635 significantly decreased the mean firing rate of the neurons in rats with 6-OHDA lesion of the SNc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These data suggest that the degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway results in an increase of neuronal activity of ventral mPFC and dysfunction of 5-HT(1A) receptor.</p>

Magnetic resonance imaging changes in a case of extra-pyramidal syndrome after acute organophosphate poisoning.

Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and neuromuscular weakness is common neurological problem in recovery phase of acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning. Various types of extra pyramidal syndromes are uncommon sequel after OP poisoning. These are reported to be reversible within few weeks and characteristically associated with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this report we are presenting a case with extra pyramidal syndrome after acute OP poisoning with few interesting MRI changes in striatum.

Changes of AIF (Apoptosis Inducing Factor) in the Basal Ganglia of Neonatal Rat Brain Induced by Hypoxic-ischemic Injury / 대한해부학회지

The caudate-putamen is generally referred to as the striatum or neostriatum, which is one of the main components of the basal ganglia and this designation, is especially relevant in the rat. In spite of the fact that it comprises one of the major parts in central nervous system, studies on how seriously vulnerable this area to cerebral ischemia especially in neonates is still remained. In this study, using neonatal (7 days postnatal) rats, we speculated the significance of AIF in the apoptotic neuronal cell death in basal ganglia induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury. For this study, we introduced permanent common carotid artery occlusion and then, exposed to 6% oxygen for 2 hours and the results are as follows: 1. There were tendency of increasing AIF immunoreactivity induced by hypoxic-ischemic insult in neonatal basal ganglia at 12 & 24 hrs after hypoxic-ischemic insult. 2. Western Blotting analysis showed increased AIF expression in basal ganglia at 12 hrs(caudate-putamen) & 24 hrs (globus pallidus) after hypoxic-ischemic insult. 3. Evidence of localization of AIF in glial cells as well as in neurons obtained by double-immunofluorescence staining. Our results seem to provide evidences on the involvement of AIF in the apoptotic neuronal cell loss with hypoxicischemic insult in neonatal rat. Furthermore, localization AIF in glial cells as well as in neurons suggests involvement of neuroglial cells in the apoptotic pathway in neonatal basal ganglia induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury.

Expression of c-fos and c-jun proteins in the marginal division of the rat striatum during learning and memory training / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>A new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.</p>

Effects of acrylonitrile in drinking water on monoamine neurotransmitters and its metabolites in male rat brains / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To elucidate the possible involvement of monoamine neurotransmitters in the development of neurobehavioral damage produced by acrylonitrile in drinking water in male rat brains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the control group (n = 10), low dosage group (n = 10), and high dosage group (n = 10), which were respectively administered 0 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 200 mg/L acrylonitrile (AN) in drinking water. The treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Seven animals were randomly selected from each group for determination of monoamine neurotransmitters in striatum and cerebellum by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector and activities of monoamine oxidase in cortex.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of dopamine in the striatum of low and high dosage groups were decreased to (2.2 +/- 0.7) and (3.2 +/- 2.0) microg/g wet tissue, respectively, and compared with that of control group (9.0 +/- 4.2) microg/g wet tissue, the differences were statistically significant. There were no statistical differences among the contents of dopamine in the cerebellum of all rats, and the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), the major metabolite of dopamine in the cerebellum were (186 +/- 41), (245 +/- 90) and (115 +/- 65) ng/g wet tissue in the control, low and high dosage groups, respectively and in low-dosage group they were significantly higher than those in other groups. There was dosage-dependently decreasing of the contents of serotonin of striatum in the control (249 +/- 34) ng/g wet tissue, low dosage (155 +/- 95) ng/g wet tissue and high dosage groups (128 +/- 101) ng/g wet tissue.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study underlines the importance of alterations in the monoamine neurotransmitters system as a possible causative mechanism behind the behavioural and functional changes produced by acrylonitrile.</p>

Morphological study of neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neurons (NPY-IR) of telencephalon in developing chick / 대한해부학회지

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was a 36-amino acid peptide that biochemical structure to be resemble the pancreatic polypeptide in mammalian and it was first isolated from porcine brain by Tatemoto et al. (1982). It is now known to neurotransmitter or neuromodulator as well as it has important effects to sexual precocity, regulation of feeding behavior and function of pituitary gland in avians. The distribution and morphological study of NPY-immunoreactive neurons (NPY-IR) is studied in many experimental animal but in developing chick brain have been not studied. The present study provided the distribution and morphological study of NPY-IR in developing chick brain. The developing brain of Korean native chicks embryos at E8, E10, E12, E14, E16, E18, and E20 days of incubation were used. Experimental animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde through the left ventricle and aorta. The brains were removed and transferred 30% sucrose, and then cut on a cryostat into 60 mm-thick. The tissue immunostained with free-floating and avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. The results obtained in this study are that followings. The numerous of NPY-IR first observed at E8 days in the telencephalon of neostriatum, ectostriatum, archistriatum intermedium pars ventralis, nucleus taeniae and paleostriatum agumentatum, at E12 days in telencephalon of hippocampus, at E14 days in telencephalon of hyperstriatum. In the telencephalon, NPY-IR distributed predominantly in neostriatum and ectostriatum. shape of neuron's that E8 days of incubation were oval shape neurons and increased days of chicks was sphere, oval and many multigonal shapes. Their processes were also omnidirectional. The process of neuron's that E8 days of incubation was observed a few and weak immunity and increased days of chicks was numerous and strong immunity. According to increasing the days the morphology of NPY-IR showed the tendency to increase their sizes and numbers. We suggest that the regional differences in the distribution of NPY-containing neuron types may reflect adaptations of local neuronal circuits for specialized functions.

Systemic injection of lidocaine induce expression of c-fos mRNA and protein in adult rat brain

Both direct and indirect environmental stress to brain were increase the expression of transcription factor c-fos in various populations of neurons. In this study, we examined whether the intraperitoneal injections of lidocaine at doses inducing convulsion within 10 min increased the level of c-fos mRNA and protein in forebrain areas. In situ hybridization using (35S)UTP-labeled antisense c-fos, cRNA increased c-fos mRNA levels though hippocampal formation, piriform cortex, septum, caudate-putamen, neostriatum, and amygdala within 2 hr. In parallel with the mRNA expression, c-FOS protein immunoreactivity was also observed in the same forebrain areas. In contrast to the seizure activity and widespread neuronal degeneration following a kainate treatment, injections of lidocaine did not produce neuronal death within 3 days. The present study indicates that lidocaine induces convulsion and c-fos expression without causing neuro-toxicity.

Synaptic Diversity in the Neostriatum of the Cat / 대한해부학회지

An attempt has been made to discriminate synaptic diversity in the neostriatum of the cat with emphasis on the characteristic structures of axon terminals and postsynaptic profiles. The differentiation of the axon terminals was based on the size and shape of synaptic vesicles in the axoplasm. Three types of axon terminals could be differentiated: Type I, the terminals contained small round (45 nm in diameter) vesicles; type II, the terminals with large pleomorphic (50 nm) vesicles; and type III, the terminals contained flattened (45 x 25 nm) vesicles. The type I terminals were making asymmetrical or symmetrical synapses in contact with the somata, dendrites and dendritic spines of neurons in the neostriatum, and a few type I terminals making asymmetrical or symmetrical contact with axons were also observed. The type II and III terminals were making symmetrical contact with the somata and dendrites of neostriatal neurons. A few type II terminals formed at the node of Ranvier of myelinated nerve fibers were making symmetrical contact with large dendrites. Additionally, dendro-dendritic and serial syanpses were rarely found in the neostriatum. In the serial synapses composed of axo-dendritic and dendro-dendritic synapses, the type I terminals making asymmetrical contact and the type II making symmetrical contact were identified.

Doble trasplante en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson / Duble transplant in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

El trasplante de tejidos dopaminérgicos debe colocarse en el neoestriado revascularizado, para prolongar la supervivencia y función del injerto. Presentamos una nueva técnica quirúrgica en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson, donde el epiplón incrementa el flujo sanguíneo al implante. Los autores presentan los resultados de 3 pacientes operados con esta técnica.