Central effects of systemic lidocaine mediated by glycine spinal receptors: an iontophoretic study in the rat spinal cord

The objective of this investigation was to demonstrate the possible interactions of systemic lidocaine (lido) with inhibitory receptors in the spinal cord. In the lumbar dorsal horn of anesthetized and curarized rats, 60 physiologically identified, wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons, were recorded extracellularly. Glutamate, glycine and its selective antagonist, strychnine, were iontophoretically applied onto the neurons either singularly or concurrently. The effects of systemic lido on the drug-induced frequency changes and the interaction with the glycine receptors, using strychnine as a probe, were studied. It was consistently found that (i) lido (3–4 mg/kg) inhibited the excitatory responses to iontophoretic glutamate, (ii) this inhibition was significantly antagonized by concurrent iontophoretic strychnine, (iii) iontophoretic glycine induced comparable glutamate inhibition that was reversed by strychnine. In contrast, no effect on glutamate-induced excitations was observed when lido was applied by micropressure or a different local anesthetic was systemically administered. The results suggest that central inhibitory effects of lido could by mediated by spinal strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors, activated by lido itself or possibly by its glycine residue-bearing metabolites.     

Induction of the immediate early gene c-jun in human spinal cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with concomitant loss of NMDA receptor NR-1 and glycine transporter mRNA

The aetiology of the sporadic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is poorly understood although abnormalities in glutamate and glycine transport have been implicated which both could contribute to a neurodegenerative process mediated through the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. In this study we have used in situ hybridization to investigate whether any changes in the expression of NMDA receptors, the glycine transporter or glutamate-mediated injury responses are detectable in ALS. Two immediate early genes were investigated as markers of neuronal injury responses, c-jun and zif-268, both constitutively expressed in the spinal cord. Levels of c-jun mRNA were most abundant in intermediate grey and layer IX of the ventral horn containing motor neurones. This pattern was markedly changed in ALS with large increases (2–3 fold) in c-jun mRNA occurring in dorsal and ventral horn. The marked increase in c-jun mRNA was also substantiated by slot blot analysis of tissue homogenates of spinal cord and a parallel induction of zif-268 mRNA was also seen. NMDA receptor NR-1 mRNA was widely distributed in control spinal cord with the highest concentrations occurring in layers IX, X, intermediate grey and dorsal horn. The ALS cases showed a selective decrease in the level of NR-1 mRNA in the ventral region (50%) whilst no significant decrease was detected in the dorsal region. Quantitation of tissue homogenates with dorsal and ventral regions combined also yielded a significant decrease of 40% which supports the analysis from in situ hybridization densitometry. The distribution of the glycine transporter was characterised with an oligonucleotide probe and showed a specific localisation to motor neurones of the ventral horn, layer II of the dorsal horn and low levels throughout grey matter. In cases of ALS, substantial and selective loss (75%) of the glycine transporter occurred in ventral grey matter (P < 0.001) with little change occurring in dorsal grey matter. This deficit was also s was also substantiated by slot blot analysis of tissue homogenates where a decrease of 59% was obtained (P < 0.005). The induction of c-jun and zif-268 detected in ALS spinal cord in this study indicates the presence of a potential cellular response to neuronal ‘stress’ that may play an important role in subsequent neurodegenerative or reparative mechanisms.     

Determination of the extracellular concentration of glycine in the rat spinal cord dorsal horn by quantitative microdialysis

Two quantitative microdialysis methods were used to determine the extracellular concentration of glycine in the dorsal spinal cord of halothane-anaesthetised rats. Extracellular glycine determined by zero net flux was 2.6±0.3 μM and by the zero flow method was 3.3±0.3 μM. For comparison the glycine content of cerebrospinal fluid was determined to be 6.4±1.1 μM. There was no correlation between the extracellular and the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations.     

Concentrations of glutamate released following spinal cord injury kill oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord

We investigated in vivo in rats whether sufficient glutamate is released following spinal cord injury (SCI) to kill oligodendrocytes. Microdialysis sampling was used to establish the level of glutamate released (550 +/- 80 microM) in the white matter during SCI. This glutamate concentration was administered into the spinal cords of other rats and the densities of oligodendrocytes remaining 24 and 72 h later determined by counting cells immunostained with the oligodendrocyte marker CC-1. Administration of ACSF, 4.0 mM glutamate (estimated resulting tissue exposure 500 microM) and 10.0 mM glutamate by microdialysis reduced oligodendrocyte density 22%, 57%, and 74%, respectively, relative to normal at 24 h post-exposure. Therefore, sufficient glutamate is released following SCI to damage white matter. Oligodendrocyte densities near the fiber track were not significantly different at 72 h from 24 h post-exposure, so most glutamate-induced oligodendrocyte death occurs within 24 h after exposure. Injecting the AMPA/kainate receptor blocker NBQX into the spinal cord during glutamate administration reduced the glutamate-induced decrease in oligodendrocyte density, evidence for AMPA/kainate receptor involvement in glutamate-induced oligodendrocyte death. This work directly demonstrates in vivo that following SCI glutamate reaches concentrations toxic to white matter and that AMPA/kainate receptors mediate this glutamate toxicity to oligodendrocytes.     

Blocking weight-induced spinal cord injury in rats: effects of TRH or naloxone on motor function recovery and spinal cord blood flow

The ability of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) or naloxone to reduce the motor function deficit and to improve the spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was investigated in a rat spinal cord compression injury model. Spinal cord injury was induced by compression for 5 min with a load of 35 g on a 2.2 x 5.0 mm sized compression plate causing a transient paraparesis. One group of animals was given TRH, one group naloxone and one group saline alone. Each drug was administered intravenously as a bolus dose of 2 mg/kg 60 min after injury followed by a continuous infusion of 2 mg/kg/h for 4 h. The motor performance was assessed daily on the inclined plane until Day 4, when SCBF was measured with the 14C-iodoantipyrine autoradiographic method. It was found that neither TRH nor naloxone had promoted motor function recovery or affected SCBF 4 days after spinal cord injury.     

Neuroprotective effect of estrogen after chronic spinal cord injury in ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND: At present, there is still lack of effective drugs for chronic spinal cord injury, whereas it is found recently that estrogen has a neuroprotective effect on brain and spinal cord injuries. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of estrogen on the apoptosis of nerve cells after gradual chronic spinal cord injury in ovariectomized rats. DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal trial. SETTING: Institute of Orthopaedics, the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. MATERIALS: Sixty-five female Wistar rats of common degree, weighing 220–250 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Lanzhou University. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n =5), estrogen-treated group (n =30) and saline control group (n =30), and the latter two groups were observed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 60 days respectively, and 5 rats for each time point. METHODS: All the rats were treated with bilateral oophorectomy 2 weeks before the experiment. T10 vertebral lamina was revolved into using plastic screw. The spinal canal impingement was not induced initially. After that, the original incision was opened to expose the screw every 7–10 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The apoptosis and Caspase-3 positive cells in the damaged spinal cord were detected using terminal deoxynucleotidal transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and Caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining at 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 60 days after chronic spinal cord injury respectively. RESULTS: Totally 65 rats were used, and the deleted ones during the experiment were supplemented by others. Changes of Caspase-3 expression after spinal cord injury: In the sham-operated group, only a small amount of Caspase-3 proteins were observed in the rat spinal cord, mainly located in motor neurons of spinal cord anterior horn. In the estrogen-treated group and saline control group, positive cells expressed occasionally at 1 day postoperatively, began to increase obviously at 7 days after injury, strongly expressed at 14 and 28 days, but decreased at 60 days, mainly located in the neurons of spinal cord gray matter anterior horn, and they expressed fewer in the motor neurons and white matter of ventral horn, and there were obvious differences between the estrogen-treated group and saline control group at 7, 14, 28 and 60 days (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen can reduce the apoptosis of nerve cells and promote the recovery of neurological function following gradual chronic spinal cord injury.     

Effect of spinal cord injury and of intrathecal baclofen on brainstem reflexes

Reorganization of neural circuits within the central nervous system following injury appears to be a means of compensatory mechanism for loss of function. Reorganization following spinal cord injury is known to evoke changes at the cortical and spinal cord levels. Recent studies, however, provide evidence of enhanced brainstem reflexes and alterations in excitatory and inhibitory interneuronal brainstem circuits, suggesting that reorganization following spinal cord injury occurs also at the brainstem level. Reversal of these changes by continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion to normal levels or beyond indicates strong GABAergic involvement. Rapid changes in the blink reflex and its prepulse inhibition following intrathecal baclofen bolus application that parallel clinical changes in muscle hypertonia suggest a muscle tone regulating effect of baclofen at the brainstem level. Enhanced brainstem reflexes in spinal cord injury patients may be the consequence of decreased GABA-mediated inhibition and/or strengthening of facilitatory connections due to either direct or indirect plastic changes occurring at the brainstem level. Modulation of brainstem reflexes by baclofen may foster the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diseases with increased brainstem activity. Rehabilitation after central nervous system injury will always be a challenge, but understanding the mechanisms of reorganization of undamaged neural pathways may help to develop better strategies for enhancing neuronal plasticity and for implementing neuronal reorganization into carefully planned therapy.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯对半切型脊髓损伤大鼠的神经保护

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),a naturally occurring compound in green tea,has been widely used as an antioxidant agent.In the present study,model rats with acute spinal cord injury were intraperitoneally injected with 25,50,and 100 mg/kg EGCG,and spinal cord ultrastructure,oxidative stress reaction,inflammatory factors,and apoptosis-associated gene expression were observed.Results showed that EGCG attenuated neuronal and axonal injury 24 hours post injury.It also decreased serum interleukin-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α,and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 release,and decreased apoptosis-associated gene expression.Furthermore,it increased the level of the superoxide anion (O2-),superoxide dismutase,and B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2,and reduced malondialdehyde levels.Furthermore,it reduced the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax.Noticeably,EGCG at the 100 mg/kg dosage exhibited similar effects as methylprednisolone sodium succinate,which has been frequently used for clinical acute spinal cord injury.The results demonstrated that EGCG can significantly inhibit inflammation,suppress oxidation,and reduce apoptosis in acute spinal cord injury.     

单唾液酸神经节苷脂鞘内注射治疗恢复期脊髓损伤的临床研究

目的观察单唾液酸神经节苷脂(GM1)鞘内注射治疗恢复期脊髓损伤的临床疗效。方法 46例脊髓损伤恢复期患者随机分为2组,对照组(n=23)给予综合性康复训练;治疗组(n=23)在对照组基础上给予GM1 40mg鞘内注射,每周1次,共3次。分别在治疗前和治疗第2个月末,采用ASIA评分标准对所有患者进行功能评定。结果治疗后2组患者ASIA评分均较治疗前显著增高(P0.05),治疗组与对照组相比明显增高(P0.05);3例鞘内注射后次日双下肢肌力明显增加;所有穿刺脑脊液压力均在正常范围内,脑脊液常规、生化和细胞学检测均未见异常;治疗中未出现严重不良反应。结论鞘内注射GM1治疗恢复期脊髓损伤效果良好,费用低廉,安全可行。     

半乳糖凝集素-1对急性脊髓损伤模型大鼠的保护作用及其机制

目的研究半乳糖凝集素-1(Galectin-1)对大鼠急性脊髓损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法 45只SPF级SD大鼠随机平均分为Galectin-1组、甲泼尼龙(MP)组和生理盐水对照组(生理盐水组)。以Allen's法打击脊髓造模,分别在术后1 d、7 d、14 d每组各取5只大鼠,先做BBB评分及斜板试验,然后处死大鼠取损伤处脊髓组织进行苏木精-伊红(HE)染色及胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫组化染色检测,同时用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法检测血清白细胞介素-10(IL-10)的含量。结果术后1 d,3组大鼠BBB评分、斜板试验结果及血清IL-10含量的差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);术后7 d、14 d,MP组和Galectin-1组的BBB评分、斜板试验结果及血清IL-10含量均较生理盐水组高(均P0.05),而MP组与Galectin-1组之间的差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05)。HE染色显示术后各时间点,Galectin-1组和MP组脊髓损伤肿胀及出现核固缩或解离神经元的数量少于生理盐水组。术后1 d,3组大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞(GFAP表达阳性)数量无明显区别;术后7 d、14 d,Galectin-1组及MP组明显多于生理盐水组,而Galectin-1组与MP组则无明显差别。结论Galectin-1对大鼠急性脊髓损伤具有一定的保护作用,其机制可能是通过增强机体IL-10的表达,从而抑制损伤后的炎症反应而发挥脊髓保护作用的。     

Protective effects of Batroxobin on spinal cord injury in rats

Expansion of the secondary injury following primary spinal cord injury is a major pathological event that increases destruction in the spinal cord, so measures to reduce secondary injury are needed. Our previous study demonstrated that, at the front of the expanding secondary injury in the spinal cord, there is an ischemic area in which many neurons can still be rescued. Therefore, enhancement of blood circulation in the cord may be helpful, and indeed, we found that a traditional Chinese medicine, shu-xue-tong, efficiently reduces the secondary injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of reducing fibrinogen with Batroxobin, a drug widely used clinically for ischemia, in rats with spinal cord contusion. We found that both 2 and 4 Batroxobin units (BU)/kg efficiently decreased the plasma fibrinogen, and 2 BU/kg significantly increased spinal blood flow, enhanced neuronal survival, mitigated astrocyte and microglia activation, and improved locomotor recovery. However, 4 BU/kg had no effect on the secondary spinal cord injury. These data suggest that Batroxobin has multiple beneficial effects on spinal cord injury, indicating a potential clinical application.     

Formation of mixed glycine and GABAergic synapses in cultured spinal cord neurons

In the spinal cord, GABA and glycine mediate inhibition at separate or mixed synapses containing glycine and/or GABA(A) receptors (GlyR and GABA(A)R, respectively). We have analysed here the sequence of events leading to inhibitory synapse formation during synaptogenesis of embryonic spinal cord neurons between 1 and 11 days in vitro (DIV). We used immunocytochemical methods to detect simultaneously an antigen specific to inhibitory terminals, the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT), and one of the following postsynaptic elements: GlyR, GABA(A)R or gephyrin, the anchoring protein of GlyR, which is also associated with GABA(A)R. Quantitative analysis revealed that until 5 DIV most gephyrin clusters were not adjacent to VIAAT-positive profiles, but became associated with them at later stages. In contrast, GlyR and GABAAR clustered predominantly in front of VIAAT-containing terminals at all stages. However, about 10% of receptor aggregates were detected at nonsynaptic loci. The two receptors colocalized in 66.2+/-2.5% of the inhibitory postsynaptic domains after 11 DIV, while 30.3+/-2.6% and 3.4+/-0.8% of them contained only GlyR and GABA(A)R, respectively. Interestingly, at 3 DIV GABA(A)R clustered at a postsynaptic location prior to gephyrin and GlyR; GABA(A)R could thus be the initiating element in the construction of mixed glycine and GABAergic synapses. The late colocalization of gephyrin with GABA(A)R, and the demonstration by other groups that, in the absence of gephyrin, postsynaptic GABA(A)R is not detected, suggest that gephyrin is involved in the stabilization of GABA(A)R rather than in its initial accumulation at synaptic sites.     

急性脊髓损伤模型大鼠与白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂的保护作用**

背景：白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂对大鼠急性脊髓损伤后脊髓功能修复具有保护作用,但具体机制不明。 目的：观察白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂对大鼠急性脊髓损伤组织神经丝蛋白质200和胶质纤维酸性蛋白的影响。 方法：SD大鼠随机分成假手术组,生理盐水对照组和白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂治疗组。采用改良Allen氏打击法建立急性脊髓损伤大鼠模型。分别在建模后1,48和72 h获取损伤段8 mm脊髓标本。 结果和结论：免疫组织化学染色检测,白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂治疗组神经丝蛋白质200和胶质纤维酸性蛋白的表达较假手术组和生理盐水组高,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。提示白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂可使急性脊髓损伤大鼠模型损伤段脊髓神经丝蛋白质200和胶质纤维酸性蛋白表达增加,对急性脊髓损伤发挥保护作用。     

香芹酚对大鼠急性脊髓损伤的保护作用

目的 探讨香芹酚对大鼠脊髓损伤（SCI）后神经功能的影响及其机制。方法 将60只雄性SD大鼠（200~250 g）随机分为5组:假手术组（n=12）、SCI组（n=12）、香芹酚组（n=36）,香芹酚组根据香芹酚剂量分为低、中、高剂量3个亚组,每亚组12只。低、中、高剂量香芹酚组SCI后30 min腹腔注射香芹酚,剂量分别为10、20、40 mg/kg,每日一次;假手术组和SCI组每日腹腔注射等量生理盐水。采用Allen法建立大鼠SCI模型;假手术组只行椎板切除手术。SCI后24、48、72 h,采用BBB评分评估大鼠神经功能;SCI后72 h,采用ELISA法检测损伤脊髓组织丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、caspase-3活性;Western-blot法检测损伤脊髓组织Bax,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平。结果 SCI后,大鼠BBB评分均明显降低（P<0.05）,损伤脊髓组织水肿指数以及MDA、caspase-3和Bax水平均明显增高（P<0.05）,而SOD、GSH、CAT、Bcl-2水平均明显降低（P<0.05）;香芹酚能明显改善大鼠BBB评分（P<0.05）,明显降低水肿指数以及MDA、caspase-3和Bax水平（P<0.05）,而显著增加CAT、SOD、GSH、Bcl-2水平（P<0.05）。结论 香芹酚可通过减轻脊髓水肿、抑制氧化应激反应以及抗凋亡作用而对SCI大鼠发挥神经保护作用。     

人参皂甙对损伤脊髓诱发电位的影响

目的　研究猫急性脊髓损伤 (SCI)后脊髓诱发电位 (SCEP)的变化规律及人参皂甙 (GS)对其的影响 ,探讨 GS对 SCI的作用 ,旨在寻求治疗 SCI的新方法。方法　采用改良 Allen氏重量打击法制作猫急性脊髓损伤模型 ,动物随机分组 ,通过电生理及病理学方法 ,研究 SCEP的变化规律及 GS对其的影响 ,脊髓形态学的改变作为进一步的佐证。结果　 (1)损伤组伤后 SCEP辐值随时间延长逐渐变小 ,潜伏期逐渐延长 ;治疗组波形则逐渐恢复 ,6 h全部恢复 ,差异显著。(2 )光镜下两组均有水肿、中心性出血 ,神经元空泡变性 ,核溶解或固缩 ,尼氏小体消失 ,部分神经纤维脱髓鞘或断裂 ,损伤组最重 ,治疗组均有不同程度的恢复。结论　 GS对 SCI有治疗作用。     

The effect of cortisol on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the glycogen body and lumbosacral segments of developing chick spinal cord

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity is heterogeneously distributed between the lumbosacral chick spinal cord and the adjacent glycogen body during late embryonic and early posthatch development and displays hormonal sensitivity. As GGT activity may reflect the cellular transport of some amino acids, the transiently high activity of this enzyme in the glycogen body suggests that these cells play an important role in amino acid transport and metabolism at a time coincident with the initial phase of myelination in the embryonic chick spinal cord.     

Spinally-mediated behavioural responses evoked by intrathecal high-dose morphine: possible involvement of substance P in the mouse spinal cord

Intrathecal (i.t.) administration of morphine in the spinal subarachnoid space of mice produced a severe hindlimb scratching followed by biting and licking. The onset of the scratching behaviour was observed 60–70 s after i.t. injection of morphine (60 and 90 nmol), and had a duration of 3–4 min. The morphine-induced behaviour was increased additively by i.t. co-administration of substance P (SP). This characteristic behavioural response was inhibited dose-dependently by i.t. co-administration of the tachykinin NK-1 receptor antagonists, sendide and CP-96,345. Significant antagonistic effects of SP (1–7), a putative antagonist for NK-1 receptors and [d-Phe⁷,d-His⁹jSP (6–11), a selective antagonist for SP receptors, were observed against the morphine-induced behaviour. Pretreatment with i.t. SP antiserum and i.t. capsaicin resulted in reduction of the response to morphine. I.t. administration of somatostatin (SOM) antiserum, cysteamine, a relatively selective depletor of SOM and cyclo-SOM, a SOM receptor antagonist, produced no inhibitory effect on the morphine-induced behaviour. These results demonstrate that a spinal system of neurones containing SP may be involved in elicitation of the behavioural episode following i.t. injection of morphine in mice.     

神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤

目的:探讨神经干细胞移植对脊髓损伤大鼠后肢运动功能修复的影响。方法:SD大鼠36只,制成T10脊髓全横断损伤模型。于造模成功后1周采用局部微量注射法移植。随机分三组：A损伤对照组（n=12）仅打开椎管暴露脊髓;B移植对照组（n=12）：注射10μl DMEM/F12培养液;C细胞移植组（n=12）：移植1.0?06/ml的神经干细胞悬液10μl。移植后通过不同时间点BBB行为评分、病理组织学、免疫荧光技术评价大鼠大鼠脊髓功能修复情况及移植细胞在体内的存活、迁移、分化。 结果:在体外成功建立SD大鼠海马源性神经干细胞培养体系;B、C两组大鼠随着时间延长BBB评分均不同程度提高,从移植后2W起C组大鼠评分明显高于B组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;神经干细胞移植后能够在体内继续存活、迁移并且分化为NF-200、GFAP表达阳性的神经元及星形胶质细胞。 结论:神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤是一种有效的方法。     

西维来司他钠在大鼠急性脊髓损伤中的保护作用

目的探讨脊髓损伤后早期使用西维来司他钠(Sivelestat sodium)抑制细胞凋亡,对大鼠脊髓损伤的保护作用及机制。方法将60只SD大鼠随机分成5组,每组12只,Allen's脊髓损伤模型后,立即腹腔注射Sivelestat sodium 1.6 mg/kg,4.8 mg/kg,10 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,并连续7 d(1次/d),对照组给等量生理盐水,并采用脊髓运动功能评分(BBB scale)对大鼠进行双下肢神经功能评分。原位末端标记法(TUNEL)观察脊髓损伤后脊髓神经细胞凋亡情况。酶联免疫吸附法(ELASA)检测炎症因子。免疫印迹法检测甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢_E3泛素连接酶-1(GAPDH-Siah1)细胞凋亡序列。结果以BBB标准评价大鼠的双下肢运动功能,治疗组的下肢活动功能明显好于对照组。4.8 mg/kg和10 mg/kg剂量组双下肢神经功能学评分与对照组比较具有明显差异(P0.01);50 mg/kg剂量组未见明显保护作用,因此未加入统计结果。TUNEL染色显示,sivelestat sodium明显减少了脊髓损伤后神经细胞凋亡,抑制脊髓损伤后炎症因子表达。sivelestat sodium显著抑制GAPDH-Siah1凋亡序列的表达。结论 sivelestat sodium通过抑制GAPDH-Siah1凋亡序列,减少脊髓损伤后脊髓神经细胞的凋亡,从而改善脊髓损伤大鼠后肢运动神经功能。