Immunohistochemical Characteristics and Distribution of Sensory Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons Supplying the Urinary Bladder in the Male Pig

The study determined the distribution and immunohistochemical coding of the sensory neurons innervating the male pig urinary bladder. Retrograde tracer Fast Blue was injected bilaterally into the bladder trigone, base or dome. The presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) were studied with immunofluorescence. Fast Blue-positive neurons were localized bilaterally in dorsal root ganglia from L1 to L6 and from S3 to S4 with specific differences regarding the injection site. The number of Fast Blue-positive neurons was higher in the right ganglia. Immunohistochemistry revealed that sensory neurons innervating the urinary bladder trigone, base and dome displayed immunoreactivities to CGRP, SP, NOS, GAL and SOM. Differences in the neuropeptide content were observed between the Fast Blue-positive neurons in lumbar and sacral ganglia. Taken together, these data indicate that the lumbar and sacral pathways probably play different roles in sensory transmission from the urinary bladder trigone, base and dome.     

Immunohistochemical Characteristics and Distribution of Neurons in the Paravertebral,Prevertebral and Pelvic Ganglia Supplying the Urinary Bladder in the Male Pig

The distribution and chemical coding of neurons supplying urinary bladder in the male pig were studied in the sympathetic chain ganglia, inferior mesenteric ganglia and anterior pelvic ganglia. The combined retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) were applied in the experiment. Bladder-projecting neurons were found in all the ganglia studied. The majority of sympathetic ganglia neurons (inferior mesenteric ganglia and sympathetic chain ganglia) expressed immunoreactivity (IR) to DBH. In sympathetic chain ganglia these neurons simultaneously expressed NPY, GAL or VAChT, while in inferior mesenteric ganglia they contained NPY, SOM and/or GAL. A small number of these bladder-projecting neurons was VAChT-IR and some contained NPY. In the pelvic ganglia bladder-projecting neurons formed two populations: DBH- and VAChT-IR. Some of DBH-IR neurons contained IR to NPY, SOM or GAL, while VAChT-IR neurons were NPY-, SOM- or NOS-IR. The results indicate that sympathetic ganglia contain mainly adrenergic neurons, while pelvic ganglia contain both adrenergic and cholinergic neurons. All these neurons contain typical combinations of neuropeptides.     

Calbindin-D28k Immunoreactivity within the Cholinergic and GABAergic Projection Neurons of the Basal Forebrain

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the calcium binding protein calbindin-D_28k was present within the cortically projecting basal forebrain neurons of various rodent species not previously examined. Double-label immunocytochemistry was performed using antibodies against calbindin-D_28k and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) to detect the presence of the calcium binding protein within the cholinergic basal forebrain neurons of various species (i.e., humans, rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs). Antibodies against calbindin-D_28k, ChAT, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were also used in combination with a cortically injected retrograde tracer (Fluoro-Gold) to determine whether calbindin-D_28k immunoreactive (IR) neurons within the basal forebrain projected to the frontoparietal cortex. The nucleus basalis of rats was examined for the presence of calbindin-D_28k IR within the GABAergic basal forebrain neurons. All species examined had cholinergic, GABAergic, and calbindinergic neurons within the basal forebrain; however, only the cholinergic neurons within the human nucleus basalis of Meynert were also immunoreactive for calbindin-D_28k. Although all rodent species had both cholinergic and GABAergic basal forebrain neurons that contained the Fluoro-Gold dye, none of the calbindin-D_28k IR neurons, detected using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, were found to contain the retrograde tracer. These results indicate that the cortically projecting cholinergic and GABAergic basal forebrain neurons within these rodent species do not contain calbindin-D_28k. Therefore, age- and disease-related loss of nucleus basalis projection neurons may not be mediated by alterations in calbindin-D_28k. Thus, rodents may not serve as an accurate model for either human aging or Alzheimer's disease as calbindin-D_28k is not found within the cortically projecting neurons of rodent species.     

The VR1-Positive Primary Afferent-Mediated Expression of pERK in the Lumbosacral Neurons in Response to Mechanical and Chemical Stimulation of the Urinary Bladder in Rats

Objective

This study characterized the neurons in the lumbosacral cord that express phospho ERK (pERK) after distension or irritation of the bladder, and their relation to the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) positive primary afferents.

Methods

Mechanical distension and chemical irritation of the bladder were induced by intravesical injection of the saline and mustard oil, respectively. Spinal neurons expressing pERK and the primary afferent fibers were characterized using multiple immunofluorescence for neurokinin 1 (NK1), neuronal nitric oxide synthetase (nNOS) and VR1.

Results

Neurons in lamina I, medial dorsal horn (MDH), dorsal gray commissure (DGC) and sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) were immunoreactive for pERK after either mechanical or chemical stimulation. The majority of pERK positive cells were positive for NK1 in lamina I and SPN, but not in the DGC. Most of pERK positive cells are not stained for nNOS except in a small population of the cells in the SPN and DGC. Contacts between perikarya and dendrites of pERK-positive cells and terminals of primary afferents expressing VR1 were identified in lamina I, lateral collateral path (LCP) and SPN.

Conclusion

In this study, the lumbosacral neurons activated by mechanical and chemical stimulation of the urinary bladder were identified with expression of the pERK, and also provided the evidence that VR1-positive primary afferents may mediate the activation of these neurons.     

Relationship of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Immunoreactivity to GnRH Neurons in the Ovariectomized and Intact Female Rat

The present study has used a rat neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) antibody to examine the relationship of nNOS immunoreactivity to GnRH neurons in the ovariectomized and intact diestrous and proestrous rat. A striking band of nNOS-immunoreactive cells was identified in the rostral preoptic area which began in the median preoptic nucleus and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and formed an inverted Y-type distribution above the rostral third ventricle at the level of the anteroventral periventricular nucleus. Another band of nNOS-immunoreactivity was found extending through the internal zone of the median eminence into the arcuate nucleus. Although nNOS immunoreactivity was not detected within GnRH neuronal cell bodies in any of the experimental groups, GnRH perikarya located in the rostral preoptic area, but not elsewhere, were found to be surrounded by nNOS-containing cells. In the median eminence, nNOS and GnRH immunoreactivities were distributed separately in the internal and external zones, respectively.
These results provide evidence that, regardless of their pattern of activity, GnRH neurons in the female rat do not express nNOS. Instead, a close anatomical relationship between nNOS-immunoreactive cells and GnRH perikarya and fibers has been identified within specific sub-regions of the rostral preoptic area and in the median eminence. Such findings are compatible with a role for NO at both sites in regulating the release of GnRH throughout the estrous cycle.     

电刺激三叉神经节对蝶腭神经节内一氧化碳合酶和血管活性肠肽阳性神经元的影响

目的：观察实验性偏头痛大鼠副交感神经蝶腭神经节内一氧化氮合酶（NOS）和血管活性肠肽（VIP）阳性神经元的变化。方法：12只雄性SD大鼠随机分为实验组和对照组（均n=6）。实验组为电刺激三叉神经节建立的偏头痛大鼠模型。对照组仅作手术而不刺激三叉神经节。用组织化学的方法观察蝶腭神经节内NOS阳性神经元的变化,用免疫荧光法观察蝶腭神经节内V1P阳性神经元的变化。结果：实验组和对照组大鼠的蝶腭神经节内均有NOS和VIP阳性神经元,但实验组NOS和VIP阳性神经元均较对照组显著增加（P〈0．01）。结论：电刺激三叉神经节可以通过三叉-副交感神经反射系统,显著升高蝶腭神经节中NOS和VIP神经元的数目。偏头痛发病过程中脑膜及颅内大血管的剧烈扩张很可能与蝶腭神经节中NOS和VIP神经元增加有关。     

Fos Immunoreactivity after Stimulation or Inhibition of Muscarinic Receptors Indicates Anatomical Specificity for Cholinergic Control of Striatal Efferent Neurons and Cortical Neurons in the Rat

Cholinergic neurons play a major role in the control of striatal activity via muscarinic receptors. The action of acetylcholine also appears to be dependent on the striosome – matrix compartmentalization of the striatum. This study was designed to find out whether modification of acetylcholine tone activates neurons in the striatum and forebrain of the rat. We looked for the appearance of immunoreactivity to Fos, a regulatory protein that is thought to convert synaptic signals into changes in gene expression. Pharmacological manipulation of muscarinic receptors was found to induce specific patterns of Fos immunoreactivity in distinct neuronal populations of the forebrain, including the striatum. Oxotremorine, a non-selective muscarinic agonist, induced Fos immunoreactivity in the striatum with a large predominance in striosomes (mostly in enkephalinergic neurons), in layers 4 and 6 of the cortex, and also in the piriform cortex and septum. The muscarinic agonist pilocarpine had an identical effect in the cortex, but the striosomal prevalence was less clear-cut than that observed after oxotremorine. Treatment with dopamine-depleting agents (6-hydroxydopamine or reserpine) and inhibitors of glutamate and opiate receptor (MK-801 and naloxone respectively) had no effect on the action of oxotremorine. This suggests that the induction of Fos provoked by oxotremorine does not involve dopamine, glutamate or opiates. Atropine, a non-specific muscarinic antagonist, also induced Fos immunoreactivity in the striatum but with matrix predominance (mostly in substance P neurons), as well as in the cingulate cortex, and the olfactory tubercle. Scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, induced Fos in both striosomal and matrix compartments in the striatum. No Fos immunoreactivity was observed after change in acetylcholine tone in cholinergic or somatostatinergic neurons of the striatum, or in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Our results demonstrate that stimulation or inhibition of muscarinic receptors induces Fos activation in striatal efferent neurons with topological (striosome/matrix) and phenotypical (enkephalin/substance P) prevalence and specificity and also in cortical neurons with also topological prevalence. These data suggest that in humans, direct or indirect modifications of the cholinergic neurotransmission induced by pathological states or by drugs may lead to neuronal events in the forebrain triggered by Fos activation.     

红藻氨酸诱导的大鼠癫痫模型中海马神经元caspase-9活性的变化

目的 :观察红藻氨酸 (kainicacid ,KA)诱导的癫大鼠海马神经元caspase 9活性的变化。方法 :应用KA腹腔注射诱导大鼠癫模型 ,检测癫大鼠海马神经元caspase 9的活性。caspase 9活性的测定采用荧光底物分析法。结果 :注射KA后 1h大鼠海马神经元caspase 9活性开始升高 ,但与对照组相比 ,无统计学差异 ;注射KA后 3h大鼠海马神经元caspase 9活性达到高峰 ,与对照组相比P <0 0 5 ;然后开始下降 ,于注射KA后 12h接近于正常对照组水平。结论 :在KA腹腔注射诱导的大鼠癫模型中 ,海马神经元caspase 9活性仅在早期表达升高 ,提示caspase 9活性升高可能启动了癫大鼠海马神经元的损伤     

Changes in the NPY immunoreactivity in gerbil hippocampus after hypoxic and ischemic preconditioning

Preconditioning with sublethal ischemia or hypoxia may reduce the high susceptibility of CA1 pyramidal neurons to ischemic injury. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that enhanced level of neuropeptide Y (NPY) might play a role in the mechanisms responsible for this induced tolerance. Changes in NPY immunoreactivity in the hippocampal formation of preconditioned Mongolian gerbils were compared with the level of tolerance to test ischemia. Tolerance was induced by preconditioning with 2-min of ischemia or with three trials of mild hypobaric hypoxia (360 Torr, 2 h), separated by 24 h, that were completed 48 h before the 3-min test ischemia. The number of NPY-positive neurons in the gerbil hippocampal formation was assessed 2, 4 and 7 days after preconditioning. Survival of the CA1 pyramidal neurons was examined 14 days after the insult. Our experiments demonstrated that ischemic and hypoxic preconditioning produced equal attenuation of the damage evoked by 3-min ischemia, although the pattern of NPY immunoreactivity in the hippocampus differed. Preconditioning ischemia resulted in a 20% rise in the number of NPY-positive neurons 2 days later that disappeared 4 days after the ischemic episode, while mild hypobaric hypoxia induced a twofold increase in the number of NPY-positive neurons that lasted for at least 7 days. Although induced tolerance to ischemia 2 days after ischemic or hypoxic preconditioning was accompanied by increased immunoreactivity of NPY, there was no correlation between its intensity and the level of neuroprotection.     

Immunoreactivity for Taurine Characterizes Subsets of Glia,GABAergic and non-GABAergic Neurons in the Neo- and Archicortex of the Rat,Cat and Rhesus Monkey: Comparison with Immunoreactivity for Homocysteic Acid

The cerebral cortex is an area rich in taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonic acid), but only limited information exists regarding its cellular distribution. We therefore examined taurine-like immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of the rat, cat and macaque monkey using antiserum directed against glutaraldehyde-conjugated taurine. Immunostaining was assessed at the light and electron microscopic level, and patterns obtained in light microscopic studies were compared to those produced with antiserum to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and homocysteic acid (HCA). In all three species, strong taurine-like immunoreactive perivascular endothelial cells, pericytes and oligodendrocytes were found. These cells were located throughout the neuropil, which itself showed a low level of immunoreactivity. In rats and cats, a small number of weakly taurine-enriched neurons were observed, particularly in superficial layers. In all cortical areas of the macaque, however, glial staining was matched by strong, selective staining of subpopulations of cortical neurons which were distributed in a bilaminar pattern involving layers II/III and VI. In addition, in primary visual cortex, area 17, immunopositive neurons were also present in sublayer IVCbeta, while in the hippocampus strongly taurine-positive neurons were most conspicuous in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. In all regions, strongly taurine-positive neurons constituted only a subpopulation of the neurons occupying a given layer. Examination of adjacent sections for GABA immunoreactivity showed that the most strongly taurine-positive neurons in layers II/III were immunoreactive for GABA. The cells located in layers IVCbeta and VI, and the granule cells of the dentate gyrus, however, were GABA-negative. The morphological features of these latter groups suggested that the antiserum to taurine identifies subsets of spiny stellate, small pyramidal and dentate granule cells. None of these neurons showed immunoreactivity with antiserum to HCA in the primate; HCA-positive glia were found along the pial and white matter boundaries of the cortex, and showed no overlap with strongly taurine-positive glial elements. Although a transmitter role for taurine may be unlikely, particularly in view of its enrichment in subpopulations of both inhibitory and excitatory cells, the capacity of taurine to influence membrane-associated functions in excitable tissues, and its selective distribution demonstrated here, provides the potential for a contribution to communication between cortical cells.     

The Temporal Pattern of Mating-Induced Immediate-Early Gene Product Immunoreactivity in LHRH and Non-LHRH Neurons of the Estrous Ferret Forebrain

The mating-induced preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) lasts for at least 12 h in the female ferret. This prolonged increase in circulating LH is presumably accompanied by a corresponding elevation in the activity and output of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons projecting to the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal blood vessels and adenohypophysis. We used the protein products of the immediate early genes (IEGs) c-fos, and c-jun as markers of neural activation in order to determine whether a sub-population of LHRH neurons is differentially activated by mating and whether non-LHRH neurons in specific forebrain regions are selectively activated at different times during the mating-induced preovulatory LH surge. In Experiment 1, estrous female ferrets were perfused 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 or 12.0 h after receiving one 5-min intromission from a male or after being placed alone in a testing cage for 20 min. Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-IR; Oncogene Ab-2 antiserum) and LHRH-like immunoreactivity (LHRH-IR; LR-1 antiserum) were visualized. The percentage of Fos-IR LHRH neurons was significantly augmented 1.5 h after mating but had returned to basal levels by 3.0 h. The double-labeled LHRH neurons were concentrated in the caudal medio-basal hypothalamus. In non-LHRH neurons the number of Fos-IR neural nuclei was significantly increased by mating in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), medial amygdala (MA), ventrolateral hypothalamus (VLH), and midbrain central tegmental field (CTF) 1.5 h after mating but, as in LHRH neurons, had returned to basal levels by 3.0 h. In Experiment 2, estrous females were perfused 1.5 h or 8.0 h after either receiving one 5-min intromission or being placed alone in a testing cage, and the brains were processed for LHRH and c-Fos-like (DCH-1, Dr Gerard Evan), c-Jun-like (Jun-IR; Oncogene Ab-2) or Egr-1-like (Egr-IR; Santa Cruz) immunoreactivity. The percentage of LHRH neurons colabeled with both Fos-IR and Jun-IR was significantly greater in the 1.5 h group than in the unpaired group. Again, the induction of these IEG products occurred in LHRH neurons in the caudal medio-basal hypothalamus. Mating significantly increased the number of Fos-IR non-LHRH neural nuclei in the MPOA, BNST, MA, VMH and CTF, as well as the number of Egr-IR nuclei in the MPOA, BNST and MA in the 1.5 h group. By contrast, the number of Jun-IR non-LHRH neurons was unaffected by mating. In these Experiments we have identified a sub-population of LHRH neurons which, using Fos and Jun as markers of neural activation, is activated by mating and may be differentially involved in the generation of the preovulatory LH surge. Although the LHRH system is presumably activated throughout the duration of the 12 h preovulatory LH surge, c-Fos and c-Jun immunoreactivity in LHRH neurons is augmented only transiently. Fos-IR and Egr-IR in non-LHRH neurons show a similar time-course. Together, these results suggest that the presence of augmented levels of these proteins is not required for the maintenance or termination of the preovulatory output of LHRH.     

Effect of Sulfamethazine on Sexual Precocity and Neuropeptide Y Neurons Within the Tuberoinfundibular Region of the Chick Brain

releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons during maturation as evidenced by immunocytological changes. To do this sulfamethazine (SMZ), an antibiotic known to advance sexual maturation in male chicks, was used to elicit early testes development. One week posthatch, 20 chicks were fed either a control ration or one with 0.2% SMZ for 2 weeks or 5 weeks. At 3 and 6 weeks of age, birds were perfused through the heart, brains removed, and prepared for immunocytochemical assay for either NPY or GnRH. Results showed that chicks given SMZ had significantly greater testes weight compared to controls at both ages (p ≤ 0.05) while body weight did not differ significantly between these groups at either age. The results of cell quantification showed no difference in the number of GnRH neurons between the SMZ chicks and controls in either the bed nucleus of the pallial commissure or the anterior lateral thalamic nucleus (LA) at 3 or 6 weeks of age. There was a significantly greater number of GnRH neurons found within the LA of 6-week compared to 3-week-old control chicks. A ratio of the mean width of the external zone (EZ) of median eminence (ME) to the total width of ME showed no significant difference between the experimental and control animals at either 3 or 6 weeks of age. The ratio EZ/ME did, however, increase as a function of age. The results of the assay for immunoreactivity to NPY showed no significant difference in the number of NPY neurons found within the nucleus marginalis tractus opticus between treatment groups at either age. A highly significant increase in NPY neurons was found within the infundibular nucleus (IN) and the internal zone of the ME of SMZ—treated chicks compared to controls at 3 weeks of age. Data suggest that NPY—like neurons within the IN complex may serve an important role regarding the early stages of sexual maturation in chicks.     

Developmentally Regulated Neurite Outgrowth Response from Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons to Heparin-binding Growth-associated Molecule (HB-GAM) and the Expression of HB-GAM in the Targets of the Developing Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurites

Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) is a highly conserved cell surface- and extracellular matrix-associated protein that enhances neurite outgrowth in brain neurons in vitro. To study the possible response of peripheral neurons, we cultured chicken dorsal root ganglion neurons from different developmental stages from embryonic day 4.5 (E4.5; St 25) to E9 (St 35) on recombinant HB-GAM. We discovered that the neurite outgrowth response to HB-GAM is maximal at E5.5-6.5 (St 28-30). In order to correlate this in vitro phenomenon with in vivo phenomena, immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization were performed on cryosections. The protein expression of HB-GAM peaked at E6 (St 29) and was most extensive on the dorsal spinal cord and dorsal roots. Using Dil labelling, we confirmed that at the time when sensory afferents travel longitudinally in the bundle of His of the spinal cord, HB-GAM protein expression there is at its peak. Though HB-GAM is a secreted protein, at the RNA level the timing of HB-GAM appearance and existence in the spinal cord and sensory ganglia is in accordance with its protein expression. Our results demonstrate that peripheral neurons are responsive to substrate-bound HB-GAM in a developmentally regulated manner, and that the expression of both HB-GAM mRNA and protein in vivo is spatially and temporally matched to this in vitro phenomenon. HB-GAM is therefore a putative cue for the growth of sensory afferents to and within the dorsal spinal cord.     

Distribution of Fos Immunoreactivity in the Lamina Terminalis and Hypothalamus Induced by Centrally Administered Relaxin in Conscious Rats

The effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of synthetic human or rat relaxin (25 or 250  ng) on the distribution of Fos detected immunohistochemically in the rat forebrain was investigated. Following ICV relaxin, many Fos-positive neurons were observed in the periphery of the subfornical organ, dorsal part of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, throughout the median preoptic nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Such effects did not occur following ICV injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid or the separated A and B chains of relaxin, nor following the intravenous injection of 250  ng of relaxin. Both vasopressin and oxytocin containing neurons identified immunohistochemically in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei exhibited Fos following ICV relaxin, and many neurons in the medial parvocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus contained Fos. The results indicate that centrally administered relaxin may increase neuronal activity in regions of the hypothalamus and lamina terminalis which are associated with cardiovascular and body fluid regulation and oxytocin secretion.     

Effect of Axotomy on Expression of NPY, Galanin, and NPY Y1 and Y2 Receptors in Dorsal Root Ganglia and the Superior Cervical Ganglion Studied with Double-Labeling in Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry

Using double-labeling techniques for both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry some peptides and peptide receptors were studied quantitatively in a sensory and a sympathetic ganglion after axotomy. In the lumbar 5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) normally no neuropeptide Y- and only a few galanin-positive cell bodies are seen. Following complete transection of the sciatic nerve around 60% of all neuropeptide Y (NPY) neuron profiles (NPs) were galanin positive (+) and 33–44% of all galanin NPs were NPY⁺. A good agreement between immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization was observed for NPY and galanin. NPY Y1- and Y2-receptor (R) mRNAs were found in around 40% of all NPY mRNA⁺ NPs, and more than half of the Y1-R mRNA⁺ NPs and two-thirds of the Y2-R mRNA⁺ NPs were NPY⁺. In addition, more than one-third of the galanin mRNA-containing NPs showed colocalization with NPY receptor mRNAs and up to 70% of the Y2-R mRNA⁺ NPs also expressed galanin mRNA. In the control superior cervical ganglion (SCG) 10% of the NPY⁺ NPs were Y2-R mRNA⁺, and 85% of the Y2-R⁺ NPs were NPY mRNA⁺, and the corresponding percentages after axotomy were around 35 and 45%, respectively. Following axotomy of the carotid nerves around half of all NPY⁺ NPs were galanin⁺, and conversely around 50% of all galanin NPs were NPY⁺ at the mRNA level, whereas much lower percentages (15 and 9%, respectively) were observed with immunohistochemistry. These results demonstrate that double-labeling procedures are valid tools to quantitatively evaluate coexistence situations in sensory and sympathetic ganglia, showing a high degree of coexistence for NPY and galanin in axotomized neurons both in the lumbar 5 DRG and in the SCG. However, the immunohistochemical analysis in the SCG demonstrated much lower numbers of peptide-positive neurons than seen with in situ hybridization, suggesting that the latter technique is more sensitive. The fact that a considerable number of neurons express NPY together with Y1- and/or Y2-Rs indicates that both receptors may act as autoreceptors, the Y1-R presumably at the level of the cell body and the Y2-R on nerve terminals in the dorsal horn and/or the periphery. The present results also show that in both sensory and sympathetic neurons there is a strong upregulation of the Y2-R after nerve injury, suggesting a possible role in trophic and regenerative events.     

Serotonergic Modulation of Photically Induced Increase in Melatonin Receptor Density and Fos Immunoreactivity in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei of the Rat

The mammalian suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) contain a circadian clock which is regulated by neuronal photic and non-photic afferences. Among these, the serotonergic input originating from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is extremely important. In rats, a light pulse administered during the dark period is known to induce the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos and to increase melatonin receptor density in the SCN. The aim of this study was to assess whether, in rats, these two phenomena were regulated by serotonin, acting via 5-HT_1A receptors. Three days after pinealectomy, 4 groups of rats were injected i.p.  90  min before sacrifice with respectively: (1) vehicle, (2) the 5-HT_1A-agonist 8-OH-DPAT (5  mg/kg), (3) the 5-HT_1A-antagonist NAN-190 (10  mg/kg) or (4) NAN-190 and then 8-OH-DPAT. Half of the animals from each group were exposed to light for 60  min before sacrifice and the other half remained in darkness. Sacrifice took place 5 to 6  h after lights off. Our results show that the antagonist NAN-190: (1) completely blocked the photically-induced increase of melatonin receptor density in the SCN, with an IC50=0.352±0.103  mg/kg, and (2) partially blocked (30%) the photic induction of Fos (the protein product of c-fos) in the ventrolateral subdivision of the SCN. The agonist 8-OH-DPAT enhanced the photically-induced increase of melatonin receptors by 10% and decreased the photically-induced increase in Fos by 18%. Both drugs were devoid of any effect in non-light-exposed animals. From these results we may suggest that, in rats, there is a serotonergic control of the neuronal path driving photic information to the SCN. This regulation seems to occur through 5-HT_1A or 5-HT_1A-like receptors.     

Modeling the Interplay Between Neurons and Astrocytes in Autism Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with unclear etiology and imprecise genetic causes. The main goal of this work was to investigate neuronal connectivity and the interplay between neurons and astrocytes from individuals with nonsyndromic ASD using induced pluripotent stem cells.

Differences and Developmental Changes in the Responsiveness of PNS Neurons to GDNF and Neurturin

We have studied the ability of GDNF and neurturin to promote the in vitro survival of populations of embryonic chicken parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory neurons. We show that these neurons are more responsive to one or other of these factors at particular stages of development. Whereas the parasympathetic neurons are more sensitive to neurturin at late embryonic stages, sympathetic neurons are more sensitive to neurturin at early stages. In contrast, sensory neurons of the nodose ganglion are more sensitive to GDNF throughout embryonic development. Using competitive RT/PCR, we measured the levels of mRNAs encoding GDNF and neurturin receptors in purified neurons. All neurons expressed Ret mRNA, which encodes the common receptor tyrosine kinase for GDNF and neurturin. Neurons that were more sensitive to GDNF expressed higher levels of GFRalpha-1 mRNA than GFRalpha-2 mRNA and neurons that were more sensitive to neurturin expressed higher levels of GFRalpha-2 mRNA than GFRalpha-1 mRNA. These results show that populations of PNS neurons differ markedly in their responsiveness to GDNF and neurturin at certain stages of the development and suggest that these differences are governed in part by the relative levels of expression of members of the GFRalpha family of GPI-linked receptors.