Participation of low-threshold calcium spikes in excitatory synaptic transmission in guinea pig medial frontal cortex

We studied the activation of low-threshold calcium spikes (LTS) by excitatory postsynaptic potentials in pyramidal neurons from guinea pig medial frontal cortex with intracellular recording. We used extracellular bicuculline and phaclofen and intracellular QX-314 to block inhibitory synaptic potentials and sodium currents. Postsynaptic potentials were evoked by stimulation of layer I. We found that large (> 10-15 mV) excitatory synaptic potentials evoked from membrane potentials more negative than -75 mV were able to trigger LTS. The activation of LTS resulted in an increase of the rising slope or amplitude of the synaptic potentials depending on the size of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP). We used 100 microM NiCl2 to confirm the presence of LTS as part of the EPSPs. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA components of the excitatory synaptic potentials were isolated using (+/-)2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 50 microM) or 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 20 microM); both components could, independently, trigger an LTS. With recordings made with K+ acetate-filled electrodes, we show that the activation of LTS was critical to allow excitatory synaptic potentials to reach the threshold of action potential firing; also, this amplification of synaptic responses produced the firing of more than a single action potential by the postsynaptic cell. These results demonstrate that in cortical pyramidal neurons the activation of low-threshold calcium spikes results in the amplification of synaptic responses.     

Regional and selective effects of oestradiol and progesterone on NMDA and AMPA receptors in the rat brain

We investigated the effect of 10 months ovariectomy and a correction therapy, 2 weeks before the rats were killed, of oestradiol, progesterone or their combination on NMDA and AMPA receptor binding in the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, striatum, nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex of the rat brain as well as on amino acid levels in frontal cortex. NMDA and AMPA binding densities were assayed by autoradiography using, respectively, L-[3H]glutamate and [3H]AMPA; amino acid concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatograhy (HPLC) coupled with UV detection. Ovariectomy was without effect on NMDA and AMPA binding density in all brain regions assayed except in the hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus where it decreased NMDA binding density compared to intact rats values. Oestradiol restored and increased NMDA binding density in the CA1 subfield and the dentate gyrus of ovariectomized rats but, by contrast, it decreased binding density in the striatum and in the frontal cortex while having no effect in the CA2/3 subfield of the hippocampus and in the nucleus accumbens. Oestradiol was without effect on AMPA binding density in the hippocampus and the dentate gyrus but it reduced AMPA binding density in the striatum, the frontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. Progesterone, and oestradiol combined with progesterone, decreased NMDA but not AMPA binding density in the frontal cortex of ovariectomized rats, and they were without effect on these receptors in the other brain regions assayed. Amino acid concentrations in the frontal cortex were unchanged after ovariectomy or steroid treatments. The effect of oestradiol in the hippocampus confirmed in the present study and our novel findings in the frontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens may have functional significance for schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Generation and propagation of 4-AP-induced epileptiform activity in neonatal intact limbic structures in vitro

We examined the generation, propagation and pharmacology of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced epileptiform activity (EA) in the intact interconnected limbic structure of the newborn (P0-7) rat in vitro. Whole-cell recordings of CA3 pyramidal cells and multisite field potential recordings in CA3, CA1, dentate gyrus, and lateral and medial entorhinal cortex revealed 4-AP-induced EA as early as P0-1. At this age, EA was initiated in the CA3 region and propagated to CA1, but not to the entorhinal cortex. Starting from P3-4, EA propagated from CA3 to the entorhinal cortex. Along the CA3 septo-temporal axis, EA arose predominantly from the septal pole and spread towards the temporal site. Whereas the onset of 4-AP-induced EA decreased with age from 21.2 +/- 1.6 min at P0-1 to 4.7 +/- 0.63 min at P6-7, the seizure duration increased in the same age groups from 98 +/- 14 s to 269.4 +/- 85.9 s, respectively. The EA was blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) but not by DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), (+)-MK-801 hydrogen maleate (MK-801) or (+/-)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), suggesting that they were mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)/kainate receptor activation. We conclude that: (i) the septal pole of the hippocampal CA3 region plays a central role in the generation of EA in the neonatal limbic system; and (ii) AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated EA can be generated in CA3 already at birth. Therefore, the recurrent collateral synapses and circuits required for the generation of EA are developed earlier than previously suggested on the basis of studies on hippocampal slices.     

银杏叶提取物对谷氨酸诱导的兔视网膜NO水平及细胞凋亡的影响

目的 :探讨银杏叶提取物 (extract of ginkgo biloba ,EGB)对谷氨酸诱导的兔视网膜NO水平及细胞凋亡的影响作用。方法 :利用谷氨酸兔玻璃体内注射 ,诱导视网膜细胞凋亡的模型 ,眼球后注射不同剂量的EGB ,采用分光光度法测定兔视网膜NO水平 ,琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析视网膜细胞DNA断裂。结果 :实验对照组视网膜的NO的水平与空白对照组相比显著增加 (P<0.001) ,EGB大剂量治疗组视网膜NO水平比实验对照组显著降低 (P<0.001) ,EGB小剂量治疗组视网膜的NO水平与实验组相比轻度降低 ,但无统计学差别。EGB大剂量治疗组和空白对照组视网膜细胞无DNA凋亡样断裂 ,而实验组和EGB小剂量治疗组视网膜细胞DNA凋亡样断裂。结论 :银杏叶提取物可能通过抑制谷氨酸诱导的兔视网膜NO自由基的产生而抑制细胞凋亡 ,对谷氨酸诱导的兔视网膜损伤具有重要保护作用。     

谷氨酸转运体、谷氨酸/胱氨酸转运体与谷氨酸神经细胞毒作用

谷氨酸转运体与谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体在脑缺血疾病中起重要作用，谷氨酸转运体的结构或功能改变可使细胞间隙的谷氨酸浓度急剧升高，激活NMDA受体产生一系列的表现，同时抑制谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体对胱氨酸的摄取，介导谷胱苷肽耗竭、氧自由基升高、胞内钙升高、线粒体损伤、细胞色素c释放等神经细胞毒环节，激活半胱天冬酶诱导凋亡。可进一步加重谷氨酸的神经细胞毒作用。     

红藻氨酸诱导癫痫发作大鼠海马结构中EAAC-1变化

目的 研究谷氨酸转运蛋白亚型（ＥＡＡＣ－１）在红藻氨酸（ＫＡ）诱导癫痫发作大鼠海马结构中的变化。方法 用红藻氨酸诱导的复杂部分性癫痫模型,将２０只ＳＤ大鼠随机分为３,６,１２,４８ｈ及对照５组,用免疫蛋白印记法（Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ）观察ＥＡＡＣ－１在海马结构上的变化。结果 ＫＡ注射后３ｈ海马ＥＡＡＣ－１开始减少,６ｈ显著减少,１２ｈ后ＥＡＡＣ－１逐渐恢复。结论 ＥＡＡＣ－１表达的调控可能与Ｋ     

Role of the forebrain in bladder overactivity following cerebral infarction in the rat

This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of the forebrain to bladder overactivity induced by cerebral infarction (CI). CI was induced by left middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in female SD rat. Two and a half hours after CI or a sham operation (SO) decerebration was performed in some animals to eliminate forebrain influences on voiding function. Then bladder activity was monitored during continuous infusion cystometrograms in awake rats for 2.5 h. The effects of cumulative intravenous doses of MK-801 (0.1-1.4 mg/kg), an NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamatergic receptor antagonist, or sulpiride (0.1-41.1 mg/kg), D(2) selective dopaminergic receptor antagonists were studied over a 1.5-h period beginning 5 h after MCA occlusion. Bladder capacity was reduced by 57.5% after CI. In CI rats decerebration increased bladder capacity by 62.5% of predecerebration capacity. In SO rats bladder capacity was reduced by 25% after decerebration. MK-801 (0.4 and 1.4 mg/kg) increased bladder capacity in CI and CI-decerebrate rats, but did not change bladder capacity in SO-decerebrate rats. MK-801 decreased (60.7%) bladder capacity in SO-nondecerebrate rats. Sulpiride (11.1 and 41.1 mg/kg) significantly increased bladder capacity in CI, CI-decerebrate, and SO-decerebrate rats, but had no effect in SO-nondecerebrate rats. These results indicate that CI-induced decrease in bladder capacity is mediated by two mechanisms: (1) upregulation of an excitatory pathway from the forebrain, an effect blocked by decerebration and (2) downregulation of a tonic inhibitory pathway from the forebrain. The latter effect which can be induced by decerebration as well as CI unmasks a D(2) dopaminergic excitatory mechanism. An NMDA excitatory mechanism also contributes to the bladder overactivity after CI, but not after decerebration.     

兴奋性氨基酸与青光眼

近年来随着对青光眼性视神经病变机制的深入研究,已证实兴奋性氨基酸与青光眼视网膜神经节细胞凋亡密切相关。21世纪青光眼的治疗模式正从传统的单纯降眼压向降眼压的同时从其他途径进一步加强神经保护转变,基础实验及部分临床研究证实干扰兴奋性氨基酸产生神经毒性的各环节均对神经元有保护作用,由此可以推测通过对兴奋性氨基酸的研究有望实现青光眼治疗史上的重大突破。     

氯苯氨丁酸抑制脊髓背角神经元谷氨酸量子释放的机制

目的　研究GABAB 受体特异性激动剂氯苯氨丁酸(baclofen)在脊髓背角神经元抑制谷氨酸量子释放的机制。方法　在脊髓薄片标本上 ,采用全细胞电压钳法记录脊髓背角神经元谷氨酸能的微兴奋性突触后电流 (miniatureexcita torypostsynapticcurrents;mEPSCs) ,通过分析这些电流的变化来研究baclofen影响谷氨酸量子释放的机制。结果　ba clofen抑制mEPSCs的发放频率 ,但对平均幅度无明显影响 ,表明baclofen抑制谷氨酸释放的作用部位在突触前。在无钙溶液或者K+ 通道阻滞剂 4 AP存在的条件下 ,baclofen对mEPSCs发放频率的抑制作用不受影响 ,但腺苷酸环化酶激动剂foskolin (可使cAMP保持在较高水平 )能降低其抑制作用。而蛋白激酶C (PKC)激动剂PDBu对baclofen的抑制作用无影响。用NEM破坏G蛋白 ,则可取消baclofen的抑制效果。结论　baclofen不是通过影响突触前Ca2 + 通道或K+通道 ,或PKC途径 ,而是通过作用于G蛋白和 (或 )cAMP途径抑制谷氨酸的释放 ;这种抑制作用可能参与baclofen在脊髓水平的镇痛     

盐酸埃他卡林对大鼠海马神经元谷氨酸受体功能及突触活动的影响

目的 :研究盐酸埃他卡林 (Ipt)对脑神经元谷氨酸受体功能及突触活动的影响。方法 :采用原代培养的大鼠海马神经元 ,应用膜片钳全细胞记录技术 ,记录Ipt对培养的海马神经元谷氨酸或天冬氨酸(NMDA)诱发电流及神经元突触后电流的影响。结果 :Ipt(1～ 1 0 0 μmol·L- 1)可浓度依赖性地对抗培养的海马神经元谷氨酸或NMDA诱发电流 ,并为ATP敏感性钾通道拮抗剂格列本脲 30 μmol·L- 1所对抗。Ipt抑制培养的海马神经元之间突触联系形成的自发兴奋性突触后电流 ,降低其发放频率 ,抑制其电流幅度 ;但对微小兴奋性突触后电流无显著性影响。结论 :Ipt可阻断脑神经元谷氨酸受体功能 ,抑制脑神经元谷氨酸的兴奋性突触传递 ,其作用与ATP敏感性钾通道相关