SNAP-25在成年期甲减大鼠海马内表达变化及甲状腺素治疗效应

观察成年期甲状腺功能减退症(简称甲减)大鼠海马内突触相关蛋白SNAP-25(synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kD)改变及不同剂量甲状腺素治疗后的恢复状况,探讨甲减脑损伤及恢复可能的分子机制。结果显示,甲减大鼠血清T3、T4水平显著低于正常对照组(P<0.05),背侧海马突触小体内SNAP-25的表达水平显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05);常规剂量替代治疗组大鼠血清T3、T4恢复至正常水平,SNAP-25表达水平与甲减组比较未见明显改变(P>0.05);经大剂量替代治疗后血清T3、T4高于正常;SNAP-25的表达恢复到正常水平(P<0.05)。这些结果提示,成年期甲减大鼠海马内SNAP-25表达增加,甲状腺素治疗能使其恢复,大剂量替代治疗使SNAP-25表达恢复至正常水平。     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone: biosynthesis by rat hypothalamic fragments in vitro

Biosynthesis of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (L-pyroglutamyl-L-histidyl-L-proline amide) in vitro was studied. Rat hypothalamic fragments were incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer that contained either (14)C-labeled proline, histidine, or glutamic acid (the three probable precursor amino acids,) and for control purposes each of 16 other naturally occurring amino acids. A number of labeled peptides were synthesized. With the use of synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone, detected by the Pauly reagent or with (125)1-labeled thyrotropin-releasing hormone as a marker, thin-layer chromatograms, paper electrophoresis, and carboxymethyl cellulose ion exchange chromatography revealed that only proline, histidine, and glutamic acid were consistently incorporated into peptides associated with the thyrotropin-releasing hormone region. This synthesizing activity was found in stalk median eminence, ventral hypothalamus. and dorsal hypothalamus but not in neural lobe or cerebral cortex. Because the biosynthetic peptide has identical properties with L-pyroglutamyl-L-histidyl-L-proline amide, it is probable that rat thyrotropin-releasing hormone is similar or identical to both bovine and porcine thyrotropin-releasing hormone and that the native material is present in the pyroglutamyl form in tissues.     

青年奶山羊下丘脑GnRH神经元的分布特点

为了探讨促性腺激素释放激素(gonadotrop in re leas ing horm one,G nRH)在青年奶山羊下丘脑的表达特点,采用灵敏度较高的免疫组化SP法研究了G nRH神经元在6~8月龄青年奶山羊下丘脑中的分布。结果表明,分泌G nRH的神经元主要分布在视上核、下丘脑前核、室旁核和弓状核,其次是视前内侧核、视前外侧核、交叉上核、下丘脑外侧区、视上弥散核、腹内侧核、腹外侧核及乳头体各核团,前连合核、终纹床核、穹窿周核、环核、视前交叉上核和背内侧核分布较少。G nRH阳性神经元的形态有圆形、三角形、卵圆形、梭形、多角形、不规则形,有些阳性神经元还具有明显的突起;圆形和三角形细胞直径为7~27μm,卵圆形和梭形细胞短轴和长轴分别为7~21和10~48μm;G nRH阳性神经纤维仅见于视前内侧核、视前外侧核、弓状核、乳头体后核、乳头体内侧核等核团,在正中隆起和第三脑室室周也可见中等数量的阳性纤维。结果提示,G nRH神经元在青年奶山羊下丘脑分布广泛。     

Interpeduncular nucleus and avoidance conditioning in the rat

Rats trained to make a jumping response to the onset of a visual stimulus lost the habit after damage to the interpeduncular nucleus of the midbrain. It was noted, however, that the majority of the operated animals showed perfect retention of the "fear" response to the conditioned stimulus.     

IFN-γ在流产大鼠下丘脑的表达

为了探讨下丘脑对妊娠的调节作用,采用免疫组织化学SP法研究了妊娠中期,正常妊娠大鼠及流产大鼠下丘脑内IFN-γ阳性神经元的形态与分布,同时利用图像分析软件测定了其灰度值。结果显示,正常妊娠大鼠和流产大鼠IFN-γ主要在下丘脑的视前大细胞核、室旁核、视上核、下丘脑前核等部位分布,而流产大鼠的IFN-γ阳性细胞数多于正常妊娠组且表达强于正常妊娠组。表明IFN-γ在下丘脑的表达对妊娠大鼠的神经内分泌调节有重要影响。     

雌二醇对大鼠下丘脑神经激肽B表达的影响

为研究雌二醇(Estradiol,E2)对大鼠下丘脑神经激肽B(Neurokinin B,NKB)表达的影响,采用免疫组化PV-9003二步法以及DAB显色技术,对外源性E2处理组(E2组)、花生油处理组(C组)、卵巢摘除+E2组(OVX+E2组)和卵巢摘除组(OVX组)大鼠下丘脑的NKB进行检测。结果表明:大鼠阴门开启时间E2组(29.00±0.707)与OVX+E2组(30.20±0.084)早于对照组(43.60±2.074)(P0.01)。NKB主要分布于所有大鼠下丘脑的弓状核、腹内侧核和室旁核,且OVX组和C组室周核上也有少量表达(P0.05),但各组间NKB的平均光密度值有差异,OVX组大鼠下丘脑弓状核(0.33±0.49)、腹内侧核(0.31±0.54)和室旁核(0.30±0.55)均显著高于OVX+E2、C和E2组(P0.05)。雌激素抑制大鼠下丘脑NKB的表达,NKB可能通过雌激素调节生殖作用。     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone induces rhythmic bursting in neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) contains neurons that are part of the central neuronal network controlling rhythmic breathing movements in mammals. Nerve terminals within the NTS show immunoreactivity to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a neuropeptide that has potent stimulatory effects on respiration. By means of a brainstem slice preparation in vitro, TRH induced rhythmic bursting in neurons in the respiratory division of the NTS. The frequency of bursting was voltage-dependent and could be reset by short depolarizing current pulses. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, TRH produced rhythmic oscillations in membrane potential whose frequency was also voltage-dependent. These observations suggest that TRH modulates the membrane excitability of NTS neurons and allows them to express endogenous bursting activity.     

Somatomedin-C mediates growth hormone negative feedback by effects on both the hypothalamus and the pituitary

Somatomedin-C stimulates somatostatin release to a maximum of 390 percent of basal release during short-term (20-minute) incubation of rat hypothalamus. It has no effect on basal or stimulated growth hormone release from primary cultures of rat adenohypophyseal cells during a 4-hour incubation, but inhibits stimulated release by more that 90 percent after 24 hours. These findings suggest that somatomedin-C participates in the growth hormone negative feedback loop with an immediate effect on hypothalamic somatostatin and a delayed effect on the anterior pituitary.     

1-methyladenine biosynthesis in starfish ovary: action of gonad-stimulating hormone in methylation

Gonad-stimulating substance, a hormonal peptide released from the nervous system of starfishes, acts on the ovary to produce 1-methyladenine, an inducer of oocyte maturation. Addition of methionine to the incubation mixture of ovarian fragments and gonad-stimulating substance enhanced the production of 1-methyladenine, whereas ethionine inhibited it. Incubation of ovarian tissue with methionine alone failed to produce 1-methyladenine. Use of a radioactive label showed that methionine is a methyl donor in the biosynthesis of 1-methyladenine, suggesting that gonad-stimulating substance is involved in the methylation process.     

Electron-microscopic autoradiography of rat hypothalamus after intraventricular h3-norepinephrine

Tritiated norepinephrine was injected into the lateral ventricles of rats, and its localization in the hypothalamus was determined by light and electron-microscopic autoradiography. Eighty percent of the autoradiographic grains were located over nerve endings and unmyelinated axons. Large, dense synaptic vesicles were present in most of the endings and axons with activity. Grains were rarely seen over myelinated axons, glia, or blood vessels.     

Long-term neuropathological and neurochemical effects of nucleus basalis lesions in the rat

The long-term effects of excitotoxic lesions in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of the rat were found to mimic several neuropathological and chemical changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Neuritic plaque-like structures, neurofibrillary changes, and neuronal atrophy or loss were observed in the frontoparietal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex 14 months after the lesions were made. Cholinergic markers in neocortex were reduced, while catecholamine and indoleamine metabolism was largely unaffected at this time. Bilateral lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis increased somatostatin and neuropeptide Y in the cortex of the rat by at least 138 and 284 percent, respectively, suggesting a functional interaction between cholinergic and peptidergic neurons that may differ from that in Alzheimer's disease.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in specific nuclei of rat brain

The regional distribution of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in rat brain was studied. The greatest concentration of TRH was found in the median eminence. High concentrations were also found in several hypothalamic nuclei. Outside the hypothalamus, relatively large amounts of TRH were found in the septal and preoptic areas.     

Steroid-sensitive single neurons in rat hypothalamus and midbrain: identification by microelectrophoresis

Minute amounts of Na-dexamethasone-21-phosphate administered by microelectrophoresis to the immediate extracellular environment promptly suppressed electrical activity of 15 out of 115 hypothalamic and mesencephalic neurons, the effect being readily reversible. Such neurons marked with fast green were found to lie in circumscribed areas of the periventricular gray of the third ventricle and aqueduct, and may represent a site of action of adrenocortical steroids in the regulation of corticotrophin releasing factor and/or adrenocortico-tropin secretion by negative feedback.     

Immunohistochemical localization in the rat brain of the precursor for thyrotropin-releasing hormone

A rabbit antiserum to a peptide sequence present in the precursor for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (proTRH), deduced from cloned amphibian-skin complementary DNA, was raised by immunization with the synthetic decapeptide Cys-Lys-Arg-Gln-His-Pro-Gly-Lys-Arg-Cys (proTRH-SH). Immunohistochemical studies on rat brain tissue showed staining of neuronal perikarya in the parvicellular division of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the raphe complex of the medulla, identical to that already described for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Immunostaining was abolished by preincubation with proTRH-SH (10(-6)M) but not TRH (10(-5)M). Both TRH precursor and TRH were located in neurons of the paraventricular nucleus. However, in contrast to the findings for TRH, no staining was observed in axon terminals of the median eminence. These results suggest that a TRH precursor analogous to that reported in frog skin is present in the rat brain and that TRH in the mammalian central nervous system is a product of ribosomal biosynthesis.     

Inhibin-mediated feedback control of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in the female rat

The secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the anterior pituitary gland is regulated by the interaction of hypothalamic and gonadal hormones. Recently, proteins termed inhibins that selectively suppress FSH secretion have been purified and characterized from the gonadal fluids of several species. Antibodies to a synthetic peptide encompassing the amino terminal 25 residues of the recently characterized porcine inhibin were used to develop a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for inhibin and to neutralize endogenous inhibin during the estrous cycle of the rat. The administration of 20 international units of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) stimulated the secretion of inhibin in intact immature female rats, whereas ovariectomy caused an abrupt decrease in plasma inhibin concentrations that were not prevented by the injection of PMSG. The infusion of a polyclonal antiserum to inhibin, from 12 noon on proestrus to 1 a.m. on the morning of estrus, as well as its acute intravenous injection during diestrus I or II, caused an increase in plasma FSH (but not luteinizing hormone) concentrations. These results support the hypothesis of a feedback loop between the release of ovarian inhibin and FSH in the female rat.     

Identification of a neuropeptide hormone that regulates sex pheromone production in female moths

A pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) hormone that controls sex pheromone production in female moths was identified from the brain-subesophageal ganglion complexes of the adult corn earworm, Heliothis zea. PBAN has 33 amino acid residues and a molecular weight of 3900. Its amino acid sequence has no significant homology with any of the fully characterized peptide hormones. The synthetic peptide, at a dose of between 2 and 4 picomoles, induced production of a normal quantity of sex pheromone in ligated H. zea females. The peptide also induced pheromone production in six other species of moths, thus indicating that this or similar peptides may be responsible for the regulation of pheromone production in moths.     

Distinct "feeding" and "hunger motivating" systems in the lateral hypothalamus of the rat

Electrodes were implanted in the middle hypothalamus of rats to determine the neural organization of the "feeding" centers. Stimulations of the farand midlateral hypothalamic area produced feeding responses in sated animals, but only the former caused sated animals to cross an electrified grill to press a lever for food. After lesions had been made in the medial forebrain bundle, however, stimulations in the far-lateral hypothalamic area resulted in feeding in sated animals but failure to cross the electrical barrier to press a lever for food. Simultaneous far-lateral and "satiety" center stimulations produced feeding in sated animals but failed to "motivate" grill-crossing behavior.     

Self-stimulation in the ventromedial hypothalamus

Male Sprague-Dawley rats pressed a bar for electrical stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus. The threshold for such behavior correlated positively with the threshold to stop feeding and the threshold to escape from prolonged stimulation at the same electrode site. The results again open the question of the role that the ventromedial area is playing in positively reinforcing and punishment systems.     

Thyroid hormone induction of an autocrine growth factor secreted by pituitary tumor cells

Thyroid hormones stimulate the rate of cell division by poorly understood mechanisms. The possibility that thyroid hormones increase cell growth by stimulating secretion of a growth factor was investigated. Thyroid hormones are nearly an absolute requirement for the division of GH4C1 rat pituitary tumor cells plated at low density. Conditioned media from cells grown with or without L-triiodothyronine (T3) were treated with an ion exchange resin to remove T3 and were tested for ability to stimulate the division of GH4C1 cells. Conditioned medium from T3-treated cells was as active as thyroid hormone at promoting GH4C1 cell growth but did not elicit other thyroid hormone responses, induction of growth hormone, and down-regulation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors, as effectively as T3 did. A substance or substances associated with T3-induced growth stimulatory activity migrated at high molecular weight at neutral pH and was different from known growth-promoting hormones induced by T3. The results demonstrate that thyroid hormones stimulate the division of GH4C1 pituitary cells by stimulating the secretion of an autocrine growth factor.