Astaxanthin Alleviates Early Brain Injury Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats: Possible Involvement of Akt/Bad Signaling

Apoptosis has been proven to play a crucial role in early brain injury pathogenesis and to represent a target for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Previously, we demonstrated that astaxanthin (ATX) administration markedly reduced neuronal apoptosis in the early period after SAH. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we tried to investigate whether ATX administration is associated with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway, which can play an important role in the signaling of apoptosis. Our results showed that post-SAH treatment with ATX could cause a significant increase of phosphorylated Akt and Bad levels, along with a significant decrease of cleaved caspase-3 levels in the cortex after SAH. In addition to the reduced neuronal apoptosis, treatment with ATX could also significantly reduce secondary brain injury characterized by neurological dysfunction, cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier disruption. In contrast, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002, could partially reverse the neuroprotection of ATX in the early period after SAH by downregulating ATX-induced activation of Akt/Bad and upregulating cleaved caspase-3 levels. These results provided the evidence that ATX could attenuate apoptosis in a rat SAH model, potentially, in part, through modulating the Akt/Bad pathway.     

4种鲌脑形态度量的比较研究

对鲌属翘嘴鲐（Culter albunms）、蒙古鲌C．mongolicus）、达氏鲌（C．dabryi）和原鲌属红鳍原鲌（Cultrichthys erythropterus）脑形态进行度量学及判别函数分析。结果表明：鲌属与原鲌属鱼类脑形态差异主要表现在小脑大小、嗅束长等,达氏鲌与翘嘴鲌、蒙古鲌脑形态差异主要表现在小脑及端脑大小。脑形态度量的聚类分析结果与依据表型性状进行的分类结果相一致,形态度量可作为对生态位相近的鱼类间的脑形态区分的一种有效方法。     

神经型一氧化氮合酶在大菱鲆脑组织中的分布及定位

[目的]探明神经型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)在大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)脑组织中的分布情况,为揭示大菱鲆脑组织中一氧化氮(N0)的生理功能提供形态学资料.[方法]分别采用NADPH-d组织化学染色法和免疫组织化学法对大菱鲆脑组织中的nNOS进行定位研究.[结果]NADPH-d组织化学染色结果显示,大菱鲆大脑皮质中有蓝色的神经元和神经纤维存在.神经元呈梭形、锥形等形状,神经纤维呈串珠状且无序交织;小脑中NOS阳性神经元在分子层分布稀疏,在颗粒层分布密集,浦肯野细胞胞核淡染.经免疫组织化学法染色后,可观察到大脑皮质中nNOS免疫组化反应阳性物质呈深棕色;小脑皮质的分子层、颗粒层及浦肯野细胞层均有nNOS阳性神经元分布,浦肯野细胞呈免疫组织化学阳性反应.[结论]大菱鲆脑组织中的NOS类型主要限于nNOS,且nNOS在神经活动中发挥重要作用,也进一步证实N0在不同物种中具有一些共同的作用,但不同物种或相同物种不同组织中NO分布及含量存在差异.     

妊娠后期营养限制对蒙古绵羊胎儿生物原胺类神经递质的影响

本试验旨在研究妊娠后期营养限制对蒙古绵羊胎儿生物原胺类神经递质的影响。选择健康、体况相近的蒙古绵羊18只,对其进行同期发情、配种后,从妊娠第90天开始,随机分为3个组:营养限制1组[NG1组,n=6,代谢能(ME)=0.175 MJ/(kg BW 0.75·d)]、营养限制2组[NG2组,n=6,ME=0.330 MJ/(kg BW 0.75·d)]和对照组[CG组,n=6,ME=0.670 MJ/(kg BW 0.75·d)],在妊娠第140天时屠宰,取各组胎儿及其脑组织和血液。结果显示:NG1组胎儿的脑重较CG组显著增高(P<0.05),并且NG1组胎儿脑中5-羟色胺(5-HT)(P<0.01)、肾上腺素(EPI)(P<0.05)含量显著或极显著高于CG组,去甲肾上腺素(NA)的含量极显著低于CG组(P<0.01)。NG2组胎儿脑中5-HT含量极显著高于CG组(P<0.01),而NA(P<0.01)、多巴胺(DA)(P<0.05)含量显著或极显著低于CG组。另外,NG1组胎儿血浆中5-HT(P<0.01)、EPI(P<0.01)、NA(P<0.05)、DA(P<0.01)含量显著或极显著低于CG组;NG2组胎儿血浆中5-HT(P<0.01)、NA(P<0.01)、DA(P<0.05)含量显著或极显著低于CG组。由此得出,妊娠后期营养限制使得蒙古绵羊胎儿脑中5-HT、EPI含量升高和NA含量降低,血浆中5-HT、EPI、NA、DA含量降低。     

脑络通胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型的影响

目的观察脑络通胶囊对大鼠大脑中动脉缺血模型的影响。方法通过线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉(MCA)局灶性脑缺血模型,动物经给药3次,观察脑络通胶囊对脑缺血大鼠的行为状态、脑缺血面积、脑组织形态学的作用。结果脑络通胶囊1.72、0.86、0.43g/kg剂量均能明显改善大鼠脑缺血后的行为状态,缩小缺血范围,降低缺血程度,使病变的脑组织得到明显地改善。     

国医大师张学文辨治脑萎缩经验

国医大师张学文认为脑萎缩的中医病机主要是肾虚血瘀、气虚血瘀、颅脑水瘀导致脑髓失于精血濡养,脑髓不健。髓海不足和脑髓不健是本,脑络痹阻、清阳不升、浊气不降是标,本病往往虚实夹杂,纯虚者少,虚中夹实者多。宜滋肾荣脑,治当补气和血、祛瘀利水、解郁化痰、益肾活血。     

AsKC11, a Kunitz Peptide from Anemonia sulcata,Is a Novel Activator of G Protein-Coupled Inward-Rectifier Potassium Channels

(1) Background: G protein-coupled inward-rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels, especially neuronal GIRK1/2 channels, have been the focus of intense research interest for developing drugs against brain diseases. In this context, venom peptides that selectively activate GIRK channels can be seen as a new source for drug development. Here, we report on the identification and electrophysiological characterization of a novel activator of GIRK1/2 channels, AsKC11, found in the venom of the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata. (2) Methods: AsKC11 was purified from the sea anemone venom by reverse-phase chromatography and the sequence was identified by mass spectrometry. Using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, the activity of AsKC11 on GIRK1/2 channels was studied and its selectivity for other potassium channels was investigated. (3) Results: AsKC11, a Kunitz peptide found in the venom of A. sulcata, is the first peptide shown to directly activate neuronal GIRK1/2 channels independent from Gi/o protein activity, without affecting the inward-rectifier potassium channel (IRK1) and with only a minor effect on K_V1.6 channels. Thus, AsKC11 is a novel activator of GIRK channels resulting in larger K⁺ currents because of an increased chord conductance. (4) Conclusions: These discoveries provide new insights into a novel class of GIRK activators.     

基于伏痰理论辨治精神疾病——中医脑病理论与临床实证研究（十一）

伏痰是精神疾病发病的内在因素,痰阻脑窍神机失司是其关键病机,伏痰与精神疾病的种类、发病、症状、演变等有关。本文通过精神分裂症现症期、精神分裂症伴精神发育不全、双相情感障碍伴躁狂发作、重症抑郁症、中毒性脑白质病精神障碍5个医案,阐述了精神疾病祛痰开窍醒脑安神以治标、见痰休治痰必治本、治痰饮当以温药和之的临床体会。     

EFFECTS OF ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL ON NORMAL CANINE BRAIN UPTAKE OF 18F‐FDG ASSESSED BY PET/CT

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of four anesthetic protocols on normal canine brain uptake of 2‐deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐d ‐glucose (FDG) using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Five clinically normal beagle dogs were anesthetized with (1) propofol/isoflurane, (2) medetomidine/pentobarbital, (3) xylazine/ketamine, and (4) medetomidine/tiletamine–zolazepam in a randomized cross‐over design. The standard uptake value (SUV) of FDG was obtained in the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, cerebellum, brainstem and whole brain, and compared within and between anesthetic protocols using the Friedman test with significance set at P<0.05. Significant differences in SUVs were observed in various part of the brain associated with each anesthetic protocol. The SUV for the frontal and occipital lobes was significantly higher than in the brainstem in all dogs. Dogs receiving medetomidine/tiletamine–zolazepam also had significantly higher whole brain SUVs than the propofol/isoflurane group. We concluded that each anesthetic protocol exerted a different regional brain glucose uptake pattern. As a result, when comparing brain glucose uptake using PET/CT, one should consider the effects of anesthetic protocols on different regions of the glucose uptake in the dog's brain.