NF-L and NF-M are expressed in epithelial cells and coassemble with keratin or vimentin

Neurofilaments (NFs) and cytokeratins are both heteropolymers, which assemble into intermediate filaments (IFs) only when other proper IF subunit proteins are expressed simultaneously. To study the assembly property of NFs, we constructed two recombinant adenovirus which could express NF-L or NF-M, fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) respectively. Then they were introduced into vero cells, and expressed fusion protein. Double labels of GFP fluorescence and immunofluorescence staining indicated that NF-L-GFP or GFP-NF-M not only coassembled with endogenous vimentins, but also coassembled with keratins into a cytoplasmic network of filaments.     

Nerve regeneration factor promotes nerve regeneration in rat

Nerve regeneration factor (NRF) extracted from an oral liquid of traditional Chinese medicine, as a nerve growth decoction has been reported by previous studies to exert effects of promoting nerve growth and preventing neuron apoptosis. For new insights into the function of NRF on primary cultured neurons, we investigated the neurite outgrowth in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explant treated with NRF by immunofluorescence and the gene and protein expressions of neurofilament-H(NF-H) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) in the cultured rat DRG neurons by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In addition, we used a rat model of sciatic nerve crush to evaluate the effect of NRF on regeneration of injured sciatic nerve by a combination of walk track analysis, electrophysiological and histological assessments. The in vitro experiments indicated that NRF promoted the neurite growth of DRGs and the expression of NF-H and GAP43 at mRNA and protein levels in DRG neurons, and in vivo experiments showed that NRF improved peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery.     

发育中大鼠皮层神经元早期无镁细胞外液处理诱导NMDAR亚基mRNA表达的远期变化

以原代培养的大鼠大脑皮层神经元无镁诱导的反复惊厥样放电为模型,根据对培养6d(天)皮层神经元的不同处理分为3组：正常DMEM培养液组（CONT1）、正常细胞外液组（CONT2）和无镁细胞外液组（MGF）。神经元在上述3种液体中孵育3h,然后恢复正常DMEM培养液继续培养,在培养7、12及17d时应用实时定量PCR测定了发育中大鼠皮层神经元无镁细胞外液处理后NMDA受体亚基NR1、NR2A与NR2B mRNA表达的变化。结果显示: MGF组NR1 mRNA表达在培养7d时明显降低,培养12d时明显升高（p<0.05）;NR2A mRNA表达在培养12d时明显降低,培养17d时明显升高（p<0.05）;NR2B mRNA表达在培养7d与17d时明显升高（p<0.05）。而培养17d NR1 mRNA表达、7d NR2A mRNA表达及12d的皮层神经元NR2B mRNA表达3组中两两比较无统计学差异（p>0.05）。MGF组NR1/NR2A、NR1/NR2B和NR1/NR2A/NR2B在培养7、12与17d皮层神经元均有明显的变化。可见早期无镁细胞外液处理可以诱导发育中大鼠皮层神经元远期NMDAR亚基mRNA表达的改变。     

Microscopic and ultramicroscopic localizations and quantitative analysis of 5-HT receptors in human placentas

The localizations of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR) at light and electron microscopic levels and its quantitative analysis in human placentas were studied by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Both syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast in placental villi and fetal white blood cells in villose capillary cavity showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity, with 5-HT 1A receptor mRNA hybridized signal detected in cytoplasm. But the stromal cells and capillary endothelium in placental villi showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity in cytoplasm, without 5_HT\-1A receptor mRNA hybridized signal detected. This suggested that two layers of trophoblast cells may produce 5-HT 1 and 5-HT 2 receptors, that the stromal cells and capillary endothelium in placental villi may only produce 5-HT 2 receptor. By immunohistochemistry at electron microscopic level, the small flattened vesicles and large dense cored vesicle within trophoblast cells showed 5-HT receptor immunoreactivity. This suggested that it may be the result of 5-HT receptors internalization and transportion. Using a quantitative immunohistochemical method, the contents of 5-HT receptor in placenta were higher during the 6th week of gestation, and decreased in 7th and 8th, reoccurred the second peak in the 9th, reduced gradually during the 10th, 20th and 40th of the gestation period. These changes paralleled the contents of 5-HT in the authors' studies, reflecting that 5-HT may be one of the most important bioactive substances in placental self-regulation.     

NTN/PGLA导管修复兔面神经缺损与自体神经移植修复的比较

目的研究面神经低位切断伤后,应用重组NTN(Neurtuin)神经营养因子/PGLA(polygly co-lacticacid,聚乙交酯-丙交酯)导管修复术后,面神经核内神经元的变化,并与自体神经移植修复相比较。方法制作新西兰兔左侧面神经低位切断伤 自体神经修复模型,右侧低位切断伤 NTN/PGLA导管修复模型,运用辣根过氧化物酶(horseradish peroxidase,HRP)逆行追踪标记,对标记神经元的分布和数量进行定性,定量观察。结果(1)HRP逆行追踪NTN/PGLA导管侧于术后10周成功标记到FMN,提示可恢复神经缺损段的轴浆流逆行运输,且两侧标记的细胞数无显著性差异(P>0.05)。(2)术后14周自体神经移植侧标记细胞均出现分布异位,而NTN/PGLA导管侧仅1例出现,标记细胞发生异位分布的概率明显少于自体神经移植侧(P<0.01)。结论应用NTN/PGLA导管的修复能够和自体神经移植修复一样恢复神经缺损的连续性和逆行轴浆运输功能,后期效果相当;应用NTN/PGLA导管修复后神经元分布异位明显少于自体神经移植修复,提示较少发生轴突误向再生,减少面肌联带运动的发生。     

野木瓜注射液及其提取物对脊髓神经元的氧化保护和生长促进

研究野木瓜注射液(IS)及其提取物(AI)对氧化损伤脊髓神经元的保护和对未损伤脊髓神经元生长的影响.方法:通过MTT法和细胞外液LDH漏出量的测定检测IS对未损伤的脊髓神经元细胞存活率的影响;建立H2O2氧化损伤模型,通过MTT法、胞内SOD活力和细胞外液LDH漏出量的测定研究IS对H2O2氧化损伤脊髓神经元的细胞保护作用;运用激光共聚焦显微镜研究氧化受损及IS保护对脊髓神经元胞浆内Ca2+浓度变化的影响.结果表明:当浓度为100～200 mg/L时,IS能显著地促进离体培养的小鼠脊髓神经元氧化受损的修复,神经元存活率得到显著的提高,胞内SOD活力显著地增加和LDH漏出量显著地减少,同时胞内Ca2+超载显著地被抑制;未受损的脊髓神经元在200 mg/L IS作用下LDH漏出量显著地减少,细胞存活率显著地提高;AI3对能显著地提高氧化受损脊髓神经元的存活率.     

The expression of vasa gene during zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) oogenesis

vasa gene expression pattern during oogenesis of zebrafish was examined usingin situ hybridization and fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. During zebrafish oogensis,vasa mRNA is expressed strongly and uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm in stage II oocytes, followed by a distribution among vacuome in stage III. Later in stage IV and V,vasa mRNA is enriched at the cortex and finally localized at the cortex. The fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR shows that the quantity ofvasa mRNA decreases from stage II to stage III, but remains relatively invariable from stage III to stage V. The observed differences invasa mRNA expression in the different stages of zebrafish oogenesis suggest thatvasa gene plays an important role during oogenesis. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370744, 30150005) Biography: XIANG Fang (1979-), male, Master candidate, research direction: molecular development of animals.     

Motor neuron columnar fate imposed by sequential phases of Hox-c activity

The organization of neurons into columns is a prominent feature of central nervous system structure and function. In many regions of the central nervous system the grouping of neurons into columns links cell-body position to axonal trajectory, thus contributing to the establishment of topographic neural maps. This link is prominent in the developing spinal cord, where columnar sets of motor neurons innervate distinct targets in the periphery. We show here that sequential phases of Hox-c protein expression and activity control the columnar differentiation of spinal motor neurons. Hox expression in neural progenitors is established by graded fibroblast growth factor signalling and translated into a distinct motor neuron Hox pattern. Motor neuron columnar fate then emerges through cell autonomous repressor and activator functions of Hox proteins. Hox proteins also direct the expression of genes that establish motor topographic projections, thus implicating Hox proteins as critical determinants of spinal motor neuron identity and organization.     

Distribution of CRH-and ACTH-like immunoreactive cells in amphioxus,Branchiostoma belcheri

Immunocytochemical studies on the nervous system,Hatschek's pit,digestive tract and gonads tissues of an amphioxus(Branchiostoma belcheri)were performed using polyclonal antibodies against human corticotrophin-releasing hormone(CRH)and human adrenocorticotropin(ACTH).The results showed that many CRH-like immunoreactive neurons were distributed specifically on the dorsal side and ventral side of brain vesicle,while a few CRH-like neurons and their fibers in spinal cord.At the same time,the epithelial cells in the basic region of Hatschek's pit were shown immunopositive to CRH antibody.In gonads(ovary and testis),CRH-immunopositive substance was localized in the cytoplasm near oocyte nucleus and in early spermatogenic cells.ACTH-like immunoreactivities were observed specially in the neurons and their protrusions localized on the ventral side of the brain vesicle and in spinal cord,and also in epithelial cells of Hatschek's pit,enteric neurons of digestive tract,oocytes in ovary and in early spermatogenic cells as well.It was found for the first time that CRH-like neurons existed in the middle region of brain vesicle(corresponding to the hypothalamus of vertebrates)and ACTH-like immunopositive cells existed in Hatschek's pit,implying that a control mechanism between brain vesicle and Hatschek's pit maybe had been already built in amphioxus as that in vertebrates.The present study will provide new morphological evidence for the origin and evolution of ACTH.In addition,the immunoreactivities of CRH and ACTH in the digestive tract and gonads suggested other physiological function of CRH and ACTH in amphioxus.     

Functional regeneration of sensory axons into the adult spinal cord

The arrest of dorsal root axonal regeneration at the transitional zone between the peripheral and central nervous system has been repeatedly described since the early twentieth century. Here we show that, with trophic support to damaged sensory axons, this regenerative barrier is surmountable. In adult rats with injured dorsal roots, treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), resulted in selective regrowth of damaged axons across the dorsal root entry zone and into the spinal cord. Dorsal horn neurons were found to be synaptically driven by peripheral nerve stimulation in rats treated with NGF, NT3 and GDNF, demonstrating functional reconnection. In behavioural studies, rats treated with NGF and GDNF recovered sensitivity to noxious heat and pressure. The observed effects of neurotrophic factors corresponded to their known actions on distinct subpopulations of sensory neurons. Neurotrophic factor treatment may thus serve as a viable treatment in promoting recovery from root avulsion injuries. I     

Kinesin-mediated axonal transport of a membrane compartment containing beta-secretase and presenilin-1 requires APP.

Proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) generates amyloid-beta peptide and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the normal function of APP, whether this function is related to the proteolytic processing of APP, and where this processing takes place in neurons in vivo remain unknown. We have previously shown that the axonal transport of APP in neurons is mediated by the direct binding of APP to the kinesin light chain subunit of kinesin-I, a microtubule motor protein. Here we identify an axonal membrane compartment that contains APP, beta-secretase and presenilin-1. The fast anterograde axonal transport of this compartment is mediated by APP and kinesin-I. Proteolytic processing of APP can occur in the compartment in vitro and in vivo in axons. This proteolysis generates amyloid-beta and a carboxy-terminal fragment of APP, and liberates kinesin-I from the membrane. These results suggest that APP functions as a kinesin-I membrane receptor, mediating the axonal transport of beta-secretase and presenilin-1, and that processing of APP to amyloid-beta by secretases can occur in an axonal membrane compartment transported by kinesin-I.     

Localization of calmodulin and calmodulin-like protein and their functions in biomineralization in P. fucata

Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like protein (CaLP) are two proteins involved in biomineralization. Their localizations in Pinctada fucata mantle epithelia were studied by Western blot (WB) analysis of the nuclear/cytosol fraction of primary cultured Pinctada fucata mantle cells and immunogold electron microscopy. The results showed a completely different distribution of these two proteins at the subcellular level. CaM was distributed throughout both the nucleus and cytoplasm of the mantle epithelium but CaLP was distributed only in the cytoplasm. The functions of these two proteins in biomineralization were investigated by shell regeneration. During this process, the expressions of CaM and CaLP were greatly enhanced in different organelles of the mantle epithelium. Overexpression of these two proteins and a mutant of calmodulin-like protein (M-CaLP) that lacks an extra C-terminal tail in MC3T3-E1 promoted the mRNA expression of osteopontin, a biomineralization marker for osteoblasts. All of the results indicated that CaM and CaLP have completely different distributions in the mantle epithelium and affect the biomineralization process at different levels. The extra C-terminal tail of CaLP is important for its functions in biomineralization in Pinctada fucata.     

Effect of Jiaji electroacupuncture in transected rat spinal cord

We evaluated the effect of Jiaji electroacupuncture on cell proliferation and the expression of markers of endogenous neural stem cell activation after complete spinal cord transection. Female Wistar rats were assigned to 4 groups (n = 24 each): a sham-operated group, a control group, a Jiaji electroacupuncture group, and a Jiaji electroacupuncture preconditioning group. Motor function was significantly improved in the acupuncture groups compared to the control group at 7 and 14 d. Numbers of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-, nestin-, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells were significantly greater in the acupuncture groups than in the controls at each time point. Expression of nestin and GFAP mRNA was significantly higher in the acupuncture groups than in the controls at each time point. Thus, Jiaji electroacupuncture and preconditioning may promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells after spinal cord transection.     

Localization and expression of TR3 orphan receptor protein and its mRNA in rat

The cellular localization and specific expression of TR3 mRNA in rat testis were investigated by the method of immuno- histochemistry andin situ hybridization. It was demonstrated that orphan receptor TR3 was expressed in a significant amount in rat testis and TR3 protein and mRNA were specifically localized in germ cells, suggesting that TR3 may have an important function in regulating rat germ cell development.     

中华宽体金线蛭神经元与神经节内平滑肌细胞间突触的超微结构

用胞内注射辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)的方法标记中华宽体金线蛭AP神经元。透射电镜下观察到神经节的内、外囊中的平滑肌细胞膜间、以及标记AP神经元的轴突末梢膜与神经节中平滑肌细胞间的连接。通常,单个的平滑肌细胞散布在神经节的内、外囊中,分别为椭圆形和梭形。平滑肌细胞含粗、细两种肌丝,有密斑,具有许多突起。神经节外囊中平滑肌细胞的细胞质中央区有许多糖元颗粒和一些线粒体及粗面内质网;两个嵌合的平滑肌细胞膜间距为13.1～26.1nm。首次观察到神经元的轴突末梢与外囊内的平滑肌细胞形成化学突触,突触裂隙10.2～15.3nm;AP标记末梢膜与外囊平滑肌细胞膜之间的间距为2.0～2.5nm,相当于缝隙连接的并置膜结构。     

Selective localization of messenger RNA for cytoskeletal protein MAP2 in dendrites

For nerve cells to develop their highly polarized form, appropriate structural molecules must be targeted to either axons or dendrites. This could be achieved by the synthesis of structural proteins in the cell body and their sorting to either axons or dendrites by specific transport mechanisms. For dendrites, an alternative possibility is that proteins could be synthesized locally in the dendritic cytoplasm. This is an attractive idea because it would allow regulation of the production of structural molecules in response to local demand during dendritic development. The feasibility of dendritic protein synthesis is suggested both by the existence of dendritic polyribosomes and by the recent demonstration that newly synthesized RNA is transported into the dendrites of neurons differentiating in culture. However, to date there has been no demonstration of the selective synthesis of an identified dendrite-specific protein in the dendritic cytoplasm. Here, we use in situ hybridization with specific complementary DNA probes to show that messenger RNA for the dendrite-specific microtubule-associated protein MAP2 (refs 3-5) is present in dendrites in the developing brain. By contrast the mRNA for tubulin, a protein present in both axons and dendrites is located exclusively in neuronal cell bodies.     

细胞分裂素在mRNA和蛋白质水平上同时促进rbcS基因的表达

将紫萍半叶状体首先在不含细胞分裂素的培养液上于黑暗条件下培养10d，然后转移到长日照条件下、分别在含有或不含6—苄基嘌呤的新鲜培养液上培养．对半叶状体在培养过程中干重、叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量方面的变化进行了分析，并且用Northern　blot的方法拉测了rbcS mRNA水平的变化，用SDS—PAGE分离和考马氏亮蓝染色的方法检测了其编码蛋白(1，5—二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶／加氧酶的小亚基，SSU)水平的变化．结果表明，6—苄基嘌吟显著地促进了半叶状体干重、叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量、rbcS基因mRNA及其编码蛋白SSU水平的增加．由于在没有外源细胞分裂素的情况下，rbcS基因mRNA水平的增加并不能引起SSU水平的增加，所以认为细胞分裂素对该基因表达的促进作用同时发生在mRNA和蛋白质水平上．