Objective To explore the effect of antiepileptic drugs on rats' cognitive function. Methods 70 adolescent male SD rats, weighing (201?29)g, were randomly divided into seven groups: normal control group (NS), status epilepticus group (Pentylenetetrazole, PTZ), carbamazepine group (CBZ), valproate sodium group (VPA), phenytoin group (PHT), topiramate group (TPM) and lamotrigine group (LTG). All animals except those in NS group were kindled by PTZ, then they were treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Rats of all the seven groups were subjected to Morris water maze test two weeks later. Results The average time spent by the rats of TPM group was longer than that by other groups in each test (P

0.05).Conclusions The TNF-?levels differed among the sta- ges of disease and MS subtypes,but no marked relation existed between the TNF-?level and the EDSS score.

Uncoupling protein 4 (UCP4) is a member of the multigenic uncoupling proteins (UCPs), specific expressing in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. UCP4 plays an important role in Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, brain trauma and other central nervous system diseases by uncoupling, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential,regulating Ca2+ homeostasis and oxidative stress. This article reviews UCP4 and its roles in the central nervous system diseases in order to provide certain basis for the development of UCP4targeted medication.

Objective To establish an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model in Wistar rats with myelin basic protein fragment (MBP69-85) and observe its pathological changes. Methods MBP69-85 dissolved in normal saline was mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) (including 6 mg bacille Calmette Guerin) to prepare the encephalitogenic emulsion. Ten out of 70 Wistar rats were chosen as a control group, the others were divided equally into group A,B,C according to the difference of the encephalitogenic emulsion. Rats in group A were immunized with 50 μg MBP69-85 +CFA (including 6 mg BCG). Rats in group B were immunized with 25 μg MBP69-85+CFA (including 6 mg BCG). Rats in group C were immunized with 25 μg MBP69-85+CFA (including 12 mg BCG). The pathological changes of brain and spinal cord tissues were examined by light microscopy after HE staining and immunohistochemistry of MBP and NF. Results Some of the Wistar rats immunized with 50 μg MBP69-85 showed disorder at 12～16 days after immunization. The clinical symptoms included tail acratia or paralysis of tail and limbs, head tilt, etc. and the mean score was 2.38±1.89. There were infiltration of inflammatory cells inside nervous tissue and perivascular cuffings in HE stained sections. The immunohistochemistry of MBP and NF showed demyelination in the white matter and axon injury. Conclusion To some extent, the establishment of EAE depends on the dose of the immunizing antigen. The BCG in CFA was not the major cause of morbility of the rats. The EAE model induced with MBP69-85 in Wistar rats, showing typical clinical symptoms and pathological changes of multiple sclerosis, is a reliable animal model for the study of pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) ischaracterized by its trophic function on motor neurons, but there is stilllack of quantitative data concerning the influence of different concentra tions of the neurotrophic factor on the growth of in vitro cultured motorneurons. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of GDNF on neuronal growth byobserving fetus rat spinal cord motor neurons cultured in vitro. DESIGN: Verifying observation taking in vitro cultured cells as subjects. SETTING: Neurological Department of the Second Hospital Affiliated toHebei Medical College. MATERIALS: This experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Neu rological Department, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical College, between January 2001 and September 2002. Adult male and female rats were raised together in the same cage, embryonic rats at 15 days of gestation were obtained for spinal cord separation. METHODS: Ventral spinal tissues were obtained from embryonic rats at 15 days of gestation for prinary in vitro culture. They were divided into four groups according to the density of GDNF, namely 1, 10, 50 and 100 μg/L GDNF groups, while the culture medium in control group did not contain GDNF. Neurons were cultured in 8 wells foreach group, which was repeated for two batches. Then the influence of GDNF on spinal cord motor neu rons was observed from the perspective of cell morphology with MTF method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The survival rate of motor neurons andthe length of cell processes. RESULTS: ① The length of spinal cord motor neuronal processes: It was found obviously longer in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/L group and 100 μg/L group than in control group [(107.4±35.406 8,160.5±38.564 9, 450.5±60.640 3, 293.5±67.381 4, 82.8±7.972 5) μm, t=2.610-2.647, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Cell survival rate: It was higher in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/L group and 100 μ g/L group than in control group [(13.9±0.899 9, 16.1±0.668 0, 20.1±0.667 9, 26.0±0.603 0,10.5±0.782 0) μm, t=2.211-2.312, P ＜ 0.05]. ③ MTT colorimetric analy sis: It was obviously higher in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/Lgroup and 100 μ g/L group than in control group [(0.350±0.059 8, 0.366 7±0.071 9, 0.381 9±0.063 8, 0.395 3±0.060 5, 0.285 8±0.032 5) μm,t=2.259-2.577, P ＜ 0.05]. CONCLUSION: GDNF of different concentrations exerts different effects on in vitro cultured embryonic spinal cord motor neurons.

Objective:To investigate establishing the multiple clinical processes model and pathological characteristics of EAE model,and to provide the experimental value for reseaching MS. Methods:The animal model was established in Wistar rat by immunization with complete Freund adjuvant and GPSCH, the pathological changes of EAE were studied with the aid of light microscopy. Results : We can divide the EAE into five types by pathological changes and clinical manifestation: acute EAE, relapsing-remitting EAE, persistent progress EAE,benigh form EAE and delitescence EAE. Every type mainly showed congestion and inflammatory cuff of small blood vessels,disintegration and disappear of myelin sheath and degeneration of neurons,especially in spinal cord. Conclusion:Multiple clinical processes on EAE model of Wistar rat were established for the first time.it is an ideal animal model in studying MS.

Objective:To investigate pathological changes and the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases in rat EAE.Methods:The pathological changes of EAE were studied in Wistar rat with the aid of light and electron microscope and the expression and distribution of MMP-2,MMP-9 in different tissues were detected with the method of immunohistochemistry.Results:Light microscopy showed inflammatory cuff around small blood vessels were evident, disintegration and disappear of myelin sheath were observed. Electron microscopy showed a lot of loose and fragmental spiremes of myelin sheath, the component of axons and nissl bodies in neurons were disappeared. MMP-2,-9 were expressed intensively in vascular endothelial cells, meninges and accumulative inflammatory cells.Conclusion:MMPs take the roles in every aspect of the pathological changes in EAE, it can destroy the blood brain-barrier, degrade the myeline sheath, damage the axons and generate immunogens.

Objective:EAE model of male and female Wistar rats was established respectively.The sex difference was evaluated.Methods:40 wistar rats were devided into male and female group (n=20).EAE model was established respectively in the two groups using Guinea pig spinal cord homogenate without PBS perfusion.30 days later,the spinal cord were taken and embedded in wax,and paraffin sections of the two groups were examined by histopathology.The differences in onset time,incidence rate,course of disease and neurologic score between the two groups were evaluated.Results:The onset time of female group was 13.67?3.50 days,its incidence rate was 60%.The onset time of male Wistar rat was 12.18?1.55 days,and its incidence rate was 85%.The feature of diseases course in female rat was relapse after recovery,but that in male rat was transient.The average clinical score of female group was 2.20?1.96,and that of male group was 3.46?1.61.Conclusion:Compared with female Wistar rat,the male had higher incidence rate and its diseases course was transient.The results of our study provided a useful foundation for further studies on the pathogenesis and the sex differences of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND:It has been found that central nervous system is involved in Guillain-Barre syndrome and Miller-Fisher syndrome, and the involved sites include optic nerve, brain stem and cerebellum. Abnormal signal of MRI can be observed in the brainstem and spinocerebellar tract of patients with Miller-Fisher syndrome. To establish an animal model of encephalitis after infection of Campylobacter jejuni, and investigate the mechanism of formation by means of imaging, immunology and pathology.OBJECTIVE: To construct an animal model of lesion of central nervous system after infection of Campylobacter jejuni Penner 4.DESIGN: A randomized grouping designed, controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Imaging and Department of Neurology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between August and December 2003. Fifteen healthy flap-eared rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group (n=10) and control group (n=5).METHODS: In the experimental group, Campylobacter jejuni inactivated bacteria liquor was completely emulsified with complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) of the same volume in week 1, and then the rabbits were immunized with subcutaneous injection at multiple points of bilateral axilla, bilateral groins and side of back spine, 1 mL for each site, and 5 mL for each rabbit; The rabbits were further immunized with intraperitoneal injection of simple Campylobacterjejuni inactivated bacteria liquor in the following every two weeks, 5 mL for each time in each rabbit for 5 times. In the control group, the Campylobacter jejuni inactivated bacteria liquor was replaced by saline of the same volume, the injected method and time were all the same as those in the experimental group. Evaluative methods: ①Symptoms and physical signs: their mental status, conditions of diet, urine and excrement, and activities of limbs were observed; ② Serological examination: the contents of anti-Campylobacterjejuni antibody, anti-IgG GM1 antibody and myelin basic protein (MBP) were detected with enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA); ③ MRI examination was applied to the randomly selected rabbits before every immunization with Toshiba 1.5 T MRI instrument. The scanning sequence included spin-echo T1-weighted image with the scanning parameter of 500/15 ms (TR/TE); rapid spin-echo T2-weighted image, 4 000/108 ms (TR/TE); fluid attented inversion recovery (Flair) sequence, the parameter was 10 000/120 ms (TR/TE), inversion angle was 90°. The thickness of scanning layer was 4.0 mm, and the layer space was 0.8 mm. ④ Histological examination: At 4 weeks after the first immunization, the attacked animals were induced to death by cardiac perfusion, and the skull was opened immediately to remove optic nerve, part white matter, hippocampus, brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cords of neck, chest and waist, which were fixed with formaldehyde solution (40 g/L),and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, fast blue staining and MBP immunohistochemical staining were performed respectively. At 10 weeks after immunization, 5 randomly selected rabbits in the experimental group and the 5 rabbits in the control group were treated with the same methods to obtain the histological samples.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The symptoms and physical signs,contents of anti-Campylobacterjejuni antibody, anti-IgG GM1 antibody and MBP, imaging observation and histological examination were mainly observed.RESULTS: Fifteen animals were enrolled, 14 were involved in the analysis of results, 1 rabbit in the experimental group died at 4 weeks after immunization. ① Mental symptoms and disorder of limb's activity occurred in 1 rabbit in the experimental group at 2 weeks after immunization. ② In the experimental group, titre of anti-Campylobacterjejuni-IgG antibody in serum reach the peak at 2-4 weeks. From week 2, the serum A value was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (1.923±0.403, 0.973±0.633, P ＜ 0.05). The IgG type GM1 (A value) was obviously elevated at week 8, but insignificantly different from that in the control group (0.115±0.042, 0.097±0.039, P ＞ 0.05). The MBP content (Avalue) in serum was significantly elevated at the 8th week (0.134±0.041).③ The imaging examination showed that abnormal MRI signal of different degree occurred at 2-4 weeks after immunization in the experimental group. ④ The histological changes showed that there was swelling of myelin sheath at the sites of brainstem, medulla oblongata, cervical spinal cord, thoracic spinal cord and lumbar spinal cord in the experimental group, no inflammatory cell infiltration and deletion of myelin sheath were observed. No obvious changes at the above site were observed in the contro1 group.CONCLUSION: Campylobacterjejuni Penner 4 can induce lesion of central nervous system.

Objective To explore the differences between normotrophic and hypertrophic scars of lip after the surgical repair of the unilateral complete cleft lip in density of microvessels and the pattern of angiogenesis.Methods Hypertrophic scars (n=11) and normotrophic scars (n=20) were collected after correction of deformity of the unilateral complete cleft lip,and the tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin,and immunostained with anti-CD34 antibody.The structure of scar was observed and the microvessels were counted according to the CD34 expression.Using ImageJ software,the capillary density and length of the major and minor axes were measured,and the major:minor axes ratio was calculated.Results By statistical analysis of the capillary density,the length of the major and minor axes and the major:minor axes ratio were measured;we clarified that there were more capillaries in hypertrophic scars (87.91 ± 5.95)/mm2 than in normotrophic scars (49.84 ± 7.05)/mm2,(P＜0.01),and the length of the major and minor axes of hypertrophic scars (38.36± 26.36)and (17.33±10.45) μm were longer than the normotrophic scars (13.77±9.56)and (9.00± 5.14) μm,(P＜0.05.) The major:minor axes ratio of hypertrophic scars (2.85±0.57) was higher than the normotrophic scars (2.85 ± 0.57) (P＜0.01).Conclusions The significant increase in the density of microvessels and the variation in the pattern and morphology of angiogenesis are related to the formation and development of scar after operation of upper lip.