Using histochemical techniques for showing cholinesterase and catecholamines,weinvestigated the changes of these neurotransmitters in the parasympathetic nervouscenters(medial preoptic area and dorsal vagal nucleus)of acupunctured rats by com-parison with the corresponding nucleus and area of the normal rats.A total of 38animals were used,19 in each group were studied.Preliminary results obtained wereas follows:(1)It was shown that the number of cases with stronger and medium activityof cholinesterase in parasympathetic nervous centers of acupunctured group was lowerthan that of control group,and it was more obvious in dorsal vagal nucleus(P=0.05)(2)There was no significant change of the NA content within CA fiber's termi-nals of parasympathetic nervous centers in acupunctured group when compared withthose of controls.Based on these results,the relationship between the effects of parasympatheticnervous centers was discussed.Our data suggested that acupuncture might probablyinduce a relative excitation on the activity of parasympathetic nervous centers,but itseems not related with the change of the content of norepinephrine.

Using hitochemical techniques showing cholinesterase and catecholamines,weinvestigated the changes of these neurotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous centers(posterior nucleus and lateral area of hypothalamus,as well as intermediolateralnucleus of spinal cord)of acupunctured rats,and compared with those in the cor-responding nuclei and area in normal controls.A total of 109 cases were performed,among which 73 cases were of acupunctured and 36 cases were of controls.Theresults obtained were as follows:(1)It was shown that the number of cases withstronger activity of acetylcholinesterase in sympathetic nervous centers of acupunc-tured group was higher than that of controls.The more obviously elevated in painthreshold after acupuncture,the higher number of cases with stronger ACHE enzy-matic activity in the sympathetic nervous centers was evident.(2)The number ofcases with stronger intensity of NA fluorescences within the adrenergic fiber's terminalsof sympathetic nervous centers was found to be higher in acupunctured group thanthat of control group.On the basis of the results obtained,the possible relationship between the effectsof acupuncture and the changes of neurotransmitters in sympathetic nervous centerswas discussed.We considered that the sympathetic nervous centers might have beeninduced into a relative inhibition state following acupuncture,and this state is ingood coincidence with the increase of NA in adrenergic fiber's terminals.

After severance the ventral spinal roots in 10 dogs, the distribution of the anterograde degeneration was studied by means of Nauta's technique with the following conclusions:1. After sectioning the ventral roots, degenerating fibers (including preterminal and terminal fibers) appeared regularly in the spinal cord and medulla oblongata. This confirms that there are afferent fibers which project into the central nervous system via the ventral spinal roots.2. These degenerating fibers ascended not only in the posterior funiculi, but also in the gray matter, so that the preterminal and terminal degenerations of the terminal branches or collateral branches were found in the columna grisea posterior of the thoracic and cervical segments above the surgically operated segments of the spinal cord.3. The preterminal and terminal degenerations were found in the reticular areas of the nucleus gracilis of the medulla oblongata and around the non-cluster cells.4. Degenerating fibers were unequally distributed, most of them located ipsilaterally. The degenerating fibers decreased in number in rostral segments.5. Afferent fibers in ventral roots differ from those in dorsal roots in distribution:a) From the operated segment and to far more rostral segments, afferent fibers of the ventral root were distributed in a more medial position in the spinal dorsal gray column, viz, "medial tendency", and then ascended after interposing into the funiculi gracilis. This is different from the afferent fibers of the dorsal root in the control group which were distributed in "equal tendency" in the dorsal column and took a "lateral addition fashion" of entering the funiculi gracilis.b) Apparently, much more afferent fibers in ventral roots projected contralaterally than those in the dorsal roots.c) It was also characteristic that the afferent fibers in ventral roots projected further toward the rostral segments of the spinal cord.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the conjugate prepared from the cholera toxin B subunit(CB) and nerve growth factor(NGF) on the spatial learning and memory abilities and cholinergic function.MethodsThe conjugate of CB-NGF was prepared by the improved sodium metaperiodate method and nasally administrated to the β-amyloid protein(Aβ25-35) induced amnesic mice for 7 days with 2 dosage (7-5 μg/d、15 μg/d). Spatial learning and memory abilities were evaluated by Morris water maze and cholinergic function was assessed with the choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) immunohistochemical methods.ResultsMorris water maze test showed that the escape latency in Aβ25-35-treated mice prolonged and the staying time reduced in the crossed first quadrant where the platform had been located, compared with the control mice (P<0-01). In addition, the number of ChAT positive neuron declined in the model mice(P<0-001). CB-NGF nasal administration significantly shortened the escape latency and elevated the staying time and number of ChAT positive neuron(P<0-01).ConclusionCB-NGF treatment can improve the spatial and memory performance which may involve the neuroprotection to cholinergic system.