OBJECTIVETo explore the role of beta-catenin in the pathogenesis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODSKainic acid-induced rat models of medial temporal lobe epilepsy was established. The expression of beta-catenin in the normal mice and the model mice were detected using Western blot analysis. The expression of beta-catenin at human hippocampus was detected using immunohistochemical analysis and immunofluorescence and compared between patients with non-hippocampal sclerosis temporal lobe epilepsy and those with hippocampal sclerosis epilepsy.

RESULTSThe pathologies of model mice were similar with those in mice with hippocampal sclerosis temporal lobe epilepsy, demonstrating that the mice model was successfully established. Western blot analysis showed no significant difference of beta-catenin expression between normal mice and model mice. As shown by immunohistochemical analysis and immunofluorescence, beta-catenin expression in human hippocampus was also not significantly different between patients with temporal lobe epilepsy without hippocampal sclerosis and those with hippocampal sclerosis.

CONCLUSIONBeta-catenin may not be involved in the development of hippocampal sclerosis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Adult ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo determine the spatio-temporal expression of p70S6k activation in hippocampus in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODSTemporal lobe epilepsy model was established by stereotaxically unilateral and intrahippocampal injection of kainite acid (KA) in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Latent and chronic epileptogenesis were represented by mice 5 days after KA injection (n = 5) and mice 5 weeks after KA injection (n = 8), respectively. Control mice (n = 5) were injected with saline. Immunohistochemical assays were performed on brain sections of the mice.

RESULTSHippocampus both ipsilateral and contralateral to the KA injection displayed significantly up-regulated pS6 immunoreactivity in dispersed granule cells in 5-day and 5-week model mice.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of p70S6k is mainly located in the dentate gyrus in KA-induced mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, indicating that the activation may be related with the disperse degree and hypertrophy of granule cells.

Animals ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; enzymology ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; analysis ; metabolism

Objective To explore the temporal and spatial distribution of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and calnexin (CNX) in the dentate gyrus of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) mouse model. Methods We used kainic acid (KA) to induce acute phase (12 h and 24 h) mTLE mouse models and performed Western blotting and immunofluorescence to detect the different expressions and distribution pattern of CHOP and CNX in CA3 of the hippocampus. Results Compared with the controls,the expressions of CHOP(F=1.136,P=0.4069) and CNX (F=2.378,P=0.2087) did not increase in CA3 of hippocampus 12 h following KA injection in the acute phase of mTLE mouse models,whereas the expressions in CA1 and CA3 of hippocampus 24 h after injection were significantly higher (F=8.510,P=0.0362;F=6.968,P=0.0497,respectively). As shown by immunofluorescence analysis,CHOP was expressed mainly in CA3 of hippocampus 12 h after KA injection,and increased in CA1 and CA3 24 h after KA administration. Compared with the controls,the expressions of CHOP(F=24.480,P=0.0057) and CNX (F=7.149,P=0.0478) were significantly higher 24 h after KA injection.Conclusions The expression of CHOP increases along with the progression of seizures,indicating the increased level of endoplasmic reticulum stress. An increasing number of CNX,which serves as molecular chaperone,may be needed to facilitate the unfolded protein to complete the folding process.
Animals ; Calnexin ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Kainic Acid ; Mice ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a chronic restraint stress (CRS) model of depression,using C57BL/6J mice.

METHODSTotally 20 C57BL/6J mice were screened by weight,sucrose preference,and the results of open-field test. Then,they were equally randomized into two groups:normal control (NC) group and CRS group. Mice in the CRS group were under restraint 4 hours a day and their behavioral changes were evaluated after 21 days.

RESULTSThe immobility time was significantly longer in CRS mice [(131.70 ± 21.65) s] compared with controls [(68.88 ± 8.43) s] (P=0.0304). CRS mice showed a significant decrease in sucrose preference during the time 0-24 h [(66.21 ±3.24)% vs.(79.46 ± 3.85)%, P=0.0196] and 0-48 h [(73.25 ± 1.50)% vs.(80.20 ± 2.26)%, P=0.0248] compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONThe C57BL/6J mice CRS models of depression were successfully established.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVETo explore the temporal and spatial distribution of growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43)and phosphorylated growth-associated protein 43(p-GAP-43)in the dentate gyrus of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy(MTLE)mouse model.

METHODSMTLE mouse model was established by using the kainic acid(KA)induction. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were applied to detect the expressions of GAP-43 and p-GAP-43 in different stages of epileptogenesis.

RESULTSBoth in the epileptic and control mice, high GAP-43 expression level was detected in the dentate gyrus, hilus, and inner molecular layer of hippocampus. Decreased p-GAP-43 expression was detected 5 days, 2 weeks, and 5 weeks after KA-induced seizures.

CONCLUSIONThe decreased p-GAP-43 expression in the duration of seizure may play an important role in the synaptic reorganization of the sclerotic hippocampus.

Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; metabolism ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Kainic Acid ; Mice ; Seizures

Objective To evaluate senile plaque formation and compare the sensitivity of three different β-amyloid (Aβ) labeling methods (antibody staining, Gallyas silver staining, and thioflavin-S staining) to detect Aβ deposition.Methods APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic mice (APP/PS1) of different ages were used to examine spatiotemporal changes in Aβ plaque deposition. Antibody staining, Gallyas silver staining, and thioflavin-S staining were used to detect Aβ plaque deposition in the same brain region of adjacent slices from model mice, and the results were compared.Results With aging, Aβ plaques first appeared in the cortex and then the deposition increased throughout the whole brain. Significantly greater plaque deposition was detected by 6E10 antibody than that analyzed with Gallyas silver staining or thioflavin-S staining (P<0.05). Plaque deposition did not show significant difference between the APP/PS1 mice brains assayed with Gallyas silver staining and ones with thioflavin-S staining (P=0.0033).Conclusions The APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease could mimick the progress of Aβ plaques occurred in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Antibody detection of Aβ deposition may be more sensitive than chemical staining methods.

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the changes of the position of medulla oblongata and cerebellum following posterior fossa decompression (PFD), and to investigate their influences on the prognosis of the syringomyelia in adolescents with Chiari malformation (CM).

METHODSA retrospective review was performed on all CM patients between September 2006 and September 2011. A subset of 46 patients, including 25 male and 21 female patients, was finally enrolled according to the inclusion criteria. The initial age and duration of follow-up averaged 13.9 years (range, 10-17 years) and 13 months (range, 6-52 months), respectively. On mid-sagittal MRI, the following parameters were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (follow-up ≥ 6 months): the longitudinal and transverse position of bulbopontine sulcus, the fourth ventricle vertex, the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil, the cervico-medullary angle, the maximal syrinx/cord(S/C) ratio and the syrinx length. Changes in these parameters were analysed using the paired samples t test, and for these reaching statistical significances, an additional bivariate correlation analysis was performed to investigate their relation with syrinx resolution.

RESULTSAt the latest follow-up, upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus was observed in 31 patients(67.4%), with upward shifting of the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil presenting in 35 patients(76.0%). The maximal S/C ratio and the syrinx length were significantly improved postoperatively (t = 7.114 and 7.816, P = 0.000).Significant resolution of the syrinx was demonstrated in 40 patients(86.9%), and more specifically, the average improvement rates of the maximal S/C ratio and the syrinx length were 32% ± 30%and 43% ± 33%, respectively. In addition, the bivariate correlation analysis revealed that syrinx resolution was significantly correlated with the upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus (r = 0.332, P = 0.027) and lower extreme of cerebella (r = 0.298, P = 0.044) .

CONCLUSIONThe upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus and the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil might be implicated in the mechanisms of postoperative syrinx resolution.

Adolescent ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; pathology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Syringomyelia ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome