Widespread brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and protein expression has been detected in the brain. Despite substantial overlap between BDNF mRNA and protein expression, there is general anatomical regions, where there is discordance of these expression. We performed, therefore, immunohistochemistry after colchicine treatment into the ventricle to evaluate the possible presence of BDNF-immunoreactive (IR) in the regions where BDNF mRNA was expressed, but not BDNF-IR. The results obtained were as follows; There was substantial increase in the number of BDNF-IR neurons in the anterior olfactory nucleus, the piriform cortex, the cerebral cortex, the claustrum, the stratum pyramidale of the CA2 and the CA3, the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the anteromedial thalamic nucleus, the anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and the ventromedial hypothalamus nucleus, compared to the same brain area of non-colchicine treated rat. We detected many new BDNF-IR neurons in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1, A1, A2, A4-A10 cell groups, C1-C3 cell groups, the raphe magnus nucleus, the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and the spinal vestibular nucleus. The results show that the localization of BDNF-IR neurons after colchicine treatment is consistant with that of BDNF mRNA containing neurons in the brain.
Animals ; Anterior Thalamic Nuclei ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cerebral Cortex ; Colchicine* ; Dentate Gyrus ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Neurons* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger

The incidence rate of anxiety and depression is significantly higher in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) than in the general population. The mechanisms underlying dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced depressive-like behaviors are still unclear. We clarified that IBD mice induced by repeated administration of DSS presented depressive-like behaviors. The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) was regarded as the activated brain region by the number of c-fos-labeled neurons. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) was upregulated in the PVT of mice with DSS-induced depressive behaviors. Upregulating Lcn2 from neuronal activity induced dendritic spine loss and the secreted protein induced chemokine expression and subsequently contributed to microglial activation leading to blood-brain barrier permeability. Moreover, Lcn2 silencing in the PVT alleviated the DSS-induced depressive-like behaviors. The present study demonstrated that elevated Lcn2 in the PVT is a critical factor for DSS-induced depressive behaviors.
Mice ; Humans ; Animals ; Lipocalin-2/genetics* ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Brain ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

BACKGROUND: Recently there have been many experiences regarding systemic effects of stellate ganglion block(SGB). During sympathetic hyperactivation, the SGB can be helpful to impaired microcirculation in brain-stem and hypothalamus. However, the exact mechanism and possible central action sites of SGB have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we traced central neural pathways following superior cervical ganglion block using the protein product(Fos) of c-fos protooncogene as a metabolic marker in a rat's brain. Method: The animals were divided into a superior cervical ganglion block group(n=5) using Marcaine 0.2 ml and a control block group(n=5) using saline 0.2ml. Medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain and hypothalamus were sectioned transversely with a sliding microtome. After imunohistochemical staining using rabbit polyclonal antibody we observed the distribution and grade of Fos expression under a light microscope. RESULTS: A blockade of superior cervical ganglion in rat led to the induction of c-fos in areas related to pain modulation sites and the autonomic nervous system; such as the parabrachial nucleus and central gray of the pons including dorsal raphe nucleus, as well as the substatia nigra of the midbrain, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus posterior and habenular nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: Expressions of c-fos-like protein as a marker for neuronal activity following the blockade of the superior cervical ganglion in the rat have a part in the transcriptional control of the neurons which are related to the autonomic nervous system and endogenous pain modulation sites in the brain-stem.
Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Brain ; Bupivacaine ; Habenula ; Hypothalamus* ; Medulla Oblongata ; Mesencephalon ; Microcirculation ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Neural Pathways ; Neurons ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Pons ; Raphe Nuclei ; Rats* ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Stellate Ganglion ; Superior Cervical Ganglion*

BDNF is a protein that allows the survival and differentiation of the central nervous system. In the present study, we have examined the postnatal development of BDNF -immunoreactive (IR) neuron system in the forebrain and the upper brain stem of the rat using immunohistochemistry. In the piriform cortex, claustrum, CA2 and 3, anterodorsal and paraventricular thalamic nucleus (nu.), ventromedial hypothalamic nu. and substantia nigra, BDNF-IR neurons were detected at postnatal day 1. BDNF-IR neurons in the anterior olfactory n., layers V and VI of the neocortex, claustrum, dentate gyrus, basolateral amygdaloid nu., paraventricular hypothalamic nu., mammillary nu. first appeared at postnatal 1 week of age and tended to increase in number as the rats grew. BDNF -IR neurons in ventromedial and paraventricular hypothalamic nu., mammillary nu., and substantia nigra decreased in number and none or only a few BDNF-IR neurons were seen in these areas of the adult rats. However, after treatment of colchicine, these areas showed numerous BDNF-IR neurons. BDNF-IR axon terminals were found in the septal nu., central amygdaloid nu., bed nu., of the stria terminalis, anterior ventral, anterior medial, interanteromedial and paravertricular thalamic nu., at postnatal day 1 and in dentate gyrus and paraventricular hypothalamic nu., at 1 week of age, respectively. These terminals in general continued to increase in number as the rats grew. Our results showed that BDNF immunoreactivity increased in various regions of the postnatally developing rat brain and suggest that BDNF might play an important role in neuronal maturation.
Adult ; Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Central Nervous System ; Colchicine ; Dentate Gyrus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Neocortex ; Neurons* ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Prosencephalon ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra

This experimental studies was to investigate the location of CNS labeled neurons following injection of pseudorabies virus (PRV), Bartha strain, into the rat thymus. After survival times of 96~120 hours following injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned(30micrometer). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope The results were as follows: 1. The PRV labeled spinal cord segments projecting to the rat thymus were founded in cervical and thoracic segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina V, VII, X, intermediolateral nucleus and dorsal nucleus. 2. In the rhombencephalon, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the thymus were founded in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventro-lateral reticular nucleus, medullary reticular nucleus, area postrema, nucleus solitary tract, nucleus raphe obscurus, nucleus raphe pallidus, nucleus raphe magnus, gigantocellular reticular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and spinal trigeminal nucleus. 3. In the mesencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in parabrachial nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, central gray matter, substantia nigra, nucleus dorsal raphe, A8 dopamin cells of retrorubral field, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus and A5 noradrenalin cells. 4. In the prosencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in reuniens thalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, precommissural nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus, preoptic hypothalamic nucleus, retrochiasmatic area, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. These results suggest that PRV labeled neurons of the spinal cord projecting to the rat thymus might be the neurons related to the viscero-somatic sensory and sympathetic preganglionic neurons, and PRV labeled neurons of the brain may be the neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle in blood vessels. These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory system monitoring the internal environment. These observations provide evidence for previously unknown projections from spinal cord and brain to the thymus which may be play an important role in the regulation of thymic function.
Animals ; Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Area Postrema ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid* ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Immunohistochemistry ; Locus Coeruleus ; Mesencephalon ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Prosencephalon ; Pseudorabies* ; Rats* ; Reflex ; Rhombencephalon ; Spinal Cord ; Substantia Nigra ; Thymus Gland* ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal ; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus