Plasma levels of growth hormone(GH), luteinizing hormone(LH) and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay following radiofrequency(RF) stimulation or coagulation of various nuclei in thalamus and hypothalamus. RF stimulation or coagulation of many nuclei in thalamus and hypothalamus consisted of pulvinar and dorsomedial nucleus in thalamus and anterior and posterior hypothalamic nuclei in hypothalamus. Anterior thalamic stimulation resulted in highly significant increase of plasma LH, GH, cortisol and TH levels. However thalamic stimulation resulted no change in the level of various plasma hormones. Hypothalamic lesion produced significantly decreased plasma LH, GH and cortisol levels. Plasma cortisol and LH levels were highest 2 hours after stimulation while GH levels did not increased until 6 hours and TH until 72 hours respectively after stimulation. The significant difference in latency for beginning of hormone secretion suggests that GH, cortisol and LH may be controlled by several separate neuronal networks. Plasma GH and cortisol levels were lowest 72 hrs after coagulation of the anterior hypothalamic area, while GH, cortisol and LH levels did not change following stimulation or coagulation of posterior hypothalamic nucleus and thalamic nucldi. It was also noted that the anterior hypothalamic stimulation or coagulation caused increased or decreased in GH, cortisol, and LH than that observed from stimulation or coagulation of other hypothalamic and thalamic nuclei respectively.
Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypothalamus* ; Lutein ; Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus ; Neurons ; Plasma ; Pulvinar ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thalamic Nuclei ; Thalamus*

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

It has been suggested that epileptic seizures can be interrupted by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of various deep brain structures which may exert a therapeutic control on seizure generators or correspond to ictal onset zone themselves. Several groups have used DBS in drug-resistant epilepsy cases for which resective surgery cannot be applied. The promising subcortical brain structures are anterior and centromedian nucleus of the thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, and other nuclei to treat epilepsy in light of previous clinical and experimental data. Recently two randomized trials of neurostimulation for controlling refractory epilepsy employed the strategies to stimulate electrodes placed on both anterior thalamic nuclei or near seizure foci in response to electroencephalographically detected epileptiform activity. However, the more large-scale, long-term clinical trials which elucidates optimal stimulation parameters, ideal selection criteria for epilepsy DBS should be performed before long.
Anterior Thalamic Nuclei ; Brain ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Epilepsy ; Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei ; Light ; Patient Selection ; Seizures ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; Thalamus

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is an uncommon variant of the paramedian artery, a solitary trunk branching off from the posterior cerebral arteries, supplying both paramedian thalami, and also often the rostral midbrain and the anterior thalamus. The typical clinical manifestations of the AOP infarction include altered mental status, cognitive impairment, and oculomotor dysfunction. We report a rare case with AOP infarction, and the clinical characteristics and rehabilitation courses for alertness disorder, cognitive dysfunction, and other accompanied symptoms.
Anterior Thalamic Nuclei ; Arteries* ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Infarction* ; Mesencephalon ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Rehabilitation ; Thalamus

The present study was designed to investigate the function and mechanism of high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the parafascicular nucleus (PF) used as a therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD rat model was built by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substartia nigra pars compacta of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Using the ethological methods, we examined the effect of electrical stimulation of PF on the apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in PD rats. Moreover, Electrophysiological recordings were made in rats to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of PF on the neuronal activities of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the ventromedial nucleus (VM). Our results showed that one week after HFS (130 Hz, 0.4 mA, 5 s) of PF, there was significant improvement in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in PD rats. HFS of PF caused an inhibition of the majority of neurons (84%) recorded in the STN in PD rats. The majority of cells recorded in the VM of the thalamus responded to the HFS with an increase in their unitary discharge activity (81%). These effects were in a frequency-dependent manner. Only stimulus frequencies above 50 Hz were effective. Furthermore, employing microelectrophoresis, we demonstrated that glutamatergic and GABAergic afferent nerve fibers converged on the same STN neurons. These results show that the HFS of PF induces a reduction of the excitatory glutamatergic output from the PF which in turn results in deactivation of STN neurons. The reduction in tonic inhibitory drive from the basal ganglia induces a disinhibition of activity in the VM, a motor thalamic nucleus. In conclusion, the results suggest that HFS of PF may produce a therapeutic effect in PD rats, which is mediated by the nuclei of PF, STN and VM.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; physiopathology ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei ; physiopathology

This study was for investigating relations between distributions of monoamines-norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine-on the visual system and their functions. Distributions of these monoamines in the lateral geniculate body, pulvinar, lateral posterior nucleus, and suprachiasmatic nucleus were investigated. Brain of a squirrel monkey was removed and frozen sectioned. Immunocytochemical study was performed for the tissue of the brain. Results showed that the anterior part of the lateral geniculate body contained more monoamines than the posterior part. More serotonins were distrbuted at the magnocellular part, and more dopamines were found at the parvocellular part. In pulvinar, more norepinephrines were distributed at the medial part, while serotonins were evenly distributed at all parts. In lateral posterior nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus, three kinds of monoamines were distributed with high density. Among the three, density of the serotonin showed the highest value. The lateral geniculate body relates with visual perception such as visual acuity, form and color perception, and stereopsis, while the pulvinar relates with visual functions, such as visual attention, sensory integration, and differentiation. Since norepinephrine and serotonine are distributed with high density in the pulvinar than in the lateral geniculate body those two monoamines are expected to playa major role for visual functions. Inferior part of the pulvinar relates with visual imagination, and the lateral posterior nucleus relates with integration of visual sensory. Relatively high distribution of dopamine in these two parts means that dopamine may playa major role for visual imagination and integration. As suprachiasmatic nucleus relates with controlling biorhythm, dense distribution of monoamines in suprachiasmatic nucleus implies that the monoamines may work for controlling biorhythm.
Brain ; Color Perception ; Depth Perception ; Dopamine ; Geniculate Bodies ; Imagination ; Lateral Thalamic Nuclei ; Norepinephrine ; Periodicity ; Pulvinar ; Saimiri* ; Sciuridae* ; Serotonin ; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Perception

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

Nitric oxide(NO) is thought to play an important role in development and plasticity of brain. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression of neuronal NOS and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in the developing rat brain. The results show that there is a great variation in the time of appearance of the earliest NOS containing cells depending on their location: At the 15th embryonic day weakly stained cells were present in caudate-putamen, and neurons in the sensory trigeminal nucleus and the solitary nucleus displayed an intense staining. The NOS neurons in orbital neocortex, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area and mammillary body appeared first at the 18th embryonic day. The supraoptic nucleus and superior and inferior colliculi also weakly labeled at the 18th embryonic day, At the loth embryonic day, positive cells appeared in horizontal limb of diagonal band, anterior olfactory nucleus and parafascicular thalamic nucleus. In the cerebellum, weak NOS staining was present in fibers and cells situated below Purkinje cert layer. The Purkinje cell layer displayed a weak, rather diffuse activity throughout the cerebellum at postnatal day 0. At the 4th postnatal day. the reaction product in the Purkinje cell layer became more distinct. At the 10th postnatal day, the inner part of molecular layer became populated by NOS positive basket cells, and the reaction products on the Purkinje cells began to disappear. The present results showed that NOS in the rat brain is expressed in different populations of neurons at different stages of development. This expression pattern of NOS suggests that NO may play a role in the developmental remodelling of the mammalian brain.
Animals ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Extremities ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Inferior Colliculi ; Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei ; Mamillary Bodies ; Neocortex ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Orbit ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Plastics ; Purkinje Cells ; Rats* ; Septal Nuclei ; Solitary Nucleus ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Trigeminal Nuclei

OBJECTIVE: Neuropathic pain causes patients feel indescribable pain. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one of the treatment methods in neuropathic pain but the action mechanism is still unclear. To study the effect and mechanism of analgesic effects from DBS in neuropathic pain and to enhance the analgesic effect of DBS, we stimulated the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) in rats. METHODS: To observe the effect from VPL stimulation, we established 3 groups : normal group (Normal group), neuropathic pain group (Pain group) and neuropathic pain+DBS group (DBS group). Rats in DBS group subjected to electrical stimulation and the target is VPL. RESULTS: We observed the behavioral changes by DBS in VPL (VPL-DBS) on neuropathic pain rats. In our study, the pain score which is by conventional test method was effectively decreased. In specific, the time of showing withdrawal response from painful stimulation which is not used measuring method in our animal model was also decreased by DBS. CONCLUSION: The VPL is an effective target on pain modulation. Specifically we could demonstrate changes of pain response duration which is not used, and it was also significantly meaningful. We thought that this study would be helpful in understanding the relation between VPL-DBS and neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Neuralgia* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment which has shown remarkable therapeutic benefits for patients with a variety of neurologic conditions. As an important application, DBS has been used to treat intractable pain for over 60 years. Clinical studies have revealed that the selection of the stimulation sites depended on the types of pain. In this study, we selected ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL) as the target brain areas, which were widely used in clinical treatment of refractory pain, to clarify and compare the effects of vlPAG and VPL stimulation on different models of pain. Acute pain was evoked by thermal stimulation. The chronic inflammatory pain was produced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection, while neuropathic pain was induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) surgery. Some important results emerged from this study: (1) in the experiment of normal rats, we found that unilateral vlPAG stimulation could lead to a significant increase of the thermal withdrawal threshold in bilateral hindpaws of rats, which means a significant bilateral analgesic action; (2) in the CFA test, both contralateral vlPAG and VPL stimulation significantly alleviated the thermal hyperalgesia, which exhibited analgesic effects to the chronic inflammatory pain; (3) in the SNL experiment, the results revealed that contralateral VPL stimulation could significantly abolish the mechanical allodynia induced by SNL, indicating remarkable analgesic effect to neuropathic pain. But the vlPAG stimulation did not have any effect on the mechanical allodynia. These results suggest that the electrical stimulation of the PAG works more effectively on nociceptive pain, including acute pain and chronic inflammatory pain. Besides, the VPL stimulation is much more sensitive for chronic pain, including chronic inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Chronic Pain ; Electric Stimulation ; Hyperalgesia ; Neuralgia ; Pain Measurement ; Periaqueductal Gray ; Rats ; Spinal Nerves ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei