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*

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

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

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery has been proposed to be an essential tool of gene therapy for various brain diseases. Among several cell types in the brain, astrocyte has become a promising therapeutic target for brain diseases, as more and more contribution of astrocytes in pathophysiology has been revealed. Until now, genetically targeting astrocytes has been possible by utilizing the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. In some brain areas including thalamus, however, the GFAP expression in astrocytes is reported to be low, making it difficult to genetically target astrocytes using GFAP promoter. To study the function of astrocytes in thalamus, which serves as a relay station, there is a great need for identifying an alternative astrocyte-specific promoter in thalamus. Recently, a new astrocyte-specific promoter of ALDH1L1 has been identified. However, it has not been examined in thalamus. Here we developed and characterized an AAV vector expressing Cre recombinase under the human ALDH1L1 promoter, AAV-hALDH1L1-Cre. To test the cell-type specific expression of AAV-hALDH1L1-Cre, AAV virus was injected into several brain regions of Ai14 (RCL-tdTomato) mouse, which reports Cre activity by tdTomato expression. In thalamus, we observed that tdTomato was found mostly in astrocytes (91.71%), with minimal occurrence in neurons (2.67%). In contrast, tdTomato signal was observed in both neurons and astrocytes of the amygdala (neuron: 68.13%, astrocyte: 28.35%) and hippocampus (neuron: 76.25%, astrocyte: 18.00%), which is consistent with the previous report showing neuronal gene expression under rat ALDH1L1 promoter. Unexpectedly, tdTomato was found mostly in neurons (91.98%) with minimal occurrence in astrocytes (6.66%) of the medial prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, hALDH1L1 promoter shows astrocyte-specificity in thalamus and may prove to be useful for targeting thalamic astrocytes in mouse.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Dependovirus ; Gene Expression* ; Genetic Therapy ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hippocampus ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Neurons ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats ; Recombinases ; Thalamus* ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

The expression of c-fos and c-jun in the brain of the rat after capsaicin treatment was investigated by in situ hybridization, dot blot hybridization and immunocytochemical methods. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats[200g] were used for this study. The first set of rats received a single subcutaneous injection of capsaicin[50mg/Kg] dissolved in 10% Tween-80 and 10% ethanol in saline. The rats were decapitated 1, 3, 5, 10, 24, 72 hours and 1 week after capsaicin treatment. The control set of rats were treated with saline instead of capsaicin. In situ hybridization and dot blot hybridization were carried out. O1igonucleotide probe complimentary to c-fos mRNA sequences were used for this study and labeling of oligonucleotides was accomplished using the DNA tailing kit. The expression of c-fos mRNA on the nucleus of neurons in in situ hybridization was observed throughout the brain, and was especially abundant in the olfactory cortex, nucleus of diagonal band of Broca, habenular nuclei, periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus, ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus and cerebellum. Compared to the control rats, c-fos mRNA were increased 24 hours after capsaicin injection and gradually decreased after 72 hours, returning to the normal control level 1 week after capsaicin injection. c-fos mRNA was detected only 1 week after capsaicin injection in the various areas of the brain. The fos protein-like immunoreactivity was initially somewhat decreased at 24 hours, but increased at 72 hours and reactions was maximally observed at 1 week after capsaicin treatment. But Jun protein immunoreactivity was not increased, on the contrary, it was even decreased both in numbers of reactive cells and immunoreactivity 1 week after capsaicin injection. From the above results, c-fos gene expression was pronounced in the nucleus concerned with pain, olfaction and taste such as VPL nucleus of the thalamus, olfactory cortex and parabrachial nucleus, in the limbic system concerned with stress and emotion such as nucleus of diagonal band of Broca, periaqueductal gray and habenular nucleus, in the structure concerned with somatic motor function such as entopeduncular nucleus and cerebellum. Also, the c-fos gene was activated by the capsaicin early in the course of effects, then the fos protein increased as a results of c-fos activation. On the other hand, c-jun did not respond to capsaicin treatment early in the course, but Jun protein decreased late in the course of capsaicin effects.
Adult ; Animals ; Brain* ; Capsaicin* ; Cerebellum ; DNA ; Entopeduncular Nucleus ; Ethanol ; Genes, fos ; Habenula ; Hand ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Limbic System ; Male ; Neurons ; Olfactory Pathways ; Oligonucleotides ; Periaqueductal Gray ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Septal Nuclei ; Smell ; Thalamus ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

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 distribution of Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) was examined in the rat forebrain by immunocytochemistry. TGF-alpha immunoreactivity was observed in the cerebral hemispheres, thalamus and hypothalamus. Neurons in the olfactory and septal area, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, amygdala, and different nuclei of the thalamus and hypothalamus showed immunoreactivity. The intensity of the immunoreaction was high in the hippocampus, pyramidal cell layers of cerebral cortex, reticular and ventral thalamic nuclei, and paraventricular and supraoptic hypothalamic nuclei. In addition, a few labelled glial cells appeared at random in the forebrain. These results indicate that both neurons and glial cells appear to synthesize TGF-alpha in normal forebrain of the rat. However, TGF-alpha immunoreactivity was more widely distributed in neurons than glial cells. Therefore, although the role of TGF-alpha in the central nervous system remains elusive, the present data support the concept that TGF-alpha may act as a trophic factor in the adult rat forebrain.
Adult ; Amygdala ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cerebrum ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats* ; Septum of Brain ; Thalamus ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

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

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

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