Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cognition ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Moringa/chemistry* ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study whether lithium agent produces neuroprotective effect by inhibiting the nerve cell apoptosis of rats after spinal cord injury.

METHODSForty-two male SD rats weighing 200 to 250 g were randomly divided into 3 groups: blank control group(=6) without surgery, normal saline(NS) group(=18) with intraperitoneal injection of NS (40 mg/kg); and Lithium chloride (Licl) group (=18) with intraperitoneal injection of Licl (40 mg/kg). After Allen method modeling, Licl group started intraperitoneal injection of Licl solution (40 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) within 15 min after operation to the second week. NS group, during the same interval, was injected with a same amount of NS. Postoperative 3, 7, 14 d, BBB scores in each group were measured;the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were observed by immunohistochemisty staining;TUNEL staining was used to observe the nerve cell apoptosis.

RESULTSThe BBB scores in blank control group were 21. Postoperative 7, 14 d, BBB scores of Licl group were higher than that of NS group(<0.05). As for the Bcl-2 protein expression, black control group has a level of 0.081±0.003;7 d and 14 d postoperatively, the level in Licl group was 0.151±0.003, 0.163±0.003 and in NS group, 0.143±0.003, 0.154±0.002, respectively. Licl group showed significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression(<0.05). As for the Bax protein expression, black control group showed a level of 0.071±0.003; 7 d and 14 d postoperatively, the level in Licl group was 0.121±0.002, 0.106±0.002 and in NS group was 0.126±0.001, 0.120±0.002, respectively. The Bax protein expression is significantly inhibited in the Licl group(<0.05). In nerve cell apoptosis by TUNEL staining, the positive cells were fewer in the black control group with apoptosis index (AI) of 1.98±0.19;while 7d and 14d postoperatively, the AI of Licl group was 13.12±0.69, 4.29±1.00 and of NS group, 18.26±0.87, 5.48±0.70, respectively. Licl group showed significant inhibition of the cell apoptosis(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLicl can promote the Bcl-2 protein expression and inhibit the Bax proteins expression in nerve cells of rat after SCI, thereby playing a role in the inhibition of nerve cell apoptosis. This may be one of the mechanisms that Licl can promote the recovery of motor function of rats after SCI.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Lithium ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; drug therapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

The ventral pallidum (VP) is a crucial component of the limbic loop of the basal ganglia and participates in the regulation of reward, motivation, and emotion. Although the VP receives afferent inputs from the central histaminergic system, little is known about the effect of histamine on the VP and the underlying receptor mechanism. Here, we showed that histamine, a hypothalamic-derived neuromodulator, directly depolarized and excited the GABAergic VP neurons which comprise a major cell type in the VP and are responsible for encoding cues of incentive salience and reward hedonics. Both postsynaptic histamine H1 and H2 receptors were found to be expressed in the GABAergic VP neurons and co-mediate the excitatory effect of histamine. These results suggested that the central histaminergic system may actively participate in VP-mediated motivational and emotional behaviors via direct modulation of the GABAergic VP neurons. Our findings also have implications for the role of histamine and the central histaminergic system in psychiatric disorders.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Basal Forebrain ; cytology ; Dimaprit ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; GABAergic Neurons ; drug effects ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Histamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Lysine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Male ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Histamine H1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Histamine H2 ; metabolism ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Animals always seek rewards and the related neural basis has been well studied. However, what happens when animals fail to get a reward is largely unknown, although this is commonly seen in behaviors such as predation. Here, we set up a behavioral model of repeated failure in reward pursuit (RFRP) in Drosophila larvae. In this model, the larvae were repeatedly prevented from reaching attractants such as yeast and butyl acetate, before finally abandoning further attempts. After giving up, they usually showed a decreased locomotor speed and impaired performance in light avoidance and sugar preference, which were named as phenotypes of RFRP states. In larvae that had developed RFRP phenotypes, the octopamine concentration was greatly elevated, while tβh mutants devoid of octopamine were less likely to develop RFRP phenotypes, and octopamine feeding efficiently restored such defects. By down-regulating tβh in different groups of neurons and imaging neuronal activity, neurons that regulated the development of RFRP states and the behavioral exhibition of RFRP phenotypes were mapped to a small subgroup of non-glutamatergic and glutamatergic octopaminergic neurons in the central larval brain. Our results establish a model for investigating the effect of depriving an expected reward in Drosophila and provide a simplified framework for the associated neural basis.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Biogenic Amines ; metabolism ; Conditioning, Operant ; physiology ; Drosophila ; physiology ; Drosophila Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Feeding Behavior ; drug effects ; physiology ; Instinct ; Larva ; physiology ; Locomotion ; drug effects ; genetics ; Nervous System ; cytology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Octopamine ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; Reward ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) play an important role in human pain sensation. However, the expression and role of Nav subtypes in native human sensory neurons are unclear. To address this issue, we obtained human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) tissues from healthy donors. PCR analysis of seven DRG-expressed Nav subtypes revealed that the hDRG has higher expression of Nav1.7 (~50% of total Nav expression) and lower expression of Nav1.8 (~12%), whereas the mouse DRG has higher expression of Nav1.8 (~45%) and lower expression of Nav1.7 (~18%). To mimic Nav regulation in chronic pain, we treated hDRG neurons in primary cultures with paclitaxel (0.1-1 μmol/L) for 24 h. Paclitaxel increased the Nav1.7 but not Nav1.8 expression and also increased the transient Na currents and action potential firing frequency in small-diameter (<50 μm) hDRG neurons. Thus, the hDRG provides a translational model in which to study "human pain in a dish" and test new pain therapeutics.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; drug effects ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mice ; NAV1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Species Specificity

Mounting evidence supports an important role of chemokines, produced by spinal cord astrocytes, in promoting central sensitization and chronic pain. In particular, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) has been shown to enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced currents in spinal outer lamina II (IIo) neurons. However, the exact molecular, synaptic, and cellular mechanisms by which CCL2 modulates central sensitization are still unclear. We found that spinal injection of the CCR2 antagonist RS504393 attenuated CCL2- and inflammation-induced hyperalgesia. Single-cell RT-PCR revealed CCR2 expression in excitatory vesicular glutamate transporter subtype 2-positive (VGLUT2) neurons. CCL2 increased NMDA-induced currents in CCR2/VGLUT2 neurons in lamina IIo; it also enhanced the synaptic NMDA currents evoked by dorsal root stimulation; and furthermore, it increased the total and synaptic NMDA currents in somatostatin-expressing excitatory neurons. Finally, intrathecal RS504393 reversed the long-term potentiation evoked in the spinal cord by C-fiber stimulation. Our findings suggest that CCL2 directly modulates synaptic plasticity in CCR2-expressing excitatory neurons in spinal lamina IIo, and this underlies the generation of central sensitization in pathological pain.
Animals ; Benzoxazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Chemokine CCL2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents ; pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists ; pharmacology ; Female ; Freund's Adjuvant ; toxicity ; Hyperalgesia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Myelitis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Pain Management ; Somatostatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; cytology ; Spiro Compounds ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

The aim of the present study was to observe whether dopamine receptor (DR) was involved in the effects of sodium salicylate (SS) on the expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in rat cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Forty-eight hours after primary culture of rat SGNs, immunofluorescence technique was applied to detect expressions of DR1 and DR2, the two subtypes of dopamine receptors. Western blot was performed to assess NMDA receptor NR1 subunit and GABAreceptor subunit α2 (GABRα2) protein expressions in the SGNs after the treatments of SS alone or in combination with DR antagonists. The results demonstrated that: (1) The DR1 and DR2 were expressed in the bodies and axons of the SGN; (2) After the treatment with SS, the surface protein expressions of GABRα2 and NR1 were decreased by 44.69% and 21.57%, respectively, while the total protein expressions showed no significant changes; (3) Neither SS + SCH23390 (DR1 antagonist) group nor SS + Eticlopride (DR2 antagonist) group showed significant differences in GABRα2 and NR1 surface protein expressions compared with the control group. These results suggest that SS regulates the surface GABAand NMDA receptors trafficking on SGN, and the mechanism may involve DR mediation.
Animals ; Benzazepines ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Rats ; Receptors, Dopamine ; metabolism ; Receptors, GABA-A ; metabolism ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; toxicity ; Spiral Ganglion ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate acrylamide (ACR)-induced subacute neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system (CNS) at the synapse level in rats.

METHODSThirty-six Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into three groups, (1) a 30 mg/kg ACR-treated group, (2) a 50 mg/kg ACR-treated group, and (3) a normal saline (NS)-treated control group. Body weight and neurological changes were recorded each day. At the end of the test, cerebral cortex and cerebellum tissues were harvested and viewed using light and electron microscopy. Additionally, the expression of Synapsin I and P-Synapsin I in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum were investigated.

RESULTSThe 50 mg/kg ACR-treated rats showed a significant reduction in body weight compared with untreated individuals (P < 0.05). Rats exposed to ACR showed a significant increase in gait scores compared with the NS control group (P < 0.05). Histological examination indicated neuronal structural damage in the 50 mg/kg ACR treatment group. The active zone distance (AZD) and the nearest neighbor distance (NND) of synaptic vesicles in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum were increased in both the 30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg ACR treatment groups. The ratio of the distribution of synaptic vesicles in the readily releasable pool (RRP) was decreased. Furthermore, the expression levels of Synapsin I and P-Synapsin I in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum were decreased in both the 30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg ACR treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONSubacute ACR exposure contributes to neuropathy in the rat CNS. Functional damage of synaptic proteins and vesicles may be a mechanism of ACR neurotoxicity.

Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cerebellum ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; drug effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Gait ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synapses ; drug effects ; Synapsins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synaptic Vesicles ; drug effects ; physiology ; Weight Loss ; drug effects

Oxidative stress, a predominant cause of apoptosis cascades triggered in neurodegenerative disorders, has been regarded as a critical inducement in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Gou Teng-San (GTS) is a traditional Chinese herbs preparation commonly utilized to alleviate cognitive dysfunction and psychological symptoms of patients with dementia. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GTS40, an active fraction of GTS, on HO-induced oxidative damage and identify the potential active ingredients. Our results revealed that GTS40 exhibited radical scavenging activity, elevated cell viability, decreased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and stabilized mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP) in HO-treated PC12 cells. In addition, GTS40 blocked the apoptotic cascade by reversing the imbalance of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibiting the activity of caspase-3. Furthermore, an HPLC-QTOFMS method was developed to characterize major chemical constituents in GTS40. Our results revealed twenty-seven identified or tentatively characterized compounds through comparing their retention time (t) and MS spectra with reference standards. These results suggested that GTS40 was a promising active fraction that may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative disorders.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

We investigated the potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons in vitro as an autologous stem cell source for Parkinson's disease treatment. The hDPSCs were expanded in knockout-embryonic stem cell (KO-ES) medium containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on gelatin-coated plates for 3-4 days. Then, the medium was replaced with KO-ES medium without LIF to allow the formation of the neurosphere for 4 days. The neurosphere was transferred into ITS medium, containing ITS (human insulin-transferrin-sodium) and fibronectin, to select for Nestin-positive cells for 6-8 days. The cells were then cultured in N-2 medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), FGF-8b, sonic hedgehog-N, and ascorbic acid on poly-l-ornithine/fibronectin-coated plates to expand the Nestin-positive cells for up to 2 weeks. Finally, the cells were transferred into N-2/ascorbic acid medium to allow for their differentiation into dopaminergic neurons for 10-15 days. The differentiation stages were confirmed by morphological, immunocytochemical, flow cytometric, real-time PCR, and ELISA analyses. The expressions of mesenchymal stem cell markers were observed at the early stages. The expressions of early neuronal markers were maintained throughout the differentiation stages. The mature neural markers showed increased expression from stage 3 onwards. The percentage of cells positive for tyrosine hydroxylase was 14.49%, and the amount was 0.526 ± 0.033 ng/mL at the last stage. hDPSCs can differentiate into dopaminergic neural cells under experimental cell differentiation conditions, showing potential as an autologous cell source for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Brain/pathology ; *Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media/chemistry/pharmacology ; Dental Pulp/*cytology ; Dopaminergic Neurons/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myelin Basic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens/genetics/metabolism ; Stem Cells/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Tubulin/genetics/metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/analysis/genetics/metabolism