Activation of p38MAPK in microglia after ischemia.

p38MAPK has been implicated in the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in vitro. To understand its role in neurodegeneration, we determined the time course and localization of the dually phosphorylated active form of p38MAPK in hippocampus after global forebrain ischemia. Phosphorylated p38MAPK and mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein 2 activity increased over 4 days after ischemia. Phosphorylated p38MAPK immunoreactivity was observed in microglia in regions adjacent to, but not in, the dying CA1 neurons. In contrast, neither c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 nor p42/p44MAPK activity was altered after ischemia. These results provide the first evidence for localization of activated p38MAPK in the CNS and support a role for p38MAPK in the microglial response to stress.

Increased expression of IL-1beta converting enzyme in hippocampus after ischemia: selective localization in microglia.

Although the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE)/CED-3 family of proteases has been implicated recently in neuronal cell death in vitro and in ovo, the role of specific genes belonging to this family in cell death in the nervous system remains unknown. To address this question, we examined the in vivo expression of one of these genes, Ice, after global forebrain ischemia in gerbils. Using RT-PCR and Western immunoblot techniques, we detected an increase in the mRNA and protein expression of ICE in hippocampus during a period of 4 d after ischemia. Chromatin condensation was observed in CA1 neurons within 2 d after ischemia. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and apoptotic bodies were observed between 3 and 4 d after ischemia, a period during which CA1 neuronal death is maximal. In nonischemic brains, ICE-like immunoreactivity was relatively low in CA1 pyramidal neurons but high in scattered hippocampal interneurons. After ischemia, ICE-like immunoreactivity was not altered in these neurons. ICE-like immunoreactivity, however, was observed in microglial cells in the regions adjacent to the CA1 layer as early as 2 d after ischemic insult. The increase in ICE-like immunoreactivity was robust at 4 d after ischemia, a period that correlates with the DNA fragmentation observed in hippocampal homogenates of ischemic brains. These results provide the first evidence for the localization and induction of ICE expression in vivo after ischemia and suggest an indirect role for ICE in ischemic damage through mediation of an inflammatory response.

Boronic acid adducts of technetium dioxime (BATO) complexes derived from quinuclidine benzilate (QNB) boronic acid stereoisomers: syntheses and studies of their binding to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

We have investigated the possibility of using BATO complexes derivatized with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), for mAChR imaging. The BATO complexes, TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB, were prepared using QNB derivatives containing a 4'-boronic acid substituent on one of the benzilic benzene rings (QNB-boronic acid). The QNB-boronic acid molecule has two chiral centers, and all four QNB-BATO stereoisomers were made and evaluated. When studied using in vitro receptor binding assays based on tissue from rat brain caudate-putamen (which contains primarily M1 and M4 mAChR) and rat heart (M2 mAChR), the QNB-boronic acid stereoisomers had binding affinities (KA) in the range 2 x 10(5)-1 x 10(8), at least 10-fold lower than the KA for QNB (ca 2 x 10(9)). The stereochemistry of both centers had some influence on the affinity constant. When the TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes were studied, none of the stereoisomeric complexes displayed measurable specific binding (KA < 10(6)), but all showed high non-specific binding. In vitro autoradiography with rat brain slices confirmed the absence of specific binding in these tracers. In vivo, the 99mTcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes displayed minimal brain uptake, and modest heart uptake; the latter was unlikely to be related to uptake by the mAChR. In light of these findings, we conclude that the interaction between the TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes and biological membranes is dominated by the hydrophobicity of the BATO moiety. The TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes, therefore, have little potential for mAChR imaging.

A neutral lipophilic technetium-99m complex for regional cerebral blood flow imaging.

Technetium-99m-DMG-2MP (Chloro[bis[2,3-butanedionedioxime(1-)-0][2,3- butanedionedioximato (2-)-N,N',N'',N''',N'''',N'''''] (2-methylpropyl borato (2-))technetium]), also known as SQ 32097 is a member of a family of neutral lipophilic compounds generally known as boronic acid adducts of technetium dioxime complexes (BATOs). After i.v. administration, the concentration of [99mTc]DMG-2MP in various regions of the brain appears to be proportional to blood flow. In rats, 1.1% ID was in the brain at 5 min postinjection when the blood contained less than 3% ID. Over 24 hr excretion was 59% in the feces and 23% in the urine. The activity in monkey brain at 5 min was 2.8% ID and it cleared with a t1/2 of 86 min. Autoradiographs of monkey brain sections showed excellent regional detail with a gray/white ratio of 3.6 at 10 min. The distribution of [99mTc]DMG-2MP in the monkey brain corresponds to the known cytoarchitectural pattern of cerebral glucose metabolism. The properties of [99mTc]DMG-2MP make it a potentially useful agent for cerebral perfusion imaging in man.

Glycolytic concomitant of brain inflammation produced by goldthioglucose.

In order to determine the effect of inflammation on brain glycolysis in the absence of leukocyte infiltration, [14C]deoxyglucose autoradiography and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) counter-staining were applied to mice at various times after the induction of chemotoxic inflammatory brain lesions by the systemic administration of goldthioglucose. Glycolysis was intensely stimulated in affected circumventricular organs, without cellular infiltration. This result is consistent with the activation of anaerobic glycolysis by inflammatory sequelae that culminate in ischemic hypoxia in the lesion sites.

Stimulation of synaptosomal uptake of neurotransmitter amino acids by insulin: possible role of insulin as a neuromodulator.

Insulin stimulates in a dose-dependent manner (concentration range of 0.1 - 10 microM) the synaptosomal uptake of amino acids characterized by high-affinity, Na+-dependent, veratridine-sensitive transport systems. This stimulation is observed in synaptosomes prepared from each of several regions of the adult rat brain. Both the initial rate of amino acid uptake and the overall capacity for amino acid accumulation are increased. Since these transport systems have been associated with the neurotransmitter role of the amino acids, we postulate that insulin can modulate neurotransmission in the rat central nervous system by increasing the efficiency of neuroactive amino acid reuptake.

Increased glucose utilization associated with inflammatory brain lesions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

[14C]Deoxyglucose autoradiograms obtained from rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis revealed foci of intense glycolytic activity corresponding to inflamed regions. We suggest that well-known sequelae of the inflammatory response, increased capillary permeability leading to hemoconcentration and hemostasis, result in focal hypoxic stimulation of anaerobic glycolysis. This observation calls attention to ischemia as an important determinant of histopathological and clinical etiology of various inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.

Metabolic neural mapping in neonatal rats.

Functional neural mapping by 14C-deoxyglucose autoradiography in adult rats has shown that increases in neural metabolic rate that are coupled to increased neurophysiological activity are more evident in axon terminals and dendrites than neuron cell bodies. Regions containing architectonically well-defined concentrations of terminals and dendrites (neuropil) have high metabolic rates when the neuropil is physiologically active. In neonatal rats, however, we find that regions containing well-defined groupings of neuron cell bodies have high metabolic rates in 14C-deoxyglucose autoradiograms. The striking difference between the morphological appearance of 14C-deoxyglucose autoradiograms obtained from neonatal and adult rats is probably related to developmental changes in morphometric features of differentiating neurons, as well as associated changes in type and locus of neural work performed.

The forebrain is not essential for sympathoadrenal hyperglycemic response to glucoprivation.

The reduction of glycolysis by hypoglycemia or the glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) stimulates compensatory sympathetic alterations of metabolism. Considerable attention has been focused on the hypothalamus as the probable locus of requisite metabolic signal detection. We report, however, that unanesthetized chronically decerebrate rats are capable of exhibiting sympathoadrenal hyperglycemia in response to the metabolic challenge presented by 2DG. This findings demonstrates that the forebrain is not necessary for glucoprivic stimulation of this reflex. Since cervical cord transection has been shown to eliminate hyperglycemia induced by 2DG, we conclude that the caudal brainstem contains an essential part of the neural mechanism which both detects metabolic need and ameliorates that need through the release of stored fuels.