Transient accumulation of Gallyas-Braak-positive and phosphorylated tau-immunopositive substances in neuronal lipofuscin granules in the amygdala, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of rats during long-term chloroquine intoxication.

Long-term chloroquine (CQ) intoxication of normal and groggy mutant rats resulted in transient accumulation of Gallyas-Braak (G-B) -positive and phosphorylated tau (AT8) -immunopositive substances in neuronal lipofuscin granules in the amygdala, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In the facial nuclei of normal rats, the neuronal lipofuscin granules were only AT8-immunopositive but G-B-negative, throughout CQ intoxication, while in groggy rats, the granules were positive by both staining methods irrespective of CQ intoxication. The results indicate that there are different mechanisms in the production of G-B-positive substances in neuronal lipofuscin granules between CQ-intoxicated rats and untreated groggy mutant rats.

Induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by convulsant drugs in the rat brain: involvement of region-specific voltage-dependent calcium channels.

A high level of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in normally aged as compared with young rats suggests that it is important to maintain a considerable level of hippocampal BDNF during aging in order to keep normal hippocampal functions. To elucidate possible mechanisms of endogenous BDNF increase, changes in levels of BDNF were studied in the rat brain following systemic administration of various convulsant agents; excitotoxic glutamate agonists, NMDA, kainic acid and (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA); GABA receptor antagonists, picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane); and L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel agonist, BAY-K 8644. Kainic acid and AMPA, but not NMDA, caused remarkable increases in BDNF protein in the rat hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Picrotoxin, PTZ and lindane stimulated BDNF production in the entorhinal cortex and also in the hippocampus of rats showing very severe convulsions. On the other hand, BAY-K 8644 treatment increased BDNF levels in the neocortex and entorhinal cortex. Maximal levels of BDNF protein were observed at 12--24 h, 8--16 h and 6 h following administration of kainic acid, PTZ and BAY-K 8644, respectively. Kainic acid stimulated BDNF synthesis in presynaptic hippocampal granule neurons, but not in postsynaptic neurons with its receptors, while PTZ and BAY-K 8644 produced the same effects in postsynaptic neurons in the entorhinal cortex (in granule neurons in the hippocampus) and in the whole cortex, respectively. Nifedipine inhibited almost completely BAY-K 8644, but not PTZ, effects. omega-Conotoxin GVIA and DCG-IV partially blocked kainic acid-induced enhancement of BDNF, indicating involvement of L-type and N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels, respectively. In addition, BDNF levels in the hippocampus of mice deficient in D-myo-inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor gene were scarcely different from those in the same region of controls, suggesting little involvement of intracellular calcium increase through this receptor. BAY-K 8644, but not kainic acid or PTZ, stimulated the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein. Our results indicate convulsant-dependent stimulation of BDNF production and involvement of region-specific voltage-dependent calcium channels.

Neurotrophin-3 controls proliferation of granular precursors as well as survival of mature granule neurons in the developing rat cerebellum.

Levels of neurotrophin-3 markedly decrease in the rat cerebellum after the first 10 days of life, suggesting an importance during early development. To further examine the effect of neurotrophin-3 on the developing cerebellum, we injected a monoclonal antibody against neurotrophin-3 into the lateral ventricle of 7.5-day-old rats. The resultant depletion of neurotrophin-3 caused a significant decrease in cerebellar wet weights noted at 7 and 23 days thereafter. Other changes noted 48 h after injection of monoclonal antibodies against neurotrophin-3 included reduced incorporation of bromode-oxyuridine into granule neurons in the external germinal layer, an elevated density of atrophic neurons that had just migrated under the Purkinje cell layer, and an increased number of apoptotic neurons in the internal granule cell layer. These changes were limited to the central lobe. The concentration of neurotrophin-3 protein in the posterior region, including the central lobe, was about four- and threefold higher than that in the anterior region of the cerebellum of 9.5- and 30-day-old rats, respectively. Immunocytochemical examination showed higher amounts of neurotrophin-3 protein in the central lobe than in the anterior lobe. Our results provide evidence that neurotrophin-3 regulates the proliferation of granule precursors and supports the survival of mature granule neurons in restricted lobules, suggesting an involvement in limited regions at a specific stage in development of the rat cerebellum.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth and neurotrophin-3 selected regions of the rat brain following kainic acid-induced seizure activity.

Changes in levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in various regions of the rat brain following kainic acid-induced seizure activity were investigated. BDNF protein, as measured by a two-site enzyme immunoassay, increased transiently 12-24 h after the intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid to 61.6 ng/g wet weight in the hippocampus (approximately 10-fold increase), 19.5 ng/g in the piriform plus entorhinal cortex (approximately 10-fold) and 8.2 ng/g in the olfactory bulb (approximately 16-fold), and then rapidly decreased. Increases of 2- to 4-fold in levels of BDNF were also detected in the septum, cerebral cortex, striatum and hypothalamus, but not in the cerebellum. In contrast, levels of NGF and NT-3 decreased 24 h after the administration of kainic acid. Western and Northern blotting analyses of hippocampal tissues, respectively, revealed increase in levels of a 14-kDa protein corresponding to BDNF and its mRNA at both 4.2 and 1.4 kb. Hippocampal mRNAs for NGF and NT-3 increased and decreased, respectively, in kainic acid-treated rats. Immunohistological investigations showed that, in the hippocampus, the administration of kainic acid enhanced a homogeneous immunoreactivity of BDNF in the polymorph inner layer (the stratum radiatum of the CA3/CA4 regions and the hilar region) and in granule cells of the dentate gyrus. BDNF protein was found in neurons, but not at all in glial cells or in blood vessels, and was localized in the cytoplasm, the nucleoplasm and the primary dendrites of neurons as well as in perisynaptic extracellular spaces, but hardly in their axons. Our results show that kainic acid treatment increases levels of BDNF, but not NGF or NT-3, in various regions of the rat brain, other than the cerebellum. Also, the majority of BDNF newly synthesized by hippocampal granule neurons is secreted into the perisynaptic extracellular space in the polymorph inner layer of the dentate gyrus, supporting an autocrine-like role for the factor in synaptic functions.

Responses of heat shock proteins hsp27, alphaB-crystallin, and hsp70 in rat brain after kainic acid-induced seizure activity.

We determined the changes in the levels of the mammalian small heat shock protein of 25-28 kDa (hsp27) and the hsp alphaB-crystallin in various regions of rat brain after kainic acid-induced seizure activity by means of specific immunoassays. The levels of hsp27 in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex were markedly increased and reached a maximum (1.5-2 microg/mg of protein) 2-4 days after the seizure. The levels of hsp27 in these regions were considerably high even 10 days after the seizure. A marked increase in levels of mRNA for hsp27 was also observed in the hippocampus of rats 1-2 days after the seizure. A severalfold increase in the levels of alphaB-crystallin was observed in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of rats 2 days after the seizure. However, the maximum levels were <50 ng/mg of protein. The levels of protein sulfhydryl group and glutathione were significantly reduced in the hippocampus of rats at 24 h after the seizure, which might have enhanced the expressions of hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin. The expression of inducible mammalian hsp of 70 kDa (hsp70) was also enhanced in the hippocampus of rats after the seizure, as detected by western and northern blotting analyses. Immunohistochemically, an intensive staining of hsp27 was observed in both glial cells and neurons in the hippocampus, piriform cortex, and entorhinal cortex of rats with kainic acid-induced seizure. However, in the cerebellum, where the receptors for kainic acid are also rich, hsp27 was barely induced in the same rats. This might be due to high levels of the cerebellar calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin and 28-kDa calbindin-D, which might have a protective effect against the kainic acid-inducible damage.

Age-related changes in number of phosphorylated tau-immunopositive particles in neurons of facial and lateral cerebellar nuclei of normal and groggy mutant rats.

The numbers of cytoplasmic particles immunopositive to an anti-phosphorylated tau antibody (AT8) were counted in the neurons of facial and lateral cerebellar nuclei of Slc:Wistar and groggy mutant rats aged from 20 to 360 days. These particles greatly increased in number from 20 to 30 days of age in the Slc:Wistar rats, whereas in the groggy rats, they increased at such a slower rate than in the Slc:Wistar rats as to reach the peak at 60 days of age. The particles decreased to lower levels at 120 days of age in both rat strains, and increased again from 180 days of age. The results indicate that the numbers of AT8-immunopositive particles in neuronal cytoplasm change dynamically according to the physiological state associated with the growing and aging processes.

Age-related changes in levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in selected brain regions of rats, normal mice and senescence-accelerated mice: a comparison to those of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3.

Age-related changes in the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in selected regions of brains from rats, normal mice and senescence-accelerated mice were compared to those of nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). The concentration of BDNF increased with age in the rat hippocampus while it decreased in the rat cerebral cortex. The level of BDNF in the hippocampus from aged rats was about 260%, of that in the same region from young adult rats. A strong staining with antibodies specific for BDNF was observed in the hilus of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus from aged rats. By contrast, BDNF levels were significantly lower in four brain regions from aged rats as compared to young adult rats (30, 56, 52 and 52%, lower in the septum, cerebral cortex, cerebellum and striatum, respectively). Patterns of age-related changes in the level of BDNF in the mouse hippocampus. cerebral cortex, cerebellum and olfactory bulb were similar to those in the respective regions from rats. In rats, the concentration of NGF decreased with age in the cerebral cortex but remained unchanged in the hippocampus, cerebellum and olfactory bulb. In mice, levels of NGF increased in all four brain regions from 1 to 18 months after birth. The concentrations of NT-3 increased and decreased with age in the rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum, respectively, while minimal changes were observed in the rat hippocampus and olfactory bulb as was also true in mice. In senescence-accelerated mice with memory disturbances, no marked increases in levels of NGF and BDNF in the hippocampus and in the level of NT-3 in the cerebral cortex were found. Thus, increases in levels of BDNF and NT-3 occurred in the murine hippocampus and cerebral cortex, respectively, during normal aging, but not during aging of mice with pathological changes.

Accumulation of argyrophilic substances in neuronal cytoplasm of aging groggy mutant rat.

A groggy rat is a single autosomal recessive mutant displaying a movement disorder. Using Gallyas-Braak (G-B) staining of sections of brain and spinal cord from groggy and Slc:Wistar rats, argyrophilic neurons were seen in some regions of the 180-day-old groggy rats. The numbers of these neurons and of the regions exhibiting these neurons in groggy rats increased with age. In 730-day-old groggy rats, these neurons were especially numerous in the red nucleus, reticulotegmental nucleus of pons, intertrigeminal nucleus, facial nucleus, all the reticular nuclei of medulla, hypoglossal nucleus, and spinal cord layers 7-9. Using electron microscopy, silver grains after G-B staining and immunodeposits after staining with an anti-phosphorylated tau antibody, AT8, showed the same localization in the lipofuscin granules in the neurons of facial and hypoglossal nuclei of 730-day-old groggy rats. However, AT8 immunoreactivity was found not only in the lipofuscin granules of the facial and hypoglossal nuclei of the aged-matched Slc:Wistar rat, but also in those of the G- B-negative cerebellar nuclei of groggy and Slc:Wistar rats. These facts suggest that the AT8-immunopositive tau in the argyrophilic neurons of aged groggy rats is modified to react with the G-B staining.

Distribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats and its changes with development in the brain.

A newly established, sensitive, two-site enzyme-immunoassay system for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is described. Using this system, we investigated the tissue distribution of BDNF and developmental changes in tissue levels of BDNF in rats. The minimal limit of detection of the assay was 3 pg/0.2 ml of assay mixture. BDNF was successfully solubilized from tissues in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride but not in any of the other buffers examined. In the rat brain at 1 month of age, the highest level of BDNF was detected in the hippocampus (5.41 ng/g of wet weight), followed by the hypothalamus (4.23 ng/g) and the septum (1.68 ng/g). In other regions, levels of BDNF ranged between 0.9 and 1.7 ng/g. The level of BDNF in the posterior lobes of the cerebellum from rats at 30 days of age was slightly higher than that in the anterior lobes. The concentration of BDNF increased in all regions of the brain with postnatal development. In peripheral tissues, BDNF was found at very low concentrations (0.65 ng/g in the spleen, 0.21 ng/g in the thymus, and 0.06 ng/g in the liver). The subfractionation of the hippocampal homogenate indicated that approximately 50% of BDNF was contained in the crude nuclear fraction. Immunoblots of BDNF-immunoreactive proteins extracted from the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum contained doublet bands of protein of approximately 14 kDa, a value close to the molecular mass of recombinant human BDNF. Immunocytochemical investigations showed that, in the hippocampus, BDNF was localized in the nucleus of the granule cells in the dentate gyrus and of the cells in the pyramidal cell layer. The frequency of cells that were stained in the dentate gyrus was greater than that of cells in the pyramidal cell layer.

Immunohistochemical localization of arginine and citrulline in rat renal tissue.

Using antibodies highly specific for L-arginine and L-citrulline, we localized these amino acids in rat kidney with immunohistochemical methods. Highest levels of arginine immunoreactivity were observed in epithelial cells of proximal tubules in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and the collecting ducts in the cortex. Staining intensity of proximal convoluted tubules in the outer stripe decreased from the inner side to the outer side. In the inner medulla, collecting ducts were labeled with moderate intensity. Staining within the cortex was apparent only with collecting ducts. Citrulline immunoreactivity was localized in the epithelial cells of collecting ducts both in the cortex and medulla. Immunoreactivity was also found in glomerular podocytes and in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules in the outer medulla. These localizations were different from those of other amino acids previously reported. The precise cellular distribution of arginine and citrulline in rat kidney was determined for the first time by an immunohistochemical method in the present study.

Age-related appearance of dystrophic axon terminals in cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of Mongolian gerbils.

In the brains of 360-day-old Mongolian gerbils, numerous swellings immunoreactive to anti-neurofilament antibody were observed in cerebellar and vestibular nuclei. The number of these swellings was the same in two gerbil strains with different susceptibility to spontaneous motor seizures by various stimuli, but much more numerous in gerbils as compared with the 360-day-old Slc:Wistar rats. Such swellings were only occasionally found before 60 days of age in gerbils, but they increased in number about fivefold from 60 to 180 days of age and about quadruple from 180 to 360 days of age. Electron microscopic observation showed that these swellings were dystrophic axon terminals (DATs) whose cytoplasms were occupied with large bundles of neurofilaments, numerous vesicular structures containing membranous and/or granular materials, and many rod-shaped mitochondria. Additionally, other types of DATs displaying degenerative changes of cytoplasmic organelles were observed. ACPase cytochemistry showed that the vesicular structures in the DATs contained ACPase and released it into the cytoplasm.

Altered axon terminals containing concentric lamellar bodies of cerebellar Purkinje cells in Mongolian gerbil.

Altered axon terminals containing concentric lamellar bodies were observed in cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of the Mongolian gerbil. The terminals increased in number from 30 days of age onward, and reached about tenfold at 360 days. The numbers were the same in two gerbil strains with different susceptibility to spontaneous motor seizures by various stimuli, but about threefold those in Slc:Wistar rat.

Concentric lamellar bodies in axon terminals and preterminal axons of cerebellar Purkinje cells in groggy mutant rat: acid phosphatase cytochemistry.

The process of formation and degeneration of concentric lamellar bodies (CLBs) in axon terminals and preterminal axons of Purkinje cells were examined by acid phosphatase (ACPase) cytochemistry. In myelinated axons, tubular structures measuring 20-50 nm in diameter contained ACPase reaction products. In altered axon terminals and preterminal axons of Purkinje cells, elongated saccular structures contained numerous reaction products. These saccular structures were arranged concentrically and enclosed cytoplasmic organelles. In the CLBs displaying degenerative profiles, ACPase reaction products were dispersed in the degenerating materials. The nature of the tubular structures and their roles in the transport of ACPase and the formation of CLBs are discussed.

Axonal swellings in cerebellar white matter of groggy mutant rat.

In the groggy mutant rat, a number of axonal swellings appeared in the cerebellar white matter from 180 days of age onward. Since these axonal swellings were immunostained with an antibody against calbindin D28k, the axons forming these swellings were considered to belong to Purkinje cells. They were also immunostained with an anti-neurofilament antibody, and ultrastructurally characterized by the presence of myelin sheaths around them and abnormal accumulations of filamentous structures, mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticula (SER) in their axoplasm. The SER were considered to convey acid phosphatase (ACPase) to the swelling's axoplasm, where ACPase was set free from the SER throughout the axoplasm and engaged in the digestion of cytoplasmic organelles. The groggy rat is useful model model for the study of the mechanism of the age-related formation of axonal swellings.

Electron microscopic cytochemistry of acid phosphatase activity in dystrophic axons of rat gracile nuclei.

Dystrophic axons (DAs) in rat gracile nuclei were largely classified into two types. One type had a focal swelling measuring about 2-8 microns in diameter, and contained greatly increased numbers of various cellular organelles. Numerous reaction products of acid phosphatase (ACPase) cytochemistry were deposited in the cytoplasmic matrix and the multilaminated bodies. The second type ranged from 8 microns to 50 microns in diameter, and was characterized by the presence of a large number of fine tubular structures in the cytoplasm. Only a few reaction products of ACPase cytochemistry were localized in the small vesicular structures. The functional role of ACPase in the degradation and accumulation of cellular organelles in DAs is discussed.

Age-related and region-specific increase in number of concentric lamellar bodies in axon terminals and presynaptic axons in central nervous system of groggy mutant rat.

In some regions of the central nervous system (CNS) of the groggy rat, a mutant with a movement disorder, concentric lamellar bodies (CLBs) were formed in numerous axon terminals and presynaptic axons. These bodies were counted electron microscopically in the lateral cerebellar nuclei of Slc:Wistar and groggy mutant rats at 20 to 180 days of age. In the Slc:Wistar rat groups, the mean numbers of axonal CLBs were mostly under 1.0 per 100 microns2, except for the 30-day-old rat group which showed a value of 1.7. In the groggy rat groups, the numbers of axonal CLBs greatly increased from 40 days of age onward, reaching the maximum mean number of 23.7 per 100 microns2 in the 90-day-old rat group and subsequently decreasing; however, significant numbers were still present in the 180-day-old rat group. Since these bodies have been reported to contain an acid phosphatase (ACPase), the regional specificity of their appearance in the CNS was examined by light and electron microscopic ACPase histochemistry. In the 90- and 180-day-old groggy rats, numerous particulate deposits of ACPase reaction products were found in the neuropil of the lateral, interposed and medial cerebellar nuclei, the superior, lateral and spinal vestibular nuclei, and the spinal gracile nuclei. By electron microscopy, the particulate deposits in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei were confirmed as the CLBs in axon terminals, while those in the gracile nuclei were revealed to be the dystrophic axons. Thus, it was suggested that the axon terminals and presynaptic axons, having a high capacity to form the CLBs in the groggy rats from 40 days of age onward, belong to the Purkinje cells.

Localization of nitric oxide-related substances in the peripheral nervous tissues.

Nitric oxide (NO) is now recognized as a transduction molecule in many biological systems, and is known to promote the synthesis of cGMP by activating the soluble guanylate cyclase. NO synthase which fully accounts for all the neuronal activity of NADPH diaphorase catalyzes L-arginine to NO and L-citrulline. In the present study, the localization of NO-related substances, L-arginine, NO synthase, L-citrulline and cGMP in the enteric plexus and dorsal root ganglia was demonstrated with immuno- or enzyme-histochemical methods. L-Arginine was proved accumulated in glial cells, while NO synthase and L-citrulline were found in neurons. Cyclic GMP was predominantly observed in glial cells. These results reveal L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway may be present in the enteric plexus and dorsal root ganglion as in the brain, and provide visible evidence that NO mediates neuron-glia communications in this pathway.

Neuronal degeneration in the striatum of the groggy rat: a new mutant with a movement disorder.

A new mutation displaying abnormal movement was obtained in the progeny of a female Wistar rat which had been given 10 mg/kg methylnitrosourea at an early stage of the gestational period. Genetic studies revealed that the character is inherited by an autosomal single recessive gene, and we designated this mutation groggy (gene symbol gr). The abnormal movement of the groggy rat was first apparent around postnatal day 15, while the histological studies revealed the appearance of numerous necrotic neurons in the striatum of the groggy rat on postnatal days 60 and 120.

Critical period for induction of congenital hydrocephalus and dysplasia of subcommissural organ by prenatal X-irradiation in rats.

A single whole-body X-irradiation of pregnant Wistar rats at a dose of 1.05 Gy at 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30 h respectively, of gestational day 10 resulted in significantly high incidences of hydrocephalic offspring. No hydrocephalic offspring resulted from X-irradiation of pregnant rats with 1.05 Gy at 16.30 h, whereas a dose of 1.22 Gy at 16.30 h resulted in a low but statistically significant incidence of hydrocephalus. Neither 1.05 Gy nor 1.22 Gy X-irradiation of pregnant rats at 18.30 h resulted in any hydrocephalic offspring. Dysplasia of the subcommissural organ was noticed in all the hydrocephalic brains histologically examined.

Ethanol-phosphotungstic acid and bismuth staining of spermatid nucleoli in mouse spermiogenesis.

The nucleoli of developing mouse spermatids were examined with ethanol-phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) staining, and also with bismuth staining following formaldehyde fixation (FA-Bi staining) and glutaraldehyde fixation (GA-Bi staining). Only the cortical zone of the nucleolar dense fibrillar component (DFC) in the round spermatids was stained with E-PTA, while the inner area remained either faintly (early Golgi-phase spermatids) or completely unstained (cap-phase spermatids). Incubation of the fixed testis with dithiothreitol before E-PTA staining resulted in homogeneously intense staining of the DFC. The facts suggest that numerous E-PTA-positive basic proteins were present in the DFC, but disulfide crosslinks formed in the DFC proteins prevent penetration of PTA into the DFC interior. The DFC was stained with bismuth after FA-Bi and GA-Bi staining until the disappearance of the nucleoli occurring in acrosome-phase spermatids. The fibrillar center, homogeneously stained using E-PTA, FA-Bi, and GA-Bi methods was present in the nucleoli of Golgi-phase and early cap-phase spermatids, but disappeared in the nucleoli of late cap-phase spermatids. These results are discussed based on the previous studies dealing with the ribosomal RNA synthesis in mouse spermiogenesis.