Microglia, as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, play important roles in regulating neuronal processes, such as neural excitability, synaptic activity, and apoptotic cell clearance. Growth factor...Microglia, as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, play important roles in regulating neuronal processes, such as neural excitability, synaptic activity, and apoptotic cell clearance. Growth factors can activate multiple signaling pathways in central nervous system microglia and can regulate their immune effects, but whether growth factors can affect the morphological characteristics and ultrastructure of microglia has not been reported. After microinjecting 300 nL of a growth factor cocktail, including 10 μg/mL epidermal growth factor, 10 μg/mL basic fibroblast growth factor, 10 μg/mL hepatocyte growth factor and 10 μg/mL insulin-like growth factor into adult rat cortex, we found that the number of IBA1-positive microglia around the injection area increased significantly, indicating local activation of microglia. All CD68-positive labeling co-localized with IBA1 in microglia. Cell bodies and protrusions of CD68-positive cells were strongly attached to or were engulfing neurons. Characteristic huge phagosomes were observed in activated phagocytes by electron microscopy. The phagosomes generally included non-degraded neuronal protrusions and mitochondria, yet they contained no myelin membrane or remnants, which might indicate selective phagocytosis by the phagocytes. The remnant myelin sheath after phagocytosis still had regenerative ability and formed "myelin-like" structures around phagocytes. These results show that microinjection of a growth factor cocktail into the cerebral cortex of rodents can locally activate microglia and induce selective phagocytosis of neural structures by phagocytes. The study was approved by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences(approval No. IACUC-AMMS-2014-501) on June 30, 2014.展开更多
A novel population of cells expressing typical markers of immature neurons, such as doublecortin-positive cells, was recently identified. This population was predominantly located in layer II of the adult cerebral cor...A novel population of cells expressing typical markers of immature neurons, such as doublecortin-positive cells, was recently identified. This population was predominantly located in layer II of the adult cerebral cortex of relatively large mammals. These cells appear to maintain an immature phenotype for a protracted time window, suggesting a lifelong role in cortical plasticity under normal physiological conditions, and possibly under pathological conditions as well. This review discusses recent evidence regarding the detailed features of these unique cells, including their distribution, morphology, fate, temporal and spatial origin, as well as their relevance and possible functions in various physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, we review studies that have produced conflicting results, possibly as a result of discrepancies in the methodology used to detect neurogenesis. In theory, the properties of these cells indicate that they might exert a significant impact on neocortical function, informing potential therapeutic strategies designed to induce endogenous neurogenesis in the treatment of neuropathological diseases.展开更多
With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Prof.Yu Yongchun(禹永春)at the Institutes of Brain Science,Fudan University,revealed the vital roles of electrical coupling...With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Prof.Yu Yongchun(禹永春)at the Institutes of Brain Science,Fudan University,revealed the vital roles of electrical coupling in chemical synapse formation between interneurons,which was published in Nature Communications(2016,7:12229,DOI:10.1038).Although the excitatory neurons in the neocortex are electrically coupled only during early development,展开更多
Glutamatergic projection neurons generate sophisticated excitatory circuits to integrate and transmit information among different cortical areas,and between the neocortex and other regions of the brain and spinal cord...Glutamatergic projection neurons generate sophisticated excitatory circuits to integrate and transmit information among different cortical areas,and between the neocortex and other regions of the brain and spinal cord.Appropriate development of cortical projection neurons is regulated by certain essential events such as neural fate determination,proliferation,specification,differentiation,migration,survival,axonogenesis,and synaptogenesis.These processes are precisely regulated in a tempo-spatial manner by intrinsic factors,extrinsic signals,and neural activities.The generation of correct subtypes and precise connections of projection neurons is imperative not only to support the basic cortical functions(such as sensory information integration,motor coordination,and cognition)but also to prevent the onset and progression of neurodevelopmental disorders(such as intellectual disability,autism spectrum disorders,anxiety,and depression).This review mainly focuses on the recent progress of transcriptional regulations on the development and diversity of neocortical projection neurons and the clinical relevance of the failure of transcriptional modulations.展开更多
Previous studies have demonstrated that doublecortin-positive immature neurons exist pre- dominantly in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex of adult mammals such as guinea pigs, and these neurons exhibit very...Previous studies have demonstrated that doublecortin-positive immature neurons exist pre- dominantly in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex of adult mammals such as guinea pigs, and these neurons exhibit very weak properties of self-proliferation during adulthood under physiological conditions. To verify whether environmental enrichment has an impact on the proliferation and maturation of these immature neurons in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs, healthy adult guinea pigs were subjected to short-term environmental enrichment. Animals were allowed to play with various cognitive and physical stimulating objects over a period of 2 weeks, twice per day, for 60 minutes each. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the number of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex was significantly increased after short-term environmental enrichment exposure. In addition, these doublecortin-positive cells co-expressed 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine （a marker of cell prolifera- tion）, c-Fos （a marker of cell viability） and NeuN （a marker of mature neurons）. Experimental findings showed that short-term environmental enrichment can induce proliferation, activation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on the brain using three needling manipulations(twirling, lifting-thrusting, and twirling plus lifting-thrusting)when the right-side Zusanli(ST 36) acupoint was stimulated with ne...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on the brain using three needling manipulations(twirling, lifting-thrusting, and twirling plus lifting-thrusting)when the right-side Zusanli(ST 36) acupoint was stimulated with needles.METHODS: Seventeen healthy subjects accepted three needling manipulations stimulating the right Zusanli(ST 36) over separate days. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect changes in the brain during the manipulations, and then the needling sensations were recorded using the MGH acupuncture sensation scale(MASS) after each scan. f MRI data were processed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 to analyze the positiveand negative activation in the brain induced by different acupuncture manipulations.RESULTS: The individual needling sensations showed no statistically significant differences among the three manipulations. However, the MASS index showed that lifting-thrusting > twirling plus lifting-thrusting > twirling. Lifting-thrusting activated left premotor cortex, left postcentral,right middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus,right lingual gyrus, left insula, right putamen, bilateral cingulate gyrus and right cerebellum; and deactivated bilateral hippocampus and left caudate.Twirling activated bilateral orbital middle frontal gyrus, left opercular and triangular inferior frontal gyrus, and right middle occipital gyrus; and deactivated bilateral precuneus, right amygdala, left anterior cingulate gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus, right supplementary motor gyrus, and left postcentral. Twirling plus lifting-thrusting activated bilateral postcentral, left inferior occipital gyrus, left insula, left thalamus, left cingulate gyrus, and right putamen; and deactivated right superior frontal gyrus, right superior parietal gyrus, right temporal gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, right insula, and left lingual gyrus. Pairwise comparisons of the three manipulations showed that signals induced by lifting-thrusting were the strongest, especially in the limbic system,followed by twirling plus lifting-thrusting; twirling alone was the weakest.CONCLUSION: Three methods of needling manipulations similarly activated areas associated with the somatosensory system, vision, cognition, and emotional regulation. This may have significant implications for acupuncture in clinical practice.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from State Key Laboratory of Proteomics of China,No.SKLP-K201401(to SJL)the National Key Project of Basic Research of China,No.2009CB918301(to SJL)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.30430310,30140001,30370460(to SJL)
文摘Microglia, as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, play important roles in regulating neuronal processes, such as neural excitability, synaptic activity, and apoptotic cell clearance. Growth factors can activate multiple signaling pathways in central nervous system microglia and can regulate their immune effects, but whether growth factors can affect the morphological characteristics and ultrastructure of microglia has not been reported. After microinjecting 300 nL of a growth factor cocktail, including 10 μg/mL epidermal growth factor, 10 μg/mL basic fibroblast growth factor, 10 μg/mL hepatocyte growth factor and 10 μg/mL insulin-like growth factor into adult rat cortex, we found that the number of IBA1-positive microglia around the injection area increased significantly, indicating local activation of microglia. All CD68-positive labeling co-localized with IBA1 in microglia. Cell bodies and protrusions of CD68-positive cells were strongly attached to or were engulfing neurons. Characteristic huge phagosomes were observed in activated phagocytes by electron microscopy. The phagosomes generally included non-degraded neuronal protrusions and mitochondria, yet they contained no myelin membrane or remnants, which might indicate selective phagocytosis by the phagocytes. The remnant myelin sheath after phagocytosis still had regenerative ability and formed "myelin-like" structures around phagocytes. These results show that microinjection of a growth factor cocktail into the cerebral cortex of rodents can locally activate microglia and induce selective phagocytosis of neural structures by phagocytes. The study was approved by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences(approval No. IACUC-AMMS-2014-501) on June 30, 2014.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30900773the National University Basic Research Foundation of China,No.2010QZZD022
文摘A novel population of cells expressing typical markers of immature neurons, such as doublecortin-positive cells, was recently identified. This population was predominantly located in layer II of the adult cerebral cortex of relatively large mammals. These cells appear to maintain an immature phenotype for a protracted time window, suggesting a lifelong role in cortical plasticity under normal physiological conditions, and possibly under pathological conditions as well. This review discusses recent evidence regarding the detailed features of these unique cells, including their distribution, morphology, fate, temporal and spatial origin, as well as their relevance and possible functions in various physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, we review studies that have produced conflicting results, possibly as a result of discrepancies in the methodology used to detect neurogenesis. In theory, the properties of these cells indicate that they might exert a significant impact on neocortical function, informing potential therapeutic strategies designed to induce endogenous neurogenesis in the treatment of neuropathological diseases.
文摘With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Prof.Yu Yongchun(禹永春)at the Institutes of Brain Science,Fudan University,revealed the vital roles of electrical coupling in chemical synapse formation between interneurons,which was published in Nature Communications(2016,7:12229,DOI:10.1038).Although the excitatory neurons in the neocortex are electrically coupled only during early development,
基金supported by Guangdong Provincial Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund,No.2021A1515011299(to KT)。
文摘Glutamatergic projection neurons generate sophisticated excitatory circuits to integrate and transmit information among different cortical areas,and between the neocortex and other regions of the brain and spinal cord.Appropriate development of cortical projection neurons is regulated by certain essential events such as neural fate determination,proliferation,specification,differentiation,migration,survival,axonogenesis,and synaptogenesis.These processes are precisely regulated in a tempo-spatial manner by intrinsic factors,extrinsic signals,and neural activities.The generation of correct subtypes and precise connections of projection neurons is imperative not only to support the basic cortical functions(such as sensory information integration,motor coordination,and cognition)but also to prevent the onset and progression of neurodevelopmental disorders(such as intellectual disability,autism spectrum disorders,anxiety,and depression).This review mainly focuses on the recent progress of transcriptional regulations on the development and diversity of neocortical projection neurons and the clinical relevance of the failure of transcriptional modulations.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30900773the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province in China,No.11JJ2020Young Teachers Training Program of University of Hunan Province
文摘Previous studies have demonstrated that doublecortin-positive immature neurons exist pre- dominantly in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex of adult mammals such as guinea pigs, and these neurons exhibit very weak properties of self-proliferation during adulthood under physiological conditions. To verify whether environmental enrichment has an impact on the proliferation and maturation of these immature neurons in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs, healthy adult guinea pigs were subjected to short-term environmental enrichment. Animals were allowed to play with various cognitive and physical stimulating objects over a period of 2 weeks, twice per day, for 60 minutes each. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the number of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex was significantly increased after short-term environmental enrichment exposure. In addition, these doublecortin-positive cells co-expressed 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine （a marker of cell prolifera- tion）, c-Fos （a marker of cell viability） and NeuN （a marker of mature neurons）. Experimental findings showed that short-term environmental enrichment can induce proliferation, activation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs.
基金Supported by China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Foundation(No.ZZ08010)General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81273674)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on the brain using three needling manipulations(twirling, lifting-thrusting, and twirling plus lifting-thrusting)when the right-side Zusanli(ST 36) acupoint was stimulated with needles.METHODS: Seventeen healthy subjects accepted three needling manipulations stimulating the right Zusanli(ST 36) over separate days. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect changes in the brain during the manipulations, and then the needling sensations were recorded using the MGH acupuncture sensation scale(MASS) after each scan. f MRI data were processed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 to analyze the positiveand negative activation in the brain induced by different acupuncture manipulations.RESULTS: The individual needling sensations showed no statistically significant differences among the three manipulations. However, the MASS index showed that lifting-thrusting > twirling plus lifting-thrusting > twirling. Lifting-thrusting activated left premotor cortex, left postcentral,right middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus,right lingual gyrus, left insula, right putamen, bilateral cingulate gyrus and right cerebellum; and deactivated bilateral hippocampus and left caudate.Twirling activated bilateral orbital middle frontal gyrus, left opercular and triangular inferior frontal gyrus, and right middle occipital gyrus; and deactivated bilateral precuneus, right amygdala, left anterior cingulate gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus, right supplementary motor gyrus, and left postcentral. Twirling plus lifting-thrusting activated bilateral postcentral, left inferior occipital gyrus, left insula, left thalamus, left cingulate gyrus, and right putamen; and deactivated right superior frontal gyrus, right superior parietal gyrus, right temporal gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, right insula, and left lingual gyrus. Pairwise comparisons of the three manipulations showed that signals induced by lifting-thrusting were the strongest, especially in the limbic system,followed by twirling plus lifting-thrusting; twirling alone was the weakest.CONCLUSION: Three methods of needling manipulations similarly activated areas associated with the somatosensory system, vision, cognition, and emotional regulation. This may have significant implications for acupuncture in clinical practice.
