脂多糖免疫激活对强迫游泳应激导致的抑郁样行为的影响

应激导致抑郁样行为的同时导致免疫激活敏感化, 但是免疫激活对应激导致的抑郁样行为的影响目前并不清楚。研究目的：利用脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide, LPS)作为外周免疫激活启动剂, 强迫游泳应激(forced swim stress)作为应激模式, 考察免疫激活背景是否影响应激导致的抑郁样行为。方法：42只SD雄性大鼠随机分为四组：LS组(LPS + swim, n=12), LC组(LPS +空白, n=10), AS组(生理盐水+swim, n=10), AC组(生理盐水+空白, n=10)。在实验期第一天根据分组分别注射脂多糖(LPS, 50 μg/kg, 腹腔注射)或生理盐水一次, LS组和AS组大鼠于注射后2小时进行第一次游泳应激, 此后持续应激2周。分别在应激一次后, 应激2周, 应激结束后1周和应激结束后2周测定大鼠的糖精水偏爱、旷场行为和高架十字迷宫行为。结果显示：应激一次后, 应激2周, 应激后1周LS组大鼠与AC组相比较, 糖精水偏爱分数, 旷场中的水平活动显著下降; 应激2周, AS组大鼠相对于AC组大鼠的糖精水偏爱分数以及旷场中的水平活动都显著下降, 结论：慢性强迫性游泳应激导致抑郁样行为, 应激前LPS免疫激活能够促使应激导致的抑郁样行为更容易出现, 症状加剧, 并持续较长的时间。     

脂多糖激活所致大鼠抑郁样行为及对海马神经细胞钾电流变化的影响

采用细胞因子刺激剂脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide, LPS)为免疫激活手段, 研究LPS诱导的免疫激活产生的抑郁样行为及对海马神经细胞电压依赖钾电流变化的影响。应用膜片钳技术对海马神经细胞钾电流进行全细胞记录, 比较抑郁样行为大鼠与正常大鼠钾离子通道电流密度和激活特性的变化。结果发现, 与生理盐水对照组相比, 一次LPS注射后2 hr, 实验组动物产生抑郁样行为, 同时急性观察的海马神经细胞的钾离子通道的电流密度呈现显著升高(p<0.01); 而一次LPS注射后24 hr, 动物的抑郁样行为消失, 且急性观察的海马神经细胞的钾离子通道与对照组相比较, 其电流密度和激活曲线没有显著性变化。结论：LPS诱导的抑郁样行为, 与LPS诱导的海马神经细胞电压依赖钾电流的上调在时程上同步, 提示钾离子通道可能参与免疫激活所致的抑郁样行为。     

一个中枢炎性免疫诱发长时程抑郁样行为的新模型

脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide, LPS)免疫激活模型是研究抑郁症细胞因子假说的重要动物模型, 目前国际上常用外周单次LPS注射诱发抑郁样行为, 但该模型中抑郁样行为持续仅有数小时。为建立诱发较长时程抑郁样行为的免疫激活动物模型, 本研究尝试侧脑室注射LPS激活大鼠中枢免疫炎性反应, 考察单次以及重复中枢LPS注射诱发抑郁样行为的效果, 以及中枢炎性免疫诱发行为改变的时程。结果显示：单次中枢LPS注射后24 h只能诱发旷场自发活动和探索行为下降等部分抑郁样行为, 未能诱导糖水偏好下降和悬尾不动时间增加; 3次重复注射则在末次LPS注射后24 h表现出显著的糖水偏好下降, 自发活动和探索行为减少, 悬尾不动时间增加等行为。且自发活动、探索行为减少和悬尾不动时间增加能够延续至末次LPS注射后72 h。这些结果表明脑室重复LPS注射可诱发较长时程的抑郁样行为, 这种新的中枢炎性免疫激活诱发的抑郁症模型, 为研究抑郁症炎性免疫机制提供了更为有效的动物模型, 有助于深入探讨行为和免疫功能间的复杂关系。     

胆囊收缩素对脂多糖诱发的病态行为及外周细胞因子的影响

细胞因子在病态行为的产生中有重要的作用。八肽胆囊收缩素在前人研究中表明能够拮抗脂多糖在大鼠体内引起的细胞因子的分泌。实验目的：利用八肽胆囊收缩素的抗炎作用研究细胞因子在病态行为中的作用。实验方法：共分两个实验进行, 将大鼠分为控制组、免疫激活剂脂多糖组(200 μg/kg剂量, 腹腔注射)以及注射不同剂量的八肽胆囊收缩素的实验组(分别为20 μg/kg 、40 μg/kg 、80 μg/kg 和120 μg/kg剂量), 各实验组在注射脂多糖前半小时注射相应剂量的八肽胆囊收缩素, 药物注射两小时后进行行为实验 (糖水摄取量测验、旷场测验和高架十字迷宫测验), 然后对大鼠前炎性细胞因子包括白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-6 (IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α (TNF-α)及抗炎性细胞因子白细胞介素-10(IL-10)的血清浓度进行分析。实验结果：脂多糖诱发大鼠产生病态行为, 与控制组相比, 脂多糖组糖水摄取量降低, 旷场测验中活动性降低, 高架闭臂进入次数减少; 脂多糖诱导炎性细胞因子分泌增加, 与控制组相比, 脂多糖组前炎性细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的分泌增加。在脂多糖注射前注射八肽胆囊收缩素能够抑制前炎性细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的分泌, 但八肽胆囊收缩素未能改善免疫诱导的病态行为。结论：本实验结果表明仅改变外周的细胞因子浓度并不能完全改变动物的病态行为, 病态行为的产生可能与脑区的细胞因子有更大的联系。     

围生期双酚A暴露对不同性别子代小鼠行为的影响

探讨围生期母体双酚A(bisphenol A, BPA)暴露对幼年期(生后21~30天, postnatal day 21~30, PND 21~30)和青年期(生后56~63天, PND 56~63)不同性别子代小鼠行为的影响。母鼠从妊娠第7天至断乳前(产后21天)进行BPA(0.05、0.5、5、50 mg/kg/day)灌胃染毒, 同时设对照组。每个剂量组分别在PND 21和PND 56开始测试雌雄子代小鼠各项行为。以旷场行为检测小鼠的自发活动及探究行为, 以高架十字迷宫检测小鼠的焦虑行为, 以水迷宫检测小鼠的空间学习记忆能力, 以跳台检测小鼠的被动回避记忆行为。结果表明, BPA使PND 21雌雄子鼠和PND 56雄性子鼠自发活动减少(p<0.05或p<0.01), 理毛和站立行为发生性别分化(p<0.05或p<0.01); PND 21子鼠的3分钟跑动格数有明显的剂量效应关系, 其中5~50 mg/kg/day组特别显著。BPA显著增加PND 21雌雄子鼠和PND56雌性子鼠在高架十字迷宫中进入开放臂次数和停留时间(p<0.05或p<0.01)并减少封闭臂的进入时间, 但没有明显的剂量效应关系; BPA减少PND 56雄性子鼠开放臂的进入并增加其封闭臂的进入, 干扰了幼年期和青年期小鼠焦虑行为的性别分化。BPA剂量依赖性地延长PND 21和PND 56雄性子鼠在水迷宫搜索平台的平均距离, 其中5~50 mg/kg/day剂量组具有差异显著性(p<0.05或p<0.01), 但对雌性子鼠空间学习记忆行为没有影响。此外, 5~50 mg/kg/day BPA增加PND 21雄性子鼠在跳台实验中的错误次数并缩短其跳下平台潜伏期, PND 56雌雄子鼠的被动回避记忆仅被50 mg/kg/day BPA减弱。以上结果提示, 围生期BPA暴露可影响子代小鼠幼年期和青年期的多种行为及行为的性别差异, 不同行为对BPA的敏感程度不同, 其中以自发活动和探究行为最敏感。     

成年期双酚A暴露对小鼠行为的影响

探究成年期环境雌激素双酚A(bisphenol A, BPA)暴露对不同性别小鼠行为的影响。出生5周的小鼠灌胃染毒BPA (40、400 µg/kg/d), 同时设对照组。染毒8周后, 以开场行为检测小鼠的自发活动及探究行为, 以高架十字迷宫检测小鼠的焦虑和探究行为, 以水迷宫检测小鼠的空间学习记忆行为, 以跳台检测小鼠的被动回避记忆行为。结果显示, BPA暴露不影响同性别小鼠在开场中的各种行为, 但消除了悬空站立和扶壁站立频率的性别差异。高架十字迷宫行为测试中, BPA暴露显著减少雄鼠进入开放臂的次数和停留时间(p<0.05和p<0.01), 却显著增加雌鼠进入开放臂的次数和停留时间(p<0.05和p<0.01); 同时, BPA暴露显著减少雄鼠(p<0.05和p<0.01)却增加雌鼠在中央区的探头次数(p<0.01), 消除甚至反向诱导成年小鼠焦虑行为和探究行为的性别分化。BPA (40 µg/kg/d)暴露显著延长成年雄鼠在水迷宫中搜寻平台的平均距离(p<0.05), 但对雌鼠没有影响, BPA因此消除了正常成年小鼠空间记忆行为的性别差异。BPA(40 µg/kg/d)暴露显著缩短了雄鼠在遭电击24h后跳下平台的潜伏期(p<0.05), 但对雌鼠没有明显影响, 并因此诱导成年小鼠被动回避行为的性别差异。以上结果表明, 成年期BPA 暴露可性别特异性地影响小鼠的多种行为, 干扰成年小鼠行为的性别差异。     

东莨菪碱对吗啡诱导的大鼠行为敏感化的影响

药物重复处理导致的行为敏感化与成瘾过程密切相关。本实验检验东莨菪碱对吗啡诱导的大鼠行为敏感化发展和转化的影响。实验一动物分为3组,分别进行生理盐水（对照组）、吗啡（10mg/kg,吗啡组）、吗啡（10mg/kg）＋东莨菪碱（3mg/kg,吗啡-东莨菪碱组）前处理,36小时腹腔注射4次（第1~2天）。自然戒断7天（第3~9天）。第10天,所有动物均使用吗啡（4mg/kg）激发,记录动物的自发活动量;第24天,吗啡组和吗啡-东莨菪碱组动物重复第10天的操作。实验二动物分为3组,分别接受生理盐水（对照组）、吗啡（10mg/kg,吗啡组）、吗啡（10mg/kg,吗啡-东莨菪碱组）处理,36小时腹腔注射4次（第1~3天）;间隔12小时后,3组动物分别接受生理盐水、生理盐水和东莨菪碱（3mg/kg）处理,仍为36小时腹腔注射4次（第3 ~5天）。第6~9天不进行药物处理。第10天和第17天,分别使用吗啡（4mg/kg）激发,记录动物的活动量。记录时间均为两小时(10分钟为一个记录单元)。结果表明,东莨菪碱能够抑制吗啡诱导的行为敏感化的发展,一定程度上也能够延缓行为敏感化的转化但没有阻断这种转化     

毒扁豆碱对吗啡导致的大鼠行为敏感化的抑制作用

药物滥用导致的行为敏感化被认为与成瘾过程密切相关。本实验探讨吗啡导致的大鼠行为敏感化与神经递质乙酰胆碱的关系。实验动物分为3组,分别进行生理盐水、吗啡（10.0mg/kg）、吗啡（10.0mg/kg）＋胆碱酯酶抑制剂毒扁豆碱（0.2mg/kg）前处理,36小时腹腔注射4次。前处理结束1周所有动物注射小剂量吗啡（4.0mg/kg）;使用生理盐水前处理的动物,第2周注射毒扁豆碱（0.2mg/kg）;使用吗啡前处理的动物,第2周注射小剂量吗啡＋毒扁豆碱（0.2mg/kg）,第3周再次注射小剂量吗啡。动物每次接受注射后立即记录其在两小时内的活动量(10分钟为一个记录单元)。结果表明,毒扁豆碱既能够抑制吗啡诱导的行为敏感化,也能够阻断小剂量吗啡对行为敏感化的“点燃”作用。由此推论,吗啡导致的行为敏感化与其抑制乙酰胆碱分泌有关。     

慢性应激诱导的抑郁小鼠神经肽Y的表达及抗抑郁药的作用

神经肽Y是一个多肽,广泛分布于周围和中枢神经系统,以下丘脑的浓度为高,参与机体神经内分泌、情绪、行为等的调节。 为探讨慢性应激诱导的抑郁模型小鼠脑内神经肽Y (NPY)的表达,以及抗抑郁药的作用机理,采用慢性应激与孤养方法,建立抑郁小鼠模型。用旷场行为 (Open-Field)法,观察模型组与正常对照组行为学改变方面的差异。将36 只抑郁模型小鼠随机分成盐酸氟西汀组、盐酸阿米替林组、生理盐水治疗组,并与12 只正常对照组比较。用半定量逆转录－聚合酶联反应(RT－PCR) 法、细胞酶联免疫法及蛋白免疫印迹(Western－blot) 法、免疫组织化学法,比较四组小鼠下丘脑NPY 的表达。结果表明：(1)与正常组比较,抑郁模型组小鼠活动总路程与活动次数减少（p< 0.01）,体重增速下降（p< 0.05）。（2）与正常组比较,抑郁模型组小鼠下丘脑NPY 的mRNA 表达下降（p< 0.01）;经盐酸氟西汀、盐酸阿米替林治疗后,下丘脑NPY 的mRNA 及蛋白表达增高,与生理盐水组比较差异显著（p< 0.01）。(3) 与正常组比较,生理盐水治疗组胞膜和胞质呈棕黄色染色,显示出明显的免疫组化阳性反应;经盐酸氟西汀、盐酸阿米替林治疗后,胞膜和胞质的着色与背景色接近,免疫组化呈弱阳性、阴性反应。提示抑郁模型组小鼠脑内NPY 表达水平有显著下降,使用抗抑郁药有利于提高脑内NPY 的mRNA 及蛋白表达,可能是此类药物产生抗抑郁效应的机制之一。     

急性情绪应激对大鼠行为和脑神经颗粒素磷酸化水平的影响

为探讨急性情绪应激对大鼠旷场行为的影响,以及脑神经颗粒素（Neuroganin,NG）变化与应激性行为效应之间的相互关系。以急性不确定性空瓶刺激,建立情绪应激动物模型。将40只雄性SD大鼠随机分为情绪应激组1（ES1,接受情绪应激和旷场测试）、情绪应激组2（ES2,只接受情绪应激）、正常对照组1（C1,无情绪应激,但接受旷场测试）和正常对照组（C2,无情绪应激,也无旷场测试）（n=10）。以旷场行为和高架十字迷宫任务来评定大鼠应激后的行为变化,Western印迹杂交法（Western blotting）测定海马和前脑皮层中的NG含量和磷酸化水平。结果表明：（1） 应激后ES1组的水平活动增加,与C1组比较,差异有显著性, p<0.01;（2）ES1组海马和前脑皮层的NG磷酸化水平高于C1和C2组,差异有显著性, 均为p<0.05; ES2组的前脑皮层NG的磷酸化水平高于C1组,差异有显著性,为p<0.05;（3） 海马的NG磷酸化水平与水平活动之间的相关达显著水平。提示急性情绪应激能导致动物明显的行为改变如焦虑,这种行为改变可能与脑内NG磷酸化水平的变化有关。水平活动可能是反映急性情绪应激的较敏感行为指标,海马NG磷酸化水平可能是预测急性情绪应激所致焦虑或抑郁行为的较敏感生物学指标     

The effects of chronic water deprivation on metabolic rate and long-trace taste-aversion conditioning in rats

The effect of chronic water deprivation on metabolic rate and long-trace taste-aversion conditioning was examined in Wistar-derived rats. Subjects were either maintained on a water deprivation regimen or allowed free access to water for a seven-week period prior to conditioning. At conditioning, rats were presented a saccharin CS followed 0-, 45-, 90-, or 180-min later by an i.p. injection of LiCl. Additionally, pseudo-conditioned groups were presented the CS followed immediately by an injection of physiological saline. Heightened oxygen consumption in deprived subjects suggested that chronic water deprivation increased metabolic rate. While no differences in the amount of saccharin intake were observed at conditioning, percent preference for saccharin scores during a 24-h two-bottle water/saccharin test revealed that non-chronically deprived rats supported conditioning at longer CS-US intervals than did chronically water-deprived rats. Results are interpreted in terms of a time-contraction effect stemming from an alteration of an internal metabolic count-down timer.     

Conditioned taste aversions: Two-stimulus tests are more sensitive than one-stimulus tests

Weanling and mature rats were presented with saccharin or saline solutions for 1 h on alternate days. Following exposure to saccharin, rats were injected with 0, 21, or 37 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide. Injections had no significant effect on saccharin preference in one-stimulus tests, but had a highly significant effect in two-stimulus tests.     

Effects of preexposure flavor concentration on conditioned aversion and neophobia

In Experiment 1, 128 experimentally naive, water-deprived rats (Rattus norvegicus) received pretraining access to either 0.25 or 1.5% saccharin, distilled water, or 2.0% saline, followed either by a pairing of 0.25 or 1.5% saccharin with an intraperitoneal injection of 0.15 M lithium chloride (LiCl) or by a pairing of distilled water with LiCl. Preexposure to either saccharin concentration reliably reduced conditioned aversion effects to 0.25% saccharin, relative to that for preexposure to distilled water or saline. But only preexposure to 1.5% saccharin reduced aversion effects to that concentration. In Experiment 2, 48 naive, water-deprived rats received preexposure procedures as in Experiment 1. Afterwards, the rats were tested for neophobia to 0.25 or 1.5% saccharin. Neophobia was reliably greater to the 1.5% concentration. However, preexposure to either saccharin concentration obliterated evidence for neophobia to saccharin, relative to that following preexposure to distilled water or saline.     

Wistar rats with high versus low rearing activity differ in radial maze performance

Substantial work has shown that rats although identical in stock, sex, age, and housing conditions can differ considerably in terms of behavior and physiology. Such individual differences, which can be detected by specific behavioral screening tests, are rather stable, that is, they probably reflect a behavioral disposition or trait. Here, we asked whether and how such differences might affect performance in a task of spatial learning and memory, the radial maze. As in our previous work, we used the degree of rearing activity in a novel open field to assign male adult outbred Wistar rats into those with high versus low rearing activity (HRA/LRA rats). They were then tested in a plus-maze for possible differences in anxiety-related behavior. Finally, and most importantly, they were food deprived and underwent maze training using an 8-arm radial maze with four non-baited and four baited arms. One of these arms consistently contained a larger bait size than the other three. In the open field, HRA rats not only showed more rearing behavior, but also more locomotor activity than LRA rats. In the plus-maze, HRA rats again showed more locomotion, but did not differ in open arm time or percentage of open arm entries, that is, conventional measures of anxiety-related behavior. In the radial maze, HRA rats consistently needed less time to consume all pellets than LRA rats, which was due to faster locomotion on the arms and less time spent at the food pits (especially in baited arms) of HRA rats. During the initial days of training, they were also more efficient in obtaining all food pellets available. Furthermore, HRA rats visited more arms and made relatively less reference memory errors than LRA rats. This allowed them to forage food quickly, but was paralleled by more working memory errors than in LRA rats. In general, working memory errors were more frequent in the arm with the large bait size, but there were no indications that HRA and LRA rats responded differently dependent on reward size. Finally, LRA rats lost slightly more weight than HRA rats during the period of food deprivation. These results are discussed with respect to the role of cognitive and motivational mechanisms, which as subject-inherent factors can contribute substantially to inter-individual variability in the radial maze.     

早期剥夺所致大鼠抑郁样行为与海马BDNF mRNA表达变化

为探讨早期剥夺对大鼠行为与海马脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)mRNA表达的影响,将新生的SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组与早期剥夺组,早期剥夺组在出生后1～14d每天孤养4h。监测体重,在出生后36?64天进行液体消耗试验,每周一次。12w龄时,进行穿梭箱试验,酶联免疫法检测海马BDNF含量,原位杂交法观察海马BDNF mRNA的表达。早期剥夺组大鼠体重显著低于正常对照组(p0.01),糖水摄入量与糖水偏爱显著低于正常对照组(p0.05或p0.01)。穿梭箱试验中,早期剥夺组大鼠在训练时的穿梭反应次数显著少于正常对照组(p0.05),在测试时,两组大鼠的被动逃避行为、主动逃避行为与逃避错误次数无显著差异。早期剥夺组大鼠海马BDNF含量、CA1区和CA3区BDNF mRNA表达显著低于正常对照组(p=0.05或p0.05)。提示早期剥夺可导致大鼠生长减慢,表现出快感缺失的抑郁样行为,但未诱导成年大鼠表现出明显的习得性无助倾向,早期剥夺能下调成年大鼠海马BDNFmRNA的表达。     

Systemic administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor impairs fear sensitization in the plus-maze

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of fear sensitization in rats previously treated with an inhibitor of the NO syntheses and submitted to Trial1/Trial2 plus-maze (PM) procedure. Male Wistar rats received a systemic treatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-Arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME; 5, 10 or 50 mg kg(-1)) and were submitted to PM Trial1. In the following day the animals were re-exposed to the PM with no drug administration (Trial2). Some standards spatial-temporal measures, such as the percentage of entries (% Open arm entries) and time spent (% Open arm time) in the open arms and risk assessment frequency were recorded and used to estimate the animal level of fear sensitization in PM Trial2. The results showed that animals receiving L-NAME (50 mg kg(-1)) displayed increased % Open arm entries and % Open arm time in Trial2 in relation to the group receiving 0.9% saline, which is compatible with impaired fear/anxiety acquisition during Trial1/Trial2 PM procedure. In addition, rats treated with L-NAME (50 mg kg(-1)) exhibited low level of risk assessment in Trial2 in relation to the group treated with 0.9% saline, which indicates low level of fear/anxiety during PM re-exposure. The number of entries into the enclosed arms was not changed by any L-NAME treatment, which suggests no bias of the drug treatments on animal locomotor activity. The data suggest that NO synthesis may mediate the fear sensitization process in the PM.     

Immediate and delayed reinforcers for flavor preferences in rats

When rats received, on alternate days, one flavored saccharin solution for 5 min and a differently-flavored saccharin solution for 60 min, they showed no consistent preference between the flavors. On the other hand, when they received one flavor in a concentrated saccharin solution and a different flavor in a dilute one, they preferred the first flavor in tests with saccharin concentration held constant; also, rats learned to prefer a flavor immediately followed by a concentrated saccharin solution to one followed by nothing. They showed no consistent preference, however, between a flavor followed 30 min later by a concentrated saccharin solution and one followed by nothing; but they learned to prefer a flavor followed 30 min later by a dextrose solution to one followed by nothing. In other words, consummatory responding did not reinforce flavor preference, sweet taste did so with immediate but not delayed reinforcement, and nutrition did so even with delayed reinforcement.