Corpus Amygdaloideum Research Articles

Interleukin-1β and TNF-α are elevated in the amygdala of adult rats prenatally exposed to ethanol.

Affective disorders, including anxiety and depression, developed in adult offspring of the mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy could be associated with an imbalance in neuroimmune factors in the amygdala (corpus amygdaloideum) resulted in impaired emotional stimulus processing. The aim of this study was to compare the content of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17 in the amygdala of adult female rats exposed to alcohol in utero and control rats. Cytokine levels were evaluated using a multiplex immunoassay system; mRNA expression was investigated using a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. Prenatal alcohol exposure led to the increase in the content of TNF-α and IL-1β without significant changes in the mRNA expression level. Our data suggest that ethanol exposure to the fetus during pregnancy can result in long-term alterations in the content of the key neuroinflammatory factors in the amygdala, which in turn can be a risk factor for affective disorders in the adulthood.

Morphometric analysis of hippocampus and intracranial formations based on their stages in patients diagnosed with major cognitive disorder.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major cognitive disorder classified as a common type of dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most practical method for diagnostic purposes in AD. The aim of the study was to determine the volume of the hippocampus and intracranial structures in AD using MRI. A total of 102 patients with AD were classified based on the mini mental test scores as early, moderate, and advanced stage. The control group included 35 healthy subjects. MRI were compared between the patients and control groups based on the calculations made utilizing volBrain software. Intracranial volumetric parameters were also compared between the three stages of AD. The white matter volumes, total hippocampus, total cerebrum, right cerebrum, left cerebrum, truncus encephalic, total nucleus caudatus and total corpus amygdaloideum were significantly increased in the AD. The white matter volumes, right hippocampus, left hippocampus, total cerebrum, left cerebrum, and right cerebellum were significantly increased in the patients in the early stage compared to the patients in the advanced stage AD. The most efficient volumetric study in AD could be performed by obtaining long-term periodic morphometric data of an early diagnosed and regularly followed-up patient population.

Changes of Adenylate Cyclase and Guanylate Cyclase in the Frontal Cortex, Lenticula, Corpus Amygdaloideum, and Hippocampus in Morphine-dependent Rats

To detect the changes of adenylate cyclase (AC) and guanylate cyclase (GC) in the four cerebral regions that are concerned with psychogenic dependence of morphine in rats, including the frontal cortex, lenticula, corpus amygdaloideum, and hippocampus. To discuss the relation between the expressions of AC and GC with the psychogenic dependence on morphine. Different periods of morphine-dependent rat models were established, and enzyme histochemistry was used to detect the variations of AC and GC in four cerebral regions. Compared with the control group, AC and GC in all the morphine-dependent groups increased. The data indicated that the amounts of AC and GC were significantly different between the morphine-dependent groups and the control group when tested at periods of 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks (P ˂ 0.05 or P ˂ 0.01). There were significant differences when comparing the 1-week group with the 2-week, 4-week, and 8-week groups (P ˂ 0.05 or P ˂ 0.01). There were significant differences when comparing the 2-week dependent group with the 4-week dependent group or the 8-week dependent group (P ˂ 0.05 or P ˂ 0.01). The activities of AC and GC increased in four cerebral regions of morphine-dependent rats. The psychogenic dependence on morphine appears to be closely linked to the upgrade of AC and GC.

Expression of neuropeptide Y in rat brain ischemia

The immunohistochemical method was used to follow the expression ofneuropeptide Y in the course of pre ischemia of the rat brain. The aim of the study was to define all the areas of expression of this protein, show their localization, their map of distribution and histological types. All the sections of telencephalon, diencephalon and midbrain were studied in resistant, and transitory ischemia, which enabled us to observe the reaction of neurons to an ischemic attack or to repeated attacks. The mapping was done for all three proteins by introducing our results into the maps of rat brain atlas, George Paxinos, Charles Watson. Photographing and protein expression was done using Analysis program. The results of this research show that there is a differens in reaction between the resistant and transitory ischemia groups of rats, especially in the caudoputamen, gyrus dentatus, corpus amygdaloideum, particularly in the medial nucleus. The mapping shows the reaction in caudoputamen, gyrusdentatus, corpus amygdaloideum- especially in the central nucleus, then in the sensitive and secondary auditory cortex, mostly in the laminae V/VI, but less in neuron groups CA1, CA2, CA3 of hippocampus. The phylogenetically older parts of the brain-rhinencephalon, also showed reaction, which lead us to conclude that both newer and older brain structures reacted immunohistochemically. Histological data have shown that small neurons are most commonly found while the second most common ones are big pyramidal cells of multipolar and bipolar type, with a different body shape. Our findings have confirmed the results obtained in some rare studies dealing with this issue, and offered a precise and detailed map of cells expressing neuropeptide Y in the rat brain following ischemic attack.

Expression of somatostatine in ischemia of rat brain

This study used the immunohistochemical method to follow the expression of cytoplasmatic protein somatostanin in the course of ischemia of rat brain. The aim of the study was to define all the areas of expression of somatostain and to show the protein distribution on the map. All the sections of telencephalon, diencephalon and midbrain were studied in resistant, and transitory ischemia, which enabled us to observe the reaction of neurons to an ischemic attack or to repeated attacks. The results of this study show that there is a difference in the reaction between the resistant and transitory ischemia groups of rats, especially in the parietofrontal cortex, area amygdaloidea anterior, clastrum, nc. reuniens and nc. suprachiasmaticus. The mapping shows the reaction in the structures of motor, sensitive and sensory cortex, mostly in the laminae I/Ill and V/VI, hippocampus- gyrus dentatus and CA1, CA2, CA3, endopiriform nucleus, paraventricular and periventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, corpus amygdaloideum, claustrum and caudoputamen. The more primitive sections of the brain - rhinencephalon, also showed a reaction, which led us to conclude that both newer and older brain structures reacted immunohistochemically. Histological data showed that small neurons are most commonly found while the second most common are big pyramidal cells of multipolar and bipolar type, with the different body shape. Our findings have confirmed the results of rare studies that dealt with these issues, and offered a precise and detailed map of cells expressing somatostanin in the rat brain following ischemic attack.

The glucagon/glucagon-like immunoreactivities in neurons of the human brain.

Using indirect immunofluorescence and Sternberger's PAP techniques on Bouin-fixed paraffin sections it was possible to show a glucagon/glucagon-like immunoreactivity in the following sites of the human brain: the Lamina V pyramidal cells of the Neocortex, the various neurons of the Hippocampus and Corpus amygdaloideum, the perikarya of neurons in the Nucleus ventromedialis and Nucleus infundibularis (arcuatus), the Nucleus ambiguus and the numerous granular cells of the cerebellar cortex. It was also possible with both techniques to find a similar distribution of the peptide hormones in the perikarya and the proximal parts of the neuronal extensions. Appropriate controls were used to confirm the results. Simultaneously, tissue specimens from the same brain regions were investigated for glucagon by radioimmunoassay. The glucagon content of nervous tissue was found to be much higher than the average glucagon concentration of blood plasma. The highest level of the polypeptide could be revealed for the Hypothalamus (up to 40 times higher than in blood plasma).

High resolution positron emission tomography demonstrates basal ganglia dysfunction in early Parkinson's disease

High resolution positron emission tomography (PET) with the newly developed HRRT scanner (Siemens/CTI) permits the reliable quantification of 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake as a marker of neuronal activity in small subcortical nuclei which are involved in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the normalized cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (nCMRGlc) with HRRT PET in basal ganglia (BG) nuclei of 10 early-stage PD patients and in 9 healthy volunteers. PET data were co-registered to magnetic resonance images and analyzed in a three-dimensional volume-of-interest (VOI) approach. After normalization for global brain activity, PD patients showed a significantly higher nCMRGlc than controls bilaterally in the BG output nuclei (pallidum, substantia nigra) and unilateral in the caudate and putamen. The metabolic activity of the nucleus accumbens, the subthalamic nucleus, the corpus amygdaloideum and the red nucleus was normal. These first HRRT PET data in living parkinsonian humans extend previous brain imaging findings of abnormal network activity in the BG and confirm output nuclei and striatal overactivation also in early stage PD patients.

Dopamine deficits and regulation of the cAMP second messenger system in brains of simian immunodeficiency virus–infected rhesus monkeys

The basal ganglia, structures rich in the neurotransmitter dopamine, are primarily affected during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The authors measured levels of dopamine and its metabolites, homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, in brains of uninfected and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus monkeys during the asymptomatic stage of the infection. Moreover, the authors investigated changes in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), two factors involved in the signaling pathway of dopamine. The brain regions examined were the nucleus accumbens and the corpus amygdaloideum, which are limbic structures of the basal ganglia that are involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Dopamine content was reduced in both regions of SIV-infected monkeys compared to uninfected animals. Moreover, dopamine deficits were associated with a decrease in expression of total CREB. Intracellular concentrations of cAMP were decreased in nucleus accumbens and remained unchanged in corpus amygdaloideum of SIV-infected macaques. Changes in dopamine signaling were not related to pathology or viral load of the investigated animals. The results suggest that dopamine defects precede neurologic deficits and implicate dysfunction of the dopaminergic system in the etiopathogenesis of HIV dementia. Therefore, affective complications in HIV subjects should not be interpreted only as reactive psychological changes. The alterations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system during asymptomatic stage of SIV infection implicate a biological background for psychiatric disorders in HIV infection.

Increased levels of calcium-sensitive adenylyl cyclase subtypes in the limbic system of alcoholics: evidence for a specific role of cAMP signaling in the human addictive brain

We examined the amounts of several adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms and of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in alcoholic and control brains. Immunoreactivity of type I AC was significantly increased in alcoholic nucleus accumbens and corpus amygdaloideum. Immunoreactivity of type VIII AC was also increased in alcoholic corpus amygdaloideum and hippocampus. CREB immunoreactivities were unchanged. These findings indicate that the brain-region specific increase of Ca 2+-sensitive AC may contribute to the pathophysiology of alcoholism.

Regional Distribution of Neuropeptide Y and Its Receptor in the Porcine Central Nervous System

The regional distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactivity and receptor binding was studied in the porcine CNS. The highest amounts of immunoreactive NPY were found in the hypothalamus, septum pellucidum, gyrus cinguli, cortex frontalis, parietalis, and piriformis, corpus amygdaloideum, and bulbus olfactorius (200-1,000 pmol/g wet weight). In the cortex temporalis and occipitalis, striatum, hippocampus, tractus olfactorius, corpus mamillare, thalamus, and globus pallidus, the NPY content was 50-200 pmol/g wet weight, whereas the striatum, colliculi, substantia nigra, cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata, and medulla spinalis contained less than 50 pmol/g wet weight. The receptor binding of NPY was highest in the hippocampus, corpus fornicis, corpus amygdaloideum, nucleus accumbens, and neurohypophysis, with a range of 1.0-5.87 pmol/mg of protein. Intermediate binding (0.5-1.0 pmol/mg of protein) was found in the septum pellucidum, columna fornicis, corpus mamillare, cortex piriformis, gyrus cinguli, striatum, substantia grisea centralis, substantia nigra, and cerebellum. In the corpus callosum, basal ganglia, corpus pineale, colliculi, corpus geniculatum mediale, nucleus ruber, pons, medulla oblongata, and medulla spinalis, receptor binding of NPY was detectable but less than 0.5 pmol/mg of protein. No binding was observed in the bulbus and tractus olfactorius and adenohypophysis. In conclusion, immunoreactive NPY and its receptors are widespread in the porcine CNS, with predominant location in the limbic system, olfactory system, hypothalamoneurohypophysial tract, corpus striatum, and cerebral cortex.

Immunoreactive glucagon in neurons of various parts of the human brain. Demonstration by immunofluorescence technique

The presence of glucagon-like immunoreactivity in nerve cells of different parts of the human brain was demonstrated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. A bright fluorescent reaction was observed in the pyramidal cells of lamina V of the Neocortex. Less prominent concentrations of the glucagon-like material were detected in a few pyramidal cells of the Hippo-campus and in some neurons of the Presubiculum and Subiculum. Within the Corpus amygdaloideum, only a few magnocellular neurons showed a positive reaction. The Hypothalamus was evidenced by a moderate, but widely distributed, reaction in magnocellular and medium-sized nerve cells in different nuclei (especially Nuc. ventromedialis and Nuc. arcuatus). A strong immunofluorescence was localized to some neurocytes in the Nuc. amibigus, and Nuc. n. hypoglassi. The Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex were free from immunoreactive material, but fluorescence occurred in some very small nerve cells of the Cerebellum (probably granular cells). A dependence of the strength of immunofluorescence of the time delay between autopsy and death is shown.

Biometrische analyse der volumina des corpus amygdaloideum an einer ontogenetischen reihe von albinoma¨usen

The fresh volume of the corpus amygdaloideum of 59 white mice with an age between 15 and 153 days of ontogenesis has been determined. The increase of the volume (y) of the corpus amygdaloideum yields a S-formed figure that has been approached by the Logistic function y=C1+eA(T−W) The parameters have been approximated by means of an iterative proceeding by the least-square method. The ‘ideal’ volume (C) of the corpus amygdaloideum with its confidence limits (95%) is 11.3 ± 0.4cu. mm. The half-value time of the corpus amygloideum is 23.1 ± 0.46 days of ontogenesis,i.e. the time when the volume of the corpus amygdaloideum has increased to the half ‘ideal’ volume (C/2). The corpus amygdaloideum of the newborn white mouse enlarges up to the ‘ideal’ volume by the factor of 3.2 ± 0.3. In our sample the volume of the corpus amygdaloideum increases in a quadratic function in proportion to the cerebral volume. The regression coefficient A amounts to 0.222 ± 0.001, the absolute constant B amounts to +1.21 ± 0.34, and the correlation coefficient to 0.985. The corpus amygdaloideum develops ontogenetically early compared with neocortex, hippocampal formation and cerebellum. The half-value time of the corpus amygdaloideum is not significantly different from that of the rhombencephalon. The rate of development of the corpus amygdaloideum near the half-value time is significantly faster than that of the rhombencephalon.