Hemisphere Of Rats Research Articles

Expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 in the rat brain after a single high-dose irradiation.

Cytokines and growth factors are important regulatory proteins controlling the growth and differentiation of normal and malignant glial cells. In this study, we investigated the expression and origin of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the subacute brain injury after a single high-dose irradiation using 60 Sprague-Dawley rats. The right cerebral hemispheres of rats were exposed to a single 10 Gy dose of gamma rays using Ir-192. The radiation effect was assessed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks after irradiation, and the results were compared with those in sham operation group. Histological changes characteristic of radiation injury were correlated with the duration after the single dose irradiation. The loss of cortical thickness also increased with the lapse of time after irradiation. The TNF-alpha expression in the irradiated cerebral hemispheres was significantly increased compared with that in the sham operation group. TGF-beta 1 expression was also increased in the irradiated hemispheres. Immunohistochemical study revealed that TGF-beta 1 was expressed predominantly by infiltrating macrophages and astrocytes around the necrotic areas. These findings indicate that TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 may play prominent roles in the radiation injuries after a single high-dose irradiation.

Neurotrophic activity of 2,4,4-trimethyl-3-(15-hydroxypentadecyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one in cultured central nervous system neurons

Endogenous neurotrophic factors are essential for the development and maintenance of the nervous system. This suggests their potential utilization as therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. However, the clinical use of these proteic factors is still restricted, and brings about undesirable consequences, including adverse side effects, and bioavailability and stability difficulties. Therefore, the development of low-molecular weight, non-proteic synthetic compounds with neurotrophic properties appears as a promising approach. The aim of this study was to explore the biological activity of 2,4,4-trimethyl-3-(15-hydroxypentadecyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one (tCFA15), a trimethyl cyclohexenonic long-chain fatty alcohol. To this end, neurons from fetal rat cerebral hemispheres were cultured in the presence of increasing doses of tCFA15 ranging from 0.1 to 1000 nM. Quantification of cell numbers after 48-h culture showed that 100 nM tCFA15 induced a significant increase in the number of surviving cells. Measurement of total neurite length in microtubule-associated protein 2-positive cells also revealed a stimulatory effect in a wider range of concentrations. The extent of this neuritogenic action was similar to that induced by dibutyryl-cyclic AMP, a well-known neurite outgrowth stimulator, but used at much higher concentration (1 mM). Analysis of structure–activity relationships with different tCFA15 analogs and derivatives corroborated the neurotrophic activity. Taken together, these findings provide strong evidence that tCFA15 exhibits neurotrophic properties in vitro.

Analysis of Fractal Dimension of O2A Glial Cells Differentiating in Vitro

Fractal dimension is a quantitative measure of morphological complexity. Glial cells of the oligodendrocyte-type 2 astrocyte (O2A) lineage exhibit increasing morphological complexity as they differentiate in vitro. Enriched populations of O2A progenitor cells isolated from neonatal rat cerebral hemispheres or optic nerves were allowed to differentiate in vitro, and their fractal dimensions were measured over time. The fractal dimensions of the maturing cells correlated with perceived complexity; cells with elaborate process branching had larger fractal dimensions than cells with a simpler morphology. An analysis of changes in fractal dimension revealed distinct rates of growth for both oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes. The fractal dimension remained constant over a 10-fold range in optical magnification, demonstrating that cultured O2A glial cells exhibit self-similarity, a defining characteristic of fractal objects. These results illustrate that fractal dimension analysis of maturing cell populations is a useful method for quantitatively describing the process of cell differentiation.

Mediation of oxidative stress in HCH-induced neurotoxicity in rat.

Effect of repeated oral administration of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight/day for 7 and 30 days) on the antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation (LPX) of rat cerebral hemisphere (CH) was evaluated. The level of LPX was elevated after 7 days of treatment in crude homogenate (endogenous and FeSO(4)- and ascorbic acid-stimulated) and subcellular fractions except the nuclear fraction in which induction was seen after 30 days. The pesticide elicited a significant decrease in the activities of cytosolic total and CN(-)-sensitive superoxide dismutase (SOD) after 7 and 30 days of HCH treatment, but failed to evoke any change in CN(-)-resistant SOD. Catalase activity decreased throughout the treatment period. Cerebral glutathione peroxidase activity (both selenium-dependent and -independent isoenzymes) and the level of glutathione content were decreased after 7 and 30 days of treatment, respectively. Activity of glutathione reductase and content of ascorbic acid, however, were enhanced following the pesticide exposure. The results suggest that repeated HCH administration induced oxidative stress in rat CH.

Changes in n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during lipid-peroxidation of mitochondria obtained from rat liver and several brain regions: effect of α-tocopherol

The effect of intraperitoneal administration of α-tocopherol (100 mg/kg weight/24 h) on ascorbate (0–0.4 mM) induced lipid peroxidation of mitochondria isolated from rat liver, cerebral hemispheres, brain stem and cerebellum was examined. The ascorbate induced light emission in hepatic mitochondria was nearly completely inhibited by α-tocopherol (control-group: 114.32±14.4; vitamin E-group: 17.45±2.84, c.p.m.×10−4). In brain mitochondria, 0.2 mM ascorbate produced the maximal chemiluminescence and significant differences among both groups were not observed. No significant differences in the chemiluminescence values between control and vitamin E treated groups were observed when the three brain regions were compared. The light emission produced by mitochondrial preparations was much higher in cerebral hemispheres than in brain stem and cerebellum. In liver and brain mitochondria from control group, the level of arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3) was profoundly affected. Docosahexaenoic in liver mitochondria from vitamin E group decreased by 30% upon treatment with ascorbic acid when compared with mitochondria lacking ascorbic acid. As a consequence of vitamin E treatment, a significant increase of C22:6n3 was detected in rat liver mitochondria (control-group: 6.42 ±0.12; vitamin E-group: 10.52 ±0.46). Ratios of the α-tocopherol concentrations in mitochondria from rats receiving vitamin E to those of control rats were as follows: liver, 7.79; cerebral hemispheres, 0.81; brain stem, 0.95; cerebellum, 1.05. In liver mitochondria, vitamin E shows a protector effect on oxidative damage. In addition, vitamin E concentration can be increased in hepatic but not in brain mitochondria. Lipid peroxidation mainly affected, arachidonic (C20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n3) acids.

Modulation of glutamine uptake and phosphate-activated glutaminase activity in rat brain mitochondria by amino acids and their synthetic analogues

Uptake of L-[ 14C] Gln and phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) activity were measured in nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from rat cerebral hemispheres, in the presence of protein and nonprotein amino acids and their synthetic structural analogues and derivatives. The uptake was inhibited by >50% in the presence of a 10-fold excess of His, homocysteine (Hcy), Trp, Leu, Tyr, Ile, Thr, Ala, Phe, Met, Ser, by>20% in the presence of a 10-fold excess of Val, Arg, Glu, and was not affected by a 10-fold excess of Orn, α-ketoglutarate, Tau and Pro. Uptake of L-[ 14C] Leu differed from Gln uptake by its resistance to Arg, Glu, and a relatively high sensitivity to the reference inhibitor of the plasma membrane transport of large neutral amino acids (L-system) — BCH (2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid), and a number of natural L-system substrates. A newly synthesized alanine analogue, 2′-cyano–(biphenyl) alanine, referred to as MRC01, was the only compound tested that inhibited Gln uptake more strongly than Leu uptake. The strongest Gln uptake inhibitors: MRC01, His, Hcy and Leu, inhibited PAG activity by >50% when added at the inhibitor/Gln concentration ratio of 1:2. PAG activity was not affected by Tau, Lys or Pro, compounds which did affect Gln uptake. The results suggest that a number of natural amino acids function as common endogenous modulators of cerebral mitochondrial Gln uptake and its degradation. MRC01, because of its inhibitory potency towards both mitochondrial Gln uptake and PAG activity, may become a convenient tool in studying the role of Gln transport in its mitochondrial metabolism in intact CNS cell and tissues.

The expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in rat brain after implantation of C6 rat glioma cells.

It has been reported that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are highly expressed in malignant glioma cells and that this increased expression may facilitate the invasiveness of tumor cells. The authors investigated the expression and enzymatic activity of MMPs in rat brain during the growth of malignant gliomas at different time intervals. C6 rat glioma cells were unilaterally implanted into rat cerebral hemispheres. After 7 or 14 days, these brain tissues were prepared for SDS-PAGE zymography, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and in situ zymography. SDS-PAGE zymography and Western blotting revealed that the expression of proMMP-2 in rat brains with C6 glioma cells was significantly higher than that in normal or the sham-operated rat brains, and that the activated form of MMP-2 was detected only in the former but not in the latter. On immunohistochemistry, C6 glioma cells presenting invasive growth into the rat brain parenchyma and vessels demonstrated MMP-2 immunoreactivity. On in situ zymography, foci of invasive C6 glioma cells in rat brain tissue showed gelatinolytic activity. These results suggest that expression and activation of MMP-2 may be one of the crucial steps for glioma cell invasion into the brain parenchyma in vivo.

Temperature asymmetry of the rat cerebral hemispheres

The field potential and temperature of the cerebral cortex were studied in right-handed, left-handed, and ambidextrous rats. Temperature asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres was revealed, which proved to differ in rats with different types of interhemispheric asymmetry: the interhemispheric temperature gradient was maximal in left-handed rats, minimal in right-handed rats, and intermediate in ambidextrous rats. Both parameters of energy metabolism (field potential and temperature of the cerebral cortex) correlated with one another, and the structure of these statistically significant correlations was different in right-handed, left-handed, and ambidextrous rats. It is suggested that the previously known types of interhemispheric asymmetry--biochemical, neurophysiological, and organoelement--are based on differences in the intensity of energy-consuming processes in the cerebral hemispheres.

GFAP gene methylation in different neural cell types from rat brain

It is generally believed that specific demethylation processes take place in the promoter of tissue-specific genes during development. It has been suggested that hypomethylation of the −1500/−1100 domain of the 5′ flanking regulatory region of the rat glial fibrillary acidic protein gene may be specific for neuroectodermal derivatives such as neurons and astrocytes. In the present work the methylation status of one of those seven CG sites (the −1176) of the ‘neuroectoderm-specific domain’ was analyzed. In agreement with the neuroectoderm hypothesis, the −1176 site is highly demethylated in astroglial, oligodendroglial and neuronal cells, but heavily methylated in microglial and fibroblast cells. The three different glial population are derived from the same tissue (cerebral hemispheres of newborn rats) but have a different embryological origin: oligodendrocytes and astrocytes originate from neuroectoderm, while microglia is of mesodermal origin.It is not clear if GFAP-negative neuronal cells maintain such demethylation in the advanced stage of maturation or if they undergo a second phase of de novo methylation. In order to clarify this point we used a subcellular fractionation method which allowed us to separate two different nuclear populations from adult rat cerebral hemispheres: one enriched in neuronal nuclei (called N1) and the other enriched in glial nuclei (N2). A higher methylation level of the −1176 site was detected in the N1 fraction, suggesting the GFAP gene undergo a de novo methylation process during neuronal maturation. This observation is in agreement with recent results showing a de novo methylation of the −1176 site during postnatal brain development. We hypothesize that a DNA demethylation process takes place in neuroectodermal precursor cells and that the −1176 site persists demethylated at the earlier stages of neuronal differentiation (immature neurons) and becomes fully methylated at more advanced stages of differentiation.

Decorin Attenuates Gliotic Scar Formation in the Rat Cerebral Hemisphere

The transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) are potent fibrogenic factors implicated in numerous CNS pathologies in which fibrosis and neural dysfunction are causally associated. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate significant inhibition of fibrogenesis, glial scarring, and inflammation in penetrating incisional wounds of the rat brain using the proteoglycan decorin, which effectively inhibits TGF-β activity. Adult rats were assigned to two treatment groups each receiving 14 daily intraventricular injections of 10 μl total volume of: (i) saline plus 0.3% autologous rat serum=30 μg protein); or (ii) saline plus 30 μg recombinant human decorin. On day 0 of the experiment, a stereotactically defined unilateral incisional lesion was placed through the cerebral cortex into the lateral ventricle and, after 14 days, brains were processed for immunohistochemical analysis of the lesion site. Specific antibodies were used to visualize the deposition within the wound of matrix molecules and the extent and nature of reactive astrocytosis and inflammation. Quantitative and qualitative image analysis of the fibrous scar was performed in sections from a defined anatomical plane through the wound to detect the antifibrotic effects of decorin treatment. Treatment of wounds with decorin led to a marked attenuation of all aspects of CNS scarring including matrix deposition, formation of an accessory glial limiting membrane, and inflammation. Our findings suggest that decorin is potentially applicable to a number of human CNS fibrotic diseases to arrest the deposition of excessive extracellular matrix components and maintain and/or restore functional integrity.

Novel genes expressed in the developing medial cortex.

Two cDNAs, M1 and M2, recently isolated by the differential display method from embryonic rat cerebral hemisphere were characterized and their patterns of spatiotemporal expression analysed in developing rat forebrain by in situ hybridization histochemistry and correlative immunocytochemistry. Neither gene bears any sequence homology to other known genes. Both genes are particularly expressed in medial regions of the cerebral hemisphere and M2 in the roof of the adjacent diencephalon. M1 expression is highly localized and confined to the neuroepithelium of the hippocampal rudiment from embryonic day (E) 12 onward. Its location corresponds to the fimbrial anlage, and immunocytochemical localization of M1 protein indicates its expression in radial glial cells. M2 expression at E12 is more extensive in the medial cerebral wall, extending into the preoptic region and beyond the hippocampus into dorsal hemisphere and into the dorsal diencephalon, with caudal extension along the dorsal midline and in the zona limitans intrathalamica. Later, M2 expression is found in association with the corpus callosum, hippocampal commissure, fimbria, optic nerve, stria medullaris, mamillothalamic tract and habenulopeduncular tract. M1 and M2 expression domains corresponding to the locations of fiber tracts are present prior to the arrival of the earliest axons, as identified by neuron specific markers. These findings suggest M1 and/or M2 genes are involved in early regional specification of the hippocampus and related structures in paramedian regions of the forebrain, and that cell populations expressing these genes in advance of developing axonal pathways may be involved in the early specification of tract location.

Differential ability of astroglia and neuronal cells to accumulate lead: dependence on cell type and on degree of differentiation

The apparent ability of astroglia to serve as a lead (Pb) sink in the mature brain may result from either their strategic location, between the blood-brain barrier and neurons, or from intrinsic differences between the ability of astroglia and neurons to accumulate this metal. This phenomenon may be dependent on the degree of cell differentiation. In order to address the latter possibility, Pb accumulation was compared among the following cell culture models: (1) mature and immature rat astroglia, (2) undifferentiated SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and SY5Y cells differentiated with nerve growth factor, (3) immature rat astroglia grown in differently conditioned media, some of which induce partial differentiation, and (4) rat astroglia and SY5Y cells in co-culture. Astroglial cultures, prepared from 1-day-old rat cerebral hemispheres, were exposed to 1 microM Pb after either 14 (immature) or 21 (mature) days in culture. Pb content of the cells was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Immature astroglia took up less Pb when glutathione (GSH) was added to the medium, suggesting that GSH may regulate Pb uptake in these cells. Undifferentiated neuroblastoma cells accumulated more Pb than did the differentiated ones. Astroglia accumulated up to 24 times more Pb than did neuronal cells. This ability was enhanced by exposure to conditioned medium from a neuroblastoma cell line, but not by endothelial cell-conditioned medium, although this medium induced the expression of a glutamate-activated Ca2+ response. Our findings are in agreement with in vivo studies, and thus validate the use of these cell-culture models for future studies on differential mechanisms of Pb uptake.

Neutral glycolipid and ganglioside composition of type-1 and type-2 astrocytes from rat cerebral hemisphere.

We reported previously that the major gangliosides in primary mixed-type astrocyte cultures are GM3 and GD3. To obtain more information regarding the exact distribution of glycosphingolipids in different types of astrocytes, we established a line of type-1 astrocytes that are characterized by a Ran-2 positive, broad flat morphology, and by the absence of binding to A2B5 antibodies. We also purified O-2A progenitor cells by immunopanning and cultured them in the presence of 10% newborn calf serum. They differentiated into type-2 astrocytes that were identified by immunostaining for each of GD3, A2B5, and GFAP. Using these cell cultures, we demonstrate that the major gangliosides were GM3 in type-1 astrocytes and GM3 and GD3 in type-2 astrocytes. In addition, a set of neutral glycolipids was identified based on the HP-TLC migration properties of CMH, CDH, CTH, and Glob, but the component distribution of these glycolipids is related to that of glycolipids of astrocytes. A marked increase in the expression of CTH and Glob was shown in type-2 astrocytes. The amount of neutral glycolipid-sugar was higher in the type-2 astrocytes than in the type-1 astrocytes. These results suggest that the increase in the total glycosphingolipid content and the change in the neutral glycolipid composition produced by type-2 astrocytes may be related to their biological functions and the cellular compositions.

L-Arginine uptake in rat cerebral mitochondria

The kinetics of L-[14C] arginine ( L-[14C] Arg) uptake and the effects of potential competitors on the uptake were analysed in nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from rat cerebral hemispheres. Analysis of uptake kinetics revealed a high affinity component with a mean K m=0.08 mM, and V max=1.89 nmoles⧹min⧹mg, and a very low affinity component probably manifesting diffusion. The uptake of 25 mM L-Arg was strongly inhibited by a 20-fold excess of L-lysine ( L-Lys) and L-ornithine ( L-Orn), but not by D-Arg nor any neutral amino acid, which resembles the characteristics of the y+ transport system operating in the nerve- and glia cell-, and synaptic plasma membranes. Also in consistence with the other y + systems, L-Arg uptake to mitochondria was inhibited by a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-N-monomethyl arginine ( L-NMMA), but not by another NOS inhibitor N G-nitro- L-arginine ( L-NNA). However, the uptake was very little affected by 20-fold excess of L-histidine ( L-His), L-glutamate ( L-Glu) or L-glutamine ( L-Gln), which is in contrast to the nonmitochondrial systems. The uptake was only marginally influenced by cytoplasmic L-Arg metabolites: ammonia, creatine, putrescine, or the mitochondrial L-Arg decarboxylation product, agmatine.

The presence of transthyretin in rat ependymal cells is due to endocytosis and not synthesis

The presence and synthesis of transthyretin, a major carrier protein of thyroxine in rat cerebrospinal fluid, was investigated in choroid plexus epithelial cells and ependymal cells by immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and analysis by Northern and Western blot using a specific oligonucleotide probe and a specific polyclonal antibody to transthyretin. Choroid plexus epithelial cells expressed transthyretin at high levels in developing rat cerebral hemispheres and in cultured cells. These cells secreted transthyretin into the cerebrospinal fluid. In the developing rat brain transthyretin was present in the cytoplasm of ependymal cells, in vesicles in contact with the apical membrane and in cilia. In ependymal cell cultures this protein was particularly abundant in the cilia of these cells. In contrast, ependymal cells did not synthesize transthyretin. It is postulated that transthyretin is transported to ependymal cells from the cerebrospinal fluid by endocytosis.

Acute hexachlorocyclohexane-induced oxidative stress in rat cerebral hemisphere.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is reported to induce oxidative stress in liver and testis of rat. With an objective to examine its effect on brain tissue acute toxicity of HCH (10 and 20 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) on the antioxidant defense system of cerebral hemisphere of rat was evaluated. Lipid peroxidation (LPX) was elevated after 24 h in the crude homogenate and sub-cellular fractions (nuclear and mitochondrial) except the microsomal fraction in which LPX was induced after 6 h and remained elevated till 24 h. The pesticide elicited decrease in the activities of cytosolic total, CN(-)-sensitive (not at 24 h) and CN-resistant superoxide dismutases; total, Se-dependent and Se-independent glutathione peroxidases; and catalase throughout the measurement period. In contrast, glutathione reductase activity was elevated till 24 h after a fall at 6 h of pesticide exposure. Cerebral contents of glutathione and ascorbic acid were decreased in response to HCH. The results suggest the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of HCH-induced neurotoxicity in rat.

Alterations in the activities of cerebral antioxidant enzymes of rat are related to aging

Developmental profiles of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation were investigated in rat cerebral hemisphere from birth to 600 days of age. Lipid peroxidation level decreased in the crude homogenate from birth until 15 days and, thereafter increased gradually up to 600 days. However, susceptibility of sub-cellular fractions to lipid peroxidation displayed an increasing trend with increasing age. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased gradually with age, whereas activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase exhibited an elevation up to 90 days followed by either a stagnancy or diminution in the later life. No linearity was observed in the contents of glutathione, ascorbic acid and H2O2 in the tissue. The results suggest that free radicals could be the causative agents of the aging process in which antioxidant enzymes have a definite regulatory contribution.

Glutamate uptake is inhibited by L-arginine in mitochondria isolated from rat cerebrum

Uptake of L-[14C]glutamate (L-[14C]GLU) into nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from rat cerebral hemispheres was measured in the presence of potential modulators of amino acid transport. The L-GLU carrier agonist 0.2 mM L-aspartate (L-ASP) virtually abolished L-GLU uptake (ASP/GLU concentration ratio, 1:1). L-Arginine (L-ARG) inhibited L-GLU uptake in a dose dependent manner over the concentration range 0.1-5 mM to maximum inhibition of 85%. Putrescine or ammonia had no effect, whereas 5 mM creatine and the NO generator, 5 mM sodium nitroprusside, increased the uptake by 73% and 57%, respectively. D-ARG was three times less effective in inhibiting L-GLU uptake than L-ARG at 5 mM concentration. The L-amino acids ornithine, lysine, histidine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, proline, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, glycine, methionine, valine, serine, taurine, alanine or cysteine did not affect the uptake when added in concentrations of 2-5 mM. A 14% inhibition of L-GLU uptake was noted in the presence of L-glutamine (L-GLN) (2 mM) or a dicarboxylate carrier ligand, alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) (5 mM), and a 30% inhibition with a dicarboxylate carrier inhibitor phenylsuccinate (PhSc) (5 mM). The results suggest that L-ARG functions as a specific endogenous modulator of cerebral mitochondrial L-GLU transport.

The effect of quinolinate on rat brain lipid peroxidation is dependent on iron

Quinolinate, an endogenous excitotoxic metabolite of tryptophan with affinity to the N-methyl- d-aspartate type of glutamate receptor, is known as a stimulator of lipid peroxidation in vitro [Neurochem. Res. (1991) 16, 1139–1143]. To analyse the mechanism of this quinolinate toxicity we used the thiobarbituric acid test to measure malondialdehyde in homogenates of rat cerebral hemispheres incubated in air at 37°C for 30 min in the presence of 0.015–15.0 mM quinolinate, endogenous iron or 0.5–2.0 μM FeSO 4 and with or without 250 μM ascorbate. Quinolinate in the concentrations of 0.15–2.5 mM stimulated lipid peroxidation in the homogenates in the presence of 0.5–2.0 μM Fe 2+. However, quinolinate concentrations higher than 3.0 mM inhibited the lipid peroxidation at all the tested concentrations of iron. In the presence of a potent iron chelator (10 μM deferoxamine) quinolinate completely failed to induce lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates. Spectral analysis revealed that quinolinate is able to form a complex with Fe 2+. The results suggest that quinolinate does not have a direct peroxidative effect, but that it modulates lipid peroxidation via its interaction with iron.

Synthesis of optically active diastereomers of a nonproteic neurotrophic mimetic

The four diastereomers 3, elongated analogues of perhydroretinol, are synthesized starting from both optically pure 3-bromo-2-methyl-1-propanol enantiomers. All exhibit neurotrophic activity on cultured neuronal cells derived from fetal rat cerebral hemispheres.