Regeneration of the septohippocampal pathways in adult rats is promoted by utilizing embryonic hippocampal implants as bridges

Mechanisms and use of neural transplants for brain repair

Under appropriate conditions, neural tissues transplanted into the adult mammalian brain can survive, integrate, and function so as to influence the behavior of the host, opening the prospect of repairing neuronal damage, and alleviating symptoms associated with neuronal injury or neurodegenerative disease. Alternative mechanisms of action have been postulated: nonspecific effects of surgery; neurotrophic and neuroprotective influences on disease progression and host plasticity; diffuse or locally regulated pharmacological delivery of deficient neurochemicals, neurotransmitters, or neurohormones; restitution of the neuronal and glial environment necessary for proper host neuronal support and processing; promoting local and long-distance host and graft axon growth; formation of reciprocal connections and reconstruction of local circuits within the host brain; and up to full integration and reconstruction of fully functional host neuronal networks. Analysis of neural transplants in a broad range of anatomical systems and disease models, on simple and complex classes of behavioral function and information processing, have indicated that all of these alternative mechanisms are likely to contribute in different circumstances. Thus, there is not a single or typical mode of graft function; rather grafts can and do function in multiple ways, specific to each particular context. Consequently, to develop an effective cell-based therapy, multiple dimensions must be considered: the target disease pathogenesis; the neurodegenerative basis of each type of physiological dysfunction or behavioral symptom; the nature of the repair required to alleviate or remediate the functional impairments of particular clinical relevance; and identification of a suitable cell source or delivery system, along with the site and method of implantation, that can achieve the sought for repair and recovery.

Axotomy-induced neurotrophic withdrawal causes the loss of phenotypic differentiation and downregulation of NGF signalling, but not death of septal cholinergic neurons

BACKGROUND

Septal cholinergic neurons account for most of the cholinergic innervations of the hippocampus, playing a key role in the regulation of hippocampal synaptic activity. Disruption of the septo-hippocampal pathway by an experimental transection of the fimbria-fornix drastically reduces the target-derived trophic support received by cholinergic septal neurons, mainly nerve growth factor (NGF) from the hippocampus. Axotomy of cholinergic neurons induces a reduction in the number of neurons positive for cholinergic markers in the medial septum. In several studies, the reduction of cholinergic markers has been interpreted as analogous to the neurodegeneration of cholinergic cells, ruling out the possibility that neurons lose their cholinergic phenotype without dying. Understanding the mechanism of cholinergic neurodegeneration after axotomy is relevant, since this paradigm has been extensively explored as an animal model of the cholinergic impairment observed in neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's disease.The principal aim of this study was to evaluate, using modern quantitative confocal microscopy, neurodegenerative changes in septal cholinergic neurons after axotomy and to assess their response to delayed infusion of NGF in rats.

RESULTS

We found that there is a slow reduction of cholinergic cells labeled by ChAT and p75 after axotomy. However, this phenomenon is not accompanied by neurodegenerative changes or by a decrease in total neuronal number in the medial septum. Although the remaining axotomized-neurons appear healthy, they are unable to respond to delayed NGF infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that at 3 weeks, axotomized cholinergic neurons lose their cholinergic phenotype without dying and down-regulate their NGF-receptors, precluding the possibility of a response to NGF. Therefore, the physiological role of NGF in the adult septal cholinergic system is to support phenotypic differentiation and not survival of neurons. This evidence raises questions about the relationship between transcriptional regulation of the cholinergic phenotype by retrograde-derived trophic signaling and the transcriptional changes experienced when retrograde transport is impaired due to neuropathological conditions.

Nerve growth factor gene therapy in Alzheimer disease

Nervous system growth factors potently stimulate cell function and prevent neuronal death. These broad effects on survival and function arise from direct downstream activation of antiapoptotic pathways, inhibition of proapoptotic pathways, and stimulation of functionally important cellular mechanisms including ERK/MAP kinase and CREB. Thus, as a class, growth factors offer the potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders for the first time by preventing neuronal degeneration rather than compensating for cell loss after it has occurred. Different growth factors affect distinct and specific populations of neurons: the first nervous system growth factor identified, nerve growth factor, potentially stimulates the survival and function of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, suggesting that nerve growth factor could be a means for reducing the cholinergic component of cell degeneration in Alzheimer disease. This review will discuss the transition of growth factors from preclinical studies to human clinical trials in Alzheimer disease. The implementation of clinical testing of growth factor therapy for neurologic disease has been constrained by the dual need to achieve adequate concentrations of these proteins in specific brain regions containing degenerating neurons, and preventing growth factor spread to nontargeted regions to avoid adverse effects. Gene therapy is one of a limited number of potential methods for achieving these requirements.

Adult Retinofugal Axons Regenerating Through Peripheral Nerve Grafts Can Restore the Light-induced Pupilloconstriction Reflex

To investigate the ability of mature regenerating retinal axons to form functional connections within central targets, severed axons were guided into the primary visual centres which subserve the pupillary constriction reflex in response to light. The ocular stump of the transected optic nerve of adult rats was connected by means of an autologous peripheral nerve graft with the pretectal region which contains the relay nucleus of pupillary constriction, the olivary pretectal nucleus. This nucleus is efferently connected with preganglionic neurons in the oculomotor nuclear complex which innervates parasympathetically the muscle constrictors of the iris. Six to sixteen weeks after optic nerve transection and peripheral nerve transplantation, brisk responses were observed in the pupils upon illumination of the transplanted eye. Recovery of the pupil responses indicated that retinal neurons used the peripheral nerve 'bridge' to access the pretectum, in which they established synaptic contacts in sufficient density and with appropriate specificity to reconstitute the function of the traumatically interrupted neuronal circuitry.

Combined neurotrophic supplementation and caspase inhibition enhances survival of fetal hippocampal CA3 cell grafts in lesioned CA3 region of the aging hippocampus

Fetal hippocampal CA3 cells show excellent survival when homotopically grafted into the kainic acid-lesioned CA3 region of the young adult hippocampus, a model of temporal lobe epilepsy. However, survival of these cells in the kainic acid-lesioned CA3 region of the aging hippocampus is unknown. We hypothesize that fetal CA3 grafts into the lesioned CA3 region of the middle-aged and aged hippocampus exhibit significantly diminished cell survival compared with similar grafts in the lesioned young adult hippocampus unless pre-treated and transplanted with factors that augment graft cell survival. We analyzed cell survival of 5'-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled embryonic day 19 CA3 grafts following their transplantation into the lesioned CA3 region of the middle-aged and aged rat hippocampus. Grafts were placed 4 days after an i.c.v. administration of kainic acid, and absolute cell survival of grafts was quantified 1 month after grafting using 5'-bromodeoxyuridine immunostaining of serial sections and the optical fractionator counting method. Grafts into both middle-aged and aged hippocampus exhibited analogous but significantly diminished cell survival (30% of injected cells) compared with similar grafts into the young adult hippocampus (72% cell survival). However, the extent of cell survival of CA3 grafts pre-treated and transplanted with a combination of neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 and the caspase inhibitor acetyl-tyrosinyl-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-chloro-methylketone was significantly enhanced in both middle-aged and aged hippocampus (51-63% cell survival). These results underscore that aging impairs the conduciveness of the CA3 region for robust survival of homotopic fetal CA3 grafts after lesion. However, a combined neurotrophic supplementation and caspase inhibition significantly enhances survival of fetal CA3 cells in the lesioned aging hippocampus. Thus, pre-treatment and grafting of donor cells with a combination of factors that support growth of specific donor cells may considerably enhance survival and integration of fetal grafts into the lesioned aging CNS in clinical trials.

The regrowth of axons within tissue defects in the CNS is promoted by implanted hydrogel matrices that contain BDNF and CNTF producing fibroblasts

In this study we demonstrate the potential for combining biocompatible polymers with genetically engineered cells to elicit axon regrowth across tissue defects in the injured CNS. Eighteen- to 21-day-old rats received implants of poly N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (HPMA) hydrogels containing RGD peptide sequences that had been infiltrated with control (untransfected) fibroblasts (n = 8), fibroblasts engineered to express brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (n = 5), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) (n = 5), or a mixture of BDNF and CNTF expressing fibroblasts (n = 11). Fibroblasts were prelabeled with Hoechst 33342. Cell/polymer constructs were inserted into cavities made in the left optic tract, between thalamus and superior colliculus. After 4-8 weeks, retinal projections were analyzed by injecting right eyes with cholera toxin (B-subunit). Rats were perfused 24 h later and sections were immunoreacted to visualize retinal axons, other axons (RT97 antibody), host astrocytes and macrophages, donor fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix molecules. The volume fraction (VF) of each gel that was occupied by RT97(+) axons was quantified. RT-PCR confirmed expression of the transgenes prior to, and 5 weeks after, transplantation. Compared to control rats (mean VF = 0.02 +/- 0.01% SEM) there was increased ingrowth of RT97(+) axons into implants in CNTF (mean VF = 0.33 +/- 0.19%) and BDNF (mean VF = 0.62 +/-0.19%) groups. Axon growth into hydrogels in the mixed BDNF/CNTF group (mean VF = 3.58 +/- 0.92%) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the BDNF or CNTF fibroblast groups. Retinal axons exhibited a complex branching pattern within gels containing BDNF or BDNF/CNTF fibroblasts; however, they regrew the greatest distances within implants containing both BDNF and CNTF expressing cells.

Regeneration and recovery of the hearing function of the central auditory pathway by transplants of embryonic brain tissue in adult rats

The present study is the first report of successful regeneration and recovery of hearing function of the central auditory pathway after transection in the adult rat. The ventral cochlear tract in the brain stem to pons was transected on one side in adult rats. Tissue from embryos (E14 to E16) was used to cover the lesion site. In 30% of the rats examined, the axons regrew beyond the transected site and regenerated into the denervated side and terminated at the normal targets. The hearing function of rats was elucidated by recording the auditory brain stem response (ABR). Rats with successful regeneration showed nearly normal ABR. In rats receiving simple transection without covering embryonic tissue, there was no regeneration and hearing function did not recover. Thus, the present findings contradict the widely held view that the adult mammalian central auditory system cannot be restored following damage.

Human spinal cord retains substantial structural mass in chronic stages after injury

In chronic stages of human spinal cord injury, atrophy of the cord has been reported in regions both at and distant to the injury site. Local cord atrophy results from the direct effects of bony impact and ischemia, whereas distant atrophy results from anterograde (Wallerian) and retrograde axonal degeneration. However, the actual extent of degenerative changes in the chronically injured human spinal cord both at and remote from the injury site has rarely been reported, and has not been rigorously quantified to date. In the present study, we quantified the extent of spinal cord atrophy in 12 humans with chronic injury (2-34 years posttrauma) utilizing quantitative stereological assessment of spinal cord magnetic resonance images, and compared the results to uninjured human spinal cords. Focal cystic atrophy of the cord, characterized by signal attenuation on T1-weighted images, was regularly present at the actual site of impact injury and replaced a mean longitudinal area equaling less than one spinal cord segment in length (2.01 +/- 0.60 cm2, or a loss of 89.3 +/- 17.4% of the longitudinal area of one spinal cord segment). Spinal cord segments immediately rostral to the zone of cystic degeneration showed atrophy of only 19.4 +/- 7.5% of normal cord longitudinal area, and spinal cord segments immediately caudal to the zone of cystic degeneration showed atrophy of 16.5 +/- 4.1% of normal cord longitudinal area. Extensive spinal cord atrophy extending beyond the region of injury occurred in two of twelve cases (16.7%), and both were caused by late syrinx formation. Thus, spinal cord atrophy after trauma remains primarily restricted to the original site of injury. Experimental neural repair strategies should take into account the importance of "bridging" relatively short zones of cystic atrophy, then promoting axonal regeneration through potentially long segments of remaining cord parenchyma.

Regeneration of the lateral vestibulospinal tract in adult rats by transplants of embryonic brain tissue

We transected the lateral vestibulospinal tract in the spinal cord of adult rats. In one group we performed simple transection, and in other group we transplanted the lesion with embryonic tissue. In rats receiving simple transection, there was no regeneration, but in 22% of the rats receiving transplants of embryonic tissue, the axon regrew beyond the transected site, regenerated on the denervated side, terminating in the normal targets. The present findings are contrary to the widely held view that the adult mammalian central vestibular system cannot be restored following damage.

Differential sensitivity of cultured tanycytes and astrocytes to hydrogen peroxide toxicity

Tanycytes present in the mediobasal hypothalamus are able to support axonal regeneration and neuron survival. Pilot experiments of transplantation of these cells into various lesioned areas of the central nervous system (CNS) were thus performed to determine whether these cells could support the regeneration of the lesioned axons. These pilot experiments, however, demonstrated that the grafted tanycytes failed to survive in the lesioned sites. The present study was designed to determine which of the compounds released at the lesion would be toxic for tanycytes. Tanycyte cultures obtained from the median eminence of 10-day-old rats and astrocyte cultures obtained from the cortex of 10-day-old rats or E-14 embryos were incubated with two types of toxic molecules, including excitatory amino acids (EAA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The effect of these substances on cell death was estimated by measuring the lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) released and the surface occupied by immunostained glial structures after each treatment. The results indicated that the viability of both the tanycytes and the astrocytes was not affected by incubation for 24 h with 1 mM glutamate or 1 mM kainate. In contrast, increasing concentrations of H2O2 induced concentration-dependent cell death of tanycytes and immature astrocytes, without affecting the mature astrocytes. The use of antioxidant molecules such as catalase, tempol, or vitamin C effectively protected cultured tanycytes from H2O2 toxicity. These data indicate that (1) both mature astrocytes and tanycytes are resistant to EAA and (2) contrary to mature astrocytes, immature astrocytes and tanycytes are sensitive to the free radicals generated by H2O2. This suggest that oxidative stress is at least partly responsible for the death of tanycytes grafted into the lesioned CNS.

Spontaneous regeneration and recovery of hearing function of the central auditory pathway in young rats

Spontaneous regeneration of the auditory pathway after transection of the ventral cochlear tract of the brain stem to pons was examined in young rats by the anterograde tracing method with wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase. Care was taken to cut the tract as sharply as possible to minimize traumatic injuries. About 59% of the young rats examined showed successful regeneration. Functional recovery of hearing by the regenerated fibers was confirmed by the auditory brain stem response. Thus, the present findings contradict the widely held view that the mammalian central auditory system cannot be restored following damage.

Axonal regeneration with functional restoration in the vestibulospinal tract in young rats

The present study examined regeneration and restoration of function of the mammalian central vestibular system in the infant rat. The lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST) of rats was completely transected unilaterally by a ventral approach. After a postoperative interval of one day to three months, the LVST was examined by anterograde transport of wheat-germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and retrograde transport of fluorescent dye. Twelve of the 22 LVST-transected rats showed successful regeneration. The regenerated fibers formed a compact fiber bundle, which sent terminals to their normal targets. The contribution of the regenerated fibers to functional recovery was estimated by analyzing the locomotor capacity of the transected rats. The locomotor movements were measured on the surface of a digitizer table by attaching a miniature resonance coil to the abdomen of the rats. Rats which shows normal locomotor movements represented a marked regeneration of LVST fibers. In contrast, rats with poorly-controlled locomotor movements showed unsuccessful regeneration. These results suggest that, contrary to previous thought, regeneration and functional restoration of the central vestibular system in young rats does occur.

A quantifiable model of axonal regeneration in the demyelinated adult rat spinal cord

Strategies to increase the extent of axonal regeneration in the adult CNS must address an array of intrinsic and environmental factors which influence neuritic outgrowth. In order to develop an in vivo model of axonal regeneration in which potential therapies may be assessed, we have quantified growth cones within demyelinated regions in the dorsal funiculus of the spinal cord, following a discrete axotomy. Demyelinated lesions were produced by the intraspinal injection of galactocerebroside antibodies plus serum complement proteins. Axonal integrity was not compromised by the demyelination protocol. Axonal injury was induced at the caudal extent of the demyelinated region using a micromanipulator-controlled Scouten knife. The severity of axonal injury was varied in different animals at the time of surgery and was quantified 8 days later by counting degenerate axons in transverse 1-microm resin sections. Evidence of axonal regeneration within these animals was assessed by an electron microscopic analysis of growth cone frequency and position relative to the site of axotomy. Growth cones were identified within the region of demyelination only; no growth cones were identified within the dorsal column white matter adjacent to the demyelinated region, or rostral or caudal to the region of demyelination, or in animals with an injury but no demyelination. Quantification of growth cones within regions of demyelination indicated a strong linear relationship (P < 0.001) between the number of growth cones and the number of axons severed. These findings indicate that demyelination facilitates axonal regeneration in the adult rat CNS and illustrate a quantifiable method of assessing axonal regeneration.

Early morphological changes in the thalamocortical projection onto the parietal cortex following ablation of the motor cortex in the cat

Following a previous report that the cerebellar-induced cerebral response in the parietal cortex changes acutely after ablation of the frontal motor cortex, the present experiments tested whether morphological changes of the thalamo-parietal projection occur after ablation of the motor cortex. Anterograde and retrograde tracing with wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase was used in intact and lesioned cats. The thalamocortical projection was labeled anterogradely by tracer injection into the thalamic ventral anterior and ventral lateral (VA-VL) nuclear complex that mainly relays the cerebello-cerebral projection, and thalamic neurons were labeled retrogradely by injection of the tracer into the parietal cortex. The labeled terminals in the parietal cortex of the intact animals were distributed densely in layer I and sparsely in layers III-IV, whereas those of the lesioned animals were distributed densely in layers I and III-IV. The distribution of the retrogradely labeled neurons after multiple tracer injections in layers III-IV of the parietal cortex was different in the intact and lesioned cats. In the intact animals, the labeled neurons were distributed sparsely in the central lateral nucleus and in the lateral posterior and pulvinar nuclear complex. In contrast, after ablation of the frontal cortex, the labeled neurons were also observed in the VA-VL nuclear complex. These differences between the intact and lesioned animals were detectable within 48 h after the lesion.

A comparison of postlesion growth of retinotectal and corticotectal axons after superior colliculus transections in neonatal rats

We examined, in neonatal rats, the postinjury response of two different axonal systems that project to a common target area in the visual system. Transections across the rostral part of the left superior colliculus (SC) were made in 2- or 6-day-old rats (P2, P6). Lesioned animals were randomly selected into short- or long-term groups. The short-term group was used to determine the efficacy of the lesion technique; 2-6 days after transections, right (contralateral) eyes were injected with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Complete deafferentation of the SC was achieved in 73% of P2 (n = 22) and 53% of P6 (n = 10) short-term animals. In the long-term group (examined 2-7 months after transection), retinotectal and corticotectal projections were assessed in each animal by using [3H]proline and wheat germ agglutin-HRP, respectively. Examination of a series of sagittal sections revealed that the cut had extended across the entire SC in 63% of P2 (n = 19) and 55% of P6 (n = 12) long-term rats. Despite this, retinal and cortical axons were seen in appropriate layers in postlesion SC in all P2 lesioned animals. Cortical projections caudal to the cut were seen in all P6 rats; however, in these animals, the retinal projection was sparse and not always present. Differences in lesion geometry led to consistent differences in the pattern and extent of ingrowth of retinal and cortical axons into postlesion SC neuropil. The two axonal populations also followed different paths as they grew between prelesion and postlesion SC. It is likely that a number of factors influenced the patterns of postlesion growth, including the relative maturity of the axons and the neuropil into which they were growing. There was also, however, clear evidence of competitive interactions between retinal and cortical axons in postlesion SC that consistently led to greater than normal segregation of the two populations and hence restricted their terminal distributions.

Embryonic tissue induces growth of adult axons from myelinated fiber tracts

Suspensions of late embryonic hippocampal tissue were microinjected so as to be completely enclosed within the myelinated fiber bundles of the adult rat fimbria. Previous studies have shown that the axons from such transplanted neurons readily cross the graft/host interface and extend rapidly through the host fiber tract. The present study shows that the adult axons from the host fiber tract can also cross this interface in the opposite direction and enter the transplants. Biotin dextran tracing shows that the adult host fimbrial axons traverse the embryonic grafts and also form terminal arborizations within the transplants. Electron microscopy of orthograde electron-dense degeneration confirms that these host axons form synaptic terminals accounting for at least 6.6% of the synapses in the neuropil of the transplant. Thus, contact with embryonic nervous tissue can induce elongative growth by the adult fibers in a myelinated central tract.

The fimbria-fornix/cingular bundle pathways: a review of neurochemical and behavioural approaches using lesions and transplantation techniques

Extensive lesions of the fimbria-fornix pathways and the cingular bundle deprive the hippocampus of a substantial part of its cholinergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic afferents and, among several other behavioural alterations, induce lasting impairment of spatial learning and memory capabilities. After a brief presentation of the neuroanatomical organization of the hippocampus and the connections relevant to the topic of this article, studies which have contributed to characterize the neurochemical and behavioural aspects of the fimbria-fornix lesion "syndrome" with lesion techniques differing by the extent, the location or the specificity of the damage produced, are reviewed. Furthermore, several compensatory changes that may occur as a reaction to hippocampal denervation (sprouting changes in receptor sensitivity and modifications of neurotransmitter turnover in spared fibres) are described and discussed in relation with their capacity (or incapacity) to foster recovery from the lesion-induced deficits. According to this background, experiments using intrahippocampal or "parahippocampal" grafts to substitute for missing cholinergic, noradrenergic or serotonergic afferents are considered according to whether the reported findings concern neurochemical and/or behavioural effects. Taken together, these experiments suggest that appropriately chosen fetal neurons (or other cells such as for instance, genetically-modified fibroblasts) implanted into or close to the denervated hippocampus may substitute, at least partially, for missing hippocampal afferents with a neurochemical specificity that closely depends on the neurochemical identity of the grafted neurons. Thereby, such grafts are able not only to restore some functions as they can be detected locally, namely within the hippocampus, but also to attenuate some of the behavioural (and other types of) disturbances resulting from the lesions. In some respects, also these graft-induced behavioural effects might be considered as occurring with a neurochemically-defined specificity. Nevertheless, if a graft-induced recovery of neurochemical markers in the hippocampus seems to be a prerequisite for also behavioural recovery to be observed, this neurochemical recovery is neither the one and only condition for behavioural effects to be expressed, nor is it the one and only mechanism to account for the latter effects.

Hydrogels containing peptide or aminosugar sequences implanted into the rat brain: influence on cellular migration and axonal growth

Biocompatible polymer matrices for implantation into lesion sites in the brain were synthesized by incorporating peptide or aminosugar sequences into N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) hydrogels. RGD peptide sequences were chemically linked to the hydrogel backbone via a glycylglycine spacer; aminosugars were glucosamine (NHGlc) or N-acetylglucosamine residues. Unmodified or sequence containing HPMA hydrogels were implanted into the lesioned optic tract or cerebral cortex of juvenile (17- to 19-day-old) or adult rat brains, respectively. After 10-12 months host animals were perfused and the brains were processed for immunohistochemistry using antibodies to neurofilaments (RT97), laminin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), carbonic anhydrase II (CAII), S100 protein, macrophages (ED1), and myelin basic protein (MBP). Unmodified (control) HPMA hydrogels contained no cellular infiltration or axonal growth. Peptide (RGD)- and aminosugar-modified hydrogels showed increased adhesion properties with host neural tissue, were vascularized, and were infiltrated by host nonneuronal cells. Astrocytes (GFAP+) and macrophages (ED1(+)) were the major cell types seen within modified HPMA hydrogels, the largest numbers being found in RGD-containing polymers. CAII+ oligodendroglia were not seen within any of the hydrogel matrices. RT97(+)/MBP- axons grew into both the RGD and NHGlc hydrogel matrices for small distances. The number of axons was greatest in hydrogels implanted into cerebral cortex but in both cortex and optic tract implants the highest density of axons was seen in polymers containing RGD. The findings of this study are discussed in the context of CNS tissue replacement and the construction of bioactive scaffolds to promote regenerative axonal growth across areas of injury in the brain and spinal cord.

Growth of axons through a lesion in the intact CNS of fetal rat maintained in long-term culture

The ability of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) to grow through a lesion and restore conduction has been analysed in developing spinal cord in vitro. The preparation consists of the entire CNS of embryonic rat, isolated and maintained in culture. Conduction of electrical activity and normal morphological appearance (light microscopical and electron microscopical) were maintained in the spinal cord of such preparations for up to 7 d in culture. A complete transverse crush of the spinal cord abolished all conduction for 2 d. After 3-5 d, clear recovery had occurred: electrical conduction across the crush was comparable with that in uninjured preparations. Furthermore, the spinal cord had largely regained its gross normal appearance at the crush site. Axons stained in vivo by carbocyanine dyes had, by 5 d, grown in profusion through the lesion and several millimetres beyond it. These experiments, like those made in neonatal opossum (Treherne et al. 1992) demonstrate that central neurons of immature mammals, unlike those in adults, can respond to injury by rapid and extensive outgrowth of nerve fibres in the absence of peripheral nerve bridges or antibodies that neutralize inhibitory factors. However, unlike the opossum, in which outgrowth occurred at 24 degrees C, although there was prolonged survival of rat spinal cords at this temperature, outgrowth of axons across the lesion required a temperature of 29 degrees C. With rapid and reliable regeneration in vitro it becomes practicable to assay the effects of molecules that promote or inhibit restoration of functional connections.

Development of fetal hippocampal grafts in intact and lesioned hippocampus

Functional recovery observed in Parkinson's disease patients following grafting of fetal substantia nigra has encouraged the development of similar grafting therapy for other neurological disorders. Fetal hippocampal grafting paradigms are of considerable significance because of their potential to treat neurological disorders affecting primarily hippocampus, including temporal lobe epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, stroke, and head injury. Since many recent studies of hippocampal transplants were carried out with an aim of laying the foundation for future clinical applications, an overview of the development of fetal hippocampal transplants, and their capability for inducing functional recovery under different host conditions is timely. In this review, we will summarize recent developments in hippocampal transplants, especially the anatomical and/or functional integration of grafts within the host brain under specific host conditions, including a comparison of intact hippocampus with various types of hippocampal lesions or injury. Improvements in grafting techniques, methods for analysis of graft integration and graft function will be summarized, in addition to critical factors which enhance the survival and integration of grafted cells and alternative sources of donor cells currently being tested or considered for hippocampal transplantation. Viewed collectively, hippocampal grafting studies show that fetal hippocampal tissue/cells survive grafting, establish both afferent and efferent connections with the host brain, and are also capable of ameliorating certain learning and memory deficits in some models. However, the efficacy of intracerebral fetal hippocampal grafts varies considerably in different animal models, depending on several factors: the mode of donor tissue preparation, the method of grafting, the state of host hippocampus at the time of grafting, and the placement of grafts within the hippocampus. Functional improvement in many models appeared to be caused partially by re-establishment of damaged circuitry and partially by a trophic action of grafts. However, exact mechanisms of graft-mediated behavioral recovery remain to be clarified due to the lack of correlative analysis in the same animal between the degree of graft integration and behavioral recovery. Issues of mechanisms of action, degree of restoration of host circuitry and amelioration of host pathological conditions will need to be sorted out clearly prior to clinical use of fetal hippocampal transplants for susceptible neurological conditions.

Aged median eminence glial cell cultures promote survival and neurite outgrowth of cocultured neurons

We have recently shown that tanycytes, a particular type of glial cell that has morphological and biochemical similarities with radial glial cells, constitute a preferential support for the regeneration of lesioned neurohypophysial axons. The present study was designed to explore the possible neurotrophic role of tanycytes in vitro. Glial cells derived from the median eminence or from the cerebral cortex of 10-day-old rats were cultured for 4-7 weeks. At these times the majority of the cells identified in the median eminence cultures exhibited immunostaining patterns of tanycytes, as detected in the mediobasal hypothalamus of 10-day-old and adult rats, i.e., they were immunoreactive to vimentin (VIM), to DARPP-32 (a dopamine- and adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein), and to a lesser extent to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies. On the other hand, the majority of cells in cortex cultures showed immunostaining patterns of astrocytes, i.e., they were intensely immunoreactive to GFAP and VIM antibodies but negative to DARPP-32. Cells obtained from the dissociation of 3-day-old rat mesencephalon, cortex, and hypothalamus were cocultured on these glial monolayers, and the number of surviving neurons and their neurite length were quantified after 8 days. Our data showed that, when compared with astrocytes, tanycytes greatly improved both survival (six-to ten-fold higher) and neurite outgrowth (two- to five-fold longer) of cocultured neurons whatever their origin. Experiments performed by coculturing neurons on millicell inserts placed above the glial monolayers showed that diffusible factors from median eminence glial cells slightly increased survival (1.7-fold higher) of cocultured neurons but had no significant effect on neurite outgrowth. These observations indicate: 1) that aged tanycytes have a capacity to support survival and neurite outgrowth for a variety of postnatal neurons; and 2) that this neurotrophic effect is exerted mainly by means of specific molecules bound to the tanycytic plasmalemma limiting membrane and/or to the extracellular matrix.

Sprouting adult CNS cholinergic axons express NILE and associate with astrocytic surfaces expressing neural cell adhesion molecule

To assess the cellular and molecular substrates for cholinergic axon growth in the adult central nervous system (CNS), we implanted grafts of control and nerve growth factor (NGF)-producing genetically modified fibroblasts within the striatum of rats. Sprouting cholinergic axonal processes that grew into grafts of NGF-producing fibroblasts were fasciculated and followed the surface of astrocytic processes for long distances within the grafts. The close and long distance anatomical relationship between the sprouted axons and the astrocytes supported previous ultrastructural evidence that astrocytes may serve as a cellular substrate for sprouting cholinergic axons in vivo. The sprouted axon processes were associated with the expression of nerve growth factor-inducible large external (NILE) glycoprotein on their surfaces. NILE expression was not seen in control grafts where there was an absence of cholinergic ingrowth. NILE has been demonstrated to play a role in axon fasciculation in a number of other neural systems. The astrocytic processes in both control and NGF-producing fibroblast grafts expressed neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), suggesting that NCAM-mediated adhesion may be responsible for the close relationship between the axons and astrocytes within the grafts. NGF-induced heterotypic interactions between neuronal NILE and astroglial NCAM may also be required for adult cholinergic axonal sprouting.

Human central nervous system myelin inhibits neurite outgrowth

In vitro and animal studies have identified molecules in mammalian CNS myelin which inhibit neuritic extension and which may be responsible, at least in part, for the lack of axonal regeneration after injury in the injured brain, optic nerve and spinal cord. To determine whether such inhibitory activity may be present in human CNS myelin, we used a bioassay to characterize neurite outgrowth on this substrate. Human CNS myelin strongly inhibited neuritic outgrowth from newborn rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and NG-108-15 cells, a neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cell line. Similar but less potent inhibitory activity was identified in human gray matter. The CNS myelin inhibition of neuritic outgrowth appeared to be dependent on direct contact between the myelin substrate and neurites. The inhibitory activity in human CNS myelin closely resembled that described in adult rodents. Inhibition of neurite growth by human CNS myelin in this in vitro bioassay mirrors the lack of regeneration in vivo and can be used as a model to develop strategies designed to enhance axonal regeneration and neural recovery.

Axonal regeneration

Axons damaged in a peripheral nerve are often able to regenerate from the site of injury along the degenerate distal segment of the nerve to reform functional synapses. Schwann cells play a central role in this process. However, in the adult mammalian central nervous system, from which Schwann cells are absent, axonal regeneration does not progress to allow functional recovery. This is due to inhibitors of axonal growth produced by both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes and also to the decreased ability of adult neurons to extend axons during regeneration compared to embryonic neurons during development. However once provided with a substrate conducive to axonal growth, such as a peripheral nerve graft, many central neurons are able to regenerate axons over long distances. Over the past year this response has been utilised in experimental models to produce a degree of behavioural recovery.

Functional and anatomical reconstruction of the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned nigrostriatal system of the adult rat

In an attempt to reconstruct the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned nigrostriatal system of the adult rat we have combined homotopic grafting of embryonic ventral mesencephalon suspensions with the implantation of long oblique "bridge" grafts of fibroblast growth factor-4-transfected RN-22 schwannoma cells stretching from the site of the neuronal grafts to the striatum. At seven weeks after receiving both grafts, animals were killed and processed for immunohistochemistry against tyrosine hydroxylase. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive axons were seen to extend from the nigral grafts, along the bridge graft to the striatum where terminal arborizations could be seen. The retrograde tracer Fluoro-gold was injected intrastriatally in some of the experimental animals and was taken up by grafted neurons confirming their projection to the striatum. In parallel to the anatomical reconstruction of the system, a decrease in amphetamine-induced rotation was demonstrated in those animals receiving both grafts which had received > 98% complete lesions. This decrease was greatest in those animals with the most tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive axons in their bridge grafts. The presence of the bridge graft also led to an increase in neuronal graft survival with twice as many tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons being found in the grafts of those animals that had received both grafts compared to those that had received a neuronal graft but no bridge graft.

Axonal regeneration and limited functional recovery following hippocampal deafferentation

Although central neurons do not naturally recover following injury, damaged adult septal neurons can regenerate when nerve growth factor (NGF) is provided along with a suitable cellular substrate. This study investigates the outgrowth of axotomized septal neurons grafted with primary fibroblasts genetically modified to produce NGF. Confocal microscope images of double staining for neuritic markers (neurofilament or low-affinity NGF receptor) and the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) demonstrated that regenerating neurites crossed dense buildups of astrocytic processes at the edges of NGF-producing grafts and were in apposition with astrocytic processes within NGF-producing grafts. Immunoreactivity for acetylcholinesterase and low-(p75) and high-affinity (TrkA) NGF receptors was dense in NGF-producing grafts but absent in control grafts. NGF-grafted rats exhibited significantly increased hippocampal density of p75-immunoreactive fibers and significantly decreased ectopic hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth as compared to control-grafted rats. Rats with unilateral fimbria-fornix lesions and NGF-producing grafts exhibited ameliorated performance on a simple memory task. These findings demonstrate that implantation of NGF-producing grafts to the lesion cavity allows axotomized septal cholinergic neurons to reinnervate the hippocampus, and that rats receiving these grafts show a partial recovery of function.

Laminin overrides the inhibitory effects of peripheral nervous system and central nervous system myelin-derived inhibitors of neurite growth

Axon growth inhibitory proteins associated with central nervous system (CNS) myelin are responsible in part for the absence of long distance axon regeneration in the adult mammalian CNS. We have recently reported that myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), which is also present in peripheral nerves, is a potent inhibitor of neurite growth. This was surprising given the robust regenerative capacity of peripheral nerves. We now provide evidence that myelin purified from peripheral nerve also has neurite growth inhibitory activity. However, this activity can be masked by laminin, which is a constituent of the Schwann cell basal lamina. We also report that laminin, which is largely absent from the normal adult mammalian CNS, when added to purified CNS myelin, can override the neurite growth inhibitory activity in CNS myelin. These results have important implications for the development of strategies to foster axon regeneration in the adult mammalian CNS where multiple growth inhibitors exist.

Differential regenerative response of Purkinje cell and inferior olivary axons confronted with embryonic grafts: environmental cues versus intrinsic neuronal determinants

Regeneration of severed central axons is supposed to depend on two factors: a permissive local environment and the particular intrinsic properties of axotomized neurones. To assess the role of each of these factors in axonal regeneration, the capability of two particular axon populations of the adult mouse cerebellum to grow into target-specific (cerebellum) and target-unspecific (neocortex) embryonic grafts was determined. Purkinje cell and inferior olivary axons were transected by passing a microscalpel through the axial white matter of the cerebellar folia, particularly those of the anterior lobe. Immediately after the injury, solid transplants were placed in the lesion cavity. Purkinje cell axons were labelled by using anticalbindin immunocytochemistry, and olivocerebellar fibres were visualized by biotinylated dextran amine anterograde axonal tracing. Following axotomy, Purkinje cell axons appeared as thickened processes ending with large terminal clubs. Their morphology and number did not change up to the longest survival time considered (2 months), thereby confirming previous demonstrations that Purkinje cells survive axon injury (I. Dusart and C. Sotelo, 1994, J. Comp. Neurol. 347:211-232). Inferior olivary axons were thinner and bore smaller terminal bulbs. When embryonic cerebellar grafts, containing cortical and deep nuclear precursors, were placed close to the injured axons, olivocerebellar fibres vigorously regenerated into the transplants and ended in new climbing fibres along the dendrites of grafted Purkinje cells. By contrast, host Purkinje cell axons never showed any outgrowth towards the graft. Similarly, these axons failed to regenerate into grafts containing solely the rostromedial portion of the cerebellar anlage, mostly consisting of deep nuclear neurones, their main targets. Comparable results were obtained by transplanting embryonic neocortical tissue: inferior olivary axons also regenerated into the grafts, although with distinct terminal arbours without the climbing fibre phenotype, whereas Purkinje cell axons always failed to grow. These results provide the first direct demonstration that severed inferior olivary axons are able to regenerate. In addition, they show that the growth-permissive/-promoting conditions created by embryonic nervous tissue are not sufficient to induce the regeneration of every axonal type and allow us to hypothesise that successful regeneration depends on the interplay between environmental cues and intrinsic properties of the axotomized neurones.

Bridging grafts and transient nerve growth factor infusions promote long-term central nervous system neuronal rescue and partial functional recovery

Grafts of favorable axonal growth substrates were combined with transient nerve growth factor (NGF) infusions to promote morphological and functional recovery in the adult rat brain after lesions of the septohippocampal projection. Long-term septal cholinergic neuronal rescue and partial hippocampal reinnervation were achieved, resulting in partial functional recovery on a simple task assessing habituation but not on a more complex task assessing spatial reference memory. Control animals that received transient NGF infusions without axonal-growth-promoting grafts lacked behavioral recovery but also showed long-term septal neuronal rescue. These findings indicate that (i) partial recovery from central nervous system injury can be induced by both preventing host neuronal loss and promoting host axonal regrowth and (ii) long-term neuronal loss can be prevented with transient NGF infusions.

Maintaining the neuronal phenotype after injury in the adult CNS. Neurotrophic factors, axonal growth substrates, and gene therapy

Multiple genetic and epigenetic events determine neuronal phenotype during nervous system development. After the mature mammalian neuronal phenotype has been determined it is usually static for the remainder of life, unless an injury or degenerative event occurs. Injured neurons may suffer one of three potential fates: death, persistent atrophy, or recovery. The ability of an injured adult neuron to recover from injury in adulthood may be determined by events that also influence neuronal phenotype during development, including expression of growth-related genes and responsiveness to survival and growth signals in the environment. The latter signals include neurotrophic factors and substrate molecules that promote neurite growth. Several adult CNS regions exhibit neurotrophic-factor responsiveness, including the basal forebrain, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. The specificity of neurotrophic-factor responsiveness in these regions parallels patterns observed during development. In addition, neurons of several CNS regions extend neurites after injury when presented with growth-promoting substrates. When both neurotrophic factors and growth-promoting substrates are provided to adult rats that have undergone bilateral fimbria-fornix lesions, then partial morphological and behavioral recovery can be induced. Gene therapy is one useful tool for providing these substances. Thus, the mature CNS remains robustly responsive to signals that shape nervous system development, and is highly plastic when stimulated by appropriate cues.

Nerve growth factor in CNS repair

The hypothesis that neurotrophic factors play important roles in the adult central nervous system (CNS) has been successfully investigated in the past decade with regard to experimental and pathologic situations. Trophic roles in adult CNS axonal regeneration, on the other hand, have received much less attention. We review three groups of recent studies that demonstrate the relevance of nerve growth factor (NGF) for the regeneration of selected axons into adult central nervous tissue. The first group concerns a septohippocampal model where transected septal cholinergic axons are allowed to regrow into the hippocampal formation through a peripheral nerve bridge implanted into the transection lesion gap. NGF is required in the bridge, enhances penetration of the hippocampal tissue when infused there, and both attracts and promotes sprouting within the septum when infused in the lateral ventricle or the septal tissue itself. The second group of studies concerns the development of a spinal cord sensory regeneration model, where dorsal root ganglionic axons regrow into a nerve bridge placed within the dorsal spinal cord. Preliminary data indicate that NGF infusion rostral to the bridge once again promotes substantial penetration of the adult cord tissue by the regenerating NGF-sensitive fibers. In the third group of studies, attention has been shifted to the location of endogenous NGF in the adult rat hippocampal formation and the normal or lesion-induced occurrence of extrasomal NGF immunoreactivity. These regions of anchored NGF have the ability to attract NGF-sensitive growing axons and may provide opportunities to investigate local cues for final definition of terminal fields.

Cholinergic deafferentation of dorsal hippocampus by fimbria-fornix lesioning differentially regulates subtypes (m1-m5) of muscarinic receptors

Unilateral aspiration lesions of the rostral supracallosal stria/cingulum bundle and fimbria-fornix were performed on adult female rats. Ten and 24 days post lesioning, an elevation (17%; p < 0.01) of total muscarinic receptors was observed in lesioned versus control hippocampi. By using antisera selective for each of the five molecularly defined subtypes (m1-m5) of muscarinic receptors, significant changes were observed in the levels of expression for at least four receptor proteins. Three receptor subtypes increased in density: m1 by 14% (from 943 to 1,078 fmol/mg); m3 by 77% (from 150 to 268 fmol/mg); and m4 by 29% (from 220 to 285 fmol/mg). In contrast, a 22% decrease in the density of m2 receptors was found (from 220 to 173 fmol/mg). Detectable levels of m5 receptors were low in the hippocampus (approximately 1% of total receptors), and reliable measurements were not obtained. The directions of these changes are likely to be related to the pre- or postsynaptic localization of these receptor subtypes.

Tenascin in the injured rat optic nerve and in non-neuronal cells in vitro: potential role in neural repair

The distribution of tenascin was examined in the lesioned adult rat optic nerve and central nervous system (CNS) non-neuronal cells in vitro, by means of a double immunofluorescence technique. Tenascin-like immunoreactivity is localized to the leptomeninges and astrocytes that border the site of optic nerve transection. Anti-tenascin labeling was observed as early as 24 hours after transection, when it appeared as a fine interface between leptomeninges and neural tissue. The anti-tenascin labeling increased in the cells at this border zone during the next 2 weeks, and disappeared 18-21 days after transection. In vitro studies further confirmed that both astrocytes and leptomeningeal cells express tenascin as detected by immunofluorescence labeling with anti-tenascin antibodies. However, the pattern of immunolabeling associated with the two cell types differed. Astrocytes showed exclusively punctate labeling of the cell surface, while leptomeningeal cells showed mainly coarse, fibrillary, matrix-like deposits. Astrocytes and leptomeningeal cells remained segregated when cocultured. In these cultures, an increased amount of the fibrillary, matrix-like deposits of tenascin was also observed in the region of the interface between astrocytes and leptomeningeal cells when these two cell types contact each other. Given the antiadhesive and antispreading properties of tenascin, these in vivo and in vitro results suggest that tenascin might play a role in the initial segregation of leptomeningeal cells from neural tissue at the site of CNS trauma during the first 2 weeks after injury, i.e., prior to the formation of a fully differentiated glia limitans. Therefore, tenascin may influence the early stages in the formation of the glia limitans, and thus prevent the indiscriminate migration of leptomeningeal cells into CNS tissue after injury.

Extensive and long-lasting changes of glial cells following transection of the postcommissural fornix in the adult rat

Injury to the adult brain results in the formation of a glial scar that involves both activated astroglia and microglia/macrophages. Although reactive gliosis has been linked to failure of axonal regeneration in the adult mammalian CNS, the spatio-temporal pattern of the postlesion responses in morphology and distribution of the major cellular constituents of the gliosis has attracted little attention. In an attempt to define these relationships, we have undertaken a systematic study of astrocytic and microglial/macrophagic responses after stereotactic transection of the postcommissural fornix in rat. To visualize astrocytes, microglia, and macrophages, antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin (VIM), complement receptor type 3 (OX42), and ED1 were used. The cellular responses occurring between 2 h and 1 year postlesion (PL) at various distances distal and proximal to the lesion site were studied. Transection of the postcommissural fornix leads to: 1) a very early microglial reaction both distal and proximal to the lesion, as indicated by OX42-immunoreactivity, followed by a massive astrocytic response; 2) a transient GFAP(-) but VIM(+) region around the lesion center; 3) the appearance of numerous ED1(+) macrophages at PL3d; and 4) long-lasting (at least 1 year) persistence of both astrocytes and microglia/macrophages. The timing and extension of the sequential glial reactions after postcommissural fornix transection are discussed in relation to the myelin degradation and spontaneous sprouting of injured axons that have previously been observed in this lesion model (Wunderlich et al: Glia 10:49-58, 1994).

Growth and degeneration of axons on astrocyte surfaces: effects on extracellular matrix and on later axonal growth

Cultured astrocytes deposit an extracellular matrix which has been shown by immunocytochemistry to react with antibodies to tenascin, laminin, and fibronectin. Neuronal-glial interaction down-regulates these components of the matrix, causing a reduction in extracellular matrix localized to areas of contact with axons. Axons used for these experiments were from embryonic rat retinal explants. In some experiments explants were removed from the co-cultures and their axons allowed to degenerate. Degeneration of axons did not reverse the local reduction of extracellular matrix brought about by axon outgrowth. The period of axon outgrowth studied was 4-5 days; the period of degeneration was 2-3 days. Astrocytes alone, astrocytes with intact retinal explants, and astrocytes with 2-day degenerated retinal axons were tested for their ability to support neurite outgrowth from embryonic rat cortical neurons. Neurite outgrowth occurred on all astrocyte cultures. Cortical neurite lengths, measured 2 days after plating, were not significantly different between astrocytes alone and astrocytes with degenerated retinal axons. However, there was a tendency for neurites to be shorter on astrocytes with intact retinal axons present. Two conclusions may be drawn from these results. First, the state of differentiation of astrocytes, as marked by their assembly of extracellular matrix, is altered by contact with axons. Second, degeneration of axons alone, in the absence of other cell types, is not a sufficient signal to reestablish assembly of extracellular matrix. However, neither is it a sufficient signal to render astrocytes inhospitable to further axonal outgrowth or regeneration.

The migration and intermixing of donor and host glia on nitrocellulose polymers implanted into cortical lesion cavities in adult mice and rats

The fate of neonatal glia (mostly glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes), cultured on nitrocellulose papers and implanted into cortical lesion cavities, was examined in adult mice and rats. In mice, a Y-chromosome-specific probe and in situ hybridization techniques were used to identify male cells. Male-female grafts allowed visualization of donor glia and their behaviour after transplantation; female-male grafts allowed an analysis of how host cells responded to the presence of the implants. There was substantial intermixing of cells, with many donor glia migrating away from the implants and host cells migrating onto both sides of the nitrocellulose paper. In rats, donor glia were labelled with fluorescein-conjugated latex microspheres prior to transplantation on nitrocellulose polymers. The rat data were broadly consistent with those obtained from the mouse; moreover, immunohistochemical studies in rats suggested that the majority of host cells migrating onto the previously cell-coated papers were astrocytes. In a number of studies, glia-coated polymers have been used in an attempt to promote the regrowth of axons across lesion sites in the brain and spinal cord. The present work suggests that both transplanted and host glia may influence the regenerative growth seen in such implants.

Intracerebral grafting of catecholamine producing cells and reconstruction of disturbed brain function

The objective of neural transplantation is to improve and reconstruct deteriorated brain function through an intracerebral implant of neural or paraneural tissues. In the last decade, basic research in this field has made great progress and brought magnificent results. Recently, the clinical application for treatment of Parkinson's disease has started and some fruitful effects are seen. Neural transplantation, on the other hand, is a useful tool in neurobiology to study the attention attracting themes, i.e., regeneration, development, plasticity, gene expression, neuroimmunology, trophic factor, etc. In this review, the functional recovery, mechanism, trophic factor, and clinical applications will be discussed pertaining to intracerebral grafting of catecholamine producing cells.

Long distance directed axonal growth from human dopaminergic mesencephalic neuroblasts implanted along the nigrostriatal pathway in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned adult rats

Dissociated ventral mesencephalon of 6 to 8-week-old human embryos were implanted by stereotaxic injection at different sites along the nigrostriatal pathway in adult rats, previously subjected to a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the intrinsic mesotelencephalic dopamine pathways. The recipients were immunosuppressed by daily injections of cyclosporin A to prevent rejection. At 13-20 weeks after transplantation, the implanted human neurons and their associated fiber outgrowths were visualized with a species-specific antibody recognizing human, but not rat, intermediary neurofilaments (HNF). From implants placed in the host rostral mesencephalic region, HNF-positive axonal projections were seen to extend in large numbers rostrally along the medial forebrain bundle and the internal capsule, and ramify within the caudate putamen, the ventral striatum and the amygdaloid nuclei (a distance of about 5-6 mm), and more sparsely in the frontal cortex and the olfactory bulb (a distance of about 10 mm). From implants placed in the internal capsule, abundant HNF-positive axons extended in the rostral, but not caudal, direction along the myelinated fiber bundles into the caudate putamen and the ventral striatum. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry revealed that the vast majority of the rostrally projecting HNF-positive axons were also TH-positive, and that the graft-derived axons gave rise to dense TH-positive terminal networks, above all in large areas of the previously denervated caudate putamen. From control implants of cortical neuroblasts, axonal projections were seen along the medial forebrain bundle and the internal capsule, but the axons were TH-negative and showed only sparse projections to the striatal areas. Instead, dense projections were seen, e.g., in the frontal cortex. The results demonstrate a remarkable ability of human mesencephalic neuroblasts to extend axons along the trajectories of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbocortical pathways to reach and innervate the principal striatal and limbic target areas in the forebrain. This shows that the basic requirements for the formation of long axonal pathways may be present in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) at least for certain types of projection neurons. Furthermore, it implies that the developing human neuroblasts can escape the inhibitory features known to be present along myelinated growth trajectories in the adult mammalian brain. In addition, the present approach may offer new possibilities for functional neural grafting in the rat Parkinson model, since transplanted nigral neurons placed in their natural position within the rostral mesencephalon could provide an anatomically and functionally more integrated system than the standard model with ectopically placed intrastriatal nigral grafts.

Temporal and spatial patterns of expression of laminin, chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan and HNK-1 immunoreactivity during regeneration in the goldfish optic nerve

Current views suggest that the extracellular environment is critically important for successful axonal regeneration in the CNS. The goldfish optic nerve readily regenerates, indicating the presence of an environment that supports regeneration. An analysis of changes that occur during regeneration in this model may help identify those molecules that contribute to a favourable environment for axonal regrowth. We examined the distribution and expression of two extracellular matrix molecules, laminin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, and a carbohydrate epitope shared by a family of adhesion molecules (HNK-1), using immunocytochemical detection in sections from the normal adult goldfish optic nerve and in nerves from one hour to five months following optic nerve crush. We also used in vitro preparations to determine if neurites in retinal explants could express these same molecules. The linear distributions of laminin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan immunoreactivity in control optic nerves are co-extensive with the glia limitans, suggesting both are expressed by non-neuronal components surrounding the axon fascicles. Between one and three weeks postoperatively when axons elongate and reach their target, laminin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan immunoreactivity increases around the crush site and distally. At six weeks postoperatively the pattern of immunoreactivity has returned to normal. While the temporal pattern of changes in immunoreactivity is similar, the spatial pattern of these two extracellular proteins in the regenerating nerve differs. Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan immunoreactivity is organized in discrete columns associated with regenerating axons while laminin immunoreactivity is more diffusely distributed. Examination of retinal explants reveals growing neurites express chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan but not laminin. Our results suggest that laminin is only associated with non-neuronal cells, while chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan is associated with axons as well as non-neuronal cells. HNK-1 immunoreactivity is co-extensive with both the glia limitans and axon fascicles and is more extensively distributed in the intact nerve than either laminin or chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan immunoreactivity. In contrast to laminin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, HNK-1 immunoreactivity is substantially decreased at the crush site within one week following optic nerve crush. HNK-1 immunoreactivity reappears through the crush site during the next several weeks, although non-immunoreactive regions, co-extensive with areas predominantly containing non-neuronal cells, persist both proximal and distal to the crush, up to six weeks postoperatively. The pattern suggests that HNK-1 epitope expression by these non-neuronal cells is decreased during axonal regeneration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Nerve growth factor promotes collateral sprouting of cholinergic fibers in the septohippocampal cholinergic system of aged rats with fimbria transection

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was injected intraventricularly into aged (24 months) rats with unilateral fimbria transection. Controls received intraventricular injections of cytochrome c. A quantitative analysis of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive fibers was used to evaluate whether the NGF treatment can stimulate regeneration and reinnervation of the cholinergic axons in the septohippocampal system of aged rats with fimbria transection. A marked increase in the density of AChE-positive fibers was observed in the lateral septum, the dorsal fornix and the dorsal hippocampus of the NGF-treated animals, as compared to the controls. In the lateral septum, the increase was observed in the 2-month NGF-treated animals but not in the 15-day NGF-treated animals. In the dorsal fornix at the level of the dorsal hippocampus, the increase was observed on both the lesioned and unlesioned sides of both the 15-day and 2-month NGF-treated animals. In the denervated (lesioned side) hippocampus, the increase took place in the dorsal hippocampus but not in the ventral hippocampus of both the 15-day and 2-month NGF-treated animals. There was no recovery of AChE-positive fibers on the lesioned side of the fimbria distal to the lesion site even in the 2-month NGF-treated animals. These results demonstrate that intraventricular injections of NGF can stimulate collateral sprouting of intact cholinergic axons in the septohippocampal system and promote cholinergic reinnervation of the denervated hippocampus of aged rats with fimbria transection.

Behaviour-dependent changes in acetylcholine release in normal and graft-reinnervated hippocampus: evidence for host regulation of grafted cholinergic neurons

Grafted neurons obtained from the fetal basal forebrain can provide a functional cholinergic reinnervation of the hippocampal formation in rats with a lesion of the intrinsic septal cholinergic afferents. In the present experiments graft-derived acetylcholine release in the hippocampus was studied by microdialysis in awake rats during different types of behaviours which are known to activate the innate septohippocampal cholinergic system and during different activity periods of the day-night cycle. Two types of basal forebrain grafts were studied: cell suspensions implanted into the hippocampus in rats with an aspirative lesion of the fimbria-fornix, and grafts of solid tissue implanted as a tissue bridge into the fimbria-fornix lesion cavity. Increased acetylcholine overflow was seen in both groups with grafts during sensory stimulation (by handling). The strongest response (50% increase in acetylcholine release) was seen in rats with solid basal forebrain grafts (equivalent to two-thirds of that seen in intact rats). Immobilization stress and motor activity (swimming) also resulted in increased, but more variable, acetylcholine release (+ 30%; about one-third of the normal response). None of these effects was seen in the control rats with fimbria-fornix lesion only. The two-fold difference in hippocampal acetylcholine release in normal animals between day and night was absent in both types of grafted rats. An acute knife-cut, transecting the connections between the solid basal forebrain graft and the host hippocampus, caused an immediate 75% reduction in acetylcholine release (similar to the effect of an acute fimbria-fornix transection in the normal rats) and the response to swimming was no longer evident. The results show that grafted cholinergic neurons can be functionally integrated into the host brain, allowing the grafted neurons to be activated in the correct behavioural contexts, although the changes in acetylcholine overflow were overall smaller and more variable than normal. The ability of the host to influence cholinergic graft activity, most probably mediated via activation of afferent host-graft connections, may contribute to the efficacy of basal forebrain grafts in the amelioration of behavioural impairments in animals with lesions of the forebrain cholinergic system.

Pure Schwann cell suspension grafts promote regeneration of the lesioned septo-hippocampal cholinergic pathway

Regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) axons has been studied in the cholinergic septo-hippocampal system using various 'bridges' able to support fiber growth. In this study, a pure Schwann cell (Sc) suspension labeled with bisbenzimide (Hoechst 33342) was grafted in the lesioned septo-hippocampal pathway. At 2 weeks post-grafting, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE)-positive fibers invaded the graft and grew in association with the Hoechst-labeled Sc, some of which expressed the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R). At 2 months and 4 months post-grafting, the dorsal hippocampus was reinnervated with an apparently normal innervation pattern. Analysis of fiber growth in the hippocampus at four months post-grafting revealed a significant increase of reinnervation in the grafted animals (2 mm) compared to the non-grafted ones. No difference was observed in the number of cholinergic septal neurons expressing the NGF-R. These results demonstrate that a Sc suspension grafted into the lesioned septo-hippocampal system, integrates well into the host tissue, and supports axonal CNS outgrowth, implying that Sc by themselves provide an adequate environment for regeneration to occur.