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Yuan PQ, Li T, Million M, Larauche M, Atmani K, Bellier JP, Taché Y. New insight on the enteric cholinergic innervation of the pig colon by central and peripheral nervous systems: reduction by repeated loperamide administration. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1204233. [PMID: 37650102 PMCID: PMC10463754 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1204233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The central and peripheral nervous systems provide cholinergic innervation in the colon. The ability to assess their neuroanatomical distinctions is still a challenge. The pig is regarded as a relevant translational model due to the close similarity of its enteric nervous system (ENS) with that of human. Opioid-induced constipation is one of the most common side effects of opioid therapy. Methods We developed an approach to differentiate the central and peripheral cholinergic innervation of the pig colon using double immunolabeling with a novel mouse anti-human peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antibody combined with a rabbit anti-common type of ChAT (cChAT) antibody, a reliable marker of cholinergic neurons in the central nervous system. We examined their spatial configurations in 3D images of the ENS generated from CLARITY-cleared colonic segments. The density was quantitated computationally using Imaris 9.7. We assessed changes in the distal colon induced by daily oral treatment for 4 weeks with the μ opioid receptor agonist, loperamide (0.4 or 3 mg/kg). Results The double labeling showed strong cChAT immunoreactive (ir) fibers in the cervical vagus nerve and neuronal somata and fibers in the ventral horn of the sacral (S2) cord while hpChAT immunoreactivity was visualized only in the ENS but not in the vagus or sacral neural structures indicating the selectivity of these two antibodies. In the colonic myenteric plexus, dense hpChAT-ir neurons and fibers and varicose cChAT-ir fibers surrounding hpChAT-ir neurons were simultaneously visualized in 3D. The density of cChAT-ir varicose fibers in the outer submucosal plexus of both males and females were higher in the transverse and distal colon than in the proximal colon and in the myenteric plexus compared to the outer submucosal plexus and there was no cChAT innervation in the inner submucosal plexus. The density of hpChAT in the ENS showed no segmental or plexus differences in both sexes. Loperamide at the highest dose significantly decreased the density hpChAT-ir fibers + somata in the myenteric plexus of the distal colon. Discussion These data showed the distinct density of central cholinergic innervation between myenteric and submucosal plexuses among colonic segments and the localization of cChAT-ir fibers around peripheral hpChAT neurons in 3D. The reduction of cholinergic myenteric innervation by chronic opiate treatment points to target altered prokinetic cholinergic pathway to counteract opiate constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu-Qing Yuan
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- VA GLAHS, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tao Li
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mulugeta Million
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Muriel Larauche
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Karim Atmani
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre Bellier
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yvette Taché
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- VA GLAHS, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Yuan PQ, Bellier JP, Li T, Kwaan MR, Kimura H, Taché Y. Intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon revealed using CLARITY, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and a novel anti-human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021; 33:e14030. [PMID: 33174295 PMCID: PMC8126258 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported the specificity of a novel anti-human peripheral choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antiserum for immunostaining of cholinergic neuronal cell bodies and fibers in the human colon. In this study, we investigate 3D architecture of intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon and the relationship with nitrergic neurons in the enteric plexus. METHODS We developed a modified CLARITY tissue technique applicable for clearing human sigmoid colon specimens and immunostaining with hpChAT antiserum and co-labeling with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) antibody. The Z-stack confocal images were processed for 3D reconstruction/segmentation/digital tracing and computational quantitation by Imaris 9.2 and 9.5. KEY RESULTS In the mucosa, a local micro-neuronal network formed of hpChAT-ir fibers and a few neuronal cell bodies were digitally assembled. Three layers of submucosal plexuses were displayed in 3D structure that were interconnected by hpChAT-ir fiber bundles and hpChAT-ir neurons were rarely co-labeled by nNOS. In the myenteric plexus, 30.1% of hpChAT-ir somas including Dogiel type I and II were co-labeled by nNOS and 3 classes of hpChAT-ir nerve fiber strands were visualized in 3D images and videos. The density and intensity values of hpChAT-ir fibers in 3D structure were significantly higher in the circular than in the longitudinal layer. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES The intrinsic cholinergic innervation in the human sigmoid colon was demonstrated layer by layer for the first time in 3D microstructures. This may open a new venue to assess the structure-function relationships and pathological alterations in colonic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu-Qing Yuan
- CLA/Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Bellier
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Tao Li
- CLA/Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mary R. Kwaan
- Department of Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Yvette Taché
- CLA/Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Bellier JP, Yuan PQ, Mukaisho K, Tooyama I, Taché Y, Kimura H. A Novel Antiserum Against a Predicted Human Peripheral Choline Acetyltransferase (hpChAT) for Labeling Neuronal Structures in Human Colon. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:37. [PMID: 31040770 PMCID: PMC6476985 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme synthesizing acetylcholine (ACh), has an exon-skipping splice variant which is expressed preferentially in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and thus termed peripheral ChAT (pChAT). A rabbit antiserum previously produced against rat pChAT (rpChAT) has been used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) to study peripheral cholinergic structures in various animals. The present study was undertaken to develop a specific antiserum against a predicted human pChAT (hpChAT) protein. A novel mouse antiserum has been successfully raised against a unique 14-amino acid sequence of hpChAT protein. Our Western blot using this antiserum (termed here anti-hpChAT serum) on human colon extracts revealed only a single band of 47 kDa, matching the deduced size of hpChAT protein. By IHC, the antiserum gave intense staining in many neuronal cells and fibers of human colon but not brain, and such a pattern of staining seemed identical with that reported in colon of various animals using anti-rpChAT serum. In the antibody-absorption test, hpChAT-immunoreactive staining in human colon was completely blocked by using the antiserum pre-absorbed with the antigen peptide. Double immunofluorescence in human colon moreover indicated that structures stained with anti-hpChAT were also stained with anti-rpChAT, and vice versa. hpChAT antiserum allowed the identification of cell types, as Dogiel type cells in intramural plexuses, and fiber innervation of colon muscles and mucosae. The present results demonstrate the specificity and reliability of the hpChAT antiserum as a novel tool for immunohistochemical studies in human colon, opening venues to map cholinergic innervation in other human PNS tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Bellier
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Pu-Qing Yuan
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,VA Greater Los Angeles Health System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kenichi Mukaisho
- Department of Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Ikuo Tooyama
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Yvette Taché
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,VA Greater Los Angeles Health System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
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Khan AM, Grant AH, Martinez A, Burns GAPC, Thatcher BS, Anekonda VT, Thompson BW, Roberts ZS, Moralejo DH, Blevins JE. Mapping Molecular Datasets Back to the Brain Regions They are Extracted from: Remembering the Native Countries of Hypothalamic Expatriates and Refugees. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2018; 21:101-193. [PMID: 30334222 PMCID: PMC6310046 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-94593-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This article focuses on approaches to link transcriptomic, proteomic, and peptidomic datasets mined from brain tissue to the original locations within the brain that they are derived from using digital atlas mapping techniques. We use, as an example, the transcriptomic, proteomic and peptidomic analyses conducted in the mammalian hypothalamus. Following a brief historical overview, we highlight studies that have mined biochemical and molecular information from the hypothalamus and then lay out a strategy for how these data can be linked spatially to the mapped locations in a canonical brain atlas where the data come from, thereby allowing researchers to integrate these data with other datasets across multiple scales. A key methodology that enables atlas-based mapping of extracted datasets-laser-capture microdissection-is discussed in detail, with a view of how this technology is a bridge between systems biology and systems neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshad M Khan
- UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
- Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
| | - Alice H Grant
- UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Pathobiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Anais Martinez
- UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Pathobiology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Gully A P C Burns
- Information Sciences Institute, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Brendan S Thatcher
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vishwanath T Anekonda
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Benjamin W Thompson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zachary S Roberts
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel H Moralejo
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James E Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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Osswald J, Carvalho AP, Guimarães L, Guilhermino L. Toxic effects of pure anatoxin-a on biomarkers of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Toxicon 2013; 70:162-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Vijayaraghavan S, Karami A, Aeinehband S, Behbahani H, Grandien A, Nilsson B, Ekdahl KN, Lindblom RPF, Piehl F, Darreh-Shori T. Regulated Extracellular Choline Acetyltransferase Activity- The Plausible Missing Link of the Distant Action of Acetylcholine in the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65936. [PMID: 23840379 PMCID: PMC3686815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine (ACh), the classical neurotransmitter, also affects a variety of nonexcitable cells, such as endothelia, microglia, astrocytes and lymphocytes in both the nervous system and secondary lymphoid organs. Most of these cells are very distant from cholinergic synapses. The action of ACh on these distant cells is unlikely to occur through diffusion, given that ACh is very short-lived in the presence of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), two extremely efficient ACh-degrading enzymes abundantly present in extracellular fluids. In this study, we show compelling evidence for presence of a high concentration and activity of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. We show that ChAT levels are physiologically balanced to the levels of its counteracting enzymes, AChE and BuChE in the human plasma and CSF. Equilibrium analyses show that soluble ChAT maintains a steady-state ACh level in the presence of physiological levels of fully active ACh-degrading enzymes. We show that ChAT is secreted by cultured human-brain astrocytes, and that activated spleen lymphocytes release ChAT itself rather than ACh. We further report differential CSF levels of ChAT in relation to Alzheimer's disease risk genotypes, as well as in patients with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, compared to controls. Interestingly, soluble CSF ChAT levels show strong correlation with soluble complement factor levels, supporting a role in inflammatory regulation. This study provides a plausible explanation for the long-distance action of ACh through continuous renewal of ACh in extracellular fluids by the soluble ChAT and thereby maintenance of steady-state equilibrium between hydrolysis and synthesis of this ubiquitous cholinergic signal substance in the brain and peripheral compartments. These findings may have important implications for the role of cholinergic signaling in states of inflammation in general and in neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Vijayaraghavan
- Division of Alzheimer Neurobiology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Azadeh Karami
- Division of Alzheimer Neurobiology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shahin Aeinehband
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Unit for Neuroimmunology, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Homira Behbahani
- Division of Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alf Grandien
- Department of Medicine, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo Nilsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Division of Clinical Immunology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristina N. Ekdahl
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Division of Clinical Immunology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnæus Center of Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnæus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | | | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Unit for Neuroimmunology, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Taher Darreh-Shori
- Division of Alzheimer Neurobiology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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Sakaue Y, Bellier JP, Kimura S, D'Este L, Takeuchi Y, Kimura H. Immunohistochemical localization of two types of choline acetyltransferase in neurons and sensory cells of the octopus arm. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:323-41. [PMID: 23354679 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-012-0502-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cholinergic structures in the arm of the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris were studied by immunohistochemistry using specific antisera for two types (common and peripheral) of acetylcholine synthetic enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT): antiserum raised against the rat common type ChAT (cChAT), which is cross-reactive with molluscan cChAT, and antiserum raised against the rat peripheral type ChAT (pChAT), which has been used to delineate peripheral cholinergic structures in vertebrates, but not previously in invertebrates. Western blot analysis of octopus extracts revealed a single pChAT-positive band, suggesting that pChAT antiserum is cross-reactive with an octopus counterpart of rat pChAT. In immunohistochemistry, only neuronal structures of the octopus arm were stained by cChAT and pChAT antisera, although the pattern of distribution clearly differed between the two antisera. cChAT-positive varicose nerve fibers were observed in both the cerebrobrachial tract and neuropil of the axial nerve cord, while pChAT-positive varicose fibers were detected only in the neuropil of the axial nerve cord. After epitope retrieval, pChAT-positive neuronal cells and their processes became visible in all ganglia of the arm, including the axial and intramuscular nerve cords, and in ganglia of suckers. Moreover, pChAT-positive structures also became detectable in nerve fibers connecting the different ganglia, in smooth nerve fibers among muscle layers and dermal connective tissues, and in sensory cells of the suckers. These results suggest that the octopus arm has two types of cholinergic nerves: cChAT-positive nerves from brain ganglia and pChAT-positive nerves that are intrinsic to the arm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Sakaue
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan
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Eißing A, Fischer D, Rauch I, Baumann A, Schebb NH, Karst U, Rose K, Klumpp S, Krieglstein J. Acetylcholine content and viability of cholinergic neurons are influenced by the activity of protein histidine phosphatase. BMC Neurosci 2012; 13:31. [PMID: 22436051 PMCID: PMC3355010 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-13-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The first mammalian protein histidine phosphatase (PHP) was discovered in the late 90s of the last century. One of the known substrates of PHP is ATP-citrate lyase (ACL), which is responsible - amongst other functions - for providing acetyl-CoA for acetylcholine synthesis in neuronal tissues. It has been shown in previous studies that PHP downregulates the activity of ACL by dephosphorylation. According to this our present work focused on the influence of PHP activity on the acetylcholine level in cholinergic neurons. Results The amount of PHP in SN56 cholinergic neuroblastoma cells was increased after overexpression of PHP by using pIRES2-AcGFP1-PHP as a vector. We demonstrated that PHP overexpression reduced the acetylcholine level and induced cell death. The acetylcholine content of SN56 cells was measured by fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Overexpression of the inactive H53A-PHP mutant also induced cell damage, but in a significantly reduced manner. However, this overexpression of the inactive PHP mutant did not change the acetylcholine content of SN56 cells significantly. In contrast, PHP downregulation, performed by RNAi-technique, did not induce cell death, but significantly increased the acetylcholine content in SN56 cells. Conclusions We could show for the first time that PHP downregulation increased the acetylcholine level in SN56 cells. This might be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases involving cholinergic deficits like Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Eißing
- Institut fuer Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Muenster, Germany
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A simple and sensitive method for the demonstration of norepinephrine-storing adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. Histochem Cell Biol 2012; 138:155-65. [PMID: 22411183 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-012-0942-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The medulla of the adrenal gland is a neuroendocrine tissue in which catecholamine-storing chromaffin cells exist. The chromaffin cells are derived from neural crest cells and distinctly differentiated into two types of cells, epinephrine (E) (adrenaline)-storing and norepinephrine (NE) (noradrenaline)-storing cells. Using histochemical or immunostaining methods, the two types of chromaffin cells have been differentially distinguished. However, difficulties and/or drawbacks of the procedures have somewhat restricted the progress of research in differential functions of E-storing and NE-storing cells. Here, we show a new method for the differential demonstration of these two cell types. We found that mouse and rat adrenomedullary cells are heterogeneously stained with Harris hematoxylin after treatment with citrate buffer at pH 6. The cell clusters stained with hematoxylin were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase, which is an enzyme involved in catecholamine biosynthesis. Furthermore, the cell clusters were negative for phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase, which is an enzyme responsible for the conversion from NE to E and expresses in E-storing chromaffin cells. Moreover, we found that the cell clusters stained with hematoxylin can also be stained with nitroblue tetrazolium at pH 11, using Hopsu and Mäkinen's method by which NE-storing chromaffin cells are stained. These observations indicate that the cytoplasm of NE-storing chromaffin cells is specifically stained with hematoxylin after treatment with citrate buffer at pH 6. This method will allow us to facilitate cell-type specific research of chromaffin cells. Indeed, this method revealed that α-synuclein selectively expresses in E-storing chromaffin cells, but not in NE-storing chromaffin cells.
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Modla S, Czymmek KJ. Correlative microscopy: a powerful tool for exploring neurological cells and tissues. Micron 2011; 42:773-92. [PMID: 21782457 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Revised: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Imaging tools for exploring the neurological samples have seen a rapid transformation over the last decade. Approaches that allow clear and specific delineation of targeted tissues, individual neurons, and their cell-cell connections as well as subcellular constituents have been especially valuable. Considering the significant complexity and extent to which the nervous system interacts with every organ system in the body, one non-trivial challenge has been how to identify and target specific structures and pathologies by microscopy. To this end, correlative methods enable one to view the same exact structure of interest utilizing the capabilities of typically separate, but powerful, microscopy platforms. As such, correlative microscopy is well-positioned to address the three critical problems of identification, scale, and resolution inherent to neurological systems. Furthermore, the application of multiple imaging platforms to the study of singular biological events enables more detailed investigations of structure-function relationships to be conducted, greatly facilitating our understanding of relevant phenomenon. This comprehensive review provides an overview of methods for correlative microscopy, including histochemistry, transgenic markers, immunocytochemistry, photo-oxidation as well as various probes and tracers. An emphasis is placed on correlative light and electron microscopic strategies used to facilitate relocation of neurological structures. Correlative microscopy is an invaluable tool for neurological research, and we fully anticipate developments in automation of the process, and the increasing availability of genomic and transgenic tools will facilitate the adoption of correlative microscopy as the method of choice for many imaging experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Modla
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Bio-Imaging Center, 15 Innovation Way, Suite 117, Newark, DE 19711, USA.
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Bellier JP, Kimura H. Peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase: biological and evolutionary implications for novel mechanisms in cholinergic system. J Chem Neuroanat 2011; 42:225-35. [PMID: 21382474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2011.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Revised: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase (pChAT) is an isoform of the well-studied common type of choline acetyltransferase (cChAT), the synthesizing enzyme of acetylcholine. Since pChAT arises by exons skipping, its amino acid sequence is similar to that of cChAT, except the lack of a continuous peptide sequence encoded by all the four exons from 6 to 9. While cChAT expression has been observed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, pChAT is preferentially expressed in the peripheral nervous system. pChAT appears to be a reliable marker for the visualization of peripheral cholinergic neurons and their processes, whereas other conventional markers including cChAT have not been used successfully for it. In mammals like rodents, pChAT immunoreactivity has been observed in most, if not all, physiologically identified peripheral cholinergic structures such as all parasympathetic postganglionic neurons and most neurons of the enteric nervous system. In addition, pChAT has been found in many peripheral neurons that are derived from the neural crest. These include sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion and the dorsal root ganglion, and sympathetic postganglionic neurons. Recent studies moreover indicate that pChAT, as well as cChAT, appears ubiquitously expressed among various species not only of vertebrate mammals but also of invertebrate mollusks. This finding implies that the alternative splicing mechanism to generate pChAT and cChAT has been preserved during evolution, probably for some functional benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-P Bellier
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan.
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