BACKGROUND: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons are extensively located in various brain regions such as cerebral cortex, caudate-putamen nucleus, syslimbic system, thalamus and brain stem. They are also involved in various brain activities such as motor learning, motor memory and motor integration. Considering the fact that cerebellum can reorganize through motor learning, we tried to identify the morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex to obtain the morphologic knowledge that is related to its cerebellar-cortex-based motor learning.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphology and distribution of NPY -immunoreactive neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex, and discuss the relationship between NPY neurons and cerebellum motor learning and motor memory.DESIGN: A single-sample-study based on animal samples.SETTING: Anatomy Department, Pathophysiology Department and Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College.MATERIALS: From July to December 2001, the experiment was performed at the Morphology Center in Xinxiang Medical College. Ten Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, clean grade, regardless of their gender and weighing 100-200 g,were selected.METHODS: After intraperitoneal injection anesthesia and ascending aorta infusion fixation, the cerebellum was taken out by craniosurgery. The cerebellum was immersed in the same fixative fluid for duration of 48 hours, and then was embedded in paraffin. The next step was to make continuous sagittal sections. NPY neurons were identified by SP immunohistochemical staining, using rats cerebral section as the positive control. In the negative control, the first antibody replaced by Bovine Calf Serum(BCS), and the second antibody replaced by 0.01 mol/L PBS. Sequentially the light-microscopic observation and micrography were recorded.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The Morphology and distribution of NPY neurons in rat's cerebellar cortex were taken as main outcome measurements.RESULTS: NPY-immunoreactive neurons were distributed in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum. They had pear-like or spherical shapes, clear and unstained nucleus, unstained axons and dendrites, and their axons stretching out into the granular layer while the reticular dendrites elongated into the molecular layer. NPY-immunoreactive fibers, instead of neurons, were found in the molecular layer and granular layer.CONCLUSION: NPY-immunoreactive neurons in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum may be involved in motor learning, motor memory, visceral activity and higher motor integration.%背景:神经肽Y能神经元分布于大脑皮质、尾壳核、边缘系统、丘脑、脑干等多个部位,与运动的学习、记忆及高级整合功能有关;小脑具有通过学习而重新组合的能力,研究大鼠小脑皮质内神经肽Y阳性神经元的形态与分布,可对小脑皮质运动学习的形态学基础有所了解.目的:研究大鼠小脑皮质内神经肽Y免疫阳性神经元的形态与分布,探讨神经肽Y能神经元与小脑运动学习、记忆的关系.设计:以动物为研究对象,单一样本研究.单位:新乡医学院解剖学教研室、病理生理教研室和形态中心.材料:实验于2001-07/12在新乡医学院形态中心进行.清洁级SD大鼠10只,雌雄不限,体质量100～200g.方法:腹腔麻醉后,升主动脉灌注固定,开颅取小脑,人相同固定液中后固定48 h,常规石蜡包埋;沿小脑矢状面作连续切片.神经肽Y免疫组化染色,阳性对照采用大鼠大脑切片;阴性对照用正常小牛血清替代第一抗体,0.01 mol/L磷酸盐缓冲液替代第二抗体.光镜下观察,显微照相.主要观察指标:观察大鼠小脑皮质内神经肽Y能神经元的形态与分布.结果:大鼠小脑内神经肽Y免疫阳性神经元分布在皮质的Purkinje细胞层,胞体呈梨形或烧瓶状,细胞核清晰不染色,轴突伸向颗粒层,树突呈网状伸向分子层,突起未见染色.分子层和颗粒层未见阳性细胞,但可见神经纤维的存在.结论:小脑Purkinje细胞层内神经肽Y阳性神经元可能与运动学习、记忆、内脏活动及高级整合功能有关.
展开▼
