Maria Bonaria Pisu

Cell proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial damage in rat B50 neuronal cells after cisplatin treatment

Abstract.  Objectives: Cisplatin (cisPt) is used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of human tumours; more recently, it has been demonstrated that tumour cell exposure to cisPt ultimately results in apoptosis, but the mechanism by which nuclear cisPt/DNA generates the cytoplasmic cascade of events involved has not been clarified. We have investigated the effects of cisPt on proliferation in the neuronal cell line B50, with particular attention being given to understand whether mitochondria are a target of cisPt and their involvement in the apoptotic process. Materials and methods: Rat neuronal B50 cells were used to investigate the mechanisms of cisPt‐induced cytotoxicity; this line has been used as a model system for neurotoxicity in vivo. Results: Changes in proliferation, induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase‐3 and DNA fragmentation were observed in the cells, as well as morphological and biochemical alterations of mithocondria. Activation of caspase‐9 confirmed that mitochondria are a target of cisPt. Conclusion: CisPt exerts cytotoxic effects in the neuronal B50 cell line via a caspase‐dependent pathway with mitochondria being central relay stations.

Bioactive peptides and serotonin immunocytochemistry in the cerebral ganglia of hibernating Helix aspersa

The role of some neuromodulators and neurotransmitters in the functioning of molluskan cerebral neurons and in their metabolic changes during hibernation has been considered. The cerebral ganglion of mollusks is a center for the integration of different inputs from the sensory areas of the head and for the generation of motor command impulses. During hibernation, animals are deprived of many external sensory stimuli and do not have locomotion and feeding. Immunocytochemistry for bioactive peptides (BAPs), such as SP (Substance P), CCK8 (Cholecystokinin 8/Gastrin), CGRP (Calcitonin-Gene-Related Peptide) and ET (Endothelin), and serotonin was performed on cerebral ganglia of active and hibernating Helix aspersa. The distribution of the immunopositivity was analyzed in different cell-containing areas (procerebrum, mesocerebrum, metacerebrum) and in the neuropiles. With all the antibodies raised against peptides, we observed that only a few neurons, mainly of small and medium size, had immunopositivity during the period of activity, the patterns of distribution being quite similar to those previously described in Helix or other gastropods. Fibers and varicosities with BAP immunopositivity were found in the procerebral and central neuropiles and sometimes around neurons. Serotonin-immunopositive neurons, including the giant neuron, were observed in the metacerebrum; numerous fibers and varicosities immunopositive for serotonin were present in the neuropile areas. In hibernating snails, the number of fibers with BAP and serotonin immunopositivity decreased in several areas of the neuropiles. Moreover, an increased number of neurons of the metacerebrum (two-to four-fold) and mesocerebrum (8- to 28-fold) had BAP-like immunopositivity, and the intensity of the immunoreaction for serotonin of the metacerebral neurons was also higher than in the active snails. These results are discussed, taking into account two hypotheses. The first hypothesis assumes that the increased immunocytochemical staining was really linked to accumulation of BAPs and serotonin. The second hypothesis considers that the antibodies for BAPs recognized a preprotein, the synthesis of BAPs being completed during the active period only. Both the hypotheses account for the co-occurrence and co-localization of two or ore peptides and serotonin and stress that the hibernation condition is of interest for studies on the actual function of single neurons in the cerebral ganglia. Finally, the data are consistent with the changes recently found in other markers of the morphological and functional activity of neurons, demonstrating that the neuromodulation and the neurotransmission are slowed during hibernation.

Developmental plasticity of rat cerebellar cortex after cisplatin injury: Inhibitory synapses and differentiating Purkinje neurons

A single injection of cisplatin, a cytostatic agent, (5 microg/g body weight) in 10-day old rats leads later to the reorganization of the cerebellar cortex in lobules VI-VIII of the vermis. Double immunofluorescence reaction for glutamate receptor (GluR)2/3, a ionotropic glutamate receptor that labels postsynaptically Purkinje neurons, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)65, an isoform of the GABA synthesis enzyme that labels presynaptically inhibitory terminals in the molecular layer, were employed. Less-differentiated Purkinje cells were present in rats treated on postnatal day (PD)11 at the top of lobule VI and in lobules VII-VIII, in comparison with the deep zones of the same lobules and lobule III. The changes were interpreted as due to loss of trophic factors of Purkinje cell growth, e.g. signaling molecules and granule cells. However, we have shown that a remodelling of Purkinje cell dendrites occurred on PD30 (20 days after cisplatin). In fact, despite of the GluR2/3 labeling of the entire Purkinje cell dendrites, the GAD65 immunofluorescent terminals were adjacent to the proximal parts of the dendrite, while they were scarce in the distal dendritic branchlets. The findings were discussed in relation to the changed cytoarchitecture of the cerebellar cortex, which from PD17 to PD30 includes regeneration of the external germinal layer, reorientation of the main dendritic branches and of the Purkinje cell branchlets, and the presence of ectopic cells.

Nitric oxide‐containing neurons in the nervous ganglia of Helix aspersa during rest and activity: Immunocytochemical and enzyme histochemical detection

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity and staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐diaphorase (NADPH‐diaphorase) activity are two cytochemical markers for nitric oxide (NO)‐containing neurons. The authors examined the changes in the distribution of NOS immunolabeling and NADPH‐diaphorase reactivity in the cerebral and buccal ganglia of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa during resting and active phases. During inactivity and after 1 day of activity, in the mesocerebrum and metacerebrum of the snails, there were several reactive neurons for both markers; after 7 days of activity, the number of reactive neurons was lower. Opposite results were obtained in the buccal ganglia, in which increased staining and numbers of reactive neurons were present in the active snails (after 1 day and 7 days of activity). Although the staining patterns for the two reactions were similar, colocalization was not always observed. The comparison between inactive and active animals provided a more precise survey of NOS‐containing neurons in the snail cerebral ganglia than previously described. Moreover, it suggested that not only is NO involved in distinct nervous circuits, but, as a ubiquitous molecule, it also plays a role in neuroprotection and neuropeptide release. J. Comp. Neurol. 409:274–284, 1999.

Distribution of calretinin-like immunoreactivity in the brain of Rana esculenta.

The distribution of calretinin-like immunoreactivity has been analyzed in the brain of Rana esculenta. Several neurons of nuclei belonging to sensory pathways, subhabenular area and left habenula were immunopositive. Immunoreactivity was present in fibers of motor and sensory pathways, thalamus, tegmentum and isthmus. The immunolabeling pattern partially overlapped that previously described in the rat. However, in comparison with the rat, fewer cells and fibers were immunoreactive and there were less positive brain nuclei. especially in the pallium, septum and striatum, that were totally negative. Taking into consideration that these regions are rather simple in the frog, the presence of calretinin seems to be consistent with the degree of complexity of brain areas and segregation of different nuclei.

Monoamine receptors and immature cerebellum cytoarchitecture after cisplatin injury.

The experimental model of cisplatin treatment provides the opportunity to identify the precise function of the neurotransmitters in some crucial events of brain development, and their interactions or modulatory roles. The serotonin and noradrenaline monoamines influence the formation of the cerebellar cortex circuitry. In this study we found changes in the expression of the serotonin and noradrenaline receptors after a single injection of cisplatin in 10-day-old rats. The growth of Pc dendrites was early altered in lobules VI-VIII of cerebellum vermis. In these lobules, at postnatal day (PD) 17, the cisplatin-induced increase of the serotoninergic receptor 5-HT2AR, a factor that inhibits Pc dendrite growth by acting post-synaptically, occurred in all cerebellar layers, suggesting also alteration of granule cell proliferation and migration. The decreased labelling of beta l adrenergic receptor (beta1AR) in the soma of some Pc at PD11 can be correlated with the altered expression of glutamate receptors and GAD65 (glutamic acid decarboxylase) of and on Pc we have previously described [Pisu, M.B., Guioli, S., Conforti, E., Bernocchi, G., 2003. Signal molecules and receptors in the differential development of cerebellum lobules. Acute effects of cisplatin on nitric oxide and glutamate system in Purkinje cell population. Dev. Brain Res. 145, 229-240; Pisu, M.B., Roda, E., Avella, D., Bernocchi, G., 2004. Developmental plasticity of rat cerebellar cortex after cisplatin injury: inhibitory synapses and differentiating Purkinje neurons. Neuroscience 129, 655-664]. Moreover, beta1AR seems to be the key factor in the cerebellar reorganization between PD17 and PD30. The expression of this receptor was maintained in the molecular layer (ML), in particular in the inhibitory interneurons, despite their different distributions. The labelling of 5-HT1AR in the ML areas lacking Pc dendrite branches could contribute to the recovery phase of the cerebellar cytoarchitecture in cisplatin-treated rats. In general these findings should be taken into consideration in therapeutic interventions for developmental CNS disorders with a morphological basis.

Gastrin-cholecystokinin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of Helix aspersa during rest and activity.

The immunostaining pattern for the peptide gastrin/cholecystokinin 8 (gastrin/CCK8) in the molluscan central nervous system has been considered. The changes in the distribution of gastrin/CCK8 immunoreactivity were analyzed in the neurons of different areas of the cerebral ganglia (mesocerebrum and metacerebrum) and in the buccal ganglia of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa, during rest and active phases. During the period of inactivity and after one day of activity, there were several immunoreactive neurons in the mesocerebrum and metacerebrum of the snails and in the buccal ganglia, whereas after 7 days of activity the number of labeled neurons decreased. Data suggested a storage of gastrin/CCK8 in the neurons when behavioral activities in which the peptide is involved (such as feeding-related behavior) are suppressed or reduced. The different percentage of gastrin/CCK8 immunoreactive neurons in the left and right mesocerebrum provides information about the activities controlled by these neurons, which could be related to the adaptive evolution and plasticity of the brain in terrestrial pulmonates.

Nitric oxide synthase in the frog cerebellum: response of Purkinje neurons to unilateral eighth nerve transection.

When vestibular damage occurs, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in rat cerebellar flocculus is affected. Since compensation for postural symptoms occurs and Purkinje cells play an important role in movement coordination and motor learning, we analyzed in situ the induction of NOS in the Purkinje cell population of the cerebellum (corpus cerebelli) of frog after unilateral transection of the eighth statoacoustic nerve to gain insight into the role of NO in neural plasticity after injury. Three days after neurectomy, the early effects induced NADPH diaphorase reactivity in most of the Purkinje cells on the ipsilateral side, while on the contralateral side the highest labeling was observed at 15 days. This finding can give information on the dynamics of vestibular compensation, in which NOS involvement was investigated. At 30 days, NADPH diaphorase reactivity was present in a large number of Purkinje cells of the whole cerebellum, while at 60 days a down‐regulation for NADPH diaphorase reactivity was evident. A similar trend was observed for NOS‐immunoreactivity, which was still present at 60 days in a high percentage of Purkinje cells, mainly on the ipsilateral side. On the basis of cell density evaluations, it was proposed that the early induction of NOS after neurectomy was linked to the degeneration of a part of the Purkinje neurons, while the permanence of NOS labeling might be due to a neuroprotective role of NO in the restoration phase of the vestibular compensation process. Anat Rec 268:73–83, 2002.

Cell death may regulate visual functionality in the retina of adults of the dipteran Ceratitis capitata.

The white eye mutation in the medfly Ceratitis capitata, like the homologous mutation in Drosophila melanogaster, was shown to impair visual function. Light and electron microscopy, combined with the DNA-end labelling histochemistry (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) technique), were used to investigate whether programmed cell death may contribute to the morpho-functional differences between the retina of adults from the white eye and wild type strains. Several photoreceptor nuclei in mature white eye flies appeared smaller and showed intensely Toluidine Blue-stained chromatin masses. At the ultrastructural level, they showed different stages of degeneration, resembling apoptotic figures. Positive TUNEL labelling in the white eye retina indicates that apoptosis may be a candidate mechanism for retinal cell degeneration in adult flies, where visual functionality is altered, to achieve the proper cell number. Apoptosis also appears to occur in the wild type retina in early adult life during normal tissue development.

Immunocytochemical changes of cytoskeleton components and calmodulin in the frog cerebellum and optic tectum during hibernation

During hibernation, variation in the metabolism of nerve cells occurs. Since the cytoskeleton plays an important role in nerve cell function, we have analyzed the immunocytochemical expression of two cytoskeleton components, i.e. phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein, and microtubule-associated protein 2 in the cerebellum and optic tectum of hibernating frogs (Rana esculenta) in comparison with active animals. In addition, we have considered the immunocytochemical expression of calmodulin, which is known to be involved in neurofilament phosphorylation. In hibernating animals, there was a decrease in the immunoreactivity for phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein and microtubule-associated protein 2 of fibers in both the cerebellum and in the optic tectum. In contrast, in the large neurons of the cerebellum, i.e. Purkinje neurons, there was an increase in the immunoreactivity for microtubule-associated protein 2. The changes in the cytoskeleton components were accompanied by a decrease in calmodulin immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of nerve cells of the cerebellum. All the changes observed are consistent with a low neuronal activity during hibernation, as also indicated by previous microdensitometric and microfluorometric data. This shows a higher degree of chromatin condensation in hibernating animals and suggests that hibernation represents a simple form of neuronal plasticity.