【摘要】 α2A肾上腺素能受体(α2A adrenoceptors,α2A受体)是前额叶皮层表达最为丰富的肾上腺素能受体亚基。目前普遍认为,激活前额叶皮层锥体神经元上的α2A受体在改善认知功能中发挥关键作用。但是,α2A受体在中间神经元上的表达和功能尚不清楚。本研究采用免疫荧光双标技术,研究α2A受体在大鼠前额叶中占主要类型的中间神经元的表达,即表达钙结合蛋白(小清蛋白,钙视网膜蛋白和钙结合蛋白D-28k)的中间神经元。结果显示,α2A受体在钙结合蛋白免疫阳性中间神经元上具有丰富的表达,提示激活α2A受体也可能通过影响兴奋性锥体神经元和抑制性中间神经元形成的局部神经元网络的活动,发挥对认知功能的改善作用。本研究为激活α2A受体改善前额叶认知功能的潜在机制提供了形态学基础。更多还原

【Abstract】 The α2A adrenoceptors(α2A-ARs) are the most common adrenergic receptor subtype found in the prefrontal cortex(PFC). It is generally accepted that stimulation of postsynaptic α2A-ARs on pyramidal neurons are key to PFC functions, such as working memory. However, the expression of α2A-ARs in interneurons is largely unknown. In the present study using double-labeling immunofluorencence technique, we investigated the expression of α2A-ARs in major types of rat PFC interneurons expressing calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin(PV), calretinin(CR), and calbindin(CB). Our data demonstrated that α2A-ARs are highly expressed in calciumbinding protein immunoreactive interneurons of rat PFC, suggesting that stimulation of α2A-ARs may alter neural networks comprising pyramidal neurons and interneurons, thereby exerting a beneficial effect on PFC cognitive functions. The present study provides the morphological basis for a potential mechanism by which stimulation of α2A-ARs induces cognitive improvement.更多还原