Biomedical subjects

Hong-Wei Dong

Publications and source records attributed to Hong-Wei Dong.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Genome-wide atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain.

Molecular approaches to understanding the functional circuitry of the nervous system promise new insights into the relationship between genes, brain and behaviour. The cellular diversity of the brain necessitates a cellular resolution approach towards understanding the functional genomics of the nervous system. We describe here an anatomically comprehensive digital atlas containing the expression patterns of approximately 20,000 genes in the adult mouse brain. Data were generated using automated high-throughput procedures for in situ hybridization and data acquisition, and are publicly accessible online. Newly developed image-based informatics tools allow global genome-scale structural analysis and cross-correlation, as well as identification of regionally enriched genes. Unbiased fine-resolution analysis has identified highly specific cellular markers as well as extensive evidence of cellular heterogeneity not evident in classical neuroanatomical atlases. This highly standardized atlas provides an open, primary data resource for a wide variety of further studies concerning brain organization and function.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, anteromedial area: cerebral hemisphere integration of neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral aspects of energy balance.

The anteromedial area of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTam) is the relatively undifferentiated region of the anterior medial (anteromedial) group of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTamg), which also includes the more distinct dorsomedial, magnocellular, and ventral nuclei. The overall pattern of axonal projections from the rat BSTam was analyzed with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin anterograde pathway tracing method. Brain areas receiving relatively moderate to strong inputs from the BSTam fall into five general categories: neuroendocrine system (regions containing pools of magnocellular oxytocin neurons, and parvicellular corticotropin-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, and dopamine neurons); central autonomic control network (central amygdalar nucleus, descending paraventricular nucleus, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray); hypothalamic visceromotor pattern generator network (five of six known components); behavior control column (descending paraventricular nucleus and associated arcuate nucleus; ventral tegmental area and associated nucleus accumbens and substantia innominata); and behavioral state control (supramammillary and tuberomammillary nuclei). The BSTam projects lightly to thalamocortical feedback loops (via the medial-midline-intralaminar thalamus). Its pattern of axonal projections, combined with its pattern of neural inputs (the most varied of all BST cell groups), suggests that the BSTam is part of a striatopallidal differentiation involved in coordinating neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral or somatic responses associated with maintaining energy balance homeostasis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, magnocellular nucleus: implications for cerebral hemisphere regulation of micturition, defecation, and penile erection.

The basic structural organization of axonal projections from the small but distinct magnocellular and ventral nuclei (of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis) was analyzed with the Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin anterograde tract tracing method in adult male rats. The former's overall projection pattern is complex, with over 80 distinct terminal fields ipsilateral to injection sites. Innervated regions in the cerebral hemisphere and brainstem fall into nine general functional categories: cerebral nuclei, behavior control column, orofacial motor-related, humorosensory/thirst-related, brainstem autonomic control network, neuroendocrine, hypothalamic visceromotor pattern-generator network, thalamocortical feedback loops, and behavioral state control. The most novel findings indicate that the magnocellular nucleus projects to virtually all known major parts of the brain network that controls pelvic functions, including micturition, defecation, and penile erection, as well as to brain networks controlling nutrient and body water homeostasis. This and other evidence suggests that the magnocellular nucleus is part of a corticostriatopallidal differentiation modulating and coordinating pelvic functions with the maintenance of nutrient and body water homeostasis. Projections of the ventral nucleus are a subset of those generated by the magnocellular nucleus, with the obvious difference that the ventral nucleus does not project detectably to Barrington's nucleus, the subfornical organ, the median preoptic and parastrial nuclei, the neuroendocrine system, and midbrain orofacial motor-related regions.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, dorsomedial nucleus: implications for cerebral hemisphere integration of neuroendocrine, autonomic, and drinking responses.

The overall projection pattern of a tiny bed nuclei of the stria terminalis anteromedial group differentiation, the dorsomedial nucleus (BSTdm), was analyzed with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin anterograde pathway tracing method in rats. Many brain regions receive a relatively moderate to strong input from the BSTdm. They fall into eight general categories: humeral sensory-related (subfornical organ and median preoptic nucleus, involved in initiating drinking behavior and salt appetite), neuroendocrine system (magnocellular: oxytocin, vasopressin; parvicellular: gonadotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone), central autonomic control network (central amygdalar nucleus, BST anterolateral group, descending paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, retrochiasmatic area, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, Barrington's nucleus), hypothalamic visceromotor pattern-generator network (five of six known components), behavior control column (ingestive: descending paraventricular nucleus; reproductive: lateral medial preoptic nucleus; defensive: anterior hypothalamic nucleus; foraging: ventral tegmental area, along with interconnected nucleus accumbens and substantia innominata), orofacial motor control (retrorubral area), thalamocortical feedback loops (paraventricular, central medial, intermediodorsal, and medial mediodorsal nuclei; nucleus reuniens), and behavioral state control (subparaventricular zone, ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, tuberomammillary nucleus, supramammillary nucleus, lateral habenula, and raphé nuclei). This pattern of axonal projections, and what little is known of its inputs suggest that the BSTdm is part of a striatopallidal differentiation involved in coordinating the homeostatic and behavioral responses associated thirst and salt appetite, although clearly it may relate them to other functions as well. The BSTdm generates the densest known inputs directly to the neuroendocrine system from any part of the cerebral hemispheres.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Decreased dynorphin A (1-17) in the spinal cord of spastic rats after the compressive injury.

Spasticity in rat hindlimbs was induced by compressing cervical spinal cord with a wax ball. Ashworth score and H-reflex were measured 1 week after the surgery. The results showed that: (1) muscle spasm was detected in the hindlimbs a week after the operation and maintained at least 8 weeks, (2) in the spastic animals, dynorphin A (1-17)-ir decreased significantly in thoracic and lumbar segments of the spinal cord and (3) peripheral administration of kappa receptor agonist U50488H and electrical stimulation at 100 Hz effectively relieved the muscle spasm. Our data supported the note that the reduction of endogenous dynorphin A (1-17) might play an important role in the pathogenesis of spinally induced muscle spasticity and the replenishment of its shortage might relieve the spasticity.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

PubMed2005

Lhx6 delineates a pathway mediating innate reproductive behaviors from the amygdala to the hypothalamus.

In mammals, innate reproductive and defensive behaviors are mediated by anatomically segregated connections between the amygdala and hypothalamus. This anatomic segregation poses the problem of how the brain integrates activity in these circuits when faced with conflicting stimuli eliciting such mutually exclusive behaviors. Using genetically encoded and conventional axonal tracers, we have found that the transcription factor Lhx6 delineates the reproductive branch of this pathway. Other Lhx proteins mark neurons in amygdalar nuclei implicated in defense. We have traced parallel projections from the posterior medial amygdala, activated by reproductive or defensive olfactory stimuli, respectively, to a point of convergence in the ventromedial hypothalamus. The opposite neurotransmitter phenotypes of these convergent projections suggest a "gate control" mechanism for the inhibition of reproductive behaviors by threatening stimuli. Our data therefore identify a potential neural substrate for integrating the influences of conflicting behavioral cues and a transcription factor family that may contribute to the development of this substrate.

Aggression↗

PubMed2005

A technique for repeated recordings in cortical organotypic slices.

Electrophysiology studies in vitro have generally focused on forms of plasticity which are rapidly induced and last for minutes to hours. However, it is well known that plasticity at some cellular and synaptic loci are induced and expressed over many hours or days. One limitation in examining these forms of plasticity is the lack of preparations that allow stimulation and recording of the same tissue over a 24h period or more. Here we describe a simple method for repeated recordings and stimulating the same organotypic slices (different neurons) over a 24h window. We use the conventional interface organotypic culture method together with a custom chamber, which allows recordings on the intact filter, and DiI to mark the stimulation sites. We show that the health of the neurons, as defined by intrinsic excitability, excitatory and inhibitory input-output curves, and morphology remains unchanged over the 24h period. This simple technique provides a means to investigate long-term forms of plasticity that may be induced under conditions similar to those observed in vivo. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to perform long-term morphological and pharmacological studies.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2005

Brain architecture management system.

The nervous system can be viewed as a biological computer whose genetically determined macrocircuitry has two basic classes of parts: gray matter regions interconnected by fiber pathways. We describe here the basic features of an online knowledge management system for storing and inferring relationships between data about the structural organization of nervous system circuitry. It is called the Brain architecture management system (BAMS; http://brancusi.usc.edu/bkms) and it stores and analyzes data specifically concerned with nomenclature and its hierarchical taxonomy, with axonal connections between regions, and with the neuronal cell types that form regions and fiber pathways.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, posterior division: implications for cerebral hemisphere regulation of defensive and reproductive behaviors.

The posterior division of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis has three major nuclei: principal, interfascicular, and transverse, which receive topographically ordered inputs from the medial amygdalar nucleus. The overall pattern of axonal projections from each nucleus was determined in male rats with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin method. Together, these nuclei project topographically back to the medial amygdalar nucleus, to the adjacent lateral septal nucleus, to the nucleus accumbens and substantia innominata, to hypothalamic parts of the behavior control column, and to the hypothalamic periventricular region, which controls patterned neuroendocrine and autonomic responses. The principal nucleus preferentially innervates septal and hypothalamic regions that control reproductive behavior and visceromotor responses, confirming a similar analysis by Gu et al. (J Comp Neurol [2003] 460:542-562). In contrast, the interfascicular and transverse nuclei differentially innervate septal and hypothalamic regions that control defensive as well as reproductive behaviors. In addition, the transverse nucleus projects significantly to midbrain parts of the behavior control column concerned with foraging/exploratory behavior. All three posterior division nuclei also project to thalamocortical feedback loops (by means of the nucleus reuniens and paraventricular nucleus). These structural data may be interpreted to suggest that the bed nuclei posterior division forms part (pallidal) of a corticostriatopallidal system involved in controlling two major classes of social (defensive and reproductive) behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells induced by beta-ionone.

AIM: To investigate the effect of beta-ionone on the growth and apoptosis of gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901. METHODS: Using MTT, fluorescence dye (Hoechst-33258), transmission electron microscopy and the TUNEL assay, we examined growth and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells treated with beta-ionone at various concentrations (i.e. 25, 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L) for 24 h, 48 h. RESULTS: The growth of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by beta-ionone. Seven days after treatment with beta-ionone at four concentrations, the inhibition rates were 12.04%, 30.59%, 78.25% and 94.15%, respectively. The IC(50) value of beta-ionone for SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89 micromol/L. The apoptotic morphology was demonstrated in SGC-7901 cells treated with beta-ionone by Hoechst-33258 staining and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was also shown in beta-ionone-treated SGC-7901 cells by the TUNEL assay. CONCLUSION: beta-ionone can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. However, the mechanism needs to be further investigated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of beta-ionone on SGC-7901 cell proliferation and upregulation of metalloproteinases-1 and -2 expression.

AIM: To observe the effect of beta-ionone on the proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and the inhibition of metalloproteinase. METHODS: Using growth inhibition, Zymograms assays and reverse transcription-polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR), we examined cell growth rates, activities of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9), and expression of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and -2 (TIMP-2) in SGC-7901 cells after the treatment with beta-ionone for 24 h and 48 h, respectively. RESULTS: beta-ionone had an inhibitory effect on the growth of SGC-7901 cells. Eight days after the treatment with beta-ionone at concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L, the inhibition rates were 25.9%, 28.2%, 74.4% and 90.1%, respectively. The IC50 value of beta-ionone for SGC-7901 cells was estimated to be 89 micromol/L. The effects of beta-ionone on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in SGC-7901 cells were not observed. However, the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 transcripts were elevated in cells treated with beta-ionone in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: beta-ionone can inhibit the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, upregulate the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression, and may influence metastasis of cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Organization of axonal projections from the anterolateral area of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis.

The anterolateral group of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTalg) contains four distinct cell groups embedded within an undifferentiated anterolateral area (BSTal) that architectonically resembles a subjacent subcommissural zone (BSTsc). The overall distributions of axonal projections from various regions of the BSTal and from the BSTsc were determined with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHAL) anterograde tracer method and found to be identical. The BSTal and BSTsc share dense bidirectional connections, and also project heavily within the BST to the rhomboid and fusiform nuclei and the anteroventral and anterodorsal areas. They project less densely to the juxtacapsular, oval, magnocellular, ventral, and interfascicular BST nuclei. Outside the BST, brain areas receiving strong to moderate inputs from the BSTal and BSTsc fall into several functional groups: somatomotor system (nucleus accumbens, substantia innominata, ventral tegmental area, and retrorubral area and adjacent midbrain reticular nucleus), central autonomic control system (central amygdalar nucleus, dorsal lateral hypothalamic area, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract), neuroendocrine system (paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, hypothalamic visceromotor pattern generator network), and thalamocortical feedback loops (midline, medial, and intralaminar nuclei). The results indicate that the BSTal and BSTsc are parts of the same cell group (dorsal and ventral to the anterior commissure), which plays a role in coordinating visceral and somatic motor responses (during ingestive behaviors, for example), especially in response to noxious stimuli (learned anorexia associated with noxious stimuli). BSTal projections are distinct from those of the adjacent juxtacapsular, oval, fusiform, and rhomboid nuclei.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Projections from the rhomboid nucleus of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis: implications for cerebral hemisphere regulation of ingestive behaviors.

The basic organization of an exceptionally complex pattern of axonal projections from one distinct cell group of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, the rhomboid nucleus (BSTrh), was analyzed with the PHAL anterograde tract-tracing method in rats. Brain areas that receive a strong to moderate input from the BSTrh fall into nine general categories: central autonomic control network (central amygdalar nucleus, descending hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, parasubthalamic nucleus and dorsal lateral hypothalamic area, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, lateral parabrachial nucleus and caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, and salivatory nuclei), gustatory system (rostral nucleus of the solitary tract and medial parabrachial nucleus), neuroendocrine system (periventricular and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, hypothalamic visceromotor pattern generator network), orofaciopharyngeal motor control (rostral tip of the dorsal nucleus ambiguus, parvicellular reticular nucleus, retrorubral area, and lateral mesencephalic reticular nucleus), respiratory control (lateral nucleus of the solitary tract), locomotor or exploratory behavior control and reward prediction (nucleus accumbens, substantia innominata, and ventral tegmental area), ingestive behavior control (descending paraventricular nucleus and dorsal lateral hypothalamic area), thalamocortical feedback loops (medial-midline-intralaminar thalamus), and behavioral state control (dorsal raphé and locus coeruleus). Its pattern of axonal projections and its position in the basal telencephalon suggest that the BSTrh is part of a striatopallidal differentiation involved in modulating the expression of ingestive behaviors, although it may have other functions as well.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

From gene networks to brain networks.

The brain's structural organization is so complex that 2,500 years of analysis leaves pervasive uncertainty about (i) the identity of its basic parts (regions with their neuronal cell types and pathways interconnecting them), (ii) nomenclature, (iii) systematic classification of the parts with respect to topographic relationships and functional systems and (iv) the reliability of the connectional data itself. Here we present a prototype knowledge management system (http://brancusi.usc.edu/bkms/) for analyzing the architecture of brain networks in a systematic, interactive and extendable way. It supports alternative interpretations and models, is based on fully referenced and annotated data and can interact with genomic and functional knowledge management systems through web services protocols.

Animals↗