Biomedical subjects

Ming Xue Zuo

Publications and source records attributed to Ming Xue Zuo.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The distribution of substance P and met-enkephalin in vocal control nuclei among oscine species and its relation to song complexity.

Substance P (SP) and methionine-enkephalin (ENK) have been reported to appear in song control nuclei of oscine species. However, it remains unknown whether or not SP and ENK location in song control nuclei is correlated with song behavior. To address this issue, the present study first measured two variables for song complexity, i.e., song repertoire sizes, and syllable repertoire sizes in 11 oscine species. Then, we examined the distribution of SP and ENK in four control nuclei, two in the motor pathway, i.e., HVC and the robust nucleus of arcopallium (RA), and the other two in the forebrain pathway, i.e., Area X and the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN). Finally, we measured the relative amounts of immunoreactivity for SP and ENK in song control nuclei, and tested whether they were correlated with song complexity. Our results showed that: (1) SP and ENK were broadly distributed in the song control nuclei of studied species. However, SP immunohistochemistry was more robust in comparison with ENK, and SP is generally more abundant in the two song learning nuclei than those in the two song producing ones; (2) SP and ENK staining patterns in song control nuclei did not show any obvious phylogenetic relationship among studied oscine species; (3) there was a significant correlation between the relative amounts of immunoreactivity for SP and the song and syllable repertoire sizes. Our results suggest that SP or ENK might be involved in song behavior, such as birdsong learning or memory.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[The production and distribution of the newborn neural precursor in the telencephalon of female Melanocorypha mongolica and compared with female Lonchura striata].

The production of labeled precursors in adult female Melanocorypha mongolica and Lonchura striata were investigated by using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and ABC immunohistochemical method to mark new synthesized DNA. Then, the distribution of newborn precursor was compared between the two kinds of songbirds. The results reveal that: 1) During 1-4 days after BrdU intramuscular injection, there were a great number of labeled cells in lateral ventricular zone (LVZ),and forming proliferation 'hot spots' in the ventricular zone (VZ) of the ventral striatum and neostriatum. The newborn labeled precursor in the two adult songbirds originated from ventricular zone in telencephalon. In the two adult songbirds, there were a great number of labeled precursors in the ventricular zone (VZ) of the medial striatum and lateral striatum and forming proliferation 'the first hot spots'; in the top of LVZ and forming proliferation 'the second hot spots'. In Melanocorypha mongolica,there were a lot of labeled precursors in the tail of VZ in lateral striatum and forming proliferation 'the third hot spots'. But in Lonchura striata, there were a small number BrdU labeled precursors in the tail of VZ. 2) From 5 days after BrdU intramuscular injection in Melanocorypha mongolica, a great number of labeled precursors in the LVZ began to migrate into the other region of the telencephalon. During 5-30 day after BrdU intramuscular injection, some of labeled cells emerged into the nucleus of high vocal center (HVc), and robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) in Melanocorypha mongolica. But there were no BrdU labeled cells in the HVc and RA in female Lonchura striata during the 30 days after BrdU intramuscular injection. New neurons, which are added to HVc and RA continuously in adult female Melanocorypha mongolica, may be necessary for learning the new songs of adult male birds. HVc and RA of adult Lonchura striata have few new neurons to replace older neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[The localization and the sexual differences of substance P in vocal control and part auditory nuclei of Carduelis spinus].

The expression of substance P in the vocal control and auditory nuclei was investigated by wsing immunohistochemical methods, and the gray density of numerical value was measured with the image processing system in females and males of Carduelis spinus. Then, the distribution and the gray density of substance P were compared between males and females. The results indicate that: 1) Substance P labeled terminal and part cells were distributed in the Area X; 2) Substance P labeled cells were distributed in the nucleus high vocal center (HVc), magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (MAN), robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) and dorsolateral nucleus of the anterior thalamus (DLM); 3) Substance P labeled terminal and fibers were distributed in the vocal control nuclei such as nucleus dorsalis medialis (DM) and the nucleus hypoglossi, pars tracheosyringealis (nXI-Its), and in the auditory nuclei such as the nucleus ovidalisashell (Ov shell), the shell regions of mesencephalicus lateralis, pars dorsalis (MLd shell) and the nucleus intercollicularis (ICo). The values of gray degree of substance P labeled cells or fibers were significantly higher in males than that in females. The present study indicates that the distribution of substance P exhibits significantly sexual difference in the songbird. The presence of substance P in most auditory and vocal control nuclei suggests that substance P may play an important physiological role in the auditory perception and vocal production.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Transplanted neuronal precursors migrate and differentiate in the developing mouse brain.

The subventricular zone (SVZ), lining the lateral ventricle in forebrain, retains a population of neuronal precursors with the ability of proliferation in adult mammals. To test the potential of neuronal precursors in adult mice, we transplanted adult SVZ cells labeled with fluorescent dye PKH26 into the lateral ventricle of the mouse brain in different development stages. The preliminary results indicated that the grafted cells were able to survive and migrate into multiple regions of the recipient brain, including SVZ, the third ventricle, thalamus, superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, cerebellum and olfactory bulb etc; and the amount of survival cells in different brain regions was correlated with the development stage of the recipient brain. Immunohistochemical studies showed that most of the grafted cells migrating into the specific target could express neuronal or astrocytic marker. Our results revealed that the neuronal precursors in adult SVZ still retained immortality and ability of proliferation, which is likely to be induced by some environmental factors.

Animals↗